Counter Point Opinion and fact:Fact or fiction?

The Thera further opines that there are no problems unique to the Tamils in this country,

2017-08-02

It was with much trepidation that I read a full page interview of Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thero in the published on 26th July 2017. The title itself pointed to a sentiment I myself share; that it’s time the country departs from ‘Colombo 07’ thinking; but the departure suggested by the Venerable Thera in the interview by Kelum Bandara, points to a much more ominous departure point. Some of the more interesting comments placed in bold, black print includes the following; ‘there is no need for a new Constitution’; ‘There are no issues specific to Tamils’; and ‘Constitution being worked out to please foreign forces’.
Needless to say, the interview deals with the several important issues including the timely topic of Constitutional Reform and the opinion of the Thera on each of these issues. Although several such opinion pieces appears daily in the print media, some of the opinions shared by the Venerable Thera require a clear rejoinder on multiple counts.

On the need for a new Constitution

The very first question put to the Thera is vis-à-vis the position of the Mahanayake Theras against a new Constitution. The opinion of the Venerable Gunawansa Thera is that ‘there is no need for a new Constitution. It’s not something demanded by the people. It’s something being imposed on them by a set of politicians’. In fact, the Venerable Thera, with all respect to his point of view, has been grievously misled on this point.
In fact the people of Sri Lanka have called for a new Constitution at least since 1995 (Edirisinha, 2008) just 17 years after the 1978 Constitution. The successive election platform promises for a new Constitution have resulted in the 2000 draft Constitution. The 2000 draft Constitution was in fact one of the more progressive pieces of legislation ever proposed and included a comprehensive fundamental rights chapter. The subsequent presidential election platform of President Maithripala Sirisena, which promised the abolition of the executive Presidency and a new Constitution for Sri Lanka, was very much in response to public sentiment. The fact that his proposed reform agenda won him the much coveted prize of executive presidency in and of itself affirms the public support for Constitutional Reform as well as for good governance, transparency and accountability from elected leaders. To say that Constitutional reform is being imposed on the people by a scheming set of elected politicians is misleading to say the least.

The fact that his proposed reform agenda won him the much coveted prize of executive presidency in and of itself affirms the public support for Constitutional Reform

The overwhelming response from all parts of the Country to the Public Representations Committee for Constitutional Reform is in-itself a confirmation that the people of Sri Lanka demand a progressive, inclusive and living Constitution that protects and promotes their rights. In fact, the 1978 Constitution itself has caused rifts among ethnic and religious minorities due to its majoritarian bent and sparse bill of rights as well as its centralization of power in an executive President and a central executive. The subsequent amendments such as the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in fact were responses to these overwhelming failures. Therefore when the Venerable Thera refers to a new Constitution ‘creating unnecessary rifts among our Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim brethren’, in fact the rifts began in the late 1940s with the disenfranchisement legislation. The need of the hour is clearly nothing more and nothing less than an inclusive Constitution, geared to protect the citizens, minorities and majority, from the tyranny of the state, and not necessarily only from each other.
 

Right to equality and minorities

The interviewer then asks the question termed thus ‘Yet the minority politicians trot out the argument that they need the new Constitution to ensure equal rights to the people’. Now here, the language of the interviewer itself points to the tone in which the interview itself is being conducted. The lack of empathy or understanding of the national question that has beleaguered this nation since 1972 in our recent history, and much before that since colonial times, is apparent in the manner in which the question is framed.

Undisclosed mass graves continue to surprise home owners in the north east in their gardens, in their villages and when excavating abandoned wells etc

It is not only minority politicians that ‘trot’ out an argument that equal rights of the people are not guaranteed. The intelligentsia of this country have called for a revised bill of rights for at least the last 30 years (Liyanage, 2009; Edirisinha and Welikala Eds., 2008). A brief perusal of the civil society report sent to the recently concluded review of Sri Lanka by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will reveal the number of communities and organizations that call for guarantee of equal rights for all in the Constitution above and beyond the existing Article 12 formulation. It is not only ethnic or religious minorities that call for equality but also minorities in terms of sexuality, gender, class and caste.
The interviewee then refers to his own personal efforts to ‘foster ties among the communities’ through a ‘North-South Friendship Shelter’. He alleges that his efforts were blocked by the local authorities. The fact that he sees the need for such an effort itself vitiates his argument that the Constitution already guarantees equality, in which case, friendship among communities need not be fostered. In fact, the argument that a new Constitution will cause unnecessary rifts among ethnic groups presupposes that there are no rifts between ethnic and religious groups. He further refers to the fact that dialogue takes place among politicians and not between people. Quite apart from the fact that politicians are the elected representatives of the people and are expected to represent their constitueneies, the fact is that the people have been widely consulted on what their governing law, the Constitution, should look like in form and figure.
The Thera further opines that there are no problems unique to the Tamils in this country, and that ‘we all have common problems in different sectors; be it education, health, land etc.’ The fact is that, when it comes to certain problems, the ethnic and religious minorities are victimized in multiple ways, and depending on location in space and time, are more vulnerable than the majority. A case in point are the up-country people (also called the Indian Tamil/ Malaiyaha Makkal) or plantation communities, a historically marginalized ethnic minority, whose marginalization is largely ignored in all national question debates both by Sinhala and Tamil speaking political constituents. The lack of livelihood opportunities in Kilinochchi and Vavuniya for example is highly ethnicised simply due to historical, geographical and economic considerations. Therefore our problems are not common, and certainly not proportional. Our problems are in fact highly ethnicised and polarized based on caste, class, ethnicity, gender and location to name a few of the differentials. To say otherwise is to minimize and ignore the veritable elephant in the room.

On the minorities

The Thera further comments that ‘As for Muslims, they could live in this country because of our compassion and largesse only’. This opinion is deeply problematic on numerous grounds. The advent of the Moors to Sri Lanka and their contributions to our history in numerous ways, few of which are dependent on the largesse of the Sinhalese or the clergy, is deep in the annals of our history. In fact theorizing on the largesse of our ancient kings several centuries ago is fictional to say the least. The arrival of the moors, just as the arrival of the Sinhalese and Tamils in this country, was in the more recent history of our nation, in the last 2500 years. In fact, all of the larger ethnic groups in this country, the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims are living here (if one were to surmise in this vein), because of the ‘compassion and largesse’ of the indigenous peoples of this country. The fact that history is cited so nonchalantly and with little accuracy scripts can further aggravate mistrust
among communities.

Legislation on missing persons

With reference to the Office of Missing Persons Act, the Thera shares disturbing but unsurprising sentiments. He throws doubt on the legitimacy of this government stating ‘This is not a government that was installed at the behest of the people in this country’. He thus completely negates the franchise and its power in representing the view of a political constituency. He further goes on to say that fulfilling the government’s international obligations [vis-à-vis missing persons] ‘would entail dangerous consequences to the country’. It is apparent that the brutal crushing of student uprisings in the early 1970’s and the late 1980’s which were followed by large scale disappearances, as well as the disappearances during the war, are not within the vision of the interviewee.
The issue of enforced disappearances is most definitely replete with ethnic, religious and age discrimination; during the 1980’s and early 1990’s hundreds of young and old Sinhalese and Tamil men and boys were disappeared. Undisclosed mass graves continue to surprise home owners in the north east in their gardens, in their villages and when excavating abandoned wells etc. Legislation that is introduced to give a closure to the hundreds of families waiting for news of their loved ones is not legislation that will benefit international spectators. These are solutions that families of disappeared (and families of victims of extra-judicial killings) have called for, cursed for and cried for, over the last two decades. Therefore to nonchalantly claim that the missing persons bill is either ‘Colombo 07 thinking’ or ‘dangerous’ to the country, is to completely forget the Matale mass grave, the Trincomalee five, and the other thousands of children, boys and girls, men and women, who have been systematically disappeared or killed outside of the recourse of the law, by state and non-state apparatus.

In fact, all of the larger ethnic groups in this country, the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims are living here because of the ‘compassion and largesse’ of the indigenous peoples of this country.

Perhaps the only point on which I agree with the Thera, despite having endured reading a full page of his opinion, is that I too love this country and its people. If political agendas and extremist nationalism is not your agenda, then one cannot but denounce this type of misinformation at a critical time in our history. - Misinformation that can contribute to making or breaking a historical new Constitution to govern our people and our state, to bring Sri Lanka to become a real motherland for all of its people and not only to a single ethnic or
religious group.
 The Author is an Attorney-at-Law and is the Executive Director of the Law & Society Trust based in Colombo.     

Kattankudy Mosque Massacre

by Dr Alavi Sheriffdeen

Every year, when the Month of August approaches, a feeling of dread and despair engulfs me as the memories of 3 August 1990 come flooding back. On that fateful day, with one swell swoop, 141 worshippers were massacred while they were in communion with God in two different mosques in Batticaloa, Eastern Province.  Nearly three decades later Meera Jummah Mosque in Kattankudy and Hussainiyya Mosque in Manchanthoduwai bear testimony to the bloodshed that took place within its sacred walls.

Kattankudy Mosque Massacre.docx by Thavam on Scribd

Sri Lanka ranked in the top 23 countries globally on breastfeeding!

Babies and mothers worldwide failed by lack of investment in breastfeeding 

Sri Lanka ranked in the top 23 countries globally on breastfeeding rates, as new analysis shows an investment of US$4.70 per newborn could generate US$300 billion in economic gains by 2025. 

( August 2, 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)  No country in the world fully meets recommended standards for breastfeeding, according to a new report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Global Breastfeeding Collective, a new initiative to increase global breastfeeding rates.

The Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, which evaluated 194 nations, found that only 40 per cent of children younger than six months are breastfed exclusively (given nothing but breast milk) and only 23 countries have exclusive breastfeeding rates above 60 per cent. Sri Lanka, as one of the first countries in the world to adopt the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in 1981, and following investment in the promotion of breastfeeding ranks within the top 23 countries, with 82 per cent of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their children across the nation.

Evidence shows that breastfeeding has cognitive and health benefits for both infants and their mothers. It is especially critical during the first six months of life, helping prevent diarrhoea and pneumonia, two major causes of death in infants. Mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancer, two leading causes of death among women.

“The amazing thing about breastfeeding is that it supports the brain development of children, building their ‘cognitive capital’ and ensuring they learn and grow into happy, healthy and productive adults. Breastfeeding is simply one of the most effective investments any nation can make in the health of their young and the future health of their economies and societies,” said UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative Tim Sutton. “We should all be immensely proud that in Sri Lanka 82%* of mothers exclusively breastfeed their children for six months, but we must all work to sustain these real gains. Together, we must continue to implement and monitor the  International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, ensuring that mothers are empowered with the right information especially in times of emergency; together we must continue to strengthen the ‘Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative’ which ensures that hospitals promote breastfeeding; and perhaps most importantly, together we must continue investing in our health staff, who  ensure that mothers have the knowledge and confidence to breastfeed their children.” 

“Breastfeeding is the best start in life one can give to the newborn and it has positive effects that last through adulthood – no other health intervention has a return on investment matching that for breastfeeding,” said WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr Razia Pendse. “For sustaining breastfeeding, it is important to ensure nutrition and health of adolescent girls, women of reproductive age, antenatal and breastfeeding mothers. Sri Lanka has been a pioneer in promoting and protecting breastfeeding and has breastfeeding as a central pillar in the National Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (2015 – 2020).”

The scorecard was released at the start of World Breastfeeding Week alongside a new analysis demonstrating that an annual investment of only US$4.70 per newborn is required to increase the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding among children under six months to 50 per cent by 2025.

Nurturing the Health and Wealth of Nations: The Investment Case for Breastfeeding, suggests that meeting this target could save the lives of 520,000 children under the age of five and potentially generate US$300 billion in economic gains over 10 years, as a result of reduced illness and health care costs and increased productivity.

The investment case shows that in five of the world’s largest emerging economies—China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Nigeria—the lack of investment in breastfeeding results in an estimated 236,000 child deaths per year and US$119 billion in economic losses.

Globally, investment in breastfeeding is far too low. Each year, governments in lower- and middle-income countries spend approximately US$250 million on breastfeeding programs; and donors provide only an additional US$85 million.

The Global Breastfeeding Collective is calling on countries to:

• Increase funding to raise breastfeeding rates from birth through two years.
• Fully implement the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions through strong legal measures that are enforced and independently monitored by organizations free from conflicts of interest.
• Enact paid family leave and workplace breastfeeding policies, building on the International Labour Organization’s maternity protection guidelines as a minimum requirement, including provisions for the informal sector.
• Implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in maternity facilities, including providing breastmilk for sick and vulnerable newborns.

Improve access to skilled breastfeeding counselling as part of comprehensive breastfeeding policies and programmes in health facilities.

• Strengthen links between health facilities and communities, and encourage community networks that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.
• Strengthen monitoring systems that track the progress of policies, programmes, and funding towards achieving both national and global breastfeeding targets.

Breastfeeding is critical for the achievement of many of the Sustainable Development Goals. It improves nutrition (SDG2), prevents child mortality and decreases the risk of non-communicable diseases (SDG3), and supports cognitive development and education (SDG4). Breastfeeding is also an enabler to ending poverty, promoting economic growth and reducing inequalities.

*Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), Department of Census and Statistic, 2016

Defeated and rejected Medical oppressors of GMOA mafia seeking to sabotage ERPM alias Act 16 exam now !

(Lanka-e-News - 01.Aug.2017, 11.30PM)  It is by now a well an widely known fact that the  chiefs  of the  Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA ) mafia are now rejected as GOMA (cow dung) because of their reckless and rudderless conduct despite being doctors who have taken the sacred of oath of Hippocrates to be of service to humanity subordinating all other interests .

Yet these  chiefs who are more mischievous than even  thieves are again resorting  to  sly maneuvers to falsely portray that  all their villainous activities were directed to safeguard the health services. Unfortunately however  due to  their dastardly efforts exploiting the SAITM issue  to sabotage the ERPM exam which is held for students who qualify as medical graduates from foreign medical Colleges it is very manifest all these are manipulations geared to rescue their own wicked breed and achieve their selfish  self fattening aims at the expense of national interests .

The ERPM exam Act 16 is conducted in two parts –theory and practical , and is held thrice a year only. Exams are held on subjects including Surgery , pediatrics , gynecology , and separate theory and practical tests are conducted for each subject. Besides , the candidates are permitted to follow internship only if they pass in all the subjects.

They are appointed  to hospitals based on rankings  only after all the local amateur doctors  have been ranked. In other words  the student of local medical College who secures the lowest marks at the Common MCQ exam held separately for them is given preference over the student who succeeds  securing  more marks in the Act 16 exam. 

Besides the Act 16 exam has been so arranged that the candidates  find it difficult to pass the exam in all the subjects at the same time. The hidden objective behind this is to  make the foreign qualified medical students to spend some more  years  of their lives  by keeping them entrapped in the final exam for several years .  Therefore these students by the time they successfully complete the MCQ exam they have lost several years of their seniority vis a vis  their  local counterparts.
 
In the meanwhile by a notification issued in April 2017 , the GOMA (cow dung) doctor villains said , until the SAITM issue is resolved in the way they want , they will not participate when  holding  the theory and practical exams .Based on that the exam which was to be held in October this year is being threatened with signs of cancellation  already because of the unjust uncalled for action of the doctor monsters’  trade union GMOA alias GOMA.  The GOMA mafia  is taking revenge on the foreign medical graduates  who are completely isolated from the SAITM issue based on GOMA’s cheap agendas o – to safeguard the so called superiority of the local medical graduates. 

No matter what,  it is a pity the local medical students who receive free education out of tax payers’ monies, instead of making full use of their time towards studies,  owing to their immaturity and lack of intelligence have fallen prey to evil political agendas and become tools of satanic  politicians. Consequently they  prefer to roam the streets and waste their time like drug addicts and wayside idlers compromising their precious future  neglecting studies.
 
By their  neglecting classes and lessons , the chances of a  team of local doctors being appointed as amateur doctors  at the beginning of the new year is in jeopardy. 

If the dearth of doctors is to be combated  somewhat , and truly if  concern is being shown towards  the quality of medical education , circumstances must  be created to hold the ERPM exam on time , and pave the way to those  who have secured valid  medical degrees from foreign medical Colleges to  receive their amateur doctor  appointments.  But the GOMA mafia which always thinks evil, acts evil  and promotes evil ,and which is opposed to a  group of foreign medical graduates springing up  who will be    more  senior  than the local medical graduates are  engaging in treacheries and villainies to sabotage the ERPM  exam with a view to obstruct the amateur doctor appointments. 

Sadly the foreign medical graduates who are stymied , entangled and enmeshed by  the Act 16  and  are seeking to pass the exams successfully from time to time are stranded at every turn. Yet the GOMA mafia Satans don’t give a damn about it because they are anxiously waiting to foil  the exam any day it is held. Hence , the Act 16 practical exam specially is being  conducted sans transparency to scuttle it. 

These   impediments have paved the way for the local medical graduates who are always after filthy lucre to satiate their appetite for  money making by fair or foul means.   Even before their duties are over at the government hospitals the ‘GOMA’ doctors scoot off. There are a large number of them who want to conduct  tuition classes for ERPM exam.  These selfish self seeking doctors whose gaze is fixed only on filthy lucre,  earn hundreds of  thousands of rupees per day   by charging many thousands of rupees from each  student.

On the day before the practical exam , they collect through their assistants the data  of the cases of patients who arrive at the various hospitals which are medical centers , and convey those via the internet to the students who attend their classes.

The senior doctors (consultants) who regulate the ERPM practical exam are still worse. They pass their favorites, and fail other  candidates for no reason who have performed well  in the practical exam having identified   the disease and prescribing  the treatment  duly .

To the students who fail in the practical exam , there are no advice or reasons given.   After about a month the candidates  come to know  they have passed or failed .  Based on this outmoded system the examiners taking full advantage of it  pass their favorites and children of their cronies . As regards the other candidates, there are reports that  bribes are demanded or sexual favors are solicited to pass them .

The present government which is for  good  governance is duty bound to do justice to the foreign qualified medical graduates  , and rescue the health sector  from the cruel clutches of the GOMA  (cow dung) rapacious rascals. 

Already the academic year for  the amateur doctors  has begun. Because of the shortage of amateur doctors  in the future , the young interns (local and foreign) who might have  suffered  for  an additional year as amateur doctors  will get some relief.

While the chiefs of GOMA doctors are sticking in Colombo and enjoying all the  benefits of private channeling , it is the young interns and post interns in hospitals situated in difficult areas who have to face all the sufferings without even proper food and water.  

We wish to make the following proposals to the government :

1. Since the written exam is conducted according to the MPQ system , the GOMA doctors are not indispensable  . The exam that has been postponed indefinitely can be held immediately .

2. This exam being conducted  by the government , the holding of the practical exam can be declared an essential services via a gazette notification  , and if the GOMA doctors boycott it legal measures can be introduced to confiscate their assets as a mode of punishment . In the alternative , as a  temporary solution suitable senior foreign doctors can be invited to conduct  the practical exam .

3. All the practical examinations shall be conducted in accordance with internationally accepted standards while making voice recording compulsory . The students who failed can be given the voice recording and a written summary of their weaknesses by the examiner so that they  can identify their mistakes.  Opportunities must be granted  to use those as evidence to make an appeal .

4. Punishment shall be meted out to the doctor villains who scoot off early neglecting their official duties to conduct private tuition classes . In addition the assets of all these doctors shall be probed into to ascertain whether they have duly paid taxes to the government.

5. If the examiners too  are trying to indulge in malpractices and irregularities like those conducting tuition classes , a methodology shall be evolved to enable the candidates to report such activities anonymously to the health ministry or the police .

Certainly nobody who shows concern for the quality of SL’s  health sector is going to object to  the introduction of these reforms .It is only the doctor mafia monsters and Morons who  seek to safeguard their empire of wealth unjustly acquired and their vain  Utopia would raise stupid objections. 

By  Doctor Queer

---------------------------
by     (2017-08-01 18:16:38)

Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister…people are hearing what you’re not saying!

“When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail.”
 ~Pearl S. Buck  

2017-08-02

The biggest issue before us isn’t that we aren’t listening. But that we are hearing what we don’t want to hear. The people tend to pay more attention to the President and Prime Minister. They represent the respective partners of the coalition. President Maithripala Sirisena is the de jure Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The question is whether or not he has the confidence of all the SLFP parliamentarians. On the other hand, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe seems to be the undisputed Leader of the United National Party (UNP). But the majority of those who voted for Maithripala at the Presidential Elections and the UNP at the General Elections are palpitating with a tremendous amount of disgust and disappointment today for valid reasons. They can’t be disregarded, for the expectations raised at the Hustings were sharper and more cutting in the context of the alleged corruption and nepotism related to the former first family and their kith and kin.

Knowing very well that he possesses a remarkable ability in articulation of profound political themes in simple vernacular, Sirisena fails miserably in putting that ability into practice

The disappointment is even blunter as the very platform that was made to be understood by the voter at both elections was ‘eradication of corruption and nepotism’. Each time one of these leaders, President or Prime Minister, goes on stage and delivers an oration, whether political or not, the audience had been waiting to hear something else, something more positive, especially relating to the findings of the numerous investigations and their likely consequences. Yet the audience returned home without hearing anything positive. That is a letdown. Lack of aggression on the part of the Prime Minister is understandable. He could be quite belligerent in parliament; at times he is quite an engaging public speaker although he is way behind the UNP’s brilliant public speakers in the likes of Dudley Senanayake, R Premadasa, Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake. Yet Wickremasinghe’s lack of aggressive prosecution of the Rajapaksa’s miscarriage of political and financial justice is looming large.

Maithripala Sirisena’s approach should be viewed through a different prism. He is an accomplished speaker, whether in parliament (when he was in parliament), at a public rally or addressing the media personnel. His problem is one of strategic genre. Knowing very well that he possesses a remarkable ability in articulation of profound political themes in simple vernacular, Sirisena fails miserably in putting that ability into practice, if not for the good of the country and the coalition that he leads, at least for the sake of his own political survival and continuation at the helm of the current government. Whether you are the President or Prime Minister or a member of the Cabinet, the one brutal reality in politics glares at him: you have to blow your own trumpet because no one else is going to do it for you. And you must not shy away from that prime rule in politics. ‘Blowing your own trumpet’ shouldn’t be taken literally. One can blow one’s own trumpet by engaging a professional outfit consisting of media professionals. In the absence of such an exercise, a politician at the level of President would look amateurish and unambitious. Ambition, if steered well and with ruthlessness, can make an unsustainable politician travel a long way. But ambition, if unclothed and without constraints, could lead to disastrous consequences. It’s so for the subject and more so for his or her surroundings, family and friends.  

Sirisena can’t assume power on a ‘partnership’ platform and surround himself with ‘yes’ men and expects to traverse on stormy seas

Ambition aside, it’s elementary political physics that the gravity of all criticisms and innuendos is towards the foot of the Head of State, in our case both President and Prime Minister.

President Sirisena and Premier Wickremasinghe can’t run away from that reality. In today’s context, the country’s main complaints are multilayered and two prime categories are 1) unaggressive pursuit of corruption-dealers of the Rajapaksa regime 2) Inaction on such dealers in their own government. If Maithri and Ranil are of the opinion their focus should be on other issues such as rising cost of living and almost-daily demonstrations and strikes quite successfully launched by various anti-government forces, then their opinion is sadly misplaced. In fact their opinion is then detrimental to the execution of the program that they introduced to the country on the election platform.

Time isn’t on their side. Agitations and demonstrations aren’t only organized by the so-called Joint Opposition, they are also being initiated by those who voted for this government. Such protests and street parades regarding issues that matter to daily lives of the masses seem to be well-organized and are influencing a segment of population that is most vital. These attempts are drawing the sympathy of young men and women pursuing higher ideals.

Whatever the protests, they have since of late become an order of the day. Protests held, especially within Colombo suburbs, are a byproduct of the frustration the people. These are the voices against rampant corruption. This is an extension of the public opinion that is building up directly as a result of the lack of action being taken by the current rulers against the Rajapaksas who were alleged to have been enmeshed in a tangle of illicit money-making and naked nepotism during their own regime and b) some Ministers in the current government who are alleged to be betrothed in corruption themselves.

President Sirisena is constantly engaged in capturing the moment in politics. Instead he needs to pay greater attention to building a whole new scope of strategically planned dynamism in politics. Mere existence from moment to moment as a philosophical paradigm is utterly dreary and unexciting. And in the event in which the moment isn’t captured, it could be disastrous and tragic. The President would be judicious to shed that mode of navigation. Leaving behind a repetition of capturing the moment, which has been a lifelong habit that may have served him well in the past, is neither valid nor possible today. The sands of time will sweep him off and dash him on ground before he realizes it. His approach to the SAITM issue, being embroiled in the internecine politicking in the SLFP, his utterances regarding changing social phenomena such as young girls jumping on stage of a world-renowned entertainers are, but a few such moments that he managed to arrest and lost in the long run.

If Maithri and Ranil are of the opinion their focus should be on other issues like rising cost of living and almost-daily demonstrations then their opinion is sadly misplaced

The failure to distinguish between strategy and tactics is an acute deficiency in a politician. Maithripala Sirisena took a grave and patriotic decision when he left the corruption-ridden Rajapaksas and contested the last Presidential Elections. The country, more than he, was rewarded with for such a momentous decision. But that’s history now. The people have already forgotten about it. A more difficult road is before him and to his constant dismay, he discovered that running a coalition government between Ceylon’s traditional arch-rivals, the UNP and the SLFP, isn’t as smooth as ascending to power. One must be extraordinarily skilled to undertake such a task. Sirisena can’t assume power on a ‘partnership’ platform and surround himself with ‘yes’ men and expects to traverse on stormy seas. Of course, he’s the presiding head of the Cabinet of Ministers who are de facto and de jure executives of government policies. In the wake of the passage of the 19th Amendment, in clumsily arranged state machinery, conflict of interest, domestic political rivalries, facilitating Ministerial portfolios for candidates who were defeated at the elections, the credibility of President Sirisena suffered an irreversible twist. One consequence of this process was the expansion of the Cabinet to an unmanageable number of forty eight (48). One may argue that in the context of a coalition government, one has to choose between pacifying those who demand lucrative Cabinet positions and risking a damaging political dynamism when those whose demands aren’t met choose to defect. But that’s an insubstantial argument in that the sheer weight of the Cabinet is more than capable of causing a stagnation in the state machinery under the very weight of such a massive Cabinet!

In the case of the Prime Minister, it’s totally a different phenomenon that is at play. Unlike Maithri, Ranil seems to have total control of his party. But he too failed to take some timely action when such action was called for. One conspicuous issue is the Central Bank bond scam. As soon as the details of this horrendous scam surfaced, Ranil, should have asked for the resignations of the then Governor and all other politicos, even if they were remotely connected with the scam. By not doing so he allowed a wound to fester beyond cure. Now both, Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe are bogged down in a perpetual damage control and crisis management mode. That’s not the way to steer the ship of State. The masses are watching and hearing and they are more eager to hear what the leaders are not saying!

The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com

Reconsider PM Celebrations - TISL

 Aug 02, 2017

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) is extremely concerned by reports quoting a letter from the Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, dated 27 July, which instructs all District Secretaries to host a series of events from 3 August, to celebrate Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's 40 years in public service.

If the instructions contained in the letter are to be followed, it will require considerable resources to be redirected for the purpose of organising the events. This would include over 1300 Bodhi Puja ceremonies, alms for 1000 monks and religious observances at kovils, churches and mosques across the island amongst other things. This would place a severe resource burden on Divisional and District Secretariats, whose primary function is to ensure public service delivery.

 

Whilst celebrating public service is not to be ignored, given the scale of what has been planned, TISL respectfully requests the Honourable Prime Minister to instruct the cancellation of these celebrations or alternatively, organise such celebrations without public resources, human or monetary.

 

TISL wishes to remind the authorities concerned that using public resources for personal gain amounts to corruption and that it runs counter to the spirit of good governance.

Home Affairs Ministry Wants Public To Fund PM’s 40 “Years In Politics Celebrations”

AUGUST 1, 2017

In a clear violation of the basic tenets of good governance and demonstrating absolute confusion over ‘state,’ ‘government’ and ‘party,’ the Ministry of Home Affairs has demanded all District Secretaries organize programmes for the commemoration of a political event, i.e ‘the completion of 40 years of public service by the Hon Prime Minsiter Ranil Wickremesinghe.’

The relevant instructions have been issued in a letter marked ‘Extremely Urgent’ and signed by Neil De Alwis, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. The directives, detailed under the subject line ‘The completion of 40 years of public service by the Hon Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the free economic system,’ calls for the mobilizing of support from people in the relevant areas and obtaining their involvement for commemorative programmes. These include all night pirith ceremonies on August 3, 2017 and offering of alms to 40 Buddhist monks on the following day (August 4th). The District Secretaries have been asked to arrange for these religious events to be complemented by similar ceremonies invoking blessings on the people and the Yahapalana government at Christian, Hindu and Muslim places of worship.

The letter has been copied to the Secretary to the Prime Minister ‘for his kind attention’. It is not known whether or not the Prime Minister’s office has noted the clear abuse of state resources and the politicization of public offices embedded in the text of the letter and, in the event of such noticing, given appropriate instructions to the Home Affairs Minister.

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FMM CONDEMNS MINISTER DIGABANRAN’S MEDIA BAN

 
02/08/2017

Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the behavior of the Minister Digambaram while Mr. Indika Roshan Kauarachchi from Sirasa Media was reporting a government event, since it is considered as a threat to media freedom. Mr. Indika Roshan was reporting the even as per the formal invitation sent by the Government Information Department.

Television recordings confirm that someone had taken out the Sirasa microphone from the podium, obstructing the journalist’s professional work, where Minister Digambaram is alleged to have given the order.

It is unfortunate to see such behavior by a minister from the government which assured to protect media freedom. Further, Free Media Movement believes that having invited formally to cover the event, the obstruction seemed to be a censorship and emphasizes the fact that it is impossible to accomplish democracy and good governance without broader media freedom.

Further, some individuals who alleged to be the supporters of Minister Digambaram have been threatening Mr. Indika Roshan and therefore, Free Media Movement states that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure his safety.

C. Dodawatta
Convener

German Tech Principal who solicits sexual favors from students and his sex abuse ! (video)

(Lanka-e-News - 02.Aug.2017, 10.10PM)  While the government is getting ready to introduce a fixed standard for the Medical Education , the principal of German Technical training Institute (which hitherto maintained  a high standard  )  Shantha Karunaratne the sex starved scoundrel on the other hand is soliciting sexual favors  to pass the students sitting exams at the Institute. Below  is a video footage which bears testimony to the sex pervert’s shameless spills and thrills .

Though this sex maniac has been carrying on with his illicit lascivious activities for a long time nobody mounted opposition to it. While a large number of innocent students who fell victim to the sex starved maniac have left the institute abandoning their studies , one intelligent brave student has had the courage to challenge this rascal.  She is a resident from  the vicinity of Colombo. This sex starved shameless animal  of a principal has failed her in several subjects in the exam , and has been unrelentingly demanding  that she yields to his sex lust if he is to pass her in the exam.

The student who went to meet him along with a  secret video cameras to capture the pictures with a view to expose  this sex maniac had videoed the most disgraceful , shameless ,vile conduct  of the two legged animal of a principal. What we have here is a 4 minute recording of a long footage.   

The victim had gathered all the evidence and lodged complaints with the Mt.Lavinia police and the Commission of Bribery and Corruption.

Though this police complaint comprised of 13 pages , the B report submitted to the magistrate court Moratuwa stated that the principal only pulled her by the  hand thereby hiding all the other lurid details  against the principal .On 25 th July when the magistrate was reluctant to enlarge this criminal on bail , yet  because  the police did not object to bail , the principal  was released on a cash  bail of Rs. 50,000.00 and two personal sureties in a sum of Rs. 200,000,00 each, and the magistrate postponed the  case .

It is a practice when  a chief of an Institution is criminally charged before court and is out on bail to be precluded from  holding  the official position and from continuing  with his duties , yet because of minister Chandima Weerakkody under whom the Germant Tech is , and its chairman Pandu Bandaranayake whose  patronage the prinicipal enjoys , this two legged shameless animal in human form is still continuing as German Tech principal.

Whom are the police without enforcing the law duly,   trying  to safeguard and protect ; and whom are the political authorities trying to shield and safeguard by not adhering to the laws ? Have they also descended to the level of shameless   pariahs as the principal who brazenly demanded sexual favors from innocent students ?

The crucial question  is ,why are  the so called student movements of the Leftist Neanderthal  politicos that shout and scream even for hypocritical reasons that they espouse the cause of students silent before  these confirmed pariahs?

A copy of the complaint made to the Bribery and corruption Commission by the innocent student who suffered at the hands of the sex pervert Shantha Karunaratne ,  and the video footage of the sexual molestation are herein 

Click This Video Link

https://www.facebook.com/lankaenews/videos/1573581022707057/

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by     (2017-08-02 16:57:14)

Sri Lanka Foreign Minister says he 'knew nothing' of the apartment purchase


Wed, Aug 2, 2017

Aug 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ravi Karunanayake Wednesday appeared before the Presidential Commission probing the Central Bank Treasury Bond Issue to answer questions regarding his involvement.

During the questioning, the former Finance Minister said he knew nothing about first leasing and later purchasing an apartment in Monarch Residencies in Colombo.
The Minister said the penthouse apartment in Monarch he and his family were residing in for nine months has been bought by the company of which his wife and eldest daughter are directors.

He added that he was unaware that the apartment was paid for by the Perpetual Treasuries (PT) Pvt. Limited owned by Arjun Aloysius.

He first learned of the apartment when he went to live there, the Minister said. He added that while he has a good family life, his wife and daughter do not disclose everything. He said had he known that Aloysius had paid for the apartment he wouldn't have lived there because of the 'conflict of interest'.
He said that Aloysius had paid cash through his company as the owner of the residence did not want to lease out the penthouse to a politician.

Minister Karunanayake, who appeared before the Commission on the third day of notifying him by the Commission, testified for over four hours. He apologized to the Commission for not being able to appear before the Commission on earlier occasions when he was called.

When the commission directed Minister Karunanayake's attention to mobile phone messages addressed to him as "honorable Ravi" and "RK" on the mobile phone of Arjun Aloysius, the Minister said he knew nothing about the messages.

Additional Solicitor General, President's Counsel Dapula de Livera, appearing for the prosecution produced evidence that Minister Karunanayake and Arjun Aloysius had traveled to Singapore 13 times within the same period and in one of those occasions the two had traveled together in the same plane.


However, the Minister said he remembers meeting with Arjun Aloysius only once in Singapore. The Minsiter said although he knew the Aloysius family since their grandfather's time, he doesn't have any personal or business relations with Arjun Aloysius.

Hambantota Port agreement has provisions disadvantageous to sl –Trade Union leader

2017-08-02
Hot on the heels of the government inking the Hambantota Port deal, D.J. Rajakaruna, Convener of the Joint Trade Union Alliance in the petroleum sector, speaks about its implications to the country and its economy at large. Excerpts:

• Hambantota Port deal, worse than 1815 Kandyan treaty
• Investment in Ports is the most profitable international business for SL
• We insist on retaining at least bunkering business with us
• SL is astride a main trade artery in the world 
• It is unquestionably a viable investment 
•  This country has potential to develop these facilities
• It is treacherous to lease out Trincomalee harbour to India 
• Plans to have talks with CEB, NWSBD TUs to join hands
•  More ships are looking to Trincomalee for bunkering services 
• Chinese company has lion’s share in as profit earning company  
• We should not alienate these assets to US, India or China 
• We should not alienate these assets to US, India or China 

Q There are various arguments about the viability of the Hambantota Port. How do you look at it as a trade union leader?

Unquestionably, it is an economically viable port. Nobody could dispute the construction of it at all. Sri Lanka is astride the main shipping line that connects the Middle-East with the rest of the world. In our view, Sri Lanka is not a country enriched with natural resources. We have oil resources which are still unexplored, though. It is something different. Hence, the best mode of development is the capitalization of its location adjacent to this trade and shipping artery. We have to convert our strategic location to a blessing for the country. On a daily basis, around 300-400 ships sail pass Sri Lanka along this sea-lane. If we tap at least 0.1% of bunkering business available for these ships, we would be able to sell off a tanker load of fuel. It would amount to a business running to the tune of billions of US dollars.

The debt burden will remain. The Govt. is to get US $ 1.2 billion for the transaction. The deal was struck out of greed for such money. The Govt. is to get this amount. But, it is not meant to square-off the debt. The debt level will continue to be there

Sri Lanka has the biggest potential for bunker business. A ship coming through Suez Canal has to reach Singapore for bunkering. To reach such a distance, a ship has to carry an additional volume of fuel in reservation. About 8000 tons of fuel should be on reserve for a shipping vessel. Whereas with such facilities are available here in Sri Lanka, a ship may require only half of the reserved fuel. When that is reduced, a ship gets space for additional freight. It would be profitable for the shipping lines’ agents concerned. Hambantota has the greatest potential in this case. Even now, some of the ships sail pass Sri Lanka have a port of call at Galle harbour for crew changes etc. China is the second largest economy in the world. With its economic expansion, it looks to new markets. They have revitalized the ancient silk route one the ‘One Belt, One Road’ project. Sri Lanka is in a vantage point here. Hambantota has the potential to be developed as a cargo transit hub.

We should not alienate these assets to US, India or China 

There is a gas line being developed across Bangladesh and Myanmar to link with the Chinese economy. Chittagong is the entry point. Hambantota is to be linked with this. Then, Kra canal is being developed near Thailand to reduce voyage time for ships. The cruise from China to Sri Lanka via Singapore could be reduced by 1600 nautical miles because of this canal. Trincomalee is equally important. We have no other international trade business as viable as port services.

Q As petroleum workers, you struck work crippling the entire country against signing an agreement to lease out the Port to Chinese Merchants Port Holding Company. Though it was said signing would be postponed, it happened. What are you going to do now?

Our demand was to retain the bunkering business with Sri Lanka. In Hambantota, it is difficult to work for six months because it is very windy in the sea areas. That is why it was built as an inner harbour. Two jetties and 11 tanks were built to be entrusted with the petroleum authorities. Our representatives also observed it. We have to admit that it had not been built on par with the most appropriate plan. Our experts in the petroleum sector were not consulted in this case. There was no proper feasibility study. It looks like eyewash. The petroleum sector only should decide on standards and specifications in tank building for fuel storage.

We sensed that the Govt. is trapped by foreign powers. It is difficult for us to please all the super powers at once. The answer is to retain these bunkering facilities in Trincomalee and Hambantota with us, rather than alienating to the US, India or China. We had to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord under compulsions; giving the Trincomalee oil tank farm to India on  lease. That happened because of the way we engaged with the US at that time. The Prime Minister accepted it during our meeting with him. Now, how many people have died as the end result of the Indo-Lanka Accord? We insisted that the facilities in Hambantota and Trincomalee should not be alienated. However, the Govt. had reached a point of no return. Therefore, we asked the Govt. to keep the bunkering business at least with us in both these places.

The Prime Minister accepted it during our meeting with him. Now, how many people have died as the end result of the Indo-Lanka Accord? We insisted that the facilities in Hambantota and Trincomalee should not be alienated. However, the Govt. had reached a point of no return. Therefore, we asked the Govt. to keep the bunkering business at least with us in both these places

Q However, the agreement was inked. What is your stand now?

This is a grave betrayal. We were once colonized by the British. After that, this is the next gravest subjugation of our economy to a foreign power.

Q The Govt. says this would reduce its debt burden, making way for economic stability. What is your view?

It is falsehood. The debt burden will remain. The Govt. is to get US $ 1.2 billion for the transaction. The deal was struck out of greed for such money. The Govt. is to get this amount. But, it is not meant to square-off the debt. The debt level will continue to be there.

Q There are two companies to be set up. The Chinese company will hold majority shares. How would it impact the local economy?

The agreement contains provisions that are disadvantageous to Sri Lanka. There are two companies to be proposed. We will have majority shares in one company and work as the service provider vitality. These are not profit earning sectors. In that company, we will be responsible for 51.7% of equity, whereas in the profit earning company, we will have only 15% of shares.

The port has been built now. This is a massive facility. We have to install gantry cranes now for it to take off in full swing. We need an investment for it. That is true. Once that is done, business will flow in. There is nothing much to be developed other than it. The loan is only US $ 1.7 billion taken for it. Actually, we could save foreign exchange because of oil price reductions in the world market. We could have pumped in the saved amount of money in terms of US dollars to install gantry cranes at least for one terminal in Hambantota.

Minister Arjuna Ranatunga once said Sri Lanka Ports Authority recorded a profit of Rs.11 billion even by paying off loan installments. Even bonuses were paid. Only up to 2020, we will have debt serving on a rising scale regarding the port. After that, it will be on a sliding scale. Now, a bulk of the port revenue will be acquired by an external party. A couple of months ago, we did bunkering of 3000 tons of fuel. The profit was Rs.117 million. This is such a small business. We do not believe in the Govt’s argument that the port cannot be run because of debt burden. It is fallacy.

Q In the Cabinet paper, it says port security is a matter for Sri Lanka. However, the Chinese company has majority shares. As a result, won’t it be able to have a stake in security aspects?

Yes, it is possible. I wonder whether we would also have to obtain visa to go to the port one day!

The government is now trying to apportion Trincomalee harbour to India. We can write reams and reams about the importance of the Trincomalee harbour. It is a treacherous act to lease it out to India. Trincomalee should be the capital of our country, in our view. These two resources are big enough to rejuvenate the local economy

Q How do you look at this from a geopolitical point of view?

That is the reason for me to stress that we should keep these facilities with us. We should not alienate them to any super power. If we alienate it to one country, we will have to please the other by another means. This is the entire subjugation of the country’s economy. This is nothing but betrayal. It is even worse than the 1815 Kandyan treaty. On the other hand, the government is now trying to apportion Trincomalee harbour to India. We can write reams and reams about the importance of the Trincomalee harbour. It is a treacherous act to lease it out to India. Trincomalee should be the capital of our country, in our view. These two resources are big enough to rejuvenate the local economy. We can develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm. In fact, we pointed out to the Govt. that the cost could be recovered within one year after starting bunkering business. There are enough and more ships looking to Trincomalee for bunkering services. The Govt. has submitted the Cabinet paper to lease it out to India and it was submitted on the same day. We had to wage a hard battle to stop this.

Q Now, you sought yet another meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena. How are you going to raise all these matters?

Actually we had talks with the President during our strike period. We called-off the strike after the meeting was adjourned till August 1. That is the real story. The President said he would bring an amendment to the original agreement before signing during the period of interval. That is to accommodate our demand. He proposed to talk to the Chinese company. Then, he said it would reduce the amount to be paid by that company for the stake of the port. The Govt. wants quick money; it is virtually starving. So, it clings to any straw to find money. We are yet to read the full text of the original agreement signed. We still place some trust on the President. If he breaches this trust, it would reflect badly on him. We wrote to him saying this is an act of treason. We asked him not to be part of it. We explained him the danger that is lurking in this case.

The next move is to unite trade unions in the other sectors for our struggle. We alone cannot do it. We will talk to the trade unions of Ceylon Electricity Board and the Sri Lanka Water Supply and Drainage Board to join hands.     

Information to the IGP about DIG (supplies)

Aug 02, 2017

DIG (supplies) is Priyantha Weerasuriya. He joined the Police Department as a constable in 1988. He was promoted a sub inspector in 1994, but then left the service. He rejoined in 1998 as an ASP after gaining the required qualifications. Today, he is a DIG, and really a talented man. The fields he excels in are numerous.

Excels in both economics and biology

He is being talked about as a person who is very much learned in economics. That means his economy is very good (supplies is a best place for underhand dealings, according to those who are in the know). At a recent meeting of DIGs, Weerasuriya became a topic, and one said that he knew not only his economics, but also his biology. That DIG said that he caught Weerasuriya red handed with a policewoman at a hotel in Kandy. If that was a case of mutual consent, we do not question that.

Choosy when taking bribes

What is our concern is that he continues to be in charge of supplies for the police for six years now. One secret for his longevity there is that he does not take bribes from every supplier, but from a selected few only, and that too, in a very cunning manner. The journey he has come in the department is a manifestation of his good planning. But, at the Kandy hotel, it was a coincidence that he got caught with a policewoman.

Luxury house at Pelawatte

He is so cunning that no one knew that he was building a luxury house at Pelawatte. He was caught there too, by coincidence, by the mother-in-law of another DIG. She met Weerasuriya near the house he was building, and he told her that he was visiting a friend who was building the house. But, she too, was smart and the next day, went to the site and inquired from the masons about ‘the Mahattaya.’ Thinking that she was a friend of Weerasuriya, they told her that ‘the Mahattaya’ did not come often, and told her the entire story. She then informed the wives and mothers-in-laws of all the DIGs. The house was being built with the money earned by him with his knowledge of economy.

No shoes for the police

For the past one and a half years, members of the police have not received the shoes they should be given every six months (We know that the nature of their duties involve kicking suspects, and the shoes get broken very quickly). Neither the under vests or the uniforms. Weerasuriya is awaiting a supplier who suits his purposes.

Pujith is not a thief

Recently, he sent a supplier friendly with him to IGP Pujith Jayasundara, after advising the supplier to get him involved in the deal. The supplier told the IGP that he could support him if he was given tenders to make supplies. Jayasundara lost his temper, reprimanded the supplier and expelled him. We may criticize the IGP, but we do know very well that he is not a thief, although he is a non-starter. He did not pursue the incident any further, although attempted bribery is an offence, maybe he is too, busy with his ‘meditation’ programmes.

Special investigation unit, CID are napping

The police headquarters has received many complaints against DIG Weerasuriya. But, no investigation has taken place. The special investigation unit and the CID are napping, and he is going places with his economics and biology.

Is Pujith afraid of Weerasuriya?

There is a secret. The biggest strength Weerasuriya has is the Law and Order Ministry secretary Jagath Wijeweera. Secura Tec is a supplier best known to both. It is through this company, and with Weerasuriya’s recommendation that the police buys the dogs and horses. Both help themselves and their economies reach sky high. This is no secret to the IGP, but he takes no action, may be due to his fear of the ministry secretary.

But, here we are supplying information to the IGP. Previously too, we gave him information about the mother-in-law of the DIG who found out about Weerasuriya’s house building. She could be appointed head of a special unit to investigate the DIGs. She is quite capable of doing a better job than the CID.