Friday, October 28, 2016

Bring justice to Jaffna students without leaving room for communalists – SSU

October 27, 2016

Two students of Jaffna University were shot dead by police while the students were riding a motorbike and five police officers who were on duty at the time were arrested and remanded.

However, statements made by the police regarding the incident show there is an attempt to conceal the true facts on the incident and the delay in investigations has allowed communalist groups in the North as well as in the South to use the incident as a cat’s paw to spread communalism states a communiqué released by the Socialist Students’ Union (SSU) with the signature of its National Organizer Rangana Devapriya.

The communiqué demands the government to prevent the attempt to sweep the incident under the carpet and take legal action against all those who were involved in the undemocratic act.

Progressive Constitution Needed To Prevent Repeat Of War

By Veluppillai Thangavelu –October 28, 2016

Veluppillai Thangavelu

The shooting of the two Jaffna University students is a tragedy just waiting to happen. During the last few years tension between the armed forces and the general public was on the rise. Reluctance of the armed forces to release occupied lands belonging to Tamil people and failure to dismantle the numerous army camps in built up areas even after the war ended 7 years ago led to friction and despair.

It is claimed the two students failed to stop at the check point when ordered to do so. That may or may not be true, but within hours the Police headquarters described the death of the two students aged 23 and 24 as a fatal motorcycle accident. Police claimed that the two students had hit a wall and died of serious injuries. This version turned out to be a total lie by the police after the autopsy revealed that at least one of them was killed due to a gunshot injury. Under Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dispensation the police would have been cleared of any wrong doing. Or even decorated for their bravery like the shooting of five students at Trincomalee by soldiers on January 2, 2006.

Because of the regime change, President Maithripala Sirisena intervened directly to stop Police covering up the murder of the two Jaffna university students. He gave orders to interdict the five Police officers involved in the shooting. He also gave orders information department to issue a fresh statement setting the record straight. “Five Police officers have been arrested and immediately interdicted,” the information department statement said contradicting Inspector-General Pujith Jayasundara’s headquarters.

There was no immediate comment from the police chief following the presidential intervention to ensure justice to victims. Ironically, the shooting took place a day after Ms. Izsak-Ndiaye, UN Rapporteur and human rights expert, asked Colombo to demonstrate its commitment to protect minorities.

Most agree that even if the two students were drunk and they did not obey police orders to stop as alleged by the Police, the shooting is totally unwarranted and very high handed. Naturally, the killing of the students has evoked strong reaction from not only the students, but also from all sections of the Tamil community. There were peaceful demonstrations not only in the North even in Colombo. There is even an ill-advised call for a hartal which will only inconvenience the traders and the general public.

The situation would have got out of control, if not for the prompt and decisive intervention by President Sirisena himself by ordering the interdiction and arrest of all the 5 policemen involved.
Unfortunately, even after the regime change, the Sinhalese dominated armed forces consider the Tamils as second class citizens. We saw this during the clash between the Tamil and Sinhalese students at the Jaffna University last July, 2016. The army sided with the Sinhalese students by providing food and refreshments. A National army of a country are proud to serve the country by defending its borders, democracy and sovereignty. Regrettably, this is not the situation with the armed forces of Sri Lanka. The politicised members of the armed forces do not think they have to serve the country as a whole and not a selective group.

Human Rights activists and critics of the government have pointed out that a climate of impunity has prevailed for decades where the armed forces can kill Tamils and get away with it easily.
The shooting of 5 students on January 2, 2006 sitting in the Trincomalee beach to while away their time was a cold blooded murder. Immediately after the shooting President Rajapaksa promised donor co-chairs that abuse of power by security forces would not be tolerated under any circumstances and that perpetrators of the Trincomalee killings would face justice, irrespective of rank. But he or his government never went after the murderers, namely members of the army intelligence /Naval Special Forces.

(Lanka-e-News -28.Oct.2016, 10.30PM)

President:

Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri (University of Colombo Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association)

Vice Presidents:

Dr. Barana Jayawardena (Peradeniya University Agriculture Faculty Teachers’ Association)

Prof. K. K. I. U. Aruna Kumara (Ruhuna Agriculture Faculty Teachers’ Association)

Mr. S. Sivakanthan (Jaffna University Teachers’ Association)

Prof. Anura Kumara Uthumange (University of Jayewardenepura Teachers’ Association)

Dr. A. W. Wijeratne (Sabaragamuwa University Teachers’ Association)

Secretary:

Prof. Arjuna Parakrama (Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association)

Treasurer:

Dr. Rohan Laksiri (Ruhuna Teachers’ Union of Humanities & Social Science)

Assistant Secretaries:

Dr. Primal Fernando (University of Peradeniya Engineering Faculty Teachers’ Association)

Dr. Iresha Lakshman (University of Colombo Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association)

Mr. Athula Samarakoon (Open University Teachers’ Association)

Media Spokesperson:

Dr. K. P. Nishantha (Open University Teachers’ Association)

Media Coordinator:

Dr. Asela Rangedeva (Teachers’ Union of the Faculty of Drama & Dancing, University of Visual and Performing Arts)

Web/IT Coordinator: Mr. M. M. Shiraj (Teachers’ Association of Southeastern University)

Ex-Officio Members:

Former President: Dr. Rangika Halwathura

Former Secretary: Dr. Shyama Banneheke

---------------------------
by (2016-10-28 17:58:59)

SRI LANKA PRESIDENT SLAMS SOME NGOS, MEDIA & TRAITOROUS FORCES

( Civil groups campaigning against Sirisena – Mahinda coliation during the General Election Aug 2015 (c)s.deshapriya)

28/10/2016

President Sirisena is continuing his verbal attacks on democratic institutions in the country, this time attacking NGOs and Media without naming any of them.

He has said that hes is not ready to compromise national security in order to please NGOs, reports Daily Mirror.

This time also he was speaking to armed forces participating at the the Armed Forces’ investiture ceremony, ‘Gallantry Awards 2016.’

Certain media organisations, journalists, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and traitorous forces act without realizing the importance of ensuring national security, he has accused.

Embarking Rajapaksa terminology to attack opponents Sirisena told media that “Some factions act without understanding this. Sometimes, it appears, some media organisations, journalists, NGOs and various traitorous forces do this.”

“I have to say this clearly: some media behaved in an unacceptable manner abusing the media freedom that exists today. But, no matter how much they criticize, oppose or attack me, I will never lose confidence in the armed forces and will always be committed to do the utmost for the welfare, honour and dignity of the three armed forces and our heroic soldiers,” President Sirisena has said.

Again embarking on Rajapaka ideology of shallow peritoneum Sirisena has said that” Sri Lanka’s history was full of wars, struggles, rebellions and resistance activated by our great ancestors. Our history of resistance and rebellion runs back more than 1,000 years. We faced foreign dominance from 1505 to 1948. During the foreign rule, Sri Lanka not only lost her dignity but the culture, economy and all her rights. But there were constant struggles against the plunder of our country by foreigners. Thus, heroism was not anything alien or unfamiliar to Sri Lankans. We were able to confront foreign threats with resolve and bravery. We have inherited heroism”.

Attacking recently held Purawasi Balaya press conference without naming them Sirisena said that those who had no clear knowledge of and an inadequate assessment of national security should not comment on it. He added that he would not be perturbed or unsettled by the comments made by those who did not have an iota of knowledge of State Administration and governance.

The government has done much to promote reconciliation between the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and other communities during the past one and half years and its efforts have been successful. We have also created an environment in the country that strengthens inter-communal peace and harmony. But we must not forget for a moment that there are certain groups and organisations that are ideologically in favour of separatism. These have not been destroyed and are waiting for an opportunity to create trouble in Sri Lanka. We must defeat them by hook or by crook. That is why we must win the confidence of the global community. We must not, at any moment, lower our guard with regard to national security. President Sirisena said.

Praising Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anti NGO politics Sirisena has told the military that Modi “described to him the disruptions caused in India by NGOs.”

Fron the time Sri Lanka gained independence from the British up to the 70s, the armed forces served the motherland without much disruption or calamity. The experience the armed forces got during that period helped them to crush LTTE terrorism within Sri Lanka. But we must never forget that the concept and ideology of LTTE terrorism is alive in certain parts of the world. It is clearly manifest in the protests staged against Sri Lanka in certain world capitals by LTTE sympathisers.

War triumphalism too has come back to Sirisena’s public speaking. “Therefore, the obliteration of LTTE terrorism must be made a great victory by strengthening ourselves physically, strategically and in combat. We cannot be complacent at any stage. We must be alert at all times and aware that separatist terrorism has not been defeated ideologically,” he has said.

With the inputs from a Daily Mirror report

Story of a Colombo single mom

Oct 28, 2016

Sri Lanka’s most recent Household and Income Expenditure Survey (2012/13) estimates that 1.2 million households (23 percent of households) are female-headed. Of this number, more than 50 percent are widows and 4 percent have never married. Other sources estimate that the war left approximately 90,000 women widowed in the North and East. Yet of major concern is the fact that this number does not capture those who do not have proof of death of their husbands, and those who disappeared or are missing and have not been accounted for. The marked increased in the number of FHHs has accordingly become significant feature of post-war Sri Lanka. (Source: Mapping of Socio-Economic Support Services to Female Headed Households in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka)
The following story by Sheri is her true and moving experience.

The rape and murder of a student makes headlines and sparks protests about violence against women. But there are other hazards for women particularly for single women – who are often unable to live a normal life.

In a society where a woman is traditionally considered to be complete when she marries – preferably to a groom of her parents’ choice – singledom can be cruel and oppressive.

Out of the 5.3 million households, 1.3 million or 24.3 per cent are headed by females. Most of these women are single, divorced, separated or unmarried.

Many of them are beginning to defy convention by remaining single by choice, and eking out a life for themselves without depending. Sri Lanka is also slowly beginning to accept single women for what they are. But the change is extremely slow and painful for many who are facing it every day.

If being single can sometimes relegate a woman to the background, divorce can be traumatic. Social stigma surrounding divorce still hangs heavy over women, usually housewives, who are dependent on their husbands.

That’s not all. If a married couple splits up, the woman generally struggles to receive her fair share of the couple’s property and even what she is entitled to.

Society thinks good women don’t end up as divorcees. Some of these women have been divorced because they are called ‘barren’. That’s another terrible ordeal for women in our society.

Living as a young, divorced woman from a very young age, I realised how, in the name of protection, women are sometimes excessively fenced off. You had to be back in your home by seven in the evening, you could not leave before six in the morning, you could not invite male friends, and you had a quota of nights out with the consent of a “local guardian”.

Those of my women friends who were single and lived alone faced similar problems. Getting a place to live in was tough, there was the unrelenting gaze of the landlord and neighbours to contend with, and male friends visiting them were a no-no.

If you are single, you could just fade away. If you are separated or divorced, you may struggle all your life – so many women stay in a bad marriage and suffer. And in some families the prospect of being widowed does not bear thinking about.

Our society does not want to see widows, divorcees, ‘barren’ and single women given prominence or seen at any kind of celebration.

It’s about time things changed in this country. In a country where western thinking and habits are being embraced, why not change the way women and particularly single women are being treated. Being a single woman I speak from experience, my child was referred to as the child without a father by the principle and the teachers of a leading Christian boys’ school in Colombo. I have shed buckets of tears over this statement how this school has made us feel. Years of torture I would call it. Finally I had to take him out of school to give him a better future. Oh how I would love to mention the name of this retired principle who has a law degree.

Single women should be given a chance for education, ie: grants, scholarships, night schools etc.
Women police officers must be deployed to deal with issues that women face. However decently a woman maybe dressed, the male police officers look at you as if you are standing there without clothes. Can you expect these scoundrels to protect single women? Something has to be done about the protection of women like us.

Landlords renting houses to single women – please don’t pry into their lives and make them feel they come from another planet. You only need to know if your house is going to be used for the purpose you intend for it to be used and if your rent and the bills are going to be paid. You don’t have to act like their body guard or peep from your windows each time you see them pass.
For those coming to a place of worship, you ought to come because you want to worship God not to prey on single women.

For the other women who are married and think single women are all out to get your husbands, think again. If you are not happy in your marriage, somebody else is not going to be happy with your man either. So ladies you can keep him, we don’t want him.

Media should take over and open the eyes of the people in this country to the way single women are being treated. They are human too.

Bring single women into a comfortable place, so that they can open up and honestly share what they are going through with this sick society of ours. During discussions, they might be able to come up with solutions and how best problems faced by them can be solved.

God has not put the rest of the world to judge single women. Some married women and men know that they are going through hell themselves and think they can trash single women. Most times we are definitely happier than you.

For those men out there who think single women are frustrated and need your help, I think you have not realized that it’s you who are frustrated and you need to deal with it yourself.

I urge those who can make a difference for us to move fast and do something about it. Some are in hopeless situations and might resort to harming themselves and their children. Give them hope and a better future!
By Sheri

http://kiyanna.lk/blog/3253/

Call For Animal Welfare: Where’s The Animal Welfare Bill?

By Vositha Wijenayake –October 26, 2016

Vositha Wijenayake

It has been years since Sri Lanka has been speaking of the Animal Welfare Bill which is due to be enacted to address the short-comings of the current laws on animal welfare. However the law is still not finalized, and is heard as having a push back due to certain interests of different actors.

The ongoing attempt to restructure the laws on animal cruelty in the country- the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance of 1907- has reached over a decade, though the Bill is yet to be enacted. Many actors including key animal rights and welfare activists have been instrumental in this process, and are questioning the cause of delay in the already Cabinet approved Bill from moving forward to get enacted.

Need for the Animal Welfare Bill

The law on animal welfare in Sri Lanka at the moment is over 100 years old. Enacted in 1907, there are sections of the Ordinance which are in need of urgent reform; as the fines and sanctions imposed on those violating the laws are outdated, and are very low for most to be deterred in violating them. Some examples include a LKR 100 fine for acts of cruelty to animals, which is extremely ineffective in upholding the intention of the Ordinance (which is to prevent cruelty to animals).

The last amendment to the law was in 1955, and since then there has been no significant reform made to it. In addition to the fines that are low, and not effective, there is also the need to bring all animals that could be victims to cruelty within the purview of the law available in Sri Lanka. The law does not apply to urban wild life, and is limited only to captured or domestic animals. In turn the law applies only to those animals that are in captivity, while excluding those that are not domesticated or caged, creating a very narrow application of the law.

Duty of Care

Many Sri Lankans have animals, or feed animals that are not domesticated such as urban wild life. However they do not take the responsibility towards the care of these animals. While they have a cat or dog that they would consider to be their pet, the kittens and puppies at most times are dropped off at public spaces. This points to the fact that the concept of duty of care is not prevalent amongst us, and it is not included in the 1907 Ordinance. Hence, responsible ownership is missing in the current laws on animal welfare in Sri Lanka.

The proposed Bill addresses this issue through the suggestion to have the concept of duty of care included in it, and the laws on cruelty towards animals including the mistreatment of animals that are urban wildlife, as well as not taking care of those animals that have been taken under one’s charge.

Enacting the Animal Welfare Bill

The proposed Animal Welfare Bill was first presented to the parliament in 2010 by Venerable Athuruliye Rathana thero. The Bill proposes a broader definition of “animals” and also recognizes duty of care for persons in change of animals. It further provides for humane treatment of animals and proposes the establishment of an independent National Animal Welfare Authority.

The Bill was expected to be finalized by the end of this year (at least the expectation of those keen on its enactment was that it would be enacted by end of 2016 with the support of the Cabinet and the Parliament). However at the moment, the Bill seems to be stuck in the pipeline and with not much progress.

Lahiru the lover of Weerawansa’s daughter was murdered..? Open inquest by JMO..

-‘We are suspicious’ -voice recording of friend of Lahiru (audio tape herein)

(Lanka-e-News -28.Oct.2016, 7.25PM) The death of 24 years old Dissanayake Mudiyansalage Lahiru Janith Dissanayake who was staying in the house of Wimal Weerawansa M.P. situated at 71, Hokandara South is not a natural death , and is suspicion ridden, according to Colombo South Judicial medical officer (JMO) who held an open inquest into the death today. Hence the JMO decided to send a part of the body to the Government analyst department for further investigation.

P.D.Galagedera the inquirer into sudden deaths who examined the remains of Lahiru yesterday at the Sri Jayawardenapura hospital where it was lying , detected that the nose of the deceased was bleeding , and somebody had wiped it away. Based on the coroner’s examination , a liquid has gushed out of the mouth , the lips were unnaturally dry , and there were blue patches suggesting injuries on the right side of the neck , on the left side of the forehead towards the rear , and both sides of the stomach .

Soon after this and his recommendations were reported to the police , the latter forwarded a B report in this regard to Kaduwela Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala . Thereafter the latter visited the home of Wimal Weerawansa to conduct a magisterial inquiry, and then visited Jayawardena hospital to examine the remains of the deceased.

The magistrate then ordered that the body be handed over to the Colombo South medical officer to conduct a post mortem , and a report thereof be forwarded to him. The JMO who conducted the post mortem examination in accordance with the instructions , after an open inquest sent a portion of the body of the deceased to the Government analyst department for further investigation.

Meanwhile the mother of Lahiru declared that her son was in perfect health when he left home.

Did he die due to natural causes (most unlikely ) or was he a victim of murder committed within Weerawansa’s home ?

Grave suspicions have emerged over the death because Lahiru had been the lover of Weerawansa’s daughter Vimasha Vishwadhari . This affair had been most fiercely opposed by the Weerawansa family. At the same time Lahiru is a close pal of Weerawansa ‘s son Vibuthi . A friend of Lahiru as well as of Vibuthi had today released a voice recording in this regard to the media Institutions.

The friend had revealed Lahiru was a pal of his and since he was in sound health, this death is surrounded by most suspicious circumstances . Therefore he had urged the police to investigate the messages left by Lahiru on the face book and his phone calls during his final stages. The friend had also clearly pointed out , the statement made by ‘Sashi aunty’ following the death of Lahiru is most suspicious .

Meanwhile monumental sinister pressures had been mounted on the media against giving publicity to this most mysterious and suspicion ridden murder .

Intriguingly , this mysterious death of a youth in the prime of his life who was a lover of the daughter of a frontline M.P. ( notorious crook though), and despite the body of the deceased being found in the very home of the M.P. did not receive headline news publicity of the media .

With venality and corruption widespread in every profession , and prostitution of official positions raging in the country most shamelessly , the justifiable question on the lips of every decent law abiding Sri Lankan is ,whither media ethics and professionalism in Sri Lanka ?

The audio recording of Lahiru’s friend can be heard by clicking here

Connected report
Body of youth found in home of Weerawansa ! Deceased has neck injuries and bleeding nose ..

---------------------------
by (2016-10-28 14:13:13)

Sri Lanka slips down in World Bank’s ease of doing business rankings

( October 28, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lanka has dropped one place in the World Bank’s ease of doing business index despite adopting some key reforms, a media report, quoting the bank’s latest ranking, as saying on Thursday.

“Over the past year Sri Lanka made progress in two reform areas that are covered by the Doing Business report, namely Starting a Business and Protecting Minority Investors,” a World Bank statement said.

“The improvements, while important, were not enough to stop a decline in the country’s overall rank from 109 in 2016 to 110 in 2017.”

However, the World Bank said this is not necessarily an indicator that the country has slipped down in rank, but more a reflection that other peer economies have undertaken a larger number of reforms in the business environment during the same period.

“Simplified processes will reduce the cost of doing business and can help to unleash entrepreneurship, which is needed to boost the economy,” said Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, World Bank country director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

“While Sri Lanka has taken positive steps in reforms, much needs to be done to enable the private sector to grow and to provide equal opportunities for all.”

A total of 11 reforms, making it easier to do business, were implemented by five of eight economies in South Asia in the past year, significantly higher than the region’s annual average of nine reforms over the past five years.

Pakistan is among the top 10 global improvers.

Over the past 12 months, it implemented a total of three reforms and saw its ranking progress from 148 to 144.

– Agencies

Arjuna Mahendran Bolts Overseas As COPE Report Presented In Parliament

October 28, 2016

Bringing an end to weeks of speculation and uncertainty, the highly awaited COPE report on the controversial Treasury Bond scam was presented in Parliament today.

Arjuna Mahendran

However, by the time it was presented, ex-Governor of Central Bank, Arjuna Mahendran had already bolted out of the country.

The report was presented to Parliament by the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Sunil Handunneththi this morning.

In his recommendation, Handunneththi said that legal action must be taken against Mahendran as he was responsible for the bond transaction.

The COPE report drafted by Handunnetti received the support of 16 members in the Committee, while the UNP members in the Committee agreed to Handunneththi’s report provided certain ‘foot notes’ were added.

Handunneththi’s report, also recommends that steps be taken to recover the loss of monies from those responsible.

Mahendran is a Singaporean citizen and was the 13th Governor of Central Bank. He was appointed to the post by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Despite his checkered past at Central Bank, no sooner Mahendran’s term at Central Bank came to an end, Wickremesinghe appointed him as the Head of the Sri Lanka Five Year Development Plan.

Meanwhile, the Joint Opposition has requested for a special debate on the COPE report, before the budget is presented in Parliament.

Read full report here

COPE finds ex-CBSL Governor ‘directly responsible’ for Treasury bond fiasco
Recommends legal action against Governor, other officials and implicated companies
PM says COPE report is “victory for Parliament”
Ranil promises debate on report, says report will be sent to AG
JO wants full debate on COPE report ahead of Budget

By Dharisha Bastians -Saturday, 29 October 2016

Following an 18-month investigation into the Central Bank’s Treasury Bond auctions, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) ruled yesterday that former Governor Arjuna Mahendran was “directly responsible” for a transaction in February 2015 that allowed a company linked to his son-in-law to rake in large profits from the auction.

“According to facts and evidence presented before this committee, there is reasonable suspicion of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s intervention or influence in the February 27, 2015 treasury bond transaction,” COPE Chairman Sunil Handunetti said reading from his 55-page report as he tabled it in Parliament.

“Former Governor of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran must be held directly responsible for this transaction,” the Chairman read.

“I urge all citizens, students and professionals to carefully study this report and its annexures. Then you will discover the corrupt individuals who stole public funds and those that protect the corrupt,” he added.

The findings contravene conclusions reached by a three-member committee of lawyers appointed by the Prime Minister to probe the transaction in 2015 which said Governor Mahendran had “no direct role” in the controversial decision to accept bids higher than the volumes initially offered in the auction. Verbal testimony given before COPE contradicts this position, with Central Bank officials telling the oversight committee that the Governor had suggested accepting a higher volume of bids than initially advertised.

Handunetti said that COPE was recommending legal action against Mahendran and other relevant Central Bank officials for their role in the controversial transaction. His committee was also recommending action to recover the losses to the state from these officials and companies through a judicial process.

The COPE Chairman said the committee had observed that Perpetual Treasuries, a registered primary dealer with the Central Bank had made “huge profits” from Treasury bond transactions during this period.

COPE findings however stop short of proving that Governor Mahendran was guilty of providing insider-information - a financial crime - to Perpetual Treasuries, the company linked to his family.

“The fact that we could wage war against corruption inside this Parliament, even for a moment, is a great victory for us,” the COPE Chairman emphasised during his presentation last morning.

The explosive report ends a dramatic and tumultuous week inside the sittings of the parliamentary oversight committee during the drafting process, including a walkout by the Committee Chairman. COPE members sat for seven hours on Wednesday (26) to get consensus on the report.

The COPE Chairman told Parliament that 16 members of the 26-member committee had approved the report without footnotes, while 09 members – all of them from the ruling UNP – had agreed with the report containing footnotes. Ranjan Ramanayake who is also a member of COPE had been overseas and had not approved either report, the Chairman said.

“All members of the Committee unanimously approved the recommendations in the report,” Handunetti told the House.

Annexures to the COPE report on the financial irregularities in the CBSL bond auctions comprise nearly 2000 pages, the Chairman noted.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe hailed the presentation of the report, saying “Parliament has been victorious today.”

Addressing the House, the Premier said that for nine years, under the Rajapaksa Government, the Opposition had been fighting to strengthen Parliamentary oversight bodies like COPE. “All those of you screaming in the opposition now, opposed those attempts by us then,” said the Prime Minister. “I am glad that we have succeeded in getting even rogues on that side to champion the principles of Yahapalanaya,” he said, amid shouting and disruptions from the joint opposition benches last morning.

The Prime Minister said that once the COPE report was published, a debate on the report could be scheduled and its findings referred to the Attorney General’s Department for legal action.

The Prime Minister also responded to allegations by the Joint Opposition that former Central Bank Governor Mahendran – who is central to the controversy – had fled the country, saying the former official had gone overseas to attend a wedding. “I met him last week and he told me he would be going overseas to attend a wedding. He has not run away like Udayanga Weeratunge and others,” Wickremesinghe charged.

Joint Opposition MPs meanwhile, holding a press conference in Parliament, claimed called UNP members in COPE the “footnote kalliya” or footnote group, and said they had attempted to show Governor Mahendran in a more favourable light by the insertion of these annotations in the report.

The Premier defended the ‘footnotes’ in the COPE report that had been recommended and approved by his party members in the oversight committee, saying every member in a committee had a right to dissent. “The important thing is that the recommendations are unanimous,” Wickremesinghe noted.

Deputy Foreign Minister and UNP member of COPE Dr. Harsha De Silva also clarified the insertion of footnotes, saying the entire committee had accepted the recommendations, and the footnotes in the body of the report were aimed at explaining certain issues in what he called the “spirit of renewed democracy in Sri Lanka.”

“This is certainly a big win for good governance and the strengthening of the Parliament on the oversight committee policy that the new Government is introducing,” the UNP MP and Deputy Minister said on his official Facebook page.

Joint Opposition Convenor and UPFA MP Dinesh Gunewardane demanded a full debate on the COPE report on the CBSL investigation into the controversial transactions. “This debate should be held before the presentation of the budget,” he demanded.

In response, Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella promised that the Government would set a date for the debate at the next party leaders meeting. “Let’s debate. We are not afraid. Thirty COPE reports were presented during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure. Where were those debates? Do you remember how COPE Chairman Wijedasa Rajapakse was sacked?” Kiriella demanded.

Addressing a media conference soon after the COPE report was tabled, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said his party’s agitation against this transaction began two weeks after the auction in February 2015.

Dissanayake said the Central Bank was a subject under the Prime Minister. “This is the fundamental responsibility of the Prime Minister. We are now awaiting his response,” the JVP leader asserted.

“We have pushed and pushed to get to this point. We have now done everything parliament can do. It is up to everyone now to keep this issue alive and ensure people are held accountable,” he added.

Speaking to Daily FT, former Deputy Governor of Central Bank W. A. Wijewardena, who has been a relentless critic of the Central Bank’s controversial Treasury Bond transactions, said that the Monetary Board, which had always defended the actions of the former Governor was equally guilty, even though there is no mention of its role in the COPE report.

“The Monetary Board is responsible for everything that happens in the Central Bank. The Board turned a blind-eye despite the fact that its reputation was at stake. They have failed in their duty, as has the Central Bank,” Wijewardena remarked after the release of the COPE report.

In its observations, COPE said the confidence in the Central Bank had been eroded by the less than transparent bond transactions. COPE recommended that Parliament directly intervenes to recommend punitive measures to be taken against Central Bank officials and companies responsible for the transaction. Parliament should also ensure that a system of checks and balances is put in place by Central Bank to avoid such transactions in the future, and said Treasury Bond auctions should be subject to review and supervision by a special supervisory board set up by the Executive. COPE also calls for reform of existing laws to increase transparency in such transactions and protect confidence and integrity of CBSL.

Controversial bonds to be cancelled

Oct 28, 2016

The two controversial bonds that rocked the UNP and the government could be cancelled by the president according to SLFP Ministers.

Experts say the EPF had purchased the said controversial Bond. This was possible because the EPF was also under the Central Bank.Both Nivard Cabral and Mahendran clearly did what ever they wanted with the EPF.

The massive gain made by Arjun Aloysius of Rs 5 Billion in 15/16 and very likely another 10 Billion in 16/17 has been at the expense of the EPF the poor workers money and other state funds.
If the two-controversial bonds can be cancelled and reissued at a lower interest rates according to experts. If that takes place analysts say Perpetual treasuries will be in a big fix and could become bankrupt overnight.

Especially if they have paid off the politicians involved in the financial crime, as the opposition claims. They claim that two UNP minsters got a pay off around 3 Billion and that one of them had paid off a bank loan of over one Billion in a private bank in Sri Lanka.

There is growing public opinion that all the beneficiaries of the Bond should pay back the money to the government. Furthermore they question why the state funds buy bonds and bills in the secondary market.

Therefore this practice must be stopped immediately and all Central Bank Staff involved in trading in bills and bonds, their assets must be checked. Those officials in Bank of Ceylon who gave a credit line of 10 billion to Perpetual with no colateral must also be fully investigated and charged.

Despite a promise by both the President and the Prime Minister that EPF share transactions in the last five years would be investigated, especially where Perpetual Treasuries has been involved has never been investigated so far.

Furthermore, Arjuna Mahendren was the head of Priority Banking Unit where the alleged accounts of the Rajapakse’s in DUBAI were held. It is being alleged now that it was Arjun Aloysius who introduced the Rajapakses to NBD Bank in Dubai thru his Father in law Mahendren and that another deal with a businessman politician may have been struck to stop the investigation to give them the time to move the money out of the bank.

It is shocking that while the government was investigating lesser crimes people like Mahendren and Aloysius are still to be investigated and are living the high life.

‘Rathu Ali Patiyā’ Says Ranil Wickremesinghe Also Responsible For Bond Scam

October 29, 2016

Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe must also take responsibility for the Treasury bond scam committed at the Central Bank.

A meme of Anura the Rathu Ali Patiyā

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Dissanayake highlighted that even though the scam was disclosed soon after it took place, instead of taking action against it, Wickremesinghe chose to suppress it. “The bond transaction occurred in February 2015, and a few days later, we disclosed this scam. But, the government, instead of taking action against it, or even ordering an investigation, chose to suppress it,” he said.

“It is the government’s duty to safeguard the money they earn from the people. We saw people voting for change at the January 8, 2015 election because people opposed all forms of corruption and stealing, so even more than the previous government’s duty, it was this government’s duty to ensure the wrongdoings by the Rajapaksa regime did not continue, but this is not what has happened,” the JVP leader said.

He said that if the government was clean, then when the controversial bond transaction was first highlighted they would have ordered an investigation. “But, they are not clean,” Dissanayake said.

He noted that during the Rajapaksa regime 30 COPE reports were released but all the reports ended in the garbage bin. “But, we are hoping this will change now and action will be taken against the culprits,” he said.

Dissanayake added that the Parliament’s role was limited in such a scam, and it has done its maximum, through the COPE report, but taking action against the culprits was the responsibility of the authorities. “We will ensure that the culprits will not go unpunished,” he said.

He also hit out at Wickremesinghe demanding that the Prime Minister stop trying to intimidate the media for their role in highlighting the bond scam and the COPE proceedings. “We are telling the Prime Minister and his supporters, to stop intimidating the media because they were reporting on the bond scam and the COPE. Before pointing fingers at others, the Prime Minister and his supporters should come clean first.”

Prior to the Handunneththi led investigation, many gossip web sites and social media sites circulated stories claiming that the JVP were being manipulated by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. There was also a meme created sometime ago where even the traditional red cap and red shirt worn by the JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was photoshopped in green, the colour of the United National Party. Anura Kumara Dissanayake was also branded as a ‘Rathu Ali Patiya‘ metaphorically meaning ‘Baby Red Elephant’.

3 fishers held by Sri Lanka for smuggling heroin

Oct 28, 2016

Ramanathapuram: Sri Lankan navy on Thursday arrested three fishermen on charges of smuggling heroin. Among them two have been identified as Thalvin Rajan and Levin from Thangachimadam in the district.

Sri Lankan navy personnel attached to Sri Lankan naval station, Barana situated at Mullikulam in North Western Naval Command during their special operation intercepted a fishing craft at Arippu in Sri Lanka. They apprehended the three fishermen and seized 2 kg of heroin from their fishing craft. The arrested men, their fishing boat and heroin were handed over to Colombo police narcotics bureau officials for further investigation, Sri Lankan navy website said.

Marine police sources in Mandapam said they are investigating further to ascertain the identities of the arrested people. The FRP (fibre reinforced plastic) boats are not usually registered in Rameswaram area due to local restrictions. Chandrakumar from Rameswaram had bought it from one Johnson in Alanthalai near Tiruchendur few years ago.

"Chandrakumar had not done any name transfer after buying the boat. The identity of the third person who is an elderly person could not be ascertained even after rigorous investigation. We are investigating further in this case," said a marine police official.

Chandrakumar apparently trusted Levin leaving the boat in his custody.

The boat was in Munthalmunai near Pamban till Wednesday afternoon and they left after that. TNN

Stay updated on the go with Times of India NewsApp. Click here to download it for your device.