Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka and Accountability

Taylor Dibbert, Contributor-03/06/2017

Sri Lanka’s compliance with an October 2015 UN Human Rights Council resolution is being hotly debated at the Council’s 34th session, which began in late February and will run through March 24. At this point, it looks as though another resolution on Sri Lanka will be passed later this month and that the Sri Lankan government will support such an initiative.

While some people appear to be in favor of another resolution on Sri Lanka, others (for various reasons) are not. For example, some have argued that what’s really needed now is for the UN Security Council to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

It’s true that the Sri Lankan government has failed to implement a resolution it cosponsored. It’s also true that the passage of another resolution would not guarantee Colombo’s compliance. Indeed, the administration of President Maithripala Sirisena has looked increasingly insincere about transitional justice in recent times. More specifically, the notion that Colombo might ensure that there’s accountability for abuses which occurred during the end of the nation’s brutal civil war looks ever more unlikely. That’s probably not going to change, irrespective of what transpires later this month in Geneva. But, frankly, genuine accountability in the near-term has always been a long shot.

Moreover, an ICC referral simply is not going to happen any time soon and it’s something that may not ever happen. To be clear, the victims of the island’s civil war, especially those in the Tamil community, deserve answers and deserve justice. And, the calls for accountability can and must continue. There’s no question about any of that.

Nonetheless, setting unrealistic expectations at this juncture could ultimately prove counterproductive.

War crimes probe‘If Prez, PM oppose foreign judges, who co-sponsored Geneva resolution?’

By Shamindra Ferdinando-March 8, 2017, 11:00 pm 

The Joint Opposition (JO) has sought an urgent explanation from the government in respect of Geneva Resolution 30/1 in the wake of both President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe ruling out foreign judges’ participation in the proposed judicial process.

The 47-member United Nations Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 30/1 on Oct 1, 2015.

Addressing the media at Dr N. M. Perera Centre in Borella yesterday, former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said the government’s position was certainly comical as the Geneva Resolution 30/1 was co-sponsored by the yahapalana administration and it specifically dealt with a robust foreign participation in the process.

"If both President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe are opposed to foreign judges’ participation, then who decided to co-sponsor the controversial Resolution," Prof. Peiris asked. "In fact, Resolution 30/1 called for international including Commonwealth judges and other foreign personnel."

Prof. Peiris pointed out what he called the absurdity of yahapalana leaders trying to dissociate itself from a resolution that had been co-sponsored on the instructions issued from Colombo in Oct 2015.

The former minister said the government was left with egg on its face having bended backwards to appease those pursuing unsubstantiated allegations against the country.

Denying that the Sri Lankan military had one anything wrong, prof. Peiris said the armed forces couldn’t be faulted for saving over 300,000 LTTE held hostages at risk to their own lives.

Prof. Peiris said that as the military had followed standard international practices during operations against the LTTE, a foreign-led probe wasn’t needed.

When The Island pointed out that even the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) as well as report on the Second Mandate of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Into Complaints of Abductions and Disappearances, aka the Paranagama Commission acknowledged the need for investigating specific allegations and accepting foreign expertise, Prof. Peiris reiterated that the previous government’s response had been different to that of the incumbent administration.

Prof. Peiris said that the Panel of Experts (PoE) contained unsubstantiated allegations. Asked why the previous government had ignored an invitation to make representations to the PoE, Prof. Peiris said that it was a political project. Alleging that they had been on an agenda against Sri Lanka, Prof. Peiris said that whatever representations, they would have still put out a report inimical to Sri Lanka.

He alleged that Manouri Muttetuwegama’s Consultation Task Force for Reconciliation Mechanism (CTFRM) had been based at the Presidential Secretariat. The CTFRM had recommended foreign judge each in proposed war crimes court, prof. Peiris pointed out.

The former External Affairs Minister said that in fact the CTFRM had endorsed co-sponsored Geneva Resolution.

The Doomed King: A Requiem For Sri Vikrama Rajasinha

By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole –March 8, 2017

Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole

Book Review: Gananath Obeyesekere’s The Doomed King: A Requiem for Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, Sailfish, Colombo, 2017. 409 pages. SL Rs. 1500, US$20, £16, €20.

This fascinating book opens with the anonymous quotation: “In order to survive as a nation people have to truthfully invent falsehoods.”

This reminded me of my own article from April 2013 on “Heritage Histories.” We create false histories to define who we are in superior light – our caste, race, religion, language, schools etc. – and when these are questioned, it is soul wrenching. This is such a book. It is gratifying to have a Sinhalese Emeritus Princeton University Professor laying bare the Sinhalese myths built around the last king of Kandy.

The Doomed King

Lankan school texts unflinchingly claim that the Sinhalese came to Sri Lanka as settlers and the Tamils as invaders. Tamils cry foul, but cannot see that we do the same to our minorities – claiming that Muslims are low caste Tamils, that the Tamil Bible was translated by the Hindu Leader Navalar who taught Tamil at the age of 12 to the actual translator Peter Percival; and that C.W. Thamotharampillai who discovered some of the oldest Tamil books and whose infant baptism is a matter of record, was a born-Hindu pretending to be a Christian for privileges. Worse, ancient roots are ascribed to the relatively new Sinhalese language by calling Brahmi inscriptions proto-Sinhalese – as absurd as giving English ancient vintage by calling British Roman inscriptions proto-English.

Sri Vikrama Rajasingha (SVR)My wife had already read our daughter’s copy with all footnotes. When I got my copy she wanted to re-read it and we literally fought for our turns and finished it in a day. Such is the gripping nature of Gananath’s narrative.

Gananath terms the deposing of SVR as the most momentous event in Lankan history because it marked the end of independence. Nayaka rule begins with the death of the childless Narendrasingha (1707-1739) who had appointed his Nayaka brother-in-law Sri Vijaya Rajasinha as Yuva Raja (sub-king). The Nayakas were warriors from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka who had established their empire in Tamil country, especially Thanjavur and Madurai from where the Kandyan kings obtained their royal brides.

The Sinhalese saw the Nayakas as Tamil. SVR’s end is owed to the British demonizing him with a view to invading Kandy on the pretext of freeing the people from tyranny, and the Englishman John D’Oyly using numerous Buddhist monks as his spies to prepare for the invasion. To these Buddhists, the English King was preferred to this so-called Tamil king. The popular account from D’Oyly, “deliberate misinformation from [the traitor] Ahelepola’s Sabaragamuva loyalists,” is the stuff of school texts from my time.

SVR is made villainous in the execution narrative of the wife and children of Ahelepola who was working with the British against SVR. He, his wife Kumarihami, children and his brother and wife were all sentenced to death. Ahelepola escaped. He could have saved his family by surrendering but failed them. The eldest, 11 years old, clung to his mother, terrified and crying. The second nine-year-old son, stepped forward showing his brother how to die. His head, severed by a sword was put in a rice mortar and the pestle given to the mother to pound it. The infant at the mother’s breast was decapitated. The milk he had drawn flowed mingled with blood. SVR is said to have watched all this with a crowd.

Gananath does not believe any of this, asking how it leaked out. He adds “surely not through the king’s executioner, very likely the only witness to the event.” The so called assembled crowd, Gananath puts down to John Davy the British surgeon’s inventiveness, “from British practices where crowds gathered at executions in a carnival-like atmosphere.” Having passed by an LTTE execution of a “traitor” husband and wife couple at Urumpirai where ice-cream and gram vendors were gathered and school children gleefully watched over these treats, I am not so certain the habit was not already introduced by the Dutch as seen from the gallows on the Jaffna Fort ramparts.

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Inamaluwe Sumangala saffron robed monk robs Rs. 19700 million of sacred funds ! journalists and Buddhist affair Commissioners involved !

(Lanka-e-News - 08.March.2017, 11.30PM) The so called most  Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thera the chief incumbent of Rangiri Dambulu Vihara , wearing the sacred saffron robe has committed a most shocking  sacrilegious crime disgracing the entire Buddhist ecclesiastical order ! He has over a period of 20 years   robbed a whopping Rs. 19700 million or more  ! The commissioners of Buddhism , officials, and the media mafia in that district have all aided and abetted  him in this monumental theft over  the last 20 years until now while collecting huge bribes , based on reports reaching Lanka e news.

The worst side  of this colossal robbery committed by this ‘most venerable’ monk draped in the most respected   saffron and parading his piety  is , despite having swindled such a large sum of money for such a long time he has during that whole  period not taken any measures or spent a cent  to conserve the  most precious  paintings  of international value of the Vihara.  This is most despicable and deplorable specially because a so called reputed Buddhist monk had stooped this low. In a Buddhist country where Lord Buddha’s teachings  are most proudly and loudly   preached by the so called monks who even say killing an ant is a grave sin  , where monks like Gnanassara are ready to kill humans like ants  for and on behalf of Buddhism, and  the ordinary follower blindly follows them , this kind of crime being committed by a robed monk holding a most high position in the Buddhist ecclesiastical order is suicidal to Buddhism and  a matter for deep sorrow  and shame .

This colossal robbery would not have come to light but for good governance . When the new Ven. Mahanayake of Asgiriya chapter who took over following the demise  of his predecessor , removed Inamaluwe Thera from the post of chief incumbent of Rangiri Dambulu Vihara and appointed a new archeological commissioner this massive robbery was detected following a probe conducted by the archeological department commissioner and the Central cultural fund.

Rangiri Dambulu Vihara is one recognized as a world heritage site by  UNESCO , and ought to belong to the SL Archeological Department and Central Cultural Fund. When investigating a complaint that the paintings and photographs  of the Vihara have been destroyed ,the good governance chiefs of the department and the Fund carried out  an investigation .When  the leads based on the investigation were pursued , this rudely shocking most sacrilegious drama unfolded .

With a view to carry on his illicit activities  Inamaluwe Sumangala has chased out the officers of the Central Cultural Fund from the Vihara alleging it is these officers who were responsible for giving  publicity to the photograph depicting a foreign woman sitting on a statue of Dambulu Vihara . But now it has come to light it is Inamaluwe himself who had orchestrated this spurious drama enlisting the venal and unscrupulous media personnel who are now in plenty in Sri Lanka.

After this spurious drama to chase out the officers , Inamaluwe had printed and sold tickets at Rs. 1500.00 each for foreigners who visit  the Vihara.
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Inamaluwe has entrusted the accounts maintenance to the Commissioner of Buddhist affairs  . The commissioners of Buddhist affairs  who were there during  various periods have got together with Inamaluwe and cooked up the accounts. 

The colossal robbery  committed by robed Inamaluwe Sumangala  jointly with Commissioners of Buddhist affairs. 

While this Rangiri Dambulu fraud was being unearthed and information were  seeping out , the present Commissioner General of Buddhist affairs Nimal Kotawelegedera forwarded a report on 27 th February that there had been no fraud relating to the income on sale of tickets during the last 20 years .

According to that report , the total income on the sale of tickets for the last 20 years is Rs. 38, 534,500.00. The income in regard to some years is shown as nil. The falsity of the report furnished by Nimal Kotawelegedera became evident  when it was discovered only six foreigners have visited the Vihara during the year 2015 , according to his report ,and the income earned for that whole year was only Rs.29,71000.00  . That is , the income per day has been shown as Rs. 8140.00. Since the price of a ticket is Rs. 1500.00 , it means only six foreigners have visited the temple each day.  Similarly , in the years 2013 and 2014 , the number of foreigners visiting the temple  per day has been shown as only  5. This is an absolute lie based on falsified accounts .

( Vide the copy of report of fudged accounts of Nimal Kotawelegedera appended) 

Following the unearthing  of the details , the new chief incumbent  Ven.  Dr. Godagama Mangala Thera took  control of the ticket sales which was monitored by officers of the Central Cultural Fund .It was then and only then the eyes of all were opened. The income of  Dambulu Vihara per day from ticket sales to foreigners has been  as high as Rs. 2.7 million per day !

In other words the saffron robed rogue Inamaluwe Sumangalya in league with the Commissioners of Buddhist affairs have cheated on the temple funds  ,the country and religion for so many years most unconscionably , profanely and ruthlessly  .  For the last over  20 years they have shown a bogus  annual income , that is  equivalent to only a day’s actual  income of the temple ! If calculated roughly ,  for the last over 20 years this bunch of rascals and rogues while parading and posing as Buddhist sentinels  have robbed over  Rs. 19700  million ! Where all these monies went is unknown .

Dambulu media mafia that suppressed the monumental fraud

Inamaluwe Sumangalya had resorted to all the methodologies and subterfuges to conceal this fraud. He  has lavishly greased the palms of media coolie Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa the main Dambulle reporter of the area best known for the worst venal and unprofessional propensities   who  disseminates news to television channels , newspapers and broadcasting channels . He had been showered with gifts and privileges beyond measure in order to suppress the truth .This media scoundrel has therefore profusely lied to distort the facts to suit Sumangalya’s ends.

Under  the name of his wife (Samila Karunaratne) this media scoundrel  had disseminated all the falsehoods via news reports . In addition , Sumangalya via his own  electronic channels hidden as well as  distorted the truths. 

 What’s more ? this robed rogue had commenced a new nikaya under the name of Rangiri Dambulu  chapter , to threaten and intimidate the other monks of his Vihara who don’t join him , using his terror tactics. Thereby he has silenced them , and  had even taken the keys under the care of   those monks into his custody while conducting himself most dictatorially . He was evilly so  powerful that he had acquired the lands of the temple by force and constructed roads. These roads have been constructed without following any laws. 

The incumbent of the ‘Meda Pansala’ (Middle Temple)  Ambulugala Vachissara made a written complaint against these illegalities and irregularities to the ex president Mahinda Rajapakse in 2014, the latter being a bigger crook and rascal than Sumangalya , had not taken any action. Perhaps Mahinda knew  if he were wearing  the saffron robe he would abuse it even much worse. One of the  reasons for this inaction was  , an infinitesimal fraction of the robbed monies of Inamaluwe was spent to build another  temple.

This construction was totally against the Buddhist temple culture and was such it destroyed the historic value of ancient Dambulu Vihara. The aim was to gobble up another large sum through the construction of  another center, and to launder the robbed wealth. ( Nowhere in the world ,another construction is made   in the vicinity of a historical site . While there exists an original Tajmahal , another Tajmahal is not constructed. )

Unscrupulous venal media are silent : Take Sumangala and Commissioner of Buddhist affairs into custody !

Even today the venal and unscrupulous media are remaining silent in the full glare of this colossal fraud . Inamaluwe Sumangalya the robed robber of the very temple of which he was the guardian , is now concocting a different story using his unscrupulous media coolie  Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa who would even sell his soul at the altar of filthy lucre. The fairy tale weaved to camouflage the fraud , ‘Dambulu Vihara should  be released from the UNESCO as the latter is plundering money by exhibiting us.’

If Weerawansa who caused a loss of Rs. 90 million to the State is in jail , in how many jails should Sumangalya and the Commissioners of Buddhist affairs who defrauded  a sum of nearly Rs. 20, 000 million of State funds over  a period of 20 years  be  languishing ?  

In the circumstances Sumangala and the Buddhist Commissioners shall be immediately arrested for furnishing  phony income  records and fudging accounts ,  and an investigation be launched. 

Since this article is too long , we shall furnish more details in this connection in a subsequent report . Appended is the full text of the letter addressed to ex president Mahinda Rajapakse in 2014 by Ven . Ambulugala Vachissara Thera the incumbent of Meda pansala( Middle temple ) of Dambulu Vihara .

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by     (2017-03-08 22:53:22)

US “REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES, 2016” SITES SRI LANKA NAVY COMMANDER’S ASSAULT

Image: Assaulted by Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravi Wijayagunaratne on  journalist Roshan Gunasekera was captured on video.

09/03/2017

Sri Lanka chapter of the US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016 has listed the assault by Navy commander  on  Hambantota provincial journalist Roshan Gunasekera under the Freedom of Speech and Press sub section. The report says that “in December, the Navy commander verbally and physically assaulted a provincial journalist during a protest at the Hambantota Port. The government issued a statement the following day saying the journalist had violated basic ethical practices while covering sensitive conflict situations”.

Summary of the report follows.

Sri Lanka is a constitutional, multiparty republic with a freely elected government. In January 2015, voters elected President Maithripala Sirisena to a five-year term. The Parliament shares power with the president. August 2015 parliamentary elections resulted in a coalition government between the two major political parties. Both elections were free and fair.

Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over the security forces; however, there were continued reports that police and security forces sometimes acted independently.

The most significant human rights problems were incidents of arbitrary arrest, lengthy detention, surveillance, and harassment of civil society activists, journalists, members of religious minorities, and persons viewed as sympathizers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Other human rights problems included abuse of power and reports of torture by security services. Severe prison overcrowding and lack of due process remained problems, as did some limits on freedoms of assembly and association, corruption, physical and sexual abuse of women and children, and trafficking in persons. Discrimination against women, persons with disabilities, and persons based on sexual orientation continued, and limits on workers’ rights and child labor also remained problems.

Impunity for crimes committed during and following the armed conflict continued, particularly in cases of killings, torture, sexual violence, corruption, and other human rights abuses. The government made incremental progress on addressing impunity for violations of human rights. The government took some steps to arrest and detain a limited number of military, police, and other officials implicated in old and new cases, including the killing of parliamentarians and the abductions and suspected killings of journalists and private citizens.

Read the full report on line here.

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor-Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016-Sri Lanka

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Sri Lanka is a constitutional, multiparty republic with a freely elected government. In January 2015, voters elected President Maithripala Sirisena to a five-year term. The Parliament shares power with the president. August 2015 parliamentary elections resulted in a coalition government between the two major political parties. Both elections were free and fair.

US “REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES, 2016 SITES SRI LANKA NAVY COMMANDER’S ASSAULT.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Info DG Claims RTI Commission’s Funds Released, But Status Still Unclear 

March 8, 2017

The Director General of the Information Department, Ranga Kalansooriya announced yesterday that the Treasury had released the Rs 76 million requested by the Right to Information (RTI) Commission but the source to which it had been released remained unclear.

Info DG and the Media Minister

Posting a message on his twitter account, he congratulated the media for taking up the matter and ‘highlighting the issue.’ Earlier, Colombo Telegraph, the Sunday Times, the Financial Times and the Daily Mirror had consistently pursued the question of an adequate and independent financial allocation for the Commission.

This was after the Sunday Times discovered through a supplementary estimate presented in Parliament for the RTI Commission by the Office of the President, that a separate financial allocation for the Commission had not been contained in the 2017 National Budget. The Government had explained that this was because the Commission had come into existence after the budgetary allocations had been decided on. As a result, the provisions of the Act which states that the Commission should have a separate Fund to which moneys voted on by Parliament was not being conformed to.

The RTI Commission is the RTI Act’s powerful supervisory, policy making and adjudicating oversight body. Vested with the authority to take offenders to court, it is mandated to monitor Public Authorities subject to the RTI Act, including not only Government bodies but also corporate, private and non-governmental bodies. In a statement that the Commission issued last month, it explained that it was negotiating with the Ministry of Finance to resolve this matter and to enable the needed allocations in order for it to function smoothly.           

Calls made by the Colombo Telegraph to the Ministry of Finance to check the authenticity of the claim made on social media by the Director General, Information disclosed that the Ministry was considering, on the request of the Commission, if a separate supplementary estimate for the body could be placed before Parliament this year.

‘These things cannot be done like magic’ a senior ministry official attached to the Department of Budgets said ‘The Minister has already assured that he will make sure that the RTI Commission will receive its funds. We are proud of this law and the Commission as these are credits to the country. If there is any specific roadblock, he will intervene.’ he said. 

Vested Interests Of ‘Indecent’ Civil Society Activists Against RTI

Meanwhile, Colombo Telegraph reliably learns that certain groups with vested interests are heavily engaged in trying to muddy the operationalising of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Sri Lanka due to fear of RTI being used to expose their nefarious dealings.

The RTI Act and the Regulations of the RTI Commission, both ranked as making Sri Lanka’s RTI system the 3^rd best in the world, is the only notable achievement of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government after two years of being in power. An important part of the law is that it can be used not only against Government but other entities, private and non-governmental as well.   

Due to the fear that this powerful system may be used against them, various groups (incorporated and unincorporated) have sprung up attempting to sabotage RTI. Their sensationalist efforts includes trying to pass off as a ‘private response’, the public reply sent by the RTI Commission to a citizen regarding its negotiations with the Ministry of Finance to secure an independent funding allocation.

One such scam which has led to agitation on their part is in regard to attempts to prevent RTI being used to the scam where Ravaya had collected a whopping sum of Rs 12.7 million from unsuspecting individuals to be deposited in the so-called Ravaya Solidarity Fund. Thereafter Rs 5 million was personally pocketed by Victor Ivan (he earlier demanded Rs 20 million) without the contributors to the so-called ‘crowd funding’ initiative knowing about it.

Although supporters were told that they would receive shares for their pledged donations that too never took place. Later, some of those contributors protested and lodged complaints with the Registrar of Companies. One such contributor who gave Rs 100,000 to the Ravaya Solidarity Fund was public interest litigation activist Nagananda Kodituwakku who was not only not given shares but was not even given a receipt for his money. He lodged an entry at the Mirihana police station and though the nefarious individuals behind the scam pleaded that they would return the money that he contributed, he did not agree. But Ravaya returned the money via post.

Nagananda Kodituwakku, lodged a complaint at the Police Fraud Bureau on the 02nd of July 2015 and also complained to the Registrar of Companies D.N.R. Siriwardena about the same matter.

On the 6th of July 2015, commenting on the allegations against Victor Ivan pocketing Rs 10 million of Ravaya funds, D.N.R.Siriwardena, the Registrar of Companies told Colombo Telegraph that the entire transaction is illegal and completely out of the order and that an investigation is to be launched into the transaction.

‘Indecent’ activists who defended that scam also criticized Colombo Telegraph, calling it ‘low and uncultured’ when Colombo Telegraph exposed it. The Colombo Telegraph learns that these are the people who are worried that RTI may be used to expose their deals behind the scenes and embarrass them, including in regard to Victor Ivan’s scam in selling shares even though Ravaya Ltd was a guarantee company. It received monies from NGOs and INGOs.

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To look after national security, effeminate scoundrels who are busy licking female singers at night not necessary ! Though Rathane eats feces masses don’t..!

(Lanka-e-News - 08.March.2017, 11.30PM)  Athureliya Rathane who spends his time  at the residence of the president at Paget Road in the morning ; at the Temple Trees during noon ;at Basil’s  residence in the evening ;  at Gotabaya’s residence in the night  ,and in bed with a female singer at midnight ,  is a bankrupt  politico  who is noted for entering  parliament   riding on the shoulders of the masses  who cast the votes for the elephant symbol . The ‘National General assembly’ recently formed by  this presently discarded and disdained politico held its  maiden media briefing  on the 6 th ,  only to expose   the  true colors of Rathane and his new assembly.

This robed monk who was a parliamentarian for many years in  the legislative assembly , however betrayed his foolhardiness and  abysmal ignorance of the basic laws , while demonstrating   what an imbecile he is when he said , if an individual who is associated  with the forces is be arrested for his crimes  , the commanders of the forces must be informed . This robed Rathane the confirmed nincompoop most proudly made the above statement  as though he was  a  super  hero among zeroes, while pointing out  ,the president and prime minister being kept in the dark prior to  these arrests is a grave lapse . He also went on to blatantly lie  that  arrests are being made on the basis of  just a statement made by  an enemy.

All what can be told to this buffoon whose favorite pastime is tomfoolery wasting everybody’s  precious time is , to read the recent article written by the security advisor to the incumbent president , and ex STF commandant Nimal Lewke under the caption ‘ Who is making the war heroes the hunted?’ It is hoped this nincompoop despite his buffoonery and tomfoolery for which he is best known will have that little grey matter at least to read and understand that article. 

According to the country’s laws , if there is evidence in connection with a crime , it is not stipulated anywhere , it is  only the CID that can arrest the suspect. Any police officer is empowered to make the arrest. Besides there is  no law that states that the president , prime minister or the commanders of the forces shall be informed prior. Hence , Rathane ‘s utterances based on his abysmal ignorance despite being a parliamentarian for so long  are utterly absurd , meaningless and senseless. 

Of course if an M.P. is to be taken into custody , the prior permission of the speaker has to be obtained . Such  a legal requirement does  exist . But to arrest a  member of the forces , no matter what efforts are made to build a case that the president shall be informed prior , in truth there is no law to support or substantiate that view in Sri Lanka . Such procedure is followed only in countries ruled by a dictator , and not in countries where the  sovereignty of the law is upheld. It is well for Rathane to remind himself that 6.2 million people – the majority voted on the 8 th of January 2015 to change the dictatorial rule . Though Rathane in his imbecility and idiocy could  have forgotten  that cardinal fact ,  the people have not.

Rathane is therefore telling all the lies , to arouse the people and against the laws of the country, and the legislative assembly. It is significant to note the arrests of these criminals were made on the advice of the Attorney General (A.G.) of the State  ; and they  were remanded on AG’s advice after submissions were made to courts , and on court orders. Hence arrests were not made on the accusations made by enemies as Rathane claims.

Though Rathane in his ignorance  alleges , based on statements of some individual,  arrests were made , might he be  enlightened on the fact that based on the evidence of the eye witness , an accused can be sentenced to death . It is very unfortunate Rathane despite being a member of the August assembly that legislates laws , instead of promoting the enforcement and implementation of laws  which is his inescapable duty  is shamelessly obstructing the law enforcement , which in other words constitutes  aiding and abetting  the criminals . 

It is therefore the  duty of the country’s leaders to oppose this move. Actually contempt of court charges  should be filed against individuals like Rathane .

To look after the national security of the country , effeminate imbeciles who look after female singers in the night   , or their two penny half penny worth  ’national assembly’ are not necessary. To discharge that kind of  task performed by Rathane , there are hordes of rascals and scoundrels .

It is a well and widely known indisputable fact , this Rathane  until the final day, from  the time nominations were called for  the last presidential elections , and  during  the last ten years was preoccupied with bootlicking ,  and stooping to the lowliest levels on behalf of Rajapakses as well as   serving as a servile stooge of theirs while  chanting pirith   for them  .

Therefore , a word of advice shall be proffered to Rathane the shameless unscrupulous stooge –without insulting the people  who cast their votes for the elephant symbol ,and on whose shoulders  he rode to enter parliament, it will be best if he resigns from the national M.P.s list  honorably (if there is any honor remaining him at all) , and then carries out  the sordid  biddings of any murderer he wishes ,behaving like  a  ‘man’   without playing hide and seek like a castrated eunuch searching for what was taken away  from him. 

Rathane may be accustomed to eating feces and defecating through the same orifice , but the people are not prepared to do that . No not for all the world ! It is high time Rathane realized at least at this belated stage the masses are of an infinitely better breed and birth than he . The Saffron robe is a symbol of piety , but in the case of  Rathane it is a symbol of profanity  and hidden hypocrisy.

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by     (2017-03-08 23:04:35)

On Androgyny: Vicky Shahjahan

This is the second in a series exploring men and women who challenge gender stereotypes for International Women’s Day on March 8.

RAISA WICKREMATUNGE on 03/08/2017

Vicky Shahjahan seems to naturally command attention. The tall 24-year-old doesn’t seem to notice this, chatting about art while walking through Kompannavidya. Yet suddenly Vicky stops and points to a curious lady watching us from her balcony. “That lady saved me,” Vicky says simply. “When I walked into a shop, a man said that I was not human. She stood up for me. She said that she knew me very well and he had no right to make such statements.”

Vicky relates this story matter-of-factly. As the only person identifying as androgynous in the area Vicky has grown used to stares, questions and comments.

“It doesn’t offend me. I’m very used to it. I try to just answer people’s questions.”

Vicky believes there is more to identity than being labeled by gender. Biologically a male, Vicky had a distinctly feminine side which school-friends tried their best to stamp out. Vicky would have none of it.

“People perceive men as being bold and tough, and women as being soft and sensitive,” Vicky says. “They want to put you in a box. If you don’t fit in with what society dictates, they tell you that you don’t belong.”

When Vicky began dressing differently, it puzzled many acquaintances. “You were a boy, but you dress in such a feminine way now… What are you?” they asked.

Apart from the expected curiosity, there was also some hostility. Some people confronted Vicky’s family, asking them if they were not ashamed. Then there were the open confrontations, such as the one in the shop. Thankfully, there were also many who came forward to support Vicky; sometimes from surprising quarters. “I had this religious man say that he understood that I was different, [and that I was just expressing my identity].” Vicky’s grandmother is also supportive, and often defends her grandchild.

It turned out that Vicky’s own talent was the key to bringing about understanding and acceptance within the community.

“I used art as a weapon… and now people call me an artist. They forget to discuss my gender.” Vicky’s forte is detailed, black and white sketches; from hyper-realist renderings of a man pensively smoking a cigarette, to inked self portraits that wouldn’t look out of place in a graphic novel.

Vicky’s art, shared with permission

Apart from the expected curious stares, as we walk through the bustling neighbourhood, there are also smiles and occasionally, friendly greetings. Perhaps this is because Vicky has also brought art to the streets of Kompannavidya.

A few steps away from home is a vividly coloured mural, hidden behind a ladder.

Vicky believes that art shouldn’t be restricted to galleries and exhibitions, but should be available for the public to enjoy. “Once I explained what the idea behind the mural was, the whole community really came to appreciate it. Some even asked me to do more.” Vicky is also sought after for henna application – rendering complex patterns on the hands of brides from the area.

Vicky challenges perceptions and ideas around identity – and recognises others who do the same.

“I know women who have changed and challenged the world with courage. This is to all the women out there who keep doing great things in life with persistence… It’s never too easy to be a woman in this world yet I believe that every woman is strong in some way,” Vicky writes.

It’s an apt statement to consider on Women’s Day.

Click here to read the previous article in our series, on Sri Lanka’s first female expressway bus driver. For the next article, click here.