Geneva cover-up using LG polls

Dec 20, 2015

The Sri Lankan government is further delaying the implementation of the recommendations made by the UNHRC in relation to human rights violations in the country. US representative Samantha Power expressed concern over this during her recent visit here.

The main UN request is the speeding up of investigations into the killings of Raviraj, Thajudeen, Lasantha, Ekneligoda, Muttur relief workers and 11 students.

Police department sources say that had the government shown at least five per cent of the interest it had shown over the Avant Garde incident, all these murder investigations would have been completed by now. The delay in the investigations is due to minimal government support to the FCID and the CID.

A report is to be submitted at the UNHRC session in March next year on actions taken by Sri Lanka, but none of the steps needed in that regard are taken yet. In this context, Sri Lanka will have to face international sanctions or criticism.

Therefore, the Sri Lankan government is trying to call the local government polls by March or April and get the deadline to submit the report extended until September, say government sources.
 Implementation of the Geneva report recommendations could be controversial and the government could face defeat at elections held under such a scenario, and that means the recommendations will never be implemented, the government intends to convince Geneva authorities.

Political analysts point out that president Maithripala Sirisena and prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will try to pardon the military officers accused of war crimes. Therefore, the government will try to further delay the report to Geneva, they say.

North governor C. Vigneswaran said recently that under the present administration, the people of his province were not even getting the attention they had received when Mahinda Rajapaksa was in power. It is under such circumstances that US assistant secretary for South and Central Asian affairs Nisha Desai Biswal arrived in the island early today (20) with a special message from her president.

Constitutional Council not above Parliament says Ranil

by Saman Indrajith-December 20, 2015

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said in Parliament that major part of the budget 2016 proposals had been changed following demands from people to the government to do so and the amended proposals would be implemented next year.

Participating in the committee stage debate on the budget under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, the Prime Minister said that the Constitutional Council was not above Parliament and the council arrangement was being implemented by Parliament.

"If we fail to find a remedy to traffic congestion as soon as possible, we would have to provide helicopters to people to travel," he said.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe: "This ministry was set up to implement the work of the 100-day program of the government. People have hopes. We should act to help them realize their hopes. This budget had been presented as a traditional budget. If there are any shortcomings and amendments to be made, we could do so in the committee stage.

"We could remedy them. We have discussed this matter with the opposition. I discussed with the MPs of the SLFP and agreed with their suggestions. The amended proposals would be implemented next year. We are flexible on amendments.

"Now we are discussing a new electoral system. We are also trying to find solutions for the heavy traffic congestion. We have to find solutions soon otherwise we would have to provide helicopters to people. The problem was a result of the large volume of vehicles coming to the streets in 2015. We are planning to bring about a better transport service targeting the needs of the middle class.

"Several doctors have got together and put their signatures on a sheet of paper and sent it to me. Members of the doctors association accepted that the statement made by their secretary with regard to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India.

"We are planning to strengthen higher education and technological research sector. Many countries in the world have come forward to help us in this regard.

"We have taken action to solve the national problem. The economic situation in Jaffna has to be revived and developed. We are planning to release some more lands occupied by the Army to the people there.

"We are discussing how to do that. The Ministry of Agriculture would be relocated. We are starting from there. We have appointed a committee to make recommendations on the Constitutional Council, which is not something above Parliament. It is set up by Parliament."

Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake: There are provisions in the Standing Orders to appoint Working Committees. We should appoint a select committee for the formulation of the Constitution. There are no provisions to convert the entire parliament into a constituent assembly.

Prime Minister: "We could meet under my leadership. According to the provisions of the Constitution, parliament could pass a motion to suspend Standing Orders. We are not going against legal provisions. We could meet and make decisions which could then be forwarded to the sub-committee on the Constitutional Council. Thereafter we could forward it to the Cabinet of Ministers and then to Parliament".

Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake: The decisions with regard to parliamentary affairs could be made at the party leaders’ meeting. We should work in a manner complementary with Standing Orders.  The Leader of the House informed us that prime minister had said that proposed workshop for new MPs was not necessary.

Prime Minister: We could decide a date and conduct the workshop. What I said was that we might not be able to do it within this year.

Colombo District UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena: The amendment to the Constitution should be made in accordance with the decisions made at the party leaders’ meeting. The entire Parliament could be turned into a committee of which proposals could next be forwarded to Parliament for approval.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe: President Maithripala Sirisena is agreeable to prune the executive powers of the presidency. We could do so with the consent of people. We are not going to do so in one day as the 18th amendment to the Constitution has been passed.

Wijedasa Liyanarachchi case: A lesson for perpetrators of human rights 

Ravindra Fernando’s book ‘Death of a Lawyer in Police Custody: The Wijedasa Liyanarachchi Case’

Almighty governments fighting with citizens-Monday, 21 December 2015

When an almighty government is at war with a section of its own citizens, the era is replete with so many horror stories. Governments use all the powers with them – legal, political, propaganda and financial – to project the other party which it fights with as villains. Thus, anything done by the Government to destroy the villain is justified.

Wijedasa Liyanarachchi Case a Lesson for Perpetrators of Human Rights by Thavam Ratna

Move to arrest Mahinda, Gotabaya over Eknaligoda case: MWR

December 20, 2015
There is a move to arrest former President Mahinda Rajapaksha and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksha over the disappearance case of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, Convener of the Mawbima Wenuwen Ranawiruwo organization Major Ajith Prasanna says.

He made the observation at a press conference held in Colombo this afternoon (20). The police have so far arrested five suspects who have been identified as intelligence officers in connection with the case. 

Prasanna also accused the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of urging these arrested officials to sign some papers in a bid to make the former President and the former Defense Secretary responsible for the case.

There is no different between the controversial Millennium City incident and this. Both are betrayals, said Prasanna.

The court had earlier included the names of Army Commander and Army Intelligence Chief as respondents in connection with the disappearance case as well.

That came after the approval was granted for the detention and questioning of five army personnel including an Army Corporal, a Sergeant, and two Lieutenants.

The suspects were arrested following interrogation at the Police HQ for over five hours with respect to the case. At present, a Habeas Corpus case also  continues at the Homagama Magistrate’s Court over the incident.

Paris Agreement On Climate Change & The Need For Domestic Actions

By Vositha Wijenayake –December 20, 2015

Vositha Wijenayake

The Paris Agreement focusing on climate change and ways to address its adverse impacts was adopted on the 12th December 2015. It provides both binding and voluntary measures to address the objective of limiting the rise of global temperatures “well below” 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with the background target being 1.5°C”. The Agreement will be legally binding upon ratification by at least 55 countries that represents 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and will be the basis for the work ahead on climate change. While needing further development in the coming years through domestic actions, and further decisions to be developed within the process, the Agreement will be addressing its objective of addressing climate change at the global level, and highlights issues such as food security, human rights and climate justice, as well as livelihood quality jobs.

Key Features of the Agreement

The Agreement is considered by many as providing hope and means to address the impacts of climate change, having gained the support of 195 countries for its adoption. In its purpose, which is formed with a sense of aspiration, the countries are provided with self-differentiation on its responsibilities. (The historic responsibility based method not in its rigid form as wished by many). The common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities defined under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) though not completely abandoned, could also be interpreted as not present in its strongest form in the Paris Agreement. This being one of the reasons as to why some groups feel that the outcome of the Paris negotiations on climate change is not cause for euphoria. Among other aspects criticised being the lack of financial commitments, and the non-inclusion of liability and compensation for loss and damage.

• Mitigation:

On mitigation, the system is “bottom-up” (the countries needing to take actions, than being bound at the international level to prescribed to take actions) and the mitigation obligations for countries is through the communication of national determined contributions every five years. The countries are required to “pursue” domestic actions to achieve the objective of achieving the contributions listed in their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) which were submitted to the UNFCCC as their voluntary contributions to bring down the global emission levels of greenhouse gases causing climate change. A sign that if the world is to achieve the objective of keeping the global temperature increase to 1.5 C, then the countries will need to take more ambitious actions at the national level to reduce their emission levels.Read More

People oriented budget after 16 changes made for people’s benefit passed with 2 /3 rd majority: One vote more than at last reading

(Lanka-e-News -20.Dec.2015, 9.00AM) The third reading of the budget 2016 that was presented in parliament by the Finance minister Ravi Karunanayake on the 20 th of November concluded today, and it was passed with a 2/3 rd majority- that is 109 more voting  for it. 160 voted for while 51 voted against it. 13 MPs were not present at the time of voting .

At the second reading of the budget earlier on  , 159 voted for it and 52 against  meaning that one more MP has voted for and one more M.P.  has voted against it  this time.

The JVP voted against the budget toeing the line of the  Rajapakse den of crooks . The TNA which is the main opposition party voted for it.

Among the 13 parliamentary members who were absent at the time of voting were : Kurunegala district M.P. Mahinda Rajapakse, Wimal Weerawansa, Pavithra Wanniarachi, Janaka Bandara, Geetha Kumarasinghe and Manusha Nanyakkara .

During the committee  stage of the budget  today , expenditure allocations in respect of several Institutions were debated :Ministry of national policy and economic affairs , development  alternatives  and international trade ministry, and Finance ministry were debated. Later the voting commenced  at 5.00 p.m.

The final reading of the budget was passed after 16 of its proposals were amended in compliance with the request of the people .This is the first time in Sri Lanka a government had bowed to the wishes of the people  signaling the government’s strong affinity and love  towards upholding  Democracy. 

Ten of the amendments made of the 16 are as follows :

1.The EPF and ETF funds will not be merged.
2. When a vehicle is being purchased , it can be done at the earlier price in accordance with the letter of credit already opened.
3. It has been agreed that a decision shall  be taken in January 2016 regarding electric vehicles.
4.The decision to have Government accounts in private banks shall not be implemented under any circumstance.
5.It has been decided that the  subsidy for paddy  be extended to coconut, Tea , Rubber , and to subsidiary crops including vegetables and fruits .
6.The downward revision of vehicle emission test fee to Rs. 1500.00
7.To halt the decision taken to couple the Divineguma fund alias Samurdhi fund with the National savings bank .
8.To preclude the banks from charging  a fee when one’s own monies are being withdrawn .
9. Ban on import of coconuts .
10.The decision to prohibit banks from engaging in providing leasing  facilities to be withdrawn.
 

---------------------------
by     (2015-12-20 03:45:18)

The Millennium Challenge Corporation Looks to Sri Lanka

Taylor Dibbert-12/19/2015

The Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) Board of Directors recently held its latest quarterly meeting. At that time, the board selected five countries as eligible to receive MCC funding for 2016: Cote d'Ivoire, Kosovo, Senegal, Togo and Sri Lanka.

An independent American foreign aid agency that's part of the U.S. government, the MCC's website states that it was established "by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support" and that the "MCC is changing the conversation on how best to deliver smart U.S. foreign assistance by focusing on good policies, country ownership, and results." It works across a range of issues including: health, water, agriculture, anticorruption, land rights and education.

Going forward, there are details that the MCC and Sri Lanka still need to work out. According to a MCC spokesperson, the "MCC and the Government of Sri Lanka will come together in the coming months to assess the country's greatest constraints to economic growth, opportunities for private investment, and social constraints to poverty reduction. The results of this assessment help to define the policy and institutional reforms that the new threshold program will support. The length of program development depends on Sri Lanka's commitment to the process and reaching agreement on a reform agenda. This can take up to a year or more."

The spokesperson noted that determining the precise nature of the funding would be done through a "comprehensive and collaborative" process; and that Threshold Programs (the type of program which Sri Lanka is eligible for) usually range between $10 million and $50 million.

Clearly, the MCC is satisfied with recent developments in Sri Lanka this year. "Sri Lanka has embarked on a remarkable effort over the past year to reinvigorate its democratic institutions, improve governance, and restore protection of human rights," says the spokesperson.

The spokesperson also states that the recent MCC decision regarding Sri Lanka's "eligibility for a threshold program allows Sri Lanka an opportunity to further strengthen its scorecard performance and consolidate the encouraging democratic gains made throughout 2015, and allows MCC the opportunity to assess the country's ongoing commitment to good governance and progressive policy reform."

This development is another piece of good news for the administration of President Maithripala Sirisena. It also jives with the broader trajectory of U.S.-Sri Lanka ties since Sirisena assumed office in January. We've seen numerous high-level visits by senior U.S. government officials, sustained praise from Washington and even the formalization of an annual U.S.-Sri Lanka "Partnership Dialogue".

In terms of the progress made thus far, the reality is more complicated than it may at first appear; early steps in the right direct don't constitute dramatic change, especially when it comes to peoples' daily lives in the war-torn Northern and Eastern Provinces. In fact, the bulk of the new government's reform agenda hasn't been implemented and it's not clear that it ever will be. As Colombo continues to receive accolades from the international community, Sirisena and company must now turn to the formidable task of deeper reform, including a comprehensive transitional justice package.

The inescapable reality is that Sri Lanka's acclaimed "democratic transition" is far from finished.

Follow Taylor Dibbert on Twitter: www.twitter.com/taylordibbert

Unuth Ekai, Munuth Ekai Or Six Of One & Half A Dozen Of The Other

By Emil van der Poorten –December 20, 2015

Emil van der Poorten

I have chosen to use the vernacular, followed by the English equivalent because, to anyone with a familiarity with both languages, the former is, by far, the pithier and conveys what the thinking Sri Lankan is faced with in the matter of making choices between the main political conglomerations in Sri Lanka today. One is almost tempted to exhort readers, “Don’t vote, it only encourages the b……ds,” except that such action will only lead to the (endless) perpetration of what Sri Lankans have had to put up with for far too long already: lies, duplicity, game-playing and more of the “same old, same old” performed in the sole interests of the performers (I was going to say “clowns” but changed my mind because this is allegedly the season of goodwill to all human kind and I wouldn’t want to deride that decent, honourable, honest occupation in any way).

What provoked this particular bit of bile was the fact that I was told that Sir Desmond de Silva, P.C. was being kept on in one of the caricatures of investigative/reconciliation/peace-making committees appointed byMahinda Rajapaksa (MR1) prior to his being consigned to the dustbin of Sri Lankan history (we hope!). Information in the public domain specifies that the retainer that Mr. De Silva was being paid was of some consequence, even by the standards of the upper echelons of the British bar, £60,000 per month.

I am also aware that several responsible journalists such as D. B. S. Jeyaraj (I know, I know, he’s a Tamil!) raised very serious concerns about this appointment at the time it was made. Sir Desmond, it was alleged, had made statements at a major forum in Britain preceding his appointment by MR1 that indicated that he already had strong (if not biased) views about the matters into which he was now going, by the grace of God and MR1 (there IS a difference, you know!), to inquire and on which he was, presumably going to deliver judgement, particularly in the matter of “collateral damage.”

There have also been other rather serious allegations made against Sir Desmond to which quite wide publicity has been given in the foreign media that would suggest that his appointment to deliver judgement on the recent conflict in Sri Lanka could be considered less than an ideal one.

Before I wrote this piece I checked from a responsible Cabinet Minister known to be close to the Prime Minister whether the information I had was accurate, quoting my source. He had the courtesy to respond quite quickly in the affirmative.                                                               Read More

RAW helps FCID to search Rajapaksa transactions 

 Dec 20, 2015

The Indian government has pledged to help to search the corruptions amounting to billions during the Rajapaksa regime committed by his family and his allies.

The chief of the FCID Ravi Waidyalankara, DIG CID Ravi Senevirathna and additional solicitor general Lasantha Kodagoda has left to India to obtain the help of the Indian intelligence wing RAW.

 

The discussion is said to be successful and investigations are conducted to ascertain how much money has been dispatched through India.

 

It is said that evidences has been found about many illegal money transaction deals are committed complying the illegal financial money laundering act prevailing in Sri Lanka.

 

From this joint inquiry it is investigated in search of a mainstream businessmen related to the Rajapaksa family and a relative of Rajapaksa working in the Sri Lankan High Commission in India connected to this financial rackets.

 

However the United States has also said that it would render its support for the investigations of the illegal financial earnings of the Rajapaksa era. Senior human rights lawyer J.C. Weliamuna is conducting the coordination. 

Judges must be equal before law – Attorney General

( December 20, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A Supreme Court judge should conduct himself in a manner which accords with public expectation and he must be equal before the law in the rare event his conduct is unbecoming, Attorney General Yuwanjan Wijeyatilake said.

Speaking at the ceremonial sitting to welcome the new Supreme Court judge, Justice K.T. Chitrasiri on Wednesday, the AG said it would be “unfair if judges themselves remain unjudged by the very public that they judge every day.

It would be even more unfair if the law gives him special protection and places him beyond the reach of justice”.

Addressing the gathering at the Superior Courts Complex at Hulftsdorp, he referred to the adoption of a Charter called the “Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” by a Full Bench of the Indian Supreme Court.

It is meant to serve as a guide to be observed by all judges and indispensable in the impartial administration of justice. Though not exhaustive, it is a complete code of the canons of judicial ethics.

“This Charter which was ratified and adopted by the Indian Judiciary in the Chief Justices’ Conference 1999 should be a guide to our judiciary too.

Time does not permit me to elaborate on each of the canons in the Charter, but I believe that the first and the last are particularly important to the current Sri Lankan context and, therefore, these two aspects of judicial ethics need special mention.

I begin with judicial impartiality. Certainly, we have constitutional safeguards which are meant to ensure judicial independence and impartiality.

Under the 19th Amendment, our Constitution guarantees that the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal shall be by the President, subject to approval of the Constitutional Council.

It is no longer the case that the appointment is purely by the Executive. Therefore, the public should have no reason to perceive that judgments will be marred with political bias in favour of the Executive.

Independence of the higher judiciary is also strengthened by the process applicable to the removal of judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Removal of such judges shall only be by an order of the President after an address of Parliament supported by a majority of the Members of Parliament has been presented to the President for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

Since both the Executive and Legislative branches of government are involved in the process of removing judges, a judge has the security to act without fear of removal upon a judgment against the State.

However, merely having a legal framework which contemplated judicial independence is meaningless, if it is not reflected in the conduct of members of the judiciary themselves.

And as such, a judge must build and maintain for himself a reputation of independence and impartiality.

“I now turn to the second aspect of judicial ethics which I choose to focus on today, from among the many canons in the Indian Charter.

That is that every Judge should conduct himself in a manner which is not unbecoming of the high office he occupies and the public esteem in which that office is held.

This is really not a principle which is exclusive to judicial officers. For, any person holding any high public office must be conscious that he is under the public gaze and has to live by a set of standards which instill public respect.

However, since members of the judiciary daily judge the acceptability and non-acceptability of actions by members of the ordinary public, judicial officers have an even higher burden of responsibility in ensuring that their conduct is honourable and worthy of respect.

Therefore, not only is it that a Supreme Court judge should conduct himself in a manner which accords with public expectation and esteem reposed in the high office that he holds, but he must also be equal before the law in the rare event that his conduct is unbecoming.

Indeed, it would be unfair if judges themselves remain unjudged by the very public that they judge every day. And it would be even more unfair if the law gives him special protection and places him beyond the reach of justice.

Article 12(1) of our Constitution in no uncertain terms guarantees that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law.

Accordingly, salient features which mark an honourable judge are judicial and moral integrity, as well as humility to bow down to the right to equality in its fullest sense, even when the consequences may be adverse to his interests.

The Attorney General said that judicial ethics are fundamental to the administration of justice and public confidence in this revered organ of the State.

“It is in this light that Your Lordship’s background is deeply appreciated and Your Lordship’s appointment augurs well for the future of our judiciary.

I wish Your Lordship well in continuing to maintain the high standards of judicial conduct and in discharging the great duties which lie ahead,” he said.

Justice Chitrasiri said he appreciated the significance of his appointment, which is the first to have been made to this Apex Court under the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

He said career judges like himself come into daily contact with people of all levels of society, and actively participate in the resolution of their problems and disputes.

“Having said that, I take this opportunity to refer to a matter that is being subjected to rigorous discussions these days, the world over. That is the subject of judicial accountability.

“As you are probably aware, the phenomenon of judicial corruption has emerged in many countries, on all continents. The contemporary definition of judicial corruption is not limited to seeking or accepting money or gifts.

An equally corrosive form of corruption arises from the interaction between the judiciary and the executive branch of government.

For the past fifteen years or more, the international community has been engaged in responding to this phenomenon that debilitates not only the judiciary, but also society as a whole.

Power is given on trust, and judicial power should not be an exception, Justice Chitrasiri said adding that it is time to turn the searchlight inwards and recognize the fact that today Sri Lanka’s judicial system is not perceived in the same way that it was, forty years ago, when it was hailed as the envy of Asia. Legal reforms are overdue, he added.

Justice K.T. Chitrasiri – Fact File
– LL.B from the University of Colombo and post graduate qualifications from Queen Mary College, London.
– Visiting Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo and a Visiting Scholar at the Law School, University of Deakin, Australia.
– Held posts of Legal Officer at the State Graphite Corporation, Assistant Legal Draftsman at the Legal Draftsman’s Department, Director of the Human Rights Commission and as the Registrar of Companies.
– Publication of the book Intellectual Property issues in Sri Lanka, presentations on the law relating to children.
– Appointed a Primary Court Judge in 1980, then as a Magistrate, District Court Judge, Judge of the High Court and Judge of the Court of Appeal.

AG SCJ -Speeches by Thavam Ratna

Conspiracy hatched by SC judges to save Rapist Abrew and thereby Rajapakses in their crimes !

(Lanka-e-news -21.Dec.2015, 5.00AM) A Supreme court (SC) conspiracy to provide relief  to notorious judge of the SC , the rapist Sarath Abrew and thereby to Rajapakse corrupt brutes is under way , according to reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division.

While a case has already been filed by the Attorney General (AG) against Abrew on heinous charges of rape ,Abrew has filed a fundamental rights (FR)petition in the SC in which Abrew is himself a judge on the grounds that the charges against him are based on political revenge .This has been handed over to the SC registrar , and the preliminary inquiry is scheduled  to be held to determine whether this shall be heard or not 

Meanwhile, Priyantha Jayawardena, a lawyer who was languishing in Rajapakse Walauwa doing nothing except bootlicking the Rajapakses , and  was made a president’s counsel and then a SC judge by the Rajapakses, now having laid hands on this FR petition is deeply in his toils to blow this ‘dead’ case out of proportion, and revive it.

While an accused in a criminal case cannot file a fundamental rights petition, manipulative attempts are being made to take up Abrew’s petition and deliver a decision ; and thereafter in order to  rescue Abrew , falsely  show  that charges against Abrew were  politically motivated and was  to take revenge on him . Incidentally , Abrew has made a request to retire , and that is take effect on 6 th January.

Abrew in his petition had stated that after he forwarded a letter of retirement based on  an undertaking  given to him  that a case will not be filed against him , he was deceived , and a case was filed. Though his plea is of no relevance to a case of heinous crime , pro Rajapakse judges led by Priyantha Jayawardena  whose brain and law books are moth eaten are conspiring to make a bloated  case out of this , take it up for inquiry , and prove this is indeed a political revenge against Abrew.

These conspirators are aiming at killing two birds with one stone. After a decision is somehow delivered in favor of Abrew , to use this as a precedent . It is their motive to cite political revenge as a grounds and  rescue the accused (Rajapakse crooks and corrupt scoundrels) when cases are filed shortly against them by the FCID. 

In the event of those cases filed by the FCID against the Rajapakse crooks being dismissed by some chance  consequent upon these subterfuges, it is their earnest hope to drive the government of good governance into a state of severe unpopularity among the masses taking advantage of that. This in other words is to pave the way for the defeated discarded  Rajapakse crooks to get a stranglehold again in the political arena. This is the plan and plot of the conspirators , but with  this report  their  clandestine and conspiratorial actions and intentions stand exposed.

In the backdrop of these  calculated  conspiracies and machinations  of these conspirators and traitors  , the masses will be able to understand  what difficulties and setbacks are faced by the good governance revolution to destroy at once  the evil apparatus created and maintained by  corrupt ,criminal, brutal Rajapakses over many years.

 A government of good governance  that has just come into being and is obstructed from all quarters  by the corrupt , criminal and the crooked , cannot act rashly or hastily to combat the growing conspiracies . These have to be handled cautiously , cleverly and calmly without playing into the hands of these traitors , villains and scoundrels , and without administering saline wittingly or unwittingly, which can only revive them.

---------------------------
by     (2015-12-20 23:35:51)

Back-pedaling budget

Editorial-December 19, 2015, 6:50 pm 

The final third reading of the 2016 budget presented by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake was due to take place last evening as this is being written. The government has already, rightly and wrongly, backed down on several of the proposals that had been made in the face of some fist shaking and trade union action that followed the budget speech. That would certainly send out wrong signals to the country that making threats and holding the public to ransom can ensure getting what certain sections of the polity want. The recent doctors’ strike was a prime example of this. The doctors want duty free or concessionary duty car permits. That is a matter between them and the granting authority: the government. What have the poor patients deprived of their health care benefits got to do with that? Many of them did not even know of the strike of which very short notice had been given and turned up at hospitals for medication and clinics, some traveling long distances at considerable cost, only to be disappointed.

Soon after the budget was presented we said in this space that depriving MPs too of the car permits was a very sensible decision. Nobody has said up to now that the MPs will continue to benefit from a perk they have long enjoyed – it doesn’t make sense to talk about it - but it will be a foolish gambler who will wager his money on the proposition that they won’t. Giving into one section will certainly lead to giving in to all; and as everybody knows very well, the MPs are much more equal than the rest of us in this island of ours. The abject capitulation began very quickly with the government first saying that the ‘no more permits’ proposal will be diluted to a permit every ten years (or was it only once during the career of the recipient?) and then finally the near restoration of the status quo. As it is the roads, particularly in Colombo, are congested beyond belief. Yet we keep on adding to the hare brained scheme of duty free permits to privileged people, also given the further facility of flogging them in the market with the resulting horrific consequences. It was stated in a post-budget television talk show that most of the permits that are sold are acquired for high-end car imports. The seller has enough to spare from the proceeds to buy himself a small car and two cars are often added to the national fleet off one permit!

It was a long time ago that Dr. N.M. Perera as Finance Minister of the United Front Government of 1970 tried to introduce a contributory pension scheme to new entrants to the public service in place of a long entrenched benefit that public servants enjoyed from the colonial days. The minister was not trying to take away the benefit from serving public servants enjoying non-contributory pensions; but seeing the time bomb that was merrily ticking away with an ever-burgeoning unfunded pension cost threatening to explode in Treasury coffers, he tried to take a sensible precaution. But it was very quickly shot down. The situation has now worsened immeasurably and there was an attempt to correct it in exactly the same way that Perera attempted. Some noises against this proposal were made, but less stridently because the noise makers were not personally affected. They have succeeded in getting the government to add the first part of the allowance increasing public service emoluments to their basic salaries. That would mean the increases would become pensionable adding to government’s liability.

There is unfortunately no realization that all the people of the country paying all manner of taxes eventually pick up the tab for privileges that only segments of the population enjoys. When a child is admitted to Royal College or Visakha Vidyalaya, the taxpayer spends much more on him/her than on a child educated in some remote rural school with neither teachers nor facilities. Yet all the people of the country pay the taxes that go into the kitty from which state provided education is funded. Thus some are more privileged than others in the matter of schools their children are admitted to and this is true for public service pensions as well as all other welfare measures often bestowed as vote buying measures by politicians seeking election.

We said at the beginning of this commentary that some of the budget proposals that are being amended or abandoned are right while others are wrong. One such correct decision is the reduction of the emission testing charge increased to Rs. 5,000 by the budget to Rs. 1,500. It is manifestly unfair to impose on a three-wheeler the same charge that applies to a BMW or Mercedes Benz. Some equity on these matters is essential. Then there is the tax on big cash withdrawal from bank accounts with two percent imposed on withdrawals of rupees one million to 10 million and three percent on withdrawals of over Rs. 10 million. This is absurd. There has been a concerted effort over a long period of time to get people used to the banking habit without keeping huge sums of cash in their homes. Persuading people to keep their money in a bank is at least hopefully helping to draw some black money to the formal economy. Why should an estate owner or owning company pay this tax when drawing cash to make monthly payments to their workers as has already been pointed out.

What is particularly disturbing about back-pedaling on the budget is that within the so-called consensual government between the UNP and the SLFP, there appears to be at least an effort on the part of the SLFP to show that the blues have been able to win some concessions from the greens on a UNP budget presented by a UNP finance minister. Was it not the budget of the Sirisena – Wickremesinghe government? Speaking at a press conference called on Friday at the deputy speaker’s office, a group of SLFP ministers announced that 16 or the 25 proposals made by the SLFP during the committee stage of the budget have been accepted by the government. According to Highways State Minister Dilan Perera, following discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe a whole slew or budget proposals are being dropped. On this basis, it was announced by SLFP Secretary Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake that all SLFPers will vote for the third reading. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a SLFPer. Whether he and many of his strong supporters will vote ‘aye’ or be diplomatically absent will be eagerly watched. If they are present and vote ‘nay,’ will a run-up to a split in the SLFP begun? Abstention also may be an option.

GMOA wants duty free cars, but not private universities

2015-12-21

he Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) threw a tantrum when the government proposed to abolish duty free duty vehicle permits granted to certain categories of public servants. After the threat of a strike by the doctors, the government backtracked. Since there is hardly any link between doctors’ duty free car permits and patients’ welfare, the GMOA’s trade union action was one purely driven by pecuniary interests of its members.

GMOA Wants Duty Free Cars, But Not Private Universities by Thavam Ratna