The cry behind the provocative call for a return of the LTTE

by Jehan Perera-July 9, 2018, 9:03 pm 

Just as in the south in the Sinhalese-majority areas where ethnic nationalism is being used for political advantage, a similar phenomenon is taking place in the north and east of the country in the Tamil-majority areas. It is being used in the north, among others, to protest against the increase in criminal activities that most recently included the rape and murder of a six-year-old child. The rise in ethnic nationalism is taking place with a corresponding decline in the electoral strength of those who are taking moderate and non-racist positions. This was visible at the recently concluded local government elections where nationalist parties improved their performance at the cost of moderate parties both in the north and south.

Former Minister of State for Child Affairs and member of the government, Vijayakala Maheswaran has shown this political propensity to exploit the latent ethnic nationalism of people by speaking one-sidedly about the past and present. At a public event in Jaffna she highlighted the period of the LTTE as being one in which the security of the Tamil people from criminal activities had been secure. In the presence of government ministers and TNA leaders, whose members had once been victims of the LTTE, she said "Today we realise from the bottom of our heart how we are proud to have lived under the times of LTTE prior to May 18, 2009." This was in reference to the rape and murder of the child.

The American poet James Russell Lowell (1819–91) wrote, "Be noble! and the nobleness that lies in other men, sleeping, but never dead, will rise in majesty to meet thine own." If the word "noble is replaced by the word "nationalist" this would be an apt description of the downside of Sri Lankan politics at the present time. Vijayakala Maheswaran’s praise of the LTTE has brought about a veritable storm of denunciation by nationalist politicians in the Sinhalese polity, accused of many crimes themselves, who have been doing their best to create insecurity and stoke up fears in the Sinhalese people of a return of the LTTE.

NO RETURN

Having been to the north and east regularly since the war ended I can say that not once did I encounter members of the Tamil community who wanted a return of the LTTE as a force on the ground. This is because they are aware that such a development would lead to violence. The period of the LTTE is now past and will not come again. Nor will there be a Tamil Eelam for which they fought unless Sri Lanka indeed produces an authoritarian and nationalist leadership that violates human rights with impunity and treats ethnic and religious minorities as enemies, as Hitler did, and goes into open conflict with both neighboring and more distant countries, which led to its partition.

For the past several years in the north, and especially after the coming to power of the previous government headed by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa there has been a steady deterioration in the law and order situation with many criminal groups from within the Tamil community attacking each other and seeking to live off the civilian community. The former government sought to control the general population by creating a stronger central government in which the military played a bigger role. However, the ethos of the present government is entirely different.

A television journalist from the mainstream media said to me recently that he had recently been to Jaffna on a private assignment to cover a wedding. He said that the people had welcomed him and his crew. He said the wedding party had worried that they might be attacked by criminals who now knew of their financial situation. He also said that the people had claimed they preferred the Sri Lankan army being stationed in the north rather than the police being stationed there. This may be due to the fact that when the army was around, they set up a system of checkpoints. Those who were potentially criminals had kept a low profile as they risked being shot at by the army. On the other hand, now that the lightly armed police have replaced the army to keep the civilian peace, the criminals are no longer afraid.

SEE DIFFERENTLY

Ironically, the north is paying the price of the return to democracy. This gain to the country, and to the Tamil people, provides the framework within which all other rights may be enjoyed. Previously the army was on the streets ensuring security through their checkpoints. But this was also not to the liking of the people who felt that they were being controlled by a military force outside of their control. The withdrawal of the army from the checkpoints, provided the police with an opportunity to replace them and take up the challenge of ensuring the people’s security as a civilian force. But this has yet to happen even as the composition of the police slowly changes from being a Sinhalese police to being a multi ethnic one.

The words repeatedly flaunted by Vijayakala Maheswaran need to be viewed in perspective and not only as a provocation and a call to arms. They echo with the resentment that the government has not adequately addressed the issue of violence and crime that is within the Tamil community. These are not calls for the revival of a period in time in which hundreds if not thousands of children were forcibly taken from their parents and conscripted into the LTTE armed forces. Her speech was an expression of the frustration of people who feel that the post-war period has not brought them the economic benefit they thought would come their way nor the truth, justice and reconciliation that both political and civil society groups are trying to advance.

Recently, a senior religious leader echoed the sentiments of most people in the country that it needs a strong leader if it is to develop and not fall into disunity. But he expressed his sentiments in a controversial manner when he urged the potential leader to "Be a Hitler! Go with the military. Take the leadership of the country." This statement had been used to criticize the venerable prelate. But no one will believe that he wanted gas chambers, concentration camps and the partition of the country, as occurred as a result of Hitler’s rule over Germany. Likewise Vijayakala Maheswaran’s words at the public event need to be seen as a call to the mainstream polity and to the government to act fast and resolve the problems of the people and not for the revival of the LTTE which led to mass destruction and sorrow.

Vijayakala’s LTTE & Asgiriya Anunayaka’s Hitler: A Political Economy Of Dissent In A Morally Decaying Society

By Jude Fernando –JULY 10, 2018

Jude Fernando

If they call you a Hitler, then be a Hitler and build this country.—Ven. Vendaruwe Upali Thero (Anunayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter), advising Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Now we remember how we lived before May 18, 2009. In the present conditions our main intention is to bring back the LTTE if we want to live, if we want to walk freely, if we need our children to attend schools and return back.—Vijayakala Maheswaran

The timing of these two, ill-thought-out and irresponsible, or perhaps, misspoken statements, and the stark difference between the public and political responses to them, are evidence of the harsh and uncomfortable realities of this country. The statements are an indictment of the yahapalanaya (“good governance”) regime for failing to fulfill its promises. Desperation and anxiety about this failure run deep in a society so morally bankrupt and intellectually and politically paralyzed, that it sees no other option but to turn to the LTTE or to authoritarian regimes to help solve the country’s social, economic, and political problems—regardless of the atrocious history of such regimes. These are symptoms of a morally degenerating society deprived of convincing alternative narratives and road maps to guide its future. 

The double standards evident in the popular and political responses to Anunayaka and Vijayakala are indicative of a country sharply polarized along ethnic lines and also of the continuing influence of ethno nationalism on the politics of the country. Such polarization creates communities that are unable to empathize with other communities, even if they are facing similar struggles. After thirty years of war, million-dollar investments in reconciliation and peace-building have not helped the country move away from reactionary, racist nationalism and toward a more inclusive nationalism. An ethno-nationalist interpretation of Vijayakala’s apparent call for a resurgence of the LTTE might cause the Sinhalese to endorse Anunayaka’s counsel to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and the Tamils who fear a further entrenchment of forces against them to sympathize with Vijayakala. The statements reinforce each other, and they will take center stage in the political discourse as the country approaches its next election.

Vilifying Vijayakala and branding Gotabaya Rajapaksa as Hitler, are desperate acts of political opportunism that only serve to create fear.  If we really are concerned about the country sliding towards fascist rule under the LTTE or Hitler-style authoritarian regimes, we need to unravel and challenge the economic, cultural, and political underpinnings of the current excitement about the two statements.

The current government came to power by promising to restore law and order. After failing to do so, it is now hoping to remain in power by frightening the public about criminals whom it promises to catch when it forms the next government. Hardly anyone believes that the regime will catch politically powerful and popular members of the den of thieves, despite Minister Rajitha Senarathne’s proclamation that ‘2018 is a year of catching criminals’. Not only is the government complicit in thefts carried out by its own members, but there is also a widespread belief that the allegations of theft are important sources of political bargaining, which helps preserve a weak and unpopular government. As a result, the public is not swayed by the government’s claims that it is not interfering in legal proceedings against corruption, (as the previous government did) or the government’s plea for the public to be patient and should not expect an instant restoration of the judicial system.

Corruption has been normalized, and the legal system is struggling to overcome constraints so that it can carry out its duties. Criminals that the government promised to catch are fast becoming national heroes who could potentially form the next government. The president and the prime minister seem to blame each other for their failure to bring these criminals to justice. Yet, for most voters, corruption is simply not a matter of high priority when faced with other impending material problems. Even the JVP is not an option for the people to end corruption.  Most people do not vote for the JVP, even if they welcome its persistence in exposing corruption. Under these circumstances, people would even vote for extremely corrupt persons, especially when allegations of corruption against them remain unproven, so long as their campaign policies promise to make real change on the ground.

The frustrations of the Tamil minority with the government run as high frustrations of the majority Sinhalese. The progress the government has made in relation to certain minority issues—progress that has been acknowledged by Vijayakala herself—is not reason enough for minorities to be complacent about the status quo. The much-anticipated constitutional changes allowing for devolution of power are unlikely in the near future if supposed fears of resurgence of the LTTE and of anti-minority sentiments occupy a central place in the coming election campaigns. 

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Why should we be worried about Vijayakala’s romance with the LTTE?

2018-07-10

State Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Vijayakala Maheswaran has called for the resurrection of the LTTE to give dignity and order to Tamils. 

“All of you know how our people lived before 2009-05-19. When comparing with today’s situation, it seems the LTTE should be revived. If our children and women are to come home safely, an LTTE administration is again necessary. What this government has done for the last three years is only returning the lands which were acquired. We thank the government for that. But beyond that the government has done nothing.  

“A six-year-old girl was raped and killed. Our girls who are receiving no support from anyone have only one choice – to commit suicide. What are we to do? Is it for this that a President was appointed by us after so much toil? The situation is so bad that our children cannot go to school and return home safely,” she has said in a speech delivered at the 8th Presidential Public Service programme titled ‘Nila Mehewera for Northern Province’ held on July 3 at the Veerasingham Hall in Jaffna. Several government ministers and Northern Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran were also in attendance. 

She later resigned from her portfolio on the request of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The UNP has launched an inquiry into her remarks.

That was not a slip of the tongue, buoyed by the whistling of the audience. That was a time-tested strategy aimed at exploiting real and imaginary grievances of the community through a communal prism. History has proven that these misplaced tactics were, more than anything else, the prime catalyst of the creation of the LTTE. The current pitiful existence of Northern Tamils and their overall loss of privileged position they had prior to the building of the Tamil insurgency and later terrorism were also byproducts of these rhetoric. Like the other megalomaniac in the South, Rohana Wijeweera who preyed on the inflated economic grievances -- grievances aggravated by an education system which gave certificates but no employable skills, and a welfare system that gave a sense of entitlement but not financial sustainability -- of the southern youth to destroy this country, Tamil politicians from Chelvanayagam onwards have exploited primordial psychosis of the Tamil community to drive a wedge between the North and the South. None of those rambling were a slip of the tongue either. They were well calculated, rational, yet self-interested maneuvering of communal politics. All of which, both in the South and the North, ended in disaster and made both communities to start from scratch. 
Mrs. Maheswaran’s remarks have generated two contrasting reactions. The first, and most loudly stated, was repulsion in the South. The joint opposition and the acolytes of ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa have upped the ante. That itself may be another populist maneuvering, and also one that is aimed at deflecting the attention from allegations that Mr. Rajapaksa’s election campaign was financed by China Harbour Engineering Company. Still, that is a worthwhile intervention because, as history has proved when such communal instigation was allowed to go unchecked, in this country, you are more likely to end up with suicide terrorists than anything civilized sort of discourse on the conditions that could have provoked such assertions. 

Once the erosion of the foundation of the State is underway, and cynical maneuverings to those ends are tolerated, it is nearly impossible to reverse the trend

Then there are other voices, which proliferate in English language websites and cocktail circus. They primarily try to contextualize Mrs. Maheswaran’s remarks in the conditions of crime, poverty and hopelessness of Northern Tamils. Those are the same folks who cried blue murder when a high priest in Kandy preached Gota to become a Hitler or whenever Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera opens his mouth. So there is an innate prejudice in that quarter towards anything Sinhalese. And most of those folks resemble indecisiveness and idealistically triggered shortsightedness that were in part responsible for the less than ideal achievements in both the economic development and nation building of post-independent Sri  Lanka. However, countries are not governed by idealism. That, if needed, is only possible when you achieve economic conditions of Canada or Sweden -- though even these countries would probably pay a heavy cost down the line for idealistic adventurism. Countries should be governed, and their futures be secured through the policies of dispassionate realism. To navigate the ethnic polarization, States have adopted their own means, which often have trade-offs: In Singapore, ethnic incitement could get you a lengthy prison sentence. Turkey promoted the Turkish identity, at times subjugating the minority Kurdish identity. Those means are not perfect, but they have prevented the proliferation of communalism to the extent that it destroys the fabric of the State. 

Why Sri Lanka had a terrorism was not primarily Sri Lankan Tamils were worse off than other communities -- instead they were better off by most economic indicators well until 1980 -- but because, Sri Lankan democracy and other assorted freedoms allowed instigation of communalism. Why this happened mainly with Northern Tamils and not with Muslims or upcountry Tamils was because the overwhelming primordialism of the sort of Tamil exceptionalism in the Dravidian culture, and implanted here. Same applies to Sinhala Buddhist communalism promoted by Anagarika Dharmapala onwards. (Ataturk could have put all of them in jail, and let rot) 
In Mahathir Mohamed’s Malaysia of the ‘80s, where there was (and is) a significant Indian Tamil population, and often disadvantaged, passing the Vadukkudai resolution could have got you the death sentence. It was Sri  Lanka, that sent the instigators to Parliament. 

Once the erosion of the foundation of the State is underway, and cynical maneuverings to those ends are tolerated, it is nearly impossible to reverse the trend. That is why even some of the most draconian laws implemented subsequently to the discomfort of all people, and especially Tamils, failed to deliver the intended stability. 
Sri Lanka brought an end to a vicious chapter on May 17, 2009, annihilating an egregious terrorist group. That was the right thing to do for the long-term interest of majority, if not all people of this country. 

Now the government has a basic responsibility that the discourse that led to creation of terrorism is no allowed in the country. A red line should be clearly drawn, and followed through laws. Simultaneously, Tamil political, social and economic grievances should be addressed. But, one should be discerning enough to understand that some of those hyped-up grievances, such as crime, are not a problem unique to the North. There are, of course, unique economic grievances, due to the long-term consequence of the war, as well as those like Chief Minister Vigneswaran is busy passing ‘genocide’ resolutions and apparently has little time left to dedicate to economy. Even with the best of efforts, a portion of primordial grievances would remain unaddressed and that if unchecked would gradually give into communal instigation. 

That is where Sri Lanka should draw the red line. It should not relive the folly that had been happening since the independence. This is after all not a matter of freedom of expression. It is a matter of national survival. 

Follow @RangaJayasuriya on Twitter 

Sri Lanka Hopes India Will Buy Into Airport Without Planes. China Refused

Sri Lanka first tried to offer China the Mattala Rajapaksa Airport in the southern district of Hambantota but now but is now in talks with India.

The airport deal could take the shape of a 40-year joint venture with 70 percent stake for India

 July 09, 2018

Sri Lanka has already sold China a port that gets almost no ships. The island nation now wants India to take control of an airport with no scheduled flights.

The nation first tried to offer China the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in the southern district of Hambantota, but is now in talks with India, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Sri Lanka's parliament on Thursday. The move follows the $1.1 billion sale of the loss-making port in Hambantota to state-owned China Merchants Group.

The efforts are part of Sri Lanka's attempt to salvage loss-making projects built under a previous administration criticized for its close ties with China. Hambantota's port was a "white elephant" that accumulated nearly $300 million in losses since 2011, Wickremesinghe told parliament. But the port's sale to China was a "great victory" for Sri Lanka, he said, and getting Indian involved in the airport could help revive that asset too, he added.

"Just like the port without ships, there is also an airport without planes in Mattala," Wickremesinghe told lawmakers. "We spoke first to the Chinese about the Mattala airport, but we did not get a favorable response. So we are in discussions with India. In the future, I believe Mattala will also be an airport free of debt that will attract flights."

Joint Venture

India and Sri Lanka held talks this week to discuss a joint venture agreement for the airport with Indian officials, the country's deputy transport minister Ashok Abeysinghe told parliament this week, according to Sri Lanka's EconomyNext news service.

The airport deal could take the shape of a 40-year joint venture in which India takes a 70 percent stake in Mattala airport, according to the Daily FT, a daily financial newspaper in Sri Lanka.

Spokesmen for India's civil aviation and foreign ministries could not be reached, while spokesman J.B. Singh of the Airports Authority of India said he could not comment.

China Concerns

Both projects were built in an era when former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was taking billions of dollars in Chinese loans to build infrastructure projects in Hambantota, where his constituency is located. By the time Rajapaksa was ousted from power in 2015, more than 90 percent of Sri Lanka's total government revenue was going toward debt payments.

China's investments have also prompted worries in New Delhi, Washington and Tokyo about the growing spread of President Xi Jinping's $500 billion Belt and Road infrastructure initative.

The airport in Mattala was infamous for having just one scheduled daily flight. But that flight, operated by FlyDubai, was canceled from June 8, the company said in an emailed statement.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Free tabs for A/L students: Limits and opportunities

The first step in digital literacy is access. In a good practices study of ICT use in schools we found that teachers, principals and parents use a variety of methods from a strict ‘no-no’ to ‘guided-use’ of the internet for their children. A first step would be to seek more good practices, compile a menu of those and allow schools to select what they find most appropriate

 Tuesday, 10 July 2018 


‘Tabs for A/L students’ and ’13 years of education for all’ are two promises from the 2015 election manifesto of the UNP. Both are game-changer promises, but a promise in a manifesto is only a starting point. Bureaucrats have to expand the ideas as policies and implement.

A policy document on 13 years of education was shared widely early this year at an event held at the National Institute of Education. As for the tabs concept we are yet to see a policy document that goes beyond the size, shape, and of course the details of the all-important procurement of the devices. Missing is a discussion on expected educational outcomes and ways to assess.


Concerns about harm and cost are legitimate

The President has raised the issue of unsavoury uses of tabs by youth and the cost of the program. Those are legitimate concerns. Use of any technology brings with it positive or negative implications. The decision to use or not use depends on the weight of the net benefits, and the steps to be taken to reduce the harms, if any.

In that respect, the ball is now in the Ministry’s court. The Ministry has the responsibility to detail the benefits of the tabs, beyond simplistic claims that the ‘tabs will facilitate students’ studies’. Essentially, the Ministry has to be explicit about what it expects to achieve by giving a free tab to each student in the 2019 incoming class of Grade 12 in the public schools, at a cost of five billion or more per year.


Pilot or full rollout dilemma

The President wants the Ministry conduct a pilot tab program first, but, the Ministry is in a hurry to deliver on its promises before the next election. A compromise solution would be to limit the tabs initially to new vocational education (A/L) stream while spelling out the expected learning outcomes for that program and committing to file an evaluation report.

Such an approach should be acceptable as a pilot to the President’s office since only a limited number of tabs need to be provided and an evaluation report will follow. For the UNP it would be essentially a full rollout of the Tabs in its other key initiative of introducing a vocational education stream to keep more children in school for 13 years.


Why limit tabs to the vocational stream?

The vocational education stream is a new avenue for students completing year 11 but not qualifying for the more academic GCE (Advanced Level) classes offered in year 12 and 13. This new avenue will enable 150,000 or more students who drop out at year 11 or before, to complete 13 years of education in a school setting, though not all are expected to enrol in the initial stages.

At its consultation meeting, NIE presented the proposed vocational curriculum which included six general subjects, followed by 26 specialties from which students could choose. There were many concerns about the details of the program, but overall there was consensus that the vocational education stream should be given every opportunity to succeed.

According to a ministry press release dated 29 January, vocational stream was piloted in 49 National schools in 2017 in Phase I of the project. In 2018 in Phase II, the pilot was extended to 150 Provincial schools with classes. For a full rollout of the program in 2019, or Phase III, the ministry expects to recruit 40,000 new teachers. It is a tall order. As the Ministry spokesperson noted, there may be some difficulty on finding properly qualified teachers for all the new subjects. As noted earlier, the enrolment of students too would not at full capacity initially.

I had the opportunity to visit one of the classes in a Phase I School. The students had completed the set of six general subjects. By that time only about 50% of the original group was attending the program, but those attending were enthusiastic. Two were happy that they were able continue with the sports programs in the school as a result of the new vocational stream. Two others were registered for a course at the German Tech and were wondering how to continue with that as well.

Of the six general subjects covered so far the business English course was their favourite followed by IT. In other subjects especially Sinhala they felt it was the same old same old. One shared with me the report he did on Otara Gunawardana for his entrepreneurship class. It was written by hand. If a typed up report was a requirement, he would have learned his IT at the same time, I felt.

They all wanted better it facilities with internet connection. They all access the internet through mobile phones, their own or parents’. Although I cannot make generalisations after talking to one class of students, their desire to have better access to ICT and opportunities to use ICT was very strong.

The students entering the new vocational stream are ideal candidates for free tabs, in my opinion. It is difficult to integrate IT tools into the GCE (A/L) curriculum right away, because it is packed with facts to be explained by teacher or tuition master. IT is easier to integrate IT in the vocational stream where the curriculum is still evolving. Students can be required to do much searching, screening, assessing and synthesising information from the Internet on their own using the tabs.


Solution 2: Use as opportunity for digital literacy 

In its Global Framework of Reference on Digital Literacy Skills for Indicator 4.4.2 of sustainable development goals, UNESCO defines digital literacy as the “ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate and [synthesise] information safely and appropriately through digital technologies for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. It includes competences that are variously referred to as computer literacy, ICT literacy, information literacy and media literacy”.

Note that the first step in digital literacy is access. In a good practices study of ICT use in schools we found that teachers, principals and parents use a variety of methods from a strict ‘no-no’ to ‘guided-use’ of the internet for their children. A first step would be to seek more good practices, compile a menu of those and allow schools to select what they find most appropriate.

A method to assess digital literacy is needed next. The list of tasks that are part of the definition of digital literacy provides a guide I believe. For example, all student assignments can be graded for indications of digital literacy they demonstrate along the Search-Screen-Assess-Synthesis tasks. Such assignments of course should be first given to the teacher in charge to assess his/her own digital literacy.

'Female councillors should empower women'

Minister Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe addressing the gathering. Picture by Priyan de Silva.

Priyan de Silva-Monday, July 9, 2018

Women and Child Affairs Minister Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe, addressing the 243 female councillors elected to local government institutions in the Southern Province, last Friday (6), said, “All eyes are on you so prove your mettle and earn the trust of the people.”

She was addressing a capacity-building workshop for local female councillors in the Southern Province titled Creating Effective Leaders, which was organised by the Strengthening Democratic Governance and Accountability Project (SDGAP) funded by the Sri Lankan Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“The 25-percent female representation in local government bodies was achieved while facing many hardships, mainly due to the dedication and support extended by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,” the minister said.

She added that even though 52 percent of Sri Lanka’s population were female, males were given preference to be elected to decision-making bodies, as there was doubt whether women could play the role of a decision-maker in the political arena.

She reiterated that it was a novel situation where women have been elected as decision-makers in local government institutions and all eyes would be vigilant on how those novice councillors would perform.

Minister Bandara called upon all the councillors to unite irrespective of political affiliation, to resolve the problems faced by Sri Lankan women:

“Even though most of you here today have been elected from the preferential list, you should strive to gain the trust of your constituents and win your wards at the next election,” she added. Addressing the gathering, Member of Parliament Sudarshani Fernandopulle said that she hoped that the 25-percent female representation would be extended to provincial councils and even Parliament.

Professor Kamala Liyange, Sama Rajakaruna, Indika Dayarathna, Ajith Kaluarachchi and Kumari Vitharana were among the panel of resource persons who had been invited to the workshop.

Audio: Ranjan Ramanayaka Has Heart-To-Heart Chat With Weerawansa’s Wife Despite His Self-Righteous Tirades In Public

JULY 9, 2018

Ranjan Ramanayaka, Deputy Minister – Social Empowerment, although he has publicly lambasted Wimal Weerawansa (MP) over allegations of fraud and wrongdoing, is quite pally with the Weerawansa family out of the public eye, as evidenced by a leaked tape of a phone conversation with Weerawansa’s wife Sashi, herself accused of obtaining a diplomatic passport after submitting fake documents.

Ranjan Ramanayaka and Sashi Weerawansa

Ramanayaka, a man with a penchant for drama and grandstanding when it comes to corruption while posing off as a man of integrity does not seem to have any issues with Mrs Weerawansa as per this phone conversation.

Sashi Weerawansa, for her part, speaks as though Ramanayaka is a long-standing personal friend who has helped her family on numerous occasions. She also speaks of Minister Rajitha Senaratne‘s wife Sujatha, who she refers to affectionately as ‘Sujatha Akka’.

The conversation is initiated by Ramanayaka who is apparently concerned about disparaging remarks made by Wimal Weerawansa. Mrs Weerawansa pleads ignorance of such remarks but indicates in the conversation that the two (herself and Ramanayaka) are close friends and that she has been communicating with one of Ramanayake’s associates to obtain some information.

It is not certain when this conversation took place or what the file and issue referred to are about.

The following is the English translation of the full conversation:

S: Good morning

R: Good morning

S: How are you?

R: How are you, how are you? Nangi, even yesterday I have been scolded. I tried to settle the issue, but it’s not going to happen. Your husband has said on the page that I am digging for dirt. I can’t do anything when I am attacked like this.

S: Attacked you?

R: Yes. That Ranjan is digging up dirt, that he rushes into temples, saying ‘that Ranja, One-Shot and saying nasty things like that.

S: No, no. We listened to the speeches, there was nothing like that. Did you listen?

R: Yes, I listened. The video was sent to me. I have it with me. That there’s a fellow called Ranjan who crashes into Buddhist institutions and destroys Buddhist rights. I have been scolded without any reason.

S: I haven’t gone and won’t go for meetings, Ayye.

R: Where are you? Are you home?

S: I am in Dehiwala, at my aunty’s place.

R: I called Dr Rajitha [Senaratne] and that a message has been sent to him. But why is he like this?

S: He hasn’t been home in 2-3 days because of the meeting. I didn’t meet him. I don’t know.

R: Where’s that thing you told me about? I will see the lokka today. You didn’t send me the file.

S: So you didn’t answer when I called.

R: Did you call that day? You said.

S: I called you to say that I won’t be able to come but that I will send it. Then I called your production manager, Prageeth. I told him that I will give it to him and asked if he could give it to you. He had tried and tried, he said…

R: Who is Prageeth?

S: The one who is with Sunil T?

R: Ah, yes, the dark guy. I’ll tell Lucky to do it. I will tell Maithri Lokka to sort it out. So what’s new Nangi. Everything is ok now, right?

S. Sujatha Akka called me….Rajitha Ayya’s wife…she said she had told you and that she won’t let anything happen to me. [She said] that it’s with the Attorney General and that nothing can happen. Actually, you have helped me a lot and I am with you. They will resolve it. If there’s anything, I will call you. Regarding this matter [Wimal] I will send him and sms…

R: No, no, no…don’t do that now. He’ll say that I am trying to get you to get him to stop this. I wouldn’t call you for such a thing.

S: Ayye, but they can interpret things in various ways, you know.

R: Ayyo, that’s true, that’s true.

S: That I talk, we met, but I haven’t even posted a photo anywhere.

R: [Laughing] Ah…the one that was taken that day?

S: Yes.

R: Ok, send it to that dark boy. Make sure it gets to me.

S: Yes, it’s very good…as a human being (he/she) is very good. Politics is not important. As a human being (he/she) is a good person. I tell everyone this. Sujatha Akka will call me in a little while. If necessary I will call you Ayya.

R: Right, right, right. I will tell them to collect the file from you.

S: Thank you very much Ayya for calling and helping me. Forgive me if you were hurt in any way. I am not part of all that.

R: Ok. Ok. I’ll tell Lucky to call you.

S: Ok. Budusarani.

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Over Rs. 6 million paid as overtime to three drivers of SriLankan, presidential commission told

Tue, Jul 10, 2018, 12:19 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.


July 09, Colombo: Three drivers of the loss-making national carrier SriLankan Airlines have been paid over Rs. 6 million in overtime for the period 2011-2014 during the chairmanship of Nishantha Wickremesinghe, the Presidential Commission probing the mismanagement of the national carrier was told today.

Testifying before the Presidential Commission today (09), the Secretary of SriLankan Airlines, Dalreen Thirukumar said one drive was paid over Rs. 800,000 as overtime in February 2011.

The Chairman of the Commission retired Supreme Court Judge Anil Gunaratne, ordered that the written information regarding these payments be forwarded to the Presidential Commission on the 11th.

The witness also said that the Board of Directors was appointed in the year 2013 against the 2003 Entrepreneurship Guidance.

The Commission was informed that the former Chairman Nishantha Wickremesinghe, brother-in-law of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, has obtained a monthly allowance of Rs. 500,000, half of which has been paid by the Sri Lankan Catering although the full amount should have been paid by the SriLankan Airlines.

In February this year, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed the five-member Presidential Commission to inquire into the alleged fraud and corruption taken place in the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering (Pvt.) Limited and the now nonoperational budget carrier Mihin Lanka.


The Commission will investigate, inquire into, and report on, the management, administration and conduct of affairs of SriLankan Airlines Limited, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka during the period of January 01, 2006 to January 31, 2018.

Threat to ecosystem breaking down surfaces as lands are leased to initiate close to 253 projects Will Knuckles lose World Heritage Site status ?

2018-07-10

Although Sri Lanka has attracted tourists from around the world for its greeneries and beaches, the authorities seem to have less knowledge on the importance of preserving its resources. While Wilpattu is already being deforested for housing projects, the authorities seem to have identified the Knuckles Conservation Area as the next bait. Several areas around this location have been demarcated for commercial projects which would cause an irreversible damage to the ecosystem. As Knuckles has already been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, disrupting its ecosystem would be a ground for de-listing, eventually imposing a black mark on the country. However, it has also been observed that the said lands which are being given out on lease for these projects are owned by the State Plantations Corporation and Elkaduwa Plantations Ltd.   

In such a backdrop, the Daily mirror  sheds light on the importance of conserving this valuable resource in the island.   

Under threat

The Knuckles Range also known as the ‘Dumbara Range’is located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Through a survey done by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment it has been found that the Knuckles mountain range is home to 128 species of birds, 60 species of butterflies, 15 species of fish, and over 324 species of animals. 

Through a survey done by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment it has been found that the Knuckles mountain range is home to 128 species of birds

Out of them five species are endemic to Knuckles itself. Due to its significance, the Knuckles Forest was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the 34th Committee meeting held in 2010. Therefore 31305 hectares of land and a buffer zone spanning 35074 hectares were declared as the World Heritage Site. The UNESCO identifies a certain area as a World Heritage Site by considering its value and the fact that it is rare. Hence it funds for further conservation of such sites. However it has been revealed that several lands belonging to the State Plantations Corporation and Elkaduwa Plantations Ltd., will be given away on lease. Moreover, projects with a starting value of Rs. 2 billion will be given 55 years lease period whereas the lease period for the rest of the lands will be 30 years. So far Alakole Waththa near Waththegama town has been identified for an eco-tourism project along with other areas such as Alpe Ella Estate – Panwila, Gomare Estate - Panwila, Haagalawaththa, Kaallabokka Estate, Midland Estate – Raththota and Nikoloya Estate.   

“This area is only suitable for sustainable projects” 

Speaking to the Daily mirror   environmentalist and Environment Conservation Trust Director Sajeewa Chamikara said that several authorities have tried out different ways to acquire land around the Knuckles Conservation Area. “The lands will be given to projects such as poultry farms, hotels etc. According to the areas in which these lands are being situated the usage of these areas for such projects will have a negative impact on the ecosystem. Through the 1972/1 Land Reform Act, these lands were given to the State Plantations Corporation. It is through the 1975/4 State Agricultural Corporation Act that the State Plantations Corporation was established. Therefore these lands cannot be given for projects which don’t include agriculture-related activities. The remaining lands in the Knuckles Conservation Area will be used for projects such as bottled water plants, hydropower etc. Therefore we have several requests from the Government one being that in the year 2000 during President Chandrika’s tenure, lands belonging to the Land Reclamation Board within 500m of the Knuckles Forest Area were not demarcated and they still remain as it is. Therefore we request the Government to include these lands also into this Area. Thereafter we also request the Government to declare a buffer zone according to the National Environmental Act. The Knuckles forest is also one of the main ecosystems with a rich biodiversity. It has many endemic species and if they become extinct it will be a huge loss. It represents 30% of the water catchment area of the Mahaweli River. This is also one of the main drainage basins of the Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga projects. This area is suitable for organic agriculture, eco-tourism and similar projects which could be sustained.”  

“Knuckles will be de-listed from UNESCO listing”

According to former Customs Deputy Director Samantha Gunasekara the lands in the Knuckles Forest Reserve are situated above 3000 feet. “There’s cardamom in it’s under growth and the forest is still a virgin forest. There are people living below the forest and once poultry farms and other projects are established in the upper areas the water will be contaminated. Then the people will have to utilize this water as well. The Knuckles Forest Reserve is a sensitive ecosystem and the Government in turn has to acquire these areas and growth them further. We have to focus on ecosystem services as well. There are areas demarcated through GPS, but that isn’t enough. There has to be more vegetables and plants grown to sustain the environment rather than giving it away for mega scale projects which would disrupt the entire ecosystem. If the projects continue and the ecosystem is disrupted, Knuckles will be de-listed from the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If it happens it will have a negative impression on the country. This will affect tourism, foreign investments and other projects which would attract tourists and foreign income,”said Gunasekara.

No buffer zone marked at Knuckles 

Saminda Vidanage, an environmental activist in the area, believes that the Knuckles Forest should be preserved as it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. “There is no buffer zone marked at Knuckles and when they start giving projects the entire ecosystem breaks down. 

They are going to initiate close to 253 projects. But the Government should educate the people about what they are going to do

None of the authorities have specifically issued a statement saying that they will discontinue issuing lands. The President who is also the Minister of Environment should speak out on this issue because it is more important that whether the two elephants should be at Sinharaja or not. They are going to lease out16 lands for poultry farms, water bottling plants and power generation plants. They are going to initiate close to 253 projects. But the Government should educate the people about what they are going to do. In most instances the people are not aware of what is happening around them,”said Vidanage. 

“None of these companies have started projects within the conservation area”

Minister of Public Enterprise and Kandy Development Lakshman Kiriella was blamed for giving away land around the Knuckles Conservation area. However he denied all allegations and stated that there has been no such move. He further challenged all parties to present him with proof in the event such an activity has taken place. Speaking to the Daily mirror Ministry Secretary Ravindra Hewavitharana said that the Ministry has instructed the companies to not violate any environmental laws. 

We also issued another letter asking them to get environmental clearance from the authorities before they proceed

“None of these companies have started projects within the conservation area as alleged. We have received 257 proposals from various companies and most of these projects are quite small spanning from 10-15 acres for cattle rearing, pepper cultivation and other industries. We also issued another letter asking them to get environmental clearance from the authorities before they proceed. We have categorically asked all institutions to follow these instructions we have issued,”said Hewavitharana. 

Several attempts to contact the State Plantations Corporation and Elkaduwa Plantations Ltd.proved futile.