Saturday, September 10, 2016

Around 100 firearms found buried in Matale

September 9, 2016

Police today said that around 100 decaying firearms have been found buried in the Matale District Secretariat premises.

The discovery was made by workers engaged in excavations for construction purposes near the district secretariat.

Matale Police has launched an investigation into the discovery which is believed to be remnants of a stock of buried weapons.

GOVT TO SET UP A MEDIA MONITORING MECHANISM TO “PREVENT ABUSE”

09/09/2016

Deputy Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Karunaratne Paranawithana shas said that the government would set up a ‘Monitoring Mechanism’ for news broadcast and publications in the print and electronic media under the proposed ‘Press Commission’ to prevent the abuse of news in print and electronic media, the Daily Mirror reports.

The report fellows:

He added that the new measure would not anyway attempt to control or dictate to media personnel or media establishments on the media but to arrest the current degeneration of news broadcast and publication in the newspapers, radio, TV and websites.

The Monitoring Mechanism’ will be set up after consulting all stakeholders in the media such as journalists, media institutions, the academia, the public at large and the readers, listeners and TV watchers in particular and added it will not thrust upon the media by force.

“There is no argument that the media – print and electronic – has come down to its lowest ebb in quality, news value and usage. What we want is to arrest this sad situation. There are instances on daily basis news in both medium being used for mud slinging, character assassinations. In addition, publication in the print media and airing in TV and radio of lies, absolute lies, fabrications, distortions, misinterpretations and canard are not rare. The Press Complaints Commission and Press Council are toothless and have no influence at all on erroneous and unethical acts by media institutions or journalists. Therefore, it is our duty to put a stop to this sorry state of affairs in the media before long,” Deputy Minister Paranawithana stressed.

Deputy Minister Paranawithana said there was no way at the moment to amply compensate or erase the damage caused to a citizen by character assassinations in the media except by legal action that takes years to conclude and costs a huge amount of money.

He added that by introducing the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the government gave the media unrestricted freedom and opportunity to access any government institution for information. If the media is to get the full benefits of the RTI, journalists must act as fully qualified and highly educated professionals. There is no space for gutter journalism in this set up. What we want is to put an end to gutter journalism and create a media that upholds ethical, social and family values and respect the rule of law and democracy.

(Original caption of the article:Monitoring mechanism to prevent abuse of news)

(Sandun A Jayasekera) Daily Mirror

Lions, Gods & Heroes: Military In The Popular Culture Of Postwar Sri Lanka

By Jerome Cooray –September 9, 2016

Jerome Cooray

Sri Lanka’s military plays an important role in the popular culture of the island nation: It is a part of the history, the popular memory and the daily life of 20 million Sri Lankans who suffered from a three-decade long civil war since the anti – Tamil pogrom of ‘Black July’ 1983; a war fought between the Sri Lankan Government and the separatist terrorist group LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) who demanded for an independent state of Tamil Eelam to be carved out of the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. This brutal civil war which claimed up to 100,000 lives and displaced tens of thousands civilians came to an end on 18^th May 2009 with the defeat of the LTTE at the hands of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces (SLAF). One can argue that with the end of the war, there have emerged two distinct post war portrayals of the military in the popular culture of Sri Lanka; a ‘northern portrayal’ among the Tamils of the northern regions of the island and a ‘southern portrayal’ among the Sinhala – Buddhist majority who dwell in the central, western and southern regions of the island. This short article attempts to summarize the following distinct features of the latter portrayal, the ‘southern’; they are the emphasis on the re-narration of Sinhala – Buddhist history and the Sinhala myth of origin that speaks of lions, gods and heroes, and the alteration of the daily terminology from ‘soldier’ to ‘war hero’.

The last phase of the war saw intense recruitment propaganda by both sides. The Sri Lankan Government effectively utilized popular media to gain support of mainly southern and also the north-eastern Sri Lankans for its military operation by engineering a special focus on the ‘humanitarian’ portrayal of the military. ‘Api Wenuwen Api’(Together for All) was a campaign, which employed thetalents of many artists and writers, that helped to draw popular support during the final Eelam War. It imprinted a lasting popular memory in the Sri Lankan psyche in the post civil war context.

Re-narration of the Sinhala – Buddhist history

The victory of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces on 18^th May 2009 is considered by many southern Sri Lankans (mainly Sinhala – Buddhists) as a re-making of the historic Battle of Vijithapura between the Sinhala – Buddhist King Dutu-Gamunu and the righteous yet Dravidian invader, King Elara around the 2^nd Century B.C.E, which resulted in the victory of the Sinhalese. In fact the former President Mahinda Rajapakse gave currency to this ‘image’ when he paid homage before a statue of King Dutugamunu in 2009[i]; and in 2013, the Sri Lankan Army erected an archway in the ancient city of Anuradhapura which depicts the Vijithapura Battle. Although it has been officially expressed by the Government of Sri Lanka on numerous occasions that the war was fought not between the Sinhalese and the Tamils, but between the state and the terrorists, the erection of such monuments in a historic civilian /public space in the post war context brings into question the official narrative of the civil war. At the same time it makes one question the meaning of the war time portrayal of the military as a humanitarian force; has the military undertaken a role as the custodians of a Sinhala – Buddhist identity and its history, contrary to being the protectors of the sovereignty and all people of Sri Lanka?

(Lanka-e-News -09.Sep.2016, 8.00AM) Based on a most confidential letter pertaining to national security it has come to light via reports received by Lanka e news inside information division , that Jagath Premalal Wijeweera the present permanent secretary of ministry of law and order , who was an officer of the public administration service serving as Customs Director General earlier on is implicated in a plot to assassinate president Maithripala Sirisena at his final rally as common presidential candidate held at Maradana during the last presidential elections.

Rajapakses have imported firearms of the sniper category in a container secretly with a view to murder Maithripala Sirisena , and it is Premalal Wijeweera who has colluded with them to smuggle those weapons into the country.

Wijeweera was appointed as Director General Customs during the Rajapakse regime somewhere in 2013 , and he held that post until the regime was thrown out lock , stock and barrel . During that period a number of containers that came in under the names of Namal Rajapakse and Yoshitha Rajapakse were released without any inspection , or opening , and allowed to be taken out of the Port. It is Wijeweera who had seen to it those containers are released without any hindrance after issuing threatening instructions to the subordinate officers .Besides , it is on the direct orders of this same Wijeweera , the large number of cars with powerful racing engines including Lamborghini imported for Motor races in Sri Lanka were released without any duty . What happened to those cars which were released then is a mystery today. The fate of those cars are not known !

The sniper weapons mentioned hereinbefore too have been smuggled into the country on the same lines. It being the plan that the weapon used for the potential murder of Maithripala shall be one that does not belong to the security forces or the LTTE , the new sniper weapon was smuggled in.

Though the murder attempt failed , these weapons must be somewhere within the country. The stupid administrative officer who rode the high horse then and permitted the contraband to be smuggled into the country is now as silent as a grave.

In that confidential letter it is being questioned , how can such a corrupt criminal officer facing such serious charges be functioning as the secretary to the ministry of law and order under the government of good governance? Is it possible for this officer to have a motive to capture or seize the contraband – the illegal firearms which have been brought in by himself ?

On the other hand ,if any subordinate officer in his ministry takes action to seize the firearms , won’t this traitorous secretary do everything to obstruct that ? Will the Police that are under Wijeweera, the secretary to the ministry of law and order have the ability or courage to probe and enforce the law in connection with the corrupt activity of Wijeweera ?

In addition , in the confidential security letter more information is revealed about corrupt senior assistant secretary Donald Munage an ace lickspittle and lackey of the Rajapakses who had been in the ministry of law and order for a long period , and who is still dreaming of the day Rajapakses will re capture power . The letter further states , instead of trying to reform Donald it is better to delve into the ties existing between him and Wijeweera.

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by (2016-09-09 02:44:58)

Diplomacy: After the Moon visit

We must contextualize what Moon said to understand its full significance. The first fact to be noted is that as a diplomat he is well-seasoned timber, obviously a diplomat of great ability as otherwise he would not have been chosen as UN Secretary General. He is not the kind of person who will make indiscreet remarks.

by Izeth Hussain

( September 10, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) In a recent article I inveighed against the foreign presence in our ethnic problem, which I believe has been far too intrusive. A convincing illustration of my charge was provided by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki- moon, who at the final stage of his recent visit surprised us all by throwing diplomatic decorum to the winds and kicking the rice pot. I must explain to non-Sri Lankan readers that my oblique reference is to the Sinhalese proverb, “The parting devil kicks the rice pot”. My reference I believe is peculiarly apt because what Moon said was not just surprising: it was also diabolical.

The Government claims that Moon was misinterpreted and that the impact on Sri Lanka of the Moon visit was entirely positive. But, as far as I am aware, the Government has not cited chapter and verse in support of its self-serving interpretation. What Moon reportedly said was, “In 1994, in Rwanda, there was a massacre. More than one million people were massacred. United Nations felt responsible for that”. It had not been able to take preventive action, but it had repeatedly declared “Never again, never again”. Yet the very next year another massacre took place, in Srebrenica, because the UN had not been able to provide adequate protection, and the UN repeated “Never again”. After that he went on to say, “How many times should we repeat never, never again? We did again in Sri Lanka. We have to do much more not to repeat such things in Sri Lanka, Yemen and elsewhere”. I must emphasize the words “We did again in Sri Lanka”. What on earth could he be referring to except a massacre in Sri Lanka? I regret that our Government is being disingenuous in denying that interpretation.

He is evidently referring to the alleged massacre by the tens of thousands out of the 330,000 Tamils who were used as human shields by the LTTE during the last days of the war. He is clearly implying that what occurred here was genocide of an order similar to that of Rwanda and Srebrenica. He failed to note a crucial difference: in Rwanda and Srebrenica ethnic minorities were massacred by dominant majorities whereas here the genocide is alleged to have occurred in the course of a war. Commonsense tells us that as our troops were on the brink of a total military victory there was no earthly reason why they should have wanted to perpetrate a massacre on a genocidal scale. Besides – and this is the point of crucial importance – there has been nothing like substantiation of that allegation that can be taken seriously: there has been no more than some dubious statistical material. Why, then, did a person in so responsible a position as the UN Secretary General virtually repeat that allegation? A perceptive editorial in the Island of September 8 suggests that the intent was to shock the Government into taking the war crimes probe seriously. That makes sense. It remains however that the method chosen by the UNSGA – that of blatant lying about genocide – was outrageous. The Moon visit turned out to be a visitation – something like a Visitation of the Fiend. The rice pot was kicked to pieces.

We must contextualize what Moon said to understand its full significance. The first fact to be noted is that as a diplomat he is well-seasoned timber, obviously a diplomat of great ability as otherwise he would not have been chosen as UN Secretary General. He is not the kind of person who will make indiscreet remarks. Why then did he make an allegation that cannot be substantiated – at least at present? My answer would be that he has been acting under instructions. It was obvious that after Boutros Ghali the US would not tolerate anyone with a will of his own as Secretary General. There followed Kofi Annan, a distinguished but not a difficult person to handle. Better still for the purposes of the US, and as befits its status as the sole super power, has been Ban Ki-moon, the South Korean national of one of the two remaining US satellites, the other being Taiwan. The UN Secretary General is a servitor of the American Empire. Behind his undiplomatic kicking of the rice pot was the might of the American Empire which was conveying a message to us: Don’t go to sleep over the war crimes allegations.

When Moon mooted his Panel of Experts I wrote an article in which I postulated a benign tripartite conspiracy involving India, the US, and Ban Ki-moon to move Sri Lanka towards a solution of the ethnic problem. Actually Moon was simply the servitor of a bipartisan Indo-US conspiracy. My postulate seemed to be given spectacular substantiation when almost totally unexpectedly India joined the US in backing a UNHRC Resolution against Sri Lanka, and furthermore it did so contravening it own hitherto consistent principle of never backing country specific Resolutions at Geneva. Since then the US seems to be going its own way over Sri Lanka. But Indo-US relations have been becoming ever closer, acquiring even a military dimension that is bound to cause concern, even alarm, among some of its neighbors. In my view India could now be in the process of abandoning its Non-Alignment in all but name, a development that could be very fateful for this region.

In this situation we need to do some thinking about American imperialism. I have in mind the theses advanced by two scholars, French and American. The first, Emmanuel Todd, in his brilliant book After Empire of 2004 argued that we were witnessing the decline and fall of the American Empire. I am not going to summarize his argument here for lack of space, but I must say that I found it very cogent. I will point to just one detail here. Our Prime Minister is regarded as having solid pro-Western credentials, but the Americans and the Indians have not been able to effect a diminution of the Chinese presence here to any significant extent. The reason is the economic power of China. That accords perfectly well with Todd’s thesis.

The other thesis is the one advanced by Chalmers Johnson in his equally brilliant book The Sorrows of Empire, also published in 2004. His thesis is that the Americans are the practitioners of a new form of empire, an empire of bases which apparently is flourishing. I am wondering whether the two theses are not really contradictory but are complementary. It may be that the US has to confine itself to an empire of bases because the peoples of the world are less and less willing to accept satellite status in the American Empire that has been largely evil. However the point that interests me most is Johnson’s notion that militarism and imperialism go together. He derives his idea from Eisenhower’s farewell address in which he warned against the growing power of the military-industrial complex. The idea is that under militarism the military acquires a certain degree of autonomy and tends to pursue its own interests rather than that of the nation, and furthermore it leads to imperialism. That makes sense to me, and that is why I see a sinister potential in the growing military dimension of the Indo-US relationship. I hope therefore that our Indian friends will re-think their relationship with the US and persuade our American friends to lay off Sri Lanka’s ethnic problem for a while.

Monk Uduwe Dhammaloka Forcibly Occupying Allen Methiniyaramaya Temple

September 9, 2016

Buddhist monk Uduwe Dhammaloka, who is currently out on bail for possessing a baby elephant without a valid license, is alleged to be forcibly occupying the Allen Methiniyaramaya Temple in Vijaya Kumaranatunga Mawatha, Kirulapone,

Uduwe Dhammaloka

According to a case filed at the District Court of Colombo by Dr. Brahmanawatte Seevali Tissa Thero, Dhammaloka is alleged to have stormed the temple on the night of 06.01.2009 along with a group of thugs and had threatened Tissa Thero and chased him out of the Temple. Tissa Thero had then fled the Temple fearing for his life, as he was threatened with bodily harm and death.

In a statement given to the court, Tissa Thero said that at the time the incident occurred, Dhammaloka was a Member of Parliament supporting the then Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa. According to Tissa Thero the persons who stormed the Temple included uniformed Army and Navy Personnel.

Though Tissa Thero had immediately lodged a complaint against the incident at the Kirulapone Police Station, the Police had not taken any action against the incident as Dhammaloka was an influential person at that time.

As a last resort Tissa Thero instituted legal action and lodged a case bearing No: DLM 00068/2012 in the District Court of Colombo against Dhammaloka.

When the case was taken up in the District Court of Colombo on September 8, Tissa Thero said that Dhammaloka stormed the Temple on 06.01.2009 along with a group of thugs and armed forces personnel (including uniformed Army and Navy officers) and threatened him and forced him out of the Temple. He stated that the group of thugs who stormed the Temple exposed their private parts at him thereby humiliating him.

He also told court that Dhammaloka was close to the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother the then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and both of them extended their fullest support and patronage to Dhammaloka. Both the ex President and the ex Secretary Defence had attended numerous functions held at the said Temple, organized by Dhammaloka, at that time clearly indicating that they endorsed the highhanded and illegal activities of Dhammaloka.

Simply increasing Govt. spending on education is not an option

- Sep 09, 2016

Respected former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank W.A.Wijewardana reminded the Government that the falling education and healthcare expenditure ratios should worry the Yahapalana Government. (See more at: http://www.ft.lk/article/565796/The-falling-education-and-healthcare-expenditure-ratios-should-worry-the-Yahapalana-Government#sthash.pI1x4cQh.dpuf.)

President Sirisena in his election manifesto presented to the public during the Presidential election in 2015 promised to progressively increase the expenditure on education from 1.5% to 6% of GDP by 2020.
- See more at: http://www.ft.lk/article/566784/Simply-increasing-Govt--spending-on-education-is-not-an-option#sthash.c6J42Qdo.dpuf

Commitment

In fact the writer requested Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to include this commitment of progressively increasing the expenditure on educationin the Common Opposition manifesto and subsequently in the UNP manifesto presented to the public in August 2015.

The Prime Minister has many times over the last few months reassured the keystakeholders that he would progressively increase the spend on education. The Prime Minister appointed a committee in 2015, chaired by the writer to consult all the key stakeholders and also study global best practices and develop a road map to progressively increase the expenditure on education from 1.5% to 6% of GDP.See chart, the current spend and percentage.

The committee that included many key stakeholders noted that in general that there was; Inadequate infrastructure provision, Deficit in teacher quality and quantity, Irrelevance of curriculum, Inadequacies in orienting education to changing technologies and economies, lack of management and co-ordination in the sector.

Further thoughmuch has been invested in Tertiary, Vocational and Professional (T, V & P) education over the past few years, the output had been mixed, with many students not completing their programmes.

Finally a low enrolment rate in the higher education sector, where only 17% who qualify to enter are admitted, due the limited number of places available, compared to the 99% enrolment rate in the secondary school sector. This is due to a low investment in the higher education sector (only 0.33% of GDP), one of the lowest worldwide. The committee concluded that to get the best out of such increased expenditure, radical policy changes would be required.

Some of the key initiatives the Committee suggested the Government should address in the road map are:

Bringing elementary education (ages 3-5) under the Ministry of Education and providing infrastructure for the same, considering also grants and loans to private sector providers, so that the current enrolment of 45% can be increased to say 80%.
Catering for special needs among students, such (i) social problems and (ii) ‘disability’ problems.
Increasing the number of secondary schools teaching science at A/L increases from the current 900 to say around 1,500; and those teaching the technology stream from the current 250 to say around 1,000.
Granting incentive allowances for teachers of English and Mathematics (secondary school level) and Science (O/L and A/L classes), based on qualifications, competence and performance.
A generous annual allocation, to promote research in education.
Meeting the recurrent costs of the Tertiary, Vocational and Professional education sector through a ‘voucher’ system, where students who are qualified to receive this education have the freedom to spend it at institutions of their choice.
Co-ordinating all Tertiary, Vocational and Professional education programmes, across line ministries, e.g. through a revamped Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission.
Commencing universities at most six months after the A/Level examination is held, so that they are not disadvantaged vis-à-vis private universities.
Expanding enrolment in higher education so that enrolment rate is gradually increased from 17% to 25%.
Promoting university staff development through (among others): (i) state sponsored scholarship schemes for young staff to obtain PhD qualifications; (ii) provisions for international (or even national) placements and/or conference attendance on a regular basis for all staff.
Making provision for high quality international academics to be placed in targeted Sri Lankan universities for say three to six month periods, in order to increase research quality.
Insisting on quality assurance of higher education, primarily through international accreditation and overseas external examiners, the visits pertaining to which will need to be provided for.
In the final analysis, if the Government is to deliver on its promise of progressively increasing the expenditure on education from 1.5% to 6% of GDP, the Government would need to play a leadership role in the ongoing national dialogue over how to improve the results of our education, Tertiary, Vocational and Professional education and higher education system for all students.

This involves such activities as raising national and community awareness of the education challenges confronting the nation, disseminating the latest discoveries on what works in teaching and learning, and helping all stakeholders to work out solutions to some of the difficulteducational issues currently facing Sri Lanka. Therefore, blindly pouring money into educationwithout a clear strategy to achieve the 6%, will certainly sound and look foolish.

(The writer is a HR Thought Leader.)

Dinesh Weerakkodi
Daily FT

Yet another High Court judge led by erection in broad daylight ! Whither justice ?

(Lanka-e-News -09.Sep.2016, 8.00AM) These photographs herein epitomize the disgraceful and despicable state of affairs prevailing among the courts in Sri Lanka , signaling that justice is now on its last journey with pimps , prostitutes, the corrupt and criminals making hay while the sun shines.

The hideous face in the circle shown in the photograph is that of a most infamously famous scoundrel best known for the worst of vices and crimes . He is none other than Nimal Peiris a shameless ‘manimal’ ( animals have a better sense of shame) by birth .He is one who has become notorious for his obscenities and most obnoxious conduct including raping and pimping which are his main occupation. Unbelievably , he is so sadistic that he proudly exposes his sex frustration via the internet by posting photographs of his with women in various poses.

Peiris the shameless ‘manimal’ in human clothing is the owner of Telefix, Kandy , and against whom charges were mounted recently , of ‘investing’ a group of girls in his ‘sex business.’ There are warrants against this rascal in respect of two cases , and two more cases are being heard in courts apart from the Hantana rape case against him. In the Hantana rape case against him , he was granted a cash bail on the 22 nd in a sum of Rs. 10,000.00 and surety bail in a sum of Rs. 100,000.00. This was a wonder of wonders ! A criminal who raped as many as about 20 girls released on bail ! – to commit more rapes ?

Much worse , this criminal maintains close ties with powerful bigwigs of the country - IGP of all people not excluded ! Similarly he has very close relationship with the judges. Unsurprisingly , an ex chief justice the most notorious Sarath Silva was one of his best pals. Bandula Karunaratne who was a Kandy district judge and now performing duties as a high court judge is also a bosom pal of Nimal Peiris . Bandula is well known for his uncanny abilities as a bribe taker. He is specialized in soliciting sexual favors when hearing divorce cases .His intermediary (broker) in these negotiations is Nimal Pieris.

The third judge among these hypocritical scoundrels is judge Sumudhu Premachandra . It is the same notorious Nimal Peiris who stoops to the level of broker and pimp ,also sponsors the various poojas (religious offerings) including Bodhi poojas of Sumudhu. Because Sumudhu and his wife are from Kandy , the infamous duo Nimal and Premachandra are carrying on their sordid activities for a long time without let or hindrance.

Yet another corrupt judge Lasantha Kumara alias Gaddol Vasantha (Brick Vasantha) is the coordinator of the Judges training center . To Lasantha , Nimal is his life and blood , the former is incapable of doing anything without the latter. It is still unfathomable how Lasantha who is still Sarath N Silva’s bootlicker , secured the post mentioned.

There are some more judges who are caught in the bribery and corruption net of Nimal Peiris. Among them are two judges who are sisters and well noted. They are : Ms.Menaka Wijesundara , the Kandy high court judge and Ms. Deepali Wijesundara the appeal court judge. These are two women ever ready to ‘sell’ not only their souls but even their bodies to criminals as long as they are affluent. It is learnt the latest customer of theirs was ‘MaRa’

Menaka has made it her favorite hobby to be a ‘sleeping partner’ with anyone if she has to secure an advantage or benefit through somebody in the profession . This was the methodology resorted to by these two sisters to reach the High court judge positions straight from the Attorney General’s department . Their gaze are fixed on hidden erection and not on straightforward direction.

At the time of taking these photographs , believe it or not ,in those is criminal Nimal Peiris the one ordered to be arrested . He is carrying in his hand the mobile phone of the notorious High court judge ,and roaming the Kandy courts complex premises in broad daylight boldly and fearlessly . This facility and freedom he enjoys , because of his close relationship with judge Menaka , and not owing to any other. Such a criminal who is a suspect in the case of raping about 20 girls in Hanthane rubbing shoulders with a high court judge ,surely is an index that sacrosanct justice is on its last journey.

The masses and specially the professionals of the judicial circles ( the juniors and seniors) in Kandy are fast becoming disillusioned and disappointed at the failure of the government of good governance to make a clean sweep of the corrupt and criminal in the judicial sphere , and for not duly meting out punishment to the wrongdoers.

(The photograph below can be magnified by clicking on it. By clicking further it can be magnified further)

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by (2016-09-09 02:45:19)

Thajudeen’s body parts: EX-chief JMO seeks

SC to prevent his arrest

2016-09-09

The Supreme Court today fixed to be mentioned on September 23 the fundamental rights petition filed by Colombo's former JMO Ananda Samarasekera requesting Court to prevent his arrest in connection with the loss of Wasim Thajudeen's body parts.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice K. Sripavan and Justice Nalin Perera.

The petitioner cited Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine Secretary Anura Jayawickrama, Health Services Director General P.G. Mahipala, Medical Services Deputy Director General Lakshmi C. Somatunga, the IGP, SSP B.R.S.R. Nagahamulla, CID Chief Inspector Ravindra Wimalasiri, JMO Ajith Tennakoon, Legal Medicine and Toxicology Department Senior Lecturer Jean Perera, Addl. JMO A. Hevage and the Attorney General as respondents.

Petitioner is the Vice Chancellor of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM), said he was appointed as the Chief JMO of Colombo and the Head of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Toxicology in November 2007 and served in that capacity until his retirement in June 2013.

He said he believed that the body parts retained for further examination on his instructions and stored in the freezer may have been misplaced and/or lost and/or destroyed and/or discomposed during the transition of material to the new cooler during the tenure of new Chief JMO.

He is seeking a declaration from the Court that his fundamental right to equality and freedom from arbitrary arrest has been infringed upon by the respondents.

Paliltha Fernando with Tissa Weragoda instructed by Dinushi Perera will support this application for granting of leave to proceed. (S.S. Selvanayagam)

SriLankan piloting sobriety

National carrier charges pilots work to rule move is “irresponsible”
Hints flights may get delayed
Pending disciplinary inquiry a Captain suspended for refusing breathalyzer test

Saturday, 10 September 2016

SriLankan Airlines yesterday described the “work to rule” campaign by pilots as “irresponsible” and hinted there could be delays as the national carrier ensures sobriety during duty.

It said subsequent to the recent incident in Frankfurt, SriLankan Airlines in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), re-commenced random breathalyzer tests on flight and cabin crew.

This is a standard procedure in the global air transport industry that is fully approved by the CAASL. SriLankan Airlines uses certified equipment from Germany and trained personnel. The practice had been suspended earlier due to objections from the Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka (ALPG-SL).

On the night of 27th/28th August 2016, the crew of flight UL 402 were randomly selected for testing. SriLankan said the captain on the flight, Captain Jayasekera, is reported to have refused to take the breathalyzer test.

“As mandated by the CAASL, refusal to take a test is tantamount to a positive reading. As per procedure, Capt. Jayasekera was therefore taken off duties and suspended pending an investigation,” the national carrier said.

It said the investigation into the incident, including detailed statements from the officers involved in conducting the test, was to be completed yesterday and forwarded to the Company’s Human Resources Division as per the Company’s procedures.

The ALPG-SL has now commenced a work to rule campaign demanding that Capt. Jayasekera be re-instated. Since this is contrary to both the regulations of the CAASL and company procedure, the Company has declined to do so.

Capt. Jayasekera will remain under suspension until such time as the disciplinary process, which is being carried out by an independent Inquiring Officer, is complete. This is expected to be completed by 27th September 2016.

“There is a likelihood that flights will be disrupted, as we are currently calling pilots on their off days,” “ SriLankan said.

“Numerous pilots have expressed their willingness to support the company, and the ‘work to rule’ appears to be an irresponsible action by a small group of individuals with vested interests,” it added.

The True Beginning Of The Rajapaksa Fall

By Shyamon Jayasinghe –September 9, 2016

Shyamon Jayasinghe

“Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein.” – Bible

January 8th was not really the date of the fall from grace of Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. That marked, no doubt, his electoral defeat. But his false image never died. It continued with the “Mahinda Sulanga” phenomenon. Leaders fall only when their public images fall. With the verdict of the Bharatha Lakshman murder case delivered on Thursday 8th September 2016 the tragic fall of that image of the former Sri Lankan dictator begins.

Former Mahinda Rajapaksa’s and Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s key backer and Minister, Duminda Silva, and four others were sentenced to death. The rest of the 15 defendants were released.The case was heard before the trial –at-bar comprising High Court judges Shiran Gunaratne, Pathmini Ranawaka and C.B.S. Moreis.

It was a sultry day and clouds were gathering in the outside sky.

This has been one of Sri Lanka’s highest profile cases as big guns of the former government were involved. The gruesome murder itself that took place in the open streets shocked the nation. The murdered and the convicted murderer had both been Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters but they hopelessly fell out over the issue of the UPFA government’s decision on the Kolonnawa Organiser. The personality acrimony had been developing fast and Mahinda Rajapaksa took the side of Duminda. According to testimony the two met on the streets and the brawl broke out into murder. Duminda had gone ready with his pistol.

Shortly after, Duminda rushed himself to Sri Jayawardena Hospital and, reportedly, among the earliest visitors were both President Mahinda Rajapaksa and powerful brother Defense Secretary, Gotabaya. That had been one of those numerous acts of impunity on the part of the former President. Mahinda still continues that behaviour visiting convicted jailbirds of his former government. Not the model behaviour of those with Presidential status. But the incident made it clear to everybody that the two powerful would back Duminda right along the way. As another typical MR ‘shaping’ tactic, Bharatha Lakshman’s wife got the job of a Presidential coordinating secretary! Among the prestigious panel of such advisors were political fall-outs, musicians, and astrologers.

P Ramasamy Published 9 Sep 2016,

At a press conference in Komtar, Penang, I raised the following matters regarding the recent protests against the invitation of the former Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to Malaysia to participate in a international conference that was held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

First, despite more than 500 police reports made by various Tamils groups in the country for the organisers not to invite Rajapaksa, the Malaysian government rode roughshod over the feelings and sentiments of Tamils. Rajapaksa is considered a war criminal and was allegedly responsible for the genocide against Tamils in the north and east of the country during the civil war that ended in 2009.

Second, while we do not condone acts of violence against anybody, but the assault against Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ibrahim Sahib Ansar, had a background. According to reliable sources, when some Tamil youths approached Ibrahim at the KL international airport (KLIA) and asked about the whereabouts of Rajapaksa, he apparently replied: “We will wipe out the Tigers in Malaysia as we wiped out the LTTE in Sri Lanka.”

Such a hostile act, which is rather unbecoming of a diplomat, was responsible for the subsequent assault and detention of the five suspected assailants by the police.

Third, Ibrahim is no ordinary diplomat in Malaysia. He was allegedly sent to gather information of the activities of the Tamils especially those who are in support of the creation of an independent Tamil Eelam, a separate state for Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka. In the last few years he was allegedly responsible for coordinating information about Tamil refugees coming into the country and passing them to the Malaysian police.

Allegedly as a result, number of Tamil refugees have been deported back to Sri Lanka by the Malaysian authorities to face detention, torture and lengthy imprisonment in Sri Lanka.

Fourth, we strongly condemn the allegedly ‘unhealthy’ role of Ibrahim and that he is not suitable to serve as a diplomat in the country any more. While the police were overzealous in arresting the five protesters, they have remained silent on the alleged provocative statement made by Ibrahim. We want the Malaysian government to expel Ibrahim as soon as possible before he creates further problems between Tamils here and the Malaysian government.

Fifth, those who protested against the entry of Rajapaksa were ordinary Tamils. By and large, the protests were done in a peaceful and democratic manner. There were no standoffs with the police or any other authorities. But then it was wrong for the inspector-general of police (IGP), Khalid Abu Bakar to have labelled the protesters as sympathisers of the now defunct LTTE.

We urge the police force not create and complicate security matters in the country by ‘imagining’ into existence fictitious enemies.

P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.

Attack on SL High Commissioner in Malaysia is in pursuance of a contract : The intermediary is a lawyer and spy of Rajapakses !

Why did Mahinda go to Malaysia as MEP member ?

(Lanka-e-News -09.Sep.2016, 8.00AM) Following the investigations into the attack launched on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Malaysia , Ibrahim Ansar and the second secretary Majintha Jayasinghe based on the premise that it was by a Tamil group in pursuance of a contract , it has now come to light the intermediary who arranged the contract is a lawyer who is an ace stooge and conspirator of the Rajapakses.

This villain of a lawyer while pretending that he is doing a research on terrorism and political violence , has in fact been coordinating between the extremists and Rajapakses. This villain is an M.P. and secured foreign education on a scholarship.

Later , he associated himself with a media Institution while acting as a spy for the Rajapakse regime . After establishing links with the UNP which was in the opposition at that time acted as an intermediary then too to induce and influence UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake to somersault to the Rajapakse camp during the last presidential elections, which eventually led to Attanayake’s political suicide .

It is a well known fact that the Rajapakses previously too exploited the Tamil Diaspora to promote their extremist policies. When Mahinda Rajapakse was president , it was a prominent multi millionaire phone network owner who spent many millions for the pro LTTE protestors in England , on behalf of Rajapakses. He is a Tamil business tycoon who carried on a colossal telephone communication business with England , India and SL , as the main countries in his operations.

Investigations are under way to ascertain those who financed the extremists’ contract in Malaysia , though Lanka e news had still not received the accurate details so far. In any event following interrogation of the suspects now in custody , and investigations into their communications, it has come to light the villain of a lawyer mentioned hereinbefore has acted as the intermediary.

It is being suspected that Mahinda Rajapkse after knowing that the 65 th convention of the SLFP was going to be a roaring success , and the disadvantages that are going to militate against him thereby , went to Malaysia after making preparations and plans to stoke the opposition of Tamil extremists there , and exploit it .

What has created the gravest suspicion surrounding Mahinda’s tour is , while it was a convention of the representatives of political parties of Malaysia that was held , yet Mahinda has not represented the SLFP party, and he had participated in the convention as a member of Dinesh Gunwardena’s MEP party. It is therefore a crucial question , why did Mahinda Rajapakse hide the truth and tell the Malaysian officials he is a member of the MEP ?

Moreover the conduct of Ansar the victim who is a lickspittle of Rajapakse is also most suspicion ridden. Even after seeing the protestors gathered at the Airport in the morning , why was the Malaysian security division not informed, and he had the need to go to the Airport again during noon. Ansar failing to take even the minimum measures to protect himself and his group , as well as his behavior in a manner to provoke the protestors are also most suspicious . These issues have drawn the attention of the investigators .

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by (2016-09-09 02:39:06)

Two charged over assault on SL envoy at

KLIA

2016-09-09

Two men were charged in the Sessions Court in Sepang today with rioting and causing hurt on Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Malaysia Ibrahim Sahib Ansar last Sunday.

Businessman A Kalaimughilan, 25, and taxi driver V Balamurugan, 34, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read out to them in Tamil, before judge Muhamad Faizal Ismail.

The two friends are jointly charged, with four others still at large, with committing the offence at Level 3, KL International Airport (KLIA), Sepang, Selangor, at 3pm last Sept 4.

They are charged under Section 147 of the Penal Code and face an imprisonment for up to two years, or fine, or, both, if found guilty.

The court allowed them bail of RM7,000 in one surety each and fixed Oct 7 for mention.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Fariza Hamzah, who prosecuted, requested bail at RM20,000 in one surety on grounds that the incident occurred at the entry point to the country and it could tarnish Malaysia’s image.

However, lawyer M Manoharan, representing the two accused, requested for a lower bail as his clients were from poor families and had their own families to support.

They are also Malaysians and with no previous record, he added. (Bernama)