By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Sri Lanka’s efforts to delay the presentation of a controversial report on accountability issues have suffered a serious setback with 16 Tamil groups based in Europe, America, Australia and South Africa demanding that the on-going external investigative process should go ahead as scheduled regardless of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s defeat at Jan. 2015 poll.

They want the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein to present the report at the next Geneva session in March, 2015 as his predecessor Navaneetham Pillay promised in June last year.

President of US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) Dr. Karunyan Arulanantham, in a letter dated Feb 14, 2015, addressed to Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has emphasized that the on-going process shouldn’t be halted merely on the basis of President Maithripala Sirisena’s assurance to conduct an impartial and transparent domestic investigative process. Arulanantham declared that Tamils had no faith in Sri Lankan institutions.

Continue reading ‘15 Overseas Tamil Groups Write to UN Human Rights Chief Endorsing Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s “Genocide of Tamils” Resolution’ »

BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

INDIA-USA-CHINA: THE NEW GOVERNMENT’S FOREIGN POLICY

“…we’re going to talk today about President Sirisena’s thoughts about how to move Sri Lanka away from 30 years of war with the Tamils…”– Secretary of State John Kerry, Feb 12, 2015

Given that India is Sri Lanka’s only neighbor and that it is a huge country and an Asian power, it is correct that Sri Lanka regards the management of its relations with India as the top priority. Therefore, it is appropriate that the President Sirisena, preceded by the new Government’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera should make New Delhi their first destination. President Sirisena is quite correct to follow this up with a visit to China in March.

President Maithripala Sirisena with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Monday, Feb 16th-pic: via twitter.com/MEAIndia

However, the new Foreign Minister visited Washington DC, and indeed London, before he visited Beijing. This is most unfortunate, given that Sri Lanka’s main identity should be as an Asian country and that China is perhaps the most important Asian power and certainly one of the two top Asian powers, with the other being India. Given the multifaceted strategic partnership, support and solidarity that China has always and unhesitatingly extended Sri Lanka for decades, it would have been both sagacious and ethically correct for Foreign Minister Samaraweera to visit Beijing after his visit to our neighbor New Delhi and before his visit to any other capital, and most certainly before he visited Washington DC. His failure to do so and his visit to the UK and USA prior to China is a clear indication of the external relations doctrine of the new Cabinet.

I emphasize the term ‘the new Cabinet’, because I believe that notwithstanding his occasional pronouncements during the elections, President Sirisena is naturally inclined to be a friend of China and to balance between India and China, rather than tilt to India, the USA or any emergent Indo-US axis. However, the new Cabinet is emerging as an autonomous power center, because President Sirisena has chosen not to exercise his Constitutional right to chair Cabinet meetings, and it is the Prime Minister who does so.
Continue reading ‘New Delhi Must Make it Clear to Tamil Politicians in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu that India is Opposed to Genocide Resolution by NPC’ »

By

Suhasini Haidar

With a promise for a “new beginning” in India-Sri Lanka ties, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in New Delhi on Sunday evening, ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

This is Mr. Sirisena’s first visit abroad after he defeated Mahinda Rajapaksa in January, and his spokesperson Lakshman Kiriella described it as a visit “mainly to establish a good rapport with New Delhi.”

Relations with the Rajapaksa regime had suffered a strain over its closeness with China, and reached a flashpoint over Sri Lanka’s decision to allow Chinese submarines to dock in Colombo harbour twice in 2014.

Asked about the new government’s view on the issue, Mr. Kiriella said: “Our relations with China will not be detrimental to India.”

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan President Sirisena Arrives in New Delhi Amidst Great Expectations of a “New Beginning” in Indo-Lanka Ties.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

New Delhi must continue pushing Colombo towards the implementation of the 13th Amendment, senior Tamil leader R. Sampanthan said.

Speaking exclusively to The Hindu on Friday, the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance – the main party representing Sri Lanka’s northern Tamils – said he wished both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena well for “successful talks” in New Delhi.

President Sirisena is scheduled to leave for India on Sunday on his first State visit after assuming office on January 9, following a victory over his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The TNA supported Mr. Sirisena in the presidential elections, in a rare convergence of diverse political forces, including Sinhala-nationalist and Muslim parties. While the President got a considerable share of the rural Sinhalese votes, the votes from northern Tamils, Muslims in the east and plantation Tamils were crucial to his victory.

Observing that the northern Tamils had made “a substantial contribution for regime change”, the TNA veteran said they looked upon President Sirisena, “who is not extremist or nationalist in thinking” to bring about some “radical changes.”

Continue reading ‘TNA Leader Sampanthan says “Genocide of Tamils” Resolution by NPC Reflects Consensual Thinking Among Members’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island” of February 16th 2015 Under the heading”Geneva report as acid test”)

A government effort to secure UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s assistance to have the March 25 release of UNHRC war crimes report on Sri Lanka delayed has come a cropper.

The UNSG reportedly told Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera at a recent meeting in New York that it was an issue for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

Minister Samaraweera has said in Washington that the situation at home is fragile and, therefore, the government is seeking a postponement of the release of the report at issue till September.

We thought the situation was quite stable here. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government is backed by all parties represented in Parliament. Its budget has been passed with a huge majority. There is no way the SLFP can unsettle the government with President Maithripala Sirisena at its helm.

When the two main parties cooperate in this manner how can the situation be described as fragile?

Continue reading ‘Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt Must Ensure the UN Probe Report on Sri Lanka is Released in March Instead of Trying to Delay It-The Island’ »

By a Special Correspondent,Daily FT

It is extremely disappointing, and distasteful, to see the hypocrisy displayed by most politicians in their attempts to win the public vote.

For example, the United National Party which has always called for increased efficiency in the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) is now openly stating, at various public fora, through their senior party members, that they are not pressing for radical change in the SOEs, right now, because it would jeopardise their chances of winning at the general elections.

How long, and to what low, can one go in compromising its entrenched beliefs just to win an election? The UNP is abandoning its traditional free market thinking in pursuing its desire come into power at any cost more or less in the same way that Esau sold his birth right to Jacob for a bowl of stew.

Continue reading ‘Finance Minister Karunanayake is Playing to the Gallery by Portraying Himself as a Robin Hood Through his Interim Budget’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

At the time the then joint opposition started their campaign last year, the UNP despite being by far the biggest opposition party was regarded only as the first among equals in the opposition line up. But after winning, they have managed to maneuver themselves into a dominant position in the new government. That was something they did well. But where they have not fared too well is in not being able to rein in the lunatic fringe of the opposition coalition they led.

If the UNP has any ambitions of ruling this country beyond the 100 day honeymoon period, then they will have to rein in the adventurers, radicals and anarchists who are in partnership with them. They should halt the present trend of heads of institutions being removed through trade union action. The UNP actually started this trend because they played the lead role in removing the Chief Justice Mohan Peiris through a combination of street action and executive fiat.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Should Learn From Chandrika Kumaratunga on not Giving in to Pressure Groups.’ »

by

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“…half ready to believe

That a crippled trust might walk.”

Seamus Heaney (The Cure at Troy)

Walter Benjamin called fairytale ‘the first tutor of mankind’ (Illuminations). One of the most evocative warnings about the dangers of ignoring limits comes precisely from a fairytale – the much-narrated story of the fisherman, his wife and the wish-granting fish.

In the tale, doom does not come unheralded. As the wife ups her demands, nature responds with increasing rage. On his last visit, the hapless fisherman is greeted with a devastating storm and a sea which “came in with black waves as high as towers and mountains…” Doom is avoidable and inevitable; a different path is possible but the fisherman’s wife is too possessed by hubris to see it.

The Rajapaksas are not the first rulers to self-destruct through hubris; nor will they be the last. Had Mahinda Rajapaksa paused to ponder the once mighty Vellupillai Pirapaharan’s humiliating end, instead of celebrating it unceasingly, he may have understood how much of it was self-wrought.

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksas are not the First Rulers to Self-Destruct Through Hubris’ »

By

Asanga Abeyagoonasekera

Vijaya Kumaranatunga was brutally assassinated on February 16, 1988. This year marks the 27th death anniversary of Vijaya who was the founder of Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP) which used to be the third largest party at a point in Sri Lanka’s political history.

Vijaya and the founding members of the SLMP, Ven. Podaramulle Thero, T. B. Illangarathna, Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga with many others created this party as an alternative to the UNP and SLFP.

Unfortunately, the SLMP almost died down as it lost many members, totally about 117 who were assassinated during the 1988 insurrection. Vijaya was the first to be killed from the SLMP.

I pen down an appreciation in honor of the close friendship my father Ossie Abeyagoonasekera shared with him. Vijaya was commemorated by my father until his death in 1994.

Continue reading ‘Vijaya Kumaranatunga was a Symbol of True Ethnic Reconciliation.’ »

By

S.Thavarajah

(Text of a press release issued by Northern Provincial Council Leader of Opposition S. Thavarajah on Feb 15 2015)

S. Thavarajah, Leader of Opposition,
Northern Provincial Council

Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran has told the President Maithiripala Sirisena that the resolution “Sri Lanka’s Genocide Against Tamils” passed by the Northern Provincial Council on the 10th of this month was not aimed at President Sirisena or his Government but was targeting previous administrations, particularly the Rajapaksa regime.

When he was called for a meeting by the President two days after passing the resolution on the 12th of February, 2015 in order to get clarification on the resolution, he had held the hands of the President and assured him that the resolution was not against the President and the present Government, according to media reports.

During the course of his speech, before presenting the resolution in the council, he read out a statement vehemently attacking the Government and the Prime Minister, in a harsh oratorically worded Tamil language.
Continue reading ‘Conduct of Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ruwan Wiijewardena Made him Present Resolution on Genocide of Tamils Stated Wigneswaran’ »

By Anura Balasuriya

There was confusion at the ‘Ape Gama’, Battaramulla on Saturday during a meeting of the SLFP Executive Committee and the National Working Committee with members representing the local bodies holding a protest demanding that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa be made the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate or they would not support any other candidate.

They challenged the hierarchy to form a government without Mahinda Rajapaksa if it could.

As President Maithripala Sirisena left the premises the confusion reigned.

Continue reading ‘Group of MP’s and Local Body Heads Create Ruckus at SLFP meeting Demanding that Mahinda Rajapaksa be made Prime Ministerial Candidate’ »

by

Colonel R Hariharan

Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena is visiting New Delhi on February 16, his first port of call after becoming President.

President Maithripala Sirisena being welcomed by India’s Minister of State for shipping P Radhakrishnan in New Delhi on Sunday, Feb, 15-pic: facebook.com/maithripalas

Narendra Modi’s spectacular rise as a national leader from the sidelines of Gujarat state, hopping over seniors in the party hierarchy, to lead the nation is a real life example for many ambitious politicians to emulate.

Did Modi provide a role model for the newly elected Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena’s success?

Continue reading ‘What Sri Lankan President Sirisena Hopes to gain from Indian Prime Minister Modi During his New Delhi Visit.’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

Had the SLFP executive committee meeting held yesterday been mishandled, it could have resulted in a seismic shift in the political landscape of Sri Lanka. But President Maithripala Sirisena steered clear of making any contentious changes. He remains the party chairman, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa the general secretary, Susil Premajayantha has been appointed national organiser and S.B.Nawinna the treasurer.

An Advisory Council made up of former presidents and prime ministers has also been set up. The SLFP has been retained in one piece. There was little room really, to make any contentious appointments as MPs like Vidura Wickramanayake were openly saying that if any ‘unsuitable’ persons who had not been in the SLFP for a long time were recommended for high positions in the party, he would contest such positions himself. Wickramanayake even said that Maithripala Sirisena was a ‘prisoner’ of the UNP.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena “Insults and Warns”the UNP by Undermining Ranil’s Nephew Ruwan the State Defence Minister’ »

By Vasana Surangika Vithanage and Sunanda Gardiyawasam

What is Mahinda Rajapaksa doing now, is a question that many people ask.

Now he speaks to thousands of people who visit him daily at his Carlton residence in Tangalle. Bus loads of people visit him daily. He is the leader who reconnected the North and South of Sri Lanka. He is definitely the leader who could claim the credit for winning the war. But, people brought Mahinda to the level of an ordinary citizen within nine hours, after his defeat at the 2015 presidential poll.

He had to retire prematurely as the fifth President of Sri Lanka. This is the nature of politics. Defeat, as usual, teaches us more important lessons.He was the celebrity of Sri Lanka for the past nine years. He lived in Temple Trees and travelled around the country surrounded by people, officials, servants and security. After a month since his defeat, we visited him in Tangalle, to see how he is spending his retirement.

One must visit him in Tangalle during the weekend to witness the respect he gets from the people as a genuine village baiya as he called himself during the budget debate. Earlier, people travelled to the South from the North to worship God Kataragama, but now they stop at the Carlton bungalow in Tangalle, to get a glimpse of the former leader of Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Thousands of Ordinary People Flock to Tangalle Every week to pay their Respects to Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

By DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

THE WRITING ON THE WALL: HOW SRI LANKA IS TO BE DISMANTLED

If a woman files a formal complaint or publicly accuses a man of repeated conjugal rape, attempted murder and the serial killing of her children over the years, it is hardly likely that she plans to reconcile with him and remain within the marriage. On the contrary it is a sure sign that she is intent on leaving him and wants the authorities to intervene.

If the charges are untrue, then we would conclude that the woman is wittingly maligning the husband and causing damage to his image and harm to his standing in society, to the maximum extent possible.

So it is with an elected body which passes a resolution claiming “historic and recent genocide”. That is not a step taken by any group that wishes to say within a single sovereign state or envisages itself doing so. It is a step on a roadmap to political exit from the state.

To those who see nothing wrong with Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s political behavior I would commend the opening paragraph of the Editorial of the respected newspaper The Hindu, which summarizes the recent ‘Genocide’ resolution of the Northern Provincial Council and its implications, thus:

‘The Tamil question has been brought centre-stage with the elected council of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province passing a resolution accusing successive governments in Colombo of carrying out genocide against the minority community over six decades. Moved by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran in the Provincial Council, the resolution demands that the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights investigate “historical” and “recent” instances of genocide and submit its report at the session of the Human Rights Council next month. It also asks the UN Security Council to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court. Thirdly, it asks courts in countries with universal jurisdiction over the alleged events and perpetrators, “including but not limited to the United States”, to prosecute the crimes. The resolution roundly rejects any domestic investigations.’ (‘Playing Poker in Sri Lanka’, Editorial, The Hindu, Feb 13, 2015).
Continue reading ‘Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s Genocide Resolution is First Step on a Roadmap to Political Exit from the Sri Lankan State.’ »

By Niranjala Ariywansha & Skandha Gunasekara

Effecting dramatic changes to the upper echelons of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, President Maithripala Sirsena yesterday removed a few Mahinda Rajapaksa confidantes from their positions, while also dismissing former Tamil rebel, turned politician, Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan aka Karuna, when the Executive Committee met yesterday at Battaramulla.

Parliamentarians A. H. M. Fowzie, W. D. J. Seneviratne, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Janaka Bandara Tennakoon were appointed as Senior Vice Presidents of the party while Minister of Health, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Lands M. K. A. D. S. Gunawardhana,MPs Kumar Welgama, C. B. Ratnayake, S. B. Dissanayake, Piyasena Gamage, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhana, Felix Perera and Sarath Amunugama were appointed as a Vice Presidents of the Party.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena re-structures Upper Echelons of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party with Fresh Appointments.’ »

State Minister of higher Education Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha has resigned from his ministerial portfolio, reliable sources told Ada Derana.

Rajiva Wijesinha

The MP, who defected from the UPFA government to support Maithripala Sirisena at the presidential Election, was reportedly distraught in the wake of the pressure exerted on UGC Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama to resign.

According to sources, Prof. Wijesinha has informed Minister of Highways Higher Education and Investment Promotion, Kabir Hashim, regarding his decision.

However, attempts to contact Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha regarding the matter were unsuccessful.

Continue reading ‘Has State Minister of Higher Education Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha Resigned Over the Kshanika Hirimburegama “Forced” Resignation Issue?’ »

State Minister of Higher Education Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe today said that it is “completely wrong” to bow down to pressure from groups and remove the UGC Chairperson, without even probing the allegations against her.

Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama had resigned as the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC), amid pressure from the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA).

She had tendered her resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena through the Minister of Highways, Higher Education and Investment Promotion, Kabir Hashim, on 9 February.

Hirimburegama had said that she received a letter from Minister Kabir Hashim stating that the President has ordered her to resign with immediate effect. However, Prof. Wijesinghe had expressed “shock” at the sudden move which took place while he was away abroad.

Continue reading ‘State Minister Rajiva Wijesinha Protests to President About Higher Education Minister Kabir Hashim Forcing UGC Chairperson to Resign Due to Pressure from FUTA’ »

Some members of the SLFP Working Committee (WC) staged a walkout protesting against being kept in the dark about the new appointments to the party hierarchy, at yesterday’s Central Committee meeting.

After the new appointments were approved with President Maithripala Sirisena in the chair as SLFP leader, the WC members raised issue over them being sidelined from the process of appointing office bearers.

After President Sirisena left the ‘Janakala Kendaraya’ at Battaramulla, where the event was held, the WC activists walked out and protested outside the premises.

Continue reading ‘Chandrika, Mahinda, Ratnasiri, DM Jayaratna and Alavi Maulana Appointed as “Advisers” of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.’ »

by Maheen Senanayake

“Mr. R Paskaralingam is back in the country and is helping the PM’s office, the Finance Ministry and several other institutions,” Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Assistant Leader of the UNP said yesterday.

“He has a wealth of knowledge to share and all of us have much to learn from him,” he added.

Continue reading ‘Former President Premadasa’s “Right Hand” Paskaralingam back in Sri Lanka to Assist Prime Minister and Finance Minister’ »

By Rasika Jayakody

MP Pensions are clearly more important than accusations against Minister John Amaratunga of encouraging an attack against the Chairman of the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha (File Photo) MP Pensions are clearly more important than accusations against Minister John Amaratunga of encouraging an attack against the Chairman of the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha (File Photo)

No confidence motion, which was presented against Public Order Minister John Amaratunga with the signatures of 114 MPs in the House, certainly came as a shock to the UNP-led Maithrpala Sirisena government. It was a clear indication that the United People’s Freedom Alliance, which is the main opposition coalition at the moment, still wields the majority power in Parliament. By presenting a no-confidence motion with the endorsement of 114 MPs, the opposition showed that it could still ‘topple’ the government although the government managed to get its interim budget passed with a majority of 163 votes – a majority that set a new record in the country’s political history.

It was no coincidence that the handing over of the no-confidence motion and the second reading vote of the interim budget of the new government fell on the same day. The opposition, which had already decided to vote in favour of the budget, knew that the budget would receive almost unanimous endorsement from the House, giving a strong political edge to the United National Party. The opposition needed a simultaneous exercise to show its strength in Parliament, while supporting the interim budget which introduced a string of subsidies and price reductions to the general public of the country. That was where the no-confidence motion against Minister John Amaratunga came into play.

Continue reading ‘No Confidence Motion Against Amaratunga was Aborted as 69 MP’s Would have Lost Pensions if Parliament was Dissolved.’ »

By Malinda Seneviratne

A group of essentially one-man parties have organized a rally. They’ve invited the 5.8 million who voted for Mahinda Rajapaksa in a losing cause on January 8, 2015 to attend. They have asked for a show of force.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila are all fiery speakers no doubt, but in terms of political endowments such as membership, party machinery and vote-getting ability outside of alignment with a major party, they are impoverished.

Today, with all MPs from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) pledging support to President Maithripala Sirisena and given their long standing antipathy to the United National Party (UNP), they do not have that political big tree so necessary for them to cling on to if they want to remain politically relevant.

They clearly need Mahinda Rajapaksa more than Mahinda Rajapaksa needs them.

Continue reading ‘One man Parties led by Vasu, Dinesh, Wimal and Udaya need Mahinda Rajapaksa more than Mahinda Needs Them.’ »

By

S. V. Kirubaharan

Sri Lanka is neither a rich country nor an arms-producing country.

Most of the arms used to kill over 200,000 Tamils were provided by certain deals with countries known as champions of human rights.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera met UN Ban ki-moon on 13 February 2015-pic: twitter.com/MEA_Sri_Lanka

Mahatma Gandhi of India, the father of non-violent struggle has still not been given a Nobel Peace prize. Then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill made some humiliating remarks about Mahatma Gandhi, saying he may have practiced non-violence but the out-comes of his actions were violent.
Continue reading ‘Are the UN Human Rights Commissioner and Human Rights Council Betraying the Victims of War by Doing a Horse Deal with Sri Lanka?’ »

Katrin Mozhi – Rendered by Sujatha – Music – Vidyasagar – With an English Translation of Poem by Vairamuthu Featuring “LOVE” Sculpture by Robert Indiana at – 55th Street and 6th Avenue – NYC.

lingo of the wind
is it tune or sound

lingo of flower
is it scent or color

lingo of shore
is it surf or wave

love’s lingo
is it what
glows in the eyes
or that
smothers in a kiss
Continue reading ‘Love’s Lingo ♥ by Poet Kaviyarasu Vairamuthu ♫’ »

Song was written by Poet Vaali (29 October 1931 – 18 July 2013), for the 1966 blockbuster Nadodi starring Makkal Thilagam M.G.R – M.G. Ramachandran & Bharathi ♫ sings of the “One” “language of love” – as a true global spirit, for the betterment of humanity everywhere.

Continue reading ‘Love is just one ♥ named divinity ♫’ »

via US Embassy, Colombo, Sri Lanka

For the first time in history, a road in the United States has been named after a person from Sri Lanka. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently named a street ‘Kalyana Ranasinghe Way’ to honor Mr. Kalyana Ranasinghe, a Sri Lankan American who died on duty working for the New York City Traffic Police last November. He was memorialized by the Police Commissioner in a touching tribute

Kalyana Ranasinghe

By Natasha Kuhrt

Although the International Court of Justice has taken 16 years to decide that neither Serbia nor Croatia have a case against each other, the judgment is nevertheless of interest for several reasons.

Firstly, it reminds us that the ICJ is primarily a judicial organ (part of the United Nations system) but that it is sometimes asked to rule on what are primarily unresolved political issues between States (e.g. Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence).

Furthermore, decisions of the ICJ have no binding force except between the parties and only for that case.

Secondly, it reminds us of the politically charged nature of the definition of genocide even in a court of law.

Why?
Continue reading ‘Politically Motivated Charges of Genocide by Serbia and Croatia Against Each Other were not Upheld Legally by the International Court of Justice After 16 Years of Hearing’ »

(Text of letter sent on behalf of the Tamil Civil Society Forum to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva)

Vavuniya,
12 February 2015

His Excellency Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland

Your Excellency,

OISL Inquiry

We write on behalf of the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF), a network of more than 100 civil society activists from the North – East of Sri Lanka, in relation to the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session in March 2015 at which the report of your office’s inquiry on Sri Lanka (OISL) is due. TCSF has been an active campaigner for peace with truth and justice in Sri Lanka. As the OISL team is aware we have been engaged with the inquiry and hence take a keen interest as to its outcome.

We write to emphasise that the international investigation process set in motion through the UNHRC resolutions of 2012, 2013 and 2014 with the resolve to usher in accountability in Sri Lanka, has to continue despite the change in Government.

The Sri Lankan Government that took office under President Maithripala Sirisena on 09 January 2015 has spoken of its intentions to create a domestic mechanism to inquire into crimes committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war. It is quite clear from the reasons that are being given for this desire to set up a domestic mechanism that such announcements are driven by instrumental reasons in so far as they seek to postpone the release of the OISL inquiry report in March and/or seek a postponement of any action that the report may recommend.

Such a postponement this Government hopes, will help permanently dislodge the call for international investigations.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Civil Society Forum Does not want the UNHRC to Give Time and Space to the Sri Lankan Govt’ »

THE English language, we all know, is in decline. The average schoolchild can hardly write, one author has recently warned. Well, not that recently perhaps. It was William Langland, author of “Piers Plowman”, who wrote that “There is not a single modern schoolboy who can compose verses or write a decent letter.” He died in 1386.

English has been getting worse ever since. In 1387, Ranulph Higden, a Benedictine monk and historian, found the culprit in language mixing: “By commiyxtion and mellyng, furst wiþ Danes and afterward wiþ Normans, in menye þe contray longage ys apeyred and som useþ strange wlaffyng chyteryng, harryng, and garryng grisbyttyng.” That is to say (in case your Middle English is rusty) that English speakers had taken to “strange, articulate utterance, chattering, snarling and harsh teeth-gnashing”, bad habits he put down to the mixing together of Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Norman French.

The wailing throughout the history of the language, by people convinced that the end is nigh, can be a bit exhausting over a full survey. But it holds a lesson: language is not constant. Change is—and anxiety about change is constant too. In 1577 Richard Stanihurst praised the English spoken by old English settlers in Ireland. Because of their distance from the mother country, they had not been affected by “habits redolent of disgusting newness”.

Continue reading ‘Generational Litany of Woes About the Decline and Fall of the English Language’ »

The police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) questioned former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday on the weapons armoury maintained by a security firm which he had launched while he was in office.

pic courtesy of: defence.lk

Rajapaksa, the brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was questioned at his residence in Colombo over the armoury maintained by Avant-Garde Security firms and his alleged links with Rakna Lanka Ltd.
Continue reading ‘Ex-Def Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Questioned by CID over the Issue of Arsenals Maintained by Avant -Garde and Rakna Lanka Security Firms’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

The SLFP as well as UPFA constituents, the Communist Party and the LSSP have distanced themselves from an ambitious project meant to bring back former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to active politics ahead of dissolution of parliament in late April.

Authoritative political sources told The Island that the SLFP wouldn’t take part in the campaign spearheaded by three former cabinet ministers, Dinesh Gunawardena (MEP), Wimal Weerawansa (National Freedom Front) and Vasudeva Nanayakkara (Democratic Left Front) to field former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the UPFA Prime Ministerial candidate.

UPFA Western Provincial Council member Udaya Gammanpila, too, has thrown his weight behind the campaign.

Although, the Dinesh-Wimal-Vasu led coalition has said that the former President will come on their stage on Feb 18th, Rajapaksa has not yet indicated his willingness to do so.

Continue reading ‘Will Mahinda Rajapaksa Speak at the Feb 18th Nugegoda Rally Organized by the Dinesh-Vasu-Wimal-Udaya Quartet?’ »

by

Izeth Hussain

In the aftermath of the recent Presidential election a new political configuration seems to be taking place, which requires careful assessment as it could be of immense importance for Sri Lanka’s future. Obviously, a convergence has been taking place between the two major parties, the UNP and the SLFP, as I have noted in earlier articles, which could portend the emergence of a third party, a neo-Fascist one. Alternatively, the SLFP could transmogrify into a basically neo-Fascist Party while the UNP becomes a basically democratic Party. But, before proceeding further, let me make some observations on the convergence that has been taking place.

I believe that the convergence is due to changes of a structural order, not a transitional phenomenon that flows from political expediency, for instance from a drive to get more votes at the next round of elections. In the economic realm the changes are dictated by the inequities of contemporary capitalism, changes which will be recognized as necessary by both major parties. In my last article I referred to the emphasis placed on direct taxation as against indirect taxation in the mini-Budget, a people-friendly measure that accords more with the ethos of the SLFP but it comes from the UNP. Underlying it is the structural factor that in contemporary capitalism there is an innate dynamic for the rich to become richer and the poor poorer. Equity demands that that drive be countered: it could be dangerous to Governments regardless of whether they are left-wing or right-wing. That is the logic behind the shift to direct taxation.

Continue reading ‘Racism has Always been Most Powerfully Concentrated Within the SLFP’ »

By

S.C.Chandrahasan

(Text of letter addressed to the Prime Minister and concerned Ministers of India, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and concerned officials and the President of Sri Lanka and concerned persons focusing on issues relating to ending the protracted refugee status of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees accommodated in India)

We welcome the visit of Honourable Mr.Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka to India for a meeting with Honourable Mr.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India during third week of February. We note with appreciation that issues pertaining to Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees in India would be discussed during this meeting.

Preceding the visit, the governments voiced their respective concerns, exchanged documents and sought additional information from each other regarding return of Sri Lankan refugees to their homeland. Refugees perceive this as a positive step in the context of long lasting demand of ending refugee status. We believe, a consensus has emerged among the governments on two points, i.e., (1) return should be voluntary based on well informed decision made by the concerned refugees, and (2) substantial resource commitment from Government of India guaranteeing economic resettlement in Sri Lanka.

It is our plea that the discussion amongst the governments – India, Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu – should progress and eventually sign a MoU that shall facilitate provision of a package, implementation mechanism, constituting a fund and administrative framework for ending refugee status of Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees in India. As these require considerable time, we suggest certain interim measures could be taken up by the respective governments. These actions would immediately address some of the requests of the refugees. This is primarily to improve living prospects while they are in India and prepare the ground for resettlement in Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘India,Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu must Sign Memorandum of Understanding to End Refugee Status of Sri Lankan Refugees in India’ »

(Remarks by Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka about Sri Lanka – US Relations at the National Press Club, Washington DC on 12 February 2015)

Mr. John Hughes,
Excellencies,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you Mr. Hughes for the introduction. I am delighted to be here in Washington. It has been a good two-day visit and what better way to wind up than talking at the prestigious National Press Club, known as the place where news happens. I am aware of your Club’s storied history and I am indeed honored to be amongst all of you.

Let me start by quoting Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s words at Sri Lanka’s Independence Day celebrations here in Washington a few days ago. He said “After the most successful election in your country’s history, Sri Lankans can stand proud alongside Americans as keepers of the democratic dream.”

Coming here after a very productive meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry this afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, I believe I can safely say Deputy Secretary Blinken’s words underscore the importance of our friendship and resonates with an era of renewed relations between Sri Lanka and the United States.

Continue reading ‘“We need Friends to Build a Peaceful,Prosprous and Secure Sri Lanka”-Mangala Samaraweera’ »

By

M.A. Sumanthiran M.P.

This year’s Independence Day marks a new era in Sri Lanka’s political history. For the first time in a long time, Sri Lankans are hopeful. They dared to vote for change and they now expect to see it. Promises of an era of good governance, an end to the norm of rampant corruption, the revival of the Rule of Law and an end to the state of lawlessness, are no longer quite so empty.

M.A. Sumanthiran MP paying tribute to S.J.V. Chelvanayagam in Batticaloa~May 2013

A hallmark of the rule of the Rajapaksa regime was its blatant flouting of the law and the Constitution. This included its persistent refusal to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution – presently, the only concession in Sri Lanka’s Constitution towards any kind of power sharing.

The 13th Amendment is part of the Constitution – which is the supreme law of the country – and the previous government was in blatant violation of the law and the Constitution in its refusal to implement it. Perhaps in order to distract from the fact that it was in fact refusing to implement in full the highest law of the land, it created great controversy concerning the 13th Amendment, particularly with regard to land and police powers. On examining the content of the 13th Amendment it is clear however, that the bogeyman behind the 13th Amendment is, as bogeymen often are, not real.
Continue reading ‘Govt must Start Dialogue with the TNA About a Permanent Solution to the Tamil National Question’ »

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera held official talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington DC on Thursday 12 February 2015.

pic via: twitter.com/MEA_Sri_Lanka

Remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera before their meeting.

SECRETARY
KERRY:

Good afternoon, everybody.

It’s my great pleasure to welcome Foreign Minister Samaraweera from Sri Lanka. And this is an exciting moment for all of us here because Sri Lanka on January 8th had an historic election in which there has
been really a vote for change, a vote to move Sri Lanka in a new direction, to open up greater accountability and possibility for the preservation of human rights, for democracy, for fighting corruption and putting together a government that will speak for and to the people. And we’re particularly excited about the 100-day plan that the new government has put forward.

Continue reading ‘Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera meets US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

In his upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is likely to discuss possible areas for Indian investment in Sri Lanka, a senior Minister said.

Briefing the media on Cabinet decisions on Thursday, Plantations Minister and Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella said investment, education and highways are high on the agenda for discussions.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena will Discuss with Prime Minister Modi About Areas of Possible Investment in Sri Lanka by India’ »

The resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council in Sri Lanka seeking a probe into 60 years of ‘genocide’ against Tamils in the island nation found support among some political parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.

While the ruling AIADMK had no immediate reaction, the DMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) felt that more time should be given to the new administration of President Maithripala Sirisena to foster ethnic reconciliation.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Northern Provincial Council’s resolution on ‘historic genocide’ Reverberates in Tamil Nadu’ »

(Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera delivered an address on the theme “Sri Lanka after the Presidential Election,” outlining the priorities of the government at the prestigious Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in Washington DC on 11th February 2015 to a full house.This is the full text of the speech)

Ambassador Burns,
Mr. Fredrick Grare,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

I am profoundly grateful and touched by the warm welcome and generous introduction accorded me this evening. It is such a pleasure for me to be back once again in this beautiful and important city as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister after nearly 8 years on the Opposition benches in Parliament.

Before I start speaking on ‘Sri Lanka after the Presidential Election’, let me congratulate you Ambassador Burns on your appointment as the President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace soon after you relinquished a very distinguished career at the forefront of United States diplomacy.

I wish you many successful years of service providing leadership to this oldest international affairs think-tank in the United States. It is indeed an honour for me to have your gracious presence here today.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The story that I have to tell you today is a happy one. A story that shows, that although Sri Lanka and this great country are situated far away from each other, and our nations are unequal in size, there is much that binds the people of our two nations. Their commitment to democracy, freedom, liberty, good governance and the rule of law and their dedication to uphold, protect and preserve the pluralistic nature of society.

These are the values which the people of Sri Lanka chose to reaffirm at the Presidential election held just over 33 days ago when they used the power of the ballot to elect Mr. Maithripala Sirisena as their President.

Despite an election campaign which was greatly flawed and one-sided, the rainbow coalition of the opposition scored a decisive victory on the 8th of January on a platform promising far reaching democratic reforms. Asia’s oldest democracy reasserted its belief in and commitment to democracy by dislodging an emerging dictatorship in typical South Asian style – laid back and non-violent. Instead of the stones, pellets and bullets of the Arab Spring, Sri Lanka’s ‘Rainbow Revolution’ succeeded through the power of the ballot.

Continue reading ‘“I Urge the International Community Including the Human Rights Community to be Patient” -Mangala Samaraweera’ »

by

Meera Srinivasan

The Sri Lankan government will release 1000 acres of land in its Tamil-majority North Province that were until now under the Army’s control, senior Ministers said following a Cabinet decision on Thursday.

To start with, the government would resettle 1,022 families displaced by the war in a model village that is to come up in 220 acres in Valikamam North, in northern part of Jaffna Peninsula, according to Minister for Resettlement D.M. Swaminathan.

Ever since the war ended in May 2009 thousands of Northern Tamils have been demanding that their land be released so that they could return to the land where their homes once stood. Their homes, several old schools and places of worship were gobbled up by the High Security Zone which only the army had access to.

Continue reading ‘1,000 Acres of Northern Lands Under Army Control to be Given back to Owners; 1,022 Displaced Families to be Re-settled in 220 Acre Model Village in Valikamam North.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) led Tamil National Alliance (TNA) run Northern Provincial Council (NPC) has reiterated its call for a UN investigation into what it calls genocide committed by successive Sri Lankan governments since 1948, in spite of Mavai S. Senathirajah, General Secretary of both organisations, ruling out a wider UN role here.

National List MP Senathirajah last August dismissed a call by a group of 33 members of the Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils for the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to expand its inquiry to investigate alleged atrocities committed by successive governments against Tamil speaking people since 1974.

MP Senathirajah said that the party hadn’t authorised its members to call for a wider investigation. MP Senathirajah promised that an inquiry would be conducted into what he then called an unauthorized act.
Continue reading ‘Is ITAK Leader “Mavai” Senathirajah Opposed to Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s “UN must Probe Tamil Genocide” Resolution in Northern Provincial Council?’ »

By

Lakna Paranamanna

One of the most influential figures of the Rajapaksa regime, he was admired by many, feared by some and hated by others. With many allegations made against him following the end of the Rajapaksa rule, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa spoke to Dailymirror and responded candidly to the accusations that are being made against him, on the speculations made concerning his entry to politics and why he believes he is irreplaceable. . . –

Ex-Def Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

Q: Is it true that you fled to the Maldives as soon as the election results indicated former President Rajapaksa’s defeat?

You can see me now, I wouldn’t be here if I left, would I? . . .These claims are only part of the mud-slinging campaigns.

Q:So you never left the country at any point after the Presidential polls?

No! (laughs) How can I leave like that? This is again absurd because I am not an invisible person to flee in that manner. Do they think its possible for me to secretly escape like that? I would have to pass through the airport and I am not an invisible person to be able to pull off such a feat.

Continue reading ‘“No one can Replace my Commitment, my Hard work, my Vision”-Ex-Def Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’ »

BY

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

For personal reasons that would be too painfully obvious to state, I can well remember a time that Sri Lankan newspaper Editors would be unforgiving with their newsroom, if the biggest political story of the week had failed to make it to their front page or any page at all, especially if the story was big enough to be reported in the respected Indian newspaper, The Hindu.

Only two Sri Lankan English language newspapers (Ceylon Today and Daily FT) and a single TV website (Derana) caught the dramatic story of Chief Minister Wigneswaran and the Northern Provincial Council’s 11 page “Genocide” resolution. The intrinsic important of the story was captured by the fact that the Hindu ran it with a quote from Indian officialdom. Thus it was that the Indian Government had already reacted appropriately to a Sri Lankan story which had not, for the most part, made the Sri Lankan media.

Then again, this speaks not so much to the state of the Sri Lankan media but to the larger state of Sri Lankan society, which is or has been rendered – one can only guess by whom and to what end—far more concerned about Wele Suda than Wigneswaran. It seems a classic case of what Noam Chomsky termed the manufacturing of consent, which is, at bottom, a term for collective hypnosis or brainwashing.
Continue reading ‘Chief Minister Wigneswaran Explodes “Genocide of Tamils” Bomb via Northern Provincial Council Resolution’ »

by

N. Sathiya Moorthy

It’s change, yet, it’s change with continuity. The sweeping victory of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi assembly polls is reminiscent of a near-similar parliamentary poll experience for the nation as a whole. Replace parties and personalities between then and now – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with AAP and Arvind Kejriwal – the voter has shown that the ‘negative image’ and publicity against neither works when he is determined to have his way, and show the politicos their way and place in his scheme of things.

The parliamentary polls were a reflection on the voter’s apathy towards what he has already had at the national-level for years and decades together. To the voter, Modi represented change, and a change for the better and betterment of the nation. It’s thus a voter’s message to Prime Minister Modi and his BJP-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that he does not have the patience to wait eternally for that change. It is also a message to the latter that they do not have the leisure to effect the ‘promised change’ until they are ready for the next round of polls.

Continue reading ‘Arvind Kejriwal Leads Aam Aadmi Party to Sweeping Victory in Delhi Assembly Elections.’ »

By

Rohit Bhan

Rajkot: A temple dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to officially open in his home state of Gujarat on Sunday.

pic coutesy of: BBC Tamil

The temple, funded by 300 admirers is located in a village 130 miles from Ahmedabad.

“He is like a God for us and we have been worshipping him for a decade. We want a temple for him in all villages in Gujarat,” said Ramesh Undhad, who has headed the project to collect funds and construct the temple, which includes an idol of the 64-year-old Prime Minister.

Continue reading ‘Temple dedicated to Indian Premier Narendra Modi as Deity Opens in his Home State Gujarat on Sunday’ »

By

Vishwamithra 1984

The presidential election campaign of December 2014 saw prominent members of the then opposition loudly voicing strident rhetoric on the rampant corruption of the Rajapaksa regime. The newspaper and evening television news were saturated with allegations of multibillion-rupee deals, hefty commissions being made by unscrupulous politicians, and vulture-like businessmen preying on the public purse.

pic: facebook.com/anurakumara

At the forefront of the campaign against corruption were many of today’s front-benchers, such as Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, ably backed by JVP’s charismatic firebrand, Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Now, however, with the new government settling into its seats, people are voicing doubts as to the new administration’s zeal in dealing with its predecessors’ misdemeanours.
Continue reading ‘People Doubtful Whether new Govt is Serious About Probing Previous Govt Misdeeds and Corruption’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

There’s a visible battle within the government over the Chinese Port City Project initiated by the previous government. The cause of this battle was the recent announcement to the media by the Health Minister and Cabinet Spokesman, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne that the Cabinet had decided to go ahead with the project which was the subject of a controversial issue raised by the then opposition. The very next day Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe contradicted the statement of the minister stating no such decision had been taken.

Rajitha is no China supporter. He is a close friend of India. He faced threats from the JVP when he bravely stood in support of the 13th Amendment. When Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government wanted to remove land and police powers from the 13th Amendment, Rajitha bravely fought against it. He held media briefings against that move with some of his Cabinet colleagues. That he did when Mahinda’s Government was at the peak of power. Once Mahinda indirectly told Rajitha at a parliamentary group meet to leave his government if Rajitha disagreed with the policies of Mahinda’s Government. Then Rajitha chose to announce in public that he was not prepared to betray the Northern issue for the sake of a ministerial portfolio. Therefore, it is difficult to believe that Rajitha who has such a dignified past, will ever cater to Chinese needs. It is visible that China had managed to creep into the government within a very short time to create problems in the government.

Continue reading ‘U-Turn by new Govt on Colombo Port City Project shows China has Crept into Influential Position with Sirisena Regime’ »

By

Suhasini Haidar

The Indian government took note of the resolution by the Sri Lankan Northern Provincial Council internally, but officials said it was too early to gauge its importance to the reconciliation process already initiated by President Maithripala Sirisena’s new government.

Officials are studying if the genocide resolution would affect the Geneva conference of the UNHRC, where the U.N. special rapporteur is due to submit a report on a U.S.-sponsored “war crimes investigations” that could also lead to a resolution against Sri Lanka being tabled.

India would be keen to see any such resolution put off, it is understood, so as to allow the new Sri Lankan government time to implement its promises to the Northern provinces.

Continue reading ‘“Challenging new Sri Lankan Govt with International Genocide Investigation Could Complicate Matters”-New Delhi Sources’ »

by

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) on Tuesday passed a strongly worded resolution accusing successive governments in the island nation of committing ‘genocide’ against Tamils.

The resolution moved by Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran sought to give “an overview of the evidence demonstrating successive Sri Lankan governments’ genocide against Tamils” and appealed to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to probe the claim and recommend appropriate prosecution.

The resolution does not seem to have gone down well among the Colombo leadership, given that it has been engaging extensively with different countries, hoping to mobilise international support ahead of the U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.

Continue reading ‘Northern Provincial Council Passes Resolution Accusing Sri Lankan Govts of Committing “Genocide”Against Tamils’ »

(Text of the Statement of Peace made by the Government of Sri Lanka at the 67th Independence Day Celebrations on Wednesday 4th February 2015)

“Today our beloved nation is at a moment of unprecedented opportunity. Terrorism and violence have ended.

“The time and peace required for healing and building sustainable peace and security for all, is upon us. It is now for us to seize this opportunity to ensure the fruits of democracy and citizenship can be equitably enjoyed by all.

“As we commemorate the 67th Independence Day of our nation today, we pay our respects to all the citizens of this country, of all ethnicities and religions, who lost their lives due to the tragic conflict that affected this land for over three decades, and for all the victims of violence since Independence.

Continue reading ‘“The Time and Peace Required for Healing and Building Sustainable Peace and Security for all is Upon us”-Statement of Peace by Sri Lankan Govt’ »

By Nitin A.Gokhale

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former defence secretary of Sri Lanka, former army officer and former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother, was largely seen as the driving force behind Sri Lanka’s Eelam War IV that decimated the Tamil Tigers and ended an intense, quarter century long civil war in the island nation in 2009.
Considered a hardliner in the recently ousted Mahinda Rajapaksa government in Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been accused variously of war crimes, of militarising the Sri Lankan society, of driving Colombo into Chinese arms and much more in the nearly nine years that he headed Sri Lanka’s defence ministry.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who lived in the US before returning to Sri Lanka in 2005 to help his brother fight the LTTE, has been under intense pressure from the new Sri Lankan government that is probing various acts of omission and commission allegedly committed by the previous regime.
Exactly a month after the Rajapaksas lost power in Sri Lanka, Gotabaya agreed to his first detailed interview with long-time Rediff.com contributor Nitin A Gokhale through e-mail.


Although one short interview is not enough to understand the man and his action — “I have to be careful these days,” he says — here’s a short glimpse into his thought process and actions.

Continue reading ‘“It is we who Liberated the Tamil People from the LTTE” States Ex-Defence Secy Gotabaya Rajapaksa in “Rediff” Interview’ »

by Sonal Sher

Sri Lanka’s cuisine has two influential ingredients, fish and coconuts, because of their abundance in this tropical island. The staple food here is Rice and Curry, and Kottu Roti, all of which is sold by many street vendors across the country. But other than the curry plate, the country has a lot to offer. Immerse yourself into a truly gastronomical experience by eating in these restaurants and get ready to taste some red hot spice.

1. Load up on traditional Seafood at Seafood Cove

Traditional Seafood at Seafood Cove, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Continue reading ‘Fifteen Fabulous “Food Paradises” of Sri Lanka in Jaffna, Kandy, Colombo and Galle’ »

BY

STANLEY SAMARASINGHE

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered Nihal Ranasinghe, Controller of Immigration and Emigration, to refrain from deporting Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Leader, Premakumar Gunaratnam alias Noel Mudalige, until 13 February.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K. Sripavan and Justices Sarath de Abrew and Anil Gunaratne made this order after hearing the submissions of President’s Counsel (PC), Romesh de Silva.

The Court, while making this order, informed the PC to support the Fundamental Rights application filed on behalf of Gunaratnam on 13 February.

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Suspends Deportation of FSP Leader Kumar Gunaratnam Until FR Petition is heard on Feb 13th’ »

BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

DOMINANT PRIME MINISTER, SUBORDINATE PRESIDENT
ANALYSING THE DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

“Sovereign is he who decides on the exception”- Carl Schmitt

The proposed changes to the Constitution entitled ‘Discussion Paper on Constitutional Reforms’ (https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/maithri-proposals-on-constitutional-reforms-full-text/) have both good and bad aspects, of which the bad clearly outweigh the good, since they are on matters of grave strategic national importance.

What is good in the draft proposals are the changes pertaining to

• The Independent Commissions
• The Office of the Auditor General
• Guarantee of the Right to Information

It is ironic that some members of the present government enthusiastically supported the scrapping of the very decent 17th amendment and the introduction of the 18th. No matter.

Of grave concern are matters relating to fundamental questions of power and power relations. These are to do with the basic architecture of the state and will if implemented, change the workings of Sri Lanka’s political system in the most dramatic and negative manner.

Continue reading ‘West will Control Sri Lanka Through Ranil who will control Sirisena who will control SLFP’ »

(Text of Press release Issued on February 9th 2015 by Mahinda Rajapaksa Former President of Sri Lanka)

False and misleading statements continue to be made about me by members of the present government. At a recent TV interview, it was said that over Rs. 100,000 million (Koti dahadahak) had been allocated to the Presidential Secretariat for the year 2015 and that it had now been reduced to Rs. 2,720 million (Koti 272). A sum of 100,000 million was never allocated to the Presidential Secretariat.

AFter voting on Jan 8~pic: facebook.com/PresidentRajapaksa

The actual sum allocated for 2015 was Rs. 9,593 million (Koti 959). No less than 25 state institutions such as the National Salaries and Cadres Commission, the National Ocean Affairs Committee etc, were
listed under the vote of the President. Former presidents and their widows are also maintained by the Presidential Secretariat under this vote. The Establishments & Organizations Division of the Presidential
Secretariat serves all the above mentioned institutions and absorbs the bulk of the expenditure. This expenditure therefore represents a large number of institutions and not only expenditure allocated to the President.

The actual sum allocated to the Office of the President (which is only one component of the vote that is designated under the President) for 2015 was Rs. 3,754 million (Koti 375). This included Rs. 1,000 million (Koti 100) which was meant to be spent on the construction of various community projects around the country. If this item is removed, the expenditure on the President’s Office is reduced to the Rs. 2,750 million (Koti 275) that is said to be the new allocation for the president.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Reveals Truth about False and Misleading Statements made Against him by Present Govt.’ »

By

Kevin Kariyawasam and Yohan Perera

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has sought the assistance of state intelligence services to locate Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Central Committee Member Kumar Gunaratnam whose visa had expired ten days ago.

Immigration sources said Gunaratnam arrived in Sri Lanka on January 1 on a 30-day tourist visa which expired on January 31 and since then he is said to be in hiding.

Gunaratnam, a citizen of Australia, was summoned twice by the Department of Immigration to record statements about his involvement in local politics.

Sources said the department had confiscated his passport and asked him to return before January 31, to be sent back to Australia but he did not show up and his whereabouts are not known.

Continue reading ‘FSP Leader Kumar Gunaratnam Goes into Hiding in Sri Lanka to Avoid being Deported to Australia After Expiry of Tourist Visa’ »

By Latheef Farook

In the east of the island the destiny of Tamils and Muslims remains intertwined and, inevitably, they share both adversity and prosperity. Thus it goes without saying that it is always in the interest of the two communities for their political parties to work together. Under such circumstance the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, SLMC, entering into an agreement with the United Peoples Freedom Alliance, UPFA, to form the Eastern Provincial Council Administration with a controversial Muslim as Chief Minister, without Tamil participation, is a serious blow to Tamil-Muslim Unity which is bound to have serious consequences.

For centuries Tamils and Muslims in the east lived together in peace and harmony .This harmony was virtually destroyed during the LTTE war to the detriment of the two communities. The main contributory factors were LTTE atrocities and the SLMC’s opportunistic politics.

Numerous issues causing enmity and bitterness between the two communities cropped up during the war.

Since the military defeat of LTTE in May 2009 there arose the need to settle these issues to rebuild confidence and pave the way for better understanding.

In the midst racist elements in the previous government, known for their hostility towards minorities, were manipulating to separate the two communities to facilitate the implementation of their agendas in the east.

Continue reading ‘Muslim Congress Aligning with UPFA to Form Eastern Province Administration Strikes Serious blow to Tamil-Muslim Reconciliation’ »

By

Lahiru Pothmulla

Four political allies of the United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) today expressed sentiments in favour of fielding former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Ministerial candidate at the forthcoming general elections.

They said there was no other hope to defeat incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and added Mr. Rajapaksa had already secured 5.8 million votes in the January Presidential Election.

Continue reading ‘Vasudeva,Dinesh,Wimal and Udaya Want Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Ministerial Candidate Against Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By

Chamitha Kuruppu

Minister of Public Order and Disaster Management John Amaratunga is confident the no-faith motion against him will not be presented in Parliament.
“To win it (no confidence motion), they must bring it before the Parliament. That might not happen at all. In three months’ time, there is dissolution in any case,” Amaratunga said, in an interview with the Daily FT.
He added: “I strongly believe that this is not a case for no confidence motion. There is a fight with minor injuries. They say the Police did not take adequate action. Are these grounds for a no confidence motion?”

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: What are your remarks about the no confidence motion against you?

A: There is nothing to say. They have presented it. It will go to the Order Paper. The Business Committee of Parliament will decide what to do with it.

I am ready to answer. The charges are frivolous. It does not warrant a no confidence motion at all. This is a normal incident where a brawl has taken place between members of a Pradeshiya Sabha. Although they were hospitalised, the medical reports say they were minor injuries. The police have arrested six people who have been there. They were produced before courts and the case is pending.

Continue reading ‘UNP Minister John Amaratunga says No Confidence Motion against him will not be Presented in Parliament’ »

Media industry personality Krishantha Cooray is among four new Directors appointed to the Board of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).

The company announced that Cooray has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director. The other three are Mohamed Firdouse Farook (Independent Non-Executive Director), Nilanthi Sonia Anne Pieris (Independent Non-Executive Director) and G.C. Chandra Ekanayake of Treasury as Non-Independent Non-Executive Director.

SLT said these new appointees have no relevant interest in shares of the company as of the date of appointment which was 3 February.

Cooray is a private sector professional with an academic background in political science and law.
After schooling at S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia, Krishantha read for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science and Law at the University of Middlesex.

Continue reading ‘Krishantha Prasad Cooray among 4 new Directors appointed to Sri Lanka Telecom Board’ »

By

N Sathiya Moorthy

Former Telecom and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran, the younger of the two brothers, has said as much and more in defending himself and elder brother Kalanidhi — the founder-owner of the Sun TV Group, after the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested three of the latter’s former aides in a case of misusing the former’s official position to benefit from them illegally.

The three aides are — Sun TV technical head S Kannan, electrician K S Ravi and Dayanidhi’s private secretary Gowthaman, who had also served his late father and Union Minister Murasoli Maran.

The long-pending CBI case, which followed a relatively earlier media expose by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue S Gurumurthy, is that as minister, Dayanidhi had allegedly set up a 323-line telephone exchange at his Boat Club residence in Chennai and had underground cables linked to the Sun TV Group’s headquarters and studios a few kilometres away, to illegally uplink their television video transmissions without having to pay an estimated Rs 400 crore fees.

The Maran brothers have moved themselves away from SpiceJet budget airliner that they had promoted with much gusto and success; but they are also facing CBI investigations into the ‘Aircel-Maxis case’, on yet another charge of cheating.

Continue reading ‘DMK Leader Karunanidhi’s Grandnephews Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi Maran who own India’s Sun TV Group may be Charged for Corruption’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that Parliament would be dissolved straightaway if the government failed to defeat the no-confidence motion against Public Order, Disaster Management and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga.

He made this remark while addressing the Working Committee of the United National Party (UNP) held at the party headquarters, Sirikotha.

Continue reading ‘Parliament to be Dissolved and Elections Held on April 4th if No Confidence Motion Against UNP Minister Amaratunga is Passed’ »

By Anura Balasuriya

A group of prominent SLFP members has proposed that a leadership council comprising President Maithripala Sirisena, former presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa be appointed to steer the UPFA to victory at the next general election, according to party sources.

The proposal had been forwarded to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga by Chief Opposition Whip W. D. J. Seneviratne and it had been discussed at length, sources said.

Seneviratne has informed the former President Kumaratunga that the majority of party members are of the opinion that there is a need for a leadership council to win the forthcoming election.

Continue reading ‘Prominent SLFP Members want Leadership Council for Party Comprising President Sirisena and EX-Presidents Chandrika and Mahinda.’ »

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) today urged all political parties representing the Eastern Provincial Council to come together in forming a joint administration as it is in the central government.

SLMC Leader and Minister of Urban Development Rauff Hakeem told a media briefing that his party is ready to give ministerial portfolios in the Eastern Provincial Council to all parties representing the council including the United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA), United National Party (UNP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

Continue reading ‘Muslim Congress Ready to Give Portfolios to UPFA, UNP and TNA in Eastern Province Administration but TNA is Inflexible’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The SLFP is heading for a major crisis with some UPFA constituents demanding that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa be named their prime ministerial candidate immediately.

A spokesperson for Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila’s Pivithuru Hela Urumaya yesterday said that UPFA constituents, namely MP Dinesh Gunawardena’s MEP, MP Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front (NFF) and Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s Democratic Left Front (DLF) would push for Mahinda Rajapaksa’s return.

The spokesman said that the grouping would brief the media today (Feb.9) at the National Library and Documentation Services Board regarding their plans.

Continue reading ‘UPFA Constituents Demand that Mahinda Rajapaksa be Named as Prime Ministerial Candidate Immediately’ »

Nelum Pokuna Mawatha, which runs from Horton Place Roundabout to Public Library Roundabout, is to be named Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha once again Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) sources said today.

The road was renamed Nelum Pokuna Mawatha in 2011 with the opening of the Nelum Pokuna Perfoming Arts Stadium.

Continue reading ‘Re-Named “Nelum Pokuna Mawatha” to Revert back to Earlier name of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha next week.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Police headquarters is seeking the advice of Attorney General Yuwanjana Wanasundera as regards its investigation into an alleged attempt by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the then Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to deploy the army to suspend the results of Jan. 8 presidential poll being released.

Well informed sources told The Island that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had recorded the statements of Army Commander Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera and IGP N.K. Illangakoon. In addition to them, the CID also questioned the then External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila and AG Wanasundera.

Depending on the instructions from the AG, the police would question others, including former Defence Secretary Rajapaksa, sources said. Responding to a query, sources said that the CID had sought the AG’s advice after having brought the current status of the investigation to his attention.

Continue reading ‘Police Seek Attorney-General’s Advice on Proceeding with Probe into Alleged Coup Attempt by Mahinda and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

More Indian trawlers have been allegedly fishing near the northern coastline of Sri Lanka over the past two weeks, Jaffna-based fisher leaders say.

The fishermen from both sides got into a tussle at sea recently, after the nets of those from the northern region of the island nation were damaged. “There was a major problem in Vadamarachchi a couple of days ago when our nets had been damaged by the Indian trawlers,” said Josephpillai Sinthathurai, a fisherman based in Madagal in northern Jaffna.

“Earlier, the [Sri Lankan] Navy took action promptly, but now they seem reluctant to arrest Indian fishermen who are poaching,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Fishers Poach in Large Numbers in lankan Waters for Weeks but Sri Lankan Navy Takes no Action’ »

By P.K.Balachandran

M.A.Sumanthiran, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, is currently in Geneva lobbying at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for release of the UN’s investigative report on allegations of war crimes committed in the last phase of the 2006-2009 Eelam War IV in North Sri Lanka.

The TNA is trying to counter the US move to postpone the presentation of the report which has been prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at the request of the UNHRC.

Continue reading ‘TNA Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran in Geneva to Lobby for Release in March of UN War Crimes Report Against Sri Lanka.’ »

The lacuna of inner democracy in the present day Ilangkai Thamizh Arasuk Kadchi (ITAK) is being exploited by TNA Parliamentary Group Leader Mr R. Sampanthan and TNA’s nominated parliamentarian Mr M.A. Sumanthiran to deviate Tamils from their cause and struggle, accused Vice President and Senior leader of the ITAK, Professor S.K. Sitrampalam in an interview to TamilNet this week.

Professor Sitrampalam also spoke on the danger hatching in any move of postponement of the Geneva process, futility of the 13A – unitary outlooks and Sampanthan participating the ‘Independence Day’ in endorsement of the British designed unitary system and Maithiri regime’s strict adherence to it.

Professor Sitrampalam’s challenge to the continued hoodwink collectively staged by Washington, New Delhi and Colombo Establishments and implemented through Sampanthan-Sumanthiran device, finds wide appreciation in several quarters of the Tamil population, political observers in Jaffna said.

Continue reading ‘Senior TNA Leader Prof.Sitrambalam Criticises Party Leader R.Sampanthan and MA Sumanthiran MP for Attending Independence Day Ceremony.’ »

By

Rasika Jayakody

Before the recently held presidential election, none of the political parties in Sri Lanka had a more sophisticated propaganda mechanism than the United National Party.

The UNP propaganda mechanism was more sophisticated than propaganda machinations of other parties as the UNP was in full control of its message. The ‘message’, more often than not, was created at the top and was passed down to the party’s spokespersons through proper channels and mechanisms.

Vimukthi Kumaratunga

There was no firing all over the place. Messages were nicely articulated and carefully crafted, and the spokespersons were thoroughly briefed by the top rung leadership.

Although the United National Party held press conferences on a daily basis prior to the election, there were no PR blunders or faux pas. Most of their press conferences put the government on the ‘backfoot’ and its (Government’s) spokespersons often put their feet in the mouth when trying counter allegations made by the UNP.

However, after securing power, things have now taken a different turn.

Continue reading ‘Is Vimukthi Kumaratunga son of Vijaya and Chandrika Going to Contest next Parliamentary Elections?’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

Each passing week sees a mockery made of the term yahapalanaya. The most surprising episode we have seen yet after the ouster of the Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, is the acceptance of the Chairmanship of the Board of Investment by Upul Jayasuriya the President of the Bar Association. Under Upul Jayasuriya the Bar Association was more politicized than ever before. His predecessor was Wijedasa Rajapakshe – himself a UNP politician. But even he did not politicize the Bar Association presidency to the extent that Jayasuriya did.

There was really no difference between the Bar Assocaition and an opposition political party over the past couple of years. Upul Jayasuriya played a leading role in the evicting of Mohan Peiris from the Supreme Court. Many people including the present writer was amazed to see the president of the Bar Association announcing to the public over TV that the appointment of Mohan Peris was void and that former CJ Shirani Bandaranayake would be reinstated.

If it was the presidential secretariat that had issued the letter declaring Mohan Peiris’ appointment to be null and void, then it should have been at least the Secretary to the President or the presidential spokesman who should have made that known to the public. But here was the president of the Bar Association announcing matters of state to the public! Just days after what was described even by the pro-yahapalana Colombo Telegraph as a ‘judicial coup’ Upul Jayasuriya was made Chairman of the BOI.

How can a top professional chairing the body that represents his profession descend to such levels as to accept a position that was obviously given to him as a token of appreciation for support and services provided to the new powers that be?

Continue reading ‘Bar association President Upul Jayasuriya Appointed as Board of Investment Chairman is a Mockery of “Yahapalanaya”.’ »

By

Rev. Reggie Ebenezer

Amma is 104 not out today (Feb 6th)! Splendid performance, bat on till the Captain Himself calls you to retire! It is a great privilege for me to pen these words as a brief testimony of my understanding of your living faith. My prayer is that someone who reads will be encouraged to face life with fortitude as you have endured for so long. You have inspired us and countless numbers of people by your amazing life saga of service and sacrifice.

Louisa Arulamma Thambyrajah

Louisa Arulamma Thambyrajah or Navajeevanam’s universal “Amma” was born on 6th February 1911 and has entered her 104th year of purposeful, graceful living. She is the last surviving member of the famous Paranthan Pioneer Trio, the Co-Founders of Navajeevanam – Sis Elizebeth Baker, the Revd A. C. Thambyrajah and his dear wife “Amma” Thambyrajah.

Together they tamed the Vanni jungles to establish the Navajeevanam Home in 1959. They laboured relentlessly through many challenges to make the Navajeevanam dream take shape and form.

This true heroine of the Vanni soil and her now deceased companions showed our land that Sinhala, Tamil, Burgher and others can live together in community, in peace and harmony.

This was in the backdrop of a time when the very foundations of our Sri Lankan identity had been shaken and people’s hearts were hurt and scarred by the notorious communal riots of 1958.

Continue reading ‘Louisa Arulamma Thambyrajah the Universal “Navajeevanam Amma” Celebrates 104th Birthday on Feb 6th’ »

By

Udaya Gammanpila

28 January 2015 was the darkest day for the Judiciary of Sri Lanka. Mohan Peiris was the Chief Justice on that day. A group of pro-government lawyers had commenced a protest against the Chief Justice (CJ) in that morning.

It was led by politico lawyers such as M.A. Sumanthiran MP and Sunil Watawela WPC. The mastermind of the operation was Upul Jayasuriya, who is the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and a strong UNP supporter. He was later rewarded with the Chairman post of the Board of Investment.

Meanwhile, the President sent a letter to CJ Mohan Peiris, informing him that the removal of former CJ, Shirani Bandaranayake was null and void and as a result his appointment was also null and void. The President sent a similar letter to former CJ Shirani Bandaranayake.

Soon after receiving the letter, she left her house to the Superior Courts, to resume duties as the CJ. The protesters were ready with garlands and betel leaves, knowing her arrival in advance. She announced there that she would retire on the following day. After her retirement, K. Sripavan was appointed as the Chief Justice.

The above is not an episode in a mega teledrama telecast recently. Unfortunately, it is a real incident happened in Sri Lanka just a week ago. It is another achievement of the present government within its first 20 days, which gained power promising good governance.

Continue reading ‘Chief Justice Mohan Peiris Being Chased Away was for Judiciary the Darkest Day’ »

By Prof. Gananath Obeyesekere

The newspapers today are full of the welcome news of the possibility of success for the democratic process and the rule of law in Sri Lanka. Some of us might be tempted to forget another important event namely the visit of Pope Francis, a good man, and the hope he represents not only for Catholics but also for Buddhists like me.

Nawagamuwa Devalaya – Dedicated to goddess Pattini-pic: Sundayobserver.lk

For me the new Pope might herald an emergence of a new era of Papal relations, a more democratic and open world that we Buddhists can also join in. I also hope that sometime in the near future the Pope can join my pantheon of leaders who have combined idealism with a sense of the practical world in which we live; among them Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and a few others waiting in the wings, as it were.

pic via: facebook.com/popevisitsrilanka2015

Of course we know that one of the wonderful occasions was the Pope’s visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Madhu and his canonization of Fr. Joseph Vaz. I want to fill in what is missing in the public record of these events.

I am sure the Pope will be pleased to know that Madhu was once a shrine for the Goddess Pattini, another virgin goddess worshipped by Sinhala Buddhists during a long historical period. And as for Joseph Vaz he would never have made it but for the support and encouragement of Kandyan kings, especially the gentle Vimaladharmasuriya II (1687-1707).

It is a pity that no one, as far as I know, has put the public record straight during the visit of the Pope, perhaps out of ignorance of the past, among both Catholics and Buddhists. Or is it something else, such as the vestiges of intolerance that exists among both communities and hard to erase?

My discussion will show that the past not only illumines the present but also hopefully will lead to a sympathetic understanding of inter-religious communication.
Continue reading ‘Shrine for Virgin Goddess Pattini Existed Once in Marudhamadhu area where “Our Lady of Madhu” Catholic Church is now’ »

By

Don Manu

It is in his pathetic attempt to portray himself as the victim of injustice a man terribly wronged; it is in his audacious bid to raise himself to the heights of a former Chief Justice, the much respected Neville Samarakoon; and it is in his bare faced bizarre avowal that the maintenance of the dignity and decorum of the office of Chief Justice were his prime concerns that Mohan Peiris surpassed himself last week to reveal his inherent extraordinary genius to find in fathomless depths a deeper still to sink.

Almost calling upon the storming heavens to deliver the justice he was now impotent to execute, Mohan Peiris, in a statement issued two days after he was declared by the Government as the Chief Justice that never was, presented himself as ‘a man more sinned against than sinning’.

If Mohan Peiris had hoped his pitiful statement would attract rivers of sympathy and cause a surging tide of public opinion to flow in his direction; to swell in outrage at the scandalous wrong done to him and to move the throne of Heaven to rumble in fury over the perfidious assault on his innocence, he couldn’t have been more disappointed nor more forlorn. Enough tears had been shed by the nation two years ago over his controversial appointment by the then President Rajapaksa that there were none to let fall now.

Instead it was met with volleys of mocking laughter; with howls of jeers and derision; and even the blindfolded lady with the scales atop Hulftsdorp Hill may have been forgiven had she evinced a sneering turn of the lip over the fulsome self-praise of impeccable conduct and moral rectitude, the Phantom of the Supreme Court had chosen to pour over himself by the bucket.

Continue reading ‘Downfall of Mohan Peiris the “Phantom of the Supreme Court” who never was the Chief Justice’ »

By

Malinda Seneviratne

President Maithripala Sirisena’s days are numbered. That’s by his own admission, publicly announced in the speech he made immediately after being sworn in as the country’s president. He announced that he will not be sworn in a second time.

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia U.S. Department of State, Mrs. Nisha Biswal, called on President Maithripala Sirisena on Feb 2 at the Presidential Secretariat.

As such he numbered his own days, one can argue. Given that he campaigned for a limitation of the very same powers he would acquire if elected, he essentially argued for a ‘numbering’ as well as a diminishing.

In a post-election context where he did not have a party, Maithripala Sirisena was forced to revert to a 2001 situation with Ranil Wickremesinghe as a calling-all-shots executive (all but in name). A few days later, Sirisena became leader of the party that has the most seats in Parliament.

Ironically, while retaining all the powers enjoyed by his predecessor, the President has not only transferred the un-transferable (at least if one subscribes to basic democratic tenets such a representation) but has by choice turned himself into a mere figurehead.

This may be the historical role that the President has always wanted to play. It could be read as statesman-like and magnanimous, but it would also amount to cheating 6.2 million voters. However, if Sirisena wants to remain relevant even in a presidency that is ‘checked and balanced’, his current wallflower state of being has to be reviewed and altered.

Continue reading ‘Instead of Turning Himself Into a “Figurehead”, President Sirisena must “LEAD” or be Dubbed Political Charlatan.’ »

BY

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

SMART PATRIOTISM AND THE MARGINAL MAJORITY

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

At 58, I have reached legitimate anecdotage. My parents read Grimm’s Fairy Tales out to me at bedtime, but my maternal grandmother from Moratuwa told me stories in Sinhala and was the only one to do so. She related Martin Wickremesinghe’s story “Rohini” to me. It is a romantic martial tale set within the Dutugemunu saga. She couldn’t have been a Sinhala Buddhist chauvinist. She was a Catholic, originally from Nuwara Eliya, married to a highly literate Buddhist from Panadura. She named her favorite son Athula, after one of Dutugemunu’s warrior-heroes. Far from being a recessive Sinhala xenophobe, Athula wound up a Dean in a North American university and the first non-white President of the World Confederation of Physiotherapists. Those are some part of my roots. That’s where I’m coming from.

Patriotism is love of country. There is dumb patriotism and there is smart patriotism. When the dumb patriot says “my country right or wrong”, he/she means that whether it does right or wrong in the moral sense, he/she will defend it. When the smart patriot says it, he/she means that whether it is in the right or in the wrong, it is his/her country; the only country she really has or belongs to. It is where he is coming from. It is the place he identifies with. It is where he is rooted. It is home. He will not defend everything its government or state does; but defend the country, he will. In that sense the smart patriot loves his/her country unconditionally though it may be a ‘tough love’. Obviously in the case of dual citizenship, this applies twice over, with its necessary modifications and complications.

The dumb patriot thinks his country is the best in the world and even the greatest. The smart patriot does not and his love of country is not based on blind faith or an intrinsic, unwarranted sense of superiority. The smart patriot is constructively critical about his country but is fiercely loyal to it all the same. He will criticize it but will unconditionally defend his country from the hypocritical criticism of foreign powers and institutions responsible for or blind to far worse crimes.

Continue reading ‘“I am a Patriotic Sinhala Nationalist who Detests Sinhala Racism and Sinhala Chauvinism”’ »

Anusha Arumugam

(Anusha Arumugam is a third year law student at the University of Liverpool. This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of the publication “The Malaysian Insider” from which this article is reproduced on this blog)

“It is not the violence of the few that scares me. It is the silence of the majority.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Civilians become victims of war for two reasons: firstly, because of the perpetrators, and secondly, because the communities who had the capacity to stop the crimes have failed to do so.

War crimes, and crimes and humanity and peace were atrocities that plagued the Darfur conflict (2003-2010), the Iraq war (2003-2011), the Gaza war (2008-2009), the Sri Lankan civil war (2009), and the Syrian civil war (2011-present). However, these wars shared another similarity – they witnessed the repetitive systemic failure of the United Nations (UN) in protecting civilians in the conflict zones.

As such, the lack of responsibility portrayed by the UN at international law for failing in its duties questions its fundamental aim of “keeping peace throughout the world”.

This article argues that where the UN has failed in the given responsibility and power to impede crimes against civilian populations, the doctrine of command responsibility should be invoked to hold the UN accountable for its failure before the international community. This would be explored by way of a case study of the Sri Lankan war for reason that it endured the greatest non-interference by the UN during the final phase of the genocide of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: a case study

Continue reading ‘UN must be held Responsible for not Trying to Prevent Genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka-A case study’ »

By

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

Although the flavour of Elephant House ice cream, and the fuzz and taste of Elephant Brand soft drinks are still with us, the once popular restaurant and catering service of Elephant House wound up many years ago. There are many who still remember the service at Fountain Café, that stood out in Colombo as a restaurant well known for its ice cream and short eats with nostalgia for such flavour in food, drink and courteous service.

Yet, quite unknown to us there has been a wide expansion of the Elephant Brand in property and assets, extending from people favoured with the right connections in politics, the outrageous spread of nepotism and extended reach of family bandyism in governance; and, the chaining and corralling of elephants in places of worship far removed in practice from what they preach about compassion and kindness to all beings.

Little did one expect the slogans of Yaha Paalanaya that echoed throughout the country in the run-up to the recent election, which saw the emergence of a new political leadership, lead to the discovery of so many elephants, from babies and adults, in the most unexpected of locations.

They are sprouting out today in so many places that are far removed from the jungles of our land that are the natural habitat of Elephas Maximus Maximus – the Sri Lankan Elephant – and the sanctuary and breeding ground for elephants at Pinnnawela.

Continue reading ‘Emergence of “Hora Ali Panthiya”(Rogue Elephant Class) Turns Country into an “Elephant House”of Elephantine Proportions’ »

By

Malinda Seneviratne

There was a day in the year 1948 when a country was washed afresh by a new breeze. It was called Independence. Freedom was on everyone’s lips. Every heart sang. There were dozens of ‘freedom songs’ composed. Most of them conflated ‘Sinhala’ or ‘Hela’ with what was then Ceylon or ‘Lanka’ in the Sinhala version. ‘Chauvinistic!’ some would howl but not all who howled came from collectives that had suffered as much as that particular group had in the invasions and in the preservation of conquest.

They were all beautiful songs. Lovely lyrics. Lovely melodies. Beautiful rendering by artists who sang with heart. And it didn’t all evaporate in the years that followed when it became clear that what was given and taken was more frill than substance.

Throughout the rest of the 20th century there were many lyricists and singers who came up with catchy patriotic songs that inspired people to appreciate the land into which they were born, encouraged children to be good and productive citizens, and spoke of much better tomorrows for generations yet unborn.

That country is not this country. Those people are no longer the majority of the citizens. Landscapes have changed. Boundaries have been drawn, erased and re-drawn. Invasion has not come as ‘invasion’, the conquistadores don’t name themselves as such. Freedom has been given new meanings not so much in its affirmation but its denial.

Continue reading ‘We Must Write New Songs of Freedom With a Heart That is Truly Ours.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday clarified that no decision had been taken yet on proceeding with the China-funded port city project coming up in Colombo.

He was responding to a question from Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the Leftist-nationalist Janathā Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Mr. Dissanayake raised the issue in Parliament, citing Cabinet spokesperson and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s Thursday announcement that the government had decided to go ahead with the project.

Contradicting his Cabinet Minister’s remarks, Mr. Wickremesinghe said a separate committee and a Cabinet sub-committee that he heads would look into the details of the project, including its impact on the environment.

Continue reading ‘“No Decision yet on China Funded Port City Project”:Prime Minister Contradicts Cabinet Spokesman’ »

By
N. Sathiya Moorthy

It may still be very disagreeable to some in Sri Lanka to refer to India in the context of giving successful functional shape to the pre-poll administrative and constitutional reforms promised by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Yet, there is no escape for all those celebrating this year’s electoral change in Sri Lanka to look at India’s success story of the past decades for pointers, if not outright guidance, unless they are still in the habit of re-inventing the wheel every now or again, or of cheating themselves and the nation, or both.

On all three major aspects of the 100-day reforms that the Sirisena-Ranil duo has promised Sri Lanka, India has vast and varied experience, from which Sri Lanka can learn quick lessons that are adaptable to its specific constitutional circumstances and political environment.

Size does matter, and to be fair to Sri Lankans critical of India for the 13th Amendment power devolution, they need to do their homework, rather than adapting the Indian or any other model wholesale, or out of sheer spite for fellow stake-holders nearer home, that too in the name of preserving national identity and security.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka can Utilise India’s vast Experience to Implement President Sirisena’s 100 day work Program Successfully.’ »

by

Malinda Seneviratne

What is the defining feature of the Sinhalese?

This is not an easy question to answer.

One could even frame it in other ways, replacing ‘Sinhalese’ with ‘Helas’ or even the ‘Yakshas’. There could be many answers to the question but this would be one of them: ‘inclusion’.

The history of this island can be written in terms of invasions. It could alternatively be written in terms of embrace. There was and is conflict. There was and is post-conflict.

There was and there should be embrace in the ‘after’ of bitterness and anger, suspicion and counter-suspicion, the clash of arms and sorrow, regret and shoulder-shrug.

Continue reading ‘“Namo Namo Thaayae”:Singing the National Anthem in it’s Beautiful Tamil Version’ »

By

Taylor Dibbert

Freedom House recently released their annual report on the state of world freedom. This is a must-read not only for human rights and democracy promotion specialists, but also for anyone interested in world affairs or international politics.

The report is well-written, only 28 pages long and includes a lot of helpful charts and graphs. It’s refreshing to see so much information being presented so clearly and explained so succinctly.

The results for 2014 are in and they are, to say the least, not encouraging.

2014 was not a good year for freedom in the world with negative trends evident in all regions. In fact, global rights declined for the ninth straight year.

Continue reading ‘89 Countries are “Free”, 55 are “Partly Free” and 51 are “Not Free” States Freedom House Annual report for 2014 on World Freedom’ »

By

N Sathiya Moorthy

The euphoria of the new leadership in Sri Lanka towards the northern Indian neighbour may have set the right tone and tenor for further betterment of bilateral relations as in regional and international contexts. The relationship had slackened, and strained up to a point, particularly in the last year of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 10-year regime and for specific reasons.

The Indian media did not give enough space for the maiden overseas visit of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera for most part, but that should not belittle the hosts’ new-found enthusiasm in engaging with Sri Lanka as a nation, government and peoples.

That the wide-ranging talks between Samaraweera and Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj extended over three hours should speak volumes not only for the commonality of approaches but also the complexities of the issues involved, at some stage. There were serious Indian concerns on the China (submarine-berthing) and Pakistan (ISI basing cross-border terrorism out of Sri Lanka), which the previous government in Colombo seemed to have over-looked but the present one could address squarely, in its own larger national interests.

There are other issues on which both nations need to work with and on others, including existing and emerging stake-holders. Some of them are present, particularly on the Indian side by sheer default and neglect, and they – and their concerns — need to be addressed too – and nearer home. There are yet others, where the solution lies elsewhere, either closer home in Sri Lanka or in faraway global capitals and institutions, starting with the UNHRC in Geneva. These are solutions that could address the Indian concerns and silence criticism from within, particularly southern Tamil Nadu State.

Continue reading ‘Pluses and Minuses in Improving Bi-lateral Relations Between India and Sri Lanka.’ »

by

Karthik Subramanian

There is a certain familiarity to Gautham Vasudev Menon’s films. You already know the characters, even if their names have changed, you know how they behave and, most of all, you begin to anticipate what would happen next.

Yennai Arindhaal, which the director has said is the concluding part of his ‘cop trilogy’ after Kaakha Kaakha and Vettayadu Vilayadu, is a tough act to follow given the success of those films. So the film ends up being highly predictable.

But despite those trappings, at the end of its nearly three-hour run time, Yennai Arindhaal leaves you feeling like having gone back to a well-known play you have enjoyed a few times over. But for one last time.

Continue reading ‘“Yennai Arindhaal” With Ajith Entertainingly Tops the “Cop Film Trilogy” of Gautam Vasudev Menon’ »

By

Sudhir Srinivasan

Genre: Drama Thriller
Director: Gautham Vasudev Menon
Cast: Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Anushka Shetty, Arun Vijay
Storyline: A cop, while fighting an old rival, learns about himself.

The kernel of a Gautham V. Menon (GVM) film is its love story. That’s his tour de force. While his romances —Minnale, Neethaane En Ponvasantham, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya — are obvious examples of this, the best parts in even his cop films — Kaakha Kaakha and Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu — to me, were the love scenes.

So, in Yennai Arindhaal, when he shows Sathyadev (Ajith Kumar) falling in love with Hemanika (Trisha), a single mother of a two-year-old, you cannot but revel in the delight and ask yourself if there is another Tamil director who so thrives in rubbishing time-tested rules of Tamil film romance.

This is, after all, an industry where the majority of filmmakers, when showing a hero in love with, say, a divorced woman, find it necessary to prove that she is still a virgin, still pure… that some stroke of fortune somehow stopped her from making love (as GVM would call it) to her original partner.

You are in for more delight when the other leading woman in the film, Thenmozhi (Anushka), turns the tables on the guy-stalking-the-girl Tamil film cliché, and woos (he would say this too) the guy.

Continue reading ‘Director Gautham Menon Delightfully Flouts Rules of Tamil Film Romance in his new film “Yennai Arindhal”’ »

A three-day conference on Tamil language computing and Tamil internet will be held in Singapore by the end of May and international experts have started work on their papers to be presented at the event.

More than 500 delegates are expected to attend the 14th International Conference on Tamil Computing and Tamil Internet (Tamil Internet 2015) scheduled May 30 to June 1, organising committee chairman S. Maniam told PTI on Friday.

Government officials, academics and professionals from India, Malaysia, the US, Sri Lanka and Singapore are expected to deliberate on various aspects of internationalising Tamil language computerisation programmes.

Tamil teachers from around the world would also join the conference themed “Natural Language Processing and Mobile Computing.”

Continue reading ‘Over 500 Delegates will Attend 3-Day 14th International Conference on Tamil Computing and Tamil Internet in Singapore’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Backtracking from its pre-election announcement on scrapping the Chinese-funded port city in Colombo, the Sri Lankan Government on Thursday said it would go ahead with the $1.34-billion project.

According to Cabinet spokesman and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, a report on the environmental impact of reclaiming land near Colombo’s beachfront said “it [the project] was fine”. The impact of the development of the area will be assessed later as “there was more time”, he said, addressing media persons.

The decision comes less than two months after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced, prior to the country’s January 8 presidential elections, that the massive port city project would be scrapped due to concerns over possible environmental damage to the island’s coastline.

At that time, Mr. Wickremesinghe’s remarks came as good news to sections in New Delhi that had been rather concerned about Sri Lanka’s apparently growing proximity to China. New Delhi conveyed its “serious concerns” to Colombo, after a Chinese submarine docked at the Colombo Port twice last year.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt Backtracks from Pre-election Announcement to Scrap $1.34 Billion China Funded Colombo Port City’ »

By

Charu Sudan Kasturi

New Delhi, Feb. 5: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will visit India this month on his first foreign trip in office but his attempts at also assuaging Chinese concerns have sparked worries in New Delhi of a fresh tug-of-war underscored by two greetings Colombo received 45 minutes apart yesterday.

Sirisena is expected to land here onFebruary 16 on a three-day trip he had confirmed soon after his election victory over former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to return that gesture by visiting Sri Lanka in March – a trip where he may also travel to the northern city of Jaffna that no sitting Indian Prime Minister has visited.

But conflicting signals from Colombo over key pre-election promises quietly cheered by New Delhi have forced India’s diplomatic establishment to temper some of their excitement over Rajapaksa’s defeat as they prepare for Sirisena’s visit, senior officials said.

Continue reading ‘India Worried by New Sri Lankan Govt Continuing with China Built Colombo Port City Project After Pledging to Scrap it’ »

By

Bishop Duleep de Chickera

pic courtesy of: ukinsrilanka

Independence Day reminds us that we are one country called to become one reconciled people.Experience teaches that when addressed, dominant national realities become paths to reconciliation.

1. Economic dignity

The real enemy is not next door but at the economic extremes. Poverty is humiliating; excessive wealth intoxicates.

Since there is enough for all to live a dignified life if each takes a little; poverty can be eradicated. Inclusive economic reform is to begin at the doorstep of the poor. Economic reform that ignores economic justice is immoral. It intensifies violence against the poor.

Recent revelations suggest some correlation between the hoarding of personal wealth and crime and corruption. This echoes a Biblical teaching that the accumulation of excessivepersonal wealth amidst wider social deprivation indicates exploitation of the poor. Consequently, initiatives to eradicate poverty will also require fiscal measures to regulate the excessive accumulation of personal wealth.

2. Justice not revenge

Continue reading ‘Independence Day Reminds us that we are one Country called to Become one Reconciled People’ »

A serious disagreement has been created within the Tamil National Alliance over the decision to attend the Independence Day celebrations, BBC Sandeshaya reported.

TNA Press Conference annoucing support for the then Common candidate & now President Maithripala Sirisena-pic via: twitter.com/Meerasrini

Yesterday’s national celebration saw the TNA leader R. Sampanthan and Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran in attendance.

This was the first time the TNA (or the old TULF or ITAK) had attended the Independence Day in decades.

Sampanthan told BBC Tamil Service that the present government treats the Tamil people equally and seem to have an authentic intention to find solutions to Tamil people’s problems.

Continue reading ‘Rift in TNA Over Sampanthan and Sumanthiran Attending 67th Independence Day Celebrations Without Party Taking Decision’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Colombo’s streets are dressed up to mark this great day. For the island’s 6.5 million population it’s a public holiday. Behind the underlying festivity are the crowd’s somber faces; expectant but not overly excited. Ceylon is taking independence quietly – BBC, Ceylon Gains Independence, 4 February 1948

[Pic: courtesy of sundaytimes.lk]

A few mornings a week, Independence Square receives a VIP visitor. He arrives in an unmarked, nondescript pickup truck, accompanied by two people. One is a personal trainer. The other, a bodyguard. In a glossy blue t-shirt, track bottoms and neon-laced sports shoes, President Maithripala Sirisena could be just another morning walker at the Square.

Feb 4, 2014-pic via: facebook.com/maithripalas

But within minutes, he is flanked by an entourage. Dozens of people begin to keep step with the President as he tries to complete his morning exercise routine. Ladies stop for selfies. Bridal parties insist on an official portrait featuring the President on the steps of the historic Independence Hall. He obliges often, smiling shyly and cutting a strange figure in his exercise outfit, completely overshadowed by the dazzling attire donned by the wedding party.

The desire of citizens to get close to this President, to walk with him, to talk to him, to share their mundane morning routines with him, speaks to the level of citizen engagement his victory in last month’s election is crafting. Politicians and Presidents, with their beefy security detail and their tinted SUVs, have always driven away the citizen, who were either repulsed by the show of strength or feared it to get to close.

But this small-made man of simple tastes and quiet speech, lacking in the raw magnetism and popular appeal of his predecessor, is evoking a different response. He will not be addressed as ‘Excellency’. He will not move lock stock and barrel into the Presidential Palace, preferring to reside in his old ministerial quarters at Wijerama Mawatha. He will not purge his office or his security contingent of Rajapaksa loyalists. He has personally tasted the power of the executive presidency, its attraction and appeal. That is why, President Sirisena says at least, it has to go.

Continue reading ‘Independence Day with Difference as Maithripala Sirisena Shapes a Different type of Presidency in First 30 Days’ »

By P.K.Balachandran

COLOMBO: Keeping in view the delicate political situation in Sri Lanka, the United States may ask the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to postpone the taking up of a resolution against that country at its March session, informed sources in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) told Express here on Wednesday.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Nisha Biswal, had hinted at this during her interaction with TNA leaders on Tuesday, the sources said.

The US is very happy with the exit of the hostile government of Mahinda Rajapaksa and sees a bright future for US-Lanka relations during the tenure of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The US does not want to upset the Lankan apple cart by presenting a strong anti-Lankan resolution at the UNHRC.

Continue reading ‘US Likely to Postpone Resolution Against Sri Lanka at UNHRC March Sessions in Geneva Because of the new Colombo Govt’ »

BY
DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

“MLECHCHA YUDDAHAYA” OR “SHRESHTA YUDDAYA”? BARBARIC WAR OR GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR?- DECONSTRUCTING INDEPENDENCE DAY DISCOURSE 2015

President Maithripala Sirisena beginning to hoist the national flag at the Independence Day Celebrations-Feb 4, 2015-pic: facebook.com/maithripalas

Independence Day 2015 had several key texts and speeches, all of which constitute a single discourse. There was President Sirisena’s written message and that of the PM. The President’s message was fine but the PM’s failed to mention the armed services even once. More important was the multilingual Peace Message, which was a good gesture. There too however, certain terms were conspicuous by their absence, the most crucial of which was separatism or secessionism. Terrorism was denounced, but the war used terrorism in the service of secessionism. Is the message then that terrorism is bad but secessionism is OK or not bad enough to warrant critical mention on Independence Day? Is this not exactly the perspective of the TNA, namely that it criticizes the methods of the LTTE but not its politics and goal?

Missing in the Peace Message—and not only in—was any mention of the term ‘unitary’. That term was not present at any point of the Independence Day discourse including in the well-delivered speech of President Sirisena. The signal—and the deal—are very clear, at least to me. The new administration will, most certainly after the parliamentary election, make a qualitative shift from the unitary state to one that is federal in all but name. Given that we have already experienced the travesty of the unconstitutional installation of an unelected Prime Minister and Government, the shift to de-facto federalism will probably be without recourse to a referendum.

To some this may seem a risk worth taking, but there are sound historical and geo-political reasons why many countries with an internal, or more correctly, an internal-external ethnic or ethno-religious problem refuse to shift to a federal system (Philippines and Indonesia being examples). It is also not purely coincidental that most islands situated next to a larger (or large) mass of historically hostile co-ethnic or co-religionists of one of its component communities, tend to cleave to unitary systems.

Continue reading ‘Why did President Sirisena Describe the war we won Against the LTTE as “Melechcha Yuddhaya” (Barbaric War) in his Independence day Speech?’ »

By Sam Samarasinghe and Chandrasiri Seneviratne

In the first three weeks of its tenure the Sirisena/Wickremasinghe administration has generally adhered to the principles of good governance in their effort to implement the One-Hundred Day Programme.

President Sirisena’s interview on Rupavahini TV last weekend further buttressed his good governance credentials.

Both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minster Ranil Wickremasinghe have, on more than one occasion, urged the public to constructively criticize their action.

This article is written in that spirit. It deals with two issues.

The first is the allocation of ministerial functions and appointment of ministry secretaries.

The second concerns provincial governors and provincial councils.

Continue reading ‘Is Sirisena/Wickremesinghe Administration not too Concerned about Devolution of Power and Future of Provincial Councils?’ »

Harim Peiris has been appointed Chairman of the Resettlement Authority, by D. M. Swaminathan, Minister of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs.

Harim Peiris is a graduate in finance and has an MBA from the University of Texas, USA. He has a wide and varied professional background in both the private and the state sectors, having worked in consulting and investment banking in both Sri Lanka and abroad. He has served on the boards of several private and public corporations.

Continue reading ‘Harim Peiris Appointed Chairman of Resettlement Authority by Resettlement Minister DM Swaminathan’ »

By Norman Palihawadane

Public Order, Disaster Management and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga yesterday said that he was ready to face the no-confidence motion against him proposed by the opposition.

Commenting on the recent statement made by Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva that a no confidence motion would be moved against him, the minister said: “I am not afraid of these challenges which are usual in politics. They can move the motion but that does not mean it will be passed and I will be removed. Truth will prevail and it is good that they try to test me for I know I did nothing wrong.”

Amaratunga said the corrupt politicians of the opposition had swindled public funds during the last regime. “They are under immense pressure as they are facing the threat of being arrested and hauled up before courts. Those who abused the power without giving two hoots for retribution are now frightened.

Under such pressure, they were trying to accuse us of wrong doings thinking that they could get away with their sins,” he said, adding, “investigations against them will not stop even if they manage to remove me from this position.”

Continue reading ‘UNP Minister John Amaratunga Ready to Face No Confidence Motion Proposed by the Opposition Against Him’ »

(Full Text of President Maithripala Sirisena’s address to the nation on the occasion of Sri Lanka’s 67th Independence day Celebrations on feb 4th 2015)

pic via: facebook.com/maithripalas

biggest challenge we face today, is that of bringing together the minds of the people of the North and South, and through a process of reconciliation bring about co-existence and national understanding, and thus take our great Motherland forward as a land rich in human affection and understanding.

“This is the occasion when we celebrate the 67th Independence Day with due honour and dignity.

It is most fortunate that I am able to address you at this historically important city of Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, today, in the precincts of the House of Parliament that confirms the sovereignty of the people.

As we celebrate the freedom obtained 67 years ago, it is our duty and responsibility to remember with honour the heroes who fought to obtain this freedom. The year 1815 when our great Motherland lost her freedom is recalled as a year of great national tragedy. The uprisings of 1815 and 1848 against the forces of colonialism caused great bloodshed, when our soil was dampened by the blood of the heroic patriots and those who loved our nation and country.

As much as we were unable to achieve victory in the uprisings of 1815 and 1848, from then on till 1948 we did not obtain freedom. During the period of 1848 to 1948 our national heroes who continued an unending struggle for freedom and liberation in keeping with their duty and responsibility of achieving the freedom for our land and people.

That struggle was mostly carried out peacefully, and was often one of non-violence, which brought our people together against the colonial administration of the time through protests, demonstrations, and strikes. The results of these struggles for freedom were the activating of the Donoughmore and Soulbury Commissions, that sought to respond to these demands.

Continue reading ‘“Biggest Challenge we face is Bringing Together the Minds of the People of the North and South”-President Sirisena’ »

By

Taylor Dibbert

Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war ended in May 2009, but there are still many concerns regarding accountability for alleged wartime atrocities and persistent tension between the country’s various ethnic groups. Increased authoritarianism from recently ousted President Mahinda Rajapaksa and institutionalized impunity have meant that the country’s wounds of war remain unhealed and that a return to violence in the medium- to long-term is not out of the question.

Voting on Sri Lanka resolution on March 27, 2014 at the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council-pic by: U.S. Mission Geneva/ Eric Bridiers

Mahinda Rajapaksa went for an unprecedented third term in early January, but was defeated by his former health minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) general secretary Maithripala Sirisena. Aside from many other SLFP defections, Sirisena was supported by a broad coalition. Rajapaksa’s defeat came as a surprise to many and is a sign that Sri Lankans from all walks of life were tired of a regime plagued by widespread corruption, nepotism and centralization of power. Quite evidently, Sri Lankans prefer a more authentic brand of democracy.

But what about international advocacy efforts vis-à-vis Sri Lanka? How might a change of the guard in Colombo affect things?

Continue reading ‘How Might a Change of Guard Affect International Advocacy Efforts Vis a Vis Sri Lanka?’ »

By

Dr.Kalana Senaratne

In the early weeks of November 2014, it seemed somewhat clear that Mahinda Rajapaksa was set to rule the country for at least another six years. But on January 8, 2015 when he finally went to cast his vote with the media surrounding him, even Mahinda appeared to have realized what the final verdict was going to be.

Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the campaign trail for the poll that ousted him.

Never before, during the past decade, had he looked so defeated; especially on the day of an election. Clearly, his political spark was flickering. For the first time in years, something strange had happened to this man who was perhaps the most accurate political reader of the Sinhala mindset. The Sinhalese had now begun to read him.
Continue reading ‘Mahinda was once the most Accurate Reader of the Sinhala Mind but now the Sinhalese had Begun to Read him’ »

By

Vishwamithra 1984

There Ravi Karunanayake sat, flanked by the lieutenants of his new fief, gamely fielding combative questions thrown at him by members of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Many of them, including the Chamber’s President Suresh Shah, addressed him simply as ‘Ravi’—no Honourable Minister he.

At the BMICH-Jan 18, 2015-pic via: facebook.com/ranil.wickremesinghe

The atmosphere of the occasion was almost surreal: a sea-change from just one month ago, when even the Rajapaksa Government’s Treasury Secretary, P.B. Jayasundera, acted as if he were God and senior ministers rose deferentially to their feet when one of the President’s offspring entered a room.

The sweeping transformation of Sri Lanka’s political culture in just a few weeks has been absolute and unprecedented. But this new-found freedom, if not nurtured wisely, could still spell its own doom.

No one who witnessed the fall of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government in 2004 could view the present goings on without a cold shudder and a sense of déjà vu.
Continue reading ‘Simple Goal of an Aggressive Opposition is to Install Mahinda as Prime Minister Under an Emasculated Presidency’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

sketch by Hasantha Wijenayake

The first official statement issued by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, after his defeat, appeared in the print media last week. The statement looked to be a sad note from the former President. He regretted that the present government was harassing him and his family members and had added China too, into that sad note. In that statement Mahinda urged the government not to scoff or insult China.

Continue reading ‘If Mahinda is Seeking Chinese Support to Topple the Present Govt then Mahinda is Engaging in a Foolish Exercise’ »

By Risidra Mendis

Kandyan dancers, drummers, acrobats, flame dancers, whip dancers, and colourfully dressed elephants are just a few of the attractions that draw people in the thousands to Kandy, to witness the historic and religious Dalada Maligawa perahera.

The Dalada Maligawa Perahera is held in August every year with its main attraction being the many colouful elephants that take part in the procession. However what most people who come in the thousands fail to understand is the cruelty imposed on some of these elephants at the hands of their mahouts while taking part in the perahera.

As part of the ceremony the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is paraded through the streets in a casket in order to invoke the blessing of rain from the gods. The sacred relic casket is placed on a majestic Maligawa tusker, and is followed by hundreds of other elephants and tuskers.

But witnesses at last year’s perahera have revealed that some of the baby elephants had their legs tied close to each other with nylon cords when taken in the procession.

Continue reading ‘Were the legs of Baby Elephants in the Kandy Perahera Procession tied up Cruelly with Nylon Cords?’ »

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Sri Lanka in March, the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island nation in over 25 years. During the visit, Mr. Modi is likely to travel to Jaffna in the Tamil-majority Northern Province, official sources in New Delhi told The Hindu.

The visit has been scheduled a month after the visit of Sri Lanka’s newly elected President, Maithripala Sirisena, to New Delhi in mid-February.

Mr. Modi’s visit will coincide with the 28th Human Rights Council session in Geneva, where progress on a U.S.-sponsored investigation into Sri Lanka’s rights record will be reviewed.

Continue reading ‘Indian PM Narendra Modi will visit Jaffna During his Sri Lankan Trip Likely to Take Place in March 2015’ »

By

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

“Sirisena was supported by a broad coalition including leading Tamil and Muslim parties and the United National Party…Rajapaksa still earned more support from the Sinhalese community than Sirisena, the ethnic group that comprises about three-quarters of the country’s population… the Rajapaksa brand isn’t toxic — not yet anyway. He lost a close election and his name will always be linked to the defeat of the Tamil Tigers…”

(‘What’s Next for Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Rajapaksa?’ Taylor Dibbert, The Huffington Post, Jan. 29, 2015)

What kind of democracy do we want: A National Democracy or an anti-national or non-national, Neocolonial Democracy?

What Sri Lanka will be like by Independence Day 2016, depends on which of two contending projects succeed. One is a hegemonic project, that of hegemony over the majority of people, of the citizenry, who happen demographically, to be Sinhalese. This is the UNP-TNA-CBK-Western project of recreating the Ceylon of the colonial and semi-colonial times; a Ceylon serving the West and dominated by a bloc of social minorities, led by the pro-Western bourgeoisie linked to Western markets.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe seen here on January 18th, 2015-To pay last respects to the mother of Nimal Siripala de Silva, The New Opposition Leader-pic: twitter.com/officialunp

The specific project of Tamil nationalism and its Sinhala allies is to recreate the Sri Lanka that would have come into being had essentials of the ‘union of regions’ package, the CFA, the ISGA and PTOMS succeeded.

The executive Presidency is sought to be abolished precisely to prevent that insidious project being overturned by a strong executive President, susceptible to the pressure of the majority.
Continue reading ‘SLFP in Opposition Must not Support Bills Abolishing or Drastically Remodelling Executive Presidency’ »