Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Siriisena said he is taking over the economy from this year, though for three years the United National Party of Prime Minister Rani; Wickremesinghe was allowed to manage in the latest escalation of tensions between the two.

Three months ago he had had appointed a National Economic Council for the purpose, President Sirisena told an election rally in Kegalle.

President Sirisena said he is taking over the responsibility of strengthening the economy and called upon domestic investors rally around to build the economy of the ‘motherland’, his office said in a statement.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena To Take Over Responsibility of Managing the Economy From the UNP and Wants Domestic Investors to rally Round Him and Strengthen the Economy.’ »

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has intervened in a growing spat of angry outbursts among coalition partners – the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) – urging both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to rein in both sides on the eve of the local council elections next month.

This climaxed at this week’s Cabinet meeting when President Sirisena made a 40-minute-long address to the ministers and then walked out of the meeting, only to be coaxed to return and preside over the rest of the meeting’s agenda.Both sides have now reached a truce not to criticise each other after their stormy relations reached ‘explosive’ levels at last Tuesday’s weekly ministerial meeting.

This ‘political ceasefire’ had been holding since Tuesday with no broadsides by the partners against each other — until yesterday’s public meeting at Kegalle where President Sirisena slammed the UNP for the mismanagment of the economy during the past three years

Speaker Jayasuriya had noted that unity among the coalition partners of the National Unity Government was essential.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Brings About “Political Ceasefire” Between UNP and SLFP By Urging President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe To Rein In Both Sides’ »

By Namini Wijedasa

On Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s request, the Cabinet has instructed the Housing Ministry to entertain an unsolicited proposal for the re-development of Torrington Flats on Thimbirigasyaya Road by a company in which Mr Senaratne’s younger brother is a director.

In November, the Housing Ministry put forward its own proposal to the Cabinet to re-develop the present site of the Torrington Flats “as a high-yield urban residential site, whilst ensuring the ownership rights of the present condominium owners”. Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa’s memorandum sought permission to designate the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) as the implementing agency for the project in terms of the CMA Law of 1973.

The memo also requested Cabinet sanction to direct the CMA to prepare the redevelopment plans in consultation with the relevant agencies subject to the final planning approval of the Urban Development Authority and the Colombo Municipal Council.

However, at a Cabinet meeting held earlier this month, Health Minister Senaratne requested that an unsolicited proposal for the project be considered. This is reflected in the minutes of the meeting. The company that put forward the bid is Sky Mount Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. Its directors are Minister Senaratne’s younger brother Maheel, Chrishantha de Silva and Shantha Herath.

Continue reading ‘Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne Gets Cabinet to Instruct Housing Ministry to Accept Unsolicited Proposal For Re-developing Torrington Flats by Sky Mount Holdings (Pvt) Ltd of Which his Younger Brother Maheel Senaratne is a Director’ »

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a panel to study the bond commission report, but the man put in charge of the initiative has triggered another unsavoury case of conflict of interest.

The man who was forced to resign his law and order portfolio after he defended the controversial Avant Garde company in parliament, Tilak Marapana, was put in charge of a United National Party panel to study the bond report.

Making a special statement on Thursday, the Prime Minister said the Marapana panel will recommend any action to be taken against party members implicated in the 1,154-page report written after an 11-month inquiry.

Continue reading ‘Tilak Marapana Whose Brother Gamini Marapana Represented Perpetual Treasuries at Bond Commission Probe Appointed By Premier Wickremesinghe as Head of UNP Panel To Study Bond Commission Report and Recommend Action’ »

By

Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

President Maithripala Sirisena’s emotional outburst and the subsequent storming out of the Cabinet meeting at Presidential Secretariat by earlier in the week, infuriated by the public criticism levelled against him by United National Party (UNP) Members of Parliament, is glaringly demonstrative of the increasingly heightened political conflict between the main partners of the National Unity Government. This was perhaps the first time an Executive President of Sri Lanka, presiding over the government’s Cabinet, walked out in protest of the behaviour of the MPs outside.

Subsequent reports revealed that President Sirisena had singled out several UNP MPs, named them and censured them for criticizing him unfairly, before declaring that a country could not be ruled in such a manner. He had said he was being attacked because some UNP MPs thought the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Bond Issuance of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka had been convened by him in order to target their party.

The President had remarked that it was better for members of the Cabinet to decide whether they should continue governing in that way or not before storming out. Reports said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and several senior ministers from both the main parties of government and visited him later and persuaded him to come back and chair the Cabinet meeting.

It is significant that this incident took place in the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court determination that President Sirisena’s official term was five years and would end on January 9, 2020. This determination was in response to the President seeking the Supreme Court opinion on whether he could serve up to six years. This, according to a statement from the Presidential Secretariat, was because President wanted to clear the ambiguity regarding to his term of office as differing opinions were expressed on the issue.

Continue reading ‘Can Maithripala Sirisena Avoid Becoming a Lame Duck President?’ »

By T. Farook Thajudeeen

The CID told the Mount Lavinia Magistrate that their investigations into the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunge had uncovered an alleged attempt by the Mount Lavinia Police and the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to destroy vital evidence of the killing,

Continue reading ‘TID and Mt.Lavinia Police Tried to Protect Killers of Lasantha Wickrematunge By Attempting To Destroy Evidence – CID Tells Court’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his address to the nation, said the government had frozen the financial assets worth Rs.12 billion of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd, and therefore the Rs.9.2 billion undue profit made by it in the bond transaction could be recovered from it.

He said the government would take steps to implement recommendations made by the Presidential Commission that investigated the controversial bond transaction of the Central Bank.

The Prime Minister said the Commission, in its report, mentioned that Perpetual Treasuries Ltd made an undue profit of Rs.9.2 billon.

However, he said the Central Bank, remaining under his purview, had frozen financial assets worth Rs. 12 billion belonging to PTL. Therefore, he said Rs.9.2 billion that was lost to the state could be recovered.

Continue reading ‘Govt Freezes 12 Billion Rupees Worth Financial Assets of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd and Will Recover Rs 9.2 Billion Undue Profits Made Through Treasury Bond Scam Announces Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’ »

The presidential commission of inquiry which probed Treasury bond scams has determined that the then CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran provided ‘inside information’ to Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owned by his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius and acted in collusion with that company.

The commission has recommended the Attorney General and other authorities consider whether PTL has used, gained and benefitted from ‘inside information’ at the Feb 27, 2015 bond auction and, if so, whether he should be prosecuted and twice the value of aforesaid sum of Rs 688,762,100 recovered from the PTL by way of fine in the event of a conviction.

The commission has determined that Mahendran’s intervention in the Treasury bond auction on Feb 27 2015, caused an avoidable loss of Rs 688,762, 100 to the state. Accordingly, the commission has recommended that action be taken against Mahendran to recover the loss.

The commission has recommended that the AG and other appropriate authorities consider whether if some of the then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s evidence before the Commission was incorrect and, if so, criminal action should be instituted against him.

The three-member commission says in its report that evidence has established that Mahendran was not instructed or directed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to act unilaterally and immediately or stop direct placements on Feb 27, 2015.

Continue reading ‘Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran Provided “Inside Information” To Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Owned By His Son In Law Arjun Aloysius and Acted In Collusion with that Company – Bond Commission Report’ »

By Gagani Weerakoon

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday directed the Attorney General, Jayantha Jayasuriya, the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy and DG Bribery Commission Sarath Jayamanne and other officials to immediately act on the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the alleged Bonds scam.

The President’s meeting with the top law enforcement officials came as 26 copies of the report were sent to the Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya to be tabled before the House and copies distributed to individual Members of Parliament.

The Speaker also received copies of the report of the other Presidential Commission that examined seventeen cases of alleged major acts of corruption and fraud carried out during the regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This report in Sinhala stretches almost to 10,000 pages.

The much-awaited Bonds Commission report was also uploaded on the website of the Presidential Secretariat and the site of the President’s Media Division.

The Executive Summary of the report faults a number of people for the alleged Bonds scam. It lays the blame squarely on the shoulders of the former Governor of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran. It recommends that the losses suffered by the Government be recovered from Mahendran and his son-in-law and owner of Perpetual Treasuries Arjun Aloysius.

The report says, “We have determined that, the Government of Sri Lanka suffered an avoidable loss of Rs 688,762,100 as a direct result of Mr. Mahendran’s intervention in the Treasury Bond Auction held on 27th February 2015 and the instructions he gave to both the PDD and the Tender Board that Bids to the value of Rs. 10,058 billion must be accepted at the Auction and we have determined that, Mr. Mahendran is liable and responsible for this loss.”

The report says that the “appointment of Mahendran not a ‘Question of Law’ instead ‘Value judgment’ which had to be made by those who considered the wisdom of appointing Mr. Mahendran, who was not a Citizen of Sri Lanka, as the Governor of the CBSL.”

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Instructs Attorney -General, Central Bank Governor and Bribery Commissioner To Take Immediate Action On Recommendations Made By Presidential Inquiry Commission.’ »

by Zacki Jabbar

Denying that President Maithripala Sirisena had threatened to quit the National Unity Government at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Ministers Rajitha Senaratne and Dayasiri Jayasekera said yesterday that the President had only expressed displeasure at vilifying remarks against him by some UNP parliamentarians.

Fielding questions during the post cabinet Press Briefing at the Information Department, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne and Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said in unison that at no stage did the President say that it would not be possible to continue in the National Unity Government, but was critical of some UNP parliamentarians who were slandering him.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena May Have Gone To Answer a Call of Nature After Leaving the Cabinet Meeting Says Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera’ »

By

Hemantha Warnakulasuriya

President Maithripala Sirisena seems to be happy that unlike other Presidential Commissions which took several years to complete their probes and ultimately produced reports which were not worth the paper they were written on, the Bond Commission completed its task within a very short period of 10 months and produced a report, copies of which have been submitted to Parliament.

The President has forwarded one copy to the Central Bank, another to the Bribery Commission, and one to the most important of institution, the Attorney General’s Department. The Central Bank has already decided to implement, not a recommendation of the report but an observation the Bond Commission made about the period which is prior to the mandate given to them by the President. Ranil Wickremasinghe & Co were jubilant about these remarks and were referring to the massive frauds committed by Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government during Ajith Nivard Cabraal’s tenure as the Central Bank Governor. This also enabled them to point accusing fingers at the former regime and the result was converting Parliament to the Mustang’s tent of sorts.

The Central Bank announced they are seeking expert advice from professionals in the world who specialize in forensic audit with a digital footprint. But, what they would do to prevent recurrence of such a massive scam is yet to be known by the public.

On the other hand, the Bribery Commission has notified they have appointed five senior officials of the Bribery Department to study the recommendations of the Commission and to indict the officials and anyone else against whom a corruption charge could be maintained.

I believe Sarath Jayamanne, the Director General, will not let down the masses of this country by postponing action he ought to take and at least find the people whose names were mentioned and are indicted in the High Court.

It is also interesting to note whether the Prosecutors would hold the members of the United National Party, who were directly involved in the Bond Scam and whose names were mentioned at the Commission, responsible for striving to scuttle the publication of the Commission’s Report.

Continue reading ‘Fact To Be Proved Is Whether Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Was Involved In The Bond Scam?’ »

AT THE time, it was seen as an astonishing victory. In retrospect, it was also something of a Pyrrhic one. Few expected Maithripala Sirisena to defeat the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential election of 2015. After all, Mr Rajapaksa, although increasingly authoritarian, had presided in 2009 over the defeat of the separatist Tamil Tigers, ending Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war.

Mr Sirisena was merely a rebellious member of the president’s own Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). To win and then to govern, Mr Sirisena relied on the support of the SLFP’s main rival, the United National Party (UNP). As Sri Lankans prepare to vote in local elections on February 10th, that alliance has come to haunt him.

In theory, the alliance between the UNP and Mr Sirisena’s faction of the SLFP ended in December. But this is a polite fiction necessitated by the campaign. In practice, neither group has sufficient numbers in parliament to govern without the other. Mr Rajapaksa, who is backing a new outfit called the Sri Lanka People’s Front, has called on voters to treat the poll as a referendum on the government.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena May Soon Be Viewed As a Lame Duck -The Economist’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena said in Elpitiya that operation number two has begun on the bond commission report as he instructed the Attorney General and other stakeholders to proceed with legal action based on the report.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Begins “Operation Number Two ” On Bond Commission Report By Instructing Attorney -General To Proceed With Legal Action Based On Report.’ »

By

Chaturanga Samarawickrama

President Maithripala Sirisena will definitely contest at the next presidential election in the event the executive presidency is not abolished and the constitution is not changed, State Minister of Finance, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said today.

He told the weekly Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) news briefing that President Sirisena would definitely be their presidential candidate and when asked whether it was ethical for him to contest again, the state minister said yes and pointed out that the President was the most suitable candidate to contest for the presidency for a second term.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Will Contest Next Presidential Poll as SLFP Candidate if Present Constitution Remains Unchanged and Executive Presidency Is Not Abolished.’ »

By

Yohan Perera

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had instructed UNP Ministers and MPs not to make controversial statements dragging President Maithripala Sirisena anymore.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had given the instruction at the UNP Working Committee meeting at the party headquarters Sirikotha this morning.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Tells UNP Ministers and MP’s to Stop Statements Against President Sirisena but Take on SLFP Ministers Directly and Settle Whatever Issues They Have.’ »

By

Thilini de Silva and Ranjan Katugampola

Artiste Samanalee Fonseka and ten other women yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court against the government’s decision to withdraw the gazette issued to lift the ban prohibiting women to purchase liquor or to work in liquor stores.

The petitioners sought a court order declaring Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera or Ministry Secretary R.H.S. Samarathunga had no legal authority to re-impose the ban on the instructions of the President.

Continue reading ‘Artiste Samanalee Fonseka and Ten Other Women File Fundamental rights Petition in Supreme Court Against Re-imposition by Govt of Ban On Women Purchasing Liquor or Work in Liquor Stores.’ »

The independent think Tank “Verite Research” has stated that the recent cabinet decision of not permitting women in Sri Lanka to purchase liquor is unconstitutional as it basically violates Article 12 of the constitution. The Colombo based think tank in a statement has pointed out that the Constitution guarantees that all persons are equal under the law and are entitled to equal protection under the law. Furthermore it states no citizen shall be discriminated on the grounds of sex. As such the Think Tank says aggrieved parties are entitled to petition the Supreme Court that their rights are being infringed or infringement is imminent.Verité Research is an interdisciplinary think tank that provides strategic analysis and advice to governments, international organisations and the private sector in Sri Lanka and Asia.

The text of the statement issued by Verite Research is as follows –

Women are permitted to purchase liquor.

On 10 January 2018, the Minister of Finance and Mass Media issued Excise Notification No. 02/2018 under the Excise Ordinance, No. 8 of 1912 (as amended). The new Notification amends Excise Notification No. 666 of 31 December 1979, and removes the ban on the sale of liquor to women ‘within the premises of a tavern’. A tavern is usually defined as ‘a place of entertainment…[or] a house for the retailing of liquors to be drunk on the spot’. Women are therefore entitled to purchase liquor under Sri Lankan law as at 10 January 2018.Moreover, Excise Notification No.666 does not appear to prohibit women from purchasing alcohol in premises that do not constitute a tavern (e.g. supermarkets).

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Decision to Ban Women from Purchasing Liquor is Unconstitutional States Think Tank “Verite Research”’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake

An emotional President yesterday walked out of the Cabinet meeting after voicing disappointment over criticism levelled against him by some United National Party lawmakers.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday told the Cabinet that he was not an “ungrateful or inhuman” person who has forgotten the help he received during the presidential election. The President was referring to some of the criticism levelled at him on various political stages in the run-up to the Local Government elections.

Singling out several UNP MPs by name including S.M. Marrikkar, Minister Harin Fernando, Nalin Bandara, Sidney Jayarathna, State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe and Chaminda Wijesiri, President Sirisena told the Cabinet ministers present that he never intended to attack the UNP and was disappointed that he had been severely criticised on election stages, a senior Minister told the Daily FT.

“Why are you attacking me? Are you instructing them to attack me?” President Sirisena had reportedly asked the Prime Minister.

Continue reading ‘“Why are you Attacking Me?Are You Instructing Them To Attack Me? – President Sirisena Asks Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Directly at Cabinet Meeting’ »

By

Sandun A Jayasekera and Ajantha Kumara Agalakada

A deeply dejected and disappointed President Maithripala Sirisena stormed out of the Cabinet meeting this morning after making an emotional speech over the personal attacks levelled at him by the certain members of the UNP, a senior Cabinet Minister said.

President naming those UNP Parliamentarians, who are making statements against him, had also said that a country cannot be ruled in this manner.

He has informed the Ministers present that the Presidential Commission was established by him not to attack the UNP, but to punish the thieves and requested the Ministers to state whether they agree to punishing the thieves or not.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Makes 35 Minute Emotional Speech About UNP Members Attacking Him at Cabinet Meeting , Tape Records It and Storms Out’ »

Colombo district UNP MP S.M. Marikar today slammed President Maithripala Sirisena and even described him as a ‘pickpocket President’.

Addressing a meeting in Colombo, he said the President had let down former president Mahinda Rajapaksa after partaking in a hopper meal with him. The MP charged that the same conspiratorial activity was being mooted to fix the UNP.

“The President accused us of being thieves. We call him the pickpocket President. We are asking him not to back-stab the UNP like what he did to Mahinda Rajapaksa,” he said.

Continue reading ‘UNP Colombo District Parliamentarian SM Marikar Calls Sirisena a “Pickpocket President” Who is Trying to Backstab the UNP in the same Way he let down Mahinda rajapaksa After Sharing a Hopper Meal.’ »

By Dharisha Bastians

President Maithripala Sirisena has continued to be at the receiving end of strong criticism, even after the Supreme Court put an end to speculation about the duration of his term on Sunday (14).

The Presidential Media Division confirmed that the five-judge bench of the Supreme Court which held a public hearing on the question posed by President Sirisena about whether his term would end in five or six years, had communicated its decision to the President that he could hold office for a period of five years according to the Constitution.

The decision resulted in widespread relief after fears that the President was seeking the opinion of the country’s apex court to stretch his term of office – changed to five years through the 19th Amendment – to six years. The Attorney General’s interpretation that President Sirisena assumed office before the passage of the 19th Amendment and was therefore entitled to serve a six-year term; and his argument that reducing his term to five years would be an infringement of the sovereignty of the people and the franchise, appeared to have been rejected by the Supreme Court which appeared to hold that the current President was also subject to the provisions of the 19A.

Continue reading ‘Attorney -General’s Interpretation of 19th Constitutional Amendment Before Supreme Court is “Rather Odd” and Confuses Me Says CPA Executive -Director Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena was surrounded by advisers who would lead him to his own destruction but the UNP would never let those sinister forces to achieve their goal, UNP Assistant Leader MP Ravi Karunanayake said yesterday.

Addressing the media after declaring open a UNP office in Mattakkuliya, the former minister said that it was sad to observe that the President was being manipulated by some forces.

“We will not leave the President at this hour of need. We will protect him. It is the duty of the UNP to protect the President. There are forces dreaming of a break-up of the UNP-SLFP unity government. That will not happen as there is a clear understanding between our leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Sirisena.”

Continue reading ‘Ex-Minister Ravi Karunanayake Says UNP Will Protect President Sirisena From The Advisers Who Are Misleading him’ »

By Norman Palihawadane

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that a recent government decision to extend the business hours of bars and allow women to buy liquor and a subsequent presidential directive reversing it were aimed at duping the masses.

“The gazettes lifting the ban came with the approval of the Cabinet of ministers headed by President Maithripala Sirisena. Then President Sirisena cancels the same gazette so as to lionise himself.

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Headed By President Gazettes Decisions But Sirisena Cancels same Gazette To Fool the Masses Says Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirsena’s bid to get another year in office through a Supreme Court interpretation of the relevant clauses of the 19 th. Amendment (19A) of the Constitution, has failed.

The court has told him that there is a five year constitutional cap on his term.

In a letter to Chief Justice Priyasath Dep dated January 8, Sirisena had sought the court’s opinion on whether there is a constitutional bar on his continuing in office for six hears instead of five. The President had asked for a response to be submitted to him on or before January 14.

Constitutional Provision

Those against the grant of an extra year, like the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), told the court on January 11, that Art 30 (2) of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, passed on May 15, 2015, had clearly stated that: “The President of the Republic shall be elected by the People and shall hold office for a term of five years.”

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court “Five Years Only” Ruling Will Impact Adversely On President Sirisena’s Long Term Plans to Undermine Ranil and Mahinda while Strengthening His SLFP.’ »

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has shot down any prospect of President Maithripala Sirisena staying on in office for a year longer officials said Monday.

A five-judge bench in a unanimous decision ruled that the President’s term was limited to five years by the 19th amendment to the constitution that he himself initiated after winning the 2015 elections.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Priyasath Dep told President Sirisena that he had only five years in office as a result of the 19th amendment although he was elected initially for a six year term.

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Five Judge Bench Ruling Shatters Maithripala Sirisena’s Hopes Of Being President for one More year up to 2021.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

Could right-thinking people of Sri Lanka be blamed for asking themselves as to whether no one will rid us of these troublesome politicians following this week’s depraved fisticuffs on the floor of the House? Is this where the ‘Sovereignty of the People’ resides, as mandated by Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution?

As national legislators assaulted each other, (some unpardonably boasting about this later) and shouted obscenities with others fainting in the well of the House, two questions become paramount.

Why indeed are citizens trooping to the polls to elect members to local government bodies in a few weeks when the apex legislative assembly conducts itself in such an ugly manner? Of what use are massive public funds extracted from taxpayers being expended to maintain these assemblies, central, provincial and local when minimum decency cannot be observed in their deliberations?

Continue reading ‘Could Right-thinking People of Sri Lanka be Blamed for Asking Themselves as to Whether no one will rid us of these Troublesome Politicians?’ »

( The “Sunday Times” Column On Presidency

Sometimes, politics is all about being in the right place at the right time. Since Sri Lanka embraced a presidential system of government forty years ago, three of our six Presidents have been elevated to the highest office in the land by being in the right place at the right time.

Dingiri Banda Wijetunga was rewarded for his loyal service to the United National Party by being appointed as the Governor of the North Western Province where he was to spend his retirement. He was then summoned by Ranasinghe Premadasa, perhaps with an eye on the future, to contest the 1988 general election. He returned to Parliament, was appointed Prime Minister and was suddenly sworn in as President when Premadasa fell victim to a suicide bomber on May Day in 1993.

After her husband Vijaya was assassinated. Chandrika Kumaratunga fled the country and was living in Britain. Her brother, Anura Banadaranaike, was bearing the brunt of the United National Party (UNP)’s domineering tactics under Premadasa. However, by the time the next elections were called Bandaranaike had crossed over to the UNP, Kumaratunga had returned and with her charming smile, an important double-barrelled surname, was catapulted from having never held public office to being President within a short span of eighteen months.

A few months prior to November 2014, in most people’s opinion, Maithripala Sirisena was destined to be a faithful servant of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), in much the same way Wijetunga was loyal to the UNP. He too could have aspired to spend his retirement as a Governor, or if he so wished, even as an ambassador overseas. However, at the insistence of Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera and Kumaratunga, he took the plunge and decided to contest Mahinda Rajapaksa. The rest is recent history.

Sri Lanka’s three other Presidents had earned their titles the hard way. J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa and Mahinda Rajapaksa all toiled long and hard, endured long years in the Opposition and overcame plots and backstabbing within their own political parties to reach the top. Did this equip them better to deal with the tests and travails of a Presidency and as a result did they perform better?

JR, for all the vilification he endured, engineered economic and constitutional revolutions which survive to this day. Premadasa is still remembered as the leader who did some tangible work in the few years he presided while at the same time despatching Indian troops from the country and crushing the second Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) insurrection. Rajapaksa, no matter what he does in the future, will be remembered gratefully for annihilating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Their performances beg the question as to whether those who stumbled upon the Presidency by happenstance didn’t perform that well when they had the opportunity to chart the destiny of the nation. Wijetunga was more or less a caretaker President whose greatest achievement was ensuring a transition of power after over a decade and a half of UNP rule and in Kumaratunga’s 11-year Presidency it is difficult to recall a significant achievement during her tenure other than, maybe, winning back control of the North from the LTTE and some positives on the foreign policy front. Now, after completing three years at the helm last Monday, Maithripala Sirisena is in danger of being categorised under ‘mediocre’ rather than ‘great’ or “good”.

Continue reading ‘Time For President Sirisena To Make Transition From Politician To Statesman’ »

By Sarath de Alwis

“Being in a minority, even in a minority of one, did not make you mad. There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.”

– George Orwell, 1984

Who made Maithripala Sirisena, President of our republic? Was it Ranil who claims that he made a great sacrifice by deciding not to contest as the UNP’s candidate? Is it the executive committee of the UNP that decided to endorse Maithripala Sirisena as the common candidate that the party should support? Or did the majority of people who voted for the common candidate make him our President?

Let us cut to the chase. Let’s avoid obfuscation. Let’s get to the point. This missive is in praise of Maithripala Sirisena’s handling of the Bond Commission Report.

And further, more specifically, it is in praise of his unhesitant referral to the Supreme Court for a precise ruling on his current tenure in office.

This writer is relieved to discover the new bold and decisive ‘Sirisena’, who has abandoned his ‘little Bo peep has lost her sheep’ demeanour. One hopes he will gradually shed his ‘Apey Hamuduruwane’ – ‘upasaka’ mask and also his ‘Ranaviruwas have done no wrong’ disorder as well, in his remaining years in office.

The immediate purpose of this dispatch is to congratulate him on his discovery of the precise mandate he received on 8 January 2015. The people did not vote for him to replace Mahinda Rajapaksa in office.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena has finally decided to do what he was elected to be – President of the Republic.’ »

by C.A.Chandraprema

President Sirisena’s request for a determination from the Supreme Court as to whether he could remain in power for six years even after the 19th Amendment reduced the term of the President to five years has caused consternation in the pro-yahapalana camp and quiet glee among their opponents. One of the pioneers of the yahapalana project, university lecturer Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, has reproduced on his facebook page the Colombo Telegraph report of Sirisena asking the SC whether there is any impediment to his remaining in power for six years with a cryptic message in Sinhala suggesting that they (the yahapalanites) were now completely naked before the people. Among those who made representations in the Supreme Court against Sirisena was the Centre for Policy Alternatives and the elections monitoring outfit CAFFE which were firmly within the yahapalana camp.

The President’s query addressed to the Supreme Court left no doubt as to what he had in mind. The query went as follows: “Whether, in terms of Provisions of the Constitution, I, as the person elected and succeeding to the office of President and having assumed such office in terms of Article 32(1) of the Constitution on 09 January 2015, have any impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of 6 years from 09 January 2015, the date on which the result of my election to the office of President was declared”. In the wake of the caterwaul of protest that this evoked, the President’s Media Office issued a statement claiming that the President was only trying to clear the confusion surrounding this matter by asking for a SC determination on the subject, but the wording of the query implies otherwise.

This is a very clear attempt on the part of the President to extend his term to six years once again after it was reduced to five years by the 19th Amendment. The 19th Amendment was brought for the purpose of abolishing the executive Presidency as Sirisena had promised at the 2015 Presidential election. When Jayampathy Wickremeratne and others took to the newly elected President Sirisena the original draft of the 19th Amendment, the President had barked at them “Mawa pambayek karannada hadanne?” (Are you trying to turn me into a scarecrow?) and he had chased them away. Thereafter, Sirisena and the JHU whittled down the 19th Amendment until there was nothing left except the establishment of the constitutional council to recommend appointments to key state posts and this reduction of the term of the President from six to five years. It was the JHU that surreptitiously included in Sirisena’s manifesto a clause saying that he would agree to constitutional changes only to the extent that a referendum would not be necessary.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala’s Frantic Bid To Seek Further Extension Of Term Was Triggered Off By Mahinda’s Statement About Presidential Elections in 2019.’ »

By Prakash M Swamy

U.S. Senate Candidate, inventor of e-mail and tech guru Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai has exposed Harvard University’s attempt to pilfer trillions of dollars worth of indigenous artifacts through the sale of a “Harvard Tamil Chair” professorship.

Harvard sought to collect $6 Million from the Tamil Diaspora worldwide, who had no idea of Harvard’s business model of selling professorships to fund its $35 Billion hedge fund investments. Tamil is the oldest surviving language with the richest body of poetry, art, and literature known to humankind, along with hundreds of thousands of sacred artifacts codified in palm leaf manuscripts embodying the scientific, technological and medical knowledge spanning at least 5,000 years of the Tamilians, the indigenous people of the Indian subcontinent, who today primarily reside in Tamil Nadu in India.

According to Dr. Ayyadurai, “The fundraising effort in the name of setting up a Tamil Chair is a ruse that exemplifies Harvard’s habitual exploitation of indigenous people. This is an egregious example akin to a burglar asking you to pay money to buy a rickety ladder to rob your own home. Harvard is asking Tamilians to pay $6 million for a professorship that will be used to rob their own historic artifacts worth trillions of dollars representing the ‘Holy Grail’ of the world’s most highly-prized indigenous knowledge.” Harvard will then proceed to use access to those artifacts to rewrite and hegemonies Tamil history, an unfortunate and recurrent process that Harvard has done for far too long to many indigenous cultures.

Harvard’s financial statements reveal that the university is fundamentally a tax-exempt Wall Street hedge fund with cash and investments of nearly $35 Billion. In 2016 alone, Harvard’s capital marketing campaign raised $7 Billion, with its hedge fund in 2017 yielding $2 billion in gross profits. The operating budget further reveals that professors and administrators effectively serve as business development staff to attract wealthy donors to fund Chairs and professorships that finance their lucrative hedge fund. In 2017, as the Boston Globe reported, Harvard’s seven top hedge fund managers earned a total of nearly $58 million in compensation.

Continue reading ‘Move To Raise Funds and Set Up Tamil Chair at Harvard University Is Ruse To Exploit Tamils and Hegemonize Tamil Culture and History Alleges Tech Guru Dr.Shiva Ayyadurai.’ »

By Dinasena Rathugamage

A chaotic situation prevailed in Jaffna after some SLFP candidates contesting the forthcoming local government elections played some songs of the now defunct LTTE.

Number of politicians in Jaffna had complained to the Election Related Violence Centrers about the conduct of some politicians who had used the liberation songs of the Tigers in their campaigns when the elections commissioner had strictly instructed not to use such songs during the run-up to the local government election.

Continue reading ‘Some of the Sirisena led SLFP Candidates Contesting Local Polls in Jaffna Display Prabhakaran Images and Play LTTE Songs In Election Campaign’ »

By
Ajit Kanagasundram

The world today is desperate to attract foreign talent. Thirty percent of Silicon Valley startups are by Indians, and the same percentage is true of Microsoft employees, NASA employees and US physicians. Canada and Australia have long had a point system to attract talent and the US and the UK are thinking of adopting a similar system in place of their current family re-union system. Even Germany has a special Visa quota for software professionals from India.

Singapore preceded all these countries by being open from the inception to foreign talent as it knew that they were required for it to meet its ambition to become a regional and then global hub for trade, manufacturing and finance.Lee Kwan Yew openly alluded to the fact that he depended on Jaffna Tamils as a resource to build up Singapore in the early years. This article will try and describe their significant and unique contributions spanning the five decades of Singapore’s existence as an independent nation.

The Jaffna Tamils hail from the arid North of Sri Lanka and the only advantages they had was their native intelligence and an excellent education system set up by American missionaries. The Jaffna Tamils valued education above all else and the education system the missionaries set up emphasized the English Language and mathematics.The British valued this education and The Jaffna Tamil propensity for hard work and recruited them for the minor government positions such as clerks and station master both in colonial Ceylon and in the Federated States of Malaysia and Singapore.

It was said that in the 1930s you could travel by train from Singapore to the Thailand border and every station master enroute would be a Jaffna Tamil! It was their descendants who were to play such a significant role in the history of Singapore as an independent nation. The contribution of the Ceylon Tamils were in four main areas – politics and government, law, medicine and sports and I will describe each separately.
Continue reading ‘How the “Ceylon” Tamils From Sri Lanka Contributed to Singapore Over The Years’ »

(Text of Editorial appearing in “the Island” of January 12th 2018 under the heading “Whither yahapalanaya?”)

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC), in response to a question posed by President Maithripala Sirisena, is deliberating whether he can serve a six-year term. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution has reduced the presidential term to five years. We refrain from commenting on it out of deference to the apex court.

Co-Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne has told the media the President is right in having consulted the SC to clear some doubts about the duration of his term. One cannot but agree with the minister on this score. The President can seek opinions from the SC. But, the issue at hand is different from other constitutional ambiguities in that the public was given to understand that President Sirisena had voluntarily reduced his term by one year. He was expected to leave office after serving a five-year term. He earned admiration of the general public and some political commentators went so far as to call the President a modern-day Sirisangabo (a king who ‘donated’ his head to a stranger according to legend). President used to boast that he was the only head of state in the world to have his term shortened. The yahapalana camp has been flaunting his ‘sacrifice’ to boost its image. But, owing to his question to the Supreme Court at issue he has come to be seen as yet another politician who can’t bring himself to let go of power.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena Once Hailed as a Modern Day Sri Sangabo Should Hang up His Boots After Completing Five Years as President -The Island’ »

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) told the Sri Lankan Supreme Court on Thursday that the 19 th. Amendment of the constitution makes it very clear that the term of the President, including the incumbent Maithripa Sirisena, is five years and not six.

“CPA’s position on the 19 th. Amendment to the Constitution is very clear. The Amendment makes express provision that the President’s term is limited to five years: Article 30(2) of the Constitution says that the President of the Republic shall be elected by the People, and shall hold office for a term of five years,” the think tank said in its intervening submission.

“Further, the Amendment’s transitional provisions explicitly state that this five-year term limit applies equally to the sitting President. Section 49(1)(b) of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution says, “for the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that … the persons holding office respectively, as the President and Prime Minister on the day preceding April 22, 2015 shall continue to hold such office after such date, subject to the provisions of the Constitution as amended by this Act.”

Continue reading ‘Constitution Bars Sirisena from Getting Extra Year in Office, Centre for Policy Alternatives Tells Supreme Court’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam

Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday (11) contended that President Maithripala Sirisena could continue his term of office as President for six years, even as a five-judge bench of the country’s highest court heard interventions on a knotty and politically charged question put before them by the incumbent President himself.

Making submissions in a packed courtroom, the Attorney General, appearing with Additional Solicitor General Murdu Fernando and Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, submitted that the incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena had sought the opinion of the Supreme Court on whether there was any impediment to him continuing his terms of office for six years as President as amended in Article 31 of the 19th Amendment.

He stated that the presidential election was held on 8 January 2015 and incumbent President Sirisena was elected and assumed duty on 9 January 2015.

The Attorney General argued that the President had been elected on 9 January for a term of office of six years.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena Can Continue As President For Six Years Argues Attorney – General Jayantha Jayasuriya Before Supreme Court’ »

By Chitra Weerarathne

President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva said in the Supreme Court yesterday that Parliament had not said that the incumbent President Sirisena could hold office for six years when it passed the 19th amendment to the Constitution in May 2015; it had only said the term of the President should be five years and not six years. Under the operative law President Sirisena could not go beyond five years, he argued

The five-member bench comprised Chief Justice Priyasarth Dep, Justice Eva Wanasundera, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice Sisira De Abrew and Justice K. T. Chitrasiri.

President Sirisena has sought a clarification from the Supreme Court whether the 19th Amendment has any effect on the six-year duration of his term.

At the outset, the Attorney General President’s Counsel Jayantha Jayasooriya said the people had exercised their franchise and elected the incumbent President on January 8, 2015.

Continue reading ‘Counsel Argue For and Against Six Year Term For President Maithripala Sirisena Before Five Judge Bench Of Supreme Court’ »

Colonel R Hariharan

The two-decade long wait of thousands of fans of Tamil cinema’s superstar Rajinikanth ended on New Year eve when he announced his entry into politics is certain. To the roaring approval of thousands of fans attending the six-day interaction with the Thalaiva (as they lovingly call him), he added, “I will form my own political party and contest from all 234 seats in the next assembly election.”

As the news spread, Tamil Nadu’s political parties went into a tizzy. They have strong reasons to worry – many of their youthful party cadre were also members of Rajini fan clubs across the state. Responding to their Thalaiva’s call, there is a fear that they may shed their party affiliations to join his party.

Officially, there were 50,000 registered Rajini fan clubs in the state in 1995-96, when registration was stopped. Incidentally, there is a fan club in far-off Tokyo! According to a media estimate, now there are 80,000 fan clubs in all. In his speech, Rajinikanth said “I have several thousand fan clubs, in villages and cities all across the state. The unregistered ones are twice as many.” Rajinikanth said that uniting them all would be the first task. Moreover, there are thousands of fans in all age groups outside the fan clubs also. It is these formidable numbers that worries the political parties.

Continue reading ‘Will Superstar Rajinikanth’s foray into politics make a dent in established parties such as the AIADMK and the DMK?’ »

By

Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

“My entry into politics is certain.This is the compulsion of the times. In the upcoming state assembly polls, I will start my own political party, and contest in all the 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.” With those words, Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, idolized as Rajinikanth the larger than life superstar of the Tamil movie world, entered the political arena on New Year’s Eve, bringing to an end two decades of vacillation over the move.

Declaring that the time for political change has come, the superstar pronounced his politics would be spiritual and devoid of religion or caste orientations, but purposefully refrained from spelling out any ideological position or political program.

As to forming his own party, Rajinikanth has emerged pragmatic, saying there isn’t time to get organized to contest the local body polls, likely to be held in few months, and as for the 2019 parliamentary elections, he would decide when the time comes. However, the superstar who has been extremely critical of political events in Tamil Nadu in the past year, is said to have urged his fans not to talk politics or about him and not to criticize other political leaders and parties until his party is launched, to face a democratic challenge.

Ever the charismatic superstar, Rajinikanth used his formidable stage presence to get the message of his political ambitions to fans all over Tamil Nadu. Clearly, he has his eye on the state assembly elections in 2021, with the Chief Minister post as the ultimate goal.

Continue reading ‘Can Superstar Rajinikanth Be Another “Puratchi Thalaiver” MGR?’ »

By Skandha Gunasekara and Ashwin Hemmathagama

Parliamentary proceedings descended into fisticuffs and name-calling yesterday when a brawl erupted in the House after the Speaker failed to obtain and table the bond report in Parliament.

United National Party (UNP) and Joint Opposition parliamentarians clashed yesterday soon after the Joint Opposition invaded the Well of the House.

The chaos began when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was making his statement despite the Joint Opposition (JO) invading the Well, displaying placards and chanting slogans. The serjeant-at-arms Anil Parakrama Samarasekera and his deputy Kushan Jayaratne held the Mace in the bracket when the JO parliamentarians tried to grab it

As the Prime Minister continued, the UNP MPs too stepped into the Well of the House and began shouting at the JO in retaliation. Once the Premier wrapped up his speech Speaker Karu Jayasuriya suspended sittings for 10 minutes at around 11.00 a.m.

Continue reading ‘Parliamentarian Brawl: Marikkar Punches Lokuge Who Slaps Marikkar Who Hits Lokuge From Behind; Chaminda Wijesiri Tears Prasanna Ranaweera’s Shirt:Johnston Fernando Punches Chaminda Wijesiri and Hector Appuhamy;Prasanna Ranatunga Hits Wijesiri and Runs Away: Ranjith Soyza Assaulted:Kavinda Jayawardene Faints;Ranjan Ramanayake Records Fracas On Mobile Phone’ »

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirsena’s bid to get another year in office through a Supreme Court interpretation of the relevant clauses of the 19 th. Amendment (19A) of the Constitution, stems both from a lack of clarity in the clauses and Sirisena’s own pressing need to stay in power a little longer.

In a letter to Chief Justice Priyasath Dep dated January 8, Sirisena had sought the court’s opinion on whether there is a constitutional bar on his continuing in office for six hears instead of five.

What Sirisena asked in his letter was: “Whether, in terms of Provisions of the Constitution, I, as the person elected and succeeding to the office of President and having assumed such office in terms of Article 32(1) of the Constitution on 09th January 2015, have any impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of 6 years from 09th January 2015, the date on which the result of my election to the office of President was declared”.

President Sirisena had asked for a response to be submitted to him on or before January 14, 2018.

Continue reading ‘Why Maithripala Sirisena Wants To Extend His Presidential Term Of Office From Five To Six Years’ »

By

Saman Indrajith

Brawls marred yesterday’s special parliamentary sitting as the UNP and the Joint Opposition (JO) MPs resorted to fisticuffs after the Speaker failed to arrange for the tabling of the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that investigated the Treasury bond scams.

The JO MPs invaded the Well of the House protesting against the government’s failure to honour its promise to table the report.

When the House commenced sittings, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, said that the Presidential Secretariat had informed him that the bond commission report and 34 reports of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) would be made available to Parliament after one week. The Secretary to the President had also informed the Speaker that copies of the bond commission report had been referred to the Attorney General, Central Bank and the Bribery Commission.

Continue reading ‘Fisticuffs Break Out In The House Following Speaker’s Failure To table Bond Scam Probe Commission Report In Parliament.’ »

By

Dr. Ameer Ali

Since the first parliamentary elections in 1947 Tamil-Muslim political relations in Sri Lanka has been dominated by mutual mistrust. Even though the Chelvanakam’sFederal Party and Ponnampalam’sCeylon Tamil Congress included the Muslims under the rubric Tamil-speaking people whenever they addressed public rallies, and similarly, even though Muslim political leaders talked tirelessly of the Tamil language and the proverbial ‘pittu and coconut” to underline the two communities’ inseparable coexistence, these were in reality utterances reiterated more for reasons of political correctness than out of any genuine concern for each other’s political, economic and cultural development and well being.

This historical fact cannot be glossed over any more and should be openly confronted, admitted and removed because Sri Lankan politics has reached such a critical juncture where particularly after 2009 majoritarian politics, consumed overwhelmingly by ethnic and religious chauvinism,has created an existential crisis for both minorities.

Past strategies of playing politics of opportunism on the part of Muslims and of separatism on the part of Tamils have passed their use by date, and new strategies have to be thought out for the two communities to live and prosper with equality and dignity in a globally connected but locally undivided Sri Lanka.

One would have thought that after the end of the 25-year bloody civil war Colombo leadership would have come to its senses to sort out the minority issue quickly and seriously and avoid international agencies to intervene in a purely domestic matter. One would have also expected the two minority communities to have realised that their future survival, dignity and development cannot be achieved through mutual suspicion and mistrust but through unity built on frank admission of past mistakes, openness in dialogue and justice in objectives.

No doubt that a united plural Sri Lanka with all its naturally endowed and humanly created resources is a match to any country in the world. Yet and tragically, what has happened over the last nine years was deliberate procrastination by successive governments leading to further deterioration of national unity, increasing economic hardship to many and encroaching foreign influence in the country.

Continue reading ‘Politics of Mistrust Prevails Between The Tamil And Muslim Communities Of Sri Lanka’ »

The inquiries into a controversial bond auctions by the parliament and presidential commission showed that rule of law was once again working in Sri Lanka but people still find it to be unusual Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament.

He said an inquiry initiative by him by three lawyers had recommended a further investigation and then the parliaments’ Committee on Public Enterprises had also examined the issue, showing that the assembly had control over the country’s finances.

Wickremesinghe said he had presented the report to the Attorney General and the Central Bank Governor had also frozen 12 billion rupees of assets of Perpetual Treasuries which is alleged to have made illegal profits.

Continue reading ‘UNP MP’s Form Cordon To Protect Prime Minister From Opposition Attacks While Chanting “Hora,Hora,Mahinda Hora”(Thief,Thief, Mahinda Thief)’ »

Many UNP MPs claimed that UPFA Parliamentarian Gamini Lokuge started the fistfight in Parliament, this morning.

Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra said it was Lokuge who started the fight by attacking S.M Marikkar in the isle of the House.

It was confirmed by Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva who said he saw how Lokuge started the fight.

Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition MP Gamini Lokuge Started Fight In Parliament By Attacking Govt MP Marikkar Charge Hirunika Premachandra and Harsha De Silva’ »

A tense situation erupted in the Sri Lankan Parliament on Wednesday as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe read a special statement to the House over a Treasury bond scam committed at the Central Bank.

Opposition legislators, loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapakse, launched a protest in the middle of the House as Wickremesinghe read his statement, calling for the Speaker of Parliament to divulge the details of the Treasury Bond scam which had been probed by a special presidential commission.

The situation soon turned violent when an object was hurled at the Prime Minister.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya suspended sittings for 10 minutes in order to restore normalcy.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Suspends Sittings As Violence Erupts In Parliament After Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Is Hit By an Object While Making Special Statement On treasury Bond Scam’ »

by Chitra Weerarathne

President Maithripala Sirisena, who publicly proclaimed several times, that he had voluntarily agreed to get his term of office reduced from six years to five through the 19th Amendment passed in April 2015, making it a world record by a sitting leader, has now asked the Supreme Court whether he can complete the original six year term.

A source close to the President yesterday confirmed that the Head of State had, in fact, asked the highest court for its opinion on the matter.

President Sirisena has asked the Supreme Court “Whether, in terms of Provisions of the Constitution, I, as the person elected and succeeding to the office of President and having assumed such office in terms of Article 32(1) of the Constitution on 9th January 2015, have any impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of six years from 9th January 2015, the date on which the result of my election to the office of President was declared”.

Consequently, Supreme Court Registrar Mrs M.M. Jayasekera has written to the President/Secretary of the Bar Association yesterday stating “I have been directed by His Lordship the Hon Chief Justice to inform you that His Excellency the President, in terms of Article 129(1) of the Constitution, has referred to this court (regarding the above) for its consideration and for an opinion to be submitted to His Excellency on or before 14th January 2018.

“I shall be pleased, if you could inform to the membership that the above mentioned reference will be listed on 11th January 2016 at 11:00 am in the Supreme Court.”

The Bar Association Secretary in turn yesterday sent notices to its membership to make their observations to the court tomorrow as requested by it as per ‘Supreme Court Reference 01/2018’.

The Island learns that the SC Registrar has made a similar request to the Attorney General.

Courtesy:The Island

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena has asked the Supreme Court if he can remain in office for six years despite having reduced his tenure to five through a constitutional amendment, officials said Tuesday.

The move to seek an interpretation to the 19th amendment to the constitution which among other things reduced the term of office to five years will put Sirisena on a collision course with his senior coalition partner.

The United National Party-led government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was hoping for a presidential poll by January 2020, six months ahead of the next general election.

Sirisena’s letter to the Supreme Court seeking an interpretation suggests he wants to remain in power for another year despite having repeatedly claimed he voluntarily shortened his tenure.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Desiring To Extend His Term of Office For One More Year May Result In Major Confrontation With Prime Minister and UNP’ »

Angelo Mathews has been appointed as the ODI and T20 captain of the Sri Lanka national team, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced short while ago.

SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala officially announced the decision at a press briefing being held in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection committee has decided to appoint Mathews as the captain following a discussion held with newly appointed head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe.

Courtesy:Daily Mirror

By

(Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama and Indika Sri Aravinda

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake yesterday denied the claims made by Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Minister Mano Ganesan that underworld figures had been nominated for the upcoming local government (LG) elections to represent the Colombo North.

Responding to a question raised by a journalist when MP Karunanayake visiting the grave site of slain newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, on his 9th death anniversary at the Borella Cemetery in Colombo, said, if ‘members of underworld’ can stay in the government what would be the problem.

“I cordially invite all media personnel to visit Colombo North and to investigate over the claims made by Minister Mano Ganesan. We are walking freely but that minister is walking with special security,” he said.

Continue reading ‘‘Name The Underworld Figures Of Colombo North We Have Supposedly Nominated For Local Govt Elections” – Ex-Minister Ravi Karunanayake Urges Cabinet Minister Mano Ganesan’ »

By
Ranga Jayasuriya

Last week, President Maithripala Sirisena swung his ‘sword’ that he recently vouched to use. The UNP had a good deal of its vital parts cut off. It would be nursing those wounds throughout the local government election campaign, which it was earlier expected to win hands down.

The president in his much awaited statement on the report of the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the alleged irregularities in the Central Bank bond deals delivered a damning censure against the former Central Bank governor Arjuna Mahendran, his son-in-law and Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., owner Arjun Aloysious and former finance minister Ravi Karunanayake.

He assured that legal action would be taken against those implicated by the Commission and to implement the Commission’s recommendations that involve an overhaul of the Central Bank’s bond department, introducing a new Monetary Law and replacing the Registered Share Market Act with a new law.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Swings His Sword To Cut Off a Good Deal Of The UNP’s Vital Parts’ »

(Text of MEDIA RELEASE Issued by Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the “Third anniversary of the incompetent government responsible for the worst debt crisis in Sri Lankan history”)

On 9 January 2018, the so-called yahapalana government completes three years in office. During this short period they have created numerous crises running through virtually every sector in Sri Lanka. The main subject of public discussion today is the bond scam and the attempts being made by the yahapalana leaders to sweep it under the carpet. We are awaiting the release of the full report of the Bond Commission. The bond scam is only one of the many disasters brought upon this country by the yahapalana government. As this government marks its third anniversary, I wish to draw the attention of the public to another danger they have brought upon this country.

During the short period of 36 months that this government has been in power, they have borrowed over USD 14.6 billion in foreign currency loans alone, the breakdown of which would be as follows – USD 7.2 billion through the issue of Sri Lanka Development Bonds from January 2015 onwards, USD 3.6 billion from sovereign bonds issued in 2015 and 2017, USD 2.2 billion through currency swap arrangements with India in 2015 and 2016, USD 1.7 billionthrough syndicated loans arranged through several international banks in 2016 and 2017 and USD 1.5 billion from the IMF Extended Fund Facility in 2016. No previous government has borrowed so much money through foreign currency loans in such a short period of time.

Even though 14.6 billion USD would suffice to build five Norochcholai power plants, five Hambantotaharbours with enough money being left over to build two more Southern Expressways, the yahapalana government has not built even a culvert with that money. I have made reference so far only to foreign currency loans. From January 2015 to date, the yahapalana government has borrowed well over Rs. 5.7 trillion in Rupee loans as well, through the issue of treasury bills and treasury bonds.The government commissionedthe Moragahakanda project and opened the Rajagriya flyover to coincide with its third anniversary so as to answer the critics who say that the yahapalana government has not built anything tangible despite massive foreign borrowings. However, the Moragahakanda project was planned, financial allocations were made and construction commended under my government way back in 2007 in accordance with the 2005 MahindaChintanaprogramme. Likewise the Rajagiriya flyover was planned and money was allocated for its construction by my government. Cabinet approval was granted to call for bids to select contractors for the construction of the flyovers in Rajagiriya, Polgahawela and Ganemullaat the cabinet meeting held on 4 December 2014.

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa wants Voters To Register Their Protest Against “This Corrupt,Incompetent Govt” On Feb 10th’ »

(Following is the statement by Lal Wickrematunge, brother of slain The Sunday Leader Founder Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge, on the ninth anniversary of his murder. It was read out by Lal’s daughter Minal at the memorial gathering held on 8 January at Lasantha’s graveside)

Nine years have passed since Lasantha was done to death in the most dastardly fashion. Nine years have passed and justice has not been done. Murder, not restricted to Lasantha but of other journalists, was carried out with impunity at a time when apathy reigned amongst the people.

At present there is a sense of hopelessness at the manner the present administration is handling investigations. Should political authorities be guiding murder investigations, one may ask. Some may argue that it is the duty to do so since the very same murders have been used to garner votes at election time. Presently, the murders are used to remind people of how brutal a regime was when they occurred. But what about bringing the perpetrators to book?
Continue reading ‘Slain Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga’s Brother Lal Asks Govt at 9th Death Anniversary “What About Bringing The Perpetrators To Book”?’ »

Kicking campaigning for the upcoming Local Government elections into a new gear, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the Government would have to pay a whopping Rs. 10 trillion over the next 25 years due to allegedly irregular bond sales of Rs. 4 trillion from 2008 to 2015 without the Central Bank’s Monetary Board approval.

Attending a special Convention at Campbell Park yesterday accompanied by stalwarts of the United National Party (UNP), including Deputy Leader Ravi Karunanayake and General Secretary Kabir Hashim, the Prime Minister spoke in detail about the bond report and its repercussions. As the bond report had recommended an audit on alleged irregularities in bond sales from 2008-2015, Wickremesinghe insisted the Government was committed to beginning investigations into these allegations “as soon as possible.”

Continue reading ‘Ranil Challenges Media to Debate Ten Trillion Rupee Loss Caused By Irregular Sale OF Four Trillion Rs Treasury Bond Sales From 2008 to 2015 During Rajapaksa Regime.’ »

By Anura Balasuriya

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says the loss caused by treasury bond scam was much bigger than the amount stated in the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the bond scam.

Addressing the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna’s inaugural rally in Kadawatha on Saturday, the former President said that he had serious doubts about the amount of loss mentioned in the report and was sure that the country suffered a very much larger loss than the amount mentioned by the commission.

The former President demanded to know from the government whether the profit earned by investing the funds obtained from the selling of treasury bonds too would be recovered from those responsible for the scam.

Continue reading ‘“Nowhere In The World Has A Central Bank Been Robbed In This Manner” Says Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has said that revelations made by the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry which investigated the treasury bond issuance of the Central Bank are false.

Addressing a UNP meeting in Colombo, on Saturday, the former Finance Minister said that he had requested a copy of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry report on the Central Bank bond scams.

Karunanayake said that he would make a detailed comment on the report once he secured a copy of it.

Continue reading ‘“Neither the Prime Minister Nor I Have Committed Anything Wrong” – Ex-Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickreme-singhe yesterday stated that he was proud to reflect on the many hurdles overcome so far by the yahapalana government since January 08, 2015.

In a statement issued to mark the 70 th anniversary celebrations of the UNP, the PM said:

“When President Sirisena and I embarked on the campaign for yahapalanaya on November 21, 2014, we were responding to a nationwide outcry to lift Sri Lanka out of the shackles of nepotism, and into the spotlight as a proud and independent member of the community of nations.

“Our promise to the people was that should they elect us to right the course of our country on January 8, 2015, we would rescue the economy, put an end to state-sponsored extra-judicial violence, and restore the independence and respectability of our law enforcement and criminal justice systems. While our journey together has much more to accomplish, I am proud today to reflect on how many hurdles have been overcome so far.

“In the three short years that we have been at the helm of the state, the unity government has implemented the 17th amendment to the constitution and given life to the Constitutional Council and independent commissions that allow the police, judiciary and public service at large to act according to their conscience and not the whims of their political masters of the day.

Continue reading ‘Govt Remains Committed To Goal Of Ensuring Justice For Killers Of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Other Media Personnel”States Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor

President Maithripala Sirisena chose to reveal highlights of the story behind the Central Bank bond scam on Wednesday – part of the findings of the Commission of Inquiry.

That it came unusually in a pre-recorded 21-minute address to the nation gave it the status of a “national” issue. Yet, it was one that had drawn greater public attention countrywide. Even in villages where there was less literacy and the word ‘bond’ was only associated with James Bond movies, there was sufficient awareness of the alleged plunder of public funds. They were only oblivious to the nitty-gritties of bond auctions but most long believed there was something rotten in the entire episode.

The address did considerably boost Sirisena’s popularity. It had taken a strongly downward slide after his efforts to reunite the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) failed miserably. How much this will impact at the local polls remains to be seen. The SLFP is now having small pocket meetings in some areas. This is ahead of major rallies which Sirisena will address in every district. The main campaign is to be launched next week.

This is one of the rare occasions when a Government in power has appointed a Commission to probe its own activities. Most others have been directed at their predecessors. Sirisena is still livid that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had not kept to the ‘assurances’ he held out about uniting the party. He was in fact in favour of the move but remarks by Prasanna Ranatunga (UPFA – Gampaha District) at a meeting that they (the Joint Opposition) had taken Sirisena ‘for a ride’ had angered him more. Earlier, Sirisena did blame Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) principal strategist Basil Rajapaksa who stoutly opposed any reunification.

And now, what is equally shocking, if not more, is the fact that he has placed his Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) relationship with its coalition partner, the United National Party (UNP), on a razor’s edge. The carefully crafted delivery, the contents of which were perhaps expertly done, seemingly had an eye on the local polls on February 10. It was pregnant with many serious political nuances. That helped him regain some prestige.

It was only a week earlier that he pledged to wield the sword to deal with those whom he perceived as bribe takers or the corrupt and took a few swipes. Those who were scarred, those who are yet to be when the Commission’s report becomes public and the related disclosures all point in the direction of the UNP, the main coalition partner.

Continue reading ‘Sirisena Not Showing Bond Commission Report To Wickremesinghe Suggests Prime Minister May Have Lost The Confidence Of The President’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

Auspicious times or not, Sri Lanka certainly rang in 2018 singularly inauspiciously as damning revelations of the monumental financial scam right in the bowels of the nation’s Central Bank were revealed to a badly shell-struck public even as the New Year had scarce been allowed to draw its breath.

Fairy tales on battling corruption

The contrast could not be more grotesque. On the one hand, grizzled farmers stood in the scorching sun, pitifully roaring that they were being reduced to beggars as they could not farm their paddy lands without fertilizer. On the other hand, Colombo became the epicenter of a perfect example of how millions can be plundered by slick crooks in immaculate suits and designer watches.

Even as the revelations unfolded, who could be blamed for being cynical regarding promises to recover the loot of the Rajapaksas stashed away in foreign banks? What credibility, the reform of the law couched in abstract if not esoteric terms when even existing laws on gross corruption are deliberately undermined in order to serve selfish political agendas? Who believes these fairy tales?

Those in power may bluster that they will continue to hold on to power till 2020. But they have frittered away an enormous amount of goodwill with which the Government was elected into power. As each crisis unfolds on top of another, the cumulative impact is disastrous.

Continue reading ‘Serious Crisis Of Public Confidence In Presidency,Prime Minister and Government After Release Of Treasury Bond Inquiry Commission Report’ »

by C.A.Chandraprema

The ‘special statement’ on the bond commission report made last Wednesday by President Maithripala Sirisena was, all things considered, the only statement that could have been made in the circumstances. To have expected anything else was unrealistic. The yahapalana project is something that goes beyond the President, the SLFP which he controls, and the UNP which is in an uneasy alliance with him. This is a project with many stakeholders both local and foreign and it is not easy for any one partner in the yahapalana coalition to make arbitrary decisions even if his personal political future depends on it. The rhetoric of SLFP Ministers during the hearings of the bond commission and while its final report was pending was such that the expectation created in the country was that the President will go all out against the UNP once the report is out. SLFP ministers probably salivated at the prospect of being able to do the UNP in and win a larger slice of the yahapalana vote.

However, all that fell by the wayside with the President’s tepid statement on the bond commission report. For months members of the JO, SLFP and JVP had been vying with one another to portray all those even remotely involved in the bond matter as rogues and the bond issues themselves as the biggest frauds ever perpetrated in this country or even the South Asia, Asia and even the whole world. SLFP State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene went on record saying that the loss from the bond scam was over one trillion rupees. When he was questioned about this figure he told reporters, “Trust me, I was in the banking sector once, the loss is over one trillion rupees.” One of the most outspoken SLFP figures in this regard was Minister Susil Premajayantha who explained all the cloak and dagger stuff that went into the bond transactions in dramatic detail in parliament.

After months of such posturing, the President’s special statement on the final report of the bond commission was a damp squib to say the least. One thing that this showed was that there is an obvious mismatch between what the President is prepared to do to improve the SLFP’s prospects and what the SLFP ministers and MPs in the government thinks should be done to improve the prospects of the party. This mismatch largely stems from the fact that the SLFP President was voted in by a largely UNP voter base while all his followers in the SLFP government group were elected on the SLFP vote – a vote base that was opposed to everything that the yahapalana government stood for. So the SLFP ministers always sought to pander to their base by attacking the UNP at every opportunity they got. The President too allowed this to happen probably because he was trying to build a party base apart from the UNP.

Continue reading ‘Despite Bombastic SLFP Rhetoric Arousing Expectations, President Sirisena’s Treasury Bond Scam Statement Turns Out To Be a Damp Squib.’ »

By Saman Gunadasa

The Sri Lanka government formally handed over Hambantota Port to China Merchant Port Holdings (CMPH) on December 9, after almost two years of negotiations. The port is located on the country’s southern coast, close to some of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

Addressing the ceremonial hand-over, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declared that Sri Lanka was “on its way to being the hub of the Indian Ocean.” Its port facilities—in Colombo, Hambantota and Trincomalee—were “part of the modern maritime silk route.”

China’s Xinhua news agency reported that Sri Lanka had “joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)” through the Hambantota Port joint venture.

Continue reading ‘Bitter Reaction of the USA and India to the Hambantota Port Deal With China is a Warning to Sri Lanka’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena’s office has put out several versions of his bond commission statement in an apparent attempt to soften the blow to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his party.

The first English translation of the President’s Sinhala statement was reasonably close to the original, but a subsequent version — Bond Report V3 final.docx — took the sting out.

It removed all references to Wickremesinghe and the then finance minister Ravi Karunanayake.

The President’s website carried the first translation and later swapped it with the new version which was once again amended bringing back references to Ravi Karunanayake but without including Wickremesinghe’s name.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s Statement On Bond Commission Report Amended To Remove Critical References To Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Norman Palihawadana

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that he was happy about the decision taken by the government to conduct a forensic audit on alleged bond scams under the UPFA government from 2008 to 2015.

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Prepared To Face Forensic Audit on Treasury Bond Scam Allegedly Committed By His Govt During 2008 to 2015.’ »

By

Kalathma Jayawardhane

Joint Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday said President Maithripala Sirisena had cleared the good name of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe through his Wednesday’s statement on the Central Bank bond scam.

Addressing the media following an event held in Colombo, MP Rajapaksa said that accordingly, now the wrongdoer was former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran.

“In President Sirisena’s statement, he has cleared the good name of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. The wrongdoer is Mahendran, not the person who had appointed him or the person who was going to appoint him,” he added.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Has Cleared the Good Name Of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe In His Statement About Central Bank Bond Scam says Jint Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa’ »

By

Kalathma Jayawardhane

In the wake of President Maithripala Sirisena’s statement on the Central Bank bond scam, the joint opposition today said President Sirisena should also be held responsible for the fraud as he was the appointing authority of Arjuna Mahendran as the Central Bank Governor who cleaned out the Treasury.

Addressing a news conference on behalf of the joint opposition, former minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said President Sirisena had only appointed Mr. Mahendran. He also said yesterday’s President Sirisena’s statement was merely to distance himself from the fraud which had caused a whopping loss of Rs. 11 billion to the state.

Continue reading ‘Since President Sirisena Appointed Arjuna Mahendran as Central Bank Governor ,He Too Must Bear Responsibility for Treasury Bond Fraud States Prof G.L.Peiris’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday maintained that, on his instructions they had already referred the findings of the COPE Committee headed by parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti that probed the Treasury bond scams to the Attorney General on October 31, 2016. President Maithripala Sirisena forwarded the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the scams also to AG recently.

The PM, has in a media statement, said he had also requested the AG in December 2016 to take suitable legal action against the responsible officers for the controversial bond dealings and to straighten out the issuance of bonds.

“We have been able to reinforce the yahapalana national government’s democratic and law abiding programme by such actions. Now we expect the AG’s Department to take suitable follow up action” he has said.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wanted Attorney-General in DEc 2016 To Take Action on COPE Report On Treasury Bonds Scam But A -G Dept Has Not Done So Far.’ »

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister’s office expressed hope that the Attorney General will act on a report by President Commission of Inquiry, though no action has been taken on a parliamentary report which was handed over more than a year ago.

The Prime Minister’s office said a report by the parliament’s Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was referred to the AG as far back as October 31, 2016.

“The report on the Presidential Commission on bond issues has been referred by the President to the Attorney General,” the statement said.

“The report of the COPE Chaired by Sunil Handunetti was referred with instructions from the Prime Minister on October 31 to the Attorney General.”

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Wickremesinghe “Hopes” Attorney – General Will Act on Presidential Commission of Inquiry Report on Treasury Bond Scam’ »

The report of the Sri Lankan Presidential Commission which probed a massive illegality in the issue of Treasury Bonds by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in 2015, serves the political interest of President Maithripala Sirisena.

The report on the multi billion rupee scam, the main contents of which were revealed to the country by Sirisena on Wednesday, helps him keep the coalition with the United National Party (UNP) going despite sharp differences and moves within to scuttle it.

By only mildly ticking off UNP leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for going by the false assurances given by the erring bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, the report helps Sirisena safeguard his relations with his Prime Minister, who heads the single largest party in parliament.

By saying that similar scams had taken place when Mahinda Rajapaksa was President, and his man Ajith Cabraal was CBSL Governor, and that the bonds issued between 2008 and 2015 should also be investigated and legal action taken, the report helps put Joint Opposition leader and carping critic Rajapaksa and his henchmen in the dock.

With Sirisena saying that he has asked the Attorney General to begin the legal process, the Rajapaksa camp will have cause to worry in the run up to the crucial local bodies elections in February.

Continue reading ‘Bond Commission Report Enables Maithripala Sirisena To Hold Whip Hand Over Ranil Wickremesinghe As Well As Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, in a special statement to the nation on Wednesday said that the government would adapt a new Monetary Law Act in the island country to avoid any malpractices in the Central Bank in the future.

Sirisena made the statement following the conclusion of probe by a special Presidential Commission into one of the country’s biggest treasury bond scams committed at the Central Bank during the period of the former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran.

The country’s treasury is said to have lost Rs,11,145 million due to treasury bond scam and other malpractices committed allegedly under the watch of the former Central Bank Chief and some bank officials.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka to enact new monetary law to prevent corruption at Central Bank following Bond Scam’ »

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena said a Presidential Commission which probed Sri Lanka’s biggest securities scam has held former central bank governor Arjuna Mahendren responsible for leaking market sensitive information and also recommended legal action against former finance minister Ravi Karunanayake.

Making a special statement to media on the Presidential Bond Commission report, Sirisena said they had recommended legal action against all those responsible for the scam.

The commission of inquiry probed a series of rigged bond auctions conducted by the central bank under then Governor Arjuna Mahendran where his son-in-law’s company Perpetual Treasuries bought securities at low prices (high yields).

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena says Commission of Inquiry Report Recommends Legal Action Under Penal Code Against Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday revealed to the public recent incidents of corruption and bribery over the issuance of Treasury Bonds as well as serious acts of fraud and abuse of power and state resources, backing key recommendations from specialists tasked with an independent probe.

In a much-awaited prerecorded televised address to the nation, the President detailed the incidents, several of which were criminal in nature, and named the culprits, among whom were the former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, the Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius along with other officials and private sector personnel.

Full Text oftThe Official translation of President Sirisena’s speech released by the President’s Office is as follows –

May the Triple Gem Bless You!

First of all, I offer my best wishes for the New Year.

As the people of the country are eagerly waiting with high interest, I wish to make a statement on the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Issue of Treasury Bonds of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, which was appointed by me taking into consideration the opinion of the people regarding allegations of corrupt practices and misdeeds during the period 2015 and 2016. Its report was handed over to me on December 30, 2017.

The Commission was mandated to inquire into the issuance of treasury bonds during the period from 1st February 2015 to 31st March 2016 to find out actual facts and to make recommendations as to the steps to be implemented in the future.

I thank the Supreme Court Judges and former Auditor-General who functioned as members of the Commission and its Secretary and the staff, and those who assisted the work of the Commission, Attorney Generals Department, Police Department and other relevant organizations and individuals.

The Commission is of the opinion that similar incidents as revealed in the Commission Report had happened even in 2008. The Commission recommends that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka should first conduct a forensic audit with regard to the alleged fraud and corrupt practices from 2008 onwards, and based on such findings, legal actions should be taken.

Commission states that funds of the Employment Provident Fund (EPF) were lost mostly during that period.

The Commission has submitted a full report covering the period 2015 and 2016, comprising 1257 pages and it is not an interim report. The Commission has taken 10 months for this task.

I have already submitted this report to Attorney-General and the Commission recommends that the criminal and civil court action must be taken through the Criminal Investigations Department and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

The Commission has clearly stated the structure of the Central Bank, Public Debt Department, direct issuance of Treasury bonds and the pros and cons of the system of issuance of bonds as well as bond auctions. The report stated that the Perpetual Treasuries Limited has earned profits through means that are not legal, with the involvement of Mr Arjuna Mahendran, Bank officials and some external parties.

Continue reading ‘“Perpetual Treasuries Has Earned Profits Through Illegal Means With the Involvement of Arjuna Mahendran, Central Bank Officials and Some External Parties” – President Sirisena’ »

The “Sunday Times” Political Editor

(Following are excerpts from the political column appearing in the “Sunday Times” of December 31st 2017)

The three-member Commission of Inquiry to probe the Central Bank bond scam handed over its report to President Sirisena last afternoon at his Paget Road residence in Colombo. During a nine month period, the Commission held 117 days of sittings into what is easily the biggest, single financial scam in Sri Lankan history. It was headed by Supreme Court Justice Kankanithanthri T. Chitrasiri and includes Supreme Court Justice Prasanna Sujeewa Jayawardena, and retired Deputy Auditor General Vellupillai Kandasamy.

With local polls due on February 10, the contents of the report will be the cynosure of the public – if it is made public. More so when the proceedings of the Commission where startling disclosures surfaced, sharply contrasted with what transpired before a parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). This has drawn greater public attention. Questions were raised on the veracity of many assertions. Similarly, it also brought into question the findings of an official committee and the remarks UNP MPs made in Parliament based on them. In essence, the overarching question at issue is how much the Commission’s findings would contrast with the UNP claim that there was ‘no wrong doing.’

Continue reading ‘Nine Politicians Named For Role in Treasury Bond Scam in Presidential Inquiry Commission Report Say Unconfirmed reports;Strong Indictments against Arjuna Mahendran and Arjun Aloysius;Further Probe Recommended Into Ravi Karunanayake’s “Monarch” Apartment Affair’ »

by Anura Balasuriya

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that though many wanted his photograph to be printed on their campaign posters for the forthcoming election campaign, only the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which had the lotus bud as its symbol had a right to do so.

Rajapaksa said so, addressing the candidates contesting the forthcoming local government elections on the SLPP ticket, at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium.

Continue reading ‘Only Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna With The Lotus Bud Symbol Has The Right To Print My Photograph on Election Campaign Posters Declares Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By

Col R Hariharan

Sri Lanka is expected to hold the nation-wide local government (LG) elections on February 10, 2018. Usually, local body elections are low key affairs. However, this election is important as a mid-term appraisal of the performance of President Maithripala Sirisena- Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe government. It would also provide an indication of the future developments likely to affect the fortunes of political parties and their leaders.

Over 15.8 million people will be exercising their votes on a single day to elect 8293 member to 24 municipal councils, 41 urban councils and 276 divisional councils is undoubtedly major challenge for the government. Sri Lanka’s past experience in conducting elections is a mixed bag of good, bad and the ugly. It ranged from misuse of government machinery and state media, use of both muscle power and money power to disrupt rival party’s election campaigns and even fisticuffs between contestants ending in killings.

The sheer size of the elections, with over 70,000 candidates in the fray, makes the administration’s job of conducting free and fair elections even more difficult. Will the political parties and people rise up to the occasion to make it a success? Probably, this is the question haunting the minds of elections officials and police administration.

Continue reading ‘Political fallout of Local Government Polls in Sri Lanka’ »

Happy New Year!

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

2018 should be the year Sri Lanka finally prioritises on economy and evolves a political cohesiveness that supports economic development. However, there is an acid test: the future of the UNP-SLFP unity government. The memorandum of understanding between the two parties lapsed on December 31; the SLFP says a decision will be taken after the local government elections.

The UNP-SLFP joint arrangement during the past two years had been chaotic, yet it prevented the country from falling into a crippling political contention of a worse kind. Imagine the plight of a minority UNP government in power amidst all these daily protests and strikes. And there would also have been organised efforts of sabotage and run rings around the government. But now, should the SLFP decide to part ways, the UNP will be forced to run a minority government, that would be at the mercy of the TNA and JVP. Sri Lanka cannot afford that political uncertainty and resultant instability. Current zigzagging of the government policy on almost everything has already made prospective investors scratching their heads. More political confusion would rob this country another couple of years of economic growth.

Economic growth for the past year is likely to be below 4 per cent. Slow growth rates in the past three years could be compensated for only if the government evolves a sound micro-economic base that would support a long-term holistic growth. However, good economics is bad for politics. A minority UNP government would forfeit long-term economic goals in order to somehow cling to power – this is exactly what it did by its mini-budget presented prior to the general election of 2015, which resulted in the government recurrent spending skyrocketing due to increased salaries and subsidies and worsened the balance of payment problem.

While some ministers close to the president want to stick with the unity government, others want to get out and reorganise for the next general election. Some are disgruntled at being ignored by the UNP, others want their fingers in the honey pot, which can be best accomplished being in the government. However, the SLFP does not have numbers to form a government, which would mean, their role would be in the opposition, trying out the usual tactics of obstructionism. A minority government is more susceptible to an acute obstructionism.

Continue reading ‘Future of Coalition Govt Lies in the Balance of Political Power Between UNP and SLFP, as well as Between President Sirisena and Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

By

P.K.Balachandran

As 2017 ended on Sunday, Tamil filmdom’s superstar Rajinikanth made the much expected announcement of his entry into Tamil Nadu politics.

The star of over 160 films, many of them hits, had been toying with the idea of entering politics as per a tradition in Tamil filmdom in which successful actors end up trying their luck in politics. But unlike other matinee idols M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa, “Rajini” did not have the required self-confidence to actually take the risk.

However, when two decades of dilly dallying ended finally, his enormous fan following was delighted, and forces which have been keen on riding piggy back on his popularity, were relieved.

The forces hoping to ride piggy back are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the allied Sangh Parivar comprising Hindu nationalist organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Hindu Munnani (HM).

It is therefore not surprising that only the leadership of the BJP in Tamil Nadu welcomed Rajini’s announcement on Sunday. Both Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and state-level leader Tamilisai Soundararajan came out with public statements.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Film Superstar Rajinikanth Entering Politics Will Help the BJP Led “Hindutva” Forces To Flourish In Tamil Nadu’ »

By
Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

“What is a Nation?” (“Qu’est-ce qu’une nation?”) – Ernest Renan (1882)

“I have been in the belly of the beast and I know its entrails.”– Jose Marti

The resumption of rumblings over the SAITM issue, due to concerns about a double-cross by elements of the Government, generated commentary which was revealing. From the Sinhala ultranationalists, where there should be solidarity, there was only resentment, exposing the hollowness of the ideology and discourse. It is not without reason that Nietzsche warned against “ressentiment” (French for ‘resentment’) and ideologies that arise from it. Their oft-repeated sardonic, slogans were: “There is huge agitation over SAITM but they cannot demonstrate against the new Constitution or the jailing of war heroes!” “They care more about SAITM than the Constitution or war heroes!” “What is the biggest issue today? SAITM!”

Criticizing students and doctors for agitating over SAITM rather than the Constitution or the victimization of war veterans is rather like criticizing a trade union for agitating over a matter that directly concerned its sector of industry and its members, instead of demonstrating over larger national issues. It is like criticizing a person with an acute stomach ache of not complaining more loudly about a headache In this line of argument the only valid and legitimate issues, or the most valid and legitimate issues by far, are those connected to ‘the nation’. It acknowledges no other social or existential reality.

In the second place this criticism reveals the inadequacy of their notion of the nation itself. It is a nationalism without a social content; national sovereignty without people’s sovereignty; national liberation without social liberation. It is, in effect a thin nationalism—a nationalism without the social dimension. It is a hollow nationalism: a nation without the people, without the masses, without the educated youth.

Those who speak sardonically of the anti-SAITM agitation by the students reveal their ignorance of how a nation can flourish, can compete, can evolve. It needs above all, education, and the guaranteed access to education including higher education, to all the people. That is why a nation which defends itself successfully against the world’s sole superpower, and punches well above its weight in the world arena, namely Cuba, invests far more in education than most nations of the world and spends more on education and research than on its excellent military.

Continue reading ‘The “Wanna-be UNP” Sinhala Far Right is “Anti -UNP” Only Because the UNP Is Multi-ethnic.’ »

The decades long guessing game has finally come to an end. Superstar Rajinikanth, the actor loved by the masses in Tamil Nadu and beyond, has officially announced his entry into politics.

On Sunday, dressed in a white kurta and pants, Rajinikanth walked into the Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam in Chennai’s T Nagar to an audience of excited fans and TV cameras that were ready to finally capture the moment. As Rajini walked on stage, the fans cheered for their ‘Thalaivar’, who had announced an announcement less than a week ago.

And minutes later, the question that Tamil Nadu has been asking for decades was answered in six simple words: “My entry into politics is certain.”

To a roaring audience, Rajinikanth said, “I will form my own political party and contest from all 234 seats in the next assembly election.”
Continue reading ‘“My entry into politics is certain.”- Tamil Cinema Superstar Rajinikanth To Form Own Political Party and Contest All 234 Seats in Tamil Nadu.’ »

By

Ravi Ladduwahetty

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in an exclusive interview with Ceylon Today last afternoon, dared the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee to terminate his membership from the Party in which he has been a member for the last 50 years since 1968 and a Member of Parliament for the Beliatta electorate since 1970.

He said: “It was I who salvaged this country from the most brutal terrorists the world has seen. It was I who rebuilt this country and also the SLFP in the post-war history as the President of the country and now it is very easy for the Party that I resurrected to sack me.”

Continue reading ‘“Sack Me If You Can”: Mahinda Rajapaksa Challemges SLFP Central Committee To Terminate His 50 Year Long Party Membership’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

As we enter upon a New Year pregnant with hope and foreboding in equal parts, the inglorious epitaph of the past twelve months qualifies to be none other than the adage ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same.’

A tug-of-war between the old and the new

Certainly the signs of the establishment resisting the pressure of people-power for change in the January 2015 vote for a new Executive President of Sri Lanka were evidenced very early on in that year itself.

As this tug-of-war went back and forth in the years that followed, it was during the past year that battle lines solidified and a once inspiring impetus for reform lost its way in the darkness of disillusionment.

It became increasingly ridiculous to protest that ‘well, this is anyway better off than what we had during the Rajapaksas’. The fact of the matter was that that the Rajapaksas were never a measure of reasonable comparison. That decade represented the nadir of Sri Lanka’s decades-old Rule of Law crisis. Yet in significant ways, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe unity alliance lapsed into the old ways of its predecessor regime, even conceding variations on the extent and nature of that lapse. And as the divide between the urban privileged and the desperately marginalised became starker with economic disparities at the core, law and order floundered and the United National Party became mired in an unsettling tangle of bond scam allegations and corrupt ministerial types et al.

Continue reading ‘What is Required in the New Year is For Those in Political Power to Observe a Simple Standard of Commonsense and Integrity.’ »

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

There were strange reactions to Sri Lanka’s political responses to and UN vote on the issue of Jerusalem. There are those spokespersons of the Sinhala Far Right who criticized the Sri Lankan stand and the cross-party political consensus as instances of double standards. The argument was that those who could not combine to defend Sri Lanka from the charges leveled at it in Geneva, and did not rally round Lord Naseby’s revelations, had banded together on the remote issue of Jerusalem.

These strange reactions to Sri Lanka’s vote on the Jerusalem issue reminds us of the kinds of human beings there are. There are those who recognize the criteria of right and wrong, and those whose notion of right and wrong is based on who is seen to commit it.

There are those of us who criticize the government and the Sri Lankan foreign ministry because we think they are adopting the wrong stand on this or that issue or on foreign policy issues in general. If and when the government takes a right stand we are therefore not reluctant to commend it.

Sri Lanka has taken the correct position on two issues this last year. We voted with almost the whole world at the UN when the Cubans moved their annual resolution against the US economic embargo, or blockade as Cuba calls it. 190 countries voted against the US embargo. Only 3 voted against the resolution and among them was the US itself. The other issue on which Sri Lanka took a right stand was of course Jerusalem.

These two issues were exceptions to the rule of the Sri Lankan government’s gravely erroneous foreign policy, most especially in Geneva. We must condemn the rule and commend the exception.

Continue reading ‘Sinhala ultranationalist Discourse which is of Parochialism and Neo-tribalism, can Never Defend the National Interests of Sri Lanka.’ »

By

Ajith Siriwardana

Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Minister Mano Ganesan had been provided with Special Task Force (STF) security with a backup vehicle with five STF personnel, STF sources today said.

Meanwhile, the Minister said in a statement that he faced serious security issues and sought the intervention of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and had also written to the IGP in September.

“Certain politicos in Colombo are behind these threats. I have discussed with President Maithripala Sirisena. I have also explained my situation to Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe at different occasions. Some fallen politicians are all out to destroy my party and block the fair representation I seek for the communities my party represents in the city council,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Minister Mano Ganesan Given STF Security To Protect The TPA Leader From Colombo North Politicos With Underworld Connections.’ »

By Namini Wijedasa

Some assets located overseas have been “provisionally identified” as being the proceeds of crimes committed by certain politically exposed persons (PEPs) of Sri Lankan origin, authoritative Government sources revealed this week. While they declined to say who these persons were, PEPs typically include politicians and bureaucrats.

These were the outcomes of investigations conducted by the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption), the FCID (Financial Crimes Investigation Division) and the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), they said. “As at this moment, a few assets have been provisionally identified as proceeds of crime committed by certain politically exposed persons (PEP) of Sri Lankan origin.”

In financial regulations, PEP describes someone entrusted with a prominent public function. They generally present a higher risk for potential involvement in bribery and corruption by virtue of their position and the influence that they may hold.

Continue reading ‘Overseas Assets Acquired By Sri Lankan Politicians and Bureaucrats Through Criminal Means Have Been Located Abroad and “Provisionally Identified”’ »

By

Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath’s recent comments (in an English Daily) on his party’s stance on the national question makes interesting reading; especially in the context of the current constitution making process.

Herath, asked to explain the JVP’s current position, vis-à-vis, the ethnic problem and power devolution as a means to resolving it, responded that though the JVP still believed the provincial councils system wasn’t a solution, it was now part of the system.

He went on to elaborate: “There is a dialogue going on the constitution-making process. The Tamil parties that were extreme and demanded federalism, are not doing so now. They have taken moderate positions. It is unrealistic to achieve federalism in Sri Lanka. In such a context, the JVP is agreeable to resolving the national question with certain modifications to the current provincial councils system, rather than leaving room for the aggravation of the problem further. If other parties too take this position, we will fall in line to proceed with modifications to the provincial councils system.”

Herath spoke on the need for further discussion on how modifications or amendments could be brought about without leaving room for separation and that his party had taken a flexible approach to these issues.
When reminded about the JVP’s stance that the provincial councils system was a stepping stone for separation, Herath said there was a need for change in the thinking to suit the times, and as a party, the JVP has embraced change.

Continue reading ‘Is the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Truly Ready to Embrace Real Change?’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed newly sworn-in legislator Piyasena Gamage as state minister for law and order in a move that sought to reduce the authority of a very close ally of the prime minister.

Sirisena, who is at loggerheads with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) gave the influential portfolio to Gamage, a member of the Sirisena-faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Gamage became a minister after SLFP’s Rajapaksa-faction MP Geetha Kumarasinghe was unseated because she was found to be holding Swiss citizenship at the time of contesting the August 2015 parliamentary elections.

The latest appointment to the law and order ministry came amid SLFP’s criticism of cabinet minister Sagala Ratnayaka, a close ally of Wickremesinghe.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sends “Warning Signals” to Ranil and Mahinda By Appointing Piyasena Gamage as State Minister of Law and Order as a Check and Balance to “Rajapaksa Friendly” Sagala Ratnayake.’ »

By

Sandun A Jayasekera

President Maithripala Sirisena said today he would not hesitate to use the ‘sword’ on his relatives, friends or party supporters in his journey to create a clean, unstained and a people-friendly political culture.

“In my journey with a sword to create a clean, unstained and a people-friendly political culture and to bring up a group of unblemished and untarnished politicians, I don’t care whether it is my relatives, friends or party supporters who get cut by my sword,” the president said quoting the Bhagavad Gita.

He said he wanted to create a rule in Sri Lanka similar to that of Lichchhavi dynasty that ruled the ancient kingdom of Nepal from 400 to 750 CE and Dharmashoka who ruled India from 269 BC from ‘Pataliputta’.

Addressing a convention of leaders and representatives of 31 political parties under the theme ‘Power of the country and village to Freedom’ having pledged to support and contest on the UPFA ticket under the betel leaf symbol, the President said the vow taken at the opening of the convention by all political parties was the best stepping stone to launch the campaign to create a culture of clean politics and clean politicians in the country and eliminate corruption in politics for ever.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Says He Wont Hesitate To Use The “Kaduwa”(Sword) Against Relatives,Friends or Party Supporters In His Fight To Create A Corroption -free Pure Culture.’ »

A Christmas Reflection by Bishop Duleep de Chickera

Bethlehem is the little village in which Jesus was born. It was here, that the unseen God emptied himself to become human in the form of Jesus, so that humans could hear and know God best through the idiom of the human, and rise to a fully integrated life. The festival that commemorates this historical self-giving act of God taking flesh, known as the incarnation; is Christmas.

pic via: @KhaledBeydoun

pic via: @KhaledBeydoun

Jesus’ life elaborates on God’s act of selfless love and the crux of His teaching calls us to live the incarnation. Living the incarnation in turn requires that we rise above self-interest to serve and include the other, especially the vulnerable, as Jesus did. But this is half the task. We are to also carefully discern and contest oppressive greed that excludes the other, especially the vulnerable, as Jesus did.
Continue reading ‘Vibrancy of Bethlehem will Convert Christmas into a Peoples’ Festival of Discernment, Resistance and Transformation’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is at loggerheads with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP), has strongly hinted at a possible split of their coalition mid-way of its five-year term.

The President told his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) loyalists that he has decided to carry out the “second stage” of his daring political bravery of defecting from the then strongman president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government in November 2014.

A rank outsider, Sirisena quit his Health ministry portfolio and challenged his former boss at the snap presidential election of January 2015. He won spectacularly with the support of a UNP-led rainbow coalition clamouring for good governance after a decade of autocratic rule.

On Friday evening, Sirisena said the way to save the country from the scourge of bribery and corruption was to strengthen his SLFP which he described as the only “clean political force in the country.”

“Without strengthening the SLFP, I don’t see any clean political force that could save the country at this time in its history….

“As I took a courageous and bold decision to leave the (then) government on November 21, 2014, I have today decided to take my next major step. It will be in the interest of the country and its people to ensure a clean political force,” he said.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Hints Strongly To SLFP Loyalists Of Possible Split With the UNP In Coalition Govt After Local Govt Elections’ »

(Excerpt From “Talk At The Cafe Spectator”Column in “Sunday Times”)

Malaysia insisted on meeting with Wigneswaran despite objections by officials
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak’s two day visit to Sri Lanka was not without controversy.
One incident came at a scheduled meeting Premier Razak had lined up with Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was infuriated that none of its leaders had been chosen for the meeting. One of them raised issue with Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Continue reading ‘Malaysian PM Abdul Razak Meets Northern CM Wigneswaran Without Meeting TNA Leaders Despite Objections By Prime Ministers Office and Foreign Ministry Officials.’ »

By

Don Manu

At first light, at first sight and at first read, the news seemed to be a page out of Ripley’s Believe It or Not. But Lanka was forced to believe it, like it or lump it, when Russia announced its decision to cut down on its 400 million dollars worth of Ceylon Tea imports from Lanka, all because they had found a single beetle in a crate that carried Lanka’s economic bread and butter.

Never in the field of human commerce, perhaps, would so many have faced losing so much due to one small beetle.

But why did one beetle get Russia’s goat? That is the 400 million dollar mystery and question. One that those who blame Lanka’s woes on the western world and claim it’s all due to some international capitalistic conspiracy but look to Moscow as their Marxist Mecca should ask themselves.

Last week the Russian authorities stated that they have found one beetle in a container carrying Ceylon Tea. The Russian agricultural safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said last Thursday that Russia will place temporary restrictions on imports of all agricultural products from Sri Lanka, including tea, from Dec. 18. The watchdog said it had taken the decision to impose restrictions after it found one insect, known as the Khapra beetle, in one consignment of tea from Sri Lanka.

But the tea in that one crate was securely packed as stated by Lanka. The beetle may have been found in the same crate – and that is possible for this particular pest is known to seek out cracks and crevices in burlap bags, sacks, crates, rail cars, ship holds and trucks, where they can remain hidden for years. But how could this 1.6–3 mm tiny insect have pierced its way into the packaging? The chances are it could not have.

But the worry for the Russians is not over whether its singular presence will spoil their cup of tea but of the danger it may pose to their favourite tipple Vodka which is traditionally made from fermented grains such as sorghum, corn, rice, rye or wheat, though you can also use potatoes, fruits or even just sugar. Therein lies the fear and rub. For this creepy crawly Khapra is a crop killer and the Russian phobia is that the beetle, whose staple diet is grains, could have attacked Russia’s vast growing fields and turned the entire land mass into a Siberia and denied the masses their food and drink.

Continue reading ‘A Single Khapra Beetle Found In a Tea Crate Exported From Sri Lanka Causes Lifting of Ban On Cancer Causing Asbetos Imported From Russia’ »

By Champika Fernando

As a 12-year-old, Sri Lanka’s new national cricket coach would do 15 minutes of bat drill after dinner each day, standing in front of a mirror. He would then go to sleep with his bat under the pillow. Such was his dedication to the game. Chandika Hathurusingha signed up this week as head coach to the ailing Sri Lankan team.

He had two years left with his last employer—Bangladesh Cricket Board—under whom he achieved unprecedented success. Since taking over the mantle in May 2014, he transformed a team plagued by a defeatist mentality into fierce competitors across all formats of the game.

This was when he received a call from his home Board. After thorough analysis, he accepted the offer—on his own terms—to lead a side that now seems all but lost. Hathurusingha had discussed the offer with S Skandakumar, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Australia and a former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Secretary who has significantly influenced his rise from a committed teenage player to one of the world’s highest paid coaches.

“He kept me posted right along,” Mr Skandakumar, who was at Tamil Union when Hathurusingha joined the club as a schoolboy cricketer, told the Sunday Times via email. “I only gave advice when he sought my views, knowing that, by now, he had a strong mind of his own and would finally decide for himself.”

Continue reading ‘Chandika Hathurusinghe Returns Home To Guide and Strengthen Embattled Sri Lankan Team After Uplifting Bangla Desh Cricket to New Heights’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

Even allowing for the caustic truth of the 16th century saying that ‘what cannot be cured must be endured’, there is a limit to endurance if Sri Lanka has to undergo repeated visits of international United Nations missions without tangible benefits ensuing to the country’s long-suffering citizens.

A more incisive critique needed

Thus, the recent visit of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWG) to Sri Lanka must be followed by definitive state policy reform, at least to the extent of allowing suspects in police custody, the prompt access to legal counsel without being hedged about by conditions that deprive that basic right of much of its force.

As discussed in last week’s column spaces, the recently gazetted amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code leaves a lot to be desired. It needs to be jettisoned forthwith. A replacement that is in consonance with Sri Lanka’s judicial precedents on the suspect’s right to prompt legal access must be adopted. This is particularly so given the UNWG’s preliminary finding that detainees do not ‘enjoy some of the most fundamental guarantees of due process’ such as immediate access to legal assistance from the moment of the arrest and before their initial statement is recorded. Indeed, the team had noted that the interrogation of detainees by the authorities without a lawyer at police stations is ‘of great concern.’

That said, a more incisive critique of draft laws on counter-terror and criminal justice would have been opportune. Visiting UN teams should desist from gingerly side-stepping specificities in these matters. The value of the visits comes from the propensity to take on the ‘hard issues’ rather than wallow in the easy stuff, as it were. While in other respects, the UNWG’s observations are doubtless useful, it does not take international visitors to announce with pomp and circumstance that Sri Lanka’s prisons are overcrowded. That is a fact that Sri Lankans know very well and have known in fact, for decades even as successive Governments of all party colours have failed to address that problem.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Has Not Implemented Even a Single Recommendation Made By The Human Right Committee’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

The yahapalana government has been adept at shooting themselves in the foot and they took another major step in that direction by discussing in cabinet that a special presidential commission be appointed to investigate the alienation of the land on which the newly opened Shangri La hotel now stands. This land originally belonged to the Army Headquarters. The Shangri La hotel is the only worthwhile foreign investment that came into this country during the period of the yahapalana government. They are now trying to initiate an investigation into the alienation of land for this hotel project – the allegation being that the 10 acre land on which it stands was sold for USD 125 million around 2010. Owing to the relocation of Army headquarters which the sale of this land necessitated, the government further claims that Rs. 5 billion a year has to be spent on rent to house the installations of the Army that had to be shifted out and that this was an unnecessary burden on the Treasury. The President had also claimed that the shifting out of several units and offices out of the Army headquarters had resulted in a national security threat.

There is some speculation as to what would have caused this latest initiative against the Rajapaksas coming as it does after the opening of the Shangri La hotel in Colombo. Some think this may have been motivated by the alleged difference in the treatment meted out to President Sirisena and the leaders of this government on the one hand and the Rajapaksas on the other by the operators of the new hotel. It is said that at the opening ceremony, the President and the leaders of this government had less lavish treatment than the Rajapaksas when liquor flowed like water – or so we are told. Speculation is also rife that since all other means to corner Gota on the so called MiG deal and the Medamulana memorial having failed, the government has fixated on the alienation of land to the Shangri La project as a means of fixing him, and this time they have decided to do it through a presidential commission rather than using the courts.

There is also the view that this talk of a presidential commission into the Shangri La land is only to mollify the UNP because the report of the bond commission is to be released in the next few days before the end of the year and Sirisena was trying to soften the blow for the UNP by talking of a similar presidential commission to investigate the Shangri La land transaction. Whatever the true reason for this talk of investigating the Shangri La land deal, it could not come at a worse moment when all eyes are on the newest luxury hotel to open in Colombo. Every present and potential investor in this country will now be watching what happens very carefully. This is a country that shot itself in the foot very badly in this regard the moment they came into power by halting all Chinese funded projects including the Port City which was inaugurated by the President of China himself. The sight of an elected government in a country treating China, the main investor in the world, in that manner would have caused consternation among existing and potential investors in this country.

Continue reading ‘Appointing Presidential Commission Of Inquiry To Probe Shangri La Hotel On Army Property At Galle Face Project Deal May Backfire On Coalition Govt.’ »

By

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

With the nominations for elections to all local bodies concluding earlier this week, the stage is set for the local government elections throughout the county on February 10, 2018 under the new electoral system, making it an effective National Poll of deep political significance.

The week also saw a major development on the anti-Rajapaksa Regime corruption drive, with many ministers calling for a Presidential Commission to probe the removal of the Army Headquarters from Galle Face by the Rajapaksa Government, at the cost of an annual rent of Rs. 15 billion for 15 buildings for the defence forces, when Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was Secretary, Ministry of Defence, and many more aspects of corruption involved in this deal. The situation is certainly no Shangri-la for the country.

In the Local Govt. Polls, three leading contenders for the mayoralty of Colombo – the UNP, UPFA and JVP have announced their mayoral candidates. Several nomination lists of political parties and independent groups have been rejected by the Elections Office personnel.

Continue reading ‘Local Govt Elections Under New Voting System on Feb 10th Will Be An Effective National Poll of Deep Political Significance.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

S. Indira Gandhi owns a brand-new house now. She is one of the first few from Sri Lanka’s hill country Tamil community – that has a two century-history in the island – who can call this home, and the piece of land beneath it, her own.

A full-time worker in a tea estate, the 33-year-old, along with her husband, is busy giving finishing touches to her cement-walled home in Dayagama, in Nuwara Eliya district in the Central Province. They have recently cut a path leading to the entrance of their home, where saplings bearing sprightly pink flowers pop up from either side. For the young couple, the home is much more than a secure place of residence, or a permanent dwelling.

Continue reading ‘Having a Home Of Their Own in Central Highlands Makes Plantation Tamils of Sri Lanka Feel at Home .’ »

By Ranjith Wimalasiri

Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya yesterday called on all SLFP candidates, contesting the forthcoming local polls to include pictures of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in their campaign posters and other such propaganda materials.

The Chief Minister made that request while addressing a press conference held at the Chief Minister’s office in Colombo.

Continue reading ‘Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya Asks All SLFP Candidates Contesting Local Polls to Include Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Picture in Posters and Other Propaganda Material’ »

By Dr Kamal Wickremasinghe

The expression Relative Pitch used in the caption of this essay is a concept that originates from the field of music, which describes the crucialability of singers and players of instruments in an ensemble to re-create a given musical note by comparing it to a reference note. The phrase ‘relative pitch’ has come to be used as an allegory for ‘harmony of ability and intent’ in other group endeavours. A look at the current state of Sri Lankan cricket draws the allegory of relative pitch from the deep recesses of reminiscence as the likely missing ingredient responsible for the sad state of affairs.

To put current woes in perspective, 21years after the maiden World Cup triumph, Sri Lankan cricket has descended to the ‘bottom of the pit’ of international competition. The Sri Lankan cricket team has become the whipping boys of international cricket. In the last twelve months in Test match cricket Sri Lanka lost 3-0 to South Africa, were routed3-0 at home by India, and suffered their first ever defeat to Bangladesh. They also lost to Zimbabwe in the ODI series at home and only narrowly escaped losing the solitary Test against them. The miserable run of losses was temporarily halted by two series wins against Pakistan in the UAE and ODIs against India respectively, possibly ‘thrown’ by them due to long odds in this age of betting. While the calendar year 2017 marked the nadir of Sri Lanka’s cricketing performance since gaining Test status, it certainly has long been coming.

In short, Sri Lankan cricket is in a pretty pickle.

To state the obvious, every cricketing contest should necessarily result in a winning and a losing team and it goes without saying that ecstasy of victory as well as the agony of defeat— under normal conditions — needs to be managed with equanimity. The issue currently is that SL as a professional cricket team seems to have got used to the ‘habit of losing’ as the legendary American football coach Vince Lombardire marked about the losing Green Bay Packers whom he changed to a winning team in the 1960s.Transitioning from ingrained loser mentality to a winning frame of mind demands rational analysis of causes and action founded on lessons learnt.

The remediation process needs to start by viewing cricket in its proper context as a pursuit that reflects life; Cricket enthusiasts swear that Test cricket imitates life by mirroring the effect of circumstances beyond one’s control — in the form of pitch conditions, weather, and umpiring decisions etc. — can make ‘the best laid plans of mice and men’ go awry. Also, cricket exemplifies the need for patience and fortitude to bear with vagaries, pending opportunities to recourse through ‘second chances’ such as a second innings or a new ball.The reverse process of the broader society influencing cricket is equally important, as has been brilliantly exposed by the Trinidadian ex-cricketer and writer C.L.R.James(1901–89) (CLR) in his memoir ‘BeyondaBoundary’.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Cricket Needs To Find “Relative Pitch” If Former Glory Is To Be Restored.’ »

By

Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

It is all very simple really. This election is about you. If you vote for the UNP, you think that the country is better off under Ranil, is doing better and will do better under him as PM than it did when Mahinda Rajapaksa was in charge. If you voted for regime change in 2015 it is because you thought that a government with Ranil and Chandrika driving it would or could do better than one under MR.

If you vote for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP this time, you are saying the Central Bank Bond Scam was OK, and are then morally responsible as a citizen for more such scams being pulled until 2020.

If you think Ranil’s government – Bond Scam, a lousy 3.3% growth rate, Geneva resolution, quasi-federal constitutional draft and all – are better than MR’s performance; if you feel you, your family, your neighbourhood, your community and your nation are doing/ did better under Ranil’s government than MR’s; if you feel you have progressed since MR’s departure in 2015; you should vote for this government.

If you feel otherwise, if you feel the opposite, if you feel cheated by this government, then you should give the government a signal by voting for the Opposition. If you don’t, the government will keep on keeping on, doing what it is doing, heading along the same path.

It took Russia a decade (the 1990s) and Putin to escape the madness of economic neo-liberalism and genuflection to the West. The USSR was bad but all opinion polls prove that the Russian people think the West-centric Boris Yeltsin was far worse, and therefore they keep voting for Putin because they never want to go back to another pro-Western liberal. We, Sri Lankans have a choice. Either we can go through this cycle of neo-liberal politics, crash the economy and burn in the fires of ultra-nationalist blowback, and then come to our collective senses, rebuilding from the ashes — or we can short-circuit the cycle and start exiting the matrix with the forthcoming local government elections.

Continue reading ‘If You Vote For Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP This Time, You Are Saying The Central Bank Bond Scam Was OK’ »

By

Vishwamithra1984

“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.”
~Nicco Machiavelli

There was no Machiavellian nuanced statecraft. There was no Dudley Senanayakian transparency and honesty. There was no Jayewardenesque stoicism. There was not even lofty but empty rhetoric of the likes of SWRD Bandaranaike. There was no veiled brilliance of a shrewd leader; only undisguised greed for power and unremarkable exercise of it was visible and this unkind spectacle was being witnessed by a wretched citizenry of a nation tired of waiting for the manifestation of a messiah.

The withering values of a community loosely bonded by the harsh and hostile powers of the British Raj and controlled by the alien Administrative and Financial Regulations (AR and FR) of Westminster rules guarded by the ‘Establishment Code’ of the same civil service, could not withstand the onslaught of an expanding culture that descended upon the unsophisticated majority. It is intellectually dishonest to classify this culture as novel or fresh; it has been there encompassing the collective body of Sri Lankans ever since Independence, yet its development as a dynamic social force was not all that visible and noticeable. Its accelerated alacrity, its concealed state of decay, its eager sense of being identified and categorized as the norm and not an exception and its eventual capture of the collective psyche of the general masses were all conducive to a society that is maddeningly oblivious of and insistent on self-mortification.

With each passing year since the dawn of the 21st Century, Rajapaksaism that was the culture and ideology of the day kept brainwashing the trusting masses on their ideology, strangely estranged from the broadcast Bandaranaike policies of serving the interests of the ‘common man’. Bandaranaike’s SLFP was a unique political concoction, drawing its strength as well as weakness from the five pillars (Pancha Maha Balavégaya) upon which it was founded.

Its core-best was essentially made up of the Sinhalese-Buddhist elite in the backward areas of the country and the enormous appeal it had was translated by this Sinhalese elite as a political party determined to right the wrongs done by the successive colonial rulers, Portuguese, Dutch and the British, unto the majority Sinhalese-Buddhists in the country. This approach adopted by the rank and file of the SLFP paved the way for a new positive awakening amongst the majority on the one hand and an irreversible radicalization of the response by the Sinhalese-Buddhists in the rural regions to the English-speaking Sinhalese in Colombo and other big cities such as Jaffna, Kandy, Galle and Kurunegala.

Consequently, ugly and unquestionable signs of polarization of a nation were showing their obnoxious countenances everywhere. An immeasurable dynamic of national divisions along ethnic streaks began taking over the average mindset of man who, a century ago knew no such visible partisanships whatsoever. The division between the Northern Tamils and Southern Sinhalese remained a subject of discussion, especially among the foreign-educated; various solutions and resolutions proposed and rejected among which were federalism, Tamil homeland, district councils, 50-50 demands and devolution of political and administrative powers were discussed and intense debates performed in English language by these very same Pukka Sahibs whose knowledge and empathetic feel were next to nothing.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda,Basil, Gothabaya,Chamal,Shiranthi, Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha: Family Rule by the Rajapaksa “Yakkos” Ruined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’ »

By

Sandun A. Jayasekara

President Maithripla Sirisena has in a special statement to the Cabinet today blasted the ad-hoc, un-advisable and arbitrary decision by the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime to move the Army Headquarters from Baladaksha Mawatha in Fort and sell the land to Shangri-La Hotel chain.

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told a media conference held at the party office that the President had highlighted the fact that this move had placed the country at large and the Colombo City in particular at risk with 15 Army Units being relocated in 15 different buildings at a total annual rental of Rs.5,000 million paid by the Treasury.

He said on a request by the ministers, the President would soon decide whether to appoint a Commission of Inquiry on the questionable transaction where 10 acres of prime land in the centre of Colombo City was sold for a mere US$125 million or Rs.18.80 million and whether to take legal action to get to the bottom of this deal.

The minister said the President had made the special statement as Minister of Defense and pointed out that he was shocked to learn of the damage caused to the country and the economy after perusing the information and the statistics submitted to him by officials on this controversial transaction.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Condemns Rajapaksa Regime for Selling Galle Face Army Property Cheaply to Shangri – La and Move Army Headqurts to Akurugoda;May Appoint Commission of Inquiry to Probe Deal Done by Mahinda and Gota’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake

In a bid to create a conducive environment for negotiations to overturn the ban imposed by Russia on Sri Lankan tea exports, Cabinet yesterday decided to defer the asbestos ban until further review, a top Minister confirmed.

The surprise ban slapped on all agricultural product exports from Sri Lanka, including Ceylon Tea, following the detection of a single Khapra Beetle in a tea container was widely seen as a direct response to Sri Lanka’s decision to impose a blanket ban on all asbestos imports which is set to come into force from January next year.

The decision was announced in 2016, and importers of asbestos have been lobbying to overturn the pending ban. Russian-produced asbestos hold the largest market share in Sri Lanka, while Ceylon Tea accounts for 23% of Russia’s tea market.

Cabinet discussions centred on the influence Sri Lanka’s move to ban asbestos for Government projects may have had on pushing the Russian authorities to impose a total ban on agricultural products from Sri Lanka, a top Cabinet source revealed.

Continue reading ‘Govt Defers Ban on Importing Asbestos From Russia as “Appeasement” to Get Russia to Lift Ban on Exports of Tea and Agricultural Products From Sri Lanka’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

Amidst the routine ‘celebrating’ of annual International Human Rights Day, a Bill to amend Sri Lanka’s Code of Criminal Procedure Act (CPC) on the vexed question of giving suspects in police custody the right of prompt access to legal counsel gazetted in mid-November, quietly escaped scrutiny.

A sorry trajectory of bad amendments

Ironically, if these proposed amendments had been brought by the former Rajapaksa administration, they would have given rise to a storm of protests amidst muttered and dark warnings of the Rule of Law at risk. Rather than actually secure a most important and basic right of access to legal counsel for those most vulnerable, the amendments actually undermine the right. At each and every point in the trajectory of the successive amendments on this issue from 2016, the privilege afforded to the police is sought to be entrenched. This time around, it is the same.

Late last year, the Government proposed an amendment to the CPC, along with a badly crafted Counter-Terror draft law, which gave suspects in police custody the right to independent legal counsel only after the police interrogations were completed and statements recorded.

Continue reading ‘Amendments to Code of Criminal Procedure Act Undermines Right of Prompt Access To Legal Counsel for Suspects In Police Custody’ »

By Purnima Pilapitiya

(Shreen Abdul Saroor Received the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law On December 11th 2017 as one of 15 Winners from Around the World)

Shreen Abdul Saroor comes from a ‘sporty’ family. Growing up in Mannar, the daughter of a teacher-father, she was exposed to as many sports as possible from martial arts to weight lifting (admitting to being muscular despite her petite frame). But it was in the 100m race that she found her main event.

Her descriptive picture of an active young girl who was anything but quiet fits neatly with the passionate activist she is today. On December 11, Shreen received the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law as one of 15 winners from around the world. Shreen’s work in women’s rights in the Muslim and Tamil communities has been globally recognised with accolades such as the Voices of Courage award by the International Rescue Committee’s Women and Refugees’ Commission and in 2011 the 5th International Bremen Peace Award under the category of public engagement for peace and justice in Germany. But for Shreen, her work in women’s rights and empowerment is a reflection of the experiences and challenges faced by her and her community which sparked a passion for justice and empowerment within her from a young age.

Continue reading ‘Shreen Abdul Saroor: Passionate Crusader For Women’s Rights Receives International Recognition’ »