‘Paying a very heavy price for want of contingency plan’

Successive govts accused of negligence... 

By Shamindra Ferdinando-May 29, 2017, 12:00

Civil society activist Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday told The Island that Sri Lanka’s pathetic response to the latest natural disaster highlighted again the absence of a tangible action plan in case of an emergency.

Tennakoon said that precious lives had been lost for want of an efficient strategy. Tennakoon said that successive governments had ignored the requirement for contingency plan, especially a large scale evacuation plan in case of an emergency.

Tennakoon said that in accordance with a disaster management strategy, adequate resources should be made available to set up a cohesive rescue and relief operation.

Responding to a query by The Island, Tennakoon said that there couldn’t be any justifiable reason to deprive Sri Lanka of a well funded project to meet any eventuality against the backdrop of the government allocating well over Rs 2 bn in 2016 and 2017 through supplementary estimates to provide super luxury vehicles for members of parliament. Tennakoon also blamed the previous SLFP-led UPFA government for neglecting its duty by the people. "A shameless few will seek political advantage of current pathetic situation," Tennakoon, said, urging the media to pressure those in power by taking up real issues.

An Advisor to the Anti-Corruption Front (ACF), Tennakoon said politicians and officials lacked interest in formulating a comprehensive plan. Instead, they would seek international assistance to provide relief to the people in post-disaster scenario, Tennakoon said.

There hadn’t been any cohesive action plan to evacuate those living in vulnerable areas in spite of experiencing worst floods and landslides in living memory last year, Tennakoon said.

Within 24 hours after the South-West monsoons unleashed torrential rains last Thursday (May 25) causing havoc in 14 districts in the western and southern parts of the country, Sri Lanka sought assistance from several countries, including India and China. Sri Lanka requested for international assistance on the afternoon of May 26. Emphasizing that both big and small countries had the right to obtain international assistance depending on the requirement, Tennakoon said the country should be ashamed to ask for rice, flour, dhal, sugar, milk, biscuits, bed sheets and blankets from India.

Tennakoon was commenting on amphibious warfare vessel INS Shardul arriving at the Colombo port on May 28 carrying 40 tonnes of relief material. Pointing out that there had been specialized rescue team among the Indian personnel here, by the time they reached Colombo they couldn’t have been deployed to rescue any people.

INS Shardul also brought in Gemini inflatable boats.

It was the second Indian Naval ship to reach Colombo to provide assistance, after INS Kirch reached Colombo on May 27.

In the absence of Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who is away in Mexico Deputy Disaster Management Minister Dunesh Gankanda joined Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake in welcoming INS Kirsh at the Colombo port. INS Kirch brought in relief supplies, inflatable Gemini boats with diving teams, and a mobile medical team with supplies

SLFPer Yapa was attending the ‘2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction’ in Cancun, Mexico. The five-day conference began on May 22. Minister Yapa is expected back in office in early this week. Gankanda was not available for comment.

A third Indian Naval Ship, INS Jalashwa, with additional relief material, is expected to reach Colombo soon.

Commenting on media reports pertaining to the World Health Organization (WHO) promising USD 150,000, China promising relief items worth USD 2.2 mn as well as Chinese Red Cross granting USD 100,000 to their Sri Lankan counterparts, Tennakoon said that Chinese government relief items included tents, blankets, bed sheets and life jackets.

Tennakoon said the country should develop an emergency evacuation plan spearheaded by the armed forces to ensure swift and decisive measures in the face of an extreme situation. Tennakoon pointed out that though bodies were still being recovered they died in floods on May 26 and 27.

In the absence Minister Yapa as well as our inability to get in touch with Deputy Minister Gankanda, The Island sought an explanation from Disaster Management Secretary S.S. Miyanawala regarding their failure to develop a contingency plan, especially against the backdrop of Third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan in March 2015. Sri Lanka is a signatory to the Sendai agreement

Miyanawala said that in addition to funds for capital projects and recurrent expenditure, the government provided required funds for the ministry depending on the requirement. He said the ministry played a significant role in post-incident situation. According to him, the ministry had spent over Rs 5,000 mn in 2016 to provide relief to those affected by both natural and other disasters. The official said that the destruction caused by the Army Central Armoury blast at Salawa in June 2016 was among the catastrophies. Miyanwala said that they had a shopping list and was in a position to procure required items in case of an emergency.

However, he couldn’t explain why Sri Lanka had sought from India and China a number of items such as milk, biscuits and blankets which could have been easily obtained locally.

Tennakoon also said that it would be important to take into account relief items collected by some electronic media organizations when working out an overall distribution plan for flood affected districts. Tennakoon said that a major effort would be required to assist those returning to their homes damaged due to floods. Those who had been engaged in their own business were among the worst affected, Tennakoon said, urging the parliament to intervene in the matter.

How long will the destructive development going to continue ?

May 29, 2017

A large number of people have died due to the current disaster situation. Many lost their homes. A mass destruction resurfaced. This is not the end but the beginning. A few years ago Meeriyabedda faced a massive landslide and many lives were lost. It was proven without any doubt it is a result of the Uma Oya project and nothing to do with climate change or god’s will.

Yet, the authorities blamed the climate change. Climate change is like the god. When authorities fail to take the responsibility and when it is difficult to understand reasons behind the catastrophe, they blame the god. Climate change is a cover up for the world’s thuggery. It is like the hypothetical god who is not there to physically take the responsibility. The so called leaders have cleared their names by blaming the climate change for floods, landslides and every possible natural disaster. But, in actual sense, this is the result of the so called development taking place in our country. Even the public does not remember the environment until a disaster happens. They allow the rulers to destroy the nature according to their desire.

 

The 103 valleys along the rivers of Sri Lanka has already started to face the adverse consequences. To every river there are natural ponds and water absorbing buffer zones. Along most rivers this land has been used for development or houses are constructed. When these low lands are blocked with these constructions the result is flooding – inundating the whole area. This is nothing but collective effort of stupidity.

 

The marshy lands long the Kelani River, almost all being filled and developed. Muthurajawela, the lowland that allows the water to flow to the sea is being blocked by the highway construction. According to the directives of the World Bank, being greedy to the monetary commissions, highways are built in Sri Lanka unlike in any other country. Even in India, highways, when constructed near sensitive environment areas are built on pillars to minimize damage. Yet, in Sri Lanka highways were constructed across Muthurajawela and several other different areas building a barrier filled with 240,000 cubic meters of sand and soil per kilometer. When the natural drainages are blocked like this it is not a surprise that the center of the country getting flooded.

 

This barrier obstructs natural water drainage up to Matara as the highway runs towards Matara. And as highways are built around the country, it will block the water drainage further all over the country. As a result these highways will act like barriers blocking the water that gets collected during the rains from naturally draining to the sea. By observing the flood situation in areas like Kaduwela and Ja Ela this can be understood very well.

 

These landsides are nothing natural but adverse results of unplanned mega development. The Central Hills and the peripheral mountains act as water storage. Retaining the needed amount, the balance water gets naturally released to other water ways. When these water ways are blocked, the excess water gets adsorbed creating a lining between the soil particles and as a result the soil is loosened. Thus creating a landslide. This has less connection to climate change but more to human activities that block the waterways that carry the excess water.

 

Constructing mega and mini hydro power plants in the Central hills, deforestation and digging tunnels detach the surface rocks from the mother rock. These landslides will not end with those that happened in Meeriyabedda, Aranayake and Nikolaya. It is scientifically proven that this can happen anywhere, where this kind of human activity happen.

 

Aggravating the destruction highways are built up. These are not just within the country but would extend even to Dhanushkody in India, linking the Sri Lankan highways with the Asian highways. The process does not end here. There will be expressways linking cities creating a network of highways within the country. And all these highways will be built mounting sand and soil in the shape of a dam.  The proposed railway network will add to the misery.

 

In addition the plan to develop Sri Lanka as  a multi-faceted tourism area, where one section for hotels, another for eco tourism along the beach, the sea and different eco systems, will be another destruction. Under this there will be zones developed from Chilaw towards the North and the South, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, forest areas such as Bibile and Nilgala and in many more.

 

The plan to make Sri Lanka an aviation hub in 2030, a keen desire by China, India and America, will also result in expanding the Katunayake airport. In addition to Mattala plans are underway to develop another International Airport in Hingurakgoda.

 

Airports in Palali, Trincomalee. Puttalam, Batticaloa, Kalutara, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Galle, Ratmalana will be developed further and since 2013 plans are underway to develop two airports in Nuwara Eliya and Dambulla. Eventually there will be 19 airports in Sri Lanka.

 

According to the National Physical plan selected areas in Anuradhapura, the North and in Moneragala will be developed as agriculture areas at industrial level growing fruits, vegetables, peanuts, palm oil and valued timber. The Government is interested in inviting more investors to build factories in many other places.

 

Megapolis areas are planned centering main cities and in addition several other areas will be developed as main city centers, special cities and District capitals creating industrial cities, investment zones and IT hubs. These areas will include the stretch of cities from Gampaha to Kalutara, from  Matara to Thanamalwila (megapolis), from Ampara to Batticaloa covering the East (main cities). The North Central mega city will be around Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Trincomalee. Jaffna mega city will be around Mannar, Killinochchi to Point Pedro.

 

Following are the number of people the Government plan to settle in these developed cities –

 

Western Megapolis – 3.5 Million

Southern Megapolis – 01 million

Galle main city – 01 million

Eastern Megapolis – 01 million

North Central Megapolis – 04 million

Jaffna mega city – 01 million

 

According to the plan people living in hazard prone areas will be settled.

 

The coast line will be heavily industrialised with nuclear power plants and hydro power plants and with the development of the fisheries industry the number of boats will be increased to 40,000. Facilitating the fisheries sector , from Batticaloa to Hambantota a fiber communication network will be created through Lahugala, Yala and Udawalawa forest reserves and wildlife parks.

 

In such a back drop how would it be possible to save people from floods or droughts? As the floods recede the importance of strategic development and environment protection will drain. People will act dumb allowing the rulers to destroy the nature. As long as people do not get actively involved this problem will never find a sustainable solution. It is they who will pay the price with their lives.

 

Ravindra Kariyawasam

Centre for Environment and Nature Studies

Gnanasara: Outrage of right wing populism

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Globally we have seen many countries that recently went through a wave of right wing or nationalist populism.

In Britain, we saw the political party UKIP, which led Brexit. In France, we saw the National Front’s Marine Le Pen. In Netherlands, we saw the party of Geert Wilders. In Germany, we see the extremist right wing party, Alternative for Deustchland in action. In the US, Donald Trump’s electoral appeal had also been a right wing populism. In Australia, we see Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party. Sri Lanka has Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara and his Body Bala Senawa (BBS).

Put to the test, all these right wing nationalist parties seem to flounder and falter in their midstream. They eventually realise that although they can disrupt, they cannot sustain power in the long run. UKIP is down, Le Pan was defeated badly. Wilders is gone. The German one is struggling and there is evidence that the failings of One Nation are eroding party support.  One Nation is being investigated over charges of money laundering. Over a short time, the BBS will face the same music.

However, the danger to the body politic is that even their temporary successes can unleash a lot of long-term damage. Western European countries have an inherent strength to survive such aberrations. But Sri Lanka? We are just trying to raise our heads from the destruction of a 30-year war and a debt-clad economy.

Ven. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara 

"Populists seek popularity by trying to present simple solutions to complex questions that concern people. A politically-inclined person with a sense of over-inflated ego would pick up such a path in his quest for power over others. It is a manifestation of the will to power (der Wille zur Macht), which Friedrich Nietzsche spoke of as the main driving force of such individuals – achievement, ambition, and the striving to reach the highest possible position in life. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara is a man like that. He is dressed in robes and has a controversial past. But that robe protects him in the first place"

Protected by the robe

Basically, populists seek popularity by trying to present simple solutions to complex questions that concern people. A politically-inclined person with a sense of over-inflated ego would pick up such a path in his quest for power over others. It is a manifestation of the will to power (der Wille zur Macht), which Friedrich Nietzsche spoke of as the main driving force of such individuals – achievement, ambition, and the striving to reach the highest possible position in life.

Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara is a man like that. He is dressed in robes and has a controversial past. But that robe protects him in the first place. The Buddha himself regarded the robe as a mere insignia for identity by others that its wearer is a mendicant-living on the alms of well-meaning citizens. He warned his followers of charlatans in robes. In the popular Buddhism of the Sinhalese, however, people came round over the years to worship the insignia itself.

Even the Tripitaka is referred to respectfully as “poth wahanse,” or the Bo tree “bodhin wahanse”. Sri Lanka’s governing politicians think twice and three times before tackling the man in the robe. So Gnanasara starts off with a privilege.

This protection gives Gnanasara some security in his egoist, raucous, outbursts. The populist platform he has chosen constitutes his ideology for power. The possible evil consequences of his agenda to the broader system and polity isn’t his concern.

Political career

This man began his political career during the previous regime of Mahinda Rajapakse. He must have been inspired by the Myanmar Buddhist monk, Wiranthu. He must have had the backing of the government of the day. In fact, it was said that the then President’s powerful brother and Defence Secretary, Gotabaya, had a close association with him.

Gnanasara first started off by attacking Christian churches but soon switched on to a radical anti-Muslim stance. This itself shows he wasn’t sure of his cause to begin with. The destructive ramifications of his sectarian ideology on the socio-economic and political order is of little concern for people like Gnanasara. It is the myopia against Halal, against the head-dress of Muslim women, and the mosques that turns him on. This kind of line is easily picked up by a sizeable part of the majority population who gather around Gnansara and his BBS. Sinhalese small traders in particular, who see the Muslims as a threat, are in the BBS vanguard.

These guys are essentially short-sighted and out-of depth. There is a Sinhala saying, “looking up and spitting” (udabalagena kelagahanawa). This is what they do. Unlike the Rohingya in Myanmar, our Muslim population, comprising only 10% of the population, are too organically integrated with the rest of Sri Lankans – whether of the north, east or south. To try and tear them apart is like consuming one’s own flesh.

Populist nationalist politics is all quick politics and it does bring quick results. The party cadres involved gain access to big contributions voluntarily and by concealed force. This will happen to this movement, too, in due time.

"The Government, which all this time did nothing, suddenly jerked up and President Sirisena ordered the police to arrest Gnanasara for incitement and intimidation. I would have expected this holy vandal to bravely surrender; but he did not. He has since gone into hiding. This particular response to police search gives Gnanasara’s real character away: He is basically a coward. It is the cowardice of the proverbial village thug (‘game chandiya’) who keeps challenging his opponent with his sarong tucked up until he actually perceives a counter attack from his enemy. At that point, the chandiya withdraws with a vacuous threat"

Quixotic battles

Like Don Quixote attacking windmills perceived as enemies, Gnanasara casts his eyes on any possible Muslim expansion and then he pounces with his goons in the BBS. He enters Government offices and threatens public officials. He threatens police officials. Recently, Gnanasara threatened President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and said he would send them home. He is so intoxicated and self-delusional that he is out of touch with reality.

Gnanasara’s first quixotic battle was the battle of Aluthgama. That was in 2013. Muslim shops were burnt down and some persons were killed or injured. The then government watched in silence.

In February this year, he tried his pranks in the Homagama Magistrate’s court where he threatened Sandhya Ekneliyagoda, wife of the “missing” journalist, Ekneliyagoda, in front of the magistrate. This was a small break from his campaign against Muslims. The lady had come to Court over the Habeas Corpus case of her husband, the journalist, who went “missing” during the era of the Rajapaksas.

Gnanasara was gifted with a charge of contempt of court, and a charge of threatening the life of another, which he now faces. He appealed on medical grounds and the Court of Appeal has given him a date to reappear with medical reports.

On 20 May, the week before Muslim Ramadan, Gnanasara had his next battle-the Battle of Kurunegala, where he incited mobs to go for the mosque and Muslim shops. The mosque at Thorayaya, near Ibbagamuwa, became target. “However,” says a report, “a team of law – enforcement officers led by a Supdt. of Police stopped them on the Kurunegala-Dambulla road and prevented them from proceeding further. In the altercation that ensued, Gnanasara Thero abused the Police in raw filth.”

Gnanasara’s BBS goons threatened: “We will self -immolate ourselves.” At least, the goons got that bright idea!

Gnanasara’s real character

The Government, which all this time did nothing, suddenly jerked up and President Sirisena ordered the police to arrest Gnanasara for incitement and intimidation. I would have expected this holy vandal to bravely surrender; but he did not. He has since gone into hiding.

This particular response to police search gives Gnanasara’s real character away: He is basically a coward. It is the cowardice of the proverbial village thug (‘game chandiya’) who keeps challenging his opponent with his sarong tucked up until he actually perceives a counter attack from his enemy. At that point, the chandiya withdraws with a vacuous threat.

In similar vein, the whole attack-game of this yellow-robed man is based on one assumption, namely, that a Muslim will not come up to him and give him a return challenge. Gnanasara imagines that such a response will result in what he wants: a social conflagration. I doubt that coming.

As pointed out above, Muslims in our villagers have well integrated with the Sinhala people. A docile community, unlike their counterparts in Syria and the Middle East, these Muslims speak and write Sinhala very fluently and many of them have intermarried with the Sinhala. On the other hand, Gnanasara wants to convert his small community into jihadists like their overseas brethren.

(The writer can be reached via sjturaus@optusnet.com.au.)

A New Form of Anti-Muslim Terrorism in Sri Lanka: What is to be Done?

by Laksiri Fernando-May 30, 2017

( May 30, 2017, Sydney, Sri Lanka Guardian)  The incidents at present appear geographically scattered. But things can get concentrated and escalated into larger proportions, if stern action is not taken soon to apprehend the instigators. This is important as addressing the flood emergency and the devastation caused by this natural disaster and the administrative neglect, with all heartfelt sympathy to all flood victims.

A New Form of Anti-Muslim Terrorism in Sri Lanka What is to be Done.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Bodu Bala bogeyman bares bigotry’s evil breast again

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Phantoms raised from comatose state to dance once more on Lanka’s grave

It was, probably, the shortest sathyakriya – the assertion of truth – ever undertaken by any man in search of martyrdom. But when injustice protests its innocence and demands its continuance in the outer precincts of the Sri Dalada, it’s no wonder the flaky timbre of resolve to wantonly assert the potency of truth soon disintegrates and turns unto dust.

Bodu Bala bogeyman bares bigotry’s evil breast again.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Yahapalanaya Govt. must answer previous allegations against Port City, CHEC 

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Port City – ‘China Harbour Engineering Company’ corrupt: Harsha de Silva No less a person than Dr. Harsha de Silva – Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs castigated the Rajapaksa Government for partnering with a corrupt Chinese company for its ‘Port City’ project when he was Economic Affairs Spokes-person of the UNP when in opposition.

He was strident in his claim that China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was “banned by the World Bank” from 2009 to 2017 “after being caught in a string of corruption scandals”. He also alleged “fraud” on the part of CHEC. The words ‘corruption scandals’ and ‘fraud’ need emphasis. http://www.ft.lk/article/257776/Port-city--pump-and-dump--deal--Harsha

Hey presto! This same CHEC is now firmly in the saddle as the major partner of the Yahapalana Government’s version of the ‘Port City’ project now renamed ‘Colombo International Financial City’. This project coming under the Western Province Megapolis Plan is effectively the flagship project of the Yahapalana Government. Harsha de Silva went further and described the project as “Colombo’s largest land scam”.

How can Harsha de Silva refer to a “clear vision” when the Yahapalana Government in which he is a key Minister demonstrably does not have the will to address the scourge of corruption and impunity in the country? - FT file photo

While the Rajapaksa Government granted 20 hectares of land to CHEC on a freehold basis and the balance land on a 99-year lease to the project company, the Yahapalana Government proposes to grant the entirety on a 99-year lease with nothing on freehold. This includes the 20 hectares to CHEC. This must be viewed in the context where de Silva himself opines: “99-year lease that is almost the same as selling”!

Be that as it may, what the Yahapalana Government must now tell the country is how China Harbour Engineering Company which was deemed very corrupt under the previous regime is now suitable to be the principal partner in the Yahapalana Government’s version of the ‘Port City’ project? Does de Silva still consider the ‘Port City’ project “Colombo’s largest land scam”? If not why?

This project similar to most projects in Sri Lanka under successive governments lacks public consultation and transparency. Other issues that concern the Port City are: environment, livelihood, social and indeed the implications of the proposed ‘Colombo International Financial City’ which include the possibility of money laundering.

All those who voted for change for the promised ‘good governance’ are disgusted that let alone making those concerned in the previous regime accountable for alleged egregious corruption and abuse, the new regime has ventured on its own brand of alleged terrible corruption in which the Central Bank Treasury bond scams with its endless investigations figures prominently. This will haunt the Yahapalana leaders for years to come. Another huge disappointment is the failure to introduce in Parliament a credible National Audit Bill which was a major campaign promise. 

Harsha de Silva: Are you contributing to instability?

This writer is still awaiting Harsha de Silva’s response to his above titled article in the Colombo Telegraph. https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/harsha-de-silva-are-you-contributing-to-instability/

The questions/issues raised relate to Harsha de Silva’s assertion in his article also in the Colombo Telegraph, ‘Sri Lanka’s role in the Indian Ocean and the changing global dynamic’: https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sri-lankas-role-in-the-indian-ocean-the-changing-global-dynamic/

To the best of my knowledge this was not published in the mainstream English print media in this country. 

“The Government of Sri Lanka has a clear vision of what it

wants to be in the world today” 

In my article I was not for a moment referring to anything connected with the Indian Ocean. De Silva knows this. The readers of my article know this.

I asked him how he could refer to a “clear vision” when the Yahapalana Government in which he is a key Minister demonstrably does not have the will to address the scourge of corruption and impunity in the country.

 I inter alia also asked him: “By not meaningfully acting on your own evidence and promises, are you not letting down the many people who believed in your apparent championing of good governance?I request you in the public interest to provide credible answers to the questions and issues raised herein.”

Harsha’s deafening silence

Cannot Harsha de Silva’s damning allegations against the Rajapaksa administration in the context of his deafening silence after becoming a Minister under Yahapalana be considered even slanderous? They include:  

i) Money laundering

After raucously alleging with a slew of files in tow in the presence of Eran Wickramaratne, another Yahapalana Minister, that the Rajapaksa administration was responsible for casino, drug, ethanol mafias and money laundering in locations such as St. Nevis & Kitts, Seychelles and Dubai, he has now gone silent while in Government.

Here is the link to his 17 December 2014 press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FkVBvpBEMY  

ii) “Regulator has been captured by the mafia”

In relation to the then resignation of SEC Chairman Thilak Karunarathne, he alleged: “Regulator has been captured by the mafia.” http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/regulator-captured-by-the-mafia-harsha-21228.html

Will he reveal the names of the “mafia”? If not why?

iii) Greek bonds

After alleging: “Government invested about Rs.3.3 billion on Greek bonds even though it was aware that the Greek economy had broken down and this careless investment incurred a loss of about Rs.2.2 billion,” he further said: “the same people who manipulated the share market were behind this racket as well.” He has now gone silent. http://www.dailymirror.lk/22651/govt-violating-financial-norms-harsha 

iv) Hedging deal

After alleging: “The country funds were gambled in the derivatives market through the hedging deal resulting in a loss of 27 billion rupees, the EPF funds invested in the stock market have incurred a loss thus far of up to 12.2 billion rupees and the Greek Junk bond deal has resulted in a loss of close to eight million dollars,” he further said: “individuals responsible for these transactions have to be held accountable.” He has now gone silent. http://www.dailymirror.lk/20723/economic-hit-men-in-lanka-harsha 

Conclusion

Harsha de Silva cannot trot out the excuse that issues of corruption are now outside his scope in his current role – Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs. He must be reminded that his primary responsibility is as a Parliamentarian. Is not combating corruption the responsibility of all Parliamentarians?

What is at issue here are his own damning allegations on corruption. Does he not have the moral responsibility to stand by them or apologise to the people if he is wrong?

As Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs he considered it within his scope as recently as April 2017 to write the article: ‘Calculating GDP growth: A sorry attempt by some to mislead people with ‘alternate facts’’ http://www.ft.lk/article/609411/Calculating-GDP-growth:-A-sorry-attempt-by-some-to-mislead-people-with-%E2%80%98alternate-facts%E2%80%99

The question also arises what meaningful action he took on issues of corruption he himself raised so stridently while in opposition when he held the position of Deputy Minister, Policy Planning and Economic Affairs under Yahapalana? Did not the SEC fall under this ministry?

His response is awaited.

Can you beat that? Basil’s money laundering case postponed for 6 long months citing absence of AG’s advice ! Truly incredible or incredibly true ?

(Lanka-e-News - 29.May.2017, 6.45AM)   The case in Matara courts in which former economic development minister Basil Rajapakse is an accused in connection with a fraud involving the purchase of a land  one and half acres in extent at Browns Heel , Matara  for a sum of Rs. 60 million    was postponed for six long months,  that is until 30 th of November citing the excuse  the advice of the Attorney General (AG) had not been received. The chief magistrate who gave this long date  is Ms. Suresha De Silva.

The accused Basil Rajapakse and the architect Muditha Jayakody were present in court on the 27 th.

Tissa Galapathy ,  a veterinary doctor the brother in law of Basil Rajapakse who is the first accused in this case , and now residing in Canada was not present in court. The lawyer for him , informed court that he is sick, through a medical report.

Landage Ayomi Punya Kanthi Galapathy the sister in law of Basil Rajapakse the third accused , is now abroad , and she is to be arrested.

The FCID informed court that the necessary advice of the AG has still not been received . Consequently the case was postponed until 30 th November.

This fraud took place when Basil was the economic development minister. The  purchase was made out of monies withdrawn from the joint account of a private bank in Narahenpita of his sister in law and brother in law . This deal was transacted  out of funds received into this account from Eagle group Associated , Singapore and World diamond , Hong Kong .

The payment was made to a German national Herbert Keller the owner of the land. The case was filed against these culprits who are ‘in- laws’  for  breaking the laws of the country under the money laundering Act since  the mode of receipt  of monies was most suspicious and  questionable. 

Kumarasiri Hettige a former parliamentary affairs secretary to deposed ex president Mahinda Rajapakse , Aruna Gunaratne Southern Provincial council (PC) member and a group of PC politicos were present in court  to assist Basil. 

Jayantha Weerasinghe PC and lawyer Wijesiri Ambawatte appeared on behalf of Basil. 

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by     (2017-05-29 01:30:09)

Athaudahetti makes egg omelette out of ITN

May 29, 2017

In the late 1970s, at a time when the SLBC had a broadcasting monopoly, the weekend children’s radio drama ‘Landesi Doopatha’ was a very popular attraction. It was written by Karunatilake Handuwala and Saman Athaudahetti. Its main roles were Jiljona and Vendabona. Handuwala himself gave voice to Jiljona, while Parakrama Perera was Vendabona. Athudahetti was its detective, named Sirina Kelegoda.

One episode narrated how Jiljona and Vendabona overcooked and spoiled an egg omlette. Vendabona described it by giving new words to Prof. Sanath Nandasiri’s popular song ‘Lassana Nam Ney Penenne – Issara Suvandai Denenne’, which went as ‘Bittara Nam Ney Penenne – Pichchena Suvandai Denenne’.

 

This incident comes to the memory when considering the present plight of Sri Lanka’s first television channel – ITN. Its administration is one spoiled omlette. For that, Athaudahetti does not have a Jiljona or a Vendabona to help him now, but has the onetime SLBC-announcer Chandana Tilakaratne. From SLBC, Tilakaratne joined Lakhanda, from where he went to Hiru, and in the end, Athaudahetti got him to join ITN, by creating a new position as CEO. Previously, ITN had a general manager.

 

To make this omelette out of ITN, chairman Athaudahetti is assisted by six consultants – Piyadasa Ratnasinghe, Jatila Wellabada and Stanley Tillakaratne to name some of them. Each draws a monthly salary of around 150,000.

 

By now, ITN’s fixed assets worth has come down from Rs. 400 million to around Rs. 200 m. Being prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s media consultant, Athaudahetti spends most of his time overseas. From the day he became the chairman, he visited ITN less than 20 times. Therefore, CEO Tilakaratne has served as its acting chairman most of the time.

 

The financial collapse of the institution is such that only three employees are given the monthly distress loan. If new media minister Mangala Samaraweera did not take immediate remedial action, ITN will join SriLankan Airlines, SLTB, Lake House, SLRC and others who have become white elephants that swallow up public money.

 

Lanka News Web will bring you a detailed report after getting the statistics it has verified and speaking to the chairman and the CEO of ITN.

Surgeries cut by one-third in Gaza’s main hospital

Doctors perform surgery on a Palestinian woman at al-Shifa hospital, Gaza’s largest public medical facility, in Gaza City, in March. A third of surgeries are now being postponed due to the deepening electricity crisis in the territory.Mohammed SalemReuters/Newscom

Fayez Ahmed needs surgery for an abcess in his lung. But doctors at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital have repeatedly postponed the procedure because they can’t guarantee electricity will stay on long enough to keep vital equipment running during the six-hour operation.Mohammed Asad

Ahmad Kabariti-29 May 2017

Fayez Ahmed’s operation was supposed to last six hours.

With Gaza beset by power cuts, his medical team could not guarantee an uninterrupted electricity supply for that length of time. After weeks of delays, Ahmed decided to discharge himself from the hospital without having the surgery he needed to remove an abscess from his lung.

“That’s it,” he said. “I cannot wait any longer.”

Ahmed has been seeing doctors in al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Gaza’s largest hospital. Many others with lung and respiratory complaints have struggled to cope with regular power cuts.

Anwar Jundia, now aged 56, had one kidney fail in 2015. He was also diagnosed with asthma around that time.

Jundia is being treated at the chest department in al-Shifa. The equipment needed to help him breathe is often not functioning because of power cuts.

The equipment “switches on and off tens of times every day,” he said.

Walid Daoud, a doctor at al-Shifa, described the operations required by some patients with respiratory complaints as “sensitive and extremely dangerous.”

“We have to ensure that there is a continuous flow of oxygen into the patient’s lungs,” he said. “It’s not like a procedure for toothache or something else that can be done without electricity.”

“Tense atmosphere”

Fayez Ahmed is among the patients who have been treated by Daoud.

“If Fayez does not have this critical operation, he will need an oxygen concentrator at his home,” said Daoud. “That would cost $5,000 and I do not think Fayez can afford that.”

Daoud said that on one recent occasion procedures were abruptly halted because of a blackout. It took some time to reactivate the generator on which the hospital now relies.

“Doctors have been sweating a great deal,” he said. “There is a tense atmosphere in the operating theaters. Summer has also come early and it’s very hot.”

The people of Gaza are suffering both because of Israel’s decade-long blockade and disputes between the rival Palestinian parties of Fatah and Hamas.

Until recently, the Palestinian Authority, which is headquartered in the occupied West Bank, had been paying Israel to supply fuel for Gaza’s only power plant.

In April, the Fatah-dominated PA informed Israel that it was halting its payments for fuel. The notice was given as relations between Fatah and Hamas soured.

Since then, the power plant has been forced to close.

In May, following the PA maneuver, Israel’s cuts reduced electricity in Gaza even further.

Last week a top UN official told the UN Security Council that all the warnings of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the electricity shortage “are now a reality.”

Since April, according to Nickolay Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, the majority of Palestinians in Gaza are receiving about four hours of electricity per day.

Mladenov added that hospitals in Gaza “are now forced to postpone elective surgeries and have already reduced 80 percent of cleaning, catering and sterilization services.”

Had it not been for an emergency fuel delivery by the UN late in April, more than 50 operation theaters, five kidney dialysis centers and a number of emergency departments would have had to close, Mladenov said.

Lives at risk

The International Committee of the Red Cross had already warned that a “public health and environment crisis is looming.”

The World Health Organization has also stated that the power shortages threaten thousands of lives.

Even before the closure, Gaza’s electricity supply had been inadequate and blackouts were common.

The fuel sold by Israel has accounted for most of the electricity consumed in Gaza.

Naeem al-Banna, a spokesperson for al-Shifa, said that the hospital has reduced surgeries by around one-third because of power cuts.

Some cases have been referred to other hospitals. Referrals do not guarantee treatment, however.

Gaza’s own hospitals are overstretched and essential medicines are lacking.

Israel has blocked numerous patients from leaving Gaza for treatment. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is only opened intermittently.

Egypt kept the crossing closed for the entire month of April.

“It might get even worse,” al-Banna added. If current trends persist, the hospital may only have two or three hours of electricity per day.

Nuha al-Diri needs surgery for pulmonary edema, a fluid build-up in the lungs. The surgery would take six hours; it has been delayed because of power shortages.

The power shortages have meant that the oxygen concentrator she uses has stopped functioning properly. Her family has had to keep buying temporary oxygen tanks for her.

Her daughter Fatima said that the family cannot afford the extra costs.

Fatima and her brother are taking turns to look after their 53-year-old mother round-the-clock. Like many others, they are tired of being victims of a political situation beyond their control.

“Gaza should be protected by the official Palestinian government,” said Fatima. “The people of Gaza deserve to have their voices heard.”

Ahmad Kabariti is a freelance journalist based in Gaza.

'Where has grandad gone?': The crushing of Turkish journalists

Turkey's government has hit opposition media with mass arrests and shutdowns. For the family of one journalist, it has destroyed their lives

People standing next to copies of Cumhuriyet newspaper, whose editor-in-chief was arrested on 12 May (AFP)

Cumhuriyet journalist Oguz Guven and three-year-old grandson Aren in Istanbul (Demet Guven)

Monday 29 May 2017

A police raid at dawn. Then being bundled into a police van and treated like a criminal. Turkish journalists and their families have become all too familiar with this scenario.

On 12 May, Oguz Guven, the web manager at the secular Cumhuriyet newspaper, tweeted out "I am being detained" at 7.15am as policemen took him away from his Istanbul home.  

Guven was then formally arrested on 15 May, for a Twitter post and headline on the newspaper's website that was changed 55 seconds after publication.

The headline was about the death of a chief prosecutor in a road accident. Guven was charged with "conducting propaganda for a terrorist organisation".

Every time the doorbell rings he runs towards the door shouting 'my dede has come'

- Demet Guven, daughter of arrested journalist

To many, these events have become everyday occurances. But for Demet Guven Akyildiz, 35, who learned of her 59-year-old father's detention while browsing the news on the internet, it was a plunge into despair and the violent disruption of their family life.

Akyildiz was distraught when she spoke of the severed bond between her father and her almost three-year-old son Aren. Guven's life revolved around his grandson and he spent every moment he could spare with him.

In response to Aren's constant queries of "Where has my dede [grandad] gone?" the 35-year-old Akyildiz has to concoct a lie, saying he has gone on holiday and will return soon.

"Every time the doorbell rings he runs towards the door shouting 'my dede has come'. It breaks my heart every single time," Akyildiz told Middle East Eye, unable to hold back her tears.      

Just a headline

Cumhuriyet, a secular newspaper, has been accused of promoting the agenda of both the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Gulen movement led by US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, which Turkey blames for the failed 15 July coup attempt.

The headline over which Guven was arrested related to the 10 May death of chief prosecutor Mustafa Alper in a road accident. Alper was the first prosecutor to prepare an indictment against FETO, an acronym for the Fetullahist Terrorist Organisation, the name given by the Turkish state to Gulen and his movement.

My father hasn't done anything wrong. He was arrested for a headline that wasn't even written by him

- Demet Guven, daughter of arrested journalist

The English translation of the Turkish headline read: "Lorry mows down prosecutor who prepared first FETO indictment". This was then quickly changed to "Chief prosecutor Mustafa Alper who prepared first FETO indictment suffers terrible death in lorry accident".

"How can anyone prepare for such a thing and what is there to prepare for? My father hasn't done anything wrong. He was arrested for a headline that wasn't even written by him and was only online for less than a minute," said Akyildiz.

"Everyone knows the general situation in the country. You sometimes naturally ask yourself if it will someday be your family's turn but then brush it aside because you want to believe that you won't be targeted since you have done nothing wrong," she said.

Guven already has 12 colleagues from Cumhuriyet who have been languishing in jail for more than 200 days without having gone on trial yet.

And there are plenty of similar tales of family woes, with more than 150 journalists currently behind bars.

Having recently graduated from law school, the daughter of one detained journalist said she never imagined having to use her professional training to represent her incarcerated father.

Another imprisoned journalist's wife said that she had been forced to lie to her son about his father's whereabouts. Trying to convince the boy that his father is on a study abroad trip, she buys him toys and tells him that they were sent by his father.  

Intense crackdown

An intense crackdown has resulted in the closure of more than 160 media outlets since a state of emergency was declared on 21 July after the coup attempt, leaving just a handful of independent media players.

Most were closed down for being linked to Gulen or for having views that differed significantly from that of the government when it came to the PKK. Turkey, the US and the EU list the PKK as a terrorist organisation.

A handful of self-sustaining and critical print and television media have survived the onslaught so far. Among them are Cumhuriyet, which still functions despite the arrest of its editor-in-cheif and a score of its employees. Also still surviving is the ultranationalist Sozcu, and left-leaning newspapers Birgun and Evrensel. Similar broadcasters still on air include Fox TV and Halk TV.  

They too, however, are now being increasingly targeted despite their clear and long-held anti-Gulen positions.

Read more ►

Turkey arrests editor and senior writer at main opposition paper

On 19 May, the purge spread to Sozcu with detention warrants issued for the owner and three staff members. They were accused of attempting to inform the coup plotters of the president's location at a luxury seaside resort in Marmaris on 15 July, the night of the botched coup. The basis of the charge is a news article that was published on 15 July with the headline "Sozcu located Erdogan".  

The fiercely anti-Gulen and anti-government newspaper has dismissed these claims, saying it was merely trying to locate and report on the venue where the president was vacationing.

Media ownership

Private mainstream media outlets with mass reach and high visibility have become increasingly allegiant and toe the official line in their reporting and coverage. 

The major holding companies and conglomerates that own most of the Turkish mainstream media have other business interests in lucrative sectors such as construction, energy production and distribution.

These businesses often involve major state involvement in terms of regulations, the granting of operating licences and tender processes.

Turkey's mainstream media’s ownership structure and allegiant reporting predate the AKP. However, that trend has intensified during its time in power.

In the past too, mainstream Turkish media sought to protect their business interests by adapting their positions to whoever was in power - including the military.

Not giving up

Maintaining hope that justice will eventually prevail is the only solace for imprisoned journalists and their families who have paid a steep price for just doing their jobs.

Most remain in prison on vague and broad charges of aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation or conducting propaganda on its behalf.    

Guven's daughter Akyildiz has visited her father since his detention. She said his first, last and almost every other remark in between was about his grandson Aren.

"My father is not giving up hope. And despite how everything looks now we are not giving up hope that justice will prevail. I know my father has not done anything wrong. We will all hold our heads high," she said.