People’s participation answer to racist outbursts

2016-10-07

The present Constitution-making process seems awfully narrow and politically dictated by the leaders of this government. This is not a “public driven” drafting process. What is highlighted by this government as “public consultation” is a collection of proposals from interested individuals, groups and some organisations. Done through a Committee appointed for that job. The “Report on Public Representations on Constitutional Reforms – May 2016” gives these numbers as follows: Over 2,500 persons/organisations have appeared before the Committee, another 800 via e-mail, 150 via facsimile messages, 60 by telephone text messages and 700 representations via post and handing over personally. 

This much only in a society that has 15 million registered voters! Even if there was adequate public “consultation”, that cannot be substituted for people’s “participation”.   

There had not even been adequate and serious consultations on those proposals. It is impossible to imagine what would have come out of proposals that were received via e-mail, fax, personally-delivered and by post. From what the report says, the Committee members have gone through all those proposals received. But for sure, interpreted them the way they personally understood the proposals.Then recommended what they thought was good.  

Constitutions in this modern democratic world are made by people to govern themselves. Constitutions are not made by political leaders to govern people, and Constitutions are not made in a haste to say “another election promise” is being honoured.  

In South Africa (RSA), dismantling of the apartheid State was done through very heavy people’s participation.The process began with an agreement with “White” apartheid leaders and the African National Congress (ANC) that guaranteed the rights of the disempowered minorities. The Constitution-making process in RSA is thus termed “people decided, and not pre decided”.  

On May 8, 1996 the historic day the new Democratic Constitution of South Africa was promulgated, Cyril Ramaphosa, chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly addressing the assembly said “Since we embarked on the formal Constitution-making process 24 months ago, South Africans from across the country have embraced the process as their own. It is no exaggeration when we say that a team of 43 million people worked on this constitution.” (emphasis added) That’s what people’s participation is.  

In a research paper for the University of Wisconsin Law School, titled “South Africa’s Experience in Constitution Building” (http://ssrn.com/abstract=1808168) Heinz Klug says,”At its second meeting in August 1994, the Constitutional Assembly established a 44-member Constitutional Committee to serve as a steering committee and created an administrative structure to manage the process of constitution-making. Not only were they required to handle administrative support for the Assembly itself but the CA‘s administrative team was also responsible for facilitating other important aspects of the process including: a Pubic Participation Programme including both written and electronic submissions; a Constitutional Education Programme; a Constitutional Public Meetings Programme; and a newsletter, Constitutional Talk devoted to explaining the process and responsible for distributing four million copies of the working draftapproved by the CA in November 1995” [emphasis added].  

These 4 million copies were translated into all languages including tribal, that are in use in the RSA. A remarkable feature was the extensive use of the radio in their “Constitutional Education Programmes”. Reason for extensive radio use was their low literacy rate. Most people had to be talked to, more than given to read. (1994 literacy rate in SA was 67.3%) Also important were the structures created for direct public participation.  

The most recent experience in Constitution making is that of Mexico City with a 20 million population, almost equal to Sri Lanka. Out of them, nine million are counted as adults. The Mexico City residents are out to create a new Constitution by January 2017 to provide its main city the status of an autonomous Federal State. The heavy use of social media and web tools in harnessing public participation for that exercise is popularly termed, “progressive, inclusive, pluralistic and civic experiment in democracy”.  

The initial “Discussion Draft” is to be drafted by a Committee of 28 persons appointed by the present Mayor. Most were surprised by its gender participation (50%) and expertise included from varied fields of disciplines. Proposals could be made to this “draft” and deliberated upon by the nine million adults in the city. “Chilangos” (city locals) could file their proposals at 300 “drafting pubs” spread across the city. The City Council has outsourced Change.org to run an online public petition platform people could use to collect signatures to their proposals. If 10,000 signatures endorse the proposal, authors of the proposal would have access to another digital tool called the “PubPub”, one similar to ‘Google docs’ and edit the draft constitution to include their proposal. Those who don’t go online with their proposal have public seminars, meetings and discussion forums to collect the required 10,000 signatures that makes their proposal a base document in the drafting process.  

A few months ago, the most campaigned for proposal was for a provision to impose a minimum limit of 99 sq. ft of “green cover” for every city resident. This proposal was immediately endorsed with 30,000 signing it. Some calculations say if the proposal goes through, it would provide Mexico City with a green covering of around 10% of the city area. On another proposal, there were popular debates on the issue of a minimum wage in the city and social security as a “people’s right”. There were also serious and heated debates around the proposal to legalise abortion that the Catholic Church vehemently opposes. 

A new Constitution for Sri Lanka needs such people’s participation for discussions and debates. As with “White” participation in governance that was a contesting issue and on legalising abortion in Mexico City creating heavy opposition, to have provisions for a decent, workable and sustainable devolution package included in the Constitution, the South especially, would need serious debates and discussions. People need to understand what “devolution” is. They have to understand and be convinced “federalism” is a tested and proved State mechanism for “unity” and not “separation”. Such issues cannot be smuggled into the Constitution on undisclosed agreements between the government leadership and ITAK. People should have social space to decide what they need guaranteed in a Constitution.  

For such dialogue, the President can make public the Final Report of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) that still lies out of public reach. This in fact is the only time serious work was undertaken collectively through 128 long sessions from 2006 June to 2010 July to gain a very wide political consensus for power sharing. This should not be wasted idling in a presidential shelf. The government should take the responsibility to promote a vibrant dialogue around it through different communication tools.  

The absence of such open and inclusive social dialogue is what allows for racial ranting in the South.  
Jaffna “Eluzha Thamil” protest and Wigneswaran now being flogged with glee is all about absence of dialogue, discussion and engagement with differing opinions and views. The most popular claim that the “Eluzha Thamil” demands put forward at the protest he led and his own “federal” demand would provoke Sinhala extremism. That only means this society is racially biased and wholly ignorant of what it wants as democracy. It only proves that the Colombo’s urban middle-class is happy maintaining the present status quo and not in advancing and accommodating dialogue for democratic change.  

This government that promises a new Constitution, therefore has the responsibility of creating social space for serious public dialogue. It has the social and political responsibility of facilitating platforms and fora and leading such dialogue. It has within its authority the State-owned media that could be used for a Constitutional Education Programme, similar to the one that South Africans conducted in drafting their democratic Constitution. Unfortunately, and sadly, this responsibility is shunned and instead we have negotiations between government and TNA leaders trying to smuggle in provisions they feel and think would be what are required as answers to what they perceive as problems of the Tamil people. No Constitution would have legitimacy in a society that has not been part of drafting its own Constitution.  

I would therefore propose the use of the APRC as a base document for the initial draft the parliamentary committees would work out and facilitate a social dialogue on it through a much broader and open participatory process before the parliament sits to discuss the draft.For such social discourse the government should with adequate funds establish,  
1. A Constitutional Committee comprising of Chief Ministers of all provinces  
2. A Committee comprising of public sector trade union representatives and trade union representatives of the National Labour Advisory Committee (NLAC)  
3. Provincial Constitutional Committees that would comprise of professionals, social organisations including environment, community development and business chambers.  

Without any public participation, this Constitution-making process has allowed rabid racist outbursts that would not help a “Referendum” needed, even if it turns out to be a well-crafted Constitution.  

- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/117018/People-s-participation-answer-to-racist-outbursts#sthash.QOIv4f2V.dpuf

Lest you forget! Please recycle from a damn good budget – S&T wise at least! 

Thursday, 6 October 2016

As a scientific citizen with a firm belief that the way out from this ‘economic near mess’ is by way of rapid use of science and innovation, I believe firmly that the Budget for 2016 presented last year had so many positive ideas and action statements on S&T, R&D, startup eco system and 

for manufacturing-led growth. One blemish was on vehicle taxation and concessions where there was serious lack of scientific rigour. 

The growth strategy which factored in these ingredients certainly can deliver with the populace tuned on by right messaging. For articulating this no one will be able to win an economics Nobel Prize as already the American miracle had been explained by Robert Solow and for the pains he took in elucidating the process he won the 1987 Nobel Prize in Economics.

It is strange however that these lessons are not strictly embodied in the economics curricula of majority of the economists in our country. The love of only playing with tax, VAT and rates by the community is tad frustrating.

The Budget for 2016 as presented in the Parliament had many statements and suggestions worthy of speedier execution, unfortunately for the country they are yet to see the light of day. As a scientific citizen I can definitely state that the last Budget was exceptional on that particular front. 

Processes over progress

There were excellent concepts and plans – albeit quite briefly, outlined in that Budget which perhaps made that Budget standout for its attempt to contribute to the innovation economy of Sri Lanka. Much time has passed and quite a few of these statements and good intentions are yet to materialise and may not forever as we plan the next budget. Now all eyes and efforts are on another document. The question begs why? We appear to be keen on processes rather than on progress.

It is the intention of this column to extract and place to wider readership what we read as policy and Government directions from the last Budget. The execution however had not been successful. We do have a habit of forgetting the last one and working hard to ensure that we have another budget and thereupon wait with bated breath to sense the pulse of the constituency upon presenting and debating.

Why cannot we elaborate on some of the successes based on these and ensure that this budget too will carry the same program with much more rigour? Can we get out of the trap of brand new budget every year by planting some projects with tenure?

As you can see from the extracts pertaining to this particular sphere of activities, there had been some important and interesting concepts and budgetary allocations. We never hear of a gap analysis when listening to the next budget on what was stated in the last and why things really did not move forward. We hear too much about the car permit fiascos and fracas over selfish aspects.

Even though we appear to have entered a low middle income status our behaviours do not indicate nor convey our adjustment to that particular position as subsidies, permits, pay rises, grants are still the words that rings as music to our ears.

When the Budget carried a statement such as “the country also needs a sustainable industrial policy focusing more on an upward movement of the manufacturing sector improving the value chain from light industrial products towards the manufacture of high-tech products. Adaptation of technology as well as introduction of innovative options, backed by proper research and development is an essential ingredient” is lost in the milieu when bickering over permits erupt.

Hardly a discussion though this is exactly what we should be having. These concepts die without a whimper! I have in this column taken the time to extract some and place than write and analyse and hope the embedded extracts stir someone’s conscious that positive, essential elements presented in the last budget will not get lost a year later.

A reminder is while we admit that implementation is really missing in our Government what steps we are taking to remedy that ill. The extracts hopefully are another telling reminder on the need for execution going beyond the policy rhetoric.

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Some important extracts from Budget 2016

On need for modern technologies and entrepreneurship

Use of modern technology is vital in maintaining security in the country.

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) will also have to be nurtured, developed and facilitated to build up linkages with large enterprises, which will provide opportunities to interface with larger supply chains.

Improve the local industry by way of providing support to develop local entrepreneurship.

It is time to move out from the age old economic options and focus on new and innovative measures as practiced by many developing and developed nations.

Our investment in Science, Technology and Innovation has failed to keep up with the growth in GDP. Its impact is evident in the low percentage of high tech value addition to our manufactured exports (0.9% in Sri Lanka compared to 50-75% in developed industrialised countries) poor contribution of patents and research based service industry to our economy. This has to change rapidly if our economy is to be led by innovation. We expect high tech manufactured exports constitute at least 10% of our exports by 2020.

Manufacturing and industrial parks

Construct mini industrial parks which will be incubators in Moneragala, Puttalam, Jaffna/Wanni, and Ampara.

Private sector to partner the public sector in manufacturing Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) in the country.

Form a Primary Industry Council consisting of industry experts who will create strategies to meet the challenges faced by primary industries

Aquaculture Park in Batticaloa District by providing an enabling environment for the potential private sector investors to develop coastal aquaculture without causing environmental degradation.

I invite private sector to venture into establishing Pharmaceutical Zones as PPPs.

Establish Industrial Development Zones (IDZs), in Hambantota, Raigama, Mahaoya and Trincomalee along with Information and Agricultural Technology Zones (IATZs) in Kandy.

Industrial parks be created along the proposed expressways, thereby adding value to the expressway. Accordingly, it is proposed to set up a Bio Technology Park which will house pharmaceutical companies, a product design engineering manufacturing park and an IT park and also agro and aqua culture parks along the expressway.

Targeted Research and Development

Strengthen the Tea Research Institute, Rubber Research Institute and Coconut Research Institute, so that they can engage in research in improving productivity, finding new varieties, etc. For this purpose, I propose to allocate a sum of Rs. 200 million within a period of two years.

Sugarcane Research Institute and the Palmyrah Research Institute will be strengthened for which I propose to allocate a sum of Rs. 100 million. Allocate Rs. 50 million to strengthen the Cinnamon Research Unit at the Department of Export Agriculture. Allocate a sum of Rs. 50 million to National Science Foundation to fund research undertaken on cinnamon and cinnamon related activities.

Research and development is an important element of our health sector strategy. Our health sector professionals do engage in R&D and innovation with little or no support from the Government. In fact, I commend the gold medallists of the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva 2015, Dr. Thusitha Kahaduwa for the invention of the device ‘Footie,’ Dr. Anupa Herath for the invention of the peripheral nerve stimulator needle and Dr. Anura Wickramasinghe who was awarded the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) Innovation award for his creation of a new low cost video laryngoscope.

Allocate Rs. 250 million to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support and assist research in diabetes, dengue, CKDU and cancer.

Ensure the quality of imported products such as milk powder, cosmetics, toiletries, shampoos etc., I propose that Sri Lanka Standards Institute, Industrial Technological Institute and Pharmaceuticals Research Laboratory be strengthened by increasing the technical cadre and the laboratory facilities for which I allocate Rs. 200 million

Curricula development, addressing brain drain and institutional upgrading with an economic focus

The implementation of the national big data platform.

Some of our universities have taken the lead to introduce new courses into their curricula such as data science, actuarial science, bioinformatics, business analytics, quantity surveying, etc. To encourage such initiatives I propose to provide such universities with the necessary infrastructure facilities. These will include the provision of facilities such as buildings, laboratories, equipment, etc.

Attracting and retaining top notch faculty into our universities has been a cause for concern. Many global universities have addressed this issue through endowed chairs or distinguished professorships. The endowments allow such faculty the freedom to engage in research that adds value to the economy. Therefore, to encourage private individuals and companies to be part of the country’s higher education revolution, I propose that the expenditure incurred for the endowments be allowed to be deducted for tax purpose granted to our national universities as well.

Institutions are encouraged to seek accreditation with professional bodies of international repute with a view to grant professional qualifications and I propose to extend financial assistance to such initiatives.

Propose to extend the same methodology adopted in giving extra points to those who excel in sports, for those students who have invented a new product or service, created a startup, participated in international competitions such as Math Olympiad, etc. when considered for university admission.

Propose to introduce new degree courses in marine biology, marine recreation and sea port, boat/ship building, integrated coastal resource management, etc. by the Ocean University.

Propose to develop the curricular of these university colleges to include courses in polymer technology, renewable energy technology, plantation crop technology, journalism, etc. and also to upgrade the Colleges of Technology to the status of university colleges to produce middle level technicians.

We will also establish techno-based campuses and vocational training institutions alongside current universities. Introduce a voucher system to talented students from low-income categories to enter into these techno-based campuses and vocational training institutions.

Venture funding, startups and Intellectual Property

Initiate a venture capital approach for providing equity financing facilities to SMEs through the establishment of one fund that will be a “Fund of Funds”.

For Sri Lanka to develop high margin, value added, branded export products, registering trademarks overseas has become a necessity. To expedite the registration process and to reduce the cost of registration, it is proposed that Sri Lanka become a member of the Madrid System for international registration of trademarks, a body administered by the International Bureau of the Word Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This was a request made by the industry. As such, I propose to allocate a sum of Rs. 100 million to the Intellectual Property Office so that it can facilitate the accession to the Madrid system by amending the trade mark law and upgrading of physical and human capital.

Sri Lanka Inventors Commission (SIC) to formulate a strategy for promoting patent applications worldwide by promoting awareness among inventors on benefits of international patent rights and identify prospective inventions to obtain international patent rights and make arrangements to provide financial and technical support to facilitate obtaining international patent rights. In this regard, I propose that the cost incurred by the inventors to be borne by the government up to a maximum of $ 100,000.

Growth cannot be achieved without innovation and entrepreneurship. Our young graduates who are the cream of the crop possess innovative ideas but since accessing capital in Sri Lanka is a difficult task, majority of such entrepreneurial ideas do not get translated into a commercial venture. Proposed to initiate a loan scheme through the state banks that provides loans up to a maximum of Rs. 1.5 million per viable idea per person with a tenure of three years. The facility to be made available to at least 1,000 graduates. These advances will be granted based purely on the business plans and will not require any collateral. The proposed business plans will be evaluated by a committee consisting of university professors, industry professionals and government officials operating under the EDB. The loans will be fully guaranteed by the government. It is hoped that we will be able to create at least 100 business start-ups per annum.

Innovation eco system

I propose to set up an Innovation Accelerator, a platform that will combine the National Innovation Programmes (NIPs) of the Coordinating Secretariat for Science Technology and Innovation (COSTI) and the National Thematic Research Programme (NTRP) and the technology support schemes of the National Science Foundation (NSF), with clear deliverables directed towards three pillars of sustainability; economic development, social justice and the environmental quality set up a National

Innovation Centre in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research which will manage the Innovation Accelerator Fund set up as a revolving fund. It is proposed to allocate Rs. 100 million as seed capital to this Centre while another Rs. 3,000 million will also be provided within a period of three years innovations are ultimately transferred into commercial successes.

COSTI has identified 25 such projects that have the potential to succeed commercially. Some of these innovations include GoviNena, a mobile application to support efficient agricultural commodity production, energy storage systems, etc. Such innovations have a direct impact on the industry concerned as well as contributing to the sustainability of target sectors. High end equipment acquisition supported with accelerated depreciation etc. will be made available to any company that will partner these innovations to be monetised. The Government will also facilitate these ventures by providing land or any other resource based on the type of project.

Nenasalas be upgraded to be Public Innovation Centres for entrepreneurship. As such Nenasala centres should be upgraded to include a 3D printer, laser cutters and engravers, and other power tools which are vital for a typical fabrication lab. As such I propose to allocate Rs. 100 million to upgrade selected Nenasala centres in 2016. These upgraded centres in addition to their usual task of facilitating ICT empowerment will also drive local entrepreneurship and provide technology support to SMEs.

Hamper Bonanzas To 75 Prominent Judges Courtesy Mahinda Rajapaksa

October 6, 2016

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is alleged to have gifted exclusive hampers to a large number of leading judges in the country during the Sinhala & Tamil New Year season and the Christmas season while holding office as the head of state.

According to the FCID, this mode of gifts came to light during an investigation launched in to the bank account of Senarath where it showed that a large sum of money amounting to millions was withdrawn at once.According to highly placed FCID sources, a total of 74 judges were gifted with these excusive hampers, which were personally delivered to them by the driver ofGamini Senarath, who was the Chief of Staff at the Presidential Secretariat during Rajapaksa’s term.

During the investigation by the FCID, Senarath’s driver had also disclosed that on the orders of his boss, he had delivered these hampers every year to these 74 judges.

Rajapaksa and his CJ Mohan Pieris
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SLAF makes a killing flying politicians

Peace-time operations

 

By Saman Indrajith-October 6, 2016, 10:11 pm

Parliament was informed yesterday that the Prime Minister’s office had hired helicopters and other aircraft from January 10, 2015 to April 30 2016 at a cost of Rs. 123 million.

This was revealed by a statement tabled by the state Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene in answer to a question raised by Joint Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila.

The answer further revealed that the Prime Minister’s office had hired helicopters 35 times, during the aforementioned period, at a cost of Rs 123 million, which was paid to the Air Force by the Prime Minister’s office.

In addition, the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, too, had hired helicopters 16 times at a cost of Rs 12.9 million while Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen had hired helicopters 13 times for a fee of Rs 6.1 million.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had hired helicopters 11 times paying Rs 5.2 million, while former President Chandrika Kumaranatunga had hired a helicopter once.

Ministers Vajira Abeywardana, Sagala Ratnayake and MP Wijeyakala Maheswarana had each hired helicopters once.

In total helicopters were hired 169 times by the state, private institutions, politicians and individuals during the specified period.

Karu accuses Wimal of threatening him

2016-10-06 08

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday accused joint opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa of threatening him when he attempted to restrain the government and opposition MPs over the gazette notification on the Value Added Tax (VAT) Amendment Bill. However Mr. Weerawansa denied the allegation.

However, the argument flared up when Acting Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa presented the observations of the government printer and the Attorney General (AG) with regard to the date in which the Bill had been gazetted.

MP Bandula Gunawardene who raised an objection said the gazette had been issued prior to the approval of the Cabinet.

MP Dinesh Gunawardene who joined the argument said the AG’s letter did not refer to the gazette notification. Meanwhile, MP Wimal Weerawansa who also came up with a similar sentiment said the letter by the government printer was irrelevant.

However, Minister Abeywardena stated that the letters were sent by the government printer and the AG in response to an inquiry made by his ministry with regard to the Bill and the gazette.

“The general gazette is issued every Friday while supplements are printed thereafter. Therefore, the date of issue should be September 13, 2016,” Mr. Abeywardena said reading out the letter sent by the government printer.

“I am of the view that the provisions of the Draft Bill are not inconsistent with the Constitution. The Bill is not subject to any prohibitions or restrictions imposed by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution,” he added, quoting from the letter sent by the AG.

Meanwhile, Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella said there was no issue as a minister had the right to present a Bill to Parliament when it was approved by the Cabinet as per the Constitution.

Joining this heated discussion, Minister SB Dissanayake said there was no issue in printing the gazette before approval of a Bill by the Cabinet, as it stands void if was not approved.

However, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said there was nothing to argue about as he had accepted the presentation of the Bill. (Yohan Perera and Kelum Bandara)

The payment to teacher assistants is barely ample even for their travelling-Joseph Starling

Oct 06, 2016

The Secretary of the Lanka Teachers union Joseph Starling has quipped that while the teachers celebrate the Teachers Day at the air conditioned Nelum Pokuna  performing arts theatre the ten thousand or more who  have been absorbed as teacher assistants for a paltry salary of  Rs 6000 (rupees six thousand only) are been exploited to the full by the authorities.

In this aspect the members of the teacher-principal trade union had made a protest in Colombo requesting  the authorities to assign them to Grade 2 and Grade 3 classes.The secretary of the Lanka Teachers union had quipped that these assistant teacher designate personnel have been deployed to teach at the 07 teacher training schools for a paltry salary of Rs 6000/- This sum is it is learnt is hardly sufficient for them to even manage their travelling expenses.
 
In this regard a plea has been made by the teacher-principal trade union to assign them to lower classes like grade 3 and grade 2 and until such time to increase their salaries to proper proportions.

True story behind Gota’s ‘security conference tour’ of China…. Is this Good governance ?

(Lanka-e-News -06.Oct.2016, 11.00PM) It is an unequivocal fact that lawless Gotabaya Rajapakse was all along  a byword for murder and mayhem during the Rajapakse nefarious decade , while he was  the  defense secretary under the Rajapakse brutal and corrupt regime that was thrown out lock , stock and barrel by the masses on the 8 th of January 2015.  Hence , granting the  request of Gotabaya to attend a  ‘ security conference’ abroad   despite the countless criminal charges that have been mounted against him has incurred the bitter  displeasure and disillusionment of the masses for good governance. 

Following so many complaints received by Lanka e news  from the public in this connection , our inside information division was  impelled  to conduct  a probe into this . We have  discovered that Gotabaya’s so called ‘security conference’ he is seeking to attend is being held in China , and the invitation is from a private weapons trading Co. in that country . That is  ,it has nothing to do with the Sri Lankan government or security divisions.

It is well know fact that Gotabaya the notorious corrupt villain is an accused in a case of causing grave loss to the country, filed by the commission investigating bribery and corruption . One of the  bail conditions on which he was released in that case stipulated that he should hand over his passport to the court.

However on the 3 rd a motion was filed in the Colombo chief magistrate court by Gotabaya’s lawyer Ali Sabry requesting the court to release his passport to attend a ‘security conference’ from 5 th to 30 th October in China. The chief magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya granted this request . Pilapitiya while releasing the passport temporarily, imposed an additional bail condition – to furnish a   personal bail in a sum of Rs. 5 million
.
The lawyer for Gotabaya citing security reasons did not make public the motion that was filed. However , according to reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division , like how the Rajapakses are continuously taking the courts and judges down the garden path , on this occasion too , Gotabaya had fooled the court because there isn’t such a  ‘security conference’ lasting 25 days in China. 

Hence this tour is a ploy that has been adopted by Gotabaya to visit China to collect illicit commissions due to him even currently  based on the agreements he signed with China when he was the defense secretary, as well as to launder his illicit  earnings and ‘black monies’

Brigadier Mahinda Weerasuriya of the Gajaba regiment of the army who is on leave these days is accompanying  Gotabaya on this tour .(Gotabaya’s regiment too was Gajaba) . Weerasuriya was the other army officer who appeared with Major General Sumith Manawadu to arrest Sarath Fonseka earlier on. 

Weerasuriya was also most closely associated with Gotabaya in the criminal white Van operations during the murderous and brutal Gotabaya’s period. Weerasuriya just before the good governance government came into  power took a five years no pay leave  to work as a military attaché in the UN office of South Sudan.  He has now come to SL after taking leave to join Gotabaya on the Chinese tour.

Even when Gotabaya was the defense secretary , it was with Weerasuriya, Gotabaya travelled to China in connection with his illicit commission deals  . Based on the luxury mansion costing Rs. 50 million that is being built in Akuregoda in the vicinity of the army headquarters by Mahinda Weerasuriya , it could be imagined  what amount of filthy lucre he plundered and robbed while he was in the army. 

The most vexatious questions pertaining to these  issues are : how come these scoundrels are still receiving illicit commissions to the detriment of the country  ?   How could Gota be granted permission to travel abroad while there is a case pending against him  based on charges of causing grave loss to the country ? Why are no responsible officials probing into these ?  

If an accused can be  granted permission to go overseas , not because of his  medical condition  or on a matter of importance concerning  the government , then for what reason and why on earth was a ban imposed on the foreign travel of that accused?  Is it because somebody wanted to use the impounded passport of the accused to wipe the festering sores in his/her private areas linked to some incurable disease ? the people are justifiably questioning .

The people are therefore naturally and thoroughly disappointed with the slow putrefaction of the much hyped good governance .

If a criminal ,ruthless, lawless villain like Gotabaya who abducted many innocent citizens using the notorious  White Van; said ‘I will hang him’ and threw an army commander who won the  war into jail ; threw the helpless residents of Colombo from their homes to the streets ; threw the rule of law into the garbage bin ; and caused disappearances of law abiding citizens  can be invited to the wedding house of Dudley Sirisena the brother of President Maithripala Sirisena , and if the latter can sit at the same table with him along with the prime minister and gobble meals together , Gotabaya the ruthless rascal being allowed to go abroad to attend the ‘ security conference ‘ to carry out his money laundering and illicit commission collections despite all his criminalities and atrocities is surely not a matter for surprise .
   
However as a media that has always championed the cause of the masses and truth frankly, fearlessly and forthrightly let us  issue a stern  warning to all those in responsible positions :  Though the  masses for good governance who emerged victorious via the Rainbow revolution on  2015-01-08 are remaining silent the dire consequences that can follow shall not be underestimated.

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by     (2016-10-06 19:22:35)

Ex-IGP Mahinda Balasuriya’s Preferential Treatment Cost Taxpayers 30 Million

October 6, 2016

Preferential treatment meted out by former IGP Mahinda Balasuriya to certain politicians has resulted in the country losing at least Rs. 30 million.

Balasuriya

This came to light during an inquiry carried out by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) which is investigating as to why Balasuriya provided armed police security for members of Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front (NFF) who were not even MPs.

During the inquiry, the Commission demanded to know on what grounds he provided members of the NFF police officers under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s term as President. These member were provided with at least 15 armed policemen from 2010 to 2015.

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No politician's tags for the development projects completed via public funds !

Oct 06, 2016

The Minister of fisheries and aquatic resource development Mahinda Amaraweera is to bring a proposal  to the parliament to avoid the names of politicians tagged to development projects completed through public funds.

The Minister had quipped that some politicians have made it a fashion to name the roads which are constructed ,repairs to those roads, government buildings,schools that are  built and maintained from public funds after them..According to the Minister some politicians believe that if a development project , a road or a building is named after them it is underestimating them.
 
Hence he had quipped that certain politicians name some completed development projects completed via public funds tagging their names.This was added by the Minister of fisheries and aquatic resources.addressing a ceremony in parallel to the World elders day.in Agunakolpelessa Thalawa area. he other day.
 
The Minister had boldly added that from the time Sri Lanka gained Independence in the year 1948 no politician has yet to h from his own funds.have started and completed any development project.Such projects have been started and completed from loans obtained at high interest fro developed countries or with aid and concessions.In that event the brunt of the burden has to be shouldered by the innocent people in the payment of loan installments.like who sell lottery tickets baked in hot sun  those who work in workshops,factories  and trying to make ends meet.It is from the taxes collected from sale of sugar and rice etc the government has to repay the loans thus obtained

When hunger is the only option

Sanaa Balboul holds photos of her sons Muhammad and Mahmoud during their hunger strike last month.Shadi HatemAPA images

Budour Youssef Hassan-6 October 2016

Mariam al-Hih received a distressing phone call from her son Omar last month. Omar was going on hunger strike to protest how Israel had locked him up without charge or trial. As many other parents have done in similar situations, Mariam pleaded with Omar not to proceed with his hunger strike.

“I told him that it would kill me to see him suffer without being able to help him,” Mariam said. “But he had already made up his mind and I respected his choice. What else could I do?”

Omar has been placed under administrative detention — imprisonment without charge or trial — twice this year. After spending six months in Israeli custody, he was released in August. He barely spent a month with his family before being arrested again on 15 September — under another six-month administrative detention order issued by a military court.

Palestinians have few means of challenging administrative detention. Israel keeps whatever evidence it may hold against the prisoners secret. The draconian nature of administrative detention is exacerbated by the virtual impossibility of appeal against it.

With other options closed, Omar decided to embark on a hunger strike 10 days after his latest imprisonment. The tactic appears to have been effective.

On Saturday, 1 October, the 21-year-old suspended the fast after winning a concession from Israel. He has been given an assurance that once his administrative detention order expires, it will not be renewed.

A resident of Surif, a West Bank village near Hebron, Omar had been working in the construction industry before his imprisonment.

Although his hunger strike has been called off, two other men from the Hebron area — Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara — are continuing to refuse food. Both are demanding their release from administrative detention. On Thursday the two were reported to have been transferred to solitary confinement.

A mother’s pain

Families of the two men have been visiting a tent erected in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, to demonstrate solidarity with prisoners. Before Omar’s fast was suspended, Mariam al-Hih also visited the tent, meeting with the mothers of other hunger strikers.

“Supporting each other makes us stronger,” Mariam said. “No one understands your pain like a mother of another prisoner.”

Solidarity is particularly important in the case of hunger strikers.

Mariam was unable to visit Omar while he was on hunger strike. Israel frequently bans families from visiting prisoners if they refuse food. As a result, Mariam had to draw strength from other families in a similar situation.

The determination of Palestinian prisoners has also been demonstrated by the struggle of Malik al-Qadi. He waswelcomed home to Bethlehem on Sunday, 2 October, after being discharged from hospital following his hunger strike.

Al-Qadi, a journalism student, had been released on 23 September after refusing food for nearly 70 days. He, too, had been under administrative detention.

“The victories achieved by hunger strikers, especially Malik al-Qadi’s release, lifted the morale of all prisoners,” said Abdel Majid Shadid, a brother of Anas Shadid. Anas began his fast soon after al-Qadi was released.

“Anas called me from jail one day before the start of his hunger strike and said that he was determined to go ahead,” Abdel Majid added.

Al-Qadi ended his hunger strike on 21 September. The brothers Mahmoud and Muhammad Balboul called off their hunger strike that same day.

Mahmoud and Muhammad won an agreement that they would be released in December and that the administrative detention orders against them would not be extended.

The past year has involved a great deal of anguish for the Balboul family.

Mahmoud and Muhammad were arrested in June, their family say. Their 15-year-old sister Nuran was in prison at that time.

She was serving a four-month sentence — later reduced to three months. Nuran was arrested for alleged possession of a knife at an Israeli military checkpoint near Bethlehem. Israel has claimed that she pulled a knife out of her bag at the checkpoint. Nuran has insisted the allegations against her are false.

“Her brothers were constantly thinking about her and were preparing a massive celebration for the day of her release,” Sanaa Balboul, their mother, said.

They could not go ahead with their plans: Mahmoud and Muhammad were arrested a few weeks before their sister’s release.

“The house feels empty”

“They were not there to hug me and without them, the house feels empty,” Nuran told The Electronic Intifada. “Now I am the one counting the days until their release.”

She has not been counting the days idly. Since her own release, Nuran has taken part in demonstrations demanding that her brothers be set free.

Sanaa, her mother, said it was extremely difficult trying to concentrate on her work as a schoolteacher, while her sons were on hunger strike. “How can I go to school, stand in the classroom and teach other children when my own children are dying?” she told The Electronic Intifada, while Mahmoud and Muhammad were still on hunger strike, their health deteriorating severely.

The relatives of Palestinians being held in Israeli prison during a weekly sit-in outside the Red Cross office in Gaza City on 3 October.
Mohammed AsadAPA images

The Balbouls are aware that their plight has attracted more attention than that of many other Palestinian families. Ahmad Balboul, father of Mahmoud, Muhammad and Nuran, was a leading member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed resistance group. He was killed by Israel’s occupation forces in 2008.

Amani Sarahneh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners Club, said that families of hunger strikers play a vital role in solidarity activities. It can, however, take a considerable length of time before protests in support of prisoners gain momentum.

“Unfortunately, we only start to see protests when the hunger striker is moved to hospital or when they are on the verge of death,” Sarahneh said. “And since we are talking about individual hunger strikes, the support for each hunger striker varies depending on their profile and on the conditions surrounding the hunger strike.”

Endless cycle

Around 700 Palestinians are now in administrative detention, according to August data from Addameer, a prisoner support group. That means that one-tenth of the 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners now behind bars are being detained without charge or trial.

Ahlam Haddad, a lawyer for Malik al-Qadi, stated that Israel is broadening its use of administrative detention.

“In the past, most of those targeted for administrative detention were former prisoners or people with clear political affiliations,” she said. “But in the last year, we are increasingly seeing teenagers, or students in their early twenties, being held under administrative detention.”

An additional problem is that Israel can use administrative detention repeatedly. Released prisoners can be arrested and placed under administrative detention again soon after getting out of jail.

“Administrative detention becomes like an endless cycle, leaving the prisoners with no choice but to go on hunger strike,” said Haddad.

Thaer Halahleh is one target of this endless cycle.

“Since 2000, he spent a total of 12 years in Israeli jails,” Aziz Halahleh, Thaer’s father, said. “Almost nine of those years were spent in administrative detention.”

Because of his imprisonment, Thaer, who is 36, has been prevented from rearing his own children. His 6-year-old daughter Lamar was born while he was in prison. Thaer’s 3-year-old son Aziz has seldom seen his father — except in photographs.

In 2012, Thaer went on a 77-day hunger strike that received considerable attention both in Palestine and internationally. He secured an agreement from Israel that it would not renew his administrative detention. Yet he has been arrested twice since then.

His latest imprisonment dates from August 2014.

An Israeli court recently extended the administrative detention order against him for another three months. This is the sixth time since he was imprisoned in 2014 that the order has been extended, according to his father.

Although the court ordered that Thaer be released early next year, his father is not optimistic. “So they will release him in January, only to arrest him a few weeks or month later,” Aziz Halahleh explained.

Aziz has been refused permission to visit his son. Thaer has contracted hepatitis and his family — as well as alawyer with Addameer — blame the negligence of medical staff working for the Israeli prison authorities for his infection. “I have no idea whether he is receiving proper treatment now,” Aziz said.

As Thaer Halahleh’s case exemplifies, Palestinian prisoners and their families are realistic about their struggle. While they take heart from the victories achieved by hunger strikers, they are under no illusions that Israel will cease the practice of administrative detention, unless it is placed under massive international pressure to do so.

Israel exercises complete control over Palestinian lives. And Israel can arrest any Palestinian whenever it wants — whether charges are brought or not.

Budour Youssef Hassan is a Palestinian writer and law graduate based in occupied Jerusalem. 

Blog:budourhassan.wordpress.com. Twitter: @Budour48

Iraqi military threatens to attack Turkish forces ahead of battle for Mosul

Iraqi military sources warn of possible attacks on Turkish forces, who have been welcomed by most Iraqi Sunni and Kurdish factions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hand with President of Iraq Fuad Masum (L) before a press conference in Ankara, on 22 April, 2015 (AFP)

Suadad al-Salhy-Thursday 6 October 2016 21:17 UTC

Turkish military forces deployed to northern Iraq a year ago could be attacked by the Iraqi army if they intervene in the battle to liberate Islamic State-held Mosul, Iraqi officials and commanders of Shia militias have told Middle East Eye.

Turkey has deployed hundreds of troops armed with heavy weaponry to the Iraqi town of Bashiqa, 12 kilometres to the northeast of Mosul, the largest Iraqi city seized by IS.

Baghdad has protested several times against the troop deployment and has demanded their immediate withdrawal from Iraqi territory – a request that has fallen on deaf ears.

The presence of the Turkish forces is welcomed by most Iraqi Sunni and Kurdish factions for whom Turkey balances the Iranian presence in Iraq, politicians and analysts told MEE.

The Shia-led central Iraqi government and Shia militias believe that Turkey has deployed its troops just outside Mosul to "provide the required facilities for IS fighters and get a foothold inside Mosul, under the pretext of protecting the Sunnis," a senior Shia militia commander told MEE on condition of anonymity.

'Regional war'

As the launch date of the operation to liberate Mosul approaches, tensions between the two sides have escalated.

Last week, the Turkish parliament approved a proposal to extend the presence of Turkish forces in Iraq for another year.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi responded late on Tuesday by warning of a “regional war” if Turkish forces militarily intervened in Mosul.

"The Iraqi government seeks to make clear that there is absolutely no role for Turkish forces in the Iraqi sphere,” a senior Iraqi security official told MEE on condition of anonymity.

"Any movement or intervention by Turkish forces (deployed in Iraq) during the military operations (to re-take Mosul), would be faced with a very strong response," the official added.

Iraqi officials interviewed by MEE said that the Iraqi government is trying to deal with these "occupation forces" through political and diplomatic channels.

Iraq's foreign ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad on Wednesday to deliver a strong rebuke.

On Thursday, Iraq requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council "to discuss the Turkish takeover of Iraqi territory and interfering in its internal affairs,” a statement issued by the Iraqi foreign ministry read.

"We are still working on this with the international community, but if ongoing US-led international efforts fail to convince or force Turkey to withdraw its troops from Iraq, then all options will be on the table - including the military one," the senior Iraqi security official said.

Iraqi security forces are being backed by both a US-led international coalition and by the Iraqi-state sponsored coalition of mainly Shia militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces – established by the government in June 2014 to regain territory lost to IS.

Iraq has clawed back over 70 percent of the territory it lost to IS two years ago, which amounted to a third of Iraq’s total territory at the time.

'Occupation force'

Several prominent Shia militias, including Badr, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kattaib Hezbollah-Iraq, represent the core of the Popular Mobilisation Forces.

They have threatened to target the Turkish forces if they "insist on staying in Bashiqa or extend their presence in Mosul".

"The presence of these troops (on Iraqi territory) is illegal and against the will of the Iraqi government, parliament and people,” Ahmad al-Assadi, the spokesman for the Popular Mobilisation Forces, told MEE.

“We consider them an occupation force and we will deal with them on this basis,” he said. "As long as they are seen as occupiers, we have a right to adopt all available means to deal with the occupiers.”

Assadi confirmed to MEE that "attacking" the Turkish forces is one of the options being considered by Iraqi forces to deal with the Turkish presence.

Mosul is Iraq's second biggest city in terms of population and is the most culturally diverse - home to most of Iraq's religious and ethnic minorities, including Christians, Yazidis, Shia Turkmen, Shia Shabak, and Kurds - until it was captured by IS militants in June 2014.

IS and its sympathisers in Mosul and other Iraqi cities have killed, displaced, and taken captive members of minorities in these areas and taken their property as they are seen as polytheists.

The successful liberation of Mosul would be the Iraqi army’s greatest victory since it collapsed in dramatic fashion in summer 2014.

It would also end the "IS legend" in Iraq, analysts said.

"Liberating Mosul would be a moral rather than a military achievement for the Iraqi army, which needs to remove this setback from its records," Abdulwahid Tuama, an independent Iraqi political analyst, told MEE.

"On the other hand, it would mean removing a half of the IS state in the region and ending its physical presence in Iraq," Tuama said. "Many regional and local actors are totally against these two achievements.”