12 நாடுகள் ஹைப்ரிட்

 நீதிமன்றத்துக்கு ஆதரவு!

01-Jul-2016 

இலங்கையில் இறுதி யுத்தத்தின் போது இடம்பெற்றதாக கூறப்படும்  மனித உரிமை மீறல் குற்றச்சாட்டை விசாரணை செய்வதற்கு சர்வதேச நீதிபதிகள் கொண்ட ஹைப்ரிட் நீதிமன்றம் அமைக்கப்பட வேண்டும் என 12 நாடுகள் ஜெனீவா மனித உரிமைகள் கூட்டத்தொடரில் கலந்துகொண்டு இலங்கைக்கு எதிராக கருத்துத் தெரிவித்துள்ளன.

இவற்றுள், பிரான்ஸ், மெசிடோனியா, செக் குடியரசு, அமெரிக்கா, பிரித்தானியா, நெதர்லாந்து, மொன்டனிக்ரோ, நோர்வே, கனடா, எஸ்டோனியா, அல்பேனியா மற்றும் சுவிட்சர்லாந்து ஆகிய நாடுகள் பிரதானமானவை.

இதுவரை இடம்பெற்ற நாடுகளின் கருத்துரைகளின்படி, அவுஸ்திரேலியா மட்டும் இலங்கைக்கு ஆதரவாக கருத்துத் தெரிவித்துள்ளதாகவும் குறிப்பிடப்படுகின்றது.

Is UN Human Rights Council Fair to Sri Lanka?

The Human Rights Commissioner said that he has found “heavy” military presence in the northern and eastern province of Sri Lanka. There is no need for him to be critical of the presence of military particularly ,when there is no information or complaints that military has indulged in any atrocities at present. 

by N.S.Venkataraman

( July 2, 2016, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Presenting an oral update on Sri Lanka at the 32nd session of the U N Human Rights Council , nine months after a consensus resolution was adopted on reconciliation and accountability , the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is reported to have made several critical remarks on the present state of affairs in Sri Lanka.

While the Commissioner for Human Rights is entitled to have his own views, it is very necessary that such an important functionary should exercise high level of caution and give due consideration to the views of Sri Lankan government as well as people from various walks of life while presenting his views.

Military presence necessary :

The Human Rights Commissioner said that he has found “heavy” military presence in the northern and eastern province of Sri Lanka. There is no need for him to be critical of the presence of military particularly ,when there is no information or complaints that military has indulged in any atrocities at present.

One has to keep in mind that Sri Lanka has gone through very difficult internal strife for several years and it had to fight for it’s territorial integrity. The rebels used heavy artillery and fire arms and indulged in sabotage and killings and demanded separate state by splitting Sri Lanka. No government worth it’s salt can keep idle in such circumstances. Sri Lankan government had to fight back and this was what it did. In the process, violence have taken place and innocent people have been killed and properties have been destroyed ,for which Sri Lankan government alone was not responsible.

The presence of military in northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka is necessary and it has to be there as a precautionary measure, particularly since the separatists who are said to be operating from abroad are still demanding separate state. It is surprising that UN Human Rights Council has not seen this ground reality while criticizing the military presence.

Fair elections proof of positive steps :

Sri Lankan government has been cooperating with U N Human Rights Council and there is no reason for any doubt or misgivings about it’s positive approach . It has repeatedly said that it is anxious to restore peace and amity in northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka and striving it’s best to do so under the circumstances

Elections have been conducted in the provinces recently in a very peaceful and civilized manner and a popular government is in place at present, which is a positive and healthy sign.

The Human Rights Council has been quite unfair in stating that the Sri Lankan government has not moved fast enough with tangible measures to build confidence amongst the victims and minority communities. The very fact that a free and fair election has taken place and natives belonging to the northern and eastern provinces are running the government only highlight the fact that confidence of the people has been restored to a considerable extent.

Slow and steady progress :

The Human Rights Council has also criticized the Sri Lankan government for what it calls as slow progress in identification and release of land still held by the military in the two provinces. The process may be slow in the view of Human Rights Council but progress is being made steadily, keeping in view the local scenario.

The fact is that number of positive measures for rehabilitation and reconstruction have taken place in the provinces in recent months with considerable support from countries like India. Railway lines have been laid and number of housing projects have been completed. Several other projects are under planning and implementation. There is absolutely no reason to think that Sri Lankan government is uninterested in restoring progress in the area, given the magnitude and complexities of the problem that the government is confronted with.

What role for Human Rights Council ?

What is the role for Human Rights Council ? By voicing criticism and concern without recognizing the positive measures, what does it hope to achieve ? It would have been more appropriate if it had provided helpful suggestions, appealed to the international community to extend greater support to Sri Lanka in rebuilding the eastern and northern provinces and enthuse the citizens with proactive observations. On the other hand, it is creating confusion and weakening the resolve of the Sri Lankan government

One cannot but get an impression that U N Human Rights Council appear to think that it’s job would be over with critical observations. It should be conscious of it’s objectives and responsibilities ,which is to work for conducive and positive conditions and not vitiate the atmosphere by negative approach.

Sri Lanka today needs support and understanding and not criticisms which help nobody.

Why view Sri Lanka differently ?

Further, one wonders why U N Human rights Council is not so harsh in commenting about some recent violent developments in the so called developed countries ,where it is conspicuous by silence. Bombing by militarily strong advanced countries in some regions in the name of fighting militancy, has resulted in killing of several innocent people. In all such cases ,U N Human rights Council has not made critical comments.

Why is it that Sri Lanka being viewed differently ?

Lion's Blood: Behind Sri Lanka's Sinha Le Movement

The rise of Sinhala-Buddhist ultra-nationalism (allegedly with political backing) could threaten reconciliation.

A monk from the Buddhist organization Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force, BBS) uses his phone to take pictures during a speech at the BBS convention in Colombo, September 28, 2014.

Image Credit: REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

By Zachary Walko-June 29, 2016

Since coming to national attention in late 2015, Sinha Le, the grassroots Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist movement in Sri Lanka, has stoked ethnic tensions across this tiny, tear-drop island of 22 million people. While Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism is not a new phenomena in Sri Lanka, the Sinha Le campaign’s popularity and social media presence has set itself apart.

Lion's Blood Behind Sri Lanka's Sinha Le Movement.odt by Thavam Ratna

Ostentatious Iftars & Obnoxious Poverty: Changing Religious Topography Of Sri Lankan Muslims

By Ameer Ali –July 1, 2016

Dr. Ameer Ali

Islam, like Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism advocates simplicity in life and abhors ostentation and arrogant display of personal wealth. Among Islam’s celebrated five pillars namely, the confession of faith, daily prayers, fasting, obligatory charity and pilgrimage to Mecca, fasting from pre-dawn to dusk for thirty days during the month of Ramadhan represents material sacrifice for the sake of the Divine. By avoiding food, drink and physical and sensual pleasures during the day while performing extra prayers at night a devout Muslim approaches the Creator and pleads for forgiveness of his/her sins. The month of Ramadhan also carries extra significance to Muslims because it is believed that the first revelation of the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad occurred during one of the nights in that month. Finally, it is also a month when the poorer sections of the community expects to receive by way of charity any financial or material help from the more affluent so that poverty does not become an obstacle for some to participate in the festivities of the month.

After fasting the whole day a Muslim traditionally breaks the fast (iftar) by consuming one or two date fruits and a cup of cool or hot drink, even though it is not obligated that one should break the fast with dates. At the end of the month is the Eid or festival which starts with morning prayers and proceeds with modest enjoyment. Specially prepared food shared with members of one’s family and friends is an essential part of this festivity. Wearing a new piece of dress is also recommended.

In all this however, simplicity and modesty is the recommended norm of Islamic behaviour. It is said that in fulfilling religious obligations the right hand should not know what the left does. What is happening in Muslim societies today and particularly in Sri Lanka is the opposite. Iftar has turned out to be a public exhibition to display the power of politicians and opulence of the rich. Iftars are held in Five Star Hotels with maximum publicity where the nouveau rich hobnobs with the politically powerful to make mutually beneficial deals, while the poor and the down-trodden are condemned to break their fast either in the corner mosque or in their own hovels. Breaking fast with humble dates and rice porridge in one’s home or mosque has become an occasion for haute cuisine amidst great publicity. A religious occasion has become an emblem of economic and social cleavage.

The same phenomenon is observable in the practice of obligatory charity or zakath. What one sees here is not the wealthy going in search of the poor to distribute in secret their surplus as recommended by tradition but an army of poverty-stricken men, women and children roaming the streets and openly knocking at the doors of the rich to beg for a few rupees or cents. It is an obscene scene which the religious leaders in Islam are avoiding to tackle. In plural societies like Sri Lanka where believers of other religions and non-believers are watching the behaviour of Muslims this religious pomposity earns a negative image for Islam. The religious topography of Islam that historically exhibited modesty and simplicity, and which earned the respect of many has been radically transformed into an exhibit of haughtiness and obscene opulence which is attracting the hatred of several.

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BANNING BOTTOM TRAWLING WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE INCENTIVE TO TRESPASS INTO SRI LANKAN WATERS.

(Bottom Trawling)

by M. A. Sumanthiran.-01/07/2016

The issue of poaching by Indian trawlers in Sri Lankan waters has over the years become an increasingly contentious one, seriously threatening the livelihood of Sri Lanka’s fishing community. Fishers being among the poorest communities in both Sri Lanka and India, it is an issue of national concern to both countries.

Indian fishermen practise bottom trawling, which entails scraping the seabed. This not only adversely impacts our marine ecosystem but also has a direct implication for the lives of fisherfolk in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. Sri Lankan fishermen are often forced to stay ashore for fear that these trawlers will damage their nets, their primary asset for livelihood. There have even been incidents of fishermen suffering physical injuries while attempting to save their nets from being damaged by Indian trawlers.

At least 200,000 people in the Northern Province are dependent on the fisheries sector. Most of them are still struggling to rebuild their lives after a brutal civil war. Many of them were displaced, lost members of their family, and lost their homes during the bitter conflict. It is only now that they have a chance to get back to the sea. But their small boats cannot take on the massive, mechanised Indian trawlers.

The politics of poaching

M. A. Sumanthiran, MP

Both Sri Lanka and India have for the past few years attempted to address the issue of poaching. To date however, there has been very little progress on this. The primary reason is politics. When Indian fishermen trespass into Sri Lankan waters, there is serious concern about the significant impact this has on the livelihood of an already struggling community. On the other hand, when trespassing Tamil Nadu fishermen are arrested, there is outcry in India.

While we appreciate the concerns of several thousand fishermen in India struggling to make ends meet, Sri Lanka has the sovereign right to take action against any act of trespass into territory that comes under its jurisdiction. The problem with this approach, however, is that it is at best a short-term one. The vessels are only detained temporarily. And despite the risk of arrest, fishermen are willing to take the risk of returning in these vessels, particularly because they are desperate for a reasonable catch which they do not find in Indian waters anymore consequent to relentless bottom trawling. Also, fishermen who are apprehended are in several cases released following political negotiations.

A more effective step would be to confiscate the vessels in which fishermen trespass into Sri Lankan waters. Authorities are in fact empowered to do so, and lately they have resorted to this action. This provision must be regularly enforced.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has been repeatedly requested to take up the issue of the fishing conflict by fishing societies in the North. Opposition leader and TNA head R. Sampanthan raised the issue during an adjournment debate recently proposed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) 

parliamentarian Vijitha Herath. He suggested that the Indian Navy or Coast Guard join the Sri Lankan Navy in jointly patrolling the international boundary to prevent trespassing.

I myself have submitted a Private Member’s Bill to make bottom trawling an offence in law rather than by mere regulation (as is the case now). According to the current law in terms of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act 2 of 1996, bottom trawling can be carried out by both Sri Lankan nationals as well as non-nationals who obtain a licence from the Department of Fisheries.

The way forward

I am now presenting this Bill for the second time, as Parliament was dissolved after I first presented it on April 21, 2015. Both India and Sri Lanka should fully support this Bill in light of the serious environmental damage caused by bottom trawling. As far as poaching is concerned, banning the practice of bottom trawling will greatly reduce the incentive to trespass into Sri Lankan waters.

Both Sri Lanka and India must also take effective steps for the conversion of fishing with trawlers to deep sea fishing. In order for a ban on bottom trawling to succeed, alternatives must be available to protect the livelihoods of fishermen presently engaged in bottom trawling. Additionally, interim steps must also be taken to minimise the serious damage being caused by trawling.

The 45-day annual ban on trawling observed in Tamil Nadu to replenish fish stock came to an end recently, and Indian fishermen are again being arrested on charges of poaching and engaging in illegal fishing activity. The Indian government and Tamil Nadu must consider a ban period while we attempt to resolve this issue. We cannot hope to have a meaningful dialogue or to resolve the issue while Indian fishermen continue relentlessly trawling in Sri Lankan waters. Such a ban will act as a confidence building measure and will encourage speedy resolution of this issue.

It is time the governments of both India and Sri Lanka moved beyond political rhetoric and tough talk and took effective and sustainable steps to resolve this issue.

The Hindu

No toxic chemicals for green Sri Lanka - 

EDITORIAL

2016-07-02

One of the important moves for which the National Government is being widely praised is the three-year mission to produce the nutritious food we need in Sri Lanka itself and make Sri Lanka a ‘Wasa Wisa Nethi’ country. An important step in this is the gradual reduction of the use of expensive imported agro-chemicals, some of which are toxic.   

 Today July 2 marks the 39th anniversary of the 1977 general election where the United National Party (UNP) led by J. R. Jayawardene swept to victory with an unprecedented 5/6th majority. The new government imported and implemented wholesale the globalised, capitalist market economic policies. There were positive aspects of it but one of the main negatives was the large scale import of chemical fertilisers, weedicides and pesticides. For almost 40 years, most of our farmars have been using these agro-chemicals which produce a big harvest but in the long term are polluting or poisoning our Mother Earth and even the ground water resources. One of the disastrous effects is the kidney epidemic which has led to the agonising deaths of thousands of farmers mainly in the North-Central Province. 

   This year, the National Government decided to stop the provision of imported chemical fertiliser to farmers and instead to give them Rs.25,000 in the hope they would buy or make organic fertiliser from cow dung or other organic material. But some farmers, apparently provoked by political parties which have their own agendas, are insisting they want the subsidised chemical fertiliser. But the government and organic farmers’ movements led by the activist parliamentarian the Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera are insisting that Sri Lanka must gradually switch to organic fertiliser to stop the pollution of our soil and the poisoning of the rice, grains, vegetables and fruits that we eat. The government needs to use the media to make the farmers aware of what happened and what is happening. Before the 1970s, the big transnational chemical corporations produced chemical weapons for the major wars including the war in Vietnam.

After the wars ended, these transnational giants produced agro-chemicals and used mainly Third World countries as dumping grounds. Sri Lanka was one of the victims.    President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also in charge of environmental affairs, is taking a tough stand on this issue. Earlier this week the President ordered the Registrar of Pesticides and other officials to ban the import, marketing and the use of all varieties of weedicides. The intention is to give the people toxin-free food so that we will become a healthy and therefore wealthy nation.  

  Despite pressure from transnational companies and their vested interests here, the President had earlier banned the import or sale of the weedicide Glyphosate, which is known to badly affect the health of the people. But the vested interests involved in such operations are wicked and cunning. It has been revealed that to circumvent the Glyphosate ban, the pesticide Glufosinate-ammonium has been imported and marketed under different brand names in several parts of Sri Lanka.We hope the President will maintain a crack down on those who are trying to pollute or poison our country while we have busted up millions of dollars to import their toxic chemicals for about 40 years.  

  Yesterday much in line with the eco-friendly vision, the President launched a mission to create about 10,000 green villages with village development councils also launching a multitude of other projects to provide productive or creative employment opportunities to tens of thousands of people. We hope these and other projects will lead to the creation of a green Sri Lanka for the common good of all, mainly the generations to come.  

Up the creek without a paddle

Saturday, 2 July 2016

“Do you know, Prime Minister? The city is a funny place. If you spill the beans you open up a whole can of worms. I mean, how can you let sleeping dogs lie if you let the cat out of the bag? Bring in a new broom and if you’re not very careful you find you’ve thrown the baby out with the bathwater. If you change horses in the middle of the stream, next thing you know you’re up the creek without a paddle” – from the BBC comedy ‘Yes Minister.’

This piece of convoluted logic offered in the BBC comedy by the civil service Mandarin Sir Desmond Grazerbrook to his Prime Minister, nearly sums up the predicament of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. I say nearly because he is not only up the creek without a paddle but is in a near state of undress.

When the bond issue was first discussed in Parliament, the Prime Minister very authoritatively asked the House: “Who amongst you can claim to understand the issue of bonds by the Central Bank?” Implied in that hoity-toity hoopla was the presumed superiority of the governing class of Charitha, Malik, Roland, et al. Thanks to civil society activists, two years after, the ordinary folk far removed from the magical orbit of the governing class, now know that ‘Maha Bankuwe Bandumkara’ are an instrument that determines and facilitates Government spending and the cost of it.

The Prime Minister has misconstrued Mark Twain’s dictum that truth is so precious that we need to economise it. His studied manoeuvring to downplay the enormity of the scandal has backfired.

First, the Government attempted to bury the truth with a handpicked committee of three lawyers who were also members of the UNP EX CO. Even to this day the fact that the Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon whose role in the first transaction is yet to be revealed is also a member of the UNP Ex Co is carefully swept under the green carpet. What the lawyers committee did with its half-hearted efforts of subterfuge resulted in something that was not anticipated by the cabal that determines the economic policy of the Government. It helped it to grow underground gathering so much power, that it has now become impossible to contain the inevitable explosion.

The people will soon learn how much Perpetual Treasuries paid for these bonds in the primary market and how much the EPF paid to Perpetual Treasuries in the secondary market. It seems that the Auditor General has been kind enough to include a chart that will help ‘yakkos’ like this writer comprehend in a visual form the transactions between the company in which Arjun the ‘beau fils’ has a stake and the bank under the care of Arjun the ‘beau-père’.

On Wednesday 29 June President Sirisena announced that he will announce the name of the new governor later in the day. On Thursday 30 June is reported that the President is still in consultation with the Prime Minister to decide on an interim Governor.

The truth of the matter is that the political survival and credibility of the Prime Minster is inextricably woven in to the process of determining who will be the next governor.

Hannah Ardent was a pretty smart observer of human nature. She is best remembered for her idea of ‘banality of evil.’ Evil takes many forms. What Hannah Ardent proposed was that what perpetuates evil is the willingness of ordinary people like you and I to collude in evil and to follow evil. Corruption at the highest level of governance too is evil.

She argued that evil is all too frequently the product of normal people accepting the tenets and prescriptions of a morally-corrupted system. What we discuss today is institutional corruption. We can see it. Yet our Government refuses to see because they do not consider it as corrupt. They have a good reason for their intransigence.

The textbook interpretations of corruption is about bad people doing bad things for personal gain. That is what we read about in reports of investigations by the FCID.

We are eager to point our moralised fingers at the ‘Ratharans’ and Jonnies. But should we not broaden the definition of corruption to include Oxbridge types who write rules and prescribe norms that create an improper dependency of a vital institution on a few 

handpicked primary dealers?

Hannah Ardent has given us a lesson. We should focus the flood lights of exposure on people doing bad things because the system is either broken or rigged.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was not interested in ‘Yahapalanaya.’ What he wanted was his ‘Palanaya’ instead of ‘Mahinda’s Palanaya.’ To him Maithripala Sirisena was only an acceptable candidate to shoulder the burden of a surrogate mother who would hand over the baby and retreat behind the 19th Amendment.

He is just as much an absolutist as was Mahinda though he lacks the natural Mahinda charm of sugar-coating absolute rule with popular acceptance. Absolutism is accepted by societies such as ours but it is the popular perception of the person at the top of the political hierarchy that determines its endurance. The power dynamics of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government has reached a crucial point.

The President is on record that Arjun Mahendran is not indispensable. He has now arrived at a point where he has to decide if his Prime Minster is indispensable.

I recall a conversation I had with Dr. S.A. Wickremesinghe when he differed from his colleague Pieter Keuneman on the Communist party remaining in the United Front Government in 1975. He said gravely: “It is not about pragmatic politics. It is a matter of class.” Do Maithri and Ranil belong to the same class?

For the first time in SL’s history the country will be without a CB Governor today..! Ranil in his arrogance forgets his ‘Lichchavi’ traditions

-By Wimal Weerasekera

(Lanka-e-News -01.July.2016, 5.45PM) For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka (SL) , the country is going  to be without a governor of the Central Bank today.The official term of the present governor Arjun Mahendran who is drowning in corruption charges ends yesterday (30) , and he had not been given an extension. Until today, neither a new governor nor an acting Governor was appointed. Hence, today SL will be without an official Central Bank Governor. 

The stock exchange market is likely to crash owing to this state of affairs. In a country  where there is no  Central Bank Governor , except the insane no foreign investor will think of coming in. Such a situation only spells doom and gloom for the country.

Though the president and P.M. were to have discussions with the  high officials of the Central Bank day before yesterday (29) , to arrive at a decision , because of the dogmatic propensities and approach of the P.M. , nothing fruitful could be achieved , Lanka e news reported yesterday.

last evening , P.M. Ranil Wickremesinghe had proposed to  the president that if his bosom pal Bond Mahendran’s term is not going to be extended , to appoint another intimate friend of Ranil  as the Central Bank Governor , based on reports received from Lanka e news inside information division within Temple Trees. Though the president has forwarded three names , the P.M. has only sent one name , and that is of Charitha Ratwatte. The latter is of course a ‘Royal’  pal of the P.M.  but sadly , he knows absolutely nothing when it comes to economics , banking and financial affairs or international financial affairs.

During the period of the Rajapakse regime , the political appointee to the post of Central Bank Governor was Ajith Nivard Cabraal . Those  responsible and who have learnt lessons following the appointment of Cabraal , and his successor Bond Mahendran - another political appointee , are now insisting , this time the one holding the next most senior position in  the Central Bank shall be appointed as the Governor.

The leaders of the civil organizations and trade unions who contributed towards the election of the good governance government have informed the P.M. last evening that they are bitterly opposed to having  Arjun Mahendran as the Central Bank Governor any more.

The three most senior officers of the Central Bank are already functioning as deputy Governors , and among them it is Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe who is the most senior having been in the Central Bank service for over 25 years. The other two are P.Samarasiri and S. Lankathileke who are also deputy Governors.

None of these deputy governors are suitable according to Ranil. It is either Bond Mahendran who is like a god to him or another bosom pal of his the ‘Royal’ friend , who is suitable in his view.  May be , Ranil is of the opinion that removing Bond Mahendran is  a loss of prestige to him, otherwise until this evening he would not be waiting to propose Charitha Ratwatte ,if Mahendran is not the choice. 

It is only Ranil Wickremesinghe and those of his  ‘Royal’ gang who do not acknowledge  the fact , since  Arjun Mahendran helped his son in law in the Treasury bond issue that the country  suffered a loss of Rs. 6 billion.

It is significant to note ,the SLFP an alliance of the government of good governance including  the president who is the leader are opposed to  Bond Mahendran ; the Civil organizations and the Trade union organizations that contributed immensely to elect the good governance government are opposed; and the JVP too that campaigned from a separate platform to oust the Rajapakses too are opposed. The TNA too has not agreed in favor of Mahendran though they have not openly aired their views. Even within the UNP , except those of the  ‘Royal group’ , a great majority are opposed to Mahendran. Not only Lanka e news, Ravaya and all other media that stand by alternative views, as well as the media in general are opposed to Bond Mahendran. The pro Rajapakse SLFP group is opposed and the staff of Central Bank too do not say  ‘aney , Mahendran was the best governor we  ever had.’  Above all , the people too do not say this Central bank Governor who axed the people ruthlessly with taxes is indispensable.

Apparently, to the P.M. all these resentment and opposition are of no consequence. He stubbornly stands by his ‘Royal’ pal. Like how he persistently said in the past , ‘ no matter who says what , I am the leader of the UNP,’ may be Ranil is still obstinate like a Mule. At least he must realize now though the UNP may be his party , the Central bank is not the bank of the UNP, neither is this  his personal issue , rather   it is a vital issue concerning the whole nation.

Unfortunately, Ranil  has in this instance conveniently forgotten  the Western Democracy which is  his favorite topic of conversation. Instead of his  ‘Lichchavi’ traditions he is preferring haughty traditions, and he is again resorting to the same dilatory tactics of  entrusting the task of resolving issues to Committees . Now , by entrusting the Audit report to the COPE committee he is taking refuge in  procrastination again.

It is not the COPE committee that should probe this Bond Mahendran’s fraud, rather it should be by the FCID , and the case should be heard in a court. The audit report comprises 1215 pages, and hence  the  COPE committee will require a long time to study that. Therefore , there is no doubt this time ‘Ranil’s committee bullock’ is going to  be sold unhesitatingly by the people as worthless stuff. 

Let us make one thing abundantly clear to P.M. Ranil Wickremesinghe : The masses for good governance will not definitely approve of or agree with his safeguarding the corrupt bosom pal whom he is trying to protect like his life. Besides , they will not want a P.M. who does not heed  people’s wishes , and conducts himself arrogantly. 

At this rate , if the people who are today clamoring in unison ‘we don’t want the corrupt,’ clamor tomorrow  in unison, ‘we don’t want the corrupt as well as the P.M. who is protecting them.’ It will only be the ‘Royal’ gang that will remain to rescue Ranil.

By Wimal Dheerasekera 

Translated by Jeff

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by     (2016-07-01 12:30:09)

Government In Crisis Over Central Bank Governor

July 1, 2016

With a little over a month to go for the Maithripala Sirisena – Ranil Wickremesinghe coalition government to celebrate it’s first anniversary, the first signs of a split appeared this week over the appointment of a new Governor for Central Bank.

While Prime Minister Wickremesinghe insisted that his associate and senior advisor Charitha Ratwatte be appointed as Governor, President Sirisena had wanted to appoint the bank’s Deputy Governor Nandalal Weeresinghe, which resulted in a major deadlock between the two leaders.

*Ranil and Maithri – Photo courtesy Shehan Gunasekara/ Facebook 

It is learnt that Sirisena had initially visited Central Bank on Wednesday afternoon with the intention of announcing Weeresinghe’s name as the 14th Governor of the Central Bank, but his plans was cut short after Wickremesinghe rushed to Central Bank with ex-Governor Arjuna Mahendran, to stop Sirisena from making the announcement.

On Wednesday morning, Sirisena addressing an event in Badulla announced that he will appoint the new governor ‘within a few hours,’ however more than one and a half days later; he is yet to make the announcement.

“President Sirisena was to make the official announcement at the Central Bank itself, but he was stopped by Prime Minister, who was unhappy with the President’s appointee and had insisted that Ratwatte be appointed as the new Governor,” sources told the Colombo Telegraph.

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AG Dept. workers take to streets to push govt. over National Audit Bill

by Shamindra Ferdinando-July 1, 2016, 10:15 pm 

Close on the heels of Auditor General H. M. Gamini Wijesinghe's spat with the government over state borrowings exceeding the prescribed limit, the Department has launched an unprecedented campaign to pressure the government to introduce the National Audit Bill.

The department insisted that the Bill must not be diluted to deprive the Auditor General’s authority over public finances. There has never been a previous instance of a Department campaigning for a particular Bill.

Hundreds of employees of the Auditor General's Department took to the streets on Thursday (June 30) demanding that the passage of the National Audit Bill without further delay.

The police prevented them from marching on to Parliament on the basis they couldn't be allowed to enter a high security zone. Following a heated argument between the protesters and the police, several representatives were allowed to proceed to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's Office, where they handed over a petition requesting Parliament to ensure the passage of an undiluted National Audit Bill.

A top spokesperson for the AG's Department yesterday told The Island that a four-member Cabinet Sub-Committee had recommended the removal of 20 critically important sections meant to curb waste, corruption and irregularities.

Those sections empowered the AG to recover funds from those who had caused losses to the state regardless of their standing in the society and transfer such funds to the Consolidated Fund. They called for doing away with 20 out of 57 sections to protect those who had been living luxury lives at the expense of the national economy.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee consisted of Special Assignment Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama (Chairman), City Planning and Water Supply Minister and SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

The official said they expected Speaker Jayasuriya to intervene in the matter especially against the backdrop of a simmering controversy over former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran's conduct in respect of bond issues.

The spokesperson said that President Maithripala and UNP leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe assured in the run-up to January, 2015 presidential polls that the National Audit Bill would be tabled in parliament on February 19, 2015 and approved within three weeks.

As the proposed National Audit Bill had been drafted by a committee led by the AG and vetted by the Attorney General and also endorsed by the Legal Draftsman there couldn't be any problem with presenting it to Parliament, he said.

The official castigated the previous SLFP-led PA and UPFA administrations for purposely delaying the National Audit Bill. Obviously, politicians and an influential sections of state sector administrators opposed the proposed National Audit Bill as they feared being held accountable for losses caused to the state due to waste, corruption, irregularities as well as negligence.

The Combined Trade Union Alliance of Auditor General's department has reached an understanding with several civil society organisations to campaign for the early implementation of the proposed National Audit Bill. They will brief the media at the Public Library on July 3 at 10 am regarding their campaign.

The AG department said the previous government delayed the proposed National Audit Bill by nearly 13 years. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, the Yahapalana rulers couldn't weaken a genuine effort to fight corruption.

The Department expected the civil society and public support to pressure the government over this issue. Meanwhile, the Speaker's Office told The Island that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya would discuss with the Attorney General, Auditor General and members of the Monetary Board of Sri Lanka a 1,251 page report received from AG Wijesinghe on controversial bond transactions before taking a decision. A spokesperson said that the Speaker would peruse the report before meeting the relevant officials.

The Auditor General's Department spokesperson said the decision on Wijesinghe's report to the Speaker and the ongoing battle for early passage of the proposed National Audit Bill would expose those who had been protecting corrupt persons.

BASL condemns Thewarapperuma’s actions, calls for disciplinary action

July 1, 2016 

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) today condemned the conduct of Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma, as an affront to good government and the Rule of Law.  

 “The Deputy Minister’s series of act of misconduct culminating in what is termed to be an attempted suicide is unworthy of the high office he holds,” BASL President Geoffrey Alagaratnam said, in an open letter to President Maithripala Sirisena.

 The Bar Association called upon the President and Prime Minister to take immediate disciplinary action against Mr Thewarapperuma in order to affirm the pledge made to uphold the Rule of Law and Good Governance in Sri Lanka. 

 It noted that the failure to rein in politicians such as this will result in a “total lack of confidence” the people have in the President and the Government. 

 In a separate letter, the Bar Association also called upon the government to expeditiously appoint a new Governor of the Central Bank, in order to settle the prevailing uncertainty which will have an impact on the governance of the nation.   

Navy to look into Yoshitha after financial probe is over

2016-07-01
Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa was under investigation for financial crimes and therefore other allegations allegedly done as a Naval Officer would be investigated by the Sri Lanka Navy, after the conclusion of the civil case on financial crimes, Navy Spokesman Captain Alevi Akram said.

 Captain Akram responding to a question raised by a journalist as to why the Sri Lanka Navy treats Lt. Rajapaksa and Lt. Commander K.C Welagedara differently, he said there was no discrimination whatsoever and added that Sri Lanka Navy was awaiting the ruling from President Maithripala Sirisena as the Commander in Chief on the appeal made to him by Lt. Commander Welagedara against his punishment.

 He said comparatively, the offence committed by Lt. Commander Welagedara being an officer of a higher rank was serious than the offences committed by Lt. Rajapaksa, of a lower rank and that was why a Court Martial was held against Lt. Commander Welagedara.

 He was demoted four ranks, which was a minor punishment, considering the magnitude of his offence, Captain Akram said.

 “However, a final decision will be taken on him on the directive of President Sirisena as he has made an appeal to him on the punishments meted out to him by the Navy,” he added. 

Captain Akram said Lt. Commander Welagedara, while serving as the Chief Commanding Officer of the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee that trains 300 Naval Officers and 1,500 Navy men, had left his service station without prior approval of a higher authority.  (Sandun A Jayasekera)

Chinese nationals protest in Hambantota

Jul 01, 2016

A group of Chinese nationals started a protest opposite the railway project office yesterday 29th.

Four Chinese engineers working the in railway track between Matara and Kataragama indulged in a demonstration and protest when and a group of villages of Gandara Naotunna assaulted them causing injury.
 
The attack was launched on Tuesday 28th and two people who were injured is taking treatment in a private hospital in Matara.
 
The Chinese workers indulged in a peaceful protest opposite their project office yesterday 29th, starting a protest march from the Matara town through the Hakmana road and Gabadaweediya, showing placards and urged the government and the police to arrest the group of people who attacked them ensuring their future protection.
 
The Gandara police is investigating into the attack by deploying three teams.

Dhaka attack: two police officers killed and seven Italians among hostages

Italian ambassador says his countrymen among those held by gunmen at Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in diplomatic quarter of Bangladeshi capital

Dhaka attack: police surround restaurant after gunmen take hostages

Saad Hammadi in Dhaka andAlan Yuhas in New York-Saturday 2 July 2016

Gunmen have attacked a restaurant in the diplomatic quarter of the Bangladeshi capital, killing two police officers and taking an unknown number of people hostage, including seven Italians.

Gowher Rizvi, an adviser to Bangladesh’s prime minister, told Reuters early on Saturday that security forces were trying to negotiate an end to the crisis. But failing this they would launch an offensive to end the siege, possibly as soon as daybreak, he said. There were reports that negotiators had so far failed to make contact with the attackers.

Benjir Ahmed, chief of the country’s special police force, told reporters on Friday night that eight to nine gunmen had attacked the restaurant in the Gulshan area of Dhaka. Aside from the two dead officers, 27 police personnel and at least one civilian were injured in the attack, confirmed Binoy Krishna Bala, deputy inspector general of police.

The Italian ambassador to Bangladesh, Mario Palmer, said that seven of his countrymen were among the hostages. “It is a suicide attack. They want to carry out a powerful and bloody operation and there is no room for negotiation,” Palma said. An Italian foreign ministry source said one Italian had escaped but had told police there were seven others still inside. It is also thought that Indian nationals are among the hostages.

Late on Friday night, Islamic State claimed credit for the attack in a statement issued by its self-styled news agency, saying that at least 20 people had been killed, a claim denied by police.

Local media reported that gunmen had entered the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe and opened fire at around 9.20pm on Friday. They also reported as many as 20 people taken hostage, and that as many as 40 people in all were injured.

Mohammad Jasimuddin, a member of the kitchen staff, was inside the restaurant when the gunmen stormed in. “There were about 50 to 60 staff inside. These people came and opened fire. We thought they were dacoits [bandits] and would leave after looting money and valuables,” he said.

“I heard them screaming Allahu Akbar [God is great] and firing shots,” he told the Guardian. “We thought they’d leave in 15 to 20 minutes, instead they went upstairs to the second floor [that was] under construction. They were firing from there.” He said that he and other employees jumped over barbed wire fences to escape. He estimated there were about 25 to 30 customers inside at the time.

A police constable named Kamruzzaman told the Guardian that the gunmen threw explosives from the second floor. “We reached the spot of attack within seven minutes of the incident taking place,” he said. “They opened fire from there, we fired back.

“We tried to rescue a civilian but they shot him down. He was lying by the lakeside close to the restaurant,” Kamruzzaman added. “We didn’t know they had grenades in possession.”

A local police station chief, Mohammed Salahuddin, was killed in the gunfight along with one other officer, confirmed Ashraful Karim, the assistant police commissioner and Salahuddin’s immediate superior.

Fazle Arshad Haque said he had not heard from his nephew who had been visiting the restaurant on Friday night with his girlfriend. “I live nearby. I come here with my daughter everyday to have ice cream,” said Haque. He feared for his nephew’s safety and said he lacked confidence in the police. “There may be 10 million police, they are very incapable … Bangladesh is not prepared for these sort of things.”

A large contingency of police and security guards cordoned off the area, trading gunfire with the attackers but police said they hoped to negotiate with the gunmen.

Ahmed, chief of the Rapid Action Battalion, said: “We believe we can resolve this peacefully.

“Some derailed youths have entered the restaurant and launched the attack. We have talked to some of the people who fled the restaurant after the attack,” he said. “We are trying to talk to the attackers, we want to listen to them about what they want.”

Ahmed would not say how many people were trapped inside but said officers’ “first priority” was to save the hostages. Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of police, said that authorities had asked the media to stop all live broadcasts of the standoff.

By about 2am local time, the Special Warfare Diving and Salvage Command, a special commando force of the Bangladeshi navy, had reached the restaurant. “We are going to provide support” to the force running the operation, said a navy official.

Bangladesh has seen a series of attacks, mostly using machetes, targeting bloggers, atheists and religious minorities. 

Earlier on Friday, a Hindu temple worker was hacked to death in the south-west of the country in the latest attack blamed on radical Islamists, police said. 

At least three assailants on a motorbike fled the scene after hacking Shyamonando Das with sharp weapons, local police chief Hasan Hafizur Rahman said. 

The attack happened in Jhenaidah district, 210km (120 miles) south-west of Dhaka, as the victim was plucking flowers for his morning prayers near the temple, Rahman said. The worker died on the spot.

The US state department said it was too early to say who was involved or what motivation the gunmen might have, but confirmed that all Americans working at the US mission were accounted for. Spokesman John Kirby called it a “very fluid, very live situation”.