'I was terrified I would stab my baby': Living with severe perinatal mental illness

DIANA WILSON WITH HER THIRD DAUGHTER, LARA--Diana, with her four daughters on holiday.

Diana suffered from perinatal OCD through four pregancies.-Diana recovered with the help of five CBT sessions. 

18 JANUARY 2016 • 11:16AM

When Diana Wilson was having contractions in hospital with her fourth baby, the thoughts entering her head were so violent that she was convinced social services would come and take her child away once it was born.

“The thoughts were telling me that when I got home I would kill this baby and then my other children would be taken away from me, that I’d had an affair and the baby wasn’t my husband’s, that I’d strangle her in my sleep”.

The thoughts didn’t stop when Diana, now 50, went home with her newborn daughter. Three months after the birth, Diana was unable to get out of bed for a week. “ I cocooned myself – I couldn’t eat because I was so terrified that if I picked up a knife I would stab them [her four children], that every time I opened a cabinet and saw my husband’s razor blades I would take one out and cut them. I’d go to give my newborn a bath and the thoughts would come saying push her, hold her down, hold her under.”

Diana didn’t know at the time that she was suffering from  pure “O” (obsessive thoughts with no observable compulsive behaviour)perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD during pregnancy is a condition that affects two to four per cent of all new mothers, and can be developed shortly before or after pregnancy.

Alternatively, sufferers of pre-existing OCD find their symptoms exacerbated during pregnancy, because of a heightened sense of responsibility for the safety of a developing child. 

Perinatal OCD is one of the most severe mental health disorders that can affect women during pregnancy, providing extreme mental distress to both mother and child that can be life-threatening.

But as it stands, three-quarters of women who suffer from the most critical mental health illnesses, including OCD, severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and postpartum psychosis, won’t have any access to specialist care.

A few days ago, David Cameron pledged an expansion of perinatal (meaning during and after pregnancy) services for women who need  vital treatment for such conditions, promising that by the end of the decade the 40,000 mothers estimated to suffer from such illnesses will have access to specialist services such as Mother and Baby units, which offer on-site consultant psychiatrists and occupational therapies. Currently, only 10,000 mothers are able to access this level of support. 

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Brazil Zika outbreak: New test kits for mosquito-borne viruses

The Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes are the transmitters of all three viruses

17 January 2016

The Brazilian Health ministry says it's developed new testing kits to rapidly identify the presence of three viruses - Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya - all carried by the same mosquito.

Health Minister Marcelo Castro said priority for testing would be given to pregnant women.

Brazil has the largest known outbreak of Zika, which has been linked to a sharp spike in birth defects.

Mr Castro also announced extra funds to speed up finding a vaccine for Zika.

He said that the goal was to develop a vaccine "in record time".

At the moment the only way to fight Zika is to clear standing water where mosquitoes breed.

The aim is that the tests will speed up diagnosis and ensure patients get correct medical treatment fast.

Most of the cases of microencephaly in Brazil have been in the poorer north-eastern states

Since October around 3,530 babies have been born with microencephaly, which can lead to small heads and under-developed brains.

Fewer than 150 cases of microencephaly were seen in Brazil throughout 2014.

The US State Department confirmed its first case of a baby born with brain damage because of infection by the Zika virus.

The baby was born in a hospital in Oahu, Hawaii.

The Hawaii State Department of Health said the mother was believed to have contracted Zika while living in Brazil in May 2015 and that the baby was most likely infected in the womb.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert on Friday advising pregnant women to avoid travelling to Brazil and other Latin American and Caribbean countries where outbreaks of Zika have been registered.

The travel alert applies to Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes species mosquito.

Mullaitivu residents call for Navy to release land immediately

Photograph Tamilwin

17 January 2016
Residents in Mullaitivu this week called for land occupied by the Sri Lankan navy to be returned to them immediately, at a meeting chaired by the Northern Provincial Council member, Mr Ravikaran. 

Listening to their concerns, Mr Ravikaran said he would take action to ensure occupied land was released and handed back to the residents in a working condition, Tamilwinreported. 

Sri Lanka cannot be divided: PM

2016-01-17
In a special statement on the process of drafting a new Constitution, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today the country could not be divided and that no one had the slightest intention of diluting the unitary nature of the country through the new Constitution. 

He said the new Constitution was being drafted within the parameters of the Sixth Amendment to the 1983 Constitution which prohibits the setting up of a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka. 

“Some say the foremost place given to Buddhism and the unitary nature of the country are being diluted through the new constitution. No one wants to divide the country. Most of us including me are Buddhists, I am Sinhalese and I need to unite the whole country. The draft will be passed with a two-thirds majority in Parliament. For those who speak of Buddhism losing its foremost place in the Constitution, I will make a special statement in Parliament. I ask the small parties not to politicize this issue,” the Prime Minister said. “The new constitution will be based on the aspirations of the people.

” He said the names of those in the committee to collect the views and proposals of the people via social media had been submitted by him to Cabinet on December 19, 2015. 

The Prime Minister said the 24-member committee would also travel across the country to collect the views and proposals of the people. 

“I am not keen to draft the new constitution inside a single chamber. I want the people to present their views to draft a Constitution which is suitable for the 21st century. The purpose of using the social media is to obtain the views of the youth who will be the future leaders of this country. This is the first time that the social media is being harnessed in drafting a new Constitution,” he said. 

After the draft Constitution is passed with a two-thirds majority, it will be submitted to the Cabinet and then placed before the people at a referendum, he added. (Piyumi Fonseka) 

Should Plantation Workers Be Working At Poverty Level Wages ?

By Vijaya Kumar –January 17, 2016

Professor Vijaya Kumar

Special correspondents and bigwigs in the planation industry keep hammering at us that plantation workers in Sri Lankan are vastly overpaid, any increases in pay will be spent on liquor, no increase in pay is possible unless tied to productivity and that workers should agree to a new system where they will become contract workers. Should we believe them ?

What is conveniently forgotten is that when the plantations were placed under private management, the trade unions were given undertakings among others that 10% of the profit would be distributed among employees and a collective agreement would be facilitated with the management companies to ensure that workers are paid a reasonable wages. The 4 cts per cost of living index point allowance paid at that time to workers was removed at the insistence of the companies and a 15% wage increase from Rs. 61.84 to Rs 72.22 per day offered to workers. The mechanism for facilitating a collective agreement took four years to establish but regular negotiations have taken place since then. The present strategy of the companies of refusing to sign a collective agreement constitutes a betrayal of this undertaking and Minister Kiriella should be congratulated for asking the companies to get out if they cannot pay workers a living wage. The Government has a Golden share which allows it to do just that.

The plantations went through a very similar crisis in 1992 when the Iraq – Iran Gulf war, sanctions against Iraq and the break-up of the Soviet Union and the resulting hard currency problems lost us our main markets for tea. It was this crisis interpreted by interested parties as being due to the inefficiency of state management that led to private management of plantations. The “efficient” private management which was expected to transform the industry into profitability appears to have only one solution to estate problems, controlling worker pay. At every negotiation except that of 2013, the RPCs insisted that they could not afford to raise wages and any pay rise must be accompanied by an increase in productivity but they finally grudgingly settled the issue. The superiority of private sector management is clearly a myth.Read More

Even the Thaipongal is over, still no increase of wages

Jan 17, 2016

The promise given to increase the plantation workers wages has still not fulfilled, says the plantation workers.

The employer’s who pledged to increase the wages before the Deepavali festival, failed to do so and said they would increase the wages following the New Year. However now the Thaipongal festival too is over still our wages are not increased, lamented a plantation worker.

 

Executive director of the Estate Public Development Institute P. Muththulingam said the government has a responsibility to increase the wages as promised.

 

“It was only the government which announced that it would pay Rs. 2500, increasing Rs. 100 per day. If the companies are telling that it cannot pay now at least the treasury should be able to pay” he said.

 

Rupees two thousand five hundred

 

Kandurata Workers Front parliament MP Arunachalam Aravinda Kumar said the government would increase the wages in Rs. 2500 as promised.

 

The minister said during the next parliamentary session he would propose to increase the wages by Rs. 2500 and pass the bill.

 

According to the collective agreement made in 1992 between the employers and the plantation workers every two years both parties should come to an agreement about the plantation workers wages.

 

Therefore before March 31st 2015 the companies should have come to an agreement about the increment of the plantation workers wages which did not happen.

 

The minister said the government should immediately come to an agreement regarding the increment of the basic salary of the plantation workers.

Proposed enactment : Registration of book of rules for Bhikkhus provokes the crooked and goons; delights pure Bhikkhus..

(Lanka-e-News -17.Jan.2016, 11.30PM) The outcome of the agreements arrived at ,following discussions with the Mahanayakes of the three Nikayas had been presented in parliament ,however  the government is not enacting  any laws except that to give legal  powers to the book of rules of the Nikayas ; and when it comes to resolving issues , those will be done by  the Buddhist prelates themselves , minister of justice and Buddha sasana Prof. Wijedasa Rajapakse explained when speaking in relation to the registration of the draft of the ‘Therawathi’ book of rules for Bhikkhus.

The minister made these comments  at a media briefing held on 14 th to reveal the cabinet decisions.

Every Nikaya , every sect has a book of rules pertaining to the discipline and conduct  of Bhikkhus in order to prevent the annihilation of the Buddha sasana.Those rules have been framed on the basis of the Bhikkhu discipline stipulated in the Tripitaka. 

The complaints made by the Mahanayakes that these rules do not have a legal clout were the topic of discussion for the last several years. For instance , though there is the post of leader of judicial sangha, nobody is empowered legally  to take decisions. They are only nominal positions. In this connection since 2011 , the formulation of the draft was commenced. Under the last government this draft was prepared - the outcome of  discussions held among leaders of all Buddhist Nikayas , all sects, and Buddhist monk registrars  in Sri Lanka (SL) , who were empowered to hold discussions. After the shortcomings were subjected to improvement again , and after cabinet approval , the draft had been  tabled in parliament.

The objective of this daft is : to empower and enable the mahanayakes and the sangha executive committees to take disciplinary decisions and action against the bhikkhus who violate the disciplinary rules or  conditions stipulated in the book of rules that are   now accepted  by each Nikaya and each sect. Though decisions are taken even  now , the maha sangha is not vested with the power to implement them.

The request made to the government was to give legal clout to the book of rules so that the decisions taken will have legal validity.

The preparation of the book of rules will not  be made by the government. Those will be done  by the relevant Nikayas and sects. The government will not be deciding on the actions to be taken against the Bhikkhus who have acted in violation of the disciplinary rules. It will only be giving legal power to the Mahanayakes  to implement the decisions they take.

Discussions were held with the mahanayakes of the three Nikayas, and what have been presented in parliament are those on which there were concurrence. Only  legal power  is to be accorded  to the book of rules . The government has not enacted laws. No laws are being enacted  in respect of the Bhikkhus. It is the Bhikkhus who have to sort those  out.

This draft had been brought forward with the concurrence of the Mahanayakes.If the maha sangha is proposing more amendments to this , at the executive committee meetings those can be taken up and wherever possible  those shall be included, the minister went on to elaborate.

The four basic clauses in the book of rules formulated by the Bhikkhu  executive committee which are to be included in the  draft of  Theravadhi Bhikkhu book of rules that is to be presented in parliament for registration , are hereunder ….

*Sangha executive committee composition  and ,mandate

*A book containing mandatory conduct and disciplinary rules for  Bhikkhus

*The manner in which an inquiry shall be conducted into pertaining to  breach  of discipline and misconduct of a Bhikkhu

*Punishment that shall be meted out in such cases of transgressions.

Some clauses in the proposed enactment that can  be included in the Bhikkhu book of rules…

*Engaging  in occult science or activities akin to it , and giving publicity when  carrying  out such activities.

*Engaging  in trade and business activities 

*Obtaining driving/riding  licences and driving /riding vehicles

*Employment in  state and private Institutions apart from participation in educational , social and religious activities .

*Conduct that is incompatible with the Bhikkhu order  and discipline in public places.

The 7 punishments in the Bhikkhu   book of rules are incorporated  in the proposed enactment . Though these are already there , the Nikayas have no legal power to give effect to  them.

*Temproray dismissal of a Bhikkhu from a Vihara where he is working.
* Permanent dismissal of a Bhikkhu from a Vihara he  is working
*Temporary dismissal from the chief incumbent post
*Permanent dismissal from the post of chief incumbent
*Dismissal from the post of student monk
*Dismissal from the relevaNt Nakaya or sect.
*Cancellation of registration as a clergy .

Bhikkhus who are charged with having acted in breach of the provisions of the book of rules that has been registered , must abide by the decisions taken by the Sangha sabha. Bhikkhus who disobey the decisions of the executive committee will become liable as wrongdoers  under this enactment , and in the case heard before the magistrate he becomes liable to a fine not less than Rs. 50,000.00 or a jail sentence not less than six months. 

This enactment also bars such Bhikkhus who are  facing charges or  found guilty ,from joining another Nikaya or sect , and another Nikaya or Sect is also prohibited from taking them .

In the document handed over by the people to the UNP to steer the government of good governance  to victory at the elections of 17th August 2015 , it is stated thus : ‘The Therawadhi Buddha Dharma Sangayanawak  is to be held in the Buddhist year 2561 or in the Christian year 2018  and ,let us start that  with next year.’ This is the beginning.

The lay Buddhists were angered during the recent  past over the conduct of  the crooked and Bhikkhus and their hooliganism ,as they were  aware of the monumental harm and damage that were  being caused to true and pure Buddhism and the ‘Supeshala Bhikkhus’

In any event , as expected , the corrupt and hooligan  Bhikkhus , as well as villainous scoundrels  have mounted opposition against this draft . Galagoda Aththe Gnanassara who pleaded   guilty in court and was fined Rs. 15000.00 on charges of drunken driving  and colliding with a three wheeler has said , in the future , no matter the circumstances and charges , he has decided not to appear in court , despite the fact that being a monk and  a citizen he  should be more concerned about laws and obedience to them. Similarly , another monk Bengamuwe Nalaka of the same ilk , who fasted in support of the Ekneliyagoda murderers had said , he would see that the parliament is surrounded  if this bill is passed.

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by     (2016-01-17 21:35:20)

When Is Religious Impunity Going To End?

By Emil van der Poorten –January 17, 2016

Emil van der Poorten

What provoked the title of this piece is a recent event to which I was witness when a man in saffron robes, a Buddhist priest I presume, jumped the queue at a major private hospital while several other obviously sick patients were waiting their turn to see a consultant who proved to be the epitome of professionalism and kindness.

There we were, a handful of patients awaiting the arrival of the doctor we had chosen to see, with the first of our number already in the consultation room, when in traipsed a man in the robes of a Buddhist priest. Even though appearances can often be deceptive, he was certainly one of the healthiest looking people on the premises of that large private health institution!

And, mind you, he didn’t come alone. He was accompanied by two women dressed in what is colloquially known as “western garb” who, on entry into the waiting area, immediately strode up to the young nurse who was shepherding patients into the doctor’s presence according to the sequence of the numbers they held.

Immediately after this confabulation, the nurse went up to the patient she was next due to usher into the doctor’s room and, after some whispering and head nodding, the already evident smirk on the priest’s countenance seemed to grow more pronounced.Read More

JVP joins anti-war demonstration in Italy

SUNDAY, 17 JANUARY 2016

A protest demonstration under the theme ‘No more imperialist wars’ to oppose US bombing of Iraq on 16th January 25 years ago that commenced Gulf war was held in Rome yesterday (16th). Members of the JVP committee in Italy too participated.

The protest movement was organized by progressive movements in Italy while foreign anti-imperialists and those against wars and a large number of people participated.

Free-will and good governance

Politics as the art of the possible

by Kumar David-January 17, 2016, 10:58 am 

"I am Zarathustra the godless; where do I find my equal? All who give themselves Will and renounce Submission, they are mine".

- Friedrich Nietzsche in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"

It is in the nature of things that people curse their government, sometimes justly at other times with no thought for the art of the possible. One could say this of ordinary life too; parents desire impossible achievements from their progeny, fans demand Bradmanesque feats from mere Smiths and Sangas, and your salary never matches your true worth, eh? Two samples in the current political universe spring to mind: Is Obama a miserable failure? Is the government of Lanka falling short of reasonable expectations? I will explore both and reach opposite conclusions, but a few paragraphs on free-will may be useful as a primer. I can only touch on the topic but I take the chance name a dazzling array of people; knowledgeable readers may like to expand on what they said on the subject.

Free-will and Good Governance-Politics as the Art of the Possible by Thavam Ratna

Mario Gomez, ICES, & IDRC commit Research Fraud In Sri Lanka

By Muttukrishna Sarvananthan –January 17, 2016

Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan

In August 2013 I received a “Call for Proposals” (CfP) by the Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women (GrOW) programme of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC, Canada) through a global network I am member of. The GrOW programme is jointly funded by the Department for International Development (DfID), IDRC, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (California); the DfID contributing nearly seventy per cent of the total funding. However, IDRC is the implementing agency.

I was interested in bidding for this research and policy advocacy grant because I have been always concerned about ethnic, gender, and regional inequalities in Sri Lanka and have a track record of peer-reviewed academic publications to demonstrate that concern. Besides, I had completed a study for the CARE International (Sri Lanka) in early 2013 on the impact of post-civil war economic growth on women in the former conflict-affected Eastern and Northern Provinces of Sri Lanka and wished to upscale that study.

As the Point Pedro Institute of Development (PPID) does not have the administrative capacity to implement both the research and policy advocacy components of this grant, I approached the Executive Director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) in Colombo, Mario Gomez, to find out whether ICES would like to collaborate with PPID and jointly submit a proposal to the IDRC. The choice of ICES for collaboration was mainly because it has a track record of research and advocacy on discrimination against women and on the cause of gender equality in Sri Lanka, especially until 2006 when it was headed by the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women. Besides, I have worked at the ICES from January 2001 to December 2003 and subsequently collaborated with the ICES on a post-tsunami research study covering the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Provinces funded by the UNICEF (Sri Lanka office) during 2005-2006.

The ICES agreed to collaborate with PPID and make a joint submission to the CfP by the GrOW programme of the IDRC. The deadline for the first round of application was late-October 2013. The proposal was prepared by an ICES staff in collaboration with two other temporary staff of the ICES with significant input from me on behalf of the PPID. In this first round of the proposal Chulani Kodikara of the ICES was proposed to be the Principal Investigator (PI) and Muttukrishna Sarvananthan of the PPID was to be the Co-Investigator (CI) and no other personnel were proposed. Our joint proposal was short-listed in January 2014 and ICES-PPID was asked to submit a full proposal (including the budget) by late March 2014. The first round of application was reviewed by three external reviewers appointed by the IDRC and we received the comments by the three external reviewers in order to address the concerns raised by the reviewers in our full proposal.

Read More

Saying Goodbye To Sri Lanka And Her Resilient People – Subinay Nandy

Subinay Nandy.

18/01/2016 

In my 25 years at the United Nations I have had the privilege of serving in a number of countries. In May of 2011, I arrived in Sri Lanka. Two years had passed since the end of the civil war. The country was transitioning from a humanitarian phase to a path of restoration and lasting peace. My journey in this beautiful island began at this critical juncture.

As my current assignment now comes to an end, I look back at the four-and-a-half years I have been here. I have been overwhelmed by the resilience of this country’s people and I am humbled to have had the opportunity to support its rebuilding process.

A moment that I distinctly recall is my first visit to the North, when I visited ‘Menik Farm’ – a camp which housed the internally displaced people at the time. I met a boy; in his mid-twenties. He was strong amid the unbearable experiences that he had faced. He was hopeful, despite the fact that he had never seen peace in his country. He was determined to rebuild, redevelop, and restore his life and the lives of his family. And this is what struck me the most – the immense strength, hope, and resilience that echoes in all of the Sri Lankan people.

Over the years I am proud that the UN has been a staunch advocate for the protection of IDP rights in all forms. We advocated for adherence to internationally accepted norms and standards and maintained a robust system of protection monitoring, including incident reporting on gender based violence. Alongside, relevant UN agencies continued with the work of providing support to families seeking truth and justice, and considerable work to support the efforts of human rights defenders throughout the country. At the same time, we have been working alongside the Government providing assistance to support internally displaced people to resettle and return their lives to normalcy. However, a lot more remains to be done, and the UN will continue supporting further resettlement and the attainment of durable solutions for all affected people.

As I worked closely with the UN Country Team in supporting the development and rebuilding of Sri Lanka in the post-war era, I noticed more and more the striking beauty of the country through its people. My colleagues in the UN Family in Sri Lanka are testament to this. During my term in this beautiful island, I worked closely with the team in delivering a programme aimed at promoting durable peace, stability, and prosperity in a reconciled Sri Lanka. The programme we delivered, and continue to deliver as one family, has proved to me the commitment of my team, for the people of Sri Lanka.

While I have many memories from my tenure here, I must say that the last year of my term was one of the most memorable. On 8th January 2015, Sri Lanka demonstrated the power of its people yet again, as one nation, through the electoral process. I am honoured to have personally witnessed the peaceful political transition that took place, which is a true example of democracy and peace. I note this political change as a moment that captured the attention of the world and it has indeed inspired the hearts and minds of many. The voice of the Sri Lankan people was heard loud and clear, and this voice, I will always remember.

Last year also marked the completion of a 15-year global commitment towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The country’s achievement on the MDGs proved to the world, Sri Lanka’s true human potential. The MDG Country Report 2014 shows how almost all targets were achieved well ahead of the deadline set in 2015. It illustrates how the people of Sri Lanka took action for the betterment of the people of its country. It demonstrates the tireless efforts of those in the public, private, and development sector, including people from civil society, youth groups, and media.

The achievement of the MDGs sets the stage for Sri Lanka to shine in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the 15 years to come. I see tremendous opportunity and potential in Sri Lanka to take on the SDGs, which will instill long lasting and sustainable development in this country. This will be at the heart of Sri Lanka’s agenda moving forward, and its results will truly be what the Sri Lankan people deserve.

I was also fortunate to have been working with the UN in Sri Lanka during the last year when the Government re-affirmed its commitment towards meeting its international obligations to the UN system. Indeed, Sri Lanka’s open and honest engagement with the international human rights architecture and the strong commitment of the leadership towards reconciliation and peace building, has put Sri Lanka and its people, I believe, on a firm and steady path towards long term sustainable peace and prosperity. I look forward to watching the country to grow and its people prosper.

I am privileged to end my tenure at a time when the UN both in Sri Lanka, and globally, celebrates an important milestone in its history. The year 2015 saw the fulfillment of 70 years of the UN and 60 years since Sri Lanka became a Member State. As we look back on the longstanding 60 year partnership between the United Nations and Sri Lanka, I note and recognize the many talented and dedicated Sri Lankans who have played an integral role in the UN system, locally, regionally, and globally.

My time in Sri Lanka has shown, on numerous occasions, that it is the people of Sri Lanka that have changed Sri Lanka. It is the people of Sri Lanka that strive to rebuild a resilient and hopeful tomorrow for a better and brighter Sri Lanka. It is the people of Sri Lanka that I will always cherish and remember.

As I say my goodbyes to the warm smiles of all Sri Lankans, I celebrate the collective unwavering spirit of the people of Sri Lanka, and note its people as the most powerful asset of the country. It will be difficult for my family and I to leave this wonderful place, which has been our welcoming home since 2011. I do, however, take certain satisfaction that my new assignment as Director Asia-Pacific of the Department of Political Affairs in New York, will keep me in touch with the developments in Sri Lanka, a country which I will forever hold dear to my heart.

Ayubowan, Vanakkam, Assalamualaikum, and Farewell, until we meet again!

The writer is the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka. Mr. Nandy was assigned the post in May 2011 and will now move to New York to take up his new assignment as Director Asia-Pacific of the UN Department of Political Affairs, effective February 2016

I have nothing to do wth the ‘gonpart song’ that put president on illusory pedestal of ‘King’- Dep. Minister media Karu Paranavithana

(Lanka-e-News -17.Jan.2016, 11.45PM) Following the news report of Lanka e news dated 15 th ,the deputy minister of mass media Karunaratne Paranavitharne speaking to Lanka e news over the phone said that he had nothing to do with the ‘gonpart song’ (buffalo style song) and its composion  which took the president on a buffalo ride and made him an illusory King. 

Lanka e news  in its report dated 2016-01-15 under the caption ‘Song that puts Maithri on illusory pedestal of King is a ‘Buffalo style song’ -Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya (Video)’ revealed that the  gonpart song was composed with the consent of the president, based on a disclosure made by a composer.

In the article it was stated “A  most strange spectacle was witnessed when this revelation was being made by the professor :   such a   bootlicking ghost  and  servile scoundrel by the name of  Karunaratne Paranavitharne, the deputy minister  whom the description fitted best was  sitting in the front row , and listening to the professor most intently , and shamelessly.”

The depuy minister referring to this paragraph said , he had nothing to do with the song composition, and that was done by the presidential secretariat, while adding that it was an individual by the name of Arosh of the presidential secretariat who brought that song recording to the Rupavahini and ITN television channels to relay it after the song was composed and completed.

The chairman of National Rupavahini channel was reluctant to publish it , and it is he who  intervened to preclude it from being published via the State media , the deputy minister of mass media pointed out.

Based on the statement made by the deputy minister , the communique  issued by the president’s secretary is false. The secretary to the president in his communique stated the presidential secretariat had nothing to do with the composition of that gonpart song. 

When Lanka e news pointed out to Paranavithane that though he was not associated with the song , he was still involved fully in the making of the  souvenir marking the investiture anniversary celebrations  with a bloke like Vasanthapriya Ramanayake who even was ready to sacrifice his life to make Rajapakse victorious , and whether Paranavirharne’s actions jointly with him   are not reprehensible and repugnant ? Paranavitharne replied , he was associated with it in his official capacity , and by that time Ramanayake had already been chosen for that.

The deputy minister exposed that it was Shiral Lakthileke who shouldered the entire organization activities, and there were a number of shortcomings , the deputy minister admitted.( However , the claim that he was officially appointed is unacceptable, for official appointments are not made to organizing committees of celebrations. Official appointments are made to constitutional councils. An organizing committee of a commemoration is not a constitutional committee. ) 

The deputy minister Paranavitharne went on to further assert , no matter what , he does not endorse the recent appointments of the pro Rajapakse  blokes  Gamini Sumanasekera , Vasanthapriya Ramanayake , A.B. Lalith De Silva and Chamudhitha Samarawickrema ,made by the president.

Paranavitharne went on to make it abundantly clear that the people did not vest the president with presidential power on the 8 thof January 2015 , not for him to re build the SLFP but to re build the country.

Answering our query whether the deputy minister is speaking as an SLFP er or a UNP er , he replied , he is now a UNP er because it was the UNP ers of Ratnapura who voted for him to be elected as an M.P

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by     (2016-01-17 21:18:19)

Why Shantha Wijesuriya was summoned to CID?

Jan 17, 2016

Journalist Shantha Wijesuriya was summoned to the CID on January 14 for questioning with regard to an attempt to abduct him on 05 July 2012. There, he was also questioned about the articles he had written to ‘Sathhanda’ newspaper regarding the killing of Prageeth Ekneligoda and the arrest of Kumar Gunaratnam.

So far, no action had been taken in connection with the complaint he had made to the IGP about the abduction attempt. Later, he left the country for fear for his life, and his family members had been harassed by a group claiming to be from the military.

 

On January 07, a CID officer had gone to his home and gave a notification that Wijesuriya should come to the CID to give a statement regarding the abduction.

 

When CID officials asked as to whom he suspected were linked the abduction, Wijesuriya has told them that the former defence secretary, the CID and the military and the owner of a media institution were responsible.

 

Commenting on how he was questioned, he said that although he had been summoned for questioning in connection with the abduction attempt, he was continually interrogated about his articles regarding Ekneligoda and Gunaratnam. Wijesuriya also said no fair investigation has taken place so far about journalists and civil society activists, including himself, who had been hunted down. He said he would extend support if the incumbent administration conducts a fair investigation.

Time to consign the death penalty to the 

history books 

Friday, 15 January 2016

The sentencing of a Sri Lankan maid in Saudi Arabia to be killed for sleeping with the wrong man was a reminder to all Sri Lankans of the terrible risks involved in having the death penalty on the statute book. 

Last week’s anniversary of the coming to power of President Sirisena’s government was rightly highlighted across the country. But 9 January was also an anniversary of a different more grisly event. 

In 2013, Rizana Nafeek was beheaded by the Saudi Arabian authorities. She lost her life on the basis of a confession, which she claimed was coerced, and which she may not even have understood. Her birth certificate showed her to have been 17 at the time of the alleged offence. We do not know if Rizana was guilty or innocent. But we do know that were she to be exonerated, there is no way of bringing her back. 

Many other innocent people will also not be coming back. Since the reintroduction of the death penalty in the United States of America in 1973, it is reckoned that 156 people have been sentenced to death who were subsequently exonerated. That is more than 10% of the number of the people executed in the United States during that period – 1,423. 

At least in the United States, for all the imperfections of the justice system, these cases are examined and the details recorded. And, in some cases, people released before it is too late.

Imagine how many innocent people die every year in the regimes of Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea and China where the standards of due process are much lower and the time between sentencing and execution can be a matter of days. 

We cannot know any figures, but Amnesty International estimates in 2014 than China executed more than 1000 people; Iran more than 289; Saudi Arabia 89 (though this has risen steeply in 2015 and stands at 47 for 2016 already). Figures for North Korea are not available, but the United Nations Human Rights Council have determined that the level of judicial murders rises to the level of crimes against humanity.

The European Union has been a consistent advocate of the abolition of the death penalty in all countries and for all crimes. Capital punishment is cruel, inhumane and degrading and has never been proven to act as a deterrent. 

Evidence shows that the death penalty is disproportionately targeted at minorities, the poor and immigrant communities – people less able to have a voice and speak out for themselves, which is one reason why it demands that the rest of us state our unequivocal opposition to it.

Sri Lanka last executed a person in 1976. This year, in 2016, there is a historic opportunity for Sri Lankans to join the majority of countries around the world who have consigned the death penalty to the history books once and for all. 

The Government’s announcement of a new Constitution provides an opportunity to enshrine the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which the right to life is a cornerstone, as the birth right of all Sri Lankans. That is a legacy this Government could leave that would be cherished by generations of Sri Lankans.

(The writer is Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.)