Lingering Memories of Conflict in Postwar Jaffna

• by Raisa Wickrematunge 
• - on 03/01/2016 

Recently, Groundviews  featured those who are trying to reshape Jaffna, post-war, using the arts.

While there are spaces opening up for expression, the question remains: how far have the people of Jaffna progressed towards healing?

During our visit, we found that people were deeply appreciative of peace and of the freedom it afforded them. Yet, there remain painful, lingering memories of conflict which have yet to be addressed in a satisfactory manner.

Here are the results of some interviews in the heart of Jaffna’s bustling market, compiled using Microsoft Sway.

You can access the Sway directly here.

Proposal For New Constitution: Progressive Forum’s Submission

March 1, 2016

The Progressive Forum has submitted the following proposal to the Committee on Constitutional Reforms:

This submission is with special reference to the problems faced by the minorities under the present Constitution.

General Submissions

1) We support the formulation of a new or revised Constitution that abolishes the Executive Presidency at a specified date in the future, restores a Westminster form of Parliamentary Governance, and provides for genuine and substantial devolution of powers to the Provinces inhabited by the minority communities, as well as to all other Provinces.

2) We can seek guidance from the Indian and other constitutions when drafting a revised constitution for Sri Lanka. The population sizes involved is not very relevant to the principles guiding a draft constitution. For example large countries like USA or India have devolved powers under a fully federal or quasi -federal constitution to regional communities. Switzerland with a population of about 8 millions has also devolved powers to 26 Cantons under a federal constitution.

3) Racial relations in a country like Sri Lanka with  provincial per capita income varying from USD 2500 to USD 6000 may be fragile in many aspects,  In such a situation, it is administratively convenient to adopt units of devolution based on a combination of. Territorial and or ethnic considerations. This is unavoidable in Sri Lanka’s present context when we are recovering from the negative impact of a 30 year armed ethnic conflict.

4) The politically contentious use of the words federal or unitary to describe our Constitution may be avoided. The intentions of the makers of the Constitution can be made clear by use of ordinary words instead. This practice will allow the national Supreme Court to interpret the provisions of the Constitution in an unambiguous manner that serves the best interests of the majority and minority communities as social political and economic transformations in the country face inevitable challenges in the future.

5) We could follow the excellent example set by those who framed the Indian Constitution which avoids the use of words unitary and federal. When India Gandhi dismissed the Karnataka State Government without due cause, the Chief Minister’ appeal to the Supreme Court was taken, and after an year of judicial inquiry , the court reinstated the State Government on the grounds that the hybrid Constitution of India was federal to the extent that powers devolved cannot be arbitrarily taken back by the Centre( S.R.Bommai v. Union of India, Supreme Court of India, 1993) .
6) A further refinement that we may or may not adopt is multiple levels of devolution. In India, Jammu and Kashmir is the most devolved with a Prime Minister, not a Chief Minister. There are also semi-autonomous territories that are mostly tribal, without the status of a State. Yet another refinement that we may or may not adopt is discontinuous territories like Goa (Portuguese territories) and Pondicherry (former French territories) these refinements may have some advantages especially for Muslims in this country but also some disadvantages. There are also a large number of tribal reservations under both the Indian and the federal constitution of the USA.    Read More

Don’t blame it on Norwegians – Mark Salter

01/03/2016 

Mark Salter, author of To End a Civil War: Norway’s Peace Engagement in Sri Lanka, who is based in Sweden, will be in Colombo on 3 March 2016, to launch the book at an event co-hosted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES). Lately, he has been travelling in Europe and North America launching the book with former Norwegian peace negotiator who has become a household name in Sri Lanka, Erik Solheim. The book, which tells the story of Norwegian efforts to facilitate a peace process between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers from close up, has received some remarkable raves and reviews. In an exclusive interview with Ceylon Today Salter explains the book’s focus and outlines his views on the peace process that – ultimately – failed.

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan.

You and Erik Solheim have been travelling around the world promoting your book To End a Civil War: Norway’s Peace Engagement in Sri Lanka, but Solheim is not going to be in Colombo for the book launch. Why has he decided not to visit Sri Lanka?

A. Originally, it was hoped Erik would take part in the Colombo launch. Not least because after so many years of absence from a country he loves, he was keen to return. In the end, however, it was felt that his presence might pull the focus away from the book and onto him personally.

Why did you take up the task now to write the book, as narrated by Solheim and the Norway Foreign Ministry, when the war was over six years ago?

A. First I should explain that while Erik and other Norwegian officials were important sources, they were by no means the only ones. I interviewed countless in Sri Lanka, India, the US, EU, UN – anybody who had played a significant role in Norwegian-facilitated peace efforts.
I was approached about doing the book in 2012. My impression is the Norwegians felt their side of the story had not been told either properly or objectively. And a particular issue was that in the latter stages of the war, as well as after it, Norway became a sort of whipping boy for just about anything in Sri Lanka. If something went wrong – simple, blame it on those ‘salmon eating busy-bodies’ in Oslo! 

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 UK pleased with Sri Lanka's programs for reconciliation - envoy

Tue, Mar 1, 2016, 09:03 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 01, Kandy: The United Kingdom is pleased with Sri Lanka's programs implemented for reconciliation among the ethnic groups and can assist the process, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka says.

British High Commissioner James Dauris made this remark to the local media after meeting with the Chief Prelate of Asgiriya chapter Venerable Galagama Sri Aththadassi Mahanayaka Thera in Kandy.

High Commissioner Dauris visited the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy this morning to invoke blessings. Blessing the High Commissioner, Chief Prelate said that he was pleased about the relations between Britain and Sri Lanka.

Dauris commented that Sri Lanka's situation is different from other countries and the decision in moving forward with reconciliation is up to the Sri Lankan government and its people.

"Sri Lankan government and Sri Lankan people can decide how they want to move the reconciliation forward," he said adding that the "with our own experience reconciliation process is complicated and the international community does have an important part to play."

He said Sri Lanka's situation is different from any other county and the international community can share its experiences from around the world and ideas for reconciliation with Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner said the Britain is helping Sri Lanka to enable the communities that were being displaced to return to their homes.

"We are working with Sri Lankan police to help them develop new more modern training, as well as to develop community policing skills. We are working with the government in its determination to develop skills necessary to tackle corruption in this country," Dauris said.

Speaking about trade and investment, the British envoy said Britain is an export/import market for Sri Lanka in textiles and there are other areas Britain is working with the Sri Lankan government to improve economic governance in order to make the island more attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).

The High Commissioner also met with the Central Province Chamber of Commerce members and discussed UK -Sri Lanka trade and investment opportunities.

Is there a merit for the victims from the disappeared commissions?

- Mar 01, 2016

A spokesperson of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Thyagi Ruwanpathirana said not only the Paranagama commission but none of the other commissions formed to investigate the people disappeared has enforced justice for the victims.

Although there are 24000 complaints of the disappeared people has been submitted to the Maxwell Paranagama commission only 4247 complaints has been inquired said Thyagi Ruwanpathirana replying to a questions raised by the BBC.

New complaints
She said whenever the commission is convened many new complaints are being registered so that the numbers would sharply increase. She further said not only the complaints lodged during the final phase of the war but the Paranagama commission is getting information of disappearance happened long before in the north and east.

Thyagi Ruwanpathirana said currently the commission is not investigating any complaints but only a undertaking a face to face justification of information. If the complainers wish not to continue to the investigations they would be referred to take compensations.

All stakeholders
She said taking evidences against the enforced disappearance supposedly caused by the LTTE, EPDP and the army was held in Jaffna last Sunday before the Paranagama commission.

She said since there are five commissioners who direct the evidences and the commissioner closer to her alone inquired evidence for 35 to 40 complaints, by increasing the commissions time by three months the government is not expecting to investigate and complete thousands of complaints received.

Proposal For New Constitution: University Academics’ Submission

March 1, 2016

A group of University academics in Sri Lanka have submitted the following to the Government of Sri Lanka for its consideration in developing a new constitution:

Lessons from History

1. Sri Lanka has a chequered past with regard to constitution making and governance. Regrettably, both republican Constitutions in many ways have been a reflection of, and have contributed to injustice and abuse of power in our country. It is essential that we learn from our past and that we do not repeat the mistakes made before that has brought Sri Lankan society to where it is today.

Constitution Making

2. Constitution making cannot be a top down or a horizontal exercise. Constitution making is an opportunity to experience and strengthen deliberative democracy. Constitution making must result in state reform that enables Sri Lanka to revive democracy, revive respect for human dignity and ensure the rule of law. Such an outcome can be arrived at only if the process is inclusive, participatory, transparent and dynamic.

Public Consultation

3. It is commendable that the Government has implemented a process for public consultation. However, deliberative democracy cannot be understood in the narrow sense of providing an opportunity for interested parties to make submissions before a committee. Debate and discussion regarding possibilities and potential for state reform must be widespread and dynamic. It must be based on exposure to competing views and must nurture among Sri Lankans the willingness and ability to actively listen to each other.

Fundamental Rights

4. The fundamental rights chapter of the proposed constitution must ensure that the vulnerable and the marginalised in our society are ensured dignity and equal respect for their human rights. In particular the right to equality clause should specifically prohibit discrimination based on gender, disability, rurality maternity and sexual orientation. The fundamental rights chapter must be interpreted according to Sri Lanka’s international obligations and commitments.

Discrimination based on ethnicity or gender must be prohibited in the strongest possible terms in the new constitution taking our past experiences into account. Such constitutional recognition has the potential to contribute to the urgently needed normative shift in our society as to how we think of ethnic identities and of gender. The prohibition of discrimination must be accompanied by the provision for special temporary measures (affirmative action).                 Read More

The dangers of trade deals with the Sri 

Lankan military

Law and Subversion - W. Kaleck's Blog on ZEIT ONLINE

The dangers of trade deals with the Sri Lankan military

29 February 2016

Part of the idea behind this blog is to feature occasional contributions from colleagues who inspire and motivate me. Today’s piece was written by Andreas Schüller, head of the International Crimes and Accountability program at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. He works among other projects on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Sri Lankan civil war.
Berlin last week: German trade groups host the Sri Lankan-German Business Forum. The Sri Lankan delegation consists of President Maithripala Sirisena and three of his ministers. Sirisena and his colleagues are fervently drumming up business for Sri Lanka, where the decades-long civil war was brought to a bloody end in 2009. On the question of accountability and reconciliation, the Sri Lankan foreign minister reels off the list of promises made to the UN Human Rights Council: the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission (one such commission was set up in 2011 but failed to look at the most serious human rights violations), a special court (from which the government is keen to exclude international judges and prosecutors) and a commission on those who disappeared during the conflict.

Cause for skepticism
But anyone who’s been working on Sri Lanka for a while, including us here at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, can’t help but be skeptical in the face of these promises. Does the Sri Lankan government actually mean it this time? Will prosecutions be sought for all those responsible for war crimes? It doesn’t look like it: the United National Party, the country’s strongest party and a supporter of the president, just welcomed into parliament Sarath Fonseka, who served as Supreme Commander of the army during the civil war.

What about the economy? Sirisena’s Berlin delegation failed even to mention the Sri Lankan military, currently the biggest economic actor in the heavily militarized northern and northeastern regions of the country, the former conflict zones. How can it be ensured that trade agreements and investment do not end up profiting the military and thus strengthening its position in the region, denying the resettled Tamil population any development opportunities? The strong military presence that has persisted since the conflict ended continues to be a significant security problem – especially for war widows, who consistently report instances of sexualized violence. It is crucial that employment opportunities are available to civil war widows and orphans. To date they have not profited from projects on tourism, fishing or trade.

Careful scrutiny needed in Sri Lankan trade deals
Yet these ongoing problems don’t seem to be priorities for the German Ministry of Economy and the Foreign Office during Sirisena’s Berlin visit. A German trade visit to Sri Lanka is planned for this May. It’s unlikely that companies and trade associations will address the fallout from the conflict in northern Sri Lanka. But the current negotiations between the EU and Sri Lanka on tax exemptions (GSP+) offer a chance to call for new standards and evaluate the results of the previous negotiations in 2010. Without intense scrutiny of the root causes of the conflict, investment from Germany and other European countries risks reinforcing ethnic discrimination and hindering reconciliation in Sri Lanka. 

Arts and Humanities education deserves a second look

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

Dedicated to Late Prof. Senake Bandaranayake, Professor of Archaeology and a champion of Arts and Humanities education, on his first death anniversary

The Arts and Humanities stream of study has come to be seen as the problem child in university education in Sri Lanka. The employability of an Arts and Humanities graduate is lower than those in other disciplines. Even in the US, the salaries for faculty in Arts is lowest paid in academic hierarchy.

This phenomenon has largely to do with massification of higher education, where large numbers of students, lacking numeracy skills would join the Arts stream thinking it is an easy sail. It is not so. A good Arts and Humanities degree imparts good analytical thinking, creativity and other attributes of a good education.

In early days of higher education, the study of Arts and Humanities was the centre of the academic universe, but with advances in science, medicine and engineering, Arts and Humanities has taken a backseat. In 1956, C.P. Snow, in his famous essay titled ‘The two cultures’ lamented the separation of Arts and Sciences. Professor E. O. Wilson, American biologist and author of ‘Consilience’, published in 1998, predicted that Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences shall be rejuvenated through a marriage with the sciences. He envisioned social sciences to be enriched and changed with our knowledge of how the brain works, for example. That has not happened quite yet, but, interestingly, what is emerging is a marriage between technology producers and scholars of Arts and Humanities.

When Google announced in 2011 that it was hiring 4,000 Arts and Humanities graduates, it made headlines. In fact, now it is not uncommon for a CEO of a tech company to have an advanced degree in philosophy and a lead member of his team a degree in theatre. In fact, the future demand for soft engineers may not be as spectacular as now, but people without a tech degree are expected to benefit most from if tech sector boom continues.

In developing countries, Arts and Humanities education is still not ready for the real world. Rote learning which Asians seem have embraced as a second nature is at its worst in Arts education. A typical Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Sri Lanka will have an impressive array of departments dedicated to Philosophy, Social Sciences and Aesthetic studies such Dance, Music and Drama for a total of 937 faculty members in the university system according to our last count in 2005.

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Is Sri Lanka such a gullible country – Sunanda Deshapriya

Mar 01, 2016

Sri Lanka is called the pearl of the Indian Ocean and the greatest country in the world filled with humanity and mankind but astonishing to think is it such a gullible country.

It is the pearl of the Indian Ocean which forfeited a school for a child whose father was supposedly died infected with HIV.

The child’s mother went in search of ten schools but none of the schools accepted the child implies that the principals of the school’s do not know anything about the HIV virus or how it is spread.

Meantime a certificate was given confirming that this child’s blood is not infected with HIV
Finally in spite of his mother starting a fasting protest opposite the Kuliyapitiya education office the child was accepted to a school due to the involvement of the ministry.

Later a horrendous act not happened anywhere in the world was heard that is the parents of other children removing all their children’s from the same classroom where the child was entered.

This pitiless has happened in the so called greatest country of the world that is in Sri Lanka.

Isn’t there any one person on the village who could brief that HIV is only spread through blood transfusion, breast feeding, vaginal discharge, sperm and anal fluids transmitting to the blood stream but not through contacts and association? Isn’t there a loquacious person who had humanity to explain this?

Although Sri Lankan boast that they have a high literacy rate isn’t this evident that the general knowledge of the public is just above zero?

It was Kumar Sangakkara who embraced a person infected with HIV at a program held by the UNAIDS in Sri Lanka to raise the awareness to the public about HIV.

Instead of giving publicity for such, the media in the country fear the people because creating fear is a good market.

The media is also responsible for the lack of knowledge of the parents who removed their children from the school due to the fear of the child.

Millions of people who are infected with HIV live a usual life in the world. The world famous basketball player Arvin Magic Johnson while infected with HIV played and got many awards.

There are many incidents in the world as such.

However the rumors in Sri Lanka are much stronger than that because the media mainly reports the rumors.
Although it’s been 38 years since Tamil language has made the official language of the country only 18% of the country’s population is aware about this fact

(An analysis from the Centre for Policy Alternatives)
Translated by Asgar

Thajudeen’s murder/BCIT, Canada may help with CCTV footage

2016-03-02
The CID informed Court that there was a possibility of receiving direct assistance from the British Columbia Institute of Technology of Canada for clarification of the CCTV footage concerning the murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen. 

The CID had earlier made a request through Interpol for foreign assistance to improve the clarity of the CCTV footage that possibly contained evidence related to the crime. 

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris had ruled that the death of Thajudeen appeared to be a murder under section 296 of the Penal Code and ordered the director of the CID to take appropriate action immediately to apprehend the persons responsible for the act. 

However, on an earlier occasion, Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake, representing the Attorney General’s Department, had said that getting foreign help to clarify the CCTV footage might take some time on account of unavoidable technical issues -- as they had to go through the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Interpol. 
The case was put off for March 23. (Shehan Chamika Silva)

Rajapaksa’s Retreat: Temporary Truce or Political Imposture?

Photography courtesy International Business Times

• by Dayapala Thiranagama 
• - on 03/01/2016 

The active politician is a creator, an initiator: but he is neither creates from nothing nor does he move in the turbid void of his own desires and dreams. He bases himself on effective reality but what is this effective reality?

– Antonio Gramsci, Prison Note Books, 2007,pp.172.

The unexpected defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential elections was followed by a second defeat in the parliamentary elections. Despite these successive defeats, Rajapaksa shows no signs of giving up. He has effectively become an opposition leader outside of Parliament. Reduced political or moral authority has left his confidence unshaken. Rajapaksa and his supporters have sought refuge in a dangerous brand of Sinhalese supremacist ideology, which places them above the law, above democracy and above a multicultural pluralist Sri Lanka. Mahinda Rajapaksa initially made public statements that he would retire from active politics after he was defeated last year – but he did not retire. He and his supporters keep on spreading communal hatred and upholding communal views through their propaganda meetings as well as the national media every day, a freedom they denied to other parties and individuals when they were in power.  In this way they reshape and strengthen their basic political message that Sri Lanka should not have a framework of devolved power and the Tamil community should learn to live with the Sinhala majority. They stand opposed to the reformist project of the new Government that aims to make Sri Lanka a modern nation with a pluralist democracy. Will Rajapaksa and his supporters succeed in their dreams to frustrate the government and if so under what conditions and at what political cost?

This article attempts to answer the question posed by Gramsci in the above quote   on the issue of effective reality in party building, looking at Mahinda Rajapaksa’s attempts to regain political power.

Gramsci identifies three basic elements that are necessary for a successful party building: ‘mass element’, ‘principal cohesive element’ and ‘the intermediary element, which articulates the first with the second and maintains contact between them not only physically but also morally and intellectually’ (Prison Note Books, 2007,pp.172-173). This article aims to analyze to what extent these elements are present in the process of party building in the so-called joint opposition endeavor to form a party, and be capable of developing a functional organizational structure and win state power in the country.

Continue Reading →

The WEF & The Davos Propaganda

By Darshanie Ratnawalli –March 1, 2016

Darshanie Ratnawalli

The World Economic Forum (WEF) became front page news in Sri Lanka in January when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe decided to become the first Sri Lankan leader to accept an invitation to attend the WEF annual winter sessions in Davos Switzerland.

The Sri Lankan Information Department did some creative repositioning and produced the following factoid on the official government news portal of Sri Lanka – “This is the first time Sri Lanka has been invited to attend the annual meeting of the WEF, which has been held for over 40 years. Invitations are extended only for selected heads of government, heads of states, in addition to other business and industry partners.”

While it is true that WEF excludes states that are considered beyond the pale – North Korea was invited for the first time since 1998 in 2016, only to have the invitation revoked at the last minute due to a nuclear test they carried out– this was never the case for Sri Lanka.

We were invited before

Sri Lanka was invited in the previous years, says Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, the late Ossie Abeyagoonasekera’s son dispelling this little myth when I met him for an initial discussion at his office at the Ministry of Finance where he is an adviser. Courteous and friendly, Asanga explains his role in ensuring Premier Wickremesinghe’s presence at Davos and the previous regime’s apathy regarding all things WEF.

Photo – Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

“Ever since I got appointed as a Young Global Leader in 2012, I have been asking the government for some sort of representation at the WEF. I have been trying my level best, but there were other priorities and they were not keen. They were invited and I have spoken to them. I was adviser to the Foreign Minister at the time. I spoke with him. But for some reason they didn’t want to be part of it. It was a huge opportunity we missed, being part of it and working closely with all these people.

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Namal hints about boss’s favourite website!

- Feb 29, 2016

While ruling and opposition MPs were having a chitchat about the country and court cases etc. at the parliament canteen, Namal Rajapaksa related this story. He said, “I found the president’s favourite website.” All the others gave the names of various websites.

“But, it is none of them. The boss likes the Lanka …… website.”

“Don’t lie. That website attacks the boss. Not only the boss, but also his entire family.”

“That is a surprise for me too. Our fathers and uncles never read such websites those days. But, the boss reads it alone in a room with his face reddened and sweating all over,” Namal replied.

When one MP asked, “How do you know for sure?”, he replied, “Twice, the boss sent for me and I went and met him. On both occasions, the boss was alone in his room. And, he was reading this website.”

“We can escape all the others. But, we cannot escape from these websites. When they carried and brought me to this position, I did not think that they would attack me like this. Now I understand why your father had been in a bad temper half the day,” Namal quoted the boss as having said.

Kiriella’s conduct unethical, irresponsible and against government’s policy of good governance – FUTA

TUESDAY, 01 MARCH 2016

Minister of Higher Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella has sent a letter to get a person appointed to a post of temporary lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Kelaniya complains the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA). In a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena FUTA states the minister had made a written request to the Kelaniya University in this regard and states Minister Kiriella’s conduct was unethical and irresponsible and runs counter to the government’s policy of good governance. FUTA also states that on a previous occasion Minister Kiriella had attempted to appoint a member to the Council of the University of Kelaniya.

FUTA in its letter to the President FUTA ALSO condemns all direct and indirect forms of undue political interference to the national university system and calls for an assurance that the universities will be free from political interference.

The full text of the letter signed by its President Dr Rangika Halwathura and Secretary Shyama Banneheke:

"We, the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA), have been constantly reiterating the need to secure the autonomy of universities through politicization of the university system. We were somewhat convinced of you and your Government’s commitment towards securing the same.

However, we regret to inform you of our deep displeasure and disappointment regarding a letter sent by the Minister of Higher Education and Highways, Minister Lakshman Kiriella, dated 8th February 2016 (Attachment 1) requesting that a particular individual be appointed as a temporary lecturer to the Department of Political Science at the University of Kelaniya. The said letter has raised our concerns about your Government’s policy of good governance.

As we have pointed out earlier, political interference still take place during recruitment of individuals for non-academic positions within the university system. We would also like to refresh your memory about a particular member of parliament attempting to admit a student to a university through political interference during the previous regime. We feel that the said letter sent by the Minister is an indication that your Government is reinforcing the same type of political interference in the university system.

We would like to bring to your attention the fact that Minister Kiriella has previously attempted to appoint a member to the Council of the University of Kelaniya. His conduct as the Minister in-charge of Higher Education is condemned as both unethical and irresponsible.

In addition to the actions of the Minister in this instance, we strongly condemn all direct and indirect forms of undue political interference to the national university system. We strongly request of you an assurance that uncritical political interference of this nature would not take place in future."

Alleged fraud of Rs. 16M. through illegal appointments

2016-03-01 22
Financial fraud amounting to Rs.16 million had been committed by making illegal appointments to the government sector, including to the state school sector, said the secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Services Union, Mahinda Jayasinghe today. 
After lodging a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Secretariat against Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam regarding illegal appointments to the government sector, he said the minister had made such appointments to National schools in Kurunegala, Kuliyapitiya and Karandeniya.

“The proper procedure had not been adhered to in making these appointments. The vacancies had not been advertised in the gazette. The ministry had not even conducted proper interviews,” Jayasinghe said. 

He said the minister had violated the establishment code by giving back-dated appointment letters.

“The letters of appointment were dated December 30, 2015 to show that the applicants had assumed duties before January 2016. All the appointments had been made in violation of the fundamental rights of the G.C.E. O/L and A/L qualified persons and in favour of those with political connections,” he said. 

He said the appointments had been made to various departments and institutions relating to the education sector.

 He also said the government had introduced a Contributory Pension Scheme in budget 2016 for those appointed before January 2016. (Chaturanga Pradeep and Indika Sri Aravinda) Video by Indika Sri Aravinda

Arrest warrant issued for Senthil Thondaman

March 1, 2016

The Hatton Magistrate’s Court today issued a warrant for the arrest of Senior Vice President of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) and Uva Provincial Minister, Senthil Thondaman.

Minister Palani Digambaran, who was the Deputy Minister of National Languages and Social Integration in the former government, had filed a case in 2014 claiming that Thondaman and several Provincial Councilors had blocked his vehicle in Ginigathhena on the Hatton-Colombo road.

When the case was taken up today (1), the Provincial Minister had failed to appear before the court while his attorney submitting a medical report informed the court that his client was unwell. 

However, the Hatton District Judge and Magistrate Prasad Liyanage rejected the medical report and stated that a warrant will be issued for Thondaman as he has failed to appear at court each time the case was heard. 

The case was postponed till September 06, 2016. 

Palestinian killed as Israel uses Hannibal Directive in refugee camp

Mourners carry the body of 22-year-old Iyad Omar Sajadiyya during his funeral in Qalandiya refugee camp on 1 March after the university student was shot in the head by Israeli forces who raided the camp to extricate two soldiers.Shadi HatemAPA images

Palestinians stand next to the remains of an Israeli military vehicle that was destroyed by a firebomb in Qalandiya refugee camp the night before. Two Israeli soldiers became separated from one another after the vehicle was destroyed and the army employed what is known as the Hannibal Directive to prevent soldiers from being captured alive.Shadi HatemAPA images

Maureen Clare Murphy-1 March 2016

A Palestinian was killed when Israeli forces deployed the so-called Hannibal Directive to extract two of its soldiers who had mistakenly entered Qalandiya refugee camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah overnight Monday.

The Hannibal Directive is an Israeli military protocol authorizing massive firepower to prevent a captured soldier from being taken alive.

“The initial investigation of the incident revealed that an army driver and squad commander from the Oketz unit entered the camp by mistake while using the Waze smartphone GPS navigational app,” the Tel Aviv newspaper Haaretz reported.

“The two separated after their vehicle was attacked in the camp, with the whereabouts of one being unknown for more than an hour. The Hannibal procedure was invoked during the search for the missing soldier,” Haaretzadded.

Iyad Omar Sajadiyya, a 22-year-old journalism student, was killed during fierce confrontations that broke out when Israeli forces raided the camp to extricate the two soldiers.

“Locals said that Palestinian gunmen held the two soldiers for three hours before an Israeli military helicopter evacuated them, although the Israeli army made no mention of gunmen,” the Ma’an News Agency reported.

“During the clashes, Sajadiyya was shot in the head, while another four Palestinians were shot with live ammunition and six with rubber-coated steel bullets. Two young men were also hit by high-velocity tear gas canisters,” Ma’an added.

Ten Israelis were reportedly injured during the raid and the two soldiers were extracted unharmed.

The last time the Hannibal Directive was employed was in August 2014, during Israel’s massive assault on Gaza that summer. Dozens of Palestinian civilians were killed when Israeli forces aimed at locations where they believed a missing soldier might have been held.

A joint investigation by Amnesty International and Forensic Architecture found “strong evidence” that Israel may have committed war crimes while attempting to kill its own soldier.

Two Palestinians were killed in Qalandiya refugee camp in November when Israeli forces raided to destroy the family home of Muhammad Abu Shahin, who was accused of killing an Israeli months earlier.

US citizen killed

Israeli forces shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian who reportedly held US citizenship on Friday.

Mahmoud Shaalan was slain at a checkpoint near the Beit El settlement in the occupied West Bank. The army claimed that Shaalan, from the West Bank village of Deir Dibwan near Ramallah, had attempted to stab soldiers. No Israelis were injured during the incident.

The Palestinian health ministry told media that the boy’s body was “riddled with bullets.”

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