Second part of drama of elephant rogue : CM Pilapitiya’s topsy turvy premise and verdict !

(Lanka-e-News -22.May.2016, 7.45PM) The case in which Colombo chief magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya delivered an outrageous interim decision on the 18 th which shook the very foundation of justice of Sri Lanka in connection with the Elephant robbery even after being pointed out in court that the prosecuting crown counsel of the Attorney General’s (AG) department was not present on that day , was taken up for hearing again day before yesterday (20).

That day Crown counsel Dileepa Peiris representing the AG was present in court. In addition cinema artiste Dharmasiri Bandaranaike, Ravaya Editor Janaranjana,  Mahinda Ratnayake and a group appearing on behalf of the Citizen’s force who are evincing an interest in this case were present in court. Lawyer Upul Kumaraperuma appeared on behalf of the Citizen’s Force.

Dileepa Peirs and Upul Kumaraperuma pointed out that the earlier verdict given on the 18 th was erroneous , and until the case is concluded , the Elephants shall be kept in the custody of the Wild lIfe department.

Pilapitiya who created an ignominious record in dispensation of justice on the 18 th however said, he gave only an interim judgment on the 18 th , and after hearing the submissions of the crown counsel day before yesterday (20) , he would arrive at a definite decision.

Dileepa Peiris and Kumaraperuma then opened the mind of Gihan Pilapitiya who was apparently ignorant of the law (not just ignorant of a fact which is excusable  in law !) that as this is a criminal case , an interim judgment cannot be delivered under section 431 of the criminal procedure code. 

Hitherto , in the history of the courts in SL , never was such an interim verdict delivered by a judge ! In the circumstances judge Gihan Pilapitiya owing to his abysmal ignorance of the law despite being a chief magistrate had created a most inglorious record in SL’s judicial history !

Dileepa Peiris opened his submissions by revealing that this is a case in which 15 millionaires have come forward .That is 15 Elephants  had been held captive without licenses , and the pachyderms are now in the custody of the Wild life department, and the   Elephant rogues have again come forward to get back the Elephants. As  each Elephant is  worth about Rs. 10 million , Dileepa Peiris describing the 15 elephants  as 15 millionaires is not wrong.

Legal procedure and premise followed by Pilapitiya is topsy turvy

Dileepa Peiris primary objection to the decision of Pilapitiya was founded  on the premise : the legal procedure followed was erroneous and as the Elephants constitute  ‘Court production’, the  court production can only be handed over to the aggrieved party . Therefore the Elephants cannot under any circumstances be handed over to the accused based on a bond now or at a future date.

Judge Pilapitiya on the other hand said , there were licenses for these Elephants. The crown counsel then  pinpointed it is the license that is the crucial issue in this case and the CID too are  investigating this license issue. While it had come to light these Elephants have been taken captive from the forest after killing the parent , and phony licenses had been made in respect of them, restoring the Elephants to the rogues is not allowable, Dileepa Peiris protested . In SL Elephants may be in the possession of anybody , nevertheless they  are state property , Dileepa Peiris educated the chief magistrate and explained to him.

Elephant rogues who scream about the conspiracy of NGOs to destroy  Buddhism 

Prashantha Lal De Alwis who appeared on behalf of the Elephant rogues advanced the contention that this was a measure taken to safeguard Buddhism. Peraheras are an integral part of Buddhism , and without Elephants there cannot be Peraheras, and that will pave the way for annihilation  of Buddhism.The constitution provides for measures to be taken to protect Buddhism , and the Citizen’s Force has come forward in this case to destroy Buddhism based on an NGO conspiracy, Alwis further  observed.

Kumaraperuma in response said , there isn’t any necessity to involve Buddhism in this issue,and there are no valid grounds for that , while adding though Perahera is a cultural event , and Buddhism had not stated anywhere to conduct  Peraheras.  

Kumaraperuma commenting further said , a brother of his is ordained, and he (Kumaraperuma) is a better Buddhist than lawyer Alwis. Of  course under section 9 of the constitution there are safeguards to protect Buddhism , but in the name of Buddhism committing robbery and engaging in  illicit transactions are not permitted , in which event it is the responsibility of the government to prohibit and preclude such crimes , he elaborated. Kumaraperuma repudiating the allegations made against the NGOs said, Ravaya editor who is present in court   through his newspapers was exposing the Elephant rogues for a  long time  and insisting on punishment being meted out to them, and not the NGOs. 

Elephants can  catch a cold !

Dileepa Peiris said, this request made by the rogues based on Elephant perahera is a lie. The Elephant owners were earning through cruelty inflicted on the  Elephants he lamented .

After getting the Elephants into the river , these owners charge US dollars 300.00 to 500.00 for scrubbing an Elephant  with a broomstick. The Elephant owners through  Elephant baths grab about US dollars 5000.00 per day , he said.

While the body of one  Elephant is being scrubbed it  , the legs of another  elephant , the tail of yet another and  the trumpet of a fourth  are scrubbed separately with a broomstick inflicting pain  on them. It is a surprise these poor pachyderms that are kept the whole  day in the water do not catch a cold and die , he quipped making the whole court to roll  with laughter.

When Pilapitiya revealed , the mahanayakes by a letter to him requested to release the elephants on account of the Perahera , Kumaraperauma replied, this being a criminal case , the request of the mahanayake must be considered within the framework of the law.

Kumaraperuma elucidated  this is creating a pernicious precedent , and questioned Pilapititiya whether in the criminal cases in the future if the head of the clergy of Christianity ,or the Hindu religion or  Islam makes a request by letter to the judges, are the sacrosanct laws , legal norms and traditions of the judiciary to be compromised to please the whims and fancies of religious heads ?

The corroded conclusion of Pilapitiya that eroded the confidence and trust of the people 

In te circumstances , Kumaraperuma most deferentially urged the court to reverse the verdict delivered on the 18 th in favor of the elephant rogues  handing whereby the stolen  property was handed over to the rogues. That is to reverse the verdict delivered militating against  the ‘doctrine of public trust.’

The present government has taken action against this elephant robbery crime in line with the legal processes  taken by it against the corruption committed in the past. It is therefore worthy of note that there is a great interest and enthusiasm among the public to halt the corrupt and criminal activities that were carried out in the past. Towards this every Government Institution should extend support. This is because under the ‘doctrine of public trust’ of the State’s administration  this is most important and imperative.

In this regard , the supreme court (SC) case pertaining to the phosphate mine must be primarily considered. Secondly ,the waters edge case. The SC had elucidated on how  ‘government Institutions and government officers should act to sustain and maintain the public trust. The courts are not excluded  I, neither are the judges  as government officers, Kumaraperuma went on to point out. 

Therefore , in this case the interest and attention of the public has been drawn to it , and the court ought  to extend its assistance towards the investigation into this crime. If the courts and the judges do not act in a manner that is conducive to building the trust and confidence the public have reposed in them ,the only option available to the public is to take the law into their hands ,he warned. Kumaraperuma therefore requested to suspend this verdict.

Gihan Pilapitiya who was listening to the most sensible submissions of Kumaraperuma that would have opened the mind of any sane , sensible and intelligible judge decided to raise the bond value from Rs. Ten million (judgment of his on 18 th) to Rs.30 million , while entrusting the custody of the elephants to the very rogues for  a month. The elephants that are with Uduwe Dhammaloka and magistrate Thilina Gamage cannot be taken back , Pilapitiya said when delivering the verdict. 

Who is this latest Elephant rogue – Vincent Mahathaya ?

An intriguing and interesting incident took pace while this case was in progress ….

Lawyer Ajith Pathrane who was appearing for the elephant rogues said , he was appearing on behalf of one ‘Vincent’ an elephant   rogue. Pathirane frequently referred to the elephant of ‘Vincent.. When it was probed who this Vincent is , it was discovered it was none other than  Thilina Vincent Sulochana Gamage  alias Thilina Gamage the judge.

Kumaraperuma when revealing who this Vincent is  asked ’isn’t  this Vincent mahathaya the judge hearing cases on the upper  floor ? Why is this being hidden ? Why are you afraid ? Officers of the judiciary have no capacity to trespass on the laws .

Ajith Pathirane and Sanjaya Gamage responding said , if the name is disclosed the public trust in the court will be destroyed.

Kumaraperuma replied back with an astounding and most intelligent answer : the confidence in the court is not eroded by revealing the name of a wrongdoing judge who has committed a criminal  offence . Rather it is  by duly punishing a judge who has committed an offence the public trust in the judiciary  can be sustained and maintained, he asserted.

Thilina Gamage sent on compulsory leave 

In the meanwhile , the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) decided to send Thilina Gamage the rogue who robbed the elephant and thereby the honor of the judiciary on compulsory leave with effect from yesterday. Many media reported that Thilina Gamage has been interdicted ; it  is erroneous.

 What the JSC has done is sending the culprit on compu;sory leave and not on interdiction . By this  the culprit stands to gain. Thilina enjoys leave as well as full pay, whereas , if he was interdicted he would only get half the salary. Are  lop sided decisions like these that are encouraging crooks and criminals to commit more crimes. Whither SL ?

By a special correspondent
Translated by Jeff

Connected news report …
Conspiracy of Wijedasa , Pilapitiya, Pamila, Poojitha, Hettiarachi to save Elephant rogue judge Thilina Gamage exposed..! Justice made a mockery..!

---------------------------
by     (2016-05-22 15:33:25)

Large financial loss in tyre tax frauds 

May 21, 2016

Reports reaching us confirm a large financial fraud has occurred by not charging the relevant tax when importing tyres to the country.

It is the customs officer’s duty to impose the relevant taxes for the imported goods based on the invoice value. Due to the fraud committed by the customs officer’s large revenues to the country has been lost. News reaching us confirms that a tyre mafia is behind this tax fraud.

It is learnt that the government has lost a sum of Rs. 1.2 billion from the year 2007 to 2014.

When imposing tax for imported tyres the weight and the size of the tyres are considered. Therefore for the 2011.10 size a value of 25% or Rs. 175 is charged per kilogram, for 4011.20.10 size either 15% or Rs. 70 per kilogram and for size 4011.20.90 size 15% or Rs. 80 per kilogram is charged as tax.

SES tax, ports and aviation development tax and another tax imposed for the total amount are charged when imposing taxes for imported tyres under export development act.

Meantime another group of tyre importers has complained the relevant authorities that they have lost reasonable opportunities in the local tyre market due to the mafia conducted by a group of importers within the country.

How Charity Begins At Home For The Rajapaksas

by Nirmala Kannangara-Sunday, May 22, 2016

A section of the CICT Terminal in Colombo Port

Commissions obtained from projects by the Rajapaksa family during their reign have been confirmed following the release of the Auditor General’s report on the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The report dated March 1, 2016 under Ref. No.

POS/A/SLPA/2016/04 states how Colombo International Container Terminals Limited, (CICT) the company that got the contract to build, operate and transfer (BOT) the terminals of the Colombo South Port had remitted Rs. 19.41 million to a ‘charity organisation’ well before they started their container handling operations.

This charity body is none other than the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation, and details have now come to light of how the funds obtained in the guise of ‘donations’ have allegedly been utilised only for personal expenses of the Chairperson of the foundation, Pushpa Rajapaksa, wife of former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Through Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation cheque No. 594691, CICT had remitted Rs. 19.41 million to Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation (Peoples Bank Headquarter Branch account No. 204-1-001-5-0003290) on May 21, 2012, 14 months before the Colombo South terminal started their container handling operations.

Although this Chinese company has claimed they paid this large amount to the foundation in question for charity purposes, it has been revealed that this amount has been included in their accounts as part of the Colombo South Port Development Project expenditure.

Highly reliable SLPA sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Sunday Leader how a certain percentage of this ‘donation’ towards the Rajapaksa family will have to be paid back to CICT by the Ports Authority after the completion of the contract as per clause 62.3 of the agreement.

“According to Clause 62.3 of the BOT agreement, at the time CICT hands over the container handling operation to SLPA in 35 years or in the event the Government of Sri Lanka prematurely cancels the agreement, the Ports Authority has to pay a certain percentage of the money the Chinese company has invested in Colombo South port movable assets and on what they have spent to provide services for the terminal operations. Since the ‘donation’ towards Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation too had been accounted as part of the Colombo South Port Development Project expenses, the SLPA has to re-pay a certain percentage of this money to CICT,” sources added.

The payment made to Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation was confirmed by the Chief Financial Officer of CICT to the Director Finance, SLPA last year.

Director Finance, SLPA in a letter dated November 27, 2015 (Ref: FD/ FA/C/ 82-XV/ 17/ 2015) had requested CICT to provide details of the ‘donation’ they have made to Puhspa Rajapaksa Foundation on May 21, 2012 and whether they have accounted this money as part of the construction work of the Colombo South Port Project.

In reply, Chief Financial Officer of CICT in a letter dated November 27, 2015 to Director Finance, SLPA has confirmed this payment and also confirmed that this amount too had been accounted as part of the port development project expenses. The letter states:

‘The Director Finance,

Sri Lanka Ports Authority,

No. 19, Chaithya Road, Colombo 1.

Dear Madam,

Rs. 600 MN given to Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation.

‘We write with reference to your letter FD/ FA/ C/ 82-XV/17/ 2015, dated November 27, 2015 and wish to clarify as follows. The amount indicated in the above letter is incorrect and the correct amount is LKR 19, 410,000 and this had accounted in construction in progress account in 2012. Copy of the above cheque and the payment voucher is attached herewith for your information.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Colombo International Container Terminals Limited, Chief Financial Officer’.

According to the sources, none of the SLPA employees were aware of this ‘donation’ and had never requested CICT to make any payment towards any charity.

“When international bids were called to offer the Colombo South Port contract, SLPA did not receive any bids. Hence the contract was offered to a Chinese company that was engaged in the Hambantota Port Project. It is this company that formed the CICT to construct the Colombo Port Southern Terminal and to fix the gantry cranes. It is alleged that it was the Rajapaksas that introduced this Chinese company for the Colombo South Port Project as the middlemen and had obtained the commission from the Chinese.

It was a known secret that the Rajapaksas obtained commissions from each project that was started during their time of rule. But in this instance, there is proof of how they obtained money. Although the Rajapaksas benefitted from this project, it is the general public that has to pay for it,” sources claimed. Speaking further, the SLPA sources accused the former Chairman Ports Authority, Priyath Bandu Wickrema for aiding and abetting the CICT to ‘donate’ the said funds to Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation and added that it is up to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and the Bribery Commission to take action against all those involved in this scam.

“The Auditor General’s report, which was released on March 1, 2016, has comprehensively given details how this Rs. 19.41 million had been remitted to the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation. Based on this report, the two law enforcing departments can swiftly take action but although the FCID and Bribery Commission have already gathered evidence and questioned certain parties on this scam, nothing has been done,” sources added.

The sources further accused the Rajapaksa administration of giving the contract to construct the South Port terminal to CICT and transfer the container handling process to SLPA only after 35 years when this project could have been given to SLPA in order to generate more income for the country.

“The most difficult task in the port expansion project is the construction of the breakwater.

This contract was offered to a Korean company with an investment of Rs. 85,000 million from a loan obtained from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). After the construction of the breakwater, there was no necessity for the Ports Authority to give the contract to build the south port terminal and to install the gantry cranes to CICT but could have been done by them. Although Priyath Bandu Wickrema and a few of his loyalists in the SLPA Director Board, treasury representatives and the Attorney General’s representatives who were involved in the dialogues to hand over the terminal construction and build, operate and transfer the work to SLPA only after 35 years, the treasury representatives should have interfered and showed them what losses the country would suffer if this project was given for a 35-year period.

By the time CICT completes 35 years and hands the container operation service to the SLPA, the gantry cranes would be needed to be replaced. In such an event the SLPA will have to once again invest heavily to get new gantry cranes installed. There again our politicians could once again give it to a foreign company to invest and operate the container handling work and Sri Lanka would never be able to prosper,” sources claimed.

According to the sources, a 15 per cent share of this Colombo South port project is owned by the SLPA and most of the larger ships that come to the Colombo Port enter the CICT terminal because of its depth.

“The SLPA terminals cannot accommodate the larger vessels as its depth is much lesser than that of the CICT. Hence most of the larger vessels enter CICT terminal and SLPA gets an income of US$ 4 from each container as royalty. The income generated through this royalty is not even sufficient to pay the loan interest. Had this project been given to SLPA instead of to the CICTL, we would have by now settled the loan with the huge income generated from the south terminal,” sources said.

The sources further accused a VVIP in the good governance government of a recent claim that the east terminal too should be given to a foreign company instead of providing the necessary funds to construct the terminal and install the gantry cranes. “Although people voted this government into power seeking relief, only the faces changed but the same old method is still continuing. Why cannot this government provide enough funds for the east terminal project and settle the loan and the interest within a few years and then generate massive revenue like the CICT is now generating,” sources added.

Although a message was left with the Media Secretary to Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga seeking a comment either from the Minister or Chairman, SLPA, Dhammika Ranatunga, neither the Minister nor the Chairman responded.

SRI LANKA FREES RAPISTS, MURDERERS TO MARK BUDDHIST HOLY DAY

21/05/2016

Sri Lanka’s Justice Ministry announced granting a presidential pardon and freeing condemned prisoners under a special presidential amnesty if they have reached the age of 70.

The ministry said rapists and murderers will be given the amnesty without considering the severity of their crimes as long as they have reached 70 years of age by May 21, 2016.

The ministry did not say how many prisoners would qualify under the bizarre amnesty, but a total of 540, which includes those who have been unable to pay fines, will be released on Vesak day.

President Maithripala Sirisena has granted the amnesty on a recommendation of Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha, a statement from the ministry said. (COLOMBO, May 20, 2016)

ECONOMYNEXT –

Court Issues Interim Order Against Former High Commissioner Dr. Chris Nonis For Mismanagement

 May 22, 2016

Sri Lanka’s Commercial High Court of Colombo recently issued an interim order against former high Commissioner to the United Kingdom – Dr. Chris Nonis et al, in a case filed by majority shareholders of Mackwoods Securities for oppression, mismanagement and misappropriation of assets belonging to Mackwoods Group of Companies.

In a case recently filed the Commercial High Court of Colombo, the majority of the shareholders accounting for over 60% ownership of Mackwoods Securities(Pvt) Ltd - the holding Company of Mackwoods Ltd and its subsidiary and associate Companies; initiated legal action against Dr Chris Nonis, Chairman and certain other Directors, for alleged oppression of shareholders and mismanagement and misappropriation of Company assets belonging to the Mackwoods Group of Companies .

The 60.19 % majority shareholders of Mackwoods comprise, Mrs Mary Varma (Petitioner), Mrs Nirmali Samaratunga, and Mr  F G N Mendis.  They in addition have requisitioned an EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) to appoint three directors nominated by them to the board of Mackwoods.  

The Court has issued an interim order restraining Dr Chris Nonis and other Directors, namely - Shelendra Nonis Ranaweera, Lalith Fonseka and Lakshman Samarasinghe from appointing any directors and/or seeking to fill any vacancy on the board of Mackwoods, until the conclusion of the Extraordinary General Meeting requested by the majority shareholders and further issued an interim order restraining the same four directors from acting in contravention of the Articles of Association of the company.

 

The Petitioner revealed to courts that Dr Chris Nonis holds less than 29% of Mackwoods and his sister Shelendra Nonis Ranaweera and the other two directors do not own any shares of Mackwoods.

 

The petition was supported by M/s Romesh De Silva PC, Harsha Amarasekera PC and Attorneys-At-Law Kanchana Peiris and Shraepathy Attanayake, on the instructions of M/s D L &F De Sarams with Attorneys-At-Law Jivan  Goonetilleke and Dasuni Wijayasiriwardene.

Sri Lanka, Panama Papers & Secret Bank Accounts Of World Leaders 

By Sarath Wijesinghe –May 22, 2016

Sarath Wijesinghe

Panama is a tiny Nation with the population of 3.9 million and GDP of $ 47 / 47.3 Billon. It is a Republic in Central America gained Independence from Spain and Colombia to be a Republic. With the backing from USA she gained independence in 1908 after the controversial Panama Canal was built on the USA assistance and the army. It has been an undeveloped abundant fishing village with the capital as Panama City. It is the largest economy in Central America with human development ranking at 5th in Central America. It has become famous again with the revelations published by a consortium of investigative journalists ( ICIJ), on hidden assets invested in Offshore Companies, leaving Iceland’s Prime Minister Ducks, as one of the victims and casualties amongst others. FIFA Leaders, Putin’s Men, Cameron’s family members, Fitzgibbon who supposed to have ruined Azerbaijan, Top Chinese Leaders, Top USA personal and ballooners, Politicians, Spanish Ministers, are the names among the documents published known as “Leaked documents” accused to be parties of major transections on investments, money laundering, savings to avoid tax and other payments in their respective jurisdictions paying low taxes and maintain low profile. Panama became famous as one of the leading and prosperous offshore centres in the world with large and influential clients. Some Sri Lankan Names are also in the list published by the investigative journalists.

Offshore Companies Worldwide

Offshore companies are a part of the world banking system to invest with low taxes and away from respective local jurisdictions. Money invested could be legal and illegal. Funds raised from outside sources and local earnings with international connections in large sums have been invested in Tax Havens worldwide primarily to be in a low profile in own country and pay less or no taxes on the amounts’ invested. This is a common and frequently and openly used mechanism utilized by many countries in the world to be profiteering out of the funds belongs to others. It is an uncertain moot issue on the legality of the Offshore Companies and investments recognized by the governments. Australia, Bahamas, Bahaman, Barbados, Bermuda, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Iceland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy , Japan, Malaysia, Maldives Islands, Netherlands, Panama, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE, USA, are some countries maintaining Offshore financial Centres legally indicating that it is a part of the game to attract investments of assets outside jurisdiction. Then what is the matter for ICIJ to investigate on the investors who are free to invest even small amounts mealy opening an account via email with identified or unidentified accounts. According to Wall Street Journal 60 US companies have $ 166 billion and 40% benefited from US Tax systems. USA is concessions and worried about money being pumping out of the country and have made strict guidelines for investments and even denouncing citizenship to be a citizen of a tax haven. USA Citizen to denounce citizenship to be a citizen of a Tax Haven have to forgo a major part of his wealth to the Government which discourages changing citizenship but proving this is a system legally accepted and practised in the united States. According to IMF sources $.9 Trillian in invested in Caribbean, $1 Trillian in Asia, $2.7 Trillion in London, USA and Japan,$ 2 Trillian in USA, Bahrain, Bahamas, Bermuda, Netherlander and Panama diluting the excitements of the issue as unusual and illegal. Though some cases have been initiated and pending we do not hear of any convictions so far.

Read More

Anura Senanayake grilled many hours over Thajudeen murder: video footage shows Anura in shorts !

-Children force Anura to expose those who made him do what he did.

(Lanka-e-News- 21.May.2016, 10.20PM) Ex senior DIG Anura Senanayake was questioned by the CID 18th and 19th for several hours in connection with the brutal  murder of Rugby player Wasim Thajudeen during which period Senanayake was the senior DIG Western province , sources from the CID revealed.

It was Senanayake who distorted the murder to look an ordinary vehicle accident , as well as exerted  pressure and gave advice in that direction during the investigations. The OIC of traffic division of Narahenpita police now in remand custody who conducted the murder investigation , and other police officers whose statements were recorded subsequently have revealed these facts to the CID.

A police officer who was a chief of the CID at that time had also stated Anura Senanayake exerted pressure on him to distort the facts pertaining to the Thajudeen investigation .

Anura Senanayake had gone so far as to distort the investigations that he had not even permitted the judicial medical officer (JMO) to go into the vehicle  and investigate Thajudeen’s murder. Neither was a photograph shown. The officers have only examined the body after it was taken to the mortuary.

Meanwhile based on reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division, the investigators have come by a video footage which depicts Senanayake in a pair of shorts  ‘dressing’ the scene of crime , after Thajudeen was assaulted and had been  thrust into the vehicle. 

Meanwhile , it is learnt that the children of Senanayake are forcing the latter to expose the Rajapakse family member who pressurized Senanayake to do what he did, and look for an escape route. They have explained that If he refrains from doing that , not only his children even his grandchildren will have to pay for the crime. The children are furiously and ferociously questioning Senanayake , why they should pay for the crimes committed by him on behalf of Rajapakses.

---------------------------
by     (2016-05-21 16:56:57)

Udayanga defames country – authorities dumb

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

He met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to Uganda says former Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga who is accused of carrying out an arms racket with Ukraine rebels.

In his announcement Udayanga Weeratunga says he has no idea of returning to Sri Lanka saying the present government carries out a policy of revenge against him. Mahinda Rajapaksa and his clan too lives in the country with fear of being accused and punished for various offences and Udayanga Weeratunga's announcement gives in to suspicion whether he had been a bigger offender than Rajapaksas.

In his announcement Udayanga Weeratunga talks about several other matters such as his diplomatic passport, the container of goods he has sent, and the death of Mr. Noel Ranaweera. In his announcement Udayanga Weeratunga levels charges against the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He belittles the law of the country as the present government has failed to use diplomatic channels to arrest him. He is using his diplomatic passport to go on foreign tours. His announcement is published below.

Abuse of state funds on International arbitration centre covered up!

May 22, 2016

Established on a proposal by the then justice minister in 2012, despite judicial and investment experts’ having pointed out the futility of such a facility, the International Arbitration Centre (IAC) has wasted millions of rupees of public money and remains closed now, reports say.

A report by the Auditor General’s Department on 03 November 2015 noted the contractor had been given Rs. 31.4 million in excess for the IAC located on the sixth floor of the World Trade Centre’s west tower. Also its, monthly rental is Rs. 2,721,591.76.

 

In addition, the 22nd floor of the WTC’s west tower was obtained from Overseas Reality (Ceylon) Ltd. on a three year lease for Rs. 69,404,229 without obtaining cabinet approval.

 

Despite many instances of misuse of state funds being cited in the setting up of the IAC, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe opened it without any announcement in advance in June 2015, but it is not being used for any productive purpose now. Officials who were involved in the irregularities have been able to cover them up, as they continue to remain in office under the present regime too.

Four killed, 90 injured in Baghdad's Green Zone riots: hospitals

Anti-government protesters carry a man injured during the storming of Baghdad's Green Zone in Iraq May 20, 2016.-Mourners carry the coffin of an anti-government protester, who was killed by Iraqi security forces when they opened fire on protesters who stormed into Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, during a funeral in Baghdad, Iraq May 21, 2016

 Mourners attend the funeral of an anti-government protester, who was killed by Iraqi security forces when they opened fire on protesters who stormed into Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, Iraq May 21, 2016

BY AHMED RASHEED AND KAREEM RAHEEM-Sat May 21, 2016

At least four anti-government protesters were killed and 90 injured when security forces ejected them from Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, hospital sources said on Saturday.

Iraqi security forces used live ammunition, rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas on Friday to dislodge the demonstrators from the central district which houses government buildings, parliament and many foreign embassies.

The toll, compiled from four hospitals where casualties were taken and Baghdad's central morgue, accounts only for gunshot wounds and does not include cases of suffocation caused by tear gas.

Civilians have breached the Green Zone twice in three weeks, raising questions about the government's ability to secure the capital which has also seen a spike in bombings this month claimed by Islamic State.

Protesters on Friday included supporters of powerful Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and people from other groups upset with the government's failure to approve anti-corruption reforms and maintain security in the city.

Jaafar al-Moussawi, deputy leader of Sadr's political movement, condemned the government for using what he called "excessive force".

"Using live bullets against peaceful protesters is completely unjustified and stark evidence that a supposedly legitimate government has turned into an oppressive government," he said in a statement on Saturday.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has condemned the Green Zone breach and warned against chaos and strife as government forces seek to keep up momentum against Islamist militants.

The United Nations expressed "deep concern" on Saturday about the incident and warned it could hamper efforts to defeat Islamic State, the ultra-hardline Sunni group that controls large swathes of territory in northern and western provinces.

"Only the enemies of Iraq, Daesh at the forefront, benefit from chaos," U.N. Special Representative for Iraq, Jan Kubis, said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

(Additonal reporting by Stephen Kalin.; Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Stephen Powell)

Fears DRC president's push to keep power will spark major violence

Joseph Kabila has been in power since 2001 when he replaced his father. Photograph: Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Moïse Katumbi, who has been accused of plotting a coup. Photograph: Federico Scoppa/AFP/Getty Images

Joseph Kabila is accused of manoeuvring to remain in office beyond two-term limit, after rival was charged with plotting coup

Jason Burke Africa correspondent and agencies-Friday 20 May 2016

Critics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s president, Joseph Kabila, fear his attempts to cling to power could lead to widespread violence after a key opposition leader was charged with plotting a coup d’état this week.

Political tensions in the country escalated when Moïse Katumbi, a provincial powerbroker and former close ally of the president, was charged hours after announcing he would run for president in elections scheduled for later in the year.

Critics accuse Kabila, in power since 2001, of manoeuvring to delay the vote and remain in office beyond his constitutionally permitted two terms.

Kabila had “deliberately sabotaged the electoral process” and instituted a “policy of chaos and fear”, said Olivier Kamitatu Etsu, a member of Congo’s national assembly and a former minister of planning.

The Obama administration has threatened to impose sanctions on anyone who undermines security and democracy in the DRC and the latest charges are likely to concern Washington.

The country is Africa’s largest copper producer and western mining companies have invested heavily there since a 2003 peace agreement ended years of conflict that drew in more than six neighbouring countries and may have killed millions.

A delegation of Kabila’s political opponents traveled to Washington earlier this week to urge the US to act quickly against him and his top aides.

Sanctions could include the freezing of assets and a travel ban. But the warning has so far failed to sway Kabila and members of his government. The DRC’s ambassador to the US, François Balumuene, denied the charge and said Kabila was committed to holding fair and peaceful elections.

Balumuene said it was impossible for the president to change the constitution to stay in power. He insisted that logistical and financial problems had to be resolved before any polls.

The threat of sanctions has provoked an angry response from Kabila loyalists. Henri Mova Sakani, the secretary general of the president’s party, accused western powers of trying to divide the DRC to tryto restore colonialism.

“You can come up with anything you like – sanctions or whatever. You won’t scare us,” he told crowds gathered on Tuesday to mark the 1997 overthrow of the autocrat Mobutu Sese Seko by Kabila’s father.

Some analysts fear a violent showdown, pitting Kabila against Katumbi, a former governor of Katanga province in the south-east and the owner of Africa’s top football team, TP Mazembe.

Last week, police fired tear gas at Katumbi and thousands of his supporters in Lubumbashi, the DRC’s second city and a bastion of the opposition.

The country’s highest court ruled a week ago that Kabila would stay in power until elections could be held. Leading opposition parties say the ruling is part of a “constitutional coup d’état” and have called for nationwide marches on 26 May to demand Kabila steps down this year.

But Kabila allies won more than two-thirds of the elections for governors of newly created provinces in March, shoring up local control of security forces and patronage networks.

Hans Hoebeke, International Crisis Group’s senior Congo analyst, said: “Cohesion in the Kabila camp has been maintained these last months. At this stage there is little to no pressure on him.”

Whereas the neighbouring strongmen Denis Sassou Nguesso in Congo-Brazzavilleand Paul Kagame in Rwanda have easily pushed through constitutional changes to allow them to stand for third terms, Kabila has been unable to take such a blunt approach.

Ben Shepherd, an analyst at Chatham House, said the moves against Katumbi were part of a struggle by the rival politicians to win the confidence of members of Congo’s “interlocking, self-interested elite”.

“There is a sense that the presidency is weak. Kabila hasn’t managed to get a third term rubber-stamped and a new deal is possible. Currently no one wants to commit to either side so momentum is extremely important. If one candidate could attract support it could snowball,” Shepherd said.

He also downplayed the possibility of widespread violence. “I don’t think there will be anything remotely resembling peace and order in the DRC but I don’t think anyone is ready to light the blue touch paper either,” he said.

Millions have died from conflict, hunger and disease since Kabila’s father, Laurent Kabila, overthrew Mobutu. Despite the presence of nearly 20,000 UN peacekeepers, the country’s east remains ravaged by armed groups. In January 2015, dozens died in protests against proposed changes to the election law that could have delayed the poll by years.

Opposition parties have struggled to mobilise supporters for street rallies, but that may change with the multimillionaire Katumbi, who resigned from running the mineral-rich Katanga in September, accusing Kabila’s allies of plotting to keep the president in power.

“Our future president is Moïse Katumbi whether Kabila likes it or not,” said Pierre Nyembo Muyeye outside the prosecutor’s office in Lubumbashi. Some Katumbi partisans threatened to burn down the entire city if he was arrested.

Known during his governorship for distributing $100 bills to the public, Katumbi has been keen to present himself as the face of the people against a predatory state. “The greatest army in the world is the people,” he often says.

“The government fears him because he has the potential to mobilise an electorate in different parts of the country,” said Kris Berwouts, an independent Congo analyst. “There is an aura of success around him.”

The government denies Katumbi’s allegation that the coup plot charges against him are politically motivated.

Katumbi, though nominated by seven opposition parties to be their presidential candidate, faces an uphill battle to unify a historically fractured opposition.

The result has been a stalemate, said Jason Stearns, the director of the Congo Research Group at New York University. “Delaying tactics will work for a certain amount of time and buy him months, maybe several more years in power,” he said. “But it’s not a long-term strategy.”

The DRC is nearly two-thirds the size of western Europe and has a population of more than 79 million. Since it won independence from Belgium in 1960, there has never been a peaceful, democratic transition of power in the country.

Observers differ over the potential for widespread conflict. Its sprawling borders reach nine other African countries, and an implosion in the vast nation could spark instability in its neighbours, some maintain.

Others say that regional powers have little interest in sparking a violent battle to exploit the country’s resources. “The kind of proxy wars which were a feature before are possible, but not likely. It’s hard to see who would do it or why,” said Shepherd, of Chatham House.

Kabila took office less than two weeks after his father was shot by a bodyguard in the presidential palace in 2001. He was elected president in disputed polls in 2006 and again in 2011. 

“It’s a really dicey situation,” said Senator John McCain, one of several US lawmakers who have sought to draw greater attention to problems in the country. McCain last month wrote to the DRC’s ambassador in Washington, telling him that the advocacy group Human Rights Watch has documented dozens of cases of arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention.