Say a Prayer for the Homeless, Trump’s People Will Not

Democrats and Republicans, alt-right, alt-left, conservatives/ liberals will not help the country if they stick to their given brand names. The system has been twisted by them all. There must be a country before agency, party and ambition party or ideology.

by John Stanton-May 22, 2017

( May 21, 2017, Virginia, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is a bright sunny day in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. The sky is clear blue and the air is cool. It’s definitely a windows-down driving day as I get in my ’99 Camaro and set off to work from Arlington, Virginia to 16^th and K Street in downtown Washington. It is just about six miles to get from home, near the Pentagon and Fort Myer, to the office.

It’s a pretty standard commute today, stop and go traffic. But it’s not too bad because there’s movement, as long as there is no accident ahead. My path takes me past the US Marine Corps Memorial in Virginia, an awesome piece of art that still motivates me. I’m now turning onto the ramp that takes me to the Roosevelt Bridge across the Potomac River. Above the ramp is a highway underpass that leads into Virginia.

The traffic slows to a stop and I find myself on the road directly below the overpass which signals I’ve crossed into Washington, DC’s jurisdiction. I’m daydreaming but look to my left and up to a section of the underpass and see that a homeless person (HP) has made a home of sorts. There are blankets, sleeping bags and plastic sheets placed tightly next to each other that hang from the supporting beams. They stretch down in a semicircle around the flat space up under the underpass.  It’s a wall that offers the HP some measure of relief from the elements and onlookers like me. There is junk scattered on either side of the HP’s home: A broken exercise bench and dilapidated, busted bicycle among the items. Plastic bags hang from the beams, an obvious attempt to make it more difficult for the rats to gain access to the bag’s contents.

Home Sweet Home

Traffic is moving now and up ahead is an HP who has a sign that reads “Thank You.” Someone ahead of me has given him a bottle of water and he is grateful. I slow down and hand him a dollar asking, “Do you live up there, referring to the home I just passed. The HP says, “Oh, no, that’s not mine, I live down there,” as he signals to another underpass in the distance.

I’m on Roosevelt Bridge now, bobbing and weaving between cars as I make my way to the farthest lane. As I cross the Potomac I see the Washington Monument in the distance and to my left is the John F. Kennedy Center. My mind wanders to the scenes in the horrifying Zapruder film. Then comes visions of n Malcolm X, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King. I shake my head. Reminders of the past are everywhere. I ask myself what the USA would have been like if they lived. But better pay attention to the traffic.

Now I’m making a slow left turn onto a ramp that will put me on the E Street Express. I notice to my left another HP. He’s lying down on top of a concrete slab reading a book. He is covered by is a large blue plastic tarp. His ‘place’ rests on between two concrete barriers in a grassy area. As I make the hard left, slowly though, I notice the gaudy Institute of Peace building on my right. Looking left I see a small tent nestled in among some bushes off the ramp.  What’s the deal?

E Street

I’m on the E Street Expressway now. I look up to my left and see the Saudi Embassy. Looking down a bit I see a wall painted with some pretty cool graffiti. Panning down, I notice three small tents in a grassy area. I’m just about to the Georgetown and K Street intersection. The famed Watergate building is very close. As I make the turn to get to K Street, I see ten tents: It’s a mini HP tent community. Look, there is a guy with a Pitbull and its puppies. There’s a campfire that’s going strong. Some guys are sitting around it. Garbage is scattered around some of the tents. Some other guys are cleaning up around their homes. To the left and right are HP’s holding signs that say “help.” Looking to the right I notice more tents set below an underpass. And as I move along, I see a couple of tents on a nearby hill.

At the Georgetown and K Street intersection are more HP’s. One has a dog and sits on a lawn chair on the median strip asking for help. There is a woman on another median strip asking for cash. To my right is a gentleman shaking a McDonald’s plastic cup with change in it. His home consists of two shopping carts full of blankets and who knows what. And there is a guy holding a sign, “Anything will help. God bless.”

Making a right onto K Street I notice that there are some very expensive town and apartment homes. Behind me rests Georgetown, where Washington’s power elite dine and play. I’m pretty close to my place of work. A few blocks and stoplights and I’m there. I’m in the lead position in the right hand lane at a stoplight now. To my left and across the street is another shopping cart loaded with dirty blankets and personal belongings. A minute or two ago, I passed a sidewalk with a mattress, door and lamp: Another HP home.

Bipolar

I’m pulling into the parking garage now absorbing the bipolar reality I’ve seen. On this particular day, I stay later than usual. It’s about 8 PM. I head out of the building and turn to go to the garage and almost walk into a small red tent abutting a building. A snoring sound from someone inside can be heard. This is 16^th and K in Washington, DC, I mutter to myself.

The view on the return trip home to Arlington is the same. I notice on this route that the mini-HP tent city is very close to four older but high priced townhomes that sit, stranded almost, across from a gas station, itself across from the Watergate.

I leave Washington, DC with a sense of urgency. I look forward to getting back to Arlington, one of the top communities in America to live, work and raise a family. I decide to stop at the 7-11 market located just about at the intersection of the bustling Columbia Pike and Walter Reed Drive. The 7-11 is adjacent to a 24/7 McDonald’s and a host of bars and restaurants.

Thank Heaven for 7-11

I’m in the parking lot of 7-11 now which is about 500 meters from my house. Out of the car I go. I’m looking forward to getting some beer and salted peanuts and getting to the comfort of my own home. As I walk in, I notice a HP. I also recognize the face. It’s a kid I used coach in high school contact football. I give him what cash I have, not much, and figure I’ll use my credit card for my stuff and by him something to eat.  And there’s another HP sidling up to me asking if I have any more money. I tell him I can get him a sandwich but that’s about it.

The homeless have been appearing frequently in Arlington and I expect in a lot of other communities around the nation too. The politicians and ‘experts” talk about enforcing drug laws and the scourge of opiates and heroin until they are blue in the face.

The epidemic that is the increase in homeless persons, young and old, should frighten every American. They remind most of the “lucky us” with mortgages and debt (used for cheap goods and services, not extravagance) that we are only a half dozen missed paychecks and loss of health insurance away from living in a tent. Moving in with other family members is an unfortunate 1920’s option. Trump’s people seek to eliminate Social Security and de-federalize safety net programs and dump them on the States. Most of which have debt problems of their own. It is a callous Pontius Pilate move.

Trump and his administration are to the federal government, poor and middle classes what the Islamic State is to Christians and Shia. Trump’s followers and supporters are every bit as radical in their ideology as Daesh is. Their souls are corrupt. As an aside, those hoping Trump is moved out of the presidency should note that vice president Pence is an evangelical Christian who rejects the theory of evolution. Mike Pence is a creationist.

No, the two political parties are not going to make America great again. Democrats and Republicans, alt-right, alt-left, conservatives/ liberals will not help the country if they stick to their given brand names. The system has been twisted by them all. There must be a country before agency, party and ambition party or ideology. If that does not happen soon, war in the streets will come.

America’s homeless nomads serve as a message from the future, a dystopian one in which tens of millions wander the countryside living off the land. Many will establish their own tent cities. Those homeless people will be well-armed militias. And the future will be that way because we, as a people, refused to put country above all else.

Saying a prayer for the homeless is saying one for all of us.

John Stanton can be reached at jstantonarchangel@gmail.com. He hopes Pope Francis puts Trump in a headlock.

Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Societal Resilience 

2017-05-22

Faced with a whole range of day to day issues, many people today do not pay much attention to bigger issues like climate change. Which, in the long run, is likely to make life on earth even more complex, difficult and unpredictable, unless diverse global and local level efforts to arrest the trend succeed. It is against such a background that some of the global efforts like Climate Change Agreement and SDG’s become complementary. On the other hand, effectiveness of global initiatives depends very much on what happens at national and local levels.   

Aranayaka Land slide (2016 File Photo) 

Is the present international politico- economic environment conducive for the development of a new global compact on climate change and sustainable development? The developments over the last several years do not encourage us to answer the above question in the affirmative. The massive exodus of refugees from North Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere that exerted unprecedented economic and political pressure on Europe did not necessarily produce positive political outcomes in the West in general. The election of Donald Trump in the United States, Brexit vote in the UK and the rise of right wing political parties in a number of European countries are examples. Neo-liberal globalization that has weakened progressive state policies in many countries contributed to social issues at home and abroad such as rising inequality, weakening of social citizenship, increasing ethno-religious tensions and conflicts. Rising public debts in many countries prevented them from investing in critically important social sectors like health, public transport and education, pushing even low income groups towards private solutions to various problems they face. The results are unplanned urbanization, environmental pollution, labour migration, proliferation of unregulated urban settlements, and increasing crime and violence.   

Many developing country governments have become ‘fire fighters’ trying to defuse multiple crises that crop up in various sectors rather than plan and implement long-term evidence based policies. Sri Lanka’s most recent tragedy surrounding the massive garbage mountain in Colombo resulting in the death of many people in the vicinity of the dump is a case in point. We are likely to face many such tragedies in the months and years to come, largely because the state continues to fail in regulating public affairs through a process of formulation and implementation of rational public policies.   
On the other hand, the responsiveness of the State to diverse challenges societies face depends on a whole range of factors, not just it’s ideological orientation. The capacity of public institutions to investigate issues and come up with possible remedies or policy responses is critically important. It is in this sense that institution building is an important part of political development in any country. What is important here is not only the establishment of institutions but also their sustenance, renewal and revamping in keeping with the emerging of new challenges. Some of the new challenges we face today are connected with climate change. Economic policy shifts and proliferation of natural and human induced disasters also give rise to many challenges. In such context, improving social resilience has become a highly significant prerequisite for ensuring the well-being of citizens, in particular, more vulnerable segments of the population. This is particularly so with respect to increasing disaster risks generated by extreme weather events due to climate change as well as human induced incidents like the one we witnessed in Colombo in April, 2017.   

"Economic policy shifts and proliferation of natural and human induced disasters also give rise to many challenges. In such context, improving social resilience has become a highly significant prerequisite for ensuring the well-being of citizens, in particular, more vulnerable segments of the population"

How can we reduce disaster risks and increase societal resilience? One major step that all countries need to take is to adopt evidence based policy making as a key strategy to deal with environmental and climate change related issues. Yet, this is possible only when strong institutions with the necessary resources and capacities exit. The institutions concerned are diverse and include universities, research institutions, regulatory bodies and implementing agencies. As is well known, in many countries there often exist institutions but they do not have the capabilities necessary to perform vital functions. Hence the need for interventions aimed at building their diverse capacities. Since evidence based policy making demands credible data and information,the generation of such data and information becomes critical. In the developing world, this cannot be taken for granted, as, due to various reasons, universities and research institutions do not perform this vital function in a satisfactory manner. One major obstacle is the lack of adequately trained research staff.   
The above state of affairs deserves urgent attention. The need of the hour is to strengthen the research capacities of universities and their research staff. While this is essentially a responsibility of the governments, international collaboration can also play a vital role. In the remainder of this article, an attempt is made to provide a brief account of such an initiative, namely an international partnership, named ASCENT, Advancing Skill Creation To Enhance Transformation.  

The above partnership involves 14 countries in Europe and Asia including Sri Lanka. While three universities from Sri Lanka participate in the research network, namely Ruhuna, Moratuwa and Colombo, Neurusan university from Thailand and research universities in Bangladesh are also partners. The project is coordinated by researchers based at the Huddersfield University, UK. Several European universities from such countries as Sweden, Lithuania and UK are also part of the collaborative network. Among other things,the research network strives toward building research and dissemination capacities of young researchers drawn from Asian universities with the able guidance of well-established academics from most of the participating universities. This objective of the network is expected to be achieved through periodic training workshops and conferences during the project period at different locations. One such training event took place a few months ago at Ruhuna University with the participation of over 60 young researchers including those from the above mentioned three partner universities in Sri Lanka.   

It hoped that development of research and dissemination capacities of young researchers through international partnerships like ASCENT would strengthen the local universities in order for them to play an important part in the area of policy and program development at both institutional and national levels. This is important because we cannot afford to rely on ad hoc policies in an increasingly complex global and local environment, particularly in view of the deepening global environmental crisis characterized by global warming and related consequences as well as more frequent and increasingly more devastating natural and human induced disasters. It is critically important that countries build effective institutions and possess well trained and highly skilled personnel to manage them. This should in fact be a national priority for government and relevant public and private institutions.  

WHO spends more on travel than Aids, malaria and TB


World Health Organisation health workers wearing Ebola protective suits at Alabang, Muntinlupa city southeast of Manila, Philippines Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014. Source: AP Photo/Bullit Marquez

22nd May 2017

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) spends a whopping US$200 million annually on staff travel – far more than it allocates to some of the world’s biggest public health issues, including the fight against Aids, tuberculosis or malaria, according to internal documents obtained by the Associated Press (AP).

According to reports, via South China Morning Post, the UN health agency staff have repeatedly broken in-house rules to fly business-class and stay in five-star hotels when travelling for work.

On a recent trip to Guinea on which WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan praised health workers in West Africa for their efforts fighting Ebola, the director-general stayed at the largest presidential suite at the Palm Camayenne Hotel in Conakry, a room that is advertised as costing US$1,008 per night.

WHO declined to comment on the expense but did note that sometimes Chan’s hotel stays are paid for by the host country.

Chan alone spent more than US$370,000 in travel in one year, with several anonymous sources within the agency claiming she often flies first-class.

WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan gives a speech at the meeting of the G20 health ministers in Berlin, Germany, May 19, 2017. Source: Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch

“We don’t trust people to do the right thing when it comes to travel,” said Nick Jeffreys, WHO’s director of finance, during an in-house seminar on accountability in September 2015 – a video of which was obtained by the AP.

Despite introducing new rules in an attempt to curb the frivolous spending, Jeffreys said staffers “can sometimes manipulate a little bit their travel”. He said the agency couldn’t be sure they were always booking the cheapest ticket or that the travel was even warranted.

“People don’t always know what the right thing to do is,” he said.

SEE ALSO: 2 billion people drink contaminated water – WHO

An internal analysis released in March, showed the majority of the agency is consistently overspending on travel with only two of seven departments at WHO’s Geneva headquarters hitting their targets.

Since 2013, WHO has paid out US$803 million in travel expenses.

In comparison, the agency spent approximately US$71 million on Aids and hepatitis last year, US$61 million on malaria, and invested US$59 million to slow tuberculosis.

WHO’s US$2 billion annual budget is drawn from taxpayer-funded contributions from its 194 member countries. Its inability to get its travel spending under control may risk the agency’s credibility when it comes to asking for extra funds to combat emergencies.

Several weeks ago, WHO asked for about US$100 million to save people in Somalia from an ongoing drought. In April, it requested US$126 million to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen. Director of the Global Health Institute at Harvard University, Dr Ashish Jha, pointed out the possible consequences of the overspending on fundraising ability.

“When you spend the kind of money WHO is spending on travel, you have to be able to justify it,” he said. “I can’t think of any justification for ever flying first class.”

“If WHO is not being as lean as possible, it’s going to be hard to remain credible when they make their next funding appeal.”

Beauty sleep is a real thing, research shows

MILANMARKOVIC/GETTY IMAGES

By Michelle Roberts-17 May 2017

Beauty sleep is a real thing, according to researchers who have shown that people who miss out on sleep do appear less attractive to others.

A couple of bad nights is enough to make a person look "significantly" more ugly, their sleep experiments suggest.

Dark-circled "panda" eyes and puffy lids can even put others off socialising with you, they say.

People were rated by strangers as less healthy and approachable when they had tired faces.

• Are you getting enough sleep?
• Five things that ruin a good night's sleep

The experiment

The researchers asked 25 university students, some male and some female, to be the guinea pigs in their sleep experiment.

The volunteers - who were given payment for their help - were sent home with a kit that would measure their night-time movements to check that they had not cheated and slept when they should not have.

They were asked to get a good night's sleep for two consecutive nights.

A week later, they were asked to restrict themselves to only four hours sleep per night for two nights in a row.

The researchers took make-up free photos of the volunteers after both the good and the bad sleep sessions.

Next, they asked 122 strangers - women and men living in Sweden's capital city, Stockholm - to have a look at the photos and rate them on attractiveness, health, sleepiness and trustworthiness, as well as asking them: "How much would you like to socialise with this person in the picture?"

The strangers were good at judging if the person they were looking at was tired, and, if they were sleepy, their attractiveness score suffered.

The strangers also said they would be less willing to socialise with the tired students, who they also perceived to be less healthy, Royal Society Open Science journal reports.

The Karolinska Institute researchers says this makes sense in evolutionary terms.

"An unhealthy-looking face, whether due to sleep deprivation or otherwise, might activate disease-avoiding mechanisms in others."

In other words, people don't want to hang around with people who might be ill, whereas someone who looks energetic and fit will hold lots of appeal.

Lead researcher Dr Tina Sundelin added: "I don't want to worry people or make them lose sleep over these findings though.

"Most people can cope just fine if they miss out on a bit of sleep now and again."

Dr Gayle Brewer, a psychology expert at the University of Liverpool and member of the British Psychological Society, said: "Judgement of attractiveness is often unconscious, but we all do it, and we are able to pick up on even small cues like whether someone looks tired or unhealthy.

"We want our partners to be attractive and energetic.

"This study is a good reminder of how important sleep is to us."

Mannar disappeared families protest Ranil visit

21 May  2017

Families of the disappeared protested in Mannar during Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit on Friday.

The families of the disappeared had initially asked the government agent to organise a meeting with the Prime Minister when it was announced that he would be visiting to open Mannar’s new District Secretariat building.

Having had their request denied, the families of the disappeared protested amidst a heavy security presence, lifting black flags when the Sri Lankan flag was hoisted.

Later in the day, some representatives of the families were called in for a meeting with representatives of the Prime Minister.

The protesters said that no commitments had been made on behalf of the government in the meeting.

Federalism Is Good For The North, But Better For The South!

By Veluppillai Thangavelu –MAY 22, 2017

Veluppillai Thangavelu

On April 26, 2017 Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine delivered the keynote address at the SJV Chelvanayakam’s 40th death anniversary commemoration held at Kathiresan Hall, Bambalapitiya. The function was organized by the llankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) the party founded by Chelvanayagam on December 18, 1949 after he broke off from the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC). TNA Jaffna District Member of Parliament M. A. Sumanthiran presided. R. Sampanthan, MP and Leader of the Opposition and the TNA leader also addressed the meeting.

In his keynote address Minister Rajitha Senaratne has posed the question FEDERALISM: WHY ONLY FOR TAMILS?  Naturally the Minister’s query has evoked much discussion by way of pros and cons in political circles. Dayan Jayatilleka, an ultra-Sinhala Buddhist nationalist and reputed to be the political advisor to Mahinda Rajapaksa has written an article in response titled “Sinhala Federal Party.”

Very few Sinhalese politicians come forward to support federalism; if they dare it will be considered as sacrilege and condemned roundly. Therefore, we must congratulate Minister Senaratne for speaking his mind on a controversial, but a burning topic. It is the first time someone like Minister Senaratne has posed the question FEDERALISM: WHY ONLY FOR TAMILS? and then answers: A Federal Union of Ceylon would have allowed the Sinhala South to take their destiny into their own hands, in their own regions.”

Minister Senaratne’s explanation on the need for Federalism was simple. It allows people in different regions to take care of their day to day responsibilities including their cultural life, while politically acting together as a single Nation State.

Let me quote extracts from his speech somewhat extensively for the benefit of the readers. 

(1)We must ask, why Federalism to Tamils? Why not to the Sinhalese in the South? We need Federalism for South because centralised powers from 1947 Parliament to 2017, for 70 years, have failed to develop the rural Sinhala society.

(2) If Federalism leads to “separation”, Velupillai Prabhakaran would have first negotiated for a Federal System. He would have been the hard line campaigner to have the “Oslo Declaration” signed in December, 2002 to be enforced without delay. The Norwegian facilitated peace deal was declared as signed between the GOSL and the LTTE on 05 December with Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator for the LTTE announcing” that is what we decided, that we will opt for a Federal model. This Federal model will be within united Sri Lanka which will be appreciated by the Sinhalese people I suppose.”

(3) If Prabhakaran was as convinced as the Sinhala extremists that Federalism leads to a “separate” State, he would have been the first to demand a Federal System.

(4) But why Chelvanayagam wanted a Federal State was for simple reasons? That was to take care of their day to day responsibilities including their cultural life in the North-east, while acting together as a single Nation State.

(5) As the first National Convention of the ITAK in 1951 resolved, “…..It is their (Sinhala and Tamil) common motherland and with a view to promoting and maintaining national goodwill and close co-operation with the Sinhalese people.” The “common motherland” that “Thanthai” Chelva stood for and believed would be best served as a “Federal Union of Ceylon”, would not have allowed Prabhakaran his dream of an “Eelam” State. A “Federal Union of Ceylon” instead would have allowed the Sinhala South to take their destiny into their own hands, in their own regions.

(6) Centralised power in Colombo even before this free market economy left the Southern districts too poor and lacking in socioeconomic development. In just 20 years since independence, the Sinhala youth in rural South decided to rebel against the State, for a better future. The JVP began organising their armed insurrection from 1968. It was the marginalised rural poor that served as recruits for the 1971 insurgency. After the economy was completely liberalised in 1978, majority Sinhala Districts outside the Western Province could only supply cheap labour to heavily exploiting export manufacturing sector and soldiers to a war that was not theirs. War brought sealed coffins to villages and robbed youth in their prime as “missing in action”.

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BBS leader commences then abruptly halts fast over possible arrest

Muslim MPs seeks meeting with President

By Chathuri Dissanayaka-Monday, 22 May 2017

In a strange turn of events, hard-line leader of the Bodu Bala Sena Organisation Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thero commenced a fast at the Malwathu Maha Vihara premises yesterday, protesting attempts by the Police to arrest him, only to call it off within hours. 

The Thero claimed he ended the fast following a request by the prelates to take into consideration the investiture ceremonies of young monks that are to take place in Kandy during the week. 

Meanwhile, all 21 Muslim Members of Parliament who wrote to President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday urging him to intervene to quell increasing racial disharmony in the country, are set to meet him today to lobby for immediate action.  

A tense situation arose on Saturday night when Police attempted to arrest the monk in Thoradeniya, in the Ibbagamuwa area of Kurunegala. A group of Bodu Bala Sena monks and laypeople were en route to Anuradhapura to hold a procession on Sunday with the participation of the group’s supporters.

In a planned clandestine operation on Saturday evening, the Police attempted to arrest Gnanasara Thero by blocking the road the BBS group was travelling on. The attempted arrest, which was live streamed through social media, resulted in an altercation between the Police and supporters of the BBS, with the latter hooting at the Police and issuing threats. 

As the tense situation escalated the Police, who were outnumbered by BBS supporters, withdrew without arresting the monk, who even during the incident made several inflammatory statements. The Thero is seen hurling abuse at the Police, threatening to “take the people to the streets to overthrow the Government.”    

According to BBS Chief Executive Officer Dilantha Withanage, the incident took place at around 10.30 p.m. at Thorayaya in Kurunegala, a predominantly Muslim area. The group was en route to Anuradhapura following a religious ceremony at Sulugal Viharaya in Ibbagamuwa.

According to BBS National Organiser Magalkande Sidhartha Thero, the Police were unable to produce an arrest warrant or clearly state on what grounds the arrest was being made.

Attempts by Daily FT to speak to Police Media Spokesperson DIG Priyantha Jayakody to clarify the details were unsuccessful.

Following the incident the BBS changed course to Kandy to meet with the Malwathu Chapter Chief Prelate to inform him of the situation. Following consultation with the Chief Prelate of the Malwathu Chapter, Gnanasara Thero has decided to fast in protest over his possible arrest.

Speaking to the media following the consultations with the Chief Prelate, Gnanasara accused the Government of a witch hunt against him due to pressure from Muslim MPs in the Government calling for him to be arrested.

He urged the Government to first take action against political figures who were inciting racial hatred, naming several Northern Province politicians and several civil society leaders.

Meanwhile, 21 Muslim MPs in the Government met with the President to discuss the situation, UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman said. A letter has been handed over to the President on the same issue following a meeting held at the Ministry of Muslim Affairs on Friday with the participation of all Muslim MPs.  

The Jumma Mosque in Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala had come under attack by an unidentified group on Saturday night. According to Rahuman, attacks on Muslim religious places and Muslim-owned commercial establishments have increased in the immediate past. 

Muslim MPs, Ministers seek meeting with President 

Expose` : Good governance commander in chief completes two years but MR ‘s control still within army !

2017-05-22

Muslim Ministers and MPs in the Government would meet President Maitripala Sirisena to discuss action that should be taken against anti-Muslim sentiments, which they said was rising once again.

A Muslim MP, who did not wished to be named, said they decided to seek an appointment with the President to discuss the issue at a meeting they had in Colombo over the weekend.

“We do not think the meeting would take place soon as the talk of a Cabinet reshuffle is in the offing. But we expect to meet the President after the busy period is over,” he said.

According to the MP some had suggested that some action was essential as nothing had been done by this Government so far to curb religious and communal hatred.

Ministers including Rauff Hakeem, Mujibur Rahaman and several others have participated at this meeting, he said. (Yohan Perera)

- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Muslim-MPs-Ministers-seek-meeting-with-President-129325.html#sthash.cpxAjEiv.dpuf

Culturing Fear & Hatred In The Sinhalese Mind – An Open Letter To Sinhalese

By  Mass L. Usuf –MAY 21, 2017

Mass Usuf

My dear Sinhalese Brothers and Sisters,

You are all aware of the gradual corruption of a great teaching, by some rogue monks who pretend to protect Buddhism and the Sinhala race. Have you given some thought that it is time to make your voice heard and rise up to stop this menace. I am certain that you also understand well the opportunistic politicians who support such activities. They want to fool the average Sinhalese that they are pro-Sinhala Buddhist.  The protection of Buddhism cannot be achieved through harvesting racism, hate and communal disharmony. And, not through nationalism. All of this is pure humbug. A true Sinhalese Buddhist would not want to be part of this.

Innocent Youth

You may wonder why a Muslim is worried about this. The answer is twofold. One, I believe that if true buddhism is practised there would be no other nation in the world to match Sri Lanka – metta (loving kindness) is one simple example. This may sound idealistic but it is the truth. Secondly, this nation and all of its people can prosper and live peacefully. We all yearn to live in such an environment along with our families.

The crass racist indoctrination by a set of asinine monks, correlating buddhism to add value to it, is crossing reasonable levels. Let me highlight and, do so in bold that it is not all of you who belong to this lot but, only a small portion. My point is that this small portion, by virtue of being led by the Sangha, may be a serious number to be reckoned with. More dangerously, the ensnared innocent youth becoming the cat’s paw in the hands of these dubious Mahatmas. The extent of spurious content dissemination in the social media indicates that they have taken leave of their intelligence and common sense. The youth is being systematically radicalised. It can be your own brother or sister, son or daughter.

The type of nonsense that is spread in the social media and the web portals sets a new benchmark for the level of foolishness of these youths. Albert Einstein said, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere”.

Wonderful Lot

ISIS and Galagoda Atte Gnanasara make good comparison (See my article in Colombo Telegraph: 28 July 2015).  Even though the Muslims are against ISIS, the global media wrongly accuses Muslims for the acts of ISIS.  Similarly, the entire Sinhalese community will be accused of being racist people because of the aberrations of Gnanasara and a few others.

The Sinhalese people are a wonderful lot. Do not get me wrong. This is not an apologetic or a sheepish statement nor is it to curry favour but, a sincere one. Of course, like in all societies you get the bad people, too, among the Sinhalese. The racists are an example. These unsocial elements are of course, a minority but certainly bring shame upon you, who belong to the respectable rest.

However, I feel that if this errored course is not corrected on time even the moderate Sinhala majority may have to face problems. A time will come when fingers will be pointed accusing you of being unpatriotic, ‘un-Buddhistic’ or ‘un-Sinhalese’. 

What Have You Done?

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Prison Ministry Officials on corruptions

May 21, 2017

Some officers are working against the interests of the Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Ministry sources said to Lanka New Web, that an official accused of being involved in the Welikada prison shooting has been appointed as a top prison officer without the knowledge of the Minister.

Officials of the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs are suspected of being complicit of corruption.

 

An order issued by the Minister on Monday to transfer the Kalutara prison commissioner over the recent prison bus shooting had also been ignored till Friday.

 

Prisons Spokesperson Thushara Upuldeniya said that the order to transfer the Kalutara prison commissioner was received only on Friday. Minister Swaminathan is perplexed as to how an order he issued on Monday was handed over to the Prisons Department only on Friday.

 

Minister Swaminathan had ordered the transfer based on information provided by a three-member committee regarding the shooting incident and matters surrounding it.

 

Inquiries had found that the suspect known as ‘Samayan’ was assaulted inside the Kalutara prison and a mobile phone and tobacco were also found inside cabbage supplied to the Kalutara prison kitchen.

 

Meanwhile, a writ application is to be filed in court against the IGP, Prison Department and Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs over the Welikada prison massacre.

 

AshWaru Colombo