President’s wheeler dealer son in law was also around in same hotel when bribe passed ; DG of Bribery Commission at receiving end of president’s filthy abuse !

(Lanka-e-News - 08.May.2018, 11.30PM) It has now  come to light that the notorious wheeler dealer son in law of president Gamarala had been a short  distance away in the same hotel when the bribery commission officials nabbed Mahanama the chief of staff of the president and  Dissanayake , the  chairman of State Timber Corporation  (a very close friend of Gamarala’s family ). Soon after the arrest   , Gamarala has summoned the Director General of the Bribery Commission and abused him in foul language  , based on reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division. It is when the sum of Rs. 20 million was being received as advance of the full sum of Rs 100 million demanded (Originally Rs. 540 million had been demanded as the bribe which had been reduced by negotiation to Rs. 100 million), the two culprits – the most close cronies of the president were arrested. 

Thilina Suranjith the  wheeler dealer son in  law has been at another location in the same hotel Taj Samudra earnestly waiting to  collect the   Rs. 20 million   to be handed over to him after the two bribe takers have received  the bribe from the Indian national.

Two bosom pals of Thilina had also been with him, but the latter who is an accomplice after learning that his two criminal  bribe takers have been nabbed , Thilina had fled the scene . It was  a PSD officer who was with Thilina had told the chief of the PSD to inform the president of this misfired bribe taking deal.

Thilina the wheeler dealer son in law of Gamarala is the one who had negotiated and brought down the amount to Rs. 100 million as the bribe to be paid by the Indian national , and Thilina himself has chosen Singapore to collect this bribe, based on reports.

However as only Rs. 20 million was agreed to be paid as advance , Singapore was forgotten and Colombo was remembered. Therefore Taj Samudra Hotel was chosen for this collection. It is learnt most of the illicit deals of Thilina are transacted in Taj Samudra , and that is his home away from home.

Based on the experience of the Bribery officials , when massive bribes are being collected , those payments are not made in installments usually. But in this instance , because for Gamarala and his son in law , bribe taking is a matter of routine like eating  rice  several times , this arrangement had been made.

Arrest of Wheeler dealer Son in law obstructed; President in a fit of rage  scolds DG of Bribery Commission !

The involvement of Thilina in this deal is testified to  by evidence including his conversations via phone and taped recordings , but as urgent and massive moves are ahead to suppress this  on the initiative of Gamarala  , and his intervention , Thilina who should have been arrested by now is being protected. 

President who summoned the DG of the Bribery commission after the incident has abused him in the choicest language. President who started cordially  with the words ‘Mr. Jayamanne’ had then launched into a tirade : ‘Oiy , even after I gave you an extension you have slung mud at me which cannot be washed away’ , the president had berated. 

It is well to recall Lanka e news in an earlier report revealed , though the Bribery Commission Director General Jayamanne ought to function impartially , sadly , instead he prefers to  spend all his time at Paget  Road residence of the president . We also exposed that because Jayamanne is doing all the sordid biddings of Gamarala  , he is going to be given an extension in  service.

On the day the raid was conducted Jayamanne had been in the Attorney General’s department . The officers who raided having known about Jayamanne’s traits and ways had informed him about the raid only a little while before , and have not told him which raid was going to be conducted.
 
While the president was viciously  abusing him , Jayamanne has pleaded with him and explained he did not know it , Gamarala’s mad rage has turned even worse then ,’if that is so , you resign and go’, Gamarala had thundered. Following the insolent and foul language used to berate the DG , Jayamanne unable to swallow the gall of indignity any more is trying to secure a post in the UN Organization. With this turn of events , the legal action to be taken against president’s son in law and other accomplices had been suspended.

Shameless secretaries whitewash the reputation of President while civil organization leaders feign death !

A news website belonging to a media secretary of a senior minister which is in fact a lie factory is concocting  all the lies on earth in an attempt to whitewash the reputation of Gamarala which is now in tatters. One of the lies was ,  the Bribery Commission had informed the president about this raid  3 years ago. 

It is to be  noted ,3 years ago , the Director General of the Commission  was Ms. Dilrukshi Dias Wickremesinghe , the iron lady who took no instructions from the president , P.M. ,  ministers  or M.P.s , when performing her duties duly . She took action against the culprits irrespective of their ranks and status independently and impartially . This is why she became a thorn in the side of the president who has always displayed he has a  great affinity for the crooks and crookedness  . The whole country is aware she had to resign from that position because corruption tainted president Gamarala could not endure her honesty , integrity and rectitude. 

It is a matter for surprise , the so called leaders of civil organizations are deaf ,dumb and blind amidst the outrageous bribery scandal  involving the president and his son in law ,  without raising their voice or vociferously protesting against this. It is only in these critical situations , the true colors and chameleon characteristics  of some of those  cardboard leaders of civil organizations who gourmandize during night at Paget Road , and protest during day carrying boards become manifest.

Connected reports …
* President’s family and family of Dissanayake who took 20 million bribe on behalf of president are closest pals ! (Photo evidence) - President dashes file on ground in panic

* Dr. Mahanama who was a monk, a socialist , had a doctorate was ideally qualified to be an elusive crook – his putrid antecedence…

* Two culprits “President’s men” who collected huge bribes remanded ; isolated instance of corruption detected , but how many others are going undetected ?

* President Gamarala‘s Rs. 540 million bribe taking..! His chief of staff and timber Corp. chairman collect Rs. 20 million as down payment -caught red handed !!

* Mahanama president’s chief of staff nabbed when receiving a bribe of Rs 20 million!

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by     (2018-05-08 19:52:35)

FCID gets Court nod to probe Cabraal’s bank accounts over Rs. 600 m alleged fraud

Wednesday, 9 May 2018 

The Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Lanka Jayaratne yesterday allowed the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) to investigate the alleged financial fraud of Rs. 600 million of former Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

The Magistrate ordered the former Central Bank governor to make a statement to the Police Crimes Division.

He also ordered the Finance Crimes Division to investigate the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 600 million for a project to obtain a consortium of other Commonwealth Games countries in the country.

The Magistrate had ordered the Police Crimes Division to produce a report indicating the progress of the investigations and the amount of money which had been spent in 2014, to bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Sri Lanka. However, the Commonwealth Games were held in Australia. 

Duplicate-Mahinda is not the answer… UNP needs a winning ‘unifier’ 

“Be yourself, because an original is worth more than a copy” - Unknown quotes 

2018-05-09

In order to defeat the Mahinda Rajapaksa juggernaut, there is one thing the United National Party (UNP) should not do – field a ‘Duplicate Mahinda.’ What is the Mahinda Rajapaksa-candidature looking like? In an election campaign, the one thing one must pay most attention to is the basic brand of the candidature. How does the voter look at the brand? Is there an identifiable brand? Did the planners of the campaign, or the politico-experts, originally plan to brand the Rajapaksa-candidature or did the advertisers do so? Sometimes a brand gets built up without any effort being made to build it. Unlike professional marketing of branded products, like Sunlight for soap or Astra for margarine, political marketing, prior to early 1990s, there was no sophisticated campaign planning. Yet, the 1956 campaign of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) seemed to have been a coordinated effort without which such a sweeping victory would have been possible.

Bandaranaike, with that campaign in ’56, gave a fantastic brand to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), ‘common man’s party’ and a brand which is valid and applicable even in today’s context of a more sophisticated and tech-savvy public relations environment. That ‘common man’s party’ brand has outlasted its creator’s own assassination, it’s domination by a feudal tyranny such as Sirimavo and Felix Dias Bandaranaike, it’s being decimated by the Rajapaksa clan and its seemingly obliteration under the current leader of the party.

In addition to being branded a cardboard or duplicate-Mahinda, any nationalistic or narrow chauvinistic appeal to the voter would betray the very essence of the UNP

Such a strong branding has been facilitated by its incessant propaganda, despite the SLFP’s numerous and varied flirtations with the not-so-common man. The SLFP leadership, until it fell on the present holder, has been, including the Rajapaksa clan, set up on a feudal platform revolving around a family. Although the Rajapaksa family does not belong to that ‘feudal’ denomination in a classical sense, family rule was the core power centre, so to speak. The great irony of this phenomenon is the ease with which the rank and file of the party accepted this family rule.

The acceptance of the Bandaranaike family could be explained as its founder, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike hailed from a leading low-country, Govigama family in the nineteenth century. SWRD’s father was the first among many local government servants who served the colonial British regime at the time. Subservience shown by the then populace towards these feudal masters continued towards this family rule even after independence albeit the fact that SWRD was one of the earliest liberals who advocated breakage of the bond between the master and servant, a generations-old practice which was exercised by the Bandaranaike clan before him.

When he launched his new political party on the five-pronged platform of Sanga, Veda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru, (Buddhist Clergy, Indigenous doctor, school teacher, farmer and worker), so was launched the political party of the ‘common man.’ However, since his assassination by a member of one of the five pillars of his platform, since its takeover by his widow, the SLFP became anything but common man’s party. The widow, Sirimavo with the able assistance of Felix Dias, a Bandaranaike whose participation in politics SWRD never sought, turned the common man’s party into an uncommon man’s party. Yet, its grassroots rank and file clung on to its draconian leaders and their representative henchmen and women at the village level. The theory of Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda Minister under Hitler, that an untruth repeated over and over again would become the truth was proven right. Today the common man’s party is really a ‘petty man’s’ party.

While the SLFP was branded the ‘common man’s party,’ the UNP became the ‘rich (uncommon) man’s party.’ One stark reality within the ranks of the SLFP remained its sense of nationalism bordering on chauvinism. This chauvinistic legacy was passed down the line of successive leaderships in the SLFP and the Rajapaksas were the last to be the fortunate recipients of that ignoble inheritance.

However, the Rajapaksas added value to this chauvinism of the party. The thirty-year war with Tamil militants and its conclusion to a gleaming success thanks to devoted and determined efforts of a military and its leadership of the calibre of General Sarath Fonseka was that added value. All of a sudden, the ‘common man’s party’ became a party of patriots. And every other political party was branded unpatriotic! Mahinda Rajapaksa became a devout Buddhist overnight; he started giving Mercedes Benz cars to leading Buddhist monks and followed the R. Premadasa practice of Bana at the Temple Trees on every Poya Day. To paraphrase a cliché of Catholic genre, ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa had become more Buddhist than Arahat Sariputta.’ 

So cleverly and consistently built was this image of patriot and Buddhist, Mahinda Rajapaksa became unsurpassable on the score of religion and love for the country. In other words, he made it impossible for a duplicate-Mahinda to be constructed in the political arena. It is here, if any of the UNP leaders attempts to float an image of a ‘duplicate-Mahinda’ in order to defeat him or his cohorts such as Gotabaya, Basil or even Chamal in an election, would fall flat. The UNP leadership has drawn its strength not from being fringe-friendly; on the contrary it has drawn its strength, from D.S. Senanayake downwards up to Ranil Wickremesinghe, apart from the majority Sinhalese Buddhists, the Tamils in the North and the estate sector and Muslims scattered all round the country.
For instance, take all the Cabinets from 1947 to date, not a single elected non-UNP/Independent/Federal/TULF/TNA Tamil leader has served any Sri Lankan Cabinet. In the DS Cabinet, the two Cabinet ministers were C. Siththampalam and C. Sundaralingam, both elected as Independent MPs. Later, G.G. Ponnambalam joined the Cabinet not from the Federal Party but from Tamil Congress and both Sundaralingam and Ponnambalam lost their seats in the following elections. The next Cabinet member was Thiruchelvam in Dudley Senanayake’s coalition government from the Federal Party and its leader Chelvanayagam saw to it that the Cabinet minister came from the Senate (non-elective body of government). Sirimavo’s Cabinet in 1970 had a Tamil minister, Chelliah Kumarasuriar, and he too originated from the Senate, not elected. In the 1977 J.R. Jayewardene Cabinet, S. Thondaman from Nuwara Eliya became quite a powerful Cabinet minister. The Northern Tamil was not represented in an overwhelming Sinhalese Cabinet since 1965 – M. Thiruchelvam.
However, after the Presidential system was introduced, since 1982, no candidate has been successful without securing the support of the Tamil vote in the North. The only exception is 2009 Presidential election which was held soon after the war-victory which explains the Tamil vote in the North was not a factor.

If any in the UNP thinks that he or she can outdo Mahinda in Mahinda’s strong suit, then think again

The argument is, as much as Sir John Kotalawela failed miserably at the 1956 general election despite promising more than Bandaranaike for the Sinhalese Buddhist cause, no duplicate-Mahinda will be a successful candidate from the UNP. In addition to being branded a cardboard or duplicate-Mahinda, any nationalistic or narrow chauvinistic appeal to the voter would betray the very essence of the United National Party, a party that represents a united Sri  Lanka. Populism and nationalism might well be the political wind that is sweeping across the USA and European continent, the Sinhalese Buddhist vote being divided between the UNP and anti-UNP bloc proportioned on a 35% to 65%, it is highly unlikely to secure the seat of presidency without the Tamil vote in the North and the Muslim vote all over the country.

The scorching Jaffna-sun is indeed having its effects not only on the untiring Tamil working farmers in the North, it is bearing an unchallenged consequence on the electoral landscape in Sri Lanka. The UNP and its new leadership with the younger heads such as Navin Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa have a formidable challenge. Their bitter battles will be fought not only in the rural hamlets where the unrivalled majority are Sinhalese Buddhists, they will have to predominate the North, hill-country and the East. Minority votes are not only a must; they are the foundation on which any realistic campaign could be built upon.

If any in the UNP thinks that he or she can outdo Mahinda in Mahinda’s strong suit, then think again. When the voter wants to oust Mahinda or his siblings, the voter is looking for an alternative, not a duplicate. Most politicians make this grievous error in judgment. Especially in the sphere of socio-political issues, the voter is extremely sensitive when he makes his choice. Unlike economic issues to which the voter confronts them on a daily and continuously changing circumstance, socio-political issues entrench him over a long period of time. Sensitivity to socio-political issues does not depend on short-term whims and fancies of one or two politicians. Any politician who changes his or her stance on a socio-political issue may not gather more votes from the majority bloc; but if he chooses to trek a different path, he may lose a sizable chunk of the minority costing him the election. That is not an option for either Navin Dissanayake or Sajith Premadasa, if they are planning to contest the next Presidential elections on the UNP ticket.

The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com

Crises in Yahapalanaya to continue despite PM winning NCM

by Gagani Weerakoon-APR 08 2018

When the House was debating the 47th No-Confidence Motion in the Sri Lankan Parliament’s history and the third against a Prime Minister last Wednesday (4) lots of other dramas were taking place on the corridors, in committee rooms and at the lobby.
One such took place in a committee room in Parliament where the weekly Cabinet media briefing took place.

Co-Cabinet spokesmen Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka were seen engaged in an animated discussion minutes before the press conference with Government Information Director General Sudharshana Gunawardena also being present.

The crux of the matter was not known to many until an apparent unintended video went viral on social media and other news websites
The video recorded shows the two Ministers having a private conversion not knowing what they were saying was being recorded as the mikes in the room were switched off.

In the video, recorded, Senaratne and Karunathilaka were seen discussing the decision taken by some Sri Lanka Freedom Party members to back the motion.
Senaratne was heard being critical of the Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thera and also making comments about Ministers Dilan Perera and Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena. He asked Minister Karunathilaka, who is also the Chief Government Whip as to why time was allocated for Ven. Rathana Thera. “Mokatada dunne…denna epa…” (Why did you give time to that one? Don’t give) was what Senaratne said.

The best part comes next, where Senaratne told Karunathilaka that he had advised the Prime Minister not to even bend down to the President.

“I told him not to bend before even the President. Stay straight and if there is any problem I will handle it. (Mama kiwwa agamethi thumata janadhipathita unath newenna epa kiyala. Oba thuma kelin weda karanna monawa hari prashnayak awoth mata bhara denna mama balagannam…)” he said.

As if by taking Senaratne’s words seriously a group of UNP ministers went to meet President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday night had tried to be ‘tough’ with the latter and demand the ouster of SLFP Ministers who voted in favour of the NCM only to be in for a surprise.

Sirisena has warned the UNP not to bring No-Confidence Motions against the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Ministers who voted in favour of the No-Faith Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, saying that there was a proposal on forming a Government by finding 113 Parliamentarians from the Joint Opposition (JO) and the SLFP under the Premiership of former President and incumbent MP Mahinda Rajapaksa.
If the UNP goes ahead with the No-Confidence Motions against the SLFP Ministers, he would have to consider about approving that proposal, the President had warned the UNP. The group of UNP Ministers including Mangala Samaraweera, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Malik Samarawaickrama had gone to meet the President at his official residence.

During the meeting, Minister Kariyawasam had told the President that because the SLFP Ministers are too critical about Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, they cannot be allowed to sit in the Cabinet any further.

The President had criticized the UNP Ministers and said if such was the case Ministers such as Mangala Sanaraweera and Harin Fernando also cannot sit in the Cabinet.

They also have criticized me severely in public. If you want to sack the SLFP Ministers for criticizing the Prime Minister, then these UNP Ministers also cannot sit in the Cabinet according to your logic, the President had noted.

He had said if the Collective Agreement of the Cabinet is seriously taken into consideration, he will be in trouble without being able to find 30 members to form the Cabinet, as everyone violates it. According to sources present a particular minister who was at the receiving end of President Sirisena’s outrage had not only apologized for being naïve and vocal but had knelt down and worshiped the President when leaving.

President Sirisena said that he and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had met on 5 April night and resolved to iron out their differences and continue with the Unity Government.

Addressing the media on Friday (6) in Colombo, he said that he and Wickremesinghe had agreed that there would be a comprehensive Cabinet reshuffle next week. The reshuffle “will be on a scientific basis,” he said as there were Ministries that had subjects grouped together that made no sense.
“There are three sugar-producing plants and they are in three different Ministries,” he said.

President Sirisena did not indicate whether there would be a change of personnel, but said that there would be a reallocation of responsibilities.

He said that there had been irritations and differences between the two Parties in the Government, but he and the Premier had decided to iron out these issues and proceed with the Government. They decided to appoint a committee made up of members of both Parties to look into these issues and find solutions, he added.

On the vexatious issue of whether the SLFP Ministers who supported the No-Confidence Motion against Wickremesinghe would be allowed to stay in the Cabinet, Sirisena was not clear whether that would happen.

He said that he strongly believes the SLFP should stay in the Government in the interest of the people and the country.

“My aim is to make the Government strong. It does not matter to me whether a Minister voted for the No-Faith Motion or not. I need to make the Government strong to face the challenges that we have to face in the near future,” he added.
The President denied knowledge of a demand being made by 33 United National Front Parliamentarians that the SLFP Ministers, who supported the No-Confidence Motion, be removed from the Cabinet. He said that the SLFP Central Committee will meet on 9 April to decide whether the Party would stay in the Unity Government or leave.

As we reported in the past few days, in response to the United National Party (UNP) demand, that the pro-No Confidence Motion SLFPers should quit the Government, several of them have said that they would go only if the President wanted them out. Official sources told Ceylon Today that President Sirisena has asked all the SLFP Ministers to stay with the Unity Government.

The SLFP Members first mooted the idea of leaving the Unity Government in December 2017, the President said. But they had decided to stay on until the Local Government Elections were over, he added.

After the Polls, there was a movement among the SLFP Members in the Government who had wanted to leave, that they should propose a Motion of No-Confidence against the Prime Minister, and there was also a group within the UNP which also wanted this, he added.

“In addition, the SLFP and United People’s Freedom Alliance MPs, who are sitting in the Opposition, also met me and said that they can bring forth a majority of Members against the Prime Minister and therefore I should remove him. My reply was that according to the Constitution, the Prime Minister is the person who has the majority in the House and that has to be tested,” he went on to say.

“As the President of the country, my duty to the people is to ensure that there is a strong and stable Government. Weakening the Government is not what I wish to do.”

The President pointed out that since 2015 no single political party has garnered enough seats in the Parliament to form a Government on its own. “Therefore we need to form a Government by asking other parties to join us and strengthen the Government.”

“I call on all the 225 MPs to join the Government and make it strong and stable,” he said.

President Sirisena admitted that due to various reasons, the efficiency of the Government has been affected by the political uncertainty that started with the Local Government Elections in February. “After that we had the disturbances in the Kandy District and thereafter the No-Confidence Motion. While developmental efforts are going on, it could have been better.”
 On the same night, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe asked the UNP Members of Parliament, who filed seven No-Confidence Motions against SLFP Cabinet Ministers, who voted in favour of a similar motion against the PM in Parliament on Wednesday night, to withdraw the motions.

A Press release issued by the Director General of the Department of Information said that the PM has issued this directive.

The UNP had filed the motions as these SLFP Ministers had opposed the Prime Minister during the NCM and they had felt that they should not sit in Cabinet.
The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will meet tomorrow (9) to take a final decision on whether to quit the Unity Government, with the United National Party, or to continue.
The Central Committee meeting was fixed to discuss recent political developments following the No-Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, which saw a clear division in the SLFP’s Government ranks.

The 16 SLFP Parliamentarians, who voted in favour of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM), against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, have handed over a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena requesting that they be relieved of their positions within the Unity Government, but be allowed to remain in the Party. Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera told Ceylon Today that the letter was sent to the President on Thursday (5).

“If the President permits, the 16 of us are prepared to quit our positions in the Government and sit with the Opposition. However, we have not yet received a response from the President,” he said.

Minister Jayasekara said that President Sirisena however told the group that the matter should be forwarded to, and discussed at, the Central Committee. The group is to demand that the SLFP, as a party, including those who were absent on the day of the NCM vote, should resign from the Government.

Asked as to whether they are only resigning from the ministerial portfolios, several ministers, including Jayasekara, said, “We want to resign from our portfolios and sit in the Opposition.”

Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekera, S.B. Dissanayake, Susil Premajayantha, John Seneviratne, Chandima Weerakkody and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa voted in favour of the NCM brought against the Prime Minister on 4 April.  State Ministers Dilan Perera and T.B. Ekanayake, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana along with Deputy Ministers Sudharshani Fernandopulle, Anuradha Jayaratne, Sumedha G. Jayasena, Susantha Punchinilame and Tharanath Basnayake also voted in favour of the No-Faith motion against the PM.

On the other hand, the much anticipated changes in the United National Party leadership have become a damp squib, with the Party’s Working Committee and the Parliamentary Group, which met at Party Headquarters, Sirikotha, last evening, deciding to continue with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as their leader.

The decision was reached following lengthy discussions and Wickremesinghe pointing out that a new leader, who would take the reins of the Party, would not have adequate time to lead the Party to victory at the 2020 Presidential Election. Therefore, the Party had decided to hold a general convention before 30 April to appoint new office-bearers. Accordingly, new individuals will be appointed to key positions, including the Chairperson, General Secretary, Treasurer, National Organizer and three deputy leaders.

Meanwhile, the ongoing three-day discussion, which started last Friday at the Temple Trees, to propose means and ways of reforming the Party, will conclude today.

According to Party sources, it has been proposed to have an open vote to appoint all office-bearers and the Party leader but the proposal had to be put-off last evening.

However, apart from major changes, it has been agreed to give a large portion of party’s responsibilities to Housing Minister Sajith Premedasa.
These include operational work of the Party in view of future elections and so on. Meanwhile, Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara has been tasked with identifying key issues and coming up with a proper plan to take the Party closer to the masses and what the public actually expect from the party.

Meanwhile, the backbenchers who vociferously demanded a radical change in Party’s leadership expressed their disappointment over the latest decision of the party.

“The Prime Minister came up with a strategy to win the No-Confidence Motion and we voted in his favour, at the last minute, keeping faith in him. However, we are disillusioned by this decision. He will continue as the Party leader and the Prime Minister till 2020,” State Minister Palitha Range Bandara said.

A group of backbenchers, led by State Ministers Range Bandara and Vasantha Senanayake demanded that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe step down from the party leadership paving the way for youngsters.

They also threatened to support the NCM, in the event Wickremesinghe did not step down. However, they opted to vote in Wickremesinghe’s favour and against the NCM following an alleged assurance by Wickremesinghe that party reforms would take place soon after the NCM. Keeping his promise Wickremesinghe initiated discussions on Friday.

To Impeach Or Not To Impeach

By Mano Ratwatte  – MAY 8, 2018

Mano Ratwatte

Sri Lankan PM predicatbly survived a Vote Of No Confidence. Everyone knew the outcome beforehand. President Premedasa’s impeachment moved died before it hit the Parliament floor.   In the US, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only two presidents to have been successfully impeached by the House of Representatives; both were later acquitted by the Senate. Clinton was impeached in 1998 by the House of Representatives on grounds of perjury to a grand jury (by a 228–206 vote) and obstruction of justice (by a 221–212 vote). Two other articles of impeachment failed – a second count of perjury in the Jones case (by a 205–229 vote) and one accusing Clinton of abuse of power (by a 148–285 vote) (COPIED WIKI VERBATIM)

Since Trump won, liberal Americans and the never Trump movement has been hysterical trying to overthrow Trump by legal means. The entire world is watching this TV Reality comedy. Sex stories sell. No impeachment justifiable so far. One nation interfering in another nation’s democratic institutions and elections is a far more serious issue(US does that all the time) than sex with a porn star. 

If there were campaign finance violations, that is worthy of investigation. Trump has not lied under oath yet, but is desperately flinging his lies left, right and center to obfuscate issues and block the Russia investigation; perhaps to avoid lying under Oath? But people forget about why Clinton was impeached. Those calling for Trump’s impeachment, because he lied about his sexcapades are wrong; they cite Clinton being impeached for a similar issue as the reason for impeaching Trump. That is not the correct legal argument. What Bill Clinton did was getting caught lying under oath(perjury), about an issue that came up only because of the wasted $37million dollar investigation into Whitewater scandal. 

Clinton lied under oath. Trump may refuse to take an oath to testify. Clinton’s case was more serious than the Storm(y) in a tea cup because there was more than just a hint of abuse of power; the only reason Monica performed fellatio on him is because he was President. Ironically, these Republicans are rank hypocrites and the white evangelicals are far worse, because if Obama did or said what Trump does, they would have screamed for his expulsion. Yes Republicans remember it well because they wanted him brought down in so many ways. That investigation had nothing to do with the actual act he was accused of, but they went along with it because they hated him. 

Republicans should let Mueller work unimpeded and don’t threaten the AG or Deputy AG. President Trump is also in a tizzy, making never heard before threats at hallowed Government institutions including attacking his own Department of Justice. He relentlessly insults the FBI, and even intelligence agencies who without any doubt found that Russia influenced the outcome of the 2016 election.  

Their new strategy seems is a bit like the strategy the Rajapaksa regime used to impeach the hapless Chief Justice via his Parliamentarians. Trump team’s modus operandi is to vilify and discredit Robert Mueller in the eyes of his voter base. He has a fantastic ally in Fox-News to do so. A lot of Sri Lankan UNP supporters attacked Sirasa, but Fox-news is more like a Communist Pravda for Trump and his evangelical white base.

Looking at the way some Republicans acted during the Clinton impeachment episode, one might think that somehow Republicans are more moral and have sex only for procreation by the stance they took back then, until a lot of those moral Mullahs were exposed. Congressman (now retired)Bobby Barr committed adultery; famous Newt Gingrich did, House leader Republican Henry Hyde fathered an illegitimate child while he claim moral values to impeach Clinton; all were exposed when they threw stones at Clinton. 

Clinton had so many other issues including Paula Jones(settled out of court) or what used to be called “bimbo eruptions” even as Governor of a Southern state.

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President Gamarala the profuse liar and ‘broken promises’ genius at May day rally: I won’t retire in 2020 !

(Lanka-e-News - 08.May.2017, 11.30PM)  Currently  most embattled infamously famous ‘ broken promises’ president Gamarala whose popularity has hit rock bottom , who swore most solemnly on 2015-01-05 before the sacred Dalada maligawa that the presidential election  he contested in January 2015 is his last ,that he  will go on retirement and will not contest again ,shamelessly and outrageously  reneged on his solemn promise on the 7 th at his SLFP May day rally in  Batticaloa when he officially said in all fury and force that he will not retire in 2020.

President Gamarala who has by now earned an inglorious reputation as  world record breaker  because of his unashamed mendacity and broken promises said , ‘some are asking me whether I am retiring in 2020. These days  , the websites are often saying I am going on pension in 2020. I won’t retire. I  have a huge load of work to do.’ He made this announcement as though he has lately contracted incurable acute amnesia, and that he has forgotten all those solemn promises he made loudly and proudly in the past . What’s more ! ‘ politicians should not talk lies’ he added, confirming his mental derangement in addition to his state of amnesia.

It is a well and widely known fact ,this is the president Gamarala who made a thousand loud promises to abolish the executive presidency in his greed to come to power . Yet, when the list of proposals were  made by the SLFP headed by him to the constitution formulation committee recently ,shockingly that list of his party contained the proposal against abolition of executive presidency which he promised a thousand times .

Meanwhile the JVP is in the ready to table in Parliament  a 20 th amendment to the constitution .  If the executive president has been  appointed based on a people’s referendum , then undoubtedly , the executive presidency shall be abolished by another referendum.

However in the proposals of the JVP what is mentioned is abolition of executive presidency and replacing it with a president through the parliament sans executive powers.

It is the opinion of political analysts , that it  is clear from the announcement made by Gamarala on the 7 th , the incumbent president Gamarala is hoping to continue as non executive president appointed by the parliament after rendering assistance to abolish the executive presidency. But it is to be noted  it is the future parliament that will have to decide on whether he should be appointed. 

Or else , if Gamarala who is with only  a 4 % popularity is hoping to become a president on a referendum again , on around a 14 % popularity earned together with the UPFA , his brain must be admitted to a mental asylum and treated first and foremost. 

It is a pity , it is Pallewatte Gamarala himself who made it abundantly clear to the world , he is a profuse liar from whose cavernous mouth a lie drops each time he opens it ,outrageously breaks  solemn promises ,  uneducated, suffering from inferiority complex, bites the very hand that feeds him , corrupt , bribe taker, and a two penny half penny worth   bankrupt  political scoundrel 

A Lanka e news satirical video footage in this connection is hereunder 

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by     (2018-05-08 20:02:07)

Man arrested for attempting to sexually assault two women of US Navy

 Feron Jayawardene-Tuesday, May 8, 2018

A hotel employee who attempted to sexually assault two female US Navy personnel of the US Navy Hospital Ship, USNS Mercy was arrested by Uppuveli Police yesterday.

 “The two ladies ordered a soft drink from the hotel in which they were staying. An employee had brought the drink to the room and had attempted to sexually molest the two ladies aged 23 and 25,” stated an official from the Police Media Unit.

The employee was identified as a resident of Pudakudairippu and he will be produced before the Trincomalee Magistrate today.

US Navy Hospital Ship, USNS Mercy arrived to Sri Lanka on April 25 to facilitate the Pacific Partnership-2018. It is currently berthed at the Trincomalee Port and will leave the Sri Lankan waters on May 9.

Similar incidents where foreigners were assaulted were reported during the past weeks when a group of Dutch tourists were physically and sexually assaulted by employees at a surf bar in Mirissa.

Focussing on Sri Lanka Railways ‘Bumpy rides’ on rusty rail lines

 

2018-05-09

Neighbouring India has trains running Apps which allow passengers to be aware of train delays and where the trains are located at any given time. This facility is so convenient for passengers who experience frequent train delays, which take place especially when Sri Lanka Railways cancels trains without providing back-up trains. 

General Manager of Railways S.M Abeywickrama said that if Sri Lanka Railways was unable to provide a train following a delay, the authorities are able to provide compensation to passengers. 

But passengers who are travelling for short distances won’t wait to receive the compensation, being
aware of the usual long process involved in getting work done in a Government institution. 

“We have already paid customers in the absence of trains during occasions such as strikes and have also provided free bus services during such strikes. We offer compensation on days when there are strikes, on days when we exactly know that there won’t be any trains operating,” said Abeywickrama. 

Answering a question as to why the railway services aren’t developed and updated to suit the present demands, Abeywickrama said that the railway services are being used by a massive crowd which had increased recently. 

“Not only the scarcity of trains, but the presence of having only a few railway lines has become a barrier for us in providing a good service. Between some places like Fort and Maradana, there are only a limited amount of lines, which further adds to the train traffic during peak hours. Another line is essential between Fort and Maradana,” said Abeywickrma. 

Additional line for problem areas 

As many as 340 trains run daily. Therefore more railway lines are required. “We are planning to add a line to the problematic areas like Polgahawela and Kurunegala in the future. We have recognized several locations like that where there is a need to add more lines and reduce the traffic,” he said. 
“15 new trains, including six from India and nine from China, have already been ordered.
Additionally, 160 train carriages and 22 engines will be bought by next year. We would be able to develop the current railway service by the mid half of next year. We have already started several projects to renew a number of frequently used dilapidated carriages. The Railway Department itself is carrying on one project,” he said. 

Nine renewed carriages after being connected have commenced passenger transportation recently. These carriages were renovated with the support of the private sector. 

“We are planning to continue with this project. We admit that sometimes trains get delayed due to technical faults or traffic lines. If one train breaks down, the next one to run on the line would be definitely late. Anyway we have informed the Railway Maintenance Section to keep lines fully serviced. Despite some old railway lines are being maintained daily, there are some places where the maintenance work has stopped. We have to replace rails at some places. Much funds are needed to import sleepers. If those replacements are not made, we have to put speed limits to certain points. 

Many vacancies 

No recruitment has been made to fill voids at the top positions, hence a number of vacancies remain. There is a shortage of train drivers, guards and station masters. There are low salary scales associated with certain sections. Employees recruited at executive level have been inactive for years. 
A private party was tasked with the cleaning of trains. This was following a tender process initiated by Dhawana Bala Upa Department. 

Commenting further on issues related to Sri Lanka Railways, Withanage said that the railway tracks in Sri Lanka belong to the ‘stone age’ and lack basic essential facilities

Train accidents-which include suicide attempts-have hugely burdened us. We ourselves have to take the victim to the nearest hospital and such actions cause an unavoidable delay,” said the General Manager. 

What’s unfortunate is that a few days after the newly modified train was launched, passengers had completely destroyed it. 

National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection ( NMCRP ) Chairman Ranjith Withanage said that Sri Lanka Railways does not have a method to offer compensation to passengers during train delays.
 
Commenting further on issues related to Sri Lanka Railways, Withanage said that the railway tracks in Sri Lanka belong to the ‘stone age’ and lack basic essential facilities. 

“Railway Unions carry out strikes all of a sudden despite the fact that there are thousands of people waiting to reach their destinations. Passengers do not have as option, other than disembarking from the trains and finding some other mode of transportation. Sri Lanka Railways should pay the entire ticket fare to passengers if they are unable to provide another train.” he said.  Speaking elaborately on passenger rights, he said that passengers are not safe while travelling in trains. He added that there had been instances when passengers had been wounded and a few had died after stones were thrown at them recently. 

Withanage further noted that passengers are not offered a worthy service in keeping with the price they pay for tickets. 

He also mentioned that passengers need to fulfill certain responsibilities. “Sagging seats, food wrappings and unclean walls are common signs in trains. Passengers steal light bulbs, break fans and glass windows, throw trash out of windows, cut seats for fun, travel in cliques singing and joking aloud and disturb fellow passengers. Some carriages lack electricity hence it is not safe for females to travel alone at night. Even during the day women clad in jewellery have been victimized by thieves. Our people still have an uncivilized attitude when it comes to protecting national services like this,” he said. 

Many people die as a result of accidents which happen when they travel on the foot-board of the train, due to lack of space inside. We still have the same Railway lines built by the British. Those have not been reformed or developed. Trains still run at certain speed limits which have not been updated to suit the modern era. If the relevant authorities solve these issues, especially the issue with the speed, citizens might use trains more frequently to travel, reducing the traffic congestion, air pollution and sound pollution in return. 

We have been asking the Government to provide canteens, sanitary facilities, proper lighting, comfortable seats instead of ‘hard, nearly vertical and narrow seats’ and to increase the speed limits. All our requests have been ignored so far. Many countries in the world have methods and systems to offer compensation during train delays. The compensation depends on the operator travelled with, type of ticket and the length of the delay. Trains are operated by train companies in other countries and they do update the ‘Passengers’ Chart’ on which the compensation schemes are displayed.

According to internet sources, details regarding the situations associated with trains and other related information are available in the Passenger Chart. 

The issues within Sri Lanka Railways must come to an end. Sri Lanka Railways should be able to provide a quality service to the general public. The passengers on the other hand have a responsibility in protecting national assets. The most fitting solution to road traffic would be a developed train service. It will be a long wait until the day arrives when the relevant authorities understand the importance of developing the railway services in Sri Lanka. 

RPTUA contemplates strike 

At the time of writing, The Railway Professional Trade Union Alliance (RPTUA) was contemplating to commence a countrywide strike by tonight (May 08) with the participation of Railways Operators, Supervisors and the Officers union. 

Thoughts on National HR Policy on ‘Local’ Labour Day

Tuesday, 8 May 2018 

We in Sri Lanka observe ‘International Labour Day’ on 7th May instead of 1st May, this year. From Haymarket Square, Chicago in 1886, it has come a long way in bringing workers’ rights to the forefront. It is an opportune time to reflect on national policies and local practices related to labour with emphasis on employment.


Overview

I was addressing an International HR Conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as a keynote speaker on “people factor for sustained results”. With the enthusiastic questions and answers session that followed, it was not difficult to identify the key challenges in driving a dynamic labour force. It has a key policy dimension and also a practical dimension. It prompted me to recall the ‘National Human Resources and Employment Policy (NHREP)’ launched in Sri Lanka several years go. Despite its dormant status today, the salient points that were captured in it are still solid and valid.

The NHREP sets out the overarching policy framework to provide full, decent and productive employment to all Sri Lankans. It is the foundation on which human resource capabilities would be strengthened and employment opportunities created to make Sri Lanka to reach its aspirations.

The NHREP has stated its vision as:

‘Sri Lanka, the Wonder of Asia, in which all persons of working age become globally competitive and multi-skilled, and enjoy full, decent and productive employment with higher incomes in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.’

It clearly shows the alignment to the national priorities and emphasis on the employee aspects. Based on labour statistics, the policy report states that those of the workforce having higher educational achievements are overrepresented among the unemployed, suggesting that there is a shortfall in demand for educated workers. Further, low rates of labour force participation and high level of unemployment among women, as well as the gender disparity in wages, shows that women are at a distinct disadvantage in the labour market.

As the policy report further states, Sri Lanka is moving from a factor-driven economy towards an efficiency-driven economy, leading on to an innovation-driven economy. The human resource plans will explore possibilities to leapfrog towards an innovation-driven stage. The performance of human resources-related factors is critical and related to global competitiveness. These factors will be examined constantly and measures taken for appropriate adjustments, so that the economy will move smoothly towards this innovation-driven growth stage.


Key Aims of NHREP

The main objectives of the NHREP have been identified as follows:

1.To promote the attainment of full, productive and freely chosen employment for all women and men in Sri Lanka

2.To develop a highly competent, globally competitive, multi-skilled and productive workforce

3.To improve incomes and the quality of life of the working population across different sectors and regions

4.To provide the fullest possible opportunity to each worker without discrimination, to qualify for and to use his/her skills and endowments in a job for which he/she is best suited, so that worker motivation and productivity are maximised

5.To safeguard the basic rights and interests of workers in line with national labour laws and key international labour standards

The above seems to be timely and relevant with challenges of implementation. They are also comprehensive in nature and collaborative in application. As the report further illustrates, a national human resources and employment policy is needed to guide the use of the country’s labour-force effectively for the overall development of the country. In achieving rapid development as aspired, Sri Lanka needs to prevent the skills of the work force from becoming a constraint on development.


Key Contents 

The policy report contains key policy components pertaining to several key areas: human resources planning; development and productivity; school education; higher education ; vocational skills and employability; career guidance and counseling; enhancing employability of the youth; science, technology and innovation skills; sectoral policies; informal employment; small and medium enterprises (SME); employment opportunities for vulnerable groups, disabled persons and those in underdeveloped regions; foreign employment; public service employment; mainstreaming gender; labour market information and employment services; social dialogue institutions and labour relations; wages and social protection.

Sectorial policies include sectors such as agricultural, manufacturing, tourism, ICT & BPO, health services and ports & shipping. It also speaks of environment friendly (green) jobs, infrastructure investments, performing arts, music and creative industries as well as other emerging spheres.


HR Planning, Development and Productivity

In perusing through the policy document, I found the section on HR planning, development and productivity particularly interesting from an HR professional’s point of view. As the report states, the importance of planning and development of human resources in a country’s development process cannot be over-emphasised. Effective human resource planning implies that sufficient human resources, with the right mixture of talent, are available in appropriate locations, performing their jobs according to their skills and aspiration.

At present, Sri Lanka lacks comprehensive information in regard to human resource requirements. It is on the basis of reasonably accurate projections about how many skilled workers of different categories the country requires to meet current and emerging needs that arrangements could be made to supply the high quality human resource requirements. All relevant authorities in the public sector could undertake studies of human resource requirements in all key categories during the NHREP period. It goes without saying that systems have to be devised to do the same for the private sector as well.

The NHREP report further states that the demographic profile of the population and the labour force, and their expected changes over time, are taken into account in human resource planning and development. Particular emphasis is placed on required policy responses to changing proportions of the young and the old in the population, the extent of women’s labour force participation, and overseas migration for work. While action is planned to address skills inadequacies caused by overseas migration of skilled workers, policies will be designed to continuously improve labour productivity at both macro and sectoral levels.

Low labour productivity is often highlighted as a major factor behind the high cost of production and low profits. This hampers local private investment, as well as foreign direct investment, and thereby restricts employment opportunities. Low productivity leads to loss of market competitiveness and slow industrial progress. A set of productivity standards needs to be developed and established at enterprise level, ensuring that employees also would gain from productivity growth. Labour productivity indexing and standardisation in respect of different industries and economic sectors are to be developed. Medium and long-term labour productivity targets will have to be declared at macro, sector and subsector levels based on corresponding projections.

The fact that the skill requirements in the labour market are constantly rising as a result of globalisation and technological change is noted. Talents of young people, and the need to provide opportunities for them to develop those talents, are recognised. More effective and more competent workers will help enterprises to remain competitive in global and regional markets.

The report summarises the following are some key issues/ problems affecting human resource planning and development:

nMismatch between the education and training provided to people and resultant expectations of the youth, on the one hand, and the skills and knowledge demanded in the current and emerging world of work on the other.

nInadequate mechanisms to address skills development and employment issues pertaining to the large numbers dropping out annually from the formal education system.

nAbsence of mechanisms to encourage labour productivity and also a productivity-oriented working culture.

nHigh wage and other costs of labour, particularly in respect of higher and more skilled positions, having a direct impact on employers’ decision to hire and to re-train staff. Re-training becomes particularly costly in the context of high turnover of skilled labour.

nLack of a business-friendly environment (e.g., legal, infrastructure, etc.) to facilitate investments in new enterprises.

There is no doubt that the above issues should be addressed in a collaborative manner, and coordination between key public sector organisations, as well as key private enterprises, should be vital in such an endeavour. Whether we are aware of such a need, and whether we are willing to commit to fulfill such a need, is the question.


Challenges ahead

“The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not,” said Niccolo Machiavelli. Whilst the contents of the NHREP are still valid, resurrecting it with a renewed interest is a key challenge.

The sad practice of ‘throwing the baby away with the bathwater’, widely prevalent in local political circles, has badly affected the process of implementing NHREP. The National Human Resource Development Council (NHRDC) can play a pivotal role in updating it or upgrading it if necessary, rather than uprooting it. A starting point could be a discussion among HR professionals about the information contained in it and implications of their implementation. Professional bodies such as the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) and the Association of HR Professionals (AHRP) can play a pivotal role here.

Moving beyond just celebrating Labour Day, paying serious attention to the implementation of NHREP could be a vital step towards right direction. With political wish and professional will, it can be made a vibrant reality for the betterment of the masses.

Prof. Ajantha S. Dharmasiri can be reached through director@pim.sjp.ac.lk , president@ipmlk.org, ajantha@ou.edu or www.ajanthadharmasiri.info

Human Rights: Fresh HR Body IHRC-Hong Kong Launched

To walk with the victims of various human rights violations will be the foundation of this organization, which we hope will eventually become a movement than an organization.

( May 8, 2018, Hong Kong SAR, Sri Lanka Guardian) “We are glad to announce the formation of International Human Rights Council – Hong Kong (IHRC-HK) based in Hong Kong, with the active participation of the dedicated human rights defenders from the various countries in Asia, specifically from the region of South Asia. This is a region where the justice delivery mechanisms have contributed more to injustice than to justice and where this defective system has contributed to their further victimization,” in their first press release issued by the IHRC-HK has noted.

The press release further reads as follow;

Mr. Baseer Naveed, Executive Director, IHRC -HK

All types of victims, denied, deprived or facing violation of their rights have longed for space to voice their violations. These victims have the right to know the mechanisms, the institutions and persons that on the one had perpetrated the violations or those that prevent the delivery of redress, on the other. Thus the explicit aim of this organization is to expose both these components so that the victims together with the human rights defenders are in a position to make informed decisions and adopt effective action both for the reform of the system of justice and the enforcement of the rule of law.

Mr. Baseer Naveed, the executive director, while announcing the formation of the IHRC-HK, stated, that it is to “Articulate the voice of the victims, place it in their proper human and legal context, examine the justice delivery system with a view to its reform and the enforcement of the rule of law both for punitive and preventive action”.

To walk with the victims of various human rights violations will be the foundation of this organization, which we hope will eventually become a movement than an organization. This requires the actual participation of the human rights defenders and the citizen’s societies, who will help us to be victim-centered, transparent and accountable. “We believe in enhancing the capacity of individuals throughout the region to address abuses and violations of their basic human rights. The IHRC-HK will actively lobby for changes to national, regional or international law and for their effective implementations. The countries in the region that have signed, and in some cases ratified the UN Conventions, have failed the people. In fact most of the public is

unaware of the commitments made by our governments to the international community. We hereby assume the responsibility to keep our people informed of the obligations arising from these commitments and their implementation, so that the governments become more responsible to its own people and the international community”.

Mr. Naveed, in a press release defining the method of working, went on to say that the IHRC-HK will focus on cases of individuals that are subjected to violations by the State and their functionaries exposing also the institutions of justice which have become the tools of injustice and repression. These can be followed by Urgent Responses, Statements, and Reports for sessions of the UN Human Rights Commission and different stakeholders. The purpose of Urgent Response is: To expose the authorities that have turned a blind eye to abuses, press for immediate legal action against perpetrators, redress to the victims and to mobilize civil society response by way of signatures.

For more detail please visit:- www.ihrchk.org

IHRC-PRL-001-2018-1.pdf by Thavam on Scribd