Universities & Student Protests: Too Much Blood 

By Yudhanjaya Wijeratne –November 1, 2015

Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

Sri Lanka has a lot of protests, most of them conducted by local universities. We protest everything – governments, private education, scholarships, private education, private education… you get the picture. It seems that every other month there’s a couple of metal barricades and one of them water cannon machines rolling up the road.

I’ve had the unfortunate experience of being caught up in a couple of these, and the level of thought gone into these is incredible. Mindless chanters – check. Coerced students – check. Placards. Banners onna stick. Firebrands strung at strategic intervals to make sure everyone’s equally involved. There are always university students who, for fear of ragging, temporarily take up the robes of a Buddhist monk: these are generally placed front and center. Give it a couple more years and we’ll have enough expertise to launch a B.A. in Professional Protesting.

Usually it stops there. Usually people block traffic for a while, or sit on a pavement outside the Colombo Fort Railway Station, and usually bemused-looking cops hang back and hope nobody does anything foolish. Then everybody goes away.

This time, the excrement made physical contact with the electrically powered oscillating air current distribution device.

Let me now say the obvious thing that everybody expects you to say: this was wrong, those cops should be arrested, etcetera, etcetera, students, innocent, people getting people, blood, etcetera.

At the same time, it is inevitable. Policemen are humans, and humans are not known for rational action. We go overboard. We do cruel things to one another. Perhaps there was one cop who had seen too many protests and had too many stones thrown at them. Perhaps Han shot first. This isn’t an excuse, but this is expected.

Now pull back a bit. This is not an isolated case. Why are students protesting? Why are there always students protesting?                                                 Read More

Something is wrong in the State…

2015-11-02

The billion dollar bank accounts: The billion dollar question is why there is no indictment

ike its predecessor, the new government excels at keeping the public enthralled.
The Rajapaksa regime’s recipe was hard boiled patriotism, now its successor has adopted ‘anti-corruption’ to achieve the same end. If the statements recorded by the PRECIFAC, CID and other investigation agencies are to be counted, by now, we could have were a world record.

Something is Wrong in the State… by Thavam Ratna

Fake Media Heroes, Those Who Tried To Ripe-Off Tax Payers Money

Nov 01, 2015

This article is in relation to the series of articles published in ‘Lankanewsweb.net’ website consecutively in 26th October 2015 & 28th October 2015 under the headlines of ‘Rohantha Authukorale running around to get his tourism Job back’ and ‘The Truth comes out at Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau’.  By analysing the both articles, it can be literally understand

for anyone with common-sense that the second article has been published as a part of a personal agenda from an anonymous party to criticise the current management at SLTPB & SLTDA with unproven, baseless and unethical allegations to pressure the newly appointed minister for Tourism and Christian Affairs- Honourable John Amarathunga as well as former Minister for Tourism Honourable Navin Dissanayake. Also the attempt has been made with that same article to discourage public support towards the good faith movement of ‘Good Governs’ aka ‘Yahapalana Government’ by creating groundless criticisms filled with lies. Even though the featured article stated that ‘the truth has been revealed’, the real truth never been the same as mentioned in the article.

 

By evaluating some of the opening criticisms made in the article, simply there was no incident occurred in relation to so called  ‘400 million Sri Lankan Rupee valued proposals’, since there was no such board papers proceed or neither  staff  at SLTPB has been forced to act favourable to the Managing Director. Looking at the next criticism that the article has made about sponsoring for the ‘Muthiyangana Wesak Perahara’ which is a decision made by the management to genuinely promote regional cultural events and encourage other cultural events to improve their standards to offer great experience for the international tourists as they are doing with established events such as Kandy Perhara, Kataragama Perahara which SLTPB also made considerable contribution by looking at the prospects of long term Tourism value. Further to that promoting cultural event is a part of 8 theme promotional campaign of Sri Lanka Tourism.  Also, promoting nature oriented central highlands including Ella, Badulla, Haputhale and Kothmale are very important not only because these destinations have very high potential to add value to Sri Lankan tourism Industry with Natural beauty and ancient sites (Ramayana Trail, Ruins from the period of King Walagamba & King Dutugaminu) ,but also a higher percentage from the highlands’ population suffocate from  poverty and terrible living standards.  So tourism related developments will be one of the key solutions to improve their living conditions. However, due to the political football game played at SLTPB few months back that specific project couldn’t get the opportunity to proceed. If MD- Milanka Gajanayake at SLTPB has really made a political interference as previous regime used to do at SLTPB (such as using tax payers money to print T- shirts for the Presidential Election 2015), this Kothmale & Nuwara Eliya Tourism Development projects may be taken in place by now. But neither Mr. Gajanayake (MD) has used such political interference or pressured specific directors to do such any activities out from the current SLTPB operational procedures, even though Badulla happened to be his Hometown or just because Nuwara Eliya and Kothmalee are the areas politically belongs to Honourable Navin Dissanayake. It is also, worthwhile for any party those who prepare such articles in future to relook into the mission & vision of SLTPB and evaluate any actions base on that. As the promotional catalyst of Sri Lanka Tourism Industry, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau obligated to promote not only Colombo and other established destinations, but also the island as whole. So, within the next several years, tourism development will not only be taking  in place in Highlands, it will be moving to other important areas as well including Northern province, Eastern Province, etc.    In relation to the allegation of 40 million bill payment also a big time lie, since there was no such payment has been made under the authorisation of MD- Milanka Gajayanayake. 

 

Analysing the current movement in Sri Lankan Tourism, it has been stuck with the same old   destinations & attractions (ex: Colombo, Kandy, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradapura, Galle, Yala, etc.).   However, there is a common statement most local & foreigners make that Sri Lanka is a compact Island with thousands of natural, cultural and historical resources. If Sri Lanka is really targeting 2.5 tourists by the end of the year 2016, it is very important to promote lesser known areas and attractions aggressively within the global travellers before they find Sri Lanka is boring with same attractions which we are promoting during the last four or five decades. So, from unworthy and unprofessional critics like who created previous article ,the question should ask that ‘if Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau doesn’t take necessary actions to promote these lesser known destinations among the foreigners by investing tax payers money to offer more economical benefits to the local communities’ , who else will do that? . Also, it should be good to understand that direct and indirect economic benefits from local tourism sector must be shared among the all stake holders in tourism not only large scale businesses but also with mid-range businesses and small range businesses.

 

As a developing country, it is government’s responsibility to give a significant focus to improve quality of the life of rural –poor people, via tourism sector. In fact this has been one of the main objectives to be achieved via tourism sector as per the Honourable Prime Minister as well as for the current Minister for Tourism. Promoting lesser known areas, cultural events, natural sites, heritage, etc is SLPTB’s key duty and with the current management of Mr. Paddy Withana and Milanka Gjanayake, SLTPB is moving towards to achieve that goal. During the previous regime of former president Mahinda Rajapaksha, only few initiatives have been taken to promote lesser known areas to be established as tourism destinations. Even the privet sector used to complain among themselves that they had to work through with their own promotions while SLTPB ran as a White Elephant with full of corruptions and miss using public money for various personal agendas. With the current ‘Good Governs’ there has been a full stop for those alleged practices. Today, with the directions of Honourable Minister for Tourism John Amarathunga and Management of Tourism Promotion Bureau including Veteran Hotelier Mr. Paddy Withana (Chariman at SLTDA & SLTPB) & Mr. Milanka Gajanayake (Engineer, former Industrial entrepreneur and Managing Director at SLTPB) Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is moving towards a better future by promoting & branding Sri Lanka globally. However, in the article some of the low level statements are been made against Mr. Paddy Withana by calling him an old man in SLTPB who doesn’t want to move away from his current position and calling Mr. Milanka Gajanayake a crook are baseless and unprofessional. If the unspecified party who prepared that article, really evaluated the professionalism of these high ranked individuals, they will see the capacity of administration and strategic planning skills both of these professionals are capable to offer for SLTPB to guide Sri Lanka Tourism to achieve the common goals with a strong privet & public sector interrelationship.

 

Finally, these kind of fake articles try to show the Sri Lankan public overall ‘Yahapalana Government’ as a failure. These mentally sick groups are seeking for every single opportunity to create issues and stop the good faith movement formed by the collaboration of Honourable President Mithreepala Sirisena and Honourable Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. However, the truth is not far away to offer better future for all Sri Lankans by succeeding with a sustainable Tourism Development. Regardless of how many internal documents were been exposed by making them as true evidence for the allegations at SLTPB or making statements by exposing the names of certain employees at SLTPB , it doesn’t make any different on the movement which has been started towards  a better future for Sri Lanka.

 

Since, there were many personal levels criticisms are been made by the party those who carrying the intention to boost the profile of fake individuals those who tried to ruin the progress of current government while they were undertaking certain duties at SLTPB, SLTPB would like to challenge them to asked for excuses from those white angels, base on what criteria they have authorised half a million   sponsorship for ‘Live Trinco’- event which was massive waste of money and utter failure. And ask for the excuses for wasting money for ‘World largest tea party’ event, once again over 10 million lost for SLTPB. Again, ask from those self-image builders with help of local press and social media about the waste which they have done with ‘one million tree stories project’ which also happen to be another big failure with over a 8 million lost to SLTPB. These kind of questions can be asked on and on again, as the endless damage which has been made within the seven months of his regime by former chairman together with his friends at the board of directors those who happen to be rich financial magnets in Sri Lankan tourism sector with no sense of feeling for the public money or poor communities those who struggle for their daily bread & butter in rural areas. They had only a one big goal to get themselves & their friends richer by using the public money. Since intention of this article is not to hit back to those so called ‘Cardboard Heroes’  it will be the end of true expression of what is really happening at SLTPB currently. For the public those who looking at the progress of ‘Yahapalana Government’, it is worthwhile to say that ‘kindly  keep your faith on the current government, The Honourable Minister and the management at SLTPB since the progress and results are not really far away.

 

 - The Truth comes out at Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau

 - Rohantha Authukorale running around to get his tourism Job back

The Delights Of A Rural Existence!

By Emil van der Poorten –November 1, 2015

Emil van der Poorten

I have, sporadically, over the years during which I’ve written for publication, referred to the shenanigans of the Tumpane Pradeshiya Sabha’s dumping of garbage in land that belongs in the jurisdiction of the adjacent Poojapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha.

Let me take you, briefly, down memory lane with regard to this little saga for a beginning. And if your memory is better than mine (not a great feat!) forgive me but I think we need context clearly established for what I am about to relate.

Shrouded by the mists of time there was the brief interregnum of Ranil Wickremesinghe when, while he occupied the Prime Ministerial chair, Chandrika Kumaratunga was President.

This brief period was preceded by a time when one of the most corrupt of politicians ruled the roost in Tumpane. He discovered some land which was owned by the Land Reform Commission and decided to establish a ”Middle Class Housing Scheme” for the benefit of his buddies who would only have to build their new homes on land supplied free together with such infrastructure as water supply already in place. However, before the houses could be completed, leave alone the new residents of the Samarakoon Housing Estate move into occupation, Ranil and his cohorts began their (brief) occupation of the seats of power. One of the first acts of vengeance of the new regime was the dumping by the tractor-load in the very centre of what was to be a “housing scheme” of the garbage collected from the Tumpane Pradeshiya, notwithstanding the fact that some infrastructure, inclusive of very large concrete reservoir which still exists, being constructed. I would be only too pleased to take anyone interested in verifying my story on a conducted tour of the place if they can find gas masks appropriate to the occasion!

This not only put handing over of public resources to private individuals, at no cost to the recipients on hold, but effectively destroyed two drinking-water springs that several households depended on for their daily needs.

Bags of butcher’s offal dumped at (locked) gate of “landfill”

The real plus, though for those responsible for the ecological despoliation was the fact that, due to its location, this was, literally, out of sight of the real “beneficiaries” of this abomination: the people of an adjacent (third) rural jurisdiction depending on the water from the Dik-Oya one of the headwaters of the Deduru Oya into which these springs emptied their waters. The people of Weuda and its environs, among others, literally could not see up to ten loads of garbage – heaped up agricultural tractor trailers – going into this place every day right up to now.

Initial efforts by the local population, more than a dozen years ago to put a stop to this were brushed aside and the travesty has continued unabated.

THIS WAS A COMPLETELY UNAUTHORISED GARBAGE DUMP WITH, CERTAINLY, NO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EVEN BEING CONSIDERED PRIOR TO ITS ESTABLISHMENT.

While this abomination was relatively distant from where I lived, I sought to have the Department of the Environment, headed at the time by the Hon. Pathali Champika Ranawaka, intervene. I was given the run around and nothing came of that effort save a personal attack against me in a newspaper to which I then contributed a column!                                                               Read More

LTTE detainees likely to be released before Deepavali: Marapana 

Law and Order and Prison Reforms Minister Tilak Marapana said he hoped that the LTTE detainees could be released before the Deepavali festival on November 10, 2015. 

Addressing the opening ceremony of the modernized prison near the Pannai lagoon in Jaffna on Saturday, he said the country’s prisons had about 18,000 detainees, but most of them were not those who should have been detained. 

The minister said several of them had been put in the jail for minor offences or for want of legal aid. He stressed the need to focus special attention on them. “The LTTE suspects on remand without charges being filed against them should be released. If they are considered a threat to law and order, they should be ordered to report to the police in the respective areas at regular intervals. 

The suspects in cases that have been pending for years could be released on bail. President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have instructed the Attorney General’s Department to take a decision in this regard soon. 

Police take a long time to complete investigations and to file action against suspects and that cases drag on for more than ten years. This has created hardship to the suspects, their relatives, and even the judges and the lawyers. 

This situation demands immediate replacement of the prevailing legal system. I am planning to reduce the number of detainees by at least 25 per cent," the minister said. (Romesh Madusanka) 

Maithri takes in yet another cow stealer – January 8th pilgrimage profaned

(Lanka-e-News -01.Nov.2015, 11.30PM) President Maithripala Sirisena has taken in  yet another cattle stealer as a member of his  good governance pilgrimage that was commenced by 6.2 million people on 8 th January 2015. That cow stealer is the notorious pro MaRa scoundrel Chamuditha Samarawickrema . He has been appointed as the Director , electronic media of the presidential media division. In the photograph is the president himself handing over the appointment with his own hands.

The monumental blunder committed by the president via this appointment is brought to light by  the stark fact that this same Chamuditha  Samarawickrema when he was the media secretary in the health ministry under Miathripala Sirisena at that time , was charged with bribery involving a sum of Rs.  12 million ! It is therefore most shocking that such a culprit has been chosen by president Maithripala now to be his electronic media director.

While Chamuditha was working under Maithripala Sirisena , brutal corrupt Medamulana Mahinda Rajapakse the president then , took him to the National Rupavahini . Thereafter Chamuditha performed only one official task – doing all the sordid biddings of Mahinda including washing his dirty loin cloth in private because, being a Mahinda lackey and lickspittle he could not wash  Mahinda’s dirty linen in public even if he wished to. He violated all the election laws openly , and  organized programs on behalf of corrupt , criminal and crooked Mahinda to bootlick him even if those actions meant slitting the throats of the genuine masses.

For all Chamuditha’s sordid and shameless activities , he was rewarded amply. He was given a luxuirous house at Cambridge court , Pilyandala and a latest Benz car. Besides he was provided with police and military security. Chamuditha abusing his position and police security  gave himself airs and graces among the people of Piliyandala while treating them disdainfully. He deified Gotabaya .

Just on one ‘karunka’ illicit deal done for Wayambe traders , he earned  many millions . The president Maithripala who became president then  on the votes of 6.2 million people who were antagonistic to Mahinda Rajapakse, now appointing a pro MaRa disgraceful stooge as his media director is tantamount to Maithripala giving a slap in the face of the faithful who voted for him.

Let it be understood by one and all that this good governance journey is a pilgrimage undertaken by devotees. Therefore , if the corrupt , rogues and criminals are going to be made to participate in this , certainly it cannot be a pilgrimage . There is absolutely no merit accrual . It will transform into  a pleasure trip with Maithripala  group consuming liquor while singing baila, ‘Suranganita malu genawa’ .  No matter how loud they sing , how  close they get together , and clap for  the baila, they cannot expect more than  just another baila singer to join in.  In the not too distant future , if the infamous King of Baila and Thoila Mahinda Rajapakse too joins in this unholy  tour which began as a pilgrimage , it will be unsurprising .

---------------------------
by     (2015-11-01 19:29:47)

Nobel Media practices of Media Factory Group of Companies

Nov 01, 2015

Madison Media PVT LTD, Media Factory PVT LTD and Magenta Advertising PVT LTD are associated companies.

Media Factory Directors Kapila and Prasanth were introduced to Yoshitha Rajapaksa by Yasara Abeynayake, later they became the partners of Media Factory Group.

Nobel Media Practices of Media Factory Group of Companies by Thavam Ratna

Avant Garde Floating Armoury Sets Sri Lanka on Collision Course with India

 01/11/2015

Sri Lanka’s defence authorities have made a chilling discovery that the seized Avant Garde floating armoury had sailed close to the strategically sensitive Indian islet of Minicoy with illegal weapons.

The controversial vessel which was boarded by Sri Lanka’s navy in early October and now the subject of several investigations is known to have travelled from the Red Sea to Sri Lanka in violation of international maritime laws.

Since the Avant Garde vessel was flying the Sri Lankan flag it is the responsibility of the Sri Lankan state if the vessel is engaged in activities that are inimical to the interest of its neighbours.

The vessel moving so close to the sensitive Minicoy island has raised fresh concerns about the intentions of the journey  with a cargo of what is so far suspected to be a gun running operation.

The authorities have found that the vessel had switched off its GPS location recording instruments, but the available evidence suggests it had strayed into Indian waters while travelling across the Maldives.

Coincidentally, the vessel was also passing through the Maldivian archipelago at a time when an explosion ripped through the speed boat of President Abdulla Yameen on September 28.

President Yameen was unhurt, but his wife, a body guard and an employee of his office were wounded. The country’s vice president Ahmed Adeeb has been arrested in connection with the assassination plot.

Earlier, the Maldivian defence minister was arrested in January soon after the Avant Garde’s first floating armoury was seized by police in Galle raising similar questions of motive of the private security firm which received patronage from the former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The then defence minister of Maldives Mohamed Nazim was accused of smuggling weapons into the country in a bid to topple President Yameen. Nazim has been jailed for 11 years.

Nazim has been a close associate of Avant Garde chief retired Sri Lanka army major Nissanka Senadhipathi.

Nazim had appointed Senadhipathi as the international maritime advisor to the Maldives soon after the then Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed was forced to step down in a mutiny where Nazim played a leading role.

Senadhipathi’s connections with the Maldives’ regime were mentioned on his website till recently, but it is no longer touted after Nazim was jailed for trying to topple the current president.

This is what Senadhipathi’s official CV said on his web site earlier in relation to the Maldives:

“As the Chairman of AGMS, Major Nissanka Senadhipathi was appointed as an Advisor on Maritime Intelligence to the Minister of Defence and National Security of the Republic of Maldives since 20th August 2012 to advice the Hon. Minister of Defence and National Security to be apprised on all matters pertaining to maritime intelligence, including shipping activities prejudicial to the Republic of Maldives.”

Sri Lanka’s defence authorities were highly concerned after tracking the movements of the Avant Garde vessel that it was sailing so close to Minicoy with a lethal cargo of over 800 automatic weapons.

Official papers on board said it could carry only three rifles with three sea marshals.

Even with the defence ministry’s “approval” given after the Avant garde vesel was seized by the Navy in early October by an officer, whose conduct is now under investigation, the vessel could not carry more than 100 guns and 60,000 rounds of ammunition.

However, it had 816 guns and over 202,674 rounds of ammunition.

Fifty nine weapons could be listed as “definitely illegal” as their serial numbers had been defaced or completely obliterated, the authorities said.

Indian naval chiefs have repeatedly warned Sri Lanka of a threat to security in the Indian Ocean region by allowing private armed groups such as Avant Garde to operate without proper monitoring.

Several Western nations have also raised concerns about Avant Garde operations following suspicion that weapons used in criminal activity in European capitals had been traced to the Sri Lankan military.

Given that the Tamil Tigers had stolen large amounts of weapons from Sri Lankan security forces in the decades-long war, some government weapons could have got into terrorist groups via the Tigers, officials said.

However, alarm bells started ringing after the navy discovered that the Avant Garde vessel had nearly 59 automatic rifles with their serial numbers obliterated to eliminate any possibility of tracking the weapons back to their source.

Just before the Avant Garde vessel was intercepted, India and Sri Lanka had agreed on the danger of such vessels.

Sri Lanka had even agreed to address Indian concerns of unregulated private maritime security companies operating from Sri Lanka and in the neighbourhood.

The defence authorities have found that the Avant Garde vessel had travelled to Sri Lanka without legal documents and the “journey was illegal.”

The defence ministry view is that obtaining authority at the end of the journey could not give any legal cover if the ship had been checked or challenged by a naval force of another country, including that of India.

If such a situation occurred, it would have brought “serious discredit and danger” to Sri Lanka as the country of flag for the Avant Garde vessel. Forensic experts are due to board the vessel on Monday at the Galle port. (Colombo/Oct31/2015)

By Correspondent/ECONOMYNEXT

Acting IGP Pujith To Appear Before Police Commission Over Attack On Students

November 1, 2015

Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara, the Acting Inspector General of Police will appear before the National Police Commission (NPC), tomorrow over an investigation conducted by the NPC into the brutal assault carried out by the riot Police on protesting students in front of the University Grants Commission on Thursday

DIG Pujith Jayasundara

Jayasundara was appointed Acting IGP today due to IGP N.K. Illangakoon going abroad for an official visit.

Appearing before the commission will be one of the first tasks for Pujith Jayasundara as the Acting IGP. At the time of the assault on Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) program students on Thursday Jayasundara was the senior DIG for Western Province.

In addition to Jayasundara several other senior Police officers too have been summoned by the newly formed NPC after Asian Human Rights Commission lodged a complaint urging a probe.

In addition, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka too have launched a separate investigation into the assault on students last Thursday.

Scenes of police assaulting students with batons and sticks after using water canons and tear gas went viral in the media generating wide spread condemnation.

However Police media Spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekara defended the assault noting the police used minimum force to disperse students who had disrupted the peace and obstructed the police from maintaining the law and order.

Gunasekera also criticised the role played by the media describing that some edited pictures were shown in a deliberate attempt to portray the Police action in a negative light.

Meanwhile, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today called for a report of the probe into the police assault on students to be submitted to Parliament.                            Read More

Rajapaksas to complain against Mervyn to bribery commission!

- Nov 01, 2015
The Rajapaksas are going to lodge a complaint to the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission against former Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva, say sources close to him. This is in retaliation to his having complained to the commission against Basil and Gotabhaya.

In order to drive their point in the complaint, Rajapaksas have traced deeds of several plots of land owned by Mervyn. Their closest associates have sent a copy of one of them to ‘Lanka News Web.’ Among the properties owned by Mervyn are a three-storey building at Nawala Road, Nugegoda and another building (Transwater Engineering) opposite to it. Both were given up by owners who loaned money from him.

Mervyn bought a 20-perch business premises at Pittala Junction, Colombo 07 for Rs. 85 million, although its real value exceeds Rs. 160 million, and it was written to the name of his son Malaka. In addition, he has bought to the names of his daughter and the son-in-law a five-storey building at Park Road, Colombo 05 and two apartments from a super luxury housing scheme at Colombage Mawatha, Colombo 05. Also, there is a 52 acre coconut plantation to the name of his wife Lucida. Gampaha district MP and Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha former chairman Prasanna Ranaweera has given the Rajapaksas the copies of deeds of a two-acre reclaimed land at Gala Junction at Kelaniya and several mortgaged houses at Nugegoda, Kirulapone, Maharagama and Mirihana.

Rajapaksas have also found that Mervyn owns several mortgaged vehicles, one of them worth Rs. 20 million.

Getting to know about this complaint, the FCID summoned on October 29 Mervyn’s best followers Ranjan Silva alias Kalu Ranja and Namal Ratnayake, who lost his position as chairman of Agricultural Insurance Board over the Mavilaru fraud, and questioned them at length. Kalu Ranja, the owner of a car sale, whose main income is loaning black money to government and opposition politicians, is the person who collects interest money of Mervyn. The money belonging to deceased politicians has been forfeited to Mervyn.

Coming to know that Kalu Ranja had been summoned to the FCID, a powerful minister in the ‘Yaha Paalana’ government, who has given him money for his loan businesses, spoke to the FCID on his behalf. After the interrogation, Kalu Rana said, “I revealed everything I know about Mervyn.”

Given below is a copy of a deed owned by Mervyn Silva.

Positive Signals From India Africa Forum Summit In New Delhi

India has historical relationship with Africa which has been highlighted by Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in Africa for several years and his launching movement in Africa against racism in the region. Several Indian families  have been living in Africa for many  decades, most of whom now know Africa better than India !

by N.S.Venkataraman

( November 2, 2015, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) India Africa forum summit at New  Delhi which took place in the  month of October,2015 has been remarkable and praiseworthy for several reasons.

While the first summit  in 2008  in New Delhi was attended by 14 African countries and second summit in 2011 was attended by 15 African countries, the third summit in October,2015at New Delhi was attended by  as many as 41 heads of states and officials from 54 African countries . Obviously, such large attendance in the recent conference clearly indicate the realisation amongst African countries that they need to stay together and cooperate with developing countries like India to occupy their rightful place in the global arena.

Africa is endowed with enormous natural and mineral resources and fossil fuel deposits. Most of the investments in African countries have now been made by multinational companies largely from western nations who make huge profit by their operations in Africa. While  there is  nothing  inappropriate in multinational and foreign companies operating in Africa, the ground reality is that Africa does not get it’s due share in income and benefits from such operations, while it’s natural deposits are being exploited by other countries and it’s natural resources getting depleted.

Certainly, citizens of African continent have as much native intelligence  and strength of character that people living in the so called developed countries have.  Due to several historical reasons, Africa has stayed behind  the developed countries  and developing countries in Asia,  as the citizens of Africa have not enjoyed the benefits of educational and skill acquisition opportunities in the way that several other countries in Asia, Europe and America have received.

What the people of Africa need today is the opportunities  for growth and  the conscience  of the rest of the world  should be stirred  to make the rest of the world support  Africa to  acquire  the requisite facilities  to foster growth. Of course, there are many regions of conflict in Africa, which have been mainly due to the lack of economic and social development  and  poverty conditions.  Most of such conflicts can be eliminated by increasing the standards  of education in Africa that would inevitably raise the expectations and aspirations of the people and give new hope about progress and prosperity.

The third India Africa summit in New Delhi that has just concluded can be the starting point for providing a vibrant kick start for a big leap forward in Africa. The very fact that 54 countries have been represented in this forum summit clearly indicate that there is new found determination in Africa to recover  the lost ground.

It is good to know that the Indian Prime Minister has offered several grants and support measures to Africa in realising it’s dream. As a large country with  big potential market base, India can certainly  open an outlet for trade between African countries and  India that would provide mutual benefits.

India has historical relationship with Africa which has been highlighted by Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in Africa for several years and his launching movement in Africa against racism in the region. Several Indian families  have been living in Africa for many  decades, most of whom now know Africa better than India !

While India has taken the  lead in organising this India Africa summit, comprehensive development of Africa to achieve it’s full potential can be made possible only by several other countries including China , Japan and middle east countries joining  together in such efforts.

Development and progress of Africa is in the interest of the entire world community and United Nations should take a lead in coordinating the  efforts of  developed and developing countries in chalking out a ten year plan for Africa to make the continent emerge on par with the entire world.

As stressed during the recent summit conference in Delhi, Africa should be represented in the Security Council of United Nations considering it’s size and population , that would  convincingly convey an  impression that the membership of the security council would not be decided based on mere money power and military power of the countries.

Video: Israeli soldiers run over Palestinian, attack medics

Ali Abunimah-31 October 2015
This video shows Israeli soldiers in a military jeep deliberately running over a Palestinian youth at high speed on Friday and then attacking medics and journalists.

“Gas until you die”

Video Israeli Soldiers Run Over Palestinian, Attack Medics by Thavam Ratna

The military: Sisi's real political support base
While Egypt has long been a militarised country, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces and the military intelligence have become ever more powerful under Sisi 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a visit to the Sinai Peninsula on 4 July (AFP)

Arwa Ibrahim-Sunday 1 November 2015

While Egypt has long been a militarised country, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces and the military intelligence have become ever more powerful under Sisi 

After a shockingly low turnout for Egypt’s first round of parliamentary elections, observers say one of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s top priorities is to legitimise his government.

In a series of visits to influential Western European countries, most notably Germany and the UK, Sisi has sought to actively engage with the the global community in an effort to establish his power and normalise relations with international powers. 

With the first phase of the elections bringing a political faction strongly backed by Sisi into parliament, analysts expect the second phase of the polls scheduled for November to bring similar results. 

Even with a supportive parliament, however, experts believe Sisi plans to consolidate his political base through the military.

Parliament with no power

Electoral observers have already noted the elections had instances of vote-buying, reported Al-Monitor.

Furthermore, the three electoral coalitions permitted to run in the first phase of the polls - The Call of Egypt, For the Love of Egypt and Independent National Re-Awakening Bloc - have generally supported Sisi. These coalitions are headed by several former intelligence and military leaders, reported Al-Ahram Online on 7 October.

“The parliamentary coalition is led by a former intelligence officer, while the rest of the list includes many ex-military and ex-intelligence men,” said Omar Ashour, senior lecturer in Middle East politics and security studies at the University of Exeter.

For the Love of Egypt is led by former intelligence officer Sameh Seif Al-Yazal, who also ran the state-owned Al-Gomhouria newspaper's Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.

At the same time, Sisi passed a new election law in August that dramatically limits the influence of Egypt’s political parties by alloting 80 percent of parliamentary seats to individuals.

According to Mohamed Elmasry, an assistant professor at the University of North Alabama’s department of communications, the new election law is a return to legislation used by former president Hosni Mubarak to help him consolidate power in the 1980s and 1990s by privileging wealthy elites with ties to the Egyptian establishment.

Unlike Mubarak, however, Sisi is unlikely to rely exclusively a compliant parliament to back him. With potential fractures within the establishment possibly affecting his rule, Sisi has indicated in public statements that he wants to amend the constitution to reduce the parliament’s power, wrote Elmasry on 20 October.

According to Egyptian security expert and former military general Abdel Hamid Omran, “Unlike in democratic countries where a government’s support base comes from the electorate, non-democratic regimes need – apart from military power – an alternative base of support.”

“This support base usually includes individuals whose financial interests are linked to the government such as people in the media and film industries as well as the many corrupt and influential individuals,” Omarn told MEE.

The military as a support base

While Sisi will  continue to establish a parliament that provides his government with a level of credibility, analysts say the military and its various bodies are the real powerful institutions that provide Sisi with the power and support he needs.

“The whole country has always been militarised, but what has changed significantly is that the most powerful economic an political player has become the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) – removing two presidents (Mubarak and Morsi) and appointing another (Sisi) - and its brains or think tank is the military intelligence,” added Ashour.

Until the 2011 revolution, Egypt had been ruled for more than 60 years by a military presidency. Presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar al-Sadat and Hosni Mubarak had all been military leaders before running the country.

It was only in 2012, with the election of the Muslim Brotherhood linked Mohamed Morsi to power, that Egypt was run by a civic government.

Many observers have therefore drawn close links between the return of a military government with Sisi - a former army general - coming to power and the government of Mubarak which was supported by a political class composed of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the party's affiliated business elite.

“While the military and the security forces more generally are the bedrock of the Egyptian regime, the NDP elites are also part of the regime coalition and despite their differences with Sisi, they are still broadly supportive of the government,” said Shadi Hamid, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of author of Temptations of Power.

But according to Ashour there is a stark difference between the government of Mubarak and that of Sisi.

“Sisi lacks the support of a class like that of the NDP which under Mubarak, won a significant percentage of votes, even if the polls were rigged,” explained Ashour.

“Instead Sisi’s main support is through guns and the army’s institutions. His support base comes form his allies within (SCAF) and the military intelligence which dominates other – previously more powerful - institutions such as the general intelligence.”

While the military has always been powerful in Egypt even during the interim period between the 2011 uprisings and the military coup on 3 July 2013, its intelligence unit was relatively marginal in political affairs.

This has changed since Sisi came to power however, with the military intelligence becoming a leading power within the country and a main support base for the president.

“Under Mubarak the military intelligence’s role was marginal. Its role was mainly to spy on military officers making sure they stayed in line. Every now and then the military intelligence might have tired to push its boundaries a little, but it would be pushed back by the general intelligence or state security investigations unit,” said Ashour.

“One indicator of this change is what happens in political prisons. The most authoritative figure used to be a state security officer… now however the state security officer is topped by a military security officer,” he added.

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