Sri Lankan President appeals to Rajapaksa not to thwart constitution making process

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena (File|AP)

By P.K.Balachandran-December 2016 04

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday appealed to the Joint Opposition led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, not to thwart the constitution-making and ethnic reconciliation processes by indulging false propaganda because if the current chance to solve the national problem is missed due to narrow minded jockeying for power, the country will only return to conflict and bloodshed.

In a powerful speech in parliament, Sirisena said that the Rajapaksa-led opposition is under the mistaken notion that they can come to power by indulging in false propaganda about the constitution-making process and the status of Buddhism. They complain to the Buddhist monks that the new constitution will wreck the unity of the country and downgrade Buddhism, when the government’s plans are anything but that.  

The President warned that the opposition’s tactics will only create a situation in which they will not be able realize their dream of coming to power.

He recalled that it was the narrow-minded nationalists of the past who had taken the country to war and destruction by using various techniques, including drafting Buddhist monks in their campaigns. Many  Sri Lankans had had to flee the country to take refuge abroad. For Sri Lanka, this is a shameful thing. Such a thing should not be allowed to happen again, the President said.

The ethnic question will have to be solved now, and not left to future generations. It will be anti-national to leave it to the next generation, the President said. He said anybody trying to thwart a settlement now is anti-national.  

Sirisena further said that he is not looking for political heroes but heroes who would stick their necks out for solving the national question here and now. In this context he praised the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R.Sampanthan who is also the official Leader of the Opposition, saying that he is the best Tamil leader after A.Amirthalingam.

Lambasting former President Rajapaksa for changing his stance to meet political exigencies, Sirisena recalled that when Rajapaksa was in power, he had promised to the international community that he would go beyond the 13 th.Amendment to devolve power to the Tamil-speaking provinces, but now, out of power and wanting to come to power, he is saying something quite contrary.

The President appealed to those who oppose any action in favor of the minority Tamils to visit the war-affected Northern Province and see the destruction of life wrought by war for themselves. To those who oppose the return of lands to the Tamils, he said that the Tamils are only asking for lands which belonged to them. People who oppose this demand will realize its justness only if they themselves have lost their lands, the President said.

Sirisena said that unity across caste, ethnic, religious and regional differences will have to be established to frame a constitution which will meet the needs and aspirations of all Sri Lankans. This is a must for the constitution to be approved in a referendum, he said.

Anti-Corruption body probes Basil’s birthday bash!

By Shanika Sriyananda-Saturday, 3 December 2016

The anti-corruption commission yesterday commenced an inquiry into the alleged misuse of State funds amounted to Rs. 2.9 million by a former chairman of a State institution to print banners and publish birthday greetings during the previous regime.

The initial investigations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power (PRECIFAC) found that former Chairman of the Upcountry Development Authority Amarananda Banda Weerasinghe has allegedly misused State funds to print banners to welcome former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his visits to Kandy and also for newspaper advertisements greeting former Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa on his birthdays.

The authority was given allocations for several development projects including funds by the Sri Lanka Tourists Board to upgrade toilet facilities in the supermarket of the Kandy Municipal Council to cater to the foreignerswho visit Kandy.

Following the directives of Chairman Weerasinghe, the balance funds of those projects had not been returned to the Treasury but had been spent on printing banners and publish birthday greetings in newspapers to please former President Rajapaksa and his brother, former Minister Rajapaksa.

PRECIFAC sources said he had violated the stipulated procedure of spending State funds. “The authority should have furnished a report on its spending on each project and the balance of funds to the Treasury. If they have a balance from the funds, they are required to submit a fresh proposal for another development project to get approval from the Treasury. But he had not followed this process in spending the balance funds,” sources said.

When some officials had opposed him for spending the balance funds in this manner, he had boasted saying he would not be afraid for as long as Minister Rajapaksa was in power, the sources said.

The preliminary investigations will be carried out by a team of Police investigators led by ASP Lalith Abeysekara and assisted by the Chief Inspector GeethikaBodhipaksa and Inspector Anuradha.

With the change of Government, Weerasinghehas gone to Australia with his family to live with his son but summons have been sent to his residence in Kandy as well as the address in Australia. 

How Dinesh swallowed up fine money when he was minister!

Dec 02, 2016

Information is coming to light as to how joint opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardena, who is dreaming of military coups these days, swindled Rs. 63.6 million when he was the urban development minister during the previous regime. A Sri Lanka-Canada dual citizenship holder by the name Sivakumar applied to the UDA in 2005-07 to build a luxury apartment complex at 37th Lane, Wellawatte. Considering the request, the UDA permitted the construction of ‘Vancour Apartments’ as a seven-storey building.

However, Sivakumar used his friendship with Gunawardena, the subject minister, and violated the condition by constructing a nine-storey building. It had nearly 60 apartments, sold at a price of more than Rs. 16 million each. Upon Gunawardena’s mediation, the UDA has issued a condominium certificate for this illegal construction.

 

In 2010, when the UDA was taken over by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, an investigation was conducted, following the exposure that it was the LTTE that had funded the construction of the apartment complex. The CID arrested Sivakumar and detained him for questioning. Under interrogation, he has told the CID that the UDA had ordered him to pay a Rs. 63.6 million fine for the two illegally constructed floors, but that he had got the fine money reduced to Rs. 20 million through minister Guanwardena.

 

The CID checked the UDA accounts, but found they had no records of such a payment. Upon further investigations, it was found the money had been deposited to an account owned by the sister of a Gunawardena’s coordinating secretary. She was said to be a close female friend of the minister. We have details of the identity of the account holder and other details, but refrain from publishing them due to legal reasons. The CID wanted Gunawardena to give a statement, but he avoided it through the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

 

In the meantime, Sivakumar paid yet another Rs. 20 million to the UDA and got the matter settled. Mahinda had asked his brother Gotabhaya not to reveal anything about the issue and to close the relevant file.

 

Before this incident, Gunawardena had been making constructive criticism against the Rajapaksa regime, but thereafter he had abandoned that stand and volunteered to do any dirty thing on behalf of the leader who had rescued him. That is how we should take the voice being raised by Gunarwardena today. Mahinda said during the last presidential election that he had the files of everybody with him, and this could have been just one file among them.

Kumar Gunaratnam released from prison



December 2, 2016

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) politburo member, Kumar Gunaratnam, has been released from the Anuradhapura Prison after the completion of his one year prison sentence.

  He was arrested on November 04, 2015 for violating immigration and emigration laws after arriving in the country on tourist visa.

  The former JVP politburo member had arrived in Sri Lanka from Australia on January 01, 2015, just days before the last Presidential Election. 

 Gunaratnam, who reportedly holds Australian citizenship, had arrived in the island on a 30-day tourist visa which expired on January 31, 2015. 

 Gunaratnam was sentenced to one year imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 by the Kegalle Magistrate’s Court on March 31. 

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED: HATE SPEECH & INTER COMMUNITY TENSION ON THE RISE

Image: it was calculated hate speech that led to Aluthgama anti-Muslim riots in June 2014.

02/12/2016

After a two year lull that followed replacement of the former government through the electoral process, public manifestations of inter community tension have increased in recent months. There are indications of political maneuvering behind these efforts to disturb the peace in the country and to bring ethno-religious nationalism to the fore. Video footages of religious clergy engaging in vitriolic attacks on those of other ethnic and religious groups have gone viral on the social media. Ethno nationalist organizations have been engaging in hate campaigns and intimidating those of other communities at the local level. Most notably in the North and East, there are clashes being reported on inter religious grounds. There are many incidents of religious clergy getting involved in expansionist projects, such as religious conversions, destruction of ancient sites or building places of worship in areas where they are less numerous

The National Peace Council welcomes President Maithripala Sirisena’s admonition that anyone who violates the law would be dealt with by the law enforcement agencies. In a context in which religious tension is rising, the government is planning to conduct programmes to educate the clergy of all religions on the importance of integration and reconciliation. The Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation A H M Fowzie is making arrangements to hold programmes to promote national reconciliation. Minister of Justice and Buddhasasana, Wijeyadasa Rajapaksheha has said that all ethnic and religious groups are welcome to participate in the dialogue. He said various groups, including the Bodu Bala Sena and Ravana Balaya, had agreed to participate in the effort to resolve issues through dialogue.

In addition to its awareness creation and dialogue-centred activities, the National Peace Council calls on the government to take action against those who engage in hate speech which creates disaffection and mistrust between communities. The suspected arson attack last Saturday on a Muslim owned warehouse in a Colombo suburb that was previously burned down in 2013 by a mob makes it clear that law enforcement is an urgent priority. In the past there has been a climate of impunity with charges not being brought against the perpetrators, and the victims being railroaded into informal settlements or face worse consequences. This has only served to embolden the aggressors. As their conduct is in clear violation of the law we demand that the laws against incitement to disaffection be enforced by the Attorney General and the Police and those engaging in violence are given exemplary punishment through the judicial process as a deterrent to racist and mob action before they grows out of hand

Anti-Muslim campaign again – Why?

Former President Kumaratunga should be thanked for speaking out loudly and clearly on the imperative of action against hate speech. Even more important is that the Government should speak out on the substance behind the hate speech: the ridiculous charges against the Muslims based for the most part, though not altogether, on misconceptions.

by Izeth Hussain

 ( December 2, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) To fully understand the revival of the BBS’ anti-Muslim campaign of recent weeks, I believe that we must contextualize it globally. We must view it in the context of the strength and the spread of what has come to be known as identity politics or ethno-politics. To illustrate its strength I will cite some details about the Palestine problem. Former US President Carter has just made a public request to President Obama to recognize the Palestine state, just as 137 other states have done, because doing so will facilitate a two-state solution. Carter has a special interest in this matter because it was under his aegis that the Camp David Agreement took place in 1978: Israel would vacate the territories conquered in 1967, and a Palestinian state would be set up.

There were very good reasons to believe that the Camp David Agreement would be implemented and the Palestine problem would find a definitive solution before long. The Agreement was the maturation of UN Resolution 242 of 1968, which was an achievement of British diplomacy at its best. There was behind it the 1977 visit to Tel Aviv of Anwar al- Sadat, a spectacular offer of the olive branch by the President of the most important Arab state of that time. And behind that offer was Egyptian pride in its magnificent military achievement in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, notably the crossing of the Canal by Egyptian troops against what was apparently an impregnably fortified Israeli position there. That would have made the Israelis and their American patrons recollect what Ben Gurion had said at the time of the establishment of Israel: it could win against the Arabs once, twice, but he wasn’t sure about the third war and thereafter. Yom Kippur had brought to the fore Israel’s military vulnerability in the long run. It would appear that common sense and prudence dictated a two-state solution.

But after thirty eight years a two-state solution seems very remote. The Israeli settlement policy is clearly meant to change facts on the ground, pointing the way to a one-state solution. But, as Carter points out, that will be no solution at all because the inevitable future numerical preponderance of the Palestinians will make Israel abandon democracy. It will become an apartheid state – significantly Carter used the term “apartheid” in his book on Israel – in which the white Jewish minority will keep at bay the colored Palestinians. Let us note at this point that Archbishop Desmond Tutu declared that Israel’s apartheid system is worse than that of South Africa. He should know. That brings me to some astonishing facts. 

There is nothing like the widespread international indignation over apartheid South Africa at present over Israel’s blatant apartheid racism.  The US and the West as a whole are acquiescing – while making nominal noises of dissent – in Israel’s progress towards an apartheid state. We seem to be witnessing the realization of Herzl’s advocacy of Israel as a white fortress withstanding the advancing colored hordes of Afro-Asia. What is even more astonishing is that those colored hordes are also acquiescing in Israel’s progress towards an apartheid state. Otherwise they will kick the Israeli Embassies out of their capitals.

Those facts point to the enormous power of identity politics in our time. The eruption into the summit of American power by Trump, backed by Islamophobic and other mad dog racists, shows that and so do the gathering strength of neo-Fascist parties in Europe. I need not expatiate on the power of identity politics in Sri Lanka and other third world countries. What is the common factor behind the global spread of identity politics? I believe that the common factor is that a process of transition is taking place on a global scale. In such periods when roots are wrenched apart and traditional moorings are loosened, many individuals can experience an almost irresistible drive to affirm group bonds, resulting in racism and identity politics. It has long been a commonplace that the third world countries have been experiencing the transition from tradition into modernity.

It has not been sufficiently understood that the West has also been undergoing a process of transition. The Enlightenment project, designed to build a brave new world on the basis of rationality and individualism, which was the dominant secular ideology of the West since the eighteenth century, came into question from even before the First World War. I would argue that another process of transition set in from around 1980. It came to be understood that neo-liberalism was most unlikely to lead to Fukuyama’s utopia characterized by the end of ideology. It was also coming to be understood that market-based capitalism could deliver the goods but it could not deliver equity. And, gradually, the realization has come that ideologues like Hayek and Friedman and the politicos they have spawned like Reagan and Thatcher just didn’t give a dam about equity. Societies were being rent apart by their policies. That probably is the explanation for the rise of identity politics and neo-Fascist movements in the West. It could be significant that it was from 1980 that Karen Armstrong and others date the religious revival in the West and elsewhere: a sense of insecurity made people turn to religion. The common factor therefore is transition but with the difference that the transition in the third world is from tradition to modernity while in the West it is from modernity to post-modernity. The fact that more than a million jobs have been lost in the US through automation points in that direction.

In terms of the analysis I have made above, the anti-Muslim campaign in Sri Lanka is part of a global trend. It is not something that will go away if it is ignored, a point on which we must insist because our politicians tend to ignore problems that could entail a loss of votes. Certainly the Muslim ethnic problem has been given not much more than perfunctory attention over many decades. It should be addressed and action should be taken to contain it and eliminate it. What should be done? First of all we need to find an explanation for the external dimension of the BBS’ anti-Muslim campaign. It is known that there has been very considerable Norwegian funding for it. There has been evidence suggesting that there was a common source funding the anti-Muslim campaigns both in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. I and others have noted earlier that the T-shirts worn by demonstrators in both places were identical except for the different logos, and much of the rhetoric was also the same. We must recall further that the monk Wirata, who became famous over the anti-Muslim campaign in Myanmar, came here as the guest of the BBS.

Several questions arise. There are Muslim minorities practically all over the world, and the one here is relatively insignificant, hardly counting at all in the affairs of the world. Why on earth should Norwegian Islamophobes bother to focus on this Muslim minority? Who could gain by it? Certainly if there is another 1983 and Muslim business premises are torched on a vast scale, Sinhalese businessmen could become the beneficiaries. Who else could become the beneficiaries? If there is another 1983 holocaust, the Muslims would want to flee to safe areas, – that is to the Eastern Province where there is the highest concentration of Muslims. Could that lead to the Muslims making common cause with the Tamils, if not for Eelam for a very wide measure of devolution? We must also bear in mind that the Muslim minority has been abjectly submissive to the Sinhalese majority. That means that if they too are subjected to another 1983, the international community can well conclude that the Sinhalese are so racist that they are incapable of giving fair and equal treatment to the Tamils. Certain conclusions can follow there from. So, the Tamils could benefit from an anti-Muslim 1983 holocaust. Could the LTTE be the hidden paw behind the anti-Muslim campaign without the BBS and others understanding what is afoot? No conclusions can be drawn, but it would be irresponsible not to ask such questions. The Government should at least request the BBS and its clones to suspend the anti-Muslim campaign while the UNHRC sessions are on.

Former President Kumaratunga should be thanked for speaking out loudly and clearly on the imperative of action against hate speech. Even more important is that the Government should speak out on the substance behind the hate speech: the ridiculous charges against the Muslims based for the most part, though not altogether, on misconceptions. I have dealt with those misconceptions in a series of articles in the Island and elsewhere, which are easily accessible to the interested reader through the archives section of the Colombo Telegraph. But I could not deal with one important charge, the alleged inordinate wealth of the Muslims, because of the lack of appropriate statistics. At one time comparative statistics showing the economic positions of our ethnic groups were available. I used a Marga Institute study containing such statistics for a paper on the SL Muslims in the first half of the ‘nineties, showing that the economic positions of our ethnic groups were roughly the same. Such statistics are no longer available, a lacuna that the Government should fill as quickly as possible if it wants to ensure that anti-Muslim campaigns don’t get out of hand.

“I gave the ‘works’ to him” : Wijedasa’s lie “when I told president, he thanked me” enrages president

-Storm of political outrage over warrant issued on LeN editor

(Lanka-e-News -02.Nov.2016, 10.00PM) Subsequent to the Interpol  warrant issued on Lanka e news editor,  an announcement made by  minister of justice Wijedasa Rajapakse betraying the president  had infuriated  the latter after his becoming aware of it , based on reports reaching Lanka e news.

After Wijedasa made an announcement in parliament on the 19th that Lanka e news editor is a Pulanna (destitute person), he should be got down on an Interpol warrant and  a case shall be filed , Wijedasa’s bosom pal most infamously famous Hemantha Warnakulasuriya (buddies  of a feather who rob together) the lawyer  , and Magistrate Kaveendra Nanayakkara got together , and issued an illegal warrant on the 26 th making good Wijedasa’s threat .

“I gave the ‘works’ to him , and president too thanked me.” 

At about the same time Wijedasa has phoned the co ordinating secretary Thusitha Halloluwa of the foreign ministry in Sri Lanka (SL) , who is a close friend of Lanka e news , and said , “ anna , I have given the ‘works’ to that fellow . I shall send that fellow to ten years in jail. The president spoke to me and thanked me.” Wijedasa had made the same  statement a moment earlier to another website editor Ruwan Ferdinands via phone. Wijedasa has also gleefully told  ‘ not a dog  will come forward to save that devil’

Nevertheless , since the  co ordinating secretary of the president , lawyer Shiral Lakthileke at the same time had made a statement  and declared ,at this juncture he is with the LeN editor, suspicions were aroused regarding the statement  ‘ the president thanked me’ of Wijedasa. Unbelievably , lawyer Shiral Lakthileke who came in for heavy flak from LeN , and Ruwan Ferdinands too who faced severe criticism at the hands of LeN earlier on , like true gentlemen stood by LeN editor.

Free media movement , the main media associations including The Web media association and  the Young journalists association , as well as  the Movement for just society stood by LeN and appeared on its behalf. Ranjan Ramanayake , Harin Fernando , Ajith P. Perera and Dr. Harsha de Silva  too openly made statements extending unstinted support to Lanka e news. Even minister Dayasiri Jayasekera who came in for our scathing criticisms in the past for pole vaulting from one camp to the other , phoned Lanka e news editor and assured  his wholehearted  support .

In addition , a great majority of pro good governance supporters who are users of  the social media also extending  their unreserved support to Lanka e news is something most pleasantly shocking and overwhelming . Many of them contributed wholeheartedly to the victory of the rainbow revolution of 8 th January 2015 even risking their precious lives.

There was also  a large number of  representatives of the UNP second row  who are not parliamentarians who expressed their support in no uncertain terms. Local and foreign lawyers too asserted  , they are ready to appear on our behalf free of charge. Another group said they are ready  to defray the legal expenses involved . Some friends of Lanka e news who are abroad even vowed that if LeN editor is to be fetched to Sri Lanka they too would come to SL to fight for the release of the editor.

Cabinet meeting : Harin for LeN,  Nimal Siripala and Arjuna against

Thereafter at the cabinet meeting of the 29 th (Tuesday) with the participation of the president ,minister Harin Fernando took up the conspiracy against LeN editor and drew the attention of the president to it. He pointed out the conduct of his own government’s minister against the editor of LeN that made an invaluable contribution to install the government of good governance in power is something he himself is feeling ashamed of , while adding the government can be struck by a  curse on this account. 

It were SLFP’s minister Nimal Siripala De Silva , and minister Arjuna Ranatunge ( against  whom LeN earlier on made revelations pertaining to monumental corruption ) who opposed Harin and LeN.  Arjuna who is best known for uttering worst lies alleged , LeN which requested cash from him began castigating when he refused to comply. He went on to say , therefore the indignation of the SLFP ministers can be understood , though he is speaking as a UNP minister. Harin Fernando then retorted , no matter what baila you sing  here , as soon as you go out, you will realize the people are with LeN . The entire social media is aligned with LeN  , Harin pinpointed while drawing the attention of the president to this  issue. 

LeN ‘s criticisms are  fierce but that is their style , Harin observed

Harin went on to recall the statement made by  Deputy minister Ranjan Ramanayake on the previous day in parliament  , and that he fully endorses what he stated. The president who was listening to everything intently , said a committee shall be appointed to probe into this with the representation of all ministers.  It is worthy of note Wijedasa Rajapakse the mischief maker nad rabble rouser   who was the sole and whole cause of all these unwarranted and unwanted issues , as well as  responsible for waste of everybody’s time , was a conspicuous absentee at this meeting.

President who realized Wijedasa has lied to him flies into a rage

On the following morning  (30) , the president had called Thusitha Haloluwa , a friend of LeN , and inquired about it .Haloluwa had revealed the true story , that  on the day the warrant was issued , Wijedasa spoke to him and others , and informed that the president gave him a call and thanked him for that. 

President who heard this had flown into a rage. The president who insisted that he never told such a thing had exclaimed , ‘I am waiting to catch the justice minister’

According to reports reaching Lanka e news , Wijedasa has flown to Japan. Haloluwa has then opened the mind of the president by explaining to him lucidly , the government should take careful note ,after the international warrant was issued, how  all the forces of the rainbow revolution of 8 th January ,  buried all their differences and hostilities to rally together to back the LeN. The president who listened had  agreed  with Haloluwa. 

P.M.  calls for a report from A.G.

Meanwhile the speaker too was startled over  the issue of the warrant against LeN editor. The speaker had phoned two M.P.s who had earned a tremendous reputation in parliament , and requested them to meet the P.M. and discuss this issue. One of the MPs is of the TNA (opposition)  and the other is a national list M.P. of the government. Subsequently  , the two MP s had met with the P.M. The latter had informed  to get an unerring report of the legal position from the AG  in regard to this .When the 2 MPs had consulted the AG , it had come to light , on the face of it, the warrant is illegal, as revealed by the AG. The latter had said he would furnish a   comprehensive report to  the P.M.
 
Meanwhile the two petitions filed by LeN and the Young Journalists Asociation with the JSC were  to be examined Monday (05).

Answer to the accusations  of Arjuna

Before concluding this report , it is LeN’s  view   that an answer shall be furnished to the accusation of minister Arjuna Ranatunge leveled against  LeN that it attacked  him because he refused to give cash in compliance with LeN ‘s request. 

Lanka news editor has never spoken to Arjuna during his life time except once. Prior to the last elections in August 2015 , Arjuna through a telephone of a close friend of LeN spoke with the editor and requested him to come for a treaty with Arjuna. That was the only  occasion . 

On that occasion , the discussion  was regarding the Rajapakses being nominated through the UPFA list , and nothing personal. Hence we kindly ask Arjuna who is making false and malicious  statements before the cabinet, to prove them .  Instead of making false and wild accusations it will be best if he spends that time on trying to prove the accusations mounted by Lanka e news on him are  false, if he can.   

At 30th cabinet meeting held to announce the cabinet decisions , the statements made by minister Rajitha Senarathne regarding LeN were  not incorrect. He said , he was humiliated by the LeN.  We are aware of that.   We had  questioned ,is it because  everybody is equal before the law , that  minister Rajitha kept away and did not respond when he  was summoned to the Commission inquiring into Bribery and Corruption on 7 - 8 times to file answers to the charges against him ?  

Before minister Rajitha complaining  he was humiliated , what he ought to do is furnish answers to the charges mounted against him , and prove them as false. Charges leveled against a people’s representative being dismissed as vilification is to dupe  the people.

The allegations  mounted against minister Rajitha by us are charges currently filed against him by the Commission inquiring into bribery and corruption 

Before maligning and penalizing the LeN , it will be best in the best interests of the country , the people and good governance, if  the accusations leveled against the individuals by us are  proved as false . If that is done , we are prepared to face any punishment meted out to us. 

By Wimal Dheerasekera 

Translated  by Jeff

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by     (2016-12-02 16:59:44)

Wijedasa Rajapakse is not suit for his position- Chameera Perara

Dec 02, 2016

Collective of citizens’ organizations opposed governments’ actions against the media.

“Justice Minister Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse is not suit for his position. Government should sack him,” said Chameera Perera, co-convener of Left Circle at a press conference held at CSR in Colombo on Dec. 01.

“Justice Minister said that Lanka e-news editor shall be got down and action shall be filed against him. He said it in the parliament. Politicians cannot tell about verdict to be delivered at the court.”

He added, “It is some kind of threaten to the judiciary. Just after two days of his speech in the parliament Gampaha Chief Magistrate issued the warrant for arrest of Lanka e-news editor.”

Chameera further explained about the justice ministers attitudes at the event.

“We do not need a justice minister who does not work for deliver justice for victims.”

Talking to Lanka News Web Akalanka Hettiarchchi, convener of “Aluth Parapura” (New Generation) said that they cannot except any threaten to media due to it is an action against the right to expression.

“We cannot forget that new media contribution to historical political change in Sri Lanka.”

He added, “It is go against values of good governance. And which is more we should not forget that what happened to politicians who have been threaten to the media.”
By Lawrence Ferdinando - Colombo

ISIS Myiasis

By Nishthar Idroos –December 2, 2016 

Nishthar Idroos

A terminally ill patient with tissue infestations and a multitude of larvae spreading endlessly from a gnarled body is a pathological conundrum. The bizarre metaphor apt and demonstrative of the contemporary carnage and ensuing mayhem unleashed by the so called ISIS in collaboration with nameless, faceless outfits ably sustaining them. All of this done in the name of Islam. Obviously a good reason why sincere Muslims would seriously want to know why violence is attributed to a religion that promotes peace and was revealed to all mankind.

The menacing Jihadi John in jet black garb and in a mask front of a camera supposedly threatening to slit the throat of a purported victim. These are one of many pictures the public had seen and perhaps believed. A region that had relative peace only a decade ago destroyed beyond recognition by the most feared weapon today – American democracy.

Gruesome killings via explosions with ghastly trails of human body parts and blood. These incidents so common place even today long after George Walker Bush had guests from a celestial body in his dream and hand over a special message.

I’ve heard and read experts opine whether this is deliberate policy to depopulate a people? Four simple English letters that had stirred horror worldwide. Now Sri Lanka comes under paranoiac surveillance. A sensational proclamation by a prominent Cabinet Minister in the august assembly stirring passions. Flatly refuted in its own corridors by an equal strongman. Luscious and rib-tickling material for the inimitable Bandu Samarasinghe and Tennyson Coorey comedy duo to work on their next political satire. For the moment the saga continues to mutate.

It seems the occult Wahhabi has once again reemerged. Services of the spellbinder is sought to accomplish media objectives. The spellbinder would with powers vested in him and aided by supporters and sponsors would strive to create the uncertain and foreboding milieu. Forces would then coalesce. In due course the negative message would spread. Sri Lankans would get anxious, alarmed and afraid.

Gonibillah Wahhabi is here. A narrative similar to the infamous grease yaka. A deceptive yet practical tool perfected by Uncle Sam with a well spruced lithographed user manual now available in many languages. (Apologies to the great if not one of the foremost and greatest scholars of Islam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab – a much maligned Islamic scholar (May Allah have mercy on him). The payoff follows “Desperate ISIS Wahhabi’s impatient to make love to virgins in Paradise prefer a quick martyrdom”
The all too excruciatingly familiar caricature hugely weakened by incessant repetition and stereotyping courtesy of news stations like FOX, CNN, BBC along with their local and regional counterparts. Appalling adherence to sophomoric scaremongering and courtship with the absurdist theatre. I believe the west and their allies must strive for greater originality in the future.

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SRI LANKA: A few practical suggestions for police reforms

by Basil Fernando-December 2, 2016

“A History of Ceylon Police” by late A.C. Depp, former Inspector General of Police, is a book consisting of three volumes that gives a good insight into the manner in which the police system came about in Sri Lanka. Reading these pages removes any surprise about the rather pathetic condition into which this institution has evolved.

The unfortunate thing is it need not have been this way.

There was a short period of experiment into the development of the Sri Lankan police in line with the Metropolitan Police instead of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The following opening remarks of Chapter I of this book refer to this short-lived experiment:

"We cannot concede that the Irish Constabulary is at all an analogous Force to our Ceylon Police, and we would here beg leave to express our opinion, that it would have been more conducive to the efficiency of our Force, which is or ought to be, almost entirely occupied in the usual duties of a town Police, if the English Metropolitan Police had been preferred as a model to work from, instead of a Force, however, admirable in its own country, so unsuited to our requirements as would appear to be the Irish Constabulary . . . 
(From the Report of the Commission on Police, 1864) 

… Before 1866, the Ceylon Police Force was influenced in its development by the London Metropolitan Police and the Royal Irish Constabulary. From 1840 onwards, under the guidance of Mr. John Colepeper, a former Sergeant of the P ' Division of the Metropolitan Police, the Ceylon Police Force grew up resembling the Metropolitan Police in dress and manner of work. However, this influence was shortlived. Mr. Thomas Thompson, a former Inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary took charge of the whole Force in 1845. Later, Mr. William Macartney, another Inspector of the Irish Constabulary took over from him in 1848 and began shaping the Force on the lines of his old Force. The outward appearance underwent a visible change, the Blue Serge uniform of the Metropolitan Police giving place to the Green uniform of the Irish Constabulary. Changes took place in other respects too.”

In 1832, the London Metropolitan Police was created and it transformed the nature of policing in the United Kingdom and later also in the United States. This model was also adopted with suitable modifications in almost all countries of the developed world. The change of the policing model was in keeping with the political and social changes that were taking place in Europe at the time where democracy was transforming the political and social landscape. The State had to come to terms with people’s demands for recognition of their human dignity. The relationship between the State and the people had to undergo a transformation in keeping with the ending of the rule by the Monarchy. That “law is the king”, was the common slogan which summed up the nature of this transformation. A completely new discipline was needed within the policing establishment to make it capable of establishing a relationship with the people who had become the masters of their own destinies. Thus, the Metropolitan Police was built within the framework of overall change in a society organised around democratic principles.

It was this system that was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1840. However, when the leadership within the organisation changed with persons recruited from the Royal Irish Constabulary, the system once again fell back into the ‘old model’ and unfortunately it is within that “old model” that the entire policing service has remained, to-date.

The narrative given in this three-volume book on the History of Policing in Sri Lanka, graphically illustrates that there was no overall design for the institution at any time. What took place was ad hoc developments depending on various exigencies that the system faced from time to time. The shaping of the institution was in the hands of various officers recruited for leadership and their tenure of office lasted only for short periods. Besides this, particularly in the 19th Century, the practical difficulties were overwhelming. Even finding personnel to be officers proved a difficult task. The following story illustrates the type of problems that were faced:

“Adverse criticism eventually led to the appoint¬ment of a Commission. The members of this Commission consulted all the available material regarding the Force, questioned a large number of witnesses and produced their report in December 1864. They observed that there was no proper test by which the efficiency of the Force could be judged. But from the evidence gathered and from the observations made, they concluded that the Force was inefficient. They attributed the inefficiency to the lack of proper inspection and supervision of the men. They observed that very inferior men were being taken into the Force and old worn-out men were allowed to continue in Service. The most striking instance was that of the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. P. H. de La Harpe, whom they had viewed at one of their sittings. De La Harpe was one of the veterans of the Force and an officer who had served with Mr. Thomas Oswin, the first Superintendent of Police in 1833. He had an unblemished record and was reputed to be one of the ablest detectives of his day. Of him, the Commissioners observed: ‘on his coming before us we were surprised and pained to find that a man so broken and decrepit should have been left, as was then the case, in charge of the Force of the Town. It is in our view to be regretted that he has not ere this been allowed to retire. We must submit that he should now be called on to do so and that the office should not be filled up’”.

The 20th Century brought about new problems, but the policing service did not undergo any change in design either in its overall institutional blueprint or in terms of any significant organisational changes. Each new problem was faced only in an ad hoc manner and that naturally led to the ever deepening of a chaotic situation. From time to time commissions were appointed such as the Justice Soertz Commission of 1946, but the recommendations of these commissions were never implemented.

It was this ad hoc approach, which even led later – when insurgencies took place in the South as well as in the North and East – to the authorisation of enforced disappearances of persons after their arrests were secured. Such ad hoc arrangements, which allowed even illegal acts to be performed by the police, further undermined the chaotic system, which was created in line with the Royal Irish Constabulary.

Despite constitutional changes bringing about a National Police Commission, and some honest efforts made by some Chairpersons of the Commission to undo the unacceptable situation, it has proved impossible to cure the ills arising from the very nature of the organisation itself.

It is quite unlikely that in the near future, any government will dare to undertake the venture of police reform, although mere talk of such reform will always remain in the political vocabulary. Perhaps the task of police reforms should be approached from a more practical point of view.

All over the world we are witnessing an unimaginable scale of changes brought about by the information communications revolution. The echoes of this change can also be felt even in the remotest corners of Sri Lanka. Perhaps, the changes in the police organisation should be thought of in terms of overhauling its completely outdated communication system at all levels.

From the very first act of taking down of complaints of victims of crime into every aspect of investigations as well as communications with the Courts, modern technological methodologies should be brought in and this could virtually transform the system within a short time and with much less costs.

What we would require is to have the assistance of persons qualified in the use of such technologies, and they are not hard to find. When looking at jurisdictions where such transformations in adopting modern technologies have already taken place, one can easily see that bringing about this change is quite within the reach of Sri Lanka, both from the point of view of availability of skills in such technology as well as from the point of view budgetary requirements.

In fact, not long ago, in the years 2006/7, the World Bank funded a project in Sri Lanka in assisting such a change in introducing an automated courts system. The project was abandoned before it could be launched countrywide. However, that project was only related to the courts. If the entirety of the policing system’s work is also brought within such an overall automated system, it would become possible for Sri Lanka to have a type of a policing system that is suitable for its needs in the present time.

What is required is the imagination and the will to achieve such a change and thus a willingness to answer to the cries of the people for an efficient system of justice.

Police Chief under fire over ‘phone-gate’ scandal

• Constitutional Council “seriously looking into” controversy  
• Opposition claims IGP’s caller was Law and Order Minister – no denial yet 
• JVP slams Govt. members for undermining rule of law 
• President calls for explanation over controversial phone call caught on camera 

By Dharisha Bastians -Saturday, 3 December 2016

Police Chief IGP Pujith Jayasundera is under fire from the Opposition and corruption watchdogs after he was caught on camera attempting to interfere in an investigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) earlier this week.

The IGP told an unidentified caller in the presence of media personnel in a video that was aired on Wednesday (30) that he had instructed the FCID to seek his permission before arresting an individual in a case that appeared to be of concern to the caller. During the recorded phone call, Jayasundera referred to the matter as the “Nilame’s case.”

As calls mount for action against the IGP and the release of information about the caller on the other end of the telephone in the controversial video, President Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament in response to questions raised by the opposition on Thursday (1) that he was calling for explanation from the Police Chief over the revealing video.

The Constitutional Council which nominates the IGP for appointment by the President, is looking very seriously into the matter, a senior member of the Council told Daily FT. The Constitutional Council member who requested confidentiality to speak openly said the IGP’s behaviour was “not acceptable” and added that some action would be necessary.

Daily FT learns that the Constitutional Council and President Sirisena have already warned IGP Jayasundera several times over the general conduct of his department.
The National Police Commission of Sri Lanka, an independent body set up to supervise the Police Department, will not be launching an investigation into Jayasundera’s conduct since the IGP did not fall within its jurisdiction, a Spokesman for the Commission told Daily FT.

Media Officer for the Police Commission Priyanci Liyanarachchi said that under the provisions of the constitution, the NPC only had jurisdiction with police officers below the rank of the IGP. “It would be up to the Constitutional Council and the President to act on this issue,” Liyanarachchi said, acknowledging that the Commission had knowledge of the controversy.

Executive Director of corruption watchdog Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), Asoka Obeysekere said that while the incident was not surprising, the deferential tone in which the IGP spoke reemphasised the power imbalance between those wielding political power and those entrusted with safeguarding law and order.

Obeysekere noted that under Section 56(d) of the Police Ordinance a police officer's duty is "to detect and bring offenders to justice."

"However, when the IGP verbally guarantees that no arrest will be made, as he has instructed the FCID director to get his permission first, it alludes to a potential misuse of his authority over the FCID which needs to be urgently clarified," the TISL Executive Director told Daily FT.

Advisor to the Anti Corruption Front Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon also criticised the incident, saying it indicated that there was still political pressure on the police and that the police were "willingly cooperating."

The scandal, being referred to as “phonegate” on social media, was raised in Parliament with Chief Opposition Whip and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake telling the House on Thursday that the caller had been Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake, and challenged the Minister to deny the charge.

The ‘Nilame’ in question, Dissanayake further revealed, was Dishan Wickremaratne Gunasekera, the current lay incumbent of the Devundara Vishnu Dewale in Matara who was under investigation by the FCID for allegedly misusing Government vehicles and financial irregularities at the temple. “He is a very close associate of the former rulers. He was protected by the leaders of the former regime,” Dissanayake revealed.

During his speech in Parliament, Anura Kumara Dissanayake charged that the incident made it clear that Government members were actively working to undermine the rule of law.

“This incident makes it very apparent that these “sirs” are interfering in judicial matters to protect the corrupt,” the JVP Leader charged. “Forget this Government being able to solve complex issues like national reconciliation, when it cannot even guarantee equality under the law,” he added. “The Government is actively working to undermine the rule of law”

Repeated attempts yesterday to reach the IGP and the Law and Order Minister for comment proved unsuccessful.

The entire conversation was recorded during an event attended by the IGP at which media was present and cameras and microphones were already set up for filming. The video first aired on a private news channel, showed the IGP assuring his caller that he had provided clear instructions to the FCID to refrain from arresting the ‘Nilame’. “Arrest wenne na sir (He will not be arrested, sir),” IGP Jayasundera was filmed saying to the caller.

Dissanayake told Parliament that the ‘Nilame’ in question was a relative of former President Rajapaksa and the chairman of a Government

Sri Lanka: Urged to remove IGP

(December 2, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Several civil society activists have urged president Maithripala Sirisena to remove IGP Pujith Jayasundara from his position due to the various accusations leveled against him during a very short period.

The latest incident is a telephone conversation he had while addressing a Police Department ceremony in Ratnapura.

However the President Maithripala Sirisena informed Parliament yesterday that he would call for explanation from IGP Pujith Jayasundara over the latter’s recent remarks on taking persons into custody by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division during a police commemorative event at Ratnapura.

Soon after President Sirisena completed his speech during the third reading debate on Budget 2017 under the expenditure heads of National Dialogue, National Integration and Reconciliation and Disaster Management Ministries, Joint Opposition MP Wimalaweera Dissanayake demanded to know from the government how the IGP assured that there would be no arrests of a particular person by the FCID even before the investigations.

“We saw on TV the previous night how the IGP was bending the law again. This time he tells a minister over the phone that the FCID would not arrest a particular Nilame (other opposition MPs shout Neelam, Neelam, not Nilame). I would like to know whether the IGP was referring to the Basnayake Nilame of the Devinuwara Devale Mahesh Gunasekera.”

The President responding on behalf of the government said: “I too watched that visual on TV. What he did was completely wrong. I intend to summon him and ask for an explanation.”

The Opposition MPs thanked the President profusely for the quick response and thumped their desks in approval.

Chief opposition whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake minister claimed Sagala Ratnayake gave the call to the IGP, and said if it was not him, Ratnayake should declare that in parliament.

According to reports published by the local media, it was minister Ratnayake who had given the call.

Given below is the video of the telephone conversation.

COPE to probe questionable rice deal

2016-12-02
The parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) will probe the Rs.18 billion rice import scam in which both the present and the previous regimes were allegedly involved, COPE Chairman and JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti told Parliament today.

 He said more than 200,000 metric tons of rice had been imported in stages during the latter half of 2014. 

Mr. Handunnetti said a consignment of 60,000 metric tons of rice had been imported without Cabinet approval just prior to the presidential election and that the country had lost Rs.18 billion from this questionable transaction.

 He said the country had lost a further Rs.2.3 billion as a result of the decision made by the present regime to sell the remaining stock of rice.  "This is as serious as the bond scam," Mr. Handunnetti said. 

Trade and Industries Minister Rishad Bathiudeen in his response said the rice was sold based on tenders obtained from several potential buyers. "The stock of rice was sold to the highest bidder on a Court order," he said. (Yohan Perera)

‘Dada has gone to America to bring ‘body parts’

Dec 02, 2016

A journalist has tried for several days to get in touch with former Colombo mayor A.J.M. Muzammil. He is one of the very few politicians who can be contacted very easily. However, for the past several days, calls to his phone remained unanswered. The journalist has thought that Muzammil had gone to Malaysia to accept his new posting as the Sri Lankan high commissioner there. To verify that, the journalist has given a call to a son of Muzammil.

“Muza’s phone rings, but there is no answer. Has he gone to Malaysia without telling anyone to accept the high commissioner position?” the journalist asked. 

 

His son gave an amusing reply. “No, Dada has gone to America to bring ‘body parts.’

 

“What? To bring body parts? Why? Has Dada started a motor spare part business after leaving the mayor position?” the journalist fired another question.

 

“No. Dada did not go to America to bring motor spare parts. He went there to bring body parts. That is because his next posting is as the high commissioner in Malaysia and he thought it would be wise to take some body parts along with him.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Why? Haven’t you seen how former high commissioner Ansar was beaten up by Tiger sympathizers. Seeing that, Dada decided to take some body parts along when he goes there as the high commissioner.”

 

Muzammil has by now returned home, bringing body parts along with him. He is due to take up duties as the high commissioner in Malaysia before president Maithripala Sirisena undertakes a tour of that country on the 16th of this month.

 

May be body parts, or maybe not. Whatever, our suggestion is that when he goes on official assignments, he should handcuff himself to deputy high commissioner Majintha Jayasinghe. That is because, when a disaster strikes, Majintha will drag Muzammil along with him at lightning speed. Therefore, instead of body parts, what Muzammil should take with him is a pair of handcuffs.