‘It’s good to amend the establishment code to suit RTI. But, more has to be done’ – lawyer Radika Gunaratne

Jan 01, 2017

Eliminating yet another hurdle in the way of implementing the right to information act (RTI), the Public Administration Ministry has decided to amend the establishment code. Parliamentary affairs and media deputy minister Karunaratne Paranawithana has said all state institutions could not be readied to make the act fully operational by February 04. It will be undertaken gradually, he said.

We contacted lawyer/journalist Radika Gunaratne of the SLPI’s islandwide programme on the RTI. She said the subject minister has a responsibility to ensure that the act became operational.

 

“Not only the establishment code, but also other laws and many institutions should be changed immediately in order to create the information culture envisaged through this act. But, the counter-argument here is that this law will supersede all, irrespective of whether the establishment code is amended or not, the establishment code, officials secrets act and other laws not consistent with the RTI. That is a notable feature of this act. That means, this act is powerful than all the existing laws. Anyway, this is a positive step because this will help resolve many practical problems in the implementation of the act. That encourages the information culture recommended and proposed by the act.”

 

However, the public has a very low awareness about this act, a milestone in Sri Lanka’s media freedom and right to information, she said.

 

“It appears there is no adequate understanding among the most on the broad definition of the public authorities. In fact, not only the establishment code, but also the services constitutions, services agreements and institutional ethics of information officers and other named officers within the public authorities should be changed. That will not be confined to state institutions only. Many do not know that public authorities include not only the state sector, but all the NGOs, certain private companies and even the foreign employment agencies. So, are there information officers in foreign employment agencies? They may not know about this.  Not only them, but also the journalists, who will be the main beneficiaries of the act, do not have proper understanding among them about this act. These are a few examples only. At this rate, the subject minister will not be able to create the atmosphere fully by February 04 to implement the act. But, everything should be expedited. The conscientious citizens are keeping a watch until the act is implemented,” she added.

‘Brokers’ who struck on January 1 st and entered the Guinness book of ignominious records – true story..

(Lanka-e-News -02.Jan.2017, 8.30PM) It has been  the practice of even a small Sri Lankan trader who earns his livelihood daily to conduct business however trivial  on the 1 st of January of the year for even a short time . It is why even if that day is a holiday , the banks too are opened to the public for a while. However on such a day , that is on the 1 st of January 2017 , a most bizarre strike (boycott) was staged . The Lottery agents closed their sales points after  selecting that special day in pursuance of their self destructive aim and agenda. 

The true meaning of a   ‘strike’ ought to be : The laborers who haven’t anything otherwise than their labor to carry out sales   using that labor  as a tool to win their rights. Based on that premise , the ‘strike ‘ staged by the Lottery agents cannot be described as a genuine  ‘strike’ .

The reason in support of  this is : the group that  engaged in the strike were not laborers , but brokers and intermediaries who were in the habit of plundering  and grabbing  the labors of others. We describe them as brokers and not businessmen because , if they are truly businessmen , they should have invested at least a minimum of say five cents or their capabilities in the investment . But this group of agents have not made such an investment . These are agents who do not buy the lottery  tickets to market them . They have only signed an agreement to return the unsold remaining tickets , and obtain those tickets free. The remaining tickets are accepted back by the Lotteries board. 

These agents do not invest to meet  the expenses of advertisements regarding sales . That investment is met by  the Lotteries Board. Even the expenditure pertaining to  their sales booth and the advertisement boards are met by the Lotteries Board. Hence this group  cannot be identified as investors or businessmen . They are ‘ brokers’ no more no less ,in word and deed.

In the circumstances , if such a  group is to stage a ‘strike’ that should without any doubt enter the Guiness book of ignominious records. The crucial question is , why did this happen?  What is the true story behind the story ?  Here it is ………

The ‘brokers’ relate two stories in connection  with this strike .In the poster of theirs it is stated they are striking in order to halt the efforts being made to privatize the Lotteries Board efforts , and in order to safeguard the rights of the helpless ticket sellers. According to the other story as revealed to the media : Because the price of ticket which was Rs. 20.00 hitherto was raised to Rs. 30.00 , the strike was staged. 

The true picture

When LeN made inquiries in this regard from the chairman  Romesh Jayawardena of the Development Lotteries Board , he explained thus …

''In the last budget an additional tax was imposed making it compulsory to pay Rs. 5.00 to the government on every ticket sold  . Based on our present expenditures , with this new tax imposition ,and  we are unable to pay Rs. 5.00 per ticket to the government we increased  the price of the lottery ticket by Rs. 10.00. We experienced difficulty in regard to the Rs. 5.00 payment to the government mainly owing to the huge commission we have to pay to the agents on each ticket from the outset.  A very  high 17.5 % commission payment  on every ticket has to be  made to the agents. It is to be noted , no company pays this high commission on the sale of a commodity to an agent and no country in the world pays this huge commission on lottery ticket sales . In countries such as England the commission paid to agents  is as small as 3 % on lottery ticket sales.

This 17.5 % commission was not what was initiated by us. This was existent during the period of the previous governments .Hence , because it was impossible to pay Rs. 5.00 per ticket  to the government without raising the price of ticket of Rs. 10.00 following the budget , we raised the price of the lottery ticket by Rs. 10.00 after holding discussions with the Treasury .Out of that Rs. 10.00 , even after the payment of Rs. 5.00 to the government , on the balance , there is a further NTT tax levied . We are bound to pay that tax too.

In any case , when the tickets were sold at Rs. 20.00 each a 17.5 % commission – that is Rs 3.50 was paid to the agents. Now , after increasing the price by Rs. 10.00 per ticket , and the payment of Rs. 5.00 to the government , the agent’s commission has been increased to Rs. 4.00 per ticket . Yet these agents are demanding Rs. 5.25 as commission per ticket. This is something that is not practically possible. Though this is the true picture and their actual demand , they are on the contrary clamoring  the Lotteries Board is going to be privatized, and the poor ticket sellers are being hit below the belt  . Those are false pretexts and lies.  Their hidden motive is to secure their unreasonable demand – collect the unreasonable commission payment .''

Romesh Fernando went on   to elaborate as follows :

''We shall not be once again issuing development lottery tickets to those whom sales had been suspended by us on the 1 st of January .We have advertised to appoint new agents. Accordingly we shall be appointing new agents. Today(01) we employed our Vans and did the sales . The public without any issue purchased the tickets priced at Rs. 30.00 each. I have told the officials any drop in sales will be restored within two months.''

The ‘Strike’- even when  it strikes back.! 

LeN being concerned about the situation made inquiries from a friend of ours - he had an intriguing story to relate …

''The strikes and protest that are now on going in this country are most grotesque. Recently , a group calling themselves as ‘Onion dealers’ staged a protest. When the police arrived to disperse them ,the protestors had made most queer requests ….they told the police ‘please direct the water cannons on  us’  and  ‘use tear gas against us’ , for , ‘otherwise this protest will not be shown on  the television screens in the night for the public to see.''  Our friend exclaimed ''so you see it is to  this sordid level protests have descended.’  One of these days , they would protest in front of toilets saying  , ‘ we are constipated . Our stomachs have turned dry . Until the government gives us papaya , we shall not leave the vicinity of the toilet.’  Our people do not know what are their rights. They do not know  the purpose  served by their stomachs  . Hence the politicos take full advantage of their weaknesses '', he lamented. 

''Who are these Lottery agents whom you are referring to ?'' our friend asked ., and went on to explain  , ''all of them were henchmen of the previous corrupt criminal government .These agent appointments were given to them in reciprocation for doing all the sordid biddings and villainy  of that villainous  government . It is during that previous government , for the first time the Lotteries board incurred losses.  Then ,no henchman or lackey staged a strike . Moreover , people did not die because  there were no sweep tickets .''

Appoint disabled persons as sweep ticket sellers

With the latest decision to appoint new agents consequent upon  the strike of the brokers , LeN has a suggestion for the authorities  :

In India our closest neighbor , the sale of sweep tickets have been entrusted to disabled persons .License to sell sweep tickets is not issued to ordinary persons who are not disabled. A situation parallel to that was there in Sri Lanka too 1n 1960-70 . During that period , it was mostly disabled persons on tricycles who were seen selling lottery tickets. There were no irritating  loudspeakers . It is our view that this situation changed drastically only after 1977 .Now SL is in a post war period. There are countless disabled persons following the war , though the disabled soldiers are existing on their pensions and other allowances until their death. The ordinary civilians who are disabled should therefore be benefited through a scheme  which would be a boon to them permanently.

The brokers who call themselves as agents exploit the helpless in society while  using  them to sell the tickets after keeping back  a large sum with them (brokers) ,  and paying a tiny sum  to these poor sellers . In the circumstances , the Lotteries board when appointing new agents in place  of the present unscrupulous brokers who are protesting , it must ensure a repetition of the past does not occur . That is, a fresh  group of political  henchmen , lickspittles and stooges are not appointed . As was mentioned hereinbefore, opportunities shall be directly provided to the disabled civilians who were victims of the war  with a view to uplift their living standards and towards that a permanent scheme  shall be introduced . LeN strongly urges such schemes are launched swiftly .

By Lanka e News editorial writer

---------------------------
by     (2017-01-02 15:18:38)

Logic of coalition politics as art of the possible will continue

By Jehan Perera-January 2, 2017, 8:18 pm 

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has predicted the collapse of the government in the New Year and his return to power. He is demonstrating the same tenacity that stood him in good stead during his long stint in politics prior to rising to become the undisputed leader of the country. He was kept down by his party leaders but prevailed in the end. After his unexpected defeat at the presidential election of January 2015 that he called prematurely he has been tenaciously struggling to stage a political come back to the centre stage of power. Together with his supporters in the Joint Opposition he has been able to demonstrate mass support among a section of the people on numerous occasions but so far has been unable to convert that into real power.

The former president is likely to continue to face this problem of being unable to convert mass support into political power so long as President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickemesinghe continue to engage in coalition politics. Together they are able to muster a 2/3 majority in parliament. This was seen as recently as last month when the budget was approved at all stages by a 2/3 majority. Power lies in the control of government. The stability and strength of the government lies in the continued willingness of the president and prime minister to work together in the realization that each needs the other’s support to continue to stay in power until the next general elections which are three years away.

The understanding that the president and prime minister have about the need to work together is not necessarily shared by senior members of their political parties who have a shorter time frame than they. It is likely that many members of the UNP and SLFP prefer to govern the country by themselves rather than sharing power with each other. They would focus on the fact that they will have more resources to themselves if they govern alone. It will also speed up the decision making process which be slow in a coalition government. The desire of each party to govern alone can be seen in the statements and outbursts that periodically emanate from the members of the two parties about each other. It is these outbursts that create an impression of governmental instability that the former president is focusing upon.

THREE REALITIES

There are three realities of coalition politics. The first is that decision making will be contested and will therefore be slow. The UNP and SLFP have two different political philosophies. One is more pro-business and internationalist while the other is more redistributionist and nationalist. The president and prime minister represent these two value systems which would be in opposition to each other in normal circumstances. What makes their combination effective is that decisions that are eventually made will tend to include concerns from both ends of the political spectrum and hence will have a greater degree of political acceptability. Examples of this would be the tensions that prevailed but which yielded sustainable outcomes in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the constitution which kept the presidency intact and the change of Governor of the Central Bank in the aftermath of the bond scandal.

The second feature of coalition politics is the need to share power. This can be seen in the preliminary rejection of the Development (Special Provisions) Bill which had been approved by the cabinet of minister. The purpose of this law is to make it easier for investors to start economic projects. At the present time investors have to go to many different government agencies to get approvals to start their projects. They might have to get approvals from the local government authority in the area in which the project is to be located, the Board of Investment and the Central Environmental Authority and many others besides. Getting all these approvals can be a time consuming and frustrating process. The new law seeks to set up a one-stop process to minimize delays. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has said the Development (Special Provisions) Bill is aimed at accelerating the country’s development to meet the expectations of the public.

However, SLFP members have said they would oppose the government’s efforts to create a super ministry, which they allege would vest concentrated powers in a single minister. They fear that it would usurp the powers of cabinet ministers under whose purview various regulatory agencies of the state come under, as well as the provincial councils. The SLFP controlled provincial councils have vetoed the new law. A one stop process is important for the country’s development, and many other countries have adopted it to facilitate investments that create jobs and wealth. In this situation the way forward would be for the government to ensure that both UNP and SLFP members share decision making power in the one stop process.

POSTPONE COMPETITION

The third feature of coalition politics is to postpone the competition between them. This accounts for the repeated postponement of local government elections. These elections have now been postponed for nearly two years. Various technical reasons are given. However, the political reality is that the SLFP in particular would not like to go to the polls where they would have to compete against the Joint Opposition in which many of their members are active and to which the former president is giving leadership. The SLFP’s reluctance to go to the polls also suits the UNP at this time. As the party that is in effective charge of the government, the UNP is shouldering the responsibility for putting the country’s economy into shape after it was weighed down by the heavy debt repayments incurred by the former government. The coming year will be one in which the government will wish to consolidate its economic programme, which will be the most important determinant of whether it can obtain the continued electoral support of the electorate.

In this context, it is unlikely that the government will need to decide whether or not to hold a referendum on constitutional change. Minister of National Languages and Co-existence, Mano Ganesan has warned that a referendum on a new constitution cannot be easily won. The Minister emphasized that the government should first and foremost be safeguarded. He has highlighted that the constitutional amendments were needed to be set forth so as they would not be rejected in a Referendum. "We have to make an effort for a while to avoid a Referendum. My view is that if we go for a Referendum, we must be ready to win. For that, instead of a completely new Constitution, we have to think of amendments to key areas," the Minister stated. He said that the extremist elements would vehemently protest the power devolution proposals, including the police and land powers, recommended by the subcommittee on centre-periphery relations.

The more likely scenario in 2017 therefore will be one of changing the constitution to the extent possible utilizing the coalition government’s 2/3 majority in parliament but without going in for a referendum. This is the model followed by Colombia to consolidate its peace process between the government and rebel FARC militants. The Colombian government failed in October to win a referendum that sought the approval of the people for the peace agreement, much to its own shock and the shock of the international community which awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to those who were architects of the peace agreement. However, in December this peace agreement came into force by being passed by parliament with a unanimous vote in favour. Two tenets of the original agreement, a transitional justice system and a mechanism to allow FARC leaders to participate in politics, were altered slightly in response to concerns raised by political factions that campaigned against the deal. As in Colombia, if this model is followed in Sri Lanka, it does not necessarily mean that the changes made will be any less far reaching or important. Politics, whether coalition or not, remains the art of the possible.

UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT REGIME – SUNIL BASTIAN

Image:Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena at a religious ceremony, courtesy of Economy Next.

02/01/2017

Very soon it will be two years since the election of President Sirisena. His victory was consolidated in the general election held in August 2015. There was a lot of euphoria when this regime change took place. I was amused to see some even calling it a revolution. Well, after two years the contours of this regime and what to expect from it is becoming clearer. Definitely, it is far from any kind of a revolution. What I am concerned with is whether this regime could at least provide leadership to reforms that can lay the foundation for a society that will be able to negotiate its problems without recourse to violence either from the state or non-state actors.

UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT REGIME.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Formalising economic management through Development Bill: Another communication failure by the Unity Government? 

Monday, 2 January 2017

A development bill running into a messy situation

The Unity Government managed to have its Budget 2017 passed in Parliament by a two third majority. From the public pronouncements which the top leaders had made, one could infer that it had boosted their sense of security in power to an unbelievably high level. Yet, it cannot expect the same Parliamentary success for its proposed Development (Special Provisions) Bill now before the public (available at: http://documents.gov.lk/files/bill/2016/11/141-2016_E.pdf).

Formalising economic management through Development Bill.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Govt. failed stock market investors in 2016 

says CBSA Head

Ravi Abeysuriya

By Hiran H.Senewiratne-January 1, 2017, 9:21 pm 

The year 2016, could be branded as a year wherein the government failed to live up to the expectations of stock market investors. president, Colombo Stock Brokers Association Ravi Abeysuriya said,

 "Limited progress had been made in implementing policy reforms last year  and in crafting and practising a sound economic policy package for the stock market, which did not perform to the expected level, Abeysuriya told The Island Financial Review.

He said that the stock exchange needs inspiration to ensure the exchange attracts genuine investors and that it provides opportunities for a broader group of local and foreign investors to invest in the stock exchange.

 "To ensure this, the government should act as a facilitator and implement the capital market reforms identified in the 2017 budget, he said.Abeysuriya added that at least in 2017, "We expect the government to create a more conducive environment that provides a level playing field and creates long-term investment friendly policies that will benefit all companies, for the private sector to create new job opportunities, increase exports and investment."

He said that successful policy implementation will be key for the stock market to perform in the new year. "Therefore, 2017 should be a year for the government to make real progress in fulfilling the promises and deliver on expectations, the CSBA Head explained.

 "CSE is under-owned, versus other frontier market peers and as a result people in Sri Lanka miss out on the ‘power of investing’, particularly to build long term savings for retirement, Abeysuriya said.

"The long term institutional funds, such as, provident funds, insurance companies and Unit Trusts, collectively, own only 6.5 percent of the Rs 3.1 trillion stock market capitalization. Similarly, only 6 percent of Rs 133 billion assets under management of Unit Trusts is in pure equity funds in Sri Lanka and only about 25,000 credit default swap accounts are active, Abeysuriya added.

"The stock market offers the means to participate as an owner in the growth of the companies that make up the Sri Lankan economy.

"Investing calls for optimism about future opportunities. It requires investing wisely, taking a reasonable amount of risk and a long-term view and most importantly, getting professional help, Abeysuriya elaborated.

The CSBA is an apex industry body, representing the stock broking companies, licensed and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka.

2017: Watershed Year For LGBTQI+ Rights In Sri Lanka?

By Chamindra Weerawardhana –January 1, 2017

Dr. Chamindra Weerawardhana

A new year often dawns with new resolves and wishes, and this especially appears to be the case with the LGBTQI+ community in Sri Lanka. As dialogue on a sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)-related equality clause in the proposed new constitution continues, an absolute priority is that of raising awareness on SOGI-related fundamental rights among policymakers, senior government officials, the judiciary and law enforcement officials. This is due to an extremely worrying lack of awareness and understanding that pervades government circles. The attitudes of many policymakers and officials towards SOGI issues are shaped by prejudices and colonially imposed Victorian [im]moralities, which, contrary to what many of us assume, are also deeply ingrained in what could be described as the ‘Sinhala-Buddhist establishment’. In a land nurtured by Buddhist philosophy along the logic of Sabbé satta bavantu sukhi thattha, ensuring the protection of the basic human rights of all citizens fall well within Sri Lankan, if not Sri Lankan-Buddhist traditions of tolerance and acceptance. Indeed, this reading categorically contrasts with the Temperance Movement-instigated appropriation of Victorian moralities and values that many of us blindly assume as ‘Sinhala-Buddhist’, which, in reality, have very little ‘Sinhala’ and next to no ‘Buddhist’ within. The latter Buddhist establishment remains highly patriarchal, harbouring an extremely discriminatory attitude towards gender equality within the clergy and beyond. This situation has resulted in a climate in which those who present themselves as the yellow-robe-clad custodians of ‘national’, if not ‘traditional’ values are in fact perpetrators of gender and sexuality-related oppressive conservatisms imposed upon us under Western colonial rule.

Hypocrisy in the LGBTQI+ political class?

Concerning the political class, this writer cannot avoid highlighting the staggering level of hypocrisy among senior politicians. In a country where LGB people occupy posts as high as Head of Government and several key cabinet ministerial portfolios including Law and Order, External Affairs and Education, one seldom comes across a politician prepared to openly affirm ‘we stand unequivocally for the fundamental rights of all citizens irrespective of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity’. This silence can be explained in their fear of a possible backlash that would be politically disadvantageous. However, the high-level power that the aforementioned politicians wield provides them with clear leverage to articulate SOGI-related fundamental rights and freedoms within a broader and water-tight emphasis on human rights and gender justice. Although the yahapalana government circles include several supportive MPs and specialists (such as the spouse of the Head of Government, a Gender Studies professor of international fame), its attitude to gender politics (including SOGI-related issues) continues to remain somewhat ‘hush-hush’, to say the least. A more forthright approach on fundamental rights would indeed be a welcome gesture in 2017.

Gender justice as interlinked to external affairs priorities?

SOGI-related human rights are inherently linked to overall objectives of gender justice. SOGI issues cannot be separated from issues of violence against [cis and trans] women, the socioeconomic violence suffered by [cis and trans] women from ethnic minorities and lower echelons of caste and class structures. If equality (and especially gender equality) is to be included in educational syllabi, it imperatively requires a strong SOGI-related emphasis. Similarly, reconciliation initiatives are incomplete in the absence of SOGI-related protections. Their omission from the statute book, action plans and strategic goals implies a low, if not insincere grasp of the welfare of citizens affected by deep-seated ethnonational (or should I say ethno-patriarchal) violence. Here again, Sri Lanka has the human resources and expertise to formulate forerunner legislation that could provide an example not only to the rest of the subcontinent, but also to the world at large. If Sri Lanka is negatively perceived at UN and other international human rights platforms, and if some powers are keen to push Sri Lanka against the wall in the name of human rights and pursue their own agendas (such as regime change operations), the myopia of the Sri Lankan political establishment to tactfully adopt a discourse on fundamental rights to ALL citizens (and a well-formulated and intersectional policy approach on gender justice) is primarily to be blamed.

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Prime Minister's friends Responsible for Mahinda's re-emergence !

Jan 01, 2017

The kurunagala MP is now is in no mood to take a back seat like 18 months ago, when he lost 2 elections in a row. The former president last year looked totally stressed out and could visibly seen to be avoiding most people. 

 

18 months later he is seen at every wedding and funeral talking to people and mobbed by people. Recently he made a mockery of the Prime Minister at a meeting in Hambantota. He is a man on a mission to regain his lost glory. All his excesses are slipping away from the public domain for want of action from the government. 

 

Very soon the utterances made by Managala Samaraweera that he stashed away 18 billion dollars oversees, will be viewed as a diabolical lie spread to discredit the former president. All the murder charges and abuse of power against the Rajapakses will be forgotten. The fact that the UNP led government has fallen to such low levels is similar to what happened in 2004. 

 

The Prime Minister did not have the sense to know Chandrika Kumaranatunga was pulling the rug under his feat. His friend Malik Samarawickrama was negotiating with Mano Thithawala when Chandrika Kumaranatunga decided to dissolve parliament very secretly. 

 

History is repeating it self once more. 

 

The same team that led him to his downfall, Malik Samarawickrama, Charitha Rathwatte, R. Paskaralingem, Ananda Authukorala, Sagala Rathnayake and Arjun Mahendran have come back to dig his grave. 

 

Other than Samarawickrama none of them were heard or seen for over 10 years. Sadly it is the UNP supporters who have slogged in the wilderness for over 10 years who will be the final losers. 

 

There are numerous allegations against his friends from nepotism to doing deals. Ajith Dias and Rathwatte's brother have totally mismanaged the airline making the government even more unpopular. They have built a wall round the Prime Minister to ensure their activities don't get exposed to the Prime Minister. 

 

The proposed development bill will never go through according to SLFP Ministers. No SLFP MP wants Malik Samarawickrama to have excess power given his track record in the last 18 months. The group around The Prime Minister wants him to break off and go on their own. A showdown between the SLFP and UNP will come when the bill is presented in Parliament. 

 

The same group will at that stage urge the Prime Minister to a form a government of their own. If an attempt is made the Prime Minister could end up losing his place in history, because more than three people are waiting in the background hoping this would happen, for them to cash in. 

UNP backbenchers say the PMs friends are making him look like an emperor with no clothes on and if the government falls this time these people will not be allowed to get away like in 2004, we will hold them accountable for ruining our future and protest in front of their house , because if we don't watch out the UNP can very well come number three in the local government elections. 

 

That will be the end of the UNP regime a UNP minister remarked. At least in the new year the Prime Minister should investigate and prosecute all the political rogues who are hiding behind his friends. 

Mahinda can do whatever he wants, but I’m the PM


January 2, 2017

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is free to do whatever he wants, but I am the Prime Minister of this country, Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday. 

The PM made the observation while responding to reporters at the Temple Trees in Colombo. “I will be going next week to Switzerland for one week giving Mahinda time to bring the government down,” Wickremesinghe said. 

Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier had told journalists that he intended to “topple” the current government in 2017. Rajapaksa said that 2017 will be the year in which the future of Sri Lanka will be decided. 

Rajapaksa added that those who hold portfolios and vote with the government on important matters, are members of the government despite any criticism they may make in public about other political parties and ministers in the government. 

Pro Rajapakse MPs with Maithri returning to the thieves’ den begins: Priyankara Jayaratne resigns his portfolio -Isolation of President starts as he antagonizes all those who propelled him to power

By Wimal Dheerasekera

(Lanka-e-News -02.Jan.2017, 7.10AM)  The pro Rajapakse MP’ s who said they would extend support to Maithripala Sirisena had accepted   the invitation of Mahinda Rajapakse extended to them once again thereby creating an odious trend . State minister of provincial councils , provincial administration and mass media , Priyankara Jayaratne had therefore sent his letter of resignation from his post today to president Sirisena . 

Though the president had rejected the resignation letter , there is no indication  that Priyankara has withdrawn his resignation .He had announced he is joining the joint opposition.

On the 28 th , that is  the day previous to this incident , Priyankara has met with Mahinda and has had discussions. Thereafter , Mahinda convened a  media discussion with foreign reporters and said , it is his aim to topple this present government within the year 2017 . Though the present government has a two third majority within parliament , this will change in the future when considering the current political situation , he added.

 ‘I can rule the country without becoming the country’s leader ‘ Mahinda said. If present Prime Minister (P.M.) Ranil Wickremesinghe can be a minister under president Maithripala Sirisena , he (Mahinda)  too can work with him ,the   individual he knew well since 1970. In any case if such a situation does arise , that will be determined based on his (Mahinda’s)  conditions , Mahinda observed. 

It is noteworthy it is on  the day following  the aforementioned statement of Mahinda , Priyankara tendered his resignation letter. It is very clear while Maithripala is in the process of antagonizing  all the forces that  steered him into power , he is also playing into the hands of Mahinda whose strategy is to alienate all the MPs from Maithripala who went and joined him earlier. 

President is antagonizing all the forces that steered him to power …

Maithripala Sirisena who has no capacity to  understand that the forces which  defeated Mahinda Rajapakse on the 8th of January 2015 , not only defeated Mahinda  but  also repulsed and rejected the SLFP which routed the country during the 20 year reign by indulging in all the criminalities and corruption , took over the leadership of the discarded and defeated SLFP. By accepting the SLFP leadership he flagrantly dishonored the assurance he gave to the masses that he would be non partisan and sans party affiliations  while also outrageously breaking the promise o he made to Chandrika Bandaranaike that he would hand over the SLFP leadership to her. 

Thereafter , a bankrupt politico Dilan Perera an erstwhile enemy of  Maithripala , to whom   even the garbage bins refused to give   a place  , was   without a people’s referendum made the SLFP media spokesman by Maithripala after appointing him through the national list as an M.P. It is well to recall Sirisena even  deemed it fit to appoint such a scoundrel of a politico despite the fact that this is the rascal who even gave a cup of poison to most Ven. Late Sobitha Thera.  It is Dilan the bankrupt discarded politico put on the pedestal by Sirisena who   began unrelentingly lambasting the UNP and its leadership  , in spite of  the fact that it was the UNP  that installed Maithripala as the president of the country .

Mind you , Dilan the discarded political villain was doing all these while Maithripala is the president , and under him. Hence , if anyone is thinking Dilan’s  criticisms vacuous though are leveled sans Sirisena’s advice and blessings , he must be one who knows nothing about politics. . Unbelievably , it is Sirisena the president who would never have become the president but for the UNP  also  took measures and gave orders to suppress the complaints at the FCID against Dilan Perera .

After patiently tolerating this obnoxious behavior of these unscrupulous  political villains  for a long time, the backbencher MPs  of the UNP began retaliatory attacks  against Dilan  while knowing it is Sirisena who is behind the curtain and prompting Dilan the garbage villain . However this was done without exposing  the factual situation .

Meanwhile , the minister of justice Wijedasa Rajapakse who has been marginalized by prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe , began attacking Lanka e news which is well and widely known as the news website that made a huge contribution to make Maithripala Sirisena the president of the country . This tie coat , black coat ,  turncoat , cut- throat ,double faced Wijedasa who is playing a double game betraying the government joining hands with  the Rajapakses while also enjoying all the perks and privileges as a minister under this government , used Hemantha Warnakulasuriya who is holding a post of Director in a government Institution as his menial servant and tool to launch those attacks. 

It became evident that it is Maithripala the president who was behind the attacks launched by Wijedasa against Lanka e news, after the  speech made by  the president having Wijedasa close to him at the annual conference of the judges. The president echoing the same sentiments of Wijedasa said , laws will  be introduced to curb and control  the websites . It is well to recall when Maithripala did not have any print or electronic media to support him on the 8th of January 2015 , it were the websites and the social media that worked with commitment and dedication to support him. Yet ,it is  the same ungrateful Sirisena the president after having forgotten all that , who is now saying he has told even his family members not to browse the websites ,and is going to introduce laws to control them.

Even the movement for just society that also made supreme sacrifices to make Sirisena the president was later on treated with contempt by the president , by sending a letter of demand through his defense secretary claiming a sum of Rs. 1000 million from its convener , Professor Sarath Wijesuriya .Obviously, if anybody  thinks  this letter was sent without  the consent or at the  behest of president Maithripala who is also the minister of defense , such  an individual is surely a stupid  political  ignoramus.  

Prior to the appointment of the new convener of the movement , even when most Ven. Late Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera who was the convener then was living,   Sirisena  neglected him .When appointing secretaries to the government Institutions , not even one name proposed by Ven. Sobitha Thera was considered for appointment , thereby disappointing and acutely hurting most Ven. Sobitha Thera. Those who were close to most Ven. SobithaThera know well that his death was accelerated by the ill treatment meted out to him and the failure of Sirisena to abolish the executive presidency despite the latter making grandiose and solemn promises to do that . And what’s more ? Now by sending a letter of demand to Professor Wijesuriya , the president has offended all the civil organizations 

Moreover , by  Sirisena’s ‘cyanide speech’ he has provoked and angered  the forces which installed him in power. Sirisena who spoke for and on behalf of several suspects in remand custody in connection  with high profile murders incurred the bitter  resentment and displeasure of the great many who are in earnest anticipation of  punishment being meted out to the culprits. Unsurprisingly  , following Sirisena’s cyanide speech all the culprits were released on bail .

Based on reports reaching Lanka e news , a group of  backbencher M.P.s  of the UNP this noon  at Sri Kotha have made a request to  the secretary of the party  that the UNP shall form its own government after leaving the consensual government 

Maithripala Sirisena who cannot identify what is an enemy force  and  what is a friendly  force , and who is not amenable to advice, has by  behaving in a demented way  and acting without following  policies is showing signs of getting isolated day by day.  Rajapakse  is of course lying in wait while using his pawns to full advantage  in this pathetic situation . This trend  can only be  reversed by discussions between Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maithripala through honest critical analysis and self criticisms .

If that fails , Maithripala Sirisena will be left with no choice except end up crawling and cringing on Rajapakse’s laps. If that happens it  will mark the end , and not the beginning of Maithripala’s end. 

By Wimal Dheerasekera 

Translated by Jeff 

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by     (2017-01-02 02:02:21)

India, China and MR’s new political project

2017-01-02

With the Maithri-Ranil ‘unity government’ approaching the end of its second year in office in an increasingly acrimonious co-habitation, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is gearing up for a come-back. 
He’s in combative mode, claiming that the ‘real SLFP’ is with him, that he opposes the government’s ongoing privatization and hopes to restore to the party the values of its founders. Engaging Colombo-based foreign correspondents in a wide-ranging discussion at his official residence on Thursday he seemed to relish the encounter, starting off by urging reporters to fire away.    
MR, the Kurunegala District MP set the tone of the discussion with his smiling response to the very first question, remarking that he would ‘topple the government’ in the New Year. When it was pointed out that he could not be the leader of the country (owing to term limits on the presidency introduced with the 19th amendment) he indicated that he didn’t need to, when he could wield influence by other means (presumably referring to the prime ministerial post).  
Not surprisingly Hambantota featured prominently during the forum. The southern district is his home base and has become the locus of both domestic and international attention these days. An ‘intermestic’ issue perhaps.  

"“I invited the Indians first. I invited India to come and build a port there … But they didn’t want to do that. Then I had to look for somebody else. Then the Chinese came"

MR expressed strong opposition to the Hambantota Port deal under which the government is to give a 80% controlling stake to a Chinese company, and allocate 15,000 acres to the Chinese for an industrial zone. “How can you give 15,000 acres?” he asked, hotly rejecting the suggestion that the present government’s project is a ‘continuation’ of what he started.  
“We wanted to give 750 acres for an industrial park. They asked for 1000, I said no. It’s the people’s land!” he asserted. He was not against ‘the Chinese or Indians or Americans coming here for investment,’ but against agricultural land being given and the privatization involved, he said. His priority was the country’s development.   
He also rejected the suggestion that it was his ‘mistake’ to invite China. “I invited the Indians first. I invited India to come and build a port there … But they didn’t want to do that. Then I had to look for somebody else. Then the Chinese came” he said. Under the previous business plan the Sri Lanka Ports Authority had control but now the Sri Lanka government has no control over the project, not even over security, said Prof. G. L. Pieris, Chairman of MR’s newly formed party - Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna - who was present at the briefing.  
The former President who has been faulted in some quarters for his ‘pro-China tilt’ in foreign relations, described his recent trip to China as a goodwill visit. Asked about reports that he met the Chinese investor company during his trip he said “I met everyone.” He had told them ‘the way they are doing it is wrong.’ Prof. Peiris added that China Merchants and Port Holdings Company was sensitive to the land issues faced by people and the need for social stability.

"The docking of a Chinese submarine in Colombo Port in September 2014 was a tipping point in the Indo-Lanka relationship during MR’s second term. He could not resist taking a dig at India over its silence regarding the even greater Chinese presence envisaged under the current investment programmes"

The Hambantota Port has been in the eye of the storm from its inception – firstly with concerns on the part of India. The regional power, alarmed at China’s maritime expansion in general, became more so with China’s growing footprint in the Indian Ocean region. 
The docking of a Chinese submarine in Colombo Port in September 2014 was a tipping point in the Indo-Lanka relationship during MR’s second term. He could not resist taking a dig at India over its silence regarding the even greater Chinese presence envisaged under the current investment programs.   
“Those days the Indian friends were shouting at me – when submarines came to Colombo Port they were very worried … the High Commissioner and all these people. Now they are like mice he said. Asked how he knew that they were not worried now, he said they were not saying so openly as they did before. In a further broadside he added the Indians may be also ‘getting something,’ like Trincomalee harbour or Palaly (airbase) or KKS (Kankasanturai port).  
Regarding India’s displeasure, apparently over not being informed of the submarine visit, he said Beijing always informed India when they came into the Indian Ocean. “Without that they won’t come.”   

"Those days the Indian friends were shouting at me – when submarines came to Colombo Port they were very worried … the High Commissioner and all these people. Now they are like mice"

Asked how India, which had helped him defeat the LTTE, shifted to backing his political opponents MR said it was all a misunderstanding. “I think the Americans influenced them” he said. At another point in the discussion he said he could not understand India’s role.  
Ever since the last election which saw his own Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena break away to contest the presidency as a ‘joint candidate,’ with opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe standing down, analysts have been speculating on the role of India and Western powers in the unprecedented turn of events during that transition. 
In hindsight, that election would seem to show how easily Sri Lanka’s internal political tensions can be exploited by external forces bent on achieving their own strategic ends. However, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” as the saying goes, and with the new government having realized that the Chinese have deep pockets unlike their western friends, ironically today we see Chinese influence becoming stronger than before.   

"That was too much for us. We did not know what was going on inside (the party). Our own crowd worked against me. They were inside the party and working against me"

 MR, asked to comment on the main factors contributing to his defeat in 2015 said it was “their campaign,” suggesting that the MS campaign was influenced by the Americans, the Indians and RAW (Research and Analysis Wing, the India’s spy agency). “That was too much for us. We did not know what was going on inside (the party). Our own crowd worked against me. They were inside the party and working against me.”   
When it was put to him that although he succeeded in ending a 30-year war, he had failed to unify the country, the former strongman admitted that there was some truth in that. “I thought people must first have their basic facilities. In Jaffna they didn’t have anything – no electricity, no roads, no water, no hospitals, no schools. So I thought I must give them those things first.” Asked if he had perhaps misjudged the need for reassurances after war’s end, and that there was a feeling (in the North) of being suppressed by the military, MR said he did not accept that. “After a war – tell me a country that has developed like that?”   

"When it was put to him that although he succeeded in ending a 30-year war, he had failed to unify the country, the former strongman admitted that there was some truth in that"

Secret meeting between ex-president & Lankadeepa owner!

 Jan 01, 2017

Ex-president, Kurunegala district MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and Wijaya Newspapers chairman Ranjith Wijayawardena had a secret meeting last Thursday (29), at the home of the latter.

The coordinator of this meeting was chief incumbent of Gangarama Vihara in Hunupitiya, Galaboda Gnanissara ‘Podi Hamuduruwo.’

 

Mahinda called on ‘Podi Hamuduruwo’ on that day at Gangaramaya and during their conversation, the Thera telephoned Wijayawardena on some matter. During the telephone chat, he told the Wijaya Newspapers chairman that the ex-president was with him.

 

Wijayawardena made use of the opportunity to wish Rajapaksa for the New Year, and was told that he wanted to meet him on an important matter. Since Wijayawardena lived near the temple, Rajapaksa told him that he could be there within a short time.

 

Wijeyawardena reluctantly agreed to meet the ex-president, and invited him to visit his home. Podu Hamuduruwo thanked him for giving an opportunity for Rajapaksa to meet him.

 

The ex-president went to Wijayawardena’s home and had a discussion with him on various matters, and said he would somehow return to power in 2017 and sought his Wijaya Newspapers’ maximum support in that regard.

 

The source that revealed the meeting to us said their discussion lasted more than two hours.

Indonesia: 17 still missing after Zahro Express boat fire kills 23

Rescuers search for victims from the wreckage of a ferry that caught fire off the coast of Jakarta after it was docked at Muara Angke Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Jan 1, 2017. Pic: AP

2nd January 2017

A SEARCH resumed Monday for 17 people reported missing after a ferry fire off the coast of Indonesia’s capital that left at least 23 dead, officials said.

The victims died Sunday when the vessel, Zahro Express, carrying more than 260 people from a port near Jakarta to Tidung, a resort island in the Kepulauan Seribu chain, caught fire, officials said.

Most of the passengers were Indonesians celebrating the New Year holiday, according to local media reports.

The Associated Press quoted Dito, an official from the Jakarta Search and Rescue Agency, as saying at least five ships and a number of speedboats and rubber boats were deployed in the search.

SEE ALSO: More than 20 killed, dozens injured after fire on Indonesian tourist boat

Of the 224 passengers who were rescued, 32 were being treated at three hospitals, said Dito, who uses a single name.

Seply Madreta, an official from the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency, said the fire gutted about half the vessel, and that 23 bodies had been recovered.

Twenty bodies that were found inside the vessel were burned beyond recognition and were transferred to a police hospital for identification, said Col. Umar Shahab of the Jakarta police health department.

Despite the high number of people who were rescued, the ferry’s manifest showed that only 100 were registered as passengers, along with six crewmen, said Denny Wahyu Haryanto, head of the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency. He said the vessel’s captain was under police investigation over the incident.

SEE ALSO: Indonesia: Fuel leak, not terror plot likely cause of Bali boat tragedy

On Sunday, police said the Zahro Express caught fire shortly after leaving Muara Angke port in North Jakarta. The cause of the fire was thought to be a short circuit on a power generator.

According to the head of Jakarta’s search and rescue agency, Hendra Sudirman, 248 people were on board, more than double the previous estimate of 100, and out of more than 200 people rescued, 32 were being treated at hospitals in Jakarta.

Sea accidents are frequent in Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago, with vessels often overloaded and having too few life jackets on boat.

Additional reporting by Associated Press and Reuters