Winning ‘Hearts & Mind’ Of The South – A Challenge To Tamils Living In Sri Lanka & Its Polity

By Arun Kumaresan –September 20, 2016 

Arun Kumaresan – Air Vice Marshal (Ret’d)

The word ‘Hearts and Minds’ was first used by a French General Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyaute in1870’s to counter the Black Flags rebellion in Indo China-Chinese border to gain much needed levy within the subjected population. This concept was also the cornerstone of the KESBAN; the strategy of Security and Development in countering Malayan emergency. British employed this concept with some success to eradicate the perceived feeling of seeing all Chinese as rebel communists by the majority Malay community. It was also used in Vietnam War and other campaigns, but the critics of this concept argue that it was used by aggressors to beautify conduct of a brutal war.

Of course, the above are in a conflict setting but concept of ‘Hearts and Minds’ has become more relevant in the post conflict Sri Lanka. The famous January 2015 revolution leading to ’Yahapalanaya’ regime came into power with much promise to win ‘Hearts and Minds’ of all Sri Lankans. Irrespective of the criticism of its momentum – there have been a considerable shift towards democratic and participatory governance. All stakeholders in executive, legislature and Judiciary operate with sufficient freedom that was in decline during the former era. It will be unfair to blame the former era alone as it all started since -in CBK’s parlance -1978 “Bahuobbotha” constitution of JRJ.

The great challenge for the reconciliation process is due to the perceptions and emotions that are generated in our mindsets both in individual and collective social setting. It creates a feeling of negativism in matters related to the other ethnicity; Sinhala viz-a-viz Tamil and vice versa. It has also transcended to create an anti-Indian feeling both in general and also in particular to issues related to Sri Lankans of Tamil ethnicity. It is very often overblown and has become a tool to raise emotions leading to hatred. Unfortunately, these negative emotions has transcended to the day to day life of all Sri Lankans

Recently, I had the benefit to receive a response from a Sri Lankan of Sinhalese ethnicity being annoyed with my suggestions on an unrelated matter where we had divergent views and he thought it fit to take a dig at me for mentioning the name of Mahatma Gandhi in one of my earlier articles in Colombo Telegraph. He said, quote“…Great to see you are praising a leader from India but forgetting all the great political and religious leaders mother Lanka produced during our rich and proud history”, without realizing the great Lord Gautama Buddha who taught us the art and science of living too was from the Indian sub continent.

Another friend of mine currently domiciled abroad, a Sinhalese and an ardent believer of Gospel also has great fears of India. He too had reservations of Dr Harsha De Silva’s project Ambulance service – as it is modeled on a functioning Indian system – that will open the gateway of bringing in Indians. Another fear he has is that there will be baby farms in North and East supported by India – of course his imagination has been running riot.

In another instant two Sri Lankans of Tamil ethnicity domiciled in USA at two different meetings post 2011 were vocal about the ability to coexist with Sinhalese and one an elderly medical officer was seemingly proud of their role with US state department in bringing in war crimes inquiry. I responded that nothing will happen as these are mere geo political maneuvers and if there were to be such inquiries that state department should first look at the mirror of their own conduct. The other was seemingly annoyed and degraded the Sri Lankan armed forces for which I gave him a belly full. In a social media post I was happy to see him recently in Colombo having gourmet food with his friends and looks that he has now got his appetite back.

Firstly, I respect all their views, as the above are examples that are in a mild setting – unlike many more that we here – from Gammanpila, Weerawansa and Sivajilingam likes – and it has to be taken seriously especially by the political authority and people of North and East. Whilst the feelings of the Tamils are being taken care of by the state, emotions of Sinhalese too needs attention as the past still haunts their minds.

Influence of India in Sri Lanka surpasses two millenniums. Sinhalese and Tamils have roots in India. Going by Mahawamsa, the arrival of King Vijaya has been recorded as an event that happened 2500 plus years ago. King Vijaya was a Bengali –not a Sinhalese – under the present day ethno classifications. Then Bengal encompassed present day Bangladesh and parts of Odessa. Some historians’ place the Kingdom Vijaya’s father was centered within the present day Bangladesh. Irrespective of some believers, Tamils too could have sea fared the narrow Palk Straits even before, similar to Vijaya and his clan’s voyage; the Mahawamsa records a King by the name of Elara, of Tamil origin who ruled over two millenniums ago. The question of who came first is irrelevant – chicken or egg- but the fact remains both arrived without the consent of the natives who were living from the era of Balangoda man – who was neither Sinhalese nor Tamil – but forced their way to make Sri Lanka their land for living – illegal boat people or kallathonis ; if it had happened now. To cut the long story short, the modern science depicts our anthropological linkage as follows: (Source: Wikipedia: Genetc Studies of Dr. SahaPapiha &Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya respectively)

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SRI LANKA ESTABLISHES ONE MORE INSTITUTION TO MANAGE INFORMATION

20/09/2016

Former Media Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar was appointed as the Chairman of the newly established National Media Centre (NMC), which comes under PM’s office. Government already controls two TV stations, number of Radio stations and huge print media institution Lake House. On the top of these media government operates  dozens of news websites which comes under different ministries.

Government says this new institution is to  have centralized system where information can be disseminated through accurate and reliable channels.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe table this proposal last month  to establish the  NMC to “provide complete, reliable and accurate official information to the public, through a centralized system,”  which was endorsed by the Cabinet.

The centre will come under  of the Prime Minister’s Office and Department of Government Information.

Bakeer Markar was  a Member of Parliament from the Kalutara District from 1989 to 2004, as well as a former Vice President of the United National Party (UNP), reports

 By SLB With the inputs of  Ceylon Today.

When thieves fall out 

by Somapala Gunadheera-September 20, 2016

I read The Island editorial of September 16, 2016, on the above caption, with avid interest. It was characteristically forthright and impartial. The discerning would find it as a whistleblower to those in power.

The editorial made the undeniable assumptions that the public perception was that bribery and corruption were rampant under the previous government and that some holding ministerial posts in the current Government had apparently been able to cleanse themselves of their sins to all intents and purposes. In the background of the SC order to take action against Namal Rajapaksha for defying the summons of the CIABOC, the editorial raises the question whether any member of the present Government defying the summons of the same Commission had been similarly dealt with. To clinch its point, the editorial suggestively asks whether any JO worthies would ask in Parliament how many MPs have been asked to appear before the CIABOC and how many have ignored the summons? In this scenario, ‘the coming colour is not good’ for those in power.

To sum up the present deadlock, people are getting tired of seeing VIPs of the last regime being arrested and re-arrested in a row and being remanded. These personages capitalize on their arrests by triumphantly exhibiting their handcuffs on their way to the remand jail and boldly claiming that they are being unfairly victimized as a shield to cover up the failures of the Government in power. Then follows a procession of politicians, displaced by the present regime, visiting the remanded.The privileged visitors make similar claims and carry parcels, immune to regular inspection. The main purpose of remand, which it to keep the prisoner incommunicado, is defeated by this traffic. Strangely, the remand order works far more effectively than the most advanced techniques to discover hitherto for undetected ailments of the remand prisoner and he is placed in a special ward soon after arrival in prison. Some VIPs go through this procedure repeatedly but the Public are yet to see the proof on any guilt attributed to those remanded.

This rigmarole has only resulted in a pantomime that creates sympathy for the arrested and ridicule for those trying to bring them to justice. The ultimate result would be disbelief in the public mind, even if those charged are proved guilty at some remote future date. That makes a fiasco of the tottering efforts of the administration to punish the culprits. This situation underscores the failure of the new regime to handle the processes of governance to an effective end. Most probably this predicament may stem from the lack of experience of the new comers. They have been long in the wilderness. Those they have selected to run the administration may not be the best available. Although these helpers have a favourable political will, they may not have the experience to deal with the situation. Alternatively, the selected experts may be too fossilized by now to rise to the occasion. It is high time that those in power take an informed look at the current management structure and processes. The PM’s attempts to obtain external assistance in this area, though resisted by the left, may be due to his realization of the management shortfall.

The other aspect that vitiates the government’s integrity is the apparent effort to save their supporters who are alleged to have committed offences similar to what their opponents are charged with. One example of this discriminatory approach is the above mentioned charge framed against Namal Rajapaksa. Following this overture, questions raised in Parliament are likely to focus on similar cases in which the CIABOC has acted differently. The answers to such questions may bring out cases in which no such action has been taken against those supporting the government. Simultaneously, the FR jurisdiction of the Supreme Court may be invoked to challenge the discriminatory action taken against NR. Such moves would naturally reflect on the bona fides of Yahapalanaya. (Those liable to be charged, after their misconduct is brought to judicial notice, still have a chance of mitigating their offence, by appearing before the CIABOC, before they are arraigned in Court.)

Looking at this problem pragmatically, an impartial observer may see the reason behind the dichotomy faced by those in power. They are dependent on a conglomeration of politicians of different hues and background. Whether they approve of the conduct of their associates or not, the survival of those in power obviously depends on the continued support of their partners. In that scenario action against such persons can lead to the latter’s withdrawal, possibly resulting even in a change of Government with the miscreants joining the opponents to form a Government that may reverse the balance of power. To use a popular native saying, the Government is placed in the predicament of a man who is compelled to cut the branch on which he is sitting. Hence, the reluctance to deal with the supporting wrongdoers.

The ongoing accusations of discrimination against those opposed to the Government stem from the failure of the rulers to deal with their supporters and opponents evenly in the matter of prosecutions. But the Government may be able to eat the cake and have it by resorting to strategy. It will face such a dilemma only if it takes upon itself the task of unilaterally deciding on the Parliamentarians against whom legal action should be taken. They can avoid this embarrassment by outsourcing their function. This can be done by nominating a high-powered committee to arrange and prioritize the list of prosecutions. This committee may be composed of about five members, consisting of retired Superior Courts Judges, outstanding legal officers and top administrators. If appointments made to such committee are made without bias and obligation, in such a way as to make it universally acceptable, prosecutions can be lodged as nominated by the committee, irrespective of the side from which an accused is named. The committee will work on a target and arrange for the speedy clearance of the mandate on a uniform basis, clearing the roadblocks on the way.

Procedure must be so arranged as not to vitiate the atmosphere with arrests, handcuffs and remands that overload the atmosphere with tension and emotion.It is unthinkable that any person likely to be arraigned would resort to conduct that necessitates such measures. In the event of an exceptional situation, government has enough power to deal with it adequately. Every one holding office at the time an indictment is made against him shall be temporarily released from his office with an acting appointment. He will definitely revert to his post if he manages to exculpate himself from the charge/s levelled against him.He would be replaced only if he is convicted, at which point he would be reduced to a nonentity. With the conviction, he would have lost his bargaining power to upset the apple cart and the ends of justice would stand unimpaired in the public eye.

IGP up to new task after setting aside police efficiency!

Sep 20, 2016

IGP Pujith Senadhi Bandara Jayasundara, who has caught attention of the mainstream and alternative media in the past few weeks, has set aside his duty of improving efficiency of the police service and is up to a new task, police sources say. That is, to order his ‘intellectual council’ members to immediately look into and report to him about the ‘police traitors’ who  leak news to websites that operate from thousands of miles away from Sri Lanka.

The sources also say subject minister Sagala Ratnayake had refused to open the Nedunkerni and Oddusudan police stations in Jaffna on August 25. That is because the police had not invited Tamil politicians of those areas to attend the openings. These politicians had complained to minister Ratnayake about that. Immediately looking into the complaints, he got to know that that was due to an order given by the IGP. Minster Ratnayake has told the DIG that if the matters stood thus, he would not attend the openings.
 
Later, the Tamil politicians were invited and the minister opened the police stations last Sunday. Thanking him, the Tamil politicians have requested him to treat them equally as people’s representatives in the journey towards true reconciliation. The subject minister has expressed his regret to the Tamil people’s representatives about the shortcoming.
 
Editor’s note: It was our website that has published the article titled ‘Sagala to be firm' that had resulted in the IGP’s getting excited. We fully stand by the accuracy of its content. If the IGP or his ‘intellectual council’ members have any question regarding that, they can reach us over the telephone or email. Also, they can exercise the right to reply.
 
We do not have anything personally against the IGP. Even during the period he was under Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, we clearly appeared on behalf of the restoration of law and order in Sri Lanka. After elevating to his new position, the police chief is showing his true colours and is destroying the good governance mechanism that we had built with so much effort. They may play hell as individuals, but the blame goes to the Yahapaalanaya. We do not say that Yahapaalanaya is above blame. The present government has at least restored the right for all communities to live without fear and suspicion and breathe with relief. We consider it as our sacred right to expose those who go against that, irrespective of their positions.
 
'IGP is happy after seeing his name'

‘We shall imperil patients’ lives if our children don’t get Royal or Visakha’ - Let us teach these doctor beasts a lesson ! (video)

(Lanka-e-News - 20.Sep.2016, 5.00PM) It is a universal fact that when a fool tries to commit suicide , a most difficult task is to save him. In like manner , when some foolish professionals are voluntarily seeking to incur the wrath and displeasure of the people by behaving like beasts ,it is  difficult to save them when  they are being spat at and their houses are targeted for attack . 

Such a scenario of provoking the wrath and curse of the people was witnessed  recently when professionals (rather a set of doctor jokers) like Anuradha Padeniya and a group of his constituting the reactionary forces  behaved like nincompoops and nitwits despite being responsible doctors practicing the most lofty medical profession. 

Believe it or not  these are doctors who have taken the sacred oath to treat humans most humanely and not to behave as animals .Even if the doctors may be inhuman by birth the oath binds them to their solemn undertaking they give when launching on the medical profession .  Hence they should give  first priority to treatment of patients , and not to their personal selfish gains and agendas .
 
Yet , these cruel inhuman Doctors alias court jesters  jeopardized the lives of innocent  patients living in Kurunegala , Matara and Kandy , when they deemed it right to waste their time on their unreasonable and unjustifiable demand  that their  children be admitted  to Royal or Visakha  . If we say this action is the worst thing even a beast could resort to  ,it is truly  insulting   the beast , for even a beast does not try to just kill a life unless it is provoked or out of fear for its own life. Believe it or not even the brutal terrorist Prabhakaran who fought a terrorist war for 30 long years would  never have indulged in  this kind of  ‘ terrorizing’  . Therefore these doctor jokers should feel ashamed of their own atrocious actions. We hope , at least they have a sense of shame  to understand this.

It is the responsibility  of the government to get schools for the children of the Doctors  when the latter get transferred. The good governance government has not disclaimed that responsibility. Yet , the Padeniya mafia is putting queer and cranky demands on the government .

Dr. Wijewansa  who is transferred from Homagama to  Maharagama is demanding Sirimavo Balikawa  for his daughter ; Dr. Gunasekera transferred from Mullwriyawa hospital to Colombo hospital  also is demanding  Sirimavo Balika  for his child; and yet another court jester doctor Mirihella transferred from Peradeniya to Kandy , is demanding  Mahamaya for his child. 

The most bizarre demand came  from doctor  joker Mubashir : He is transferred from Matara to Tangalle but he wants Rahula College, Matara  for his child; another doctor joker  Niroshan who is transferred from Angoda to Padukka wants Mahanama College , Colombo for his son while another doctor joker transferred from Kalubowila to a Colombo hospital wants a leading   College in  Colombo  for his son, just to mention  a few of the many such demands of these doctor jokers .

The children of Padeniyas who broke  ‘Guinness book records’ , and their list of demand for top notch schools is in the image hereunder. That list can be read after magnification by clicking on it. 

Their requests are for Royal , Visakha , Ananda, and D.S. only.  When the government agreed to admit their children to schools  such as Mahanama, Thurstan , Anula and Dharmapala , they do not consent. These doctor jokers even  without going home demanded the Shylock’s pound of flesh , and waited idly in the education  ministry auditorium  throughout the night . What a pity these so called doctors whose  medical education expenses were met by  the government  stayed put until a  court order was obtained the following day and the police arrived to send them away.

Another most despicable incident  took place that  night. One of these  doctors alias jokers who was fit as a fiddle  , and stayed put in the auditorium  the whole night  without  caring about the sick and dying patients in hospitals ,suddenly fell sick . Then came an ambulance from the Colombo General hospital. Who came in that ambulance ? It   was none other than doctor joker  Soysa  the secretary to Padeniya who is best known for his  ‘punch bag’ face most  attractive to assailants. What’s more ? what did this ambulance bring ? Food and beverage  (dinner) for the doctor jokers who were  idling  in the hall. Soysa with the unique  face designed at birth for getting pummeled turned ‘Era Soysa’ when he was refused entry .He threatened  and kicked the gate like a Maradana thug  - most unbecoming of a true Doctor ! 

In any case , these doctors alias  mobsters had to leave the education ministry auditorium following the court order . But sad to relate ,despite being doctors and  so called professionals they conducted themselves   worse than beasts and brutes heartlessly and brainlessly. Just because the children  could not be admitted to ‘Royal College or Visakha’  they staged a  boycott. That is,  they refused to treat patients in Kurunegala , Matara and Kandy districts They wantonly tried to kill the patients. The sacred oath of Hippocrates which every doctor takes was thrown into the garbage bin by these doctor jokers  thereby demonstrating their own rightful place too is in  the garbage dump going by their ruthless , reckless and rowdy conduct .
 
The Prime Minister responding to the crude and cruel conduct of these doctors made a comment via the face book that he treats every profession alike , and he does not consider one profession as higher or more privileged . 

While this  comic drama was being enacted by the   Doctor jokers  , and were  demanding Royal and Visakha for their children without abiding by admission regulations , the teachers in those Schools who have   better common sense and understanding have never  demanded those Schools for their own children. 

If the children of these doctors are admitted to Royal or Visakha by force , and if the teachers stage a boycott or protest imitating these morons and refuse to teach those children , are these mentally warped doctors going to discharge   the tasks of the teachers ?  

Therefore , why don’t these moronic doctors try to realize how much they are disgracing the lofty profession by their despicable , detestable and derogatory behavior? Despite the sacred oath , they are risking the lives of the patients owing to their arrogance . They are only confirming the truth in the common maxim  , arrogance and ignorance are juxtaposed. Even an ignorant street urchin would think twice to act this ruthlessly , and play with lives . So why don’t these so called doctors think they too have mothers and fathers like the aged patients whom they are trying to kill via boycotts and protests ?  Perhaps  these doctors are born to beasts , for only the young ones of beasts know not their fathers  to show love. 

The worst villainous demand  of these Padeniyas and Soysas is : the government instead of granting schools in the name of the  children of the doctors , their professional association should be  allocated a quota in the name of the  association , and when the quota is granted , their association  would distribute it . This request defies all canons of logic . 

The ulterior motives are obvious. After getting the quota , Padeniya and his clan  are trying to play merry hell with it ,not enough the problems they are creating already to the detriment of the country . Much worse , what is the guarantee these doctors who are selling their souls and  stooping  to anything to make a fast buck , won’t  sell  those quotas under the counter ?  Are these demands that can be granted by a civilized government ‘wearing a decent attire ?’  Yet when  the government refuses to grant these unreasonable and unjustifiable demands , these ruthless heartless doctors imperil the lives of patients by staging boycotts and protests .

Following the most obnoxious and odious requests of Padeniya’s doctor mafia , countless comments appeared on the facebook against their demands. One social media made a most important proposal .

If these doctors are that heartless and villainous to boycott treatment of patients which is their indispensable and paramount duty , the people should boycott them on that day . This being  a salutary suggestion, Lanka e news wishes to state   it again.

Enough is enough ! We too shall boycott the Doctors on the day following the day of boycott of  patients by doctors !

Do not issue goods to Doctors when they come to shops to purchase

Do not pump fuel to the vehicles of Doctors

Do not  provide meals in Restaurants to Doctors

Do not provide security to the vehicles that are parked.

Do not remove the garbage heap at the homes of Doctors. 

Do not provide signals to their mobile phones

Do not provide any professional service to the Doctors on that day.

At least on that single day the people shall rally together to demonstrate that doctors  cannot ride the high horse and run an exclusive   ‘world’ of their own . If these are doctors who have emerged  from garbage bins like stray rabid dogs that know only to bite  and bark ,and not from homes of human parents who can show kindness, let us relegate them to the place they came from so that society can say in one voice GROBR (Good riddance of bad rubbish) .

Hereunder are two video footages : One is the media briefing held by the minister of education following the crude and cruel actions of the doctor jokers. And  the other  video footage relates to the  threats and intimidations  made by Soysa the notorious ‘Era Soysa’ doctor thug with a unique  ‘assault inviting’ face. 

The image below carries the list of the bestial self seeking opportunistic doctors who are demanding the Shylock’s pound of flesh. Since their phone Nos. are also there , viewers can phone them at those numbers and rightly ask whether they are trying to eat alive the patients or kill them before eating , just because these doctor  jokers cannot get their children admitted to the leading schools they fancy 

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by     (2016-09-20 11:39:22)

Church Of South India’s Interference Affecting Well Being Of Students: Uduvil Girls’ College Parents’ Association

September 19, 2016 

The Uduvil Girls’ College Parents’ Association has accused Church of South India of forcefully obtaining the retirement of Mrs. Shiranee Mills, the former principal of the school. In a statement issued today, the Parents’ Association has said that the church has not only deceitfully misled Mrs. Mills, but also misled students. “As parents we strongly condemn such dishonesty. The administration of a popular school behaving in such a manner, had led to producing a negative image for the school,” they said in a statement.

They also said that the interference of the Church of South India has greatly affected the wellbeing of the school.

“Priests from the Church, their family members and relatives have been appointed as teachers of the school. Appointment of teachers to the school is being used as an attractive perk for priests and members who formally left and joined the newly formed Church of the American Mission, to draw them back to the Church of South India. The authority of the principal to appoint teachers was curtailed and the whims and fancies of the church have become the deciding force of these appointments. It is due to such interference of the church a section of the teachers who now serve in the school are found to have unfit educational and professional qualifications. We fear that this situation will further deteriorate after the removal of Mrs. Shiranee Mills. Further, it may lead to a complete decline of the school’s standard,” the statement said.

Below is the full statement issued by the Uduvil Girls’ College Parents’ Association:

Statement by the Uduvil Girls’ College Parents’ Association with regards to the recent crisis situation at Uduvil Girls’ College

As parents of the students of Uduvil Girls’ College, an important section of the community of the school, and as an affected group, we would like to bring to the attention of the public, the deceitful actions during the appointment of the new Principal of Uduvil Girls’ College (UGC).

As a private school there are no legal restrictions for a Principal of UGC to serve beyond the age of 60. Former Principals of this school have served for more than 60 years. For example, Dr. SelviChelliah was 68 years when she retired from the school in 2004. We consider the decision taken by the School Board and committee of JD CSI, to not extend the term of Mrs. Shiranee Mills, who has served the school faithfully as Principal for the last 12 years, a deeply damaging decision for the school and students. The school has functioned well under the leadership of Mrs. Mills in both educational and extra-curricular activities. It is remarkable that under the leadership of Mrs. Shiranee Mills, as women and students, they have gained the courage to question the authoritative mindset of a patriarchal society that tries to suppress women within the family and in the society. As parents we appreciate the contribution of Mrs. Mills towards the students’ personal development.

We regret the manner in which the Church of South India forcefully obtained the retirement of Mrs. Shiranee Mills. The administrators of the Church of South India themselves requested her to reapply for the post of Principal in June. A verbal promise was given by the Bishop of the church that her term would be extended. The Bishop had said this to Mrs. Suneetha Jebaratnam, who has now assumed duties as the new Principal. Further, Mrs. Jebaratnam herself had conveyed to the students , “if in the case Mrs. Mills’ extension is not given, I along with my daughter will also join the struggle to bring Mrs. Mills back.” Those who are linked to the church and the new leadership of the school have not only misled Mrs. Shiranee Mills, but also the students in such a deceitful manner. As parents we strongly condemn such dishonesty. The administration of a popular school behaving in such a manner, had led to producing a negative image for the school.
Members of the selection committee, consisting of Mrs. Savithri Sumanthiran, Ms. Vijula Arulanantham, Mrs. Suganthi Vairasinghe and Dr. Alexander Jesuthasan from India have knowingly or unknowingly supported such dishonest actions. The students who were engaged in a peaceful, non-violent struggle against such dishonest practices, were attacked by the teachers and a priest. We condemn all such attacks against the students.

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Suspects in custody must be checked every half hour: Sagala


2016-09-20

With regard to the death of a man while in the custody of the Pussellewa Police, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake told Parliament yesterday that there had been a lapse on the part of the police when it came to the checking of inmates at regular intervals.

 He said that though those held in police cells should be checked every half-an-hour, it had not happened. 

In his response to the question asked by opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardena, the minister said the police had inspected the cell at 18.45 hours and then at 19.40 hours.

 "It has to be done every 30 minutes but in this instance it had not happened for an hour," he said. 

The minister said the man had been arrested on charges of being in possession of 750 litres of toddy without a licence. 

The suspect (30), was arrested at the Pussellawa town on September 17 and locked up at 17.15 hours. The police had found him hanging from the roof of the cell when the police had gone to his cell. The suspect was rushed to the hospital but he had died on admission. 

The minister said a postmortem examination was carried out and the body parts would be sent to the Government Analyst while a magisterial inquiry would be held on September 23.

 "We do not condone people dying while under police custody. The police are bound by law to protect all citizens," he said. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera) 

The air gun cruelty

September 20, 2016, 8:15 pm

The photographs of pellet wounds on people in Kashmir have been all over the papers. Many people with multiple pellets on their faces have had to be hospitalized. No one can die – or so we are told – of a pellet wound, so they have been used liberally during riots. According to the newspapers the pellet guns used in Kashmir are said to be the ones used normally to shoot partridges and quails

This is not my first encounter with air/pellet guns. I have been seeing them for years and I started campaigning against them in the90s – even going to court to have them banned. I won the case after the air gun industry derailed the case for many years – first approaching the Home Ministry and then, when that did not work, accusing me of influencing the case by writing an article in some obscure paper. They lost that case as well – but it took a decade. Then they went for a stay and we fought that.

Thirty years ago, when birds and squirrels started coming to my hospital with pellet wounds in them I started looking into the phenomenon. We could save barely 10% of these wounded, suffering small creatures. Most of them were unconscious when they came to us and gangrene had spread from the wounds.

They had been hit for fun by children whose parents had been wicked enough to buy them air guns as toys. Pellet guns are not toys. They are real guns which use pellets, instead of bullets, but the harm they inflict is almost the same. No child will use an air gun on a drawing room vase or a stone. They are always used on living beings. Either the child will fire upon poor people, as they pass by his house, and then hide. Or they are used on small animals and birds. No one fires on their pet dog. They are exclusively reserved for defenceless urban creatures that have no one to help them. Sparrows, crows, kites, parakeets, squirrels, monkeys and feral cats.

Every now and then someone picks up a little creature that had finally collapsed on the ground with pain and infection, and brings it to us. Few birds can survive fractured bones. In cats, the pellet often gets stuck in a bone and is difficult to remove. Or the pellet tears through the intestine and internal blood loss kills after days of suffering. Or it hits the head sending the animal into a coma.

In England, attacks on animals take place mainly in summer when children have holidays and little to do. In summer of 2011 the RSPCA tended to 567 complaints of air gun incidents. This doubled in summer2012. Cats were the most frequent victims of air gun attacks, but dogs, birds and wildlife are victims too. The RSPCA believes many cases go unreported, or some owners may never know what has happened to their pet, as injured animals usually look for a quiet sheltered area to die.

Therefore, these incidents may only be the tip of the iceberg.

Over the years the severity of injuries, inflicted by air guns, has increased dramatically. Modern air guns have immense power and the pellets are not embedded on the skin but pass through the body, smashing bones to smithereens. Air gun injuries are becoming increasingly more difficult for vets to treat. Almost half of all animals, shot by air gun snipers, die from their wounds, compared to 11 per cent in the 1990s. Broken legs lead to amputation. Paralysis when the pellet narrowly misses the spine. Animals, too old to have the pellets removed, limp along till they die

Recently, an orangutan on a palm oil plantation in Borneo was found after being shot with 40 air-rifle pellets. The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation in Nyaru Menteng received the adult female in critical condition, with X-rays showing "10 pellets in the head, 8 pellets in the left leg and pelvis, 18 pellets in the right leg and pelvis, as well as six pellets in the chest and right hand." She had maggots crawling in her open wounds, and she suffered from malnutrition. Experts estimate that her wounds were just three days old. In spite of surgery, she died.

A new law came in 2012, in Great Britain, to stop under18s from accessing air guns, by fining owners up to £1,000 if they allowed their children to use their guns. This brought the abuse down by half, but now 86percent of vets are demanding a change in the law to restrict the sale and use of air weapons, which can be bought without any form of licence. Scotland has made it illegal to own an air gun without a permit and campaigners are asking for England and Wales to follow. According to the law in the U.S., using air guns on animals is considered a felony under state law. Air-powered weapons, such as pellet guns, are not allowed to be used within city limits.

When our government formed in 2914, the Home Ministry started an exercise to reform the Arms Rules. A great deal of evidence was given to them to put controls on air guns. The air gun industry and Rifle Association, headed by ex-Maharajahs and known poachers, lobbied hugely – even with me – to not put any controls on air guns as this was a " sport".

However, I am happy to say that the Rules, tabled in Parliament in August, are very clear:

Section 84 says that the Manufacture and Sale of air weapons, including paintball markers or guns, irrespective of the muzzle energy, calibre, or bore, shall be subject to licensing – whether for manufacture, proof test, transfer, sale or keeping. The keeping, sale and transfer can only be done through authorized arms dealers. Anyone buying them has to give identification and proof of residence. The seller/dealer has to keep a stock register and names/addresses of all the people he has sold it to, along with their details.

No toyshops, no sale to young people and a register of all those who have bought a gun, so that, if any more incidents on animals take place, there exist registers to track down people in the area. Finally, we have matured into understanding the massive killing done by these "toys" and the fact that these children and their mad parents are probably a danger to humans as well.

If you know of any shops selling air guns of any kind, let me know.

To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in,www.peopleforanimalsindia.org

Sun’s Fun ends with Gun

 Sep 20, 2016

The ITN or ‘your family channel’ has become a news-maker after a long time after airing a trailer for a serial drama that is ‘suitable for adults after the children went to sleep.’ The US serial drama ‘Homeland’ was to be telecast at 10.30 pm on Sundays, but has been put on halt due to controversy. The media has reported that there are responses for and against the decision.

Leaving aside the pros and cons of those responses, it should be said that Saman Athaudahetti’s first publicity stunt at ITN has been a success. That is because, the opposing parties have given, and are still giving, it full publicity free of charge.
 
The following is not about that matter, but about the past experiences.
 
Ranil Wickremesinghe said one day, “What are these national newspapers? Like ‘Sun’ in England, they should publish a woman’s topless picture on the third page and give some fun.” We may have various opinions about his remark. We are talking here not purely on a standpoint of morality. However, in the Sri Lankan history, such Fun by Sun ended with the Gun.
 
When he was the youth affairs minister, Ranil conducted youth camps under the ‘Yovun Pura’ concept and attempted to give some fun for the youths. There, condoms were unofficially distributed to the participating youths. At that time, that was in 1982, that was unthinkable. From 1982, Fun became bigger by 1984 and was much popular among the youths. Youths camps were contesting shoulder to shoulder with president Premadasa’s ‘Gam Udawa’ concept. By 1985, the Fun was in a climax. But, come 1987, Sun’s Fun was ended with the Gun, and the youth took to arms. They rioted. 
 
This is not a simple incident or unrelated. In 2002, when Ranil was the PM, together with Prof. Ganganath, he tried to give Fun by showing girls’ legs under the table with ITN news. The government was overthrown and time was not enough and the Fun was not taken any further. But, the Fun that was to be given through bracelets and chewing gum ended with the Gun by 2009. We are not talking mere imagination, but about the past of a social process.
 
England’s Sun is a newspaper subscribed to by millions. Its readers are from the working class. During their leisure time, they used to took a look at pictures of topless women in the newspaper and had some fun. They did not take the newspapers home. However, on a request by feminists in England, a year ago, Rupert Merdoch and others stopped publishing semi-nude pictures.
 
What Ranil has is a conceptual misconception. He still lives in a dream of bracelets and chewing gums to give Fun. Sri Lanka has set records by searching the keyword ‘sex’ in google. Sri Lankans do not know even the correct word to search for pornography. Therefore, the demand of a country that searches the internet for sex cannot be satisfied through ITN. On the other hand, problems of youths cannot be solved through reaching orgasm. After orgasm comes hunger. Then, in a country in which not even a cup of tea is available, sex ends with death. PM Ranil should learn not to think lightly about the Sri Lankan youths and their problems. He should understand that youth unrest is not about sex, and youth unrest begins after the orgasm.
 
Also, world famous, classical serial dramas should definitely be introduced to the Sri Lankan viewership. Through them, the Sri Lankans should be allowed to experience the various aspects of humanity. But, that should be done not through cheap tricks of marketing. It is true that Saman Athaudahetti is a media veteran close to Ranil. However, cheap marketing games will result in the so-called nationalists (who really are racists) playing havoc by looking for Victorian morals from those serial dramas. Therefore, reaching out to the Sri Lankan public with art should be done wisely.

Sustainability now: Food waste is not an option

An UNEP report mentions that 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted annually

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

The amounts of forgotten and disregarded food that are disposed and thrown into landfills globally are highlighting the current unsustainable practices of our “waste society”. Not only affluent nations as a whole, but also parts of societies of developing countries waste food at large scales.

An UNEP report mentions that 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted annually. Food waste is especially challenging as it is related to a number of factors: the land which is used for agriculture and livestock, excessive water and energy demand, breeding and slaughtering of animals, chemical usage on soil, packaging and transport, climate change impacts, globalised supply chains transporting food from one world to another…

“Each year, food that is produced but not eaten guzzles up a volume of water equivalent to the annual flow of Russia’s Volga River  and is responsible for adding 3.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases to the planet’s atmosphere. In addition to its environmental impacts, the direct economic consequences to producers of food wastage (excluding fish and seafood) run to the tune of $750 billion annually” (UNEP, 2016).

At the same time we are reading about reports highlighting the number of people in this world who starve, are malnourished and have no access to save water and food, despite the fact that we are shipping food products all around the globe.

A latest World Bank report estimates that the demand for food will increase by 50% as the global population grows, creating more food waste. More people – more waste. According to the FAO study, 54% of food wastage occurs during production, post-harvest handling and storage. 46% occurs after processing, distribution and consumption. In Asia the wastage of cereals, rice, is particularly high leading to large impacts on carbon emissions and water and land usage. Compared with that, Latin America’s high income regions are responsible for about 67% of meat wastage.

Causes for food waste are a combination of consumer behaviour and lack of efficiency in the supply chain. Another reason is that supermarkets face the challenge of expiry dates which are often not even necessary, however facing potential law suits of customers producers include expiry dates to be on the safe side.

Consumers globally predominantly have a mindset where once a products expiry date is exceeded, they do not feel comfortable eating the product anymore – even if common sense allows safe consumption.  Where some supermarkets cooperate with homes to give the food to those in need, others dispose everything. Some even go to the extent in locking up their waste containers to make them inaccessible for the homeless or other consumers who target such products.

Especially developing countries face major food losses due to financial and structural limitations in harvesting technique, storage and transport infrastructure combined with challenging climatic conditions. Solutions given by the FAO report are:

• improve agricultural practices at the point of production
• better balance production with demand 
• if there is food surplus to re-use and find secondary markets or donate the food
• where reuse is not possible, recycling and recovery should be followed

For Sri Lanka estimates range up to 30% of food waste annually. On the one hand side due to inefficient production, storage and transport solutions in some parts of the country and on the other hand side due to unsustainable consumer behaviour. Those who can afford like to overstock and buy more than needed, take a lot more from the buffet than which one person can eat and hook up to “buy one get one free” and other promotions. Consumer expectations and demands require supermarkets to offer various product lines. Also consumers expect that products are cheap, and it is much easier to throw something which was cheap, than a product which was expensive to buy.

However there are a number of positive activities which have to be mentioned and which hopefully will increase and help creating a 0-Waste Sri Lanka. 

• There is a culture of sharing in the country where food and meals generally are shared among employees, family members and friends. 
• Often the leftover food is given to animals if there is no use anymore within the household
• Some supermarkets donate their excess products to homes 
• Some households use bio composters to generate their own fertiliser or even biogas
• Sri Lanka has seen a number of conferences and initiatives on the topic creating awareness on how to change the current situation
• There is increased understanding about the food waste challenge

However we need more than that. We need to consume without overstocking and be more aware of the food we consume (its nutritious value but also its origin and carbon footprint), we need to improve supply chains to become more efficient with less food loss (not by using chemicals to preserve food but by improving the connectivity between producers and consumers, between farmers and markets), we can also diversify our food system and grow food in home gardens and public spaces, we can set up a system where more excess food of supermarkets, hotels, restaurants is given to homes/hospitals/the homeless/people in need and finally we really have to segregate food at household and organisational level to recycle it and make use of it as fertiliser or energy resource. To waste food is really not an option.

[The writer is working as consultant for sustainable development with the business sector, multilateral organisations and civil society on projects involving sustainable consumption and production (inclusive supply chains and industry development, renewable energy, consumer behaviour, waste management) and peace building (SD conflicts, social integration, resource conflicts). She is the founder of the Sustainability Hub Sri Lanka and the Colombo Fleamarket. She could be reached via sabine.samarawickrema@gmail.com.]

Israel left me with half a body

Founded in 1976, Gaza’s Artificial Limbs and Polio Center has seen a dramatic increase in its workload, fitting prosthetic limbs for many people injured during three major Israeli offensives since 2008.Emad Shaat

Sarah Algherbawi-20 September 2016

Manar al-Shenbari has vague recollections of what happened on 24 July 2014. She was taking shelter at the UNRWA Beit Hanoun Elementary School in the Gaza Strip when the Israeli military shelled it. 

Manar’s mother, sister and two brothers were among the 11 people killed at the UN-funded school.

“There were bodies on the ground, people screaming,” she said. “And lots of blood on my body. Those are the only things I can remember from that day. It was like a nightmare. I lost consciousness and woke up in hospital.”

Manar – now aged 17 – lost both of her legs in the attack and required emergency treatment. She was transferred to Jordan for surgery. When she returned to Gaza, she found everyday life extremely difficult.

“Getting out of bed in the morning, taking a shower, going to school, all these things involved endless suffering,” she said.

Manar spent three months at Gaza’s Artificial Limbs and Polio Center after her return from Jordan.

She had prosthetic legs fitted and learned to walk again, using crutches. With a great deal of effort, she was able to perform simple tasks once more, without being entirely dependent on the surviving members of her family.

“For sure, it’s not easy,” she said. “But at least I don’t need my sister’s help in everything I do.”

Manar hopes to study journalism after she leaves high school.

“Every night before I go to sleep, I take off my artificial limbs, look at my half body and then close my eyes,” she said. “I imagine being the first journalist in Gaza with only half a body. I want to fight Israel by reporting what is happening. That is how I imagine taking revenge for what the Israelis did to my body and to my family.”

Manar is not yet comfortable in many situations. “People stare at me a lot,” she said. “They take pity on me. It doesn’t feel good, so I prefer not to go out a lot.”

Increased workload

Yet she has made considerable progress in the past two years.

“At the beginning, I refused to talk to the doctor and other staff members of the center,” she said. “I kept thinking about what happened to me and my family. It was a very tough period. Step by step, I started accepting the new reality of my life and I decided to cope.”

Founded in 1976, the Artificial Limbs and Polio Center has experienced a dramatic increase in its workload in recent years. It has fitted prosthetic limbs for many of the people who were badly injured during the three major offensives that Israel has undertaken against Gaza since December 2008.

Towards the end of 2014 – the year when Israel’s latest major offensive occurred – approximately 950 amputees were being treated at the center.

The treatment is provided through funding from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, and charities such as Islamic Relief Worldwide and Handicap International.

The prosthetic limbs that the center fits are all made specially for each patient with material imported fromGermany by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Like many health services in Gaza, the center is short of funding. According to management, it lacks many of the materials that it requires.

Overcoming depression

As well as fitting prosthetic limbs, the center provides counseling to people who have lost body parts.

Khaled Shtewi, a psychologist at the center, noted that learning to cope is a slow process.

“What hurts patients most is the long time of waiting before prosthetic limbs are fitted,” he said. “During that time, they can feel like they are worthless in society.”

Muhammad Zeidan – from Jabaliya refugee camp north of Gaza City – now works as a carpenter. He had to have his leg amputated after being injured in Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s attack on Gaza in late 2008 and early 2009.

Zeidan suffered from depression following the attack. But he managed to recover. He used a wheelchair initially, but later learned how to walk with a prosthetic leg.

Before losing his leg, he had worked cutting panels of wood for sofas and cupboards. Undergoing further training after the attack, he has returned to carpentry.

Part of his training was provided by the Islamic University of Gaza, but he also taught himself some techniques by watching videos on YouTube.

“I had to work,” said Zeidan, who has five children to feed and clothe. He also supports his parents financially.

Zeidan works from home, assisted by siblings and cousins.

Outside work, he relies heavily on his prosthetic leg to get around. But he removes it when he is in his workshop. This means that he has to hop around on his foot.

“I only take my limb off when I work and sleep,” he said. “It hinders me when I work; that’s why I take it off.”

Amany al-Haddad, head of physiotherapy at the Artificial Limbs Center, said that Zeidan was “full of life” despite his ordeal. “He adapted quickly and well to his new limb,” al-Haddad added.

“That’s why we weren’t surprised to hear that he had built up his carpentry workshop.”

Sarah Algherbawi is a freelance writer and translator from Gaza.