By
Sharmini Serasinghe

When it comes to applying the rules of democracy in a country like ours, there ought to be a caveat included for the likes of Mr. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara, viz. freedom of speech!

pic courtesy of: BBC SInhala

I refuse to dignify this man with revered titles such as ‘Thera’ or ‘Reverend’, since as a Buddhist, I don’t regard him as a Buddhist monk, but find him utterly and completely reprehensible, offensive, an acute source of embarrassment and irritation. Furthermore, he has singlehandedly denigrated the status of the entire Buddhist clergy in this country.

Shaving one’s head and donning a saffron robe does not make one a Buddhist monk, one’s actions do. This man is nothing but a charlatan in robes and a social menace to all; Buddhists included!

Continue reading ‘Mr.Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara is Nothing but a Charlatan in Robes and a Social Menace to All Including Buddhists .’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe

Newly appointed Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday sought a conciliatory and supportive relationship with the private sector pledging to work on their behalf and negotiate trade agreements with focus on Sri Lankan interests.

pic via: @MangalaLK

Attending his first official event as Finance Minister, Samaraweera delivered the keynote at the inauguration of the “Sri Lanka Investment & Business Conclave 2017: Growth through Partnerships”, organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) yesterday. Keeping a foot in his previous portfolio as Foreign Minister Samaraweera insisted that reconciliation and economic growth could not be separated from each other.

Continue reading ‘New Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera Says There Cant be Economic Progress Without Reconciliation and Stability.’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has left the island for medical treatment in the United States, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the US for Two Weeks To Undergo a Medical Examination.’ »

by Maheesha Mudugamuwa

The death toll rose further yesterday after recovery crews began reaching remote corners cut off during the last several days when heavy rains followed by landslides and deadly floods overwhelmed many areas of the country’s southwest in the worst disaster in more than a decade.

At least 193 people had died in seven districts while 94 people were still missing, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told the media in Colombo.

The overall death toll was not clear as the rescue/recovery operations were still continuing in all affected areas, however the missing 94 were feared dead. Authorities expect the number of deaths to rise accordingly. Most deaths occurred in Ratnapura, Matara and Kalutara, according to Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

Continue reading ‘Verified Floods and Landslides Death Toll Reaches 193 but Most of the 94 Persons Reported Missing are Feared Dead.’ »

Newly-appointed Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe yesterday said negotiations for a Public Private Partnership to salvage the debt-ridden Hambantota Port will resume this week under his leadership.

“I will take control of negotiations. It’s under my subject, I will not allow anyone else to discuss the deal,” he said speaking to media yesterday.

According to the Minister, progress on the negotiations stalled as too many individuals were involved in the process.

“Too many cooks spoilt the soup,” he said.

Prior to the Cabinet reshuffle, Development Strategies Minister Malik Samarawickrama and Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama led the negotiations, prompting former Port Minister Arjuna Ranatunga to speak out about being sidelined in negotiations.

Continue reading ‘New Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to Re-negotiate Hambantota Port Development Project With Chinese Company’ »

By

Priyanka Sharma

Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards have introduced a category, titled ‘Internationally Acclaimed Actress Award’, and its first recipient is fresh global star Priyanka Chopra.

Priyanka’s name doesn’t come as a surprise as the actor has been creating waves internationally ever since her maiden American TV series Quantico premiered in 2015. Recently her Hollywood debut Baywatch released, and even though the film was largely panned by critics, Priyanka’s performance was noticed and praised in particular.

Priyanka Chopra

“Priyanka has made the country proud and hence, is the right choice for the award. It’s not yet confirmed if Priyanka will be present at the ceremony to collect her award. The event is on June 1 and the actor hasn’t returned to India yet. She has given her consent but whether or not she will be present, is not known,” Dharmendra Mehra, General Secretary of Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards told indianexpress.com.
Continue reading ‘Priyanka Chopra will be First Recipient of the Newly Created “Internationally Acclaimed Actress Award” From Dada Saheb Phalke Academy’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

Until the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, Sri Lankans used to take solace, rather erroneously, that we were safe from the worst of natural calamities. Since then tables have turned; now if not a deadly landslide or a flood, at least a rubbish dump would wreak disaster a few times a year. Last week torrential rains left a trail of destruction. The death toll stands at over 160 with more than 100 missing and hundreds of thousands displaced.

It is not easy to avoid nature’s wrath, but better preparation would have mitigated the cost. Early evacuation from landslide-prone areas in Ratnapura and Kalutara would have saved lives. But, implementing such efforts is not always easy and could well have ended up with officials being beaten up and chased away by the villagers. Such measures require much more than advanced notice of weather patterns. They need lots of logistics, which Sri Lanka’s reactive, rather than pro-active policy framework is ill afford to provide.

Disaster management is not an exception. The Disaster Management Centre which was set up after the Tsunami to formulate government policy on disaster management and early prevention tends to coordinate emergency recovery, rescue and relief assistance after the disaster, instead of pro-actively engaging and formulating a national level disaster management plan, as it was envisaged under the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act of 2005. Thus it is normal for successive governments to wake up from a long slumber when disaster strikes and to order the removal of unauthorized structures that obstruct waterways, evacuate communities living right under mountains prone to landslides and the President giving blank cheques to expedite disaster relief.

Continue reading ‘Govt Must Decisively Confront Extremisms of all Kinds Within Permissible Legal Limits.’ »

By
A Cricket Follower from Moratuwa

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) boasts of a pompous slogan which reads: “One nation, one team”. Are we to believe that, very soon, this will be made to read: “One nation, one team, one religion? Early this week, Sri Lanka Cricket President, Thilanga Sumathipala, dabbled in a subject, that not only raised hairs and eyebrows, but also raised concerns on whether some of the country’s cricketers, if they cannot defend their religious faith or conviction, are made to go against their conscience, as they sported pure white attire and visited the sacred Buddhist Temple of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, not on a sightseeing tour but, to worship.

In the forefront was Captain Angelo Mathews, a sworn Catholic, whose photograph was all over the newspapers, carrying a tray of flowers and walking into the Dalada Maligawa to worship and, according to Sumathipala, seeking blessings to do well at the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Not only Buddhists, but also everyone else, will be wanting to know how the cricketers, if they cannot bat well, bowl well and field well, are going to win the Champions Trophy by taking their case to a religious founder whose teachings had nothing to do with winning in sport.

Continue reading ‘Is Thilanga Sumathipala Mixing Religion With Cricket by Forcing the Christian Angelo Mathews to Worship at the Buddhist “Dalada Maligawa”?’ »

Cabinet has decided to stop all vehicle imports for ministers and ministries for this year due to the disaster situation, Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe said today.

Addressing media Samarasinghe said the President had directed that funds allocated to purchase the vehicles be used to provide relief for those affected by the disaster. Ministers have been asked to use the vehicles they already have, he said.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Stops Imports of Luxury Vehicles for Ministers and Ministries and Diverts Allocated Funds for Flood Relief Work’ »

While institutions under his purview were grappling feebly with the rising death and destruction from floods and landslides, Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa was in Mexico–talking about how Sri Lanka has put in place a programme to “minimise casualties, damage to infrastructure, and economic losses” in natural calamities.

“The Ministry of Disaster Management has seriously considered the increasing trend of disasters and has collaborated with all ministries to implement medium and long-term disaster risk reduction programmes in line with the Sendai priorities, to minimise casualties, damage to infrastructure, and economic losses,” Mr Yapa said, attending the ’2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction’ in Cancun, Mexico.

The conference was from May 22-26. The Minister spoke on May 24 and even posted a photo from the event on his Facebook page.

Continue reading ‘Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa Waxes Eloquent in Mexico While Disaster Management Ministry Struggles to Cope With Floods’ »

By Chandani Kirinde

To say it is ironic would be an understatement, that, on a day the country is faced with a huge natural disaster, the Govt appeals for international assistance to deal with it, while presenting to Parliament a Supplementary Estimate for a hefty Rs 369 million, of which, a large component will be for vehicles for lawmakers and to renovate their official residences.

And that is exactly what happened on Friday, when Parliament met for a few hours, adjourning early, so that, “MPs can assist in rescue operations and distribution of relief to victims of the floods and landslides,” but, not before the Supplementary Estimate was presented to the House.

This would put at a total, the amount allocated this year to buy vehicles, mainly for ministers, deputy ministers and senior public officials, at over Rs 1,200 million, a luxury which a debt-ridden and natural-disaster-hit country can ill afford.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Parliament Laments About Flood Disaster While Passing Supplementary Estimate for 369 Million Rupees for Luxury Vehicles&House Renovation’ »

The Chennai police has invoked the draconian Goondas Act on a group of activists who recently took out a rally at Marina Beach to commemorate the civilian victims of the Eelam war. While such protests violating prohibitory orders are treated as a civil issue, city police commissioner A K Viswanathan on Monday issued orders to detain the four activists under the law that is meant to prevent habitual criminals from securing bail.

G Thirumurugan Gandhi, who is the founder of the pro-Eelam May 17 organisation, and three other members were arrested on May 21 evening when around 300 people took out a flash rally defying prohibitory orders of the city police.

The organisation had called for a candle light vigil at Marina beach to mark the anniversary of the Mullivaikal genocide in northern Sri Lanka during the final phase of the Eelam war between Sri Lankan army and LTTE.

Continue reading ‘Chennai Police Invoke Goondas Act Used Against Habitual Criminals to Detain 4 “May 17 Movement”Activists who Led Mullivaaikkaal Massacre Protest on May 21st Defying Ban’ »

Thousands of troops battled Monday to get relief supplies to nearly half a million people displaced by the island’s worst flooding for 14 years, which has killed 180 people.

The military said a lull in torrential monsoon rains allowed it to deploy aircraft, boats and ground troops to evacuate people from flooded areas, deliver essentials and recover bodies.

Some half a million people have had to abandon their homes due to the heavy rains, which have brought flooding and landslides to large parts of the island.

Sri Lanka is regularly hit by flooding at the start of the annual monsoon. But carpenter J. H. Siripala, who lives in one of the areas worst hit, said he had never seen it this bad.

“I have lived in this area for 27 years and we have gone through floods, but never experienced this much water,” the 62-year told AFP in Kalutara district on the southwest coast as a navy boat carried him to safety.

“I thought it was my end,” he said as he recalled how the water level suddenly rose on Sunday, covering his head, before he was pulled to safety

. Continue reading ‘Death Toll Exceeds 180 as Thousands of Troops Engage in Rescue and Relief Work to help More than 500,000 Affected People.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran

India’s swift delivery of relief supplies and personnel to flood and landslide-hit Sri Lanka has re-affirmed its position as Sri Lanka’s most relevant neighbor, and also its primacy as a power in the South Asian region.

IndianNavy saving precious lives making sure no one is left behind #FloodSL @narendramodi @MEAIndia @SushmaSwaraj @DrSJaishankar @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/hnGJXFzOvz

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) May 29, 2017

via: @IndiainSL

No other country in the region, Pakistan and China included, can act with such speed, and deliver men and material in such high volumes at short notice when natural or man-made disasters strike Sri Lanka. Pakistan is yet to respond materially and China announced late on Sunday ,that it will send US$ 2.2 million worth of relief goods.

Pakistan, India’s rival in Sri Lanka and the South Asian region, woke up to the need to respond to Sri Lanka’s global call for help, a tad too late. Awakened by the media blitz on the arrival of the Indian naval vessel INS Kirch with relief material and workers, the Acting Pakistan High Commissioner, Dr.Sarfraz Ahmd Khan Sipra, issued a press release in the afternoon saying that Pakistan is discussing with the Sri Lankan authorities the kind of relief they want, and these will be delivered soon. He made it a point to recall that only recently, when Sri Lanka was facing a drought, Pakistan sent 10,000 mt of rice.

But Pakistan’s response paled into insignificance in the light of what the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India’s new High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, did within 24 hours of Sri Lanka’s global appeal. More than a 100 had died and over 200,000 had been displaced in 14 districts in the floods and landslides caused by a particularly virulent South West Monsoon.
Continue reading ‘India Demonstrates Its Relevance and Importance by Responding First and Fast To Sri Lanka’s Appeal After Floods Tragedy.’ »

BY

Dr. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

[This is a revised version of the Introduction to the book HOLDING OUT. The Prologue is by Asoka Handagama.]

HOLDING OUT: Memoirs of a Political Prisoner in Sri Lanka 1986-1988 is, at its simplest, the story of a woman political prisoner from the South of Sri Lanka. The AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 1987 said of her arrest: “By the end of 1986 over 400 Sinhalese were estimated to be detained under the PTA and Emergency Regulations, among them Pulsara Liyanage, a lecturer at Kelaniya University arrested on 1st November.” (pp. 264-269)

The events described here took place before the writer had turned 30. It is an exemplary story of young educated Sri Lankan woman academic and activist who was among those few who walked the talk in a dark time in Sri Lanka’s contemporary history, engaged in a dramatic political experiment and was trapped in an extreme situation.

The story is of her experience in that extreme or ‘limit’ situation in which existential choices are made, which in turn reveal character. This story was written three decades after the events. The retrospective account is exemplary for its humanist perspective and tone of wry humor.

But that’s only at its simplest, most basic level. What this book is really about is a period, a project and a person or a personal experience. More precisely it is about the intersection of a period, a project and a person.

Continue reading ‘Pulsara Liyanage’s “Holding Out”- The Story of a Woman Political Prisoner From Southern Sri Lanka.’ »

By

Manjula Fernando

Threatening to expose the ‘notorious creatures’ that have taken over the Central Bank, the new Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake said he will look into enhancing commercial diplomacy to usher the country towards economic prosperity, moving away from the present Human Rights centric foreign policy of Sri Lanka.

There are policy changes to be done, they will not be unilateral changes. We will adopt a policy that is meaningful and ensures a win-win situation for the country,” Minister Karunanayake said, complementing his predecessor Minister Mangala Samaraweera for the outstanding work on the human rights front.

Question;
. This is the first time you have been entrusted with the Foreign Affairs portfolio, one of the key positions in the Cabinet. Are you happy to move on to a completely new subject from Finance? What will be your initial priorities?

Answer:

. As a politician we must be prepared to take on any challenge posed on us and make it a success. Our main focus would be, as expressed by the President and the Prime Minister to put Sri Lanka back on the map.

Make it a vibrant place in the Indian Ocean. We will profess the ‘ friends with all and enemies with none’ policy. We need not be tied to the aspects of Human Rights. It is time to move towards commercial diplomacy, towards a globalised world where borders have shrunk.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Accuses “Notorious Creatures”At Central Bank and Members of The Govt and UNP of Conspiring Against Him as Finance Minister’ »

By

Don Manu

It was, probably, the shortest sathyakriya – the assertion of truth – ever undertaken by any man in search of martyrdom. But when injustice protests its innocence and demands its continuance in the outer precincts of the Sri Dalada, it’s no wonder the flaky timbre of resolve to wantonly assert the potency of truth soon disintegrates and turns unto dust.

Last Sunday the Bodu Bala Sena tribal chieftain jauntily strode into the Sri Dalada Maligawa to pay worship to the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Gnanasara Thera who led his tribe was granted, after waiting an hour, a short audience thereafter with the Chief Monk of the Malwatte Chapter and then directed to meet the Anunayaka the Ven. Dr. Niyangoda Vijithsiri Thera. After the audience was over he emerged from the chamber to state that, “henceforth I will not obey the laws of the land and I will not recognise the jurisdiction of the courts”.

He then proceeded to occupy a bench outside the premises of the Sacred Dalada Maligawa and declared that he will stage a sathyakriya against plans to arrest him. But it was apparent the guardian monks of the Temple of the Tooth were not prepared to let Gnanasara’s sathyakriya stunt take place on the doorstep of Lanka’s most hallowed temple. Two hours later the Anunayaka of the Malwatte chapter emerged from his avasa to warn the rebel monk the consequences that would follow if he did not give up his sathyakriya and vacate the premises forthwith.

Continue reading ‘Does the Maithripala Govt Believe That if they Act Against Gnanasara There Will be a Mass Sinhala Uprising?’ »

BY PANCHAMEE HEWAVISSENTI

In an interview with Ceylon Today, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara said several recent incidents have compelled him to live in hiding as there is an attempt to assassinate him after arrest. The Thera further said he had to keep changing his hideouts for the protection of his life as he has hardly any faith in the government to protect his life. “Several unidentified people were loitering around my temple in Rajagiriya a couple of days ago. On inquiry, they replied that they were on a mission to apprehend narcotic dealers who were passing by the temple. I have been surreptitiously observing them for over an hour, but they did not seem to stop any vehicle passing along the road. I observed them looking around the neighbourhood of the temple,” he said. He further said he could sense danger in the manner they behaved and he immediately left the temple and is in hiding at present.

Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara

Commenting on the destruction of Buddhist archaeological sites by Muslim settlers in areas which were widely spoken about in Parliament this week, he said Muslims hardly possess any cultural or archaeological values and they attempt to deprive other communities of their lofty traditions out of malice. The Thera also mentioned that Buddhists and Hindus are being converted to Islam by offering financial support, marriage and various other material benefits. He reiterated during the interview that BBS has no malice against Hindus. “Buddhists and Hindus are culturally interrelated and both religions share similar values. When Hindus face injustice, BBS is prepared to speak for them,” he said. The Thera added that BBS has no animosity towards Muslims who moderately practice their religion and those people are in fact not harmful to the coexistence at all. “We are against Muslim extremists who spread Wahabism which is the greatest threat to the existence of non-Islam believers,” the Thera said.

Excerpts:

Question;
Your presence was not felt until recently after the change of government. What made you make a sudden comeback?

Answer:

This is not an abrupt comeback. I have been engaging in various endeavours overseas such as in Japan and Korea. I spent a limited time in Sri Lanka and that may be why my presence was not felt in a strong manner as today. Although we remained active and continued to reveal the injustice faced by the majority ethnic community, some media organizations did not support us merely out of malice. When an arrest warrant was issued, they exaggerated the news. They also continue to condemn the BBS in a malignant manner as in the past.

We met President Maithripala Sirisena on several occasions. We discussed in details the destruction of archaeological sites, deforestation at Wilpattu and setting up of illicit Muslim territories, drug and the human trafficking taking place via the settlements in Wilpattu.

Continue reading ‘Gnanasara Thero Speaks Out In Interview With Colombo Newspaper While Police Claims to Have Launched Manhunt to Arrest BBS Gen Secy.’ »

The nationwide despair over the deadly deluge grew yesterday as the death toll from the monsoonal floods and landslides topped the 150 mark, making it the worst natural disaster in the country since the 2004 tsunami.

Officials last night put the number of dead at 151 with 111 missing or unaccounted for following torrential rain which led to earth slips in 15 districts covering mainly three provinces. Over 90 people were hospitalised.

The number of displaced was nearly half a million as the Government sought global support to manage the relief effort.

Ratnapura suffered the most casualties with 71 dead followed by Kalutara’s 43 while in terms of people affected Galle saw over 140,000 people displaced followed by Matara.

Continue reading ‘Dangerous Monsoon Deluge Brings Death, Destruction, Displacement and Despair.’ »

By Duruthu Edirimunni Chandrasekera

Newly appointed Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s demand to bring institutions such as the Development Lotteries Board, National Lotteries Board, Mahapola Scholarship Fund, SriLankan Airlines, Hingurana Sugar and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under his purview has come under fire by three donor agencies, government sources revealed.

The World Bank, International Mandatory Fund and Asian Development Bank are learnt to have raised the issue with the Government saying this is something that hasn’t been seen anywhere else in the world, the sources said.

Continue reading ‘World Bank, IMF and Asian Development Bank Object to Key Institutions Being Brought Under Ravi Karunanayake Ministry’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

Caught between the grinning devil of Rajapaksa racism and the incompetent (if not corrupt) deep blue sea of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe unity alliance, Sri Lankans are increasingly being left helpless.

Is this not obscene conduct?

With the passing of each day, examples abound of this odious dilemma. It is the height of callousness for example, that the Government could have justified asking for millions for luxury vehicles for ministers at the very same time that the country is facing a financial crisis.

Now to compound that idiocy, we are being told that a supplementary estimate had been presented in Parliament this week to purchase vehicles for members and officers of the steering committee of the Constituent Assembly. Jokes are being cracked as to what or who exactly will this Assembly steer, except themselves and that too, into a corner by all accounts. But this news, coming on top of hundred deaths, another hundred reported missing and scores left homeless following major floods during the past few days begs an important question. Is this not obscene behaviour, in the very basic meaning of that term, taken in the context of conduct deeply offending morality?

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Caught Between the “Devil”of Rajapaksa Racism and “Deep Blue Sea” of Maithri-Ranil Govt Incompetence.’ »

By Norman Palihawadana

Bodies of 111 persons believed to have died in floods last week haven’t been found yet, senior police and military officers said yesterday.

By yesterday evening, authorities reported the recovery of 151 bodies in flood affected areas in the South, Kalutara and Ratnapura.

About 50 people had been injured and about a half a million affected by floods and earthslips, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

The South-West monsoons unleashed torrential rains, which ravaged fourteen districts in the western and southern parts of the country on Friday and Thursday.

Continue reading ‘Floods And Landslides Caused Death Toll Rises to 151. Missing Persons Tally 111;50 People Injured.500,000 Affected.’ »

The Government has come under fire from civil society groups and Muslims for its failure to act fast in checking attacks on mosques and shops owned by Muslims in recent weeks. This was also debated in parliament on Tuesday, with Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake blaming police sluggishness for the state of affairs, when JVP Parliamentarian Bimal Ratnayake charged that, without state sponsorship, these acts could not take place. “There is somebody from the government backing the people who are doing these,” he said.

Also blaming the Government was Colombo District parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar. His speech in Parliament came as Muslims expressed anger at Muslim ministers, who, they said, had not done enough to protect them, and also at the Government, which they say would not have come to office if the Muslims and other minorities had not voted it in, at the 2015 elections.

Continue reading ‘JVP Accuses “Somebody From The Govt of Backing The People ” Who are Attacking Mosques and Muslim Owned Businesses.’ »

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN

NEW DELHI, May 27: The Hindu, a leading conservative newspaper, today carried an investigative report that exposes the shady deals the late Jayaram Jayalalitha’s confidante VK Sasikala and a host of her relatives have been involved in to enrich themselves during the former’s longish reign as Tamil Nadu chief minister.

The expose clearly shows why Sasikala was in such a hurry to grab power after Jayalalitha’s death last December.

According to the daily, in a quiet tree-lined lane in Chennai’s T. Nagar, a nondescript white apartment block sports the word GYAN prominently on its face. It is an unremarkable building, except for one reason. Or perhaps, two.

A couple of the flats — numbered 12 and 16 — are the registered addresses for at least 15 companies linked to V.K. Sasikala, general secretary of the AIADMK (Amma) and her sister-in-law Ilavarasi Jayaraman.

The two house a large number of shell companies that are inter-related in a complex maze. They sport unfamiliar names such as Sri Jaya Finance and Investments, Fancy Steels, Aviry Properties, Curio Auto Mark, Cottage Field Resorts and so on.

About the only company which is somewhat publicly known is Jazz Cinemas (earlier Hot Wheels Engineering), which raised eyebrows for the manner in which it acquired a Chennai cinema multiplex in 2015.

Almost all these companies have an auditor called K. Soundarvelan, who is registered as having an office in flat no. 16 of Gyan Apartments. The residents of this flat refused to speak to the daily’s reporter, but others — neighbours, for instance — swear there is no one by that name who lives in the apartment block.

As for flat no. 12, it has been locked for years. “Every month, someone comes to pay the maintenance to the security person and then leaves,” said a neighbour who did not wish to be identified. “We do not know who the owners are and the flat is locked. Nobody stays there and there is no company either.”

Company filings show that another mysterious firm by the name of Idhayam Homes and Builders has given a written letter consenting that the firms mentioned above may have their offices at the Gyan Apartment address.

All these companies were formed after 1996, most of them around or just after 2001, when former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa came to power for the second time.

Continue reading ‘Investigative Report by “The Hindu” Reveals Vivid Details About the Corruption of Jayalalithaa’s Confidante Sasikala and Her Relatives Known as the “Mannargudi Mafia”’ »

The Disaster Management Ministry exposed its unpreparedness to deal with a disaster situation, admitting it lacks stocks of basic items such as blankets, life jackets, umbrellas, torches or even boxes of matches to distribute in such situations. In response to this week’s flood havoc that crippled the nation, the Ministry of Disaster Management was in shortage of basic humanitarian needs for an immediate response.

A document, prepared on Friday by the ministry to share with UN and other international donors, seeking their assistance indicated that there are no stocks of drinking water (bottles of five liters or above), blankets, life jackets, mobile toilets, umbrellas, torches and boxes of matches .

The document titled “National Disaster Relief Services Centre Requests for Relief”, dated Friday detailed the current needs that were calculated based on demographic and historic data from previous disaster situations. Some 23 urgent humanitarian needs were included with details of the amounts needed, availability and the extent of the shortage.

Continue reading ‘Document Prepared by Disaster Management Ministry Exposes Total Unpreparedness to Cope With Disaster Situations.’ »

Flood waters were receding Saturday with only few showers in the worst affected areas where a military-led relief operation reached all marooned villagers as the monsoon death toll hit 113.

The authorities stepped up sending cooked food and other essentials to tens of thousands of people who were forced out of their flooded homes in seven districts. Kalutara and Ratnapura reported the highest deaths, almost all of them caused by the collapse of mountain sides on homes.

Neighbouring India was the first to rush aid. New Delhi sent Indian navy vessel INS Kirch with inflatable boats, medical supplies and doctors.

Pakistan said it was in talks with Sri Lankan authorities to identify its needs. It reminded that only a few weeks ago it had donated 10,000 tonnes of rice as drought relief to Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘113 Confirmed Dead; 110 Reported Missing:460,000 Persons Affected In Floods and Landslides Caused by Monsoon Deluge’ »

By

Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe

(Text of Speech by Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe at the Launch of an anthology of short stories “Testimonies of Silent Pain” in the Sinhala and Tamil Languages by “the Social Architects” on May 21st 2017)

It gives me great pleasure to join you – young women and men writers – as you launch your work in the anthology ‘Testimonies of Silent Pain’.

I will be speaking in English. As Professor in the Department of English, I am a firm believer in the potential of Sri Lankan English as a link language that could build bridges among the different speech communities in the country.

Allow me to begin my speech by thanking ‘The Social Architects’, for inviting me to be present on the occasion. It is, indeed, a privilege to be here. I have had the opportunity to skim read a couple of personal stories – though only inSinhala, I grant, but I believe that these powerful pieces have the capacity to provide an interface – for the meeting of diverse minds, and hearts and spirits.I would like to congratulate TSA for this initiative as well as their other work in the field of ethnic and religious reconciliation.

A couple of days ago we marked eight years since the end of the war.

It is often claimed that time is a great healer. But I would like to question whether this is so for everyone?

Continue reading ‘Daily Individual Action Can Prevent Culture of Impunity and Institute a Culture of Accountability’ »

By P.K.Balachandran

India has deployed, with amazing swiftness, three naval vessels to bring relief material to flood and landslide-hit Sri Lanka.

INS Kirch, a Kora Class Corvette, arrived in Colombo early on Saturday. Two more naval vessels, INS Shardul and INS Jalashwa, the former a tank carrier, and the latter a landing craft, are expected on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayke, at his own initiative, came to the harbor early Saturday morning to receive INS Kirch. The off-loaded relief material were formally handed over to Karunnayake by the Indian High Commissioner, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Recounting the sequence of events, High Commissioner Sandhu said that following a request for help from the Sri Lankan government on May 26, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (who was in Guwahati in Eastern India on tour) was contacted. The Prime Minister immediately directed the Indian navy to rush aid to the disaster struck neighbor.

“In less than 24 hours, relief materials were assembled, the vessel INS Kirch was diverted from its deployment, loaded with the assembled material, and bought to Colombo,” Sandhu said underlining the swiftness of India’s response.

Continue reading ‘India Swiftly Deploys Three Naval Vessels to Ferry Urgent Relief Supplies to Landslides and Floods Affected Sri Lanka’ »

BY PANCHAMEE HEWAVISSENTI

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against the warrant issued for the arrest of its Chief, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera.

The BBS warns that Gnanasara Thera could be assassinated in a manner……similar to that of the underworld bigwig Samayan, who was killed by a group clad in Police uniforms.

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena Complains to Human Rights Commission Against Arrest Warrant Being Issued For Gnanasara Thero’ »

BY PANCHAMEE HEWAVISSENTI

An arrest warrant has been issued to apprehend General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera on allegations of obstructing the Police in the exercise of their duties in addition to making hate speeches in several places and thereby creating conditions for a potentially violent communal backlash.

Police said the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court has also barred the controversial……monk from leaving the country. This was on a specific request made by Police. Police spokesman DIG Priyantha Jayakody said General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena has been summoned to the Organized Crime Division to record a statement from him by way of a response to complaints received against him.

DIG Jayakody said, the monk had failed to answer summons to call at the Division. He said, as many as four police teams have been deployed to arrest the monk.

Continue reading ‘Arrest Warrant Issued for Gnanasara Thero; Police “Unable” to Find BBS Gen Secy Despite Deployment of Four Special Teams’ »

While the Sri Lankan Police officially announced that an Island – wide manhunt has been launched to apprehend ” Venerable” Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero the political grapevine hummed that the Ethno Religious Fascist Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary was being housed in a secret location with the support of a top cabinet minister.

Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Strength Force- pic via BBC

Police headquarters in a statement said several units were deployed to track down the monk who leads the Bodu Bala Seaana (BBS) after the Colombo magistrate ordered the impounding of his passport.

“He is wanted in connection with the obstruction of police officers, hate speech and several other cases,” the police statement said.

The statement came as the BBS held a press conference at a temple in Rajagiriya and announced that the monk had gone into hiding fearing that he could be assassinated after being arrested by the police.

Continue reading ‘Is a Cabinet Minister Concealing Gnanasara Thero in a “Safe House” While Police Announce Manhunt for Absconding Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary?’ »

By

INDRANIL MUKHERJEE

Jude Ratnam is worried how his film might go down with his fellow Sri Lankan Tamils. And he has a point.

Jude Ratnam

“Demons in Paradise”, which is premiering at the Cannes film festival, tells of the bloodbath that drove some Tamils to take up arms in the three decade-long insurgency that tore the island apart.

But the documentary also shatters a taboo by insisting that some of most horrific violence the minority endured was at the hands of their supposed defenders, the Tamil Tigers.

Continue reading ‘“Demons in Paradise” Directed By Jude Ratnam Premieres At Cannes: Documentary About Sinhala-Tamil Conflict Was Shot On Location in Sri Lanka.’ »

by Maheesha Mudugamuwa

The government last evening placed the number of people dead and missing due to raging floods and earthships caused by heavy rains in several parts of the country on Thursday and Friday at 91 and 110, respectively.

Deaths were reported from Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Gampaha and Matara Districts.

The government deployed armed forces in affected areas to evacuate people while the SLAF sent in choppers for rescue missions. They rescued four persons marooned at Ayagama, two at Neluwa, nine at Pahiyangala, one at Upper Neluwa and five in Kahawatte by 3 pm yesterday.

Two persons were killed in Biyagama in Gampaha while 30 went missing at Morawaka in Matara. Nine persons were killed in an earth-slip at Bulathsinhala in Kalutara. Earthslips in Ratnapura killed ten, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

Continue reading ‘91 Killed and 110 Missing Due to Floods and Landslides in Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces and Gampaha, Kalutara Districts.’ »

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday instructed his government and rescue officials to provide immediate relief to the people affected by devastating floods and landslides as the death toll reached 55.

pic courtesy of: Isuru Mudiyanse

Tri forces along with rescue teams were continuing emergency evacuations and rescue missions as people remained trapped in their homes due to rising water levels.
Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Death Toll Exceeds 55 Due to Floods and Landslides; over 500,000 People Affected. Many Persons Missing’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday (24) ordered Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thero to be produced in Court on the next date with a medical certificate as he was not present in Court and his counsel informed Court that he was ailing.

When the Contempt of Court case against Gnanasara Thero came up before a bench comprising Justices Rohini Walgama (CA President) and S. Thurairaja, the court directed Junior Counsel Anusha Perusinghe, who appeared for Gnanasara Thero, to produce him on the next date with a medical certificate.

The Court nominated a new bench comprising Justices L.T.B. Dehidenilya and P. Padman Surasena for the inquiry and fixed the matter for 31 May.

The Court on 28 February overruled the preliminary objection of respondent Gnanasara Thero with the contempt matter against him and charge sheet read in Open Court.

Continue reading ‘Court of Appeal Orders Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero to Be Produced In Courts With Medical Certificate on May 31st.’ »

By

Panos Mourdoukoutas

When it comes to Sri Lanka, China has an ambitious agenda. It wants to turn the island nation into a trading and military outpost in the Indian Ocean. And it has a good plan in advancing that agenda, including the shoring up of Sri Lanka’s major ports.

That’s something Sri Lanka and other Indian Ocean countries desperately need, as trade flowing throughout the region has multiplied in recent years.

And it is also a development closely followed by international investors, as they place their bets in the financial markets in the region.

Continue reading ‘Unless India Has Better Plan to Develop Sri Lanka,It Must Stop Complaining About China Presence in the Island.’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Brigadier Anura Deshapriya Gunawardene was arrested yesterday for allegedly ordering troops in 2013 to open fire on a group of people protesting against the contamination of their wells at Rathupaswela.

The infantryman was produced before Gampaha Chief Magistrate D.A. Ruwanpathirana and remanded til May 31.

Continue reading ‘Brigadier Deshapriya Gunawardene Arrested For Ordering Army to Fire on Civilians at Rathupaswela in 2013 and Remanded Until May 31st’ »

Despite a clear cut directive being by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena that the General – Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena be taken into custody for inciting communal hatred and instigationg anti-Muslim violence, the Police force headed by Inspector -General of Police Pujith Jayasundara is unable to arrest and detain the “Venerable”Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero because the self-styled saviour of the Sinhala Buddhists has gone into hiding to save himself.

It is reliably learnt that when Police went in search of the political Bhikku fomenting ethno religious fascism to several places of worship and religious institutions linked to the Bodu Bala Sena, the controversial communalist monk spouting spoting venomous hatred was not to be found in those places. The inmates told Police that Gnanasara Thero had not been there recently and that they too were concerned about his absence.

Meanwhile the Bodu Bala Sena’s hief executive officer Dilantha Jayamanna has sent an urgent letter to the IGP Pujith Jayasundara stated that an armed gang of criminals is targeting the Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary with the diabolical motive of assassinating Gnanasara Thero. As a result of this death threat the BBS Gen secy has been compelled to go underground Jayamanna has said. The BBS Chief executive officer has urged the IGP to provide full security to Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero and safeguard his life.

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Gnanasara Thero Goes Underground To Avoid Being Arrested: Monk May Flee to a South East Asian Country’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena

The General- Secretsry of the Ethno -Religious Fascist organization known as the “Bodu Bala Sena” (Buddhist Power Force) Ven Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero is to be arrested and charged for instigating and conducting a systematic campaign of attacks against Islamic places of worship and Muslim owned business establishments in Sri Lanka.

Ven Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero

The decision to take immediate action against the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Secretary- General was taken at the first meeting of the newly constituted cabinet headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held in the morning of May 23rd 2017.

President Sirisena gave an explicit directive to Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake to instruct the Police to take immediate action against the BBS leader Gnanasara Thero. President Sirisena’s directive was endorsed by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and also Sanctioned unanimously be the cabinet.

It is learnt reliably that a special team of Police personnel along with units of Police Special Task Force(STF) will be deployed to take Gnanasara Thero into custody. Steps will also be taken simultaneously to prevent Bodu Bala Sena activists from engaging in violence against persons of the Islamic faith if and when Gnanasara Thero is arrested.

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena’s Gnanasara Thero To Be Arrested Following President Sirisena’s Directive To Law And Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake’ »

By

Roisin O’Connor

James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore has died aged 89, his family has confirmed.

In a statement posted on the actor’s official social media accounts it was revealed that Moore had passed away in Switzerland after a “short but brave battle with cancer”.

Moore was the third actor to play British secret agent James Bond, in seven feature films released between 1973 and 1985 that were based on the books by Ian Fleming.

Continue reading ‘Refined British Actor Sir Roger Moore of James Bond Fame Dies At The Age Of 89’ »

Contrary to speculative reports in sections of the media that President Sirisena is acting on his own withoit consulting Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the envisaged cabinet re-shuffle scheduled for Monday May 22nd 2017, it is learnt reliably that the important decision to bring about changes in the allocation of certain portfolios as well as re- designation of some departments coming under purview of particular ministries was not taken by the President alone.

Instead of being a unilateral decision of the President, the mini cabinet re-shuffle decision is a trilateral one taken together by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in conjunction with former President Chandrika Kumaratuga stated well-informed sources.

The sources also stated authoritatively that President Sirisena and Prime minister Wickremesinghe arrived at a joint decision after much discussion on re-allocating ministeria portfolios and departments which was endorsed by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. There was no question of President Sirisena going ahead with the reshuffle against the wishes of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe or taking a decision without consulting him reiterated the sources Continue reading ‘Decision to Re-Shuffle Ministers Was Jointly Taken by President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’ »

An operation was launched yesterday to apprehend those responsible for firing at a Police vehicle in Pallai, a senior police officer said.

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Eastern Province and Acting SDIG Northern Province (NP), Sumith Edirisinghe said officers investigating Friday’s shooting at police officers in Pallai, Kilinochchi, have uncovered several vital clues, which they hope will lead to the speedy arrest of those responsible.

“Several pieces of evidence, including a pair of gloves allegedly used by the shooter, were located during the search. The authorities had also been given the number of a suspicious vehicle seen in the vicinity, prior to the attack,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Gunfire Targets Police Vehicle Between Pallai and Muhamaalai on A- 9 Road Some Hours Before Prime Minister and Senior Govt Ministers Arrive in Jaffna.’ »

By
Kelum Bandara

The United National Party (UNP), the key party of the government, has finally consented to the proposed Cabinet reshuffle to be scheduled for Monday.

Initially, the UNP had opposed any changes to the portfolios assigned to its members.

However, the party leadership had given the green light for a change in the portfolios after a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday.

Continue reading ‘Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake to be the New Foreign Affairs Minister While Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera Will Take Over as Finance Minister.’ »

By Manekshaw

On 27July 1975 the news of the assassination of former Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah had spread in the Peninsula like wildfire forecasting a darker era to unfold with untold misery.

Late Alfred Duraiappah who gave Jaffna a facelift with new infrastructure facilities remained a popular Mayor despite him being considered a ‘traitor’ in the Tamil political scene.

Although a Christian Duraiappah, who had married a niece of another political stalwart and legal luminary late G.G. Ponnampalam, a Hindu, had tremendous faith in Hinduism.

So it was on 27 July 1975 while he was coming out after worshipping the deity at the Varatharajaperumal Temple in Ponnalai, a hamlet which is in the Karainagar region, he was gunned down at point blank range by Veluppillai Prabhakaran who was a teenager at that time and known in his circle as ‘Thambi’ (brother).

Continue reading ‘From Ponnaalai To Mullivaaikkaal: Backfired Armed Struggle By LTTE Must Be Remembered Forever.’ »

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN

Is Tamil superstar Rajinikanth toying with the idea of entering politics to fill the vacuum in Tamil Nadu politics caused by actress-turned-politician Jayaram Jayalalithaa’s death six months ago?

Last Sunday (May 14), Rajinikanth met his fans after a gap of eight years. The biggest Tamil movie star since M G Ramachandran (MGR), the 66-year-old also utilised the event to speak about his entry into politics.

This is a subject that has been constantly discussed in the southern Indian state since 1996, when he extended his support to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) alliance. The combined promptly swept the assembly elections and dislodged Jayaram Jayalalithaa as chief minister.

Rajinikanth’s recent meeting with his fans, organised through the actor’s rasigar mandrams (fan clubs), promises to be an ongoing one, with more being scheduled in the next few days. This has predictably led to speculation that the ageing superstar may actually be thinking of plunging into politics in the near future.

Continue reading ‘Will Tamil Cinema Superstar Rajnikanth Become Chief Minister of India’s Tamil Nadu State?’ »

The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province, C.V.Wigneswaran, has said that his administration would not like industries coming up in the province to use locally available resources and would want them to deploy resources procured or purchased from outside the province.

“In working out our industries we would prefer not to use our natural resources internally available, if alternatives from elsewhere could be procured or purchased,” he said speaking at a meeting on the economic development of Jaffna District in Jaffna on Friday.

Wignswaran said this in the presence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. .

Presumably , the Chief Minister said this with a view to preserving the Northern province’s natural resources .But one wonders whether other provinces would allow their resources to be depleted to preserve the resources of the Northern Province!

Continue reading ‘Chief Minister Wigneswaran Says He Wont Let North Be Used as a “Vassal Province For The Benefit Of Wayward Investors”.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

After 20 years in India, wearing a “refugee” tag that led her from one camp to another, it was only in December 2016 that Edward Selyn, 55, returned home. Until a few days ago, she was among a group of people seated under a tent in Mullikulam village in Mannar, in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, protesting in the scorching heat for a month, demanding that the Sri Lankan Navy release her land.

She was displaced in 1996 with her entire family, after the civil war broke out. Now, eight years after the war ended and months after her return, Ms. Selyn has not stopped feeling displaced. “I had all my documents and deeds, but still could not get back to the land where my home was. I did not think we would come back to such a situation,” she says.

Several thousand acres of formerly civilian-owned or occupied land across the conflict-affected Northern and Eastern Provinces remained with the Sri Lankan armed forces after the war ended in 2009, severely hampering post-war resettlement in Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Apart From Grandstanding Internationally, Sri Lankan Govt Must Deliver at Home By Expediting Re-settlement of War Displaced People’ »

In an effort to boost the development drive in the North, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called upon all local politicians and civil society activists to join the efforts of the Government to bring in investment to the Northern Province.

“We would like to start infrastructure development now. Rebuilding, resettlement and reconciliation is going on. Now let us look at growth oriented, job creating development in Jaffna. We must all get together to resolve the issues in the province because the lowest economic growth is coming from the Northern Province. We have to make a massive effort, and get big investments to Jaffna,” he said, adding that although some apparel sector factories have been established, no major investments have been made in the province.

In order to halt the growing unemployment numbers, the Premier promised 1,000 jobs to unemployed graduates in the two provinces in a bid to address the worsening employment issues there.

“Today, looking at the issue of unemployed graduates in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, we have decided to find vacancies for 1,000 graduates in development and teaching services in the two provinces,” he said.

The Prime Minister, who met with political leaders and civil society activists in the Jaffna Peninsula to discuss development issues and challenges, said that the former conflict zones needs special focus to drive economic development.

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Asks Local Politicians and Civil Society to Join Govt Efforts to Promote Growth and Development In North.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally on May 12 with Sri Lanka’s hill-country Tamils, on the second day of his two-day visit to the country, was a success, if you went by conventional markers such as the crowd he drew or the cheers that arose from it. But its real outcome is rather limited compared to the wide-ranging needs of the historically neglected community.

That an estimated 35,000 people from in and around the central highlands converged on the small town of Norwood – many walking over 5 km since buses clogged the narrow roads — partly reflects the affinity the Tamils feel for India, from where their ancestors moved to Sri Lanka about 200 years ago. Moreover, hill-country politicians put in their might to mobilise workers, campaigning widely across the tea estates that employ a fourth of the over one million-strong community.

Mr. Modi’s visit to the region, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, was a strong affirmation of the community’s economic and political significance. In Sri Lanka’s key 2015 presidential elections, hill-country or Malayaha Tamils decisively voted for the President Maithripala Sirisena-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe opposition combine that ousted the authoritarian Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.

Continue reading ‘Cruel Irony of Narendra Modi Quoting “Thirukkural” To Hard-working Yet Impoverished Plantation Tamils’ »

By

“Sunday Times” Political Editor

President Maithripala Sirisena, gave mixed signals, not unusually, when he vetoed his own demarche not to chair Cabinet meetings until he carries out a re-shuffle of Ministers. Last Monday morning, he directed the Cabinet Secretariat to summon the weekly ministerial meeting the next day, Tuesday. Officials hurriedly telephoned ministers to tell them the meeting which was indefinitely postponed, would take place at 10 a.m. at the Presidential Secretariat. It was just the week before that Sirisena refrained from formally choosing the date and time for the next meeting.

It came after he hinted to Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) ministers that no Cabinet meetings would take place until the reshuffle was made. He pointed out that he had already pledged that such changes would be made before Vesak Poya, which has now come and gone. This was on the basis that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had agreed to such a reshuffle.

Since their meeting on May 9, the Cabinet Secretariat distributed to ministers different memoranda approved by the President, a prelude to these being discussed at Cabinet meetings. Though they were titled “AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING OF THE CABINET OF MINISTERS,” in the preamble, the document made clear that “The Date, Time and Venue for the Next Meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers will be notified by the Secretary to the Cabinet in due course.”

On other occasions, the date, time and the venue form the preamble of the Agenda. For example, for the Cabinet meeting on May 9, it said “agenda for the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers to be held on 9th May, 2017 at 9.30 a.m. at the Presidential Secretariat.” Thus, the spate of telephone calls went out on Monday morning for the Tuesday meeting. That in itself was to give rise to speculation among ministers — would a reshuffle take place ahead of the meeting or would there be a statement of some sort. They were proved wrong.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Plans to Re-shuffle Cabinet Extensively on May 22nd Without “Consulting” Prime Minister Wickremesinghe?’ »

By

Kelum Bandara

Amid speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle, UNP sources said yesterday party leader and Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe had informed President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga that the portfolios assigned to the UNP should not be changed.

In such a scenario, any reshuffle, will only apply to portfolios held by Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Tells Maithripala and Chandrika Not to Re-shuffle Ministerial Portfolios held by United National Party Members.’ »

The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tami-majority Northern Province, C.V.Wigneswaran, has said that the time is not far off when the Tamils will ask the Sri Lankan army, navy and air force, to quit the province.

Addressing the public gathered in Mulliwaikkal in the Northern Province on Thursday to commemorate the “genocide” which took place there in the closing stages of the war, Wigneswaran said he saw no reason for the Sri Lankan government to station 150,000 troops in the province when the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels had ended eight years ago.

When he asked a former local military commander as to why so many troops were deployed eight years after the war, the commander said that they had come to know that some Tamil Tiger activists in France and Norway had made phone calls to persons here about re-starting terrorism. When asked whether so many troops needed to be deployed on the basis of some phone calls, the commander said that they had to be here to meet any eventuality.

Continue reading ‘“Go Back Army”,”Go Back Navy”,”Go Back Air Force”- Tamils Will Soon Demand Withdrawal of Army,Navy and Air Force From North Predicts Chief Minister Wigneswaran.’ »

Minister of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages Mano Ganesan has posted the following tweets on his twitter about his “Meeting” with Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara

Mano Ganesan has tweeted as follows about his meeting with Ven Gnanasara Thero-

@BBS chief @gnanasaraven walked into my ministry impatiently & noisy but I conducted myself according the teachings of Lord @Buddha. #lka

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena Chief Gnanasara Thero Walks “Impatiently” Into National Co-existence Minister’s Office but Mano Ganesan Says he Followed Lord Buddha’s Teachings’ »

Town Hall and Viharamahadevi Park turned into a mini-battlefield yesterday when the police attempted to prevent the Inter-University Students’ Federation protest approaching the University Grants Commission, with over 21 students admitted to hospital and another 10 arrested following the clash.

The IUSF was protesting the Government’s inaction on their demand to take the controversial private medical faculty, the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) under State control.

Continue reading ‘21 Hospitalised and 10 Arrestred as Police Clash with Inter-University Students Federation Protesters at Viharamahadevi Park.’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Supreme Court yesterday (17) re-fixed for support on 12 July the petition filed by retired Army Officer and former Southern Provincial Councillor Ajith Prasanna challenging the appointment of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as a Member of Parliament.

The bench comprised Chief Justice Priyasath Dep and Justices Sisira J. De Abrew and Nalin Perera.

The petitioner had sought an order in the nature of a Writ of Quo Warranto declaring that Democratic Party leader Field Marshal Fonseka was disqualified and not entitled to be elected as a Member of Parliament of the United National Party and thus not entitled to hold office as a Member of Parliament.

Quo warranto (‘By what warrant?’) is a prerogative writ which asks the person to whom it is directed to show by what authority he or she exercises a right or power which he or she claims to hold.

Continue reading ‘Writ of Quo Warranto Sought From Supreme Court to Unseat Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka From M.P. Post.’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Two rebel SLFP/UPFA North Central Provincial Councillors who switched their allegiance to President Maithripala Sirisena have been appointed ministers.

Sarath Illangasinghe and Sampath Sri Nilantha have succeeded H. B. Semasinghe and R. M. P. B. Ratnayake. SLFP sources told The Island new appointments were meant to strengthen the group loyal to President Sirisena.

On Tuesday, rebel Susil Gunaratne deserted the group loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to join the NCP board of ministers.

A Provincial Council can appoint five ministers including the Chief Minister.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Retains Hold on North Central Provincial Council by Appointing Two Pro-Mahinda Men as Ministers.’ »

By

Bandula Jayasekara

(Ernest Corea, one of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished journalists and diplomats, died on May 11, 2017 after a long illness)

Ernest Corea

On December 13, 2005 the highly respected former Editor in Chief of The Ceylon Daily News (1966- 1970) and a former High Commissioner to Ottawa and former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Washington , Ernest Corea wrote to me following my appointment as the Editor in Chief of the Daily News. “Bandula: Please accept heartfelt congratulations from my wife Indra and myself, both “Daily News” alumni, on your appointment as editor-in-chief of our old paper. I hope you will be able to raise its standards, improve its writing, and broaden its perspectives. I have just returned from a conference in Morocco, and am fighting off a bad cold. I will write again as soon as I am fully recovered. Meanwhile … go to it! – Ernest Corea”

I got to know late Corea thanks to the introduction given by our permanent man (I say permanent because the Sri Lankan government Reps come and go but, he continues) seated inside a glass house in New York, the evergreen Thalif Deen. Like Thalif, Ernest became an inspiration to me. He continuously sent me emails giving me ideas to work on. On two occasions, Ernest Corea sent me books, one was on development journalism and another book he had purchased from the World Bank Bookshop in Washington. His emails were full of encouragement and guidance. I wonder how many other Daily News Editors had that privilege. Ernest Corea wrote to me when I was wronged (I know Thalif use to brief him) by the Media Minister at the time, Anura Yapa. There were times when he called me and told me to continue with the good work and to be fearless and careful.

Continue reading ‘Ernest Corea – Editor, Diplomat par Excellence – A Humble Tribute’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Indian Premier Narendra Modi declared in Colombo on Friday (May 12) that the biggest challenge to sustainable world peace today might not be necessarily from conflict between the nation states.

Addressing international Vesak Day celebrations, at the BMICH, Modi asserted: “It is from the mindsets, thought streams, entities and instruments rooted in the idea of hate and violence. The menace of terrorism in our region is a concrete manifestation of this destructive emotion (emphasis mine) Sadly, these ideologies of hate and their proponents, in our region, are not open to dialogue and hence only open to causing death and destruction.”

Modi’s visit took place close on the heels of India and Sri Lanka signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a range of projects, including one on Trincomalee oil tank farm.

Obviously, Hindu nationalist Modi has conveniently forgotten how India caused regional crisis by destabilizing Sri Lanka to such an extent to compel the then JRJ government to accept deployment of the Indian Army in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. India caused massive destruction in the predominately Tamil Northern and Eastern districts. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) responded by assassinating former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, in May 1991. The LTTE struck in Tamil Nadu over a year after the Indian Army pulled out of Sri Lanka at the request of the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa.

India caused further mayhem when New Delhi established the Tamil National Army months before its withdrawal. The LTTE decimated the Tamil National Army with the tacit understanding with President Premadasa whose 14-month long honeymoon, with the LTTE, ended in June 1990.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Security Concerns and Interests are Different of that of India’ »

By

P.K.Balachandran

India appears to be in the process of re-shaping and re-orienting its policy on the Sri Lankan ethnic question once again. This was evident during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Sri Lanka from May 11 to 12, Modi found time for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a group of Sri Lankan Tamil parties, only at the fag end of his visit. The appointment was given only at the eleventh hour, and the meeting which took place at the airport lounge just before Modi’s departure, lasted just 15 minutes.

This sharply contrasted with his engagement with the Indian Origin Tamil (IOT) estate workers and their leaders in the Central Highlands of the country. He opened a hospital for them, addressed a mammoth public meeting and had talks with their leaders.

Modi’s visit showed that India’s emphasis has noticeably shifted from the Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue to issues of the Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) – ie. from the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka to Tamils who were taken from India to Sri Lanka by the British to work in British-run coffee, tea and rubber plantations between 1823 and 1939.

Continue reading ‘Indian Policy on Sri Lanka Will Shift From Emphasis on Sri Lankan Tamils to Focus More on Sinhalese and Indian Tamils’ »

by Shamindra Ferdinando

One of the rebel SLFP North Central Provincial Councillors, Susil Gunaratne, has switched his allegiance to President Maithripala Sirisena within hours of signing an affidavit requesting the immediate removal of Chief Minister S. M. Peshala Jayaratne Bandara, a staunch Sirisena loyalist.

The rebel group comprising 17 members loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa demanded CM be replaced with S.M. Ranjith, who had recently given up transport, sports, youth affairs, cooperative, trade and Food and industrial development portfolios in protest against President Maithripala Sirisena dismissing Minister K.H. Nandasena.

President Maithripala Sirisena has rewarded Susil Gunaratne with portfolios previously held by Ranjith soon after directing Governor P. B. Dissanayake not to accept affidavits furnished by the rebel group.

Former External Affairs Minister and top Joint Opposition spokesman Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday quoted Governor Dissanayake as having told the rebel group that he was directed not to accept affidavits.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Breaks Pro-Mahinda Group of North Central Provincial UPFA Councillors with Portfolio Offer.’ »

By

Professor Asoka N.I. Ekanayaka
(Emeritus Professor ( University of Peradeniya )

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo

It is to be hoped that the government will treat Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s recent call for retrogressive anti conversion legislation with the contempt it deserves. It is a foolish and dangerous attempt to revive a defunct proposal that was thankfully shelved some years ago. While the Cardinal’s opinion is repugnant to non – Roman Catholic Christians in Sri Lanka, it is evident from his own admission that it is a personal view that may not even be shared by the Catholic Bishops Conference. That he should be in a minority is not surprising considering the awful irony that what the Cardinal is asking for is the very thing that is being demanded by religious fanatics who are hostile to the Christian Church !

It is sad to see the stark contrast between the attitude of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and saintly bishops like the late Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando who in his lifetime was a redoubtable fighter against all anti – conversion legislation. Amongst my most cherished correspondence is a hand written letter dated July 6th 2004 from the beloved Bishop ( even though he did not know me personally and I am not a Roman Catholic ), conveying his congratulations for what he termed an “excellent” article titled “ Legislation Driven by Conversion Phobia” in the “Island” newspaper of 5th and 6th July 2004. Bishop Frank Marcus concluded his appreciative note by saying “At our level we are doing our best to stop this foolish and dangerous legislation” – wise words which are a devastating though posthumous indictment of the measures being proposed by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

It is on record that in 2011 the Cardinal made a similar suggestion to the previous regime with which he seems to have had a cordial relationship. Wiser counsel having prevailed then the Cardinal’s attempt to flog a dead horse now with the present regime, seems like a burst of episcopal megalomania by an arrogant prelate who is out of touch with reality. The Cardinal’s call for what he termed “new laws to put an end to the issue of forcible conversions and preserve religious harmony” is invalid on several counts.

Continue reading ‘CARDINAL SIN: A Critical Reaction to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s Call For Legislation Banning “Forcible Conversions”’ »

By Ayesha Zuhair

It was a rousing welcome befitting a celebrity. Tamils of recent Indian origin lined the streets of Dickoya in Sri Lanka’s central hills on Friday (12 May) to catch a glimpse of that Indian tea boy who rose to become the Prime Minister of ‘Mother India’ to almost all of them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed as he arrives to attend a function in Dickoya.

It was Narendra Modi’s second visit to Sri Lanka since his election in 2014 as India’s Prime Minister, but more significantly, it was the first visit by an Indian leader to the Central Province, where Up-country Tamils or Tamils of recent Indian origin are concentrated. No other Indian leader has visited the hill country since indentured labour was brought from south India by the British colonial rulers (initially for coffee, and then for their tea and rubber plantations) in the 19th century.

In the past, Indian leaders have considered a visit to the north of the island as an essential part of their itinerary, their attention primarily focused on the Tamil community in the northern and eastern parts of the island. This, of course, was induced by pressure from Tamil Nadu on the Indian Central Government to persuade Colombo to address the ethnic issue.

Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi’s Hill Country Visit Brings Joy to Tamils of Recent Indian Origin’ »

By

P.K.Balachandran

By spurning China’s invitation to be part of the multi-billion dollar, multi-continental One Belt One Road (OBOR) project on an issue of “sovereignty” India has completely isolated itself from Asia, and even its immediate neighborhood, South Asia, over which it claims exclusive influenceAll countries of South Asia, except India’s fiefdom of Bhutan, attended the OBOR summit at Yangqui Lake in the outskirts of Beijing being held on May 14 and 15.

The Maldives had joined the OBOR in 2014, and Bangladesh had signed up in 2016. Sri Lanka automatically became part of OBOR after the construction of the Hambantota port in 2010. Pakistan too had become a part of it as a result of the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). And Nepal signed up this month.

Even countries which have complained of China’s hegemonic tendencies like Japan and Vietnam, had sent high level delegations to the meeting. The anti-Chinese Trump administration in the US had also sent a high level delegation headed by White House Advisor Matt Pottinger. From Nepal came its Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara. Sri Lanka was represented by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Minister of Strategic Development Malik Samarawickrama.

China has been consistently calling upon India to set aside political differences including long standing sovereignty issue over Pakistan-held Kashmir and join the OBOR for the sake of the long term economic development of South Asia and the world.

Continue reading ‘India Isolates Itself From Rest of Asia By Staying Away From China’s OBOR Project’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Last week has been eventful. And I was conflicted on whether to write about the Sri Lankan visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more specifically his attitude and signalling during his visit to Dickoya, home to a large concentration of Indian origin Tamils or about China’s One Belt – One Road initiative.

India has always meddled in our internal affairs, given its geographical location and aspiration to be the dominant regional power.

I would be surprised if they didn’t, and it has always leveraged its ‘connection’ to the Tamil population to influence Sri Lankan Governments.

Continue reading ‘Will India Attempt to Use Indian Origin Tamils to Counter – balance Chinese Influence in Sri Lanka?’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

During the last weekend, President Xi Jinping unveiled his pet project, presented in a rather confusing jargon, ‘One Belt One Road’, in Beijing. The next door communist neighbour, North Korea in a quirky brotherly fashion greeted the guests with fireworks. Test firing a missile, which it boasted as capable of carrying a large nuclear warhead, Pyongyang stole headlines from Mr. Xi.

But the caravan went on. By the end of the day, Mr. Xi announced an additional US $ 120 billion of Chinese commitment for the New Silk Road. China’s New Silk Road which was first mooted by Mr. Xi in 2013 and presented to delegates of 65 countries, including 29 heads of states and governments, last Sunday envisaged to build a network of modern infrastructure and port facilities across the land and sea lanes that stretched from mainland China to Europe and Africa.

By any account, China’s new initiative will be a money spinner. Some Chinese observers tend to draw a parallel with the Marshal Plan, the American initiatives to aid the recovery of post- war Western Europe. However, in some counts, the Marshal Plan fails in comparison, if the full scale of the Chinese ambitions is materialized.

The Marshal Plan provided US $ 13 billion assistance ( US $ 160 billion in 2016 value) during its four years of operation. Whereas, Credit Suisse in a recent report estimated that as much as US $ 502 billion in infrastructure development assistance would be splashed out in 65 countries during the next five years under China’s Belt and Road initiative.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Failure to Exploit Her Strategic Location is Like the Virginity of Victorian -era Women’ »

By
Shamindra Ferdinando

North Central Governor P. B. Dissanayake yesterday declined a request by a group of provincial Councillors loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to replace Chief Minister of the North Central Province S.M. Peshala Jayaratne Bandara with S.M. Ranjith.

Of the 22 member UPFA group, 17 have backed the rebel move.

The UPFA-run NCP comprises 33 members.

The rebels made their move in the wake of Ranjith quitting his ministerial post in protest against President Maithripala Sirisena dismissing provincial minister K. H. Nandasena. President Sirisena named Herath Banda as Nandasena’s successor.

Continue reading ‘North Central Governor Thwarts Move by Majority of Provincial Councillors to Replace Chief Minister Jayaratne Bandara With SM Ranjith.’ »

By Chitra Weerarathne

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court yesterday by a majority decision granted leave to appeal with the Application of Appeal filed by Geetha Kumarasinghe against the Court of Appeal judgement of Jan. 31, 2017.

The Supreme Court extended the interim relief granted earlier in favour of the appellant Kumarasinghe.

The interim relief suspended the operation of the Court of Appeal Judgement dated January 31, which disqualified Kumarasinghe from being a Member of Parliament, on the basis she was a dual citizen at the time of nomination.

The appeal will be argued in the Supreme Court on September 25.

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court will Hear Geetha Kumarasinghe Appeal on Sep 25th: Suspension of Quo Warranto Writ Disqualifying Galle Dist MP Extended Further’ »

BY

DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

As the Indian TV station WION’s program ‘Gravitas’ correctly reported, “Modi Reshapes Sri Lanka Policy”. What a reshaping it was and what a shape it has now taken! It has to be analyzed in all its dimensions and implications.

Though my old teacher of international relations, Prof Shelton Kodikara, would surely have traced Modi’s ‘Vesak discourse’ in Colombo back to the Indian Ocean-centric theories of KM Panikkar and thus posited a conceptual continuity, I would add or attribute two new reasons for the Modi doctrine.

Firstly, the competition with a rising China in the Indian Ocean has led Modi to attempt a downward thrust of India’s power, extending its sphere of influence southwards, hardening and transforming it from a sphere of influence to a domain of secure possession, acquiring Sri Lanka or at least its North and East which contains Trincomalee.

Secondly, Mr. Modi’s ideological lineage and mindset make it easier than it would be for a Congress leader, to think in terms of a Greater India, a quasi-empire—which extends to and incorporates the island of Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi Wants to Change Sri Lanka From Sovereign Independent Country to a Federal State of the Indian Union.’ »

By

Dr. A.S.Chandrabose

(Dr. A. S. Chandrabose is a Senior Lecturer in Social Studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka)

Introduction

However, housing crisis (comprising backlogs, evictions, removals and inadequate housing, amongst others) is still a reality in the country. South Africa is still faced with a “critical nationwide housing backlog.” 5 In June 2013, the housing backlog reportedly stood at 2.1 million units (affecting over eight million people).6 In 2012, 54.5 per cent of households were living in informal settlements.7 In terms of achieving a non-racial integrated society, South Africa is still seen as a “grossly unequal society in which the (overwhelmingly black) poor majority population is disproportionately denied adequate housing opportunities and basic amenities.” 8 It has been reported that despite the government’s commitment to realize housing rights through the range of policies and programmes, “many poor households remain unable to access some form of adequate housing, often having to live in difficult conditions in informal settlements and inner city ‘slum buildings’ and subject to the constant risk of eviction.” 9

Continue reading ‘House Ownership for Plantation Workers in Sri Lanka’ »

BY

Suhasini Haidar

For the past four decades, terrorism has been an important factor in India’s foreign policy. Long before the 9/11 attacks spurred the United States into announcing a “global war on terror”, India was fighting its own battles: in Kashmir and Punjab, and with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam both internally, as well as internationally, where action on terrorism was a key component of bilateral relations.

A consistent stance

While there were countries where terror groups trained or were funded, such as Pakistan, or Bangladesh (pre-2008), there were still others such as the U.S., the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada where groups sympathetic to these extremists supported their activities. Through these decades, India’s bilateral relations with these countries have been closely aligned to their actions on terror. At the UN in 1996, much before the phrase “global war on terror” gained currency, it was India that first introduced the concept, proposing a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that it still hopes will be adopted by all members. India’s message is simple: each country must adopt a zero tolerance policy to all violent ideologies that threaten ordinary citizens. India’s position has become more strident, with a push for the UN designation of terrorist groups as well as raising the issue of Pakistan-based terrorists at international fora including the G-20, BRICS and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among the speakers at the 2017 Khalsa Day Parade.
Pic Courtesy of: Martin Trainor-CBC

Given that position, it is surprising that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) chose to react meekly to the decision by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to attend the “Khalsa Day” parade organised by the Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council in Toronto on April 30. The images of pro-Khalistani militants are often brought out at these parades, as many of the marchers call for the establishment of a separate Khalistan, and this year was no exception. India had worked to ensure that Stephen Harper, Mr. Trudeau’s predecessor, didn’t attend the same event, and it wasn’t coincidental that Prime Minster Manmohan Singh (2010) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2015) visited him during his tenure as a result. That Mr. Trudeau chose to make his appearance in a year he plans to visit India is all the more startling.

Continue reading ‘Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Presence at “Khalsa” Event In Toronto Is Troubling.’ »

By the “Sunday Times ” Political Editor

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe decided on Friday night that the much-talked-of Cabinet reshuffle will take place upon the latter’s return from China.

The meeting came just ahead of the Premier travelling to the airport to board a Singapore-bound flight en route to Beijing.

President Sirisena also directed him not to deal with any matters relating to the Hambantota Port project with a Chinese firm until a number of outstanding issues are resolved.

The Premier had proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding incorporating the different agreements with Chinese authorities. A Framework Agreement is also on the cards.

The Cabinet reshuffle turned out to be a sore point in the United National Party-Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) relations. SLFP ministers who met Mr. Sirisena on Monday night were to say they would sit as an ‘independent group’ in Parliament from August if the current disturbing political situation is not addressed.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe Decide to Re-shuffle Cabinet to Avoid UNP -SLFP Crisis.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

Only the naïve would believe the rosily repeated plea by the European Union (EU) that ‘the implementation of twenty seven international conventions is the only criterion for regaining’ the GSP Plus trade facility for Sri Lanka.

Posing infinitely greater harm

Repetition does not make what is false, true though this is a well accepted propaganda strategy historically. Regardless, repeating a patently false claim is generally shrugged off as an unavoidable part of doublespeak. Similarly, when international realpolitik results in no more damage than the continuation of an existing state of affairs, only casual concern may be warranted.

For instance this may have hypothetically been the case if negotiations with the EU had (merely) resulted in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) continuing, albeit in all its disreputable glory. If so and the Government took pride in announcing that it had secured GSP Plus as it did for the umpteenth time this week, this may have only merited an aggrieved comment here or an annoyed observation there, as the case may be.

But, the situation is very different when doublespeak and realpolitik, masked in the comforting cloak of adherence to international law, poses infinitely greater harm for Sri Lankans. This is precisely the storm that a proposed Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) approved by Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has brought down on the hapless shoulders of the EU, as hard albeit unconvincingly as it may try to justify itself.
Continue reading ‘Draft Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) Shows The “Middle Finger” Contemptuously to the Sri Lankan Constitution.’ »

In his speech welcoming the Indian Prime Minister, Minister of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages, Mano Ganeshan stated that the people assembled to hear him speak were the most recent segment of people to arrive from India in the 1800s.

Pic via: Facebook/
Ministry of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Languages

“But our loyalty to our Motherland Sri Lanka, is not a divided loyalty,” he insisted. “We are in a position of being a bridge between our two nations, and also, we make the relationship between our countries more meaningful,” the Minister opined.

Continue reading ‘“Our Loyalty Is Not a Divided Loyalty. We are a Bridge Between our Two Nations” – Mano Ganeshan’ »

By Namini Wijedasa

“India beats in your hearts,” visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared to jubilant Sri Lankans at the Norwood grounds on Friday, moments after declaring open a multi-specialty hospital in Dickoya built with Indian funds.

pic via: twitter/
MEAIndia

Alluding to them as “Indian-origin diaspora”, Mr Modi told the estimated 30,000-strong crowd that their progress was India’s pride. “We take much joy from your accomplishments in various walks of life,” he said. “We rejoice at the success of the Indian-origin diaspora as they leave a mark across the world, near and far.”

Thousands of Indian origin Tamils—all of them now Sri Lankan citizens—climbed into buses early Friday morning and were driven to the Norwood grounds to hear Mr Modi speak. Villages were festooned with orange, white and green streamers, the colours both of the Indian national flag and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC).

Continue reading ‘Over 30,000 Sri Lankans of Indian Origin at Norwood Cheer as Indian Prime Minister Modi says “India Beats In Your Hearts”.’ »

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of his humble beginnings as a tea boy (Chai Boy) when he addressed tens of thousands of tea plantation workers of recent Indian origin at Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district Friday.

Opening ceremony of Dickoya hospital

Becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the tea growing central region of Sri Lanka, Modi said he and the vast majority of plantation Tamils had something in common – tea.

“You and I have something in common,” he said. “As some of you may have heard, I have a special association with tea,” he said in a clear reference to his days as a Chai Boy, or tea seller at his father’s modest tea stall at a railway station in the Gujarat state of India.

He said it was a tremendous honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister ever to visit the region which is home to nearly one million Tamils of recent Indian origin.
Continue reading ‘“Chaiwallah” (Tea Boy) Narendra Modi Uses “Teacup Diplomacy”to Reach out to Tamil Plantation Workers of Indian Origin’ »

Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal unseating Geetha Kumarasinghe could lead to a major shift in the balance of power with the United People’s Freedom Alliance possibly losing at least 11 seats in the 225-member parliament.

The May 3 decision of the court held that Kumarasinghe, a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and Switzerland, was unqualified to be a candidate at the August 2015 parliamentary election and thus she should be removed from parliament.

Apart from removing the 61-year-old former actress-turned-politician from the legislature, the court decision has far more serious repercussions for the entire UPFA list for Galle and Matara districts which returned six and five MPs for the party respectively. The future of those MP’s is now in question.

Continue reading ‘11 UPFA Southern MP’s From Galle (6) and Matara (5) Districts Face Risk Of Being Unseated Due to Effect of Appeal Court Ruling on Geetha Kumarasinghe’ »

By

P.K.Balachandran

The visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday played the “ancient Buddhist link” card with aplomb in a bid to give a firm historical and cultural foundation to his plea that Sri Lanka should accept India as a reliable development partner, Glorifying the teachings of the Buddha and pointing out their relevance to addressing the problems of the crisis-ridden modern world, Modi said that Vesak day is a day for rejoicing as well as reflection on the “timeless truth of the Dhamma” which the Buddha preached.

facebook.com/
narendramodi

He was in Colombo as the Chief Guest at the UN-backed International Vesak Day Celebrations at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment and mahaparinibbana (liberation or death) of the Buddha.

The Buddhist Dhamma’s call for the inculcation of generosity, proper conduct, wisdom, energy, tolerance, truthfulness, determination, loving kindness and equanimity is of great relevance to the conflict-ridden present day world just as it was in Buddha’s time, Modi said. He quoted the Buddha to say that the Dhamma is the greatest gift one can bestow.

Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi Plays the “Buddhist Link” as Winning Card to Make Sri Lanka Accept India as Reliable Development Partner.’ »

By

DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

Prime Minister Modi’s two day visit to Sri Lanka was supposed to be non-political. Yet, in his address to the International Vesak Conference at the BMICH, he laid out the Modi doctrine for Indo-Lankan relations and more especially for Sri Lanka.

His message was hardly non-political, or purely cultural and civilizational, being far more Kautilyan than Dharmaashokan. With the country’s top leadership– Government and Opposition– present, he prescribed the limits of this country’s sovereign existence.

This is what he says, on economics and security/strategy which are facets of the same thing: power relations between states:

Continue reading ‘Modi Doctrine of “Indivisible Mutual Security” With India is Unacceptable for Sri Lanka’s National Interests.’ »

By

P.K.Balachandran

After having run into difficulties with the Sri Lankan Tamils of the North and East over issues of devolution of power, alleged human rights violations during Eelam War IV, and post-war economic development, the government of India is now turning its attention away from the North-East Tamils to the Tamils of Indian Origin in the plantation areas of Central Sri Lanka

“Crowds on way to Dickoya to welcome PM @narendramodi ” poc via: twitter.com/
MEAIndia

It is therefore very significant that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only inaugurating the 100-bed India-built modern hospital in Dikoya but also meeting the Indian Origin Tamil leaders and addressing a gathering of Indian Origin people.

Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minster to visit see the Indian Origin Tamil plantation labor in situ, though the government of India has had a long history of involvement with their lives.
Continue reading ‘Modi Visit Indicates Indian Govt Focus is Shifting From North – Eastern Tamils to Tamils of Indian Origin in Up Country Areas.’ »

In a “very friendly and cordial” half an hour’s meeting here late on Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa completely skipped politics and spoke about forging close economic relations between the two countries, a well-placed source said.

pic via: facebook.com/
PresidentRajapaksa/

Contrary expectations, Rajapaksa did not voice any concerns about the recent economic agreements with India which had created a political storm of sorts in the island.

On the other hand he dwelt on the deficiencies in the economic policy of the Maithripala Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government and regretted that the projects that his government had launched were stalled. The government ought to generate “investor confidence,” he stressed.

Rajapaksa added that he is all for economic cooperation with India. Continue reading ‘Ex-Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa “Shapes Things” In Cordial and Friendly 30 Minute Meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi’ »

On May 1, while thousands gathered at Sri Lanka’s Galle Face Green, to attend the May Day rally organised by forces loyal to Mahinda Rajapakse, one of the former President’s closes aides made a controversial call.

He took to the microphone and urged the public to raise black flags when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in the country on May 11, to protest the Indian leadership’s visit to the island country.

This call was made by non other than Wimal Weerawansa, who has a history of being a ‘drama king’ in the Sri Lankan political arena. While Weerawansa went on with his rants, former President Mahinda Rajapakse stood on the stage, saying nothing.

Weerawansa further went on to say that Modi and the Sri Lankan government were discussing a deal on Trincomalee which he told the public, must be opposed. Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition Calls For Protest Against Narendra Modi Visit but Mahinda Rajapaksa Has Cordial Meeting with Indian PM.’ »

Claiming India’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic prosperity, visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday stressed that whether it was on land or in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the security of India and Sri Lanka was indivisible.

Modi declared that his conversations with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had reinforced India’s will to join hands in achieving their common goals.

The Indian leader was addressing the International Vesak Day event at the BMICH in Colombo.

Excepts of Modi address: Continue reading ‘Be it Land or Water the Security of India and Sri Lanka is Indivisible says Indian PM Narendra Modi’ »

by A Special Correspondent

Galle district parliamentarian Geetha Kumarasinghe was recently declared to be disqualified from being a member of parliament by the Court of Appeal on the basis of a provision introduced to the Constitution via the 19th Amendment, disqualifying dual citizens from becoming MPs. This provision was tagged on to Article 91, which lists the disqualifications to be elected or to sit in Parliament. Article 66 of the Constitution says that an MP’s seat will become vacant if among other things, he becomes subject to a disqualification under Article 91.

Section 115 of the Parliamentary Elections Act (No. 1 of 1981) states that disqualification under any written law for election or for sitting and voting as a Member, whether before or after the election of the Member, of any person or persons nominated by a recognised political party or independent group for election at that election, shall not invalidate or in any way affect the nomination paper of that party or group, and, accordingly, the candidature or election of any other person nominated by the party or group on that nomination paper shall not be invalidated by reason only of the fact of the death, withdrawal or disqualification of such person or persons.

The government appears to be relying on the above provisions in the law to restrict the disqualification of Kumarasinghe just to her, leading to her surgical removal from Parliament to be replaced by Piyasena Gamage. Following the verdict of the Court of Appeal, the Secretary General of Parliament has already written to the Elections Commission, that her seat has fallen vacant. The matter is now before the Supreme Court. Continue reading ‘If Geetha Kumarasinghe’s Unseating as MP is Upheld the Entire List of Galle District UPFA Candidates Including MP’s Could be Disqualified.’ »

By

Mahinda P. LiyanageGalle

Southern Provincial Councilor Jayantha Jayaweera told the media that he was going to initiate legal action in the Court of Appeal challenging the legal validity of the entire list of candidates who contested the 2015 Parliamentary election under the United People’s Freedom Alliance ticket inconsideration of the legal postulations following the Court of Appeal(CA) order issued on May 3 declaring that Galle district Parliamentarian Geetha Kumarasinghe was disqualified to be a Member of Parliament.

“According to the election law, in case of a candidate of a list is disqualified following a court order or any other lawful objection, the same directive applies all other contestants of the respective list. Hence, according to the Court of Appeal decree unseating Geetha Kumarasinghe from her Parliamentary membership the whole of the UPFA list under consideration is also legally invalid, Councilor Jayaweera argued. Continue reading ‘Validity of Entire List of Galle District UPFA Candidates for Aug 2015 Parliament Elections to be Challenged Consequent to Geetha Kumarasinghe Being Disqualified as MP.’ »

By

Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Supreme Court today issued an Interim Order until May 15, staying the operation of the judgment made by Court of Appeal which declared that Geetha Kumarasinghe disqualified as Member of Parliament and thus not entitled to hold this office.

However, President’s Counsel J.C. Weliamuna appearing on behalf of two Galle district residents informed Court that his clients and other respondents were yet to receive notices and thereby raised objections for any hearing into matter.

Through an appeal petition, Galle District UPFA MP Geetha Kumarasinghe sought an order to set aside the judgment dated May 3, 2017 by Court of Appeal.

A three-judge-bench comprising Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena and Justice Anil Goonaratne decided to fixed the matter for support on May 15 and directed the respondent-petitioner to serve notices on respondents before next support date. Continue reading ‘No Action to Remove Geetha Kumarasinghe as MP until May 15th Orders Supreme Court’ »

By Philip Fernando

Ernest Corea, one of Sri Lanka’s distinguished newspaper editors and accomplished diplomats passed away yesterday in USA after a long bout with diabetes. He was editor of The Daily News and Sunday Observer and later headed the embassies in Canada and USA. He was awarded the Deshabandu Class 1 National Day honour for meritorious diplomatic service. He was a stout defender of the freedom of press.

Ernest Corea

Earnest was the last of the long stream of editors that Esmond Wickremesinghe raised at Lake House during its heyday: Cecil Graham, Tarzie Vittachi, Denzil Peiris, Harold Peiris and M A de Silva, just to name a few. Those of us who were privy to have seen them at close range carried away memories that stuck with us for good.

News is sacred, comment is free, was their credo.

Continue reading ‘Ernest Corea, Distinguished Editor and Esteemed Diplomat Passed Away’ »

The European Union has formally restored the GSP+ concessions to Sri Lanka seven years after key beneficiary access to the country’s biggest export market was suspended.

The Government’s Information Department said last night that the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council had approved GSP plus for Sri Lanka.

The Department said the EU approval completes the three procedural requirements for Sri Lanka to receives GSP Plus status. “The official notification on the entry into force will be finalised next week,” it added.

Sri Lanka last month secured a crucial vote at the European Parliament in Brussels and Sri Lanka’s application was referred to the 28-member European Union Council of Ministers for approval.

Continue reading ‘European Union Formally Restores GSP+ Concessions Denied to Sri Lanka 7 Years Ago During Rajapaksa Rule.’ »

Sri Lanka has rejected China’s request to dock one of its submarines in Colombo this month, given “India’s concerns,” said a government official.

Sri Lanka last allowed a Chinese submarine to dock in the capital of Colombo in October 2014, a move that triggered fierce opposition from its northern neighbour India, which worries about growing Chinese activity in a country it has long viewed as part of its area of influence.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday for a two-day official visit.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Refuses to Let Chinese Submarine Dock in Colombo this Month Due to Indian Sensitivity Over China’s Influence.’ »

In an unscheduled, late night meeting, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on Thursday May 11th 2017

The meeting was at the ex-president’s request, Indian High Commisioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu told reporters here.

The meeting comes ten days after a parliamentarian close to Mr. Rajapaksa called for a black flag protest around Mr. Modi’s visit.

Mr. Rajapaksa has earlier blamed India for his defeat in the January 2015 presidential polls, but in a recent media interview said that he admired Mr. Modi.

Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi Has Unscheduled Meeting in Colombo With Mahinda Rajapaksa at Ex-Sri Lankan President’s Request’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Colombo on Thursday evening on a two-day visit to participate in the UN Vesak Day celebrations, amid elaborate security arrangements.

pic va:
facebook.com/
narendramodi/

While New Delhi and Colombo have termed the visit as primarily a “religious” engagement, while emphasising that no agreements will be signed, Prime Minister Modi on his official Facebook page said: “This will be my second bilateral visit there in two years, a sign of our strong relationship.”

Continue reading ‘Indian PM Narendra Modi Arrives in Sri Lanka on a “Religious Engagement” Visit; Wont sign Any Agreement’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Joint Opposition on Tuesday (May 9) strongly denied that it had purposely voted for the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, knowing that the Rajapaksa brothers, Basil and Gotabhaya would be debarred from contesting future elections.

The 19th Amendment debarred Sri Lankans holding dual citizenship from contesting polls. Parliament adopted the new law in late April 2015.

The media took up the issue at a briefing called by the JO at Punchi Borella to comment on the latest Central Bank annual report and the alleged government-Parliament conspiracy to oust Galle District UPFA MP Geetha Kumarasinghe on the basis of a Court of Appeal ruling on her dual citizenship.

Continue reading ‘Why Did Joint Opposition MP’s Vote for 19th Amendment Knowing it Debars Basil and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa From Contesting Polls?’ »

By

P.K.Balachandran

On his first visit to Sri Lanka in March 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a South Asian icon to be looked up to and emulated. His rise from being a humble tea boy to be the Prime Minister of a gigantic country like India, was the stuff of dreams and a beacon of hope among the disadvantaged in the entire region.

His avowed South Asian regional orientation and his “Look East” declarations gave hope of a fresh deal for India’s smaller neighbors, including Sri Lanka. No wonder Modi got a breathtaking reception in Colombo and Jaffna with manifest and spontaneous popular participation on his first visit.

But there has been a sea change since then. Two years down the line, as Modi arrives here on May 11 for a two-day visit, Sri Lankans are wary about Modi and his government, wondering whether New Delhi’s recent brazen moves on Sri Lanka have a hidden agenda to interfere with and abridge Sri Lanka’s right to choose its friends, economic partners and defense allies.

Sri Lankans wonder if India plans to arrogate the island’s strategic national assets in the guise of “joint development” of such assets.

New Delhi’s seemingly high handed bid to thwart China’s inroads into Sri Lanka through a large number of agreements such as the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and the recent MoU on economic projects, has made Modi’s “Neighborhood First Policy“ suspect in the eyes of Sri Lankans.

Continue reading ‘Sinhalese Anxious,Tamils Indifferent and Muslims Disdainful About Narendra Modi Visit to Sri Lanka’ »

by Shamindra Ferdinando

The Joint Opposition yesterday accused Parliament of depriving actress turned UPFA MP Geetha Kumarasinghe of her Galle District parliamentary seat at the behest of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration.

The JO flayed the government and the parliament for acting hurriedly to oust an elected MP loyal to former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa. The JO said that Kumarasinghe had earned the wrath of the SLFP for steadfastly being a Rajapaksa supporter.

Former External Affairs Minister and top JO spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris said the Secretary General of Parliament had informed the National Election Commission (NEC) on Tuesday (May 9) of the Galle District vacancy in Parliament in the wake of the Court of Appeal ruling pertaining to her eligibility to be an MP due to her being a dual citizen.

Addressing the media at Punchi Borella, the former law professor alleged that Kumarasinghe had been denied the opportunity to move the Supreme Court within 42 days against the Court of Appeal ruling given on May 3.

Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition Accuses Parliament For Hurried Ouster of Galle District MP Geetha Kumarainghe at the Behest of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt’ »

By Annie Gowen

Members of a Hindu far-right organization called Arogya Bharati say they are working with expectant couples in the country to produce “customized” babies, who, they hope, will be taller, fairer and smarter than other babies, according to a report in the Indian Express newspaper.

The group’s health officials claimed that their program — a combination of diet, ayurvedic medicine and other practices — has led to 450 of these babies, and they hope to have “thousands” more by 2020, the report said.

“The parents may have lower IQ, with a poor educational background, but their baby can be extremely bright. If the proper procedure is followed, babies of dark-skinned parents with lesser height can have fair complexion and grow taller,” Hitesh Jani, the group’s national convener, told the newspaper.

Jani explained that the program consists of a “purification of energy channels” and body before a pregnancy, and mantra-chanting and “proper food,” such as meals rich in calcium and vitamin A, after the baby is born.

Continue reading ‘India’s RSS Inspired “Arogya Bharati” Launches Project to Produce “Customized” Babies who are “Fairer,Smarter&Taller”.’ »

By

Thilanka Kanakarathna

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and the Secretary General of Parliament had been forced to annul the MP post of Geetha Kumarasinghe, the Joint Opposition yesterday alleged.

Addressing a press briefing, MP Wasudeva Nanayakkara said the JO has no doubt that Ms. Kumarasinghe’s removal was a result of a political revenge and alleged that the Attorney-General had forced the House to inform its decision to the Election Commission.

He said Parliament has violated the privileges of it’s members by not giving a sufficient time to appeal against the court ruling.

Continue reading ‘Removal of Geetha Kumarasinghe From MP Seat Without Giving Time for Appeal is act of Political Revenge Charges Vasudeva Nanayakkara’ »

by Chitra Weerarathne

UPFA Parliamentarian for Galle district Geetha Kumarasinghe, yesterday, filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against a recent Court of Appeal judgement, which disqualified her from holding office as a Member of Parliament on the grounds that she was a dual citizen at the time of handing over nominations.

Some residents of Galle have filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal complaining that Kumarasinghe is a dual citizen of Switzerland and Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Geetha Kumarasinghe Lodges Appeal in Supreme Court Against Writ of Quo Warranto Issued by Court of Appeal.’ »

By

Chaturanga Pradeep

UPFA General Secretary and Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera said today he would nominate former minister Piyasena Gamage to fill the vacancy created by former MP Geetha Kumarasinghe being disqualified.

He said this while responding to a question asked by a journalist at the weekly Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) media briefing.

Continue reading ‘UPFA Will Nominate Ex-Minister Piyasena Gamage as Galle District MP to Fill Vacancy caused by Geetha Kumarasinghe’s Disqualification’ »

Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission that the MP post of UPFA Galle district Parliamentarian Geetha Kumarasinghe has been annulled in line with the Court of Appeal verdict.

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday (3) ruled that Ms. Kumarasinghe was disqualified to be a Member of Parliament on the basis that she holds dual citizenship

Meanwhile Geetha Kumarasinghe has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court against the Appeal Court’s decision which disqualified her as a parliamentarian.

Continue reading ‘Parliament Secy -Gen Annuls Galle District MP Post of Geetha Kumarasinghe Even as she Files Supreme Court Appeal.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Following the Court of Appeal disqualifying UPFA MP Geetha Kumarasinghe to be a member of parliament due to her dual citizenship the Joint Opposition member Udaya Gammanpila has requested Controller of Immigration and Emigration to name all those MPs with dual citizenship.

UPFA MP and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Gammanpila has sought information in accordance with the Right to Information (RTI) Act adopted by ruling coalition.

Attorney-at-law Gammanpila has told the Controller of Immigration and Emigration that information pertaining to those holding dual citizenship is available with the latter’s department and failure to furnish correct information or failure to provide it is a punishable offence under the RTI Act.

Continue reading ‘Udaya Gammanpila Uses Right to Information Act to Seek Names of MP”s who are Dual Citizens from Controller of Immmigration and Emigration.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

It is not just New Delhi or Washington that is worried about Colombo’s proposed deal to sell a deep-sea port in Hambantota to a Chinese company. Sri Lanka’s port authority has “fundamental concerns” over the proposed deal, its Chairman Dammika Ranatunga said.

While the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) appreciates the importance of foreign investment, it would only “go by the book”, Mr. Ranatunga told The Hindu.

“We took a careful look at the [draft] agreement — it violated the SLPA Act, and the terms were not conducive to us,” he said, adding that even after 10 revised drafts of the agreement, factoring in some of SLPA’s observations, many concerns remained.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Port Authority Chairman Dammika Ranatunga Worried About Govt’s Hambantota Harbour Deal With Chinese Company’ »

By Aruni Mallawaarachchi


Joint Opposition MP Geetha Kumarasinghe says defeated politician Piyasena Gamage wants to pull her down. “He was behind all this. He is waiting eagerly to occupy my seat in Parliament,” she said.

Excerpts:

Q:

What will happen next?

A:

I am waiting until I am delivered justice. I am a strong woman. I will not give up politics even if someone tries to drag me down. My decisions were in accordance with my conscience. I never went after money and the people of this country know that Geetha Kumarasinghe is a woman with genuine policies who speaks boldly. I am in their hearts and no one can change it. No one can buy it too.

Q;

Who are you alluding to when you say someone is trying to drag you down?

A:
I am not alluding. I directly say that the defeated politician Piyasena Gamage wants to pull me down. He was behind all these. He was waiting eagerly to occupy on my seat in Parliament. He received 20,000 votes less than me. He was rejected by the people.

Q;

A:
Who else wants to do this? The four who filed petitions against me are his supporters.

Q:

A:

Yes. One is the brother-in-law of the defeated minister. Another one is the person who was doing the minister’s contracts. Third owns a quarry which has a legal problem. The minister has promised him to resolve it. The fourth is a person who has worked in cooperatives. He was the arch rival of Piyasena in the past but now close friends.

Continue reading ‘“Bigwigs In this Govt Offered to Take Care of my Case and Make me a Deputy Minister but I Refused”- Geetha Kumarasinghe’ »

Former Army Major – General Kamal Gunaratne is under investigation over the murder of an employee at the Sri Lankan embassy in Brazil, foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera told parliament today.Gunaratne, who was sent to Brazil as deputy ambassador by then defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, murdered an embassy employee Nimal Rupasinghe with the support of two other embassy staff members, the minister said.

“Those two were given a promotion and sent to the United States from Brazil,” the minister said.

He did not say what motivated Gunaratne to kill Rupasinghe, but the victim’s family has lodged a complaint with the foreign ministry that he was forced to wash clothes of Gunaratne and his wife.

Rupasinghe was hit on the head and killed as he tried to get a transfer back to Colombo as he could not bear Gunaratne’s cruel and degrading treatment, the family has said.

Retired major general Gunaratne was rewarded with a diplomatic posting after his role in the final phase of the war against the Tamil Tigers who were crushed by May 2009.

Continue reading ‘Major-General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne Under Investigation For Alleged Murder of Employee at Brazil Embassy Discloses Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.’ »

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera revealed that the Island nations’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s spouse Shiranthi Rajapaksa, had spent Euros amounting to 25 million Sri Lankan rupees to watch Vesak from the Presidential Suite of the King George V hotel in Paris and for a quick luxury limousine ride to Lourdes for a Catholic pilgrimage .

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera disclosed details of former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s Paris visit in May 2014 costing Sri Lankan tax payers 41,650 euros for the hire of two limousines that were used to transport her around Paris and to Lourdes.

Samaraweera also divulged that Shiranthi’s stay in the presidential suite of King George V Hotel run by the super luxury Four Seasons group cost 63,945.50 euro from May 20 to 24 without breakfast.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa was representing Sri Lanka at the 2014 Vesak celebrations organised by the UNESCO in France

Continue reading ‘Shiranthi Rajapaksa and “Daisy Aunty” Spent 137,396 Euro(Rs 25,000,000) for 4 Days in May 2014 to Watch Vesak In France’ »

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued summons on the President of the Government Medical Officers’ Association Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya to appear before the court on May 22 and show cause as to why he should not be punished for contempt of the Court of Appeal for having caused an affront to the dignity of the court by making abusive public statements consequent to the Court of Appeal judgement dated Jan. 31, 2017. By that judgement the Court of Appeal ordered the Sri Lanka Medical Council to provisionally register the MBBS graduates of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine, Malabe (SAITM).

The bench comprising Justices Vijith K. Malalgoda (President/CA) and S. Thurairaja issued an interim order restraining and/or preventing him from committing, making and/or publishing further contemptuous statements/articles scandalising the Court of Appeal until the conclusion of the case.

Convener of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMS) Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya and Co-convener of the Puravesi Balaya (Citizens’ Power) Gamini Viyangoda filed the contempt application against Dr. Padeniya.

Continue reading ‘Court of Appeal Summons GMOA President Anuruddha Padeniya for Contempt of Court and Restrains Him From Scandalising Courts Further.’ »

The president of Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya while leading an Island wide Govt doctors strike that affected the treatment of patients in the Island has been minting money by engaging in channelled practice seeing patients at a private hospital while the strike was on. While numerous people from the poorer sections of society were unable to get proper medical treatment due to the strike by Govt hospital doctors the head of the GMOA has been making money through private practice . He has granted appointments to see at least six patients at Nawaloka hospital on Friday May 5th when his union GMOA was engaged in an island wide strike demanding the closure of private medical college.

Deputy Minister of Social Empowering and Welfare Ranjan Ramanayake on Thursday (May 04) has made an appointment to see Dr. Padeniya, a pediatric neurologist, at the Nawaloka Hospital in Colombo. The appointment was given to see Dr. Padeniya on Friday, May 05 at 4:05 pm and the deputy minister was listed as the 6th patient. The minister, who obtained the appointment to demonstrate the duplicity of the GMOA, produced the receipt issued for his appointment in parliament. It listed Doctor Padeniya’s charge for a consultation as Rs. 1000.

Parliament was shown the receipt for an appointment Padeniya, a paediatric neurologist, had given a patient on the night of Thursday the 4th of May 2017 at a time when the trade union he leads had already announced the strike for 24 hours from 8.00 am on Friday.

Ranjan Ramanayake obtained the appointment to consult Padeniya just to expose the duplicity of the striking doctors who want a private medical college shut in the name of protecting free health care, but have no qualms in engaging in private practice while in state service.

Continue reading ‘GMOA President Dr.Padeniya Engaged in Private Practice On Friday While Govt Hospitals Were Affected Due to Doctors Strike’ »

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is “deeply concerned over Cabinet approval for a policy and legal framework relating to the proposed Counter-Terrorism Act”. The TNA says “We have not been consulted on the terms of the draft framework, which has recently appeared in the press and appears to be a Cabinet memorandum approved on 25th April 2017”.

The TNA in a hard-hitting statement urges the Govt to urgently re-formulate some of the provisions in the framework. The TNA says “-We urge the Government to reconsider and urgently reformulate its proposals in light of the fundamental need to avoid torture and enforced disappearance, prevent abuse and effectively investigate actual threats to terrorism. The proposed framework neither ensures the security nor the liberty of Sri Lankans. Instead, it represents an attempt to enlarge the scope of unchecked executive power over the citizen, stifle freedom of speech and diversity, and provide the necessary loopholes for continued torture and abuse. We wish to reiterate that the protection of the rights of our citizens–particularly given the legacy of horrific past abuses–should not be sacrificed on the altar of trade concessions”.
Continue reading ‘TNA Concerned Over Provisions of Proposed Counter Terrorism Act as an “Attempt to Enlarge Scope of Unchecked Executive Power Over the Citizen”.’ »

Geetha Kumarasinghe

Popular actress and Galle district MP Geetha Kumarasinghe said yesterday that she would file a case in the Supreme Court against the Appeal Court’s ruling which deprived her from her seat in Parliament.

The Court of Appeal yesterday (May 3 2017) ruled that Galle District UPFA Parliamentarian Geetha Kumarasinghe was not entitled to hold the post of a Member of Parliament as she had contested the election while being a dual citizen.

She said she hoped to continue as an MP until a decision was given by the Supreme Court following her petition.

“I’m not criticising the Court ruling but I regret it. I hope justice will prevail one day. I will seek further judicial assistance in this regard,” she added.

The Court of Appeal on May 3rd 2017 issued a Writ of Quo Warran to disqualify UPFA Member of Parliament from holding office as an MP as she had held a dual citizenship at the time of seeking nomination to enter Parliament.

Geetha Kumarasinghe

Justice Preethi Padman Surasena with Justice Vijith Malalgoda (President/CA ) agreeing also directed the State to recover the cost from her as the debt to the State for the each day she sat in the Parliament knowing that she was a dual citizen and being disqualified to be a Member of Parliament.
Continue reading ‘Geetha Kumarasinghe Unseated by Appeal Court Through Quo Warranto Writ as Galle District MP on Dual Citizenship Issue : Actress Turned Politico to go to Supreme Court’ »