War survivors – your views are needed- Have you been directly affected by the war in Sri Lanka?

Apr 11, 2016

Have you been directly affected by the war in Sri Lanka? Do you know someone who has? If so there is now an opportunity to make your voice heard

The United Nations Human Rights Council and the Government of Sri Lanka have agreed an approach to dealing with the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s civil war and the war crimes which were committed in the course of the conflict. While this approach might not be perfect, it represents the best (and currently only) mechanism whereby investigations, justice, compensation, acknowledgement and all the steps needed to give Sri Lanka a chance of a lasting peace can occur.

A consultation process has been set up and it is now calling for people to write to them. If this process is to work, then it will need to reflect the wishes and views of those who were directly affected by the war. If that means you, please write in and tell them what you think.

You can join in the consultation in two ways:

1. Write to contact@scrm.gov.lk or by registered post to “Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms, Republic building, Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mw., Colombo 01, Sri Lanka” and let the Consultation Task Force know what you think.
2. Go to this link and fill in the form, which will ask you a series of questions designed to find out your views.

Submissions can be made by individuals, groups and organizations, in Sinhala, Tamil or English. The Task Force would like to request contact information along with submissions in the event further information is required. Please note that your submission to the Consultation Task Force will be made public, unless you request that it should be kept confidential. Thedeadline is 1st May 2016, however early submission is encouraged.

The Sri Lanka Campaign is in no way involved with this consultation process. However we believe that is very important that as many war survivors and war-affected individuals as possible be involved in it. There are no strict rules as to who should or shouldn’t partake in this exercise. However, if you were not directly affected by the war, please do not take part, as your voice might drown out those of individuals who were.

We do understand that many people affected by the war will have fears about participating in the process. Security is a real concern and we know very little about what sort of witness protection measures are in place. Given the Government of Sri Lanka’s consistent failing to take witness protection seriously we must assume the worst. Please do not take any unnecessary risks in order to participate, and consider carefully the details you give and the way in which you identify yourself. However, despite these flaws and witness protection failings, we hope some people will feel able to take part, in order to make sure survivors voices cannot be ignored – and indeed to lay bare these shortcomings.

If you know a war survivor who doesn’t speak English, please forward them the appropriate message below, taken from the consultation website.

ප්‍රවිචාරණ 

2016 ජනවාරි 26 වන දින ශ්‍රී ලංකා රජය විසින් සත්‍යය සහ යුක්තිය සෙවීම සඳහාත්, මානව හිමිකම් උල්ලංඝනය කිරීම් සම්බන්ධයෙන් වග වීම් සහතික කිරීම සඳහාත්, සහ සහන සැලසීම් වෙනුවෙන් ගත යුතු ක්‍රියාමාර්ග සම්බන්ධයෙන් මහජනයා සුදුසු යැයි සිතන ක්‍රියාවලි සහ යාන්ත්‍රණ පිළිබඳ මහජන ප්‍රවිචාරණ පැවැත්වීමට කාර්ය සාධක බලකායක් පිහිටුවන ලදී.
ජිනීවාහි එක්සත් ජාතීන්ගේ මානව හිමිකම් කවුන්සිලයේ සැප්තැම්බර් 2015 දින පැවති සැසිවාරයේදී හා රජය විසින් සම-අනුග්‍රහය දැක්වූ යෝජනාව තුළ ඒවා සාක්ෂාත් කර ගැනීමට පහත සඳහන් යාන්ත්‍රණ සලකා බලමින් පවතින බව රජය විසින් සඳහන් කර ඇත.o විශේෂ නීතිඥවරයෙකුගෙන් සමන්විත අධිකරණ යාන්ත්‍රණයක්
o සත්‍යය, යුක්තිය, සංහිඳියාව සහ නැවත ඇති වීම වැළැක්වීමේ ක්‍රියාමාර්ග සඳහා කොමිසමක්
o වින්දිත සහන කාර්යාලයක්
o අතුරුදහන් වූවන් වෙනුවෙන් කාර්යාලයක්

සංහිඳියා යාන්ත්‍රණ උදෙසා ප්‍රවිචාරණ කාර්ය සාධක බලකාය විසින් මේ පිළිබඳව සහ වෙනත් ව්‍යුහ, ක්‍රියාවලි සහ ක්‍රියාමාර්ග පිළිබඳව ඔබගේ අදහස් සහ යෝජනා විමසා සිටී. මෙම වෙබ් අඩවියට අමතරව සංහිඳියා යාන්ත්‍රණ උදෙසා ප්‍රවිචාරණ කාර්ය සාධක බලකාය විසින් දිවයින පුරා මත විමසීම් පවත්වනු ඇත

තොරතුරු ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමේ වෙබ් පෝරමය වෙත

ஆலோசனை பெறல்

மனித உரிமை மீறல்களுக்கான வகைப்பொறுப்பை உத்தரவாதப்படுத்துதல், உண்மையையும் நீதியையும் கண்டறிதல், இழப்பீடுகளுக்கு பரிகாரங்களை வழங்குதல் ஆகிய விடயங்கள் தொடர்பாக அரசாங்கம் மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டிய நடவடிக்கைகளுக்கான பொறிமுறைகளையும், வழிமுறைகளையும் பற்றிய பொதுமக்களின் கருத்துக்களை அறிவதற்கான ஒரு செயலணியை இலங்கை அரசாங்கம் 2016 ஜனவரி 26 ஆந் திகதி நிறுவியுள்ளது.ஜெனீவா நகரில், 2015 செப்டெம்பரில்; இடம்பெற்ற ஐக்கிய நாடுகளின் மனித உரிமைகள் பேரவை, கூட்டத்தொடரின் போதான பிரேரணைக்கு அரசாங்கம் இணை அனுசரணை வழங்கியது. மேற்குறிப்பிட்ட விடயங்களை அடைவதற்கு பின்வரும் பொறிமுறைகள் மீது அரசாங்கம் கவனம் செலுத்துகின்றது.

• விசேட சட்டத்தரணிகளுடனான நீதித்துறை பொறிமுறை
• உண்மை, நீதி, நல்லிணக்கம் மற்றும் மீள்நிகழாமை ஆணைக்குழு
• இழப்பீடுகளுக்கான அலுவலகம்
• காணாமற் போனோர் பற்றிய அலுவலகம்

இவ்விடயங்கள் தொடர்பாகவும், ஏனைய கட்டமைப்புக்கள் – வழிமுறைகள் – நடவடிக்கைகள் பற்றியும் உங்கள் அபிப்பிராயங்களையும், யோசனைகளையும் செயலணி எதிர்பார்க்கின்றது. இவ் இணையத்தளத்திற்கு மேலதிகமாக ஒட்டுமொத்த இலங்கையில் இருந்தும் செயலணி கருத்துக்களை அறியும்.

இணையத்தளத்திற்கான சமர்ப்பணப் படிவம்

Tamil mother lodges complaint with Jaffna HRC over son’s abduction – VIDEO

April 15, 2016

A Tamil mother on Friday lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna that his middle-aged son had been abducted on Sunday (April 10) at Thenmaradchchi in Jaffna by a group of armed men who came in a white-van.

Speaking to Ceylon News outside the HRC office in Jaffna, she has said that her son, Rajadurai Jeyanthan has been abducted by a group of armed men who had come in a white van, when he was at his home with his family at Nunavil South, Chavakachcheri.

According to the mother, the men in civvies have first to refused to reveal their identity and then claimed that they were from the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID).

“They checked the house, interrogated him and handcuffed him before taking him away. They were in civvies and were carrying weapons. They told us to come Ariyalai and then to Vavuniya. When we went to Vavuniya, we were told that he has been sent to Boosa detention camp,” she said.

“We came here (HRC) to file a complaint as we don’t know whether he is kept in Boosa or not,” the grieving mother said.

White van is a notorious mode of transport of “unidentified men” to carry out abductions during and after the war.

According to the mother, the abductors have neither given his family a note of acknowledgement nor explained the reason for the arrest. She said her son was formerly a member of LTTE member and went through the government rehabilitation program after the war.

Secretary of the Tamil National People’s Front, S. Gajendran who accompanied the mother to the HRC, said that the police at Chavakachcheri have refused to entertain a complaint from the family in this regard.

“A group of armed men in civvies have stormed into a house and abducted a person in white van. If the police have refused to accept this complaint, then it clearly shows that theye have fully aided and abetted this abduction,” he said, expressing fears that he may be subjected to torture.

“If anything happens to his life in the absence of an official note of acknowledgement of his arrest, those who abducted him will not be held accountable for it. This is a good example that the abduction and torture are going on even under the Maithripala administration and not just during the Rajapaksa regime,” he told Ceylon News.

An official at the Jaffna HRC confirmed that this is the third such complaint to have been received since the beginning of this month.

The latest incident has come barely a couple of weeks after the government troops on a tip off recovered a suicide jacket and explosives from a house also in Chavakachcheri.

The Ranil-Sirisena government has constantly been denying reports of white operations and abductions in the country.

Sri Lanka’s Sixth Amendment: A Violation Of UN Charter

By Thambu Kanagasabai –April 15, 2016

Thambu Kanagasabai

Sri Lanka’s Sixth Amendment: A Violation Of UN Charter And Fundamental Human Rights 

Late President JR Jayewardene of Sri Lanka after allowing and being complicit in the massacres of Tamils in the 1977, 1983 pogroms and justifying them as a normal reaction of Sinhalese to take revenge on innocent Tamils, hurriedly passed the 6th amendment to the constitution in August 1983 to stifle the voice of Tamils.
The amendment’s important sections are under:

Article. 157
“No political party or other association or organization shall have one of its objectives or aims in the establishment of a separate state within the territories of Sri Lanka”

“No person shall directly or indirectly in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka which if found guilty could strip his/her civic rights etc.

Penalties include: Loss of civic rights citizenship, confiscation of moveable and unmoveable properties etc. There is also a provision “requiring elected members of parliament to take oaths swearing allegiance and loyalty to the unitary constitution of Sri Lanka”
It is relevant to note that a case against Tamil National Alliance Party is now pending in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka alleging their violation of the 6th amendment by indirectly and/or directly calling for a separate state for Tamils in their election manifesto. However, Tamil National Alliance Party has subsequently handed over a written undertaking to the Speaker in the Parliament of Sri Lanka owing their allegiance to a unitary state and renouncing a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka. This matter is thus silenced by the Tamil National Alliance Party for the time being and it is still open for Tamil National Alliance to raise the legality and validity of the provisions of sixth amendment which flout the provisions of UN Charter and UN Covenant on Civil and Political rights 1966 and the International Covenant on Economic and Social rights 1966 to which Sri Lanka is a signatory.

Read More

Tamils protest against attack by Sinhala fishermen

15 April 2016

Demonstrators gathered outside Sri Lankan government offices in the North-East earlier this week to protest against an attack by Sinhala fishermen on Tamil officials.

The Tamil government officials were visiting Kokkuthoduvai village on Sunday when the Sinhala fishermen, who have reportedly been settled in the area under a controversial settlement scheme, attacked them. 

Fellow Grama Sevaka officers demonstrated against the attack in Mullaitivu, denouncing the assault and call for an end to military interference in civil administration.

See our earlier post: Sinhala fishermen assault Tamil government officials (13 Apr 2016)

Cameron looks forward to working with SL govt

2016-04-15
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he looks forward to working with the Sri Lankan government and expressed hope that this Sinhala and Tamil New Year will bring communities closer together in helping to heal the wounds of the past. 

Sending his best wishes to everyone in Britain and Sri Lanka celebrating ‘Aluth Avurudda’ and to all Tamil communities celebrating ‘Puthandu’ Cameron said that Britain's Tamil and Sinhalese communities are huge success stories and doing great things for his nation. 

The Prime Minister said: 

I would like to send my best wishes to everyone in Britain and Sri Lanka celebrating Aluth Avurudda and to all Tamil communities celebrating Puthandu today. 

I know this is an incredibly important time when millions of people will be coming together with families, friends and neighbours to celebrate their new year.

 But it is also a time to remember that Britain's Tamil and Sinhalese communities are huge success stories and doing great things for our nation. I see this contribution every day. I see how Tamil and Sinhalese businessmen and women are boosting the economy by creating jobs and opportunities. I see how you contribute to our public services, as teachers in our schools, doctors in our hospitals. I see what you do in building strong communities. You play an immensely positive role. 

When I met with President Sirisena in Malta last year, I announced a significant increase in UK support for reconciliation and human rights, recognising the considerable progress Sri Lanka has made and helping to ensure that President Sirisena can advance the important reform work he has already begun. 

I look forward to working with the Sri Lankan government and I hope that this New Year will bring communities closer together in helping to heal the wounds of the past. 

To everyone celebrating Puthandu and Aluth Avurudda, I wish you a very happy and prosperous new year. 

Tamils’ Meeting Shows Continuing Rift In Labour Party Regarding Foreign Policy

By TU Senan –April 15, 2016

TU Senan

Tamils for Labour organised what was probably its biggest ever meeting on 11/04/2016. The main attraction for the 400+ people in attendance – many of whom were young Tamils – was the chief speaker, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Labour Party leader and leader of the opposition.

Hilary Benn MP, shadow foreign secretary, Chuka Umunna MP, former shadow business secretary under Ed Miliband, gave speeches, as did a number of other Labour MPs. Journalists Callum Macrae, Frances Harrisonand Sonya Sceats, who have written in detail about the plight of the Tamils were also on the platform.

What stood out a mile was the enormous gulf between the approaches to foreign policy within Labour. While Keith Vaz MP tried to claim that the Labour Party differs fundamentally from the Tories, Hilary Benn demonstrated that his position was not that different to Liam Fox, the much-hated and disgraced ex-Tory foreign minister, and his successors.

Benn has previous. Last December, for example, while arguing that Labour should “resist isolationism” and in favour of bombing Syria, he launched a direct attack on Corbyn. His “we must confront evil” speech that he delivers in the parliament is infamous. It led to his promotion as a possible challenger for Corbyn by the right wing of the party, and the establishment media. Anti-war activists were disappointed when he survived the reshuffle that followed but not surprised that he has not changed his views on foreign policy.

Benn lectured us. But failed to produce any substantial statement that could satisfy those who attended. Although he threw in terms such as “autonomy” as a possible political solution to be considered in some distant future, his central theme was an insistence on following the Tory line of continuing trade treaties with Sri Lanka as key policy. This was despite Sonya Sceats, from Freedom From Torture, and many other activists setting out factual details of the ongoing torture, injustices and unwillingness of the current government to offer any substantial political concessions.

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BTF welcomes UK opposition leader’s support for Tamils right

Apr 15, 2016

Britain’s main Opposition party leader Mr.Jeremy Corbyn on Monday said his Labour Party fully supports Tamils in their prolonged struggle to achieve self-determination and justice in Sri Lanka. Stressing that human rights abuses have not been fully addressed in Sri Lanka despite regime change, he said the British government should not treat countries that abuse human rights as its trade partners. “We as a party are very committed to the issues of human rights and justice. We are very committed to the rights of peoples, the Tamil people in this case to achieve their self-expression and their self-determination. That’s what we are about as a party,” the Labour leader in his address at the Tamils for Labour meeting at the Parliamentary complex on Monday. His pronouncement was welcomed by a spontaneous applause from the audience.

BTF whole heartedly welcomes the principled stand taken by the UK opposition leader and request the UK government and the other major parties in UK to recognise the Tamils right to self-determination, as a first step in finding a permanent solution to the continuing oppression faced by the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Right to self-determination is a right recognised by the UN charter and a right given to the Scottish people with in UK. Ms. Siobhain Mc Donald ( MP) said ,’ A long term political solution that respects the Tamil right to self-determination is essential for long term stability of the region’.

At the same meeting the killing field’s documentary film maker Mr. Callum McRae said, ‘There is an international drive to preserve Sirisena regardless of cost. Cost could be genuine justice’. Shadow foreign secretary Mr. Hilary Benn stressed that to move forward in Sri Lanka there must be justice truth and reconciliation.

BTF calls upon the UK Government and the Rt.Hon. Minister Mr.Hugo Swire to review the current policy on Sri Lanka, and take a similar principled stand with regard to Tamils’ right to self-determination, justice and accountability prior to calling for investments from the diaspora.

London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith celebrates Tamil community at New Year

15 April 2016

The Conservative candidate for the London mayoral election on May 5th, Zac Goldsmith celebrated the achievements of the Tamil community in the city, as he marked Tamil new year this week joining Hindu Tamil worshippers at the Shree Ganapathy temple.

"New year is a time for families and friends to come together with festive celebration and to look to the future with hope of new beginnings. It is also a time to reflect on the incredible contributions the Tamil community makes our great city across every walk of life and why London is the most successful multi-ethnic society in the world."

"So to everyone celebrating, I wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year."

Anti Narcotics chiefs lie about Heroin haul worth over Rs. 1 billion to selfishly grab the reward - herein is the truth..

For the attention of the new IGP and president

(Lanka-e-News -15.April.2016, 6.10PM)  In the recent seizure of 101 kilos of heroin valued at over  Rs. 1000 million off the Southern  coast , the two chiefs of the Police anti narcotic bureau ,Kamal  and Rangajeewa with a view to collecting the reward in full which amounts to many millions to  themselves following the arrest of the local and international dealers  involved in it , have furnished false reports to the IGP and the media , based on reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division.

The true report was received by Lanka e news several days ago, but we were holding it back until the IGP had gone  on retirement , and to draw the attention of the new IGP to it after exposing the facts.

Hitherto the media as is customary revealed in its reports this detection is a heroic accomplishment of the bureau chief Kamal and Rangajeewa, whereas the unassailable actual truth is  Rangajeewa has been  one who had entrenched himself in this division for a long period and has been fattening  via corrupt and  murky activities under the guise of apprehending heroin traffickers.  

The true position is, this is not a heroic feat of the bureau chiefs , because the Bureau chiefs did nothing  new in this operation.Indeed , the individual who was to receive  the contraband had himself handed over it to the anti narcotics bureau voluntarily .  Let us identify this ‘ patriot’ as ‘Gajadheera’ from this point of time. 

There are four main suspects now in custody.
1.A Mussalman who is born in Pakistan but residing in Singapore now registered as a Singapore citizen is the main dealer
2.A Singapore national born in Singapore and was working as a police sergeant . He was in charge  of finding ways  as to  how to pull the wool over the eyes of the law when engaging  in the heroin deals , and what  advanced communication methods must be resorted to .
3.An Indian Mussalman
4. A Mussalman residing at Wellawatte . He was in charge of collecting the heroin and selling it  among the retailers. 

Gajadheera who we mentioned in the foregoing paragraph was the one who was entrusted  with the task of receiving the heroin along the coast on the instructions of the Pakistan national who is a Singapore citizen . Gajadheera is a native of  Hikkaduwa and is very conversant with the coastal strip. He has been promised a sum of Rs. 30 million to carry out this task by the Pakistani suspect. 

This individual who realized  the extent of damage that can be caused to the country by heroin much more than the Rs. 30 million cash payment he is promised , informed this to a friend also a native of Hikkaduwa who is in the police service,in order  to seek his assistance  to conduct a  police raid.  The name of this police friend is Manjula Mendis who is now serving as the OIC of , Hilawali police ,North. 

Since Mendis is well versed in apprehending heroin peddlers along the northern coast after careful surveillance operations ,  Gajadheera had revealed to him that 100 kilos of heroin is arriving by sea route and he has been tasked with collecting it , while suggesting  that  this contraband could be seized. Gajadheera has also said  when questioned by Mendis that he has been given two satellite phones and a navigator by the Pakistani national. Mendis who realized that he cannot alone conduct this operation , intimated this to Jagath Rohana , ASP a close friend of his attached to the Anti narcotics bureau.

The details were then presented before Kamal  the chief of the bureau  , by Jagath Rohana , Manjula Mendis and Gajadheera. In addition Gajadheera handed over the two satellite phones and the navigator to Kamal. The latter who  undertook  the operation entrusted the task  to his bosom pal Rangajeewa. 

Those who were transporting the heroin exchanged information via the satellite phones. They did not know Gajadheera, and only identified him through the password provided by the Pakistani to the two parties. It was Gajadheera the informant therefore who was the godsend to the anti narcotics bureau who furnished every detail to facilitate their subsequent operations. That is precisely why we stated earlier this is not an  accomplishment of Kamal and Rangajeewa.

Nevertheless, Kamal and Rangajeewa  sidelined Gajadheera who intitiated this move , as well as  Manjula and Jagath Rohana ASP who were mainly responsible for this success ,  in order to paint the picture to the IGP and the media that Kamal and Rangajeewa were exclusively responsible for this raid. This is for no other reason than  to collect the reward from this raid only to themselves fully.Since this raid involves over a  Rs. 1000 million heroin  haul , the reward is also in many millions. 

Unbelievably , according to information provided by Kamal and Rangajeewa to the media , they had to travel to mid sea risking their lives to seize this heroin haul. This was proved as an absolute lie based on  the fact that this quantity of heroin was taken into custody by the Navy and not Kamal and Rangajeewa . It was the Navy after entering the craft transporting it  registered in Iran that seized the haul .

May we elaborate further  that Rangajeewas only went on a wild goose chase in the sea for four full days, and could track down nothing. Later , the Navy intelligence division was enlisted. It was the Navy intelligence division officers who entered the Iranian  craft after winning their confidence by saying , the codeword was provided  by the Pakistani .It was the Navy intelligence officers after posing as Gajadheera and his team who were able to arrest the group of Iranian nationals. 

Kamal  and Rangajeewa have however reported to the IGP and the media that they and their group  carried out this entire operation .

It is worthy of special mention that Kamal and Rangajeewa had meted  out grave injustice to Gajadheera the informant who made the major contribution to this successful raid.

While preparations were being made by Pakistani drug dealer , Singapore police sergeant and the Indian national to pay Rs.30 million to Gajadheera under the impression that it was the latter who collected the heroin though it was the Navy intelligence division that collected the 100 kilos haul at sea, Gajadheera told Kamal  and Rangajeewa to be patient without making any revelations until Gajadheera has collected the payment.
 
Kamal and Rangajeewa who brushed  aside the instruction took a hasty step. They  took the three suspects into custody who had taken   lodging at ‘Villa lagoon’ situated at Shramadana mawatha , Pitapana , Negombo for a month after trailing and having them under their surveillance though the suspects could have been arrested one day later .If that had happened , Gajadheera would have received his   Rs. 30 million .

However , the reward that is going to be paid to Gajadheera for informing the police is only Rs. 500,000.00 (on an earlier raid involving a haul of 53 kilos heroin , the reward paid was Rs. 200,000.00) . The reward for a raid involving heroin valued at Rs. 1000 million , according to  Kamal’s assessment , Gajadheera the informant merits only a reward as less as  only Rs. 500 ,000.00 .Manjula Mendis and Jagath Rohana too are not entitled to a cent.  Disappointed Gajadheera said , in future he would n’t any day provide information to the Anti Narcotics Bureau. 

The bottom line is  : The entire anti narcotics bureau for its Islandwide operations   has  one N 16  car , G 1 Townace vehicle, a Bolero Indian jeep and a motor cycle only . One of those vehicles is set aside for the use of the OIC of the Bureau . There are only two motor cycles for its raids. Besides , one of the vehicles hasn’t even a jack. So , if a tyre gets punctured , there is no jack to change the tyre. To get a new tyre , police garage must be informed and to get that  it takes three long months. This is how heroin trafficking  is being controlled and curbed in Sri Lanka , the heroin hub of Asia.

While this is the present state of affairs  at the Bureau,  , when top level discussions are held , and when it is questioned whether the Anti Narcotics Bureau needs more vehicles , Kamal and clan say they don’t need them . In other words this Kamal and clan have no aim or ambition   to stamp out the heroin menace or rid the country of this scourge. 

By a LeN special reporter 

Translated by Jeff 

---------------------------
by     (2016-04-15 12:49:17)

Postwar Sri Lanka Urgently Needs New Acts On Police & Firearms

By Vidya Abhayagunawardena –April 15, 2016

Vidya Abhayagunawardena

With the end of the three-decades long armed conflict in 2009, Sri Lanka has embarked in seeking permanent peace and human security in the country through reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction. This will help not only bridging the gaps between ethnic communities in Sri Lanka but also in overall socioeconomic and political development of nation building. Since the new government came into power on January 8th 2015, there is a big hope that country’s supreme law will be change and more powers given to citizens of the nation. The Government of Sri Lanka is currently underway to introduce a new constitution to Sri Lanka with the help and consultation of the citizens and the civil society. This is commendable. In the same manner it is important to have in post-war Sri Lanka, a new Police Act and a new Firearms Act which will directly support the achievement of permanent peace and stability and thereby achieve higher human security status in future of Sri Lanka.

Why Sri Lanka Needs a New Police Act

During the British Colonial period the Police Ordinance No. 16 of 1865 was enacted to stipulate powers and responsibilities of policemen. This was called “An Ordinance to Provide for the Establishment and Regulation of a Police Force in Ceylon.” In 1866, William Robert Campbell then the Chief of Police in the Indian province of Rathnageri, was appointed as Chief Superintendent of Police in Ceylon to be in charge of the Ceylon Police Force on 3rd September 1866. Therefore, this date is considered to be the beginning of the Sri Lanka Police Service.

From 1865, various amendments were made to the Police Ordinance until No. 32 of 1947. In 1974 Police Ordinance became Law No. 3 of 1974. In 1949, Sri Lanka introduced Police Act No. 15 of 1949. Until 1984, there were 6 amendments to the Act and last was the Police Act No. 41 of 1984. Since 1984, (more than three-decades now) there were no amendments to the Police Act of Sri Lanka. This shows that Sri Lanka has failed to introduce a new Police Act to the country mainly due to domestic changes particular after the war and to meet the international standards of the police service of Sri Lanka. In 2016 the Department of Police will celebrate its 150th year anniversary.

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Sri Lanka to raise VAT to 15% from May 2



April 15, 2016
The Value Added Tax (VAT) is scheduled to be increased from 11% to 15% with effect from May 02, 2016. 

 Health and telecommunication sectors will also be included for subject to VAT, according to Finance Ministry sources. 

 In March, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament announced that VAT will be hiked to 15 percent from 11 percent and said the government will impose a capital gains tax. 

  The goods imported into Sri Lanka and goods and services supplied within the territorial limits of Sri Lanka are the subject matter of VAT.

Denied ‘New Year’ for struggling for justice

THURSDAY, 14 APRIL 2016

There are reports of many who have lost the opportunity to celebrate the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in 2016 or denied performing traditional customs due to various justified struggles they carry out.

Medical students have been engaged in a continuous ‘Sathyagraha’ opposite six medical faculties demanding to abolish Malabe private medical school and against privatization of education. They have been engaged in the ‘Sathyagraha’ for 84 days. Also, Electricity Bill Readers too have been engaged in a ‘Sathyagraha’ opposite the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy for the last 16 days.

The present yahapalana government that made a promise to abolish private medical schools before coming to power has not taken any interest to the protest campaigns carried out by doctors and many other organizations demanding the government to abolish Malabe private medical school. Medical students continue their ‘Sathyagraha’ opposite their faculties for 84 days with a lot of sacrifices.

The Electricity Bill Readers’ Union launched the ‘Sathyagraha’ opposite the Ministry to protest against the failure of authorities to make permanent employees who have been working in the ministry for 10 to 12 years.

Government going slow on "stolen US$ 18 billion" investigations  - Senior UNP’er  *Mystery approach has baffled the people 

by Zacki Jabbar-April 15, 2016, 5:31 pm

The government was going slow on investigations into allegations that the Rajapakasas had allegedly siphoned off US$ 18 billion in State funds while in power between 2005 and 2014 , a senior member of the United National Party charged yesterday.

Western Provincial Council UNP member Srinath Perera PC, told the " Sunday Island" that it was a mystery as to why more than a year after the UNP/SLFP administration had assumed office, not much headway had been made on an allegation as serious as US$ 18 billion belonging to the country being plundered by the Rajapaksas.

"If such an amount had been robbed, the government owed it to the people, the vast majority of whom live below the poverty line, to fast track investigations and recover the monies for their sake," hew said.

Admitting that it would not be easy to recover stolen State resources, Perera noted that the culprits would have taken steps to cover their tracks by investing in offshore accounts or other ventures under false names.

He said that the go-slow mystery approach had baffled the public who were told that monies rightfully belonging to them had been siphoned off by the Rajapaksas.

"A responsible government should bring to book, whoever it may be, accused of plundering the country’s wealth. A lethargic approach would lead to corrupt elements in the current administration assuming that they too could do any wrong and get away."

Asked about the mushrooming global scandal triggered by the "Pananma Papers" which has named many politicians worldwide, but none from Sri Lanka, of having hidden offshore accounts, Perera replied: "I have not studied this issue in depth. It’s too early to make any definite comments. Who knows, with time more names linked to the real owners can surface."

Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson who resigned recently, became the first political victim of the " Panama Papers" which contain some 11.5 million encrypted documents leaked by a Panamanian law firm, Mossak Fonseca.

Among the other world leaders accused of  shadowy financial transactions via shell companies are Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office has admitted that he did have a stake in an Offshore Fund established by his father, but had sold it prior to being elected to office.

Deputy Minister of State Enterprise Development, Eran Wickremeratne said last week that the "Panama Papers" spoke of  204,000 offshore accounts  of which 14,000 were shell companies registered in Seychelles, but only  in the case of 204 that the real owners had been identified.

Informed sources noted that among the companies identified were three with a total of 22 shareholders that were linked to Sri Lanka.

Establishing the Sri Lankan political link would take a long time, Wickremeratne said. "Those involved in illegal activity usually take precautions to hide their real identity. As such investigations are bound to be slow. We all know that Bank  of Ceylon opened a branch in Seychelles and air links were also established during the tenure of the last Rajapaksa regime."