Foreign doctors say sick Chinese dissident Liu can be taken overseas

FILE PHOTO: A protester holds a candle next to a portrait of Chinese Nobel rights activist Liu Xiaobo demanding his release, during Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting, ahead of 20th anniversary of the city's handover from British to Chinese rule, in Hong Kong, China June...REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

By Christian Shepherd | SHENYANG, CHINA- Sun Jul 9, 2017

Ailing Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo can be moved abroad safely for treatment and he wants to go to either Germany or the United States, but it needs to happen soon, two foreign doctors who visited him said on Sunday.

Liu, 61, was jailed for 11 years in 2009 for "inciting subversion of state power" after he helped write a petition known as "Charter 08" calling for sweeping political reforms.

He was recently moved from jail to a hospital in the city of Shenyang to be treated for late-stage liver cancer.

On Saturday, two doctors from the United States and Germany visited him to assess his condition and consult on his treatment, after being invited by the hospital.

"Liu Xiaobo and his family have requested that the remainder of his care be provided in Germany or the United States," Joseph M. Herman of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Markus Buechler of the University of Heidelberg said in a joint statement.

"While a degree of risk always exists in the movement of any patient, both physicians believe Mr Liu can be safely transported with appropriate medical evacuation care and support. However, the medical evacuation would have to take place as quickly as possible."

The doctors acknowledged the quality of care he has received and said they agreed with the diagnosis of primary liver cancer."The physicians have recommended Mr Liu receive palliative supportive care.

Additional options may exist, including interventional procedures and radiotherapy," they said.

The University of Heidelberg and MD Anderson have both agreed to accept Liu for treatment and both are prepared to offer him the best care possible, they said.

China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Liu would be allowed to leave.

The hospital said on Saturday moving him would not be safe. A woman who answered the phone at the hospital on Sunday said she did not know about Liu's case.

There are police cars parked outside all entrances to the hospital, which is located in the middle of downtown Shenyang.

A man, not in uniform, on Sunday blocked a Reuters reporter from entering the building where friends say Liu is being treated, saying access was only for patients or upon invitation.
'PRESSURE'

Calls have grown from rights groups and Western governments for China to allow Liu to travel with his wife, Liu Xia, to be treated overseas.

Hu Jia, another well known dissident, welcomed the doctors' statement as very positive, saying it essentially refuted suggestions Liu was too sick to be moved and it paved the way for him to be treated abroad.

"Firstly, this gives foreign diplomats Liu Xiaobo's authorization. Secondly, it gives them the professional assessment that Liu Xiaobo can travel," he said.

Ye Du, an activist and friend of Liu and Liu Xia, said the statement proved that information released by the hospital was inaccurate and politically motivated.

"I call on the governments of Germany, the United States, France and the United Kingdom as well as rights groups to pressure (China) together," he said.

It is not clear if the foreign doctors are still in Shenyang.

A source with knowledge of the consultation and friend of the family told Reuters late on Saturday that Liu had told the foreign doctors he hoped to go abroad for treatment, but the government had been very clear they would not allow this.

In a brief statement earlier on Sunday, the hospital said Liu was finding it difficult to eat and he was being given nutritional support and pain medication.


(Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel and John Stonestreet)

How High-Cholesterol Foods Can Ruin Your Sex Life

Maybe hold off on that bacon cheeseburger deluxe.

By Robin Scher / AlterNet-July 8, 2017

Two of possibly the greatest joys in life are food and sex. You can enjoy both separately or together, by yourself or with a partner (or group) and in general, each tends to complement the other rather well. That is, until one day they don’t. The reason? Put simply, it comes down to that dreaded C-word.

Cholesterol: adversary to your arteries, the harbinger of heart-attacks, and you may be surprised to learn, an eradicator of erections. Before we get to that, though, let’s start with what this accursed stuff actually is.

Cholesterol, explains Boston Medical Group, is “a waxy, fat-like substance” that travels around the body in blood particles called lipoproteins. There are two versions of cholesterol, the ‘good’ kind and the ‘bad’. The first one, known as HDL, travels in the blood directly to the liver where it is broken down and used by the body. The bad one, LDL, travels through our arteries leaving a trail of plaque that damages, and ultimately blocks blood flow. This condition is called atherosclerosis, and is a precursor to heart attacks, strokes and, yep, you guessed it, erectile dysfunction.

An excess of cholesterol can lead to a complete blockage of the coronary artery, which will trigger a heart attack. Too much bad cholesterol (also known as LDL) in the bloodstream creates arterial plaque that damages and blocks blood flow. These blockages will result in inadequate circulation of blood throughout the body, which includes your ‘nether regions.’

So, what exactly does that imply for your sex life? Time for a little human biology lesson.

During the act of “sexual stimulation,” Boston Medical Group explains, “the body releases chemicals that cause the penile arteries (corpora cavernosa) to relax.” Basically, in the heat of the moment, your arteries relax allowing for better blood flow and, of course, the more visible physical attributes associated with having an erection.

By now you should be starting to connect the dots. The long and the, er, short of it is that reduced blood flow caused by the high presence of LDL cholesterol is directly linked to sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction.

Dr. Michael Krychman, the executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship, told Fox News that "as soon as a man presents with erectile dysfunction, we begin measuring cholesterol and blood pressure." Krychman added that furthermore, the same mechanisms through which men may suffer from sexual disorders caused by high cholesterol, hold similar effects for women.

"In the past we used to think if a woman is having sexual problems, she’s frigid, and she needs to go home and have a glass of wine and relax," Krychman said. "However, there is emerging data associating underlying medical causes with female sexual dysfunction." In the case of women, Krychman explained, the fatty deposits caused by high cholesterol affects lubrication and libido.

Beyond blockages, LDL cholesterol also inhibits the production of nitric oxide, the artery-relaxing hormone required to produce an erection. LDL does this by reducing the artery’s response to the hormone, which in turn decreases blood flow. And that’s not the only hormone affected by high cholesterol. Production of testosterone—which helps stimulate sexual drive in men—is also limited by high cholesterol-caused lowered blood flow to the testicles, where the hormone is produced.

Now that we’ve covered the problem, let’s look at ways to go about finding the solution. For starters, Krychman said, if you believe your high cholesterol is affecting your sex life you should consult a physician. In an article on Healthcentral, the author reiterates Krychman’s point noting that “men who develop erectile dysfunction without an obvious cause, such as from medication or physical injury, may have a 25% increased risk of cardiovascular disease over the next 5 years.”

There are generally three basic ways to go about combating high cholesterol: diet, exercise, and medication.

In terms of diet, most physicians will generally suggest cutting out saturated fats. This Alternet article, for instance, suggests nine ways you can increase the presence of “good cholesterol” (HDL) in your diet. By enjoying a low carb diet, avoiding trans fats, and doing regular exercise, explains the author, a person can greatly reduce their risk of heart disease, and in turn, reduce the effects that cause erectile dysfunction. For more diet tips, here’s a list of 14 other foods that help with circulation.

This 2013 study, published in the journal Medline, looked at erectile function in relation to men’s weight loss. Drawing on data from “145 sexually active overweight/obese men,” the study found that “dysfunction level improved with a small weight loss - even for men who did not have clinical dysfunction,” co-author Clare Collins, a professor of nutrition and dietetics at the University of Newcastle, told Alternet via email. The study further found that overweight men were more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.

“The main message is that improving your eating habits so that you drop a small amount of weight can improve your sex life,” said Collins, adding the important reminder: “talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction.”

The main reason for this last bit of advice comes down to medication. Suzy Cohen, a pharmacist writing for Lifescript, points out that high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction—which are often experienced together—remain two separate conditions requiring different treatment. “If you have ED,” Cohen notes, “assume (until proven otherwise) that you have mild heart disease or pre-diabetes.” As such, she continues, simply taking lipid lowering medications that bring down your cholesterol levels may still hold negative effects for erectile function, due to a lack of hormones.

Enter statins.

Statins are a type of medication known for lowering cholesterol, and through that process helping to reduce heart disease. According to the findings of a 2014 study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine, statins might also help benefit men with erectile dysfunction.

In the past, research had shown that statins had a negative effect on testosterone levels. This meant that many physicians questioned the efficacy of cholesterol-lowering medication when it came to improving sexual health. But a 2014 study by researchers from the cardiovascular research department at Rutgers University’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School proved differently.

For the study, researchers conducted a “meta-analysis” of previous studies on erectile dysfunction and statins. 11 trials that measured “erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function” (IIEF) were identified for analysis following a “systematic search” of MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, the Cochrane Database, and ClinicalTrials.gov.

What’s the IIEF? The IIEF, taken from self-administered survey results, are a set of five questions, scored on a five-point scale that when totalled either indicates a low number, indicating poor sexual function, or the opposite.

Overall, the analysis revealed that their was statistically significant proof that statins caused a “clinically relevant improvement of  erectile function as measured by the five-item version of the IIEF” in men who had both high cholesterol and ED. Specifically, the study found that, overall, IIEF scores rose by 3.4 points in men who took statins compared to the control, which represents a 24.3 per cent improvement.

“The increase in erectile function scores with statins was approximately one-third to one-half of what has been reported with drugs like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra,” Dr John Kostis, the director of Rutger University’s Cardiovascular Institute who lead the study, said in an article in the Daily Mail. “It was larger than the reported effect of lifestyle modification. For men with erectile dysfunction who need statins to control cholesterol, this may be an extra benefit.”

Kostis went on to explain the team’s understanding of their findings to the Daily Mail. They believe that the statins help to improve erectile function by assisting with blood vessel dilation, which in turn improves vascular blood flow to the penis.

“Ultimately, a healthy lifestyle is the best method to prevent disease, including erectile dysfunction," said Kostis, adding that although statin therapy may only help some people suffering from ED, in the long-run it has been proven to reduce your chances of experiencing cardiovascular disease.

“Rather than preventing the possibility of a heart attack in the future,” he said, “the more immediate benefit of improving erectile function might improve adherence to statin therapy.”

So, at it’s worst statin therapy will only help high cholesterol sufferers with their hearts and at its best, it could also improve their situation in the bedroom. Kostis was sure to add that statins should not be recommended as a primary form of treatment for ED, if patients have healthy cholesterol levels. He added that in order to more fully investigate the link between statin therapy and ED would require a larger trial.

In the end, like most issues pertaining to your health, the best solution requires a holistic approach. If you find yourself with high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction, it’s time to change your ways. 

Remember, step one: consult your physician. From there, with the right combination of diet, exercise and medication you could keep enjoying those great fruits of life, long into your years.

13 Possible Causes Of Dry Mouth

Causes Of Dry Mouth

• Dehydration
• Diabetes
• Salivary gland infection
• Sjögren's syndrome
• Radiotherapy
• Nerve damage
• Lifestyle factors like drinking alcohol and smoking 

by CureJoy Editorial-Jul 7, 2017 

People with dry mouth have insufficient saliva in their mouths. Dehydration, mouth breathing, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, certain medications, nerve damage, and obstructions in your salivary ducts can all cause this condition. So can hormonal changes experienced during menopause and pregnancy and medical conditions like diabetes, Sjögren's syndrome, HIV, and infections that affect your salivary glands. Drinking alcohol, smoking, and having caffeine can also be contributing factors.

A dry, parched mouth that’s causing you problems swallowing and even talking – not a pleasant picture, is it? But around 10% of the general population suffer from dry mouth, a condition that can affect your oral health, well-being, and even your ability to talk and eat properly.¹
People with dry mouth, medically known as xerostomia, don’t have sufficient saliva in their mouth. And we all know the humble saliva plays a crucial role in oral health. It has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties and helps to neutralize teeth-destroying acid produced by plaque. Saliva, thanks to its calcium and phosphorus content, also helps rebuild teeth enamel. If you have dry mouth, you can expect mouth infections, tooth decay, gum disease, dry lips, and soreness or a burning sensation in your mouth. This condition can also affect your ability to speak, swallow, and taste properly. Which is why it’s important to understand what causes it.

Causes Of Dry Mouth

Stress and anxiety can cause our mouths to dry up. But this temporary reaction is quite normal and should settle down once the moment has passed. However, some medical issues can also lead to persistent or recurring dry mouth.^{2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11}

1. Dehydration

If you are dehydrated and don’t have sufficient fluids in your body to produce enough saliva, you could experience dry mouth. Dehydration can be caused by not taking in enough fluids. Some medical conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, diarrhea, and vomiting can also lead to dehydration.
Thirst and passing urine that’s darker in color are early signs that you’re dehydrated. You may also pass less urine and get headaches and muscle cramps when you feel dehydrated. Other symptoms include feeling dizzy, nauseous, and tiredness.
If you experience loss of consciousness, feel confused, haven’t passed urine for eight hours, and have a rapid or weak pulse, you could be severely dehydrated. This should be treated as a medical emergency.

2. Mouth Breathing

Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose can leave you with a dry mouth. People who sleep with their mouth open may often wake up with a rough tongue or dry lips. Mouth breathing generally develops when your nasal airways are obstructed. Many conditions like enlarged tonsils, nasal polyps, enlarged adenoids, allergic rhinitis, a deviated nasal septum etc. can cause nasal obstructions.
Various other medical conditions can also cause dry mouth.

3. Diabetes

Diabetes, a disease in which blood sugar levels are abnormally high, can also result in dry mouth. Alongside dry mouth, if you experience increased thirst, fatigue, itching around your genitals, blurred vision, or need to pass urine more frequently, it’s a good idea to get tested for diabetes.

4. HIV/AIDS

People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can experience oral health issues, including dry mouth. This virus damages your immune system by destroying infection-fighting cells, thus leaving you vulnerable to a host of infections as well as certain cancers. HIV can be spread by having unprotected sex with someone who is infected. It can also spread by sharing needles or coming into contact with infected blood. You can also pass it to your baby when you’re pregnant or during delivery.
Infection by HIV may initially cause a flu-like illness, rash, and swollen glands which resolve within 2 to 4 weeks. You may then be without any symptoms for a long period of time. However, after a while, you may experience more severe symptoms like weight loss, fever, diarrhea, swelling of glands in your neck, armpits, or groin, sores, rashes etc.

5. Salivary Gland Infection

If your salivary glands become infected with bacteria or virus, it can cause inflammation and reduce the production of saliva. This can cause dry mouth. An example of an infection that affects your salivary glands would be mumps. Bacterial infection due to poor hygiene, smoking, or chronic illnesses can also be responsible. Look out for other symptoms like a foul taste in the mouth, difficulty opening mouth fully, fever, and mouth or facial pain.
Pull out quote 1: It’s important to pay extra attention to your oral hygiene if you have a dry mouth to lower the risk of dental problems. Also, schedule regular appointments with your dentist so that any problems can be identified and fixed early.

6. Salivary Duct Obstruction

An obstruction of your salivary glands can cause dry mouth. For instance, if minerals in your saliva form stones that block your salivary ducts, it can restrict the flow of saliva. This will cause the affected salivary gland to swell up. Apart from swelling and dryness, you will also experience pain along the gland. Both the pain and swelling may get worse when you eat.

7. Sjögren’s syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition where your immune system mistakenly damages salivary and sweat glands, can result in dry mouth. Other symptoms include dry eyes, dry skin, joint or muscle pain, dryness in the vagina, swelling of the salivary glands which are present between your ears and jaw, and rashes.
Pull out quote 2: If you have Alzheimer’s disease or stroke your ability to experience the feeling of wetness in your mouth may be diminished. This can make you feel like your mouth is dry.¹²

8. Medication

Around 600 medicines, including some which are used to treat depression, allergies, high blood pressure etc. are known to lead to dry mouth. Illegal drugs like cocaine can also cause this condition. Do check in with your doctor to find out if any medication that you are on is responsible for the dryness in your mouth.

9. Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy to your face, head, or neck can cause dry mouth. It can take over 6 months after your treatment ends for your salivary glands to begin producing saliva again. Although you can expect to see some improvement in this condition in the first year after treatment, some people continue to suffer from some level of chronic dry mouth after radiation therapy. This is particularly true if the treatment focused on the salivary glands.

10. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can make your saliva thicker, resulting in dry mouth. However, this is temporary and your dry mouth should clear up around 2 to 8 weeks after you stop treatment.

11. Nerve Damage

The functioning of your salivary glands is regulated by facial nerves. Any injuries to your neck or head that damage these nerves can cause a decrease in the production of saliva.

12. Hormonal Changes

Hormones like estrogen seem to have an influence on the composition and flow of saliva. Therefore, women are likely to suffer from dry mouth during pregnancy and menopause due to the hormonal changes associated with these.

13. Lifestyle Factors

Drinking alcohol, smoking or chewing tobacco, and having caffeine can all contribute to having a dry mouth.

What Can You Do About It?

Treating the underlying cause of dry mouth can improve your condition. Your doctor may recommend the use of artificial saliva in some cases. Meanwhile, here are some measures that you can take that can be helpful.

• Take sips of water regularly as increasing your fluid intake can help keep your mouth moist.
• Chew on sugar-free gum as this can stimulate your salivary glands and increase saliva.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and smoking as these can dry your mouth out.¹³

True democrats, speak up, please!

Saturday, July 8, 2017

In the past, Lankan rulers ignored even the minimum fair play introduced in the first constitution, which resulted in them failing to achieve the objective of a united developed nation. Thereafter went on to introduce two new constitutions prepared in the dark without consulting the people, that resulted in many amendments and the country was in chaos plunging it into a bloody civil war that ended in 2009 with the intervention of India and few western nations; followed by a fascistic rule up to 2015, when the democratic upsurge replaced the rulers. A fact to date not well understood by the people, in spite of disasters popping up like mushrooms all over the island, these are mostly caused by their bad governance.

The previous rulers were voted back to parliament and are sitting in opposition, who simply create trouble making life difficult for the present rulers to work; in an uncertain political dynamics. This conspiracy is not possible, because people here irrespective of nationality or religion have pressing their leaders without mercy. After all the leaders are only human like any other citizen; people can change the behaviour of these leaders for change that comes from within the conscious mass movements.

Violation of constitution

It is claimed that at the time of independence in 1948, to resolve the ethnic problem many safeguards for the minorities were provided in the first constitution of Lanka. Yet the backward mentality of the majority of people enabled the leadership to work in violation of the constitution by excluding the protective provisions that gave safeguard to the minorities.

These provisions were systematically removed in the second constitution and went out of the way to include protective provisions for Buddhist Sinhalese, not needed for the majority community under true democracy. Then came the present constitution with certain obnoxious features. Subsequently introduced amendments are bluntly discriminatory to the minorities. This led the country to a civil war and with the intervention left movement the 13th Amendment to the present constitution was introduced in 1987 to devolve power to the peripheries with the Provincial Council system intended mainly to protect the rights of the Tamil speaking minorities. Unfortunately, that was never implemented properly and helped only to prolong the civil war. Today, the Tamil speaking people are expecting at least, the core of the 13th Amendment to be drafted into the new constitution in full, excluding the concurrent list that provided overlapping responsibilities between center and the peripheries making it difficult to implement the Provincial Council system.

Mahinda group

At a time when the people, in particular the poor are unable to make ends meet, it appears to them that the Mahinda group legislators are hell bent on sabotaging the new constitution. Both the President and the Prime Minister have repeatedly said that unitary status and pride of place for Buddhism will be retained in the new constitution. Many suggests government needs only to include clauses in the constitution to enable the followers of other religions to practice their faith without hindrance in any part of the country and the new constitution will only come into operation if it gets accepted by the people in a referendum. Even Marxist can agree to such a set up as Buddhist philosophy rejects supernatural creations and accept dialectics of nature.

Many believe that a golden opportunity now exist and the President and Prime Minister has demonstrated to the people that they are different with their respective legislators; hence to assist them to go ahead with the new constitution.

They must use every opportunity to explain to the people of the need to get the nationality conflict a thing of the past; making it clear to the people of their policy to resolve the national problem. In this scenario referring to non-governmental organisations Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stated ‘They have been very active under every government.
When they sense a change of any incumbent government, they throw their weight behind the emerging force ahead of the elections. Then they try to become heroes soon after the formation of the government, staking a claim for it.

‘Purawasi Balaya’

This organisation called ‘Purawasi Balaya’, boasts of playing a role in the formation of the government. It cannot get even10, 000 votes single-handed, in reality. They cannot get even a member elected to a local authority. Vickramabahu Karunarathne has been in politics for such long years. Yet, he cannot get elected even to a local body. Though these NGO fellows crow over, they do not have public support. We are the ones elected by the people. We command their support. These elements always try to project a chaotic image of the country, as a point to raise funds internationally in terms of US dollars. They depend on dollars.’

This intervention of Minister Wijeyadasa came as a shock to those stood firmly against racist fascistic politics. The problem of Wijeyadasa is that he speaks without proper information. In the case of Christian religious places discriminated, harassed or attacked, he did not want to investigate the complaint; instead depended on Catholic Cardinal’s statement and concluded that Lakshan is a liar and he should be punished. This action is totally unfair to both to the Cardinal and the lawyer. In the above statement too, he refers to Purawasi Balaya and Vickramabahu as NGOs. This is ridiculous; Purawasi Balaya is a mass organisation with a social democratic programme which was published and distributed properly. They participated in the democratic campaign that brought Yaha Palanaya to power.

I belong to the registered political party- Nava Sama Samaja party; a Marxist party. We were in a joint action front with the UNP since 2008. Under difficult conditions we participated in the campaign against the fascistic Mahinda regime. We do not want fascistic rulers back and we support the proposed constitution with substantial power to minorities. I have been a member of Colombo Municipal Council from 1995 to 1999, when I became a member of western Provincial Council. Later I became a member of Dehiwala Mt Lavonia Municipal Council until last year. Also, after the presidential victory there was a National Executive Committee for general supervision and I was appointed as one of the 15 members. Surely, that means some section of the democratic mass movement stood by me. Thus I am a political leader funded by supporters.

As a member of the Fourth International I am supported by Marxists world over. On the other hand Western bourgeois governments do not support Marxist parties in the world! Only other resource I have is the money his government payed as back wages, for my position as a teacher in engineering mathematics in the Engineering Faculty at Peradeniya!

On this subject of NGO’s; Minister in charge, Mano Ganeshan said ‘On the subject of regulating the NGOs, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe must be having his own reasons. But as the Minister for this subject I don’t see any serious reason to regulate NGOs in this country. I even don’t want to use the word, ‘Regulation’ but ‘Facilitation’ as long as they meet the lawful requirements. After I took office and the National Secretariat for NGOs brought under my ministry, I have taken very many steps. I have eased the pressures in them. NGOs were considered as ‘traitors’ and the INGOs were considered as ‘enemies’ then. It was once upon a time. Now I have given strict instructions to the Director-General of the NGO Secretariat and his staff under me to consider NGOs and INGOs as partners in the state building. They are the civil society organisations who stood with us during the, hey days. I was there all alive with Civil Monitoring Commission, ‘Vipakshaya Virodhaya’ and ‘Samagi Peramuna’. In fact I played sizable role in such struggle movement since back as year 2005 with Raviraj, Lasantha, Bahu, Siritunga, Britto, Nimalka, and Priyani when even the traditional CSOs and politicians backed due to fear. I can’t drop or ignore them. I call them as Civil Society Organisations (CSO) rather than NGOs.

Nation building

I have the blessings of the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on this. President Sirisena has told us in the Cabinet in general to get all the forces to build the country. Taking the clue, I am now establishing nation-wide, district-wide, division-wide CSO councils. Even some CSOs misunderstand this. But it’s an independent network. My ministry is doing the facilitation part. I am going to get them official placements in the district and divisional DCC meetings to have their say in the development and nation building affaires with the elected representatives and state officials. We require all actors of the nation including the civil society at every DCC meetings, where decisions are made on the spending of state funds. This will reduce the levels of corruption, wastage, mismanagement and identify the priorities of the poor masses.’

Minister Rajapakshe says that some NGOs are detrimental to national reconciliation and religious harmony. But we are political tendencies within the democratic movement that defeated Mahinda regime. If such sabotage is done by an organisation whether NGO or otherwise, Wijeyadasa can take action through police or the relevant ministry without behaving in an inappropriate manner.

There are wrong doers in the parliament too. There are violators in all branches of the state. The Yahapalanaya should identify them and clean the institutions in the best interest of the country.

Needed A New Constitution, A New Way For Sri Lanka

By V. Thirunavukkarasu –JULY 9, 2017

V. Thirunavukkarasu

Racism and religious bigotry, the double-edged scourge, has ever been the enormous impediment for the forward march of Sri Lanka. In the country’s recent history, such a phenomenon emerged in the early 20th century, and has persisted to this day in varying degrees. Even though the situation was initially relatively peaceful when Independence from foreign rule dawned in 1948, and the economic situation apparently signaling a forward movement, thanks especially to the Korean war boom and the Rubber-Rice pact with China, it soon began to change drastically for the worse with the rise of Sinhala-Buddhist hegemonic positions. As is well known, on the occasion of the 1956 elections, both the UNP as well as the SLFP vied with each other to make Sinhala the sole official language. On his visit to Jaffna on the verge of the 1956 General Elections , the then Prime Minister, Sir John Kotelawala, made a pledge, inter alia, to accord official language status to Tamil as well. It provoked strong resistance in the South, and the UNP swiftly changed course to make Sinhala the sole official language, as the election pledge. And, not to lag behind, SLFP leader, S.W.R.D Bandaranaike had no qualms jettisoning his own pledge to make Sinhala and Tamil official languages when he founded the SLFP in 1951. Thus, In his bid to outwit the UNP, Bandaranaike announced “Sinhala only within 24 hours” as his battle cry. The LSSP then made the historic warning, “Two languages, one Nation, One language, 2 Nation s”, nay two bleeding halves, as prophesied by Colvin R de Silva, that it would someday lead to a demand by the Tamils for a separate State . And the Tamil leaders opposed the “Sinhala only” bill because exclusion of the Tamil language would not only be repugnant to the principle of justice and fair-play, but also constituted an infringement of the letter and spirit of section 29 of the Soulbury Constitution then in force. But Bandaranaike would not relent, for his own opportunistic reasons which propelled his election pledge.

What followed was a call by the Federal Party leader, S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, for a civil disobedience campaign. However, in order to forestall such an eventuality, Bandaranaike opened negotiations with the Federal Party leader and entered into what came to be known as the Bandaranike-Chelvanayakam Pact (BC Pact) on 26th July, 1957. Bandaranaike then launched a campaign to explain the need for such a pact, extolling his own virtues as a true Buddhist. Strong opposition to the pact was mounted by the Sinhala Buddhist constituency, as a sell-out to the Tamils. Adding weight to that campaign was the protest march to Kandy launched by UNP strongman J.R. Jayewardene. Meantime, the Buddhist clergy intensified their opposition to the Pact, culminating in a siege on Bandaranaike’s Rosmead Place residence on 9th April, 1958, raising an implacable hue and cry, and Bandaranaike found himself with no option but to cave in; a bi-lateral pact was instantly abrogated unilaterally.

What indeed did the B-C pact provide for? Certainly not for any federal arrangement, nor any change in the Sinhala only Act, but of course (a) Establishment of a Regional Council for the Northern Province, and two or more such entities for the Eastern Province, with powers “over specified subject including agriculture, co-operatives, lands and land development, colonization, education, health, industries, fisheries, housing, social services, electricity, water schemes and roads. (b) It was agreed that in the matter of colonization schemes, the powers of the Regional Council shall include power to select allottees to whom lands within their areas of authority shall be alienated , and power to select the personnel to work on such schemes, (c) The Central Government will provide block grants to the Regional Councils which will also have powers of taxation and borrowing”

Upon reaching this framework agreement, the Federal Party agreed to cancel the Satyagraha campaign that had been planned. Lo and behold, it didn’t take long for anti- Tamil riots to be unleashed by the racist forces, which the then redoubtable English journalist of Sunday Observer fame, Tarzie Vittachchi, described as “man’s inhumanity to man” Bandararanaike not only refused to declare a State of Emergency which some prominent citizens jointly urged was warranted. On the contrary, Bandaranaike went on to address the Nation, and Vittachhi described the speech as “raw oxygen blown into a raging fire”, thus escalating the riots which Vittachchi exhaustively documented in his book titled “Emergency ‘58 – History of the Ceylon Race riots”. Bandaranaike’s own interpretation of the unfolding events and his awful contribution was to add ”fuel to the fire”.as Vittachi chose to add . That is to say, whereas the riots broke out on 22nd May 1958, Bandaranaike misled the country in his broadcast to the Nation on 26.05.1958, maintaining that “the murder of the former Mayor of Nuwara Eliya, Mr. D.A. Seneviratne in Batticaloa on 25th June was the incident that led to the riots breaking out”. Federal Party Leader Chelvanayakam stated in Parliament on 4th June, 1958 that murder of Seneviratne arose out of a private feud, , and that was not contradicted from any quarter.

Dudley-Chelvanayajam pact

In 1965, negotiations conducted between FP leader Chelvanayakam and Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake on 24 March brought forth the Dudley-Chelvanayakam pact (D-C Pact) Here again, arose racist, extremist opposition to the Pact notwithstanding its lesser parameters than the B-C pact. Dudley Senanayake easily succumbed and lost no time to abrogate the pact “ which provided for (a) the Tamil language to be the language of administration in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, (b) Legal proceedings in the Northern and Eastern Provinces will be conducted and recorded in Tamil (c) District Councils to be established in the country with powers over subjects to be mutually agreed upon between the two leaders. “ It was agreed, however, that the Government should have the power under the law to give direction to such Councils under the national interest”. And then, Mr Senanayake further agreed that in the matter of granting land under colonization schemes, the following priorities be observed in the Northern and Eastern Provinces: (a) Land in the Northern and Eastern Provinces should in the first instance be granted to landless persons in the District, (b) Secondly, to Tamil-speaking residents in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, (c) Thirdly, to other citizens in the country, preference being given to Tamil citizens in the rest of the Island”
So, had either of these pacts been implemented, Tamil armed struggle which, objectively speaking, came on the scene as a last resort , could well have been obviated, leaving no cause for the 26-year long war, which the worst 1983 anti-Tamil riots (Black July) precipitated.

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC)

This Commission, appointed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010, headed by a former Attorney-General, the late C.R de Silva , pinpointed, inter ala, that there had been periodical , anti-Tamil violence, culminating in war , since none of the Governments since Independence took concrete measures to resolve the Tamil national question , and strongly recommended that a viable solution would soon have to be found. It was not to be, and, in fact the Commission lamented that even its interim report issued at the end of 1 year was not acted upon.

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The president vs his (impossible) ministers

• Sunday, July 09, 2017

An ongoing war of words between President Maithripala Sirisena and prominent Ministers in the United National Party (UNP) sums up in a nutshell what’s wrong with the seeming ‘unity’ alliance. Perturbingly, the ‘unity’ part is looking increasingly tattered as we go along.

 

Public anger regarding dysfunctional law enforcement
In one sense, the President was both right and wrong in expressing his considerable annoyance this week. Conveying dissatisfaction with the work record of the Law and Order Ministry, as well as the Department of the Attorney General, he remarked that if he took those institutions under his control, many of the delayed and long pending corruption and murder cases implicating prominent politicians of the previous regime would be dealt with in record time.

 

And therein lies the rub. Certainly where the first claim is concerned, there would be overwhelming public support. Regardless of protests of Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake following the President’s remarks, there is little doubt that the dysfunction of the Ministry and the Department of the Police has been a primary focus of deep public anger. Indeed, the Minister’s protestations contrast oddly with the fact that not so long ago, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was captured on television cameras assuring the Minister that a ‘protected’ person of the former regime would not be arrested.

 

Apart from the bovine stupidity of allowing a conversation as combustive as this to be televised nationally, the substantive issue of political interference in police investigations stands proven without any measure of doubt. That simple incident well illustrates Sri Lanka’s perennial problem with the lack of integrity and independence of its law enforcement machinery without pointing to a long winded thesis on the matter. The same concerns apply to the state prosecutor.

 

The helplessness of the police

While it is the most convenient tactic to direct pubic ire against the police or for that matter, prosecutors for not doing their job properly, the point is that many public officials are themselves helpless in the face of direct political interference. This has become a potent factor in the breakdown of the command structure in the state service. In other words, a superior is often countermanded by a junior in the ranks acting under political protection.

 

If the incident concerning the Minister and the IGP is reverted to again as an example the absence of any action taken thereafter against the IGP or the Minister concerned was equally concerning. Instead, the police force was asked to engage in meditation. The absurdity of the situation requires no labored explanations. Strident civil society voices called for the head of the IGP but bypassed the fact that the Minister’s actions were equally if not more culpable.

 

Acknowledging these realities, the problem however is the President’s claim that the situation would improve if he exercised direct control over the institutions in question. In principle, there is an obvious issue with the suggestion given the inevitable aggrandizement of powers in the office of the Executive Presidency if the two main institutions responsible for justice, the police and the prosecutors are brought under it. From a theoretical standpoint, this was the precise critique that was ferociously leveled against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he attempted to exercise direct control over these institutions. And taken as a principled objection, the singular difference between the two Presidential personas cannot, of course, be of any relevance.

 

Getting trapped in a hostage dilemma

This is not a suggestion that will be easily acceptable therefore, despite the empathy that many people may feel when the President complains with more than a trace of bitterness, that the law is not being enforced, that he will be blamed for it and that the consequences of a potential change in governmental power will be visited upon him and the members of his family. All these sentiments certainly have more than a modicum of truth in them.

But while putting the highly problematic records of the (UNP) Ministries of Justice and Law and Order in issue, the President’s appointments of Ministers from his own party are not without their share of blame. While President Sirisena has found himself in a typical catch-22 conundrum in trying to find support within party ranks, his mandate in 2015 was to bring a difference in the political environment.

 

It was not to allow himself to be taken virtually hostage between the crooks in his own party and the crooks in the other party. That has occasioned extreme public disappointment. Addressing this will not be easy on the President’s part. Indeed, one would need to be a modern day Diogenes (also known as the Cynic), the Greek philosopher of old who carried a lamp in the daytime, looking for an honest man.

 

Political war of words but no substantive action

But as President Sirisena engages in a war of words with his Ministers, the primary problem of severe institutional dysfunction is left by the wayside. The Sri Lankan public is not interested in the blame game or who is responsible for what. Its interest is in making sure that public institutions which are run on public money are properly functional.

 

And in that regard, I can only laugh outright at Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake’s preposterous defence that the allegations (presumably leveled by the President) at the Department of the Police were ‘unsubstantiated.’

The Minister had apparently been concerned about his ‘self-respect.’ But in all fairness, it must be warned that such concerns went out of the window at the very point that the IGP was captured on television abjectly assuring the Minister that the law will not be enforced against a political favourite of the previous regime. Was this what the Minister meant in his self-glorifying justifications that he would not interfere in police investigations? Do Ministers of this Government think that Sri Lankan citizens are akin to freshly emerged chicks looking bemused and wide eyed at the world?

They must be sternly apprised of their palpable misapprehensions.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND COUNTER-TERRORISM: UN EXPERT LAUNCHES FIRST MISSION TO SRI LANKA

Image: Mr. Ben Emmerson (UN)

08/07/2017

GENEVA (6 July 2017) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 10 to 14 July to gather first-hand information on initiatives in the area of counter-terrorism and assess how they affect the promotion and protection of human rights.

“I will seek to provide assistance in the discussion of the country’s counter-terrorism policy and legal framework, as well as in the preparation and drafting of relevant legislative acts, with a view to ensuring that measures taken by the Government are in compliance with international human rights law,” says Mr. Emmerson.

During his five-day mission to the country, Mr. Emmerson is scheduled to have high-level meetings with representatives of the Government, including the ministries responsible for foreign affairs, law and order, Southern development, justice, defence, finance, media, prison reforms, rehabilitation, resettlement and Hindu religious affairs.

The Special Rapporteur will also meet law enforcement officials, members of parliament, members of specialized police departments, the National Police Commission and the Human Rights Commission. In addition, he will go to places of detention to interview persons suspected or convicted of terrorist crimes.

Mr. Emmerson, who visits Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Government, will also hold talks with representatives of the international community, lawyers, academics, and non-governmental organizations. He will visit Colombo and spend several days in other areas of the country, including Anuradhapura and Vavuniya.

At the end of his visit, on Friday, 14 July 2017, at 15:00, Mr. Emmerson will share his preliminary observations with the media during a press conference at the UN building (202 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7). Copies of his end of mission statement and press release will be available in English. Sinhala and Tamil translations will be also made available at https://lk.one.un.org/. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

The Maha Sangha’s Opposition, Tamils & Mobilizing Support For Devolution

By Mahendran Thiruvarangan –JULY 8, 2017

Mahendran Thiruvarangan

While constitutional reforms are being discussed by the Steering Committee, there are forces like the Joint Opposition led by the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that have started to whip up anti-devolution sentiments in the South. Adding strength to these forces, the Mahanayakas recently declared that the country does not need a new constitution. We will get to know in the referendum, if and when it takes place, how the Buddhists in this country perceive the Mahanayakas’ position on the new constitution. We do not need to jump to conclusions about this now. We know that a large number of Sinhala-Buddhists voted against Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015 when he was widely perceived as the invincible leader of Sinhala-Buddhists. Let’s not be too optimistic either. The government that is spearheading the constitutional reforms has failed miserably on the economic front. Privatization of basic services such as health and education and the neo-liberalization of the country’s economy have accelerated under this regime. The Tamil National Alliance, the opposition in Parliament and the major Tamil party involved in drafting the constitution, has also failed to participate in the struggles led by the poor, the landless, the dispossessed, workers and students against the neo-liberalization of Sri Lanka’s economy and thereby alienated itself from the Southern constituency. The party also did not rise to the occasion swiftly when floods hit the South recently and during the Meethotamulla tragedy.

In a context where the Joint Opposition is trying to stoke ethnic passions while projecting itself as a crusader against neo-liberalism, the Southern people’s opposition to the economic failures of the government may easily translate into a protest vote against devolution in the referendum. Between 2002 and 2004, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government initiated peace talks with the LTTE along with a set of neo-liberal reforms. The UNP government was defeated in the next general elections held in 2004.

While the economic and political problems that plague the country are intertwined and the latter are sometimes seen as an outcome or expression of the former, one cannot deny that ethno-religious chauvinism has its own force too and that such chauvinism exists among minorities as well. To defeat the chauvinist forces that are against devolution, progressive forces in the country should immediately inaugurate a vigorous campaign for a constitution that ensures devolution of powers to the provinces and makes the state one that respects pluralism and diversity at all its levels including in the peripheries. There are some crucial questions about the constitution that we need to discuss forthrightly as part of this campaign: Will those who are involved in drafting the new constitution come up with proposals that ensure the devolution of important powers like land and police to the provinces? Will they also ensure that such powers cannot be taken back by the center unilaterally without the consent of the provinces, especially the two provinces where the Tamil-speaking people form the majority and have demanded regional autonomy for many decades? Will there be mechanisms or clauses in the constitution that guarantee that the judiciary cannot interpret the constitution as one that favors a centrist or unitary state even if the word unitary (ekiya rajya) is going to appear in the constitution in Sinhala as we are told? Will the state be secular? Will there be mechanisms to protect the rights and freedoms of the country’s ethnic and religious minorities and non-territorial minorities such as Muslims in the Northern Province or Buddhists in the Eastern Province? How would devolution benefit the minorities within a province, the working classes, the landless populations, students, women, oppressed caste communities? These questions revolve around what we generally consider as the national question or the minority question or devolution. These questions led to a 30-year civil war in this country and we lost thousands of precious lives because of our failure to resolve these questions in a just manner.

There are many other issues and questions that the constitution should address including the executive presidency, electoral reforms, socio-economic rights, the rights of women and sexual minorities and disabled populations. I have excluded them from this post because there seems to be a general consensus on many of these issues across religious, ethnic, cultural and regional divides. The political leaders should act on them now in a fair manner as asked by the people during the public consultation sessions held last year.

It appears very clearly that the Tamil political leadership is not going to insist on the repeal of the constitutional clause that offers Buddhism the foremost place (a major concession on the part of the Tamils and other minorities in my view); nor is it going to demand the merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces although it will maintain merger as its stated position. Will the Parliament of Sri Lanka offer a constitution that is federalist in practice and spirit as I mentioned above even if it is unitary in paper? And will the Sinhala-Buddhist community ratify such a constitution in the referendum? Here is an opportunity for us to move forward as a single political community that respects pluralism and self-rule in the peripheries. Hope we will not throw it away as we did several times in the past.

Anandasangaree’s call for a meeting between the Maha Sangha and Tamil leaders

In the wake of the Maha Sangha’s opposition to the new constitution, V. Anandasangaree, the General Secretary of TULF, has urged the Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan to form a team of representatives from different Tamil political parties for a meeting with the Maha Sangha. Selvam Adaikalanathan of TELO has also made a similar request. The Federal Party under the leadership of R. Sampanthan and M.A. Sumanthiran has repeatedly expressed its commitment to an undivided Sri Lanka since 2009. Breaking with a long-held tradition of protest, the two leaders even attended the Independence Day celebrations in February 2015 as a gesture towards reconciliation (not to mention all the attacks they faced from other Tamil nationalist camps). This change of approach did not weaken them politically among the Tamils; instead, both of them emerged victorious in the general elections held after six months.

TNA leaders R. Sampanthan and M.A. Sumanthiran have also urged the Tamil community in public – both in Sri Lanka and at expatriate gatherings – to self-introspect about the crimes committed in their name against other communities in the past, especially during the years of militancy. But the reciprocation from Southern political leaders was not remarkable, to put it mildly. Some of them continued to claim that there was zero casualty during the last stages of the war in May 2009. Only a few leaders from the South acknowledge openly that an ethnic conflict exists in the country or that the state needs to be secular. One needs to admit that the TNA’s interactions with the people in the South has been inadequate. The party could have campaigned with more earnestness among the Sinhala communities in the different provinces to win their trust. Its engagement with the South was too Colombo-centric. But there is still time left and the party should activate its campaign without delay.

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Govt in quandary as Mahanayakes demand Presidency must stay put

ASGIRIYA CHAPTER Mahanayake Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana: Sets the wheel of opposition in motion

Sunday, July 09, 2017

All three Nikayas insist ‘no need for a new constitution or even an amendment’

It was the Venerable Sobitha Thera’s battle cry for real change; and the joint opposition candidate Sirisena’s spring board to power to gain the presidency and then turn it into a eunuch to serve the needs of a parliamentary harem.

But the fondest hope of the noble monk to see Sirisena birth a new constitution that will do away with the executive presidential system in the country and Sirisena’s promise in his manifesto which was released on December 19, 2014 at the Viharamahadevi Park “to introduce a constitutional structure with an Executive that is allied to Parliament through the cabinet” suddenly seem to be at risk of being jettisoned in mid flight by a most powerful sector in Lanka’s body politic: Namely, the Buddhist monks.

Sirisena had gone to extraordinary lengths to spell out the how and explain the why. Why the nation needed a new chic garment to swing with the fashions of the times and how he would see it tailored according to the public’s specifications and deliver it bespoke to the nation’s wardrobe; and how he would marshal his forces from all sides of the political divide to keep his promise to the nation.

He had placed his hands on his political testament, his election manifesto, and sworn to usher in a new constitution that would be more in keeping with the changing times. And he had promised to do so within hundred days of assuming office as President.

Two and a half years — nearly a thousand days — have now passed but the public cannot even sniff a whiff of smoke in the air wafting from the cabinet galley. Though the government says it is still being sautéed and the Prime Minster Ranil assures all it will soon be served on the table for public delectation, a section of the luncheon guests have, it seems, begun to wonder whether Lanka’s bacon will drop from the frying pan into the fire and whether the chefs will end up getting their fingers burnt.

This week a major obstacle arose to setback his hopes. In legal terms it could even be considered as a “Force Majeure”, an Act of God to frustrate Sirisena’s covenant with his people; for which act he cannot be held liable. Though this ‘ great force” did not come like a thunderbolt from the heavens but only rumbled from the hills, it still contained the potency to nullify his aims and reduce to naught all attempts to deliver a new constitution to a people who had long clamoured for one – perhaps in the mistaken belief that a new constitution, like a new broom, will serve to sweep the ground clean and rid the corners of the cobwebs and will be the panacea for the nation’s terminal illness, even though it may well turn out to be nothing more than a placebo.

It was the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Nikaya that first started the wheel rolling. Last Saturday, the Mahanayake of the Chapter Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana rejected the proposed new constitution out of hand. He and other senior monks told Buddha Sasana Task Force representatives who had paid a visit to the Asgiriya temple that “one of the objectives of the proposed new constitution was to make way for separatism and remove the foremost place given to Buddhism in the existing Constitution”.

But what on earth gave them that idea? Did they have a sneak peak at the proposed constitution in its final draft form or did they base their decision to reject it in toto after imbibing the juice that liberally flows from the Joint Opposition grapevine?

Surprisingly on Tuesday the rest of the Nikayas’ accepted the Asgiriya Chapters alms poured into their bowls without question, and nodded their head in agreement without murmur. Unanimously they held there was no need to bring in a new Constitution or an Amendment to the Constitution.

Two questions arise here. What made these monks, acting in unison, condemn to the sunset the prospect of a new constitution for Sri Lanka rising from the horizon? Especially when they, along with the rest of the country, haven’t the foggiest as to what it may contain? Had they forgotten the Kalama Sutta where the Buddha exhorted:

• Do not accept anything on mere hearsay.
• Do not accept anything by mere tradition.
• Do not accept anything on account of rumours.
• Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures.
• Do not accept anything by suppositions.
• Do not accept anything by mere inference.
• Do not accept anything by merely considering the appearance.
• Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your preconceived notion. Do not accept anything merely because it seems acceptable.
• 
  
• And later in the Jnanasara-samuccaya proceeded to say”
• 
  
• “As the wise test gold by burning, cutting and rubbing it on a piece of touchstone, so are you to accept my words only after examining them and not out of regard for me”
• 
  

After the Buddha had given both man and monk not only the liberty but also licence to question even what he expounded, nay, tasked them both with a duty to examine even his own Dhamma before accepting it, odd isn’t it that one should rush to reject a document one had not even set eyes on?

As cabinet spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne said on Wednesday, “6.2 million people had endorsed Maithripala Sirisena’s 2015 presidential election manifesto, which had clearly stated that a brand new Constitution would be introduced and another mandate had been given at the subsequent general election.”

Senaratne said it should not be forgotten that a large number of Buddhist monks had also voted for change on Jan. 8, 2015. “I cannot understand how those who protested on the streets demanding that the executive presidency be abolished can behave in this manner today. Their political agenda is very clear for everyone to see.” Senaratne stressed that the people’s verdict could not be disregarded, that the proposed changes were aimed at uniting all communities and developing the country and not dividing.

He further said: “This is what has happened since 1958. When Sinhala was made the State language, Tamil extremists said the Tamil language will be finished. But from what can be seen it was not so. Whether we need a new Constitution or not will be decided by the 225 members in parliament and the people of this country. The final Constitutional draft is still to be finalised and the contents will be known only after that work was completed.”

And as Prime Minister Wickremesinghe later confirmed to the House on Thursday, he said he had inquired from the Steering Committee whether any draft had been put out and had been informed that “no draft has been prepared”.

The second question is what made them do a complete U turn and condemn off hand a constitution still in its unknown foetus stage and demand it be aborted? What made them make a complete turnabout, a volte-face, on the stance they firmly held not so long ago: that the present constitution was the bane of Lanka’s woes and should be shredded, burnt and its ashes scattered in the sea?

What indeed, is it, that makes them, now hail from the Sri Dalada Pattirippuva that the much decried 1978 Constitution of President J. R. Jayewardene has been, presently is and will for all time ever be the Mother of all Constitutions that exists in the world, so much so that even an amendment to it must not be effected, now and for all time, lest it outrages its pristine purity? What makes them hold sacred and inviolate JR’s creation now when not so long ago they reviled it as Jayewardene’s monster? What has seduced them to embrace it now with open arms and insist it must stay without a word altered?

Perhaps in their collective wisdom they have decided to pander to the known devil’s vices than give their blessings to the virtues of an unknown angel. Buddhism knows no Popes and neither is Kandy the Vatican. Nor are all the three Buddhist Nikayas, namely the Malwatte, Asgiriya forming the Siam Nikaya, Amarapura and Rammannya Nikayas, the Holy See. Nevertheless the political power they wield to make or break governments in the name of safeguarding Buddhism and the Sinhala race which had played host to it, is undeniable and cannot be understated. They have within their ambit to throw the religious watapatha into the political works of a nation and create chaos in the land.