by
S.S.Selvanayagam

The Supreme Court yesterday issued an Interim Order suspending the operation of the Administrative Standing Instructions of the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Justices K.Sripavan and Sathya Hettige issued the Interim Order until the final determination of the fundamental rights petition filed by Northern Province Chief Secretary challenging the Chief Minister’s interference with her employment and his bid to remove her from office.

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Delivers Interim Order Suspending the Implementation of Administrative Instructions Issued by Northern Chief Minister Wigneswaran.’ »

by

Zacki Jabbar

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday demanded that the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Secretary Galagodawatte Gnanasara retracts the recent defamatory allegations levelled against him and tenders an apology or face a Rs.500 million law suit.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Bathiudeen said that that if Galagodawatte Gnanasara Thera did not apologise for the false and malicious allegations aimed at creating hatred and contempt towards him and the Muslim community, within two weeks from yesterday, he would institute legal action claiming damages in a sum of Rs.500 million.

Continue reading ‘Rishad Bathiudeen Warns Bodhu Bala Sena Secretary Gnanasara Thero of Lawsuit Demanding 500 Million Rs Damages Unless Bhikku Tenders Apology.’ »

(Text of Administrative standing instructions No. 1/2014 – Issued by the Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran that has been challenged in courts by the Chief Secretary Vijayaletchumi Ramesh)

1. Channel of communication.

Except instances relating to matters explicitly Indicted in the Constitution all reporting and submissions to the Hon Governor and to any others outside the Provincial Council shall be done only with knowledge of the Minister in charge. Chief Secretary, Secretaries and Heads of departments will be held responsible for any breach of communication channel at their respective levels.

Continue reading ‘Full Text of Administrative Circular Issued by Northern Chief Minister CV Wigneswaranthat has been Challenged in Courts’ »

By

Harim Peiris

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has, since her graceful retirement from office more than eight years ago after the completion of a constitutionally mandated two term limit, busied herself with an impressive portfolio of issues internationally—issues which are also crucial to our South Asia region. Her status as an elder stateswoman, allows her to address these issues with moral authority and at the highest levels of opinion and policy making. These issues have included the education of the girl child, HIV/AIDS prevention, universal access to potable drinking water, participation of women in conflict resolution, prevention of domestic violence and a range of other gender issues. She has done these through several institutional frameworks, all with the highest impeccable credentials, including the world renowned Clinton Global Initiative, the Club de Madrid, an exclusive association of former heads of state and government and her own Colombo based regional policy think tank, the South Asia Policy Research Institute (SAPRI).

Continue reading ‘Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga Combats Rise of Religious Intolerance in Sri Lanka.’ »

Mawanella town in the Kegalle district of Sabaragamuwa province in Sri Lanka was the latest venue of the on going anti -Muslim campaign conducted by the island nation’s foremost ethno-religious fascist organization known as the Bodhu Bala Sena(BBS).

The Bodhu Bala Sena staged a mass meeting on Sunday March 23rd at Mawanella situated on the Colombo -Kandy road between Kegalle and Kadugannawa.

Continue reading ‘Bodhu Bala Sena Changes Street Name of Hassan Mawatte to Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatte in Mawanella town.’ »

By

Chitra Weerarathne

The Supreme Court yesterday said that the impugned document by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, pertaining to standing administrative orders issued to the Chief secretary of the Province appeared to encroach on the rights of the appointing authority of the Chief Secretary, the President, the National Public Services commission and the Provincial Public Service Commission.

The Fundamental rights violation application filed by the Chief Secretary of the Northern province, Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Ramesh, alleging administrative interference by Chief Minister Wigneswaran was supported before the Court yesterday.

The Chief Minister is a retired Supreme Court judge.

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Grants Leave to Proceed on Fundamental Rights Violation Application Filed Against Northern Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran by Chief Secretary Vijayalakshmi Ramesh.’ »

by

R. Sivaraman

The Sessions Court for Exclusive Trial of Bomb Blast cases at Poonamallee on Monday sentenced eight members of the defunct Tamizhar Viduthalai Padai to undergo life-imprisonment for attacking Puthur Police Station in the erstwhile South Arcot district in 1991.

Last week the court convicted nine persons, after holding them guilty of offences.

Continue reading ‘8 Members of Separatist “Tamizhar Viduthalai Padai”Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Attacking Tamil Nadu Police station in 1991.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

*Third draft text of US resolution on Sri Lanka circulated in Geneva

*Amends operative paragraph on NPC to cover all provincial councils

An international probe into allegations of human rights violations will be confined to the last seven years of the war in Sri Lanka and will have no mandate to investigate post-war abuses, according to the latest draft of the US sponsored resolution to be taken up in Geneva this week.

The third and likely final draft of the US sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka lays out a time-frame for the investigation into human rights violations in the island that covers the period of the armed conflict between 2002-2009.

The latest draft was circulated at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday.

The crucial vote on the Sri Lanka resolution will take place on Thursday (27), with the Council reserving its final session day on Friday for ‘other business.’

Continue reading ‘Latest Draft of US Sponsored UN Resolution Calls For UN Human Rights Commissioner to “Undertake” Investigation For Period From Feb 2002 to May 2009 Only’ »

by

N Sathiya Moorthy

Independent of the fate of the UNHRC vote this time, the recent referendum in distant Crimea should be a shocking eye-opener to Sri Lankan stake-holders of the ‘ethnic issue’, ‘accountability calls’ and all attendant concerns. At this rate, they could soon find either the Tamil community, or the Sri Lankan nation, or both, becoming mere pawns in the international war of high-stakes in which they would have next to no say, directly or otherwise.

Continue reading ‘Russian Referendum in Crimea and the Tamil Demand for a Referendum in North -Eastern Sri Lanka’ »

Ruki Fernando interviewed by N.J. Viehland over the Telephone for “Catholic in Asia”.

(This Interview was obtained before the gag order imposed by courts on human rights defenders Ruki Fernando and Fr.Praveen Mahesan.This has now been posted on the website “Catholic in Asia” by NJ Viehland.It is reproduced in full here)

Human rights defenders Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan are out of detention in Sri Lanka’s Terrorist Investigation Department (TID), but Fernando, in conversation over the phone from his home in Colombo told me hours after their release, he does not feel completely free.

Fernando expressed his and Fr. Mahesan’s gratitude to local and international NGOs, religious groupings, human rights bodies and governments around the world for throwing their support behind them and for demanding their release. The detainees freed last March 19 give credit to the pressure exerted by this movement for their release and safety in the hands of the police and interrogators.

Following is the full text of my conversation with Fernando:

Continue reading ‘Text of Interview Given to Website Over the Phone by Human Rights Defender Ruki Fernando Prior to Imposition of Gag Order by Courts.’ »

By

N Sathiya Moorthy.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s ally and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko and former Union minister M K Alagiri are at the centre of a storm, which if fanned well by the National Democratic Alliance’s electoral competition, has the potential to rock the boat in 40 parliamentary seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Having hit the campaign trail a little late owing to seat-sharing talks with regional and sub-regional allies after Narendra Modi had given the party a head-start with two massive rallies at Tiruchi and Chennai, the BJP-NDA now has ended up giving in to the temperament and temptations of the likes of Vaiko.

Continue reading ‘Associating with Karunanidhi’s son Azhagiri and MDMK Leader Vaiko Gopalaswamy in Tamil Nadu Can Cause Problems for BJP.’ »

BY

SHIROMI ABHAYASINGHE

Northern Province Provincial Council Chief Secretary Vijayalkshmi Ramesh has filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court seeking a court directive to bar Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran from taking action to remove her from her post and to declare that the Chief Minister has violated her Fundamental Rights.

Continue reading ‘Northern Province Chief Secretary Vijayalakshmi Ramesh Files Fundamental Rights Petition Before Supreme Court Against Chief Minister CV wigneswaran.’ »

A prominent Sri Lankan rights activist controversially detained by his government under anti-terror laws says he believes his arrest was partly spurred by an international push to independently investigate the country’s human rights record following decades of civil war.

Ruki Fernando, one of his country’s leading human rights activists, was arrested late Sunday night with fellow activist Rev. Praveen Mahesan, a Roman Catholic priest, in the former Tamil rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi in the country’s north.

The men were taken to the Colombo headquarters of Sri Lanka’s Terrorist Investigation Division, held for more than 48 hours and questioned, without access to lawyers, before being released early Monday.

Continue reading ‘Ruki Fernando Tells CNN that his arrest was “deliberate attempt to intimidate and suppress any form of dissent and not allow people outside Sri Lanka know what is happening inside country”.’ »

Renowned author and journalist of India, Khushwant Singh breathed his last in the national capital New Delhi on Thursday March 20th.

Khushwant Singh

Singh was suffering from some breathing problem before he passed away. The writer of several books and recipient of Padma Vibhushan, Singh was not keeping well of late.

His son and journalist Rahul Singh said he passed away very peacefully at his residence in Sujan Singh Park, New Delhi.

He led a very full life, Mr Rahul Singh said, adding, he had some breathing problems.

Continue reading ‘Sardar Khushwant Singh, Famous Indian Writer and Editor, Passes Away at 99 in New Delhi.’ »

(Full text of letter sent by Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on March 5th 2014 to President Mahinda Rajapaksa)

His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa,
President of Sri Lanka,
Presidential Secretariat,
Colombo 1.

Harassment of Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga through illegal surveillance

I write to inform you of certain activities undertaken by your Government that have violated my privacy, caused much harassment to me and concern with regard to my personal safety.

This situation also violates my Fundamental Rights, impinging on my freedom of movement and freedom of association.

Since I retired from the Presidency in 2005 and you assumed the office of President, the secret services of the Government, which are directly under the authority of yourself and your brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to your Ministry of Defence, have relentlessly pursued the following actions:

Continue reading ‘Chandrika Kumaratunga Protests to Mahinda Rajapaksa About Govt Secret Services Illegally Placing her and her Movements Under Constant Surveillance.’ »

by

Vishnuguptha

Rauff Hakeem-pic courtesy: AlJazeera

“What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”
~James Madison

One is court jester; the other a court serf. One ridicules himself unknowingly while trying to ridicule others; the other is in a constant battle with his own supporters and arguing with them, to be or not be. One’s threat of permanent breakdown in relationship seems to have led to a detente and co-habiting; the other’s relationship with the powers that be is looming for an ugly divorce.

Comedy, melodrama, stagecraft, lighting, acting and fighting, all the ingredients of a third-rate stage play are in evidence and being enacted before our very eyes, on the political platforms in the Western and Southern provinces. Who dare say that politics in Sri Lanka is dull and boring? Come again!

Mervyn Silva

by

Palitha Pelpola

(March 20th is the 72nd Birth Anniversary of Gamini Dissanayake)

“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.”

~John Kenneth Galbraith

Gamini Dissanayake would have been seventy two years old had he lived. But fate so decreed that he be gunned down twenty years ago at the age of fifty two, at his prime, making a mockery of human life and its age-old values.

Gamini Dissanayake-(March 20, 1942-October 24, 1994)-pic:facebook.com/pages/Mayantha-Dissanayake

Each year at his birth or death anniversary or at both, writers write, speakers orate and thinkers think about this man whose span of political power exceeded the boundaries of narrow nationalism and parochial politics. When the ordinary mundane indulged in politics, Gamini Dissanayake sculptured a novel and moving spectacle of dynamic statesmanship. When others tried to drag him into the gutters and a garbage pile, where they found their own ‘comfort zones’, Gamini refused to go there; he rejected the lucrative but temporary cushions of power and embraced a fresh and creative drama of serving the people altogether.

In today’s context, Gamini’s philosophy of life in general and politics in particular has no relevance, for its very existence is denied every minute and hour by the charlatans of deceit and fraud. Some of those who eulogize about Gamini today are firstly hypocrites and secondly incapable and uneducated.
Continue reading ‘Gamini Dissanayake Pursued Practical, Smart Politics of the Sublime Without Resorting to Cheap, Populist Politics’ »

by

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Ruki Fernando and Fr Praveen Mahesan, prominent activists of the National Peace Council (NPC), were taken into custody in Kilinochchi by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID), Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasekera yesterday said.

“They were taken into custody for questioning under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, because of their alleged connections with hardcore LTTE cadre Kajipan Ponnai Selvanayagan, who is also known as Gopi, according to military sources. Gopi had fired shots at an IP injuring him on March 13. Both Ruki Fernando and Fr.Praveen Mahesan had been with Gopi and his close contacts,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Army Spokesman Brig. Ruwan Wanigasekera Says Ruki Fernando and Fr.Mahesan are Being Questioned Under PTA About “Meetings with Terrorist Activists”.’ »

18th March 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka:

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is deeply concerned by the arrest and detention last week of several individuals in the North and East, including Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). CPA condemns these attempts by the Government of Sri Lanka to silence critics and supress legitimate civil society activity. We call for the immediate release of all activists including Balendran Jeyakumari, Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen Mahesan.

Continue reading ‘Centre for Policy Alternatives Statement on arbitrary detention of Human Rights Defenders’ »

The United Nations Organization (UNO) has taken note of the arrest of two human rights activists in Sri Lanka and recalled the Sri Lanka’s obligations towards the protection of human rights.

Continue reading ‘Arrest of Ruki Fernando and Fr.Praveen Mahesan:UN Takes Note While the USA Expresses Concern.’ »

The statement was issued by Amnesty International, Forum Asia, Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group, and the International Commission of Jurists.

Continue reading ‘Five Prominent International Human Rights Organizations Jointly Condemn Arrest of Ruki Fernando and Fr.Praveen Mahesan as Attempt to Silence Criticism.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

After 24 hours of conflicting reports about the alleged raid on the home a Tamil woman and disappearances activist in Kilinochchi, the Tamil National Alliance has confirmed that Balendra Jeyakumari and her 13 year old daughter Vidushika were arrested following a raid on their home on Thursday night.

The arrest has sparked concerns about reprisals against human rights activists in Sri Lanka during the UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva where the Government is under fire over its human rights record.

Police claim the woman has been arrested after gunshots were heard near her home and that one policeman had been injured and admitted to the Kilinochchi hospital late Thursday. Jeyakumari was being arrested for harbouring the attackers in her home, the police said.

Continue reading ‘Kilinochchi Woman Activist Jeyakumari Balendra and 13 year old Daughter Vidushika Arrested for Allegedly Harbouring Attackers who Injured a Policeman.’ »

By

Chitra Weerarathne

Industry and Commerce Minister and UPFA Member of Parliament for Vanni District Rishad Bathiudeen, yesterday in the Court of Appeal, apologised to the members of the judiciary for the telephone registered under his name being used for calls which threatened the Mannar Magistrate A. Judeson, in respect of a judicial order, made by the judge.

The Cabinet Minister in the apology tendered to court added that he had the highest respect for the members of the judiciary and condemned any act which violated the dignity and esteem of the judiciary or that which violated the esteem of the judiciary. The respondent Cabinet minister regretted any pain of mind caused to Magistrate A. Judeson.

Continue reading ‘Contempt of Court Proceedings Terminated Against Rishad Bathiudeen as Cabinet Minister Tenders Apology in Open Court to Judiciary’ »

By

Faizer Shaheid

Had the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the country would have been divided already, SLMC Leader and Justice Minister, Rauff Hakeem, proclaimed at an election rally in Minuwangoda yesterday.

Lashing out against the comments made by Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs, Mervyn Silva, Hakeem claimed the reason the Muslims were chased out of the North and East, was because the SLMC had always stood against the LTTE.

Continue reading ‘“We did not Shame the Country by Making a Marriage Proposal to Navi Pillay like Mervyn Silva-Rauff Hakeem Lashes out.’ »

By

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

Half a league, half a league
Half a league onward
All in the valley of death
Rode the six hundred
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
“Charge for the guns!” he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred

– Charge of the Light Brigade
– Alfred Lord Tennyson -1854

The “Charge of the Light Brigade” was a charge of British light cavalry against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. It recalls a battle with very high British casualties and no decisive gains. The battle is best remembered to this day by the poem with its name, by Alfred Lord Tennyson published just six weeks after the bloody retreat.

Crimean War (October 1853 – February 1856) was a conflict where the immediate issue involved the rights of Christians in the Holy Land, controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Russia and the Ottoman Empire went to war in October 1853 over Russia’s rights to protect Orthodox Christians. Initially, Russia gained the upper hand after destroying the Ottoman fleet at the Black Sea port of Sinope. Matters changed soon when to stop Russia’s conquest, Britain, France and Sardinia too joined to support the Ottoman Empire, and the “neutral” Austrian Empire, also played a major role against the Russians.

Crimea is once again in the news and there is growing concern whether the developments there today will lead to another Crimean War, which can extend to an even wider conflict.

Continue reading ‘A New Crimean War in the Making as Russia is Being Pushed to the Wall.’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Just like Mervyn Silva, who is sounding like the self-appointed spokesman of the government, unleashed a wave of vitriol against the Muslim Congress, early this week. He warned SLMC Leader, Rauff Hakeem, that the fate of the Tiger supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, awaits any traitor.

The controversial minister, who is a close confidante of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has regularly indulged in fiery rhetoric and invectives against the perceived enemies of the government. At that rally in Wewelduwa, Kelaniya, Silva had warned Hakeem to “keep his mouth shut, in order to keep his ministry without losing it.”

Continue reading ‘Controversial Utterances of People Like Mervyn Silva,Weerawansa and Champika Ranawaka Reflect the Mind of President Rajapaksa more than Official Statements.’ »

By

K.K. Chandrasiri De Silva

There was a thirty-year conflict and four years have lapsed since the end of the conflict. One has to reflect on what has been achieved on the ground within those four years, and assess if that progress is reasonable. Nobody is saying that the situation is perfect. Still there are things to be done.

Since May 2009. there has not been a single act of terrorism in this country. It is the normal pattern to witness violent incidents spurring later on either sporadically or frequently even after arriving at political solutions.

By concluding the conflict what has been achieved by the government of Sri Lanka is the growth of harmony and trust among the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities within the country. What followed was the bringing of peace and stability back to the island nation.

Continue reading ‘Fernandos,Hamines,Bandaras,Menikes,Somasundarams,Parvathis and Mohammeds are all Travelling on the same Highway Towards the Light of Development.’ »

By Gibson Bateman and Rathika Innasimuttu

The joint statement by Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Mr. R. Sampanthan and Northern Province chief minister Justice C.V. Wigneswaran on the draft resolution that has been floated at the UN’s Human Rights Council has a few positive components, but – for reasons laid out in this piece – may be (justifiably) derided by both domestic and international observers as a missed opportunity.

For starters, the language used in the first part of the statement is better and more diplomatic than in some of TNA’s past statements. Reference to “religious minorities” and a “united Sri Lanka” are also productive, but TNA could go even further and emphasize that the fundamental rights of Sri Lankans of all stripes are being denigrated by the administration in Colombo.

Regarding the rationale that comes out clearly in the latter half of the statement, TNA is too sanguine about the draft resolution, what will come out of it and whether the resolution on Sri Lanka is likely to be strengthened.

Continue reading ‘Has the TNA Advocating Tamil Rights Become so Diplomatic that it Behaves like an Embassy Without Raising Legitimate Concerns with the International Community?’ »

by

Dr DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

“It’s a hard rain a-gonna fall”

– Bob Dylan

Going by media reports it would seem that the US-UK is veering towards a clearer fore-grounding of a mandate for investigation of Sri Lanka by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a position which would crystallise around March 15th or 18th in Geneva.

During the bitterly fought end of a long war of national defence against the monstrous LTTE, individual elements of the Sri Lankan armed forces may have brutally transgressed, but national self respect demands maximum resistance to being subjected like Devyani Khobragade to the institutional equivalent of an invasive full body probe. Sri Lanka should resist being singled out and its sovereignty collectively violated by resolution.

Continue reading ‘How and Why Sri Lanka Should Argue that the UN Human Rights Council Must Reject an External Inquiry’ »

National Human Rights Commission is inactive: Villagers of PANAMA protest Land Grabbing

(Text of Press Communique Issued by the Panam-Paththuwa Surekeeme Sangvidhanaya Organization for the Protection of Panam-Paththuwa)

People of Panama villages, including Shasthrawela, Ragamwela, Ulla, Ulpassa & Ragamwela will demonstrate their condemnation of the inaction of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Sri Lanka, in defending their Right to Land and Livelihood.

Continue reading ‘Villagers From Panama Whose Homes and Lands Were Grabbed for “Arugam Bay Tourism Zone”to Demonstrate in Colombo on March 14th.’ »

by

Emily Dugan with Additional reporting by Aleem Agha

A Swedish journalist with dual British nationality was shot and killed in central Kabul this morning as the country braced itself for a surge in violence ahead of next month’s presidential elections.

Nils Horner, 51, was shot in the head with a silenced pistol while on his way to interview the survivor of a Taliban attack. The daylight shooting was in one of the capital’s most distinguished districts, Wazir Akbar Khan, where many diplomats and ex patriots have their homes and offices.

Continue reading ‘Swedish Radio Journalist with Dual British Nationality Nils Horner murdered execution-style in Kabul by Suspected Taliban’ »

BY

KARUNADASA WIDANAGAMAGE

Minister Mervyn Silva on Tuesday warned Minister of Justice and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader, Rauff Hakeem, that Prabhakaran’s fate awaits anyone resorting to treacherous activities against the country.

Addressing an election meeting of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), in Wewelduwa, Kelaniya, on 11 March, the Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs, said: “I would advise Minister Hakeem not to stir up communal feelings by making inappropriate speeches. It is far better for him to keep his mouth shut and retain his ministry without losing it.”

Continue reading ‘Mervyn Silva Warns Rauff Hakeem that Prabhakaran’s Fate Awaits Anyone Resorting to Treacherous Activties Against the Country.’ »

By
Chrishanthi Christopher

With the Wanathamulla residents getting redress last week, another group of people in Colombo who are facing fresh threats of being evicted from their homes, lodged complaints with the Human Rights Commission, yesterday. Around 30 families living in Colombage Mawatha, Kirulapone, and around 60 families from Bakery Watte, Narahenpita, who face eviction from their homes,handed over their complaints to the Human Rights Commission.

Sources told Ceylon Today that,the Urban Development Authority (UDA), in afresh drive to secure land in its efforts to beautify Colombo, had turned its attention to the lands in Kirulapone and Narahenpita.Convener, Kirulapone/Narahenpita Housing Protection Society, Hemantha Weerakone,speaking to Ceylon Today, said the residents of these areas had been asked to go from their homes, and had been offered new apartments in Wanathamulla.

Continue reading ‘Whle Wanathamulla Residents Gain Reprieve UDA Seeks to Evict Another 90 Families in Kirulapona and Narahenpita’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

An LTTE rally held at Dundas Square, Toronto last Sunday (March 9) in support of an international war crimes investigation targeting Sri Lanka attracted fewer than 300 persons though Toronto is home to over 200,000 Canadians of Sri Lankan origin.

Canada based sources told The Island that the National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) had declared thousands would attend what it called Tamil Genocide Awareness Rally, but participation had been very low.

They said that several participants carried LTTE flags, though Canada proscribed the group in April 2006. Having categorised the World Tamil Movement (WTM) as an LTTE front, Canada banned it in June 2008.

Continue reading ‘LTTE Rally with Tiger Flags Held at Dundas Square Turns Into Huge Flop with only 300 Participants out of 200,000 Sri Lankan Canadians in Toronto.’ »

By

Vishnuguptha

“If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then unto me.”–-William Shakespeare

Prior to the elections in the Wayamba and Central Provinces in September last year and also in the post-1994 era, the battle for electoral supremacy in the Sri Lankan political landscape had been between the United National Party and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The Wayamba and Central PC elections and the recent changes that took place in the leadership of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) altered the mix; for how long this altered set of circumstances would last will be known only after the results of the forthcoming elections for the Western and Southern Provinces are released.

March 11, 2014-pic via:facebook.com/UNPofficialpage

But the scenario is extremely fascinating. Almost three weeks into the campaign after the nomination day, everything seems to be calm on the surface, as far as the ‘election fever’ is concerned. But underneath the surface, it is certainly burning ember, waiting for that instant ‘spark’ that usually characterizes almost each and every election in the recent past in Sri Lanka. That spark may come or it may not come.
Continue reading ‘Inept Opposition Parties Fail to Convince Voters that they are for the Country but Against Its Rulers’ »

By

Faizer Shaheid and Menaka Indrakumar

pic via:facebook.com/nadeesha.hemamali.lk

United National Party (UNP) candidate for the Southern Provincial Council election, Nadeesha Hemamali, has allegedly assaulted her campaign manager for spreading rumours about having an affair with her, Party source said.

The sources added the campaign manager of the actress-turned-politician had allegedly revealed in public that he had been having an affair with the popular actress. Nadeesha had reportedly been outraged by his actions and had attempted to assault him. Reports further allege that Matara District Parliamentarian, Mangala Samaraweera, had been present throughout the ordeal and had attempted to settle the dispute.

Continue reading ‘UNP Candidate Actress Nadeesha Hemamali “Assaults” and Replaces her Campaign Manager for Spreading Rumours About Having an Affair with her.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

On a humid November day last year, throngs of men, women and children flocked to the dusty grounds of the Nallur Temple in Jaffna. At the appointed time, they moved near the Duraiyappah Stadium, a place where VVIP helicopters typically land. Placards, photographs and black armbands come out, as the crowd stands single file on the road opposite the famous sports ground.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa meets Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at Temple Trees in Colombo, Sri Lanka-Aug 30, 2013-pic: facebook.com/PresidentRajapaksa

The landing of a chopper in the middle of the stadium ground causes a flurry of excitement. Men in suits jump off the whirring helicopter and into waiting vans. The crowd rushes at the moving vehicle, believing it to hold the VVIP they were waiting for. It doesn’t. Slowly, the crowd returns to its previous formation a few metres away from the Jaffna Library, the Police making no attempt to move them. Silently, as the minutes ticked by, they waited.

But in the end, British Prime Minister David Cameron never saw the missing people’s protest.
Moments before his motorcade travelling from the Palaly Airport arrived at the Jaffna Library, a Police truck was moved across the road, blocking Cameron’s view of the waiting protestors. Instead, other pro-Government demonstrators at the Library intersection were in full view of the Prime Ministerial motorcade holding placards that asked Britain to keep its nose out of Sri Lankan affairs.

Continue reading ‘Five Years After the end of a Brutal War “Two Sri Lankas” Exist for the Island’s North and South’ »

by

N Sathiya Moorthy

It is often argued, in the context of India-Sri Lanka fishers’ issue, that fish know no political/international borders, and fishers go where fish go. Taking off from here, it is also often proposed that a negotiated settlement to the decades-old dispute could be found through a cooperative venture involving fishers from the south Indian State of Tamil Nadu, and their ‘umbilical cord’ brethren from across the Palk Strait in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province (NP).

The former argument is fallacious, rendering the latter a possible non-starter. The fish that the Tamil Nadu fishers catch in Sri Lankan waters do not traverse the seas, as is believed. They are ‘native’ to those seas, and are found only in the shallow waters, near the coast. Hence, there is the temptation for the fishers from the general area of Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram coast and immediate neighbourhoods to risk their lives for the sake of a relatively prosperous livelihood.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Fishers Take Away the Livelihood of Present and Future Generations of their Brethren Across the Palk Straits.’ »

By

L. Srikrishna

In a major catch, the Q Branch police arrested three persons, belonging to “Thamizhar Viduthalai Padai”, on Tuesday on the charges of having planted pipe bombs at two places – one near Reliance Supermarket on the outskirts of Madurai and another near the residence of Union Minister Narayanaswamy in Puducherry a month ago.

Recently, a fortnight ago, the police had recovered some pamphlets near Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s residence in Sivaganga district.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Police Arrest Three Members of “Thamizhar Viduthalap Padai”Including its Leader for Planting Pipe Bombs in Two Places.’ »

Chamitha Kuruppu Interviews Anarkali Akarsha

Anarkali Akarsha

Anarkali Akarsha who will be contesting the Southern Provincial Council election from Matara District says she can handle mudslinging and face rumours and it does not hurt or hit her anymore. “If I think about my image and fight against these accusations, I will not have time carry out my work.”

Speaking about the recent tweet by Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa that went viral, Anarkali pointed out: “I think Namal also didn’t realise that people would react the way that they did… He could have said that he did not do it. But he admitted that he did tweet it. It does show that he is sorry and willing to receive the feedback he is receiving now. But I do know that he did not put it up to attack me.”

Following are excerpts from the interview:

Continue reading ‘“Namal was Brave Enough to face all the Criticism by Admitting that he Tweeted the Meme with all three of us” – Anarkali’ »

by

Upul Joseph Fernando

The anticipation of a strong UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution in Geneva, which caused immense angst among the ruling cabal of the Rajapaksa regime, by all indications, is going to end up a damp squib. Even though the final draft of the resolution is yet to appear at UNHRC, it is almost certain now that much talked about international investigation will not be in it.

It is now emerging that the Rajapaksa ruling coterie had planned a series of protest rallies, marches and demonstrations against the US and its cohorts who are pushing for an international inquiry, if they scored a victory at the UNHRC. What the government had planned was something on the lines of Arab Spring with a difference. The original Arab Spring was unleashed to depose unshakable dictators in a majority of Middle-Eastern countries. But the Rajapaksa Spring was meant to protect their government.

Continue reading ‘Govt Plan to Stage “Sri Lanka Spring”in Support of Rajapaksa Regime put on hold as US Draft Resolution in Geneva is “toothless”.’ »

By

Niranjala Ariyanwansha

Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Anura Kumara Dissanayake, said that while he had received four calls from the President on 3 February, presumably to congratulate him on being appointed as the Party Leader the previous day (2 February), he had declined to answer any of them.

He opined that the President’s motive behind the congratulatory calls was not to actually congratulate him but to do so and get media publicity for it.

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa Telephoned Anura Kumara Dissanayake Four Times to Congratulate him but JVP leader did not pick up phone’ »

By

Thane Richard

In October 2012, I spoke to a crowd of mostly Indians in the Detroit area about the need for innovation in Indian media. After my talk, I was stopped by an Indian woman who looked to be in her forties, was elegantly dressed, well-spoken, and struck me as someone who I could have easily run into at a gallery opening in Mumbai or high tea at a five-star hotel. She complimented me on my speech, I thanked her, and we began talking about the far-off 2014 Indian election. What she said to me that day festers in my memory:

“Even if Narendra Modi was involved in the Gujarat riots, I don’t care. His economic work wins out. I will vote for him.”

Since then, I have not been able to shake a deep-seated disturbance at her disregard for essential humanity. This disregard, I fear, is shared by many in India. Before I lose your attention, this is not another piece debating Modi’s guilt. In fact, the argument about Modi’s guilt feels to me like the argument about whether Delhi is better than Mumbai—it will never end. I have my view, you have yours, and facts are facts—some we know and others we never will. That’s not the point. The point is not even whether you think Modi is better than Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, or any other potential prime minister. What matters here is where you draw the moral line between what is acceptable in a politician and what is a deal breaker.

Continue reading ‘India crosses the moral line of no return if Narendra Modi becomes prime minister’ »

by

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

Political correctness or the fear of it makes Sri Lankan commentators on the draft resolution on Sri Lanka as well as the calls for an international inquiry at the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva blame the Government, the West (‘imperialism’) or the Tamil Diaspora. This uni-dimensional analysis fails to regard the thing holistically, and neither traces the chain of causation nor unearths the root of the matter.

While it is the myopic and misplaced post-war policies, national and external, and the sheer crassness of the discourse, of the incumbent administration that has left us wide open to an intrusive resolution for an international inquiry, that alone is not an accurate answer to the question that many, if not most Sri Lankans are grappling with today. That question is ‘why Sri Lanka?’ Why is Sri Lanka under far greater scrutiny than many other states, for far less heinous sins? Why is the ‘international community’ that did not get on the LTTE’s case with the same degree of sustained purpose during decades of daily terrorism, targeting Sri Lanka?

The answer is the geostrategic weight and comparative geostrategic advantage of the Tamil community in the world system, enhanced, indeed multiplied by the backwardness of the Sri Lankan state. In the global matrix, the Sri Lankan state is backward in every sense, while the pan-Tamil secessionist vanguard is more advanced.

Continue reading ‘West and Tamil Nationalists Ignore Reality that Two-thirds of a Strategically Significant Island is Inhabited by an Ethnic Community Constituting Two-thirds of Population.’ »

By

LOUISE ARBOUR

Louise Arbour – World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Jan 2011-swiss-image.ch/Photo by Remy Steinegger

BRUSSELS — IN early 2009, as many as 40,000 civilians were killed in the final days of Sri Lanka’s civil war, having been herded into an area about the size of Central Park and subjected to relentless shelling. No one has been held accountable for these crimes, and even now the government in Colombo remains intent on burying the past. Only an international commission of inquiry stands any chance of rectifying this omission. So when the United Nations Human Rights Council meets Monday in Geneva, it should seek an investigation. It would be a decisive step toward justice and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

The 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka, in which ethnic Tamil rebels rose against a government dominated by the ethnic-majority Sinhalese, was regularly punctuated with massacres and rights abuses by government forces, as well as by suicide bombings and other attacks on civilian targets by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Since the government’s crushing defeat of the rebels, the predominantly Tamil northern province has been under de facto military occupation, with widespread reports of serious rights violations against the civilian population.

Continue reading ‘International Inquiry Likely to Uncover Evidence of Abuses by Defeated LTTE in a Form that would be hard for Tamils and Tamil Organizations to deny’ »

Thousands of Tamils demonstrated in Geneva on Monday to protest Sri Lanka’s rejection of calls for an international probe into alleged war crimes at the end of its civil war.

Some 4,000 people, who had come from across Europe by bus and train, marched through Geneva and crowded into the square outside the United Nations’ European headquarters, according to Geneva police.

Continue reading ‘Police Use Pepper Spray to Control Protesting Crowds as 4,000 Tamils with Red and Yellow Tiger flags Demonstrate Outside the UN in Geneva/’ »

by

Gamini Gunawardane

UNHRC 2012 Vote

According to the headline news item of The Island’ of March 8 titled Ms. Anandhi Sasitharan, Member of Northern Provincial Council had alleged that Mr. Sumanthiran MP had silenced her in Geneva. Her allegation is that the MP had ” deprived of the opportunity to address UNRC members at a recent crucial meeting in Geneva”.

Continue reading ‘Ex-LTTE Leader Elilan’s wife Anandhi Sasitharan Should be Thankful to Smart Lawyer MA Sumanthiran for Silencing her in Geneva and Preventing a Major Disaster’ »

by

Meera Srinivasan

Just as countries on the U.N. Human Rights Council prepare to vote on a United States-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka, a new video clip released by British public-service television broadcaster Channel 4 has accused the Sri Lankan armed forces of having an “underlying culture of systematic brutality and sexual violence.”

Channel 4 journalist Callum Macrae’s report of the video — with a clip that is a little over six minutes long — was released late Sunday, a week after the United Nations Human Rights Council Session began in Geneva. On March 28, member countries will vote on the U.S.-sponsored resolution, possibly calling for an investigation — aided by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights — into alleged war crimes during the final phase of the Sri Lankan civil war.

Continue reading ‘British Channel 4 TV releases Video Clip ahead of UN sessions in Geneva about “Systematic Brutality” and “Sexual Violence” of Sri Lankan Armed Forces’ »

By Bishop Duleep de Chickera

A reflection for Women’s International Day

As the world keeps Women’s International Day my mind goes back to a recent meeting with the first Indian woman Bishop; probably Asia’s first as well. (1) We were both in Kerala to participate at the Annual Convention of the Church of South India, Madhya Kerala Diocese.

Bishop Pushpa Lalitha of the Nandyal Diocese of the Church of South India is full of faith and good intention. She spoke very appreciatively of those who had encouraged her ministerial journey; many of whom were men. One of them had even predicted greater responsibility for her through the Church. These were the early days when she was cutting her teeth as a woman Presbyter (Priest)in search of a feminine identity in a predominantly male religious ethos.

In conversation with her,two distinct aspects of the spirituality of women were reconfirmed. Women are more prone to share their spirituality through stories and,they are more ready to acknowledge their vulnerability. There is little doubt that endowed with these gifts Bishop Pushpa Lalithas’ Episcopate will bring a new dynamism to the life of the Indian Church.

Continue reading ‘Church of South India’s Nandyal Diocese Bishop Pushpa Lalitha is the First Woman Bishop of India.’ »

Patali Champika Ranawaka

“There is now an attempt at social imperialism to impose social values…” Yoweri Musevei – Ugandan President, responding to Western criticism and threats to impose sanctions on Uganda after the President signed a bill that penalised homosexuality. (10 March 2014).

Finally, the US government distributed its draft resolution on Sri Lanka, based on UNHRC High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay’s country report which had been published on February 24, 2014. In her report it is noted that “the High Commissioner recommends the establishment of an independent international inquiry mechanism, which would contribute to establishing the truth where domestic inquiry mechanisms have failed.” Recalling her recommendation, the US draft resolution reiterates that “the UNHRC establishes an international inquiry mechanism to further investigate the alleged violations of international Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law…”

Continue reading ‘A Five-Pronged Strategy For Sri Lanka to Counter the Challenge From International and Local Forces.’ »

by

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

The guessing game has been on for months as to how India would vote when the US-sponsored resolution is up for a vote by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), in Geneva this month.

For some politicians, analysts and even citizens – generally dispassionate about matters of foreign policy – debating which way India would move has become important. In reality, it is not rocket science and there is no mystery associated with Indian behaviour at present. There may be the official government position that the regional power is yet to decide on a stance, but at this late stage, there are no surprises. India has already decided and that is to vote in favour.

Much is being said as to why India should vote against the resolution but there is more passionate denouncing of the neighbour as a country that is in the firm grip of Tamil Nadu’s separatist lobby, now reaching fever pitch as Parliamentary Elections draw near.

Continue reading ‘Will India Vote for,Vote Against or Abstain when the US Resolution on Sri Lanka is Taken up for Voting at the UNHRC in Geneva?’ »

A Special Correspondent

The million dollar question that is intriguing everyone in both India and Sri Lanka is, which combination of parties will form the next government in India and who will be Prime Minister after the April elections to the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Indian Parliament.

Sri Lankans, whether the majority Sinhalese or the minority Tamils, are anxious about the impact of the results on them. Will the next government in New Delhi uphold the Tamil cause and call for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution with land and police powers given to the provinces? Will it take up the ‘war crimes’ issue? Will it, come what may, ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka or will it sow seeds of separatism? Will New Delhi run with the hare and hunt with the hound, confusing all sides?

Continue reading ‘How Far will the Jayalalithaa Factor Impact on the next Indian Govt in its Approach Towards Sri Lanka?’ »

Evidence of past atrocities keeps turning up in Sri Lanka.

Last year 154 bodies were unearthed from a mass grave behind a hospital in Matale, in the centre of the island—victims, in all likelihood, of an uprising by Marxist rebels in the 1980s. In February an excavation in Mannar, in the north-west, produced 81 bodies, casualties of a bigger and more recent conflict, the long civil war between Tamil secessionists and the state. The police blame the rebels, a cruel and bloodthirsty movement defeated in 2009, for the deaths. But the army is not above suspicion either.

Now comes a small but gruesome find near Mullaitivu in the north-east, the site of awful fighting and massacres in the final months of the civil war. Then, perhaps 40,000 people, many of them civilians, were killed as the army trapped the rebels and fleeing Tamils. Late last month nine skeletons were lifted from a shallow grave in the garden of a family home. The government pins the blame on the Tamil rebels. Tamil activists say that the grave lends credence to claims that the Sri Lankan army has systematically hidden evidence of wartime massacres which it committed in the north and east.

Continue reading ‘Creeping Towards an International Inquiry into War Crimes as Bodies are Unearthed Regularly in Sri Lanka-The Economist’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island”of March 10th 2014 under the heading “Rape of sovereignty”)

The Geneva circus is on with the worst violators of human rights in the world masquerading as champions of democracy. Perhaps, there is no bigger farce than this summit. The UNHRC is dominated by the West and, therefore, it could not be expected to act independently. It has become a kangaroo court in all but name.

Continue reading ‘Sovereignty of a Small Nation Like Sri Lanka is Like the Virginity of a Poor but Attractive Damsel Living in a Violent Neighbourhood.’ »

After missing most of Sri Lanka’s series against Bangladesh with an ankle injury, Lahiru Thirimanne returned to the side ahead of the Asia Cup. After he scored a century in the final to help his team achieve a five-wicket win, Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews said Thirimanne had batted with a “bit of a niggle” in their last two games.

“He [Thirimanne] has been amazing for us,” Mathews said. “He got injured, unfortunately, in the last series but he came back for us. He had a little bit of a niggle still, while he was batting, in the last two games, and he was very courageous to come out and play, the way he did.

“[I am] very happy, because you push him up the order, you push him down the order, he’s one of those players who never get a chance at one spot. And wherever he gets the opportunity he scores runs for us. And that’s a team player for me, and he did amazing for us, and he’s a great find for us.”

Continue reading ‘“Amazing Lahiru Thirimanne may Become Kumar Sangakkara’s Replacement in the Long Term”Opines Skipper Angelo Mathews.’ »

By

Roshan Abeysinghe

The Asia Cup which was conducted with much expectation has finally ended. The giants of Asian cricket did flex their muscles and the outcome sadly for teams such as Bangladesh has been predictable.

Having the opportunity of playing at home in front of the large crowds Bangladesh has faltered not just against their more experienced neighbours but against the unknown and lowly Afghanistan too.

If there was a low point in the cricket of Bangladesh then the defeat against the Afghanistan team should rank with it. I am sure the confidence of Bangladesh has been dented and their matches against the rest of the teams especially after their defeat to Afghanistan were more or less predictable. They will never be faltered for trying though their major problem was not knowing how to win.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Cricket and Skipper Angelo Mathews on Upward March After Winning Asia Cup.’ »

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Under the guise of demanding accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, the United States is exerting pressure on Sri Lanka to secure concessions, possibly of a military nature, Tamara Kunanayakam, Sri Lanka’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, said.

Kunanayakam told Ceylon Today the US needed a strategic foothold in Asia and would use the UNHRC resolution to promote an international investigation into alleged rights violations to eventually secure a regional military base in the island for the US to achieve its ultimate goal of domination, even going to the extent of paving the way for the island’s partition as in South Sudan,” she charged.

Continue reading ‘Under the Guise of Demanding Accountability and Reconciliation the USA is Seeking a Regional Military Base in Sri Lanka says Tamara Kunanayakam Former Envoy to UN in Geneva’ »

(Text of communique released by the media office of the Tamil National Alliance.The TNA statement is signed by TNA Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan M.P. and Northern Province chief minister CV Wigneswaran)

Sep 2013-Releasing the TNA Manifesto for NPC polls

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has given careful consideration to the draft resolution on Sri Lanka proposed at the 25th sessions of the Human Rights Council by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Mauritius. The TNA is committed to the achievement of permanent peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, which will enable all Peoples in Sri Lanka to live with dignity, equality and justice.

We believe that tangible progress on accountability and genuine reconciliation are necessary ingredients to the achievement of a peaceful, united Sri Lanka. To this end, it is paramount that the truth should be ascertained, an acceptable political solution evolved and swift action taken to terminate and reverse the harmful trajectory on which the government has set the country.

Continue reading ‘Sampanthan and Wigneswaran Issue Joint Statement on Behalf of Tamil National Alliance Welcoming US Resolution on Sri Lanka at UN.’ »

The resolution on Sri Lanka tabled at the 25th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva by US-led six member nations last Monday, in a way, gave the government a sense of relief for it was not the worst it expected.

The draft report on Sri Lanka released by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, earlier had recommended an independent international investigation into war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights during the armed conflict here. However, the US-inspired resolution presented at the Geneva sessions on Monday called for a credible international inquiry mechanism into violations of international human rights law and human rights, not an international commission of inquiry. In the process of softening the terminology of the resolution the words ‘war crimes’ too have been dropped. According to informed sources, a strategy adopted by the government has led to the softening of the ‘harsh’ resolution against Sri Lanka, which was in the making.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt “Leaks” Navi Pillay Report Draft and Motivates India to Act Behind the Scenes and Soften US Resolutionin Geneva’ »

by

Anusha Ondaatjie

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s deepening economic ties with China offer it a cushion from any measures aimed at pressuring the South Asian country into cooperating with investigations into alleged crimes during its civil war.

The US introduced a resolution this week calling on the United Nations to investigate Sri Lanka’s past abuses and more recent attacks on human-rights advocates, Sarah Sewall, an undersecretary of state, said 4 March. Sri Lanka has denounced the measure, and received China’s support last month when foreign minister G.L. Peiris visited Beijing.

Continue reading ‘Support Extended by China Enables Defiant Sri Lanka to Resist Pressure Exerted by the USA’ »

by

Taylor Dibbert

Recent events in the Ukraine are just another reminder that Barack Obama’s naive and unrealistic view of world affairs is completely divorced from reality and wholly incompatible with any semblance of American global leadership.

So, let’s pause for a moment to process this. There are plenty of angles to consider, and we just want to be very careful and make sure that we’ve considered all aspects of what’s transpiring.

On Syria, North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and elsewhere, US foreign policy is more misguided than ever. Red lines don’t’ matter.

Power politics is a thing of the past. Can’t we all just get along?

Continue reading ‘Recent Events in Ukraine Make us all Ashamed of Obama the Quintessential Dunce on Foreign Affairs.’ »

The 135th ‘Battle of the Blues’ between Royal and S. Thomas’ to be played next week will see a new big match logo and a new gold coin being introduced.

In its long history this is the first time that a special logo has been created for the Royal-Thomian encounter. The gold coin will be used for tossing.

Continue reading ‘Special new “Battle of the Blues”Logo and new Gold Coin for Tossing Introduced for 135th Royal-Thomian Encounter next week.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

The United Kingdom and France, two new members of the UN Human Rights Council this year, have lent their voices to the call for an international inquiry into allegations of war crimes during the war in Sri Lanka and an end to impunity in the island.

Continue reading ‘Britain and France Voice Support to Call for International Inquiry into Allegations of War Crimes and end to Impunity in Sri Lanka.’ »

The Kilinochchi-Pallai re-constructed railway track and signal system built by IRCON International Ltd under the concessional Indian Line of Credit was inaugurated on Tuesday.

The ceremony was attended by Transport Minister Kumara Welgama, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Minister Douglas Devananda, Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha, Consul General of India in Jaffna, Shri V. Mahalingam, Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. (Retd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, Deputy Transport Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake, Murugesu Chandrakumar MP, senior officials from the Transport Ministry, Sri Lanka Railways and IRCON International Limited. They undertook a train journey from Kilinochchi to Pallai on the reconstructed track.

Continue reading ‘Re-constructed 27.5 km long Railtrack from Kilinochchi to Pallai with Indian Aid Enables Train Service Extension into Jaffna Peninsula.’ »

by

Saman Indrajith

Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem told Parliament yesterday that the Sri Lanka Law College (SLLC) would face unprecedented difficulties and problems if it increased the intake of students on the basis of cut-off marks recommended by the Council of Legal Education.

Responding to questions raised by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake during previous week’s parliamentary sittings, the minister said that the SLLC commenced its academic year on Jan 15, 2014. The Commissioner General of Examinations who conducted the Law Entrance Examination had submitted the cut-off marks for enrolling students on Jan, 23, 2014, he said.Minister Hakeem said: “These cut off marks were later forwarded to the Chief Justice who is also the chairman of the Council of Legal Education. The Chief Justice has explained to the members of the council that it should determine the cut-off marks considering the current situation in the SLLC and then those cut-off marks should be forwarded to the Principal of the SLLC.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Law College Unable to Provide Quality Education with High Intake of Law Students-Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem.’ »

Shamindra Ferdinando

Attorney-at-law, Major (retd.) Ajith Prasanna, who appears for a group of police commandos and an ordinary policeman arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of five Tamil students in Trincomalee on January 2, 2006, yesterday told The Island that those who had been pushing the government on the issue weren’t facilitating Sri Lanka’s efforts to get down two eyewitnesses to give evidence at the Trincomalee Magistrate Court.

Responding to a query by The Island, the lawyer said that several attempts by the Attorney General’s Department to establish contact with the two eyewitnesses had failed.

Y. Punkalalogan and G. Kovulraj, believed to be living in Australia and the UK, respectively. Their families, too, hadn’t been helpful, the lawyer alleged. It would be the responsibility on the part of the External Affairs Ministry to explore ways and means of getting them down with the help of the Australian and British High Commissions, the lawyer said.

Continue reading ‘Two Eyewitnesses who Survived Incident where Five Tamil Students were Killed by the STF in Trincomalee now Living Abroad Avoid Court Inquiry in Trinco’ »

By V Suryanarayan

With the impending meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, international attention is once again focused on happenings in Sri Lanka. As the International Crisis Group, in its briefing note, has pointed out, “Failure is most obvious with respect to accountability of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the final phase of the civil war, but also by the lack of devolution of power, ongoing militarization of the north and the east, and deepening authoritarianism in the country.”

The UN High Commissioner in her report to the UN General Assembly has highlighted that Colombo has not “adequately engaged civil societies in support of a more consultative and inclusive reconciliation process”. The report also makes a mention of “extrajudicial killings, abductions and enforced disappearance in the past year” and drew attention to the urgency of UN involvement to “combat impunity”.

Adding to the discomfiture of the Sri Lankan government was the resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) supporting the demand for an international enquiry into human rights violations. Colombo was taken aback by the resolution. What Colombo did not realise is the fact that the election manifesto of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had called for an “independent international investigation” into allegation of human rights violations not only by the government, but also by the Tigers.

Continue reading ‘“Will the Sinhalese Leadership Respond Positively to the Genuine Aspirations of the Tamil People”?’ »

By

Ananth Palakidnar

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has expressed dismay over the draft resolution prepared by the US on Sri Lanka, to be presented at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva. The TNA has pointed out that the US draft resolution was disappointing and contains nothing constructive towards addressing the genuine grievances towards the Tamils affected by war.

TNA Spokesperson and Parliamentarian, Suresh Premachandran, who was in Geneva a couple of weeks ago, told Ceylon Today, the US draft resolution has not touched on the core issues such as an international investigation into alleged war crimes, disappearances in the North and East, and on the indefinite detention of the Tamil political prisoners.

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Critical of US Draft Resolution at UNHRC as it “soft pedals several serious human rights violation issues in north and east”.’ »

By

Niranjala Ariyawansha

Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Anura Kumara Dissanayake, said the JVP accepts that the National Anthem should be sung in the Sinhala and Tamil languages as a policy. The JVP as a Party recongnizes that all languages should be given equal recongnition, he added.

Speaking to Ceylon Today, Dissanayake said: “Even now the National Anthem is sung in Tamil in the estate sector. The Tamil translation of the National Anthem is printed in school text books as well.Therefore, why are new issues being created that the national anthem should not be sung in Tamil? This practice is being followed at present.”

Continue reading ‘“National Anthem Should be Sung in Sinhala and Tamil”says JVP;”Only in Sinhala”says JHU’ »

By

Menaka Indrakumar

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidate at the upcoming Western Provincial Council Election, Hirunika Premachandra, is at present the cynosure of all eyes in the political firmament. Being the talk of the nation, Hirunika shared her views in several areas with regard to her personal and political life.

Despite the untimely death of her beloved father, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra in October 2012, Hirunika remains a strong young woman, refuting all the stories that are floating about her, and clearly outlines the path she intends taking to turn out to be a good politician. Speaking to Ceylon Today, she s clearly articulated her stand on some crucial issues that have hot topics of debate and conversation in the country.

Excerpts:

Q: Rumours have surfaced that you have been proposed by Kumara Welgama for his son, is that true?

Continue reading ‘“I dont see myself as Beautiful and there are very Beautiful Women in our Country”-Hirunika Premachandra’ »

An Interview with Shihara Maduwage

pic via: facebook.com/sarathfonseka

In a recent interview, Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka who heads the Democratic Party spoke to Daily Mirror about the present political situation in the country, his party’s plan to win the upcoming Provincial Council elections and expressed his views about the UNHRC session taking place in Geneva.
He said that the main aim of his party was to save the citizens of Sri Lanka from the present rulers of the country.

Q: What do you mainly hope to achieve in the event the Democratic Party led by you wins the upcoming provincial council elections?

Continue reading ‘“I Don’t Understand why a General Can’t run a Country if a Library Assistant can run a Country” -General Sarath Fonseka’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) intends to request India not to dilute the proposed US-led resolution against Sri Lanka over accountability issues as well as post-war developments which it considered inimical to the interests of Tamils.

The TNA decided to make representations to India at a meeting held at the parliamentary complex on Wednesday evening.

Continue reading ‘The TNA Planning to Request India to Refrain from Diluting the US Sponsored Resolution Against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in geneva.’ »

by

N Sathiya Moorthy

After two rounds of anti-Sri Lanka Indian vote at the UNHRC, both nations have begun starting almost from the scratch. Or, so it seems. At the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on the sidelines of BIMSTEC Summit in Myanmar, the two countries have “committed to be in touch” as New Delhi decides on its vote in the third US-sponsored resolution in as many years at Geneva.

As in the past two years, the West expects India to do vote with it. The US draft seems wanting to address the western perceptions of the concerns of the larger India, in tactical ways, if at all. Those perceptions relate to the ‘Tamil Nadu factor’ in the short-term. They do not address India’s larger concerns, of the geo-strategic variety. One is the need for the movers of the resolution. The other is India’s own need.

Continue reading ‘Why India should not vote against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva’ »

by

Dharisha Bastians

Three days after the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council opened in Geneva, some might say President Mahinda Rajapaksa whose Government is being accused of major crimes during the war, has already achieved a massive victory.

After months of dire warnings, threats and much finger wagging, the first draft of the US sponsored resolution makes no reference to the establishment of an international investigation into allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka.

The exclusion of the ‘international inquiry’ clause in the resolution’s initial text goes to prove what the Rajapaksa Administration has known all along – that the international community’s bark is much worse than its bite, irate human rights activists said, after the first text was officially submitted to the Council at 4 p.m. Geneva time on Monday (3).

Continue reading ‘Exclusion of “International Inquiry”Clause in UN Resolution Proves that the International Community’s bark is much worse than its bite.’ »

BY

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

At the High Level Segment of the UNHRC Geneva, Prof GL Peiris did something I haven’t seen him do in a quarter century. He read out from a text, looking up only once or twice. It was on a perfect continuum with Mahinda Samarasinghe’s clumsy, bellicose speeches at the same venue in 2012 and 2013 (which raised the curtain on Sri Lanka’s successive defeats) and GoSL’s recent written response to Navi Pillay’s report. It is certainly not the superb and convincing extempore speech Prof GL Peiris made to a distinguished diplomatic audience at a top Parisian think tank, when I served as Ambassador.

GL’s truculent address, demonstrating rejectionism and political immobility, slammed the door. It won’t bring Sri Lanka any votes and probably increased the number of abstentions from our side, thereby increasing the margin of our defeat and the magnitude of the manifestation of our dangerous international isolation. It was a depressing disaster.

Continue reading ‘Response by GL Peiris in Geneva was a “Depressing Disaster” that would Probably Increase our Margin of Defeat”at UN Human Rights Council.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

The Government yesterday slammed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay for her report on Sri Lanka’s human rights record in its entirety and said it was “fundamentally flawed”.

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris who addressed the UN Human Rights Council High Level Segment in Geneva yesterday, said Pillay had exceeded her mandate by making reference to issues that had nothing to do with the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka that had been adopted in March last year.

“Those who exalt the report’s virtues only seek to inflict harm on the reconciliation process by bringing about a polarisation of Sri Lankan society,” the Minister charged.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Rejects UN Human Rights Commissioner Report in its Entirety Claiming it is Fundamentally Flawed.’ »

(Full Text of Address delivered on behalf of Sri Lanka by External Affairs minister Prof.GL Peiris at High level segment of the UN Human Rights Council 25th session in Geneva on March 5th 2014)

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. May I at the outset congratulate you Mr. President, as well as Members of the Bureau on your election as office bearers of this Council. I pledge my delegation’s support to you at all times in the discharge of your office. Sri Lanka also reiterates its continued support to the High Commissioner in the discharge of her mandate as contained in GA Resolution 48/141, to the OHCHR, and to the work of this Council.

Mr. President,

It is imperative that the Human Rights Council remains a credible and independent arbiter in dealing with global human rights situations. All human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and must be treated in a fair and equitable manner, without the privileging of one set of rights over another. It is for these reasons, that economic, social and cultural rights which are at the core of sustainable development need to gain the same level of emphasis and legitimacy as civil and political rights. As we celebrate the 28th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Declaration on the Right to Development, there needs to be a more robust approach to promote effective international cooperation with regard to the right to development and the elimination of obstacles to its enjoyment.

Continue reading ‘Full Text of Address on Behalf of Sri Lanka by Prof.G.L.Peiris at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.’ »

In a statement released today in the Mail and Guardian (South Africa) Archbishop Desmond Tutu and 38 Human Rights activists and organisations from around the world demanded that the UN Human Rights Council set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sri Lanka.

Signatories came from South Africa, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Uganda, India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brazil, Japan, Bosnia, Mongolia, Cote d’Ivoire, Nepal, Thailand and organisations representing individuals from all over the world. We, concerned individuals and organizations from around the world, urge the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to use their March 2014 session to pass a resolution that will include a commitment to an Independent International investigation in the form of a Commission of Inquiry. Only this will help to put the country on the path to justice and reconciliation.

Continue reading ‘Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bishop Joseph Rayappu, R. Sampanthan, CV Wigneswaran and 35 Others Jointly Demand UNHRC Set up Commission of Inquiry on Sri Lanka’ »

By

Gibson Bateman

On March 3, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) began its 25th session in Geneva. Since two US-led resolutions have been passed on Sri Lanka in as many years at the HRC – and the possibility of a third resolution being passed highly likely – the human rights and governance record of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime will garner significant attention.

Nearly five years since the conclusion of a brutal civil war, Sri Lanka’s peace remains a troubled one. The Rajapaksa regime has made notable achievements when it comes to economic growth and infrastructure development in the country’s Northern and Eastern Provinces – the principal theaters of conflict.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka under fire at 25th Session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva’ »

One day after a draft resolution sponsored by the US Government at the UN Human Rights Council noted with “alarm” rising attacks on places of religious worship in Sri Lanka, a court has ordered the closure of a mosque in Dehiwala after Police filed a public nuisance case against the premises.

The Gangodawila Magistrate yesterday issued an injunction against the Kadawatha Road mosque in Kalubowila Dehiwala, demanding the cessation of all religious activities on the premises. The order follows a case filed by the Kohuwala Police on 20 February that the mosque was a public nuisance and was an unregistered place of religious worship.

Continue reading ‘Mosque in Dehiwela Closed Down on an Injunction Issued by Gangodawila Magistrate after Kohuwela Police file Public Nuisance case against it’ »

by

Praveen Swami

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Sri Lanka’s President, Mahinda Rajapakse on the sidelines of a regional summit on Tuesday, hours after a five-nation coalition moved a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council, condemning the island nation’s human record during its war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, speaking to journalists on board the Prime Minister’s flight back to New Delhi, said Sri Lanka’s President had been “courteous, sensitive and forthcoming”.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa was”courteous,Sensitive and Forthcoming”in Talks with Indian Prime Minister!’ »

A US-sponsored resolution tabled at the UN Human Rights Council has called for an international probe into Sri Lanka’s alleged rights abuses during the war with Tamil Tiger rebels.

In a draft resolution on Monday, the US endorsed UNHRC chief Navi Pillay’s recommendation for an external probe into the alleged war crimes.

The US, Britain, Montenegro, Macedonia and Mauritius had jointly tabled the draft resolution at the UNHRC session.

Continue reading ‘Draft Resolution on Sri Lanka Tabled at UN by USA, UK, Montenegro, Macedonia and Mauritius.’ »

Brushing aside opposition from DMK and other parties in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa but did not give him any assurance on which way India will vote on a UNHRC resolution for an independent international probe into rights abuses during the war with LTTE.

The draft resolution, tabled at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today, briefly figured during the 25-minute meeting Singh had with Rajapaksa here on the margins of the BIMSTEC Summit.

“There was no substantive discussion on the draft resolution. Given that it has important implications for both Sri Lanka and India, it was felt that the two sides should remain in touch on the issue,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told reporters after the talks.

Continue reading ‘Manmohan Singh Meets Mahinda Rajapaksa but Does not Disclose how India is Going to Vote on US-UK Resolution on Sri Lanka at UNHRC in Geneva.’ »

by

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe-PC& M.P.

“War crimes and crimes against humanity” is a current topic which is being discussed today as never before in history. One might wonder whether there was a war without crimes. War means nothing else than a heap of crimes. The world renowned historian who was the Head of the History Faculty in London University, Sir Arnold Toynbee says that since human civilisation began the longest period that prevailed without a war in any part of the world was 14 years. That is an adequate proof to understand that man is greedy and in quest for power and wealth than for anything else. Aristotle in his wisdom has said that “every fool in this world thinks that he is born to rule others”.

One of the main objectives of the human endeavour to establish the democratic governance was to rescue the people from the grip of crazy rulers. It is a common denominator among all communities as well as individuals that no one is willing to be subjected to a rule of another. That is why the “rule of law” is substituted in place of “rule of man”. In the absence of rule of law, the rule of “Survival of the Fittest” takes its place predominantly.

In simple term it is called the “law of the jungle”. In the jungle, animals who can flex their muscles the most, like lions and tigers who dominate over the others. When such an attitude is ingrained in human mind, it leads to emergence of conflict. The basis of conflict may vary from one another such as the difference of race, language, religion, etc. But it is the nuclear that was conceived in human mind which could eventually wipe out all living creatures. Although every war is catastrophic and devastative, people who are engaged in the endeavour of maintenance of peace have drawn up a line not to tolerate certain crimes even in midst of a war or in a battle field. For example, shelling of hospitals, killing of surrendered enemies, intentional killing of civilians and unarmed people could be cited.

Continue reading ‘Hosting CHOGM Summit has left a lot of Cow dung in Sri Lanka while British PM Cameron took away the Milk,Butter and Cheese.’ »

By

Shirley Candappa

It really is time the leadership of this country stopped deluding itself as well as the people as to what awaits us in March this year when we will once again face the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

The sessions in Geneva are not something new. It is a UN process which commenced in 1987 when a draft resolution expressing concern at reports submitted by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture was submitted by Argentina to the now defunct United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

It called upon all parties and groups to renounce the use of force and acts of violence and to pursue a negotiated political solution.

As there was a build up of support for the resolution the Sri Lankan Government eventually agreed to negotiate a consensus resolution.

Continue reading ‘Will the Strategic Ports of Trincomalee and Hambantota be the Price for Sri Lanka to pay for Favourably Reversing Situation at UNHRC in Geneva?’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Navi Pillay, United Nations, High Commissioner for the Human Rights during High Level Segment of the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council. 3 March 2014. UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré

A first draft of the third and toughest US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council calls for an investigation into alleged abuses by both parties to the conflict to be led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Navi Pillay.

The draft resolution, which was in circulation yesterday, rules out an investigation by a Commission of Inquiry, but sets the stage for a Pillay-led probe to be supported by findings of special procedures mandate holders – or special rapporteurs.

The resolution in its initial draft has opted for the OHCHR inquiry mechanism, one of the investigative processes available to the Council to hold the Sri Lankan Government to account over mounting allegations of rights abuses.

Continue reading ‘US Draft Resolution on Sri Lanka at UNHRC Calls for Probe by UN Human Rights Commissioner Through Special Rapporteurs into Abuses by Both Sides.’ »

Sri Lanka came in for flak early into the 25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, with the United Kingdom and Canada strongly pushing for international action over the country’s failure to address alleged abuses during the war.

“The time has come for international action with regard to Sri Lanka,” said UK’s Minister of State at the Foreign Office, Hugo Swire, who said Pillay’s report on the country’s progress in addressing accountability and reconciliation was ‘unambiguous’.

Swire said Britain hoped the Human Rights Council would unite to support the call for an international investigation into alleged human rights abuses on both sides.

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Regime Under Fire by Canada and UK as UNHRC Sessions get Underway in Geneva.’ »

By

Namini Wijedasa

The Government is drafting legislation to grant a ‘certificate of absence’ to relatives of the missing who do not want to accept certificates of death for their loved ones, a senior official said yesterday. The certificate of absence—which has never before been issued in Sri Lanka but is used in several other countries with large numbers of missing people—will entitle the holder to the same rights enjoyed by the holder of a certificate of death.

The committee overseeing implementation of the LLRC recommendations has given a proposal to the Ministry of Public Administration which will seek Cabinet approval, committee member and Technology Ministry Secretary, Dhara Wijayatilake said. It will go through the draft stage and will be presented as a bill to Parliament.

Continue reading ‘Relatives of “Missing” Persons who do not want to Accept Certificates of Death for their Loved Ones to be Given “Certificates of Absence”Instead.’ »

by

Meera Srinivasan

Ketheeswaran’s crops have never failed this way.

Walking along his field which sprouts harvest-ready paddy and some rough-edged weeds, he directs his workers who are operating the harvest machines for the season’s paddy yield that, he says, has fallen drastically. “I usually get 450 bags after Mahabogam [the main harvest season of Sri Lanka] but have barely managed 140 this time.”

The problem points to a particularly worrisome situation for the people in the north who bore much of the brunt of the ethnic war and who depend entirely on agriculture and fisheries for their livelihood. Photo: Meera Srinivasan

It is around noon and the sun is right on top. “It is going to be very difficult this year,” says the middle-aged farmer in Akkarayan, a village in Kilinochchi.

His fear is shared by hundreds of farmers in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. With far less rainfall than expected last year, the total harvest this season has fallen by over 50 per cent.

Continue reading ‘With Monsoon Rains Failing, Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Seems to be Heading for a Food Crisis.’ »

AP- With seven Oscars including a history-making Best Director award for Alfonso Cuaron, the force of Gravity exerted itself at the 86th annual Academy Awards.

Alfonso Cuaron

The searing slavery drama 12 Years a Slave has won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Directed by British director Steve McQueen, the film is based on a true story and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, a free man who was kidnapped into slavery in the South. It is the first film directed by a black filmmaker to win the best picture Oscar.

Even with several awards to go, the 3D space spectacle was assured to be the most honored film at the Dolby Theatre ceremony hosted nimbly by Ellen DeGeneres. The Mexican Cuaron is the first Latino filmmaker to take best director.
Continue reading ‘“Gravity” wins Seven Oscars Including Best Director Award for Alfonso Cuaron.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Hindu” of March 4th 2014 Under the heading “Sign of the Times”)

An emotional Lupita Nyong’o accepts the award for Best Supporting Actress

So many awards are handed out before the Oscars, with strong favourites emerging on the basis of those wins, that the Academy Awards ceremony has today become largely predictable. The same people who garner those earlier awards inevitably end up winning Oscars.

Thus, Matthew McConaughey won Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club, despite rumours that long-denied Leonardo DiCaprio would pose a threat with his work on The Wolf of Wall Street.

Cate Blanchett was anointed Best Actress for Blue Jasmine, despite worries that her association with this Woody Allen film would prove too scandalous, after the fresh round of sexual abuse charges by Allen’s daughter.

Continue reading ‘Largely White Academy Recognizing Diversity of the Nation is a sign of the Times.’ »

By MICHAEL CIEPLY and BROOKS BARNES

LOS ANGELES — In a triumph long deferred, “12 Years a Slave” won the best picture Oscar at the 86th Academy Awards on Sunday night, the first time Hollywood conferred its top honor to the work of a black director.

“I’d like to thank this amazing story,” said Steve McQueen, the British-born filmmaker who grasped a prize that has eluded African-American directors and their movies since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave its first Oscars in 1929.

“Everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live,” said Mr. McQueen, who dedicated the film to those who had endured slavery, both in the past and in the present.

Continue reading ‘’12 Years a Slave’ Makes Oscar History by Winning Best Picture Award’ »

By

Latheef Farook

It appears that Sri Lanka’s beleaguered and besieged Muslim community badly needs a Ananthi Sasitharan and not the spineless politicians, wheeler-dealers, businessmen ,media men and others who turned sell outs. This is the inevitable conclusion sensible Muslims are forced to arrive following last Tuesday’s ( 25 February 2014) informal gathering some of them had with Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakese.

It was an opportunity to bring to Mr. Gotabhya Rajapakse’s notice the issues faced by the Muslims and its devastating impact on communal harmony.

However the participants, except two, miserably failed in their duty and betrayed the community by choosing to stay silent. It appears they were keen on pleasing the Defense Secretary, perhaps for their personal benefits, than highlighting Muslim issues.

Continue reading ‘Lawyer Faiz Mustapha “Restrains”Muslim Community Leaders From Highlighting Grievances at Informal Meeting with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.’ »

Niranjala Ariyawansha

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had failed to address the concerns expressed by five ministers and a parliamentarian over the upcoming UNHRC sessions in Geneva, the Minister of National Languages and Social Integration, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, said.Leader of the Democratic Left Front (DLF), Nanayakkara, told Ceylon Today that, Scientific Affairs Minister, Prof.Tissa Vitarana, Human Resources Minister, D.E.W. Gunasekara, Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development Minister, Rajitha Senaratne, Minor Export Crop Minister, Reginald Cooray, Parliamentarian, Navin Dissanayake, and he, had signed a petition highlighting their concerns over the UNHRC meeting in Geneva, but the President had not heeded their request.

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa Ignores Concerns Over UNHRC Geneva Meeting Expressed by Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Tissa Vitarane, DEW Gunasekara, Rajitha Senaratne, Reginald Cooray and Navin Dissanayake.’ »

By P K Balachandran – COLOMBO

Eighty per cent of the complaints of forced disappearance made to the Sri Lankan Presidential Commission of Disappearances, blame the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to a well-placed source in the Presidential Secretariat.

Quoting members of the commission, the official told Express that majority of the complaints from Tamils in the Northern Province pertained to children being abducted by the LTTE to fight its war against the Lankan forces.

Continue reading ‘80% of Disappearances Complaints at Inquiry Commission Accuse the LTTE of Child Abductions but Tamil Media in Sri Lanka do not report it’ »

“If you cannot stay in the Government, you can get out,” President Mahinda Rajapaksa warned Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem at Friday’s re-scheduled meeting of ministers.

He accused Minister Hakeem of “betraying the country” in what seemed a simmering battle for months now with the SLMC, one of the UPFA’s partners. Rajapaksa had been angered by allegations that the Muslim Congress was behind some of the lobbying of West Asian countries over attacks on Muslims or their establishments in Sri Lanka.

Hakeem also stands accused of giving UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay when she was in Colombo last year, a report detailing out attacks on Muslims and their establishments — a charge which he has denied. That the issue has re-ignited ahead of UN Human Rights Council’s 25th sessions which begin in Geneva tomorrow, was to exacerbate the situation.

Continue reading ‘“If you cannot stay in the Govt,you can get out”:Mahinda Rajapaksa Lashes out at Rauff Hakeem in Cabinet Meeting.’ »

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem insists there is no rift between him and President Mahinda Rajapaksa despite differences of opinion on some issues.

Speaking at an event in Panadura today Hakeem said that having differences of opinion and arguing over that in the cabinet with the President is not something new and has been openly encouraged by the President himself.

Hakeem said that at the cabinet meeting yesterday he had an argument with the President over an issue and the President had raised his tone.

Continue reading ‘Rauff Hakeem says that he had an argument with the President over an issue and that Mahinda Rajapaksa had raised his tone.’ »

By

Chandani Kirinde

The future of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) as a constituent member of the ruling UPFA Government would depend on the attitude of the other members of the Government and how they choose to address the grievances faced by the Muslim population of the country, SLMC General Secretary and National List MP M.T.Hasen Ali said.

At Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, there had been a heated exchange of words between some members of the Government and SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem over allegations that the SLMC provided material that was included in the US Annual Human Rights Report on Sri Lanka relating to attacks on places of religious worship.

Mr. Hasen Ali downplayed the incident and said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had sought a clarification on the matter and that Minister Hakeem had explained the matter to him.

Continue reading ‘Muslim Congress General Secretary Hasen Ali says SLMC future in UPFA Depends on Govt’s Attitude towards Muslim grievances’ »

By

Leon Berenger

The Government yesterday said it was looking into allegations against the country’s first Honorary Consul in Kerala that the man was having a criminal record but added that there were no immediate plans to reconsider the appointment, a senior External Affairs official said.

Mr. Joeman Joseph with business interests in Sri Lanka took up the appointment as Colombo’s first Honorary Consul on Wednesday but there were several empty chairs at the opening ceremony of the Consulate as regional Indian politicians who were billed to attend, decided to stay away owing to the allegations.

According to the allegations which were given wide publicity in sections of the Indian media Mr. Joseph is alleged to have been involved in land fraud and is currently out on bail for allegedly assaulting a 63-year-old man.

Continue reading ‘First Honorary Consul Appointed by Sri Lanka to Kerala in India Alleged to be Involved in Land Fraud and Criminal Assault Offences.’ »

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittya and Sandun Jayawardana

With allegations of gross human rights violations committed against Tamil civilians in the North and East by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) starting to re-emerge, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has chosen to either stay silent or become evasive on whether the allegations need to be investigated.

When questioned about an investigation into alleged atrocities committed by the IPKF during its time of operations in Sri Lanka (1987-1990), TNA Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said he does not wish to talk about the matter. He added that, requests for an investigation into crimes committed by the IPKF were a ‘diversion of attention’ from the crimes committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces. He said, “The Government must first look into matters” regarding missing persons and war crimes.

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Reluctant to Criticise Atrocities Committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force Against Tamil Civilians.’ »

By

Vishnuguptha

“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
~ Søren Kierkegaard

They looked everywhere but they did not see. Some were afraid to look so they did not see either and in the worst case, many others refused to look and they simply did not see. There is nothing wrong or deficient in any one’s eyesight.

They are all healthy, hale and hearty. Their sights are clear; their sclera, the cornea, anterior and posterior chambers, the retina and the lens are all normal and in ideal condition of functioning. Yet they don’t see. It is indeed a tragedy of massive proportions. Its consequent reflections and responses are delayed or none at all. A dreadful sense of foreboding seems to have settled on the collective eyesight of a society.

The enticing webs have been woven; a deceitful ague of terror has entrapped them and caused the temperature to rise and dull the minds which would otherwise be alert and lively; various devious decoys are employed to take the focus and attention away from the present predicaments and inevitable hardships that follow wrong policies.

Continue reading ‘What is Growing in Sri Lanka is not a “Family Tree” but a “Family Jungle” where even a blade of grass is of kith and kin.’ »

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, MP, and Member of the Board of Governors of Trinity College, Kandy, has filed plaint in the District Court of Colombo claiming Rs 5 million as damages from Bishop Shantha Francis, Bishop of Kurunegala and Chairman of the Board of Governors, for loss of reputation for his allegedly illegal removal from the Board of Governors. 

Wijesinha claims that the Constitution of the Board states explicitly that the removal of a Board member requires two thirds majority.  The Board consists of 14 members and accordingly a minimum of 10 votes are required for a valid removal.  Only nine votes which included the vote of the Bishop of Kurunegala were cast for his removal.

Continue reading ‘Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P. Sues Kurunegala Diocese Anglican Bishop Shantha Francis for Alleged Illegal Removal from Trinity College Board of Governors.’ »

By

Camelia Nathaniel

While the TNA and the Diaspora are on a mission to initiate an international investigation against Sri Lanka on war crimes allegations, the people who actually suffered immense hardships and atrocities for the past 30 years are engaged in a battle to rebuild their shattered lives. The Northern Provincial Council recently passed a resolution seeking an international investigation against Sri Lanka, which many believe has become the prime objective and agenda of the NPC, and that the issues and grievances of the people has taken a back seat as a result.

While the Tamil Diaspora and the TNA are only concerned about the deaths and sufferings of the Tamil people in the North, and seek justice for them, charging the government forces of Human rights violations, was it only the Tamil people who were affected by the war?

Continue reading ‘While TNA and Diaspora Focus on Geneva the People who Suffered in War are Battling to re-build their Lives.’ »

Vijitha Yapa was elected Chairman of the Afro Asian Book Council last week at the AGM of the organization held in New Delhi during the World Book Fair 2014. He is the first Sri Lankan to hold this position.

Yapa is currently the President of the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association and Vice President of the Asia Pacific Publishers Association.

Addressing members of the Afro Asian Book Council, he thanked them for the confidence they had in him and said the first priority is to get books published in Asia to bookshops in Africa and for books published in Africa to be sold in Asian markets.

Continue reading ‘Vijitha Yapa Elected Chairman of the Afro-Asian book Council at AGM held in New Delhi is the First Sri Lankan to hold this post.’ »

By

a Special Correspondent

What cannot be concealed despite all the bravado is Sri Lanka’s concern over the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions this month, slated to critique the island’s human rights record and inclined to propose the setting up of an international mechanism to probe the island’s rights abuses committed during the final phase of the war.

Sri Lanka is feeling the pinch and despite the massive international advocacy efforts undertaken by the State, the island appears extremely concerned about the possible outcome of the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka, which appears to gather momentum.

Clearly, Sri Lanka does not enjoy being isolated or pushed against the wall. The island’s Head of State, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is less than happy about the international human rights discourse and more so, about the treatment meted out to Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Angst on Being Pushed Against the Wall was Clearly Visible at Meeting with Foreign Correspondents Association in Colombo’ »

By

Udaya Gammanpila

Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu commenced her election campaign by pasting a very interesting poster. Jayalalithaa has pointed a finger at President Rajapaksa and he was paying homage to her having knelt before her. In fact, this picture is a result of smart editing of two separate photographs. Jayalalithaa was addressing a meeting in one photograph and President Rajapaksa paying homage to the Sri Lankan land on arrival from Jordan soon after recording the military victory over the LTTE in the other photograph. The hidden message of this poster is that she intends to conduct her election campaign by bashing Sri Lanka.
Continue reading ‘The “Tamilization” of Indian Foreign Policy is Extremely Dangerous for sri Lanka’ »

By

DHARISHA BASTIANS

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday rejected calls for an international investigation into accusations of massacres and human rights violations during the final phase of Sri Lanka’s civil war, which ended in 2009.

“If there is evidence, let them show us,” Mr. Rajapaksa said. “We will look into it.”

Continue reading ‘Friction Between USA and Sri Lanka is like “Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) Fighting with a Schoolboy” – Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »