By

Sujeeva Nivunhella in London

Tamil Eelam lobbyists suffered a setback when a ruse to project the LTTE flag as the official symbol representing the Tamil language on two websites was spotted by the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, which lodged a strong protest resulting in the immediate deletion of the material by the hosts of the sites.

It happened last week when the Metropolitan Police, the capital city’s police service, was providing information of its activities to London’s residents in English and some other major languages used by migrant communities living in the UK.

This was intended to help those not particularly conversant with English to understand the services provided by the police.
Continue reading ‘Attempt to Depict LTTE Flag as Tamil National Flag to Police in London Foiled by Sri Lanka High Commission.’ »

Malaysia Tamil tycoon billionaire T. Ananda Krishnan, of Sri Lankan descent, recently visited his only son Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, a Buddhist monk, who is at a meditation retreat in Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera), reported by local Chinese daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh.

Clad in t-shirt and jeans, the 74-year-old tycoon was spotted arriving at the foot of the popular tourist attraction in a BMW with several bodyguards.

Continue reading ‘Malaysian Tamil Billionaire Tycoon Ananda Krishnan’s only son Ven.Ajahn Siripanyo is a Buddhist Monk in Penang’ »

By

Somapala Gunadheera

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran and R. Sampanthan MP

When Justice Wigneswaran was selected to be the Chief Ministerial Candidate for the North, I breathed a sigh of relief. Here was a man with so much in common with the two communities and personally known to me as an independent, impartial and intrepid judge, selected for a post that could have helped to integrate the nation much earlier, had the rulers been farsighted and agile.

I believed that we were about to begin the long delayed journey to national integration. But the manifesto released by the TNA took me unawares like a bolt from the blue.
Continue reading ‘TNA Manifesto: “Kumbam” broken before “Kumbaabishekam” (Pitcher broken before Consecration)’ »

by

Greg Sheridan

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Selvarasa Pathmanathan used to be the deadliest of enemies. Now they have the same message.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Selvarasa Pathmanathan

I meet the two within a period of 24 hours in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s largest city.

Continue reading ‘Meeting Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Selvarasa Pathmanathan Within a Period of 24 Hours in Colombo’ »

by

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

PORTAL, PRECIPICE OR POLITICAL SUICIDE BOMB?

“The Tamil Tigers…were the most supremely deadly and effective terrorist group to emerge at any time in the second half of the 20th century…There is no overall moral equivalence between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tigers.”– Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor, The Australian, ‘Sri Lanka’s Path to Peace’ Sept 13, 2013

When the most authoritative commentator on Tamil politics, DBS Jeyaraj exposes (in his latest piece) proto-secessionist and pro-terrorist discourse on the part of the main Tamil parliamentary party the TNA, it gets my attention. It would take an idiot to ignore it. (‘Wigneswaran Praises Prabhakaran at Velvettiturai’, Daily Mirror, Sept 14th 2013).

TNA Election campaign in Jaffna

The TNA is not a secessionist party, but when it is reliably reported that it has not broken with the secessionist paradigm and even flirts with dangerous secessionist discourse and symbolism, it must be recognised that Sri Lanka simply doesn’t possess the geostrategic space to regard the signs as unthreatening and unproblematic.
Continue reading ‘Tamil Question Must be Lodged Within Paradigm of Ethnic Minority Rights, Provincial Autonomy and Citizenship Equality and not a Self-Determination Paradigm’ »

by

M.A.Sumanthiran M.P

M.A.Sumanthiran MP

The NPC Election Campaign took a new turn last week with the government and many of its hard line allies protesting against the TNA Election ‘Manifesto’ released in Jaffna on 3rd Sept 2013. This is a new trend that commenced with the government ‘s disapproval of the TNA’s Chief Ministerial choice. It is interesting that the government arrogates to itself the right to approve or disapprove of other political parties’ choices and decisions.

In fact the TNA doesn’t even seem to have the right afforded to other parties in the country. Not merely does the government attempt to foist criminal elements upon the Tamil speaking people through their own party, but they are unashamedly trying to deny the TNA its prerogative of nominating decent, upright, educated candidates for election to the Northern Province.
Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Election Manifesto Does not Violate the Constitution of Sri Lanka’ »

(Text of Media statement issued by Karu Jayasuriya -United National Party Member of Parliament – 13-09-2013)

The recent escalation of religious tensions in the country has given rise to a deep sense of foreboding and a profound sadness for myself, and others in the United National Party. Our regret is shared by the vast majority of moderates who reside in our society, to whom the actions of a few misguided, malicious elements have been both distasteful and of very serious concern.

The violence against places of religious worship, whether Islamic or Christian, must be condemned unequivocally, as it is deeply wounding to the sentiments of entire communities of people. Any Buddhist citizen of this country would empathise with this sadness and despair, having lived through the violent desecration of this country’s most sacred Buddhist shrine, the Dalada Maligawa by brutal terrorists in 1998. As fellow sufferers, can we not empathise now, with the pain of others, who are facing similar terror at the hands of violent radicals who have become a law unto themselves?

Continue reading ‘Violence Against Places of Religious Worship Whether Islamic or Christian Must be Condemned Unequivocally -Karu Jayasuriya’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has a crucial role in addressing the issue of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters, according to C.V. Wigneswaran, the Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) Chief Ministerial candidate contesting the Northern Provincial Council elections.

Fishermen in Karainagar with damaged nets-pic by: Meera Srinivasan

Indian fishermen using big trawlers, he said, came fairly early into Sri Lankan waters, caught all the fish and left the local people high and dry. The Sri Lankan and Indian Navies had a role to play in addressing the problem, he said.

It also had to be discussed with Ms. Jayalalithaa, he said, as “she is very much involved and interested in the welfare of the fishermen in her area.”

Continue reading ‘“Indian Fishermen Using Big Trawlers Come Into Sri Lankan Waters and Catch all the Fish” says TNA Chief Candidate C.V. Wigneswaran’ »

Steve Biko (Dec 18, 1946-Sep 12, 1977)

Steve Biko was an anti-apartheid activist during the 1960s and 1970s and founder of the Black Conscious Movement that empowered and mobilised the South Africa’s black population to fight against minority rule.
Continue reading ‘Remembering Steve Biko Through Five significant Quotes’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

This writer is by no means an apologist of the militarization of the country; however, for once, he could not help but agree with some salient points that the powerful Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the chief protagonist of the militarization, had raised during his address at the Defence Seminar held last week.

He referred to the ‘possibility that extremist elements may try to promote Muslim extremism in Sri Lanka’ and also noted that one reason for the ‘insularity of the minority groups in this country’ is the emergence of hard-line groups within the majority community.

Continue reading ‘Salient Points Raised by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa About Rise of Muslim Extremism are Valid and Cannot be Faulted.’ »

by

Meera Srinivasan

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran

Tamil Nadu politicians use the Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue for their own gains, much to the detriment of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, said Justice C.V. Wigneswaran, the chief ministerial candidate of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the upcoming Northern Provincial Council elections.

Speaking to The Hindu in the midst of his campaign here, Mr. Wigneswaran said: “In Tamil Nadu, our problems have been taken to be the ball to be played in the tennis court between the two or three parties. They [Tamil Nadu politicians] start hitting the ball from one side to the other and it is we who get hit by that.”

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Politicians Exploiting Sri Lankan Issue to the Detriment of Lankan Tamils says TNA Chief Minister Candidate CV Wigneswaran’ »

by

Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

Governor of the Northern Province, Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, maintained he has the right to be in any part of Sri Lanka as he is representing President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and he is not concerned about the allegations that he is participating in election propaganda for the ruling party in the Northern Province.

Continue reading ‘Does Northern Province Governor Chandrasiri Have the Right to Participate in Election Propaganda for the UPFA in North?’ »

by
Alan Keenan

Concluding her recent fact-finding trip to Sri Lanka, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government was “heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction… despite the opportunity provided by the end of the war to construct a new vibrant, all-embracing state”.

Pillay’s statement cited a long and growing list of serious human rights problems, including “persistent impunity and the failure of rule of law”.

The Sri Lankan government responded to her comments with accusations of “prejudice” and a “lack of fairness and balance”.

Continue reading ‘Lesson of Navi Pillay Sri Lanka Visit is that Rajapaksa Regime Requires a More Robust United International response’ »

By

Taylor Dibbert

I’m not a warmonger, but there are times when there’s no substitute for decisive military action. And while there’s a lot that I don’t like about President Barack Obama, it’s his indecision that tops the list. (Unbridled arrogance and professorial aloofness are tied for second).

After seeing the way events have unfolded over the past few days, I’m now convinced that Obama will go down as one of the most indecisive and incompetent US presidents in history when it comes to foreign policy.

Continue reading ‘Obama will Go Down in History as One of the most Indecisive and Incompetent US Presidents Regarding Foreign Policy’ »

by Austin Fernando

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran and R. Sampanthan, TNA Leader at recent party event releasing the manifesto

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has launched its Manifesto for the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Elections. I am reminded of a former Prime Minster commenting on election Manifestoes as publications facilitating electoral victory and nothing more! If the TNA was of the same frame of mind and mood, it must be happy with their document, because it addresses some vote catching rhetoric, although beyond the capacity of the NPC to deliver.

Throughout I have been a supporter of devolution. Nevertheless, I believe that some propositions in the Manifesto should be addressed as they provide ammunition to anti-devolutionists to conceptually criticize devolution. I am confident that they will make the TNA “separatists’ / “chauvinists”. What TNA earns is not my concern, but using this TNA Manifesto to criticize power sharing / devolution is not to my liking. Hence, this critique or I might say, concerns of some issues arising from this Manifesto.
Continue reading ‘TNA Manifesto-For Power Sharing or Separation?’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“ The war will stop only after all the enemies who acted to the detriment of their motherland were brought to book irrespective of whether they were local or international”.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (Indian Express – 11.8.2009).

If the LTTE wanted what the TNA is asking for, the Eelam War would have ended long before 2009, in a negotiated solution.

UPFA Provincial Council Election Campaign Rally, Mannar-pic: News.lk

Veluppillai Pirapaharan did not want federalism or even confederation. He wanted Tiger Eelam, a state wholly owned by and totally subservient to him. His maximum programme was his only programme. Had he wanted anything less than Eelam, he would have accepted either the Oslo Declaration (federalism in a single country, supported by the SLFP and the UNP ) or the quasi-separationist ISGA. He rejected both as betrayals. Eventually he engineered the defeat of Ranil Wickremesinghe and the victory of Mahinda Rajapaksa, because he wanted to escape peace and re-embrace war.

Anyone who equates the TNA’s 2013 Manifesto and the Tiger agenda is either an inveterate ignoramus or a diabolical liar.

Continue reading ‘Anyone Equating 2013 TNA Manifesto with Tiger Agenda is Either an Inveterate Ignoramus or Diabolical Liar’ »

By

M. S. Shah Jahan

“Feet stumbling in the pitch darkness over the uneven ground we make our way with a group of women to one of the bathrooms in the Zaatari camp. There is no light, if we come in here there could be a guy hiding or something,” one woman said. What she meant by some thing, is a rape attempt.

Fleeing from Syria-pic: UNHCR

Zaatari is a refugee camp in Jordan, located 10 km east of Mafraq. It was first opened on July 28, 2012 to host Syrians fleeing the violence in the ongoing Syrian civil war that erupted in 2011. The present refugee population here is estimated to be 160,000, making it Jordan’s fourth largest city.

Continue reading ‘Teenage Brides Are For Sale in Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan!’ »

By

Latheef Farook

Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s statement on what he described as the “emergence of Muslim extremism” has shocked and dismayed the island’s besieged and helpless Muslim community. Addressing a defense seminar at Galadari Hotel on Tuesday 3 September Mr.Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that the country was faced with an uphill task of tackling Sinhala hardliners as well as Muslim extremists.

In Kuchaveli-pic by: Drs. Sarajevo

He added that “it has been observed that there are some foreign groups that wish to encourage Sri Lankan Muslims to identify themselves more with the global Muslim community, thereby reducing their integration with the rest of the population. It is a known fact that Muslim fundamentalism is spreading all over the world and in this region”.
Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Statement on “Emergence of Muslim Extremism” has Shocked and Dismayed the Besieged, Helpless Muslim Community’ »

by

Tudor Wijenayake

pic: frontline.in

A seminar was held recently at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Kirulapone for the reawakening of the long-delayed ‘A River for Jaffna’ project. The Chief Spokesperson at the seminar was Dr. D.L.O. Mendis, who briefly outlined the project followed by a discussion and the seminar was attended by numbers of senior engineers.

The project

The Jaffna Peninsula has no rivers and the people depend on rain water for domestic use and cultivation. Excessive drawing of ground water has resulted in over 30% of wells becoming saline and unusable.

Continue reading ‘‘A River for Jaffna’ project Envisages Conversion of Jaffna Lagoon into a Freshwater Lake’ »

Vishnuguptha

“Now I know what a ghost is. Unfinished business, that’s what.”
~ Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses

The regime has made a very serious error; an error in judgment, an error in governance and this time an error in politics too. But this is a regime that is known to be well-versed in politics where it excels, even at the expense of good governance and far-sighted policy-making, in manipulating local politics to the miserable extent that the Opposition and its leading partner, the United National Party, must be questioning its own rationale as to why it invited Navi Pillay at all.

United Nations Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay during her first visit to Zimababe-the first ever such visit by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, where she raised issues of sanctions, food and land rights. She met Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe-May 2012-Pic: UNHRC

The body language of the Minister of External Affairs is pathetic; a university professor reputed to be one of the best among legal minds in Asia who has seen through hundreds of brilliant students passing tough law exams with great distinction, he is finding himself failing the most crucial test of all in his ‘adopted’ profession of politics: timing your moves. He must be spending many a sleepless night. He is indeed a pathetic figure, a walking dead as they say when all chips are down and nowhere to look to.

Continue reading ‘Govt Blunders Badly by Overestimating Itself and Underestimating Navi Pillay’ »

Parvathi Menon

Faced with protests and threats of disruption by Sri Lankan Tamil groups, three major cinema companies in the U.K. have decided not to screen Madras Café in their theatres. The political action thriller directed by Shoojit Sircar — and set in the background of the civil war in Sri Lanka in the 1990s — was to have opened in the U.K. on August 28, 2013 in theatres owned by Cineworld, Odeon and Vue.

Continue reading ‘Pro-LTTE Tamil Groups Prevent Screening of “Madras Cafe”film by “Terrorising” UK Theatres’ »

by

Deepika Muralidharan

Popular film personalities and people from different walks of life paid rich tributes to legendary music composer M. S. Viswanathan, popularly known as MSV, at a function organised by Kalai Peravai at the National College grounds here on Saturday evening.

A galaxy of stars led by Vairamuthu (right) and Tiruchi Siva honouring the legendary composer M.S. Viswanathan at a function in Tiruchi on Saturday-Photo: M. Moorthy

The function was brought up in recognition of MSV’s yeoman service in the field of film music.

The highlight of the event was a song written by lyricist Vairamuthu hailing MSV’s achievements on the spot.

Continue reading ‘Legendary Music Composer MS Viswanathan Honoured by “Kalai Peravai” at Function in Tiruchi’ »

By

Sathya Liyanasuriya

This week saw the death of Sunila Abeysekera, arguably Sri Lanka’s best known human rights activist. Abeysekera, 61, died at a private hospital in Colombo after a long battle with cancer.
Growing up in Colombo, Sunila Abeysekera’s interest in human rights began four decades ago, when it was not fashionable to dabble in the subject. Then in her early twenties, she was inspired by the aftermath of the 1971 insurrection of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

She visited prisons where the rebel youths had been detained following the insurgency, to gainan insight into their grievances. When Regi Siriwardena formed the Human Rights Organisation-the first of its kind in the country-she was its Secretary. She was also a livewire of the Civil Rights Movement (CRM).

Continue reading ‘Sunila Abeysekera was Equally Critical of the LTTE for Their Ruthlessness and Scant Regard for Human Rights’ »

by

N Sathiya Moorthy

With four candidates in the fray, Maldives has voted on expected lines, in the first round of the presidential polls on Saturday, Sep 7. Translated, the Indian Ocean archipelago would go in for a second, run-off round for deciding the next president. It was so even in the first ever multi-party presidential polls in October 2008, in what is often described as ‘democratisation’ of the nation’s politics and elections.

Continue reading ‘First Round of Presidential Poll Shows Democracy has come to Stay in Maldives.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Earlier this week, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa made what was possibly the most remarkable ruling party promise yet during its electioneering in the Northern Province.
Thus far, UPFA election speeches have been confined to pleas of gratitude for liberation from the LTTE and post-war reconstruction, coupled with dire warnings about the ulterior motives of the Tamil National Alliance, which is likely to claim victory in the 21 September poll. Minister Rajapaksa struck a different note.

Addressing a meeting in the Vaddukoddai electorate, considered a historic location in the timeline of the country’s ethnic conflict, Basil Rajapaksa vowed to hand over the Government’s much-touted Uthuru Wasanthaya or ‘Northern Spring’ program over to the Provincial Government on 22 September, once the poll results were declared.

Continue reading ‘TNA Administration in North will have Minimal Space to Function from Sep 21st to Nov 2013 or March 2014’ »

By

Stanley Samarasinghe

General Secretary of the Sinhala Jathika Peramuna, Jayantha Liyanage, of Kurunegala yesterday filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeal, seeking an Interim Order to suspend the Provincial Council election in the North. The petitioner cited the Commissioner of Elections and the returning officers in the North as respondents. The petitioner argued, the demining process is yet to be completed in the North and the Sinhala and Muslim communities, who were residing in the province before the war broke out, have not been resettled in the province.

Without resolving these two issues, it is not reasonable to hold a provincial election, the petitioner stated. The petitioner also pointed out that the Sinhala and Muslim communities in the region were driven out from the Northern Province during the war.

Continue reading ‘Sinhala Jathika Peramuna Files Writs in Court of Appeal Seeking Interim Order to Suspend Provincial Council Elections in the North’ »

Missing Person Details

Name: Mrs. Chitra Karunaratne
Age: 69 Gender: Female
Physical aspects: Height 5’2”, Weight 40 Kg, Lean build, Brown skin, Dark brown eyes.
Address: 38/1 Manthrimulla Road, Attidiya. Dehiwala
Continue reading ‘Alzeimers’ patient gone missing – Please help’ »

by

Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne

The HR Commissioner spoke about an authoritarian state developing in this country; there is a debate as to what she meant by that. Did she mean a developing military dictatorship or something else? On the other hand President Rajapaksa ridiculed this idea, “A dictator is a ruler who does not hold elections,” the President charged at the 62nd SLFP Convention in Kurunegala on Monday, one day after Pillay had left Sri Lankan shores. There had been 11 elections held under his watch, since 2005, he claimed. “What’s more democratic than that?” he asked.

However we know that having elections with extreme distortions is a method of some dictators. For example, deposed Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein, Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak, Zimbabwe’s President for life, Robert Mugabe and President Rajapaksa’s brand new best friend in Belarus, the self-proclaimed last dictator of Europe, Lukensha, all belong on a list of autocratic leaders who regularly take their nations to the polls. Elections held under such regimes are flawed bogus affairs. In some cases they claim to represent the majority and prove it by having demonstrations and rallies where the leader participates, embracing crowds.

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Regime is not a Formal Dictatorship but a Fascist Type Authoritarian Rule Based on Arya Sinhala Chauvinism’ »

(Text of a Media Communiqué issued by the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development -Media Unit)

pic: EPDP news

Hon. Douglas Devananda, Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development, addressing the public rallies held in Kattupulam, Ponnalai, Chullipuram, Chettiamadam and Araly on the 2nd of September 2013 for obtaining support for victory of the UPFA fielded candidates at the forthcoming Provincial Council election, said that the TNA was in the process of betraying the people of the North for Dollars and Sterling pounds extended by the Tamil Diaspora, as done previously and this measure whilst being despicable in no way would bring development to the North.

Continue reading ‘“Tamil National Alliance betrays the people of the North for Dollars and Sterling pounds” – Douglas Devananda’ »

by

Upul Joseph Fernando

When former Supreme Court Judge, C.V. Wigneswaran, was first chosen by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as its chief ministerial candidate for the Northern Provincial Council, which is soon to be established, the Tamil Tiger Diaspora levelled serious criticisms against him. The Tamilnet website, the mouthpiece of the Tamil Tigers, expressed its displeasure over the nomination of Wigneswaran in the following scathing attack.

Continue reading ‘“Tamilnet”Website the Mouthpiece of Tamil Tigers Expressed Displeasure over Nomination of CV Wigneswaran’ »

by

S.L.Gunasekara

I am not, and never was an admirer/supporter of the synthetic `doctor’ Mervyn Silva and never thought the occasion would ever arise for me to say a good word about him or any of his acts, however, that occasion has now arisen.

Amid the welter of voices expressing various views about or relating to Pillay, the one which appealed to me most was that of our synthetic `doctor’, making that which appears to have been a rather unconventional proposal of marriage to her. However, conventional or otherwise, that proposal proved the degree of self-sacrifice that synthetic `doctor’ was purportedly prepared to make for the sake of justice. What would the plight of our synthetic `doctor’ have been if Pillay accepted the proposal and he was compelled to marry her? Though the expression “a fate worse than death” is well known, a far more horrible fate would, to my mind, await any one who married Pillay. What of the fate of Pillay if she had accepted the proposal and was compelled to live a life of wedded `bliss’ with that synthetic `doctor’? Indeed this bizarre proposal of marriage brings to mind the Sinhalese saying “JADIYATA MOODIYA” in that it is my most sincere belief that such acceptance and marriage would indisputably serve each of them right!

Continue reading ‘What Would Have Happened if Navi Pillay had Accepted Synthetic Doctor Mervyn Silva’s Bizarre Offer of Marriage?’ »

By

Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran

The Student Movement of Tamil Nadu yesterday threatened to unmask former Supreme Court Justice, C.V. Wigneswaran, soon.

“He is joining the Sri Lankan Government to set up a united Sri Lanka, whereas the Tamils want an Eelam,” one of the students told Ceylon Today. The Students Movement also alleged, the man who says he will get justice to the Tamils, has now joined the government to work for them as a kooli.
Continue reading ‘Student Movement of Tamil Nadu Threaten to “Unmask” TNA Chief Candidate CV Wigneswaran and Destroy him Politically.’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

The TNA’s controversial manifesto calling for self-governance in a re-merged North-Eastern Province was just propaganda meant to draw voters as all those contesting the first Northern PC polls, on the TNA ticket, had furnished a letter each to the Elections Secretariat reiterating their commitment to the unitary status of the country in accordance with the ‘Seventh Schedule’ of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, Election Department sources said.

The then President J. R. Jayewardene introduced the Sixth Amendment on August 8, 1983 in the wake of the outbreak of Eelam War I.

Continue reading ‘All TNA Candidates Contesting Northern Polls Have Submitted Signed Letters Affirming Commitment to Unitary Status of Sri Lanka.’ »

By

Ravinatha P.Aryasinha

(Text of Statement by Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva and Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation at the 24th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), in response to the statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in her Annual Report to the UNHRC)

At the outset, Sri Lanka wishes to associate itself with the statement made by the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Ambassador Ravinatha Pandukabhaya Aryasinha presents his credentials to Mr.Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva-10 July 2012-Photo by Pierre Albouy-UN

My delegation takes note of the High Commissioner’s opening statement. Sri Lanka is firmly committed to supporting the High Commissioner in the discharge of her mandate as contained in GA Resolution 48/141.

Consistent with Sri Lanka’s policy of continuous engagement with the council, I avail myself of this opportunity to update the council on the progress made since the council last met in June 2013, in protecting human rights and furthering of the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Govt of Sri Lanka is Fully Committed to Protecting Human Rights Defenders’ »

By

Dr.Ameer Ali

Sri Lanka’s Muslims are at an unprecedented and ominous crossroads. The community there is faced with an existential threat at the hands of an increasingly militant Buddhist minority, while the nation’s Muslim parliamentarians appear to be more powerless and mute than at any time since 1947. This impotence is startling because the current parliament holds the largest number of Muslim cabinet ministers and deputies (four in each category, respectively) in history, although the number of Muslim representatives in the legislature, eighteen in total, is slightly fewer than in 1989 or 1994. In the face of increasing violence against Muslim businesses, mosques, madrassas, and lives, allegedly by Bodu Bala Sena (BBS)–a fascist outfit of the militant Buddhist political organization, Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU), which is, like the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), a coalition partner in the Rajapaksa Government–the abject silence and weakness of these parliamentarians is difficult to comprehend.

Continue reading ‘Muslims of Sri Lanka have reached the end of a Political Road and Need to Change Direction’ »

(Text of letter sent by Tamil National Alliance Parliamentary Group Pleader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa)

9th September 2013

R. Sampanthan MP

HE Mahinda Rajapakshe,
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
President’s House,
Colombo 1.

Your Excellency,

Provincial Council Elections to the Northern Province

I write with reference to the above Elections due to be held on the 21st of September 2013.

You are aware that we and many others have consistently raised the issue of the heavily militarized atmosphere in the Northern Province, which is not at all conducive to the holding of a free and fair election. What has been objectionable even before the announcement of the polls is not only the presence of the military but the fact that they without invitation engage with the civilian population in many exclusively civilian matters.

Continue reading ‘Relegate Armed Forces to Barracks to Eliminate Interference and Ensure free and Fair Elections in North -TNA Leader Sampanthan Writes to President Rajapaksa’ »

Mourning Tireless Rights Advocate Sunila Abeyesekera
Human Rights Watch on Loss of Leading Voice for Rights in Sri Lanka’s Deadly Conflict

(New York, September 10, 2013) – Human Rights Watch mourns the death of Sunila Abeysekera, a prominent and highly respected Sri Lankan activist who spent more than two decades documenting human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Abeysekera passed away in Colombo on September 9, 2013, following a long illness.

With a rare ability to act as researcher, advocate, and spokesperson within Sri Lanka and abroad, Abeysekera was internationally recognized as one of South Asia’s preeminent human rights activists.

Continue reading ‘Sunila Abeyesekera the Tireless Human Rights Advocate of Sri Lanka Passes Away’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

President of Sri Lanka-India Friendship Society, attorney-at-law Kandiah Neelakandan has called for Indian intervention to save the civil society here.

The top lawyer was making an unscheduled speech at the annual gathering at the rooftop of the Taj Samudra on Saturday night to celebrate India’s Independence Day. Indian High Commissioner Y. S. Sinha was the chief guest on the occasion.

Continue reading ‘Senior Lawyer Kandiah Neelakandan Calls for Indian Intervention to Save Civil Society in Sri Lanka’ »

by

Mano Ratwatte

I know it is not fashionable to talk or mention ex-Presidents or political leaders of the past when it comes to matters of importance in Sri Lanka because the very same people who curry favor and act as sycophants are usually the first to abandon and deny the leaders (faster than Peter) when their fortunes are down and they no longer have any credibility.

I have been a critic of my own cousin, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, during her regime and sometimes perhaps unfairly hoping and expecting better governance from her. However, in the context of recent clashes between religious groups and religious intolerance or extremism creeping into the body politic I want to share with your readers a conversation I had with her.

Continue reading ‘Chandrika Kumaratunga Always had a Good Sense of Right and Wrong About Ethnic Issues and Religious Extremism’ »

(Text of Opening Address by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms.Navanethem Pillay at the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva)

Mr. President,

Thank you for this opportunity to address you.

In September two years ago, when I addressed the situation in Syria at this Council, I pointed out that some 2,600 Syrians had already died in the conflict.

Today the number of dead stands at over 100,000. Last week, the number of refugees reached two million, and an additional four million people are displaced inside Syria. Camps in neighbouring lands are struggling to cope and we are just a few months away from winter. The suffering of Syria’s civilian population has reached unimaginable levels.

The use of chemical weapons has long been identified as one of the gravest crimes that can be committed, yet their use in Syria seems now to be in little doubt, even if all the circumstances and responsibilities remain to be clarified.

The International Community is late, very late, to take serious joint action to halt the downward spiral that has gripped Syria, slaughtering its people and destroying its cities. This is no time for powerful States to continue to disagree on the way forward, or for geopolitical interests to override the legal and moral obligation to save lives by bringing this conflict to an end.

Continue reading ‘“I Stress my Concern for Protection of Human Rights Defenders.Journalists and Communities I met in Sri Lanka from Any Reprisal,Intimidation or Attack”-Navi Pillay at UN’ »

by Ranga Jayasuriya

The Liberian flagged container vessel, MV Northern Power, left the Pakistani port of Karachi on 17 June. Five days later, the ship arrived at the Colombo Port. The ship, 264 metres in length and 32 metres in width, had a gross tonnage of 47,855 tonnes. Tucked away among its thousands of containers was one seemingly innocuous 40 feet container shipped by Sha industries of Karachi to an address in the Maligawatta Railway Quarters. The recipient was one Mohammed Kamil, a resident at the same address. According to documents produced to the Sri Lanka Customs, the container had a consignment of ceramic bathroom fittings, grease canisters and plastic goods. The consignment had been shipped on the guarantee that the payment would be made within 60 days after the shipment was delivered to the recipient. Only the senders knew that the shipment hidden in the container, in its street value, is worth more than the ship itself: 261 kg of brown sugar heroin, which was concealed in the container, is estimated to worth Rs 2.5 billion. The going rate for one kilo of brown sugar heroin is Rs 10 million, according to the Police Narcotic Bureau.

Continue reading ‘Is Sri Lanka Becoming a Transshipment Hub for Illegal Drugs Enroute to Europe from Pakistan and Afghanistan?’ »

By

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.

I noted earlier that the visit of Navanethem Pillay should be seen as an opportunity by the Sri Lankan government, and the way the visit went, as well as the statement she made, confirms this view. Of course we had to contend with the fact that not all the advice she received was constructive, but the manner in which she reversed her earlier intention to lay flowers at Mullivaikkal indicates that she herself wanted to be positive. Though she argued that she had placed flowers elsewhere, she is too intelligent a woman not to have realized that her gesture would have been seen as a tribute to the LTTE, not to the victims of the long drawn out conflict.

I suspect too that, having come here, and seen our basic commitment to pluralism, she would have for the first time realized what an aberration the LTTE was. Though I do not think she would ever have stuck up for terrorists, she might have thought previously of the LTTE as at least in part freedom fighters, given her own upbringing in South Africa, where the Africans were without dignity or rights in the dark days of apartheid. Coming here would have helped her to understand the difference, and that I believe prompted the first foursquare condemnation of the LTTE from the UN system that we have now finally heard.

Continue reading ‘Navi Pillay delivered in Sri Lanka the First Foursquare Condemnation of the LTTE from the UN System’ »

BY

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

“…The recent visit to Sri Lanka by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner is another instance of this attention. This has been accomplished mostly by the actions of the LTTE linked groups, which have many trained LTTE cadres and operatives who are now fully engaged in propaganda activities.”
– Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Defence Seminar 2013, Sept 3rd

The ancient Greeks were the first to draw distinctions between types of regimes. The three basic types were democracy, oligarchy and tyranny. Aristotle also introduced the concept of mixed regimes. Thus Sri Lanka could be said to be an admixture of democracy and oligarchy. Following in the footsteps of the political philosophers of Ancient Greece, the modern political thinker Hannah Arendt drew the clear distinction between authoritarianism and totalitarianism.

If there is a latent totalitarian thrust in Sri Lanka, I doubt that it comes from President Rajapaksa. One must fervently hope that he is not entrapped and eventually consumed by it. Those who regard President Rajapaksa as the fount of all evil should consider what would change if he were no longer in office and if there were a power vacuum, who and what would fill it. At the risk of political incorrectness, I venture to suggest that not only would we not have Northern Provincial elections without agitation and blood in the streets were it not for the incumbency of Mahinda Rajapksa; much more importantly, he is probably the only one that stands between society and some form of ruthless, brutal militaristic rule, a glimpse of which we had in Weliweriya-Rathupassala.

Continue reading ‘Is Sri Lanka Ruled by Popularly Elected Leadership or by the so Called National Security/Defence Apparatus?’ »

by

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“In other countries who (sic) are successful, they were successful because immediately one person he takes the decisions. In Sri Lanka, the main problem is that that is not there, more decisions have to be centralized”

Basil Rajapaksa (Sydney Morning Herald – 19.11.2012)

The Minority Conundrum

In his review of Hannah K, Costa Gavras’s movie on the human consequences of Palestinian dispossession, Edward Said points out that the American mass-culture has accepted “the notion that whereas there may be a Palestine question and even Palestinians, neither has much positive human value attached to it” . In Rajapaksa Sri Lanka, the existence of a Tamil community is accepted, as an unavoidable statistic, but the validity of a Tamil problem, at a political or a human level, is totally negated.

The ‘commonsense’ of the Rajapaksa era reduced the Northern crisis to a terrorist problem which ‘ended’ with the annihilation of the LTTE. The Tamils may share some economic and social woes with other Lankans, but even these non-political problems are rapidly evaporating thanks to the regime’s accelerated ‘development-drive’. The only potential snake in this happy Eden is the possibility of a Tiger resurgence, for which the military is ready, in situ.

In this context, any reference to a Tamil problem from a political or a human angle becomes axiomatically equated with Tigerism, terrorism and separatism. This renders objectionable not just a political solution to the ethnic problem but also such normal human impulses as mourning the death of a loved one. Thus the near hysterical reaction to Navi Pillay’s request to pay a floral tribute to all the dead of the Eelam War (the only war-dead considered ‘worthy’ of being commemorated are the members of the military, Sinhala civilians, and some anti-Tiger Tamils).

Thus also the venomous reaction to the prospect of a TNA-led Northern PC (with a Chief Minister of Justice Wigneswaran’s calibre).

Continue reading ‘An Insidious Plan to Criminalise Tamil and Muslim Politics in the name of Anti-Racism’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sudha Ragunathan

Niranjana is the only student in her batch at the fine arts department of Jaffna University who is currently training to play the violin.

“How do we oscillate the note ga in the ragam Mohanam without showing the ma ? Isn’t it wrong if the ma is heard?” — When the petite young woman stood up and raised the rather technical question to the artists at a workshop held at the packed Veerasingam Hall in Jaffna town, it took more than one artist’s response to convince her that such as oscillation would not amount to a grammatical error.

The artists were here for ‘Svanubhava’— an event that vocalist T.M. Krishna has been organising annually in a few cities across India with a team of young volunteers — which concluded here on Friday. Members of the audience were predominantly students and teachers from the Ramanathan Academy of Fine Arts, Jaffna University.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Artistes Sudha Ragunathan, Leela Samson, TM Krishna & AK Palanivel Stage “Divine Ecstasy” Cultural Event in Jaffna and also Conduct Recital Workshops in Song, Music and dance’ »

By

Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

A look at the manifesto of the Tamil National Alliance for the upcoming Northern Provincial Council election, released this week, shows that the positions adopted by the alliance have hardly changed, in spite of the other variables having altered significantly. The demands of the TNA reflect an unwillingness to adapt to their ‘new circumstances’ following the defeat of the LTTE, and a lack of realism that does not bode well for the process of reconciliation. Parts of the document are frankly disingenuous.

How realistic is the demand for a re-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces, when the Supreme Court declared the short-lived and disastrous arrangement that came into being after the Indo Lanka Accord of 1987, to be unconstitutional? The call for a federal structure is repeated in spite of the fact that the discussion on a political solution to the national question has moved along a fair bit since the end of the war. This demand falls outside the ambit of the boundaries drawn by the 13th Amendment, which is about devolution of power with the province as the unit of devolution, within a unitary state. It is not about a federal system or ‘shared sovereignty’ that the TNA speaks of.

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Election Manifesto Aimed at Tamil Diaspora and not Meant for Tamil Voters of North’ »

By

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, is expected to highlight the possibility of reprisals and attacks on human rights defenders, journalists and communities she met up with during her recent visit to Sri Lanka, when she makes the opening statement at the 24th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, tomorrow (9).

Continue reading ‘Navi Pillay Expected to Both Praise and Condemn Sri Lanka During her Opening Statement to UN in Geneva on Sep 9th’ »

by

N. Sathiya Moorthy

Mervyn Silva MP

At the end of the day, the much-publicised and equally important week-long visit of UNHRC chief Navaneetham Pillay to Sri Lanka will be remembered for two wrong reasons. One is for Navi Pillay’s observation that Sri Lanka is moving increasingly towards ‘authoritarianism’. Coming from a senior UN diplomat, it is bad enough. By his own standards, Minister Mervyn Silva set a new bottom-line for crudity, when he said what she had said.

Continue reading ‘Minister Mervyn Must Be Condemned for the “Indecent Proposal” Made to UNHRC Chief Navi Pillay who was so very Deeply Hurt’ »

by

Gamini Weerakoon

Navi Pillay got the goat of most Sri Lankans last week during her visit here but did she deserve the mass hysteria that broke out – particularly in the media?

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at Temple Trees on Aug 30-pic by: Sudath Silva-news.lk

Those who wanted to register themselves in the role of ‘patriots’ had to say something devastating about Pillay for public consumption. And Pillay too was as devastating, unlike what a diplomat should be, according to that famous quotation: “A diplomat is a person who would tell you ‘go to hell’ and in such a way that you would actually look forward to the trip”. She said, ‘go to hell’, and hell was what she meant.

Continue reading ‘Navi Pillay Came Here to Create Waves but the Govt Reaction to her Caused a Tsunami’ »

By

Vishnuguptha

“Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.”
~Bertrand Russell

Never was there a time in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history like this. There was never a time when hypocrisy on the part of politicians has been so rampant, from the ruling party to the Opposition and from Cabinet Minister to the Pradesheeya Sabha Member. From top to bottom, hypocrisy is the common denominator, of course, among other atrocious features, such as corruption, nepotism, bribery, insensitivity and above all plain stupidity. Yet ever since 1994, whenever elections were held to ascertain which way the voter is swaying, the results were almost always foregone; a thumping majority for the ruling party and a humiliating thrashing for the Opposition, except perhaps in the North and the East.

pic: facebook.com/UNPofficialpage

Then one wonders: How is this happening and more fundamentally, why is it happening? Academics, pundits and observers, both international and local, have been grappling with this enigmatic dynamic of electoral victories for the ruling party.
Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Must be Replaced as UNP and Opposition Leader First If One Wants to Get Rid of the Rajapaksa Regime.’ »

By

Zacki Jabbar

Sri Lanka Cricket Vice President K. Mathivanan resigned from his post after receiving a “call” in connection with his candidacy for the Presidency of a leading Colombo Cricket Club, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Speaking during a ceremony to mark the 67th anniversary of the founding of the UNP, at ‘Srikotha’, he said that intimidation and terror tactics had tarnished sports as well, leaving the youth wondering what their future would be.

Continue reading ‘SL Cricket Vice President Mathivanan Resigned his Post After Receiving a “Call” Charges Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

by

Hafeel Farisz

Sri Lanka Cricket Vice President K. Mathiavanan resigned from his post in a shock move, that could create ripples in the cricketing fraternity after he was compelled to withdraw from a contest with SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranathungafor the Presidency of leading Cricket Club- Colts today.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror Mathiavanan said that unwarranted pressure and interference in the run up to the Colts CC elections had compelled him to resign.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Cricket Vice-President K.Mathivanan Resigns From Post and Withdraws from Colts CC President Elections.’ »

By

Izeth Hussain

There should be a broad consensus in Sri Lanka that something effective should be done to halt the anti-Muslim campaign that has become what looks like a permanent feature of our political landscape. There have been statements against it by a wide range of civil society institutions, by our political parties, and our newspapers have been full of editorials and articles against it. Hardly anyone has declared himself to be in favor of it. But the anti-Muslim campaign goes on regardless.

Continue reading ‘The Present Anti-Muslim Campaign May Gather or Lose Momentum but the Problem of Anti-Muslim Racism Will Continue’ »

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen issued the following statement yesterday:

“The All Ceylon Muslim Congress deplores the statement made by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa alleging Muslim extremism in the country at a security conference held in Colombo attended by representatives of countries across the globe. The statement seemingly gives credentials to the false claim made by certain communal elements.

These elements are hired by some invisible forces to discredit the government in the international arena by whipping up communal hatred through cooked-up stories.
Continue reading ‘Rishad Bathiudeen Wants Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to Clarify his Statement About Muslim Extremism As Muslims are Perturbed’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated that extremism posed a severe threat not only to post-war Sri Lanka but many countries in the region as well as the industrialised world.

The war veteran was responding to a statement issued by Justice Minister Hakeem, who is also the SLMC leader, in the wake of Rajapaksa’s address to the Defence Seminar in Colombo early this week. Minister Hakeem was obviously blind to the ground situation, he said, adding that the world was in turmoil today partly due to extremism.

Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Says Minister Hakeem has Misconstrued his Assertion about “Extremism”and has Misinterpreted Facts’ »

By

Rauff Hakeem

(Text of Statement by Minister of Justice and Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Rauff Hakeem to the Secretary of Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, in reaction to his key-note address at Defence Seminar on the theme ‘Post Conflict Sri Lanka: Challenges and Regional Stability’)

I make the following statement on behalf of the Muslim Community of Sri Lanka in response to some important observations made by the Secretary of Defence in his key note address at the recent Defence Seminar.

In order to avoid any controversy arising out of any misunderstanding, I would like to quote the exact words of the Secretary of Defence and its context:

Continue reading ‘“I would like to publicly contradict the assertion of the Secretary of Defence on Behalf of the Muslim Community of Sri Lanka-Hakeem’ »

by

Ranga Jayasuriya

Sadly though, the government returned to its old habits soon after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, left the country after her official tour. All the hard work the government had done to put on its best face for Pillay were soon to be dwarfed by its usual paranoid outlook. That is sad, especially in the context of some salient initiatives that are embarked upon in order to address long-neglected human rights and governance concerns, ahead of the arrival of the UN Rights Chief.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay during a visit to the Goree Island, off Senegal’s coast. Goree is a world heritage site, that was used as a transit for slaves, during the Trans Atlantic Slave trade-Mar 2011-pic: UNHRC

A Presidential Commission of Inquiry was appointed to investigate the disappearances; and even Pillay, who criticized the politicization of the senior positions of the Judiciary, in the same media conference, expressed confidence in ‘reputed’ commissioners, who were sitting in the Presidential Commission.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt Should be Happy that Navi Pillay Prefers a Credible Local Process Instead of Pressing for an International War Crimes Investigation’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“If the King destroys a man, that’s proof to the King that it must have been a bad man….” Robert Bolt (A Man for All Seasons)

Where would all the fairy tales be without the monsters?

How does a hero escape irrelevance, once the last monster is slain?

Can a king muster armies and stifle opponents, if the land is not menaced?

pic: news.lk

Sans a suitable enemy, how can the Rajapaksas insist on their indispensability? Or justify satiating a gargantuan military machine when ordinary people, from North to South, suffer from want? Or excuse the steady asphyxiating of basic rights, the brutal suppression of democratic dissent, even in the Sinhala-South?

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Regime Needs Suitable Enemies Just as Living Beings Need Oxygen’ »

By
Vishnuguptha

“What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other’s folly – that is the first law of nature.”

~Voltaire

Navi Pillay’s statement on her findings at the end of her recent visit to Sri Lanka has succeeded, if not in opening eyes and ears of some of our self-glorified pundits and academics, in brushing on the wrong side of the ruling cabal of the Rajapaksas. The consummate diplomat that she is, Pillay pulled no punches, spared no villain and minced no words. In her official statement issued in the wake of the conclusion of her visit to Sri Lanka, she placed the blame where it belonged: right at the top.

Continue reading ‘Navi Pillay Being the Consummate Diplomat Pulled no Punches,Spared no Villain and Minced No Words’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Rajeswari Ganesan, mother of a 28-year-old Vavuniya prison inmate who died under suspicious circumstances in June last year, sobbed out her grief to visiting UN Human Rights Commissioner Navanethem Pillay in the North last Tuesday.

This past year, Rajeswari’s grief over the death of her only son, who authorities claim died of a heart attack but she believes was killed in custody, has been a terrible thing to see. Navi Pillay may not have been able to understand Rajeswari’s representation made in Tamil, but overcome with empathy, the UN Envoy put her arms around the weeping mother and held her.

Navi Pillay was the most senior UN official to have visited Sri Lanka’s embattled north and east since UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon toured the region soon after the war ended in May 2009. For hundreds of families living in the former war zone, whose personal tragedies have been ignored for years, the fact that a high ranking person of international influence was finally close enough to hear their cries for help, was undoubtedly an electrifying experience.

Continue reading ‘UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay’s Report on Sri Lanka will be a Bare-naked Reading of the Human Rights Situation on Ground.’ »

By

Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne

The UN Human Rights Commissioner came and went. Those who expected a dramatic exposure from her were disappointed.

The war was a tragedy, not only for the Tamil people but also for the people in the South. It enhanced the path of enslavement to the global powers. It was an aggression and a conquest for those who believed in a Tamil homeland. Not only were the entire Vanni civilizations destroyed but also plunder of land, earth and other resources became the aim of the conquest. The Tamil national problem expanded in all directions and became an international problem. In spite of the ruthlessness of the LTTE there was recognition of a national oppression.

Continue reading ‘As Long as Mahinda Govt Works According to IMF Guidelines no UN Body can Harm the Rajapaksa Regime.’ »

By

Paramu Thirugnanasambanthar

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka condemns the war plans by the US and its allies against Syria. The SEP calls on workers, youth and the oppressed masses in South Asia, including Sri Lanka and India, and around the world to oppose the planned US military attack on this small, oppressed and under-developed country.

By threatening to invade Syria—in violation of international law—the US is acting like an international gangster. The official justification for war is a pack of lies, echoing the bogus pretext about “weapons of mass destruction” used by the Bush administration in its 2003 war against Iraq.
Continue reading ‘HANDS OFF SYRIA!Socialist Equality Party in Sri Lanka Denounces US War Threat.’ »

By

Taylor Dibbert

Barack Obama’s aversion to using military force or projecting American power in any form is well-known. Now with his most recent foreign policy decision, he appears to have taken his propensity for dithering and incredible reluctance to lead to a new level.

The fact of the matter is that Mr. Obama doesn’t need Congress’s permission to engage in limited military action regarding the “problem from hell.” Yet even though he’s commander-in-chief, Obama still – after thirty months of people being slaughtered – doesn’t want to make a decision about Syria. Instead he’s decided to hand that responsibility to the same legislative body that he constantly criticizes.

Evidently it is not enough for Obama to preside over eight years of American weakness and prevarication. He seems intent on actually undermining the executive office itself.

Continue reading ‘President Obama Doesn’t Need Congress’s Permission to Engage in Limited Military Acttion Regarding the “Problem from Hell”.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

The Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay broke its silence yesterday over Government claims that she had attempted to a pay floral tribute where LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran had been killed, saying the allegations were a ‘gross misrepresentation’.

Spokesman for the High Commissioner Rupert Colville told the Daily FT that it was a “gross misrepresentation” to pretend Pillay was planning to honour the LTTE. “She made her views on the LTTE very clear in her statement,” he asserted.

Continue reading ‘Floral Tributes to LTTE Allegation against Navi Pillay Dismissed by UN as “Latest in a Pattern of Mendacious Abuse”’ »

An Interview with The Social Architects of Sri Lanka by John Lyman

For those that follow developments in Sri Lanka over the past several years invariably the Sri Lankan Civil War comes to mind. The Sri Lankan Civil War began back in July of 1983, and was fought between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan government forces. The goal and objectives of the Tamil Tigers was to create an independent Tamil state called Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka’s north and the east. The civil war ended in May of 2009.

Sri Lanka’s brutal war came to an end in 2009, but the country’s ethnic conflict remains unresolved. The Social Architects, a research and advocacy group, were created in early 2012. Since then, their work has garnered a significant amount of attention – both in South Asia and in other places such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Continue reading ‘Greatest Stumbling Blocks to Reconciliation are President Rajapaksa’s deeply Intolerant Policies and Misguided Strategies-The Social Architects’ »

by

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

To go by its election manifesto the TNA seems completely unmindful of the massive effort that had to be made for the Provincial Council system to be set up in 1987-88, for the 13th amendment to be preserved in 2013 and the PC election in the North to be held under the existing amendment. In short it appears to be unconcerned about the fragility of the political space that has been prised open and the need to carry a sizeable segment of Southern opinion with it at all times or at least neutralise Southern opposition to the Council.

The inflated, emotive electoral rhetoric of 1977 played its part in setting the TULF on a confrontation course with Colombo. It is about to happen again and this time the collision is more certain and will perhaps prove more consequential. One miscalculation could lead to protracted deadlock and worse still, a strategic politico-military lockdown.

The TNA’s electoral manifesto shows that the Tamil politicians and perhaps their Northern constituency have learned as little as have their Southern counterparts. Here I do not refer to the call for federalism or the North-East merger, which may be objectionable to many and inadvisable to boot, but can hardly be described as illegitimate. Even if debatable, these are valid political stances and propositions.

Continue reading ‘References to The LTTE by The TNA in Its Electoral Manifesto are Explicit,Uncritical and Deceitful’ »

BY TILAKA WIJESOORIYA AND DHAMMIKA NAMAL KORALA

It is reported that the statue of Goddess Sri Badhrakali has been destroyed by dashing it on a flat stone used for washing clothes, consequent to it being removed from the kovil at the Dambulla sacred area.

It was also revealed the statue was destroyed in the vicinity of the ‘lime well’ located near the kovil.

Continue reading ‘Statue of Hindu Goddess Sri Bhadrakali in Dambulla Sacred Area Dashed on Stone and Damaged by Vandals’ »

By
Neil Corcoran

In 2009, as part of the extensive celebrations in Ireland for his 70th birthday, RTÉ broadcast a documentary about Seamus Heaney. Towards its close, Heaney, who has died aged 74, was asked whether anything in his work seemed appropriate to him as an epitaph.

He demurred at first but, when gently prodded, quoted what he had translated from Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles when his friend the great Polish poet Czesław Miłosz died in 2004.

Telling the story of the old king who dies and vanishes into the earth, the play’s Messenger says, in Heaney’s version: “Wherever that man went, he went gratefully.” That, said Heaney, would do for him too.

Continue reading ‘An Obituary for Irish Poet and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney:Born April 13 1939-Died August 30 2013’ »

By

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

( Full Text of the Keynote address delivered by Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapksa at the ‘Defence Seminar 2013’ held on 03rd September 2013 at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo)

It gives me great pleasure to deliver the keynote address this morning, at the 3rd Annual Defence Seminar organised by the Sri Lanka Army. I am aware that distinguished delegates and guests from 29 countries are participating in this event, alongside a large number of attendees from Sri Lanka.

On behalf of the Government, I take this opportunity to welcome our foreign guests to Sri Lanka and to wish all the participants an educative and productive time at this important event. I also extend my congratulations to the Commander and the Officers of the Sri Lanka Army who have organised this event with great professionalism and skill.
Continue reading ‘Emergence of Hardline Groups Within Majority Community is a Consequence of Increasing Insularity Amongst Minority Ethnic Groups’ »

By Fred Abrahams – Human Rights Watch

The paradox could not be starker. The world’s attention is focused on Syria – did President Bashar al-Assad use chemical weapons? Should outside powers use military force? Yet states are not offering enough aid to stem the suffering of the millions of Syrians caught in the conflict.

Today the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) announced a horrible statistic: officials have tallied two million Syrian refugees. The country is “hemorrhaging women, children and men,” UNHCR said.

Syria is now the world’s second largest producer of refugees, after Afghanistan. On average, 5,000 people flee the country every day. Another 4.25 million Syrians are internally displaced.

Continue reading ‘If Govts Really Care about Crisis in Syria they Must Help Civilians in Urgent Need’ »

(Text of Statement and Manifesto Issued by the The Tamil National Alliance for the Northern Provincial Council Election – 2013)

THE MANDATE GIVEN TO THE TAMIL NATIONAL ALLIANCE (TNA)

The Tamil People overwhelmingly gave the TNA a mandate at the General Election held in April 2010. The TNA has continued to act in accordance with that political mandate and is now facing the Northern Provincial Council Election as a necessary step in the fulfilment of that objective. It is pertinent to recall the salient features of that mandate:

Continue reading ‘Lives of our People Must be Rebuilt While Regaining Our Political Rights and Maintaining our Distinct Identity as a People-TNA Manifesto’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

(UN Human Rights Chief slams Sri Lankan Government critics and propagandists, saying abuse directed at her on the basis of her Indian Tamil heritage was both wildly inaccurate and deeply offensive, condemned the LTTE as a murderous organisation and urged the Diaspora not to glorify the defeated terrorist group. Journalists in Sri Lanka sat in on one of the most explosive briefings by an international diplomat in recent times last Saturday)

It was an unusual request from the UN office in Colombo for journalists to arrive at its Bauddhaloka Mawatha compound two hours ahead of a scheduled press briefing by UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay, who was wrapping up a seven-day fact-finding mission here on Saturday (31).

Continue reading ‘Navi Pillai’s Press Conference one of the most Explosive Briefings by an International Diplomat in Recent Times.’ »

by

Col R Hariharan

Introduction

The growing presence of the Chinese in Sri Lanka, when India-Sri Lanka relations are under stress, has disturbing strategic connotations for national security. Chinese actions are closely related to the domestic and external policy dispensations of the new Chinese leadership under Xi Jingping as well as China’s desire to takeover South Asia’s under-exploited markets dominated by India so far.

Continue reading ‘Growing Chinese Presence in Sri Lanka when Indo-Lanka Relations are Under Stress Has Disturbing Strategic National Security Connotations’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has told United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay that the United States of America had no moral right to move a resolution targeting Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva.

The Defence Secretary pointed out the irrationality in the US action in the wake of atrocities committed by its forces in various parts of the world. The US twice moved resolutions in Geneva condemning Sri Lanka after an abortive Canadian bid to humiliate the country.

The Defence Secretary met the UN delegation, headed by Pillay, at the Defence Ministry on Friday.

Asked whether Pillay had responded, the Defence Secretary said that the UN delegation remained silent. “Obviously, Pillay couldn’t have endorsed my criticism of US action, though the entire world knew of death, destruction and instability caused by the super power,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says Navi Pillay took up Petty Political Issues at the Behest of Those Unable to Stomach Eradication of the LTTE’ »

(Text of Press release issued by the Department of Government Information)

pic: Defence.lk

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms Navanetham Pillay was on a week-long visit to Sri Lanka on an invitation extended by the Government of Sri Lanka in April 2011. This invitation is a part of Sri Lanka’s consistent engagement with the UN System.

As is well known, the High Commissioner’s visit to Sri Lanka was extensive, which she herself has described, as the longest ever country visit undertaken in her current position. The GOSL provided unfettered access for the High Commissioner to meet all those whom she sought to engage with, besides providing briefings on the part of the GOSL, on the continuing post conflict developments, a fact that she has acknowledged.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt Irked by UN Human Rights Chief’s Statement About Country “ “is showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction”’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara
“…superficial unity, which is the result of the denial or the sacrifice of differences”.

Tagore (The One Nationalist Party)

The regime reverted to business-as-usual literally on the day Navi Pillay left Sri Lanka.

The first salvo of lies against the UN High Commissioner Human Rights was fired, predictably, by the state-owned Sunday Observer: “UNHRC chief Navi Pillay’s request to pay a floral tribute during her recent visit to the North had been rejected by the government. Informed sources said that Pillay had initially informed of her desire to offer a floral tribute to the late LTTE terrorist leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran at a location in the North. However the Government had turned down Pillay’s request”[i].

The regime’s lie is characteristically inane, and obscenely so, given Ms. Pillay’s unequivocal criticism of the Tigers: “The LTTE was a murderous organisation that committed numerous crimes and destroyed many lives”. As Ms. Pillay explained, “…when I go to a country, I like to honour the victims, all victims, victims of LTTE, soldiers, families…. I have done this, for instance, in Moscow, done this in Guatemala…. I thought that I could do it here….”[ii]

Not only did the regime prevent this humane gesture of reconciliation by threatening to cancel the entire Mullativu segment of Ms. Pillay’s visit; it concocted a tissue of lies about and around her request, just hours after the UNHRC Chief left the island.

Continue reading ‘Sinhala Buddhist Supremacy,Sinhala Ravaya and the Sihalaramaya Syndrome’ »

High Commissioner Navi Pillay at Press Briefing in Colombo-Aug31, 2013

(Opening remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay at a press conference in Colombo held on August 31st during her mission to Sri Lanka)

Good morning, and thank you for coming.

As is customary at the end of official missions such as this, I would like to makesome observations concerning the human rights situation in the country.

Continue reading ‘Calling me the “Tamil Tigress in the UN” is not only Wildly Incorrect but Also deeply Offensive-Navi Pillay’ »

by

N.Sathiya Moorthy

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s belated decision to create a Ministry for Internal Law & Order should be welcomed for more reasons than one.

Ceremony held at the Ministry premises in Chatham Street with the participation of distinguished gathering and Major General (Rtd) Mallawarachchi recently-pic: Defence.lk

The appointment of a veteran top-soldier, former Army Chief of Staff, Maj-Gen Nanda Mallawaarachchi (retd), as the Secretary of the new Ministry, with the President holding the charge at the politico-administrative level, should help in the transition period, again for the same reasons.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapksa’s Belated Decision to Create a Ministry for Internal Law and Order Should Help in the Transition’ »

By

Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The past week has been a nightmare. Apart from the trauma experienced by my family and myself due to the pre-dawn break in at our residence on Saturday (24), the biggest disappointment has been the actions of certain sections of the media and their false reportage of the incident.

Continue reading ‘“What Happened That Night”:Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema Recounts Her Ordeal’ »

By

Vishnuguptha

“In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”
~Martin Luther King Jr

Fifty years ago, on August 28, 1963, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., the uncrowned king of the African-American population of United States of America, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, named after and built in memory of the American President who abolished slavery, a speech for the ages. Delivered amidst a million of Blacks, Whites, Browns and Yellows, all shades of the human race claiming the United States of America as home, King’s message was universal; its proclamations were unambiguous, its central theme was inspiring and its delivery in the context of historic orations made by such a rare-few in the ancient times was unmatched.

Continue reading ‘Will A Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King Jr “Appear” and Inspire Languishing Sri Lanka?’ »

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
Continue reading ‘“I Have a Dream”: Full Text of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.’s Historic speech in Washington 50 Years Ago’ »

(Text of Memorandum Submitted to H.E. Navaneetham Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by the Alliance of Media Organizations in Sri Lanka on August 29th 2013)

Freedom of Expression is a constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right in Sri Lanka, while it’s also guaranteed by virtue of Sri Lanka being a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, the last few years had seen this right under severe threat, and below is a summary of some of our key concerns and appeals to Your Excellency.
Continue reading ‘Alliance of Media Organizations in Sri Lanka Present Memorandum to UN Human Rights Commissioner Ms. Navaneetham Pillay’ »

by

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“I am the last and only dictator in Europe”
-Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus

The day the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights arrived in Sri Lanka, the President of Sri Lanka flew to Belarus.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arriving in Belarus-pic via: news.lk

Belarus has been ruled by Alexander Lukashenko since 1994. In 2010 he won his 4th presidential election by bagging 79.65% of the vote (two of the rival contenders were badly beaten-up by the police[ii]).

His long reign was enabled by a referendum in 2004 which removed presidential term-limits. Mr Lukashenko, known by the sobriquet Bat’ka (father), is given to theatrical – and rather juvenile – displays of machismo; when President Putin displayed a giant pike he ‘caught’ as a demonstration of his prowess, Mr. Lukashenko responded by parading a much larger catfish[iii].

The Belarus leader is an expert in holding stage-managed elections (at the last parliamentary election, the opposition parties failed to win a single seat).

He jailed a one-time presidential rival[iv] and has taken giant strides to muzzle the media, including the internet.

He is also reportedly grooming his youngest son to succeed him[v].

President Lukashenko is a man from whom the Rajapaksas can draw inspiration and obtain advice in furthering their own dynastic project.

Continue reading ‘Some of our People say “We will Tell Madam Pillay”(Pillay Nonata Kiyanawa) -Basil Rajapaksa’ »

BY

Dharisha Bastians

The small strip of coast beside the emerald waters of the Indian Ocean, in the Mullaitivu District, was a rapidly shrinking space between February-May 2009. The 12 kilometre beachstrip that would become a lasting legacy of Sri Lanka’s protracted conflict, lies on the left bank of a large lagoon known as Nandikadal.

Meeting in Mullivaikkal-pic courtesy of: BBC Tamil

Four years after the end of the war, the thick jungles, waterways and blue-green seas of the Wanni remains largely unexplored territory for the average Sri Lankan. But any Sri Lankan, whether a peacetime visitor to the Wanni or not, will speak with intimate familiarity of Nandikadal. In these bloodied and murky waters was found slain the country’s most dangerous criminal, creator of the human bomb, megalomaniac and sworn enemy of the nation, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, who had ruled land, sea and waterway in the Wanni uncontested for years

Continue reading ‘Politically Astute Sections of Govt Determined to Create Positive Impresson of Post-War Sri Lanka by Providing Navi Pillay Unrestricted Access’ »

Families of Missing Persons file Habeus Corpus Application in High Court

• Entire family including 3 small children among missing persons together with parents

Demonstration in Jaffna-Aug 27-pic courtesy of: BBC Tamil

A new set of Habeus corpus applications were filed in the High Court of Vavuniya by the families of persons who are missing after surrendering to the Sri Lankan Military. It was alleged by the Petitioners that after their harrowing trek to the Mullaithivu government controlled area they acceded to the request and announcement made by Sri Lankan Military authorities and decided to surrender.

Continue reading ‘Families of Persons who went Missing After Surrendering to Military file Habeas Corpus Applications in Vavuniya High Court’ »

by

Ekatha Ann John

CHENNAI: Three idlis, a bowl of sambhar and a tumbler of filter kaapi — Chennai’s traditional breakfast is not just a gastronomical delight for many but also the most nutritious morning meal compared to those in other metros.

pic by: Karen V Bryan

‘India Breakfast Habits Study’, a survey conducted in four metros, found that Chennai has the best breakfast ‘nutrient profile’ in the country.

Continue reading ‘Traditional Chennai Breakfast of Idlis, Sambhar and Filtered Coffee most Nutritious Morning Meal Reveals Survey of Indian Cities’ »

Vishnuguptha

“The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success, but rather those days when out of dejection and despair, you feel rise in you a challenge to life, and the promise of future accomplishments.” – ~Gustave Flaubert

She has all the credentials that an international diplomat should possess; her academic background is impeccable, her posture is imposing and her communications skills are excellent. Yet she is portrayed by most dictators and ‘democratic-pretenders’, be it Syria or Egypt, Myanmar or Pakistan, as a trouble-maker, for what she finds out and her declarations could be harsh to those who wield power.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay being welcomed in Kilinochchi, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013-AP Photo-by-Eranga Jayawardena-courtesy: bigstory.ap.org

They could be utterly unpalatable to the abusers of power. To those rulers who are perpetually engaged in covering up their sinful acts against their own subjects, to those practitioners of inhuman treatment to those who don’t agree and conform, to those who dare to hold a view contrary to that of the rulers, Navi Pillay might indeed be a pest. But that is her job. One cannot find fault with her for doing her job with exceptional skill and aptitude and daring. If she does not do that, she does not belong there, period.

Continue reading ‘Wise Men Would Treat Navi Pillay’s Visit to Sri Lanka as A Blessing in Disguise and Make her the Solution Instead of a Problem.’ »

By
Walter Scott

The arrest of 35 fishermen from Pamban by Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the international maritime boundary line and fishing in the neighbouring country’s waters has come as a shock to the fisherfolk of Rameswaram island.

A. Simon, was shocked and upset when he heard that 35 fishermen from Pamban area of Rameswaram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary and fishing in the neighbouring country’s waters.

Their shock is understandable because the fishermen from this area follow disciplined fishing practices and rarely cross the maritime boundary line.

Continue reading ‘Arrest of 35 Fishermen from Pamban by SL Navy for Entering Lankan Waters the First Such Incident in 50 Years’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Democratic Party leader Gen. Sarath Fonseka

Democratic Party leader Gen. Sarath Fonseka yesterday alleged that visiting United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navanethem Pillay was pursuing an agenda of her own.

An irate former war winning army commander told The Island that the UN mission in Colombo and the visiting Commissioner had deprived him of an opportunity to make representations, in spite of her being here on a week-long visit. “The UN could have easily accommodated me,” the former MP said, alleging Pillay seemed only interested in hearing what her favourites had to say.

Continue reading ‘Sarath Fonseka Lashes out at Navi Pillay and UN for Denying him an Opportunity to meet the Visiting UN Human Rights Chief’ »

An Exhaustive Interview with SLMC General Secretary M.T.Hasen Ali M.P.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to contest the upcoming Provincial Council elections independently, shunning requests to contest on the ticket of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) under the common ‘betel leaf symbol’. The move signals an expanding rift between the SLMC and the ruling UPFA over issues concerning increasing violence directed at Muslim places of worship and anti-Muslim sentiments being vocalized by several groups.Only recently the ‘Grandpass incident’ saw a Muslim prayer centre attacked and this prompted widespread condemnation from a cohort of Muslim Ministers, including SLMC Leader, Rauff Hakeem. In a statement subsequent to the attack, the collective of Muslim Ministers asserted this was, ‘…a pre-meditated and planned attack,’ and went onto criticize ‘police inaction to arrest the perpetrators.’ Ceylon Today engaged in a dialogue with SLMC General Secretary and Member of Parliament, M.T. Hasen Ali, on the move to contest the upcoming Provincial Council elections independently and the future of the SLMC as a constituent party of the ruling UPFA.

Following are excerpts:

Q:

Why has the SLMC decided to contest the upcoming Provincial Council elections independently under the ‘tree’ symbol, despite being a constituent party of the UPFA?
Continue reading ‘Expanding Rift Between the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the United Peoples Freedom Alliance’ »

By

Kath Noble

One of the reasons people dismiss the support of Tamil Nadu politicians for Tamils in Sri Lanka is their complete lack of concern for the immediate welfare of the community. Where they are going to get their next meal doesn’t matter. Unless their problems can be used to blame the Government, they are ignored.

Last week, I said that Karunanidhi was right to focus on the need for a political solution and the full implementation of the 13th Amendment in recent protests aimed at getting India to boycott the Commonwealth Summit in November. It is an entirely reasonable demand, and he will be doing everybody a favour if he can marshal the emotions of 72 million Tamils in Tamil Nadu into a campaign that can actually deliver, rather than misleading them into thinking that they are helping by continuing to call for Eelam – and in the circumstances another devastating war.

But he is absolutely wrong on the other issue that he raised – the arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Must Intervene Positively in Fishing Dispute Between Tamil Fishermen of India and Sri Lanka’ »

Buddhist monks from the controversial Ravin Balaya movement led a protest against visiting UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay in front of the United Nations Compound at Bauddhaloka Mawatha yesterday, demanding that the UN cease interference in Sri Lankan affairs.

pic courtesy of: twitter.com/azzamameen

Continue reading ‘“Ravana Balaya” Enlightens Navi Pillay on the Rise of Religious Extremism in Sri Lanka by Protesting Against her and UN’ »

By

Uditha Jayasinghe and Dharisha Bastians

Talking tough as expected, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay yesterday placed heavy focus on the rise of religious extremism in Sri Lanka and the Government’s failure to roll back the contentious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) during successive discussions with Senior Ministers in Colombo.

The UN Envoy also questioned Government progress on institutional and legal reforms pertaining to detainees, victim and witness protection, fast-tracking ex-combatant cases and steps taken to enact the Right to Information Act.

Continue reading ‘Navi Pillay Meets Chief Justice,Attorney General and Ministers Rauff Hakeem and Vasudeva Nanayakkara for In Depth Discussions’ »

by

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“In our world there will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph and self-abasement…. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless.”
George Orwell (Nineteen Eighty-Four)

Just 24 hours after the new Ministry of Law and Order came into existence, an armed gang invaded the home of Mandana Ismail Abeywickrama, Associate Editor of the Sunday Leader.

pic courtesy of: newsfirst.lk

The Ministry of Law and Order – that has a distinct Orwellian feel, rather like Oceania’s Ministry of Truth (Minitrue), Ministry of Peace (Minipax), Ministry of Love (Miniluv) and Ministry of Plenty (Miniplenty). And as in Orwell’s dystopia, in Rajapaksa Sri Lanka the actual task of the Ministry of Law and Order would be the protection of the Rajapaksa Law and the strengthening of the Rajapaksa Order.

The regime has claimed that the attack on Ms Isamil, her home and her family is a perfectly ordinary robbery. Since three of the attackers are in custody, hopefully the truth will emerge, in a court of law – unless, of course, these prisoners succumb to the same fate which befell innumerable other suspects during the Rajapaksa ‘war on crime’ – killed while trying to escape.

Continue reading ‘24 Hours After New Ministry of Law and Order an Armed Gang Invades Home of “Sunday Leader” Associate Editor’ »

By

M.A.Sumanthiran M.P.

M.A.Sumanthiran M.P.

During President Rajapakse’s visit to Japan in March 2013, he expressed his strong commitment to hold an election for the Northern Provincial Council. The Japanese embassy in turn, indicated that it will support the conduct of free and fair elections and further recognized quite rightly, that this election would be a milestone for the Government of Sri Lanka in the process of national reconciliation.

The important role the Northern Provincial Council elections will have in any process of national reconciliation has also been recognized in the Report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission as well.

The government claims to have rescued the people of the North from the clutches of terrorism. If this is so, one of the most basic freedoms that the people of the North ought to be able to now enjoy is the freedom of expression; including, specifically, the freedom to meaningfully exercise their right to franchise.

Continue reading ‘Involvement, Interference and Intimidation by Army During Northern Provincial Elections Campaign Causes Serious Concern’ »

By

Kath Noble

As the Commonwealth Summit draws closer, the world is going to turn its attention to the situation in Sri Lanka. It is a major international event, and people will want to know what is happening in the host country. When Mahinda Rajapaksa stands up to welcome his fellow heads of government, talking about their shared values and vision, he will give them the perfect opportunity to ask questions – principally, do we really have anything in common with this administration?

Some campaigners have already decided on the answer. They want a boycott, and in the next few months they will be working hard to persuade key individuals – in particular David Cameron and Manmohan Singh – to stay away.

Whether or not they succeed is not very important. What matters is the issues that they raise in the process.

Continue reading ‘Navi Pillay Must Stop Focusing on War Crime Allegations and Stress Issues of Concern to All.’ »

By

Vishnuguptha

“Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.”– ~Thomas L. Holdcroft

Gamini Dissanayake, one of the patriarchs of Sri Lanka’s modern day politics was a victim of a brutal attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE).

pic via: facebook.com/mayantha.dissanayake

On October 24, 1994, while he was bidding adieu to a sizeable gathering after a lengthy speech at a Presidential Elections meeting at Thotalanga, a heartbeat away from the city center of Colombo, an LTTE suicide bomber triggered off her explosion device and fifty four (54) people lay scattered, very dead.

Continue reading ‘Was There an Attempt to Engineer an Automobile Accident to Befall Gamini Dissanayake’s Second son Mayantha?’ »

By N. Sathiya Moorthy

Election paraphernalia

With the elections have also come the TNA’s charges of misuse of official machinery by the government parties and their Ministers.The Northern Provincial Council polls are for real now. Tamil leaders of all political hues not wanting to resign their seats in parliament to contest the Chief Minister’s post may be ruing their hesitation. They used to say that the government would get the process stayed one way or the other. The promise of an election was only to convince the international community ahead of the prestigious Colombo CHOGM in November, they used to say further.

There have also been charges of pre-poll violence. Attempts are being made to paint them as a part of the larger ‘ethnic issue’. Owing to a combination of past experience, hurt and propaganda value, many among them have come to believe that alleged malpractices in elections is a part of the ethnic bias being practised by the government, and the political parties comprising it. They have not spared the SLFP leader of the ruling UPFA now. They did not spare the UNP when the party was in power.

Continue reading ‘TNA Needs to Win the Upcoming Northern Elections for More Reasons than One’ »

The two-page Gazette notification creating the new Ministry of Law and Order has divested all functions of the Police Department from the Ministry of Defence. Whilst the Police Department has been listed as the only organisation under the Ministry, the laws it is required to implement are-

Continue reading ‘Police the only Department Under Newly Created Ministry of Law and Order’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s announcement this week that ‘I am no dictator’ (see Daily Mirror, August 21st 2013) may gladden the hearts of his eager sycophants but will do little to placate fears of concerned Sri Lankans that the country’s democratic institutions are being gradually dismantled.

Establishing a new ministry under the purview of the military?

Just two days after this announcement, we were privileged (as taken in its most ironic sense) to hear of a new Ministry of Law and Order to operate under the President and empowered to supervise the Department of the Police which was formerly under the direct control of the Ministry of Defence. Manned by a former Army Chief of Staff as its Secretary, the establishing of yet another ministry drawing upon sparse public funds at a time when even the statutory dues of state employees are not being paid, was supposed to be in pursuance of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

Continue reading ‘Setting up a New Ministry of Law and Order to Supervise Police and STF with an Ex-Army Chief of Staff as Secretary’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

President Mahinda Rajapaksa swearing in Major General Nanda Mallawaarachchi as Secretary to the new ministry-news.lk

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has created an Internal Law and Order ministry to take charge of police operations with immediate effect.

Continue reading ‘Police and STF Taken away from Defence Ministry and Brought Under Newly Created Internal Law and Order Ministry’ »

G. Pramod Kumar

Going by the fate of two big Tamil films in the recent past — Kamal Hasan’s Vishwaroopam and Vijay’s Thalaivaa — both of which ran into political rough-weather, actor-producer John Abraham may not be able to release his Madras Cafe in Chennai and the rest of Tamil Nadu.
Continue reading ‘Opposition to Screening of “Madras Cafe” in Tamil Nadu Shows Sri Lankan Tamil Issue is Still relevant in State Politics’ »