(Text of Inaugural Address by US President Joe R Biden on January 20th 2021) Chief Justice Roberts, Vice-President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice-President Pence. My distinguished guests, my fellow Americans. This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for …

Continue reading ‘“And I pledge this to you. I will be a President for all Americans, all Americans. And I promise you I will fight for those who did not support me as for those who did.”-46th US President Joe R. Biden jnr’ »

(Text of Intervention made in Parliament by TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran regarding Ranjan Ramanayake MP) ……..I want to flag one or two issues concerning the responsibility of the parliament in this regard. But before I do that I am bound by law and tradition to disclose my interest in the matter. I am …

Continue reading ‘“I am the counsel who appeared for Hon. Ranjan Ramanayake in the supreme court.I was privileged to appear for a clean, honest politician in a court and I am proud of that”- M. A. Sumanthiran MP’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the High Commission of India in Colombo on January 19th 2021) 1. The Government of India has received several requests for the supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries. In response to these requests, and in keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine …

Continue reading ‘India to Begin Supplying COVID-19 Vaccines from Jan 20th to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles While Awaiting Confirmation of Necessary Regulatory Clearances to do so from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius.’ »

(Text of Letter sent to all heads of missions of 47 Member states represented in the United Nations Human Rights Council(UNHRC) by leaders of Tamil national political parties, members of the Tamil victim communities and Tamil civil society organizations) 15 January 2021 Heads of Missions Missions of the 47 Member States represented in the UN …

Continue reading ‘Tamil political parties, members of the Tamil victim communities and Tamil civil society organizations write Joint Letter to 47 Member States of UN Human Rights Council Requesting a new Course of Action Regarding Sri Lanka Including the setting up of an International Independent Investigatory Mechanism’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by Amnesty International on 13 January 2021) Responding to the acquittal today of MP Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and four others in the 2005 assassination of Tamil MP Joseph Pararajasingham, following an announcement by the Attorney General’s Office that it would be dropping the charges against the suspects, David Griffiths, Director of …

Continue reading ‘“Collapse of Joseph Pararajasingham murder case is a failure of justice in Sri Lanka” States Amnesty International.’ »

(Text of Chapter about Sri Lanka in Country Reports Section titled “Sri Lanka:Events of 2020″in the annual “Human Rights Watch” 2021 World Report 2021) Fundamental human rights protections in Sri Lanka came under serious jeopardy following Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election as president in November 2019. In February 2020, Sri Lanka withdrew its commitments to truth seeking, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Situation has Seriously Deteriorated under the Administration of President Gotabaya Rajapaks States “Human Rights Watch” in its World Report 2021.’ »

By Thulasi Muttulingam The Tamil month of Thai was ushered in on Monday Jan 14. It marks the end of the harvesting season of rice for the Tamil farmers who will be celebrating that harvest with their famous festival of Thai Pongal. Pongal means ‘boiling over’. To signify that they have had a bountiful harvest, …

Continue reading ‘Evolution of Agriculture and the ‘Thaipongal’ Tamil Harvest Festival’ »

(Text of a Statement issued by Jaffna District MP and Tamil National Alliance Spokesperson Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran PC on the demolition of the memorial monument at the University of Jaffna ) The demolition of the memorial monument in the University of Jaffna is an act of savagery that cannot be condoned by any right thinking …

Continue reading ‘” We insist that all those responsible for the destruction of the monument apologize unreservedly and that it be reconstructed immediately.”- M.A.Sumanthiran MP’ »

By P. Krishnaswamy After the Christmas and New Year festivities, the focus is now on the Pongal harvest festival, popularly known as Thai Pongal, celebrated in the first four days of the month of Thai in the Tamil-Hindu calendar. Traditionally, it is the festival of farmers who depend on Mother Earth, the sun, rain, other …

Continue reading ‘‘Thai Pongal’ the Harvest Festival of Tamils’ »

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court yesterday sentenced Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Gampaha District MP Ranjan Ramanayake to four years rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty to a charge of contempt of court. The Bench comprised Justice Sisira J. de Abrew, Vijith K. Malagoda and Padman Surasena. “We convict him for the offence of …

Continue reading ‘Three-member bench of the Supreme Court Sentences Samagi Jana Balawegaya Gampaha District MP Ranjan Ramanayake to four years rigorous imprisonment Finding him guilty to a charge of contempt of court.’ »

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed an eight-member Presidential Task Force for National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 vaccine which will be headed by Principal Adviser to the President Lalith Weeratunga. Its other members are Secretary, Health Ministry Secretary Major General Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control …

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa Appoints eight-member Presidential Task Force Headed by Presidential adviser Lalith Weeratunga to Implement the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 vaccine .’ »

(Text of Press Release No 21-29 Issued by the US Department of Justice,Office of Public Affairs on January 8th 2021) The Justice Department announced today that three Sri Lankan citizens have been charged with terrorism offenses, including conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (ISIS). The men were part of a …

Continue reading ‘US Justice Dept Charges Three Sri Lankan Nationals With Suspected ISIS Links For Alleged Involvement in Terrorist Attacks on April 21st 2019 that Killed 268 Persons Including 5 US Citizens and Injured Over 500.’ »

(Text of Press Release issued by the Center for Jutice and Accountability on January 8, 2021) The Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP—acting on behalf of Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of acclaimed Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge—filed a complaint today against the Government of Sri Lanka with the United Nations …

Continue reading ‘Ahimsa ,Daughter of Slain Sri Lankan Journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge Files Complaint against the Government of Sri Lanka with the United Nations Human Rights Committee on 12th Anniversary of her Father’s Assassination’ »

(Text of Remarks made by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr.Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Joint Press Conference held in Colombo with his Sri Lankan minister of Foreign relations Mr.Dinesh Gunawardena on January 6th 2021) My esteemed colleague and friend the Honourable Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardenaji, Senior officials, Friends from media, Good afternoon. Let …

Continue reading ‘“It is in Sri Lanka’s own interest that the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace and dignity within a united Sri Lanka are fulfilled. That applies equally to the commitments made by the Sri Lankan Government on meaningful devolution, including the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.” -Indian Foreign Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray One year ago, so-called astrologers took to two television stations to tell the nation what to expect in 2020. A person going by the name Chandrasiri Bandara explained that the stars were so moved by political developments in Sri Lanka that 2020 would be an extraordinarily prosperous year. At the same …

Continue reading ‘2020 was the year of doctors. Which profession would it be in 2021?’ »

The government is forcibly cremating Muslims who die of covid-19 Outside a hospital in southern Sri Lanka on December 22nd, a handful of Muslim men bowed their heads against the rain, chanting prayers as an unpolished coffin was loaded into an ambulance. They were given just minutes to pay their respects to the deceased, who, …

Continue reading ‘Muslims in Sri Lanka;Unwanted, dead or alive -The Economist’ »

by Meera Srinivasan Former President Maithripala Sirisena, who broke away from the Rajapaksas and secured a historic election win in 2015, is back with the Rajapaksa brothers, sitting with their Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna [SLPP or People’s Front] in Parliament — ruling party with 145 seats in the 225-member legislature — since the August 2020 …

Continue reading ‘‘Abolishing provincial councils is like playing with fire.You cannot develop the country when the sentiments of minority communities are hurt,’ Warns Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The ultranationalist Buddhist clergy has commenced a two-pronged campaign: (a) against burials and for cremation of COVID-19 victims, a policy that is mandatory only in a handful of the UN’s 193 countries, and (b) against Provincial Councils and the holding of Provincial Council Elections before the promulgation of a new Constitution. Justice …

Continue reading ‘The Gotabaya regime is mimicking Trump/Netanyahu by boosting the hardcore chauvinist base by pandering to its worst prejudices and maintaining rigidly hawkish policies.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The controversy over the “anti-COVID-19” potion popularly dubbed “Dhammika Paniya” after its discoverer and promoter Dhammika Bandara, a Shaman at the Sri Weera Badra Kali Devalaya in Hettimulla, Kegalle, has three aspects. Firstly, questions are being asked about the scientific basis of the potion as per Western standards of inquiry. Secondly, there are …

Continue reading ‘Controversy over the “anti-COVID-19” potion popularly dubbed “Dhammika Paniya” Raises Questions Regarding its Scientific Basis, Concepts of Indigenous Medicine and Association With Goddess Kali’ »

By Dr. Nrmala Chandrahasan The Provincial Councils, like the windmills in Cervante’s Don Quixote, are having brickbats thrown at, and cantankerous knights tilting at them. In this piece I would like to answer some of the criticisms made against the Provincial Councils. But before I do so I note that the Prime Minister has announced …

Continue reading ‘The matter of devolution and provincial councils has been on the political anvil in this country for a long time and is not a foreign imposition but a home grown one.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s declaration on Tuesday that he is opting out of electoral politics in view of his delicate health, has brought Tamil Nadu politics back to square one. The South India State will remain a bastion on Dravidianism, Tamil nationalism, secularism and social justice, with the main contestants being the two Tamil …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Film superstar Rajinikanth opting out of electoral politics in due to his delicate health brings Tamil Nadu politics back to square one.’ »

Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth Tuesday announced that he would not be entering politics owing to his ill health and the pandemic situation. His announcement came two days before he was to reveal details of the launch of his political party. In a three-page statement on Twitter, the actor expressed regret and said it pained him to make …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Cinema Superstar Rajinikanth says he will neither enter politics nor launch a new political party’ »

Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth Tuesday announced that he would not be entering politics owing to his ill health and the pandemic situation. In a three-page statement on Twitter, the actor expressed regret and said it pained him to make such an announcement after having said he would contest the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2021. Here’s the …

Continue reading ‘Full text of Tamil Cinema Super Star Rajinikanth’s letter explaining why he is not entering politics as announced earlier’ »

By Dr. Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake The currently available Covid-19 vaccines have been authorized for emergency use. This is due to what has been termed a Health Emergency as winter advances and Covid-19 cases spike in the northern hemisphere or Euro-America. Highly advertised Covid-19 vaccines are being produced rolled out by powerful Pharmaceutical and bio-technology companies headquartered …

Continue reading ‘2020 Data shows No Emergency: Why is WHO promoting Covid-19 vaccines in Tropical countries?’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene After relentless political patronage of a covid-healing ‘miracle’ syrup brewed by a ‘kapurala,’ (keeper of a temple cum witch doctor), who chants that he is possessed by the Goddess Kali, it is the height of unseemly irony for Sri Lanka’s Health Services Director to threaten legal action against the ‘kapurala’ and …

Continue reading ‘The promise of ‘prosperity and splendour,’ the very basis on which President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and his Government was brought into power, has been badly betrayed by its flag bearers’ »

When state employees begin their work on January 1, 2021 (next Friday), they will be taking a fresh oath not only vowing to serve the public but also to implement President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election manifesto — “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour “. This will be a new inclusion to the affirmation of the public service. …

Continue reading ‘All State Employees Have to Begin the New Year 2021 by Taking an Oath to Serve the Public and to Implement President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election manifesto — “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour “’ »

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has called on the Government to discuss the issue of mandatory cremation of bodies of those who succumb to COVID-19 with Muslim leaders and come to a reasonable and just decision without any further delay. “The denial of the right of the Muslim people to dispose of their dead bodies …

Continue reading ‘“The denial of the right of the Muslim people to dispose of their dead bodies in keeping with the tenets of their religion is a violation of their fundamental right and should not continue” – TNA Spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran’ »

by Norman Palihawadana The government is contemplating holding the Provincial Council elections when the ground situation in the country is conducive to go ahead with the polls, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Friday. He was responding to a query on whether the government has reached a decision on pushing ahead with the polls as …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Says Provincial Council elections will be held when the ground situation in the country is conducive to go ahead with the polls;“We cannot make predictions but remain optimistic of holding the elections when the coast is clear” States Prime Minister’ »

by James Kynge in Hong Kong and Jonathan Wheatley in London It has not taken long for the wheels to come off the Belt and Road Initiative. As recently as May 2017, China’s leader Xi Jinping stood in Beijing before a hall of nearly 30 heads of state and delegates from over 130 countries and …

Continue reading ‘China Re – thinking Xi’s ‘project of the century’; Chinese overseas lending has fallen sharply leading to a reassessment of the Belt and Road Initiative’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Citing India’s request for the release of fishermen recently arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on the charge of illegal fishing, Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it is India that needs to demonstrate goodwill by preventing its fishermen from trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. Addressing a press conference in Vavuniya in the …

Continue reading ‘“Honestly, it is India that has to demonstrate goodwill by putting an end to their fishermen’s trespassing activities” Says Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister and Jaffna District MP Douglas Devananda’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As the ‘annus horribilis’ that was 2020 winds its way to a close, waves of racism, chauvinism and fear mongering unleashed on the people by this Government’s tom-tom beaters, including electronic media moghuls fattened by ill gotten gains, continue unabated. That these ugly forces will inevitably go beyond the point of …

Continue reading ‘Ordinary Sinhalese who internalised hate-driven propaganda which they had been fed for decades must finally understand that the politics of inequality is a hell brew visiting the majority as well’ »

By Namini Wijedasa Certain National Fertiliser Secretariat (NFS) employees have been permitting the release of “failed fertiliser stocks” — with lead, chromium, arsenic, cadmium and other components above permissible levels — by replacing accurate laboratory test reports with fake ones, the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed in an explosive report. Recent audit checks revealed …

Continue reading ‘National Audit Office Report Exposes Massive Fraud by Certain National Fertilizer Secretariat Employees who have Released “Failed Fertilizer Stocks” After Making Files Disappear and Substituting Fake Reports in Place of Genuine Laboratory Test Reports’ »

By Namini Wijedasa The Department of National Archives is embroiled in controversy over allegations that copies of historical Dutch records in the custody of the institution have been sold to outsiders. The accusations mostly target the Department’s Director General, Nadeera Rupesinghe, a young historian educated in the Netherlands, who senior staff insist has been tirelessly …

Continue reading ‘National Archives Dept’s Dynamic Director General Dr. Nadeera Rupesinghe May be Removed From Office Unfairly Through Cabinet Paper by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Following Witch Hunt by Vested Interests Against Her’ »

by Vijaya Kumar The Lanka Samasamaja Party, the oldest political party in the country celebrates its 85th anniversary on December 18, 2020. The Party grew out of its Youth Leagues which played a prominent part in the ‘Suriya-Mal’ movement – an alternative for indigenous ex-servicemen as against the Poppy Day where funds collected were for …

Continue reading ‘The Lanka Samasamaja Party, the oldest political party in the country celebrates its 85th anniversary’ »

By Dr.Sarath Gamini de Silva The Covid pandemic, apart from causing much human misery all over the world, has had a deleterious effect on human values as well. It appears that mankind has regressed by many decades. Freedom of movement, free association and human interaction, which were promoted as ways of a peaceful world without …

Continue reading ‘How bodies of Muslims are cremated against their staunch religious beliefs, thus denying their basic human rights with no firm scientific evidence against burial, is a disgrace to all Sri Lankans.’ »

It was a crying shame that South Asia’s biggest meat processing factory had been set up in Katunayake, although Sri Lanka was called a Buddhist state, Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera said on Thursday, addressing the media at Sri Jayasekerarama auditorium in Rajagiriya. The factory is expected to meet 10% of the world’s processed meat …

Continue reading ‘Ven.Omalpe Sobitha Thera Lashes Out at Govt for Setting up South Asia’s Biggest Meat Processing Factory in Katunayake and calls upon Rajapaksa govt to reveal the persons behind the meat project and demandd to know where the meat would come from’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake We are clearly in an era of Twists and Turns, with Kali Amma projected as the power against the Covid-19 pandemic. What happened at the Sri Maha Bodhi earlier this week showed a very clear Kali Kovil Twist. The kapuva who made this pandemic syrup wanted to offer it to the Sri …

Continue reading ‘Father Mahinda Rajapaksa Promises to Ban Cattle Slaughter and Import Beef but Son Namal Rajapaksa Attends Grand Opening of Huge Meat Processing Plant for Beef and other Available Meats at Katunayake’ »

On December 15, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) board decided to discontinue the proposed Rs. 89 billion (approximately US$ 480 million) MCC development assistance grant to Sri Lanka due to lack of partner country engagement, the US embassy said in a statement here on Thursday. The Rs. 89 billion approved for Sri Lanka will be …

Continue reading ‘US embassy officially announces that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) board has decided to discontinue the proposed Rs. 89 billion (approximately US$ 480 million) MCC development assistance grant to Sri Lanka due to lack of partner country engagement;The Rs. 89 billion approved for Sri Lanka will be made available to other eligible partner countries in need of grant funding’ »

By’ Victor Ivan How can Sri Lanka overcome the crisis it is facing in a situation where the country has become a failed state with all the leaders, all political parties, and the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary has failed? The country’s political leaders still do not seem to understand the real reasons behind …

Continue reading ‘Champika Ranawaka is educated; yet he can be considered only as a narrow tribal leader who endorsed all the measures taken to oppress minorities and provoke terrible conflicts for the “betterment” of Sinhala Buddhists.’ »

By Kelum Bandara The United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) voted to discontinue the US $480 million compact agreement with Sri Lanka, Daily Mirror learns. The MCC board took this decision at its meeting on December 15. The MCC unit in Sri Lanka will also be closed accordingly. However, a formal announcement in this regard …

Continue reading ‘The United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation Board voted on December 15th to discontinue the US $480 million compact agreement with Sri Lanka; the MCC unit in Sri Lanka will also be closed accordingly.’ »

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama Issuing of vehicle number plates sans provincial code indicators will come to effect from January 1, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said. The proposal was made by the Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge was approved by the Cabinet yesterday. Accordingly, the characters to identify the provinces were added to the number plate when …

Continue reading ‘Issuing of vehicle number plates sans provincial code indicators will come into effect from January 1st 2021;according to the new process, each vehicle would have only one number, even when the ownership is switched between provinces.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Highly placed sources in the Sri Lankan government said on Wednesday that the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has withdrawn the five-year US$ 480 million grant offered to the government of Sri Lanka in April 2019 after three years of negotiations. However, a formal announcement is yet to be …

Continue reading ‘Millennium Challenge Corporation withdraws its US$ 480 million grant to Sri Lanka as MCC Board was Unwilling to re-negotiate Agreement in its present form as desired by Gotabaya Rajapaksa Govt’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The last week has been the worst yet for N.F.M. Fahim’s family residing in Colombo. The 38-year-old and his wife lost their new-born to COVID-19 on December 8, and even before they could process the devastating news from the hospital, authorities were ready to hand over the baby’s ashes to them. “I …

Continue reading ‘Cremation of 20 Day Old Muslim Baby Against Wishes of Family by Authorities Heightens Resentment and Opposition to Compulsory Cremation of Alleged COVID -19 Victims in Sri Lanka’ »

By Imesh Ranasinghe A cabal of state officials and their close associates in the business community have been making important government decisions bypassing the prime minister and the cabinet of ministers, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Dr Harini Amarasuriya said. These individuals are not accountable to parliament and, as a result, the legislature has weakened …

Continue reading ‘Cabal of State officials and their close associates in the Business community Make Important Govt decisions Bypassing the Prime minister and the Cabinet of Ministers, States National People’s Power MP Dr Harini Amarasuriya.’ »

by Rohan Wijesinha & Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya “The state of the planet is broken. Humanity is waging war on nature. This is suicidal.” – Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary-General, December 2020 In Sri Lanka, the current Infection Fatality Ratio (IFR) for Covid-19, as per official figures in media reports, stands at approximately 0.5%. That is 1 …

Continue reading ‘Large Scale De-forestation, Killing of Wildlife, Pollution of Water Resources and Environmental Destruction Continues Under Gotabaya Rajapaksa Presidency Despite Pre-election Promises to the Contrary’ »

By Col R Hariharan Indian troops have brought Kailash range in eastern Ladakh under their operational control by occupying heights and thereby dislocated Chinese plans to grab territory to gain strategic advantage. For the first time, India has gained tactical advantage to disrupt any Chinese military adventure in the region. This unexpected move by India, …

Continue reading ‘The” Great Helmsman ” President Xi Jinping Seeks to fundamentally revise world order by placing the People’s Republic of China at the centre to serve its authoritarian and hegemonic goals.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Given deeply worrying abuse of power historically by the Sri Lankan State under states of emergency with national security as justification, the covid-19 global pandemic must not be employed, much like conflict in the North and the South was utilised, as a cover to trample on civil liberties. A rare and …

Continue reading ‘From a pro-UNP Bar (then) we have a pro-Rajapasksa Bar (now) which seems to be deaf, dumb and blind, even though injustice is caused to a member of its own tribe.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunayake It is not the upcoming solar eclipse on December 14, which will not be seen here, that has brought any new interest, but the major solar eclipse on June 1955 that is now remembered by many; especially with the “Bivva Neda Vadakaha Sudiya” baila beat and the tale of “Emali Paney” being …

Continue reading ‘“Bivva Nedha Kali Amma Corona Paniya ?” ( Have You not Imbibed Goddess Kali’s Divine Corona Healing Honey?)’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who visited Sri Lanka last week, met with TNA leader R Sampanthan at the India House for about half an hour prior returning to New Delhi. It is learned that the two talked about the future of the provincial councils which would give some devolution to …

Continue reading ‘If the TNA is willing to cooperate with the government India is ready to provide assistance for development projects in the Tamil areas. If the TNA does not cooperate they cannot expect anything else from India. This is India’s current approach to the Tamil issue.’ »

(Text of Speech made in Parliment by TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran on 09th December 2020 on Budget Votes of Ministry of Justice) Thank you Honourable presiding member. I am glad to speak on the 3rd Reading, particularly on the votes of the Ministry of Justice today when my good friend at the Bar …

Continue reading ‘“The Minister of Justice in Sri Lanka Today Must be Feeling Like the “Minister of Ports and Shipping” in Afghanistan” says MA Sumanthiran MP in Parliament’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, yesterday (10) faulted the Government Analyst’s Department, the Attorney General’s Department and the Police over the simmering crisis in the ‘prisons system.’ The President’s Office quoted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as having said at a meeting summoned to discuss shortcomings and problems in the ‘prisons system’ that due to inordinate …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa blames inordinate delay on the part of the Government Analyst, the Attorney-General and the police for the remandee crisis in the Prisons System where a large number of suspects are being held in jail pending investigations.’ »

Detained Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullahs’ lawyers yesterday filed a writ Petition before the Court of Appeal seeking access to Hizbullah. When the matter was taken up yesterday, Romesh De Silva PC, appearing on behalf of the Petitioner said that the lawyers have not had any access to Hizbullah since September. He said they could not obtain …

Continue reading ‘Writ Petition Filed before the Court of Appeal seeking access to Detained Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullahs with Romesh de Silva PC Appearing on behalf of Lawyer; Appeal Court President ustice Arjun Obeysekara recused himself from the hearing,’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe The Government appears to have changed track on scrapping the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) with moves being made to appoint new commissioners, a top official said yesterday. Following the present commissioners decision to step down after a call from Treasury Secretary S. R. Attygalle on Tuesday, the Government is …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Govt Replaces Idea of Abolishing the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka with New Plan to Create a Compliant PUCSL by Appointing Supportive “Rubber Stampa” to fill Vacancies Caused by Forced Mass Resignation of Earlier Commissioners’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam Former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekara (59), who is incarcerated in Mahara Remand Prison, yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights violation petition, seeking his safety and compensation of Rs. 3 million. Attorney-at-Law Gowry Shangary Thavarasha filed the petition on his behalf in the Supreme Court. She cited IGP C. D. Wickramarathne, …

Continue reading ‘Attorney-at-Law Gowry Shangary Thavarasha files Fundamental Rights violation petition on behalf of Former CID Director Shani Abeysekara (59) who is incarcerated in Mahara Remand Prison eeking his safety and compensation of Rs. 3 million.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “We are not living an era of change, but a change of era” – Pope Francis There is a contradiction between the needs of recovery and progress on all fronts, and the regime’s restrictive framework and retrogressive ideas. The COVID-19 proliferation and the Mahara massacre are but manifestations of the ideology of …

Continue reading ‘There is a contradiction between the democratic DNA of Sri Lankan social consciousness and behaviour, and the harsh, rigid, stubborn, insensitive, monarcho-militarist mode of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime.’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe All five commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) stepped down yesterday following a call from Treasury Secretary S. R. Attygalle. It is unclear how the PUCSL will continue to function following the resignations of the five commissioners. The Commissioners were Prof. Kithsiri Liyanage, Prof. Kapila Perera, Chandra Ekanayake, …

Continue reading ‘All Five Commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Tender Their resignations Jointly Following Telephone Call from Yreasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “People slide by degrees…. Each of the early steps may seem too small to be counted” – Jonathan Glover (‘Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century’) It was a day in July 2020. The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya, presented former cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya with a bat made of Swiss chocolate. With …

Continue reading ‘Devanagala Being Turned into a new Sinhala-Muslim flashpoint; rabblerousing monk, Galagoda-Aththe Gnanasara visit to Devanagala last week revives fears of a new “Aluthgama”’ »

By Asiri Fernando The recent move to abolish the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) by senior public officials will open the door to corruption and is contrary to the policies presented by the President, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne charged yesterday. Addressing the press at the opposition leader’s office, Wickramaratne said …

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Govt Moves to Abolish the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Will Open the Door for Corruption and Create a Dictatorship Warns Eran Wickramaratne MP’ »

SJB Gampaha District MP Field Marshal Sarath told Parliament yesterday that it was he who had got Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera the post of Commandant of the Civil Defence Force, when the latter was without a job. Participating in the third reading debate on Budget 2021, Field Marshal Fonseka said: “When then Secretary Defence Gotabaya …

Continue reading ‘Sarath vs Sarath: Field Marshall Fonseka Says it was he who got Rear Admiral Weerasekera the post of Civil Defence Force Commandant and Provided him with Vehicle and Escort and Accuses Public Security Minister of Being Ungrateful’ »

By Prof. S.Ratnajeevan H. Hoole The position of our Government is that no war crimes were committed by our forces at the end of the war. In the light of the evidence made available by the UN and world media to deny it at this point of time would be to fool ourselves. Last week …

Continue reading ‘We now need to ask openly for the full implementation of UNHRC Resolution 30/1. Our MPs must ask for these in Parliament. As things are, no one asks for these out of fear of a repressive state and judicial machinery, so the world thinks we are happy with allowing the crimes to go unpunished.’ »

By Victor Ivan The entire State of Sri Lanka in general and the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary in particular, i.e. the three main constituent elements of the State, are in a state of deterioration and complete breakdown caused by excessive degeneration and resulting impotence and incompetence. The entire State has reached a level …

Continue reading ‘The criminal investigations conducted by Shani Abeysekera during the Yahapalana regime were not based on false or fabricated crimes. The Lasantha Murder,Prageeth Disappearance,Keith Abduction were crimes actually committed in the country at that time.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his Minister of Justice who went charging into Parliament this week to pontificate or plead for judges to be protected ‘from criticism’ may well be advised to reflect on some salutary truths. Truly remarkable Ministerial idiocy In South Asia’s less than salubrious context of the separation of …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Judges Must Resist the ‘onslaught’ of racism, militarism, and political opportunism of politicians who subvert the Constitution and not the ‘onslaught of criticism’ that President Rajapaksa refers to.’ »

By Namini Wijedasa WaWter Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara has slammed moves by the President’s office to dissolve the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), pointing out to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa that the independent regulator is under the Premier’s purview and not the President’s. “As the Public Utilities Commission is an institution under your …

Continue reading ‘Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara Wants Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to Stop Moves by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Secretary PB Jayasundara to Dismantle the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lank’ »

by Sujeeva Nivunhella Despite a strong protest by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in London, Ms. Saroja Sirisena to the British authorities, pro-LTTE groups in London went ahead with the planned ‘Great Heroes Day’ commemoration on a grand scale in the United Kingdom last Sunday. The High Commissioner asked the British authorities whether a proscribed terrorist …

Continue reading ‘Despite a strong protest by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena to the British authorities, pro-LTTE groups in London went ahead with the planned ‘Great Heroes Day’ commemoration on a grand scale in the United Kingdom.’ »

By Suresh Perera The sacking of the president and four members nominated to the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) by the previous government has triggered an uproar, with medical professionals slamming Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi’s move as “completely flawed” and “an attempt to undermine the autonomy and independence of the apex regulatory body”. Expressing consternation …

Continue reading ‘Sacking of the president and four members of the Sri Lanka Medical Council has triggered an uproar with medical professionals slamming Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi’s move as “completely flawed” and “an attempt to undermine the autonomy and independence of the apex regulatory body”.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake The Mahara Prison and its 11 inmates who have died, or were killed by gunshots or other means, is certainly in the mind of the people. As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads beyond the often declared expectations of hopes of the government, the Mahara Prison has raised the question of how Covid infected …

Continue reading ‘What cannot be forgotten, as the State would like us to, is the reality that the responsibility for convicted prisoners and remanded persons lies wholly with the Govt.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde Opposition lawmakers yesterday raised questions in Parliament about the Mahara Prison shooting that left 11 dead and scores of prisoners injured as a committee headed by a retired High Court Judge began an inquiry into the incident by visiting the prison. Justice Minister Ali Sabry said that the five-member committee headed by …

Continue reading ‘Opposition MPs ask Govt to clarify why over 100 prisoners were transferred from the Welikada Prison to Mahara amidst the spread of the coronavirus and why video footage that was released to the media did not include scenes of the shooting.’ »

By Lakna Paranamanna Last week India, Maldives and Sri Lanka revived trilateral maritime talks after six years. It was soon after the Quad nations staged the two phased Malabar 2020 exercise in the Bay of Bengal. The U.S. led alliance has upped its game against Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific waters, but the question remains …

Continue reading ‘India, Maldives and Sri Lanka revived trilateral maritime talks after six years. It was soon after the Quad nations staged the two phased Malabar 2020 exercise in the Bay of Bengal but the question remains if these measures will suffice to withstand rising Chinese power that is already consolidated in the region.’ »

(Twenty civil society groups have issued the following press statement on the forced cremation of COVID dead as against respecting burial by people of certain faith. The statement said that of the 124 persons dead due to COVID-19 as at 3 December, 50 were Muslims.) On Tuesday the country’s Supreme Court, by a majority decision …

Continue reading ‘“We will continue to struggle for justice and the right to bury our dead” – Joint Statement by Twenty Civil Society Groups’ »

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) in its interim recommendations on the incident at the Mahara Prison on 29 November said that the protests were sparked by the transfer of prisoners infected with the COVID-19 virus from Welikada Prison to Mahara and had the authorities responded to prison officials’ concerns over this proposed …

Continue reading ‘Transfer of COVID-19 infected prisoners from Welikada to Mahara sparked unrest States Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.’ »

By Saman Indrajith The recent Mahara Prison riot erupted as 120 inmates afflicted with COVID-19 had been taken there from the Welikada prison at the behest of a Doctor in charge of prisoners’ health, who was a Viyathmaga member, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday. “Many explanations have been given by ministers about the …

Continue reading ‘Transferring 120 Corona Infected Inmates from Welikade to Mahara at the Behest of of a Doctor who was a “Viyathmaga” Organization Member and in Charge of Prisoners Health was the Cause of the Riot States Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament.’ »

Sri Lankan civil society organizations agitating for the Muslims’ right to bury those of them who had died of COVID have declared that they will explore options to secure their inalienable religious right to bury their dead. “The faith the victims of forced cremation of COVID-19 or Covid-19 suspected dead had in the highest court …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan civil society organizations agitating for the Muslims’ right to bury those of them who had died of COVID have declared that they will explore options to secure their inalienable religious right to bury their dead’ »

Hours after announcing that he would launch a political party in January 2021, actor Rajinikanth on Thursday said that political change is the need of the hour and that he was just an instrument of the people. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, he told journalists outside his Poes Garden residence that he was thinking about how …

Continue reading ‘“I am just a small instrument. If I win, it is people’s victory. If I lose, it is people’s loss. I request people to be with me.I will be more than happy now if I lose my life for the people” Says Tamil Film Star Rajinikanth’ »

On Thursday, actor Rajinikanth announced that he will start a political party in January 2021 to contest in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and the date will be announced on December 31. In a tweet in Tamil, Mr. Rajinikanth said, “In the upcoming elections, we will achieve a big victory with the support of …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth Will Start a Political Party in January 2021 to Contest Forthcoming Tamil Nadu State assembly Elections Mext Year; Party Launch Date to be Announced on December 31st 2020’ »

By Meera Srinivasan At least 12,000 residents of Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces were severely affected as heavy rain lashed the region while cyclone Burevi made a landfall on Wednesday night. The maximum rainfall — 279.8 mm in the last 24 hours — was recorded in Kilinochchi district. Incessant rainfall continued on Thursday as …

Continue reading ‘Over 12,000 People Affected as Heavy rain lashes Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka Following Cyclone Burevi’ »

By Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka The substantive foreign policy debate during this Budget was between the SLPP and the Tamil Opposition. More specifically it was between Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena and Prof. G.L. Peiris on the one hand, and Parliamentarians M.A. Sumanthiran and Gajan Ponnambalam on the other. That debate, though superficially Sinhala/Tamil, south/north, was not simply …

Continue reading ‘The Rajapaksa regime of Today is the most hawkish, absolutist, militarist, ethno-hegemonistic, unilateralist , ideologically rigid and extremist ever in the island’s post-Independence history.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Tuesday dismissed petitions, including those filed by Muslim civil society members, challenging government regulations mandating cremation for all COVID-19-related deaths. The gazette notification issued in April, a month after Sri Lanka detected its first local case of the coronavirus, set off concern among the island’s …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court Dismisses Fundamental Rights Petitions Filed by Muslim Civil Society Members Challenging Govt Regulations Stipulating Compulsory Cremation of all COVID -18 Victims Instead of Burial’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The death toll from the recent prison riots in Sri Lanka, sparked by fears of a raging second wave of COVID-19, rose to 11 on Tuesday. Over 100 prisoners were injured when guards opened fire to contain the unrest on Sunday, as inmates at the Mahara prison, near Colombo, demanded to be …

Continue reading ‘Death Toll Rises to 11 in Mahara Prison Riot in which Over a 100 Inmates were Hospitalised due to Firing by Prison ;Guards “to bring unrest under control”;Amnesty International Urges “Thorough and Impartial Investigation Into Incident”’ »

By T. Farook Thajudeen Colombo High Court yesterday released Basil Rajapaksa and three others from a case of misappropriating public funds without calling for defence evidence as pleaded by the defence counsel. High Court Judge R. Gurusinghe acquitted the four accused, which was former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka, …

Continue reading ‘Colombo High Court Judge R.Gurusinghe Acquits Basil Rajapaksa and three others from five charges of misappropriating Rs 2,291 Million “Divaneguma” funds without calling for defence evidence as “prosecution had not proven the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt”’ »

MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle has been appointed as the State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention. The new State Minister was sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. The State Ministry for Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention is a new portfolio.

By Asiri Fernando The Justice Ministry, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Prisons Department are set to launch three separate inquiries into the incidents at the Mahara prison that took place on Sunday evening. The riot resulted in the deaths of eight inmates, sixty-two injured, and parts of the prison being set ablaze. The CID probe …

Continue reading ‘Mahara Prison Riot Quelled by Firing;8 Inmates Killed and 62 Including 3 Prison Officials HospitalisedlBuildings Set Ablaze; Three separate Inquiries Launched by Justice Ministry, Prisons Dept and CID’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As Sri Lanka hurtles down the precipice of covid-19 contagion coupled with unprecedented economic devastation, bitter and biting anger at our plight can scarcely be contained. ‘Organised propaganda’vs public opinion State health agencies tasked with handling the pandemic stamme and stutter while a militarised command continues to elbow out a professionally …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa must scorn crawlingly subservient Sycophantic creatures lest he fall into the very same trap that his brother, ex- President Mahinda Rajapaksa was caught in.’ »

By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The head and four others of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) were sacked on Friday afternoon by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi with the removal letters being delivered halfway through the SLMC’s monthly meeting which had started at 1 p.m. The dramatic removal of SLMC President Prof. Harendra de Silva and others …

Continue reading ‘Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi sacks Sri Lanka Medical Council President Prof, Harendra de Silva and four others while Monthly SLMC Meeting was in Progress;medical community divided over dramatic move’ »

By Ranjith Padmasiri and S. Rubatheesan In the North and East, courts have issued orders preventing any form of commemorative events to mark the ‘Maveerar Naal’ or Great Heroes’ Day, a day declared by Liberation of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to remember its cadres who died in the near-three-decade separatist war. On Thursday, the Jaffna Magistrate’s …

Continue reading ‘Low key ceremonies held in homes to remember LTTE cadres killed in the war as Court Rulings in North and East Forbid Public Commeoration of “Maaveerar Naal” (Great Heroes Day)’ »

By Dr.Asanga Welikala With the enactment of the 20th Amendment, Sri Lanka embarks yet again down the fraught path of authoritarian presidentialism. Whether this latest adventure ends in a democratic nightmare, or is as fleeting as its two predecessors, the 18th and 19th Amendments, remains to be seen. The legitimacy of both these previous constitutional …

Continue reading ‘Exposing Myths and Fallacies About the Importance and Value of the Executive Presidency in Sri Lanka.’ »

Hanging above the desk of Emmanuel Arnold, the mayor of Jaffna, are images of three Hindu deities, as well as the Buddha, Jesus and the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina. He has to respect all the religions of his city, he explains. Most Sinhalese, the country’s biggest ethnic group, are Buddhist; Tamils, who predominate …

Continue reading ‘Badly Fractured Tamil political Parties May be Spurred to Unity by new Rajapaksa Govt’s Chauvinist Discriminatory Policies – The Economist’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Many Tamil families living in Sri Lanka’s north and east on Friday marked ‘Heroes Day’ — an annual commemoration of LTTE cadre who died in the civil war —by lighting lamps in the quiet confines of their homes, after the government obtained a court order banning the remembrance. Petitioning different courts in …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Courts ban events forCommemorative LTTE cadre on ‘ Heroes Day’’ »

(Text of Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran’s Speech in Parliament on the 25th of November 2020 during the budget vote for the Foreign Affairs Ministry.) Honourable Presiding Member, I am happy to follow the Minister himself as we discuss the votes on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Minister is an experienced parliamentarian and …

Continue reading ‘“Mr. Foreign Minister, would you have the courage to write a letter to India like you did to the UN Human Rights Council and withdraw from the Indo- Lanka Accord? -MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By Victor Ivan The process of the old stock of political leaders and their parties losing the recognition they have enjoyed so far can be described as an integral part of the historical process of ending the old era of the political history of Sri Lanka. The loss of recognition enjoyed by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the …

Continue reading ‘If Ranil Wickremesinghe had contested the 2015 Presidential Election; he would probably have won it in a close contest; Instead Ranil became an inescapable prisoner of the Yahapalana trap’ »

By Charumini de Silva Cinema owners yesterday described 2020 as the worst year while lamenting that they were still in the dark over reopening, as delay was piling up financial losses. On 15 October, the Government announced that all cinemas would be closed till 31 October, as a measure to deal with the COVID-19 second …

Continue reading ‘Closure of Cinema Halls in Country Until Dec 31st Hits Cinema Industry Hard.Importers in Quandary about Procuring New Films from Hollywood, Bollywood and Kollywood.’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) and its leader Zahran Hashim supported Former President Maithripala Sirisena and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) at the 2015 elections, former Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M Hizbullah, on Tuesday night, told the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks. Hizbullah was giving evidence before the PCoI for the second …

Continue reading ‘Representatives of UPFA,UNO, Muslim Congress, Democratic Party and National Front for Good Governance signed agreements with Easter Bomber Zahran Hashim in Kattankudi in exchange for National Thowheed Jamath support at the 2015 Parliamentary Elections’ »

By Meera Srinivasan National Security Adviser will hold talks with Sri Lanka and Maldives National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will be in Colombo on Friday for trilateral discussions among India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi will also travel to Colombo, while the Sri Lankan side will be represented at …

Continue reading ‘Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi will be in Colombo on Nov 27 for trilateral discussions among India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives;Sri Lankan side will be represented at the highest levels by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa,’ »

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was released on bail by the Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage released Bathiudeen on cash bail of Rs. 100,000 with two sureties of one million rupees each. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on Bathiudeen and said that the guarantors should be his close relatives. The Magistrate …

Continue reading ‘Rishad Bathiudeen Released on Cash Bail of Rs 100,000 and Surety bail of Rs Two Million by Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage to Prevent Risk of Ex-Cabinet Minister Contracting COVID -19 in Jail; Travel Ban also Imposed on ACMC party Leader’ »

By K.K.S.Perera An article published in a popular Sinhala daily by a prominent political monk prompted me to respond. Verse 9 in the Yamakavagga of Dhammapada, Anikkasàvayo vattha paridahessati…., The pure are worthy of the yellow robe but not the impure. Whoever, unstainless, without self-control and truthfulness, should don the yellow robe, is not worthy …

Continue reading ‘There is a section of Sangha with racist leanings, who think, it’s they who put Rajapaksas on the pedestal, hence they only should call the tune. Will the president have the courage to discipline Buddhist monks?’ »