Cameron in the dock for failing to prevent torture reprisals

David Cameron comes face to face with survivors in Jaffna

Aug 14, 2015

Two years on and the legacy of David Cameron’s visit to the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting remains a topic of debate. His historic visit to the North of Sri Lanka, though regarded by some as a powerful gesture of solidaritywith members of the Tamil community, is remembered by many others as a hollow sop to activists disappointed that he had made the misguided decision to attend the summit at all.

Yet amidst such disagreements over the lasting legacy of the visit, perhaps one of the clearest and most serious impacts has remained unreported until now: the reprisals, including the use of torture and sexual violence, against individuals involved in the demonstrations surrounding his visit.  A report last week by the International Truth and Justice Project, as well as revealing further testimony about the threats and harassment experienced by such individuals, identifies five cases of torture directly linked to their participation in those protests (see pp. 94-102).

In all five of cases, the men – now based in the UK – were bundled into white vans, handcuffed and transported to torture sites. In their testimony, all five men reported sexual abuse. Several were subjected to repeated anal rape.

One survivor said: “They held my head from behind and put a bag full of petrol on my head and held it tight. This lasted about 10 seconds. It was burning and suffocating. The fumes were burning my eyes and skin … for the first week it was always the same three men who tortured me. After that it was sometimes different people.”

These deeply disturbing reports are a reminder of the deeply ingrained culture of impunity that exists in Sri Lanka to this day. But they are also significant because of the apparent failure of the British government to live up to its pledge, made in 2013, to monitor reprisals against the individuals Cameron would meet – and to fulfil their duty of care with regards to their protection.

The response of the British Foreign Office (FCO) was woefully inadequate. An initial Freedom of Information made by the authors of the ITJP report was turned down on cost grounds, and the FCO’s initial response to complaints referenced Syria instead of Sri Lanka. Concerns raised by the Parliamentary Affairs Select Committee met with only a cursory response. Finally, in response to a separate FOI request, the FCO issued the following statement:

“The British High Commission in Colombo remains in contact with many of those who met the Prime Minister in Sri Lanka in 2013. High Commission staff have also returned to visit places including Uthayan Press and the Sapapathypillai Welfare Centre, to follow up on the PM’s visit. We have no knowledge that any of those met by the delegation have experienced reprisals as a result of the PM’s visit, neither have we received allegations of reprisals, credible or otherwise…”

Cameron’s visit to North was controversial for many reasons. Yet whilst its lasting impact – as evidenced by the ongoing debate about its legacy – may be disputed, the effects on the lives of many of those who engaged with it and faced the consequences are painfully clear. The mental and physical wounds endured by those individuals may never heal. But a basic acknowledgement of their suffering by those who pledged, and failed, to protect them would be a good start.

3000 Youth Gathered In Kilinochchi And Passed Resolution With 25 Demands

August 14, 2015

Around 3000 Youth of nine districts who journeyed from the North, East and Hill Country to Kilinochchi put forward a resolution containing 25 demands, following which they returned home determined to vote only for those who accept and implement their demands. The group is called “the Youth in search of a zip code for democracy”

On Saturday 8 August 2015 more than 2750 youth gathered in Kilinochchi, in militarized post-war North. 

The event titled, “The Power of Youth is the Zip Code of Democracy”, organized by Home for Human Rights was held at Kanakapuram Sports Ground, Kilinochchi. Youth from the districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Mannar Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee and Nuwara Eliya, from the North, East and Hill country participated in the event.

Discussions at the event focused on mainly two themes, the role of youth in participatory democracy and strategies to make informed electoral choices.

2750 Youth of nine districts who journeyed from the North, East and Hill Country in search of democracy chanting the slogan, ‘’The Choice is Ours’’ gathered together in Kilinochchi, which holds the wounds of war, sorrow and memories of thousands who lost their lives. Those who came together were able to share their political opinions and discuss strategies to choose the best person to represent them and addresses their needs and concerns.

Most importantly, the young people put forward a resolution containing 25 demands.

The resolution was presented to the Chief Minister of Northern Province on August 12, 2015. This resolution was delivered to the Chief Minister primarily because of his neutral stance on the upcoming parliamentary election. (Some of the authors of this resolution are not from the northern province, but Chief Minister’s unique position on the parliamentary poll means he is well positioned to receive a document of this nature.)

Through this initiative aimed to address the lack of civic mobilization and non-partisan political education, which had not been provided to, or which the people in the war-affected North and East, particularly youth, had not been able to access for three decades.

As the day of the Parliamentary Election draws closer political parties have stepped up their election campaigns. While the candidates propagate their policies as well as that of their parties, this effort by the youth, who will be leaders of tomorrow, with the aim of strengthening their political knowledge and civic responsibility, should be commended.

The resolution reiterating the following demands:                    Read More

Sirisena’s sledgehammer

By Dharisha Bastians-Friday, 14 August 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena has struck a second, more devastating blow to his predecessor’s prime ministerial hopes 48 hours before campaigning ends for Monday’s Parliamentary poll, in a fiery missive denouncing Mahinda Rajapaksa for his power-hunger and inclination to play communal politics.
The ‘Dear John’ type epistle flays his party’s Kurunegala District Candidate and former President Rajapaksa for his many sins, and accuses him of being a ‘prisoner’ of smaller constituent parties within the UPFA, effectively destroying the SLFP.
“You must take the responsibility for making the glorious SLFP, a party with a 64-year history, hostage to the petty agendas of small parties and groups,” President Sirisena charged in his five-page letter.
The letter made it clear to the former President that under no post-election scenario could he hope to be appointed Prime Minister, even if the UPFA wins an outright majority.

“I believe that if the UPFA obtains the 113 required to form a Government, the premiership will go to a SLFP senior leader. If the UPFA comes close to 113 and needs more seats to form a Government, as Executive President, I can intervene to secure that majority. Even in that scenario, it is not you who should be prime minister, but another senior party leader,”
President Sirisena charged that Rajapaksa had deprived SLFP seniors of a political future when he passed the draconian 18th Amendment.
“If you had retired gracefully like other presidents before you after two terms in office, there would have been a chance for a senior member in our party to contest the presidency and also become prime minister. Now it looks as if you are intent to steal their opportunities again at the end of this election. Even now should they not be given their due?” the letter asks.
He called on Rajapaksa to provide his blessing to grant another senior member of the SLFP the premiership, if the UPFA wins the election on Monday.

“In the name of the people of this country and the SLFP, I request you to express your willingness, your support, your generosity and your blessing, for Nimal Siripala De Silva, John Seneviratne, Chamal Rajapaksa, Athauda Seneviratne, A.H.M. Fowzie, Susil Premajayantha or Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to be appointed premier after the Parliamentary election,” the President appealed.  
President Sirisena also urged Rajapaksa to act with his head instead of his emotions until polling day, and refrain from making remarks that could spread communal tensions in the country.
“Despite your frequent visits to temples, I have my doubts that your spirituality has increased at all. In your private meetings, it is reported that your words are filled with hatred, bitterness and anger,” the President’s scathing letter continued.
He accused Mahinda Rajapaksa of turning the SLFP into a party that represented only the majority community in the country.
“Since you took over the leadership of the SLFP nine years ago, this party has turned it back on social realities and pluralism,” Sirisena charged.
“Do you not see how these communal flames you yourself had set alight worked against you and precipitated your defeat on 8 January?
Rajapaksa’s brand of extremism was not suited to a great party like the SLFP, the President’s letter said.
“The challenge is before me now to transform the SLFP and rebuild the party so that it will represent the interest of all Sri Lankans, instead of a single race or religion. Today all those around you are inflaming communal tensions to win preferential votes,” he said.

The tell-all letter reveals intrigue and bickering during the UPFA’s nominations campaign, and President Sirisena’s deep disillusionment at the behaviour of his predecessor, who he said was willing to split the SLFP and contest separately, at the ‘drop of a hat’.  
Sirisena claims he tactically withdrew from battles over the UPFA nominations, to prevent the SLFP from splitting ahead of the elections.
“When the Gampaha District nomination list was being prepared, I was hoping that the Western Province Chief Minister would step aside, since it was not practical for three members of the Ranatunga family to contest in the same district,” his letter said.
President Sirisena said that Rajapaksa took the position that if the Chief Minister did not get a nomination, he would contest separately. “So once again I was silent and I let you win, even when your position resulted in one member of the Ranatunga family leaving the SLFP to join the UNP. The risk of a 64-year-old party splitting in two over the nomination of a single individual was averted only because I tactically withdrew at that point,” he charged in the letter.
President Sirisena said that if he had been given an opportunity to spearhead the SLFP election campaign, the party could have attracted Tamil and Muslim voters and the younger generation.
“The Tamil and Muslim communities have immense faith in me,” he said in a clear broadside at Rajapaksa, who has failed to muster votes from minority communities in recent elections.

President Sirisena also accused Rajapaksa of failing to stand up for him when his brother Basil Rajapaksa was trying to destroy his political career.
“The political friendship we had built from being members of the SLFP was ruined because of Basil Rajapaksa’s conduct, as you well know. His attempt to end my political career and portray me as an unsuccessful politician ended up boomeranging on you all.”
“I thought you would have the humility to stand up for me when Basil Rajapaksa was obstructing me. But all the time up to 21 November when I stepped out to be the common candidate, you failed to do so,” he said.

A Message to All Candidates by Friday Forum

13/08/2015

The Friday Forum has, in recent statements, stressed factors and issues we consider important, when voting at an election, which is of critical importance for our country’s future.

We note the comparatively violence and intimidation free manner in which campaigns have been conducted this time. We need to recognise that this is largely due to the democratic space created after President Sirisena and a new government took office in January, and the continuous scrutiny of citizens that politicians have faced during this period. We also recognize and appreciate the commitment of the Commissioner of Elections, his staff, and other public officers in making this possible.

As we prepare to vote next Monday we need to remind parties and candidates that

1. We will not support parties or candidates who promote divisive and racist politics instead of seeking just and equitable solutions to our national problems. Those who misuse places of worship to spread such messages must not be allowed to return to Parliament and prejudice our progress as a conflict free and peaceful society.

2. We will not support adversarial attitudes in foreign relations that alienate us from the community of nations to which we have belonged since gaining independence in 1948. We are a sovereign nation, but must follow international norms and standards that bind us.

3. We will not re-elect those who have misused public office in acts of violence, intimidation and corruption, or who have not carried out their duties and responsibilities as members of Parliament.

4. All candidates and parties must respect the right of all public servants including those involved in election duty to perform their official responsibilities free of political interference and abuse of political power.

5. All individual candidates and politicians who seek our vote must give an assurance that they will not abuse the idea of a conscience vote to bargain and cross over to another party after elections. They need to recognise that in doing so they are completely rejecting their accountability to the people who supported them as candidates of a particular political party.

6. We as citizens have a right to demand that political parties do not bring candidates defeated at the elections into parliament through the National List.

Prof. Savitri Goonesekera
Dr. G. Usvatte-Aratchi
Shanthi Dias

On behalf of The Friday Forum Prof. Savitri Goonesekere, , Dr. G. Usvatte-Aratchi, Ms. Shanthi Dias , Ms. Suriya Wickremasinghe Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran, Dr. Upatissa Pethiyagoda, Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare, Rev. Dr. Jayasiri Peiris, Dr. A. C. Viswalingam, Mr. Faiz-ur Rahman, Mr. Priyantha Gamage, Mr. J.C.Weliamuna, Rt. Revd. Bishop Duleep de Chickera, Mr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, Prof. Camena Guneratne, Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe, Mr. Saliya Peiris, Mr. Tissa Jayatilaka, Ms. Damaris Wickremasekera, Mr. Pulasthi Hewamanna, Dr. Deepika Udagama, Ms. Manouri Muttetuwegama, Mr. Chandra Jayaratne.

(The Friday Forum is an informal group of concerned citizens pledged to uphold norms of democracy, good governance, the rule of law, human rights, media freedom and tolerance in our pluralist society.)

PM expects Aug. 17 victory to consolidate alliance with 

by Shamindra Ferdinando-August 13, 2015

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday declared that a victory for UNP-led United National Front (UNF) at the August 17 parliamentary polls would help consolidate the gains made at what he called the January 08 revolution which ended the Rajapaksa administration.

The UNP leader reiterated his commitment to the continuation of the post-presidential polls arrangement with President Maithripala Sirisena. The PM is in the fray in Colombo.

Claiming that the electorate didn’t want former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s return to Parliament, the PM said that his partners were committed to transforming the country within five years.

Some former UPFA constituents as well as a small group of SLFPers are in the fray on the UNP ticket.

The PM was addressing the UNF’s final media conference ahead of next Monday’s polls at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI).

The media was told that the country was heading for a national government.

Declaring that only the UNF was capable of taking the country forward, Premier Wickremesinghe asserted that his rival wouldn’t secure a majority under any circumstances. Asked whether he could estimate the number of seats the UNP/UNF was likely to obtain, Premier Wickremesinghe said that the coalition was in a comfortable position. Claiming that last Friday marked the turning point, the Premier said that the situation would continue to imporve over the next couple of days.

Asked whether his government would consider a federal solution to the national problem as demanded by the four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Premier Wickremesinghe ruled out that option, while assuring maximum possible devolution of powers even to the level of ‘cluster villages.’

The PM said he never had secret agreements or understanding with the LTTE. The UNPer recalled the circumstances under which the LTTE had engineered his defeat at the Nov. 2005 presidential polls consequent to him turning down Prabhakaran’s offer for a secret pact.

The Premier described the forthcoming general election as the most peaceful with the least number of violations. In the run-up to 1989 general election, the then Elections Commissioner had allowed the display of posters and cut-outs. This had been done taking into consideration the situation in the country at that time, the Premier said.

The Premier briefly explained the salient points in his strategy meant to transform the country within a period of sixty months.

General Secretary of the UNF for Good Governance and Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that those who had brought Maithripala Sirisena into power in January were working towards the formation of a stable government.

Ranawaka said that the Rajapaksa camp had used the picture of President Maithripala Sirisena for propaganda purposes though the President remained with those who had engineered his victory eight months before.

Assuring that their government would never seek a secret deal with the LTTE rump either here or abroad under any circumstances, Minister Ranawaka emphasised that there was absolutely no basis for accusations pertaining to threat on national security in the event of victory for the UNF.

Responding to claims that Sri Lanka’s unitary status was at stake, Colombo District UNP candidate Ranawaka said that the Constitution couldn’t be changed unless approved by a two-thirds majority plus a referendum. Reiterating commitment to the Maithripala Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration, Minister Ranawaka said that the coalition had the backing of people living in all parts of the country.

Minister Ranawaka alleged that the previous government had caused serious friction with Western powers leading to a difficult situation. Claiming that the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) had put off presentation of a report on Sri Lanka from March to September because of Maithripala Sirisena’s victory at the presidential polls. Even former President Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should vote for the UNF if they were to neutralise the threat, Ranawaka said.

The “poor” voting for the “rich”

Saturday, 15 August 2015

The mood around the political stage is frenetic; endless noise, blaring music, anxious organisers flurrying about, expectant crowds and finally the speakers addressing the “Dugee, Duppath and Ahinsaka” voter

‘Men might rebel; but in the end they usually make their peace. There is no room in India for outsiders. The Arya Samaj, the Aryan Association, a reformist group opposed to traditional ideas of caste, and active in north India earlier in the century failed for a simple reason. 

The “Poor” Voting for the “Rich” by Thavam Ratna

Dirt files open on eve of Sri Lanka election

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo on August 13, 2015. Source: AFP

Amanda Hodge-South Asia Correspondent-AUGUST 14, 2015

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday ­pre­dicted a “comfortable majority” for his United National Front in Monday’s crucial parliamentary elections.

The confident call came as his once all-powerful rival Mahinda Rajapaksa faced allegations he paid millions of dollars to Tamil Tiger commanders to enforce a boycott of the 2005 polls.

Just seven months after Mr Rajapaksa’s shock defeat in January presidential elections by his former health minister Maithripala Sirisena, he is contesting the parliamentary polls with an eye on the prime ministership.

With his legacy now marred by serious corruption allegations, the former president has been forced to campaign on his credentials as the leader who ended the three-decade long civil war.

His Sri Lankan Freedom Party has also been peddling warnings that the vanquished Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam could renew its violent insurgency, although the message has been gaining little traction with a population ­focused on economic reform six years after the war’s end.

In Colombo yesterday, Mr Wickremsinghe said his alliance would “preserve the gains of the January revolution” to ensure the interests of all would be served and not just those of one family.

“Our plan is to make a new country, a disciplined country where everyone is equal, where everyone has a job, where equal opportunity is given to all,” he said. “It is a country where people can speak freely and a country where natural resources will be protected. It’s a country where everybody can practise their own religion, a country where women can walk freely.

“Instead of protecting one particular family, we want a country where all families are protected. And we want to make this country in the next 60 months.”

The Prime Minister left it to his coalition allies to make more pointed allegations against his rival, with Rajapaksa government fisheries minister Rajitha Senaratne repeating claims the family paid up to $1.7 million in bribes to LTTE leaders to enforce a Tamil boycott of the 2005 election.

Mr Rajapaksa went on to ­narrowly win that election against Mr Wickremsinghe and remained in power for the next decade, installing family members in key positions across government and the bureaucracy.

The latest accusations have been circulating for years and ­featured in several US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks.

These elections are already being hailed as the cleanest in decades of murky, often thuggish Sri Lankan politics with electoral commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya enforcing polling rules that have been more notable by their absence than application in ­recent memory.

Gone are the towering cut-outs of politicians, the plastered political posters and the co-­opting of public servants and ­security forces in campaigns.

Election monitors estimate there have been at least three dozen notable incidents of campaign violence, less than half the number of the 2010 election.

Though analysts are tipping at least a narrow victory for the UNF, the International Crisis Group warned yesterday that Mr Rajapaksa’s leadership of a large ethnic Sinhala nationalist bloc in parliament could still stymie the leadership’s reform and reconciliation agenda.

In a pre-election report, the ICG praised Mr Sirisena and Mr Wickremesinghe for fulfilling key reform promises in the first six months of office, including reducing the powers of the president and launching scores of investi­gations into alleged corruption while noting “the lack of indictments thus far has fed rumours of backroom deals”.

“The August 17 parliamentary elections will test the continued appeal of the former president’s hard-line Sinhala nationalism and provide a chance for the fresh start needed for a lasting solution to the country’s social divisions.”

Ranil You Can Take Guard & Get Ready To Play A Long Innings

By Nishthar Idroos –August 14, 2015 

Nishthar Idroos

A sense of deja-vu is gripping the resplendent island of Sri Lanka. It’s the eve of another General Election, the many held every five years in the island nation with a nascent democracy. Campaigning is at its peak, so is the level of violence. All projections indicate to one inevitable conclusion. A United National Party led alliance win. It won’t be that monumental landslide of 1977 under JR Jayewardene but good enough to form a government according to latest polls.

A Ranil led government seems just hours away. This portends good for the country and to its overhaul health. Recently master-blaster cricketer turned politician Sanath Jayasuriya handed over a cricket bat to one of the candidates in Southern Sri Lanka just after his now infamous pole-vault. It would have been more appropriate if it was presented to the UNP leaderRanil Wickremesinghe. He surely may need more bats to deliver on the many promises he had made thus far. The nation knows that he will deliver on all his promises and lets wish him well.

Mr Wickremesinghe, you can take guard and get ready to play a long innings while the nation goes through the motions. You have finally got the opportunity to play that much awaited yet deprived innings. People of Sri Lanka had waited long enough to see you in action. The time has arrived and you’re welcome to summon all skills necessary for a glorious knock. Take your time, strategize well and bat with a straight bat. Dispatch the red cherry to all parts of the ground with elegance. Drive ‘em, hook ‘em, loft ‘em, glide ‘em and sweep ‘em with good timing you’re known for. Play the game best way you know fit.

Ignore the ovation and overlook the accolades. You have a mission to accomplish, no one needs to spell it out for you. The environment is dire, your indispensability palpable. Acknowledge your role and extend the required leadership. Remember you won’t go far sans support from your fellow legislators. You need them. Don’t repeat the mistakes of those who got totally and completely intoxicated when they held the chair. Inspire your team and instill in them true values and deliver to the innocent, wearied and abundantly cheated people true dividends of post-war Sri Lanka. They need it, they badly need it. You look good, get cracking. The nation is behind you.

Read More

Another Sri Lankan Election with No Solution to the Tamil Issue

PAUL NEWMAN 08.12.15

August 17th will witness parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka; once again the Tamils may play a key role in the formation of a government if the projection of election results are accurate. The Tamils are expected to vote for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which enjoys a considerable following in the north and east of the country.

Though the TNA is poised to play an important role in the post-election government, none of the major political parties or coalitions from the south who are expected to form the government have come out with any new proposals to end the nearly seven decade long Tamil effort for justice.

The TNA manifesto seeks federalism within a united Sri Lanka, which has been rejected outright by the Sinhala political parties as they see this as the first step towards secession. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the United National Party (UNP), the United National Front for Good Governance and the Janatha Vimukthi Perumana (JVP) have said that this would lead to the division of the country.

This demand of the Tamils has been the bone of contention and the international community too has been supportive of federalism in Sri Lanka as a political solution.

As the main demand of the TNA has been rejected by all the Sinhala political parties, what is in store for the Tamils after the elections? How can they bargain to gain a political solution for their problems?

Before the last presidential election on January 8th, the Tamils pinned their hopes on an international inquiry to be conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The recently leaked report of the UNHRC by Channel 4 shows the tacit understanding between Sri Lanka and the UNHRC to propose another internal inquiry mechanism which would involve the Tamils.

The only potent weapon in the hands of the Tamils is the history of their suffering culminating in Mullivakal. In order to ward off pressure for an international inquiry, the Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, prevailed upon the UNHRC, the United States, India and the international community to delay the tabling of the report.

The Tamils had no say in the postponement of the report. Their future survival and accountability depend on the recommendations of the UNHRC report and the actions taken by the international community. The TNA with the support of the international community must not settle for anything less than an international inquiry.

Given the past record of the successive Sinhala regimes, can the Tamils expect anything different from a new government, which has promised economic development in the past? What the Tamils need is devolution of power.

In the last seven months, under the new regime of Maitripala Sirisena, only the return of about 1,000 acres of land has been granted. In the past the civilian governors of the North and East defended Sri Lanka’s treatment of the Tamils.

For the Sinhalese there is a threat of democracy and the revocation of their rights if Mahinda Rajapakse returns to power. Whoever returns to power threatens the survival of the Tamils unless their elected representatives are shrewd enough to seek what they want from the United National Party (UNP) and the United National Front for Good Governance who are projected to win, with the international community as their guarantors.

This time the TNA should not give support to the Coalition as they did in January 2015. They must demand an Independent International Inquiry.

Mahendran’s conduct will cost the UNP the simple majority they need 

Aug 14, 2015

The infamous Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has become a huge liability for the UNP. His conduct according to many analysts will go along way to prevent the UNP from getting a simple majority.

While the Bond Fraud is a complicated issue and understood by a few, the Opposition has given a new meaning to it by saying the Central bank has been robbed.

Many gullible people believe it. To add to all this the Governor who is a Tamil does not have the command of the Sinhala language to defend him self. As a result the former governor is having a field day ridiculing the current governor, despite having done deals with his former son in law. The governor is in a precarious situation because he cannot investigate the former governor because his son in law will get implicated in many of those transactions. Arjuna Mahendren has been a disaster for the UNP and the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister would miss out on many prefernance votes as a result of his unwillingness to ask the Governor to go home.

The President in the interest of the country should at least now sack the Governor so that Sri Lanka can get a fresh start after the 18 th of August. If Arjuna Mahendren thinks he has a safe passage after the election he is in for a shock because the opposition will never allow it to go away until they see the back of him. I congratulate the Lanka News Web for their continuous reporting of this issue without sweeping it under the carpet.
 
Bertram

Sights of violence, sites of memory: Reframing the past

• by Tissa Jayatilaka 
• - on 08/14/2015 

Keynote on ‘Sights of Violence, Sites of Memory: Reframing the Past’ delivered on the 13th of August, 2015 for ‘Framing the Past: Untying the Future’, 11th -17th of August 2015, Park street Mews, exhibition curated by Senior Researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives and Editor of Groundviews, Sanjana Hattotuwa, in collaboration with Artraker (United Kingdom).

Art by M. VIJITHARAN, 2015, Motherland II-IV

Friends,

The subject of war, memory, memorials, memorialization  and the violence of the state has been rekindled both domestically and internationally in recent weeks. Sri Lanka’s ongoing general election campaign has focused on our long and brutal internecine war and the need for reconciliation. Internationally  the 70th anniversary of the awful events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki has been observed. 

Sights of Violence, Sites of Memory Reframing the Past by Thavam Ratna

Astrologers Got It Wrong Last Time, Pollsters Get It Wrong This Time

By Niranjan Rambukwella –August 14, 2015

Polls often measure perception rather than behavior. This is one reason they often fail spectacularly in predicting electoral outcomes.

Election surveys at best imperfectly measure differences in turnout between voter segments. First, because some amateur polls don’t factor in turnout at all. Second, because even professional polls can only measure voters’ stated intention. Voters often say that they plan on voting but then don’t. There are two reason for this. First, they are ashamed of telling pollsters that they are not voting. Two, they are usually over optimistic of their commitment to voting.

Turning to our current situation. In this election poor UPFA base turnout and high UNP base turnout means that all polls, which primarily measure voter perception rather than behavior, are biased in the UPFA’s favour.

For example, imagine the Colombo District has 100 voters. Suppose I conduct a survey and find that 50 voters support the UNP and 50 voters support the UPFA. This does not mean that the UNP and UPFA will each get fifty votes. Suppose 80 percent of UNP voters actually vote in the election, while only 50 percent of SLFP voters do. That means that 40 votes will be cast for the UNP and only 25 will be cast for the UPFA.Read More

President sacks Anura and Susil; appoints Duminda and Vishwa

August 14, 2015
The Colombo District Court today issued an enjoining order preventing Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and Susil Premajayantha from acting and discharging duties as the General Secretaries of the SLFP and UPFA respectively until August 28, 2015.

President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Chairman of the SLFP and UPFA has suspended the party memberships of Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and Susil Premajayantha and has also removed them from the posts of General Secretary. 

Meanwhile the President has appointed Minister Duminda Dissanayake as the Acting General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and ex-Minister Prof. Vishwa Warnapala as Acting General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). 

Consequently Duminda Dissanayake and Prof. Warnapala have sought an enjoining order to prevent the former General Secretaries from carrying out duties in their former capacities.  

Intimidations to Purawesi Balaya – Inoka’s house attacked!

Aug 14, 2015

A member of the Purawesi Balaya (Citizens Force) movement and film directress Inoka Sathyangani’s house came under an attack yesterday the 13th. She said the attackers have abducted a cow which was tied in her garden.

The Purawesi Balaya socialized a strong opinion for the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa during the last presidential election is once again raising a strong voice to protect the victory achieved on January 8th. Inoka Sathyangani is appearing strongly behalf of this.

A complaint has been lodged to the police regarding the incident and the police have started investigations.

She said few days before a group travelling in a three wheeler crossed her vehicle and yesterday there was an attack to her house. The group may try to portray this as a theft of a cow but if it is so there are many such cows roaming in this area which they could have taken.

She further said this is done in the intention of fearing her by her political opponents like they did to Anoja and Chandraleka. She stressed there were similar incidents done to her in 2005 and she will not be discouraged of such violent acts.