Jaffna protestors demand clean water


27 December 2015

Protestors in Jaffna took to the streets on Sunday to demand that the Sri Lankan government provide safe drinking water.

Demonstrating by the Chunnakam Iyanar temple, the protestors also called on the Northern Provincial Council to ensure safe drinking water was being provided for residents.
 

The issue of clean drinking water for the peninsula caused protests earlier this year, with hundreds of people joining demonstrations.

See our earlier posts:

Tamils protest against Sri Lanka government inaction on groundwater contamination in Jaffna (07 Apr 2015)

Tamil schoolchildren admitted to Jaffna hospital after water poisoning (19 Mar 2015)
Protests continue in Chunnakam over water contamination  (05 Feb 2015)
Hunger strike continues against water contamination by Chunnakam power plant in Jaffna(22 Jan 2015)

The tale of two cities by the Lagoon – Batticaloa & Venice 

By B. Nimal Veerasingham

December 27, 2015

Growing up barley a few hundred yards away from the meandering and mesmerizing Batticaloa lagoon had its magical moments. The swilling frothy waves dancing in the sun rays, and gently touching the sandy shores were a sight that never fades from memory. The mangroves, prawns, jelly fish, green algae, and the distinct lake smell –are elements that embody the surrounding of a lagoon dweller.

To me, the Saturday morning bike ride with my father, along the Southern edge of Lake Road dotted with colonial government bungalows with panoramic views, gave me reason to be awestruck. It’s largely due to the wholesome lagoon effect -everything from the moored cranes and sea birds on the marooned tree trunks, the smell of seaweeds hauled by fishermen trying their nets from the shore, the glitter of the rising sun, and the circles of outrigger canoes where groups of fishermen try their luck. Occasionally, my father would call the fishermen to see whether there was anything to buy for lunch.

Then there were the howls of foxes, mostly during the fading evening light across the lake, where the vast paddy lands crisscross the hinterland. My grandmother would at times point to their movements interpreting them as a call to the pack, foretelling the death of livestock. The jolt of fire that could be seen moving on the waves during dusk is not a mystery to insiders. I am not talking of the release of Methane gases in the mangroves or some fiery ghosts showing their prowess over the lagoon – but the skillful youth floating bounded banana trunks together, to host a burning log fire on the cap of a tar barrel!

The December monsoon brings another round of excitement – the rising lagoon waters that engulf, initially the lake road and gradually move inland. Our house was on higher ground, so the lake water hardly reaches. But to compensate for that, we walk on the flooded lake road, usually by a foot or two - like the moon-walkers, and try our luck on casting the rod for the fish flowing in from the surrounding tributary ponds.

I realised the unique DNA of the Batticaloa lagoon and its surroundings’ enormity, only when I came of age - during my escapades with the roots of my worldly journey. Everyone at one point of their lives will want to go back to see the beginnings, as they age with related enlightenment. It is kind of what Salmon does – going back to the swamps all the way from the sea it lived, to where it all began – the place where it was originally hatched – to lay its eggs before it breathes the last.

The very name ‘Mattakalapu’ in Tamil simply denotes a ‘flat lagoon’. It could be said that Batticaloa’s entwinement with culture, arts, poetry, literature, cuisine, drama and folklore has a strong association with the lagoon and the surrounding regional landscape - providing a romantic mysticism that could only be felt intimately when you succumb to the call of the lagoon.

The lagoon Veneto

So it is no accident when I met my aunt after almost 30 years this summer in Italy, it is not about the once majestic Roman empire and its remnants that excited me – rather the reminiscing of our common lagoon environs. She is a transplanted Roman citizen living there for almost 30 years. The gastronomy she has developed is worthy to mention – a fine interloping between Tiber River and Batti lagoon. She has mastered everything from antipasto to risotto saltato and gnocchi to calameritifritti – and makes the best cappuccino (along with mutton rolls.) The manifestation of love and affection through a satisfied palate – a mantra, that’s heavily wired and followed. Mediterranean catch almost matched the traps of the Batticaloa lagoon – my aunt’s dining table is well represented with devilled prawns and stone crabs.

To the North of the country, lies the most visited city of the world - the story of Venice has been told in every angle. The autos being forbidden in the main Islands, the lagoon is the lifeline for Venice. About 70.000 residents battle with the millions of visitors arriving by air, ship, auto and train to be part of the romanticized lagoon environs. In the free market economy the service sector is leading the economy of the Veneto, despairingly bringing eco damage or not.

But to be in the realm of a lagoon city that has ruled the waves and lands for many centuries, Batticaloa has little in common with Venice, except the lagoon itself. But interestingly the main islands of both principalities – ‘Puliyanthivu’ and the main historic Venice look similar, in the shape of a turtle. The English word lagoon did originate from the word ‘lagun Veneta’, referring to the marshy watershed of roughly 550 square Kms by the Adriatic Sea. The narrow Batticaloa lagoon on the other hand stretches around 50Kms in length, separated from the Indian Ocean.

Evolving economies

Veneto region once ruled the waves with its advanced shipbuilding industry. The lagoon also complemented its fishing and agricultural landscape. But what was once the crown of the Roman jewel chest, has today, completely switched to a service economy intertwined with mass tourism. Career conscious young people have moved in droves out of the region due to lack of opportunities, leaving only the old; a reality that no one is immune to in any part of the globe.

What will happen to the Batticaloa region’s agricultural and inland fishing, once they get saturated is anyone’s guess. But what is noticeable is the expanding tourism industry, centered mostly on the Passekudah and Arugum Bay regions. On the other hand, a steady stream of outward youth movement, mostly to Colombo and its environs is clearly visible over time, to better them in the economic chain.

Two lagoon cities – unified in one tale

Two cities surrounded by two lagoons - though thousands of kilometers away; intertwined with many similarities. Besides providing a lifeline and protection from the angry seas, historical lineage does bring both together in many respects. Whether the forecasted nebulas in the global warming scenarios could spell disaster by way of rising water levels and weather calamities, wait to be seen – or should they be prepared for the continued existence of these people by the lagoon?

What once a maritime power and military prowess has become a romanticized fairy book, depending on mass tourism. Batticaloa lagoon’s reflective influence upon its dwellers does continue to be evolved in a manner beyond simple physics and geography. Has anyone recently notice the Soprano ‘C’note from the magical symphony of the ‘Singing Fish’ -possibly reflecting on the impending winds of change?

PM appoints 24-member committee on constitutional reforms

Tuesday, 29 December 2015

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with approval of the Cabinet, has appointed a 24-member committee comprising representatives from political and civil society to obtain views on constitutional reforms from the public.

The Committee is headed by Attorney-at-Law Lal  Wijenaike and comprises Faizer Musthapha PC, Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, Dr. Navaratna Bandara, Prof. M.L.A. Cader, N. Selvakumaran, S. Thavarajah, Kushan de Alwis PC, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Dr. Kumudu Kusum Kumara, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Jayaratne, Dr. Upul Abeyratne, Themiya Hurulle, Winston Pathiraja, S. Vijesandiran, Attorney-at-Law M.Y.M. Faiz, Nadika Damayanthi, Attorney-at-Law Kanthi Ranasinghe, S.C.C. Illangakone and Samarasiri Hapuarachchi.

This Committee has been mandated to seek oral and written submissions from the public. Thereafter their report will be considered by the Cabinet Sub Committee on Constitutional Reforms.

If you can’t provide internet package to suit present time better you get back to felling trees – SLT customer

(Lanka-e-News -27.Dec.2015, 11.30PM)  The internet chain had rapidly grown in Sri Lanka (SL)  Consequently , unlike the other media , the Lanka e news media website that stands out  from others breaking new ground  , is possessed of opportunities to function beyond the bounds of operations of the other ordinary media .But because of Sri Lanka Telecom’s ( SLT) inordinate greed for money , this corporation  that provides ISP (internet access),   is seeking to restrict the customers using  internet facilities without citing any reason.

In this connection , the   SLT which is the only Corporation that is providing the wire line internet links has to be specially focused upon.

Ordinarily ,after  the domestic user up 40 Gigabytes under the Web Home package , the speed drops almost to unusable level .If the SLT which itself says the SL information technology is making headway in SL  , is of the view that 40 GB is enough for a home , even in the year 2015 , nothing can be more ridiculous and ludicrous. 

Countries in Asia like Singapore , Thailand and India have taken measures to provide internet facilities to suit the current time and trends.

Internet is not a  resource like gas or petroleum which are diminishing ,hence  the decision to charge  more commensurate with additional usage is clearly a money grabbing exercise. Therefore the  SLT that earned a revenue of Rs. 38.95 billion in 2014 , having no capacity to provide an internet package to suit the present time is not acceptable by any stretch of imagination.

Several years ago ,it was possible to obtain an unlimited internet package from the SLT, but by now that has  been eliminated. The SLT that was able  to provide an unlimited internet package several years ago , but  having no capacity  to provide that by 2015 is more a fiction and less a fact  , and anyone can understand that.

It is because an individual who felled trees on the sly leapt like a frog in the well into the seat  of the chairman of the SLT , the Institution which should be  progressing is hurtling down a precipice. 

After the president’s younger brother took over that chairman post , during the whole of last year , there was neither any  relief nor any new services offered to the people by that Institution. Simply bragging WiFi zones would be made available Island wide is purposeless .On the contrary , the   internet service ought to  be  proivided at much more lower rates and at higher speed. If he cannot carry on his duties efficiently , it is best for  him to hand over that chairman post to another, and get back to felling trees carrying the axe , the area where his skills can be demonstrated best  ,without  ‘killing’ the SLT through slow strangulation.

The Telecom, it is learnt  is moving to impose temporary bans on internet usage of those who criticize the SLT via the face book. We are therefore  intently following and watching this. Lanka e news is aware that because LeN is castigating the SLT ( justifiably of course), the news website has been banned within the SLT. This type of low bred conduct and base  actions are natural when an individual who chopped trees illicitly has  hopped audaciously into the chairman seat of a lofty Institution .

A telecom customer
Translated by Jeff.

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by     (2015-12-27 20:06:28)

Over Rs 10000 billion B-onion scam in Sathosa

2015-12-28

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) has commenced investigations into the massive fraud in the sale of rice, big onions and sprats worth over Rs 10,000 billion by Sathosa.

The fraud is reported to exceed the infamous Value Added Tax fraud.

Secretary of the Commission Lacille De Silva informed that under the pretence of providing big onion farmers with relief, certain retailers and sellers of Bombay onions, based in Pettah, would be sent to the areas where the crops were grown and significant amounts of big onions would be purchased.

These big onions would in turn be bought by Sathosa at Rs 60 a kilo, he added.

Investigations into two other massive frauds have been completed and steps have been taken in this regard to proceed with legal action, he explained.

Meethotamulla tense situation: Police launch investigations

December 28, 2015
The police have launched an investigation to identify a group of people who had allegedly attacked residents of Meethotamulla while they were protesting against a garbage dump site in the area last night.  

Several people, who sustained injuries following the attack, have been admitted to the Colombo National hospital, the police said.

Around 700 metric tons of waste is disposed daily at the 16-acre garbage dump site in Meethotamulla threatening the homes and lives of the people living in the area.

The mountainous garbage dumps have slipped causing damages to a large number of houses while villagers also complain of health risks.

Villagers have continuously protested calling for the removal of the site, however, claim their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Protest against Uma Oya project defying court ruling

By Shamindra Ferdinando-December 28, 2015,

People blocked the Colombo-Badulla road at Bandarawela on Saturday to pressure the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government to address the grievances of those badly affected by the Iranian-funded Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP).

 Over 2,000 people took part in the protest which lasted for about five hours. Former JVP MP and Uva Provincial Council member Samantha Vidyaratne, who spearheaded the protest told The Island that they had gone ahead with the protest in spite of the police obtaining a court order to stop it, as the situation there was fast deteriorating.

 Alleging that the previous government had launched the project without conducting required feasibility studies, Vidyaratne said that a major leak from the underwater springs on Dec 26, 2014, amidst construction of one of the underground tunnels caused massive damages. The JVPer said that the previous government as well as the new administration had failed to take remedial measures though the public continuously highlighted the environmental damage caused by the project.

 The Badulla and Moneragala administrative districts had been affected with the Bandarawela Pradeshiya Sabha area being the worst hit, Vidyaratne said.

In the Bandarawela Pradeshiya Sabha area alone nearly 2,000 houses had been damaged, Vidyaratne said, adding that about 800 domestic wells too had dried up due to the project.

 Responding to a query, the Uva PC member said that a special fact-finding mission was needed to inquire into the rapidly deteriorating situation. Vidyaratne said the government hadn’t heeded repeated pleas for tangible action.

The JVPer said in the wake of damages caused to government school at Makulella in the Bandarawela Pradeshiya Sabha area, authorities had shifted children to a nearby temple while promising a permanent solution soon.

 "People were assured of a temporary building to accommodate children as well as permanent structures soon.

However, for want of real effort on the part of the government to address the issue, parents decided to move their children back to the dilapidated building," he said.

 Vidyaratne warned of dire consequences unless the government acted soon.

 The promised compensation, too, hadn’t been paid, he said, noting that in addition to Bandarawela many villages in Wellawaya, Hali-ela, Welimada and Uva Paranagama had been affected.

Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Project includes construction of two dams across two main tributaries of Uma Oya at Welimada and Dyraba and a 23km long trans-basin diversion tunnels with an underground power station at Randeniya.

Vidyaratne urged the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to intervene on behalf of the hapless people of Uva.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa finalised the Iranian funded project in early 2008.

Vidyaratne said the necessary reports required for the implementation of the project were produced in 2010. The JVPer alleged that those reports were meant to facilitate the project.

Asked whether the issue had been taken up with the new government, Vidyaratne said that they had an opportunity to make representations to President Maithripala Sirisena last March.

Badulla District UNP MP Chaminda Wijesiri assured the gathering that he would get their representatives an opportunity to meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe soon.

Vidyaratne alleged that Wijesiri never kept his earlier promise to arrange a meeting with Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake also to discuss the problem.

That is called brassiere; she is called daughter of Air force commander; I know not how to lash my son and son in law

(Lanka-e-News -28.Dec.2015, 3.40PM) It was none other than the daughter of the Sri Lanka Air force commander who darted from the rear stage at the concert in Colombo to kiss and hug Latin Amercian pop singer Enrique Iglatius most passionately and publicly while  he was performing . Believe it or not ,this youngster, Ayendra Bulathsinghala  is not only the daughter of Gagan Bulathsinghala the present Air Force commander whom president Maithripala appointed even  ignoring the monumental opposition mounted by the whole country against that appointment, but is also the prospective daughter in law of a wheeler dealer Wegapitiya the money launderer for the family of Sirisena .

Lanka e news always first with the news and best with the views had the misfortune to expose this disgraceful ugly episode for the first time on the 22nd – the itch at the wrong place  of Sri Lanka’s latest breed of shameless young women  of the so called high society , as well as their uncontrollable sexual lust and inordinate desire to expose  their busts .

After Lanka e news exposed this incident on the 22nd, the hired pro Maithri social media chain  team that is working for love of filthy lucre and was conducting an artificial campaign   against Lanka e News began to wear out and turned into a spent force. The president then realizing that the growing people’s opinion is that of Lanka e news had at last made a public announcement today at remote Amparai, and criticized the conduct of the daughter of the Air force commander who forcibly kissed , hugged and clung on to the singer , as well as that of another young woman who unzipped her brassiere and threw it at the singer to take it for keeps. It is fortunate the president made this announcement at least now without waiting until these itchy women  began throwing out even what are  hidden behind  their  bra too at such concerts, which could prove fatal.

President Maithripala who was copying and imitating the biggest hypocrite and fraud ,the mendacious and Machiavellian  ex president Mahinda Rajapakse  from the very outset  when making  his speeches using ‘Apey Hamadruwane, ’  and  ‘Nayake Hamuduruwane’ most profusely had this to say on this occasion...

''There was a musical concert in Colombo last week, and a foreign singer performed . This singer was on stage for an hour.To enjoy this performer’s concert , ‘Apey Mahanayake hamaduruwane’ tickets were sold at prices ranging from Rs. 5000.00 to Rs. 50,000.00.
 
After admission  , there were drinks which could be purchased  with the available cash .I cannot say this before the young children in front of me, but I cannot also wait without saying ’ Hamaduruwane.’ You must have seen via the media how they rejoiced  and danced after drinking liquor including Arrack , Beer , Gin and Whisky during the one hour .

These girls  began throwing their  upper garments that cover their  inside better known as   the brassiere at the singer for him to take them. Just imagine , this is how our culture is being preserved. Some girls got on stage with the singer and started kissing him by force.This uncontrollable misconduct was the result of the influence of liquor.

There is a village saying.  When somebody makes a mistake he /she should be given lashes with (Madu walge) Ray’s tail. Mahanayake hamuduruwane , by my telling this ,I am not referring to the young women who threw brassieres or who got on stage and misbehaved , I am referring to  those who organized such shows. They should be lashed.'' 

The president taking over a week  to make this announcement is perturbing and perplexing, and several issues have sprung up in this regard among the people.. The president is bound to  make an announcement in connection with the following issues..

1. The young woman who kissed , hugged and clung on to Enrique shamelessly and most passionately , and who disgraced the Sinhala culture is not from Amparai . She is the daughter of no less a person than the Air Force Commander . Hence it is the Air Force Commander who should be summoned and warned to teach his  daughter to behave better. Instead going to remote Amaparai and making this announcement before  the innocent people of Amparai serves no purpose.

2. It is the prospective daughter in law of Wegapitiya the money launderer for the president Maithripala’s family , that is, the girl who is betrothed to the son of Wegapitiya , who kissed , hugged and clung on to Enrique in a fit of delirious sex starvation . Hence , why go to Amparai and make sermons  as though the innocent people of Amparai are responsible, instead of summoning  Wegapitiya and advising him to teach his daughter in law  good moral values? 

3. If the president says , tickets are priced from Rs.5000.00 to Rs. 50,000.00 , doesn’t the president know his own son Daham Sirisena also went to  this concert with six defender jeeps full of presidential  security personnel ? Doesn’t he know his son in law too went to see the show along with the presidential security personnel? (photographs depict) . What are the prices of tickets purchased  by them ? Or did they see the show free exploiting presidential powers ? Is the president going to lash  Daham Sirisena and Thilina Suranjith with the Ray’s tail  tonight for their actions ?

4. The statement made by Executive President Maithripala that those who organized the show should be whipped can be reckoned as an absolute threat and fear inspiring. Doesn’t he know that this show was organized by Light events private Co. belonging to Kumara Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena ? That means the president is today going to tan the hide of Kumara Sangakkara to whom the post of SL High commissioner to UK was offered almost by force by the president after dashing to the playground like a school boy ? and Mahela Jayawardena ? Is he trying to lash Sangakkara and Mahela because he cannot lash Daham and Thilina?

5. Since when was the requirement  introduced in ths country that the Executive president’s recommendation is necessary for holding musical shows ?

6. Shouldn’t the snake charmer understand he can only make the snakes he has taken  under his attire dance to his tune and not the snakes  that are in the country ?

7. Instead of making characteristic foolish bombastic utterances like lashing others with the Ray’s tail , won’t it be enough to give a sane and sensible warning to the youngsters that when enjoying their freedom and  engaging in pleasurable activities they should exercise restraint ?  

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by     (2015-12-28 10:16:53)

Enrique Iglesias concert Sanga and Mahela apologize

2015-12-29

Former Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane, who organized the now controversial Enrique Iglesias concert, have apologized to the fans for the inconvenience they endured during the concert. Given below is their
apology in full,
"We wish to apologise to all of you for your negative experience at the recently concluded Enrique Concert. Although both of us were overseas fulfilling cricket commitments,...

...we were shocked and saddened to hear of the events that transpired. It is extremely disappointing for us that this event, organized to assist the development of Sri Lanka as a tourist and entertainment hub and provide the public with exceptional entertainment of a high standard by accessing celebrated international artistes, turned out in this manner. We are issuing this statement today, after understanding all circumstances and the facts.

When the idea was pitched to us and our investors by the organizers to bring an artiste such as Enrique to Sri Lanka, we backed it in all good faith expecting a stellar event delivered in a professional manner to the public of Sri Lanka. Although we realized that such a venture will be an arduous one due to the well-known challenges and market restraints of organizing such large-scale events in Sri Lanka, we were willing to support this endeavour considering the rich experience and the image-building potential for Sri Lanka's tourism. As such, all required resources - both financial and otherwise - were made available to the organizers to ensure the desired outcome.

Unfortunately, the event has fallen far short of these expectations. Although we believe that the organizing team worked tirelessly and with good intentions to ensure a well-run event, there have clearly been glaring mistakes made, for which responsibility needs to be taken.

Firstly, although the delay of the artist and some equipment arriving at the venue, which caused the subsequent delay in opening the gates to usher in the public, for which the artiste responsibly and graciously apologized, was beyond the control of the organizers, the communication of this to the public was mishandled, thereby inconveniencing people greatly. Those that stood patiently in-line for hours were not extended the courtesy of being informed of the ground situation. This at the very beginning would have frustrated and angered all of you.

Secondly, although a professional security company was hired and protocols were put in place to ensure the safety and the comfort of all, we have been made well-aware that these measures were inadequate when faced with the challenges of controlling such a large gathering, and failed alarmingly. This obviously undermined the overall experience for those who purchased premium tickets by their respective space being encroached upon by others, and we fully understand their disappointment and anger. The premium price paid by them for their tickets needs to be respected and their comfort and viewing experience should have been safeguarded, which is under the direct purview of the organizers.

The organizers are in agreement, with our direction, that such shortcomings must not be tolerated. As such, we have informed them that an apology in itself is not sufficient, but further appropriate compensation has to be made in the form of a suitable refund, irrespective of the financial loss to us.
With regards to recent reports concerning Live Events and Municipal entertainment taxes, we categorically state the company remains transparent and ethical in all operations.

Live Events will continue to ensure full compliance with all relevant tax commitments and is providing all necessary information to the Colombo Municipal Council, in order to clarify facts and the way forward. Accountability and integrity is paramount to us and we believe it to be the same for the organizers.
Although we know an apology or refund cannot fully satiate your disappointment, we wish to reiterate that we remain fully committed to all of you and our country. As such, a full and thorough internal inquiry is ongoing into all areas of concern."

Kumar Sangakkara Must Resign From His Brand Ambassador Post: Anti-Narcotic Activists

December 28, 2015

“Kumar Sangakkara must resign from his Brand Ambassador post. He is the brand ambassador of Anti-narcotics programme in Sri Lanka. He has no moral right to keep that post anymore after been criticised by the President for distributing alcohol.” couple of anti-narcotic activists told Colombo Telegraph.

Kumar

Criticising Enrique’s ‘Sex And Love’ show, organised by Sangakkara et al. President Maithripala Sirisena said; “The musical show lasted only for an hour. Prices of its tickets ranged from Rs. 5000 to 50,000. They were served Beer, Arrack, Brandy and Gin. This is the power of liquor. This is how they are trying to protect our culture, Some people may criticise me talking about these issues. But I am a Sinhala-Buddhist. It’s my duty to talk about these matters,” he said.

The President also said the organisers of such indecent events should be punished for bringing artistes, who destroy Sri Lanka’s proud culture. He said the organisers should be “whipped with toxic stingray tails”- a brutal medieval punishment.

Ace Sri Lankan Cricketer Kumar Sangakkara was appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board by President Maithripala Sirisena at President’s official residence on August 19.

After been appointed, Kumar Sangakkara stated that he is thankful for the invitation to carry out this initiative at a time where lives of youth have been destroyed and families have been separated.

                                                 Read More

Another swindling by Namal – worth Rs. 450 million

Dec 28, 2015

MP Namal Rajapaksa has obtained a commission of Rs. 450 million when granting the land in which Transworks House is located in Colombo Fort to India’s Krrish Square for a 650 million US dollar project, police has found out.

With Namal, several wealth businessmen and three VIP politicians were involved in this, investigations have revealed.

NR Associates, owned by Namal, had given legal advice and drafted the agreement between Krrish Group and the UDA.

It was Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, the then chairman of the SEC who had advised Krrish Group, to handover the task to this legal firm.

Namal had sent a text message to Nalaka, telling him to obtain 3.5 million US dollars (Rs. 450 million) for granting the preliminary authorization for the project.

Money at HSBC in Singapore

It is suspected that Krrish Group had deposited the money at an account owned by Namal at HSBC bank in Singapore.

The UDA says Krrish Group was yet to pay the Rs. 450 million for the project as per the agreement signed in 2012, but Krrish Group says all payments have been made.

In this conflicting situation, the project has come to a standstill, and the UDA has ordered Krrish Group to pay a Rs. 550 million demurrage.

However, on Namal’s instructions, Nalaka had returned Rs. 400 million to Krrish Group.

There has been controversy with regard to the receipt for the Krrish Group’s having deposited Rs. 450 million at Namal’s account at HSBC Singapore. The FCID is further investigating the Krrish deal.

Duminda Silva noticed over non-declaration of assets 

2015-12-28
The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today noticed former UPFA parliamentarian Duminda Silva to appear in Court on January 13 on charges of non-declaration of assets in 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed the lawsuit. 

The Commission’s report filed in Court states that Mr. Silva had violated Section 3 of the Bribery Commission Act by not declaring his assets for the three years and had committed an offence punishable under Section 9 of the Bribery Act. (T. Farook Thajudeen)

Bombs in Syria's Homs kill 32, wound 90 - monitoring group

Mon Dec 28, 2015
At least 32 people were killed and 90 wounded in two bomb explosions in the Syrian city of Homs on Monday, monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The blasts, one from a car bomb and another from a suicide attack, struck the Zahra district in the middle of the city, said the Britain-based Observatory, which monitors the conflict through a network of contacts on the ground.

Syria's state news agency SANA reported two car bomb blasts, but gave a lower initial toll of six dead and 37 wounded.

It was the second major attack in the city since a ceasefire deal took effect earlier this month, paving the way for the government to take over the last rebel-controlled area of Homs.

Twin blasts on Dec. 12, also in Zahra, killed at least 16 people. Islamic State claimed reponsibility for that attack, saying it had detonated a suicide car bomb.

Under the Homs ceasefire deal, at least 700 insurgent fighters and members of their families left the last rebel-controlled area of the city, al Waer district. The United Nations presided over implementation of the deal.

(Reporting by John Davison; editing by Dominic Evans)

Syrian army soldiers and civilians inspect the site of two bomb explosions in the Syrian city of Homs, Syria, in this handout picture provided by SANA on December 28, 2015.

REUTERS/SANA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

Retro Cold War Guff From the NY Times

Russia is a vast nation with very difficult geography that limits its different military regions from supporting one another – a problem from which Russia has suffered since its 1904 war with Japan. Moscow needs large, often redundant armed forces to cover its immensity. This includes the warming Arctic, where Russia, like other coastal nations, is asserting its sovereignty. And Russia must also keep a watchful eye on neighboring China.

by Eric S. Margolis

( December 27, 2015, New York City, Sri Lanka Guardian) A striking example of how dangerously Americans are misinformed and misled by the war party was featured in a major article in 24 December, New York Times.

In “Russia Rearms for a New Era,” the authors assert Russian military spending is growing and has risen $11 billion from 2014 to 2015. Lurid maps and diagrams of weapons make it seem that Stalin’s 210-division Red Army is again on the march – and headed into Europe.

A professor at Columbia’s Harriman Institute was actually quoted claiming that President Vladimir Putin is trying to “provoke the US and NATO into military action” to bolster his popularity.

What unbelievable rubbish. This dimwitted lady believes that Putin, whose popularity ratings rise over 82% in Russia, needs to court nuclear war to gain a few more points? Shame on the NY Times.

Let’s look at the true figures. The US so-called “defense budget”(it should be called “offense budget”) is in the range of $600 billion, 37% of total world military spending by a nation that only 5% of world population.

Some studies put the true figure at $700 billion.

Not included in this figure are “black” projects, a lot of handouts to foreign military forces, and secret slush funds for waging small wars in Afghanistan, the Mideast, Africa and Asia. The US has over 700 military bases around the globe, with new ones opening all the time.

The US spends more on its armed forces than the next nine military powers – combined. America’s wealthy allies in Europe and Japan add important power to America’s global military domination.

Russia defense spending is roughly $70 billion, and this in spite of plunging oil prices and US-led sanctions. France and Britain each spend almost as much; Saudi Arabia spends more. A French admiral ruefully told me the US Navy’s budget alone exceeded that of France’s total armed forces.

Russia is a vast nation with very difficult geography that limits its different military regions from supporting one another – a problem from which Russia has suffered since its 1904 war with Japan. Moscow needs large, often redundant armed forces to cover its immensity. This includes the warming Arctic, where Russia, like other coastal nations, is asserting its sovereignty. And Russia must also keep a watchful eye on neighboring China.

The Kremlin’s view is that America is trying to tear down what’s left of the post-Soviet Russian Federation by subversion (see regime changes in Georgia, Ukraine) and by stirring up Muslim independence movements in the Caucasus and Central Asia. That’s why Russian military forces are fighting in Syria.

After the total collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia’s economy and its once potent military fell to ruin. For two decades, Russia military was starved of men and money, and allowed to rust. Putin has been playing catch-up for the past decade to rebuild his nation’s great power status and defend against what Russians see a constant western plots.

Memories are still raw of how Russia’s most secret military technologies were sold to the US during the ultra-corrupt Yeltsin era.

Russia’s relatively modest military budget is hardly a threat to the mighty United States. In fact, the only real Russia threat we face is the danger of blundering into a potential nuclear confrontation with Russia in Ukraine, the Black Sea, Syria or Iraq. Great, nuclear-armed powers should never…repeat, never…engage in direct confrontations.

It appalls and mystifies me that otherwise smart, world-wise people at the NY Times and the anti-Russian Council on Foreign Relations would even contemplate military conflict with Russia – for what? Mariupol Ukraine or Idlib, Syria, places no one has ever heard of.

We have been closer to blundering into nuclear war with Russia than any time since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Or worse, 1983, when a NATO military exercise codenamed Able Archer was misinterpreted by the Soviet military as an incoming attack by NATO.

This ultimately terrifying crisis was played against the background of intense anti-Soviet propaganda by the West, crowned by Ronald Reagan’s fulminations against the “Evil Empire,” which convinced the Kremlin a western attack was coming. Nuclear war was just averted thanks to a few courageous officers in the Soviet Air Defense Command.

copyright Eric S. Margolis 2015

Schools of war: Yemen's education system seized to train new fighters 

Exclusive: Pro-government forces are converting rural Taiz schools into military camps to boost war against the Houthis 
New pro-government recruits drill in Taiz (AFP)

Nasser Al-Sakkaf-Monday 28 December 2015

Al-Turbah, Yemen - Awadh al-Thobhani stands on a table as dozens of recruits gather round for their first lessons in war. The former Yemen army captain, with a pistol slung on his hip, has come to Taiz province to train the next generation of the 'popular resistance' to fight the Houthi movement.

But this building in rural of al-Turbah, 70km from Taiz city, was not always a military base. Before Thobhani and his men came it was school, and some of those around Thobani were students. Now they are preparing for war.

"I have been fighting the Houthis for about eight months, and when I knew that there were a large number in Taiz who wanted to join the resistance, I decided to leave the battle and return to my village to recruit new fighters," Thobhani told Middle East Eye.

By the end of January, he says, the mass of men gathered here at Abdulraqeeb Abdulwahab school will be sent to the frontlines.

But Thobhani's task is tall - while training lasts for 10 hours a day, for which recruits are paid $5, the vast majority of men are raw and, by Thobhani's own admission, will not be professionals when they leave for battle.

"Right now not all of the recruits have Kalashnikovs, and we do not train them in different kinds of weapons," he tells Middle East Eye. "But when they join the battle, they will learn how to use other kinds of weapons and they will get Kalashnikovs."

It is a damning indictment on peace talks in Switzerland between the Saudi-backed Yemen government and the Houthis, which spluttered to nothing earlier this month. With a ceasefire in tatters and fighting intensifying in Taiz and other areas of the country, both the Houthis and forces loyal to President Adb Rabbuh Mansour Hadi are rushing men into battle.

Awadh al-Thobhani lectures new recruits (Anonymous)

And the drills at Abdulwahab are hardly an outlier - since November, 10 other schools in rural Taiz have been taken over by the 'popular resistance' for use as military camps, according to a source in the local education office.

It is a move that threatens to not only extend the fighting, but also engulf peaceful rural areas in the violence.

Last Thursday, the Houthis fired two Katyusha rockets at al-Ahd al-Gadid school, another in al-Turbah that is being used by the popular resistance. Two children and two women were injured as the missiles fell short and hit their houses.

Aden Fadhl al-Rabei, a political analyst and the head of Madar Strategic Studies Centre, told MEE that the warring sides usually use rural areas to recruit new fighters. "If the Houthis know the camps of the resistance, definitely they will target them."

But he added that schools were being taken over by both sides for use as military camps. 

"Both sides use them for training, not only the resistance," he said. "The Houthis are using schools in rural areas of Imran province and other northern provinces, and have forced the students to join the war. MEE cannot verify if students were forced into service.

Such a strategy will also have a long-term effect on the youth of Yemen, as hundreds of students are forced out of education and school infrastructure is targeted.

The source inside the education office told MEE: "The warring parties must let the students study and they must stop using schools as military camps - this step will make the schools targets," he added.

However, Abdullah Saeed, another trainer at Abdulwahab school, said the war against the Houthis must take precedence over everything else.

"The resistance does not have another place for the recruits, but the students can study at other schools, so the education office should not bother us," he told MEE.

Many residents do not share his views.

One women, Um Ayman, who lives near Abdulwahab school, said: "The residents of al-Turbah are not Houthis but they are not loyalists to Hadi. We are independent people who want to be safe and keep our area far from the conflict.

"If the recruits are not here, the Houthis will not target al-Turbah. The resistance would be held responsible for any fighting in al-Turbah."

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/yemen-schools-used-military-camps-1232180707#sthash.odF88TBs.dpuf