Peace Walk Paves the Way for Global Peace

Jun 9, 2017

( June 9, 2017, Seoul, Sri Lanka Guardian) During the days in May this year, global youth have walked together for the same purpose – the environment of peace and stability in the global community. With the theme of “Talk & Walk to Prevent Violent Extremism” co-hosted and endorsed by international NGOs and local organizations, citizens in 85 cities around the world have actively engaged in this peace campaign to advocate civic awareness and voluntary participation in sustainable efforts of peacebuilding.

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO under the United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI), organized this global peace campaign along with its peace initiative in empowerment of youth as peace advocates. Since 2013, this annual event has been underway on every May 25th as a celebration of the Declaration of World Peace, which addresses global cooperation for the establishment of international law for peace, youth engagement in communities for a peaceful environment, and increase in the role of media regarding peace-related issues. To enhance peacebuilding efforts designated in the Declaration, HWPL has co-hosted the peace walk events around the world with international youth and local communities.

On May 25th, 2,300 female students in Satri Wat Absorn Sawan School in Bangkok prepared for an event titled “Spreading a Culture of Peace”. From the support from local communities including Teachers of Country’s Council, Wat Thong Witthayaram, and World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood, the event showed unique features through the peace walk, student speeches on peace in 5 languages, and performance of card section. “The spirit of peace delivered by HWPL is truly motivating many hearts of those who desire peace. This type of event can be further developed and organized when we cooperate each other,” said Emeritus Yongyuth Vacharadul, Founder of World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood.

China – Peace education for students on harmonious world order

In Xi’an where the history of prosperity and peaceful coexistence enriched the Chinese civilization, on May 25th, 300 participants from the local community including students from Xi’an Middle School carried out the peace walk while holding posters with images of 10 articles of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The Declaration was drafted by HWPL to advocate global cooperation for peace through peaceful conflict resolution, ethnic/religious freedom, and establishment of a culture of peace. In his congratulatory speech, Liu Li, Vice President of Xi’an Middle School, emphasized, “Today, this event is globally hosted throughout the world with a common voice of peace. Peace, development, and education are the main subjects as project in today’s globe, and it is meaningful and honorable all of us can be part of the project.”

South Africa – Youth standing first to bring out change for peace

On May 27th, 800 youth were gathered at Civic Centre, Albert Luthuli Plaza in Cape Town to celebrate the 4th Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace and Africa Day. The role of youth in social campaigns to bring out positive changes was highlighted by Anthony Moses, Ward Councilor in City of Cape Town, saying, “I think for me today is one of the most momentous days in the history of the world that we basically have one common grip, coming together with one common understanding in order to promote peace. We see the diversity and how people can interact with a common goal in mind, which is peace. Someone needs to take the stand for world peace especially the youth. The youth are no longer the youth of tomorrow but are already in action.”

Students from South Sudan are holding a panel with pigeon-shaped Post-Its of peace messages

South Sudan – “Embracing peace is our duty.”
Having deep scars of national conflicts from the devastating civil wars for decades with 300,000 deaths and 2.7 million refugees, the new, young state of South Sudan was the very result of the hope of peace and stability with the majority support of 99% for independence in the region. With the help of the UN Refugee Camp and Community Aid for Relief and Development Organization (CARDO), 5,000 community members from government, school, business, and NGOs participated in the peace walk held in two different venues on May 25th and exchanged cards with messages of peace made by local students. As Peace Project Officer from National Development Initiative, Makoy Yuahnis Kuong said, “Embracing peace is our duty. We hope that leaders can listen to the voice of the people crying for peace. As long as we have the power to do so, we must continue to encourage and support peace activities like this peace walk.”

Germany – Joyful, passionate peace event attracting citizens
In Frankfurt on May 27th, the peace walk event held at Romer Plaza and Willy-Brandt Plaza displayed culturally colorful features included drum performance, photo session, face-painting, flash mob, which all attracted citizens to be better aware of the peace campaign offering easy access to civic participation in peacebuilding. Gernot Lennert, Research Director of German Peace Society (DFG-VK), enunciated the significance of this approach, saying, “It was fresh that HWPL does the peace movement very brightly and cheerfully. I will study and research about HWPL and (its peace initiative of) the international law much more. I want to make peace through co-working with HWPL.”

Two participants are taking photos with the facebook promotion image.

Republic of Korea – Center of Global Youth Peace Campaign by HWPL
Every year on the same date of May 25th, international youth and local citizens in major cities of South Korea gathered together to join in the peace walk since 2013 when the Declaration of World Peace for an initiative of global peacebuilding campaign was announced by Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL. 30,000 people’s march for peace, which many peace walk events in other countries model on, has become an example of advocacy of peace by citizens. In his congratulatory speech, Chairman Lee emphasized the importance of individual contribution to peace to “make an end to war and establish a world of peace as a legacy for future generations, which is the very task of every one of our global family.”

A citizen is holding a message in Korean language saying “The right to the enjoyment of peace is also in you.”

Being married 'protects your health'

7 June 2017

Marriage appears to be good for your health, boosting your survival chances if you have a major heart risk factor such as high cholesterol, say researchers.

A loving spouse might spur you on to look after yourself better, they told a heart conference, based on their study of nearly a million UK adults.

All of these people had high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes.

The married ones fared much better than those who were single.

Wedded bliss?

Dr Paul Carter and colleagues at Aston Medical School, who carried out the work, have already shown that marriage is linked to a better chance of surviving a heart attack.

Their latest research, presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference, hints at why this might be.

They suspect marriage helps buffer against big heart disease risk factors, including cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The study looked at deaths from all causes, including heart disease.

Men and women in their 50s, 60s and 70s with high cholesterol were 16% more likely to be alive at the end of the 14-year ACALM study if they were married rather than single.

The same was true for diabetes and high blood pressure, with married people having a survival advantage.

The picture was less clear for people cohabiting, separated, divorced or widowed.

Also, the researchers did not test if the wedded people were in happy marriages.

They suspect having someone special in your life is what's important, rather than simply getting hitched.

Dr Carter said: "We need to unpick the underlying reasons a bit more, but it appears there's something about being married that is protective, not only in patients with heart disease but also those with heart disease risk factors.

"We're not saying that everyone should get married though.

"We need to replicate the positive effects of marriage and use friends, family and social support networks in the same way."

Dr Mike Knapton, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "The take-home message is that our social interactions, as well as medical risk factors such as high blood pressure, are important determinants of both our health and wellbeing.

"Whether you are married or not, if you have any of the main risk factors for heart disease, then you can call upon loved ones to help you to manage them."

---

Heart risk factors:

• smoking
• high blood pressure
• high blood cholesterol
• diabetes
• being overweight/obese
• being physically inactive
• family history of heart disease
• age (risk goes up with age)

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission asks President to allow everyone right to mourn war-dead

Fri, Jun 9, 2017,

June 09, Colombo: The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has written to President Maithripala Sirisena asking him to ensure the right of families to engage in memorialization activities to mourn those who died in the three-decade long armed conflict regardless of their beliefs.

The HRCSL in a letter to the President said that the Commission is of the view that allowing families the space to do so would enable them to feel they too have, and are able to exercise their rights as citizens of Sri Lanka, and are part of a common journey towards reconciliation.

"Denial of such an opportunity will only serve to deepen ethnic divisions and hamper reconciliation efforts," the Commission points out.

The Commission has written to the President in response to a complaint received from Rev. Fr. Elil Rajendran of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) Mullaitivu.

Fr. Elil has been summoned numerous times by the police to be interrogated in relation to a memorialization activity he had organized to remember those who lost their lives during the latter stages of the armed conflict.

The memorialization was to be established by carving the names of those who had died on stones to be placed at a permanent memorial in Mullaivaikkal, Mullaitivu.

On several occasions the police had summoned Fr. Elil to appear at different police stations (Mullaitivu and Vavuniya) for questioning about the event. The police had also sought and obtained a judicial injunction to prevent the event from taking place.

Following the court order the police had summoned Fr. Elil and had requested him to submit all names that were to be carved on stones for memorialization to ensure there were no names of LTTE cadres.

Fr. Elil has complained to the Commission that repeated questioning by the police at police stations and at his residence on this ceremony constituted harassment and placed fetters on his freedom of movement, expression and association- rights which are enshrined in the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Further, the questioning of Fr. Rajendran's elderly parents caused them great distress and anxiety.

"After a thirty year armed conflict Sri Lanka is at present attempting to rebuild ethnic relations and work towards reconciliation. In this process it is important that all communities have the space and ability to mourn the loss of their loved ones and remember them. Hence, memorialization is an important and integral part of the reconciliation process," the HRCSL wrote to the President.

"In Sri Lanka we have built many memorials to commemorate the soldiers who have lost their lives during the armed conflict. Likewise, all communities should have the right to construct memorials to remember their family members and loved ones. The fact that the person who died was a LTTE cadre should not be used as the reason to deny the family to mourn and remember their loved one. Every family has the right to remember and memorialize their loved ones irrespective of their status or political beliefs," it said.

In this spirit, the Commission requests the President, particularly in his capacity as Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, to ensure the right of families to engage in memorialization activities, and also the security of persons who engage in such activities.

Letter-to-H.E.-President-Memorialization-and-Reconciliation-E.pdf by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Democracy Vs. Dictatorship : A lesson from Sri Lanka

Saturday, June 3, 2017

According to Sinhala Ravaya General Secretary Magalkande Sudaththa Thera, stern action should be taken to arrest Muslim Ministers who supported Muslim extremism, before Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Gnanasara Thera was arrested. Sudaththa Thera told a news conference that Muslim political factions were trying to label Gnanasara Thera as another Prabhakaran who was igniting racism and causing harm to the Muslim community.

“According to them Gnanasara Thera is the worst criminal in the country and the one who is destroying the archaeological sites in the country, the one who has destroyed forest reservations and the one who bring drugs into the country,” the Thera said. On the contrary, he said, Gnanasara Thera raised his voice against the destruction of the Sinhala Buddhist archaeological sites and the clearing of forest reserves in the country.

Speaking further Sudaththa Thera said several attempts had been made by several extremists groups to assassinate Gnanasara Thera and contracts had been offered to these groups. Obviously if the accusation of Thera is real, police should give serious attention provided of course BBS makes a complaint with relevant evidence. In this foremost Theravada Buddhist country, where president, prime minister and IGP are all Theravada Buddhists, there cannot be any chance for harassing and intimidating reverent Buddhist monk by Muslim political factions. Certainly it is a difficult thing to believe.

Attacks on Muslim religious centres

It is true that a warrant had been issued to arrest Gnanasara Thera. In this country warrants are issued and carried out by judiciary and police when necessity arises, hence it is faulty to say that there is no one in charge of issuing the warrant. Said warrant has been made after complaints not only by Muslims, but also from Sinhala and Tamils. Hence it is, totally unreasonable to believe that there is an attempt to abduct Gnanasara Thera and assassinate him.

It is good that Sudaththa Thera said the BBS was not responsible for the attacks on Muslim religious centres and that there should be credible inquiries regarding these attacks. “We also condemn these attacks. Investigations should be made to arrest Muslims who attacked their mosques,” he said.

Thera also wanted many leaders arrested; the list included Chief Minister Wigneswaran, NPC Sivajilingam, State Minister Vijaya Kala, Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and NUA leader Azath Salley. We can compare what is happening here with the democratic developments taking place in Myanmar. There is much to learn from what is happening there, while we could be an example for them to follow in the field of mass participation for democracy.

On May 23, 2017 Myanmar’s State Sanga Maha Nayaka (MHN) Committee - government appointed a group of monks responsible for regulating the country’s Buddhist clergy, inspired by the new government and announced a “four-point order” effectively banning the Organization for the Protection of Race and Religion, known as Ma Ba Tha.

The latter was established on June 27 2013 and has spent the past four years promoting its version of Buddhist nationalism. It successfully lobbied for “four race and religion restrictions” which became law in 2015, with that attacked Suu Kyi. The former President U Thein Sein supported the four proposals, so Ma Ba Tha threw its support behind him and condemned the NLD ahead of the 2015 general election. When the vote was drawing near, Ma Ba Tha stepped up its attacks on the NLD. But then the NLD won. Initial speculation suggested that Ma Ba Tha would disappear. Yangon Regional Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein said in July 2016 that the organisation was unnecessary. But it remained.

In Myanmar, before the democratic change, Right wing organisations attacked National League for Democracy party (NLD) and Aung San Suu Kyi, painting them as pro-Muslim and anti-Buddhist, while they conducted pro-Buddhist social campaigns.

Suu Kyi was condemned as a western stooge with alien habits and behaviour. Her defence of human rights was also considered to be due to cultural influence of the west. It is somewhat similar to the campaign of Mahinda who attacked Ranil as a product of western culture. They never expected Suu Kyi to win but their hopes were shattered. Inspite of a military controlled constitution a chance for democracy has emerged in Myanmar. People's organisations have started to function, while democratic Buddhist Sangha have come forward to counter sectarian racist organisations.

Buddhist organisations

Even before the order announced on May 23 the MHN has tried to make moves against Ma Ba Tha. On July 12, 2016 the MHN released a statement declaring that Ma Ba Tha was an organisation not in line with existing Sangha (Buddhist) organisation law and rules. But it failed to state whether MBT was legal and didn’t clearly condemn it. We can compare this with our Yahapalana measures taken against Lankan racist Buddhist organisations; both are considered Theravada Buddhist countries. No need to import liberalism from the west; Theravada thinking include liberalism in general practice.

In Myanmar, despite its weak legal implications, the move still garnered considerable praise from Myanmar democrats, although some were more reserved in their assessment. However it is generally accepted that Ma Ba Tha has largely stopped its anti-Muslim activities and anti-democracy sermons. At the same time the organisation’s central leadership based in Yangon has taken steps to distance itself from the hate-mongering of its more provocative, controversial campaigners like U Wirathu and likeminded groups such as the Patriotic Myanmar Monks Union and the Myanmar National Network.

The MHN has attempted to take action against these other Buddhist nationalist groups before the democratic take over. They banned U Wirathu from preaching for one year. In defiance, he continued to tour the country, asking his deputies to give speeches on his behalf and playing pre-recorded speeches while he would sit with his mouth covered with two pieces of red and black tape (red referring to the NLD flag and black to Muslims).

Monks from the Patriotic Myanmar Monks Union and civilian Buddhists from the Myanmar National Network and the Patriotic Association continued to stir trouble. But most of those monks and people are now in prison, facing trial, or in hiding. So the MHN order on May 23 could be the final blow to Myanmar’s Buddhist nationalist movement. But the anti-Muslim, anti-democracy, anti-human rights and anti-inclusion discourses that Ma Ba Tha preached and propagated in the past four years will linger among their staunch supporters.

According to the constitution military has control over two ministries. Hence, another potential hurdle is that the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs may not fully implement the MHN order. The state will have difficulty in countering Ma Ba Tha’s four years of spreading intolerant ideology across Myanmar. One cannot be sure of whether the state, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture will quickly and effectively respond to Ma Ba Tha if it comes back in another form. Similar to Lankans, the people of Myanmar should intervene to release the constitution from dictatorial bonds, in particular the ties to the military. Also the constitution should protect the rights of minority nationalities.

SRI LANKA SHOULD CRIMINALISE THE PRACTICE OF FEMALE GENITAL CUT , ACTIVIST TELLS CESCR 61

Image: CESCR 61 Sri Lanka civil society  briefing at Palais Wilson, Geneva. (c)s.dshapriya.

09/06/2017

Speaking at a briefing for the members of The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) activist Shreen Saroor  asked the CESCR  to recommend that “the State should criminalize and administratively respond to the practice of female genital cut and send a clear and strong message that the practice is illegal, harmful and is considered child abuse and a violation of bodily integrity of girl children and women.”

Saroor also made 3 more recommendations tot the CESCR  61sts session which is on going in Geneva:

1. The State must muster its political will to ensure that Muslim women are treated as equals under the law and immediately reform the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act that treats Muslim women and girls discriminatorily.
2. State must allow the option of Muslims marrying under the General Marriage Ordinance and raise the age of marriage of all citizens to 18.
3. Repeal article 16 of the constitution and allow judicial review of all personal and discriminatory laws and practices in the country.

Text of the speech follows:

Discriminatory Laws and Practices.

Saroor making her statement at CESCR 61

I am representing Muslim women in Sri Lanka and Muslim of SL is 8.5% of the population.  
Madam Chair, the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act continues to render Muslim women and girls as second-class citizens. It requires adult women to obtain guardian’s consent, prohibits women from being Quazi’s or registrars, which are state-salaried positions, allows polygamy without conditions or consent of wives. There are also procedural and practical issues faced by women in the Quazi courts, which constrain their equal access to justice and due process.

The Act also permits child marriage by not stipulating the minimum age of marriage (a Quazi can permit even the marriage of a child under the age of 12) and it actually decriminalizes statutory rape stipulated in our penal code. Due to unconditional polygamy and multiple marriages being not registered, the underage child bride and her baby have immense social issues and most often these children would not have proper birth certificate thus enrolling them into a govt. schools is a huge challenge. In addition early marriage and early pregnancy within the Muslim community has direct consequences on the health and well-being of the girl children and it contributes to hindering their access to education and decent job.

The State has renounced its responsibility to reform MMDA on the ground that it is a matter for the Muslim community. Despite multiple committees, with predominantly Muslim men, appointed to review the MMDA since 1990, none of these efforts have been yet fruitful. The present-day MMDA was enacted in 1951 and stands as it is.

In 2017, recommendations by the CEDAW Committee to Sri Lankan state called for a unified family code in conformity with the convention.

We kindly request the committee to include in it’s concluding observation as recommendations:

1. The State must muster its political will to ensure that Muslim women are treated as equals under the law and immediately reform the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act that treats Muslim women and girls discriminatorily.
2. State must allow the option of Muslims marrying under the General Marriage Ordinance and raise the age of marriage of all citizens to 18.
3. Repeal article 16 of the constitution and allow judicial review of all personal and discriminatory laws and practices in the country.

We request the committee to ask the SL govt. the following question: What has the SL govt. done to address the above discrimination and violence faced by Muslim girls and women particularly in the light of the last MMDA reform committee appointed in 2009 has failed to submit a report in 8-years.

Female Genital Cut

Female genital cut (called Khatna or Kahfz) is practiced among sections within the Muslim community affecting girl children within a few months after birth and within the Dawoodi Bohra community at the age of 7. The effects and extent of the prevalence of the practice of FGC have not been subject to study in Sri Lanka because of the highly secretive nature of the practice. In 2016 a group affected women made submissions to UNICEF Sri Lanka, the National Human Rights Commission and Child Protection Authority. However these agencies have not yet taken any steps to address this issue.

We kindly request the committee to include in its concluding observation as recommendations.
The State should criminalize and administratively respond to the practice of female genital cut and send a clear and strong message that the practice is illegal, harmful and is considered child abuse and a violation of bodily integrity of girl children and women.

We request the committee to ask the SL govt. the following question: What is the State doing to address this harmful practice of FGC considering affected Muslim women have brought it to the notice of the State institutions?
Thank you.

‘Dealgala’ outstrips ‘Dealdasa’ in betrayal ! Sagala the spineless stooping invertebrate in secret deal with criminal Gota !

(Lanka-e-News - 09.June.2017, 2.45PM) Most shockingly after   murderous Gotabaya Rajapakse of the deposed  corrupt criminal  Rajapakse regime presently discarded and disdained by the people , was summoned to the CID and grilled for the first time , it has now leaked out it is none other than the minister of law and order Sagala Ratnayake who has held prior secret  discussions with Gota’s lawyers and his close friends  in this connection . All details of this unimaginable  betrayal  are now with Lanka e  news inside information division. 

It is with deep regret we have to reveal to the public ,  after the most infamous crook  ‘Dealdasa’  of the good governance government , it is stooping ‘s-pook’  Dealgala the latest among the betrayers who is indulging in vicious  villainy and treachery to the detriment of the country . This shameless ever stooping invertebrate Sagala now dubbed  Dealgala,  fully abusing his official posts as the chief of staff of Prime minister’ s office and as minister of law and order has been  cruelly   and most shamelessly betraying the  trust and confidence the pro government masses reposed in him.

This is the first cogent evidence ( though there are very many) that brought to light  to the public that Sagala whose favorite occupation is stooping is also  the Dealgala of ‘Okay Sir’ on the phone IGP Poojitha  the notorious eccentric. 

It was shameless unscrupulous Sagala who revealed to Gota well ahead that preparations are being made to question him –the  murderous notorious criminal . It is Sagala again who has one night some weeks ago met with Gota , his lawyers and close friends secretly  prior to Gota’s interrogation.

This discussion was held at the house of an ‘Elephant’  stature  lawyer, with Gota and 8 others. This lawyer appears for and on behalf of Gota on his legal issues , and he holds a second prominent position in the Bar Association (BASL) .   The facilities for the discussion  and  ensuring secrecy were  looked after by Lieutenant Colonel Mahathanthila of the  army intelligence division who is still in service . Though he  did not participate in the discussion , he  did all what he had to from outside. 

About this Mahathantila of the army intelligence division , who is a clandestine agent   of criminal Gota carrying  out all his  illicit and shady activities , Lanka e news as far back as 2015-10-10 revealed that  in a report under the caption ‘ Gotabaya’s ‘broker ‘ Lieutenant Colonel Mahathanthila’. Sadly those who are responsible did not care two hoots about the warning, and shockingly.Now Sagala Ratnayake has stooped even lower than the level required  to serve his own purposes- this time to serve Gotabaya , having walked into  the snare  of criminal murderous Gota.

Sagala like how he held secret discussions with Gota , has had discussions with Gamini Senarath who was the chief of staff of ex president Mahinda Rajapakse . Intriguingly , Senarath the culprit is still free without  any investigation being conducted against him. Lanka e news inside information division is in possession of all these reports. The secret discussion to extricate  this culprit was held at a leading  hotel in Colombo , with the participation of ‘Taxi Abey’ a most corrupt scoundrel and stooge of the Rajapakses.

Needless to mention , Rajapakses got thrown out lock , stock and barrel because of their egregious wrongs , corruption and crimes.

Sagala who lost elections in 2010 , just managed to get elected polling 85772 votes at the last elections.  It is best if Sagala bears in mind lest he has forgotten , those  85 772 votes were cast to him not to put through deals with the Rajapakses or because of his innate incurable stooping habits  , rather to ensure punishment is duly meted out to the crooks and corrupt criminals of the Rajapakse era acting like an honorable man ( Hon. Minister aren’t you?) casting aside his betraying ,   effeminate and stooping inborn traits   at least temporarily for country’s sake .
 
It is high time the voters of   Matara took measures to teach  this spineless stooping political invertebrate that aiding and abetting a criminal is a much worse crime before teaching him a lesson of his lifetime which is sure in the pipeline. 

---------------------------
by     (2017-06-09 09:43:37)

SRI LANKA PROVIDE EXCUSES FOR NOT IMPLEMENTING OF THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE POLICY AT UN CESCR 61

Image: Members of the CESCR at the briefing by Sri Lankan civil society activists. (c) s.deshapriya

09/06/2017

Sri Lanka government has come up with plethora of excuses for no implementations of the  Official Language Policy in its reply to list of issues raised by the members of the Committee of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The major obstacle according the Govt replies is lack of resources  and inefficiency in the government departments.

it is strange  that a government which spend  hundreds of millions of rupees for luxury vehicles and unused rented building says that there is not enough money to implement to  Official Language Policy which is so crucial to much needed reconciliation.

The 61st session of the CESCR is ongoing in Palais Wilson in Geneva.
The ext of the government reply  follows:

Implementation of the Official Language Policy and obstacles to implement the Official Language Policy:

123. Dearth of translators in the country, specially for Sinhala/Tamil and vice versa.
• This is the key problem for the non-implementation of the recommendations issued by the Official Languages Commission to Government institutions to make available their details, public forms etc. in all three languages. This has given rise to communication problems in the respective medium with the institutions concerned in relation to written correspondence and direct interactions.
124. Scarcity of bilingual and trilingual officers in Government institutions

• Due to this reason most Government institutions are not in a position to provide services commensurate to the demand. The Government provides facilities for public officers to acquire proficiency in the second language and has made it a mandatory requirement for career progression. However, they fail to deliver services in the said language practically.

125. Another key problem is the inadequate physical resource in certain Government institutions. Eg: Computers, software, glossaries etc.

126. Unavailability and inadequacy of teachers who can teach Sinhala and Tamil languages for school students and public officers as their second language.

127. Problems associated with poor attitudes in some officers towards learning and practicing the second language. The social background, educational background etc. affects the learning of second language and the provisions of financial allowances, rule and regulations have not been sufficient to encourage public servants to render language services effectively.

128. Lack of financial provision to certain entities to fulfill the requirements related to the official languages policy such as the preparation of trilingual name boards, obtaining translation services etc.
129. Inadequacy of institutions at the provincial level for the implementation of the Official Languages Policy. This is a key obstacle for disseminating the Official Languages Policy to the public.

Read the Replies of Sri Lanka to the list of issues in full: E_C-12_LKA_Q_5_Add-1_27543_E (1)

Illegal garbage dumping - Petition filed with the HRC against the Colombo Municipal Commissioner

Jun 09, 2017

A petition has been filed against the Colombo Municipal Commissioner and officials belonging to 11 state institutes for alleged illegal disposal of garbage in Muthurajawela. The petition has been filed by a civil society organization , the Sadaharitha Environment and Welfare Society.

On the approval of the Colombo Municipal Commissioner, the daily collection of Colombo garbage, which is nearly 800 tons, is being dumped in Muthurajawela affecting the ecosystem, the Sadaharitha Environment and Welfare Society complaints.

The garbage is currently being dumped over a land stretch of one kilometer having adverse effects on the environment and human habitation along the Negambo road, in Mahabage, Wattala, Nagoda, Kandana areas. The Society complaints that there is an unbearable stench spreading all over the area due to the garbage dump. These are now becoming infested with flies and mosquitos.

There is an increase in the number of patients diagnosed with dengue in these areas, the petitioners also state.

The darbage dump has worsened the destruction the Muthurajawela eco system is already facing. The society issuing a press release states that they have complained to the authorities on several occasions but received no response. They allege that this garbage disposal has not sought approval from Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, Central Environment Authority or any other relevant authority.

- Ashika Brahmana

The proof of the pudding

2017-06-09

File photo

The 2015 presidential election had a great deal to do with ethnicity. It had a great deal to do with strategies and how the racial dimensions thereof could turn them into envisioned outcomes. That the movement which would later congeal into the Joint Opposition played the race card owing to stark disparities in voting patterns between the North and the rest of the island was only to be expected: they (the leaders of the movement) did it so well that even today, those who vouch for their cabal consider the election as one which conceded ground to separatists and devolutionists.

The proof of the pudding.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

CB to introduce flexible inflation targeting

By Charumini de Silva-Saturday, 10 June 2017

The Central Bank is in the process of introducing a flexible inflation targeting framework with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support Sri Lanka’s economic growth objectives and flexibility in exchange rate management.

Delivering the keynote address at Fitch Sovereign and Banking Forum 2017, Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said the successful transition to a flexible inflation targeting regime will enable them to set the monetary policy more proactively.

“We are moving from targeting monetary aggregates to targeting inflation. This requires a lot of technical work. The thing about inflation targeting is that you have got to learn the technical skills how to forecast inflation accurately. We are getting assistance from the IMF to do that. We have set up a macro modelling unit and are increasing our forecasting capacity,” he added.

Highlighting the benefit of this initiative, Dr. Coomaraswamy asserted that from a business point of view it will have less volatility in interest rates, which will enable the economy to be ahead of the game from what it has been in the past.

“The peaks will be low and the troughs will be higher, where you will have a smoother trajectory of interest rates once we introduce this flexible inflation targeting framework,” he noted.

Commenting on the exchange rate policy, he said Sri Lanka has historically tried to defend the rate often using borrowed reserves, which he termed double whamming.

“In 2011 and 2012 we spent about $ 4 billion in borrowed reserves to defend the rate and at the end depreciating about 14.5%. In 2015, we spent $ 2 billion to defend the rupee and at the end depreciate 9.5%. It just does not make sense.”

He said the Central Bank will have a more flexible exchange rate policy where it will only intervene if it notices serious market volatility that is not justified by the fundamentals.

He also said that they will be very firm on speculations and if they see it the parties involved will be scrutinised through open market instruments.

On the debt dynamics, he said this year and next year there is a peak in terms of domestic repayment, while there is a bunching of external debt repayments from 2018 onwards.

“We have got over the worst of this year. We have seen that the Central Bank holding treasury bills have come down from $ 300 billion to about $ 188 billion and we want to get it down a little bit more by the end of the year. You will also see the interest rates coming down,” he stressed.

Noting that from August onwards there are no bond issuances, Dr. Coomaraswamy said the Central Bank intended to take advantage of those five months to raise money to build a buffer to meet the debt repayments next year.

In addition, he said the Central Bank will introduce a new auction system at the beginning of August which is yet to be approved by the Monetary Board.

“Once the Monetary Board approves it, we will be consulting the stakeholders. This will help us to facilitate the debt servicing challenge next year. Next year’s challenge is bigger than this year and it is important that we build these buffers in the last five months of this year to manage it without too many spikes in interest rates.”

He said if the Government was able to maintain fiscal discipline beyond 2018, this would become more manageable.

On the external debt side he said from 2018 onwards up to 2022 there is a sovereign bond maturity every year and there is a serious commitment towards it. In relation to that, he said the Government is going to set up a separate account at the Central Bank and proceeds of the divestment of public assets will be placed in this account and earmarked specifically for liability management on external debt.

In terms of reserves, the Governor asserted that it is at $ 6.8 billion after the sovereign bond issue and syndicated loan and the target they have for this year is $ 7.2 billion.

While stating that the level of reserves is important, he also stressed that the composition was something they are working on at present with more non-borrowed inflow.

“Between 1 March 2017 and 6 June the Central Bank has purchased over $ 700 million without undue pressure on the interest rate. The Central Bank is purchasing $ 1.2 billion directly from the market. We are switching away from short-term swaps. We have to purchase $ 500 million more in the last seven months of the year. We are paying off short-term swaps and purchasing directing from the market, which will improve the quality of our foreign reserves. If the asset sales of the Government also come it will help generate a non-borrowed foreign reserves composition,” he added.

US firm in 1968 recommended construction of 6 dams to prevent floods and landslides here

by Ajith Alahakoon and Kushan Subasinghe-June 9, 2017, 10:44 pm 

A US engineering company had warned 49 years ago that Sri Lanka would continue to suffer from floods and landslides till it constructed six dams across three main rivers, Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena said yesterday.

He told The Island that he had requested the government to implement the proposal by the US company to erect six dams at several places of the rivers Kalu, Gin and Nilvala, so that the country would be free from floods threat.

The Colorado based ECI Engineering Consultants Company in a feasibility study done for the Agriculture, Irrigation, Lands and Power Ministry warned that there could be landslides and floods. The report had called for timely action to control the three rivers and otherwise predicted floods and landslides, the minister said.

Sri Lanka defends China’sBelt and Road project

Cementing ties: Sushma Swaraj with her Sri Lankan counterpart, Ravi Karunanayake, in New Delhi.  

‘If one country is doing a project, it is not against the other’

Suhasini Haidar
- JUNE 07, 2017

Chinese investment in Sri Lanka is reviving a “3,000-5,000-year-old shipping route”, said visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake, defending his government’s decision to join the Belt and Road Initiative.

“The fact is that regional trade needs to move forward. If one country is doing a project, that is not against another country,” Mr. Karunanayake told journalists at the end of his two-day visit to New Delhi. “Like Hong Kong was a launching pad for China, Sri Lanka would like to be a hub of economic activity for India,” he added.

Hopeful of investments

Mr. Karunanayake said Colombo hoped for similar investments from India and Japan, and would welcome Indian investment in the “East Terminal” of the Colombo Port, one of two new container terminals to be built in the next phase of the Chinese-built harbour project. Five consortiums including two with Indian companies, Container Corporation of India and Shapoorji Pallonji Limited, are reported to have filed bids for the project in 2016.

He said that in his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, he had expressed the desire for an early resolution to the fishermen issue and “bottom-trawling” by Indian fishermen in the Sri Lankan waters. He also thanked Mr. Modi for India’s assistance during the recent floods in the island.

Mr. Karunanayake denied that the Indian government had raised its concerns over Sri Lanka’s involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative during this visit.

“Yes, concerns have been expressed [earlier by India], they have been considered by our leadership and the decision [to join the Belt and Road Initiative] was taken by President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. But nowhere has India told me to reconsider the decision,” Mr. Karunanayake said in reply to a question from The Hindu.

A Plea regarding Violence against the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka

Jun 09, 2017

Seven overseas Sri Lankan organisations based in Australia have sent a statement to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on"A Plea for Our Multi-Faith Community: End the Violence against the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka"   Similar statements have also been sent to the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, the Inspector General of Police, and each of the four Most Venerable Mahanayaka Theros of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters of the Syamopali M"A Plea for Our Multi-Faith Community: End the Violence against the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka"aha Nikaya, the Amarapura Nikaya and the Rāmañña Nikaya.

The statement as follows

Sri Lanka Invites (SLI)
United Sri Lankan Muslim Association of Australia (USMAA)
Members of the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania (UCA Synod -VICTAS)
Australian Advocacy for Good Governance in Sri Lanka (AAGGSL)
Australian Tamil Congress (ATC)
Bridging Lanka Ltd (BLL)
People for Human Rights and Equality (PHRE)

June 8, 2017

To: 
Dr Deepika Udagama
Chair
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka

A Plea for Our Multi-Faith Community :End the Violence against the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka

Dear Dr Udagama,

Ayubowan! Vanakkam! Assalamualaikum! Greetings!

We of the diaspora community are deeply concerned and troubled at the continuing agitation and violence perpetrated against our brothers and sisters in the Muslim community in our island home. We can imagine the fear and hurt generated in the Muslim community in particular by these callous attacks. The entire population of Sri Lanka would also be agitated and acutely aware of how easily these matters can explode out of control after the history we have all experienced.

Following hate speeches by fringe groups and a few religious leaders, a new wave of violence against Muslims in Sri Lanka has been unleashed. A number of mosques, homes and business enterprises owned by Muslims have been attacked. These events during April and May are extremely distressing and detrimental to national unity and harmony.

The tragic memory of being torn apart by ethnic conflict for over three decades in Sri Lanka is just beginning to fade. We cannot afford to allow a small minority to try to take us back to civil strife and even war.

Historically Sri Lanka is a multi-faith, multi-cultural and multi-lingual nation, and to use religion to propagate hatred and violence in any society is totally abhorrent.

Australia is a clear example of where Sri Lankans of all faiths live in harmony.  Over 100,000 expatriate Sri Lankans live and work in Australia. There is tremendous potential for us to invest and encourage other Australian business people to invest in a peaceful Sri Lanka. Returning Sri Lankans have brought back wealth and ideas along with increased tourism from our new communities. All this is in grave danger if violence and religious hatred are allowed to smear the image of Sri Lanka as a place of culture and compassion which is hungry for new industries and sustainable development.

Hence, we urge the Human Rights Commission to influence the Government of Sri Lanka to protect the rights of all citizens of Sri Lanka, including those of Muslims and to bring an end to the racially motivated violence and atrocities committed against them. It is also essential that the Government ensures that those responsible for the violence are brought to justice. We have a high regard for the rule of law and therefore we expect nothing less. It is hoped that the mandate of the United Nations in working towards dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes will be honoured, thus enabling a renewed sense of community in Sri Lanka.

We wish to support government endeavours to stop this senseless violence against a minority community and return to the peace that we all hunger for.

It is our hope that the Human Rights Commission will be able to influence the Government to take firm and swift action in the interest of peace and harmony for all.

We Remain Yours in Peace,

Signatories:
Overseas Sri Lankans in Melbourne
President, USMAA                    Riyaz Yoosuf
Convenor, SLI                            Larry Marshall
Program Manager, UCA Synod -VICTAS        Rev Dev Anandarajan
President, AAGGSL                   Lionel Bopage
Chairperson, ATC                       Reginald Jeganathan
Executive Director, BLL               Jeremy Liyanage
President, PHRE                        Ms Renuka Senanayake