''International Day for the Eradication of Poverty '' Today

- Oct 17, 2017

This year’s theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, “Answering the Call to End Poverty: A path toward peaceful and inclusive societies”, celebrates the 25 year anniversary of the creation of this international day and the idea behind it: that hunger, lack of education, and violence are not inevitable. That extreme poverty must be something we all strive to eradicate.

We have made impressive progress on eradicating poverty over the last two decades, yet despite unprecedented global wealth and human development progress, rising inequalities and persistent poverty still pose critical challenges around the world. 

1 in 10 people in the world live under $1.90 a day while eight persons in the world have as much wealth as half of the world population.

The adoption of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals two years ago provide a unique opportunity to address this. The first Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 1, challenges us to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030. 

These forms can include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making.

Agenda 2030 is a universal development agenda which, for the first time, recognizes that poor people live in poor countries and rich countries alike, and that actions taken in one part of the world can have profound and far reaching consequences in another part of the world. It acknowledges that nations depend on one another and must work together to solve the world’s most critical challenges. 

Eradicating poverty requires economic growth that is inclusive and sustainable. This means stimulating the economic sectors where the poor work; investing in quality social and physical infrastructure where the poor live; and providing the minimum essential levels of basic services for health and education, access to safe water and sanitation in those areas. It also means addressing underlying drivers of civil unrest and conflict and tackling increased tensions over scarce natural resources on which the poor depend.

For people to rise out of poverty and stay out of poverty, well-designed social protection systems can be powerful instruments to protect the most vulnerable and marginalized groups against the shocks like severe weather, pandemics, and economic crises that can push them into or back into poverty. 

On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let us celebrate the success of many nations in pulling so many out of poverty and recommit ourselves to eradicating poverty in our generation.

Treasury Bond issue: Former CB Governor Cabraal gave top appointments in banks to his relatives

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

It was revealed yesterday before the Treasury Bond Commission that former Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, while holding office, had several of his close relatives appointed to top posts in banks coming under the purview of the Central Bank.

This information transpired after a member of the Monetary Board Nihal Fonseka, who also happened to be a first cousin of Cabraal testified before the Commission and from whom expert opinions were sought with regard to several matters under the Commission’s probe.

Accordingly, Cabraal’s first cousin, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and his brother-in-law’s daughter were holding directorial positions in banks which came under the Central Bank’s supervision.

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva cross examined the witness with regards to the conflict of interest that arose following the said appointments. De Silva ‘s client, former Governor of the Central Bank Arjun Mahendran, was extensively questioned at the Commission with regard to the conflict of interest between him and his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius who owned a Primary Dealer company, when Mahendran was the Governor of the Central Bank. Mahendran’s stance on the matter was that he did not discuss official matters with his son in law in his official capacity. Allegations were leveled against Mahendran that he gave insider information to his son-in-law.Counsel was in agreement with Fonseka’s opinion that there was no conflict of interest with regards to these appointments.

RS: Mr. Fonseka you are closely related to Mr. Nivaard Cabraal?

NF: Yes, he is my first cousin. His mother and my mother are sisters.

RS: Mr. Nivard Cabraal was the Governor of the Central Bank at the same time you were the CEO of the DFCC, which comes under the supervision of the Central Bank. And, the DFCC itself was a Primary Dealer.

NF: DFCC itself was not a primary Dealer. They dealt with government securities in the market.

RS: Was there anything wrong in your view for you to be… (De silva PC rephrases the question) I am suggesting to you that there is nothing wrong that you were the CEO of the DFCC while your first cousin Nivard Cabraal was the Governor of the Central Bank. I would say there was nothing wrong at all.

NF: Nothing wrong.

RS: No conflict of interest at all?

NF: In that kind of a relationship, no conflict of interest at all.

RS: Now Mr. Nivard Cabraal has also given evidence before the COPE that his brother-in-law Ravi Thambiah was a Director of the DFCC.

NF: Yes, he was.

RS: At this point of time, Mr. Cabraal was the Governor of the Central Bank.

NF: Yes.

RS: Ravi Thambiah is married to Cabraal’s sister as well. Now Mr. Thambiah’s appointment must have gone through the Monetary Board. I am suggesting to you that there was nothing wrong with Mr. Thambiah being a appointed as a Director of the DFCC while Cabraal was the Governor of the Central Bank?

NF: No. There is nothing wrong in it.

RS: I also agree that you are right. Then when Mr. Thambiah left, his daughter became a Director of the DFCC. And her appointment also was sent to the Central Bank for approval and Mr. Cabraal was the Governor. I am suggesting to you that there is nothing wrong with the appointment.

NF: In my view no.

RS: Even I agree with you. So there was no conflict of interest?

NF: No.

RS: Mr. Cabraal has stated that his brother- in- law Mr. Sunil Wijesinghe was the Chairman of the NDB. The NDB comes under the Central Bank supervision. I suggest that Wijesinghe being the Chairman of the NDB is nothing wrong.

NF: No, I don’t see anything wrong in there.

RS: Mr. Cabraal has also said that Ms. Dhara Wijethilake was a Director of the Sampath Bank.

NF: I am not aware of that. I will take it as correct.

RS: Dhara Wijethilake is the sister- in- law of Cabraal. Cabraal is married to Dhara Wijetilake’s sister. So I suggest there is nothing wrong in being a Director of a bank coming under the supervision of the Central Bank where Cabraal was the Governor.

NF: No, nothing wrong.

RS: You were also the Chairman of the Acuity partners. Subsidiary of the Acuity Partners is a Primary Dealer. Being the Chairman of a Primary Dealer while Cabraal was the Governor, I would suggest there was nothing wrong regarding the arrangement.

NF: Well, he is my first cousin. But by that time, my close association with Cabraal was not there. We had sort of grown apart professionally. I also want to qualify my answer saying that I was a non-executive Chairman of Acuity Partners. I was not involved in their day to day activities.

RS: Yes, but you were its Chairman.

Meanwhile, De Silva then questioned Fonseka on another possible conflict of interest with regards to Monetary Board member Krishantha Perera. According to De Silva Krishantha Perera was the Chairman of the Ceylon Tea Broker, which is an associated member of the Capital Alliance. De Silva observed that Capital Alliance is a primary dealer. “So, Krishantha Perera being the Chairman of Ceylon Tea Broker and being a member of the Monetary Board, I suggest to you that there is nothing wrong in it.” De Silva PC asked. Fonseka said he is unable to give an opinion without knowing the dynamics of the two companies. However, he said assuming if such a relationship is there between the two companies, Fonseka observed that Krishantha Perera’s position as a Chairman and being a member of the Monetary Board, is not a conflict of interest.

Previously at the Commission ,when a similar case was brought forward with regards to Mahendran’s conflict of interest in comparation to Cabraal’s sister being a Director of the Perpetual Capital Holdings, Commissioner Justice P.S. Jayawardena observed that “two wrongs in any way don’t make a right”.

Govt. will increase per capita income to US $ 5000 within next three years

 

• Structure laid by Govt. will run till 2025 
• Numerous legislations will be introduced to create policy consistency 
• I never criticized China
• Govt.’s debt has to be managed 
• I only criticized the Rajapaksa regime for high interest loans
• UNP is willing to contest any election at any given time
• As part of the programme for creating one million employment opportunities, 430,000 jobs have    already been created

2017-10-17

Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harsha de Silva, in an interview with , said that the Government is well positioned to implement its economic delivery plan. He added that the United National Party (UNP) is ready to contest any election at any given time. Following are excerpts of the interview. 

Govt. will increase per capita income to US $ 5000 within next three years.docx by Thavam on Scribd

Bribery DG ‘Nikama’ Jayamanne the idler cum Duffer seeks extension of service ; Weerawansa and Aluthgamage frauds suppressed by whom ?

(Lanka-e-News - 16.Oct.2017, 9.20PM)  It is well to recall it was  after president Maithripala’s obnoxious ‘cyanide speech’  Dilrukshi  had to  tender her resignation .The president in that  speech blamed the former Bribery Commission Director General  Ms. Dilrukshi Dias Wickremesinghe  who was discharging her duties duly ,  for hauling up former commanders of the forces before courts without informing him. 

Thereafter , Sarath Jayamanne the ‘nikama’( idler cum duffer) replaced her . Jayamanne who succeeded Dilrukshi became notorious for just  warming his  seat and idling   for a year doing nothing worthwhile . Now it is this same  Jayamanne the idler cum duffer who is  expecting an extension of service for a further year, based on reports reaching Lanka e news. 

Jayamanne ‘s tenure of service terminates on 2017-11-11 . During his entire  period of service he was globe trotting . While touring foreign countries and participating in  lectures conducted by private sectors which charged for those, he filled his own pockets .  Though  Jayamanne the ‘nikama’ was wasting all the official time holding conferences which had nothing to do  with the Institution,  it is worthy of mention , his predecessor Dilrukshi on the contrary during her period in office diligently attended to her duties and concluded 90 % of the tasks of the files entrusted to her  when she was quitting .

Jayamanne the nikama who is made of worthless and useless stuff could not even complete that little balance  left by her . His neglect of duties was so monumental  he  did not conclude a single case of grave corruption and bribery , and only wasted the official time idly  to the detriment of the country for a whole year during his period in office. Consequently all the notorious crooks and the corrupt were let  off the hook. 

The best examples  are the cases of corruption and  amassment of wealth via illicit means  of the two notorious crooks Wimal Weerawansa and Mahindananda Aluthgamage. 

Unbelievably 90 % of both these cases were concluded and the files were ready, yet  this Nikama Jayamanne the idler during the day,  and sleep walker during the night wasted a whole year since his appointment doing  nothing about those without filing cases. 

Perhaps this was why minister Rajitha Senaratne recently remarked , ‘in other countries crooks go into hiding whereas only in Sri Lanka they are dancing on center stage.’ Ironically , this situation was  created by none other than nikama Jayamanne  the so called Bribery Commission Director General  himself  . Instead of indicting the crooks and the corrupt he turned into an accomplice of theirs.

Jayamanne who was wasting his time conducting trivial raids allowed hundreds of files to go into cold storage. He even did not proffer advice to resolve the issues faced by the officers who were attending to them .It is a pity he is paid a salary by the government  though his  favorite occupation is procrastination . Even when  he gives advice it is inane. 

Even the president of the Bribery and corruption Commission T.B. Weerasuriya , a former  judge  was recently compelled to summon this idler cum duffer  and sternly warn him against his idling habits and dilatory propensities.

Instead of discharging his legitimate and onerous duties ,Jayamanne went  after   conferences where he was  not wanted , and travelled   abroad citing that as an excuse. This year alone he  had travelled to Vienna  thrice  ; Malaysia twice ; USA once ; and he is scheduled to visit Vienna again in November. He collected  Rs. 1 million from the Commission for each of these junkets. It is noteworthy while this nikama Jayamanne the procrastinating idler has been wastefully globe trotting, the president of the Bribery Commission has travelled overseas only once , and that is in response to an invitation received by him in his own  name. 

Jayamanne who was appointed to investigate bribery and corruption has disappointed everyone by transforming into the worst culprit in the sphere of bribery and corruption. He is now  best noted for worst abuse of state vehicles. After his advent the official electricity bills have shot up to over Rs. 600,000.00 per month. He is so profligate and wasteful of public funds , and because he is frequently requesting funds from the Treasury , the latter had warned , ‘if he is going to waste funds this way , the Bribery and corruption Commission will have to be closed down.’

It is while having become a burden and a  bugbear to the whole country , this idler who is playing ducks and drakes with precious public funds,  is making dubious moves to amend the constitution which could dent the independence of the Bribery and Corruption Commission.  In the enactment pertaining to the Bribery Commission it is stipulated  , when necessary the Commission can enlist lawyers from outside. Whereas his  attempt is to only enlist lawyers from the Attorney General’s department. It is significant to note all these years the Bribery and Corruption Commission was under the AG’s department  and it  was segregated from it to make it independent. Therefore what Jayamanne is seeking via the amendment is to erode that independence , and bring it under the AG’s department as before. 

Might we recall when Sarath Jayamanne was being appointed we reported he is a clever criminal lawyer. However when looking at his record for the past one year it is clear as crystal he is just a nikama – an  idler cum duffer  who only  warmed the seat throughout his  tenure of  office.  Believe it or not he has only filed two cases relating to grave corruption – against Rupavahini chairman based on charges of fraud and ‘Ratharan’ who committed fraud  in relation to assets.
 
Even  with regard to these two crimes thanks to  his predecessor,  before leaving  she had completed 90 % of the case files. On the contrary  Jayamanne only  allowed the case files  to languish in dusty corners . He had not even touched those files . This was why the two grave frauds of Weerawansa and Aluthgamage hereinbefore mentioned were just neglected despite the fact those were  ready to file  legal action.

It is the view of sources within the Bribery and Corruption  Commission ,and those close to the president that these two cases have been suppressed due to pressures brought to bear by the president  himself. Aluthgamage had been meeting the president in the nights while Weerawansa met with the president openly. 

No matter what , if the president is to extend the term of such an idler cum duffer who wasted public funds with gay abandon for a further year it will be clear as crystal that the president is seeking to suppress these cases further. No wonder the good governance masses are bitterly disillusioned and castigating the government while furiously questioning ‘ aren’t you apprehending the crooks ?’

Lanka e news special correspondent 

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by     (2017-10-16 16:03:00)

‘Kaapu Beepu Welaawata – Punchi Vihiluwak Keruwata’

Oct 16, 2017

Finance and media minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that he would lodge a complaint with the Police Commission once he returned home, in connection with an article published by us yesterday (15) under the headline ‘Mangala leaked my video to the media – IGP’. Mangala has said so when Sri Lanka Mirror website raised the article published by us.

IGP Pujith Senadhi Bandara Jayasundara would be the happiest that the minister was only going to complain to the commission, because he knows for sure that the matter will not go beyond that. Certain members of the commission are getting police officers to dance to their tunes by saying that there are accusations against them. If the commission rejects that, we are ready to prove it with facts.

 

It was nearly five months ago the complaint by the police headquarters elevator operator Samarakoon Banda, threatened and assaulted by the IGP, was sent to the Constitutional Council and the Police Commission with our legal support. Unconfirmed reports say the CC chairman has told the IGP to resign with dignity. But, he has not taken that any seriously. The IGP continues, not to correct himself, but to boast about his wrongs as heroics. For that, he must be getting the support of someone very powerful. IGP Pujith best knows the well known saying by Velupillai Prabhakaran that Sri Lankans remember things for two weeks only.

 

Mangala and Pujitha are the best of friends. When the minister returns home, the IGP will go and meet him, salute him, and sing the song ‘Kaapu Beepu Welaawata – Punchi Vihiluwak Keruwata’ and settle the matter between them, as he is a good singer. Even if Mangala is not fooled by the police chief and lodges a complaint with the Police Commission, that complaint too, will end up in the same file containing Samarakoon Banda’s complaint.

Anika flees country due to threats

Ravi K’s Relative Shanil Threatens Anika With Death

2017-10-17

Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda today informed the PCoI that Anika Wijesuriya, who previously testified before the Commission with regard to leasing out of a Penthouse by Arjun Aloysius in which former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s family resided, had fled the country due to numerous threats levelled against her.

ASG Kodagoda said that he earlier, informed the Commission that the Attorney General’s team had predicted the threat to her life and named her as a witness under the Witness Protection Act.

Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda revealed this while he was informing the Commission about a complaint received by them from the elder brother of Anika Wijesooriya as he was threatened by one Shanil Neththikumara recently.

"He owns casinos and Ravi Karunanayake is his uncle. He had threatened Wijith Wijesuriya the brother of Anika. Anika has now fled the country and an investigation into this must be carried out as it is an offence under the Penal Code and the Witness Protection Act" he said.

“Neththikumara is a person who seems to be acting on behalf of the person whose name was implicated during Anika’s evidence”, ASG Kodagoda said. (Shehan Chamika Silva)

Don’t play games with youth

By Rathindra Kuruwita-2017-10-17

I have been reading Prof. Indralal de Silva's 'Sri Lanka: Re-emergence of Youth Bulge' which enforced my opinion that it would be a disaster if the much talked about labour market liberalization takes place. I mean this Government, comprising leaders brainwashed by neo-liberalism, is most likely to loosen up immigration laws in a bid to attract 'foreign talent'.

For proponents of loosening immigration law, don't really seem to care that the assumption that importing hordes of migrants will help a nation's economy is at best dubious. I mean if we take the United States or Europe, their golden days, were before they opened up their countries to hordes of skilled and unskilled workers, which has now lead to serious social strife between the natives and new comers. The resentment of locals about the migrants is such that all round the world people are voting for political parties that are hard on immigration: for heaven's sake, New Zealand's Labour Party Leader, Jacinda Ardern, who made the party great again after years in the wilderness, a socialist, feminist and anti-immigration.

Youth bulge and implications

The size of the percentage of youth of a nation and its degree of social instability have long interested social scientists, historians and journalists and it has also been on particular interest to the intelligence community determined to see early warning signs of political strains and where they might take place. A CIA report on youth bulge, titled 'A link between demography and instability' states that 'whether or not such strains erupt into regime threatening instability would depend on the ability of the government to achieve constructive mobilization of its youth as well as on other societal factors'. Moreover unhappy and disillusioned youth are also easy to manipulate by external and internal forces for their own agenda. Whenever we had a youth bulge, let's say the 70s, 80s or late 90s, we have faced youth unrest, and this is a factor that policy makers must take into consideration before they think about attracting 'foreign talent' because they will be taking up jobs that would have gone to Sri Lankan youth.

Contrary to what a lot of free market ideologues and their friends at think tanks have been telling us, de Silva insists not only that we don't have a labour shortage, but also that by early 2032, which is only 15 years from now, Sri Lanka will see the reemergence of a significant youth bulge that will last close to 20 years.

In the past decades, Sri Lanka had experienced several youth bulges, for example in 1981, the proportion of youth was 30% (4.4 million), although the volume had dropped to 4.7% by 2012,Indralal, who is Sri Lanka's top demographer states that the youth bulge which will last from 2032 to 2050 might be among Sri Lanka's biggest.

Although live births in Sri Lanka were low during 1985 to 1999 due to several reasons, there has been a spike in birth rates from 2000 to 2014, with 1.8 million births registered between 2010 and 2014 alone. Thus by 2032, the youth population will reach 5.2 million which will remain unchanged till 2047. On the other hand, the total labour force is to increase substantially, from 8.8 million in 2014 to 10.15 in 2032. The question remains whether Sri Lanka will have the GDP growth to absorb the growing youth population and whether we will be capable of ensuring that they will receive a proper education that would ensure that they don't have to engage in unproductive, unhealthy and unskilled employment.

De Silva goes on to warn that 'if a sizeable volume of foreign labour penetrates the Sri Lankan labour market, unemployment among Sri Lankan youth may further increase significantly. This may lead to aggravation of frustration among youth, with the likelihood of culmination in insurrections, as noted in 1987-89 era.' Pretty heavy stuff. However, I personally think that things will be much darker in the coming years as AI and automation would wipe out a significant proportion of jobs, from driving to accounting.

Foreign talent and job creation

By 2050, when our next youth bulge is still on, two thirds of world' population will live in urban areas and the highest urban population growth will take place in the least developed countries. Oh and before I forget, our male to female ratio will turn again during the next youth bulge ensuring that we have a large male youth bulge.

On the other hand, automation will replace an increasing number of human tasks ensuring many people of an uncertain future and fewer opportunities. And having a lot of young men with limited opportunity has always meant trouble. Young men want work, to have an identity, get respect from peers and elders and most of all impress young women and if they can't achieve these things nicely, i.e. by getting god jobs, buying bling and having stable economic prospects, they tend to easily turn to violence to achieve these things.

So given this, it would be disastrous for us to open doors for foreign workers unless we all want some excitement. But then again people like Ranil Wickremesinghe who might sign these agreements will be long dead when things do become 'exciting'.

Rathindra holds an MSc in Strategic Studies from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU, Singapore, and can be reached via rathindra984@gmail.com.

Arrest warrant on former Ministry Secretary

Rs. 4.1 b financial fraud in Gin-Nilawala Diversion Project

Subhashani Senanayake-Tuesday, October 17, 2017

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of former Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management Ivan de Silva over a Rs.4.1 billion financial fraud alleged to have taken place in the Gin-Nilwala Diversion Project.

Magistrate Ms. Lanka Jayaratne made this order persuant to a request made by the FCID.

The warrant written in English and Sinhala was issued on the former Ministry Secretary since he is abroad (New Zealand).

The FCID stated that although the 2015 budget had allocated a sum of Rs.40 million for this project, a sum of Rs.2,902 million had been paid to a Chinese Company without government’s consent. It is alleged that payments amounting to more than Rs. 4.1 billion have been made to a Chinese contractor for the Gin-Nilwala Diversion Project, but no work has been carried out.

Police investigations further revealed that money given to the Chinese company had been remitted to a Hongkong company belonging to Thirukumar Nadeshan.

Appointing Chandrika as Attanagala organizer is not a reciprocation but a calculated insult !

(Lanka-e-News - 16.Oct.2017, 9.20PM)   President Maithripala Sirisena who appointed Ananda Sarath Kumara  a most barbaric brute and criminal still serving a suspended  jail sentence  who made a teacher to kneel down before him as the SLFP organizer for  Anamaduwa  after dismissing Priyankara Jayaratne from that post ,  had also ousted SLFP’s alliance MPs Kumara Welgama and Mahindananda Aluthgamage from their electoral organizer posts. 

Kumara Welgama was  the SLFP organizer for Matugama and Mahindananda Aluthgamage was the organizer for Nawalapitiya electorate.  Kumara Welgama has been replaced by Priyangani Abeyweera and Aluthgamage has been replaced by H .A. Ranasinghe who polled the least votes among the candidates selected for the provincial council.
   
Nimal Chandraratne P.C  . member who was the Bandaragama electoral organizer has been removed and in his place Malith Jayatileke , the SLFP  national list M.P.  has been appointed. 

While these new appointments are being made , a most bizarre insolent appointment has also been granted  – appointment of ex president and  SLFP advisor Chandrika Kumaratunge as organizer for Attanagalla electorate. Though it is true  Attanagalla  is Chandrika’s native place and an ancestral electorate , an organizer is appointed as a rule with a view to make him /her contest the electorate at parliamentary elections. 

It is not known whether Maithripala’s SLFP is intending to field Chandrika as a  parliamentary election candidate , but it is a well known fact that Chandrika had always told repeatedly she will not enter active politics, and that Maithri had not even given an opportunity to her to  meet  him. 

It was Chandrika who propelled Maithripala and bought him in as the common presidential  candidate , and it is Maithripala who vowed and solemnly promised  to her that he would be non partisan after he wins. Chandrika only requested him as the  leader to   transform the  SLFP  into a civilized  party. Besides she did not ask for any posts.

Sadly , Maithripala after becoming the president did not fulfill any of his pledges. Today ,granting a post of electoral organizer to her the leader who turned around the party to victory which was on a losing streak for 17 years is therefore not a reciprocation rather an insult. 

On the other hand ,  the present SLFP leaders who are wishing deposed  president Mahinda Rajapakse  a happy retired life , appointing Chandrika as an electoral organizer is something topsy turvy  , and  nothing but a tomfoolery .  

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by     (2017-10-16 16:24:40)

Mr. Rohan Fernando's response : 'Rakapaksha's plot to secure NOC top seat

Oct 16, 2017

Mr. Rohan Fernando has responded to our news 'Rakapaksha's plot to secure NOC top seat' which was published on 13th October 2017. 

Finance and media minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that he would lodge a complaint with the Police Commission once he returned home, in connection with an article published by us yesterday (15) under the headline ‘Mangala leaked my video to the media – IGP’. Mangala has said so when Sri Lanka Mirror website raised the article published by us.

The full text of his response as follows

Dear Editor,

I am responding to two news items which appeared on your website, one "Rakapaksha's plot to secure NOC top seat" and the other on the statement made by Maxwell de Silva Secretary General, insinuating me as the person responsible for the delayed submission of accounts. 

Firstly I totally reject the statements attributed to me in both news items as fabricated with a malicious intent to cover up unprecedented corruption, misrule and mismanagement at the NOC Sri Lanka.

1. The item on Rajapaksha's plot, is a news report planted in sheer desperation by a person fearful of loosing his post after 16 years in office and denying rightful election of office bearers on the pretext of interference by the Minister of Sports. In fairness the Minister of Sports has complied with all sports regulations to be compatible with the Olympic charter.

The meeting was held on 10th October at the Golf Club as it was a convenient place to meet and the enthusiasm expressed by all 16 attendees out of the 24 National Sports Federations were for inclusion of the resolutions submitted to the NOC as provided for by the existing constitution with notice to the IOC.

There were no politics or office bearer positions discussed at this meeting nor were persons sent by any politicians to influence the NSF's leave alone Rajapaksha's. All present at the meeting were to represent their respective sports federations. They were either Presidents or Secretaries representing, Athletics, Basketball, Rowing, Yachting, Canoeing,  Boxing, Fencing, Golf, Equestrian, Shooting sports etc. 

Myself and my wife who's names are mentioned in your article are not active politicians or card carrying member of any political party. In fact the Farther of my wife is a senior minister of the present cabinet extending maximum support and assistance to HE the President and the Prime Minister.  The business discussed at this meeting were the contents in the resolutions calling for 

(a) Annual accounts of the NOC since 2012.  Four years of accounts have been denied to the Sports federations to understand the financial health and accountability of the organization.

(b) Submission of the annual activity reports to the federations on the numerous foreign trips undertaken at substantial costs to the NOC

(c) Demanding a copy of the new constitution drafted without the involvement of any sports federations as required by the IOC in its instructions to the SG as far back as 2016. 

(e) Fixing a date for the elections

2. On the question of accountability on finances of the NOC, I as the Chairman of the Finance Committee has brought to the notice of the President and the members the irregular activities of the SG in drawing funds without following standard procedures in place. Large sums of monies were used from NOC funds during the 2016 Rio Olympics and there were allegations in the mass traditional media of using funds sent from IOC for personal use and causing losses to the NOC as a result. My request for transparency through an internal audit was disregarded and continued to flout the regulations which are mandatory under the Sri Lanka accounting standards and practiced at the NOC until the 2012 financial year. According to the constitution of the NOC the Hony Treasurer is the person tasked with financial reports and submitting the monthly, quarterly and annual accounts to the Executive Committee for ratification. The finance committee is only tasked with vetting the accounts and accounting details for forwarding to the Ex-Co and it has no authorizing or sign-off powers. This was the practice diligently followed by the NOC prior to 2013 when it was functioning with good governance based on well documented and adopted standard operating procedures (SOP)

The IOC too conducted a separate audit in 2016, on the funds sent by them and the audit report is incriminating.

The instructions of the Finance committee were disregarded and it was not allowed to function as per the terms of engagement. In fact the Finance committee were able to meet only four times since 2013 after the meetings of the Executive Committee and  the Office bearers were halted unilaterally. There is a reasonable doubt that the NOC is posting substantial annual losses since the 2013 financial year, depleting the healthy cash reserves it had in 2012 amounting to approximately Rupees 40 million. This the stakeholders suspect is due to the above stated reasons.

The accounts for the last four years require ratification by the Executive Committee before submitting to the Auditor General and it is a puzzle as to how the SG is claiming to have submitted the accounts for the audit without this important statutory requirement. It is also suspicious to be advised by an e-mail communication by the SG the delay for auditing the accounts being blamed on the Auditor General perhaps to once again use the IOC cover for withholding the long overdue elections of office bearers to the NOC. 

Supporting documents backed by communications to the above revelations are available for scrutiny and submission at a future enquiry, internal audit or a forensic audit.  

I would appreciate you giving the same prominence and space in both the English and Sinhala sections of your web news media as my right to reply as discussed with your CEO. 

I also thank your CEO for the very cordial assistance provided to my complaint and would further appreciate your checking with me for any malicious news reports before publishing on receipt. 

Thank you

Your Sincerely

Rohan Fernando

Editor's note
Our response to Mr. Rohan Fenando's reply will be published separately.

Previous article 

Rakapaksha's plot to secure NOC top seat

NOC to be renamed SLOC!

The Local Community Hero; Arunachalam Thiruketheeswaran

By S. Joypooranachandren –OCTOBER 17, 2017

S. Joypooranachandren

Mr Arunachalam Thiruketheeswaran (Thiru) won the Local Community Hero Award at the 2017 BRISLA Awards ceremony held at Lord’s on the 14thof October. He was the former President of both the Tamil Schools Sports Association and Jaffna Hindu College’s OBA UK, and is now the current President of the Surbiton Sports Club.

A strong academic, Thiru excelled at Jaffna Hindu College where he was a student from 1967 – 1975. His natural skills as a leader, consisting of reliability and self-discipline, meant that he was appointed as a prefect in Jaffna Hindu College. It is perhaps here that Thiru began to nurture the qualities that would see him go on to hold several important positions of responsibility many years later. He eventually became the President of Jaffna Hindu College’s OBA (UK) in the years 2007 and 2008.

During his time at the college, Thiru was an accomplished sportsman and represented his college for Athletics, Cricket and Hockey. He remained involved in sporting activities in the UK, which fuelled his desire to become more involved in organisations that focussed on bringing together sports clubs in the UK.

Since 2012 he has been the joint Chairman of English Tamil League (ETCL), a treasurer of Surbiton Sports Club (SSC) from 1999 – 2013 and is currently the Chairman of SSC. Thiru has also held the position of Director of Institute of Tamil Culture (ITC) – Tamil Centre (UK) since 2014. The ITC provides lessons in Tamil, Baratha Natyam, vocals and a number of traditional South Indian and Sri Lankan musical instruments. Thiru has always been keen to encourage youngsters to connect with their cultural roots.

Most notably, he was a founder member of the Tamil schools sports association (TSSA UK) and was appointed its first treasurer in 1992. His orderly and methodical ways of thinking were accompanied by an incredible eye for detail. This, coupled together with his financial qualifications enabled him to excel as treasurer. His successes in this responsibility allowed him to go on to serve as TSSA’s (UK) treasurer for five years over three different periods.

Tamil Schools Sports Association (TSSA UK) organises two sporting events every year. A football tournament is held annually on the May bank holiday. Over a thousand sportsmen of all ages take part each year. The other event is the summer Sports Festival held on August’s bank holiday, which feature tournaments in cricket, netball, volleyball and children’s athletics. This festival has equally high yield of players and participants; more than a thousand sportsmen and women take part each year. Thiru has shown that his leadership and administration have been invaluable in hosting these events from the very beginning. To be able to organise such extensive events year in year out, he showed enthusiasm and passion in ensuring that each event was successfully executed.

Thiru’s commitment and dedication to the TSSA (UK) organisation entailed that he was an obvious candidate for presidency and went on to successfully serve as President for three years from 2010 – 2012. His leadership was second to none and one in which he ensured that those around him were appreciated and respected. He was an admired leader who was keen to make a real difference – always striving to achieve the very best for the organisation.

His sporting acumen has certainly been passed on to his children as both girls have participated in netball tournaments- representing the Kingston Institute of Tamil Culture (KITC). Thiru served as a Chairman and treasurer for the KITC youth club and ITC Tamil Centre respectively.

He mentioned in a speech on his 60th birthday, that he values his wife Malathy and daughters Mathu and Nirthana who have given him immense support and encouragement throughout the years to carry out his commitments, a noteworthy point to be considered.

In this fast moving materialistic world, not many people are volunteering their time to help improve our community. Family and financial circumstances may perhaps limit even those who try to be of aid for others. Despite those struggles, it is remarkable to note that Thiru has been contributing to our community for over 30 years and is continuing to do so. He has displayed a strong mentality and a generous self-giving spirit that has enabled him to continue providing for the community for all these years.

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China's lucrative embrace of Sri Lanka stirs unease

PUBLISHED

OCT 15, 2017, 11:23 PM SG
Some 600 years ago, the great Chinese explorer Zheng He and his vast armada frequented Sri Lanka, including landing once to kidnap an uncooperative king.

It was all part of the admiral's decades-long exploration of South and South-east Asia, even to the east coast of Africa - before China would mysteriously turn inwards again.

Now, China is reasserting itself across Asia with a scheme that involves massive infrastructure investment for cash-strapped nations, ranging from ports to railways, urban redevelopment projects and even cultural centres.

And Sri Lanka is back in China's sights.

According to the China Global Investment Tracker, sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute, China's investment in Sri Lanka from 2005 to this year totalled US$14.87 billion (S$20 billion). This compares with US$214 billion spent by China during the same period in all of east Asia.

Today, Chinese workers roam Colombo's shopping malls, drinking in pubs and hailing tuk-tuks as they navigate the city with ease.

 

Chinese migrant workers, estimated in the thousands, throng Chinese-backed projects, including a port city rising from newly reclaimed land in front of the city centre.

Chalk up Sri Lanka as a win in China's One Belt, One Road initiative to rebuild the Silk Road.
Beijing is looking to spawn a network of land and sea links throughout Asia and Africa to feed its booming economy.

China's latest triumph in Sri Lanka is a US$1.1 billion deal to revitalise the moribund Hambantota Port in the south, with the aim of finally attracting the freighters that ply the busy shipping lane between China and Europe.

China's lucrative embrace, however, is proving a stormy one for Sri Lanka as it seeks to rebuild after decades of civil war.

China's presence is also roiling Sri Lanka's relations with India, which has long considered the island at its southern tip part of its sphere of influence.

China's growing presence in Sri Lanka is proving to be very uncomfortable for New Delhi, prompting investment plans of its own on the island.

Unease against the growing Chinese presence is palpable. The Hambantota deal involves leasing the port and 6,000ha of adjacent land for 99 years to a Chinese company. Talks are also under way for Chinese interests to build a US$3 billion oil refinery there, broadening the project's appeal.

"We don't like our land being given away to China," Mr Aruna Roshantha, a fisherman, recently told the BBC.

But others believe Sri Lanka, long dominated by the ethnic Sinhalese majority, has little choice but to embrace China if it wants to thrive.

"In Sinhala, there is a saying that 'a drowning man will even hold on to a stalk of straw', and that is exactly what Sri Lanka is doing," Colombo lawyer and writer Thilini Kahandawaarachchi said in an interview.

Sri Lanka's 26-year war that ended in 2009 left the country's finances in tatters - its debt-to-gross domestic product stands at around 75 per cent. Some 95 per cent of government revenue is devoured just to service the debt.

China's ties with Sri Lanka crystallised more than a decade ago under former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was desperate to turn the tide on the Tamil Tiger insurgency in the north.

The countries signed a crucial arms deal and after a 2007 visit to China by Mr Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka signed the initial deal to develop Hambantota Port.

Mr Rajapaksa's regime became known for its lavish infrastructure spending, including commissioning a southern, and still underused, airport, which the Indian government this year expressed an interest in operating and further developing.

In a stunning upset, Mr Rajapaksa lost power in 2015 to Mr Maithripala Sirisena who promised to end corruption and distance the country from China. The new government has since softened its stand on China as the country's currency withered on world markets.

"Given the agreements entered into by the previous regime and the colossal debt incurred, I do not think the government has much choice but to continue with Chinese investment," said Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, executive director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo.

The government's budget may be dire, but it is hardly doom and gloom in the rest of the country, especially in Colombo. Building cranes pepper the skyline and the architecture is getting bolder. There is the Altair project and its twin towers, where one creatively leans against the other. The architect is Mr Moshe Safdie, who designed Singapore's Marina Bay Sands.

A massive Shangri-La hotel and shopping complex is nearing completion adjacent to the emerging port city. It is being built by Chinese workers, who arrive by the busload at dawn in Galle Face Road each day.

If Sri Lanka is getting much needed investment, what does China get in return? Critics say Beijing gains a foothold, even a listening post, close to India.

Mr K.C. Singh, former deputy secretary to the president of India, told Al Jazeera recently that India would be keeping a wary eye on the Hambantota deal and other plans. "China is not Father Christmas handing out dollar bills," he said. "They want a return on their money."

Mr Einar Tangen, a political analyst in Beijing, told Al Jazeera that investments such as Hambantota were helping to rebuild the country, and that is all. He said some 36,000 ships pass the southern port each year, yet only 44 since 2015 have called at the port.

Maintaining Sri Lanka's independence, however, will be a key challenge. This time around, the Chinese have not arrived uninvited in armed ships, but Sri Lanka, which threw out its last colonial rulers in 1948, will chafe at any hint of becoming a vassal state.

"Sri Lanka's friendship should not come at the cost of the country becoming a battlefield for the regional power struggles between China and India in particular or by outside influencers interfering in internal matters and sovereignty," said Ms Kahandawaarachchi.