dbsjeyaraj.com

via: facebook.com/DavidCameron

By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Calls on Mr Cameron to boycott the event risked an embarrassing split with Buckingham Palace, had the Queen travelled to the meeting as the Commonwealth’s head.

The organisation decided at its last meeting two years ago to hold the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Sri Lanka this year but many states have since been dismayed by Sri Lanka’s failure to heed calls for reform.
Continue reading ‘British PM David Cameron Will Criticise Sri Lanka Human Rights Record Openly at Commomwealth Summit in November’ »

Mangala Samaraweera M.P.

by

Mangala Samaraweera M.P.

We were gravely disturbed to learn of the arrest of former Deputy mayor of Colombo and Muslim Tamil National Alliance leader Azath Salley by the CID on May 2nd 2013.

This is yet another blatant manifestation of the depths to which the rule of law has sunk in this country and further proof that even as the Government prepares to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo in a few months, it is simultaneously taking steps to suppress dissent and victimise political opponents in a manner that runs directly contrary to the fundamental tenets of democracy.

Continue reading ‘Duminda Silva’s “Recovery” and Azath Salley’s “Arrest” Expose Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamaleshwar Sharma’ »

By

Chamitha Kuruppu

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran asserts it is unnecessary to deploy 150,000 soldiers in the Northern Province. According to Premachandran, of the 200,000 Army personnel in Sri Lanka, 150,000 are stationed in the north. “Let the Government have any amount of Army personnel they want, but please withdraw them from north and take them to Hambantota.”

He stresses that the military in north is functioning as a political unit for the Government. “They want to suppress the Tamil people. They want to keep them under threat.” Premachandran further points out that “killing more than 150,000 innocent civilians is not a triumph” and is not the way to eliminate terrorism.

Continue reading ‘“Please Withdraw Army Personnel From North and Take Them to Hambantota,Galle or Kolonnawa –Suresh Premachandran MP’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Top economist Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy has been appointed Consultant to the Government to work on substantive issues on the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Colombo in November this year.

Continue reading ‘Dr.Indrajit Coomaraswamy Appointed Consultant to Sri Lankan Govt to Work on Substantive Issues for Commonwealth Summit Agenda’ »

by
Andrew Bennet

May 3, 2013 – Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, today issued the following statement:

Andrew Bennett-Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom

“Canada condemns the arrest of Azad Sally, leader of Sri Lanka’s newly formed Muslim Tamil National Alliance. Mr. Sally was reportedly taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities on May 2.

Continue reading ‘Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom Condemns Arrest of Mr.Azath Salley and Calls for his Immediate release’ »

By

Karu Jayasuriya M.P.

It is in the strongest possible terms that the arrest of former UNP Deputy Mayor Azath Salley must be condemned by all right thinking peoples of this country. His arrest – for allegedly inciting communal hatred under the prevention of terrorism act, is further proof that the Government continues to retain these repressive war time laws to hunt political opponents in peace time.

Mr. Salley’s arrest must not come as a surprise to any observer who has been witnessing the dismal levels to which law enforcement in this country has descended. Mr. Salley’s offence has been to warn of the dire consequences this country could —face if hate campaigns against a single community continue to grow.

Continue reading ‘Quadruple Murder Suspect Duminda Silva Welcomed at Presidential Palace but Azath Salley Arrested for Alleged Press Statement’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by Amnesty International Over Arrest of Azath M.Salley by the Police in Sri Lanka)

A prominent Muslim politician and government critic arrested today in Sri Lanka must be immediately released or charged with an internationally recognizable criminal offence, Amnesty International said.

Azad Sally, the leader of Sri Lanka’s newly formed Muslim Tamil National Alliance, was reportedly taken into custody on Thursday morning by the intelligence services for unknown reasons.

Continue reading ‘Prominent Muslim Politician Critical of Govt Arrested in Sri Lanka – Amnesty International About Azath Salley’ »

To whom it may concern,

Continue reading ‘Vickramabahu Karunaratne Urges Intervention On Behalf of Azath Salley by Way of Affidavit’ »

Duminda Silva MP and President Mahinda Rajapaksa

by

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men”: George Orwell (The Adelphi – January 1939)

On January 2nd, 2006, five students were murdered in the Town of Trincomalee. The government initially claimed that these were LTTE cadres who died when the bomb they were carrying exploded, prematurely. The cover-up backfired unexpectedly, when a courageous Judicial Medical Officer revealed that the five young men had been shot to death, execution-style. Forced to acknowledge the crime, the regime resorted to subverting justice; judges were transferred, witnesses intimidated and victims’ families harassed. The case was shifted to a court in another province, and allowed to die.

Gen. Sarath Fonseka was the Army Commander, and a member of the de-facto ruling triumvirate, when the Trincomalee murders happened. Indubitably he would have known of the plan to subvert justice and save the Trincomalee-murderers. Equally indubitably he would have seen nothing wrong with that exercise in impunity, because the victims were Tamils and the suspects were men in uniform .

Four years later it was his turn. On 8th February 2010, the military police and the army raided Gen. Fonseka’s political office, assaulted and handcuffed their former commander and dragged him away to incarceration like a common criminal – or terrorist – suspect.

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksas Justified the Unjustifiable in the Name of Patriotism and Anti-Terrorism’ »

By Alan Strathern Oxford University

Of all the moral precepts instilled in Buddhist monks the promise not to kill comes first, and the principle of non-violence is arguably more central to Buddhism than any other major religion. So why have monks been using hate speech against Muslims and joining mobs that have left dozens dead?

This is happening in two countries separated by well over 1,000 miles of Indian Ocean – Burma and Sri Lanka. It is puzzling because neither country is facing an Islamist militant threat. Muslims in both places are a generally peaceable and small minority.

In Sri Lanka, the issue of halal slaughter has been a flashpoint. Led by monks, members of the Bodu Bala Sena – the Buddhist Brigade – hold rallies, call for direct action and the boycotting of Muslim businesses, and rail against the size of Muslim families.

Continue reading ‘Why are Buddhist Monks Attacking Muslims in Burma and Sri Lanka?’ »

by

Harim Peiris

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been publicly reiterating and recommitting himself to finally holding the long delayed and often postponed Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections in September this year, almost four and half years after the war ended in May 2009.

Thereafter despite presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections, in 2010 and 2011, various excuses were contrived and trotted out to postpone the holding of the Northern Provincial Council elections, an election the regime is almost guaranteed to lose to the TNA, if even a semblance of a reasonably fair and free election is held.

Continue reading ‘Will Daya Master of LTTE and Justice Wigneswaran of TNA Face Off as Chief Ministerial Candidates for Northern Poll?’ »

One of the biggest insults a government can deliver to another — the diplomatic equivalent of a slap in the face — is for the leader of one country to refuse to attend a high profile gathering hosted by another. Well, Canada has just slapped Sri Lanka.

Canadian Foreign Minister Baird greets Tamil protesters outside CMAG-pic courtesy of: twitter.com/SLCampaign

Late last week in London, Foreign Minister John Baird denounced a decision by his Commonwealth counterparts to approve Sri Lanka hosting the organization’s heads of government meeting in November. The Commonwealth, he said, was “accommodating evil” in agreeing to stage the meeting in the South Asian country despite strong criticism of its human rights record.
Continue reading ‘Canada Delivers Diplomatic Equivalent of a Slap in the Face to Sri Lanka -Ottawa Citizen’ »

by

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

It was not surprising to find yesterday, thousands of ‘electrocuted’ (and duped) Sri Lankans jubilantly assembling at various rallying points to celebrate International Labour Day. Not surprising, because Sri Lankans have been demonstrating unfailing loyalty to the war-winning regime, irrespective of the regular price escalations, the latest being the debilitating electric shock that came as a post-Avurudu bonanza.

The annual convergence of the people generally takes place in the name of the working class and their perennial struggles, but Colombo yesterday showed a marked difference.

Continue reading ‘May Day:The rights of the working class are forgotten in Sri Lanka as political pageantry takes centre stage’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

In what feels like a repeat of Geneva 2012, behind-the-scenes manoeuvring by New Delhi may have tipped the scales in Sri Lanka’s favour in London last week, where the Commonwealth’s most powerful grouping decided an eleventh-hour venue shift of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet was simply not an option.

In exchange, will the Rajapaksa administration pursue engagement with the country’s main Tamil party on power devolution and conduct a poll in the Northern Province by September 2013? Or is India setting itself up for disappointment again?

Continue reading ‘Will The Rajapaksa Administration Hold Northern Provincial Council Polls Or Will a Promise to India Be Broken Again?’ »

(Amnesty International (AI) has issued a news release today (may 1st 2013), one day after publishing its report about “Assault on Dissent” in Sri Lanka.Today’s release gives specific examples of continuing violations of human rights, and then puts these in the context of the CHOGM that is still scheduled, despite these continuing issues of human rights, to take place in Sri Lanka in November)

As Sri Lanka gears up to host a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in November, testimony from torture survivors, and the absence of justice in their cases, challenge government claims to making human rights progress

“I was burnt all over my body with cigarettes,” said Kumar. “I was also kicked all over the body. They kept me in a dark cell with no windows, where I had to sleep on the floor.”

Continue reading ‘‘There Are No Human Rights In Sri Lanka’ Says Amnesty International About Country Hosting Commonwealth Summit in November’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

Just a few days before the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) was scheduled to meet for business, President Mahinda Rajapaksa made a special announcement regarding the much touted election for the Northern Provincial Council. He categorically stated that the election will be held in September and his astrologers are working on the auspicious dates for it.

Continue reading ‘India Saved Mahinda at Commonwealth Through Secretary-General and Bangladesh Foreign Minister’ »

Bodu Bala Sena Rally in Kandy

By

Vishnuguptha

“I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

The intentions, methodologies and strategies of the Bodhu Bala Sena (Army of Buddhist Power) have so far been most unBuddhistic and bordering on the pagan and archaic. Their obvious intolerance and the crudest way they show it on village squares and town-halls, trashing other religions and their faithful devotees sometimes spill over the banks of decency and civility, a verbal diarrhea discharged at the whims and fancies of Buddhist fundamentalists preaching a new kind of ‘oriental jihad’, as some pundit said.

If they ever have any care for the people whom they claim to represent, they must change course and they must do it now. When Karl Marx proclaimed that religion is the opium of man, he basically referred to the eighteenth century Europe dominated by Christianity, certainly not to Buddhism which was always known to be a religion based more on free-thinking and realistic evaluation of things mundane and material. In fact, some of the modern Buddhist academics still contend that Siddhartha Gautama was the first materialist in history, equating Buddhism to materialism in every which way they could.
Continue reading ‘Intentions, Methodologies and Strategies of Bodhu Bala Sena (Army of Buddhist Power) are UnBuddhistic Bordering on the Pagan and Archaic’ »

By

Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne

The grip of the ruler based on Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism is breaking down. It is thanks to this grip which subdued the Sinhala petty bourgeoisie, that Keheliya Rambukwella the government spokesman, could ignore the fact that parliamentarians pay just Rs.2000/- per month for electricity in their free official residences and intimidates the poor.

He has said “People expected to eat without paying for it…. People expected everything free. They ask for subsidies for everything. When the country has to be taken forward we cannot tolerate people who ask for subsidies.”

With the grip breaking down, Mahinda has more cause for concern about the SLFP than about the Opposition. The party which serves as the necessary vehicle for the regime of Mahinda with his dictatorial project was founded not by the Rajapaksas but by the Bandaranaikes. SWRD was a liberal who approached the Sinhala petty bourgeoisie with a nationalist project mixed with social welfare. Then he joined with left socialist elements such as Philip, TB and others to construct the popular front, MEP. Left socialist cover concealed the Sinhala chauvinist militancy within the front; but it revealed its power in the 1957 communal riots.

Continue reading ‘Under Mahinda Regime the Jacobins of 57 Have Returned Wearing the Brown Shirts of Fascism’ »

By

The Puppeteer

The only monkey wrench cast into the cogwheels of the Rally For Unity, was the circulation of leaflets opposing the highly publicised event. The leaflets contained the usual rhetoric, claiming that the organisers were traitors and that their facelessness should be of critical concern.

pic: Azeem Ameen~courtesy of: twitter.com/Azeem_3A

Only the organisers weren’t faceless. Sure, they weren’t one body but a group of different individuals, but that makes it far better.

Continue reading ‘Attempts to Disrupt “Rally for Unity” by Boys Distributing “Patriotic” Leaflets Foiled but Organizers of Event Followed by “Mystery” Men’ »

On the 1st of May workers around the world commemorate the struggles to win their rights and highlight the need to strengthen the rights of all workers in the capitalist economic paradigm that prevails. In Sri Lanka Trade Unions, Political Parties, Community based Organisations will also celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1st this year with widespread publicly demands for better working conditions for all workers.

This year, Sri Lankan Trade Unions are planning to highlight the Rights of Women Workers as part of the issues that will be raised in the workers’ rallies on May 1st. A number of Trade Union women members will be raising banners and placards focusing on women workers’ rights in Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Trade Unions Planning to Highlight Issue of Rights of Women Workers at May day Rallies’ »

by

Kamaya Jayatissa

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains,
but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”-
Nelson Mandela

It is often the case that a nation which experienced a protracted war will tend to look forward rather than backward. For Sri Lankans, over the years, the war became a part of their lives, and survival a part of their routine. In such a context, healing becomes a lengthy and culturally-bound process. Though some may find it difficult to achieve, such process cannot be understated or underestimated when it comes to building a deeper unity, thus a sustainable peace for Sri Lanka. But how many of us really took the time and space to actually forgive and heal from a war that scattered a whole nation for over three decades, leaving behind scars that are still visible from the outside. How many of us actually grasped the opportunity to make a change?

Last Sunday, April 28th, marked a turning point in building such unity when a “voluntary movement of concerned Sri Lankans from various institutions, professions and industries” organized ‘Rally for Unity – Hate has no place in Sri Lanka’, a non-partisan anti-racism march for the promotion of ethno-religious harmony. Hundreds of people gathered for the occasion near the Nelum Pokona, in Colombo, irrespective of their political affiliation, ethnicity or religion. Holding banners in all three languages they began a peaceful protest, which in only two hours, brought together protestors from various backgrounds and affiliations. From politicians to members of the Clergy or diverse faiths, from students to civic society; they all gathered as one.

Continue reading ‘Sunday’s ‘Rally for Unity’was a March towards Reconciliation,Equality,Freedom and Co-existence Between Communities’ »

The Sri Lankan government is intensifying its crackdown on critics through threats, harassment, imprisonment and violent attacks, Amnesty International said in a new report released today.

The 78 page report, Assault on Dissent reveals how the government, led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is promoting an official attitude that equates criticism with ‘treason’ in a bid to tighten its grip on power.

Continue reading ‘Amnesty International releases New 78 Page Report Critical of Rajapaksa Govt Titled “Assault on Dissent”’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran yesterday defended campaigning in London against Sri Lanka hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo later this year. The TNA wanted the venue shifted to a suitable venue regardless of a previous decision to allow Sri Lanka to host the meeting.

National List MP Sumanthiran faulted the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) for giving Sri Lanka the honour of hosting the summit in spite of the government violating Commonwealth doctrine, including Latimar House principles that dealt with the judiciary of member states.The MP was responding to government accusations that he along with Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, overall Coordinator of programmes conducted by Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), made representations in London against the government.

Continue reading ‘Sumanthiran Faults CMAG For Letting Sri Lanka Host CHOGM Summit In Spite of Govt Violating Commonwealth Doctrines’ »

By

S.L. Gunasekara

Vasudeva Nannayakkara was, for many years, known and looked upon as a ‘paper revolutionary’ who was ever willing to join in any ‘verbal’ attack on a Government in power.

He is, today, an ‘acolyte’/‘hanger on’ of the Rajapaksa family and hence comfortably ensconced in office [at great expense to our long suffering people] as one of that unbelievably large assembly of invertebrate incompetents known as the Cabinet of Ministers.

Even he, however, could not deny the ever-growing scourge of thuggery that is rapidly and inexorably enveloping the country. His purported ‘solution’ to this problem, believe it or not, is to enact legislation to ban what he terms ‘extremist’ parties and prohibit what he terms ‘hate speech’.

Continue reading ‘Govt Depends Largely on the Armed Forces and Police to Control the People and Remain in Power’ »

By

Kumbhakarna

T. S. Eliot wrote his celebrated poem ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’ in 1917, thirty two years before Ranil Wickremesinghe was born. Therefore, it’s hardly correct to assume that Eliot based his Prufrock poem on Ranil. But, when you read through this long but delightful satirical poem, you can’t help noticing an uncanny resemblance. I don’t wish here to keep contributing to that miserable sport of lampooning Ranil (as Mr. Bean, etc). But the very fact that I suddenly thought of Sri Lanka’s unlucky Opposition Leader while reading Eliot’s poem shows how this kind of thing can work itself into the subconscious. It works like advertising, compelling you to think of a product not independently but according to advertising stereotypes.

And so it is with politics. Many journalists who normally hate each other, both left-wing and right wing, get together when they want some target practice. Their favourite target is Ranil Wickremesinghe. This criticism can differ in some detail. The left hates him for being classy and arrogant. The right hates him being not nationalist (or chauvinist) enough. Both sides hate him for not being the kind of macho, manly street fighter they believe to be the right man to lead Sri Lanka, unafraid of anything not just on earth but even beyond the Milky Way – the kind of insolent juggernaut who can roll over public opinion (which hardly matters), international opinion, The United Nations, the EU, the Indian government, the United States, the IMF, the Commonwealth – you name it.

Continue reading ‘Left and Right Together Created The Myth That Ranil Is Simply Not Fit To Be President And Is Actually Unelectable’ »

By

WOMEN’S ACTION NETWORK

Muslims and Tamils have returned to the North having experienced immense loss and struggles over the last 30 years. Post-2009 Muslims and Tamils have begun returning to Mullaiteevu and resettlement has been taking place slowly. However the numbers that are attempting to and have returned is much higher than the number displaced 30 years ago. Therefore the land allocated has been insufficient for these communities to resettle. The situation is further complicated by the loss of land documentation and land disputes.

Through various sources Women’s Action Network (WAN) has also learnt of continuous political intervention in allocation of land, resources and aid, while there is a clear perception of discrimination and antipathy among both the Tamil and Muslim communities. Due to these interventions there is a fear that ethnic tensions between the two communities in Mullaiteevu may intensify. A fact finding mission comprising of activists from Mannar, Trincomalee, Jaffna and Puttalam is undertaken within this context.

The fact finding team interviewed returning Muslim and Tamil communities in Mulliyawalai and government officials. This report reflects their concerns and propositions.
Continue reading ‘Fact finding report on the recent tensions between Muslims and Tamils in Mulliyawalai’ »

By
M.A.Sumanthiran M.P

Last week saw a hugely dangerous move by the government. Section 2 notices under the Land Acquisition Act were pasted on trees in Valikamam North in the Jaffna Peninsula indicating that an extent of approximately 6,400 acres of private lands belonging to several thousand Tamil people would be acquired for Military cantonments.

Strangley, the notice says that the claimants are not traceable! The owners of these lands live just outside the so called illegal High Security Zone, in camps maintained by the government itself. They have lived there for over 25 years. And although their title to these lands were checked and cleared by a Committee appointed by the Supreme Court in 2006, they were not permitted to go and resettle on the false assertion that de-mining was not complete.

That it is false is demonstrated by the sight of soldiers cultivating these lands from which the owners were kept away. Now suddenly, the government has shown its true face: these lands will be taken and given to others to occupy, who will become voters in the North. Similar notices have been issued in the Kilinochchi Distrct also. In the Eastern Province, instructions have gone out to acquire all the land that the military deems necessary for its purposes.
Continue reading ‘6400 Acres of Private Lands Belonging to Tamil People in Valikamam North to be Acquired by Govt for Military Cantonments’ »

By

Rajavarothayam Sampanthan M.P.

Tamil National Alliance Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan making his speech-picture by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai ©

(Text of Introductory Speech made by Tamil National Alliance Leader and Trincomalee District MP Rajavarothayam Sampanthan at the S.J.V.Chelvanayagam memorial lecture Event held in Colombo on April 27th 2013)

Mr. SJV Chelvanayagam QC was the founder leader of the Federal Party and the undisputed leader of the Tamil people.We welcome all those who have come here.

The Theme of the lecture today is ‘ Whither the Sri Lankan Tamils’.The theme would signify the uncertainty that prevails in regard to the future of the Sri Lankan Tamil people. The future is clearly challenging.

The lecture will be delivered by Mr.Justice C.V.Vigneswaran, Retired Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Mr. Vigneswaran is known for his impeccable integrity and resolute independence. That is probably the reason why the organizers have chosen him to deliver this year’s memorial lecture.

Determined efforts are being made to distort and rewrite the history of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. The Tamil people are resolutely determined to resist this onslaught. It is our firm belief that injustice can never defeat the determined will of a people.

I would in my introduction outline some of the salient features that characterized Mr. Chelvanayagam’s political career and which constituted the bedrock of his political activity.(dbsjeyaraj.com)
Continue reading ‘No Dissension Within TNA on any Matter Pertaining to the Future of the Tamil People’ »

by
Tisaranee Gunasekara

pic courtesy: tamilwin

“I think we are blind….. Blind people who can see, but do not see” ~ Jose Saramago (Blindness)

Miracles happen in the ‘Wonder of Asia’.

Last week, the lawyers representing Parliamentarian Duminda Silva – on the basis of multiple diagnoses by eminent physicians – assured a court of law that their client was a grievously sick man. The judge was told that Mr. Silva’s left side was paralysed, his brain function down by 40% and his recovery contingent on immediate quite retirement into the bosom of his loving family.

The AG’s Department – as much of a Presidential appendage as the post-Impeachment Supreme Court – had no objections to bail. Thus persuaded, the judge gave bail to this key suspect in the Kolonnawa quadruple-murder case.

Then the miracle happened.
Continue reading ‘The ‘Miraculous’ Recovery of Duminda Silva in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ‘Wonder of Asia’’ »

By

Wasantha Ramanayake

Parliamentarian Duminda Silva returned to public life yesterday after spending 17 months in hospitals in Singapore and Colombo.

Mr. Silva is the eleventh accused in the Mulleriyawa shooting incident where Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others were killed.

Last morning Mr. Silva left the private hospital in which he stayed since he arrived in the country on March 5. He was discharged from the hospital following the Colombo High Court order to release him on Wednesday.The accused parliamentarian with his hair fully grown looked different from the pictures of a bald headed man with stitches, shown recently in the media.

Continue reading ‘Hale and Hearty Duminda Silva Leaving Hospital on Bail Makes a Mockery out of Sri Lanka’s Judicial System’ »

by

A staff reporter

Hirunika Premachandra

Hirunika Premachandra, daughter of slain politician, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, said yesterday the President should provide a solution to the ‘Duminda Silva situation,’ and complained, “the man who destroyed four families has now gone to meet the President.”

Hirunika, addressing the media after United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Duminda Silva – a suspect in the murder of her father – was released on bail and discharged from the hospital yesterday, said international claims of human rights violations in Sri Lanka “must have some truth in them, if such situations are allowed by the law.”

“The man who destroyed four families has now gone to meet the President.
Continue reading ‘“The Man Who Destroyed Four Families Has Now Gone To Meet The President.” -Hirunika Premachandra About Duminda Silva’ »

Dear Friends,

Given the recent spate of hate speech and the marginalization of minority communities in general in Sri Lanka, a voluntary movement of concerned Sri Lankans from various institutions, professions and industries are organizing a series of non-partisan, non-violent awareness campaigns and rallies against racist actions and hate-speech in Sri Lanka.

Attached for your information is a brief as evidence for the growing concern which had led to the creation of this initiative.
Continue reading ‘“Hate has no Place in Sri Lanka”-28th April Rally for Unity’ »

By

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran

(Text of THANTHAI CHELVANAYAGAM MEMORIAL LECTURE on the Theme ‘WHITHER SRI LANKAN TAMILS’ Delivered on 26/04/2013 FRIDAY at NEW KATHIRESAN HALL, GALLE ROAD, BAMBALAPITIYA COLOMBO 4 to mark the 36th death anniversary of S.J.V.Chelvanayagam, Q.C)

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran lighting the oil lamp~picture by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai ©

Ajnaana Timiraamdhasya Gnaanaanjana Shalaakayaa
Chakshuru Miilitam Yena Tasmai Shrii Gurave Namah

Honourable Chairman, Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Honourable Parliamentarians, my dear Brothers and Sisters!

Recently, I was called upon on different occasions to address different groups of the legal fraternity. The present period, as you know, is the most perilous in the history of our justice system, and to date the crisis remains unresolved. The future of an independent judicial system seems bleak, and despite the immense courage shown by some of its members, the community seems to feel despondent and desolate.

Delivering an Oration on the topic of “Whither Sri Lankan Tamils?” today, I address a community that is in an exponentially worse situation. The precarious position in which the Tamil speaking community is placed today is highlighted by the aftermath of my recent speeches.
Continue reading ‘Before Dealing With “Whither Sri Lankan Tamils” Let Me Start With “Whence Sri Lankan Tamils”’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

In a major breakthrough Sri Lanka yesterday cleared what is likely the last diplomatic hurdle on its journey to playing host at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet in November this yearThis was after the grouping’s Ministerial Action Group concluded its key meeting in London yesterday signalling no move to put the country on notice or shift the summit venue from Colombo.

It is learned that in the issue pertaining to Sri Lanka as next hosts of CHOGM the CMAG had decided it did not have a mandate to decide on the summit venue.

Continue reading ‘Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Confirms Sri Lanka as Venue of Commonwealth Summit in November’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Sri Lanka is likely to feature during a meeting of the Commonwealth’s most powerful eight-member body in London today, with Canada hinting it is seeking a shift in the venue and Tamil Nadu political parties, international lawyers grouping and human rights activists lobbying against allowing Colombo to host a key Commonwealth summit in November.

The Government has consistently denied that Sri Lanka would feature on the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) 26 April meet, which will be chaired by Bangladesh and includes Australia, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Vananatu, Jamaica, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. Maldives is also a CMAG member but is currently suspended.

The Daily FT learns that while diplomatic overtures, especially between Colombo and Dhaka, have prevented Sri Lanka from being an official CMAG agenda item, the issue of Sri Lanka hosting this year’s summit and the country’s human rights record is likely to come up for discussion at the London meeting under ‘any other matters’.

Continue reading ‘Bangladesh Keeps Sri Lanka out of Official Agenda at Crucial meeting but Canada Will Raise Issue of Commonwealth Summit under “any other matters”Item.’ »

By J. S. Tissainayagam

Sri Lanka, whose leaders are accused of committing war crimes against Tamils in the civil war that ended May 2009, and subverting democracy, is to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November.

In the past the Commonwealth, the 54-member intergovernmental grouping of mostly Britain’s former colonies, has emphasised human rights and democracy as core principles and chastised member countries that violated them. Sri Lanka however has not been censured but rewarded: named as CHOGM’s next venue, it will automatically lead the organisation for the coming two years.

The international community is clearly concerned that if it takes too strong a line with Sri Lanka, it will simply slip into China’s sphere of influence, and so lose all ability to promote Commonwealth values. However, this view fundamentally misinterprets Sri Lanka’s relationship with both China and the Commonwealth.

Continue reading ‘All Those who Believe in the Integrity of the Commonwealth Must Refuse to Attend CHOGM summit in Sri Lanka’ »

by

Frances Harrison

When they decided to have a meeting at their party office in the north of the island, the four Sri Lankan MPs probably didn’t expect that it would start raining concrete boulders.

Before they knew it, a mob of about 60 people had surrounded the building. After half an hour of sustained assault, the roof broke and the elected representatives found themselves sheltering in the archways of the doors, as if it were an earthquake. All the while the police looked on, doing nothing. At the end, they caught a few of the attackers but quickly released them, including a man who turned out to be one of their colleagues in civilian clothes.

“This is not the first or second time this has happened,” said one of the MPs, “it happens all the time and this was just a month ago”.

Continue reading ‘Will Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Decide not to Hold Commonwealth Meeting in Sri Lanka?’ »

by

Vishnuguptha

“It is not once nor twice but times without number that the same ideas make their appearance in the world.”
~ Aristotle

The Government in general and the ruling family in particular, do not show any signs of learning any lesson from history. The local government elections concluded more than two and half years ago on July 23, 2011 and exactly twenty four years after the infamous ambush of thirteen armed soldiers at Thirunelveli, Jaffna and the riots that it ensued in the South of Sri Lanka, the Tamils of Jaffna once again passed a crushing verdict on the absurdity of naked chauvinism openly practiced by the first family and their cohorts in the Government of Sri Lanka.

After suffering one defeat after another at the international fora, after failing to prove their bona-fides regarding their commitment to the implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment to our Constitution, after making pledge after pledge to international leaders that a fair and just system of government would be put in place, after ensuring the sustenance of a ‘free and fair’ Press, the Government now seems to be desperate.

Continue reading ‘Recruiting LTTE’s Daya Master as Candidate for Northern Poll Demonstrates Political Bankruptcy of Govt’ »

OTTAWA – Official Opposition New Democrats Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) and Rathika Sitsabaiesan (Scarborough—Rouge River) have launched a national campaign to pressure the Conservatives to fully boycott the Commonwealth meetings in Sri Lanka unless an independent and international investigation into alleged war crimes are accepted by the government of that country.

Continue reading ‘Canada’s New Democratic Party Launches National Campaign Urging Boycott of Commonwealth Meeting in Sri Lanka’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“….the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think” ~ Tom Paine (Rights of Man)

In 2005 when he was nominated the SLFP’s Presidential candidate, Prime Minister Rajapaksa named his election manifesto Mahinda Chinthanaya (The Philosophy of Mahinda), after himself.

Within seven years, the Rajapaksas conquered the government, occupied the state and subdued the society.

With Basil Rajapaksa’s appointment as the National Organiser, the Siblings are set to breach the last frontier: the SLFP.

If Ranil Wickremesinghe did not exist, the Rajapaksas would have had to create him. Since he does, and Sajith Premadasa is no better in terms of effectiveness, the Siblings do not have to be overly concerned about the UNP. The JVP is too busy waiting for its own Godot – another ‘Indo-Lanka Accord moment’ – to seize the socio-economic issues with requisite vigour.
Continue reading ‘Rajapaksas Keep an Economically-flagellated Majority and a Politically-persecuted Minority in Thrall’ »

A Tamil Named “Kumar” living in Australia has detailed shocking claims of rape and torture at the hands of Sri Lankan army intelligence to Australia Broadcasting Corporation.

Transcript of Telecast is as Follows:
Continue reading ‘Tamil in Australia Claims he was Raped and Tortured by Sri Lanka Army Intelligence’ »

(New York, April 25, 2013) – A senior Commonwealth advisory group should recommend the organization shift the venue of its November 2013 Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from Sri Lanka unless the government makes prompt, measurable, and meaningful progress on human rights, Human Rights Watch said today.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), a grouping of Commonwealth leaders that addresses “serious or persistent violations” of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values, including human rights, will meet in London on April 26, 2013.

Continue reading ‘Commonwealth Should Relocate Venue of November Meeting Away From Sri Lanka -Human Rights Watch’ »

By

Christian Caryl

pic courtesy: foreignpolicy.com

The man’s body lies on a blanket striped in white and blue. He’s wearing a dark brown tank top and a dark blue flowered sarong. Someone has tied his hands behind his back with rope. There are deep red gashes on his head and shoulders — some of them presumably the wounds that ended his life.

The man in the photo is a Muslim. The people who killed him were almost certainly Buddhists. He was a victim in last fall’s sectarian bloodshed in western Burma, which pitted members of the two religions against each other. The image comes from a new report by Human Rights Watch that carefully documents the violence that took some 200 lives and resulted in the forced displacement of some 125,000 people. (A more recent wave of violence within the past few weeks has taken some 40 additional lives and triggered another surge of refugees.)

Continue reading ‘Rise in Anti-Muslim Violence by Buddhist Militias an Ominous Trend in Burma,Sri Lanka and Thailand’ »

By

Karu Jayasuriya M.P.

Recent increase of electricity rates is unprecedented in Sri Lankan history. 75% or else 3.7 million of the electricity consumers use less than 90 units. This increase is unbearable to the low income groups and what action is taken by the government to mitigate this confusion? As they have been doing in the past, the government is trying to pass the blame on to the UNP. Yesterday it was reported in Dinamina, President has told the media chiefs that “We have to shoulder the burden of the mistakes committed during the UNP rule.

It is my duty to explain the truth as the former Minister of Power and Energy during the UNF government I called this press conference today for this purpose.

Continue reading ‘Robin Hood Took From Rich and Gave the Poor but This Govt Collects From Poor and Looks After the Rich’ »

A large-scale tourism project has been launched by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) on an area of 1,100 hectares that belongs to 14 islands that are connected to the Puttalam Lagoon. The homes and livelihood of 2,640 fisher families, who live in the Grama Niladhari Divisions in the area, have come under increasing threat due to this project.

The human, social and massive environmental costs of the large-scale tourism development the government has rushed into in the Kaplitiya region may overshadow the envisaged gains from tourism, local fisher activists and environmentalists warn.

Continue reading ‘Homes and Livelihood of 2640 Fisher Families Threatened Due to Large-scale Tourism Project in 14 Islands in Kalpitiya Region’ »

By

Dr.D.Gnanagurunathan

The debate about the ‘emergence’ or ‘re-emergence’ of India as an important player at the world stage goes on the one hand. On the other, the Indian state is confronted with a major challenge, as regions (provinces) are asserting their rights and able to influence the foreign policy discourse.

In addition, critics point out recent setbacks of Indian foreign policy in the Maldives and to a certain extent in Sri Lanka as signs of its non-arrival at the international arena since Indian foreign policy retains its primary focus on South Asia. Now, it is pertinent to investigate as to how India negotiates its foreign policy making challenges, especially towards its neighbour Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘India’s Vote Against Sri Lanka in the UNHRC was a Well-Calculated Decision’ »

By

Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne

Nobody expected this unbelievable increase in electricity charges. Hence there were protests everywhere including in clubs and associations limited to the industrialists and traders. However the tariff increases are friendly to the class separation indicating the departure from the social welfare ideology. Still, everybody feels that the government is putting the burden of their follies and misdoings on the people.

The Government claims that it took the hard decision to increase electricity tariffs to cover the losses incurred by the state-owned power generator. The Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board, sternly rejecting the accusation that electricity tariffs are increased to cover wastage, said the electricity generation through fuel combustion should be minimised in order to control the increase of electricity charges.

Continue reading ‘Left set to Launch Massive Protests Against Govt Decision to Increase Electricity Tariffs’ »

by

Upul Joseph Fernando

“Although it is not known yet who is responsible for Monday’s heinous bombings at the Boston Marathon that killed three and injured more than 100 people, a source within the Iranian Intelligence Services told WND, the Islamic regime was behind them, and to look for trails through Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.”

Colombo implicated

American website, World Net Daily, came up with this theory even before the Boston bombers were tracked down and caught. The American media pointing its finger at Sri Lanka in connection with Boston bombing should be considered as a matter of grave concern by the Government of Sri Lanka. In another previous instance, when the German bakery bomb explosion took place in Pune, the chief suspect in his confession, had revealed that the final operational plan was drawn up in Colombo. The charge sheet filed with the indictment of the main suspects carried the following statement:

Continue reading ‘US and India Trying to Prove Sri Lanka is Hotbed of Islamic Terrorism Targeting Europe, America and India’ »

By

Ananth Palakidnar

Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has met former LTTE media head, V. Dayanithy alias Daya Master and 23 others in Jaffna over the Northern Provincial Council polls to be held later this year, informed sources said.

The meeting was held on Monday at the 52 Division Headquarters in Varani, where the Defence Secretary had a detailed discussion over the Northern Provincial polls and also on the possibilities of spearheading the political and the development activities through a possible UPFA-led Provincial Council, sources said. The meeting had also focused on the candidatures for the Northern Provincial polls where Rajapaksa had outlined that by contesting alone, the UPFA could work out its own strategies towards the development activities in the North, sources added.

Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Discusses Northern Provincial Poll with Ex-LTTE Media Chief “Daya Master” and 23 Others at 52 Div Hqr in Varani’ »

By

Latheef Farook

CHECHENYA is yet another Muslim entity destroyed and rendered a wasteland in the two senseless Russian wars to subjugate the republic. Demonising and killing Chechen Muslims were popular pastimes for Russian leaders in order to win voters.

View Larger Map

Going by historical records, war against Russia has been a regular unfortunate event for around a million
Chechens for centuries, usually in intervals of every fifty years, each conflict lasting between six to twenty-five years. Because of this almost ceaseless war and the sufferings it brought on the Chechen people, there exists a larger Chechen Diaspora in Turkey and Jordan than in their own republic.

Russia considers oil rich Chechenya as part of its territory, but Chechens, describing their struggle as a “war of liberation”, always claimed that they never voluntarily joined Russia, which conquered their territory by military force. All that the Chechens, known for their deep respect to elders and strong bond of friendship, wanted was independence or self rule to run their own affairs in keeping with their political and economic needs and religious traditions.

The latest tragedy struck when Chechenya declared its independence from Russia in November 1991.

Continue reading ‘Killing Fields of Chechnya: A Muslim Land Laid Waste by a Senseless War’ »

by

Sarah Kendzior

In 1901, a 28-year-old American named Leon Czolgosz assassinated US President William McKinley. Czolgosz was born in America, but he was of Polish descent. After McKinley died, the American media blamed Polish immigrants. They were outsiders, foreigners, with a suspicious religion – Catholicism – and strange last names.

At a time when Eastern European immigrants were treated as inferior, Polish-Americans feared they would be punished as a group for the terrible actions of an individual. “We feel the pain which this sad occurrence caused, not only in America, but throughout the whole world. All people are mourning, and it is caused by a maniac who is of our nationality,” a Polish-American newspaper wrote in an anguished editorial.

It is a sentiment reminiscent of what Muslims and Chechens are writing – or Instagramming – today, after the revelation that Dzokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings, are of Chechen descent. At this time, there is no evidence linking the Tsarnaev brothers to a broader movement in Chechnya, a war-torn federal republic in southern Russia. Neither of the brothers has ever lived there. The oldest, Tamerlan, was born in Russia and moved to the US when he was sixteen. The youngest, Dzokhar, was born in Kyrgyzstan, moved to the US when he was nine, and became a US citizen in 2012.

Continue reading ‘How the US Media Demonised the Chechnyan Ethnicity in the Aftermath of the Boston Marathon Event Blasts’ »

by

Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.

Once again, following the vote in Geneva, which made clear how influential the United States of America was, and how comparatively friendless we were, there is talk of re-establishing relations with the West. Thankfully this year it has not taken the form of denigration of good relations with others, as happened last year when those elements in the Ministry of External Affairs, which would have been described in the Cold War days as the running dogs of imperialism, danced on the graves of Dayan Jayatilleka and Tamara Kunanayagam.

This was profoundly ironic, for it was those two who had built up our friendships with other countries in the time honoured fashion that had brought us so much respect internationally in the days of Mrs Bandaranaike. At the same time they did this whilst commanding the respect of the West, as numerous cables in Wikileaks make clear. It was no coincidence then that two of our most sympathetic, if not uncritical, interlocutors from the West said to me in astonishment, after the vote, that we had made insufficient use of Tamara, who was clearly our best representative at Geneva.

Continue reading ‘Three Elements in the Determination of the West to do Down the Current Sri Lanka Government’ »

by

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

However bad Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is and external relations are, they have yet to hit the nadir that they did under President Jayewardene in the 1980s.

The first ever resolution on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka adopted in Geneva by the Human Rights Commission was in March 1987, while the first decision, which it ‘recalls’ in the resolution, was in March 1984, as was reported in the Lanka Guardian at the time (Vol 9, No 23, April 1 1987, p18).

This episode, which in a lead story in the same journal three months later was derided by its Editor as a “roasting”, has recently been disinterred and touted as nothing less than a model of professional diplomacy which should have been looked up to as a lodestar by Sri Lanka’s representatives in Geneva May 2009.

Continue reading ‘How Sri Lanka Got Roasted at Geneva in 1987 When Resolution on Human Rights Situation was Adopted by Human Rights Commission’ »

(Commemorating 20th death Anniversary of former National security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali)

by

S. V. D Kesaralal Gunasekara

Lalith Athulathmudali

People keep asking me why I continue to write about the late Mr. Athulathmudali two decades after his unfortunate and untimely demise.

The necessity to write invariably follows as a result of what is happening (or not happening) in the country. Very little seems to be moving in the right direction and there is a lot more to be done in each sector. The country seem to be facing crises one after the other and we do not seem to be having a National Plan. I recall, visiting India as a parliamentarian on its 50th Independence anniversary. On our request, the Indian government gave us an opportunity to meet the Head of the National Planning Commission.
Continue reading ‘If only the Country was Fortunate to Have a Statesman Such as Lalith Athulathmudali at a Time Like This’ »

by

Col R Hariharan

pic courtesy of: facebook.com/nknewsorg

North Korea’s deployment of two additional short-range scud ballistic missile launchers in its eastern coast has strengthened speculations in the South that Pyongyang might launch a missile on April 25, the anniversary of North Korean army. According to South Korean media, the latest deployment was in addition to the seven mobile missile launchers already in place on the coast.

Coupled with the two Musudan intermediate range missiles already deployed at a place 180 km from the South Korean capital Seoul, has compelled South Korea and the U.S. to take the North Korean bluster a little more seriously. Although, South Korean’s Chief of National Security Kim Jang-soo had recently said DPRK was not capable of conducting a full-scale war on the Korean Peninsula he did not rule out localized ‘provocations.’

Continue reading ‘Speculation Rife in South Korea About Pyongyang Launching Missile on the Anniversary of North Korean Army -April 25’ »

by

Karu Jayasuriya M.P.

It is reported in the media that the President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stated at a meeting with Media Chiefs, elections could be held under the Commissioner of Elections without an Elections Commission. An Elections Commission was established by the 17th Amendment which was passed in Parliament by 2/3 majority, to achieve certain goals which included restraining powers surrounding the Executive Presidency, establishment of a strong democracy and good governance.

17th Amendment was repealed by introducing the 18th Amendment, which was passed by 2/3 majority obtained by winning the Members of Parliament of the Opposition by offering various benefits and other devious methods, not by the mandate of the people.

Continue reading ‘Govt Must Establish Elections Commission as Stipulated by 17th Constitutional Amendment Before Northern Provincial Poll is Held’ »

by

Col R Hariharan

Muslim owned Bicycle Shop in Minhla, Bago, Myanmar being attacked and looted-in March 2013~via: twitter.com/nslwin

Myanmar’s fledgling democracy faced yet another obstacle to its progress when anti-Muslim violence flared up in Central Myanmar town of Meiktila in March 2013. It quickly spread to six other smaller townships in Thayawady district in Bago Region in Lower Myanmar.

According to Human Rights Watch, it also spread to 11 townships in Mandalay and Pegu divisions, where Muslim neighborhoods were ransacked.
Continue reading ‘Aung San Suu Kyi Reluctant to Take Action Affecting Majority Community During Anti-Muslim Communal Violence in Myanmar’ »

by Meera Srinivasan

Lalgudi Jayaraman (1930-2013)~pic: courtesy: The Hindu Photo Libraray

It was one such harsh Madras summer. In the shade of the rich canopy on Venkatnarayana Road, a friend and I, both a little over 10 at that time, stood in eager anticipation.

With us was Lalgudi sir, clad in a sparkling white dhoti folded up to his knee and a white half-sleeve khadi shirt. He was carefully choosing mangoes ripe enough to eat the very same day. With him was his wife Rajalakshmi.
Continue reading ‘‘Lalgudi Sir’ The Incurable Romantic Who Was My Guru: A Personal Tribute to Violin Maestro Lalgudi Jayaraman’ »

By

Shalini Singh

In his 112-page written statement to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probing the 2G scam, the former Telecom Minister and prime accused, A. Raja, has said he personally met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh several times between November 2007 and July 2008 — the period when the scam was perpetrated — to keep him informed of all 2G-related decisions, and the Prime Minister agreed with him.

On Page 72, while challenging the JPC’s draft report and the CBI’s allegations that Mr. Raja had “misled” the Prime Minister, he says: “This allegation has been made by the CBI without even recording the statement of the Hon’ble PM. On what basis do they say he was misled?
Continue reading ‘Former Telecom Minister A.Raja in 112 Page Statement Implicates Indian PM Manmohan Singh in Massive 2 G Spectrum Scam’ »

By

Marianne David

A blacktip reef shark among the coral reefs off Pigeon Island

With white sandy beaches and sparkling seas, magnificent whales and dancing dolphins, vibrant corals reefs in shallow waters, multi-hued schools of fish – including sharks, who glide by without a second glance – and the breathtaking secluded beauty of Pigeon Island, not forgetting its gorgeous setting, heritage and beauty, Trincomalee is a whole lot more than just another holiday place.
Continue reading ‘Whales, Dolphins, Sharks, Fish and Corals: Aquatic Adeventures in the Tranquil Blue Waters of Trincomalee’ »

Secretary Defence and Urban Developemt Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his visit to the Jaffna peninsula, was the chief guest at a function held to distribute school uniform packs to students in Varani today (22nd April).

pic: defence.lk

1500 school children received gift packs from Mr. Rajapaksa at the function organized by the 52 Division of the SLA.

Selected students from the schools located around the 10GW, 16GR and 10SLNG Army camps thus received the gifts. During the function 24 school principals, 100 teachers and parents also received gifts form the Secretary Defence.

The event had been organized in association with several businessmen namely Mr. Morris Zonders Jayathilake (Canadian), Mr. Robert Arunashantha, Mr. Ajith Senanayaka and Mr. Anura Pathirana.

Continue reading ‘Sinhala Businessmen Donate Gift Packs to 1500 Students,100 Teachers and 24 School Principals in Jaffna’ »

Victoria Tkacheva

A woman raped at a hotel in Sri Lanka has spoken for the first time of the attack in which she was badly beaten and her British boyfriend was killed, the British Sunday Times reported today.

Victoria Tkacheva, 24, a Russian languages graduate, fears that the men responsible for her rape and the murder of Khuram Shaikh, a 32-year-old Red Cross worker from Rochdale, will not be brought to justice.

One of the eight suspects who were arrested but later released is a local politician whose family have close ties to the Sri Lankan president.
Continue reading ‘Russian Woman Raped at Tangalle by Rajapaksa Acolytes Speaks out Seeking Justice for her Murdered British Boyfriend’ »

By

Raisa Wickrematunge

The mother of a sick child at Lady Ridgeway Hospital says that she was asked to remove her ‘abaya’ (cloak) when she visited the hospital to see her child.

The mother, whose child was diagnosed with dengue fever, visited Lady Ridgeway Hospital on April 13 at around 9.30 p.m.

Continue reading ‘Mother of Sick Child Told She had to Remove her “Abaya” if she Wanted to Enter Lady Ridgeway Hospital’ »

by

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

The much-opposed recent move to acquire forestland in three districts in the Northern Province for distribution among Muslim returnees and their extended families is now in full swing, with a total of 2,388 acres of prime forestland already for this purpose.

While local people and environmentalists continue to protest the land acquisition move – critiqued as a land distribution initiative on the basis of ethnicity by some – the government has strongly defended the action as one that seeks to correct a historical injustice committed against the many-times evicted Muslims of the North.

As things stand, a total of 2,388 acres in the Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts are to be utilized for this purpose. Approximately, 1,080 acres in Mannar, 983 in Mullaitivu and 325 in Vavuniya Districts will be covered by this initiative.

Continue reading ‘2,388 Acres of Forest Land in Mannar,Mullautheevu and Vavuniya Districts Being Cleared for Displaced Muslims and Extended Families Returning to North’ »

by
C.A.Chandraprema

During the new year holidays, the International Bar Association put out a report titled “A Crisis of Legitimacy: The Impeachment of Chief Justice Bandaranayake and the Erosion of the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka”. It is important for bodies purporting to represent the legal profession not to convey the impression of being a kangaroo court lest it undermines the confidence of the people in the legal system.

People expect a certain clinical rigour from bodies made up of the legal fraternity. The International Bar Association (IBA) markets itself as “The Voice of the Global Legal Profession” (no less!). So the standards that we should expect of them should be even higher than what we would expect from legal bodies here.
Continue reading ‘International Bar Association Acts Like a “Kangaroo Court” in the Case of Sri Lanka’ »

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that elections to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) would be held in September this year but the date of the poll would be decided based on the advice of his astrologer.

“My astrologer gives me a winning time and I will decide on the basis on what he says,” the President said at a ceremony yesterday in Welioya to hand over deeds of Mahaweli lands to people in the area.

Continue reading ‘Date of Northern Provincial Council Elections Will be Announced According to My Astrologers Advice says President Rajapaksa’ »

by

JAYANTHA JAYAWEERA BSc Civil Eng (Lon), MIE (Aust), CPEng.

I have just returned from Sri Lanka after attending the Thurstan College and Isipathana College 50th big match encounter at SSC cricket grounds. I spent eleven memorable days in Colombo and Galle with my schoolmates of both schools, whom I met after some considerable time.

During my visit, I noticed a substantial improvement to road infrastructure largely thanks to Defence Secretary Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakse’s vision for better roads for the future. I agree with the Defence Secretary’s courage to rebuild Colombo in line with other larger cities in the world.

In the past, Colombo was a well-planned city until R. Premadasa became the Prime Minister of the country. He changed the whole planning procedure that had existed within the City of Colombo since the times of the British Raj to accommodate his henchman and party supporters, and built unauthorised structures all over Colombo. He and his henchmen politicised the administration of the Town Hall and that legacy continued for 40 years until recently.

Continue reading ‘Number of People Getting Killed on Roads Due to Motor Vehicle Accidents has Risen to Unacceptable Levels’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Despotic governments…..all follow the same logic”.
Umberto Eco (The Prague Cemetery)

Economic punches and developmental disappointments might have bruised and battered Mahinda Rajapaksa’s once enormous popularity among Sinhala masses. Yet a considerable part of it still endures. There is nothing outlandish about this; despotic leaders are usually popular, for a while, before the devastating costs of their rule become manifest. Vellupillai Pirapaharan was popular in his time.

Blessings to the President — in Kataragama, Sri Lanka-Apr 17, 2013

So was Adolf Hitler, until the Americans’ daylight carpet-bombing of German cities and the Red Army’s arrival on the borders of the Thousand Year Reich compelled ordinary Germans to realise the inevitability of a defeat on a Götterdämmerung scale.
Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Economic Policies will Enrich the Rich,Pauperise the Poor and Make the Middle Classes Mired in Debt’ »

By

N. Sathiya Moorthy

It takes a lot of courage to say, ‘Sorry’. In these years after the end of the ‘ethnic wars’, neither the Sri Lankan State, nor the Tamil community said as much to each other – and to itself. In these months after international intervention, everyone is blaming everyone else, instead. They are doing nothing about it, either.

It was/is reasonable to expect the State to start the reconciliation process by the use of that simple yet powerful, single word. President Mahinda Rajapaksa had the occasion to do it in style and with sincerity when he declared the conclusion of war in Parliament, way back in May 2009. That was the national occasion as much for reconciliation as for feeling relieved about the end of LTTE terrorism.

Continue reading ‘No Time is Bad Time for Sinhalese and Tamils to say “Sorry”to Each Other From the Heart’ »

by

Gamini Weerakoon

Placard at a Tamil Rally in NY

Fresh rustic breezes, whiff of delicacies from the Avurudhu table and nostalgic memories of the time spent in the gama in their salad days would have rejuvenated the patriotic fervor of those Sri Lankan patriots who were breathing fire and thunder before the New Year on protecting the sovereignty, integrity, unity of Sri Lanka.

Four quarrelsome years have passed since the bloody 30-year-war ended but after the end of the war has come not peace but fierce war of words. The nation is as polarized when the bloodletting was on. Many going on the premise that patriotism demands to be on the side of the government during an armed conflict or in a war of words, are solidly behind the Rajapaksa regime while a miniscule opposition is saying that justice has not been done to Tamils despite the settlement of a near 300,000 displaced persons in homes new as well as their own reconstructed, after de-mining etc.

Continue reading ‘Decisive Military Defeat of LTTE has not Eliminated Threat of Tamil Separatist Terrorism’ »

via: facebook.com/BuddhistsQuestioningBoduBalaSena

It all started with a Facebook group titled ‘Buddhists Questioning Bodu Bala Sena’. A tense situation developed last Friday as members of this group gathered in front of the Buddhist Cultural Centre on Sambuddatva Jayanthi Mawatha. The people planned to hold a candlelight vigil in front of the building at 7 p.m. During the vigil, the gathering planned to chant stanzas from the Subashithaya, which deal with the concept of ‘Samma Vacha’ (translating as good/beneficial words) and a section of the national anthem.

It was meant to be a peaceful event, but it quickly spiraled into chaos.

Fifteen minutes before the vigil was even scheduled to start, police descended on the crowd and began abruptly detaining the people gathered.

Continue reading ‘BBS Strikes back Against Participants of “Buddhists Questioning Bodu Bala Sena” Candle Light Protest’ »

Revati Laul ~ pic via: twitter.com/RevatiLaul

By

Revati Laul

(Disguised as a tourist, Revati Laul travelled through the country’s most war-ravaged districts. She spotlights a story that is rarely told)

The idea of a separate Tamil nation is not dead in Sri Lanka.

There was a time when this was espoused with brutal violence by the dreaded LTTE. That violence has been leached out now to be replaced by a kind of limitless — and perhaps more potent — despair. There are reasons why the idea of a separate Tamil nation refuses to die.
Continue reading ‘War May be Over but the Idea of a Separate Tamil Nation is not Dead in Sri Lanka’ »

By Lewis Garland

A year ago this week, on 20 April 2012, a 2,000-strong mob led by Buddhists monks stormed a mosque in Dambulla, central Sri Lanka, during Friday Prayers. They damaged both the building and property within it, including religious artefacts and texts.

The Mosque had already been fire-bombed the previous evening. The mob claimed that the Mosque was situated within a sacred Buddhist area and had been constructed illegally. The reality was that the Mosque, a small, corrugated iron structure reachable only via a narrow path, barely visible from the street, had been used by the local Muslim community for over half a century without question or incident.
Continue reading ‘Rise of Red-Robed Islamophobia in Sri Lanka: Series of High-profile Hate Campaigns Against Muslims and Their Practices’ »

By

Vishnuguptha

“The marathon can humble you.”

~Bill Rodgers, winner of four Boston and four NYC marathons:

When the Al Qaida planes stormed themselves into the soaring twin-towers of the World Trade Center in New York, a sea-change occurred in the American psyche. A hitherto complacent American was confronted, more with the enormous potential of the wrath and anger of an Islamic fanatic than the actual capability of a yet-undetermined fire-power of an angered adversary.

They responded with an equal quantum of anger and determination which were in today’s real terms, much more telling than the power of the bows and arrows of the ancient world of Romans and Greeks or for that matter, even the Chinese and Indian Empires. What was even more evident was the outpouring of empathy, not sympathy as in an average Asian or Oriental people, towards a city and her people and the collective American mindset that was embedded in its own all-powerful invincibility.

Continue reading ‘From New York 9/11 to Boston Marathon-it’s a long run for the United States of America’ »

By

Swe Win

YANGON, Myanmar — Five years ago, when Myanmar was still under military rule, some Western and Chinese friends asked me how there could be such oppression in a country where Buddhism, which preaches nonviolence, is the predominant religion.

I was in self-imposed exile at the time, studying journalism at the University of Hong Kong, and I would answer that the country’s military leaders were immoral, Buddhists in name only. I would also point out that Myanmar’s pre-colonial monarchical rulers — they, too, nominally Buddhist — also had committed great crimes. In other words, nothing was wrong with the religion itself; the problem was with the politicians who were flouting it.

I can’t give such answers any more — not since the recent deadly attacks by Buddhists against Muslims in Meikhtila, a city in central Myanmar with no history of sectarian violence. Reports that monks instigated some of those burnings, beatings and killings suggest a much deeper problem than unprincipled state officials.

Continue reading ‘969 Movement Run by Buddhist Monks in Burma Gives Hate Speeches Against Muslims’ »

By

Tariq Ali

Four years after the killing of between eight and ten thousand Tamils by the Sri Lankan army, which brought to an end a civil war that had lasted for 26 years, there is trouble on the island again. This time the army isn’t directly responsible: instead it’s the Buddhist monks from Bodu Bala Sena, the most active of the fundamentalist groups that have sprouted in Sinhalese strongholds. Three-quarters of Sri Lankans are Sinhalese; most of them are Buddhists. The monks’ target this time is the small Muslim minority. Muslim abattoirs have been raided, halal butchers attacked, homes targeted. The police merely stand and watch, and Sri Lankan TV crews calmly film the violence. A few weeks ago, Buddhist monks got some hoodlums to attack a Muslim-owned car showroom. One of its employees was going out with a young Sinhalese woman and her father complained to a local monk. The Sunday Leader reported that ‘an eyewitness saw a monk leaving one of the temples … followed by a group of youths, mostly under 25 years of age. The group carried stones and, people were later to discover, kerosene.’

Continue reading ‘Difficult to Imagine How Circumcision Could be “Nipped in the Bud”Even by a Buddhist’ »

By

“Jack Point”

“If you buy from Muslim shops, your money doesn’t just stop there,” “It will eventually go towards destroying your race and religion.”

Muslim merchants receive cash injections from Middle East oil state brethren and use these funds to undercut Buddhist rivals.

This Muslim alliance could outbreed Buddhists, steal away Buddhist women, overwhelm political offices and prohibit Buddhist ceremonies altogether. “We Buddhists allow them to freely practice their faith,” “But once these evil Muslims have control, they will not let us practice our religion. We must be careful. These Muslims really hate us.

Fliers urge locals to bar Muslims from renting homes and farmlands and ominously warn Buddhists acting as Muslim families’ middlemen.

These statements come not from the Bodu Bala Sena but from 969, a movement in Burma (Myanmar) that has emerged with the avowed aim of defending Buddhist faith, Burmese race and the Buddhist nation from Burmese Muslims.

Continue reading ‘Is Burma’s neo-Nazi Buddhist movement 969, a splitting image of the Bodu Bala Sena ?’ »

By

Kalana Senaratne

‘Long War, Cold Peace’ by Dayan Jayatilleka: A Review

After what seemed to be a brief but palpable and conspicuous absence from serious public engagement (in late 2012), Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka has returned from Paris; a return marked by his characteristic interventions in the press and the release of a book, titled ‘Long War, Cold Peace: Conflict and Crisis in Sri Lanka’ (Vijitha Yapa, 2013). The book, his second major publication on Sri Lanka, brings together most of his writings on Sri Lankan affairs which were published in the papers during the past few years.

This is a timely intervention; not only because the author was a former diplomat who had staunchly and successfully defended the country overseas, but mostly because his views on numerous domestic and foreign policy matters seem to run counter to the dominant ideological positions adopted by the present regime. The confluence of these factors makes Jayatilleka’s intervention a coruscating and critical one, with the delightful (or dangerous?) potential of irking the regime; especially a firm and unflinching political administrator like Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, than a seemingly indecisive political leader like President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Continue reading ‘Dayan Jayatilleka’s Critique Unmasks the Mediocrity of the Rajapaksa Regime:‘Long War, Cold Peace’ by Dayan Jayatilleka- A Review’ »

An Interview by Chamitha Kuruppu

(We are not engaged in any activities that are harmful to society, nor are we causing religious disharmony,” claims Bodu Bala Sena strongman Dilantha Withanage.“We do not want to get into politics,” says Withanage, Chief Executive Officer of the Bodu Bala Sena Headquarters, adding that the movement does not want to topple governments or form a government but needs an immediate change in the present condition in the country)

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Continue reading ‘“When a Buddhist Priest was Attacked in India , Factions in Sri Lanka Were Planning to Attack Tamils”-Bodu Bala Sena Strongman Dilantha Withanage’ »

by

Thrishantha Nanayakkara

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

After nearly 7 years of postgraduate education and independent research experience abroad, I returned to Sri Lanka in mid 2003, to work in my mother country Sri Lanka that gave me free education all the way upto university level.

When I left Johns Hopkins University in USA, some of my friends cautioned me of the danger I might face in a possible breakout of the war in Sri Lanka. Still, a strong compulsion kept me firm on the decision to return. When I was interviewed by the University of Moratuwa, where I received undergraduate education, I made it clear to the Vice Chancellor that my intension of joining the University would be to set up a laboratory to develop new technologies to detect landmines.

Continue reading ‘A Message to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa-Please Keep in Mind That Sri Lanka is Not Your Private or Family Property’ »

By
SCT

(A Personal Response to the quashing of the first anti BBS protest on Havelock Road)

This evening (Friday, April 12th 2013) around 7.15pm on Havelock Road in front of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Building adjoining Laurie’s Road, I was reminded anew that there is no freedom in our land.

I am nearly 45 years old now, and for 30 long years, I have been reminded over and over again in different places, at different times that in many ways the citizens of Sri Lanka are trapped. We have been and still are, in fact increasingly so, trapped by our fear, our intolerance, our ignorance, our sheep like obedience, either to the powers that be or to our own desperate need to play safe and stay safe.

I am not a lawyer, a journalist, an academic or an activist. I am just an ordinary citizen who is sick of being intimidated by the forces that are empowered by us to protect us. I am tired of our short sighted, nepotistic governments, our corrupt politicians, our arrogant law enforcement officers, our extremist religious leaders, and our ignorant, complacent citizenry. I am just plain tired.

Continue reading ‘Anti-BBS Demonstration:May More of us Ordinary, Everyday Citizens, Rise up and Protest.’ »

by Prof. V. Suryanarayan

There is a huge divide between Chennai and New Delhi on how both see Sri Lanka. What remains the primary problem in India’s approach towards Sri Lanka, and why is there a divide within?

Continue reading ‘Huge Divide Between New Delhi and Chennai on India’s Foreign Policu Towards Sri Lanka’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Issuing a clarion call against what it called the Government’s ‘economic thuggery’ and ‘power shocks’ for the New Year, the Joint Opposition yesterday urged political parties, media personnel and ordinary people to unite in a fight to defeat a ruling party it said had no business being in power.

In a blazing critique of the electricity tariff hikes commencing retroactively from 12 April, Vipakshaye Virodhaya representatives told a news conference in Colombo that the ruling regime was making ordinary Sri Lankans pay the price for its bad energy policies and the massive losses incurred by the Ceylon Electricity Board exacerbated by State sector extravagance and wastage.

Continue reading ‘Citizens Can Either Commit Collective Suicide or Band Together to Fight the Rajapaksa Regime -Hemakumara Nanayakkara’ »

by

Yovahn Y.R. Hoole

In 2010, when my family returned to Sri Lanka, my father bragged how Jaffna was the pinnacle of education anywhere and surpassed US standards. But I soon came to understand that the war had turned his pinnacle into rubble.

After experiencing the different school systems, I came across the problems which I see destroying Sri Lankan schools. I wish to share my thoughts without giving any offence, particularly to my affectionate teachers. Being in a university town, I am comparing the best here and there. I am now finishing grade 11.
Continue reading ‘Jaffna and Michigan: A Student Perspective of Two Schooling Systems’ »

by

M. Z. Abdeen-Kandy

Though it is now settled policy that the Official Languages are Sinhala and Tamil with English as the link language, its implementation, as judged by government communiqués, lacks any commitment. Government letters and notices written in Sinhala only mostly, or in Sinhala and Tamil occasionally and hardly ever with an English copy, continue to be received as earlier. This causes much inconvenience (also justified annoyance) unnecessarily.

Continue reading ‘Sinhala Continues to be Sole Official Language in Practice Despite Constitutional Status for Tamil and English’ »

By

Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

I can hardly believe that it is thirty years since the untimely death of Karunaratna Abeysekara, known to our generation as Karuayya, who ‘ruled’ the airwaves for decades before his death. One of the great regrets of my life is that I was not there when Karuayya had the fatal heart attack. I could not even be there for his funeral, which turned out to be a massive farewell to a much loved personality, as I was in Vienna attending the World Congress of Pacing where I displayed a poster. On my way back I went to London to meet my long time friend, Dr Buddhadasa Bodhinayaka, with whom I did regular science programmes in Karuayya’s children’s programme ‘Saraswathie Mandapaya,’ broadcast over radio on Sunday evenings. It was in Bodhi’s place that I heard the sad news and the pain I felt that day continues still.

Continue reading ‘Remembering “Karuayya”:Karunaratna Abeysekara- Sinhala Film Lyricist and Broadcaster Par Excellence’ »

A respected senior economist said yesterday that easing monetary policy and bringing down interest rates would not help the country sustain high economic growth unless measures were taken to address long-standing structural deficiencies in the economy.

“The euphoria of the war victory and commencement of the US$ 2.6 billion IMF standby facility arrangement prompted a relaxation of fiscal and monetary policy to stimulate economic growth which saw economic growth average 8 percent in 2010/11, but could not be sustained due to structural problems in the economy which saw growth slip to 6.4 percent in 2012,” Institute of Policy Studies Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama said.

Continue reading ‘Top Economist Warns That Easing Monetary Policy and Bringing Down Interest Rates Would not Help Country Sustain High Economic Growth’ »

By

Latheef Farook

Political bankruptcy of Muslim parliamentarians was exposed by the Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan and the TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran when they raised the issue of growing disastrous hate Muslim campaign in the parliament.

R Sampanthan MP and M. A. Sumanthiran MP meeting (Jan 2013) with an Australian delegation lead by Scott Morrison MP (Member of Parliament for Cook in NSW)-pic courtesy of: Scott Morrison’s Flickr page

As it is well known that there has been a wave of well planned attacks on the political, religious, cultural, economic life of Muslims in Sri Lanka. This campaign which started early last year with the destruction of a more than 400 year old Muslim shrine in Anuradhapura continues unabated with growing intensity.

Continue reading ‘TNA Parliamentarians Sampanthan and Sumanthiran Exposed Muslim MPs political bankruptcy’ »

BANGALORE: Jyoti Sinha, a former research and analysis wing official, played an important role in increasing India’s influence in neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka during the NDA regime (1999-2004). He is also considered the architect of Indian influence in Sri Lanka from 2001-2004. The former IPS official spoke to TOI on the Tamil issue during his recent visit to Bangalore for a lecture on ‘Latest developments in Sri Lanka: India’s Interest and Concerns’.

Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

Continue reading ‘Playing a Big Brother Role in Sri Lanka will not Serve New Delhi’s Future Interests -Ex-RAW Official’ »

By

Mangala Samaraweera M.P.

In present day Sri Lanka it has become customary for whispers and speculation of impending elections to be followed up by brutal onslaughts on what remains of the country’s free press. It is a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate the media into silence ahead of crucial polls about the crimes and lapses of a completely corrupt incumbency.

It is not surprising therefore that a dangerous trend is being set, commencing with twin attacks on the Uthayan newspaper publishing in the country’s north in the space of less than a month and followed up with a threat against the Sirasa Media Network. Neither media organisation is a stranger to devastating and debilitating attacks against them; attacks that have only increased in brutality and impunity in recent years. Each time they are struck, the organisations and personnel find the strength to pick up the pieces and carry on. We salute their courage and commitment to their professional duty.

Continue reading ‘Media Suppression will not end Until Every Newspaper,Radio and TV Station is Effectively Silenced and Subjucated’ »

By
Amy Davidson

A twenty-year-old man who had been watching the Boston Marathon had his body torn into by the force of a bomb. He wasn’t alone; a hundred and seventy-six people were injured and three were killed. But he was the only one who, while in the hospital being treated for his wounds, had his apartment searched in “a startling show of force,” as his fellow-tenants described it to the Boston Herald, with a “phalanx” of officers and agents and two K9 units.

He was the one whose belongings were carried out in paper bags as his neighbors watched; whose roommate, also a student, was questioned for five hours (“I was scared”) before coming out to say that he didn’t think his friend was someone who’d plant a bomb—that he was a nice guy who liked sports. “Let me go to school, dude,” the roommate said later in the day, covering his face with his hands and almost crying, as a Fox News producer followed him and asked him, again and again, if he was sure he hadn’t been living with a killer.
Continue reading ‘Plight of a Saudi Arabian Injured by the Bomb Blasts at the Boston Marathon Event’ »

(Text of Communique Issued by Law Society of England and Wales Press Office)

The Law Society of England and Wales today added its voice to those calling for the suspension of Sri Lanka from the Councils of the Commonwealth, following reports of serious breaches of the rule of law and judicial independence.

It announced its support for the high-level international resolution at the 18th Commonwealth Law Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

Continue reading ‘England and Wales Law Society Support Commonwealth Lawyers Call Suspension of Sri Lanka From Commonwealth’ »

By

Muheed Jeeran

Recent domestic developments are not looking good for Sri Lanka’s ethnic minority Muslim community after they have been targeted by a revitalized and rather extremist Sinhalese grouping called ‘Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).’ This faction is led by a number of vociferous Buddhist Monks aimed at safeguarding the core principles of Buddhism. Let me be clear – of course these Monks have a right to protect their very own religion and culture, without any doubt.

news.lk

Fifteen diplomatic heads of Islamic countries, resident in Sri Lanka, met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Apr 17. Ministers Prof. G.L. Peiris, Rauff Hakeem, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Parliamentarian A.H.M Azwer, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Karunatilake Amunugama were also present~news.lk

What I strongly condemn though is the fact that they are targeting the Muslim Community promoting a campaign based on nothing more than religious hatred.

Continue reading ‘Why Can’t Muslim Political Leaders Stand up For Their Own Muslim Community?’ »

By
Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear”.
Bertrand Russell (Unpopular Essays)

The malignant police response to the peaceful vigil organised by the Facebook group, ‘Buddhists Questioning Bodu Bala Sena’ proved one fact beyond doubt – the BBS is a protected species, protected by the Rajapaksas. According to video footage, the police acted as if they were the private army of the BBS, threatening and harassing the participants of the vigil. Clearly the police were under orders to display a zero-tolerance towards these non-violent protestors – just as they were under orders to employ a laissez-faire demeanour towards the mob attacking Fashion Bug.

The BBS will be above the law, so long as it does the Rajapaksas’ work.

The toxic conduct of the BBS can ignite an anti-Muslim Black July, jeopardise Colombo’s relations with the Islamic world and inflict a new war on Sri Lanka. Given these deadly potentialities, the order to protect and facilitate the BBS (and its offshoots) would have had to come from the very top. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa might be the Godfather of the BBS, but he could not have extended consistent patronage to an organisation trying to incite a Buddhist-Muslim conflict without the approval of his brother, the President.

Continue reading ‘Is the Bodu Bala Sena in the USA to Portray the Rajapaksa Brothers as Warriors Battling the Islamic Threat?’ »

By

Vishnuguptha

“All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s possible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.”

~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Bodhu Bala Sena might think that it enjoys the monopoly of the Sinhalese Buddhists’ range and scope of thinking. It might have been lured into the illusion that a great majority of our Sinhalese Buddhists are as warped and deranged in their assessment and reading of the average psyche of the average man, woman and child. Given the centuries-old conditioning the average person has been subjected to through mass education on the myths, legends and miracles of the Great Chronicle-Mahawansa- it is not all that imprudent to surmise that way either. However, time and time again, the average Sinhalese Buddhist has been a reasonable man, capable of differentiating between the absurd and the real, dangerous and safe and sacred and cruel.

Continue reading ‘Soldiers of the “Senas”and “Balakayas”Personify Every Fibre of Evil and Cruelty and Every Thread of Sadism and Inhumanity’ »