Sri Lanka’s religious leaders call for democracy’s victory in the general election
by Melani Manel Perera- 08/10/2015
Voters will pick a new prime minister and parliament. Religious leaders call on them to choose candidates for their honesty and ability, not their political affiliation.


Colombo (AsiaNews) – The leaders of Sri Lanka’s religions have appealed to Sri Lankans to ensure the “victory of democracy” and “a better future for the new generations".

On 17 August, the country goes to the polls to elect a new parliament and prime minister. However, the candidacy of questionable characters, such as former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, prompted the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL), the Congress of Religions and other Christian and Buddhist organisations to mobilise and raise awareness.

"Loyalty to a party should not be the sole criterion for voting,” the CBCSL said in a statement released on 31 July and signed by Card Malcolm Ranjith and Mgr Valence Mendis, respectively CBCSL president and secretary general.

"Educational background, general culture, integrity and honesty, respect for law and order are qualities that should characterise those who aspire to political leadership," added the bishops.

For its part, Congress of Religions noted, "67 years have lapsed since Sri Lanka gained independence. Our motherland, which is full of natural resources, is being destroyed by corruption and fraud as well as alcohol, gambling and dangerous drugs. Law and order have not been properly maintained. We need a county that respects justice and the law.”

"Today we can experience a more peaceful pre-election atmosphere than in the past. We must thank the election Commissioner for this,” said Ven Ittapane Dhammalankara Thero, Buddhist monk member of the Congress of Religions.


However, “we too have a responsibility in maintaining this atmosphere, choosing honest candidates when we vote, because parliament is a sacred place, where only suitable and untainted people should go."

Is this the last battle for Sri Lanka's 'warrior king'?

Justin Rowlatt-10 August 2015

As Sri Lanka prepares to go to the polls next week, the country's controversial former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is fighting a battle for his political life.

He has faced a dizzying reversal in his fortunes.

This is the man who presents himself as the warrior king who, in 2009, ended the island nation's 26-year-long civil war.

The country's Tamil minority paid a terrible price for his "victory". One UN report estimates that 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the last few weeks of the war.

But finally putting an end to years of conflict proved hugely popular with the majority Sinhalese population and Mr Rajapaksa and his family seemed set to run Sri Lanka for decades to come. He ended the two-term limit for president and appeared to be grooming his eldest son for power.

That all changed in January when, in a betrayal worthy of a Shakespearean drama, Mr Rajapaksa was unseated.

His uncharismatic health minister Maithripala Sirisena unexpectedly won a narrow majority in the presidential elections, standing against his former political master.

Mr Sirisena's win was seen as a major change in Sri Lankan politics

But Mr Rajapaksa is back, now standing not for president, but to be a humble MP - although he says he expects his party to do well enough to ensure he will become prime minister.

When I spoke to him in the kitchen of his huge house in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, he told me he was only running by popular demand.

"They want me," he said. "I thought I'd retired but when I went back to my village, you should have seen the queues! There were over 100,000 people."

That may be so, but there are other compelling reasons for Mr Rajapaksa to want to return to power.

Mr Rajapaksa (centre) is contesting to be an MP in the Kurunegala district in north west Sri Lanka

Since he lost the presidency, his reputation has come under attack. Members of his inner circle have been accused of graft, abuse of power and even murder. They deny the allegations.

Meanwhile Mr Rajapaksa, the self-styled father of the new Sri Lankan nation, is alleged to have been involved in corruption on an epic scale.

He told me he was a victim of smears put about by his opponents.

"This is all political tricks," he insisted when we spoke. "Politically they want to attack us so they will do that."

I asked about the allegations that billions of dollars had been stolen during his time in power.

"So why don't you help us find this money?" he barked angrily, as his entourage swept the visibly irritated former president out of the house and into a waiting Mercedes.

He was more forthcoming at a huge rally just outside Colombo.

Mr Rajapaksa's rallies have drawn large crowds

His effort to become an MP is being run as if he was still a presidential candidate. Before he takes to the platform there are endless speeches by fawning supporters, songs extolling his many virtues, and swooping cameras to project images of his cheering fans onto vast television screens.

He told the crowd the real corruption is in the new government, citing an alleged scam involving the sale of government bonds.

He also warns that the current government's plans to devolve power to the Tamil north will split the nation in two.

But it isn't clear he has the attention of some of his key supporters. During his speech I watched as one of the dignitaries on the podium behind him slumped forward gently and nodded off.

And his arguments seem to be falling on deaf ears amongst the public too. He's expected to win his parliamentary seat comfortably but a recent opinion poll suggests his party is trailing significantly behind the government.

Nevertheless it would be wrong to write the old warhorse off quite yet.

The fact that he is standing at all is testament to this veteran politician's tenacity, and the huge turnout at his rallies shows he still has some passionate supporters.

I Am Willing To Cooperate Thajudeen’s Murder Investigation: Former STF Head

August 10, 2015 

“I am willing to cooperate with the CID if they need my assistance regarding the death of Wasim Thajudeen, as I visited the scene of the accident in the early hours of the morning with my son and daughter who is a lawyer” the retired former DIG of the Northern Province and Special Task Force (STF) Head Nimal Lewke told Colombo Telegraph today.

*The retired former DIG and STF Head Lewke

The retired former DIG and STF Head Lewke writing to The Island newspaper raised serious suspicions on the death of Thajudeen when he wrote “one wonders why it took three years for the inquiry to be conducted. There are reports, government analyst and other specialized unit’s initial report such as post-mortem which are contradicting. These experts’ reports and contradictions are a huge question mark. Why this case was not handed over to a responsible unit like the CID at the initial stages raises many questions. Who is responsible for that delay/suppression also have to be investigated. His Excellency needs to look into these blatant offences committed by state officers.Those guilty should not be allowed to get away as they live out of tax payers’ money”

Read More

Udaya Gammanpila A Mega Fraudster ?..CID Investigation..Fake-Checks

Aug 10, 2015

Gammanpila..who? the politician with a slimy smile, popularly known as Gon-manpila, was hardly noticed before Gotabaya endorsed him just as he did Duminda Silva and Now the infamous Drug Baron Muja.

The unknown politician wannabe was once part of the Sinhalese Racist Group known as the “Sihala Urumaya”, he then joined the Jathika Hela Urumaya and with the backing of former defense secretary Gotabaya, he climbed himself up the ranks and then as expected he betrayed his own party that nurtured him for his new found friend.

His Scheming past

1) he was part of the 88 batch of D.S. After completing his A/L, he joined the JVP movement 
2) He used to organize JVP carders (from Universities) to come to D.S. & deliver speeches, almost daily during and sometimes after the interval.

3) It was at this juncture that he managed to brainwash Student Priyantha Abeysingha (his mum was the English teacher) and got him to join the JVP group
4) Priyantha Abeysinghe was one of the most popular students at the time and turning him into a hardcore JVP’er helped the Gammanpila cause immensely
5) sadly Priyantha went missing in 1990 and some say Gammanpila was jealous of his new ally but that’s just speculation although according to Poor Prinyantha’s Mother and Family, Gammanpila had simply stayed away after that, living without a care in the world with no burden of guilt.

6) Subsequently Mr. Gammanpila dumped all his JVP Values of anti-capitalism and pro-Marxism and simply went to one of the most capitalist countries in the world …. Australia !!

7) Interestingly it was one mister Sydney Jaysingha who helped and sponsored him to enter the University of Monash In Melbourne, Australia. You will hear about mr. Jayayasingha in the video below
8) After returning to S.L. with a western education and a western culture, he met the late Priyantha’s brother Pubudu at a college friends house and when Pubudu introduced himself to Gammanpila. he acted as he does not know who he is saying – “mangnag e a gona vikka”
9) The late Priyantha who is from Wataraka, had a elder sister & a younger brother, his family still lives in sadness multiplied by a factor of ten when ever they see Udaya Gammanpila laugh on tv, oblivious to the number of lives he has destroyed

10) If Gammanpila had stuck to the JVP values and beliefs that he propagated to the innocent who gave their lives for it, I guess we could atleast respect the guy, instead he becomes the ultimate capitalist and hypocrite (like comrade Wimal Weerawansa)

a case in point would be when he was building his mansion in Palawatta in dec. 2014, he used his political influence to pressure Tokyo cement to give him 300 Bags of cement, of which he received only 100 we heard.. free of charge !

The question is where did he accumulate money to finance his campaign and as you can gather from his sheepish smile, what dark secrets does he hide…?

One by one the secrets are coming out, we all have are secrets but whats sad is this man pretends to be noble and hoodwinks the public, he has no morals and is a scrupulous man with no principals;

this is what we unearthed so far;

1. He was once imprisoned for writing fraud checks using a company called “Sea Bridge Shipping (Pvt) Ltd”

2. He defrauded a land in Jambugasmulla Mawatha, Nugegoda by not paying the owner, finally his one time close friend “Lasitha” paid the amount

3. But his biggest fraud is swindling money off an investor named “Brian Shadick” from Australia. He did this ofcourse with his partner in crime Sydney Jayasinghe (remember him ?), together with whom he once sold the radio license ( People’s Media Network ) he was gifted by his master Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Australian was swindled off 500 million from the companies he invested in namely “Ceylon Tea Gardens” and “Metal Recyle Colombo” Directly By Udaya Gamanpilla and Sydney Jayasinghe of ** Austin Place, Colombo 8 as per complaint made to the CID.

Ofcourse Australians are known for their sports but not for their intellect so Brian can be forgiven :) but this Hypocritical politician cannot and finally it looks like justice will be served with CID acting on the Fraud.

Courtesy - http://laska.asia/

Corruption allegations and likely voter behaviour

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

I had the privilege of spending two weeks in Sri Lanka on holiday during July. Considering that a parliamentary election is looming, I took every opportunity to speak to ordinary people from different backgrounds both in and outside Colombo, so as to understand the realities of local politics at ground level.
As ‘good governance’ had been a buzz word during the recent presidential election, I was particularly interested in understanding the correlation of this term with the election of honest candidates, as opposed to corrupt ones. While some people were able to make clear distinctions between good governance and corruption, others saw a fine line between the two.
candidate contesting the election. I am confident that most of 

Corruption Allegations and Likely Voter Behaviour by Thavam Ratna

“Some parties compelled to safeguard corrupt politicians to protect themselves” 

2015-08-10

Having served as the Former Auditor General, Sarath Chandrasiri Mayadunne is leading the JVP National List at the forthcoming general elections. In a candid interview with Dailymirror , Mr. Mayadunne speaks of his entry into politics and of how he expects to serve the public void of corruption whilst providing a better insight into why he wouldn’t be engaging in party politics. He had the following to share with us.

Q : To begin with, could you tell us about your background as the Former Audit General and the role you played to serve the public?

“Some Parties Compelled to Safeguard Corrupt Politicians to Protect Themselves” by Thavam Ratna

Former coach on Wasim Thajudeen heroics

Ex-Coach appeals to President for fair inquiry on death of Wasim Thajudeen 

Wasim Thajudeen-August 9, 2015, 9:20 pm

by Nimal Lewke

I was a successful rugby coach at all levels - schools, clubs and national. After successfully coaching Kandy Sports Club from 1995-1997, where they were triple champions for the first time in the history, I got the opportunity to coach S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia in 1998.

It was a bit of a challenge as the Thomians were not doing well at that time and I was looking after the under-17 squad, grooming for the future. The Principal was that great educationalist Mr. Neville de Alwis, Deputy was Mr. Pakyanadan. There were gentlemen like Baila Samarasinghe, A.F. Fernando etc. helping the juniors.

I specifically remember picking Ashan Karthelis and Wasim Thajudeen. Both of them were six footers from the under-17 squad. Wasim was bit of a mischievous fellow. However, he was very talented and a fine kicker. I used to take him separately and teach him basics of kicking. Then I drafted him and Karthelis into the first fifteen squad.

Since I was coaching Kandy, I managed to get Kandy Fijians for the weekend. (Malik was not aware of it).

The Fijians were Manasa Quoro (man mountain) six foot eight, Opethi Thuruwa and Kiti. Opethi Thuruwa was the Fijian center who had the ability to kick the ball for a long distance where the ball will spin like a rocket. I have never seen anyone having that ability or technique. He taught the finer points of kicking to Wasim, who learned it in a very short period and mastered the art.

Wasim was a lovely child. He played as our regular stand-off, with booming kicks and very effective stand-offs. Wasim later went onto represent Havelocks SC and Sri Lanka.

But as I mentioned, he was a mischievous fellow. Sometimes he was late for practices. I am there by 4.30 sharp on the dot everyday and the boys knew it. If anyone got late, they hide behind the scoreboard especially Munna and Wasim. They usually hide behind the scoreboard and wait till I walk towards railway track side and they start run across the cricket grounds, but others alert me.

Eventually, they get caught and get punished. But it was fun. We all enjoyed practices.

By 2001, I made them a champion side. They were unbeaten league champions after a long time. Wasim was a key player in that champion side.

That Thomian side beat Royal College in 2001. It was a bitter-sweet moment for me as my son was representing Royal College.

When I heard about Wasim’s accident, early in the morning, I visited the scene along with my son and daughter, who is a lawyer.

Being a police officer and since there is an inquiry, I do not want to comment about what I saw and my first impression. But I am making a strong appeal to the authorities and to HE the President to whom I have the highest respect and regard, to have a proper inquiry. In the name of justice, I hope the truth will come out even at this late stage.

Wasim was a charming, innocent, young boy. I was like a father figure to him to the last day. Wherever he sees me, he comes running towards me. He always had that fatherly respect to me.

From what I read in the papers, it seems that finally there is a possibility of justice being meted out to him after three years. A proper investigation unit (CID) is being handling the investigation.

One wonders why it took three years for the inquiry to be conducted. There are reports, government analyst and other specialized unit’s initial report such as post-mortem which are contradicting. These experts’ reports and contradictions are a huge question mark.

From the paper reports, it appears that the investigation is in the last stages moving in the correct direction. But that does not mean that initial suppression of evidence at the outset from top to bottom should not be overlooked (if it has happened).

Why this case was not handed over to a responsible unit like the CID at the initial stages raises many questions. Who is responsible for that delay/suppression also have to be investigated. His Excellency needs to look into these blatant offences committed by state officers.

Those guilty should not be allowed to get away as they live out of tax payers’ money.

Goodbye Wasim! Until we meet again.

Insha’Allah

Wasim Thajudeen and a Bloodstained State

by Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena

( August 10, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Deaths of innocents in Sri Lanka have had a long and terrible history. No political party can wash its hands of this blood despite the hypocritical outrage often professed in public. Such fire breathing rhetoric only increases in intensity when an election draws near. But the cold hard truth is that a genuine righting of wrongs is not manifested. Instead, these deaths are used for political advantage, time and time again.

This is the one constant
The only time it seemed that this devastating link would snap was when several Disappearances Commissions were established by the Kumaratunga Presidency in the mid 1990′s to look into nationwide killings during the previous United National Party (UNP) government.

Alas, it did not take too long for the Commissions to meet the same inglorious fate of previous such bodies. It took years for their reports to be made public. Their findings were used to disparage the previous regime, not to address systemic failures in the Department of the Police and the Department of the Attorney General which had enabled the killings and encouraged the cover-up. Criminal investigations recommended by the Commissioners in regard to particular perpetrators were thrown to the wayside.

And as this Presidency too moved into its own phase of attacking civil liberties, there prevailed a monstrously bloodstained quid pro quo to the effect that ‘I will not disclose whom you have killed if you observe the same courtesies in return’ The controversy that enveloped the Supreme Court arose precisely during this period when senior Supreme Court judges reputed throughout the Commonwealth for their erudition were bypassed for promotion to the office of the Chief Justice. Certainly if the integrity of the legal system had been maintained at least, the downward spiral thereafter may have been checked somewhat.

Today, as well intentioned members of civil society call upon voters to protect the gains of the January 8th electoral victory and hail the apparent restoration (in their infinitely optimistic minds) of the independence of Sri Lanka’s judicial institution, there must be pause for thought. The mere removal of one (purported) Chief Justice by executive fiat does not miraculously accomplish this as the past six months should surely illustrate. Instead, the woes of the judiciary must be seen in historical context and addressed as such. Absent this understanding, what we have is a superficial plastering over of the systemic with the personal.

Acknowledging the systemic issue
President Maithripala Sirisena recently defined Sri Lanka’s deficit of a democratic political culture as not being purely due to Rajapaksa ills but as a systemic problem. This is exactly the same issue in regard to the accountability and functionality of the investigative, prosecutorial and legal agencies that are tasked with ensuring justice. This is also why former President Mahinda Rajapaksa found incredibly easy pickings in institutions weakened earlier by attacks under political leaders who should have known much better, starting from the Jayawardene Presidency and coming down the decades thereafter.

This week, as people shuddered at emerging details regarding the unspeakable torture and murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen in 2012, the Cabinet spokesman implicated three men of the Presidential Security Division (PSD) as being involved in the crime. In a somewhat surreal development meanwhile, the security provided to key political leaders is being revamped as a consequential result.

On his own part, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa now battling for an electoral comeback may thunder that he, his sons and his sycophants are not implicated. But what happened to the police investigations and prosecutorial follow-up on the part of agencies so firmly under his thumb at that time? Both under domestic constitutional law and international law, a State is responsible not only for direct involvement in a crime but also when effective investigations fail to ensue. The question is simple. Was the police report regarding the torture of Wasim Thajudeen squirreled under a desk this entire time? Of course, the answer to that question is also quite simple.

The sinister nonchalance of the Rajapaksas
Closely following announcements on the Thajudeen case, the government also stated that two senior army officials will soon be questioned on the enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Here too, only flippancy was demonstrated by the Rajapaksa Presidency. Then advisor to the Cabinet, later (purported) Chief Justice Mohan Peiris waxed eloquent in Geneva that Ekneligoda had fled seeking asylum. Soon thereafter, in a domestic habeas corpus hearing into the disappearance, Peiris was quick to claim that only the deities above knew where Ekneligoda was.

This is the same sinister nonchalance with which deaths of innocent Tamil students in Trincomalee and Tamil/Muslim aid workers in Mutur more than eight years ago were dismissed. Exactly the same patterns of state cover-up as evidenced in the Thajudeen case were seen here as well. The absolute impunity of the State is evidenced thereby far more even than civilian deaths in the end stages of the Wanni war. There is not even the slim excuse of raging conflict to explain the horrendous and sadistic nature of these executions.

Lifting ourselves up from the nadir
That said, some of the very same state officers who either participated or covered up these crimes in the police and prosecutorial branches of government are now proudly holding aloft the flag of ‘yahapalanaya’. This then, is Sri Lanka’s paradox of ‘non-accountability’ premised on false pretences. And while public support must be afforded to the investigation officers looking into the abominable killings of Thajudeen and Ekneligoda, these disclosures on the eve of a general election should not be used as political bargaining points. This would be the ultimate insult to the victims.

So even as we go to the polls in eight days time, what is at stake must be kept in mind. Assuredly, the fight is not between the pure and the impure but between the ‘not-so-good’ and the ‘infinitely far worse.’ Decades of blood stained history testifies to that.

We are now at the nadir and can only painfully lift ourselves up, inevitably lapsing back into the mud at times. Or we can continue to die as a nation, painfully and slowly.

The choice indeed is ours.

CID digs deeper as forensic team exhumes Wasim’s body 

• Special 3-member forensic team to examine Thajudeen’s exhumed remains
• Chief JMO confirms: “No objections from Wasim’s family to exhume body”
• Sri Lanka Red Cross bigwigs questioned by CID over vehicle ‘gifted’ to former First Lady’s charity
• Siriliya Defender now in CID custody: Sri Lanka Red Cross
• CID probing colour change to Defender handed over by Red Cross to ex-First Lady

By Dharisha Bastians-Tuesday, 11 August 2015
Forensic teams exhumed the body of Wasim Thajudeen at the Dehiwala Muslim burial grounds on orders by a Colombo Court yesterday, as the Criminal Investigation Department continues to dig deeper into the alleged murder-cover up.
The exhumation was supervised by the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer, Dr. Ajith Tennakoon, after Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris issued an exhumation order when the CID told Court they suspected foul play in Thajudeen’s death in 2012.
“Three specialists will conduct forensic investigations into the body,” Dr. Tennakoon told reporters outside the cemetery, but he refused to say how long the inquiries could take.

Police officers clear the road for the vehicle carrying the exhumed body of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen from the Dehiwela burial grounds yesterday - Pic by Shehan Gunasekera

The body had been wrapped in plastic and was well preserved, so the exhumation was easy, the Chief JMO said. The forensics expert said that his team would investigate the remains and strive to answer questions posed by Court.
Police are seeking to determine the types of fractures and injuries Thajudeen had suffered, reportedly prior to his death, according to post-mortem reports issued by the JMO.
Asked how he could be certain if the remains exhumed were actually that of the dead rugby player, Dr. Tennakoon said that there was no reason to doubt that.
“The burial spot was shown to us by his family and by cemetery officials, so there is no doubt that these are the remains,” he explained.
Dr. Tennakoon added that there had been no objections from Thajudeen’s family to the exhumation. The UPFA claimed this week that the exhumation was going to take place against the wishes of the victim’s family.
“We asked the family before we undertook the exhumation and they agreed,” Dr. Tennakoon told reporters.
Thajudeen’s body was to be identified by a piece of steel in his knee from an old surgery, Police sources said.
The suspected murder of the star rugby player has rocked the political firmament six days ahead of a crucial Parliamentary election, after reports surfaced that the Presidential Security Division had been involved in the crime, heightening suspicion that the former ruling family may have been involved.
CCTV footage also connected the events of 17 May 2012, the night Thajudeen met his death, to the former VVIP family, after the vehicle involved in the rugby player’s alleged abduction was associated with the Siriliya Saviya Foundation chaired by the former First Lady.
CID sleuths have also grilled a former Lankan diplomat, a young woman believed to have been a former girlfriend of the rugby player and a former VVIP fiancé, for several hours in connection with Thajudeen’s death.
On Sunday, former President and UPFA candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa denied his son’s involvement in the rugby player’s death at a news conference in Colombo. Rajapaksa said the fresh probe into Thajudeen’s death was timed for the election to discredit his candidacy and the party.
Crowds gathered outside the cemetery during the exhumation to protest against former President Rajapaksa and demand justice for Wasim Thajudeen. The demonstrators carried anti-Rajapaksa placards denouncing the crime.
Thajudeen’s body was transported to the Judicial Medical Officer’s office in Colombo under tight security.
Meanwhile, Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunesekera told a news conference yesterday that the hand-over of the Thajudeen case to the CID had been delayed because of delays in the Government Analyst report that was finally only released in January this year, nearly three years after the rugby star’s death.

Video: Thajudeen’s body exhumed

2015-08-10 09
Ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen’s body was exhumed a short while ago at Jummah Mosque Cemetery, Dehiwala as per the order of Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris.

The Magistrate on Thursday ordered a panel of judicial medical officers to exhume the body of former Havelock's Rugby captain, Thajudeen, today. 

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) earlier informed the Magistrate that Thajudeen’s death was not accidental but a murder. 

The exhumed body was sent to the inspection of Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer.

New Twist In Wasim Thajudeen Media Blitz

By Darshanie Ratnawalli –August 10, 2015

Darshanie Ratnawalli

Mahinda.info releases the original police report showing no time for torture

Mahinda Rajapaksa Information Center, Mahinda.info yesterday published a scanned copy of the original report filed by Inspector Damian Perera, OIC, Police Station Narahenpita on 2012 May 21, four days after the incidence which produced the body identified as Wasim Thajudeen’s in the burnt car registered in his name.

This report lists the initial evidence of the friends who last saw Thajudeen alive as well the first spectators at the site of the crash. The last person who saw Wasim Thajudeen alive, was Mohamed Sakeer Badurdeen (The name is written in Sinhala and is given in English as it sounds). Thajudeen dropped Badurdeen off at the residence of the latter at No. 15, Nihal Silva Mawatha, Kirulapone at 11. 50 or 11. 51 pm on 16 May 2012. One of the first spectators at the crash site Balendran Premananda of No. 74, School Lane, Wellawatte passed Shalika Grounds around 12 midnight on 16 May 2012 on his way to the Airport, Katunayaka and saw Wasim’s car on fire. He also reports seeing one person already near the car. According to the times on this report there was only about 10 minutes for the alleged abduction and torture of the victim to take place. The CID intimated to the Court on 27 July 2015 that they suspect murder followed by torture.

This initial Police report gives the evidence of the three friends who were the last people to see Thajudeen alive. They were Junadeen Mariana Rashmi de Silva, Chaminda Jeya Prakaash and Mohamed Sakeer Badurdeen. All three state that the three men Chaminda, Mohamed and Wasim drank two bottles of Old Arrack at the residence of Mariana Rashmi, the girlfriend of Chaminda Jeya Prakaash. According to Mariana Rashmi and Chaminda Jeyaprakaash, Wasim Thajudeen and Mohamed Sakeer came to Rashmi’s residence at 7.30 pm on 16 May when Chaminda Jeya Prakaash was already there. According to Mariana Rashmi and Mohamed Sakeer the company of the three male friends left the girl Rashmi’s place at 11. 30 pm on 16 May. However according to the statement of Chaminda Jeyaprakaash, Rashmi’s boyfriend, they left at 11 pm. From Rashmi’s rented place at Anderson Flats, Colombo 5, the three men got into Waseem’s car and drove to No. 36, Galhena Road, Gangodawilla, Nugegoda, which was the residence of Chaminda Jeya Prakaash. According to Chaminda Jeya Prakaash, he left Wasim Thajudeen’s car at around 11. 45 pm while Thajudeen drove off having expressed the intention of dropping off Mohamed Sakeer.Read More

Car bomb kills 5 in Kabul, Afghan leader warns Pakistan

BY SAYED HASSIB AND MIRWAIS HAROONI-Tue Aug 11, 2015
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani demanded that Pakistan crack down on the Taliban after a car bomb explosion near Kabul airport claimed by the Islamist militants killed five people on Monday, the latest in a series of suicide attacks to rock the capital.

The attacks have followed a change of leadership in the Taliban and have dashed any hopes of an immediate resumption of peace talks with the government. They suggest new Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Akhtar Mansour intends to send a message that there will be no letup in the insurgency.

The attacks, which have killed dozens of civilians and wounded hundreds more, have also stoked tensions with neighbouring Pakistan, the base of many leaders of the hardline movement, according to many in Afghanistan.

Ghani, who has made improving relations with Pakistan a priority on the grounds it may push the Taliban into peace talks, said that Islamabad had to tackle the bomb-making factories and suicide training camps being run on its side of the border.

"We hoped for peace, but war is declared against us from Pakistani territory; this in fact puts into a display a clear hostility against a neighbouring country," he said.

Afghan officials said five people were killed and 16 wounded in Monday's suicide attack in a crowded area outside an airport checkpoint. A woman and a child were among the injured.

The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying it was targeting "foreign forces". It denied any Afghan civilians had been killed in the attack.

A security official at the scene said the attack appeared to have been aimed at two armoured cars, although it was not clear who was in the vehicles. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the occupants of the two targeted vehicles were foreigners and had all been killed.

SECURITY AND SAFETY

The heavily fortified Afghan capital was already on high alert following attacks last Friday, which killed at least 50 civilians and security forces personnel in what the United Nations said was the worst day of violence since 2009.

Pakistan denies sponsoring the Taliban, but Ghani's calls reflect the growing pressure he faces at home to stem an insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives so far this year.

"Our relation with Pakistan is based on our national interests, on top of which comes security and safety of our people," he said. "If our people continue to be killed, relations lose meaning and I hope it will not happen."

But Ghani did not entirely shut the door on resuming dialogue with the Taliban if it stopped the violence.

"We will make peace only with those who believe in the meaning of being a human, Muslim and Afghan and who do not destroy their own country on orders from foreign masters," he said.

Conflict between the Western-backed government and the Taliban has intensified this year, with civilians and Afghan security forces taking the brunt after the NATO combat mission ended in 2014.

Last Friday, a truck bomb killed at least 15 people and wounded 248 in Kabul. That evening, suicide attacks on a police academy and a base used by U.S. special forces killed more than 30 police and security contractors, besides an American soldier. [ID:nL3N10K03Y]

Ghani's coalition government, weakened by infighting, has struggled to respond to the crisis, which has been further complicated by uncertainty around the Taliban leadership.

Mansour's swift appointment by a small council of leaders in the Pakistani city of Quetta has caused rifts within the movement and fed speculation that the latest violence is linked to the leadership dispute.

Several senior figures in the insurgent movement, which wants to re-establish a hardline Islamist regime toppled by U.S.-led military intervention in 2001, have sought a new council to decide the issue.

(Reporting by Mirwais Harooni and Sayed Hassib; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Gareth Jones)

Nine killed in attacks across Turkey

MONDAY 10 AUGUST 2015

Nine people have been killed in attacks across Turkey with a police station and the US consulate in Istanbul among the targets.

Six members of the Turkish security services were killed in a series of attacks in Istanbul and Sirnak.

The escalating violence is occurring against the backdrop of growing tensions between Kurdish militants and the Turkish government.

In Istanbul two assailants opened fire at the heavily protected US consulate building in the city, sparking a gunfight with police.

One of the attackers, a woman, was later captured in a nearby building and taken to hospital.

The far-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Army-Front have claimed responsibility for the attacks. The same group claimed a suicide attack at the US embassy in Ankara which killed a Turkish security guard.

In the same city a car carrying explosives struck a police station in the Sultanbeyli neighbourhood at 1am local time. The bomb killed the attacker and wounded three policemen and seven bystanders.

Six hours later, two gunmen opened fire on the same police station. In the ensuing gunfight two attackers and one police officer were killed.

Meanwhile four police officers were killed when a roadside bomb was detonated in the south eastern province of Sirnak.

A solider was also killed when gunmen fired on a military helicopter carrying conscripts who had finished their term of duty.

The sudden violence in Turkey's largest city erupted a day after the US deployed six F-16 fighter jets and 300 military personnel to Incirlik air base in southern Turkey as part of a bid to increase military pressure on so-called Islamic State forces in neighboring Iraq and Syria.