Monday, April 17, 2017

The Tightening Noose

By Ranil Senanayake –April 17, 2017

Dr Ranil Senanayake

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The image below produced by Google mapping marine pollution says many things. First, that much like India our coastal zones are affected by land based pollution. The thin red line that wraps around the island suggests that our near ocean waters have been seriously polluted by effluent from the land. But unlike India or any other neighboring country, there is yet another ring of oceanic pollution extending one hundred or more nautical miles into the Indian ocean. Like a noose around the inland with the ropes going east and west we are in the middle. In both our territorial waters and our extended economic zone, our waters are being polluted and poisoned by international shipping and we are proud that we have a unique position in the Indian Ocean vis-à-vis shipping. We want to increase our exposure to shipping, but do nothing to protect ourselves from the consequences.

Shipping is the most polluting of all transport. Because of decisions taken by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) based in London, which frames maritime policy, it is legal for ships to burn a substance called ‘Bunker Fuel’, which is the thick residue left behind in refineries after the lighter liquids have been taken off. It is stuff nobody on land is allowed to use because of its huge pollution potential. It is the cheapest, filthiest, high-sulphur fuel yet the IMO rules allow ships to burn fuel containing up to 4.5 per cent sulphur. This is 4,500 times more than is allowed in car fuel in the European Union. To make things worse, the tiny particulate sulphur comes that comes out of ship funnels are the very type that that get deep into lungs of humans and animals. The levels ultrafine particulates or PM 2.5’s (a subgroup of particulate matter), which are especially harmful for human health, are up to 100 times above the normal load, in ship exhaust gases.

The Blue Whales of Sri Lanka are a national treasure and famous tourist attraction; they live just at the edge of the continental shelf south of the Island. However the vast traffic of international shipping also sees this zone as easy passage. With the plans for shipping increase to Hambantota, the atmospheric concentration of these particulates will increase dramatically in this zone. Whales are mammals like us and have huge lungs into which they suck the air polluted by shipping. Whale conservationists should look into the sustainability of populations living in high shipping zones.

Shipping terminals are especially bad. Compared to what has to be considered as “clean air“ where 1,000 particles per cubic centimeter is considered ‘safe’, scientists have found up to 400,000 (ppm/cm2) next to shipping terminals. In these situations, the particle numbers exceeded the concentration level by more than a factor 400. Such air pollution levels surpass concentrations next to main roads with dense traffic by 50 to 80 times. As ports are often located in city centers or close by cities, their air pollution endangers many people’s health. Particulate matter causes and worsens coronary and pulmonary diseases. Has Colombo addressed this threat to its citizens ?

Pollution by ocean shipping is so bad that just 16 of the world’s largest ships can produce as much lung-clogging sulphur pollution in a day as all the world’s cars. The IMO’s rules means that that the largest ships can each emit as much as 5,000 tons of sulphur in a year into the atmosphere, this is equivalent to 50 million typical cars, each emitting an average of 100 grams of sulphur a year.

Calculating GDP growth: A sorry attempt by some to mislead people with ‘alternate facts’

The ‘professional’ buildup minus the baggage

Monday, 17 April 2017

It is bad when small-time politicians make up stories to mislead village folk. It is far worse when those with professional qualifications fabricate stories to mislead a gullible nation. This short piece is to shed light and present the facts on a recent incident, actually two incidents, of the latter kind that received significant airtime particularly on social media.

Calculating GDP growth A sorry attempt by some to mislead people with ‘alternate facts’.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

REPLACE PTA & CCPA BEFORE MID-MAY OR LOOSE GSP+: EU TELLS SRI LANKA.

Image: European parliament in session.

17/04/2017

In a letter addressed to PM Wickremasinghe European Parliament has put forward two specific conditions if Sri Lanka wants to regain the EU’s GSP Plus concessions. The letter had been sent to Wickremasinghe on 7th April 2017. The letter says that “we expect the Government to table legislation to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act and amend the CCPA, ensuring their full compliance with international standards, prior to the decision on GSP Plus foreseen for mid-May.”

Apparently as there hasn’t been any response form Wickremasinghe so far @EU_in_Sri_Lanka tweeted today (17th April) saying that Sri Lanka has only 4 weeks to act.

The full text of the letter followers:

His Excelleny Ranil WICKREMSINGHE
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Prime Minister’s Office
No: 58,

Sir Ernest De Silva Mawatha,
Colombo 07. Sri Lanka.

Brussels,
April 7th,2017

Your Excellency,

We are writing this letter in connection with Sri Lanka’s application to join the EU’s GSP Plus scheme under Regulation 978/2012.

The 2010 unilateral preferences under the GSP Plus scheme had been withdrawn from Sri Lanka due to its failure to effectively implement three human rights conventions, namely ICCPR, CRC and CAT.

Following the change in the administration in 2015, we were pleased to note the commitment of the new Government of Sri Lanka to introduce substantial reforms and, inter alia, address the issues that had led to the withdrawal of the preferences. As a result, in July 2016, Sri Lanka reapplied for GSP Plus membership, a move evidencing Sri Lanka’s political will to reengage with the EU to fully implement the obligations flowing under the 27 international conventions of the scheme, including the abovementioned ones.

On 11 January this year, having thoroughly assessed Sri Lanka’s application, the European Commission has considered that Sri Lanka meets the eligibility criteria and has decided to propose the granting of GSP Plus status to your country. In line with EU’s legal requirements, the European Commission’s decision is currently before the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for review.

In parallel, we were also pleased to note that Sri Lanka has launched with the EU a bilateral dialogue on human rights, governance and the rule of law (two meetings of the relevant working group have already taken place). We also welcome that Sri Lanka has re-engaged with the UN system by co-sponsoring the UN Human Rights Council resolutions of September 2015 and March 2017 on the promotion of reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. Equally commendable is the Government’s standing invitation to all UN special procedures mandate holders and facilitation of their visits.

These are important developments that send a positive message about Sri Lanka’s determination to ensure the unimpeded enjoyment of human rights by all Sri Lankan citizens in line with international standards. In that respect, we believe that GSP Plus constitutes a strong incentive for Sri Lanka to promote sustainable development and human rights through economic growth. The EU is ready to stand by Sri Lanka in its path of reforms through, inter alia, such trade incentives.

Sri Lanka’s GSP Plus application has given rise to lively debates in the European Parliament, including at two public hearings in December 2016 and March 2017. As members of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, we have participated in these debates and have continuously underlined the need for applicants and beneficiaries to honour commitments taken when applying for GSP Plus membership. These commitments must be translated into continuous action towards the effective implementation of the GSP Plus conventions so as to reassure that Sri Lanka is seriously addressing shortcomings.

It is with this aim in mind that we wish to express our concerns over the pace of reforms in Sri Lanka. As noted in the recent report by High Commissioner Zeid, while there is recognition of progress and of the Government’s will to pursue reforms, efforts to address a number of important shortcomings have slowed down or have been stalling. We are concerned that, initiatives on introducing new counter-terrorism legislation and amending the Code of Criminal Procedure Act (CCPA) bringing them in line with international standards, launching a fully operational Office of Missing Persons, addressing torture and impunity, as well as decriminalising sexual orientation have unfortunately not yet come to fruition. Further action on sexual and gender-based violence should also be pursued.

While we understand the complexity of the issues involved and the need to enter into wide consultations on the more sensitive aspects, it is critical that Sri Lanka delivers on its commitments within clearly established timelines. More specifically, we expect the Government to table legislation to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act and amend the CCPA, ensuring their full compliance with international standards, prior to the decision on GSP Plus foreseen for mid-May.

The above issues fall within the human rights conventions covered by the GSP Plus scheme and constitute obligations upon applicants and beneficiaries which must be complied with. If Sri Lanka is granted GSP+, we will call upon the European Commission to strictly monitor the implementation of these obligations by Sri Lanka and report to us at the second GSP Plus Report to be issued by December this year. Thus, while we are strongly in favour of encouraging Sri Lanka down the path of reform, we will be at the same time watching closely developments and expect that Sri Lanka fully delivers on the above issues. Finalising actions on these issues would, above all, benefit the citizens of Sri Lanka and would help solidify a framework of respect for fundamental rights leading to sustainable growth and development.

Should Sri Lanka be granted GSP Plus, we hope the scheme will help in creating the right economic opportunities for our bilateral relationship to thrive and that it will lead to economic growth and the further diversification of Sri Lankan exports to the EU. In parallel, we hope that GSP Plus will help Sri Lanka pursue such growth in a sustainable development framework through the effective implementation of commitments under the 27 GSP Plus conventions.

Yours sincerley,

Christofer FJELLNER, Member of the European Parliament

Sajjad KARIM, Member of the European Parliament

Agnes JONGERIUS, Member of the European Parliament

Marielle de SARNEZ, Member of the European Parliament

David MARTIN, Member of the European Parliament

Jean LAMBERT, Member of the European Parliament

Emma MCCLARKIN, Member of the European Parliament
Cc:

Rodney PERERA, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the European Union

Let us not repeat mistakes of the past

Towards a Visionary National Energy Policy:

by Parakrama Jayasinghe-April 17, 2017,

It appears that history is repeating itself. The National Energy Policy, which was drafted in 2005 and finally approved in 2006 is to be revised. This is not the first time this promise is made considering the most lopsided energy policy pushed down the throats of the citizens in Sri Lanka. But unfortunately history is repeating itself by adopting the same procedure of drafting a policy with no stake holder consultation and then giving a short notice asking for comments, which will then be used to pretend that there has been stake holder consultations.

Let us not repeat mistakes of the past.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Emerging challenges in the power sector: Unless tackled urgently, future growth is gloomy

SLEA to analyse critical economic issues

Monday, 17 April 2017

The Sri Lanka Economic Association, abbreviated as SLEA, under its new President Dr. Upananda Vidanapathirana, has ventured into generating public discussion of critical economic issues with a view to finding appropriate solutions for them. The objective? There are at least two. It would keep the public informed of the true nature of the critical issues, while getting the policymakers to act promptly.

Emerging challenges in the power sector.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

For Those Who Died In Vain In Meethotamulla

By Mass L. Usuf –April 18, 2017

Mass Usuf

For the Sinhalese and Tamils, it was their New Year day. A day of joy and celebration. While around the country pots were overflowing with boiling milk ushering in the New Year, in Meethotamulla the saga was somewhat different. Many of people living there were literally buried under the decomposed, rotten and toxic garbage mountain that broke loose. It was unbearable to hear the heart-rending wail of the bereaved family members some of those who had lost their little children.

According to the Central Environment Authority about 7,500 tonnes of waste is produced in the country every day. Residents say that nearly 1,000 tonnes of garbage is added daily each day at Meethotamulla. The height of the garbage dump has now reached more than 300 meters. These people did not go to where the garbage was. The garbage was brought to where these people were living. A dereliction of the government’s duty and a gross violation of the basic constitutional rights of the people affected.

These people have been living here for several decades in inhuman conditions breathing in foul odour every day. The feeling is inexplicable. It stinks. They have been in this unimaginable and horrendous state all these years. Most of them have developed various medical complications. Where are the human rights activists? Where are the Politicians? Where are the environmentalists? Someone quipped, “The environmentalists are more concerned about fauna and flora than human beings”. The planned alternative landfill site at Aruwakkalu, North of Puttalam, about 170 kilometres away from Colombo did not take off the ground because they were unhappy. They said that the site is within the one mile buffer zone of the Wilpattu National Park.

Mr. President

Mr. President, you are also the Minister of Environmental Affairs. Around the second half of 2015, you spoke about having a National Strategy for environmental conservation and identified areas like deforestation, environmental damage, environmental degradation, natural resource damage and soil erosion. What you seem to have failed in doing is to identify the priorities in your list in the National Strategy? The garbage dump is not an issue that came up after you assumed power. It was very much there while you were with the previous government. Why did you not accelerate the implementation of your plan?

Way back in 2013 during the Rajapaksa regime some houses were damaged when the dump collapsed. Former MP Duminda Silva held a discussion at the Kolonnawa Municipal Council on issues arising from the garbage dump at Meethotamulla and promised to provide a solution to the problem within a month. He never did that.

Mayhem Meethotamulla Garbage dump turns a deadly ground

The destruction inflicted by the collapse of the garbage dump
Pics by Waruna Wanniarachchi

On the afternoon of April 14, tragedy struck Meethotamulla when most people were in their houses enjoying the holidays and festive bliss of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The floor started vibrating and a mound of earth collapsed on them. Some escaped running for their lives. But some were stuck in the rubble and residents claim that despite the pleas of these victims, rescue operation were not underway until 2.00 am the next day. Twenty six people have died so far due to the collapse of a section of the Meethotamulla garbage pile.

The search continues

Victims devastated of a foreseen tragedy: Death toll reaches 26

2017-04-17

There were seven children among the dead. According to statistics gathered by residents, another 20 (probably) were feared dead and they also claim that as many as 60 people might have been stuck in the rubble. According to the police, seven victims are currently undergoing treatment at the Colombo

National Hospital.
“The garbage started sliding at around 1.30 pm on April 14. Until 2.00 am the next day, though there were more than 500 Army and Police personnel, there were no lorries, excavator or any other vehicles to remove the rubble. In the interim, we heard people crying out for help. Others took shovels and tried to save lives. It was only at 2.00 am that people themselves decided to get the excavators from the depot,” said Nuwan Bopage, a lawyer and the organizer of the Movement against the Meethotamulla Garbage Dump. However, by that time he said that people’s cries could not be heard. When questioned by the Daily Mirror, V.K.A. Anura, the Commissioner of the Colombo Municipal Council said he was unaware of it and declined to comment further adding that the CMC has done whatever they could since the tragedy struck. The CMC is currently providing food, clothing and other essentials to the affected people and they are financed by the Council.
Speaking to Daily Mirror, the Commissioner of the CMC added that currently around 79 families were displaced and 263 houses would be removed. He said according to the geologists, that the collapse occurred due to heavy rainfall.

When asked if the tragedy was not foreseen, he said that the residents had been asked to evacuate from the area. “Some had left while some stayed back. We gave them a monthly assistance of Rs.15,000 for six months, so they could rent out an alternative abode, pointing out there is a risk of this nature when there is a heavy rainfall,” he said.
Since 2011, the Movement against the Meethotamulla Garbage Dump has organized more than 15 protests but to no avail. “Both the previous and current governments turned the protesters away by using tear gas at us and baton charges. The same police and Army men who suppressed us then are now here to dig out the buried bodies of our children and our people,” said Bopage.
He believes that there has been an alleged deal which bartered their lives for the benefit of politicians. “The CMC had allegedly given the Rs.600 million tender at Rs.800 million and shared the Rs. 200 million among themselves and the politicians,” he charged.
Bopage added that in February 2015, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe promised to solve the issue within six months, but no recourse was offered. Meanwhile, the PM has issued a special statement expressing regret over the incident adding that plans and actions to remove the garbage dump were underway though they were not operational.

Devastated by the unbearable loss of lives and property

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Harsha de Silva in a social media post said it was ironic that ‘only a few weeks ago, agreements were signed to convert waste to energy projects to finally deal with this perennial issue’. “No more garbage will be dumped at this site and two temporary sites were identified this morning for which law enforcement officers would provide access to unblock protesters driven by petty political issues,” the post read.
The post further noted that payments had been made for those families under risk of landslides to

move out, but some had not done so. “They had even been advised to leave as recently as two days ago,” it said. But residents said they were never asked to leave the place.
However, Bopage said that even if they were asked to leave, it was not possible, as the houses built were the result of the endurance of the people and were worth their lives’ earning. “Five generations of people have lived here and they have land ownership deeds. These are not illegal constructions. It’s not that we decided to house ourselves near a garbage dump, but it was they who decided to dump garbage near our houses,” he said. He asserted that their persistent struggle was never to quit the place but to remove the mountainous pile. However, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has advised to relocate 130 houses situated near the Meethotamulla garbage dump.
“Two years ago also there was a risk of around 300 houses facing collapse. Then they were offered Rs.1,500,000 and the residents left,” he pointed out.

He further said that though 60 organizations submitted reports to solve the issue, authorities did not accept any of those proposals.
“Politicians who turned a blind eye to this issue should resign. No divisional representative wanted to solve this issue. They gained political benefits out of this, and our children have paid the heavy price for this,” he stressed.
“If another garbage truck arrives, we will burn down both the lorry and the driver. We warn politicians not to come here to shed crocodile tears,” he said.
The bodies of the daughter, son-in law and granddaughter of Keerthi Rathna Perera, the convener of the Movement against the Meethotamulla Garbage Dump who worked tirelessly for this cause, were dug out. His wife has been paralysed below the hip, he added. According to him, devastated residents angered by the garbage collapse have set fire to an earth mover at 5.00 pm, on the day the tragedy took place.
Dudley Danthanarayana, who has been a resident of Kolonnawa since 1968 said that by 2.00pm houses seemed to be flying. “My house, a huge two-storyed house, is now 50 metres away from where it was. We were just about to have our lunch, but had to grab the hands of our children and run for our lives clad in sarongs. My vehicles were also destroyed,” he said.
He said that though he has taken part in discussions with the CMC Commissioner and MP S.M. Marikkar, no solution was offered though he had warned them of an impending tragedy. “I asked them for a solution over and over again, but they remained silent,” he said adding that they were never asked to leave the area.

“The CMC has given the tender to a private company to dump garbage here which was not merely collected from the 15 zones of Colombo. Four trucks registered with the private company come from Matugama,” said a resident, while another added that there were trucks coming from Homagama, Padukka and Peliyagoda. “The garbage of the whole of Colombo district is dumped here for money! We hope the Supreme Court will give us a justifiable solution,” he added. According to reports, the Meethotamulla garbage dump is 180 feet in height and contains approximately three million tons. 700 to 900 tons of garbage is collected from the Colombo city daily and dumped here. He further stated at the press briefing held in February that a staggering 1,000,000 tons of garbage was collected from all

parts of the country and brought to Colombo, which was ultimately dumped at Meethotamulla.
Hemamali Abeyratne, an activist fighting against the dumping of garbage at Meethotamulla said that their first protest as a movement was in 2011, held near the Meethotamulla depot and lasted for four consecutive days and prevented garbage trucks entering.
“But the then rulers used the Army, Police and the STF to chase us away. Our people were beaten and hospitalized. Garbage trucks were parked on the road and we were unable to enter. The government suppressed us by using their power and weapons. Villagers were beaten, scolded, and they even tried to bribe the villagers. Those buried are our children, parents and elders. Who will take responsibility now?” she lamented.
When the Daily Mirror visited the area on Saturday, the pathway that led to the garbage dump was flooded. Distressed and angered residents stood on the sides. From close proximity to where the tragedy struck, we were told that the rubble before us had covered a road completely.
“The Dahampura road is 40 to 50 feet below the rubble,” said Bopage. He added that the area we stood was elevated by 40 feet as a result of the force exerted by the massive slide. Pointing at a house partly destroyed, he said that a child who lived there died of dengue two weeks before. Houses had collapsed completely and trees were uprooted. While we were talking to them, several backhoes were seen removing the soil.

"Currently around 79 families are displaced and 263 houses will be removed."

“Since 2005 people have been visiting us but no relief was offered,” said a weeping Kanthi Kannangara, whose house was built on a block of 15 perches of land which has been completely destroyed by the incident. “The army and the police were very helpful,” she added suppressing her tears.
Sri Rahula Vidyalaya, situated near the garbage dump is now converted into a centre to obtain information from victims. It is a combined effort of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the CMC. Terrance Vidyalaya provides temporary shelter to those who were displaced and currently there are around 75 families seeking shelter while other have sought shelter from neighbours, friends and relatives. According to the Ministry of Defence website, a contingent of Army troops from the 14th Division of the Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West), the STF and the Disaster Management Centre are involved in relief operations. Further, an Air Force helicopter was utilized to control a minor fire that broke out after the incident. It was also reported that the Japanese government promised to send a team of experts to provide relief.
A man who has been living in the area since 1988 said that garbage was dumped in smaller volumes in the area since 1983. “When garbage from Colombo was dumped, we protested and then they shifted the place to Bloemendhal, where another conflict took place. Then they started to dump them here once again forcibly. This
was in 1994.”
In a nearby three-wheeler, a woman was weeping while two women were seen offering solace to her. Perhaps she had just understood or seen a loved one dead, or had her house completely destroyed. But the tears she shed were reflective of continuous negligence by successive governments, and the price they ultimately paid and may continue to pay if the authorities do not bring about a permanent solution.

A dead body in the rubble unearthed

M’mulla garbage dump may collapse again if it rains, expert warns

Death toll rises to 30; 32 missing

Waste disposal on hold

By Harischandra Gunaratna, Pradeep Samarakoon, Ratnamali Nupearachchi-April 17, 2017, 11:11 pm

The Meethotamulla garbage dump is likely to crash again if heavy rains occur within the next few days, says Director of Landslides Research and Disaster Management Division of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) R. M. S. Bandara.

Bandara told The Island yesterday that there was a difference between a garbage dump crash and a landslide. "This is the first time we have seen a disaster of this nature here. Under the sheer weight of the garbage dump a lower layer of earth gave way, causing the collapse of the dump. The authorities have stopped dumping garbage at the site. But, more crashes are likely to happen if the area receives heavy rains within the next few days. So, we have already called for the evacuation of people living near the garbage dump.

We have identified about 130 houses which are vulnerable."

Meanwhile, the death toll from the Meethotamulla garbage dump disaster rose to 30 yesterday and the number of persons reported missing stood at 32, according to the number of complaints lodged with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

Assistant Director of the DMC, Pradeep Kodippily said 981 individuals belonging to 228 families had been displaced following the New Year day tragedy.

Records maintained at the Kolonnawa Divisional Secretariat have showed that only 1,770 individuals belonging to 402 families had lived in the area prior to the disaster. Among them had been unauthorised settlers, Kodippily said. They were residents of Nagahamulla, Daham Mawatha and Garden 23.

All the displaced have been accommodated at the Terrence N. de Silva Maha Vidyalaya, Kolonnawa.

Post mortems on all 30 casualties had been performed and they included six children, Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ajith Tennakoon said.

He said all of them had died due to being crushed.

The rescue/recovery operations continued yesterday with about 1,500 security forces members taking part therein.

Meanwhile, with the suspension of dumping of garbage at Meethotamulla, the Colombo Municipal Council has decided to unload its garbage at three different locations.

Asked where garbage would be dumped, Municipal Commissioner V. K.A. Anura said that would be one usual and he could not divulge the locations as their publication by the media could result in fresh protests and sabotaging of the whole operation.

‘Red card’ issued to Weerawansa by his party threatened with breaking down ! Decision on 19 th -NFF secretary and group have secretly met with president

(Lanka-e-News -17.April.2017, 4.30PM) Following the fasting and breaking fast pavement drama staged by Wimal Weerawansa while in remand custody to secure bail , a conflict had erupted among those in the highest stratum of his party , based on reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division.

The highest stratum of Weerawansa’s NFF (National Freedom Front) party is comprised of about 17 members which represents the politburo. Only five members of that group are saying his histrionics is right while the majority are of the opinion that the party gained nothing out of the fast staged by Weerawansa (the fart) , and that had only made the party even more unpopular among the people and his conduct was most reprehensible.

The majority of members of the politburo blamed him for staging the fast at the initial stage itself , that is within just four days by getting himself admitted to hospital , when the fast must be used as the last weapon . Therefore the members accused Weerawansa of degrading and insulting the party and a people’s struggle to the level of a joke. The party secretary is antagonistic towards Weerawansa because the latter before commencing his fast (pulling a fast one) had not obtained the permission of the party , and neither had he notified his party leaders.

It is because of these reasons and the conflicts within the party , Weerawansa did not get the support of his party from outside while he was fasting (pulling a fast one in fact) within prison . It is only when Weerawansa went home after getting released on bail , that he realized there are conflicts raging within the politburo of the party .

On the day Weerawansa secured bail , he phoned the general secretary Priyantha Vitharane and instructed him to convene a politburo meeting . Priyantha instead of heeding his request had launched a verbal onslaught on Weerawansa using the choicest language, while rejecting his request . Priyantha has directly told him on the phone , he has no need any more to do politics with a political eunuch .

Following this clash , somehow with the intervention of Weerawansa , the politburo meeting has been fixed for the 19 th. According to our inside information reports , the meeting on the 19 th is most likely going to be the NFF’s last politburo meeting with Weerawansa participating as its leader.

Except five members or less of the politburo constituted of 17 members , the rest are bitterly slating Weerawansa at every turn . They had openly said, at their party headquarters itself situated at 7 th floor Sathosa building ,Pitakotte , that Weerawansa is a recalcitrant arrogant lunatic only , and therefore not fit to be a leader . They cannot go any further with Weerawansa on the journey , they had pinpointed.

Muzammil who was until now the media spokesman for Weerawansa’s party has also openly and furiously castigated Weerawansa .He charged that Werawansa’s wife and children scold the politburo members and treat them as well as the employees like slaves most contemptuously.

Copious information with evidence about the frauds committed by Weerawansa including state funds amounting to over Rs. 5000 million , the place where those are hidden , the modus operandi , the properties purchased locally and abroad are already being circulated among the majority of the politburo members.

While allowing his wife Sashi Weerawansa to sleep with boys and dogs at Hokandara ,Weerawansa is living in another house at Bambalapitiya for most nefarious purposes , they alleged . All this information and more about his sinister ,illicit and amoral sexual activities are now with the general secretary , and the politburo is most disappointed . The politburo has therefore frowned upon his (so called patriot) outrageously obnoxious conduct .

A group including Priyantha Vitharane ,the party secretary has had discussions with president Maithripala Sirisena , and on the 19 th at the politburo meeting if Weerawansa does not accept the egregious sins and political wrongs committed by him , as well as the controversial venomous conduct of his family directed against the party leaders , the politburo members will be joining with the president , and that is a right of the NFF , the group declared. Thereafter the NFF sans Weerawansa will be functioning as a party of the UPFA , sources from within the NFF disclosed.

---------------------------
by (2017-04-17 11:13:24)

Joint opposition ‘extends’ LNW ban

Apr 17, 2017

The Lanka News Web website remained banned for six years within Sri Lanka during the corrupt Rajapaksa regime. In that duration, Sri Lankan readers had to resort to alternative means to access the LNW website. The joint opposition, a gathering of the corrupt bent on bringing back the Rajapaksas to power, continues to disrupt reporting by LNW journalists even though it does not have power now.

The LNW website started in the early 2009 and within three months, it was made inaccessible and banned due to its having engaged in a media usage against the corrupt and terror regime of the Rajapaskas. That ban ended with the collapse of that regime through the people’s vote.

Rajapaksas, who lost their power, and their henchmen then formed a so-called JO. And, we sent our journalists to cover its media briefings and published its media statements. That was because even if we have criticisms about its politics, we respect its right to freedom of opinion. However, the Rajapkasa family and its henchmen turned back LNW journalists who had gone to cover a media briefing by them recently.

A member of the JO’s media unit explained, “It’s like this machan. I am not opposed to you. But, don’t you know? Our bosses don’t like it, especially Dinesh boss. Of late, you have been digging up his cases. After shouting like a wind-up cat, he is now completely silent. So, would he like it if you come?”

This is how the remnants of the Rajapaksa regime, notorious for its media repression, treat the media even if it does not have power any more. The question is that it is seeking power once against to bring a ‘Suba Anagathayak’ (a better future) for the country.

Lake House Directors To Be Replaced: Presidential Committee Finds Fault With Editorial Director

Apr 17, 2017

The Board of Directors of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), commonly known as Lake House, is to be replaced soon, informed sources of the government confirmed on Sunday.

Kavan

The current Chairman and the Managing Director of the state-run newspaper company is Kavan Ratnayaka, the elder brother of Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka.

The move to replace the current Board of Directors comes in the wake of the President’s decision to appoint a four-member committee to look into the issues at Lake House. The Committee held its sessions over the past two months, and exchanged views with a number of stakeholders concerning the state run newspaper company.

One of the key recommendations of the committee is that the poor management of the editorial section remains a key issue concerning the company. It has been identified as the main reason for the abysmal performance of the company’s two Sinhala newspapers – Dinamina and Silumina – which have failed to show any progress in terms of sales, under the current management.

Saman Wagaarachchi, current Editorial Director at Lake House, overlooks the editorial management of the company. It is in this context that the committee is to recommend the removal of Wagaarachchi from the current position.

Along with Wagaarachchi, other directors too will be replaced to bring in a new management to the company, several top sources of the government added.

It is learnt that one member of the new board of directors will be nominated by President Maithripala Sirisena. The new member, according to sources close to the President will ensure that the President gets due coverage from the Lake House newspapers.

Ratnayaka has also supported the move, informing the Prime Minister that he has no interest in continuing as the Chairman of the state-run newspaper company.

Norochcholai power plant breaks down

2017-04-17

The power failure which occurred in several areas this morning was due to the breakdown of a power generator in the first phase of the Norochcholai Coal power station (Lakvijaya), Power and Energy Ministry Media Spokesman Pathum Paskuwal said.

He said the breakdown was caused due to a technical failure in a boiler belonging to the first phase of the plant.

He said the malfunctioning of the generator would not affect the National Power Supply.

Meanwhile, Ceylon Electricity Board Media Spokesman Sulakshana Jayarathna said it would take at least three days to rectify the defect as the technical team could not reach the boiler room due to the high temperature. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)

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