Release the list of all those who surrendered or were detained during and after the war

In the baking sun. Through the cold of night. Amid the dust and pollution of the roadside. And against the trials of old age, trauma, and sorrow. For approximately half a year, family members of those who disappeared during and after Sri Lanka’s civil war have been protesting continuously at various locations across the North and East of the country. Today we are launching this campaign in support of their struggle.

“I want to support them too.”

The protestors are seeking answers as to the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones, many of whom were disappeared during the war, including after being taken into the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities in its final stages and immediate aftermath (2008-2009).

In order to obtain those answers, they are calling for the release of information that could provide vital clues. In particular, they want the government of Sri Lanka to release a list, known to have been kept by the authorities, of all those who surrendered or were detained by the security forces during and after the war.

This demand, along with four others, was issued by the protestors at a meeting with President Sirisena in June of this year. It was met by a pledge from the President that he would take immediate action to secure the release of the records. But as of today, they have not been disclosed.
Call on President Sirisena to #ReleaseTheList

Meanwhile, the protestors – mostly Tamil mothers – continue their fight in makeshift shelters dotted across Sri Lanka’s North and East. The interactive graphics on this page indicate the locations of the protests and the number of days occupied at each. The longest running of them will shortly surpass the half-year mark. These figures speak to the extraordinary resilience of the families. But they also tell a story of utter desperation in the face of government indifference.

The simple fact is that these protests are continuing because families of the disappeared feel that they have no other options left. They have told their stories countless times to various government Commissions, UN officials and journalists, all to no avail. They often done so at great risk to their own safety, in the face of disbelief, harassment and intimidation, and at an immense emotional and psychological toll. Many have passed away in the process.

The time has come to say: enough is enough. Promises and pledges from the government of Sri Lanka must now give way to concrete action. The release of the list of war end detainees, un-doctored and in full, would be a crucial first step in the right direction, demonstrating a genuine commitment by the government to the families’ right to the truth and justice. So too would be the swift establishment of a credible and effective Office of Missing Persons to investigate cases and the enactment of legislation criminalizing enforced disappearances.

Please help us ensure that this action is taken – and let the protestors know that they are not alone – by adding your voice to our petition asking President Sirisena to #ReleaseTheList. Even better, send this appeal to a friend today and ask them to do the same. You can also spread the word on social media by sharing a photo of yourself with this printable campaign banner and using the hashtag above.
Thank you.


Want to know more about this issue? Have a question? Check out our Campaign Explainer below.

PRESIDENT’S POWERS IN CRISIS: Is Constitutional crisis in the making?

2017-08-17

Sri Lankan President’s statement that no party or group can form a Government without his “blessings”, even if it is shown that the opposition has 113 members - which is an uphill task - may lead to a constitutional crisis and confrontation in the current political turmoil. Nothing could be ruled out based on the current uncertain trends when bribery, corruption, inefficiency in small and large scales , growing as breath for the disappointed of the citizen living with expectations for a “Change” and “Good Governance”.

• Former regime conducted 29 polls at the maturity of the life of PCs and LG bodies
• Failure to conduct periodic polls in 1982 led to JVP uprising in 80’s, and LTTE terrorism that ruined SL for 30 years
• Ravi K’s resignation a stage to protect real culprits and a fraction of massive corruptions

President’s statement was prompted by number of statements by the opposition claiming change of the government by “changing heads” as under Article 33(1) of the Constitution (amended by the 19th Amendment) that the Parliament cannot be dissolved for a period of four and half years akin to the infamous referendum of 1983 extending the parliament for a further period of 6 years without a general election which paved the groundwork for the uprising that lasted over thirty years.

Referendum was made a part of the “Supreme Law” by the 4th Amendment to the Constitution by article 2(e) which states “unless sooner dissolved the first Parliament shall continue until August 4, 1989….”. Similarly under Article 4 of the 19th Amendment, the life of the Parliament is extended by four and half years where the President can hold on to power without dissolving the parliament whatever the circumstances amounting to reintroduction of a similar referendum from the back door, is as undemocratic as the referendum by JR Jayewardene.

Ironically it is the present Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe who played a major role in the referendum in 1983, won under controversial circumstances which is still in the public domain. Extension of the life of an elected Parliament at the end of the period is the most undemocratic act by a group of Honourable Trustees of the people appointed to govern the country as trustees for a limited period which today amounts to Executive and Parliamentary dictatorship.

President’s blessings in the present context is a controversial statement when he is answerable to the Parliament as an impartial umpire in the head of the State claiming to be impartial and democratic claiming to be ruled under good governance. In addition to the legal basis of the mood and the expectations and agitations of the citizen in general are considered to be seriously based on the future ground situation and circumstances. Sadly the govt is finding ways and means to postpone/avoid elections on local and provincial elections due soon in the guise of a 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

President’s blessings in the present context is a controversial statement when he is answerable to the Parliament as an impartial umpire in the head of the State claiming to be impartial and democratic claiming to be ruled under good governance.

Legal basis and morality

Above analysis is the legal basis of the issues with are brewing vigorously in the absence of periodic elections the electorate is early awaiting for. Despite series of serious accusations the previous regime conducted 29 elections at the maturity of the life of provincial and local bodies. It is unfortunate the rulers have not learnt bitter lessons and dangerous consequences of not holding periodic elections in/during 1982 that led to the JVP uprising in 80’s and LTTE terrorism that ruined the nation over three decades.

Electorate should not feel that they are denied of the basic democratic rights of franchise used and enjoyed successfully since independence in an exemplary way for decades/generations. If the electorate is claiming/demanding a change forcible suppression in any way will lead to anarchy and loss of confidence. It will be an enormous task for the opposition to mobilise 113 Members of Parliament for a Change considering the privilege’s and perks enjoyed by the legislature they embrace with great care irrespective of party politics or any other differences.

Everybody enjoys glory of power and the unlimited financial benefits protecting the mafia at any cost until the last moment to earn for generations before being forced out. There is a move for approval of 715 million for the travel expenses of the members of parliament for the month of June is a fraction of the massive burden of the citizen. Former Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayaka’s resignation is a  stage managed act to protect the real culprits and a fraction of massive corruptions. Suppression of the will/wish of the citizen on technicalities’ or Presidential powers would not be a wise step as it may explode in an unexpected magnitude, which could only be avoided by holding periodic and impartial elections by the Executive President who is still enormously powerful.

Executive dictatorship and /or parliament dictatorship (known as the Parliament Mafia)

Dictatorship is a form of govt, in which, a country is ruled by one person or by polity and power is exercised through various mechanisms in order to ensure the countries power remains strong. Power of the President is well centralized despite the hastily and haphazardly approved 19th Amendment tailor made for the President and Prime Minister by Article 17(1) and Article 51 introducing restrictions on the most popular opponents akin to the removal of civic rights of Sirimavo Bandaranaike after the 1977 victory. She was the most powerful and winning contender over JR whose rights were suppressed for the latter’s victory.

Taking Defence, Mahaweli and Environment under President under the 19th Amendment is a tailor made change to the Constitution to benefit President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe, who was unsuccessful in 29 elections, compelled to dissolve the parliament prematurely on a technicality during then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Sri Lankan Parliament consists of 225 members enjoying privileges, and perks unparalleled to any other parliamentarians anywhere in the world. They are paid high salaries, salaries for staff, housing, insurance, food at extremely cheap rates and transport in addition to the vehicle permits they sell illegally with enormous profits. The privileges and perks accruing are unlimited and all the members are united in enhancing perks and privileges though they fight tooth and nail on all other matters. Every member has a craze for expensive vehicles and the public action case instituted by an activist lawyer Naganande Kodiththuwakku, that 100 Parliamentarians have sold their car permits illegally at a loss of 3.1 billion to the citizen.

Sri Lankan Parliament consists of 225 members enjoying privileges, and perks unparalleled to any other parliamentarians anywhere in the world. They are paid high salaries, salaries for staff, housing, insurance, food at extremely cheap rates and transport in addition to the vehicle permits they sell illegally with enormous profits

At the courts, the Attorney General has undertaken to initiate legal proceedings, no steps have been taken so far. These hundred are those who are exposed when all, or most others, including the party leaders and those holding high positions have enjoyed the benefits. Others are no angels with skeletons on their cupboards. There is a weak opposition of 16 MP’s whose mandate is to look after the North and East voting with the govt in the Parliament and supporting them at every turn.
Now that all political parties have joined together to enviously safeguard and protect their benefits at any cost, it is hard for a split group to mobilize 113 members for a change unless there is a strong swing compelling opponents to unite.

Constitutional crisis in the making

Major Constitutional changes are due with the appointment of a Public Representation Committee for a new constitution and Committees in the Parliament despite a number of other schools of thoughts that the Constitution should be amended without going for a new Constitution due to most controversial issues on Religion, Devaluation, Unitary nature of the State and provisions on Reconciliation, when the citizen is more interested on water and electricity cuts, drought, after effects of the floods, blast at the SL Army’s arms storage depot, Uma Oya, cost of living and Hambantota agreement with a private Chinese Company and plans of sale allegations of sell off of family silver.
The Proposed 20th Amendment to hold the provincial elections on the same day and not holding elections of the provincial and local councils as scheduled is a dangerous move with ulterior motives to postpone elections they are scared to face. It appears that the govt intends postponement of elections due to unpopularity and other scandals that have made issues complicated. Would these unwise steps ease the tension or explode is a matter left to the citiz

Mega corruption cases to be heard by trials-at-Bar

More High Courts to be established

by Zacki Jabbar-August 16, 2017, 12:00 pm 

The government has decided to increase the number of High Courts with some of them functioning as trials-at-bar since more than 43 criminal cases against some members of former President Mahinda Rajapaksas family and his regime were stuck at the Attorney General’s Department for nearly two years.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet Press Briefing at the Information Department yesterdy, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that trials-at-bar could sit on a daily basis and hear a minimum of two cases a day, which would help clear the backlog of cases to a great extent.

There was a well planned conspiracy to delay the cases against some members of the Rajapaksa regime until 2020, hoping that the Rajapaksas would be back in power. But, that would not happen, he noted.

Responding to a question on Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s statement that a Constitutional Amendment was necessary to establish a Special Corruption Court, Senaratne said that the government could dispense with such a measure by establishing more High Courts.

Senaratne emphasised that the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration was not on a witch hunt against members of the previous regime and it was only acting according to the mandate that people had given President Maithripala Sirisena at the last presidential election.

The Sirisena- Wickremesinghe government was not opposed to anyone within its ranks being investigated over corruption or other allegations, he said.

Army Chief dismisses allegations No ex-LTTE men involved in crimes in North

BY Kavindya Chris Thomas-2017-08-16

Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake dismissed the direct involvement of ex-members of the now vanquished Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in the number of recent violent incidents reported from the Northern Province.

Speaking at the media briefing, to announce the seventh annual Colombo Defence Seminar yesterday (15), the Commander made these comments responding to queries put forward by journalists.
When inquired as to whether any non-rehabilitated LTTE members have been involved in the events of last month and this August, the Commander claimed that due to several isolated incidents, which coincidentally involve a former LTTE member, does not mean that the national security is at risk.
He noted; "There was an ex-LTTE member who had been involved in the organization's activities during the early 1990s.

He had been present during the brawl that resulted in the death of the Police Officer providing security to Jaffna High Court Judge M. Ilancheliyan last July. Even in the Kopay incident, where two Police officers were assaulted, also former LTTE members were not involved.

None of these incidents concerning sword attacks and such have any connection to these individuals or their former organization."

He added that following the armed conflict in 2009, the Sri Lanka Army had rehabilitated 12,180 former LTTE members. Out of that, 1,963 of them were in the Jaffna Peninsula. Six hundred of them were women. Additionally, there were 200 individuals who took part in LTTE activities that were not rehabilitated and who remain in Jaffna.

"Only one non-rehabilitated LTTE member was reportedly involved in the Kopay incident. But that was also coincidental. None of these incidents are the result of the former LTTE members, rehabilitated or not, coming together. Therefore, it is not a threat to the national security."
Commander Senanayake was also inquired regarding the country's current security situation.
"Sri Lanka's threat perception has two aspects; internally, after 2009 there has been no major militaristic conflict which we consider as an achievement. There are smaller, more isolated incidents that take place but they are not a major threat to our national security. If after 2009, peace was fragile, now we are going towards solid peace

"Externally, we have never had any militaristic threats. There are other economical threats. Criminals are using Sri Lanka as a transit for narcotic trafficking. These take place due to the strategically important location of our country in the Indian Ocean. These non-traditional threats are not militaristic in nature. The armed forces and the Police are on alert to ensure that this will be minimized.

The journalists also inquired as to whether the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which has been categorized as a specific topic of discussion for the Colombo Defence Seminar, has any special interest in the country with regards to being a security threat.

"We are clearly not under any immediate threat from the ISIS," the Commander noted adding, "But the organization's actions and how it has impacted the world as a whole will definitely be discussed during the seminar; which is why it has been mentioned. Just because, ISIS will be discussed during the CDS does not mean that the organization is a threat to our national security."
(KCT)

Sri Lanka must move from politics to busines

Thursday, 17 August 2017 

Last week, the Yahapalana Government, which came on the promise of good governance and weeding out corruption, had its first blow, when a senior minister and deputy leader of the party had to resign over allegations of corruption.

Sri Lanka must move from politics to busines.docx by Thavam on Scribd

Illegally acquired assets worth over US $30 m seized : Mangala

Thursday, August 17, 2017 

Result of corruption probes against Rajapaksa’s family and close relatives:

As a result of fraud and corruption probes against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family and close relatives, illegally acquired assets worth over US $30 million have been taken into the custody of Courts or the Government so far, Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said in a statement yesterday.

He also noted in the statement that the time was ripe for Kurunegala district MP Rajapaksa, the only President to have vacated office after been defeated by the public due to his corrupt rule, to think how unbefitting it is for a President who ruled the country for two terms to continue in his devious ways with the ulterior motive of exacting revenge on the people who brought his downfall.

The minister questioned whether Rajapaksa who issued a statement noting that the ‘manner in which the Government privatised the Hambantota Port has shocked the nation’ had forgotten that during his rule, state assets were sold outright to foreigners.

The minister also questioned what Rajapaksa had to say about leasing a terminal of the Colombo Port in a 85%-15% agreement to China in 2014. The minister said if the Rajapaksa agreement to lease the Hambantota port had prevailed, the Ports Authority would have had to invest an amount exceeding 350 million dollars to improve the port while paying for the loan obtained to construct it.

He also said the Ports Authority is currently spending Rs. 9000 million on the Hambantota Port annually, which would rise to Rs. 17,360 million by 2019. Minister Samaraweera also states that Rajapaksa’s attempt to define Hambantota Port development to be a privatisation and a selling of the country’s resources, goes to show Rajapaksa’s political hypocrisy.

The statement also said that “when Rajapaksa left, he inherited a land burdened by ethnic and religious unrest, volumes of national debt and human rights violations.” Fianance Minister Samaraweera also points out Sri Lanka will be facing a large debt crisis in 2019, owing to the unmanaged debt raising of previous government. According to the minister, the debt crisis will occur following a series of sovereign bonds maturing on in 2019 for which Sri Lanka must pay 4200 US dollars.

Minister Samaraweera points out that Rajapaksa is acting against his own people and his country by alarming the public with spreading false fears on constitutional reforsm and other development projects carried out by the government.

Minister Samaraweera expresses his confidence that people of the country will not be deceived by Rajapaksa’s well staged dramas as a cover up to his corruptions, scams and crimes happened during his regime.

Major Bulathwatte the choice of Gota to attack journalists to be re appointed to intelligence division?

(Lanka-e-New - 15.Aug.2017, 11.45PM)  In the incident in which ‘The Nation’ newspaper former editor Keith Noyahr was abducted and  subjected to cruelty , brutality   and assault , since  the victim could not be present at the identification parade , the suspect army Major Prabath Seevali Bandaranaike Dissanayake Bulathwatte was enlarged on bail.  Not enough the criminal being released on bail , he is also  going to be appointed again  to a high ranking post of the army’s intelligence division located at Ambalangoda based on reports reaching  Lanka e news . 

This suspect was not only involved in the Keith Noyahr criminal assault and cruelty case but also against whom there are   charges of assault committed on two more journalists when he  was in charge of the illegal  para military operations in Colombo that was launched by Gotabaya then  for the purpose of  attacking and killing  journalists.

It is obvious if officers like major Bulathwatte who acted in violation of the laws are taken back to the army’s intelligence division , that can  only  mean more disaster for the country and the forces because he has other criminal  charges in addition to these crimes afore-stated………

The Military police had to take  action then against this major for unlawfully employing the army ‘s soldiers to build his house at Kandy.  He was  also   involved in an illicit sexual affair with a female  army  lieutenant Chamila    .  Besides , he was  caught when he was carrying on an illicit sexual relationship with the wife of one of his batch mates. He was also caught red handed when using the army vehicles unlawfully for his private  purposes. 

Though Bulathwatte was involved in a spate of criminal activities, but  because he enjoyed the patronage of equally or more criminal bosses  Gotabaya and Hendavitharne at that time , he was saved and safeguarded.

Hence , if the present government is to provide opportunities again by re appointing him to a high ranking post in the army’s intelligence division , it will be tantamount to the government slitting its own throat.

---------------------------
by     (2017-08-16 01:49:28)

Government Abuses Power, JO Acts As Spoilers Of The Nation: Friday Forum

AUGUST 16, 2017

“While the government is accountable to the people for acts of nepotism, abuse of power and improper interference with public administration, the Joint Opposition (JO) is acting consistently as the ‘spoilers of the nation’ for short term political gain, politicising negatively every effort to reach a consensus on key citizens’ concerns on constitutional reform and transitional justice,” say the Friday Forum.

Issuing a statement today the Friday Forum said: “this government has been in office for two years, and its agenda seems increasingly disconnected from the hopes and expectations of those who elected it to office on the promise of good governance.”

“Similarly trade unions must exercise the democratic right of protest peacefully, without causing destruction to life or property. Negotiating with a sense of responsibility to settle a trade union dispute is at the heart of the right to establish and function as unions,” the statement signed by Prof. Savitri Goonesekere and Dr. A.C. Visvalingam on behalf of the Friday Forum said.

We publish below the statement full:

Speaking ‘Truth to Power’

This government has been in office for two years, and its agenda seems increasingly disconnected from the hopes and expectations of those who elected it to office on the promise of good governance – ‘yahapalanaya.’

The Friday Forum has, in several statements over the last two years, both commended the government for its positive initiatives and offered constructive criticism of some current policies and actions. We reiterate below some priority areas in which the government must act immediately, if the President and Prime Minister are to retain the confidence of the majority of citizens who elected them to office, and expand that constituency to support its agenda of reform.

A – The Government

(1) Constitutional Reform

For several years all political parties campaigned to repeal or reform the constitution of 1978. This was the one issue on which there appeared to be consensus in 2014 and 2015. Yet today we are receiving conflicting messages from both within the government and the Joint Opposition (JO) on constitutional reform. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his 2009 support for the APC, publicly proposed ‘maximum devolution’ both verbally and in written documents  Yet today he leads groups who stridently object to changing the presidential system of government, suggesting that it will weaken the centre and create an environment for separatism. This cynical exploitation of identity politics must be rejected by the people. We call upon the President and Prime Minister to give consistent leadership in this divisive context, acting without further delay to complete the discussions, so that a draft constitution can be placed before the country at a referendum. The often repeated public statements by some holding office in support of constitutional reform are contradicted by others in government who question the process. The public is further confused when the need for constitutional reform is used as an excuse for the undemocratic postponement of local government and provincial council elections and delays in transitional justice reforms.

Read More

Echoing Ravi K’s resignation UNP backbenchers urge corruption cases expedited

2017-08-17

Days after former Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s resignation, the United National Party (UNP), which he represents, is at pain to control the damage to its credibility. It comes out with the argument that even a Minister is now prevailed upon to relinquish office in case corruption charges are framed against him, due to the principles of good governance cherished by it.  

• UNP newcomers, backbenchers campaign for cases against former regime higher-ups 
• Rajitha, SF want corruption cases of former rule expedited
• Constitution does not allow special courts to probe corruption cases - Wijedasa
• Present govt may have to pay for dragging cases at next polls - Patali
• PC, LG polls on same day? JO senses
• UK MPs brief reconciliation ministry based on N. Ireland experience 

In parallel to this argument, the UNP MPs, mostly newcomers or backbenchers, mounted yet another campaign to push for dispensing with cases against higher-ups of the former rule. There were public utterances to that effect by some of them.  
Against the backdrop, it turned out to be a hot topic at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning. Ministers Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka were more assertive than others in asking for expediting legal action in the instances where investigations have been completed.  
On one aspect, there was, again, the idea for a separate court to hear and dispense with cases involving the members of the MR regime. Also, there were views expressed at the meeting that an already available court should be designated for the purpose rather than forming a new one.  
However, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe ruled out the possibility to establish a new court as it would require a Constitutional Amendment. He opined that the hearing of some cases could be prioritized, subject to the consent of the Chief Justice and the Attorney General by setting up a trial at bar.  
The similar process was adopted to hear the case regarding the murder of schoolgirl Vidya after rape in Jaffna. It was cited as an example in this instance.  
The govt is in a grave credibility crisis over the Central Bank bond scam leading to the resignation of a minister has entailed serious issues related to sincerity of the govt that was elected purely on a platform for eradicating corruption. With its anti-corruption ideology shattered, the govt is expediting various means to fill the credibility gap.  

Petroleum and Petroleum Gas Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, was opposed to the Hambantota Port deal, when he was the subject minister. It was signed after he was posted to the current post at the latest Cabinet reshuffle

It made a barrage of allegations against the previous government. Yet, the government has not been able to institute legal action leading to conviction in any of the cases so far. As such, the veracity of allegations is questioned by people. In an effort to counteract the situation and give legitimacy to what they said, the government is pushing for legal action. In the process, Minister Rajapakshe is taken to task. He draws flak from his colleagues constantly, who accuse him of delaying cases deliberately for political ends.  
Not that alone, some members have proposed to bring a no confidence motion against him. These UNP backbenchers called on the Prime Minister to discuss it. However, it is learnt that the PM had asked them to engage President Sirisena as the authority appointing ministers rather than proceeding with no confidence motion.  
At Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, however, said it was too late for the govt to deal with this matter. He charged that the cases were delayed purely due to politically-driven reasons. He said the govt could have acted on corruption issues and dispensed with them within the shortest possible time after its formation in 2015. He viewed that the move to speed up investigation after the lapse of two years would make a mockery of the govt in the public eye.  
Before that, at a press conference he said the govt had a moral ground after the resignation of Ravi Karunanayake to act against the wrongdoings of the Rajapaksas as well. He seems to be having a tiff with the govt for what he termed ‘the protracted delay’ in hearing cases against the Rajapaksas. In fact, he said the current govt would have to pay for it at the next election.  
Parliamentarian Sarath Fonseka who served a jail term during the term of the last govt said the former administration cared about nothing in the case of his incarceration. In this manner, he asked why the incumbent govt was citing the flimsiest of excuses in dealing with corruption and frauds.  

Arjuna still batting for Hambantota Port

Petroleum and Petroleum Gas Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, was opposed to the Hambantota Port deal, when he was the subject minister. It was signed after he was posted to the current post at the latest Cabinet reshuffle.  
However, he seems to be fighting for his stand still. He made observations about the port deal at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.  
Port and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said he would reply next time.  
After Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), at its Central Committee meeting decided to oppose the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, it has become, more or less, certain that the govt will be compelled to conduct the elections to three Provincial Councils (PC) due this year.  
The Joint Opposition leaders met with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday evening to discuss modalities for the election if declared. The JO has sensed that the govt is planning to conduct both the PCs and local authorities’ elections on the same day and the date would be chosen this year.  
If only the PC elections are conducted, it would be confined to three provinces this time. Then, the JO can exert its entire resource base to this limited number of electioneering areas.  
However, it believes that the govt is trying to scatter its resources all over the country for electioneering by calling for the local authorities’ election also on the same date. The govt believes that it could weaken the position of the JO in this manner.  
“The govt thinks we could be weakened in this manner. So, we are getting ready for that eventuality,” a source from the JO said.  

UK MPs brief reconciliation ministry on Nothern Ireland experience

 A four-member delegation of UK Parliamentarians visited Sri Lanka and shared their experiences on reconciliation strategies and mechanisms with special focus on Northern Ireland at a programme organized by the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation.  
This programme was initiated and supported by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Reconciliation chaired by TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah.  
The UK Parliamentarians represented a cross party delegation representing Conservative Party , Labour Party, Scottish National Party and other minor parties including Belfast City Councillor, in Northern Ireland. The UK Parliamentarians shared experiences of their country in the reconciliation process, peace building and related reforms. They also had lengthy discussions on reconciliation strategies with their local counterparts, provincial councillors, senior govt officials and development partners.
 The Parliamentarians discussed on constitutional reforms, devolution, land issues and compensation, missing persons issues, resettlement programme, community police and remodelling the justice framework and accountability, economic reforms, skills and education, memorialization, truth-seeking and many other aspects. The delegation provided briefing on the Northern Ireland reconciliation strategies.  
The Sri Lankan reconciliation strategy was presented by V.Sivagnanasothy, Secretary, Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation. The Sri Lankan initiative included the National Reconciliation Policy and the Policy on Durable solutions for displaced; integration friendly school programme for unity and reconciliation; Sunday school programme to educate reconciliation and peace building; integration of friendly media and peace journalism; district reconciliation committees to address ethnic and religious tensions; healing programmes; economic empowerment programmes for IDPs, refugee-returnees, women-headed families, ex-combatants and the disabled.  
The Sri Lankan reconciliation intervention included healing and reparation programmes covering housing programmes, water supply and sanitation; schools and health investment programmes, other economic infrastructure interventions such as roads, bridges, ferry services, jetties and other transport infrastructure.  

The programme was attended by the visiting UK Parliamentarians, V.Sivagnanasothy - Secretary, Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation, Priyanka Hettiarachchi - Country Representative for Westminster Foundation, Paul Green - First Secretary, British High Commission in Sri Lanka, UN Resident Coordinator Una Mc Cauley, Riyanawathi - representative, UNHCR, Senior govt officials, civil societies and donors. 

Corruption crippling Sri Lanka’s coalition government

 

By MUNZA MUSHTAQ AUGUST 16, 2017


Marred by serious allegations of corruption and mismanagement, Sri Lanka’s much-hyped coalition government appears to have very little to celebrate as it completes two years in power.

The coalition government under President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appears to be slowly losing its grip as public confidence dwindles over its failure to live up to its pledges of good governance free of corruption, despite the rhetoric during the run-up to the 2015 presidential and parliamentary elections.

This month alone, members of the public and civil society have taken to the streets in separate protest rallies demanding that the government start walking the talk. Both the elderly and youth are also using social media to demand accountability from the coalition, amid signs of instability.
Serious allegations of corruption, bribery and mismanagement have been leveled against top ministers in the government as well as bureaucrats.

Plagued by allegations of corruption, foreign minister Ravi Karunanayake was forced to resign from his ministerial portfolio early this month. During an inquiry by an independent commission appointed by Sirisena, it came to light that Karunanayake had allowed a person under investigation for irregularities in treasury-bond sales to pay for his luxury penthouse in Colombo.

While Karunanayake continues to be adamant on his innocence, Wickremesinghe termed the resignation of his minister an event that ushered a new political culture into the country.

But despite the resignation of his colleague, Wickremesinghe’s problems are far from over. The prime minister’s very close friend Arjuna Mahendran, who was appointed governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka soon after Sirisena took office in 2015, is also under investigation over the sales of treasury bonds. Mahendran allegedly gave preferential treatment to a company called Perpetual Treasuries, closely linked to his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius, the same person who had allegedly paid the rent for Karunanayake’s penthouse.

A parliamentary committee that investigated the treasury-bond scam found Mahendran guilty and called for legal action. Because of the irregularities, the country reportedly lost 1.6 billion rupees (US$10.4 million) while Perpetual Treasuries posted a 430% increase of in profit during the financial year that ended in March 2016. Subsequently, Mahendran made an undignified exit from his position as governor, and is currently under a separate investigation by an independent commission.

But Wickremesinghe’s camp is not the only group facing corruption allegations. Sirisena’s close ally Duminda Dissanayake, minister of agriculture and secretary of the president’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party, has also being accused of being complicit in corrupt deals.

In one incident, Dissanayake reportedly signed a lease paying 21 million rupees a month for a building for his ministry in Rajagiriya, a suburb just outside Colombo. Although it has been more than a year since the lease was signed, he and his office are yet to occupy the building. The minister has claimed that there was a “delay” in calling for tenders to furnish the building complex.

Analysts are already lamenting that the current administration is no better than the previous government under ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose government was also accused of corruption, bribery and nepotism as well as human-rights violations.

Shiral Lakthilaka, a lawyer by profession and a member of the Anti-Corruption Front, terms the present situation “pathetic”. He also said it increasingly looked as if politicians no longer bothered about the pledges they made prior to the election, but appeared to be only interested in making quick money in a short span of time. “They don’t have a vision, strategy or a roadmap. They are a group of people who are running after a gold rush,” he told Asia Times.

Upul Jayasuriya, appointed chairman of Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment by Sirisena in 2015, announced his resignation last month, just weeks after reports of corruption against him surfaced, including in the state-run Daily News. The coalition government also suffered a  serious embarrassment early this year when both Sirisena and Wickremesinghe laid what they claimed was the foundation stone for a Volkswagen vehicle-assembly plant, only to have the German automaker issue a rebuttal denying it had anything to do with the plant.

Meanwhile, in the latest development, the chief executive officer and managing director of the Information and Communication Technology Agency, Muhunthan Canagey, quit this week, claiming that Sirisena had asked him to resign after he openly questioned a deal involving a private television channel in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has also not being doing well in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International. According to Asoka Obeyesekere, executive director of Transparency International Sri Lanka, the country has not seen any improvements in its ratings, with the perception of public-sector corruption slightly worsening between 2015 and 2016.

“The slight decline in score (37 to 36), which is based on a 24-month data set, illustrates that even when looked at in the best light, the perception of public-sector corruption is stagnant – which is very concerning for a government that has a ‘good governance’ mandate,” Obeyesekere told Asia Times.

He also expressed concern over the government’s silence on important legislation that aims to enhance public access to asset declarations, which the government initially pledged to pass in Parliament by June 30 this year.

“Since January 2015, one of the foremost national-issues concerns alleged illegal accumulation of wealth by politicians. Sri Lanka is fortunate to have an existing system of asset disclosure, which extensively highlights politicians’ wealth. However, all these documents are guarded behind strict secrecy provisions.

“At the moment there is an amendment bill before cabinet to enhance public access to asset declarations, which the government pledged to pass by 30th June. But the silence on this is alarming,” he said, while highlighting that the legislation would significantly empower the public, as information being available in the public domain is a vital driver of accountability.

Charith Ratnayake, a marketer by profession, expressed his disappointment at how the government has failed to keep its promises.

“We had so much of faith, but even this government is turning out to be like the previous government under Mahinda Rajapaksa,” he said. “They keep saying the Rajapaksas stole, and because of that the government is in debt and we are being slapped with various tax increases, and then we see how these ministers who came to power with the promise to rid corruption [are] being corrupt themselves.
“So it is very disappointing. We have been let down even by this government.”

I Saved Daham And His Veyangoda Underworld, President Won’t Touch Me: IGP Pujith Jayasundara

AUGUST 17, 2017

IGP Pujith Jayasundara who was accused of threatening his subordinates told a bunch of his close friends that he was not 100 % but 1000% sure that President Maithripala Sirisena would not take any action against him, Colombo Telegraph can reveal today.

A leaked video going viral on social media shows IGP Jayasundara abusing his powers in an incident that had taken place a few months ago, on 17 April 2017. The IGP is seen assaulting a lift operator at the Police Head Quarters. It is reported that he had been enraged that the said lift operator had not followed a meditation program that he had made compulsory for all staff every morning. In the same video the IGP is caught threatening to allegedly rape a female working under him too.

Interestingly the leaked video had all this time been under the possession of the Criminal Investigation Department at the time of the leakage.

At a gathering on Tuesday IGP Jayasundara told a close friend who in turn blurted it out to many “I am the one who saved President’s son Daham when he and his friends went berserk and smashed the Clique night club and assaulted its staff. The President was not in the country at that time. He was very worried and I took care of that problem for President Sirisena. I obtained all related CCTV footage from all the buildings surrounding the Clique night club including their own CCTV footage. I even advised the Maradana Police Station and to the entire Police force not to proceed with any investigations and not talk to the media. I also arranged for President Sirisena to watch the CCTV footage on his return. Then President himself spoke to all the media heads and begged them not to expose the incident, although bloody Colombo Telegraph had by then exclusively carried the entire episode including video footage of the saga. Several social media copied it and then carried the story. Only one daily newspaper published a story about the incident, but they did not mention Daham Sirisena’s name. They referred to Daham as the son of a VVIP. This is how I managed to hush up the entire incident”.

“I not only saved President Sirisena and his son, but I also saved all the Veyangoda gangsters from media exposure who happened to be the President’s relatives” he went on to confess.” Still the Sri Lankan public have no idea about who that VVIP was,” he said.

A close friend had then inquired from IGP Jayasundara: “If after several months this video which was leaked exposing you in full and now the chances are that you may get the sack. If that happens would you also expose Daham Sirisena’s Clique night club saga to the entire media?“

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Civil society warns the Government

Aug 16, 2017

Civil society has warned the Government that they will face the same fate as the former Government if it fails to fulfil its promise to crackdown on powerful members of the former regime over their involvement in corruption and crime. Lanka News Web we talks with activities about the current situation of country.

Brito Fernando, President of the Families of the Disappeared told us that “ Everything was just for that short moment and then nothing. He says that if there is an allegation against someone it must be investigated and dealt with under the law. “We see a long delay now in the judicial process as well,” he said.

The Maithripala Sirisena-led government assured that the Rajapaksa regime will be held accountable for the allegations against them. However so far, neither Rajapaksa nor his family have been found guilty of any crimes and this has baffled civil society.

The Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union Joseph Stalin told that while investigations into large scale fraud had been launched after the current government took office, there was no positive outcome.“The entire process has been very slow. We do not see any progress on the investigations into former President Mahinda Rajapaksa or Shiranthi Rajapaksa,” he said. Stalin warned that if the government fails to fulfil its promises to the public, civil society will be forced to take things into their hands.

Puravesi Balaya Co-convenor Gamini Viyangoda told that one of the main issues facing the current Government is that corrupt Ministers from the former regime are now in the current regime as well. “The government is struggling to take action on the corrupt Ministers who were in the former regime as some of them are part of the current Government. Everyone is now mixed together,” he said.

Viyangoda said that the law is unable to take its course as those corrupt are now working for the top members of the current Government. “The corrupt are roaming free and so are the criminals,” he said. He further said that a group of civil society members will gather in Colombo on yesterday (15th) and protest against the government’s failure to take appropriate action on corrupt members of the former regime. “We will remind the Government of the promises it made during the 2015 election. he said. Viyangoda said that civil society have a responsibility to ensure the government keeps to its promise to the people who voted for change.

Anti-corruption activist Ranjith Keerthi Tennakoon also told that can be seen today is institutions with name boards above them but little action. He said that those who investigated some cases are now not even to be found. “The actions of the Government will return to have a negative impact on them if they don’t act fast,” he said. He says the Government seems to be dragging its feet on some issues and this is not what the voters expected from the government in 2015 at the elections. Tennakoon also warned that if the Government fails to act public will respond at the next election.

AshWaru Colombo

Why was the Defender’s colour changed?

Yoshitha Rajapaksa coming out of the CID office yesterday. Picture by Shan Rupassara

 

Wijayani Edirisinghe-Thursday, August 17, 2017

CID asks Yoshitha

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday interrogated former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa on the reason to change the colour of the defender jeep of the Siriliya Saviya Foundation.

Information had been received that Yoshitha Rajapaksa had taken the vehicle for his use. The CID investigations into the alleged murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen revealed that the colour of the jeep had been changed after the Red Cross donated it to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation.

The CID said that Thajudeen had been killed though it was initially purported to be a road accident near Shalika Grounds, Narahenpita. The criminal case is now being heard in court.

The CID has revealed that the said jeep donated by Red Cross Society to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation in 2011 was allegedly used in the abduction and murder of Thajudeen in 2012.

The CID had also recorded statements from Red Cross Society officers in this regard. Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was also questioned by the CID on Tuesday on this jeep.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa arrived at the CID premises at 9 a.m. and came out around 1 p.m.