Chanuka Ratwatte , Isira Dassanayake and Entrust Co. bigwigs remanded over Rs. 10,000 million colossal fraud ! LeN expose`

Rajapakse siblings were biggest beneficiaries !!

(Lanka-e-News -16.Sep.2016, 11.30PM) The largest financial fraud in Sri Lanka’s history running to the tune of over Rs. 10720 million (over Rs. 10 billion ) ! committed by ace rogues cum fraudsters  including Chanuka Upendra Ratwatte (brother of Lohan Ratwatte M.P.) , Isira Dharmapriya Bandara Dasanayake (chairman)  , Ms. Romesha Dushanthi Senarath (CEO of the group ) ,Kathhera Pathirathnalage Nandika Sanjeewa Dayaratne ,and Madushan Niloshan Romelo Mendis  of    of  ‘Entrust group of companies’, ,has been  detected by the FCID .

All the suspects were arrested by the FCID on the 14 th noon , and were remanded until the 28 th of September after they were produced before court. The order was issued by Colombo Fort magistrate Ms.Lanka Jayaratne.

These ace fraudsters are the chiefs of Entrust group of companies .Entrust securities PLC Co. which belongs to this group is registered as a Central Bank (CB) primary dealer with the Central bank , and is run with the complete and direct   monitoring   of the  Central Bank .

The EPF and pension fund of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) were  invested  in that Co., as well as the funds of about nearly 350 depositors of the CB regional development department . All these funds have been misappropriated by Entrust group , without depositing  those funds   in  the Central bank.  The FCID revealed this information to court , and charges were  filed against them under the Penal code for criminal breach of trust , and under the money laundering Act.

This fraud had been raging for some time , and it is the former CB Governor Arjun Mahendran who discovered this and lodged a complaint . We salute him on that account.

The Entrust  securities Co belonged to the Ceylinco group , and Isira Dharmapriya Bandara Dassanayake alias Isira Dassanayake the No. one stooge of the Rajapakses during the period 2008-2009 , and  present chairman of the Co. has initially crept into the Directorate of the Co. using the influence and power of the corrupt and crooked Rajapakses , and subsequently functioned as  additional secretary of the CEB.

Sisira who is also a close pal of the then minister of power John Seneviratne prior to creeping into the Entrust Co. Director Board , using his powers as an officer and minister’s patronage had invested Rs. 2.3 billion of the EPF fund of the CEB in Central Bank  treasury bills . With the  support of the officers under whom the EPF of the CEB was , through Entrust Co. the monies had been invested in Treasury bills . He had thereafter  robbed those funds in broad daylight ,by  resorting to  surreptitious activities later.

How CEB’s EPF funds in a sum of Rs. 2300 million  were gobbled up with ex minister of power John Seneviratne’s knowledge ! 

Firstly , the EPF funds of the CEB were invested in treasury bonds. Isira  had then most craftily through his close friend – the minister, and the Rajapakse regime ( undisputed ‘Kings’ of frauds and  rackets) he had become a member of the Directorate of the Co.  , and within a few months assumed duties  as  chairman of that Co. 

Ms. Romesha Senarath the notorious Queen of rackets got herself appointed as the CEO of this Co. , and with  her assistance  a sum of Rs. 2300 million of the CEB was collected back  without the knowledge of the CEB via treasury bonds.  This colossal sum went to line the pockets of the Board of Directors.

The employees of the CEB were not aware of the fact that these monies  have been withdrawn by these rogues and rascals from the treasury bond investment. These rogues have painted the picture to the poor employees  that those monies are still in the treasury bond investment , and have been granting  the exact  interest exactly on time for these amounts while  continuing to commit these daylight colossal robberies.

The robbing  troika comprising the Central Bank officials , the minister of power at that time and CEB officers have jointly committed this most traitorous robbery. These culprits have uninterruptedly continued with this racket until 2015-01-08 , and enjoyed these illicit benefits . However after the advent of the good governance government ,the CEB  trade union had probed into these funds , when it was discovered these monies are not in existence as treasury bond investments., and  those have been withdrawn in 2009 fraudulently. In addition to the CEB fund misappropriations , even the funds of Central bank regional development that were deposited with   Entrust Co. 

The total amount when added together is a whopping Rs. 4223 million ! A further sum 0f Rs. 6500 million of private companies and the public have also been invested in Central Bank treasury bonds and bills via  this same Co. Even those monies have been robbed wholesale by this Co. Based on all these reckless and ruthless robberies , the total amount robbed is over  Rs. 10720 million ! Investigations into these monumental racket is still not over. 

How the monies robbed by Ratwattes were spent lavishly on Yoshitha the other accomplished crook 

Under the pretext of lending the monies of this Co. to other establishments , the funds have been ‘pulled’ out  , and hundreds  of millions spent on the Rajapakse regime’s elections, as well as for   the Rugby Tamashas of Alibaba’s crooked ‘Babies.’ Chanuka Ratwatte , Isira Dassanayake , Ms. Romesha Senarath who are  the high ups of the Co., and the members of the Board, as well as the personal secretary of the chairman , Ms.  Samadhi Ferdinando better known as chairman’s ‘lap-top’ working  best when  chairman’s ‘mouse’ is at play,  have got together and cheated on a monumental scale while also wasting most prodigally . 

Isira resides at JAIC Hilton Hotel super luxury apartment complex. He travels by helicopter , and has a dozen Race horses at Nuwara Eliya .To look after them millions of rupees are spent . He has a fleet of BMW , Benz cars etc. and a dozen bodyguards . Moreover he has fixed assets and a 2000 acre land in Central Nuwara Eliya  .

Chanuka Ratwatte the great pretender wore a pair of rubber slippers when he arrived  yesterday .He has profligately spent on   Yoshitha Rajapakse who is going to marry the daughter of his brother Lohan Ratwatte. He had gifted   2 super luxury BMW cars for  Yoshitha, which is apart from the colossal sums spent towards Yoshitha’s Rugby mania . As official owners of the Western Warriors team this Co. had met all the huge expenses of the team in the Carlton super 7’s Rugby tournament.  He had also spent in many millions for Yoshitha’s purchases  at Auctions .It is worthy of note ,at the last presidential elections 2015 , billions of robbed public funds were spent . 

Romesha the Queen of robbers and  the CEO of the company resides at 320, Union place , in an “Onthree ‘ apartment  belonging to John Keels , She has bought two apartments each priced at Rs. 60-70 million . The monthly salary of hers during the final term of office was about Rs. 3 to 4 million ! Perhaps she is the CEO who is drawing the highest salary in SL. This amount was paid to her to create the environment on the sly to facilitate the frauds , and for counseling.

Samadhi Fernando the personal secretary of Isiri has also been disbursed  many millions of rupees . Her residence was at Narahenpita Trillium residencies  , and travelled in  multimillion rupees worth  vehicles .

It is most significant to note none of them were born rich . Hence they had enjoyed to the hilt only by cheating on the colossal EPF  funds of poor workers , and of innocent depositors . Their hard earned monies had been  robbed ruthlessly and recklessly.

Central bank in deep trouble because of the frauds and perfidies of Ratwattes

Central bank being the prime bank has the capacity to  utilize its funds in treasury bills and bonds of other establishments with accompanying  security   in Re repo purchases  through treasury bonds , Sadly , they have not acted accordingly.

The monies collected from depositors purportedly to deposit in Central bank securities , had been fraudulently lent to other companies while showing spurious securities. Investigations have revealed , those monies have not even gone into accounts of those companies. In other words , treating the depositors’ monies as an open check , these outrageous  crooks have lined their pockets and committed day light robbery  without even depositing into the accounts of companies which borrowed. The amount involved is as huge as about Rs. 10 billion !

Owing to this massive  fraud, the Central Bank is like a cat on hot bricks , because the public invested  in the treasury bonds or treasury  bills of the bank, and Entrust Co . is an intermediary approved by the CB . It is to be noted that monies cannot be directly invested with   the Central Bank . There must be an intermediary Co. The Central bank is responsible to provide securities only  to  investments made through intermediaries in CB treasury   bonds or bills . That is why such investments are ‘Risk free investments’ , because those are generally possessed of  the Central Bank gilt edged security .However , this is the first time in world history the Rajapakse regime made Central bank gilt edged security treasury bonds and bills into  risk ridden investments. Unfortunately , it is the present government that has to bear the brunt of that burden too !

The FCID that changed the general view hitherto of the masses that when frauds are committed , it is only sprats that get caught in the net , and not  the bandicoots and sharks , must be thanked  profusely, and given a pat on the back.

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by     (2016-09-16 19:21:22)

Fire destroys Kilinochchi market

A fire has destroyed shops and stalls at Kilinochchi market on Friday evening, after local fire services struggled to bring the blaze under control.  

17 Sep  2016-

It is not known how the fire, which broke out at midnight started. 

Locals have criticised the inadequacy of equipment available to the fire services, who had to call in the military to help tackle the blaze. 

Market vendors, many who had only started to rebuild their lives after the end of the armed conflict, have been left with nothing but ashes. 

BBC journalist who says he was sacked for telling the truth about Sri Lankan civil war wins unfair dismissal appeal

By Dominic Ponsford-SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

A BBC World Service journalist who claims he was sacked for favouring coverage about the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils has won an appeal and successfully argued that he was unfairly dismissed.

Chandana Bandara lost his job on 15 August 2014 after he declined to put a story out on the BBC Sinhala service website about the birth of Prince George.

He decided not to prioritise the royal birth story, partly – he said – because it was the 30th anniversary of Black July (a wave of anti-Tamil violence that saw thousands killed in Sri Lanka).

The tribunal appeal found that BBC bosses erred by giving him a final written warning following the Prince George incident, despite his previously good disciplinary record over the previous 18 years.

Among those to give evidence on his behalf were Callum Macrae, an award-winning documentary maker who has chronicled the targeting of civilian Tamils at the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2008/2009.

Asked for a comment, he told Press Gazette today: “I’m delighted that Bandara has been vindicated. This really was a shameful episode.

 

“It seemed very clear that the BBC Sinhala service gave the impression of toeing the government line, particularly when it came to the tragic events at the end of the war.

“Bandara’s attempts to tell the truth, a truth that’s now been vindicated by various UN inquiries, was stymied by editorial decisions which – for whatever reason – appeared to be consistent with the interests of the discredited government.”

Macrae’s documentary No Fly Zone chronicled how thousands of Tamil civilians were killed by government shelling at the end of the Sri Lankan civil war.

Bandara claimed he was unfairly targeted because of his belief that the Tamil people of Sri Lanka have been persecuted by the Sinhala-dominant government.

Most his colleagues were said to be of Sinhalese, rather than Tamil, heritage.

He said: “I am delighted and very relieved to have been vindicated by this result.

“Trying to tell the truth about what was happening in Sri Lanka in the face of constant criticism and editorial interference was a difficult and painful experience.

“Having to then spend two years trying to clear my name and restore my reputation as a committed and professional journalist was even worse.

“I’d like to thank everyone who believed in me and supported me throughout this process.”

A spokesperson for the BBC World Service said: “We are disappointed with the outcome on the unfair dismissal claim.  The BBC takes disciplinary matters very seriously.

 

“We are waiting for a full decision from the tribunal, which we will review carefully.”

A remedies hearing today was set to decide what compensation Bandara is entitled to.

CID To Question Shiranthi Rajapaksa Over Murder Of Wasim Thajudeen

September 17, 2016

The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) will question former First Lady, Shiranthi Rajapaksa over the murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen.

The Colombo Telegraph learns that along with the former first lady, her second son, Yoshitha will also be questioned with regard to a defender jeep used in the killing. The CID will question both Shiranthi and Yoshitha on the defender jeep believed to have been used in the abduction of Thajudeen. The vehicle which belonged to the Red Cross Society of Sri Lanka was donated to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation chaired by the former first lady. However, the defender jeep bearing WP – KA 0642 which was originally white, was repainted when it was used by the Siriliya Saviya Foundation for unknown reasons.

The CID during investigations had pointed out that changing the colour of the vehicle was highly suspicious as the vehicle was in very good condition and was only utilized for supposedly social service work by the foundation. According to the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations, the Siriliya Saviya is headquartered at the Carlton Bungalow in Tangalle.

Through the Court, the CID had also requested for a comprehensive analytical report from the Government Analyst after they received confirmation that the colour of the vehicle had been changed.

Rajapaksa’s eldest son, Namal and second son, Yoshitha, who are both currently out on bail in separate financial fraud and money laundering cases are alleged to have played a major role in Thajudeen’s murder. They have denied the allegations.

However, the investigation suffered a setback after the British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science recently ruled that the CCTV footage of the killing was unclear due to the low resolution and low pixels of the video hence they are unable to make a conclusive determination of the incident.

During the investigation it also came to light that on the day of the murder, the then OIC of the Narahenpita Police received several telephones calls from the Presidential Secretariat. However, the officers attached to the secretariat handling telephone calls at that time had deleted the phone records and they had resigned following the change in the Presidency last year. Former Senior DIG Anura Senanayake and former Crimes OIC of the Narahenpita Police Sumith Perera are currently in remand custody for concealing evidence with regard to Thajudeen’s murder.

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On calling a spade a spade

On calling a spade a spade

by Uditha Devapriya -Thursday, September 15, 2016

I hadn’t met him when I wrote on what he did. Hadn’t talked to him, hadn’t shared a conversation or for that matter even texted to him. I wrote on him because someone I know told me to, and also because having comprehended what he had done, I felt he deserved an article. So at a time when rapists, criminals, and pilferers parading as politicians got free airtime whenever they wrecked havoc, I read on what he did, understood the rationale behind it, and wrote.

Since then I’ve talked with the man. I’ve met him, kept myself updated on what he’s doing, and prayed that there’ll be an end to all his efforts. And not for nothing. For M. S. H. Mohomed, whom I wrote on to Colombo Telegraph a few months back, remains a hero we can call our own: a citizen of the world and of this country. He did what others could only have dreamt of a year back. He raised money for a much needed machine at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital: a PET Scanner. And he raised the amount that was needed within three months.

Three months, ladies and gentlemen. Lesser things have been committed within that period. Things you and I wouldn’t normally talk about but would, for the sake of propriety, sweep under the proverbial carpet. And as for the amount raised, it’s not a matter of a million or even 10: we’re talking about 300 million rupees, collected to give a chance to the poor of this country, a chance to speed up the detection and diagnosis of cancer. I suppose it takes the kind of push Mohomed was able to bring about to collect that amount of money, because after all we’re not merely talking about a couple of generous donors but the entire country, including people from all walks of life, ethnicities, and faiths, giving their share with no strings attached.

Going by this, one can be forgiven for thinking that all that’s done and dusted. One can be forgiven for believing (like me) that the PET Scanner is finally in Maharagama, that the poor of this country will get the opportunity they deserve, and that the machine won’t be open to the privileged only.

As things have turned out however, the Scanner hasn’t come here. Not by a long shot.

But before all that, here are some facts. Some hard, inscrutable facts. Ordering a PET Scanner isn’t as easy as ordering a car. There’s work to be done and time to spend. You can’t go in your private capacity as a citizen either: you must order it through the Ministry of Health. And to order it through the Ministry, you need to go through their inevitable (yet deplorable) “procedure” (doublespeak for “red tape”). Mohomed was kind enough to furnish me with the details, so here they are.

First and foremost, a Tender Committee needs to be appointed for the tender process. Once the tender is called, you have to wait 42 days (a statutory requirement) before you close it. Then the tender has to be approved by the Tender Board, which can take anywhere between two weeks and two months. The Minister’s final approval takes another two to four months, after which the Scanner finally gets ordered.

But that’s not all. Ordering a Scanner isn’t as easy as it sounds. You first need to open a Letter of Credit. You then need to tell the manufacturer who scraped through the tender process to assemble if as per the requirements of our hospital. That takes about two months. Shipping it takes another two to three weeks, fixing it in the hospital takes another six, while radiologists at the Cancer Hospital need to be trained to handle it. In the meantime, you need to import fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), a chemical used in the machine, from India.

And then there’s the hospital itself. You can’t move the machine into it as you would another machine. You need to move it into another building and what’s more, you need approval from the Atomic Energy Board, after which you can finally get the machine down. And that after more than 50 weeks, 12 months, or one year.

It took three months for Mohomed to raise 300 million rupees. It’s been three months since he did. So what’s been achieved by the Ministry until now? I believe Mohomed should be quoted here: “Only the appointment of a Tender Committee.”

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Only the appointment of a Tender Committee. A Committee with a bunch of people who only have to oversee the tender process. A bunch of people who could have been easily appointed based on their merit.

Let me put that into perspective for you: it takes about a year to complete the installation of the PET Scanner, and three months of that period have been spent appointing a blessed Committee.

The Miracle of Asia, ladies and gentlemen. The Miracle of Asia.

And that’s not all. Consider this: Sri Lanka has about 100,000 cancer patients. Every year about 20,000 more are diagnosed. Half of them die. At any given point, there are 300 hundred doctors tending to them, laid down on more than 1,100 beds. Couple that with other stark realities, like the fact that most of the machines at the Cancer Hospital are malfunctioning, or the fact that it lacks major and vital diagnostic equipment, and you get the whole picture.

Yes, you do. And all this time, our officials, those who pride themselves as the “rajya sevakayo” and “deshi hithayishi” mandarins, are busy making mountains out of molehills and appointing officials. They are more concerned about who gets appointed to the Committee than the 20,000 people who are diagnosed and the 10,000 people who die.

I suppose it’s unbecoming of me to say this, but say it I will: the Ministry of Health has blood splattered on its hands and on the hands of its officials for every minute they delay the process to get in the PET Scanner. They are insulting the intelligence of the common man. They are also insulting that of those who gave their time and money to a cause. Was it worthwhile? Of course, but if the Ministry doesn’t take stock of that, who will?

And who to blame? Certainly not the Minister, who’ll clean his hands of the matter and say, “Not my responsibility!” Not the Ministry, which will probably amble along at its own measured pace and give the proverbial finger to those who are dying and are unable to get themselves treated. And not the officials of those little, little Committees, who should (I strongly believe) be made to undergo the same punishment those they condemn to death by omission and delay are, through no fault of their own, going through.

No, this isn’t an attempt at Zola’s “J’Accuse!” I accuse no one. Know why? Because I don’t care. I’ve cared and so have my countrymen. Enough is enough. We should call a spade a spade and get this country going. And if that means lambasting officials who are less concerned about people than about Committees, count me in. I’ll be more than happy to join the cause. And do the needful.

Uditha Devapriya is a freelance writer who can be reached at udakdev1@gmail.com. His articles can be accessed at fragmenteyes.blogspot.com

Strength in unity - Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne

 Sep 17, 2016

Some say dealing with the military had been a delicate tight-rope walk for President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who have been treading carefully not to upset any body in the armed forces while they dedicatedly take steps to implement the programme for national reconciliation. This coordinated action is one of the key points in the present national government. 

Mahinda is most upset about this powerful combination; hence he rattles that the state should be governed either by President Maithripala Sirisena or Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe without contradicting each other. He is introducing contradictions where there is none. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said this while speaking to the media at the launch of a book by Edward Chandrasiri at the Public Library, Colombo.

 

Contradictory statements 

 

He said the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers were making contradictory statements on issues relating to the country and that showed the coalition government had no plan for the country. However the strongest point of the present coalition is the unity of action in relation to the Tamil national problem. Entire history of Lanka shows that lack of calm and rational coordination in relation to Tamil national problem, between the two major parties created disaster after disaster.

 

At this moment of history two men from widely different back grounds and with different political experience have come to participate in a radical liberal programme that could shake the politics of South Asia. Obviously the fascistic leader is really upset and very angry. 

 

He said that the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had joined together only to share power and not to work for the nation. While warning that the country is being dragged towards a very dangerous situation, Mahinda said he would never support a government that kneels before the international community! Of course he cannot bear to see the support given by the democratic masses world over for Maithree and Ranil. He knows however, some of the high profile murders such as the Lasantha Wickrematunga and the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda point to the involvement of military intelligence personnel, during his rule. On the other hand, Police have reported to courts that the military was uncooperative despite assurances from army Chief Chrishantha De Silva that they will support the investigations. Thus there is suspicion that a pro Mahinda fascistic group is still operating under cover in security forces.

 

Still it is not clear if the military has initiated internal disciplinary action against any of the military intelligence men who have been implicated in murder and abduction. There has been no known purge in the military since the former administration removed a large number of officers and men who were said to have been either directly or indirectly supportive of Sarath Fonseka who challenged ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2010 elections. 

 

Former administration

 

It is in this scenario what President Maithripala Sirisena said about those who criticize him is important. He asked, what would have been the situation of this country if the January 8 transformation had not taken place. “Without experiencing that eventuality, some people criticize the actions taken by the government to face the critical economic crisis and the issues raised by the international community”, he said. He invited them to present possible solutions for these issues instead of criticizing!

Meethalawa crook Mahindananda who used his illicit earnings to purchase assets in wife ‘s name remanded.!

(Lanka-e-News- 17.Sep.2016, 11.00PM) Former Sports Minister  Mahindananda Aluthgamage who could not explain how he collected  a sum of Rs.27 million to buy a super luxury house   (condominium) assessment No. 70 3/1  at Kynsey road , Colombo 07 was arrested Thursday. Mahindananda who was questioned over  a long period of time in the past by the CID was arrested, , and remanded until the 22 nd after he was produced before court . He is charged under the money laundering Act.

Colombo chief magistrate court additional magistrate Nishantha Pieris issued the order to remand Mahindananda.

It was Mahindananda’s wife who first exposed his corruption . The complaint against Mahindananda was lodged with the CID by the convener of anti corruption Front Vasantha Samarasinghe.

Following investigations it has come to light that Mahindananda had out of his illicit earnings bought the house at Kynsey Road for Rs. 27 million , and the payment has been made through his account at the bank branch located in the Parliament . In addition he has similarly earned a further sum of Rs. 10 million by unlawful means the CID revealed to court.

The CID also told court that investigations are on going in regard to some more properties he had purchased out of illegal earnings.

Meethalawa fraudster’s background..

Meethalawa Mahindananda began his career as business promotion officer at The Finance Co. at a monthly salary of Rs. 1500.00 . The amount of assets he amassed after becoming the minister are given herein . (These are the so called  people’s representatives who enter parliament to fatten on death and despair of the people !).

In 2012 during the divorce proceedings against his wife he himself has given in writing al list and the values of the properties to Kaduwela court . When making submissions to the court he had himself admitted  these properties were taken in his wife’s name with Mahindananda’s consent .In Aluthgamage’s statement it is mentioned though the nominal owner by name of these properties are his wife , truly he is the owner . The value of the properties so purchased in his wife’s name in 2012 is about Rs. 85.65 million!

Land  12 perches in extent at George R De Silva Mawatha , Kandy.  Value Rs. 300,000.00

Land 3.5 perches in extent at George R De Silva Mawata , Kandy – value Rs. 150,000.00

Land 18.3 perches  in extent at George R De Silva Mawata , Kandy value Rs. I million

Property  15.57 perches in extent at 15/1 , Chandra Wettasinghe mawatha ,  Nawala  .Value Rs. 10 million

Two houses 15/31 B and 15/31 at  3rd lane ,Chandra Wettasinghe mawatha ,  Nawala  both value Rs. 8.7 million

Land 20.85 perches in extent at 66,  Kuruppu Road , Borella value Rs. 10 million

House No. 153 9/2 at Trillium residencies  ,Elvitigala Mawatha , Colombo 08 -value Rs. 28.5 million.

Land at 70 3/1 a Kynsey road , Colombo 07  .Value Rs. 27 million 

What were revealed to court today were details of these assets  only. 

A copy of the the written submissions made by Mahindananda himself in the divorce suit can be viewed by clicking here 

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by     (2016-09-17 18:03:22)

Uduvil Girls’ College, Politics Of Education & The Challenges Facing Private Schools

By Niyanthini Kadirgamar and Esther Surenthiraraj –September 16, 2016 

Images of the week-long protest held by the Students of Uduvil Girls’ College (UGC), filling the news last week, have spread beyond the community of Uduvil. The issue is now of wider social concern and has led to a debate about the role of private schools and future of education in Sri Lanka.

The students’ protest and demands received support from parents, and UGC alumni, although they were disregarded by the school’s Management Board. As tension mounted, other groups including the Ceylon Teachers Union expressed concern and condemned violent actions to suppress student dissent. Subsequently, the students appealed to various actors including President Sirisena himself, while he was on a visit to Jaffna.

In the highly politicised and sensationalised reporting of the events, the concerns of the parents and students who are most impacted by the school were drowned out. Parents and students are concerned about the quality of education, of accountability for abuses against students, curtailing the interference of church politics, and democratising the management of the school.

At a time during which the reports of the event involve a focus on factional Tamil politics and political groups attempted to use these incidents for their own gain, we would like to bring into the discussion the demands of the students and parents, and situate the UGC students’ act of resistance amidst broader social concerns. The students’ courageous protests have created a moment for public reflection on the politics of education, privatisation, and the challenges of women’s education.

Uduvil Girls’ College and the church

Many Christian missionary schools were established in Jaffna in the 19th century. Among them, the American Ceylon Mission (AMC) was the first to establish missionary schools and an institution for higher studies in Jaffna. Such institutions became the centres from which individuals and communities emerged with strong institutional loyalties and commitment to communities. They served as educationists, government servants, priests and medical officers, as well as scholars and writers in the Tamil and English languages.

Stories of unforgettable personalities and admirable leaders are often recalled by the generations who have passed through these institutions. Although battered by the war, migration and multiple displacements, many of these institutions continue to survive, adapting themselves to socioeconomic and political conditions.

UGC was established in 1824 by the AMC, and became the first boarding school for girls in Asia. Institutions set up by the AMC later became affiliated with the Church of South India. Currently, both Jaffna College and UGC are managed by separate Boards of Directors that include members of the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JD CSI), although funding for the school is provided by the parent body of the AMC in Boston.

The split within the church which occurred due to conflicts over the appointment of the present Bishop and the formation of another church (Church of the American Ceylon Mission), further complicates the structure and management of the school. Indeed, the history of missionary schools has had its share of strife and controversies. This is the context for the current crisis at UGC.

The issue has emerged in the public eye as one of disagreement over the decision to appoint a new Principal by the Board which argues that the current Principal has reached her retirement age, and a plea to reappoint her by those who are protesting this decision. However, the real problems of the school are deeply rooted in the structure and management of the institution. Behind the request for the extension of the term of the former Principal, in addition to acknowledging her valuable contribution, is the fear of a further deterioration of the school.

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Israel Accepts a Day In Court

Why the Israeli government is taking the unprecedented step of allowing International Criminal Court officials to visit the country.

BY DAVID BOSCO-SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations last year, he immediately pilloried the world organization for being “obsessively hostile” to Israel. How is it, he asked, that the General Assembly could pass 20 resolutions criticizing Israel, compared to only one about Syria? In his assessment of the UN, at least, Netanyahu spoke for most of his people: A recent survey found that 70 percent of Israelis viewed the organization unfavorably. But if there’s a global institution Israelis suspect more than the UN, it might just be the International Criminal Court (ICC). Since the court’s creation in the late 1990s, Israeli officials have worried that adversaries would employ the ICC as a new weapon in their struggle. And while most UN bodies can only pass toothless resolutions, the ICC can issue arrest warrants with real consequences for Israelis.

Given all this, why is Israel now cooperating with the court in unprecedented ways? Last week, the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that it would allow ICC officials to visit the country as part of an assessment into the situation in Palestine, including the 2014 war in Gaza. The details of the visit are still in the works, but the announcement marked a dramatic departure from Israel’s posture last year, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the ICC probe “absurd.”

Has Netanyahu changed his mind? Is Israel now convinced that the ICC has a productive role to play in the region? In fact, Israel’s détente with the court is the result of legal pragmatism and geopolitics — and the relationship could still go badly wrong.

A series of moves made ICC scrutiny of the Middle East conflict possible. Most importantly, the U.N. General Assembly in late 2012 recognized Palestine as a “nonmember observer state.” That vote in turn allowed the ICC to recognize the Palestinian Authority’s declaration granting the court jurisdiction over its territory. Shortly after Palestine did so, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened a preliminary examination — a necessary first step to a full investigation.

No Israeli officials are going to be indicted by the ICC anytime soon, but international investigators are now analyzing whether Israelis — and Palestinians — committed serious crimes in Palestinian territory. Palestinian officials — as well as many human rights observers — have accused Israel of a range of violations during its July 2014 offensive in Gaza, including targeting civilian facilities and using excessive force. Most observers agree that Hamas is even more vulnerable to prosecution, but its leaders have publicly backedan ICC probe.

If Bensouda finds that war crimes did take place in Palestinian territory, she will have to decide whether or not national courts are adequately investigating and prosecuting them. Israel’s own inquiries into its operation in Gaza have so far ended without significant prosecutions, leading tocharges that it is shielding its forces from accountability.

Even more troubling for Israel is the possibility that its continuing settlement activity in the West Bank may constitute war crimes. The ICC’s founding document includes the crime of “directly or indirectly” transferring civilian populations to occupied territory. If the ICC determines that Israeli settlement policy matches that description, senior Israeli officials, including the prime minister, could face charges. Given the stakes — and Israel’s own suspicions about the ICC — Netanyahu’s government was no doubt sorely tempted to stiff the court by denying its officials access to Israeli territory.

But Israel’s cautious welcome is the savvier approach. The ICC’s inquiry remains preliminary, which means investigators won’t be interviewing witnesses or gathering other evidence during their time in Israel. But they will undoubtedly get a full exposition of the country’s legal arguments regarding the ICC’s jurisdictional limitations and the Israel Defense Forces’ internal investigations, which Israel will argue are thorough, independent, and credible.

Israel is likely calculating that openness may help foster a more sympathetic hearing from the prosecutor’s office. And if not, Israel hasn’t lost anything. It has maintained its position that the ICC doesn’t have jurisdiction and could quickly revert to a policy of noncooperation.

Another factor encouraging a flexible Israeli policy is the evolving U.S. relationship with the ICC. The Israeli stance toward the court has thus far closely tracked with U.S. policy: When Bill Clinton’s administration signed the Rome Statute establishing the ICC in 2000, but said it didn’t intend to ratify it, Israel followed suit. When George W. Bush’s administration “unsigned” the statute in 2002, Israel did the same.

But U.S. policy has become friendlier to the court in the ensuing years. In its second term, the Bush administration backed away from its hostility to the court, and Barack Obama’s administration has taken additional steps to foster cooperation. In particular, U.S. officials helped facilitate the transfer of several indicted persons to the court, including a Congolese warlord whoturned up at the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda. The United States faces its owninconvenient ICC inquiry into U.S. detainee policy in Afghanistan, and the Obama administration has responded by quietly exchanging information with the court rather than simply slamming the door.

The closer relationship between Israel’s most important ally and the international court means that Israel needs to tread carefully.The United States clearly has no desire for a full investigation in Palestine. The State Department denounced Palestine’s move to join the ICC and criticized Bensouda for opening a preliminary examination. But Washington also wants to avoid an open confrontation between its ally and the ICC.

That possibility remains very real. If the court decides to launch a full investigation, Israeli officials will no doubt revive their arguments that the court is politicized, illegitimate, and operating beyond its mandate to target Israel. Israeli officials have sought in the past to enlist U.S. help in restraining or punishing the court — and can be expected to do so again, if they feel threatened by it.

In other words, ICC officials should make the most of their upcoming trip to Israel. A return invitation is far from certain.

HAZEM BADER/AFP/Getty Images

Video: Israeli sniper shoots youth during assault on refugee camp

  Ali Abunimah-16 September 2016

This video shows part of an incident in which an Israeli military sniper severely wounded 22-year-old Palestinian Muhammad al-Amsi during a massive army raid on al-Fawwar refugee camp in the southern West Bank city of Hebron in mid-August.

Al-Amsi was standing on his roof talking on the telephone when the sniper shot him four times.

It was filmed by Mahmoud Abu Yousef, a videographer with the Ma’an News Agency, and published on Friday by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem as part of a report into the Israeli raid in which another youth, 19-year-old Muhammad Abu Hashhash, was shot dead by Israeli forces.

A separate B’Tselem investigation has found that Abu Hashhash was killed as he posed no danger to anyone.

Meanwhile, two Palestinians and a Jordanian citizen – one reportedly 15 years old – were shot dead by Israeli forces on Friday in separate incidents. Another Palestinian was shot dead on Saturday morning. On Thursday, a person died from wounds he received when Israeli forces shot him during a raid on his village. Last week, a Palestinian youth was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Relatives of 18-year-old Abd al-Rahman al-Dabbagh mourn during his funeral in the central Gaza Strip on 10 September. The youth was shot dead by Israeli forces the day before, during a protest near the boundary fence with Israel.Ashraf AmraAPA images

Muhammad Abu Hashhash

“Where do you want it?”

In addition to the killing of Abu Hashhash, B’Tselem found that 32 Palestinians were injured during the raid on al-Fawwar refugee camp that lasted from the pre-dawn hours of 16 August until late into the evening. Israeli occupation forces searched more than 150 homes and took positions on the rooftops of dozens of them.

“During most of the intrusions into homes, the soldiers closed all family members off in a single room or section of the house for several hours,” B’Tselem reported. “Soldiers broke windows, doors and walls and damaged property in 28 of the homes they invaded.”

The Israeli raid was allegedly meant to search for individuals wanted for questioning and to look for weapons. Three Palestinians were detained and two guns were found.

But the massive scale and lethal brutality of the assault raised suspicions among camp residents that they were actually being used as live guinea pigs for a training exercise.

One of the homes Israeli forces occupied was in Muhammad al-Amsi’s neighborhood. A sniper and a lookout took positions on one of the top balconies. Al-Amsi was standing on the roof of his own house, talking on a mobile phone when, he says, the sniper on the adjacent house shouted at him, “Where do you want it?”

“I took that to mean what part of my body I wanted him to aim the bullet at,” al-Amsi told B’Tselem’s field researcher. “I retreated a little, and sat down cross legged, but I felt that I’d been hit in the left leg, in the calf under the knee, and I heard a gunshot, not very loud. A few seconds later, I heard another shot and felt another hit in the same leg, this time in the thigh. A few more seconds after that, I was hit by another bullet in the right thigh.”

“I crawled from the corner I was in for a few meters, and shouted to the soldier. I asked him to stop shooting,” al-Amsi recalled. “Stop … Enough … Enough.”

But the soldier shot another bullet that hit the phone al-Amsi was holding, penetrating his hand.

Eyewitnesses and the video corroborate al-Amsi’s account, according to B’Tselem. Al-Amsi suffered severe injuries that required surgery on both of his legs. The severity of the wounds required him to be transferred to the Ramallah Medical Center, where he remained for 10 days.

His shooting is reminiscent of a pattern of deliberate woundings by Israeli occupation forces of Palestinian youths elsewhere in the West Bank, apparently intended to cause severe injuries or permanent disabilities.

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