By
Dr Reeza Hameed
Those who were instrumental in drafting the Sri Lanka constitution currently in force were keen to limit parliament’s powers. Mr. J R Jayewardene, who as Prime Minister chaired the Parliamentary Select Committee on the draft 1978 constitution, remarked at one of its hearings:
“We are practically a dictatorship today. There is nothing we cannot do in this House with a five-sixths majority. I am trying to avoid that”. [emphasis added]
By
S.Sivathasan
The challenge before a developing country is to transform the agrarian texture of the economy and to shift emphasis to industry and services. Such a change is known to be indispensable to move away from third world to first. But no sooner policy pronouncements are made or investment plans announced, forces of reaction unleash their collective wrath against any diversification.
In the supreme Court of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
In the matter of a reference under and in terms of Article 125 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
S.C. Reference No. 3/2012
C.A. (Writ) Application No. 358/2012
Text and pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
New Year joys to Someone Truly LOVABLE
New Year Day is observed on 1st January, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar while the New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the last day of the year – 31st December.
In many countries, New Year’s eve is celebrated at evening social gatherings, where many people dance, eat, drink alcoholic beverages, an watch or light fireworks to mark the New Year. Some attend to watch night service. The celebrations generally go past midnight into 1st January (New Year’s Day).
Continue reading ‘Ringing in the New Year Colombo Dons Festive Gear’ »
The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, expressed today serious concern about the impeachment proceedings against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the recent attacks against lawyers who have been fighting for the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka.
Mrs. Gabriela Knaul, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers © SR
According to information received by the independent expert, attacks and threats against members of the judiciary and lawyers, as well as interference in their work, have dramatically increased over the past few months.
Continue reading ‘UN Special Rapporteur Gabriela Knaul Expresses Serious Concern over Impeachment of Chief Justice and Attacks on Lawyers in Sri Lanka’ »
By
Bandula Jayasekara
It is true the Sri Lankans lost in Hobart after a fight and lost badly in Melbourne. We give credit to the Australian team for winning the Test series. But the game of cricket and the test of cricket are not over for the Sri Lankan team.
by Stephen Prins who attended her concert in Galle
Danielle de Niese sings in Sri Lanka
Driving, or rather superhighway racing, to Galle was our first thought after attending the Sri Lanka-Asia debut concert of opera star Danielle de Niese on November 14, at the Cinnamon Grand.
Galle was where she would give her second concert, one week later. We had to enjoy a repeat of the riches we had just heard in a performance that was “great”, “grand”, “glorious” – to quote music-lovers present that November 14 evening.
Continue reading ‘Lanka’s own ‘Dani Girl’ Danielle de Niese tugs at heartstrings by singing ‘Danny Boy’’ »
By Col.R.Hariharan (Retd)
The 50th anniversary of the 1962 India-China war this year, roused a lot of passions in the country. Much of it was hot air, interspersed with some critical analyses of the war and its aftermath. The analyses focused on the strategic inadequacies of the national leadership, in handling national security, that continues to this day. Even the national leaders’ suspicion of the Armed Forces’ leadership still persists, as seen in Parliament during the General VK Singh episode.
Continue reading ‘Why I Quit Journalism and Joined the Indian Army in 1962’ »
by
Tisaranee Gunasekara
“The Solution was to establish terror as a normal condition of life.” – Roberto Calasso (The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony)
A fortnight after the UPFA won the 2010 parliamentary election Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa gave an interview delineating his dream-state. His ideal Sri Lanka would be a state locked in a permanent political war with its many and varied ‘enemies’; a state in which every institution must function as a weapon-of-war and concepts such as judicial independence and human rights are considered inimically alien.
By
M.A.Sumanthiran MP
M.A. Sumanthiran MP
November 27th this year marked an important milestone in the different phases of ethnic relations in this country. For those of us who still retain the memory of the events of 40 years ago, it was like Deja vu.
Students of the Jaffna University observed the Heroes’ Day within the University premises. The security forces invaded a female hostel, beat several students who protested the next day and the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lanka Police arrested four University students.
Continue reading ‘Govt and Die-hard LTTE Supporters are Dragging Tamil Youth and University Students Down a Slippery Slope’ »
by
Tisaranee Gunasekara
“Sentence first, verdict afterwards…”
Lewis Carroll (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)
With a single pronouncement, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has cleared the air of all false hopes, unreasonable expectations and rational imaginings. In his reply to the begging-letter by Ministers Tissa Witarana, DEW Gunasekera and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, the President has stated that the impeachment will go ahead, the Daily News reported on Christmas day.
There will be no compromise or détente; not one step back or even aside. The impeachment will move forward inexorably, profaning everything in its path, spewing venom in its wake.
Continue reading ‘Only a Man of Unsound Mind Would Have Picked a Woman of Criminal Persuasions to be the Country’s Chief Justice.’ »
by
Rajan Philips
Last year on December 16, after much hesitation, foot dragging and translation excuses, the government tabled in parliament the report of the LLRC that had been hand delivered to the President more than a month earlier.
pic courtesy of: vikalpasl
This year on December 8, ignoring calls for patience, due process, fairness and natural justice, a Parliamentary Select Committee – reduced to government members only – rushed to judgment against the country’s Chief Justice, Shirani Bandaranayake, and reported to the Speaker that she is guilty enough to cause an address by parliament for her removal by the President as early as January 2013.
Continue reading ‘LLRC in 2011 and impeachment in 2012, will it be political destruction in 2013?’ »
by L. C. Arulpragasam
In 1960 while in the Ceylon Civil Service, I was given charge of planning for the Agriculture Sector in the Department of National Planning, with the duty of looking into the economics and effects of the irrigated colonization schemes in the Dry Zone, among others.
These schemes were considered by successive governments as their major vehicle in achieving their stated objectives of achieving self-sufficiency in rice and increasing employment.
Continue reading ‘Some Inconvenient Truths About the Planning and Implementation of Irrigated Colonizations Schemes (1950-70)’ »
by Dr.Nihal Jayawickrama
Anura Bandaranaike (15. 2. 1949 – March 16. 3. 2008)
The current debate on the parliamentary resolution to impeach the Chief Justice appears to be clouded, and sometimes distorted, by several misconceptions.
by
Kath Noble
As I concluded last week, it is the failure of the Opposition that has put Sri Lanka into its current mess. This political system requires competition between the two main parties, since it is only fear of being thrown out of office that limits the behaviour of the Government.
pic courtesy of: facebook.com/pages/United-National-Party
When the Opposition is weak, the Government doesn’t take it as an opportunity to solve the long-term problems of the nation, free from the compulsions of electoral politics – it focuses on its own future and how it can further strengthen its grip on power. It becomes dictatorial.
Continue reading ‘Failure of the Opposition has put Sri Lanka into its Current Mess’ »
by D.B.S Jeyaraj
Sirima Bandaranaike
An Interview with Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha M.P-Part 2
Question:
Although you say you do not perceive yourself as a “rebel” MP I am sure you must be aware of reports describing you as one.
Shirani Bandaranayake
There have also been reports that you are to be moved out of Parliament on account of you being a “rebel”and that your National list MP slot would be given to Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama. It is also said that Mr. Bogollagama would be appointed External Affairs minister thereafter.Is this a likely scenario?
Continue reading ‘‘I See No Reason to Resign and I Don’t Think I Would be Asked to’ – Rajiva’ »
By
Somapala Gunadheera
Pare ca na vijananti
mayamettha yamamase
ye ca tattha vijananti
tato sammanti medhaga.
(Antagonists do not realize that they must all die someday. The wise realize it and so end their quarrels.)
National reconciliation has attracted the attention of its stakeholders ever since Independence, though much headway has not been made in that direction up to now. Interest in the subject reached an unprecedented level with the physical unification of the country after the conquest of the LTTE. Much has been promised in the meantime but the ground situation does not appear to have improved that much.
Continue reading ‘Reconciliation in Sri Lanka Through Mutual Trust and Joint Participation’ »
By
Lilani Jayatilaka
Some years ago while on a visit from abroad, my niece was entertained and perhaps a little shocked when she overheard comments broadcast over the loudspeaker from a nearby school.
It was the day of their annual sports meet and a teacher, obviously short-tempered, screamed into the microphone at some hapless students, “Magay yakaawe aussande epaa”. When translated into English, “Don’t rouse the devil in me” it loses colour and pith but in its original Sinhala form, her words and tone of voice, packed quite a punch.
Continue reading ‘It Seems That it Takes Very Little to Raise the Sleeping Devil in the Sri Lankan Psyche.’ »
By Gibson Bateman
President Obama is still working on remaking his foreign policy and national security team, but it looks like John Kerry will be the next Secretary of State. Inside Washington, Kerry has been a leading voice on foreign policy for decades.
As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for twenty-seven years, he has built up a vast network of contacts abroad.
Continue reading ‘Brief Thoughts on the Kerry Nomination and US-Lanka Relations’ »
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Wishing you all a meaningful, Joyful Blessed Christmas and a Peaceful, Bright and Happy New Year
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by
His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI’s Christmas message called on believers to “turn to the child of Bethlehem, the son of the Virgin Mary,” to ask for peace in “the land where he chose to come into the world.”
“May the Lord come to the aid of our world torn by so many conflicts which even today stain the earth with blood” he prayed
In his address delivered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Square, the Pope stressed the need for peace in the Middle East and other conflict areas including North Africa and Southeast Asia.
Christmas night in St. Peter’s square, December 25, 2012 – pic courtesy of: facebook.com/news.va.en
The full text of Pope Benedict’s Christmas message is as folows –
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and throughout the world!
Continue reading ‘May the Lord come to the Aid of our World Torn by so Many Conflicts which even Today Stain the Earth with Blood.’ »
By Sunitha Sahayam
So, it is Christmas – 2000 years have rolled on since the day Christ entered this world.
We go over the nativity scenes over and over again each year – but the time has come for us to really come to terms with what Christmas means in relation to what was foretold by the prophets . We know for sure that the prophecies concerning Christmas by prophet Isaiah, Jeremiah (to mention a couple of prophets ) and the Psalms have all been fulfilled, where the birth of Jesus is concerned. Let us go over the times the scriptures cover during this period to get the background of this whole incident.
Continue reading ‘Many People are Missing out on the Message of Christ’s Birth During Christmas’ »
By
Yohan Heenatigala
Toronto, Canada
In a recently released book by the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI says, that Jesus Christ was born earlier than commonly believed. December 25th is now considered as an erroneous date in regards the date of birth of the Jesus Christ.
Continue reading ‘The Finest Christmas Present of all Time is the Gift of Eternal life to Humanity from God’ »
by Francis Vethanayagam
In a little town in Bethlehem a unique event in the history of mankind that shook the world took place over twenty centuries ago.
It was the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, called Christmas.
Continue reading ‘Message of Christmas has Very Often been Misunderstood and Misinterpreted by a Coterie of Christians’ »
by Jeannette Cabraal
Joys of the season
Carols by candle-light
Faces aglow
Medley of voices
Vibrantly soar
The sparkling tree
With its glittering lights
The radiant appeal
In the eyes of a child
Rapt in delight
At the wondrous sight
Jolly Old Santa
A ubiquitous sight
Bestowing largesse
Left and right
To orphan and patient
And those in need
Who know nothing about
What Christmas means
Bringing good cheer
Dispelling the pall
To the old and the lonely
Away from it all
Who hardly know
It’s Christmas time at all’
The goodwill, the fellowship
Shared and shared alike
Gifts and cards of
remembrance
Bearing wishes blithe
The quiet crib in the corner
Exudes a peaceful air
All the joy the season
brings
Is embodied there.
by Rodney Martinesz
Another Christmas has dawned with the cheery feeling evident all round. The run up to Christmas as always is a hive of activity with brisk shopping and hectic preparations.
The streets are choked with milling crowds grabbing up the Christmas bargains and Yuletide perennials blare forth from record bars and sundry shops sending that special feeling coursing through your veins.
Continue reading ‘The Hijacking of Christmas by Commercial Interests’ »
by T V Pereira
The eventful birth of Jesus Christ which occurred in a humble manger in Bethlehem, is celebrated as an annual commemoration by billions of Catholics and Christians throughout the world as a religious event on December 25th.
According to the Gospel of St. Mathew as recorded in the Holy Bible the event occurred thus:
Continue reading ‘The Eventful Birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem’ »
Text and Pix Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
“Glória in Excélsis Deo” in Latin means “Glory to God in the highest”.
Christmas is an annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which fall on 25th of December. “Christmas”, the word originated from the term “Christ’s Mass”.
Christmas is celebrated as a major festival in many countries.
Continue reading ‘Christmas; Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ’ »
By Prof. Asoka Perera
The star is a must among our Christmas decorations. However, for a long time I was not comfortable with the Bible passage in Matthew 2:1-9.
The reasons being its reference to a star, thus suggesting some relationship to astrology. But now that I know the facts related to the star, it is a great encouragement to my faith as it confirms what the Bible says is true.
Continue reading ‘Was Jupiter the Star of Wonder that Guided the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem?’ »
By Sandarangi Perera
How do you get the message of Christmas across to people who may not be quite familiar with the story of Jesus Christ’s birth and life?
This Christmas, Back to the Bible, a Christian inter-denominational movement, has done something novel yet familiar by creating the country’s very first Christmas pandal. Inspired by Vesak pandols, Back to the Bible chose this medium to communicate to all the true meaning of Christmas.
Continue reading ‘Back to the Bible Creates First ever Christmas pandal in Colombo to spread the Glad Tidings of Great Joy’ »
By
Thulasi Muttulingam
Wikum Kuruppu ~ pic courtesy of via: facebook.com/wikum.kuruppu
When 22 year old Wikum Kuruppu finished his double degree in Science and Arts at the University of Monash, he wanted to take a year off doing volunteer work, before immersing himself in a career.
Born in Panadura, he migrated with his family to New Zealand when he was just two, and then moved on to Australia where he studied and grew up. Now straddling adulthood, he wanted to give something back to the world before embarking on a career but instead of Africa, his mother convinced him he owed something to Sri Lanka in particular.
And that is how the soft spoken young man, brought up without any understanding of the political machinations and strife in his country of origin, found himself in Jaffna, teaching English to Tamil boys and being a hostel master to war affected children.
His year of service is almost up now. The Ceylon Today caught up with him before he leaves for Australia in January to ask about his experience.
Continue reading ‘Sinhala Youth From Australia Who Taught English to Tamil Schoolchildren in Jaffna’ »
By
S.Muthiah
Mahadevan Sathasivam
A friend from Colombo recently informed me that there was a book about Mahadevan Sathasivam (Satha to all) that had just come out and was sure that I would be interested in it. When he told me that Sathasivam of Ceylon – The Batting Legend was by Prof. Ravindra Fernando of the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Colombo, I was even more interested.
Continue reading ‘Mahadevan Sathasivam:Best Batsman Ceylon/Sri Lanka Has Ever Produced’ »
The 1575 page report of the Parliamentary Select Committee that probed Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike following a resolution signed by 117 MPs to impeach her has now been officially released.
The lengthy report contains proceedings, minutes and volumes of documents which were made available by different state agencies or individuals. They were related to the 14 charges preferred against her.
Continue reading ‘How the Parliamentary Select Committee Hearings were Rushed Through’ »
by Justice C.V.Wigneswaran
(The full text of the KeyNote address delivered at the Annual General Meeting of the Judicial Services Association held yesterday, December 22, 2012 by Justice C.V.Wigneswaran)
Mr.Chairman, Your Ladyship, Distinguished Guests, my dear Brothers and Sisters!
I was indeed pleasantly surprised when your President invited me to address you today. It is eight years since I retired. Though I have been very busy addressing here and abroad many a meeting on legal, social, religious, literary, historical and many other allied subjects, and sometimes writing about them, the Original Judiciary to which I belonged and the tenure of which I cherished so much never invited me so far.
Continue reading ‘Independence of the Judiciary means simply that the Judiciary needs to be kept aloof as far as possible from the other branches of Government and other interest groups.’ »
Rajiva Wijesinha
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj
(National List MP Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha has been in the news lately for his independent approach and outspoken views. In this interview the academic turned politico speaks out openly on a number of issues including the impeachment motion against the chief justice, stalled Govt-TNA talks,National reconciliation , about the President being reportedly annoyed with him and whether he desires a cabinet portfolio)
Question:
Let me begin with a topic that is close to your heart as well as mine. National Reconciliation! You are an adviser to the President on Reconcilation and have taken much effort in this regard. Could you talk about your work in this sphere and the progress achieved so far?
Continue reading ‘‘I Don’t See Myself as a Rebel in Govt Ranks’ – Rajiva Wijesinha’ »
By Dr.Carlo Fonseka
I believe that it was in the practice of scientific medicine that humanity perfected the technique of avoiding personal bias and prejudice in the conduct of human affairs. In these days of intense legal controversy I found it mentally stabilizing to rehearse the stages I passed through in reaching the aforesaid conclusion.
A Christmas Reflection by Bishop Duleep de Chickera
Jesus was born in circumstances of political and economic oppression. Palestine had been occupied and subdued under Roman imperialism. Caesar Augustus reigned supreme over a vast empire. His pomp and power knew no limits; and he was even made out to be a god.
The people of Palestine experienced hardship and harassment under this regime. They were taxed heavily to maintain the extravagance of the Emperor’s court and the might of its military machine. Those who dared to call for freedom and justice were brutally crushed. Some were thrown to the lions or crucified in public. This was to instil fear and prevent further uprisings.
Continue reading ‘Christmas Brings Strong Message of Hope that Oppression of Empires Whether Yesterday or Today Do not Last Forever’ »
By Elilini Hoole
In the last provincial council elections, the TNA gained sweeping victories across the North. Tamils may have done well to choose the TNA which continues to voice Tamil concerns. For, just this last June, the government implanted a military camp in Thirumurukandy, Mullaithivu by stripping those who lost their permits in the war, of their land.
By S. L. Gunasekara
The current imbroglio relating to the attempt to dismiss the present Chief Justice has obscured the real issue facing the country which is whether the independence of the judiciary and hence civilized governance will prevail or not. What the people must understand is that Mahinda Rajapaksa is unimportant as are Shirani Bandaranayake, and the other actors in this sordid drama – for they all fade into wholesale insignificance when compared to that real issue.
Continue reading ‘“I do not say Shirani Bandaranayake is Lily White or Government is Pitch Black”’ »
By N. Sathiya Moorthy
As coincidence would have it, the TNA could not have chosen another day for protesting the alleged security forces’ excesses on the Jaffna University campus on the extinct LTTE’s “Heroes’ Day” observances on November 27. Friday, December 21, when the TNA observed a day-long protest at the foot of the late Tamil leader, S. J. V. Chelvanayagam, was the perceived ‘Doomsday’, purportedly under the Mayan Calendar.
Alleged suspect in the year 2011 murder of British tourist Khuram Shaikh in Tangalle, in this file photo with President Mahinda Rajapaksa
By Tisaranee Gunasekara
“The elephant is crashing about in the room, trampling people to death, and politely ignoring it is no longer an option”.
AC Grayling (To Set Prometheus Free)
One year ago, at a resort in the Rajapaksa-heartland of Tangalle, a British tourist was murdered and his Russian companion brutalised.
The crime was heinous; and inane, given the priority Colombo accords to tourism as a money-spinner and employment-generator.
Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Justice Entails Protecting Rajapaksa Supporters and Hounding Rajapaksa Opponents’ »
An on the Spot Report by Dushy Ranetunge
The Sri Lankan minister of Disaster Management, Mahinda Amaraweera, was seen driving on the wrong side of the road, up Bauddhaloka Mawatha, damaging another vehicle and subsequently threatening a female passenger for taking pictures of the accident scene.
Minister and goon Boteju behind him
Last Thursday December 20th, (approximately 2 pm) a white Toyota Landcruiser WP-KQ 4566 driven by Mahinda Amaraweera, the Sri Lankan Minister of Disaster Management, was seen trying to enter Bauddhaloka Mawatha from Wijerama Mawatha. He was attempting to turn right to travel in the direction of Thummulla.
Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Minister Causes Disaster on Road and Manages it With Gun Toting Goon Named Boteju’ »
By
Dr.Shirani Bandaranayake
(Speech delivered at the Annual General Meeting of the Judicial Services Association held on 22nd December 2012 By Dr. Shirani A. Bandaranayake, Chief Justice of the Republic of Sri Lanka)
It is indeed a great pleasure, privilege and an honour to be with you this morning. It is certainly not only due to the importance of the Annual General Meeting of the Judicial Services Association, which consists of our Magistrates and District Judges who are serving in different parts of the country.
Continue reading ‘Underlying Theme of Judicial Independence Would be that Judges Would Act Independently’ »
by Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando
The whole world is set to celebrate Christmas which is specially significant for Christians who believe in God. It is the story of divine is getting involved in the humanity itself to bring liberation to the humankind.
Rain soaked crib at St.Peter’s College in Bambalapitty, Sri Lanka ~ Picture by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai ~ via twitter.com/DushiYanthini
So it is a festival of human life which is the elevation of the human person to the highest level.
Continue reading ‘Christmas is a Festival of Humanity’ »
Consumers and human rights activists across the globe staged protests in front of clothing outlets on December 15, 2012 to warn holiday shoppers to “check the label” and boycott products made in Sri Lanka.
In Philadelphia, PA – Dec 16, 2012
Boycott Sri Lanka Campaign activists in U.S. cities handed out leaflets, held signs and talked to customers in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington, Raleigh, and San Francisco.
Continue reading ‘Boycott Sri Lanka Campaign Activists Stage Protests Opposite Outlets Selling Clothing From Sri Lanka’ »
by Walter Jayawardhana
Dr. Chandra Wickramasinghe of the Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, in the Buckingham University, UK says ‘Red Rain’ in Sri Lanka, according to preliminary investigations, contained high concentrations of arsenic and silver and “that makes them extremely unlikely to be of any earth origin”.
Continue reading ‘“Red Rain” Falling in Sri Lanka Has High Concentrations of Arsenic and Silver “unlikely to br of any Earth Origin”’ »
“The Petitioner in this application has sought a writ of certiorari to quash the findings and/or the decision contained in the report of the 2nd to the 8th Respondents marked P17.
The Petitioner stated that the 2nd to the 12th Respondents were appointed by the 1st Respondent the Hon. Speaker of Parliament to a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) under Standing Order 78A of the Parliament to investigate into alleged acts of misconduct or incapacity of the Petitioner, pursuant to a resolution presented to the 1st Respondent in terms of Article 107(2) of the Constitution.
Continue reading ‘Full Text of Court of Appeal Ruling on Writs Filed by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake’ »
By Chitra Weerarathne
The Court of Appeal yesterday said that the order to issue notice on the respondents, the Speaker and the Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee, was nothing but a legal obligation to afford the respondents an opportunity of being heard.
Court issued notice returnable on January 3, 2013 in respect of the Writ Application filed by Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, against the findings of the Paliamentary Select Committee which found her guilty of misconduct.
Continue reading ‘Appeal Court Issued Notice on Speaker and Select Committe as Respondents Because Petitioner Chief Justice has Established a Prima Facie Case for Consideration’ »
By
Eran Wickremaratne M.P.
Annually the Government presents to Parliament its income and expenditure statement, and how it intends to finance the deficit between income and expenditure. With the exception of a couple of years since independence in 1948, the Government Budget has been in deficit.
Continue reading ‘Govt Creating Constitutional Crisis by Violating Supreme Court Determination’ »
By Col R Hariharan
Some of the recent policy decisions of Sri Lanka affecting Indian commercial interests are sending disturbing signals that have the potential to affect Indo-Sri Lanka relations. Will these storm signals add to the political stress created by the non implementation of the much maligned 13th Amendment to the Constitution? Sri Lanka watchers are probably already debating this question.
Continue reading ‘Time has come for Govt of India to carry out serious reappraisal and review of its Sri Lanka policy options’ »
by A.Selvaraj
Tamil Nadu ‘Q’ branch sleuths on Wednesday arrested a key LTTE operative and electronics expert and three men he had recruited in a plan to revive the banned organisation that had been decimated by Sri Lankan forces in 2009.
By Tony Moore
An 81-year-old Brisbane doctor, deported from Singapore last week, has questioned whether the Australian government played a part in his forced removal from the nation.
Brisbane human rights activist Brian Senewiratne pictured with South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday said it had no involvement in human rights activist Brian Senewiratne being deported on December 14.
Continue reading ‘Australian Govt Denies Involvement in Deportation of Brian Senewiratne from Singapore’ »
by
Human Rights Watch
The Sri Lankan authorities should immediately release or credibly charge four ethnic Tamil students from Jaffna University who have been detained since early December 2012, Human Rights Watch said today. The Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) arrested the students amid unrest in the northern city of Jaffna following a security crackdown in late November against attempts to commemorate dead leaders of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Continue reading ‘Free or Charge the Four Detained Tamil Students from Jaffna University Sent for ‘Rehabilitation’-HRW’ »
By Tisaranee Gunasekara
“This is what happens when men decide to stand the world on its head”. Hannah Arendt (Responsibility and Judgement)
Their greed, our apathy; their fanaticism, our indifference; their brutal aggression, our embarrassing cowardice: such are the basic ingredients of the baleful concoction which is seeping into almost every aspect of Lankan life, undermining Lankan stability and destroying Lankan security.
Continue reading ‘When will we Understand That the Rajapaksas Will do to the Sinhalese What the Tigers did to the Tamils?’ »
Vasudeva Nanayakkara
“All the rights secured to the citizens under the Constitution are worth nothing, and a mere bubble, except guaranteed to them by an independent and virtuous judiciary.”- Andrew Jackson
There was no surprise when the announcement came. The Ministry of Languages and Social Integration has formally withdrawn its support to an important event focusing on the judiciary and the role of judges themselves, just in the eleventh hour.
Continue reading ‘Vasudeva Nanayakkara: One time Fiery Champion of Rights now Opts to Play Presidential Lapdog’ »
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (file pic- June 2002)
By
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
(Text of Speech by former Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga at the King’s College, Zafrullah Khan Memorial lecture on the topic ‘The State and Terrorism’, held on 12 December at London’s International Centre for Studies in Radicalization. The event was chaired by Lord David Trimble of Northern Ireland, the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize winner)
Terrorism poses the most serious military challenge to the modern world. It is no more contained within the boundaries of one State. It has an extensive global outreach. Terrorist organizations born in one country have the capacity to attack the furthest lands. The most militarized States have not been impervious to the activities of the terrorists.
Continue reading ‘Weapons of Understanding, Accommodation, Discourse and Negotiation Must Take Primacy Over Military Arms in the Fight Against Terrorism’ »
By
Dharisha Bastians
“I think he knows what Rome is. Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they’ll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they’ll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate, it’s the sand of the colosseum. He will bring them death – and they will love him for it” – ‘Gladiator,’ the movie (2000)
Prior to the decline of the Roman Empire, the emperor and aristocrats regularly provided cheap food and entertainment to the people of Rome to keep them good humoured and approving of their leaders.
Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake – pic courtesy of: AlJazeera
The Gladiatorial games and circuses both inflamed and gratified the passions of the populace, making them less inclined to engage and interfere with politics and neglectful of civic duty.
Continue reading ‘Battle to Safeguard Judiciary Cannot be Entrusted to Politicians’ »
By
Prof.Michael Roberts
Beset by an upsurge of asylum-seekers arriving by boat from Sri Lanka, Australian government and media personnel continue to rely on the tired shibboleths of the past. Three shortcomings hinder their evaluations. Let me stress three points briefly.
Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake has filed writs of certiorari and Prohibition at the Court of Appeal against the Parliament Select Committee(PSC) that found her guilty of three charges.
The Chief Justice has sought the quashing of the PSC findings and also sought the restraining of the PSC from further action on this matter.
Continue reading ‘Chief Justice Files Writs of Certirari and Prohibition in Appeal Court Seeking to Quash Findings of Parliamentary Select Committee and Restraining Further Action’ »
By George Monbiot
(Published in the Guardian ~ 17th December 2012 ~ via www.monbiot.com)
“Mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts … These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change.”(1) Every parent can connect with what Barack Obama said about the murder of 20 children in Newtown, Connecticut. There can scarcely be a person on earth with access to the media who is untouched by the grief of the people of that town.
It must follow that what applies to the children murdered there by a deranged young man also applies to the children murdered in Pakistan by a sombre American president. These children are just as important, just as real, just as deserving of the world’s concern. Yet there are no presidential speeches or presidential tears for them; no pictures on the front pages of the world’s newspapers; no interviews with grieving relatives; no minute analysis of what happened and why.
By the Lawyers Collective
Judicial Service Association (JSA), the association of the judges of the original court, had organised the Annual Judges Conference, sponsored by the UNDP – under the Equal Access to Justice Programme, which is scheduled for 21 and 22nd of December 2012.
We, the undersigned note with extreme concern, the proceedings related to the impeachment hearing of the first woman Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Banadaranayake by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). Any hearing, regardless of the person, must adhere to principles of natural justice and rule of law. In the case of the Chief Justice all those norms and practices have been violated.
By Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.
The recent decision of the President to seek further advice before deciding whether to proceed with the impeachment against the Chief Justice is most welcome. It suggests that he feels concern about the position to which various elements in government were propelling the legislature.
There is no doubt that there have been several misjudgments with regard to the treatment of the Chief Justice. It was certainly unusual that someone with no previous experience of the Courts should have been elevated to the Supreme Court, and I have even heard it said recently that this was designed to prevent the elevation of the then Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, who would in the ordinary course of things have become the first woman Supreme Court Justice. But she fell foul of the Minister, and did not receive her due, though all those working on implementation of the Human Rights Action Plan have found her more conversant with the law, as well as administration, than anyone else in government now.
D.K. Jayaraman
by V. Subrahmaniam
An interesting title indeed. I was very fascinated by this title which was used by the late N.M. Narayanan two to three decades ago for his article analysing the Carnatic music scene. NMN, as he was known, was a knowledgeable and interesting music critic of The Hindu.
I make bold to borrow this title from him as I feel that it would not be incongruous to the analysis of the Carnatic music scene of the present day.
Continue reading ‘What ails Carnatic music?’ »
By Fr. Mervyn Fernando
Sri Lanka to all appearances is a very religious or religious-minded country. The following could be cited as “proof”:
(1) The ubiquitous presence of Buddhist temples, Hindus kovils, Christian churches and Moslem mosques all over the country, and they are frequented by the respective adherents in large numbers on Poya days, Sundays, Fridays and festival days, unlike in the West where Church-going and religious practice have dropped dramatically.
Continue reading ‘Paradox of Religiosity in Sri Lanka: “Religious” in Appearance and “Irreligious” in Practice’ »
By
Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne
The Rajapaksa regime is a quasi-dictatorship based on southern chauvinist Sinhala petty bourgeois. The latter was in the forefront of the war of Mahinda against the Tamil insurrection. It supplied man power and the engine of political campaign. The so-called Sinhala Buddhist ideology of war developed within these social strata. In the course of time it has negated itself to become an intellectual disease affecting the entire structure of the Mahinda regime.
By Camelia Nathaniel
The UNP Gampaha District MP Karu Jayasuriya today condemned the attack by an armed gang on senior attorney Gunaratne Wanninayake on Monday. He said that Wanninayake was a strong voice that stood up to protect the integrity and independence of the Judiciary.
By Camelia Nathaniel
The UNP Gampaha District MP Karu Jayasuriya today condemned the attack by an armed gang on senior attorney Gunaratne Wanninayake on Monday. He said that Wanninayake was a strong voice that stood up to protect the integrity and independence of the Judiciary.
(Text of a Press Release Issued by the Democratic Peoples Front Media Office)
Struggle of JVP was an insurgency that did not demand the division of the country but the struggle of LTTE wanted division of country. President wanted DPF leader Mano Ganesan to explain this fact to the Jaffna University students who had alleged to have commemorated the later.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa made the above view responding to Ganesan’s appeal to the President to directly intervene in the matter of the Jaffna University students and prevent the country from slipping back into the old abyss of disunity.
AN 81-year-old Australian human rights activist has accused Singapore authorities of holding him in a cell without food, drink and toilet facilities for nearly five hours before deporting him.
Brian Senewiratne, a long-time critic of Colombo over its treatment of Tamils, told AFP he flew to Singapore on December 14 en route to Malaysia to give talks on the plight of refugees from Sri Lanka, his country of birth.
Continue reading ‘Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority says Dr.Brian Senewiratne’s “Account of his Experience at Changi Airport was Found Untrue”’ »
Text and Pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Sri Lanka’s total population 20.27 million consists of 53% women according to the latest census.
Saila Ithayaraj’s father was killed in shell attack in 1981 in Kantharmadam, Jaffna and her husband was shot dead at sea in 1996 in Araali, Jaffna
More and more women are becoming breadwinners all over South Asia.
Women are forced to bear multiple burdens due to poverty, conflict and displacement and climate change.
Continue reading ‘Breadwinners: War Widows as Heads of Households’ »
By
Charitha Ratwatte
The recent impeachment process conducted by the relevant tribunal was overshadowed by a parallel process of impeachment conducted by a section of the media. That rump of the media attempted to play the role, of prosecutor, witness, judge, jury and hangman all in one role.
Mo Yan ~ Photo: © J. Kolfhaus, Gymn. Marienthal – Nobel.org
By
Mo Yan
(Full Text of “Nobel Lecture” by Mo Yan ,Winner of Nobel Prize for Literature 2012 on December 7th 2012. The Lecture delivered in Chinese was translated into English by Howard Goldblatt)
Distinguished members of the Swedish Academy, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Through the mediums of television and the Internet, I imagine that everyone here has at least a nodding acquaintance with far-off Northeast Gaomi Township. You may have seen my ninety-year-old father, as well as my brothers, my sister, my wife and my daughter, even my granddaughter, now a year and four months old. But the person who is most on my mind at this moment, my mother, is someone you will never see. Many people have shared in the honor of winning this prize, everyone but her.
Continue reading ‘“I am a Storyteller. Telling Stories Earned me the Nobel Prize for Literature.So I will Continue Telling my Stories in the Days to Come”’ »
by
Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha
(This speech was not delivered and I was told instead that I was expected to speak on Resettlement and on External Affairs. I had however prepared a text, which seems even more relevant now that the ‘Educational Policies and Proposals for General Education in Sri Lanka’, based on what was presented to the Special Parliament Advisory Committee on Education, has been circulated again for comment -Rajiva Wijesinha)
It is not accidental, Mr Speaker, that, following immediately on the items that come directly under His Excellency the President, we move today to the subject of Education. It is perhaps with regard to Education that the Budget Speech of His Excellency introduced the most important innovations in the programme of the government this year, and I am grateful for this opportunity to speak in their favour.
Continue reading ‘The Prepared Speech on Education that was not Delivered in Parliament’ »
President Mahinda Rajapaksa should inform parliament how he intended to handle the impeachment issue, the UNP said, while strongly criticising the President for meeting editors of national newspapers at Temple Trees, where the discussion centered on the impeachment.
In a hard hitting two-page statement issued from party headquarters, the UNP said that newspaper editors should have left the meeting immediately after members of the now defunct Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) which dealt with the issue came into the room. Instead they proceeded to have breakfast with the President.
by Dr. U. Pethiyagoda
In a healthy state of governance, the three pillars, the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary should exist in a state of interdependence, cordiality and mutual respect.
That it is not so is clearly evident. Subsequent to the PSC Report to the Speaker of Parliament, the President has intervened to declare that he will appoint an “independent” Committee to examine the PSC Report.
This will be done, he explains, after (repeat after) Parliament acts on the PSC Report.
There is no good reason to doubt that the President is honest and genuine in ensuring a fair outcome from the process of impeachment of the CJ.
A blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swims underwater off the coast of Sri Lanka ~ courtesy of: © Greenpeace / Paul Hilton
By W. Sriyananda
The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), appointed to investigate allegations against Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, handed over its report to the Speaker last week.
The report found the Chief Justice guilty of three charges, despite four of its members – all in the opposition – walking out of the proceedings claiming the process to be biased. A few days later, President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared that he would appoint an independent committee to assess the PSC report, adding more confusion to the already complicated conflict between the three arms of the government.
Ceylon Today spoke to PSC Chairman, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Senior Counsel representing the Chief Justice, Srinath Perera and human rights lawyer, Senior Counsel, J.C. Weliamuna for their views on the impeachment process, the report and the appointment of an independent committee. Following are excerpts:
by Rasika SOMARATHNA and a Special Correspondent
Asked whether Wijedasa Rajapaksa president of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and a section of the Bar hijacked Saturday’s Bar Association special general meeting, the Bar Association Vice President Anoma Gunatilleke who is tendering her resignation today said ‘Yes, of course, absolutely.’ She alleged that sections of the Bar hijacked the Bar Association meeting disallowing others to speak, and therefore she said the Resolution eventually passed is null and void.
Results of the Law College entrance examination held last July cannot be recognized in any way as they had been issued in a racially-biased manner, alleged president of the National Intellectual Council Bandula Chandrasekara.
Results of the exam were issued yesterday (Dec. 16) and are posted on the Law College website.
Speaking to Mirror, Mr. Chandrasekara alleged Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem had ‘muslimized’ the judicial field.
By Kath Noble
Parliament has become a place where its members go for a free lunch when they have no better offer. And it would seem that MPs receive plenty of attractive invitations, since most of them are rarely to be seen in the chamber, even for a nap on the comfy recliners the Sri Lankan people have so thoughtfully funded, assuming that their representatives would be spending long hours debating the future of the nation.
The Speaker admitted as much last week. There is no point in holding the budget debate, he said, when the responsible ministers are not present.
by
Tisaranee Gunasekara
“Please. How will we live if you steal from us?”
Dave Eggers (What is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng)
The price of petrol went up, again, as Colombo was being geared up, on presidential orders, by the military for the Night Races – a pet project of Namal Rajapaksa.
Colombo, this weekend, is a microcosm of the Rajapaksa present afflicting us and an omen of the Rajapaksa future awaiting us. The Night Races are symbolic and symbiotic of Rajapaksa Sri Lanka, a land in which the very worst features of capitalism and feudalism commingle in a toxic concoction, sweetened with generous doses of populist nationalism.
Continue reading ‘Night Races in Colombo a Pet Project of Namal Rajapaksa’ »
An Interview with Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
(Head of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) that probed the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa says the PSC was to extend its period till January 14th when the Chief Justice, her lawyers and the opposition political parties had decided to walk out on the 6th and 7th. “With good faith we wrote this report we don’t have anything against the Chief Justice. Whether we belong to the government or not we acted in good faith,” he said. Yapa added that everyone critical of the PSC probe should read the report presented by the Committee since it would lay to rest all criticisms levelled against it)
Following are excerpts of the interview:
By Chas Raymonde
President Rajapaksa’s move to appoint an independent commission to look into the complaints against the Chief Justice has been greeted with a mixed review of opinions. Whether in fact this signals a volte face or not is a different matter – the committee it appears will have their work cut out.
Documents that have been made available indicate that significant sums of monies have passed through an account in the name of Dr. S.A. Bandaranayake. Documents also available and published exclusively reveal the purchase of an apartment at Trillium Residencies by Dr. Bandaranayake’s sister and brother-in-law.
By
Gamini Weerakoon
What’s happening to the country?
This is a question frequently posed by thinking people and even those who do not think. This is the question we were contemplating in our thinking chair, the hansiputuwa, on Thursday morning but no ready answer was forthcoming.
By Udaya Gammanpila
The impeachment motion against the Chief Justice passed an important milestone last week. The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) submitted its report to the Speaker after the completion of its inquiry. According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, the parliamentary debate on the report should commence only after the lapse of one month. Hence, all parties are expected to maintain silence on the issue for this month. Unfortunately, nobody wants to observe this rule. This columnist does not make an attempt to break the rule by discussing the contents of the report. Nevertheless, let us shed light on the events associated with the impeachment.
By Vishnuguptha
“I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy, as a democracy and civically start taking shortcuts, then it results in bad government and politics.” – Barack Obama
Among the charges mentioned in the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake is one (No. 3) that states, “whereas, by not declaring in the annual declaration of assets and liabilities that should be submitted by a judicial officer, the details of approximately Rs 34 million in foreign currency deposited at the branch of the NDB Bank located at Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07, in Accounts 106450013024, 101000046737, 100002001360 and 100001014772 during the period from 18 April 2011 to 27 March 2012….”. According to reports reaching the media, the details regarding this particular charge have been produced before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). The account numbers have been revealed with the amounts of rupees in each of these accounts.
(Excerpts from “Temple Trees”Column in “Ceylon Today”)
Only Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and his key media officials are usually associated with the President at his monthly media briefings. However, this briefing took an unusual turn with several ministers, who represented the government at the PSC too attending it. The President sprang another surprise on the media personnel when he arrived at the meeting with former Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama.
By Bandula Jayasekara
THERE is a misconception among some Australians regarding the issue of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers because of a misinformation campaign carried out by parties with vested interests.
I am given to understand that some Australians sympathise with the asylum-seekers without having a clear picture of the situation. However, their sympathy would be in the interest of only the minority of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supporters, who have a long-term agenda in Australia and other Western countries.
by Maheen Senanayake
Yesterday’s(15) meeting of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka saw contending factions for and against the Chief Justice exchanging hot words with the majority backing BASL President Wijedasa Rajapakse, PC, adopting three resolutions:
Continue reading ‘Scuffles and Fisticuffs Among Lawyers After Bar Association Meeting Ends:BASL Vice-President Resigns in Separate Development’ »
By
Kishali Pinto Jayawardene
A person’s conscience is of course, variable. A Presidential conscience cannot certainly be any different. In contrast, the very core of the concept known as the Rule of Law is its fixed application to all, the powerful and the powerless, a Chief Justice and a common criminal. If we are to be a country governed by the conscience of whichever Head of State who is in office at a particular time, then we may as well abandon our courts, our law books and our self respect as a people bound by the law.
Continue reading ‘What is Paramount,the Constitution or the President’s Conscience?’ »
By
Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.
It is ironic that, having been the only government Member of Parliament to complain over the year of the failure of the Judiciary to administer justice either effectively or efficiently, I seem now to be the only one who thinks impeaching the Chief Justice would be a mistake.
This struck me when Ravaya was interviewing me about the matter, which was when I also realized how quickly history is forgotten, and in particular the perversion of justice that this Constitution seems to have entrenched.
(Media Release on behalf of the Chief Justice on today’s Bar Association meeting)
The unanimous resolution passed by the General Membership of the Bar Association today vindicates the position of the Chief Justice as to the attempt to impeach her by a procedure devoid of fairness and without adhering to the basic principles of natural justice.
By The Lawyers Collective
“The Bar Association of Sri Lanka today unanimously adopted the resolution; President to reconsider the impeachment, in the light of his recent statement on the report -If the parliament proceeds with it, then to enact a procedural law, guaranteeing Rules of Natural Justice – If the CJ is removed without following Rule of Law and Natural justice, then the Bar would not welcome the new appointee” says Lawyers Collective.
The Lawyers Collective Update of the Dec 15th 2012 meeting of the BASL states as follows;
By Niranjala Ariyawansha and Chrishanthi Christopher
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is once again raising the fact that eventhough three years and seven months has passed since the war was‘officially’ ended; still in the Northern Province alone, there arehundreds and thousands of people striving to live off the lands they once ownedand stand up from their misery.
TNA MP, M.A. Sumanthiran said 84,000 people from the Jaffna Peninsula and 6,000 people from Sampur in Trincomalee are still living internallydisplaced without being able to go back to their hereditary estates. Hefurther said that apart from these people, there are about 150,000 Sr iLankans who are still living in refugee camps in India, who, althoughwilling to come back to Sri Lanka, are refusing to ‘resettle’ in bare lands where even the most basic needs cannot be fulfilled.
By
Gibson Bateman
During the past year, one of the Obama administration’s biggest moves at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) received relatively little attention inside the Beltway. In March 2012, the United States led a resolution calling on the government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), which examined the breakdown of the truce between the country’s warring factions, and “to take all necessary additional steps” to “ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans.”
It remains unclear what exactly drove the U.S. resolution, but the Sri Lankan government does not appear to have complied with it.
By Chitra Weerarathne
Attorney General Palitha Fernando PC, yesterday told the Supreme Court that a panel of Supreme Court Judges could not be called upon to investigate allegations of misconduct against the Chief Justice or any other judge of the Supreme Court.
By
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
( Full text of the Speech delivered by Defence and Urban Development secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at the ‘Galle Dialogue 2012’ Maritime Conference held at the Light House Hotel in the southern port city of Galle)
I consider it a pleasure and a privilege to address you at the opening session of this year’s “Galle Dialogue”, the annual Maritime Conference organised by the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka. I take this opportunity to welcome all our distinguished foreign guests to Sri Lanka, and thank them for their presence here. As you are no doubt aware, or have no doubt seen, Sri Lanka is a beautiful, peaceful and stable island with friendly people and a rich heritage. I have every confidence that you will find your time here very enjoyable as well as productive.
The appointment of an expert panel to evaluate the findings in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) which probed Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake would not clash with the on-going parliamentary process, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told newspaper editors yesterday at Temple Trees.
( Full text of the letter sent to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa by Lawyers representing Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake)
Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa
The Honourable Speaker
Pariiament Secretariat
Sri Jayewardenepura
Kotte.
Honourable Sir,
CONDUCT OF SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRING INTO ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE CHIEF JUSTICE
We write on the instructions of our Client Dr. Shirani A. Bandaranayake.
By
Jayantha Dhanapala and Savitri Goonesekere
The Friday Forum made a recent statement which drew the public’s attention to the deeply flawed nature of the procedures adopted for investigating the charges made against the Chief Justice. This statement analyzed the procedures from the perspective of the Constitution and other legal provisions. We recommended that in the absence of essential safeguards, the impeachment proceedings should be terminated.
(text of letter sent to President Mahinda Rajapaksa,Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and PSC Chairman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa by the Congress of Religions comprising leaders from the Buddhist,Christian,Islamic and Hindu faiths)
At the outset, we endorse whole-heartedly the appeal of the four Mahanayake Theros to H.E. the President to set aside the impeachment motion brought against the Chief Justice.
(Statement issued by Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA),Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA)
and Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA)
Further to our statement of 19 November 2012, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) and the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA) are concerned about the developments surrounding the impeachment of the Sri Lankan Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
Sri Lanka, as a member of the Commonwealth, is expected to adhere to the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth which includes the provision of an independent and impartial judiciary that can only be removed by proper process on grounds of incapacity or gross misconduct.
(The Statement issued by the Judicial Service Association (JSA) of Sri Lanka on the Findings of the Parliamentary Select Committeewhich probed the allegations of misbehavior ofthe Chief Justice of Sri Lanka)
The Government members of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the charges contained in the impeachment motion have found the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake guilty of three charges.
We, the Judicial Service Association (JSA),as the sole representative body of the judicial officers of Sri Lanka, strongly feel and record its considerable concernthat the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake did not get a fair hearing at the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) proceedings in terms natural justice and fair trial in coming to the above finding.
(The Statement issued by the Judicial Service Association (JSA) of Sri Lanka on the Findings of the Parliamentary Select Committeewhich probed the allegations of misbehavior ofthe Chief Justice of Sri Lanka)
The Government members of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the charges contained in the impeachment motion have found the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake guilty of three charges.
R. K. Radhakrishnan
In a spirited defence of Chinese investments, Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said the Hambantota port is not part of a Chinese ‘string of pearls’ to surround India.
By Camelia Nathaniel
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday acknowledged the prevailing regional concerns over China’s increasing naval presence and economic influence in the Indian Ocean, but defended both as necessities, as China has an industry intensive economy that requires oil imports amounting to more than 200 million tonnes every year.
Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Defends China’s Increasing Naval Presence and Economic Influence in the Indian Ocean as “Necessities”’ »
By
Marwaan Macan-Markar
There has been an air of inevitability in the current showdown between the administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and its latest bête noire, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. Her fall from grace shows that the Rajapaksa juggernaut does not warm up to dissent easily, even if, as in this case, it measures up to the expected norms of checks and balances in a self-described democracy.
Continue reading ‘Impeaching a chief justice: Were Select Committee Proceedings an Inquiry or Inquisition?’ »
(Following is the text of submissions made by President’s counsel K.Kanag-isvaran before the Supreme Court on December 13th 2012)
S.C. Reference 3/ 2012.
My Lords, it is respectfully submitted, that we are at a critical juncture in the history of our nation.
If I may borrow a phrase from history, “the Babarians are at the gate of the Temple of Justice”. You let them in, they will destroy all that is sacred to us and install in the altar of Justice of false prophets.
Continue reading ‘“Barbarians are at the Gate of the Temple of Justice” – Kanag-isvaran PC Tells Supreme Court’ »
by Tisaranee Gunasekara
“We were like people marooned on a dissolving floe of ice; we dare not think of the moment when it would melt away”.
Czeslaw Milosz (The Captive Mind)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is lying.
The President is lying when he says that he was not in favour of the impeachment, initially.
The President is lying when he says that he knew nothing about the impeachment until it was signed by 117 of his parliamentarian-serfs.
Continue reading ‘A Mendacious President and a Profaned State’ »
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Vadivelu & Vaiko
Tamil Comedy actor Vadivelu is expected to join the Vaiko led Marumalarchi Dradivida Munnetra Kazhagham(MDMK) at a public meeting in Trichy.
Vadivelu was the top most Comedian in Tamil films for years but suffered after his active political participation in Tamil Nadu 2011 polls
Continue reading ‘Tamil Actor Vadivelu Tipped to Join Vaiko led Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (MDMK)’ »
