Bharat Biotech says working on two possible Zika vaccines

A municipal health worker shows off a test tube with larvae of Zika virus vector, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, as part of the city's efforts to prevent the spread of the Zika, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 2, 2016.REUTERS/JOSUE DECAVELE

BY ZEBA SIDDIQUI- Wed Feb 3, 2016

Indian biotechnology company Bharat Biotech said on Wednesday it was working on two possible vaccines to fight the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil.

The virus is spreading rapidly in the Americas, and WHO officials on Tuesday expressed concern that it could hit Africa and Asia as well. No vaccine has been developed so far.

One of the possible vaccines is "recombinant", which means it is created by genetic engineering, while the other was "inactivated", and will enter pre-clinical trials in animals in two weeks, Bharat Biotech managing director Krishna Ella told Reuters.

An inactivated vaccine is created by killing a pathogen in a way that its ability to replicate is destroyed, but the immune system can still recognise it.

Bharat Biotech's announcement came a day after France's Sanofi said it had launched a project to develop a Zika vaccine. On Wednesday, Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical also said it was investigating the possibilities of developing a vaccine for the disease.

Privately held Bharat Biotech, based in Hyderabad, said it started work on the Zika virus a year ago, while developing vaccines for chikungunya and dengue. Zika is closely related to dengue and is spread by the same species of mosquito.

Bharat Biotech sells its vaccines for polio, hepatitis B, H1N1 and rabies, among others, to more than 65 countries, according to its website.

"They've got a lead, essentially ... it's certainly not a vaccine yet," said Soumya Swaminathan, the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body for biomedical research in India, funded by the health ministry.

Swaminathan said it was premature to comment on the two vaccine candidates, but the ICMR had put together a group of experts to examine their validity.

No cases of the virus have been detected in India yet, but the health ministry on Tuesday issued guidelines on the disease, including an advisory that travel to affected countries be postponed or cancelled.

(Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Active contribution of Religious Leaders urgently needed

Abasic and urgent requirement in the formation of future leaders, especially religious leaders, is to instill into their hearts and minds, not only a deeper understanding of the teachings of their own religion, but also a positive understanding of all religions. Modus vivendi of a multiethnic and multireligious population must begin at school levels.

by S.J.Emmanuel

( February 2, 2016, Berline, Sri Lanka Guardian) As we commemorate our Independence Day in 2016, I like to make a humble appeal to all the religious leaders of the island to help the political leaders and the people to make their best decisions for the good of all in the island. We are at a decisive phase in our history to move courageously away from the evils of the past and make a reasonable and common sense change for the better. During the last decades we all have gone through bitter experiences of life and death, of conflicts and confrontations and come to a unique chance and decisive phase to save the island from falling further into suffering and sadness.

Party-politics have had too much of power on the lives of people

During the last post-independence decades the governments, which came to power on the basis of party politics were unable to see beyond the profit of the majority and of the party, and were unable to resolve the ethnic conflict as well as its horrendous consequences for the people. Now for the first time in our post-independence history, the opposing parties have formed a coalition government with a united vision of democracy good governance and peaceful coexistence for all in the country. And the Tamil leaders are willing to give a critical collaboration to the government’s efforts.

But the government leaders who showed some courage and even showed signs of becoming statesmen and awakened hope among the peoples, especially the victims of the long war, are now frightened or getting cold-feet before the swelling extremism among the majority Sinhala Buddhists and tend to go back on original promises both to the people and to the international community. Recent interviews of the President and the Prime Minister to international media are showing their fear and helplessness.

Need of the Hour – Religious Leaders to the fore

It is at this hour of need, when party politics try to regain their importance and upset the present journey towards peace, I like humbly to appeal to all the religious leaders of all religions, based on their teachings about truth, justice, accountability, peace and reconciliation and using their presence and popularity among their believers, shed light on the present situation, dispel undue fears, and encourage people to think reasonably and act courageously for the good of all.

We have the teachings of the great Buddha, the Hindu Sages, prophet Mohamed and Jesus Christ, we have the resources by way of personnel and institutions which contribute to the welfare of our peoples. As living religions in the present context of life in Sri Lanka, should we not realize the gravity of the situation in the country and pose questions about our own contribution as religious leaders towards peaceful coexistence of all peoples

Constructive collaboration of all leaders needed.

The sacred duty of finding a peaceful-coexistence as modus vivendi of all citizens is the responsibility of all leaders, especially of the religions called to protect and promote life for all. In the past political leaders have sought the support of religious leaders for their political gain especially at election times but kept them away from any serious consultation regarding the well-being of all people. This left a space for people in religious garb to promote even extremist positions.

A basic and urgent requirement in the formation of future leaders, especially religious leaders, is to instill into their hearts and minds, not only a deeper understanding of the teachings of their own religion, but also a positive understanding of all religions. Modus vivendi of a multiethnic and multireligious population must begin at school levels. Personally I was happy as Prefect of studies during my years at the National Seminary in Kandy to go to the Maha Vihare and invite a monk to teach Buddhism to our seminarians.

All religions without exception are for the well-being of human life. And in our context of Sri Lanka, how can we expect only the political leaders to decide what is best for the people. Values like truth, justice, peace, reconciliation are primarily spiritual values enriched by the teachings of religions. These are codified in human laws and political systems nationally and internationally to help a peaceful coexistence. Hence religious leaders must be always vigilant and helpful to the political leaders in their administration of truth and justice.  

Finally as a catholic priest, I will humbly appeal to the leader of the present catholic church in Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. He has to my knowledge always showed keen interest in resolving the ethnic conflict, and as a Sinhala Bishop from the South visited the North often and even sought contact with the LTTE, proclaimed a positive role for the church at the Pastoral Synod of the whole church in April 1995 at the BMICH, Colombo,  helped the former Rajapakse Govt. by lobbying international support for retaining the GSP+ , made his submissions to the LLRC etc. He is best suited to initiate and activate the support of all religious leaders as well as the past and present political leaders to help the present government in its pursuit of peaceful coexistence.  

The National Anthem In Tamil, Or Not?

By Faizer Shaheid –February 2, 2016

Faizer Shaheid

Almost a year ago, a debate sprung from Valaalai in Jaffna as to whether theNational Anthem ought to be sung in Tamil too. Although not as deeply rooted as other problems, reasonable conjecture has gathered that the Tamil version must be permitted. The debate lost traction in the wake of many other burning issues such as corruption, the budget and the rising crime rate, but was once again revived as the Independence Day draws closer.

While I am not opposed to the National Anthem being sung in Tamil, I am of the opinion that the National Anthem should only be sung in one language. This ensures uniformity and solidarity.

In any case, I am opposed to the communal mindset that suffers from an inferiority complex of sorts and continues to condescend based on which language or ethnicity is more superior. It is even more a threat that this condescending mentality utilizes the human rights notion of substantive equality to further their cause. On many previous occasions too the conflict as to the national interests and human rights has arisen, and the complexities are of such nature that Leaders are yet trying to reconcile the differences. These very complexities, arising from the rift between Sinhala and Tamil speaking masses, are identified as the national problem.

The Leaders of the current regime have constantly expedited experimental methods to reconcile these differences between the Sinhala speaking and Tamil speaking masses in attempting to resolve the national problem. However, what remains to be understood is that the problem may never be resolved as long as this inferiority complex between the two ethnicities stand.

The inherent problem pertaining to the National Anthem contains moral roots for certain, and Tamil speaking masses have left no stone unturned in pointing this out. The claim is that the Tamil version of the National Anthem was sung even during the early stages of independence when the ‘Namo Namo Maatha’ was first sung as the National Anthem. The Minister of National Co-Existence, Dialogue and Official Languages, Mano Ganesan has constantly emphasized on holding social events with the National Anthem being sung in Tamil even in the presence of those who do not speaking in Tamil. This is to promote reconciliation, he claimed.

The government invitation card to mark the first anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence in1949   

Read More

Yahapalanaya at 1: Is Transitional Justice in Crisis? – Niran Anketell

Transitional Justice

02/02/2016   

In October 2015, the Sri Lankan government took a giant stride towards reconciliation when it co-sponsored a historic resolution at the Human Rights Council. Despite howls of protest from fringe elements within the Sinhala and Tamil community who opposed it, the Resolution was defended stoutly by mainstream members of both ruling parties, the SLMC and the TNA at a two-day Parliamentary debate also in October. However, as I noted in an article published last year, the Government’s attempt to fudge the question of international participation in trials was, to put it mildly, asking for trouble. My concern was that:

…instead of patiently doing the work of explaining the importance of a substantial international component in trials relating to serious crimes, the government has chosen instead to play word games, proudly claiming that it has averted the dreaded hybrid court.

At that time, as I pointed out, it was clear that:

..the current trajectory is a dangerous one. If the government is eventually forced to deliver on its unequivocal promises, it risks allegations of betrayal from within its constituency. If however it reneges on its commitments, it risks international censure from without and will inflame Tamil opinion from within.

Just four months after it signed off on the Geneva resolution, the government’s fudge has come home to roost. President Sirisena’s blunt rejection of any international participation in trials has triggered domestic and international concern over the sincerity of the Yahapalanaya government. Even as the Prime Minister and others scramble to repair the damage, their approach is nonetheless characterized by incoherence because they are unwilling to explicitly commit to any degree of international participation. The reason for this unwillingness is clear: delivering a special court to try international crimes with substantial international participation will involve some political cost. However, this cost will continue to rise if the government does not speedily create an enabling political atmosphere within which that cost is managed. By continuing to fudge the question, the government isn’t merely delaying the inevitable; it is also making things more difficult. 

                                                                    Read More

Sri Lankan asylum seeker tells of terror on Nauru: 'If I am sent back, I will commit suicide'

Durga, who has a two decade-long history of torture and trauma, was brought to a detention centre on the Australia mainland after allegedly being raped on Nauru. But a high court challenge on Wednesday could see her sent back to the place she fears

Durga was one of 157 Tamil asylum seekers on board a boat that was intercepted by an Australian customs vessel in July 2014. They were held on board the Australian ship for a month while the Australian government tried to return the people to India, but India refused them and they were transferred to Nauru. Photograph: Michael Safi for the Guardian

Ben Doherty-Tuesday 2 February 2016

An asylum seeker brought to Australia after she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted on Nauru has spoken of her terror at the prospect of being sent back to the island.

Durga* a Sri Lankan Tamil, has a two decade-long history of torture and trauma, including rape, both in Sri Lanka and while in the Australian-run detention on Nauru, but faces the possibility of being returned to the Pacific island’s detention centres pending a high court challenge on Wednesday.

“I am too scared to go back to that place, my life will not be safe,” she told Guardian Australia through an interpreter from immigration detention on the Australian mainland. “If I am sent back to Nauru, I will commit suicide.”
Durga is one of 267 asylum seekers – including 72 children and 33 babies born in Australia – who could be removed to Nauru on 72 hours’ notice, if the high court decides on Wednesday it is within the government’s constitutional powers to detain people offshore.

Several of the asylum seekers at risk of being sent back to Nauru have told Guardian Australia they fear going back to the island, regardless of the status of the centres, saying they will be attacked there, or sexually assaulted, or that they will not receive required medical care.
Durga is one.

In 1996 in the northern Sri Lankan city of Jaffna, she was arrested by military officers who suspected her of links to the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Durga was 22 and had undergone, as almost all teenagers had, basic training with the LTTE. But she told Guardian Australia: “I was never a fighter, I was only involved in political activities.”

Durga says she was beaten and tortured, despite being pregnant, and gave birth to her son while in military custody. She was held for two years without charge or trial, before escaping to Colombo. Her husband disappeared while she was detained and has not been seen since. He is presumed dead, one of the tens of thousands “disappeared” during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

In Colombo, having been visited by friends from Jaffna, Durga was arrested again by military intelligence, interrogated and tortured. Even after being released, Durga says, she was almost routinely raped by the state’s security personnel.

“The military officers would come to my house. Every time they would come two or three men, they would grab me and force me to have sex with them. They expected me to cooperate, but I never did. I would resist. So they would tear my clothes from me, they would tie my hands and they would push clothes in my mouth so I could not scream. Then they would rape me,” she said.

Read More

‘Neo-Fascists’ in Sri Lanka blamed for opposing closer ties with India

T. RAMAKRISHNAN

February 1, 2016

Samaraweera says instead of being grateful to India for having given the majority of Sri Lanka "their great religion, Buddhism," such persons feared India the most.  

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has criticised “neo-fascists” in Sri Lanka for opposing closer ties with India.

Pointing out that there were certain “misguided Sinhalese Buddhists of this country who wear their ethnicity and religion on their sleeve,” Mr. Samaraweera said that instead of being grateful to India for having given the majority of Sri Lanka “their great religion, Buddhism,” such persons feared India the most.  

Paranoid frenzy

“Whenever a bridge over the Palk Straits to connect our two nations is proposed, they get into a paranoid frenzy that all of India is waiting drive over that bridge and make Sri Lanka their home.  When trade agreements are discussed, they see swarms of Indian doctors and barbers coming across to flood the Sri Lankan market,” he said.  

Delivering a talk at the Sri Lanka-India Society on Sunday, the Minister was referring to reactions among a section of parties and groups to reports in the media on the Indian government’s plan in building a sea bridge and tunnel connecting Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, with Talaimannar, Northern Province of Sri Lanka.  His observations were also made in the context of steps being taken to get Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement signed between the two countries.

‘See it as a great opportunity’

Even as India was forging ahead to become an economic superpower, Sri Lanka must see its neighbour “not as a threat but as a great opportunity to prosper and develop. Sri Lanka must realise that like Canada, Hong Kong or Vietnam, we are blessed with a historic opportunity by way of our location right next to one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies -- an economy that is thirty times our size.”

On the benefits gained by Sri Lanka after signing Free Trade Agreement with India,  Mr. Samaraweera said Sri Lanka’s exports to India had increased by almost 10 times. The ratio of imports to exports between India and Sri Lanka declined from 10:1 to 6:1 within ten years of signing the pact. He mentioned that the Colombo Dockyard now had orders worth over $250 million to build ships for Indian companies.

And a call to India

At the same time, the Foreign Minister called upon India to be “vigilant to the needs, hopes and aspirations” of ordinary Sri Lankans.  Recurring issues such as the bottom trawling crisis in the North of Sri Lanka, which not only affected the livelihoods of thousands of poor families but also resulted in “dangerous environmental damage,” were resolved and did not give cause to anti-Indian feeling.

Mahinda R, My Sympathy For You Has Turned Into Disgust

By Dulanjalee Premadasa –February 2, 2016

Dulanjalee Premadasa

Mr Rajakaksa, I may sympathize with your circumstances but when you start dragging my good name in to the mud, when I am not involved in any of your present political problems, is when my sympathy turns to disgust. You were our former Executive President, but yet you slander me without any basis, simply because your son has been arrested.

1st February 2016

Original By Registered Post

Copy by Courier

Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa,

Member of Parliament

Carlton House

Tangalle

Mr Rajapaksa,

First let me say that, as a parent myself, I empathize with your wife and yourself on Yoshitha’s current legal status. Having said that I do not know whether Yositha is guilty or innocent until the court decides. Since it is an on going legal case I prefer not to refer to it in any way.

Mr Rajakaksa, I may sympathize with your circumstances but when you start dragging my good name in to the mud, when I am not involved in any of your present political problems, is when my sympathy turns to disgust. You were our former Executive President, but yet you slander me without any basis, simply because your son has been arrested.

I remember during the last General Election you resorted to doing the same. I did not arrest your son Mr. Rajapaksa, nor did I make you lose the election, you did it all by yourself with the help of your family.

My revered parents President Premadasa and Mrs Hema Premadasa, did a stellar job in raising my brother and myself to respect and uphold the law of God and the law of the Land. I did not need your supposed advice about leading an upright lifestyle because my parents carried out that duty brilliantly. You should advice your children as their parent about leading their lives in a manner, whichbefits their position in society.

My brother and I were also a Prime Minister’s children and an Executive President’s children who never even imagined abusing our positions. Young as we were, our mother always reminded us that our father was a public servant while holding the offices of Prime Minister and President.

Mr Rajapaksa, you are well aware as I that I am innocent. You seem to think that you have a right to play around with my name when you have run out of excuses. This is unacceptable and dishonourable. If you are a credible lawyer you should know that I am not an accused and that this particular matter is an on-going court case and as such legally we cannot discuss it. Even you, now, must adhere to the law of our country.

My late father‘s service and dedication to this country is unparalleled to any of his predecessors or successors. Whether you agree or not is of no importance. I know you attempted to match my late father’s achievements and the few instances I have briefly spoken with you, if you recall, I have said that you were not even close to achieving it but I had commended you on your attempts to serve our country and stop the war. Let me remind you that you were successful in ending the war because your predecessors had laid the foundation for you to do so. Do I need to remind you that my dear father was assassinated by the LTTE ? To date my late father is the highest ranking Sri Lankan who was a victim of terrorists. This shocked the International Community so much that the support for the LTTE started to wane. This happened because President Premadasa lived and worked for the masses without hiding in ‘palaces’.                               Read More  

Try swearing, Prime Minister

The demand for such ‘episodic’ news framing ––as distinct from ‘thematic’ coverage that places political issues and events in some general context––is sought by all desperate politicians who share the cynical objective of diverting public attention from systemic problems within government structures.

by Dr. Kamal Wickremasinghe

(February 3, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tirade on the media and journalists can, and should be viewed at many levels. Firstly, the threats are most objectionable coming from a man who pays lip service to media freedom and everything that is wholesome. Obviously, he seems to believe in quid pro quo from the media for his promises to safeguard media freedom.This constitutes a conspiracy to distort democracy.

At another level however, the threats expose his desperation, sourced in factors beyond his control. A politician, Ranil should know that the only important feature of politics is that political actions have important consequences. But, his obvious disregard for the consequences of this dastardly action points to the actions of an extremely desperate man;

There are many reasons why Wickremesinghe would be desperate; not only has the new dispensation he nominally leads deceived the people of Sri Lanka with a much-hyped Yahapalanaya promise, it has failed to provide them with any Palanaya at all; The country seems to be running chaotically in “auto-pilot” mode, without a hope of any political, economic or social correction.

The so-called national government is proving the suspicious farce it always appeared to be: an arrangement designed to share the spoils of government among those who participated in a political plot. Cracks that began to appear before long, starting from the ranks of the hoard of Cabinet and state ministers with their snouts deep in the trough have now deepened down the middle of the untenable structure, making effective state administration the victim. Currently, the SLFP ministers are not attending ‘joint’ Cabinet meetings and they are at cross purposes, apparently led by a Cabinet spokesman who seems to have modeled his briefings policy on Joseph Goebbels’ motto “In propaganda, as in love, everything is fair.”

Looking at the farce from the very top, the President seems to be preoccupied with consolidating his leadership of the SLFP – a seemingly unlikely prospect in view of the obvious grass-roots level rebellion against his betrayal of the party back in November 2014. Some of the statements he is making, compelled by the need to portray a more ‘patriotic’ persona in order to have any chance of winning the local government elections, are adding to the rift with the Yankee-lackeys of the UNP.

Wickremesinghe’s immediate softening of Sirisena’s recent statement about never allowing the ‘hybrid courts’ to come to Sri Lanka showed the depths of divisions at the top on key issues. To add to his woes, Wickremesinghe had to deny making the statement the following day though the video of his interview was publicly available. Ranil’s move to rapidly launch a “new” constitution has become a distant memory and so will be the moves to legislation to cover monk’s behaviour.

Read More »  

Police officially reveal shocking crimes of record breaking culprits Yoshitha and Nishantha ! our media hunting dogs must learn lesson from British journalists

(Lanka-e-News -01.Jan.2016, 8.00PM) The unscrupulous media coolies of Sri Lanka who are even descending beneath the level of latrine coolies in order to go hunting for the Rajapakses and his notorious crook of a son Yoshitha Rajapakse who is the pivot and center of the money laundering activities and fraud at the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) channel ,are writing reports not on the colossal fraud unearthed at the CSN , but on the tears that dropped from the eyes of Mahinda Rajapakse when criminal Yoshitha was remanded along with the other four suspects which included another notorious crook , Nishantha Ranatunge (younger brother of minister Arjuna Ranatunge) . Perhaps if these media coolies had written that it is only on this occasion Mahinda’s tear drops were true and on all other occasions he shed  crocodile tears , which is the actual and absolute fact  , their reports could have been understandable and pardonable. It cannot be forgotten how many parents  of children including those of Thajudeen shed tears truly (not crocodile tears)  over the their children who were killed  for no fault of theirs during the brutal, cruel criminal era of the Rajapakses. 

Instead of exposing the facts as they are , these media coolies who stink worse than the latrine coolies are writing sob stories about the pol sambol and rice given to Yoshitha in prison , and about the empty bombastic threats of Yoshitha’s younger brother Rocket Rohitha. 

Not one journalist alias ‘hunting dog’   of this  new  breed of media scoundrels is writing and revealing to the people  about the grave crimes and criminalities committed by  Yoshitha which put him behind bars .Without  inquiring  from the police ,  they are  asking  only from the chieftain of the crooks  Medamulana why his son is in jail while  writing sorrowful tales about the tears that dropped  from Medamulana’s  eyes as though these  scoundrels have come to know that   Medamulana can cry  and about his   crocodile tears just yesterday .

The chieftain of the crooks Medamulana exclaimed ‘take revenge on me , but not on my son’ without realizing these crimes were all committed under his very nose when he was the president. That is , he could have halted those crimes if he wished then and there ,  when they were  being committed to the detriment of the country ,rather than conniving at them and paving the way for his son to go pell mell with his perfidies  and end in jail. In other words , it is obvious the so called beloved father  too has contributed to the present plight of his son .

If Yoshitha was taken into custody to take revenge on Mahinda , then why don’t these hunting pariah dogs of Mahinda also ask , was Nishantha Ranatunge taken into custody in order to take revenge on the minister of the present government Arjuna Ranatunge ?

May these pariah hunting media dogs learn a valuable  lesson from an incident that took place in England…. 

Some years ago,  a court in Britain sentenced an ex minister of Britain and his wife  to 8 months in jail. Mind you ,unlike in the case of Yoshitha’s most criminal activities committed for a long period of time involving many millions of rupees , that sentence was imposed just over a simple offence . The offence committed by the minister was , over speeding , and when paying the fine , it was inadvertently paid wrong  in respect of a lorry in the name of  his wife. Both the minister and wife were sentenced to 8 months imprisonment plus a fine based on criminal breach of trust charges. The minister’s age was over 80 years when he was imprisoned. 

In connection with that  incident even though the media in Britain enjoyed full media freedom , the  media that displayed the photos of the couple  when they were being transported to the prison in a prison vehicle , and made a report of the offence and punishment ,  thereby warning others of the consequences of such offences , however did not  record the voice cuts of the minister couple or display the tears of the children of the minister or publish the comments in the face books of the children ,or make them say  ‘this is a political revenge against our parents  who are innocent.' Believe it or not ,  even the website of the political party of the British  ex minister did not take steps to exonerate their former party member of the charges. 

One main reason for such honorable conduct was , the whole of Britain including the media never stooped to levels of joining with the hunting groups to become their ‘hunting pariah dogs.’ Hence these media coolies in Sri Lanka by turning into ‘hunting pariah dogs’ instead of discharging their duties with dignity and honor are a disgrace and insult to all those civilized people who uphold moral values across the entire world.  

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka police have today issued a media communiqué laying down the reasons officially why the crooked criminals of the CSN including Yoshitha Rajapakse and Nishantha Ranatunge were arrested and remanded .The communiqué is hereunder : 

2016.01.31

The suspects produced in Kaduwela magistrate court  in case No. B/9823/2015

1.) Based on a complaint lodged with the IGP by the campaign for  just society on 15 th March 2015 , this investigation was begun . Charges of money laundering and  misuse of state assets  were mounted against the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) media Institution . Money laundering is a most heinous organized crime . Therefore the Financial crimes investigation division (FCID) launched an investigation , and based on that under case No. B/ 9823/2015  , a report was filed and submitted to Kaduwela magistrate court.

So far 20 more reports have been submitted to the honorable court , and after reporting the progress to the honorable court , an order was obtained in regard to investigation. This investigation was conducted by the officers of the FCID under the ordinary criminal laws using the powers of investigation vested with all  other  police officers. 

2.) The preliminary investigation of the officers was focused on the Rs. 234 million which was the CSN channel’s initial outlay for   the incorporation of the Co. This Company’s initial share was Rs. 700004.00 , and its value was Rs. 7 million . However investigations into the subsequent capital collection for  the Co.  were via fake  transactions as well  as funds received from abroad illegally .

Investigations have revealed that CSN has collected the necessary balance capital received from a company of a foreign state via a transaction running into US $ 2.3 million. This transaction is linked to a project now under way of a foreign Co. that is investing in SL. Further investigations revealed that there is nothing truthful pertaining to the  methods  through which the funds were supposedly received for the CSN . Therefore , it has to be legally and procedurally concluded that these are also  monies that were used for the initial outlay via money laundering. 

03.) According to the records and registers of this Co. the share holders are all Directors of the Co. at the time of  launching .They are :
Rohana Welivita
Kavishan Dissanayake
Ravinath Fernando
Shadiya Karunajeewa

It is Nishantha Ranatunge who performed the duties of CEO.    When the e mail  messages relevant to the Co. were examined it is abundantly clear that Yoshitha Rajapakse the Navy lieutenant has carried on duties as the chairman of this Co. and as the chief who takes decisions .

4.) During the interrogation of these individuals in connection with this alleged money laundering activities , the reasons cited by them did not prove their innocence. Therefore under section 32 of the criminal procedure code , and sub section 109(05)  , by virtue of the legal powers vested in the police officer , and based on that  the honorable Kaduwela magistrate remanded these suspects until the 11 th of February 2016. 

05.) In addition to the aforementioned charges, it has come to light these suspects have committed other offences including preparing forged documents, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation , violating Customs regulations, and the Companies Act. It is has also been  revealed criminal activities have been indulged in through misuse of  State assets  .Based on these discoveries investigations are continuing.

06.) Without remanding these suspects , investigations cannot be carried out unhindered or successfully. In the circumstances the police FCID has necessity to produce the suspects before court and request that they  be placed in remand custody. After the full investigation , the file is to be sent to the Attorney General to file a case in the High court.

---------------------------
by     (2016-02-01 14:41:11)

What A Pity Yoshitha!!!

By Barbara Seneviratne –February 2, 2016

Barbara Seneviratne

It is pity that for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka the general public had to witness a son of president being taken to prison not for a simple truant but for a major crime.

The public is aware that President Mahinda Rajapaksa‘s sons were a handful to manage, but they were unheard of at the early stages of Mahinda’s political activities. Then how come that these two sons got so prominently exposed and Namal had problems about his law exams?

No sooner he was an organizer and later he was in a position to dictate terms, very senior officers of the Central Bank were threatened that if they cannot carry out his orders they will be sacked. In fact one honest senior officer resigned as Namal considered himself to be above other MPs and Ministers so much so that when he walked in to Parliament the SLFP members stood up. This shows the caliber of these MPs.

Taking the question of Yoshitha, a youngster who managed to obtain only 2 credit passes was not only able to enter the Sri Lanka Navy but he was able to enter prestigious naval institutions in London and Ukraine which cost the country millions of rupees.                       Read More

Did Yoshitha abide by Navy discipline?

 Feb 02, 2016

In addition to the laws of the country, members of the three armed forces are governed by the military law too. If they commit any wrongdoing, they could be punished under both laws. Therefore, they should carry out their duties and all other functions while abiding by the law and in a disciplined manner.

If not, such officers will be removed from service, will not be given promotions or responsible positions. Not just while on duty, when they are overseas on private matters,  hospitalized due to illness, while engaging in sports, at own wedding or other private function, or even walking or traveling on the road and at public places also, all military members should behave in a disciplined manner and respect the military law. If they are observed not doing so, or complaints received, an investigation is carried out and if found guilty, will be punished in accordance with the military law. If that is not done,  the discipline of members of the three armed forces cannot be maintained at a high level, and corruption, fraud and crime in the military will go up to threaten the entire country.

 

However, there is suspicion as to whether a military act or law had existed when considering as to how Yoshitha Rajapaksa had conducted himself since the time he joined the Navy and up to date. The Navy has a duty to answer the following questions:

 

1. On what basis or approval was he enrolled as an officer, if he had not fulfilled the minimum educational and other qualifications?

2. Did he travel in the liberty bus with other Navy members between Colombo and Trincomalee to undergo training given to cadet officers and for other requirements?

3. Before successfully completing the training and being commissioned, how he could have served, as a cadet officer, as the personal assistant to the president?

4. The duty sword is given only after being commissioned as an officer, and other than during training, a cadet officer cannot take the sword for official or any function, but who had given powers to Yoshitha, as a trainee cadet officer, to take the sword to a function attended by the commander-in-chief?

5. The wardroom, married quarters and official bungalows at Trincomalee training camp are out-of-bound for a trainee cadet officer, but who had given approval for him not only to visit those places, but also to get accommodation and meals from those places?

6. The Navy training college had taken custody of Yoshitha’s mobile phone, as a trainee cadet officer cannot use a mobile phone, but who had returned him the phone to use it?

7. Who had appointed Commodore Bandara (now rear admiral) to look into the requirements of Yoshitha, although the Navy training college had provided him all his facilities?

8. Having studied in the science or mathematics stream at the GCE advanced level is the qualification to be appointed to the executive branch after being commissioned an officer, but under what approval Yoshitha was given that appointment?

9. Until completing a certain duty period and appointed to a position, marriage permission should be obtained from the Navy and until such time wheat out permission is received, all officers should live in the camp and written permission should be obtained if staying overnight for private reasons, except official. Are there any written permissions for the many nights Yoshitha had stayed outside the camp?

10. How could Yoshitha have been given a separate driver and a vehicle, although only a commander upward can enjoy that privilege?

11. A Navy officer should obtain written permission to wear uniform for state or other function outside official Navy duty. Did Yoshitha obtain such permission for the functions he had attended?

12. A Navy officer should obtain prior approval from the defence ministry with Navy recommendation, for overseas leave to leave the country for purposes other than official. Did Yoshitha obtain such permission every time he went overseas?

13. When selecting officers for overseas courses, criteria and requirement should be prepared and selections made fairly and in a transparent manner. Had that been done every time Yoshitha was chosen for foreign training?

14. Navy and defence ministry approval are needed to undergo foreign courses outside the Navy. Who had given permission for the foreign course Yoshitha had undergone outside the Navy?

15. Every officer should have a position and place of service and responsibilities given in accordance with the ranking. What were the positions and service places Yoshitha had held during the previous regime?

16. The state pays salaries for Navy officers for engaging in duty in the Navy and at government places. On what basis Yoshitha was paid a salary by the Navy, although he did not contribute such service during the previous regime?

17. A Navy officer can get an assistant only after getting to the rear admiral rank. But, on whose advice Lt. Commander Wanniarachchi was appointed as the personal assistant of Yoshitha, who is a lieutenant?

18. The military law prohibits a Navy officer from taking part in any political activity. Can the Navy give a guarantee that Yoshitha did not take part in any political activity during the previous regime?

19. If an officer holds a position in a state or non-stage agency outside the Navy, prior approval should be obtained from the Navy and the defence ministry. Did the Navy give permission for Yoshitha to hold various outside positions during the previous regime?

20. Junior officers should address and salute appropriately and follow instructions given by the seniors. Did any officer give instructions and duty to Yoshitha during the previous regime? Did any officer monitor to ensure that Yoshitha fulfilled such duty?

21. An officer of the executive branch should actively take part in the war in operational areas. Did Yoshitha take part in any Navy operation during the previous regime? Were the pictures and videos of him engaging in operational duties taken at Mullaitivu/ Jaffna seas, or at Kalpitiya sea?

 

Mentioned above are a very few and very simple and short questions. There are many complex questions about the manner Yoshitha did duties in the Navy during the previous regime. Those will be presented later.