New Constitution: New clause to safeguard Buddhism

2017-07-09

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Saturday he would come up with a new proposal shortly to include provisions in the Constitution that would prohibit Governments from interfering with internal matters of three main Buddhist Chapters.

The Prime Minister said this at the opening of the Weli Maluwa at Ruwan Weliseya in Anuradhapura over the weekend.

“I will come up with proposal to include a clause in the Constitution that the Government cannot get involved in deciding on the matters relating to the three Nikayas, followed by Sri Lankan Buddhists."

He added that Therawada Buddhism had suffered during the reign of King Mahasen, where the Maha Vihara in Anuradhapura was destroyed by the Vaithullayas, while killing some monks. The Vaithulayas were controlling Abhayagiriya and Jethawanarama temples at that time. It was these monks of Maha Vihara, who spread the Therawada Buddhism to several countries such as Laos and Thailand.

The Premier pointed out that after the division another generation of monks had to be brought down from Thailand and set up the Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters. Later those who ruled this country decided to safeguard all the Chapters and made the Government bound by the Constitution to safeguard Buddhism.

“However, this tradition was broken by the rulers of this country around five years ago. The Mahanayake was threatened by them as he allowed one of their opponents to hold a Pooja at Dalada Maligawa. They threatened to divide the Malwatte Chapter and set up another Chapter.

“They went on to the extent of constructing a Stupa taller than Ruwan Weliseya in Anuradhapura, which is not possible as per the traditions, norms and beliefs. These rulers are bound by the tradition to tender an apology to the Mahanayake of Malwatte Chapter and to sweep the premises of Ruwan Weliseya and other sacred places of worship in repentance,” he added.

He said he would bring in a clause to the new Constitution under which government intervention in deciding on the composition of the three chapters would be prohibited. (Yohan Perera)

First Salvo fired towards intended new Constitution

By Manekshaw-2017-07-08

It was a few weeks ago Leader of the Opposition and Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan addressing participants at an event at the Sarvodaya centre in Colombo emphasized the need of a new Constitution and pointed out that all citizens should support the new Constitution in the best interests to strengthen peace and reconciliation in the country.

Unlike the Tamil leadership in the past, which had opposed vehemently the Constitutions stating that they were not drafted in the manner fulfilling the political aspirations of Tamils, Sampanthan with his vast experience in the political arena has expressed his views on bringing out a new Constitution which is expected to overcome the setbacks experienced with the long drawn out three decades of civil war, between the Sinhala and the Tamil people, making peace and reconciliation a distant dream to the countrymen.

Even the National Unity Government is well aware of the need of drafting a new Constitution and the Prelates of country's key Buddhist chapters denouncing the attempts of drafting a new Constitution has also been considered a serious challenge by the government according to Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne who had addressed the Cabinet press briefing along with his colleague Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera on Wednesday (5).

Unlike the other Tamil political leaders Sampanthan had to play an extremely important role to strike the right balance in spearheading the Tamil political scene as the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, when the LTTE was active and thereafter in the post-war atmosphere.

Until the collapse of the United National Party (UNP) Government, the Constitution introduced with the Executive Presidency came under severe criticism by the Opposition stating that it was draconian and dictatorial.

Detailing on the powers his Constitution possessed late President J.R. Jayewardene even stated that except for converting a man to a woman and a woman to a man he could do anything with the Constitution he had introduced in 1978.

So the United National Party regime led by late Presidents J. R. Jayewardene and R. Premadasa remained formidable until it was overthrown by the People's Alliance (PA) led by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 1994.

From the time the UNP led by late J.R. Jayewardene came to power in 1977, the Opposition was on the war path against the Constitution introduced by the party at every election since it was introduced in 1978.

Buddhist Prelates

Minister Rajitha Senaratne at the press briefing on Wednesday expressing his disappointment over the stance taken by the Buddhist Prelates over the intended new Constitution also said: "The final decision has to be made by Parliament. Six committees have been appointed in which some members are from the Opposition. The reports formulated by these six committees will be submitted to Parliament. If it is passed by a two third majority and if the Supreme Court orders to go for a referendum, people can come up with their opinions," he said.

The Minister also went on to say that it is with the agreement of the Sinhala majority only the Constitution will be implemented.

So realizing the importance of the support of the Sinhala majority only the Leader of the Opposition and the TNA Leader R. Sampanthan during his address at the Sarvodaya centre in Colombo a few weeks ago made a fervent appeal to the people in the South to support the intended new Constitution which prioritizes solutions for the long standing ethnic issues in the country while containing various aspects on improving the human rights situation in the country.

Since becoming the Leader of the Opposition Sampanthan is adopting a non- confrontational approach in dealing with various post-war issues thinking in the best interests of the country.
Sampanthan even came under severe criticism from the hardliners for his diplomatic approach towards handling the political issues as well as the post-war humanitarian issues. Those who attempt to disrupt any good attempt in stabilizing peace and reconciliation in the country should understand that there is another side of the coin in the Tamil politics.

The emergence of Northern Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and his firm stance on dealing with the political challenges faced by the Tamils with the backing of the hardliners in the North and the East as well, from abroad will even be a tough task for those engaged in bringing out a new Constitution.
The country has a long history of religious extremism playing a bigger role in frustrating constructive attempts made towards settling National issues.

With fanaticism already raising its ugly head in the South, those who are living in the 'comfort zone' should be extremely cautious in making comments when decisions are taken to resolve burning issues.

The Tamil National Alliance Spokesman, and Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran responding to the comments made by the Buddhist Prelates on the Constitution has said that rejecting a new Constitution was somewhat like rejecting the efforts taken to build peace and reconciliation in the country.

Sri Lanka has already made its commitment by cosponsoring the Geneva resolution towards fulfilling the political aspirations and resolving the post-war humanitarian issues.

So the salvo fired towards the intended new Constitution by Buddhist Prelates has even been described as 'multi barrel' attack by another TNA Parliamentarian S.Sritharan.

Since the multi barrel attacks, artillery attacks and aerial attacks destroying the peace for three decades, the leaders of the National Unity Government should see the immense sacrifices made towards paving the way for peace and reconciliation, and should not be ridiculed by the fresh salvos fired politically.

Part III – A Hell Of A Ward!

By Emil van der Poorten –JULY 9, 2017

Emil van der Poorten

I will now take up where I left readers last week – unconscious on a hospital floor after unsuccessfully seeking assistance from the nursing staff of the ward.

As I understand it, a cardio-thoracic surgical team took me in their care and performed emergency open-heart surgery in order to clear out all the blood and other material in my chest cavity which was threatening to choke me to death. I was put back together with a stainless steel wire cage, as the surgeon subsequently described it to me.  I was unconscious for a period of five or six days and my partner was instructed to inform my next of kin as I was not expected to survive.

Survive I did, I believe to the consternation of those responsible for putting me in that predicament and I suspect, particularly to the discomfort of the person who had “out-sourced” the procedure to someone obviously lacking the skill of a “pacemaker-installer.” Reverting to the matter of that installation, I believe that the damage was done at the time the tube connecting the pacemaker to the area of the aorta was violently forced in causing a rupture and very serious haemorrhaging.

The speed at which the surgical team was required to work can be judged by the fact that they didn’t have time to remove the pacemaker and the tube and had to go in a second time, when I had recovered to some extent, to get those two pieces of hardware out!

Once I regained consciousness, the surgeon warned me that I should not even think about twisting my body in any way because to do so could cause internal problems serious enough that a second surgical intervention would not be of much use.

This presented an interesting dilemma for someone hooked up to all kinds of “drips” through canulas etc. when the attendants ignored my requests to leave an urinal by my bed so that I could pick it up, use it and return it to the ground for removal in due course.

The result of that refusal to respond to such a simple request can well be imagined.  I woke up in a bath of liquid with a significant ammonia content more mornings than I care to remember!

Sponge baths?  Forget it! Despite bribes to some of the attendants by some of my visitors, this happened so seldom that when I was ultimately moved to a private health care facility, it took four changes of water before the end product was less than a darker shade of brown! I suppose the good news there was the fact that I didn’t end of with bed sores!

In addition to this, a lasting memory I will carry to my grave is that of an old Tamil man transferred from some district hospital many miles away from this Teaching Institution.  Not to put a fine point on it, he was subjected to gratuitous cruelty.  If his sarong so much as inched its way up his thigh, he was shouted at by the “angels of mercy” in whose care we were as if he was some kind of exhibitionist! You didn’t have to be a medical genius to see the man was old, feeble and probably in the early stages of dementia and this gratuitous cruelty seemed to confirm my impression that the prevailing culture of this ward was one of racism/communalism.  This was something that was constantly reinforced by my being compelled to convince my listeners,  in my more-than-passable Sinhala (both my grandmothers came from peasant Sinhala stock in what used to be the Kandyan Kingdom), that I wasn’t a “white foreigner free-loading on our free (?) medical care system!”

Of course, from time to time our consultant, would sweep regally through the ward with minions trailing and when I demanded that I be discharged because the stress and pressure I was subjected to was counterproductive in the matter of my recovery, the response was yet another regal gesture accompanying the information that “all the staff in that ward were at (my) disposal!” This was beyond the comprehensible given the fact that the staff were absolutely over-worked and even those few who had a Florence Nightingale-like devotion to their tasks, were powerless to overcome the fact that there was only so much that they could do for those in their care.  If a very senior medical practitioner wasn’t aware of this fact………………………….!

On another occasion, when I demanded that I be discharged, this same consultant said I had to continue in that place so that me and my medication intake could be monitored and stabilised.  This was in a situation when, on several occasions, the attending nurses would inquire from me whether or not I had taken a drug of some kind!

Ultimately, I escaped this hell hole.

The icing on the cake has been that so much as a mention of the consultant’s name to members of the legal profession in this jurisdiction had them, metaphorically, screaming “conflict of interest” and trying to disappear into the hills as fast as they could!  One of these legal eagles, however, before taking off, advised me against even seeking the legal assistance I required in this provincial capital!  Place that in the context that, if I secured legal representation for a malpractice suit from a lawyer in another town, there would be the additional cost involved in travelling to the town in which the action had to be filed each time the case was called. A no-brainer? You bet!

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SRI LANKA: DG RANGA KLANSOORIYA IS A LYING RE MEDIA REGULATION ACT – FMM

09/07/2017

“In one of his statements, Director General of the Government Information Department, Dr Ranga Kalansooriya had implied that FMM has been involving to the drafting of the above Act since its beginning, which is a half-truth.” says the Free Media Movement issuing a statement.

Meanwhile the largest membership based journalists organisation, Sri Lanka The Working Journalist Association too says that Kalnsooriya is lying outright in relation to SLWJA,   in his statements on the very same ‘Independent Council for News Media Standards’ (ICNMS).  SLWJA says that it is DG Kalansooriya who needs to be regulated given that the way he is lying.
The FMM statement follows:

Draft Act on Independent Council for News Media Standards – A clarification from the Free Media Movement.

A contentious situation has arisen in the country on the draft Act on Independent Council for News Media Standards, where the name of the Free Media Movement (FMM) is also being brought up in the debates. Therefore, it is necessary to make the position of the FMM clear regarding some of the issues that are being discussed.

In one of his statements, Director General of the Government Information Department, Dr Ranga Kalansooriya had implied that FMM has been involving to the drafting of the above Act since its beginning, which is a half-truth.

The then Convener of the FMM, Ms. Seetha Ranjanee had participated in an initial meeting called in order to discuss issues related to journalists and a committee appointed to look into the matters in which she became a member. Mr. Wijayananda Jayaweera was appointed as the head of the Committee. Various media groups were invited for a few discussions and finally Mr. Wijayananda Jayaweera was given the task of drafting an Act.

After the first meeting that was called to present the draft, either Ms. Seetha Ranjanee or the FMM was unaware of the sequence incidents. We became aware of the fact that the Cabinet approval was granted for a public consultation on the draft, through newspapers. We believe that the awareness of the many other media organizations were not much better that this.

Therefore, we believe that the participation of the media community since the initiation of the draft Act as well as its transparency has been problematic. It is unfortunate that these circumstances make it difficult to create an open discussion on the contents.

However, FMM has been lobbying for a process of broader media reforms including regulation for ethical media usage, for a long period of time. Today, it has become a prominent need. We believe that it should be done through a broader discussion and the participation of media community. We have distributed the above draft Act which we received later among our membership and other interested parties, with the sole purpose of creating such dialogue.

Nevertheless, as an organization, we are still studying the draft Act and willing to declare our position too. But we firmly emphasize the fact that such process will not be successful, unless it can gain the participation and the conviction of the media community including media organizations of the country.
C. Dodawatta 
Convener
Dileesha Abeysundara
Secretary

Trojan horse within govt. shows its true colors ! Starts investigation against lawyer Lakshan Dias who exposed the crimes !!

(Lanka-e-News - 09.July.2017, 12.40PM)  Believe it or not ! Lawyer Lakshan Dias who said , even after this government was installed in power a number of Christian places of worship were attacked , and that he has appeared for such cases has been subjected to a criminal   investigation by the police of  this government of good governance. 

This investigation has been begun on the orders of the IGP by the  group criminal investigation division which is best known for doing he worst sordid biddings of the IGP.( A favorite henchman of the IGP by the name of Kamal De Silva who was the Director and DIG of the anti narcotics division was recently appointed as the chief of this division) . It is by now well known Kamal De Silva was transferred in order to  rig the  investigations  into the shooting incident targeting the anti narcotics officers when he was at the anti narcotics bureau. This is because , instead of handing over the investigation to the CID , Kamal was transferred to the group criminal investigation division and that shooting incident investigation was entrusted to the group criminal investigation division now under Kamal De Silva. This is tantamount  to arranging the mother to investigate the crimes committed by her son.
 
The cruel irony is , the lawyer who exposed  a number of crimes have been  committed is being persecuted and prosecuted instead of launching an investigation  into the crimes he exposed . Unbelievably , the group investigation division has launched an investigation against the lawyer who acted in the best interests of all law abiding citizens. This is obviously a ‘Kekile court’ inquiry.  Having put aside the urgent investigations into the most heinous crimes committed by the notorious  crooks and the corrupt of the Rajapakse era , now investigations are being conducted against the lawyers who were responsible to propel the good governance government to power.

As turncoat ,cutthroat Wijedasa Rajapakse who his now dubbed the Trojan horse secretly hostile to the good governance government threatened  publicly against  lawyer Lakshan Dias, so  a witch hunt  has  begun against him.   

A most infamous racial monk Medille Panjalka Thera and a group had been used to set this in motion  this witch hunt . This group had made  a  complaint at the Police headquarters against Lakshan. It is none other than Wijedasa Rajapakse  the notorious tie coat, turn coat, cutthroat  who is behind these manipulations.

The same Wijedasa Rajapakse  similarly and most atrociously exerted pressure on various individuals to complain against the Movement for  just society and the Citizen’s  Force that published a newspaper notification with 170 signatures by which they appealed to all, ‘ there shall be no racism and religious hatred – never , never’ . Wijedasa has brought pressure to bear on Richard and Kuruppu  ,  two long time activists of the movement for  just society .Wijedasa has given  jobs to them in his ministry and had had told them if they do not make a complaint that their signatures were used without their permission , they would lose their jobs. These two individuals who are not turncoats wearing tie coats or cutthroats wearing black coats  of the ilk of Wijedasa , have not yielded to Wijedasa’s  evil pressures . They have not made the false  complaints  compelled  by Rajapakse , come what may, even risking their jobs.

While the right thinking citizens of the country are protesting against this cursed racism and religious hatred( that is being spread by evil self centered groups for their own selfish self advancement) after realizing what holocaust those evils are leading  the country into  vis a vis the 30 years ethnic war which devastated the country  and claimed so many innocent lives, and which are  still fresh in their memories  , it is a crucial question , how a responsible minister of  a government , specially a government of good governance can act so slyly,  irresponsibly , traitorously , and abominably to plunge the country  into doom and gloom again ? 

Based on the aforementioned deadly incidents It is abundantly clear there are some individuals ( shameless turncoats , cutthroats and betrayers)   within this government who have gone so far as to take revenge on the forces that steered it to power. If the government of good governance of the president and prime minister do not control Wijedasa Rajapakse who had crept into the government to play the role of a Trojan horse, it is certain this government will be defeated not by its opponents  but by the very forces that put this government on the pedestal of power.  These groups now must be rightly saying ‘ this is goo (shit)  governance’. 

---------------------------
by     (2017-07-09 07:07:45)

President Maithri in a fix with clock ticking fast

BY GAGANI WEERAKOON-2017-07-09

The most heated Cabinet meeting ever since the election of President Maithripala Sirisena in 2015 took place last Tuesday at the President's Secretariat with the impatient President cracking the whip against his UNP coalition partners for inaction or rather lethargy shown in taking action against the former First Family.

President Maithri in a fix with clock ticking fast.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Unity vital for a new Sri Lanka - EDITORIAL

2017-07-10

wo and-a-half years after the spectacular election victory of January 8, 2015, President Maithripala Sirisena appears to be facing one of his biggest conflicts in the National Unity government which was formed after the parliamentary elections in August 2015.  
The conflict erupted in an unprecedented way at the Cabinet meeting last Tuesday. According to Cabinet spokesmen and media reports, the main issue was the alleged delays in probing allegations of multimillion rupee frauds and corruption by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his family members and top officials. Other issues include disputes over huge development projects such as the Hambantota Port and Trincomalee port development schemes in association with China and India.   

In a strange twist of politics, President Sirisena claimed that United National Party frontliners were responsible for dragging on the probes on the huge frauds or corruption allegations against Rajapaksa family members and associates. He said that if he were given the Law and Order Ministry and the Justice Ministry, he would see that these investigations were completed within three months the VIP culprits brought to justice and the money returned to the country. The ministers concerned, Sagala Ratnayake and Wijedasa Rajapakshe, later issued statements clarifying their positions. Mr. Ratnayake, who is in charge of the police department, said his conscience was clear and he had acted according to the rule of law. Mr. Rajapakshe also denied any wrong doing, claiming he had only made some inquiries from the Attorney General’s Department regarding some cases.  
The President did not name Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe but his outburst came after the premier submitted a Cabinet note seeking clarification on what the government should do relating to the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat (ACCS) whose term ended on June 30, according to our sister paper the Sunday Times.  

According to sources close to the Premier, the only advise or guidance given to the State’s investigative arms and the Attorney General’s Department is that they should obtain substantial documentary evidence before filing cases against the former regime’s VIPs for alleged frauds or corruptions. They say this is based on the hallowed judicial concept that in a court of law, allegations have to be proved beyond any reasonable doubt. Otherwise the case will apparently be dismissed by the courts and this would be a big blow to the government.  
There are questions as to whether President Sirisena accepts this principle or fears that the UNP has some ulterior motive in delaying the cases including those against former Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Gamini Senarath who was the former President’s Chief of Staff. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party at present is divided between the Sirisena faction and the Rajapaksa faction. Some media reports have implied that about 18 more Sirisena faction MPs may defect to the Joint Opposition or the Rajapaksa group but these reports have been denied by SLFP officials. Some SLFP ministers have implied or alleged that UNP frontliners are delaying the probes on allegations against the Rajapaksas and associates, with the ulterior intention of further splitting the SLFP and giving the UNP a better chance of victory at the provincial or local council elections scheduled to be held in the coming months.   

Whatever the charges or motives and whatever pressure President Sirisena is facing, most analysts believe there is no option but to continue with the National Unity government where both major parties came together for the first time since independence in 1948. The President and the Prime Minister are still known to have a close relationship because they were the key actors in the dramatic crossover of November 2014. They are also sincerely committed to the vision of building a peaceful, just and all inclusive society with religious and racial unity in diversity. We hope the commitment to this noble vision will be maintained despite conflicts or controversies that may continue to arise.   

President asks UNP to deliver or depart

President-July 9, 2017, 12:00 pm 

ECONOMYNEXT -President Maithripala Sirisena has virtually declared a three-month deadline for his coalition government to prosecute those responsible for high profile murders and corruption, or risk losing its hold on power.

Sirisena told the cabinet meeting on Tuesday that he was extremely uneasy about alleged backroom dealings between two members of the UNP-led government and key figures of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration.

"The President said he was aware of those who have cut deals to either delay or scuttle some of the ongoing investigations," a ministerial source said. "This is unacceptable."

The president told his cabinet that high profile cases would have been completed in three months if he controlled the law and order ministry, as well as the attorney general’s department.

In a clear reference to Sirisena’s displeasure, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka issued a statement on Thursday defending his record and at the same time saying he was ready to go if the President was unhappy with his performance.

Senior police and state attorneys have told the authorities they were under political pressure to go easy on some of the suspects under investigation although much evidence had been gathered and they were about to file action.

"If the Rajapaksa regime is back, there will be no problem for UNP ministers," the President had said."But the first people to be persecuted will be me and my family.

Nothing will happen to the Prime Minister too."

After unusually blunt accusations against the UNP-led group of the coalition, the president and some UNP seniors, including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, sat down for a special closed door meeting to address Sirisena’s concerns.

"The agreement is to fast-track at least the 10 most serious cases in the next three months," the source said.

He said fingers were pointed at IGP Pujith Jayasundara for the inordinate delay, while seniors at the AG’s department were also seriously criticised, but the President focused on political interference.

It has now become an open secret that the President wanted changes at the ministry of Law and Order and Justice during the May reshuffle, but Wickremesinghe’s resistance prevailed.

However, after the latest outburst on Tuesday, Sirisena has effectively put the entire government on three month’s notice to show tangible progress in the Lasantha Wickrematunga and Wasim Thajudeen murders, and mega corruption cases. Members of the former first family are said to be linked to both cases.

After A Decade Sri Lanka Entered Into The World Of Disarmament With The Nuclear Ban Treaty

By Vidya Abhayagunawardena –JULY 8, 2017

Vidya Abhayagunawardena

The 7th of July 2017 was a historical day for the world and Sri Lanka. At the UN in New York 122 nations voted and this included of Sri Lanka, adopting the first ever Nuclear Ban Treaty (NBT). We are fortunate to see that finally the world has realized the need to ban the nuclear bomb after seeing the devastating impact in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on humanity and nature even after 70 years. The nuclear bombs were used to attacked Hiroshima and Nagasaki instantly killing hundreds of thousands humans and causing severe damage to the natural environment. In the aftermath of it many generations suffered due to the impact of radiation and some are still suffering from it. 

After seeing the devastation that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in 1945, various global initiatives on nuclear weapons such as Conventions came into effect for banning the testing, non-proliferation and not losing it to terrorist groups. Conventions were created such as the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (1963), the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (1963), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (1996), the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968) and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005).

But none of above conventions were for the ban of nuclear weapons or worked towards eliminating them from the earth. The world has witnessed that up until, now the States and Non-States Parties to the above nuclear-related conventions have been accumulating and testing various types of modern advanced nuclear weapons. Such weapons are a thousand times in advance of the previous nuclear bombs which were used for attacking Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US. If a nuclear war took place in the present day, one will be unable to assess the level of damage it will cause to humans and nature due to its indiscriminatory nature and plethora of power the current nuclear weapons possess now.

The growing influence of civil society on international peace around the world was witnessed in the last few decades taking of the leadership to ban such weapons. In recent history they campaigned to ban certain indiscriminatory weapons and supported the regulating of conventional weapons at the UN. Due to successful campaigns led by civil society it was able to give leadership to ban   Anti-Personnel Landmines through the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention – APMBC (1997) and Cluster Bombs through the Convention on Cluster Munitions – CCM (2008) and regulating of conventional weapons through the Arms Trade Treaty – ATT (2013). In addition to this the first human rights convention the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – UNCRPD (2007), came to the world mainly due fact that APMBC had inspired further efforts at the international level to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. Civil society played a key role in the UNCRPD negotiations. 

The APMBC, CCM, ATT and CRPD are the most successful Conventions today at the UN, mainly due to the fact that the governments, UN agencies and civil societies are closely working together to achieve the objectives of the Conventions. Most recently, civil society successfully led the campaign to ban nuclear weapons and engaged in negotiations with governments and UN agencies and was able to give birth successfully to the Nuclear Ban Treaty – NBT (2017) this month with 122 countries voting for it. This legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapon marks a turning point for nuclear weapons in the future.

Even though Sri Lanka is not a nuclear power, the country has been in the forefront for nuclear and other disarmament efforts. Sri Lanka has been a signatory for the above-mentioned nuclear related and other Conventions. Sri Lanka took the leadership from the inception, when negotiations and active engagement with such Conventions throughout. At one time Sri Lanka was called the “Champion of Disarmament” which got positive global attention for the country, and at that time it was the brand name for Sri Lanka among the international disarmament community.

Sri Lanka always acted as a neutral nation, following non-aligned foreign policy to achieve this success. This has not badly impacted on the relations with neighboring nuclear powers India, Pakistan and also with the USA, Russia and China. These countries are not the States Parties to the above nuclear related and some of the other Conventions. But Sri Lanka never followed them and stood up as a strong  sovereign state in the region.

From 2005 onwards, Sri Lanka did not accede to any disarmament Conventions claiming that the country was engaged with protracted armed conflict with the LTTE until 2009. Several countries during war time have acceded to the above Conventions to gain benefits and this includes support of world peace initiatives. Even after the war Sri Lanka did not accede to any disarmament Conventions but the previous government had agreed to accede to humanitarian disarmament conventions like the APMBC and CCM. But they were not able to accede to any disarmament Conventions and were not engaged with the UN and the international community taking some stance.

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The true story behind SL cricket manager mafia..!

-by LeN special reporter

(Lanka-e-News - 09.July.2017, 12.20PM) The pressures brought to bear by the managers of Sri Lankan (SL) cricketers when players for the SL cricket team are  being selected has become a hot theme of discussion these days in the social media, Gossip websites , the face book pages and other media .Though some of these revelations are true , others  are aimed at slinging mud by one faction  at another , as well as  targeting players , and are untrue. It is most unfortunate many are  giving  credence to the exaggerated reports created out of the news tit bits by the bloggers  and on face book pages  .

In the circumstances it is the aim and objective of Lanka e news by this report to bring home to the people the true picture  pertaining to Sri Lankan  cricket management.

Charlie Austin and his arrival 

During the eighties when SL cricket secured test status and until the middle of  the nineties after  SL team won the world cup , no cricketer had his own private manager.  Based on the advice and instructions of the senior players , the junior players managed their affairs. 

The first appointment of a manager to manage the financial and other affairs of players officially began with Charlie Austin a British national.  Before him there were many who performed those tasks unofficially , but those   were not carried out in a professional manner. It is Austin who was  the first to pave the way for agreements between the player and the manager subject to a limited period.  Austin came to SL during the first half of the year 2000.
 
This Austin a youth then who joined the media profession in England  as an assistant to David Hops , a journalist at Guardian newspaper , England first arrived in SL  not as a journalist , but in search of a job. At that time , a senior cricket umpire taking pity on him gave him a room as a lodger  in his house. Austin who found a small job to manage his livelihood , after a while with the support of David Hops  became a Lankan reporter for  Cricinfo  a most popular Sri Lankan website , and thereby he found his way into the media circles  which  led to his close association with many cricketers . 

Austin launched the Austin management Co. thereafter. Austin was able to lure popular and senior cricketers like Mahela and  Sangakkara into the management of his Co.  Mahela’s wife Christina joined to serve in the Co. “ Red Dot Tours’ which was a sister Co. of Austin Management.  Austin who undertook to manage all the affairs of Sangakkara and Mahela is still their manager. Through the management of the finances of these two cricketers , Charlie Austin has earned many millions of rupees..

A great mastermind…

Charlie earned  most of the  money through the IPL tournaments. Based on the 10 % commission he receives by including the SL cricketers and via  the agreements signed , he earns a further many millions of rupees. By now the management of 70 % of SL cricketers is under  Charlie Austin. As of late , the latter is the mastermind and  manager for all our cricket captains  except Dilshan . Angelo Mathews , Rangana Herath and even Lasith Malinga have chosen Charlie as their manager .

Since Charlie collects a commission of 10 % on  the contracts signed by the cricketers through him , he has powers ,if necessary to influence the cricket administration board and  , the selection committee through the cricket captains and senior players who are under his management. Austin who is by now a multi millionaire   owning  a number of properties , companies  and hotels is permanently resident in SL . After having married a young Muslim lady , he has no necessity to return to England. 

Based on these factors Charlie is able to successfully  operate the cricket management mafia in SL . Arjuna Ranatunge who opposed this mafia during his tenure of office as the president of the cricket association got the SL cricketers to sign their agreements in respect of the IPL tournament that year via the cricket association after withdrawing  those   from  the managers .

Since that time until today the SL cricket IPL agreements are controlled by the association. Consequently , the 10 % commission is now channeled to the cricket association. Yet Charlie by claiming , the cricketers under his management are propelled by him collects a separate ‘santhosam’ ( kickback) from them .

Roshan Abeysinghe’s frauds

The cricket manager mafia initiated by Charlie has now ramified . It was commentator Roshan Abeysinghe who came next to Charlie as manager for most number of players . He was a challenge to Charlie . Roshan was able to lure  popular  cricketers like Thilkaratne Dilshan , Ajantha Mendis, Malinga Bandara,Lahiru Nirmanna, as well as many up and coming cricketers under his wings. Roshan was able to successfully get around the under 19 players of potential and promise.  

Roshan Abeysinghe in fear some time ago announced he is resigning  from the post of sports manager  because he was unable to continue as international cricket commentator any longer owing to the disputes  that erupted when commentating in between on his players . He also said  cited other reasons: He was  serving in the cricket association for a short time , and as   a member  of Ragama  sports club, as well as  the pressures exerted  on members of the selection committee.

Abeysinghe who is  purchasing properties across the country along with the players under his management, though he had withdrawn his name  , is still continuing  with those activities under the name of Rob Ashwell residing in England  who is Abeysinghe’s sidekick. It is his own secretary who has been appointed  as the middle party in SL pertaining to these activities.

Accordingly, Roshan Abeysinghe is the unofficial manager for all the players who are under  the name of Ashwell.  Based on this fraudulent manipulation  , he is continuing with his cricket commentaries without interruption in relation to international tournaments for which he has an affinity and  is earning him a huge revenue. Thilakaratne Dilshan is building barriers against  Austin  Charlie because of latter’s  ties with Roshan Abeysinghe. All the affairs of Dilshan are attended to by Roshan    even today .

Ravi De Silva offers baits ..

When Roshan is building barriers against  Charlie , another individual has emerged challenging Roshan. He  is Ravi De Silva  a relative of Ashley De Silva , the CEO of the Association. Ravi is the manager for several  young cricketers including  Kusal Janith Perera  and  Chamara Kapugedera .  For a long time he  had a talent to lure the under 19 players representing SL cricket . He has signed a five year contract with these players through intimidation , and has included a clause in the contract that they should pay a commission of 10 % to him on all their earnings. 

The cricket association spent Rs. 15 million to secure legal advice to get Kusal Perera released from the cricket ban imposed on him and for the examination of his urine sample. It was the Cricket  Association that challenged the urine examination report of Kusal Perera and rescued him. That credit goes to Thilanga Sumathipala. 

Kusal received a sum of Rs. 30 million from the ICC on account of its wrong verdict . Though the cricket association requested to refund the legal fees spent by it ,  Kusal along with his manager declined the request . But the manager collected his 10 % commission from that amount. 

An officer of the highest echelons of the Association associated with the financial affairs having realized the wonderfully splendid taste of the ‘management pie’ into which everybody is poking their fingers , began to exert pressure on the selection committee to push his club players into the SL team . He is now the unofficial manager of  several such players.

Nasoom Azar- Asanka Wijewardena’s  mafia offshoot 

A Muslim  by the name of Nasoom Azar who manages a hotel in England , appointed as a manager for several players including Lakshan Sandaken is a bosom pal of the CEO . Whenever the CEO travels  to England , it is in the hotel of this  Muslim he stays. Azar is the manager for Sadeera Samarawickrema and Dananjaya De Silva.

Meanwhile Asanka Wijewardena living in England and a close friend of Angelo Mathews has also become a manager. Asanka who does not have a permanent job in England , spends all his time with the SL team when it visits England. Sometimes he travels in the official bus of the cricket team. He watches matches seated together with selection committee chairman Sanath Jayasuriya. He also joins in with the players at dinners and parties in the nights. This bloke is also trying to become a sports manager joining with Angelo Mathews and his cousin brother . Among those who have signed agreements with Asanka are , Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunatileke . The new players are being pressurized  by Angelo Mathews to sign agreements with Asanka. 

The manager for Malinda Siriwardena and Kaushal Silva is Luke Keitch  an  Australian.

When scrutinizing  all these  goings on (murky) , it is evident the cricket management mafia has already swallowed  SL cricket in full,  and according to the players,  Sanath Jayasuriya the chairman of the selection committee has fallen prey to these mafia operators .

Tipp ex

A powerful unofficial manager of SL Cricket Association recently released a name list revealing  Charlie Austin’s name through the Association’s media manager to a number of journalists . He has not however forgotten to  use Tipp ex and delete  the name of Lakshan Sandaken ‘s  manager .  That was because the true manager came to light ( vide image below) .

It is imperative  that a commission is appointed in a day or two to probe into the transactions , and the mafia plaguing the cricket association. Yet because cronies and lackeys of his are making merry and money , Dayasiri Jayasekera is  only providing  ladders to these gaily swinging monkeys to have more fun and frolic at the expense of  the players.  

Though misleading news reports are published that are  extending support to various groups  through blogs and websites to deceive the public  ,  Lanka e news on the contrary , which publishes  the unalloyed truth ,and  reveals the true picture  and situation come what may , vows to continue to bring forth the true scenario and details pertaining to SL cricket .

By a Lanka e news special reporter

(Translaed by Jeff)  

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by     (2017-07-09 07:02:34)

SAITM: A war unto a finish to protect their interests by monopolies and oligopolies

GMOA has been in the practice of announcing wildcat strikes demanding the closure of SAITM, crippling the country’s State-sponsored medicare system – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

A war between monopolies

Monday, 10 July 2017

Economist Hema Senanayake, in a recent article, had argued cogently that the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine or SAITM was not a private medical school, but a private monopoly (available at: https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/saitm-is-not-a-private-medical-college-but-a-private-monopoly/).

SAITM A war unto a finish to protect their interests by monopolies and oligopolies.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

KILLING 27 WELIKADA PRISON INMATES IN 2012: A FRESH PROBE ORDERED

09/07/2017

Read the petition filed by former inmate Sudesh Silva:PR pettion Welikada killings

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Pujith Jayasundara has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct a further investigation into the 2012 Welikada Prison riot.

The order was given following the recommendations of the three-member committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The committee, headed by former High Court Judge Nimal Nambuwasamge presented its report to the Prime Minister in June 2015. The committee also recommended that a further investigation needs to be conducted to grant compensation to the victims.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal on Friday fixed for hearing on July 28, a petition requesting the court to order the IGP and the Director of the CID to conduct a formal investigation into the deaths of 27 inmates at the Welikada prison during the riot.

The petition was filed by Sudesh Silva, who was an inmate of the prison during the riot. He was called before a two-judge bench, comprising President of Court of Appeal, Justice L.T.B. Diddeniya and Justice S. Thurairajah.

The petitioner, in his writ petition, had pointed out that although four years have elapsed since this incident, no action has been taken and requested a proper investigation to be conducted.

The petitioner said after he was released from remand prison, he made a complaint to the CID on February 2, 2015, as an eyewitness to the incident.

When the petition was recalled on Friday, Counsel appearing for the Attorney General requested more time to study the petition.

The Welikada prison riot in November, 2012 resulted in the deaths of 27 inmates, and injuries to a prison officer and around 40 prisoners. The riot had occurred when STF personnel and commandos attempted to raid the L ward and Chapel ward of the prison.

Sunday Observer