No free Chinese takeaway but Chinese takeover on the menu

Sunday, April 10, 2016

There is no such thing as a free Chinese takeaway; and, if the visiting Lankan high powered delegation led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe fancied otherwise, the Chinese hosts made pretty certain the guests got the message crystal clear when the fortune cookie, opened after the diplomatic feast of niceties was over, revealed the thumping bill of fare.

FRIENDS AGAIN BUT ON WHAT TERMS?: Visiting Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with China’s President Xi Jinping at Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday.

In a special report published in China’s state owned Global Times on Thursday, the article warned that Pakistan could no longer provide China a strong foothold due to its “calamitous state” of security and ominously stated that, as a result, Lanka was of great strategic importance to China.

“Currently, the China-funded constructions in Pakistan cannot serve as a strong foothold for China, given the calamitous state of Pakistan’s security. Sri Lanka can be of great importance for China in the security strategic layout in the Indian Ocean. It will not only provide security assurances for nearby navigation channels, but will also promote the 21st Maritime Silk Road,” the Globe Times stated on the day the Lankan Prime Minister was to kick of his begging mission in Beijing where he was expected to ask the Chinese government to waive off certain loans and restructure some of the $8 billion Chinese debt.

This was the first time that Beijing had underscored its concerns and publicly made plain that its interest in Lanka went beyond mere trade gains. There was no mistaking the siren blare of the Chinese government authorised report when it stated the great importance of Lanka for China in ‘the security strategic layout in the Indian Ocean’. This was not a Chinese takeaway but a Chinese takeover. To further her strategic security aims in the region, China will provide assistance was the underlining message. With the Lankans’ clamour for alms rising in Tiananmen Square, China conveyed through its print media what it expected as its quid pro quo. They knew they had Lanka by the short and curlies.

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Panama exposure :How did ex chairman of CEB Amarapala amass so much wealth? Is it Champika’s illicit commissions? Name list herein

(Lanka-e-News -10.April.2016, 11.55PM)  With the exposures following the Panama papers alias ‘Panama exposure’ which triggered a storm of controversy world wide , and after the information  regarding the hidden wealth of illicit earnings coming to light, the finger is pointing at minister Champika Ranawake since the name of Vidya Amarapala is in the list of Sri Lankan names.

Based on  the revelations of  the legal firm  ‘Mosek – Fonseka’  which kept the  information hidden of the wealthiest individuals in  the ‘Panama exposure,’ there are a number of popular Sri Lankan businessmen in the Sri Lankan name list . In that name  list below the name of Race by race magnate Jagath Sumathipala is that of Vidya Dilruk Amarapala alias Vidya Amarapala . 

It is no secret that Jagath Sumathipalas have more than enough earnings to conceal , but that is not the case with  Vidya Amarapala. 

Vidya Amarapala is a very close and long time friend of minister Champika Ranawake . The latter after becoming the minister of power and energy at that time , appointed Vidya Amarapala as the chairman of the Electricity board. Prior to that Amarapala was not a businessman . Besides before or after that he never held any post in a State Institution.

 In the circumstances , how did Vidya Amarapala come by  so  much enormous wealth so as to conceal that  with the ‘Mosaic Fonseka’legal Firm ?  On the face of it these are the inordinately large illicit commissions he had earned while he was the chairman of the electricity board. If that is so, could that have been  done without the knowledge of Champika Ranawake ?  Or , are those  the illicit  commission earnings of  Champika Ranawake when he was the minister in charge ?

It is best if the government of good governance conducts a probe into this and provides answers . Champika Ranawake who wears spotless white attire and parades as a patriot must also furnish an answer before his white attire gets discolored and prove that he is not unworthy of his white spotless attire . 

It is also paramount that the hidden assets of all those whose names are concealed in the Panama papers be put under the microscope and investigated .

Below is the name list of Sri Lankans whose names came to light following the Panama papers exposure

Ahmed Ismail Hossain
Akhter Mahmud
Aliakber Saifudeen Jeevunjee
AQUA-PACKAGING LIMITED
Arthur I Senanayake
Balendra Krishan Niraj Jayasekara
Chandrajith Saman Kalyana Jayamaha Jayamaha Hitihamilage
Chandrajith Saman Kalyana Jayamaha Jayamaha Hitihamilage
Chandru Swamidas Jagasia
CHRISTIAN FERDINAND FUHRER
Daniel Ortiz
Dimitry De Wansa Wickramaratne
Duminda Mahali Weerasekare
Ejaz Chatoor
Esufally, Bilquis Imtiaz
Esufally, Imtiaz Abidhusen Hassanally
Farida Jeevunjee
Hasan Mahmood (Raja)
Imran Aliakber Jeevunjee
Janki Jagasia
Jayawardane Welathanthirige Shilanth Boteju
Jennifer Kathleen Senanayake
Kaluachchigamage Avanthi Kumara Jayatilake
Khandaker Moinul Ahsan (Shamim)
Kishore Hassaram Surtani
LASITHA GAMINI ATTYGALLE
Mohamed Ishan Gaffoor
MURTAZAALI ABIDHUSSEN HASSANALY ESUFALLY
Nilan Abeywickrama
Niranjan Mendis
Niranjan Sunil Oswald Mendis
Omprasadham Kanapathipillai
Rohan Albert Ignatius Gomis
Sanikh Networks Limited
Sanjay Vijith Anthony Perera
Senaka Dunuwille Senanayake
Sharecorp Limited
Sharmila Wahab
SHYAMALI CHAMPIKA EDIRIWEERA
Somasundaram Mukunthan and Anne Christine Mukunthan
SURENDRA EDIRIWEERA
SURENDRA EDIRIWEERA & SHYAMALI CHAMPIKA EDIRIWEERA
Tushan & Dhammeswari
Tushan Harsha Mendis Wickramasinghe
UDU WATHUWAGE JAGATH PRIYA ANURA SUMATHIPALA
Vidya Dilruk Amarapala

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by     (2016-04-11 12:58:39)

Leaderless Nation That Lives In Hope

By Gomin Dayasri –April 11, 2016

Gomin Dayasri

Look around and pick a leader capable of pulling the country fallen into an awful rot; landing in the bin is a responsibility shared. To reach a level of sensibility is the initial task-not to touch greatness, bespoken on political platforms.

It discounts politicians that enjoyed/s power – in past and present tense. Virtually impossible based on their past performances.

Don’t be nihilistic-think differently. Make an effort to retract the slide downhill, before climbing an anthill. Hit ground level and take stock of the findings on soil. Descend from dizzy heights to unaccustomed reality, difficult for an over inflated nation after defeating terrorism.

The ‘glory men’ are at the cleaners.

All is not lost. There are a few in every political party, hibernating in a year around winter unwanted by the leadership; making it near impossible to find a footrest to touch rank. They speak their minds unguardedly to the leaders. When desperation strikes, they are the coming men. Wait in hope for that day, Sri Lanka is not a losers’ paradise.

Sirisena needs another election to fix him at proper political proportions. Presently an inflated midget but has genuinely grown in stature, while in office after being a mere makeshift man. Company he keeps amongst the electorates discarded candidates and as the party president of the SLFP to keep the UNP in power is irreconcilable and is for his personal benefit. His days are numbered till the people next vote on discovery. Best course is to retire honourably to be remembered for services rendered before an obvious downfall. A lesson Rajapaksa failed to learn – a third term is not a possibility even for a war hero gone sour. End of term will not take Sirisena to a nirvana even in the district of Polonnaruwa.

The rot in Lanka started long before Sirisena ascended to Presidency. Worse is unfolding, as a divided government appears split; SLFP MP’s sit on the lap of the President to derive perks, but mock him in the company of the former President to make both look silly as the voters know the merry dances the two waltzing Matildas perform, together with their party men.

To be judgmental, life is harder than before for the people, who undergo power disruptions at the drop of a hat. Economic hardships do not touch the Finance Minister’s wallet and are of little
concern to him. Who is the bright lad that appointed him to a post of high integrity that needs the common touch of the man in the street who feels the pinch most? His selector is not with the people.

Foreigners, to whom we sold the country by signing a joint resolution with the USA, offer incentives to their citizens to withdraw funds invested, that gave us a degree of stability; now lost as green notes fly back home. Can foreign investors place confidence in a government that fails to give teeth to a budget passed without legislation for Inland Revenue to collect the necessary? Next mini budget will drive even the ever faithful away.

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“Vasa Visa Nethi” Project

Mr. K..Godage’s (KG) article on the “Wasa Visa Nethi” project  which appeared in the Daily Mirror of 19 March 2016,. highlighted a number of issues related to the use of agrochemicals. In this piece I wish to indicate the actual facts related to the use of  agrochemicals.

April 7, 2016

According to Mr. Godage, the President has banned all agrochemicals.  President Maithripala Sirisena did not ban chemical fertilizers, insecticides and weedicides. However, in an Extraordinary Gazette Notification, in Dec. 2014, Registrar of  Pesticides Dr. G. A. W. Wijesekara banned the use or sale of Glyphosate, Propanil, Carbaryl, Cholopyrifos, and Carbofuran which are pesticides.  

Fertilizers are agrochemicals. There are different types of fertilizers such as urea, Superphospahe (TSP), Muriate of Potash. (MOP). Most of the present day farmers use these fertilizers and the govt. is giving it free,  perhaps indicating that application of fertilizers is essential to get a good yield. As KG indicates,  in those days cultivators applied leaves, cowdung , katu pohora etc. to crops.

The plant nutrient content of these is very low (for example N in kola is not even 2%) . During that time only one paddy crop was cultivated per year (in Maha) and the yields were around 1000 kg per hectare. The nutrient requirement of the indigenous paddy varieties (eg. pachaperumal) cultivated was relatively low. But at present the yields are high (around 4000 kg/ha) thanks to the researchers at the Batalagoda Rice Research Institute who developed better rice varieties.

These varieties need more nutrients.  Hence farmers apply inorganic fertilizers because they contain more plant nutrients. KG is of the view that chemical fertilizers (it is more correct to say Inorganic fertilizers – IF) ) are causing harm to poor farmers and humans (?) particularly in third world countries.. It is difficult to understand why IF are causing harm to those in the third world countries. If inorganic fertilizers  are toxic it should be harmful to all humans.

While KG says that IF are causing harm, he also says “ chemical fertilizers have no doubt increased yields with food being an absolute necessity for our existence “ KG also says that fertilizers (probably IF) have become absolutely necessary for agriculture. But he also says that “organic fertilizer is the best solution to counter the threats to our soil, the environment and to life itself. So should we use Inorganic fertilizers  or organic fertilizers.?

 Most of the plant nutrients (N,P and K) in inorganic fertilizers  we apply are absorbed by plants. Some, such as phosphates and potassium (K) get adsorbed by the soil. Some of the urea gets volatilized. If the soil is sandy some nutrients can get leached and pollute water. This can be prevented if  inorganic fertilizers  are applied judiciously based on soil tests. Organic matter (OM)  improves the soil physically and supply the micronutrients such as iron, manganese etc.  

and inorganic fertilizers  supply macro nutrients such as N,P, K etc. required by plants in large amounts. Hence it is better to apply both organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers.

Reducing use of inorganic fertilizers

Promoting methods of reducing use of IF is important. It will reduce the expenditure on importing IF. Use of IF such as urea can be reduced considerably if atmospheric N is made use of.  The atmosphere has nearly 80% N which can be used by making use of N fixing plants. Unfortunately we are not making use of plants such as Blue Green Algae which fix N from the atmosphere.

N fixing bacteria in root nodules of legumes also fix N but here again we are not effectively making use of these bacteria. Most of the soils in the dry zone are rich in potassium and hence use of MOP can be reduced. Fertilizers need to be applied on the basis of soil analytical data. In this way it is possible to reduce fertilizer imports.

Pesticides

Pesticides also need to be considered in the project on Wasa Visa Nethi. Very often crops are attacked by insects. We hear about Brown Plant Hopper attack in paddy. There are other pests too.  In Sri Lanka, in the 18th century the coffee crops were devastated by  a fungus Hamelia vastrarix. In such a situation we are forced to use an insecticide.

In addition to insect pests, fungi,  virus  and  weeds also affect crops.  Weeds compete for water, sunlight  and nutrients with crop plants. Weeds also harbour numerous pests and diseases and also tend to reduce the quality of the harvest. Hence, control of weeds is extremely important to obtain a good harvest. Hence, appropriate pesticides have to be used. 

I am not at all promoting the use of pesticides. A colossal amount of money is spent to import pesticides. Hence it would be desirable if alternatives which are non-toxic are used. A number of compounds, such as nicotine, pyrethrin and azadirachtin which have pesticidal properties, are present in some locally grown plant species. For example, Azadirachtin can be extracted from Azadirachta Indica (Kohomba) and Pyrethrin from  Pyrethrum.

Development of pesticides from those local plants and promoting their use in controlling pests, would reduce costs and also provide employment. But, no effective action appears to be taken to promote the use of these bio-pesticides by the relevant authorities except holding workshops and seminars. Research and development on the use of biopesticides and eco-friendly measures need to be done.
If we are to sustain yields we will have to use agrochemicals unless alternatives are made available. Some farmers mix pesticides assuming that it will give a better effect.

Such practices would cause environment pollution.  Hence,  the relevant institutions need to develop a good mechanism for enforcing the regulations on the use of pesticides,  adopting FAO guidelines.. An effective agricultural extension system needs to be in place so that the undesirable effects of pesticides are reduced. According to some researchers certain pesticides may affect the human endocrine and immune systems and are carcinogenic.

Therefore, long-term environmental and health impacts of agrochemicals should be researched in depth . Promotion of alternative pest control strategies such as application of bio-pesticides indicated above and integrated pesticide management (IPM) need to be done. Better agronomic practices such as crop rotations also would reduce the need to use agrochemicals.
- The writer is a former Professor of Agronomic at Ruhuna and Rajarata University and he has a Ph.d. from the University of London.  

Yoshitha’s impending ‘House’ arrest

Apr 11, 2016

Following the money laundering charges filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa over his alleged involvement in Carlton Sports Network (CSN) investment, the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has commenced two fresh probes into the ownership of two palatial houses in Dehiwala worth over several hundreds of millions of rupees and the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) building in Battaramulla worth around Rs. 200 million.

The property at 173/2, Mihindu Mawatha, Dehiwala is said to be 66 perches in extent out of which 38 perches are owned by Yoshith Rajapaksa and 28 perches by Daisy Forest of 210/12, Torrington Avenue, Colombo 05.

It is alleged that Daisy Forest is an aunt of Shiranthi Rajapaksa and the Torrington Avenue, Colombo 5 property in which she resides is owned by the former First Lady. Although the Rajapaksas have claimed that CSN is not owned by Yoshitha or has any connection to the Rajapaksa family, not only CSN but also Carlton Pre-School, Carlton Sports Club, Tharunyata Hetak and even the controversial non-governmental organisation Siriliya, which too is under investigation by the FCID for financial fraud, are registered under the Torrington Avenue Colombo 5 address.

This property in Colombo 5 was originally owned by Prabath Nanayakkara. After Mahinda Rajapaksa became President in 2005, this property had been bought over by Mary Laud Wickremasinghe alias Shiranthi Rajapaksa bearing National Identity Card No: 535233314V on April 5, 2013 for Rs. 35 million.

According to a reliable FCID informant, the FCID officials together with government valuers from the Valuation Department had inspected the CSN building at Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla early this month which is said to be worth over Rs. 200 million.

In regard to the two houses in Dehiwala, which are alleged to be owned by the Rajapaksas, the FCID had obtained a search warrant from the Mt. Lavania Magistrate (Warrant No. 828/16) and had conducted a search a few weeks ago.

“The two-storeyed house at Mihindu Mawatha is still under construction and carries a name board ‘Madam Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa’. It is said that the 60 perches had cost the Rajapaksas Rs. 49.02 million while another five perch land belonging to the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society had been sold to the Rajapaksas for Rs. 4.5 million,” sources said.

When this newspaper contacted the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society at Nugegoda to find out how much they had received from the Rajapaksas for the five perch land, the lady officer who answered the call said that she could not make any comment but to call one hour later to speak to their General Manager from whom all these details could be obtained.

“Madam has gone out and will be back in one hour’s time. She will be able to furnish all the details you want,” she said. However all attempts thereafter to contact the General Manager were futile as no one answered the call.

According to sources, an underground apartment similar to the underground bunker at the Presidents House in Fort, which was also built for the Rajapaksa offspring, had been built at the four-storeyed house believed to be used as an armoury.

“The government valuers are yet to conduct a valuation of these two buildings but it appears that both houses are worth not less than Rs. 1,000 million as they are equipped with all the luxurious facilities and comforts,” sources claimed.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised as to how Yoshitha Rajapaksa who is a public servant that draws a government salary could accumulate such a large wealth unless he has won a huge jackpot.

“The FCID will investigate how a Navy Lieutenant could spend such an amount of money to purchase a land and to build luxurious palaces worth several millions of rupees. Our records do not show that Rajapaksa had ever won a jackpot, nor any other fortune. If so he has to inherit an enormous wealth from his parents. That too is ruled out as both Mahinda and Shiranthi Rajapaksa were not so rich when the former entered politics in the early 1970s. The FCID can check their wealth at the time Mahinda Rajapaksa entered politics and their wealth now to ascertain the difference,” sources claimed.

Meanwhile it is learnt that these houses were built for Yoshitha Rajapaksa to live after his marriage to a former girlfriend. “They were to be married but for some reasons it did not take place. It is up to the FCID to question this particular friend and they would be able to get more details about this property and how the Rajapaksas bought it,” sources added.

Further, the FCID is to investigate who funded the CSN building at Battaramulla which was given by the Urban Development Board (UDB) on a lease to the D. A. Rajapaksa Foundation.

“FCID, after an investigation on the controversial CSN under the Money Laundering Act, has unearthed how the D. A. Rajapaksa Foundation has breached the agreement reached with the UDA when obtaining the state-owned land, where the CSN building is now situated. Although this land had been given on condition, that it should not be used for any purpose other than for the D. A. Rajapaksa Foundation, the building in question had been constructed to house the CSN TV network in 2010, and it is alleged that after the fall of the Rajapaksa regime on January 8, a lease agreement has been signed by the Rajapaksa Foundation with CSN hurriedly, to show that this land had been taken over legally from the Foundation. Although the government valuers have valued this building at Rs. 200 million, they are yet to submit the accounts as to how they obtained the money. Chief Executive Officer of the Rajapaksa Foundation, Upul Dissanayake, had said that the money had been given by W. Karunajeewa, the former Chairman, People’s Bank whose daughter-in-law was one of the Directors at CSN.”

According to the sources, in the event the Rajapaksa offspring fails to explain how he amassed wealth which runs into several hundreds of millions of rupees to purchase the Dehiwala land at Mihindu Mawatha and to build the two palatial luxury houses, and also to construct the CSN office building at Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla, the FCID is once again planning to charge him under the Money Laundering Act which he was earlier charged under and placed under arrest for more than one month for his failure to reveal who invested in CSN. 
- http://www.thesundayleader.lk-

Ports work-to-rule action called off

2016-04-11
Following Prime Minister’s directive to Minister of Ports Arjuna Ranatunga to reimburse the festival bonus to the port workers at the Colombo Habour, the work-to-rule campaign of the workers was called off, the Trade Unions’ Collective said today. 

The protest was launched by the Trade Unions’ Collective comprising seventeen trade unions of the Colombo Habour including Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya (JSS) and Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (NSS) against the decrement of Rs. 4, 500 from the total amount Rs. 30, 000 festival bonus of the workers.

 Following the protest, a meeting was held at the Temple Trees between the trade union leaders and the Prime Minister along with the Ports & Shipping Minister and Labour Minister John Seneviratne. 

Speaking to the Daily Mirror after the discussion, the Co-Convener of the Trade Unions’ Collective Udeni Kaluthanthri said they hoped that Minister Ranatunga would take action to reimburse the amount to the festival bonus before the New Year festival.

 “The Prime Minister assured that the amount would be reimbursed soon, so we decided to call off the trade union action. Therefore, all the activities at the Colombo Habour will be brought back to normal,” he said. (Piyumi Fonseka) - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/108149/Ports-work-to-rule-action-called-off#sthash.BlQCTvAK.dpuf

Six members of Iranian family among foreigners held for drug smuggling bid 

By Shamindra Ferdinando-April 10, 2016, 12:00 pm

Among the Iranians arrested in a recent joint Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB)-Navy operation off Dondra point are six men from one family, including 12-year-old boy, according to court documents.

They are among ten Iranian crew of an Iranian owned trawler seized by the SLN after the PNB using decoys successfully negotiated to purchase 110 kilos of heroin with a street value of over USD 7.5 mn. PNB personnel boarded the Iranian vessel to ‘conclude’ the deal.

In addition to the Iranians, authorities arrested a Singaporean, two Pakistanis and an Indian; some of them were arrested on land. The arrest of 14 persons is the biggest single apprehension of foreigners by Sri Lankan authorities.

The seizure is the biggest since August 2013, when police found 260kg of heroin hidden in a shipping container that had come from Pakistan. Then Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne was implicated in that case.

Navy Chief Vice Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne yesterday told The Island that all institutions tasked with tackling the narcotics menace had been brought together on a presidential directive. "We meet regularly to discuss ways and means of neutralizing those smuggling in narcotics. The PNB got in touch with us regarding a major heroin shipment leading to the recent detection."

VA Wijegunaratne paid a glowing tribute to the PNB for having specific intelligence required to carry out the highly successful operation. The operation conducted in the Southern seas had been based on excellent work done by the PNB, the Navy Chief said, adding that his officers and men really enjoyed working with the special outfit.

Responding to a query, the Navy Commander asserted that the Iranian boat could have had an opportunity to hand over a part of its consignment along the way before being trapped by the PNB. The naval veteran estimated that the vessel could have carried as much as 400 kgs of heroin.

The Navy deployed SLNS Nandimitra and SLNS Mihikathato meet any eventuality. The vessels had been positioned in such a way not to alert the foreign crew of the Iranian boat.

VA Wijegunaratne said that the recent detection underscored the urgent need to take tangible measures to counter maritime drug trafficking. Referring to terrorism, VA Wijegunaratne said that Sri Lanka paid a very heavy price for neglecting maritime affairs and now maritime drug trafficking was going to cause a major problem.

The Navy Chief said that it was going to be the major post-war challenge. "We had to prevent supplies coming into the country as well as Sri Lanka being used as a transhipment point."

The Vice Adm. said that he had an opportunity to discuss anti-narcotics strategy at Indian Ocean region’s Senior Drug Enforcement Officials’ meeting in Colombo last October. The Governments should work together to terminate drug trafficking instead of controlling it, VA Wijegunaratne said, adding that no navy could achieve 100 per cent surveillance. Those who had been engaged in drug trafficking knew the shortcomings on the part of the military and drug enforcement agencies, which they exploited.

Referring to the recent detection, VA Wijegunaratne said that obviously the foreign crew expected to transfer 110 kgs of heroin to a Sri Lankan fishing trawler. Recollecting lifting of a spate of restrictions imposed on the fishing community since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009, VA Wijegunaratne said that some of fishing vessels engaged in drug trafficking. The Navy chief acknowledged that it wouldn’t be practical to check all fishing vessels leaving and entering fisheries harbours and other landing points.

He also explained Indian fishermen trafficking drugs to Sri Lanka with the help of local fishermen. The navy chief said that monitoring mid sea transfers was impossible therefore drug traffickers took advantage of the situation.

Based on information provided by anti-narcotics agencies, VA Wijegunaratne said that the estimated value of Sri Lanka’s daily heroin consumption was about Rs 450 mn. Accordingly, approximately 45,000 heroin addicts consume about 763 kgs of heroin annually. But, about 3.5 tons were believed to be brought into Sri Lanka, the Vice Adm said, adding that substantial stocks were being transferred to various countries through Sri Lanka.

VA Wijegunaratne insisted that drug trafficking could be stopped. The navy chief asserted that all experts believed the LTTE could never be defeated though the armed forces achieved victory within three years. Similarly, drug trafficking could be eradicated by implementing a coordinated strategy, he said.

Shame ! Wizened old Mahanama principal back in school with teacher (23) he eloped with – what an example to set to children !–education secretary in slumber

(Lanka-e-News -10.April.2016, 11.55PM) The crazy meaningless appointment of cads to leading schools as principals and thereby wreaking havoc on the children’s education during the nefarious decade of the rudderless demented Rajapakses, and giving them ‘brave colonel’ status to them are now manifesting in its most ugliest  form to the detriment of the students and the schools. This was well illustrated at Mahanama College, Colombo.

The prinicipal of Mahanama College Prasanna Upashantha who is nearly 50 years old had eloped with a young 23 years old married teacher of the same school . This old man had  fallen in love (of all things), eloped and kept the teacher  hidden away from her home .In addition , the one and half years old child of the teacher by her husband too had been abducted .What is  specially noteworthy is ,   this sex starved rascal of a prinicipal Upashantha has a daughter who is about the same age as his illicit lover.   

What is even more rudely shocking and reprehensible is,  when the husband made a complaint to the Talangama police, this culprit cad Upashantha who arrived at the police had displayed his ‘brave colonel’ bravado (thanks to the cursed Rajapakse regime that created these ‘brave colonels’) and threatened the legal husband of the teacher . 

This teacher before she joined the teaching staff of Mahanama was a morning  news reader on  the Rupavahini television channel .She married a  colleague of hers at the Rupavahini , and they have a one year old child .Later ,she joined  Mahanama as a teacher .

Upashantha the sex starved cad had while at school  lured her into his lascivious trap displaying his bravado colors which he would not have acquired but for the Rajapakses and their curse of the shawl  administration . Thereafter ,four days ago he had managed to entice her out of her home along with her infant. He has then kept her in hiding . 

The worst part of this most disgraceful and detestable drama is , both of them have come back to school shamelessly after their ‘honeymoon’ (rather naakeymoon). 

It is very evident from this episode to what lowliest level this old sex starved scoundrel had driven  the most noble teaching profession into without the slightest  compunction.Just  for a few minutes spell and  spill  he had disgraced himself , the profession and  the school beyond repair. What’s more ? this sex starved scoundrel had abused his ‘brave colonel’ power so much so that several teachers who were overawed by his brave colonel power  have aided and abetted in the illicit affair . These teachers are still in that school.

Mind you just because his illicit affair was dislosed by some teachers this cad had even threatened another teacher , according to reports.

Colonel Prasanna Upashantha is one of those many ‘brave colonels’ spawned by Gotabaya Rajapakse when he was the defense secretary .Prior to his present appointment this cad had served in Asoka junior school and Royal College . Everywhere he had been well noted for his sex starved nature  and lascivious propensities .   He had always at the first opportunity tried to demonstrate the truth in the maxim ‘ older the bull harder the horn’ to his gullible victims. But may we warn him , the older bull suffers most when being castrated . In his case , it is hoped his next victim will do the castration which will not only cure his frustration  but will also rid  SL of at least one ‘ brave colonel’ of the cursed Rajapakses. 

Meanwhile Lanka teachers service association in a notice issued by it  stated, there did exist an illicit affair between the principal and the teacher for some time , and this was complained by  the school to the education secretary, but no action was taken. The Association has pressurized the education secretary to take immediate action against  the principal and teacher who had come back to school after eloping , which is setting a most pernicious example to the students.

The parents of the children and the old boys of Mahanama  must decide,  before the secretary , education takes a decision , whether there is a possibility at all  for such cads to   lead the children aright

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by     (2016-04-11 02:18:16)

EU envoy refuses to condemn Israeli threats against BDS activists

Ali Abunimah-8 April 2016

The EU’s top envoy in Tel Aviv has refused to condemn the latest Israeli threats against Palestinian human rights defenders.

Ambassador Lars Faaborg-Andersen, who heads the EU diplomatic mission to Israel, was responding to questions about the threats made by Israeli intelligence minister Yisrael Katz and other top officials against activists and leaders in the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

Faaborg-Andersen wrote to The Electronic Intifada that he “will not enter into a discussion about the interpretation of Minister Katz’s comment or the comments of any other speakers” at the “Stop the Boycott” conference held in Jerusalem on 28 March.

The EU envoy spoke at the same conference alongside a leader of Israel’s settler movement, despite Palestinian objections.

Faaborg-Andersen insisted however that his presence “should by no means be seen as endorsement of statements – including the threats… made by others at that conference.”

Threats

In Hebrew, Katz called for “sikul ezrachi memukad” against the “BDS leadership.”

According to professional translator Dena Shunra, sikul memukad literally means “targeted prevention” or “targeted thwarting,” but is the precise term the Israeli military uses for “targeted killing” – an extrajudicial execution.

By adding the word ezrachi – civil – Katz’s phrase may be translated as “civil targeted prevention.”

At the same conference, Gilad Erdan, the Israeli minister for public security, strategic affairs and public diplomacy who has been charged with leading the attack against the BDS movement, said that Israel would have to “act at the individual level” against activists in organizations supporting the BDS campaign.

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18 soldiers killed by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines

Fierce daylong fighting on the southern Philippine island of Basilan also left 52 soldiers wounded.

he clash with Abu Sayyaf was the largest single-day combat loss by government forces in Mindanao this year [AP File Photo]

09 Apr 2016
At least 18 soldiers were killed and more than 50 others wounded on Saturday in fierce fighting with the armed group Abu Sayyaf and allied fighters on a southern island in the Philippines.

It was the largest single-day combat loss by government forces this year in the restive south, where the military has long battled Muslim separatist rebels and Communist fighters.

Basilan is one of the remotest islands in southern Philippines [Al Jazeera]

Three military officials told the AP news agency the heavy daylong fighting took place on Mindanao island of Basilan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to publicly discuss details.

Local media reports said about 100 Abu Sayyaf fighters clashed with troops and four soldiers had been decapitated. The evacuation of wounded soldiers was continuing late on Saturday. 

In 2015, more than 30 police commandos were killed by Muslim rebels during a government raid on mainland Mindanao. 

Some Muslim rebel groups in the area have reportedly allied themselves with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) followers.

Abu Sayyaf is known to maintain a base in Basilan, as well as the neighbouring Sulu archipelago, where a former priest from Italy was released on Friday after millions of pesos in ransom was reportedly paid.

Abu Sayyaf was founded in 1991 in Basilan, about 880km south of the capital, Manila.

The United States and the Philippines have separately blacklisted Abu Sayyaf as a "terrorist" 

organisation for deadly bombings, extortion, kidnappings for ransom, and beheadings of locals and foreigners, including Christian missionaries in the south.

More than a decade of US-backed Philippine offensives have weakened the armed group, but it remains a key security threat.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

VIDEO: Children among victims of barrel bombs as Aleppo clashes intensify 

Nusra and allied rebels launch offensive across three provinces as government masses troops for Aleppo offensive and IS also makes gains

A rescue worker carries an injured child after a barrel bomb attack in rebel-held Aleppo (AFP)

Monday 11 April 2016
Dozens of barrel bombs were reported to have fallen on civilian areas of Aleppo as clashes intensified across northern Syria ahead of peace talks due to begin on Wednesday.

A resident told AFP in the aftermath of the bombings, apparently carried out by government helicopters: 

"Thirty barrel bombs - this is their truce. There are only civilians here, no fighters, no IS jihadists."

With government forces launching air strikes and preparing for an offensive against rebel-held areas in Aleppo, Syria's al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra front and allied rebels pushed offensives around northern, central and coastal Syria on Monday.

The Islamic State (IS) group also took back control of the town of Al-Rai near Turkey, which rival rebels had captured last week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Neither the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front nor IS are included in a truce brokered by the United States and Russia that came into force on 27 February.

But the fact that rebels are fighting alongside Nusra in such a broad offensive, while government forces push back, suggests that the partial ceasefire has already collapsed in the north of the country. 

"Nusra and allied rebel groups are waging three synchronised offensives" on frontlines in Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

So far, they have seized a hilltop in Latakia province, the heartland of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect, the group said.

"This is the offensive that Nusra warned it would carry out several weeks ago," Abdel Rahman said.

He was referring to a threat issued by the group when Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key backer of Assad, announced the partial pullout of Russian troops from Syria last month.

A military source confirmed that an offensive was under way.

"Armed groups are trying to attack some military positions in Latakia and Hama provinces, but they have not succeeded in making any advances," the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Further north, IS took back the town of Al-Rai, their key supply route from neighbouring Turkey, the Observatory said.

Rebels fighting IS had taken Al-Rai last week following two days of clashes.

"The fact that the rebels could not hold on to Al-Rai shows that it is impossible to maintain an advance against IS without adequate air cover," Abdel Rahman said.

Following the takeover, Turkey's army launched artillery strikes on IS positions, local media reported Monday.

Turkish artillery fired shells from howitzers positioned on its border region of Kilis against IS targets, the private NTV television reported.

Syrian, Russian and US-led coalition warplanes are all staging separate air campaigns in the war-torn country.

The latest violence came ahead of a new round of peace talks in Geneva on 13 April, which will see indirect negotiations between government and opposition delegations.

"Neither Nusra nor IS have an interest in the ceasefire or a peaceful solution to Syria's war - because should the war end, they would no longer have a role," Abdel Rahman said.

Clashes around Aleppo on Sunday killed at least 16 pro-government fighters and 19 members of al-Qaeda's affiliate and allied rebel groups, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Inside Aleppo, the Observatory said barrel bomb strikes by government forces on Sunday hit the northeastern neighbourhood of Al-Haidariyah, injuring a number of people including children.

Aleppo push

Aleppo, formerly Syria's economic capital, has since 2012 been divided into zones held between rebel groups and areas still under government control.

Syrian opposition figures have warned that the rebellion in Aleppo could be crushed without greater outside support.

"The rebels in Aleppo need the international community to adopt their cause, including providing them with arms and ammunition of all types, logistical support and training troops," said Islam Alloush, a spokesperson for the Jaish al-Islam opposition group.

"The rebels need the international community to present their cause in the international forums and to defend the right of these oppressed people and forcing the foreign militias to leave Syria, and to be serious in fighting terrorists and their ideologies of all forms, as the revolutionary forces did."

He told Middle East Eye that rebel groups would continue to fight alongside Nusra, despite the controversy surrounding the organisation, as long as it was necessary to defeat the Assad forces.

“The recent conflict in Syria divided the military power into two: the regime and its allies, and the opposition with its different groups," he said.

“Taking in consideration the limited resources and weak support, the revolutionary forces in Syria will put its hands with the hands of whoever is willing to fight the regime in Syria, let it be international, regional or local forces. This is what the Syrian agenda dictates over these forces.”

David Cameron and George Osborne: questions still to answer?

This weekend many papers published headlines with words to the effect of "Cameron comes clean on tax", following the PM's disclosure of his tax and income details. Are there more questions to answer?

MONDAY 11 APRIL 2016

There seem still to be great big gaping holes in the PM's statements about his wealth - questions which Channel 4 News has been asking for almost a year.

The first is quite simply:

Has the Prime Minister ever invested any money off-shore, other than in Blairmore Holdings?

During his interview with ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston, David Cameron admitted investing in Blairmore Holdings - a fund set up by his father in Panama and based in the Bahamas.

But he did not state whether this was the only off-shore fund he had ever invested in.

We asked Downing Street this very question on Friday, and they responded with: "We have nothing to add to previous statements."

This is a relatively simple question, especially for a Prime Minister who has spent the past four years championing transparency.

Did the Prime Minister ever invest in the Close International Equity Growth Fund, or the PMG Eagle Fund?

These are two other funds that Channel 4 News discovered the Prime Minister's father owned shares in.

Both funds were based in Jersey, although PMG Eagle Fund may have transferred to the Cayman Islands in 2002 - we have discovered a fund there with exactly the same name, but because of fierce privacy laws there it is impossible to find out if Ian Cameron was involved.

The PMG Eagle Fund in Jersey operated between 1996 and 2002, investing in US companies.

It is argued that Blairmore Holdings - another of Ian Cameron's funds which his son definitely did invest in - was based in Panama and the Bahamas to make trading in dollars easier.

It is not clear why a fund like the PMG Eagle Fund, investing solely in American firms, would not just be based in America.

Can the Prime Minister confirm that the sources of his inheritance from his father were not from off-shore sources?

The Prime Minster has said he cannot be sure of the source of his father's estate.

However, UK Inheritance Tax Return forms have a box which specifically ask you to state the value of assets held outside the Britain.

The Prime Minister could very easily find out the extent of the legacy held off-shore by his late father.

Were the other £109,000-worth of shares from the Prime Minister's 2009 tax return held off-shore?

We know that in 2009 the Prime Minister sold £140,000 worth of shares. This includes £31,000 from Blairmore Holdings.

But where were the other £109,000 worth of shares held? Were they off-shore?

George Osborne

And David Cameron is not the only senior Conservative of whom we have been asking questions for the last year.

In 2015 we published a report showing that George Osborne's family firm -- in which Mr Osborne declares a financial interest - sold its factory site to a company based in the British Virgin Islands in 2005.

The BVI company then transformed the plot in an expensive part of south London into an upmarket development of more than 40 homes - homes for which the Chancellor's family business submitted a joint planning application to the local authority with the off-shore company.

After the application was granted, Mr Osborne's family business sold the land outright to the offshore firm for £6,088,000.

And by being based off-shore the firm was presumably able to escape a raft of UK taxes once it finished the development.

At the time Mr Osborne was a beneficiary of a family trust that owned at least 15% of Osborne & Little at the time of the deal; and a shareholder in Osborne & Little Group Limited.

So the questions to Mr Osborne are:

Has the Chancellor ever benefited from the profits of offshore activity?

And at the time, a spokesman for Mr Osborne said: "This is a totally bogus and desperate story."

In the current climate, does the Chancellor still feel it is 'bogus and desperate' to ask such questions?

By Paul McNamara and Guy Basnett