(Full Text of Media Communique Issued by the Prime Minister’s office on April 4th 2015)

A Board of Inquiry has found shocking details of corruption running into billions of dollars, manipulations of service contracting, recruitment of unqualified staff and major security breaches at Sri Lankan airlines under the former government.

The panel headed by anti-corruption advocate and senior lawyer J. C. Weliamuna found instances of gross abuse of power by former chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe whose penchant for young air hostesses cost the debt-ridden airline even more problems.

The former government of President Mahinda Rajapakse made management changes to carry out a re-fleeting of the airline with brand-new aircraft costing $2.3 billion despite the availability of more cost effective alternatives.

The Weliamuna report recommends criminal investigations into the entire re-fleeting process and have noted instances where former chairmen Wickramasinghe, a brother-in-law of Mahinda Rajapakse, should be prosecuted.

Continue reading ‘Board of Inquiry Report Urges Prosecution of Former Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Wickramasinghe-Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Brother in law’-for Gross Abuse of Power Including Penchant for young air hostesses.’ »

BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

‘India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in a resolution passed on India’s foreign policy, at its ongoing two-day national executive meeting in Bengaluru… said …Modi became “the first Prime Minister of Bharat to visit Jaffna…He invoked his idea of cooperative federalism and stressed upon the 13th Amendment and beyond.”’ (IANS news agency)

What is the future of the 13th amendment if the 19th amendment is passed into law?

The 13th amendment was possible only because of the executive presidency. The system of provincial councils which was mooted by the Donoughmore Commission was never implemented under the Westminster model.

Every time anything came even close, it was rolled back or shut down. That was because of the ethnic outbidding which the first-past the post electoral system and the Westminster model were prone to in a society with the cultural configuration and ethno religious dynamics that we had.
Continue reading ‘It may Become Necessary to Dissolve the Northern Provincial Council of Chief Minister Wigneswaran.’ »

by

Malinda Seneviratne

The United States of America has a huge HR problem. Actually it has two HR problems to deal with. The first refers to its problematic fascination with ‘human rights’ issues all over the world even as the very eyes that scour the world and note rights abuses do not see Washington’s own violations and complicity in other violations.

Then there’s another HR problem. Human resources. Human resources capable of seeing, let’s add. It is hard to tell whether one HR problem is a product of the other HR problem or if they are Siamese Twins sharing a single brain. All we can do is flag the issue(s). In a sense all it takes is to pick any comment on human rights uttered by any responsible (sic) US official to demonstrate how serious these problems are. They are so serious and so evident that the entire world knows about them. As such one could argue that it’s not even worth talking about. Still, it is important to say what has to be said if only to keep Washington informed that the world is not blind and that few if any are buying the toilet wash it spews out.

We’ve seen this often enough when Washington’s various mouthpieces comment on Sri Lanka. The latest is a man called Tom Malinowski, US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour. The name of the Bureau is a joke in itself, but let’s ignore this. Malinowski issued a statement while in Sri Lanka. He claims that reconciliation opportunities that existed in 2009 were not seized.

This brilliant man concludes brilliantly, ‘Victory by one side of the battlefield brought an end to the fighting but did not heal the division.’ Then he compares and contrasts: ‘Sri Lanka experienced what America (sic) learned 150 years ago and many other countries have since, that you cannot really win a civil war’.

Continue reading ‘US Asst Secy Tom Malinowski’s Brilliant Thoughts about Sri Lanka are Truly Hilarious.’ »

By Zahrah Imtiaz

The government is conducting investigations to either establish or dismiss suspicions of whether controversial Maritime Security services company Avant Garde has been supplying weapons to Nigerian terror group Boko Haram, Dr.Rajitha Senaratne revealed at the Cabinet Media conference yesterday.

The probe into Avant Garde, suspected of dealing with various foreign governments because of cloudy issues relating to its floating armouries and security services, has now been expanded to cover suspected dealings with terror outfits in some African countries.

“We know that Avant Garde worked closely with the Nigerian Government and supplied them with arms. We are now examining the likelihood of Avant Garde having had dealings, including arms supplies, with Boko Haram” Dr. Senaratne said. The Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with the Nigerian Government with regard to possible weapons dealings.

Continue reading ‘Govt Conducts Probe to Ascertain Whether Avant Garde Company Supplied Weapons to Nigerian Terror outfit Boko Haram.’ »

Dismissing the Opposition’s claim that his government has given fishing rights to Indians, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has said he has issued clear instructions to the Navy to seize boats that violate the country’s territorial waters.

“We have not allowed fishing in our waters for the Indians. I have given clear instructions to Navy to arrest boats or trawlers that violate our water limits,” Mr. Sirisena told a gathering of fishing industry and political representatives on Thursday night. Opposition group National Freedom Front had alleged that the government had given fishing rights to Indians in Sri Lankan waters as an appeasement policy towards India.

Responding to the claim, Mr. Sirisena said, “I discussed at length the fishing issue between our two countries during my visit to India (in February). I want to resolve this issue without hurting our long standing bilateral relations with India. We have asked the Indians to stop bottom trawling,” Mr. Sirisena said.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Asks Indians to Stop Bottom Trawling and Orders Navy to Seize Indian Boats Entering Sri Lankan Territorial Waters’ »

By

Malinda Seneviratne

When it rains, the cricket stops. The Royal-Thomian doesn’t stop for anything; not for rain, not for a World War and not on account of terrorist threats. The match this year was washed out with S Thomas’ having the upper hand. Someone said, ‘S Thomas’ is a Combined Schools’ team and Royal had the support of the rain gods’. That was obviously a Royalist.

But rain didn’t stop what’s most important about the Battle of the Blues: people meeting people, old friends catching up, reminiscing and revelry. The SSC was a paddy field by about 2.30 in the afternoon on Saturday the 14th of March. Play was all but officially abandoned. I wandered into the Grand Stand to catch up with two batchmates, Ranil Pathirana and Rajitha Dhanapala, both of whose sons were playing for Royal, Randev and Thiran respectively.

Rajitha was with a friend. I didn’t recognize him at first. Introductions were made. Thisara Samarasinghe, former Navy Commander and until recently Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia.

‘So what are you doing now?’ I asked and he replied with a smile, ‘nothing…unemployed.’ I laughed and asked, ‘Thanks to yahapaalanaya?’ He laughed in return: ‘You’ve hit the nail on the head.’ We talked of this and that. We spoke about his teacher, my mother, Indrani Seneviratne and how he had given me a lift from Gonaduwa after attending the funeral of another teacher, Upali Munasinghe. I didn’t know who he was. He didn’t tell me. We were just two students attending the funeral of a teacher. And until I spoke with this unassuming man, I didn’t know that his son was captaining Royal.

I moved on. And thought about this man.

Continue reading ‘Shabby Treatment meted out to Ex-Navy Chief and Former Envoy to Australia Thisara Samarasinghe Under “Yahapalanaya”.’ »

By

Ira de Silva

Reference the statement by Mr. Ajith Perera, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs that “new evidence of the LTTE activities overseas was the basis for the EU’s ban” and that Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe had as the Opposition Leader written to the EU pointing out the emerging threat”, would the current government explain to the Sri Lankan people why after January 8, 2015 the government has by its statements and actions both overseas and in Sri Lanka bent over backwards to accommodate the pro-LTTE diaspora and the TNA who continue their goal of Eelam?

If the government according to Mr. Perera is aware of the evidence of LTTE activities overseas and their continued fundraising to fund their goal of Eelam, their continued use of LTTE money to fund political parties and candidates at elections to influence governments in the West to push the seemingly willing government in Sri Lanka to promote Eelam in the guise of reconciliation, rehabilitation, accommodation etc. when it is obvious that the LTTE diaspora and the TNA are unwilling to change their goal of a separate Tamil only state, is it because the current government also supports the vision of the LTTE supporters to divide the country?

Continue reading ‘Why is Mangala Samaraweera Trying to De-List Overseas Tiger Organizations while the EU has Extended ban on the LTTE?’ »

By

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

If the visit to India by President Maithripala Sirisena, the first State visit abroad since his election as President, was a huge success, the recent visit to China has also shown the success of the foreign policy of Nonalignment that lays emphasis on friendship with all countries.

pic: parliament.lk

There were many doubts expressed about how good the reception in China would be, especially with concerns raised by the new government here about some development projects funded by China, the most important being the Colombo Port City; work on which has been suspended at present. There were also concerns about the Chinese reception because President Sirisena went there after defeating the person considered to be the closest friend of Beijing in all of South Asia, Mahinda Rajapaksa, under whose regime, China became the biggest donor for Sri Lankan development, as well as the biggest investor in infrastructure projects, especially highways.

In the event, it was a much more pragmatic China that received the Sri Lankan President, with a greater interest in maintaining close friendship, than raising issues that many, especially among those who still think in terms of the foreign policy of the Rajapaksa s regime, believed would sour the visit. What was seen during the visit by President Sirisena was that China considers it more important to maintain the strongest friendship with Sri Lanka, accepting the democratic change of government, while differences on matters of investment are resolved through negotiation that would best serve the interests of both countries.

President Sirisena’s successful visits to India and China, and the important visit to Sri Lanka by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have placed the country’s foreign relations on a new footing of better international understanding. This was seen by the reception received by President Sirisena during his visit to the UK to mark the Commonwealth Day celebrations, when he met with the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition of the UK, as well as the genuine Tamil Diaspora there, which made a significant opening to the European Union.

Continue reading ‘“Institutionalised Bribery” Necessary to Get Two-thirds Majority for Constitutional Change for Good Governance.’ »

by

Dr U.Pethiyagoda

A simple reason for politicians being beyond reform is that they constitute a unique Trade Union which determines its own emoluments. Fiscal discipline and proportionality are of no concern, – and why should they be? The cry is “Blow you Jack, I’m alright!!”

Consequently, politics continues to be the most lucrative employment. Bountiful rewards for little substantive output. A field full of myths and falsehoods, a conglomerate of ill-equipped and non-performing members. It will remain thus forever.

This is not a phenomenon unique to Sri Lanka, nor are there no notable exceptions. Of course there are – but they are remiss in exercising a major responsibility – that is, of not ridding their ranks of criminals and other misfits. Passing this responsibility solely to the electors, is but one of many deceptions.

Why are politicians such a reviled species – despite being surrounded by a circle of insincere sycophants, who will abandon them in defeat as readily as they swarm around them in success!?

Continue reading ‘Politicians are Beyond Reform Because they Constitute a Unique Trade Union which Determines its own Emoluments.’ »

By

E Weerapperuma

“The cross was two pieces of dead wood; and a helpless, unresisting Man was nailed to it; yet it was mightier than the world, and triumphed, and will ever triumph over it.” – Augustus William Hare.

“Exalt the Cross! God has hung the destiny of the race upon it. Other things we may do in the realm of ethics, and on the lines of philanthropic reforms; but our main duty converges into setting that one glorious beacon of salvation, Calvary’s Cross, before the gaze of every immortal soul.”
– Theodore Ledyard Cuyler.

“So shall we join the disciples of our Lord, keeping faith in Him in spite of the crucifixion, and making ready, by our loyalty to Him in the days of His darkness, for the time when we shall enter into His triumph in the days of His light.” – Phillips Brooks.

Today is Good Friday. Catholics of the Universal Church and devotees belonging to mainstream Christian Churches the world over observe this day as the Day of Salvation to humanity through the sublime sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the Cross at Calvary.

The blossoming 33-year old youth, a rebel in the eyes of misguided masses, he was there to offer himself as the sacrificial lamb to God, His Father. The Death on the Cross was the culminating of His Mission on Earth.

Good Friday is the second day of the Easter Triduum. Holy Thursday is the first day of the Easter Triduum. on which day the Last Supper, Washing of the Feet of Disciples, Institution of the Holy Orders and Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. This the Catholic – Christian world celebrated yesterday.

Good Friday is the day of the commemoration of the Passion and Death of Christ. On this day celebration takes place around 3 pm. The devotees attending churches of various denominations in large numbers listen to the gospel readings of the day and reflect on the Passion and Death of Christ, the Word of God and the savior of the human race. This is followed by special prayers for the church, and for the people of all levels, and then the veneration of the Cross and Communion service are the observances the devotees take part in.

Good Friday leads us to reflect on the wonderful message of how God loved us so much that He gave His Precious Son, Jesus and to die as the Perfect Lamb of God on behalf of the whole of human race. Thus Good Friday is perhaps the most solemn day in the Church Calendar. It is a time when we reflect upon all that Jesus did for us. He willingly gave his life on the cross at Calvary.
Continue reading ‘Good Friday: Sublime Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

The government’s efforts to promote national unity in Sri Lanka will break down unless there is reconciliation, according to the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

“I think it is absolutely crucial,” Ms. Kumaratunga told The Hindu in her first interview to international media in some years.

Recently invited to head a special presidential task force on reconciliation, she said it would be transformed into a permanent office on national unity and reconciliation.

“We have been very encouraged by the reaction we have had already [received] from the international community, including India which is offering us a lot of help to do all this work,” she said.

Continue reading ‘“Efforts to Promote National Unity in Sri Lanka will Break Down Unless there is Reconciliation”-Chandrika Kumaratunga’ »

By N Sathiya Moorthy

Two Rajnikanth flop-shows in a row, and not just the actor’s career but the very idea of superstardom in Tamil cinema may be under threat.

Rajni’s Kochchadaiyan and Lingaa both released in 2014 and both bombed at the box office.

This sent distributors and exhibitors into a tail-spin and they demanded that he compensate them for the huge losses they suffered in the latter.

They went to court, threatened to launch a ‘beggar-campaign’ outside his residence and even threatened to commit suicide if Rajnikanth did not compensate them for their losses.

In fact, true to the practice prevalent in the Tamil film world (and practised by the late M G Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan in their time), Rajnikant made Lingaa only to compensate the industrywallahs, who had suffered huge losses over Kochchadaiyan.

Continue reading ‘Successive Flops of Superstar Rajnikanth’s films “Kochchadaiyan” and “Lingaa” may cause Tamil Cinema to come to a Grinding Halt’ »

Amendments Proposed to the Constitution by the EPDP

1. to add immediately after Para. 41A. (1) (e) of the Gazetted Nineteenth
Amendment to the Constitution bill

” and out of the five persons appointed one person shall be a Tamil and another person a Muslim. “

2. to delete the following sentence in Para. 41b. (3) of the Gazetted Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution bill,
“to ensure that such recommendations reflect the pluralistic character of Sri Lankan society”,
and to insert the following sentence,

“to ensure that such recommendations reflect the ethnic composition of Sri Lankan society”.

Continue reading ‘Eeelam Peoples Democratic Party Proposes Amendments to the Envisaged 19th Constitutional Amendment.’ »

BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

On his three day trip to the North Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, promised a political solution to the ethnic question, without which he said, there would be no stability.

Meanwhile, according to an interview given to Ceylon Today, “Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan expressed confidence in the ability of the Special Presidential Commission headed by Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge to find a suitable solution by the end of this year, to the issues confronting the Tamil people. ‘…When Kumaratunge became the President in 1994, she was very keen about settling the grievances of the Tamil people and she also mooted a suitable political solution to those issues. We were however, unable to see anything come out of it’ he said.” (‘TNA Confident in CBK Headed Commission’, Mirudhala Thambaiah, Ceylon Today, March 31, 2015)

R.Sampanthan

To this expression of confidence by the TNA in CBK, all I can say is: “I’ll bet”.

How can Ranil and Chandrika politically reconcile the Sinhalese and the Tamils when they cannot themselves reconcile with the majority of Sinhalese?

These are not personalities the majority of Sinhalese trust politically, to safeguard their interests and natural, demographically derived leading share of political and state power on the island.

In that sense they are the very worst personalities to be entrusted with the task of ethno-political reconciliation.
Continue reading ‘New Political Equation with Maithri as President, Mahinda as Prime Minister and Sajith as UNP/Opposition Leader.’ »

(Text of Opening Speech by Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera at the 19th Session of the Sri Lanka – EU Joint Commission in Colombo on 2nd April 2015)

Sri Lanka-EU joint commission-Apr 2, 2015

Mr. Ugo Astuto, Acting Managing Director, Asia & the Pacific Division, European External Action Service,

Representatives of EU Member States based in Colombo and New Delhi,

It is a pleasure to welcome all of you to the 19th Session of the Sri Lanka – EU Joint Commission. This, as you know, is the first Joint Commission that I am chairing since I assumed office as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the 12th of January. I am happy that this important meeting, which takes place about 82 days after the Government of President Maithripala Sirisena was established, affords us a useful opportunity to re-set relations between the EU and Sri Lanka on a positive trajectory.

Sri Lanka’s relations with the EU date back exactly 4 decades when the Government of Sri Lanka signed a Commercial Cooperation Agreement in 1975 with the European Commission. Our meeting today also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development in 1995. These milestones, I am sure, will inspire us as we undertake the task of renewing our engagement and enhancing our cooperation through dialogue and partnership.

Having assumed office in January, the second official overseas visit that I undertook as Foreign Minister was to Brussels. This signifies the great importance that the Government attaches to Sri Lanka’s cooperation with the EU, and the priority we accord to addressing issues of concern through direct and frank dialogue and exchange of views in a spirit of cooperation and understanding. My visit enabled productive discussions on a wide range of subjects including the confirmation of dates for this meeting of the Joint Commission that takes place today.
Continue reading ‘“We will Eradicate Root causes of Terrorism in Sri Lanka such as Injustice,Discrimination and Prejudice”-Mangala Samaraweera’ »

By
Tharindu Jayawardene

Media recently reported that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to be gifted with the Peacock Mansion belonging to A.S.P. Liyanagewho contested unsuccessfully at the recent presidential election.

The excerpts from an interview with Liyanage are reproduced below.

A.S.P. Liyanage

Q;How many times have you contested the Presidency?

I have contested twice

Q; On the last occasion who did you support?

I came forward in support of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q; At the last election Rajapaksa lost and Maithripala Sirisena was elected. Who are you supporting now?

I respect Maithripala Sirisena. Mahinda Rajapaksa lost because of the mistakes of his government. Mahinda Rajapaksa is one of my friends. If you are my friend and if you request for something I would definitely help you. Mahinda Rajapaksa also made a request, so I am helping him.

Q; There is a story that your Peacock Mansion is to be gifted to Mahinda?.

Continue reading ‘“I Gifted my Peacock Mansion and Political Party to Mahinda Rajapaksa Because he was a Friend in Need”-A.S.P.Liyanage’ »

By
Gomin Dayasri

Happenings around are unenviable: zany events unfold in rapid succession; voters are bewildered, skeptical, disoriented. Worse- democracy is not standing tall, as desired. Corrupt practices remain alive and made sophisticated. Are we drifting aimlessly without a leadership? Loosing moorings is sailing towards a sunset unknown.

facebook.com/ranil.wickremesinghe.leader

Time is insufficient to ponder. Corruption is endemic and was deemed inevitable during the last regime;present government has made it conclusive.In Parliament, the UPFA holds a disturbed and divided majority. Girls, boys and the monks in saffron hold on to their legislative seats,feeling a shade unsafe and insecure. At the SLFP, movement is away from their ancestral home at Darley Road taking the Southern Highway bound to Carlton House.

Events move rapidly, too fast to reflect. A new prime minister is sworn and rolls out a Cabinet without a proper head count taken in Parliament. Bluff works– posted in office as PM- without a majority-cause of many a problem at present that leads to short circuited compromises. Out of confusion comes a box of assorted biscuits of Cabinet size with the President’s men of varied political affiliations and a roll call of UNP MPs neatly packed.

The JHU – for ever enjoying Cabinet perks lashes out forgetful of collective responsibility in their stays in the UPFA and UNP Cabinets but will not jettison the accompanying privileges. Yet tolerated to retain a parliamentary majority. No cause to panic for the JHU as Rajapaksa’s scavenging services will pick any muck left in any dustbin. The JHU least follows the scripture they preach as such is religious bigotry.

President Sirisena is installed as the undisputed President of the SLFP, by virtue, acquires the UPFA. The title of the Leader of the Opposition is doled to a senior SLFP parliamentarian prepared to accept any office on offer.Parliament is made to look an orchestrated home and home match. People watch the unfolding events on TV at home in the evenings – bemused and baffled.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Became Prime Minister in a Constitutional Coup Without Working out the Arithmetic in Parliament’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

The media raised many questions about the future of the China funded Colombo Port City Project when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met them last week.

When an editor pointed out that the Port City crisis could hamper the smooth relations between the two countries, Ranil explained, that as Sri Lanka was located in a strategic location in the Indian Ocean it was essential for Sri Lanka to continue good relations with all countries.

facebook.com/maithripalas

When Ranil made this observation President Maithripala Sirisena was in China.

As a result of Maithri’s visit to Beijing, China has agreed to grant a Kidney Hospital to Sri Lanka.

Chinese are cunning it is said in historical terms.

Continue reading ‘Why President Maithripala Sirisena is more Important to China than Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

By

Rasika Jayakody

When one graduates himself to the level of a head of state, the line between his public and private lives becomes unclear. Matters of his personal life often come under public spotlight and more often than not they become subjects of discussion for the public and the media. Things often blow out of proportion and the public tend to get carried away with misinformation and misinterpretations. Politicians have to live with this harsh reality but there are great leaders who overcome this ‘dilemma’ with astuteness and political acumen.

One such example is former South African President Nelson Mandela who underwent a much-talked-about divorce when he was the President of the country.

In 1992, soon after Mandela’s release from prison, the couple separated after Mrs. Mandela was convicted in the kidnapping of four youths by her bodyguards. One youth was beaten to death. However, the true reason behind their separation was revealed in Mandela’s testimony to the court.

Since being freed from prison in 1990, Mandela testified, he had felt nothing but “loneliness” living with Winnie Mandela, who once was hailed as the “Mother of the Nation” due to her contribution to the struggle of the African National Congress. Their marriage had dissolved, he said, and he became convinced of her infidelity after seeing love letters from Mrs. Mandela to her personal assistant, Dali Mpofu. Mandela’s separation from his wife was a story of high value not only to the ‘south African media but also to the international media- at large, at that point.

During her husband’s imprisonment, Mrs. Mandela became an anti-apartheid figure popular with the radical wing of the African National Congress and was hailed across the world for her valiant battle against the then government of South Africa. But her influence waned after his release, as Mandela pushed the ANC on a more moderate course. Winnie Mandela pushed for violent tactics to bring Apartheid to an end and this created an irreparable split between the couple, especially in terms of political strategy.

In his autobiography ‘the Long Walk to Freedom’, Mandela explains the manner in which he dealt with the controversy involving his marriage in the eyes of the public and the international media.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Failing to Attend the Funeral of his Controversial Brother Evokes Positive Memories of Nelson Mandela.’ »

By Gunadasa Amarasekera

The conspiratorial powers-the CIA, the RAW, the MI 6 and their agents, some NGOs and separatists had a four fold agenda to be achieved.

– firstly to oust Mahinda Rajapaksa

– fourthly to grant the desired Elam

facebook.com/ranil.wickremesinghe.leader

The first two objectives have been achieved. The third objective of destroying the SLFP is being worked out at the moment.

Continue reading ‘Two Objectives in four Fold Conspiracy Agenda Accomplished: Third Objective of Destroying the SLFP is Being worked out now’ »

By Mirudhula Thambiah

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan expressed confidence in the ability of the Special Presidential Commission headed by Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge to find a suitable solution by the end of this year, to the issues confronting the Tamil people.

R. Sampanthan, leader of Tamil National Alliance-pic-Courtesy-The Hindu

“We have clarified to the former President all matters relating to the problems faced by the people of the North and East and urged that such issues be immediately addressed meaningfully.
Continue reading ‘TNA Leader Sampanthan Confident that Special Presidential Commission headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga would find Solution to issues Facing Tamils by Year’s End’ »

Colombo, Mar 30:

Sri Lanka’s new government today warned that there is a real danger that the LTTE could regroup and wage another war for an independent Tamil homeland, six years after they were militarily defeated.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera said LTTE’s front organisations operate businesses overseas to generate funds in an attempt to revive the outfit. “Their front organisations operate businesses abroad, they run petrol stations, supermarkets and have shipping companies,” Perera said.

“Even though they have been defeated on the ground, there is a real danger of their trying to regroup,” he said.

Continue reading ‘“Danger of LTTE Being Revived with help of Funds Generated by Overseas Front Organizations of LTTE”warns Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera.’ »

BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

The SLFP participation at the Ratnapura rally trumped the cooptation (‘National Government’) tactic of the SLFP Rightwing.

The anti-Mahinda tendency of the SLFP is now caught in the coils of its own contradictions. If it follows the dictates of Chandrika “Sonia” Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and facilitates the passage of the 19th amendment in its current reinforced form, it collaborates in transforming the SLFP’s new leader Maithripala Sirisena into a lame duck President, which means weakening his capacity to dispense patronage and which thereby weakens the SLFP while strengthening the PM and therefore the fortunes of the UNP. That would further legitimize the charge of a sell out and embolden the SLFP rebels.

If it abolishes the Presidency and plunges Mr. Sirisena into the race as Prime ministerial candidate he stands to lose all, because the UNP is not likely to forgo the chance of a government of its own, and will therefore enter the race with Ranil Wickremesinghe at the helm.

If the SLFP campaign is led by a quasi-neutral President Sirisena plus a few SLFP fat-cats and warhorses gingered up by Champika Ranawaka and his Magnificent Three, it will suffer an exodus to the pro-Mahinda enterprise and burial electorally.

Continue reading ‘Only Viable Solution to Mounting Crisis is a general Election that will Re-balance the current Political Equation.’ »

By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon and Norman Palihawadane

The police suspect that eight suspects arrested while dubbing an anti Sri Lanka army film in Narahenpita on Saturday were working for Channel Four responsible for a propaganda onslaught against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The police believe the film has been shot in Tamil in South India and some sections thereof involving Sri Lankan soldiers have been dubbed into Sinhala.

Out of the five suspects, two had lived in India some time ago, while the other three had lived in the North of Sri Lanka during the war.

The suspects at the time of arrest had been residing at Wellawatte, Cinnamon Gardens, Gampaha and Ja-Ela, police said.

Continue reading ‘Eight Persons Suspected of Working for British Channel 4 TV Arrested in Narahenpita while Dubbing Voices in Sinhala for an Anti -Army Propaganda Film’ »

By Chaminda Perera in Killinochchi

A special officer is to be appointed at the Prime Minister’s office to look into the problems in the Northern Province, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday, winding up his three day visit to the Northern Province.

He stressed the need to pay special focus on the development of livelihood and infrastructure facilities in the Mullaitivu and Killinochchi districts as these districts were affected by the nearly three decades of terrorism.

Addressing government officials and civil society representatives at a meeting at the Killinochchi District Secretariat yesterday, the Prime Minister told the Army to conduct a special survey on the people disabled due to the conflict in the district.

He said officials do not have proper statistics on disabled persons in the district and added that the lack of statics, hampers the implementation of a viable programme to help the disabled.

The Prime Minister said the government was ready to launch a special programme and find more funds for the welfare of disabled people with the completion of this survey.

Continue reading ‘Ranil to Appoint Special Officer at Prime Ministers Office to Address Problems facing the People of the Northern Province.’ »

Singapore bade farewell to its founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died on Monday aged 91.

Despite torrential rain, tens of thousands lined the streets to view the funeral procession carrying Mr Lee’s coffin through the city-state.

About 1.5m people paid tribute to Mr Lee at sites around the country this week the government said.

In his eulogy, Mr Lee’s son, the current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said his father had “lived and breathed Singapore all his life”. “The light that has guided us all these years has been extinguished,” he said

Continue reading ‘Singapore Bids Farewell to its Guiding Light Lee Kuan Yew who “Lived and Breathed Singapore all his life”.’ »

Addressing members of Security Forces and the Police serving in the Jaffna peninsula at the Security Forces Headquarters, Palaly, the Premier stressed the importance of having a political solution to the ethnic issue to ensure national unity while equal emphasis is laid on the country’s security.

He said the government is determined to ensure national unity through a political solution to the ethnic issue and the country’s security will not be put at risk in this endeavour.

“The Tamil people have specifically insisted that they want national unity,” he said.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the United Nations Human Rights Council has given an opportunity to the government to inquire into the allegations of human rights violations within our judicial framework.

The Prime Minister added that those who raised objections against Sri Lanka in the UNHRC now favour Sri Lanka.

He said the support of western countries is essential if the country wants to improve the services of Security Forces.

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Addresses Members of Security Forces and Police Serving in Jaffna at Palaly.’ »

The European Union (EU) re-imposed the ban on the LTTE after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Foreign Affairs Ministry intervened with the matter, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, according to him, had written to the EU to reconsider the ban on the LTTE as the then leader of the opposition.

The deputy minister dubbed this as a great diplomatic victory for Sri Lanka after the previous government failed to take adequate measures in this regard.

Wickremesinghe had also written to the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini last November urging the EU to file an appeal against the EU court order on the LTTE.

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Thankful to the European Union for Extending the ban on the LTTE at his Request’ »

by

Rasika Jayakody

The appointment of Kshenuka Seneviratne as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand has been put on hold as she is yet to be summoned before the Committee on High Posts in Parliament.

Speaking to the Daily News, Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P. Perera said a final decision on the matter would be taken based on the recommendations of the Committee on High Posts.

He said Seneviratne’s appointment was not taken up at the last High Posts committee meeting and would be probably taken up at the next meeting. The Committee on High Posts examines the suitability of persons who have been either appointed to any post or nominated to hold office in any post determined by the Cabinet of Ministers and to make recommendations with regard to such persons.

Continue reading ‘Appointment of Ex-Foreign Secy Kshenuka Seneviratne as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand has been Put on Hold- Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera’ »

The LTTE, taken off the European Union’s list of terrorist groups in Oct. 2014 by an order of the European General Court, is now back on the Terror List according to EU documents.

The European Council appealed in late December last year against the decision of the General Court but the process is expected to continue for some time until the appeal is heard.

Meanwhile the LTTE continued to fight for de-listing in the courts and by lobbying in some European capitals on an understanding that that in the absence of fresh regulations gazetted by the European Council, the ban would no longer apply.

Continue reading ‘European Council Keeps LTTE on Terror List Despite Last Years de-listing by European General Court.’ »

Three public interest activists, Dr. G. Usvatte-aratchi, Dr. A.C. Visvalingam and Mr. Chandra Jayaratne have invoked the Fundamental Rights jurisdiction of the Supreme Court seeking an independent and competent inquiry into the controversial Central Bank bond issue and also called for systems that would ensure transparent and good governance practices on future public debt issues.

The petition which was filed on Friday by Ms. Lilanthi de Silva has been settled and will be supported by Attorneys-at-Law Saliya Pieris and Pulasthi Hewamanne.

Continue reading ‘Three Public Interest Activists file Fundamental Rights Petition Seeking Inquiry into Central bank Bonds issue’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message read in a political rally held in Ratnapura, last week alleged that the current administration has stalled development in the country. I cannot help, but agree, though grudgingly.

This government has held back the country’s development. That is already reflected in the projected growth numbers: The Asian Development Bank now says that the country’s economic growth would dip to 7 per cent this year, from 7.4 per cent, last year.

As recently as two months back, the ADB projected 8 per cent growth for 2015 and 2016. It however assures that the economy would rebound in 2016 to 7.4 per cent, still short of previous estimates.

Senior Country Economist for Sri Lanka Tadateru Hayashi says under the current political situation, investment would be affected this year (though he adds that the medium and long term prospects are good).

A distressing picture of economic mismanagement of the current administration is gradually emerging. Flagship development projects have been suspended, some others are under review.

Continue reading ‘Has New Govt Killed the Golden Egg Laying Economic Development Goose?’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

Events are moving faster than they can be written about. If we start with the last big event that occurred towards the end of last week, the Ratnapura meeting of the pro-Mahinda group of the SLFP was marred by a heavy downpour that started just minutes after the meeting commenced. Despite the pelting rain and the sheets of water cascading down the streets of the Ratnapura town, the crowd was at least the same as at the Kandy meeting or even a little bigger.

The venue allocated was not the biggest playground in Ratnapura town but a small ground about the size of Hyde Park on the side of the Sivali playground. The result of this was that the crowd spilled over into a large petrol shed on about half of acre of land next to the venue and the establishment simply shut down their pumps and closed for business after the crowd took over their premises.

The rain abated after about an hour and the main road in front of the venue was blocked completely and a part of the crowd spilled into the police station compound across the road. A long segment of the steel fence of the police station collapsed as the crowd climbed over it to enter the premises.

People were expecting the Ratnapura meeting to be even bigger than the Nugegoda meeting but the heavy squall put a dampener on all that. This writer met a drenched and disappointed looking rally organizer near the Ratnapura police station and suggested that in order to prevent the political purpose from being defeated by the vagaries of the weather, they should ask all those who come for future meetings to bring umbrellas!

Attendance was certainly affected by the heavy squall, but this was a failure that would have made both the UNP and the SLFP go green with envy. For any other party a downpour like what was experienced during the Ratnapura meeting would have brought the proceedings to an end but not this rally.  

Continue reading ‘Presence of 25 to 28 MP’s from SLFP on Stage at Pro-Mahinda Rally at Ratnapura Would have come as a Shock to President Sirisena.’ »

By Col R Hariharan

@PRaoSundarji

Book review: Sri Lanka The New Country
Author: Padma Rao Sundarji
Publisher: Harper-Collins Publishers, Noida, UP
Price: Rs 499; Pages 322

Seasoned journalist Padma Rao Sundarji’s book Sri Lanka – The new country is refreshingly different from scores of other books that appeared in the wake of the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009. She is a self-confessed critic “of the one-size fits all application of Western perceptions, expectations and demands unique to South Asia” a view I heartily share. This probably has given her the strength to look at the Sri Lankan side of the “fence” that had been ignored particularly by Western critics and sections of Sri Lanka Tamil diaspora and polity after the war ended in May 2014.

The author has not allowed her tenuous South Indian lineage (with some Tamil connection also) to cloud her objective of reporting the situation on ground as she saw and understood it. Her years of experience as the South Asia bureau chief of Der Spiegel, the reputed German news magazine, in New Delhi with sufficient exposure to Sri Lanka and its ethnic conflict has enabled her in writing an eminently readable book for the average reader and traveller to the emerald island.
Continue reading ‘“Sri Lanka-The New Country” by Padma Rao Sundarji is a Refeshingly Different Book from Scores of Others Appearing After Defeat of LTTE.’ »

By M.R. Narayan Swamy

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins to build a relationship with Sri Lanka’s new leadership, the one thing he needs to be wary of is the extremist Tamil position in the island nation.

Modi made history by becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit Sri Lanka after 1987 when Rajiv Gandhi went to Colombo to sign a pact to end Tamil separatism, which eventually consumed his life in 1991. Modi won many hearts by becoming the first Indian leader to visit Jaffna, the Tamil heartland which is also the hub for the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) headed by Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran.

This is where Modi came across an intransigent Wigneswaran. This is a critical time for Sri Lanka, which is trying, not successfully though, to overcome decades of ethnic strife that has split the island dominantly between the Sinhalese, the majority community, and the Tamils.

Continue reading ‘India must be wary of Northern Chief Minister Wigneswaran who seems to be acting at the Behest of pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora in the West’ »

By

Don Manu

A nation’s outrage burst in full flow last Sunday evening when President Maithripala Sirisena thought fit to induct 26 members of the SLFP as Ministers, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers of his government, rolling out the red carpet of welcome to a questionable coterie of the Rajapaksa regime the people held in opprobrium and had voted never to see returned to power again.

It was not so much that Maithripala had flouted one pre-election promise not to increase the Cabinet to more than thirty that surprised the public and caused the horror but the shock that he had chosen to appoint the self same lieutenants of the corruption-ridden Rajapaksa regime as his own new standard bearers of his vision of change.

The word on the street was that President Maithripala had either, entranced in a sublime state, taken the practice of loving kindness to extraordinary lengths and, whilst playing the role of a political Sadhu Sumedha, generously distributing his people-gifted executive powers on the Prime Minister and asking naught in return, was bestowing maithri and karuna in abundance on his political enemies regardless of their conduct; or that he was nursing a political death wish that would place in peril the very wellbeing of his government and put his own credibility on the line.

Maithripala Sirisena swept to power as the messiah of change at a time when corruption was rife and dissent stifled. He was the nation’s star of hope to usher in real change which was to change the executive presidency, to crack down on corruption and to restore honesty, decency and transparency in government and in the conduct of its members.

Continue reading ‘Nation Outraged by President Sirisena’s Induction into cabinet of Disreputable Loyalists of Rajapaksa Regime’ »

By

N.Sathiya Moorthy

Pro-LTTE, pro-separatist websites could not have done a greater disservice to the larger Tamil cause just now than projecting Northern Province Chief Minister Justice C V Wigneswaran as our new national leader. It may in a way be a greater disservice to Justice Wigneswaran, too, who may not share their present views about him, and mostly definitely, their cause for a separate Tamil State.

Despite being suave and gentlemanly, Wigneswaran has always been straight and forthright in his views, particularly on the Tamils’ problems and their solutions. Before his entering active politics and becoming Chief Minister at one-go, the very same sections that now hail him used to criticise him for being a Colombo elite who did not (have to) face the rigours and destruction of war.

After becoming chief minister and more so over the past year or so, Wigneswaran has endeared the self not only to the separatist ideologues as is becoming increasingly visible. His job as chief minister expects and entails him to do so, but their career/service as a politician had entailed his fellow TNA leaders too to have done so. None had made the attempt unless there was something immediately political about it, more so in terms of competitive Tamil politics internally.

Endearing him to the separatists is not an option available to any Tamil social or political leader, or any member of the international community. Pedantic to the point of being proselytising, ideologues of Tamil separatism are not the ones to let go off any opportunity coming their way. So, if a Wigneswaran does not approve of their ways, and yet has views that are different from that of the Sri Lankan State on specifics and generalities, then he could be their man for the hour. Others can wait until their turn came.

Continue reading ‘Pro-LTTE Websites Projecting Northern Chief Minister Wigneswaran as the new “National Leader” of the Tamils After Prabhakaran.’ »

Like the ongoing investigations into the procurement of MiG-27 fighter jets, both President Maithripala Sirisena and the UNP-dominated Government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are keen to bring to book those involved in bribery, corruption and other malpractices. Even if probes into some high profile cases where there has been heavy pressure have moved at a very slower pace, they are keen to ensure investigating agencies, particularly the Police deal with as many cases as possible ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Towards this end, a programme to educate the public has also been launched.


When such parliamentary elections should be held formed the subject of discussion early last week when the troika running the country — President Sirisena, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and former President Kumaratunga — held one of their regular meetings. It was on Tuesday, March 17. Premier Wickremesinghe held Sirisena to his assurance that Parliament be dissolved on April 23, the deadline for the implementation of the 100-Day Programme of Work.

The latter was to explain that both constitutional changes and electoral reforms have to be introduced before dissolution. Sirisena opined that the two reforms could be completed and dissolution possible after May Day (May 1). However, Premier Wickremesinghe expressed the view that it would be better to wait until Vesak on May 3 and 4. Hence, a likely date for dissolution would be May 5. The date for polls also became the subject of discussion. The thinking was to hold parliamentary elections on the last Saturday in the month that follows — June 27. Of course these dates are subject to the vagaries of political developments.

In thinking loud over possible dates, Premier Wickremesinghe has made clear he is flexible enough to stretch his party’s deadline for dissolution from April 23 by a few weeks. Not surprisingly, since UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema has also expressed similar views to the Sunday Times earlier. This is notwithstanding the decision by the UNP’s Working Committee to call for dissolution when the deadline arrives.

Continue reading ‘SB Dissanayake who Apologized to Chandrika for his Sexist Remarks After Becoming Minister is now Expected to Criticise Mahinda Bitterly’ »

The Lodge, once known as Queen’s Cottage, in the cooler climes of Nuwara Eliya, often referred to as ‘Little England’ was once home for British Governors and the ruling elite. Since independence in 1948, it became the holiday resort of the Governor General, later Prime Ministers and now Presidents.

Unknown to most Sri Lankans, this turned out to be a centre in the tea country highlands for the campaign to re-elect Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election on January 8. The man who lived there and ran the show was Udayanga Weeratunga, then Ambassador to Russia who was concurrently accredited to Ukraine. He is a cousin of Rajapaksa and not a nephew as erroneously reported earlier. He is the eldest son of the former President’s mother’s sister.

At the same time as Weeratunga was directing campaign activity from the presidential retreat, in December last year, he was unaware that he had become the subject of a confidential investigation over a serious allegation. For this purpose, Kshenuka Senewiratne, the then Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs (now Foreign Ministry) and Additional Secretary and Chief of Protocol Majintha Jayasinghe, had flown to New Delhi for a meeting on December 3 with the Ukranian Ambassador to India (concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka), Oleksandr Shevchenko.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Cousin Udayanga Weeratunga who sold arms to Ukraine while Being Ambassador to Russia is now Missing’ »

BY Dr Reeza Hameed

The draft 19th Amendment reminds me of the story ‘Naya Qanoon’ (New Constitution) written by the late Saadat Manto, regarded by many as the finest writer of short stories in Urdu and as the greatest South Asian writer of the 20th century. Set in pre-independence Lahore of the 1930s the main protagonist of the story is a tongawalla called Mangu.

One day, Mangu over-hears two of his customers discussing a new constitution that was to be introduced in a few days. Mangu hated the British, and was sick and tired of the humiliation and abuse that he had suffered under British rule. Mangu is excited by the prospect of freedom that he believed would be ushered in by the constitution. He imagined it would be something bright and full of promise and spends the next few days getting ready to celebrate the arrival of the new constitution. On the appointed day, he discovers that nothing has changed and everything appeared as before.

An Englishman with whom he had an argument on a previous occasion approaches him for hire. Emboldened by the prospect of change promised by the constitution, Mangu wants to put his customer in place and in a sharp voice quotes his customer more than his usual fare for the journey. The encounter with the Englishman ends up in an altercation with Mangu landing several blows on his customer saying: “Those days are gone, friends, when they ruled the roost. There is a new Constitution now, fellows, a new Constitution.” Inevitably, Mangu gets picked up by the police and is taken to the station.

“All along the way, and even inside the station, he kept screaming, “New Constitution, new Constitution!” but nobody paid any attention to him. “New Constitution, new constitution! What rubbish are you talking? It’s the same old Constitution.” And he was locked up.”

Continue reading ‘19th Constitutional Amendment Draft and the Urdu Short Story “Naya Qanoon” (New Constitution) by Saadat Manto.’ »

Priyantha Sirisena, the brother of President Maithripala Sirisena, who was treated at a private hospital in Colombo after an axe attack died this morning at the age of 40.

Priyantha, who is also known as “Weli Raju,” is a businessman predominantly engaged in sand mining. He is a younger brother of President Sirisena, who is currently on a four-day state visit to China.

Priyantha Sirisena who was first rushed to the Polonnaruwa General hospital following the alleged attack was later airlifted to the private hospital in Colombo on 26 March.

Priyantha Sirisena’s Assailant Lakmal Saputhanthru Reveals Motive for Attacking with an Axe

The suspect arrested over the attack on President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother Priyantha, says he hid and waited before attacking the victim with an axe, because the latter had yelled at his parents.

Don Ishara Lakmal Saputhanthri was arrested last night after he surrendered to Bakamuna Police following the incident.

Continue reading ‘President Maithripala Sirisena’s Brother Priyantha Sirisena (42) Succumbs in Hospital to Injuries Inflicted by Axe’ »

P.G. Priyantha Sirisena, a younger brother of President Maithripala Sirisena, passed away early this morning following an axe attack on Thursday.

He was attacked with an axe in the back of his head on March 26 evening at around 7pm at Hathare Ela, Polonnaruwa. He was airlifted to Colombo the same night.

Born on December 12, 1972, Priyantha Sirisena was also known as ‘Weli Raju’, and was a well known businessman who was engaged in sand mining.

He was the owner of Rajarata Builders Pvt. Ltd and Rajarata Sahal (Rice) Pvt. Ltd.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s Brother Priyantha Sirisena’s Funeral to be held in Polonnaruwa on March 30th’ »

By

Malinda Seneviratne

Ranil Wickremesinghe, when he addressed and briefly responded to questions from heads of media institutions and editors, was clear, precise and quite articulate.

He articulated the Government’s strategy, progress made and what’s in the pipeline on three broad subjects: reconciliation, corruption and the ‘100 Days’ Program’.

When asked if corruption allegations predating the Mahinda era would also be taken up, he correctly pointed out that we cannot go back to ‘The Beginning’ (wherever that may be) and supported the ‘post 2005’ selection by saying that it is hard to collect relevant information pertaining to 2005.

He deftly sidestepped the issue of whether or not the draft 19th Amendment was a reflection of promises pertaining to reforming the executive presidential system scripted into President Sirisena’s election manifesto. Where parliamentary elections will be held before or after electoral reforms, he left grey. These are understandable, however. He is a politician and is in the business of power.

His ‘spelling out’ of the above three subjects was classic. It was a politically correct presentation.

It was a classic note marked at every turn by the best in what could be called ‘the spirit of democracy’. If one forgot the articulator and his record, that is.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Makes Politically Correct Presentation to Media Top Brass About Reconciliation, Corruption and 100 days Program’ »

By

Deepal Warnakulasuriya

Dr Dayan Jayatilleka who is an expert in many fields expressed his ideas regarding the present political developments in the country in an interview with The Nation. Dr. Jayatilleka did not agree with the formation of a National Government, suspending the normal competitive functioning of the two-party system. He considers this move as a “dangerous deviation” and said that Sri Lanka doesn’t have such a requirement.

He also questioned why the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) bothers to assist a program (100 Day Program) which was not approved by its vote base. He further gave the reason why Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha was not given a slot in the Cabinet and also criticized the effort of the SLFP to retain the post of Opposition Leader while representing the government.

The full interview

Q: What is a national government? During what situations, have the world used this concept?

A National Government must not be confused with a coalition government which is a government of many parties. A National Government is an all-parties government or at least a government which brings together the two major rival parties. A basic principle of multiparty democracy is that competition and choice provide the most space and best deal for the citizenry, just as in the marketplace, competition assures the best deal for the consumer. Therefore it is only under highly exceptional circumstances that National Governments are formed, suspending such competition. In the 20th century, National Governments or ‘grand coalitions’ were formed in the context of World War II and the threat of enemy invasion (Britain) and post WWII reconstruction from devastation (Germany). In Sri Lanka today nothing remotely comparable exists. Therefore the formation of a National Government suspending the normal competitive functioning of the two-party system is a dangerous deviation.

Continue reading ‘“Chandrika Playing Sonia Gandhi has found a Manmohan singh Figure in Maithripala”-Dayan Jayatilleka’ »

By W. K. Prasad Manju

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalists have launched the ‘Mahinda-For-PM Front’ and threaten to take to the streets with protest demonstrations and agitations demanding the dissolution of Parliament on April 23.

General Secretary of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya said leaders of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, National Freedom Front, Democratic Left Front and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya itself had closed ranks to launch the ‘Mahinda-For-PM Front’ and had held lengthy discussions on their future political trajectories as well.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Loyalists Launch Political Movement Called “Mahinda for Prime Minister Front”.’ »

By

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

The surprise political shake up last Sunday when a team of 26 SLFPers joined the Government, with 11 of them being sworn in as Cabinet Ministers, has brought about a new dimension to both politics and governance. The political debate is hotter today, with criticism of President Maithripala Sirisena for taking in these SLFPers, and stronger criticism of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for alleged manoeuvres to take control of the Government.

There is also an interesting situation in the context of the current political changes, with those openly opposed to the Sirisena Government in more than a quandary as to how they should meet the current situation, in keeping with the parliamentary traditions.

What has emerged after the crossover of this batch of SLFPers to the Sirisena camp is described as a National Government. President Sirisena has stated the establishing of such a National Alliance Government as part of his policy presented to the people when he contested the presidency as the common candidate in the January 8 poll. He did refer to the concept of a National Government when he addressed media personnel last Wednesday (18), just a day after he asserted his leadership of the party to electoral and district organizers of the SLFP.

When looking at the structure of what is now called a National Government, it appears to be better described as a Grand Coalition, bringing together both major political parties in the country, with support from some smaller parties too. It is very similar to the Grand Coalitions of German politics. Chancellor Angela Merkel today heads a Grand Coalition of the Christian Democrats (with its ally the Bavarian CSU) and the Social Democrats, the two large parties in the German Bundestag.

Continue reading ‘Grand Coalition in Parliament to Ensure Smooth Passage of 19th Constitutional Amendment and Beyond.’ »

By

Col.R.Hariharan

China under President Xi Jinping is promoting the revival of the Silk Route as well as the 21st Century Maritime Silk Route in a big way as a part of its strategic westward reach. It involves reaching out to South Asian countries as well as the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). India by its size, soft power and economic clout dominates both the subcontinent and the Indian Ocean neighbourhood.

If we go by his performance so far, president Xi has emerged as a pragmatist who does not lose sight of his end goals as long as his “core interests” are not threatened. China’s media comments after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-nation visit in the IOR indicate a better appreciation in Beijing of India’s role in IOR. Perhaps president Xi having factored Modi’s assertive leadership style understood that wishing away India in this region would not be easy and it would not benefit China. So Beijing seems to be in a mood to cooperate and coordinate (if possible) its activities with India in this region.

pic: PresidentGovLK

This could be related to the international strategic environment as well as China’s desire to take advantage of India’s growth story which is being rewritten under Modi’s leadership. Of course, China objections to prime minister Modi’s February 2015 -visit to Arunachal Pradesh showed that despite all the cooing comments Beijing would not compromise upon its core interest.

India’s experience in dealing with China holds an important lesson for Sri Lanka’s leadership – there will be no mixing of metaphors when it comes to China’s national interest. We can expect President Maithripala Sirisena to face the moment of truth when he talks with president Xi. So the Sri Lankan argument about cleaning up corruption in all projects including the Chinese ones just as China is doing, may not cut much ice except sympathetic nods.

Continue reading ‘Indian Ocean Great Game: Why India must keep an eye on Lankan President Sirisena’s China visit’ »

President’s brother Priyantha Sirisena is to be flown to Colombo for further treatment after he was assaulted with a sharp weapon at Polonnaruwa.

National Hospital Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that the hospital is on standby to treat Sirisena.

President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother Priyantha Sirisena was hospitalized after he was attacked with a sharp weapon at Hathare Ela in Polonnaruwa at around 7pm.

No suspects have been arrested over the incident as of now. Police spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said that police is searchig for an individual named Lakmal, who is said to be a friend of Priyantha Sirisena.

The President’s brother, who is known as ‘Weli Raju’, is known to be a businessman who is engaged in sand mining.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s Brother Priyantha alias “Weli Raju”to be Flown to Colombo National Hospital After Being Attacked in Polonnaruwa’ »

Around 26 UPFA Parliamentarians, including many SLFP MPs took part in the pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa rally today urging that the former president should be made the Prime Ministerial candidate of the UPFA in an upcoming general election.

Apart from the Parliamentarians a number of Provincial Council Members and Local Government Authority Members also took part in the event.

Continue reading ‘26 MP’s from UPFA with Several Provincial Councillors and Local Authority Representatives Attend Pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa Rally at Ratnapura.’ »

By

Prof.Jayadeva Uyangoda

Within just three months in power, the National Democratic Front (NDF) coalition seems to be disintegrating. All indications are that the unity that the NDF coalition partners showed in the pursuit of their common objective of dislodging the Mahinda Rajapaksha family from power has largely dissipated.

The signs are also that President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, the two pillars on which the NDF government is built, have developed conflicting agendas and interests. They don’t seem to support each others’ positions on controversial issues, as they did in the recent past.

Meanwhile, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a key partner of the coalition, is targeting Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and his UNP, in a move to re-build its own political identity and constituency.

The JVP, which supported the coalition from outside, is promoting its own political agenda and interests, and in the process has emerged as the most vociferous critic of the NDF government.
Continue reading ‘Whither the Reform Agenda that Brought Maithripala Sirisena, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Their Allies to Power?’ »

By N. Sathiya Moorthy

For a bilateral visit at the highest-level after an undesirable and inexplicable gap of 28 long years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day tour of Sri Lanka was noted as much for what it achieved as for the optics.

facebook.com/narendramodi

It came after an earlier visit by Sri Lanka’s new President Maithripala Sirisena to India only weeks earlier, and between them, the two visits and the two leaders have now put bilateral relations in a new trajectory, from where their policy makers can and should take it forward to mutual benefit with greater confidence, to shared peace and prosperity.
Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi Visit to Sri Lanka was a case of “He Came, Saw and won Over” and not a Case of “He Came, saw and Conquered”.’ »

Priyantha Sirisena, the brother of President Maithripala Sirisena was hospitalised with serious injuries after he was assaulted by an unknown person at Hathare Ela area in Polonnaruwa.

It was reported that Mr. Sirisena had been attacked near a garage in the area at around 7. 00 p.m. and had been rushed to the Polonnaruwa Hospital.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s Brother Priyantha Sirisena Attacked in Polonnaruwa and Hospitalised with Serious Injuries.’ »

By Suresh Perera

With President Maithripala Sirisena’s revelation to Sandeshaya, BBC’s Sinhala Service in London, that there were plans to “destroy his whole family” if he lost the presidential poll, political sources recalled how the then common candidate was escorted under cover of darkness to an estate owned by a close friend in the Kurunegala district.

President Maithripala Sirisena during the BBC Interview: youtu.be

Just days after the January 8 presidential election, The Sunday Island learnt how the drama unfolded at Dodangaslanda, a sleepy village at the far end of Kurunegala bordering the Matale district, but political sources politely declined to discuss details as the President himself had not referred to the episode earlier.

During his recent visit to London, President Sirisena told BBC Sandeshaya’s Saroj Pathirana in an interview that he wouldn’t know whether he and family would be alive today if the elections favoured the other side. “That was the democracy the Rajapaksas practiced. I know that only too well, he said.

On the day of the poll, Sirisena had cast his vote at Polonnaruwa and decided to leave home to a secret destination as there were credible reports that he and his family could be harmed if they remained in a location which could be easily traced after the outcome of the election was announced the following day (January 9), the sources recounted.

Continue reading ‘How Maithripala Sirisena with Family Hid in a Coconut Estate Owned by Kiran Atapattu in Dodangaslanda on Election Night to Escape Possible harm.’ »

BY DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

Blackadder fans will know what I mean when I say that Chandrika and Ranil have come up with a plan of truly Baldrickian cunning. They let it slip while speaking on separate occasions after the formation of the so-called ‘National Government’.

Ranil said that the change that had been initiated, promised to take us back to 1948 or 1951 and reverse what had befallen us since. The uninitiated may wonder what the reference to 1951 was. It is all very simple. That’s the year the SLFP was formed with Chandrika’s and Mahinda’s fathers breaking away from the ‘parent party’ the UNP. So the plan centrally involves the reversal of that breakaway and the re-merger of the UNP and the SLFP under the hegemony of the former.

For her part, Chandrika, speaking at a well-attended meeting graced by Rosie Senanayake, to donate essential nutrients to lactating mothers, said that the new equation would, if it could be made to last twenty years, lay the foundation for irreversible change and progress. De-coded, it is exactly the same message that JR Jayewardene gave in 1982, namely that the “electoral map can be rolled up for ten years”. Chandrika has just got twice as ambitious.

As Peter Cook used to say on Beyond the Fringe, “but there’s a flaw in that theory” (to which Dudley Moore would heckle a loud, long drawn out “yes”). Whatever his motivations, SWRD Bandaranaike made a huge contribution to the liberal democratic market-system by creating a moderate alternative to the conservative, right of center UNP. The SLFP was a left of center party, social democratic in domestic policy, nonaligned/Third Worldist in foreign policy and moderately (Sinhala Buddhist) nationalist in ideology.

Continue reading ‘“Chinthana” of Chandrika and Ranil is to Demolish the Two-party System by Re-Merging the UNP and SLFP’ »

by Jayadeva Uyangoda

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” was the first reaction I heard last Sunday evening when the news spread that President Sirisena had sworn in 26 ex-UPFA ministers in various ministerial capacities of his yahapalanaya government. The second response was also similar: ‘Is this what we voted Maithripala Sirisena in to power for?”

Disbelief, shock, and disappointment were at the core of these reactions to what many people now consider as an event that marked a clear deviation by the new government from its own paradigm of good governance. This act by the ruling Troika – President Sirisena, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and former President Kumaratunge – obviously secured much needed regime stability, but at a cost.

It seriously damaged the claims made by the new government to upholding its own principles of political morality. It indeed smacks political corruption, because it exchanges political office with parliamentary voting.
Continue reading ‘“To Laugh or Cry”? -Induction of 26 SLFP’ers Into Ruling Coalition Sacrifices Political Ethics and Credibility for Regime Survival and Stability.’ »

By Ishara Mudugamuwa and Yasaratne Gamage

The Financial Fraud Investigations Division (FFID) has sought the advice of the Attorney General on the procedure involved in obtaining a statement from former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa over the alleged financial fraud at the Divi Neguma Department, Police Media Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

sketch by Hasantha Wijenayake

The police decided to obtain a statement from the former minister after Divi Naguma Director General, R.A.K. Ranawaka, gave a statement to the FFID, over alleged financial fraud in the Divi Neguma department, stating that funds of the department were released for use in the 2015 Presidential election campaign and another Rs 70 million to hold a convention, under the instructions of the former minister.

“We have informed the Kaduwela Magistrate about the matter and further extended investigations to seek the AGs advice in obtaining a statement from the former minister who is not in the island at present, he added.

Continue reading ‘Attorney-General’s Advice Sought About Enlisting INTERPOL Help to Locate Ex-Minister Basil Rajapaksa for Interrogation into Alleged Divi Neguma Fraud’ »

By Jayashika Padmasiri

Though the Government was able to arrive at a consensus regarding the trimming of powers of the executive presidency, the controversy over electoral reforms has still not been settled, with the Government and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) continuing to reiterate their stances on this subject.

facebook.com/maithripalas

In this backdrop, President Maithripala Sirisena has also expressed his displeasure regarding the prevailing electoral system while emphasising on the need to change it. According to reports, the political parties are discussing the introduction of a mixed system consisting of the Proportional Representation (PR) system and the First Past the Post system.

Continue reading ‘Can this “Achcharu Govt” Reform the Electoral System as Envisaged?’ »

By Vikram Rajakumar

The discovery of groups and individuals in south India pledging allegiance to various militant factions in Syria’s civil war has led to a deterioration of security of that region. What is the implication of this new phenomenon for Southeast Asia?

Tamil Nadu in south India, which comprise 65 million people (88% Hindu, 5.5% Muslims, 5.4% Christians), has enjoyed relative peace in recent years despite historical tensions between its various ethnic and religious communities. The last major incidents of communal violence were the Hindu-Muslim riots of 1993 and 1998. Yet the threat of terrorism by contemporary jihadist groups — rife in other parts of India — never gained traction there. The northern states of Jammu and Kashmir have been hotbeds of jihadist militancy fighting for independence from India. There have also been pockets of Islamic insurgent groups in the Northeast and the ‘national’ jihadi groups such as the Indian Mujahideen.

Two main reasons account for why Tamil Nadu’s Muslims have been hitherto spared the influence of terrorist propaganda.

Firstly, there exists a language barrier between Tamil Nadu and the other states in India. Unlike other parts of India, Hindi had not developed into a lingua franca in Tamil Nadu. This was primarily due to the post-independence anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu, which led to the institution by the government of Tamil Nadu of Tamil as the state’s official language and English as a second language. Consequently, Tamil Nadu remained relatively impervious to the terrorist propaganda from India’s terrorist hotbeds, couched mostly in Hindi.

Secondly, the militant struggle in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast insurgency do not hold significant sentimental value to the Tamil Muslims. In Tamil Nadu, the sense of patriotism to the state and the cultural affiliations are deep-seated. The majority of the population, regardless of religion, believe that Tamil Nadu is the cradle of the Dravidian culture and the birthplace of the Tamil language. Hence, the loyalty to the homeland and culture of Tamil Nadu is far greater than loyalties to the jihadist terrorist cause that is salient in other parts of India.

Continue reading ‘Penetration of Global Jihadism into South India has Resulted in Several Tamil Nadu Muslims Fighting Alongside ISIL in Iraq and Syria.’ »

By Jayashika Padmasiri

pic via: & facebook.com/maithripalas

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday announced that the 20th Amendment presented in Parliament would institute electoral reforms and soon after it was passed, along with the 19th Amendment, they will call for a general election.

SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, addressing a media conference in Colombo, said that after constitutional and electoral reforms were implemented Parliament would be dissolved.

“The SLFP is not against allocating 250 parliamentary seats under a new electoral system. The Elections Commissioner said that within three months of the passage of the resolution we can go for an election.

Therefore there is a possibility that there could be an election this year. However, if we go for an election it will be under a new electoral system. Anyway our party does not have a 100-day timeframe as we have not agreed to a 100-day period and this procedure will definitely pass 100 days,” Yapa said.

Continue reading ‘SLFP Ready to Endorse Mahinda Rajapaksa but is Ex-President Willing to Serve as Prime Minister under President Sirisena?’ »

By Dasun Edirisinghe

More than 20 SLFP Parliamentarians would attend the third rally demanding that former President Rajapaksa be made the UPFA prime ministerial candidate, under the theme, ‘The country is in danger and prepare to face the challenge!’ organised by UPFA allies MEP, NFF, DLF and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya at the Ratnapura Sivali grounds today, UPFA Ratnapura District MP Ranjith Zoysa said yesterday.

Zoysa flanked by Ratnapura District MP Janaka Wakkumbura, Colombo District MP Gamini Lokuge, Polonnaruwa District MP Roshan Ranasinghe and several other provincial council and local government members representing the Ratnapura District , said they would definitely bring back former President Mahinda Rajapska at the next general election as the prime ministerial candidate of the UPFA.

The main purpose of today’s rally was to demand that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa be nominated as Prime Ministerial candidate of the UPFA at the forthcoming general election.

Continue reading ‘More than 20 SLFP Parliamentarians to Defy Party Hierarchy by Attending Ratnapura Rally Supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

Recent remarks made by Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne regarding the security detail provided to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa are completely inaccurate and false, charged the Media Coordinator of President Rajapaksa.

Issuing a communiqué, Rajapaksa’s Media Coordinator Rohan Welivita has also said that in fact, there are lapses in the security provided to the former President.

Full text of the letter is as follows;

Continue reading ‘Did Cabinet Spokesman Dr.Rajitha Senaratne Lie about the Security Provided to Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa?’ »

Nelka Medagedera

Three petitions have been submitted to the Supreme Court pleading that an order be made to go for a referendum after passing the proposed 19th Amendment to the Constitution with a two third majority in Parliament.

The petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court by Udaya Gammanpila on behalf of the Secretary General of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Gomin Dayasiri PC and Liyana Pathiranage Ivan Perera.

The petitioner Gomin Dayasiri stated in his petition that the article 70(1) of the proposed 19th Amendment draft to the Constitution has increased the time period from one year to four years. This violates the right of the people to exercise their franchise.

Continue reading ‘Three Petitions Before Supreme Court Seeking Referendum for 19th Constitutional Amendment to Become Law’ »

By

Malinda Seneviratne

Of course we are all disappointed. We backed our boys to the hilt. We forced ourselves to hope that they would win it all. We all wanted a perfect farewell to our ‘grand old men’ (relatively speaking of course). We wanted Sanga, Mahela, Dilly and Malinga to have a ‘Tendulkar Moment’ on March 29, 2015. Correspondents to sports pages wanted to write about the win and suggest tweaks that would get us into the Final. Didn’t happen the way we liked it to happen.

On the plus side, no one’s had a heart attack. No houses have been stoned or torched. When our boys return no one will say ‘hoo hoo’. On the contrary, the vast majority of fans will cheer them, pat them on the back and thank them for doing their best. This is Sri Lanka. It is not Pakistan or India. In fact we are more like Bangladesh in this respect, except for the fact that had Sri Lanka progressed there would be less surprise than if Bangladesh had bested India.

So we lost. So what? Should we weep? For those who shed a tear or think we should as a nation mourn, let me recount a conversation with Hindustan Times correspondent in Sri Lanka PK Balachandran which took place eight years ago when it was clear that Sri Lanka was going to lose to Australian in the World Cup final.

Continue reading ‘Life and Cricket will go on in Sri Lanka Even After we Bid Farewell to Sanga,Mahela,Dilshan andMalinga.’ »

By
Rasika Jayakody

When he defected from the Rajapaksa administration to challenge Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency in November, last year, he only had the support of eight Parliamentarians of the UPFA who accompanied him in a face of a government that seemed invincible. The large majority of UPFA Parliamentarians criticized Sirisena’s move calling him a traitor who betrayed the party and its voters. In response, Sirisena said that he was still the legitimate General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and he never left his party where he started his political career over four decades ago.

At the event of Arjuna Ranatunga accepting SLFP membership

However, in his run up to the presidency, 28 MPs, who represented the UPFA, joined hands with him, putting a damper on the election campaign of the former President who was running for his third term in office. Addressing his election meetings, Sirisena confidently said that he would regain his position in the SLFP following his “victory” at the presidential election.

A few days after his election victory, a sizable proportion of Central Committee members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party aligned themselves with the newly elected President, accepting him as the “by-default” Chairman of the SLFP. They said Sirisena had the backing of the majority of the SLFP Central Committee members and appointed a new board of officials with the new President as the head of the party.

Ranil Wickremesinghe

Fearing a possible split in the party, the SLFP seniors, decided to urge the former President to relinquish his positions, making way for President Sirisena to become the official Chairman of the SLFP. At a meeting held at the Speaker’s official residence, former President Rajapaksa told the new President that he was ready to transfer the powers of the SLFP. Soon after this transfer of power, President Sirisena was formally appointed as the Chairman of the party by the Executive Committee and the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

However, there were some seniors of the SLFP who still wanted “Mahinda” to lead the Parliamentary election campaign of the party as the Prime Ministerial Candidate. Some of them even attended the rally held at Nugegoda extending their support to what they termed as the former President’s Prime Ministerial candidature. Realizing the possible consequences of this trend, President Sirsena got his party secretary to issue a special statement on behalf of the Central Committee, prohibiting the members of the party from attending events organized by other political parties and organizations.

As a result of this measure, no senior SLFP Parliamentarian attended the rally which was held in Kandy to promote the former President who was on a feverish mission to return to active politics probably as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the UPFA coalition. With little or no support from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the pro-MR rally in Kandy ended as a disappointment.

Continue reading ‘Maithri-Ranil-Chandrika Trinity Checkmates Mahinda by Forming National Govt Comprising UNP and SLFP’ »

By Lahiru Pothmulla

The 19th Amendment presented in Parliament by the Government was a result of a ‘Constitutional Coup’ to allow a person who is unable to win at an election to retain power, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today.

JHU General Secretary and Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said the objective of the latest reforms was to render the Executive President powerless and to make the Prime Minister powerful.
Continue reading ‘Champika Ranawaka of JHU Denounces 19th Amendment as “Constitutional Coup” and Vows to Defeat it in Parliament.’ »

By Saman Indrajith

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe presented the 19th Amendment to the Constitution to Parliament yesterday to curtail powers of the executive presidency.

The Bill, if approved by Parliament, will make the Prime Minister the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers with powers to appoint its members.

Right to Information has been included among the fundamental rights in the 19th Amendment.

The Bill envisages the appointment of a Constitutional Council consisting the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, one person appointed by the President, five persons appointed by the President on the nomination of both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, one person nominated by agreement of the majority of members of parliament belonging to political parties or independent groups other than the respective political parties or independent groups to which the prime minister and the leader of the opposition belong and appointed by the president.

Continue reading ‘19th Constitutional Amendment Curtailing Executive Presidency Powers Presented to Parliament by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.’ »

The national anthem was sung in Tamil in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at an event, where the lands taken over by the military to establish a High Security Zone were handed back to the legitimate owners at Valalaai, Valikamam East on Monday (23).

The land owners who were internally displaced from Vasavilan, Valalaai in the Thellipalai and Koppay areas were given the documents to have their lands back by President Maithripala Sirisena, who had pledged the government’s support to resolve the humanitarian problems faced by the people in the war-torn North.

Continue reading ‘National Anthem Sung in Tamil at Event in Jaffna with President Maithri,Premier Ranil and Ex-President Chandrika Present.’ »

By Col R Hariharan

Is former Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who suffered a surprise defeat in the January 2015 presidential election, set to reincarnate as a prime minister?

pic: twitter.com/RajapaksaNamal

It would appear so, if we go by the moves of the national unity government as well as pro-Rajapaksa elements within the polity. Of course, Rajapaksa, the Grandmaster of political intrigues, kept everyone guessing despite continued speculation in media and political circles.

Even in his interview to The Hindu ten days back he would not directly talk about getting back into the political scene. Instead he has tried to play the martyr card by complaining about the corruption investigation being carried out against some of his family members and associates.

But Rajapaksa kept the speculation alive by saying “I would have just supported this government. But they want to probe, put us in jail, [and] take our passports without any evidence. How can I retire like this? I never said I would retire. At the moment I am taking a rest.” So it would be reasonable to conclude he is likely to contest the general election in April 2015.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Getting Ready to Make a Comeback as Prime Minister after Taking a Short “Rest” now.’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

President Maithripala revealed an interesting episode of what Queen Elizabeth told him during his recent visit to Britain to the media heads when the latter met the President last week at a breakfast meeting.

pic via PresidentGovLK

pic via PresidentGovLK

When he met the Queen, the pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora in London had been protesting outside. “Don’t those who protest outside know that there is a new government in Sri Lanka?” the Queen had asked Maithri.

By this statement, the Queen posed two views; that she was opposed to the protest outside by the Tamil Diaspora and was eager to know what the new Sri Lanka Government would do to help the Tamils.

Maithri understood the statement in the correct perspective. Even British Premier David Cameron had posed the same question.

Indian Premier Narendra Modi who came to Sri Lanka recently urged Maithri to find a solution beyond 13 A to the Tamil issue.

Maithri put the entire crisis in a lighter vein to the editors recalling the Sinhala saying, “The country was facing global challenges in a way the crabs danced inside a boiling pan”.

Continue reading ‘If National Govt was Formed to Resolve the Tamil Crisis the Nation must Salute Maithri, Ranil and Chandrika’ »

It sounds too good to be true but a simple change to the way rice is cooked could reduce its calorie content by 60 per cent.

Scientists in Sri Lanka have discovered that cooking rice with a teaspoon of coconut oil then refrigerating it for 12 hours more than halves the number of calories absorbed by the body. The change remains even if it is reheated.

The researchers from the College of Chemical Sciences in Colombo, Sri Lanka, say simply changing the way rice is cooked could help tackle the obesity epidemic.

“Because obesity is a growing health problem, especially in many developing countries, we wanted to find food-based solutions,” says Dr Sudhair James, who is at the College of Chemical Sciences, Colombo, Western, Sri Lanka.

“We discovered that increasing rice resistant starch (RS) concentrations was a novel way to approach the problem.”
Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Researchers Discover Simple Method of Cooking to Reduce Calorie Content of Rice by 60%’ »

With a sense of vision and a ruthless pragmatism, Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore as it transformed from a tiny island with no natural resources into a thriving economic success.

facebook.com/RememberingLeeKuanYew

He successfully channelled the energies of Singaporeans to create what has often been described as an economic miracle, a mixture of private and state capitalism.

Mr Lee made Singapore prosperous, modern, efficient and practically corruption-free – and overseas investors flocked in.

But while he was admired for his economic success, many expressed concern over his record on human rights.

Lee Kuan Yew was born on 16 September 1923 in Singapore, the son of third-generation Chinese immigrants.
His upbringing had a strong British influence and his grandfather dubbed him Harry Lee, a name by which he was known through most of his early life.

Continue reading ‘Lee Kuan Yew made Singapore Prosperous, Modern, Efficient and Practically Corruption Free-BBC’ »

THERE was no vainglory in the title of the first volume of Lee Kuan Yew’s memoirs: “The Singapore Story”. Few leaders have so embodied and dominated their countries: Fidel Castro, perhaps, and Kim Il Sung, in their day. But both of those signally failed to match Mr Lee’s achievement in propelling Singapore “From Third World to First” (as the second volume is called).

facebook.com/RememberingLeeKuanYew

Moreover, he managed it against far worse odds: no space, beyond a crowded little island; no natural resources; and, as an island of polyglot immigrants, not much shared history. The search for a common heritage may have been why, in the 1990s, Mr Lee’s Singapore championed “Asian values”. By then, Singapore was the most Westernised place in Asia.

Mr Lee himself, whose anglophile grandfather had added “Harry” to his Chinese name, was once called by George Brown, a British foreign secretary, “the best bloody Englishman east of Suez”. He was proud of his success in colonial society. He was a star student in pre-war Singapore, and, after an interlude during the Japanese occupation of Singapore from 1942-45, again at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Cambridge. He and his wife, Kwa Geok Choo, both got firsts in law.

When Geok Choo first appears in “The Singapore Story” it is as a student who, horror of horrors, beats young Harry in economics and English exams. Mr Lee always excelled at co-option as well as coercion. When he returned to Singapore in 1950, he was confident in the knowledge that she “could be a sole breadwinner and bring up the children”, giving him an “insurance policy” that would let him enter politics. He remained devoted to her. Before her death, when she lay bedridden and mute for two years, he maintained a spreadsheet listing the books he read to her: Lewis Carroll, Jane Austen, Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Continue reading ‘Lee Kuan Yew: The Man Who Propelled Singapore from the Third World into the First World’ »

(Text of Media Release Issued by the National Peace Council)

The government is being criticized for its slow pace in implementing the 100 day plan of the president’s election manifesto. However, the government is also going beyond the promises of its election manifesto to strengthen the confidence of the Tamil people in its good faith.

President Sirisena being honoured in London, earlier in March

President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to permit the national anthem to be sung in the Tamil language taken at a meeting of the National Executive Council, which is composed of political party heads in the government coalition, is a courageous action.

The National Peace Council commends the President for his statesmanlike decision. We see it as yet another reconciliatory action of the government that will make the Tamil-speaking people feel a greater sense of belonging to the Sri Lankan polity when they sing the national anthem in a language they understand.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s Commendable Decision to Enable the Singing of the National Anthem in Tamil also will Give Tamil Speaking People A Greater Sense of Belonging.’ »

(Full Text of Speech Made in Parliament by Tamil Nationalist Alliance Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran M.P. on the 17th March 2015)

MA Sumanthiran MP

Mr. Deputy Chairman of Committees,

as I rise to speak on this Order that has been placed for approval, I cannot but recollect the time when the Hon. Minister of Justice and Labour Relations himself, seated on this side, opposed the extension of this Order when it came up two years ago. In fact, that Order had lapsed before it came up for extension and it was he, who pointed out to the House, that that Order could not be extended because it had lapsed and the Order had to be remade and that is why a bill had to be brought again, the Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act, No. 2 of 2013. The original Act having lapsed, the Hon. Minister, the person who pointed it out rightly at that time from the Opposition Benches, today is propounding the extension of this illogical and draconian provision. This is another one of those ironies that we are faced with of a Government that was established for good governance.

Twenty four hours time is the limit before which, under ordinary laws, a person must be produced before a magistrate, only to be produced before a magistrate. If he is suspected to have committed an offence that is non-bailable, as it is called, then the magistrate would remand the person, certainly at least for the first 15 days and thereafter, take over the directions of the investigations and under Section 115 of the Criminal Procedure Code, I believe, a magistrate would direct the investigations. That is the safeguard that our country is used to. The Hon. Minister himself said that merely extending it from 24 hours to 48 hours is not going to aid the investigation to be completed within 48 hours; nobody expects the investigations to be completed by 48 hours. If that be the case, what is the necessity for a person to be retained in the custody of the police when we have so much of evidence of abuse by the police of persons who are in their custody?
Continue reading ‘President Must Immediately Rescind Appointment of Sir Desmond de Silva as Chair of Advisory Council to Secure Rule of Law and Good Governance”-MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

(Full Text of Address made by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran at Valalaai in Jaffna where 425 Acres of Land under military control were handed back to the displaced people in a ceremony attended by President Maithripala Sirisena,Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga on March 23rd 2015)

Your Excellency the President , Honourable Prime Minister, Madam Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, distinguished Diplomats and guests, my dear brothers and sisters!

We are at the threshold of hope. A hope that those who have been denied what was due to them since the war ended, would be returned to them. There could be various official reasons trotted out to legitimize the delay in returning what is rightfully the lot of the people of these areas. But they are not reasons at all.

Despite the end of the war in May 2009, vast swathes of private lands and property remain under the control of the security forces and central government aligned entities while thousands languish in temporary camps with no end in sight to their plight. In vast majority of the cases the actions of the security forces and the central government has resulted in the creation of long term IDPs, many of whom have spent over two decades in temporary housing in so called welfare camps, without the ability to exercise their right to return.

Some of the most fertile lands in the Peninsula have not been returned to the owners but had been used by the Military to cultivate vegetables and fruits for themselves. No rentals nor compensation have been paid for so using their lands for so long. Up to the year 2013 their houses in these areas were still in place. None had been destroyed. But around the time our election to the Northern Provincial Council drew nigh almost all the houses and buildings in these areas had been destroyed.

Let me take the case of Myliddy.

Continue reading ‘Northern Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran Emphasises that 38 IDP Welfare Centres in Jaffna can be Closed if Army Vacates Lands held in 9 Grama Sevaka Divisions.’ »

“Every measure will be taken to resolve issues faced by people irrespective of their race or religion under my rule,” President Maithripala Sirisena said.

The President said that as a new Government many steps have already been taken to resolve problems faced by people, adding that the Government is committed to building peace and reconciliation among Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities while eradicating the mistrust, fear and suspicion among communities.

He made these observations today (23) participating in a ceremony to distribute title deeds of lands in the former High Security Zones being returned to the original owners.

As the first step 425 acres of land were handed over to the rightful owners at the today’s function.

“The government has given high priority to resolve land issues of the people in the North and East”, the President further said.

Continue reading ‘“Govt Gives High Priority to Resolve Land Issues of the People in the North and East” says President Sirisena in Jaffna.’ »

By Shalika Wimalasena

In this wide ranging and incisively probing no-holds-barred interview, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa admits intentions of entering national politics; says he first heard of Prageeth Ekneligoda only after his disappearance, adding that the Rajapaksa government had no issues with him. He said the Police could not find any clues to Ekneligoda’s disappearance and urges the present government to continue with the investigation. Gota denies any connection to, or prior knowledge of, the Welikada, Katunayaka, Rathupaswala killings…and affirms ‘ we never targeted journalists or political activists”. He affirms he “would have not visited Duminda Silva in hospital if I had known the real facts”.

Excerpts:

Q:
How would you define freedom?

A: What do you mean? Freedom of the nation, or freedom of the individual?

Q:
There was a distinction between the two in the past. How would you define freedom of the individual?

A: Freedom can be defined as the ability to lead one’s life without undue hindrances. Our parents and we too, as kids, enjoyed that freedom. No one was subject to any inordinate hindrance/influence, even from the government of the time.

Q:
Are you saying in effect that it is wrong for the government to unduly impinge on the personal lives of the people?

A: I think it is the responsibility of the government to protect this freedom. Those in power are under an obligation to create an environment that’s conducive to unhindered living and working.

Q:
Do you think the government in which you were Secretary to the Ministry of Defence provided the people with such an environment?

Continue reading ‘Ex-Def Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says he Prefers to be in a Sri Lankan Prison than to be Jailed in the USA.’ »

By

Udaya Gammanpila

Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka was the first official visit of an Indian Prime Minister for the last 28 years. It was presented as a diplomatic victory of the present government. However, the unpleasant incident that took place 28 years ago along with the message hidden in statements made by Modi in Sri Lanka justifies the absence of Indian Prime Ministers for the last 28 years.

Rajiv Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to make an official visit to Sri Lanka. He visited Sri Lanka in July 1987 to sign Indo-Lanka Accord. Protests triggered by his visit caused the deaths of 67,000 youths along with destroying government property and killing government officers. Before his return, Rajiv Gandhi was attacked by a sailor of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi Used his Visit to Remind us that Sri Lanka has Become an Indian Semi-colony After 1987 Accord.’ »

By

Malinda Seneviratne

Why should a country have more than a single version of its national anthem? This is the question that many are asking following President Maithripala Sirisena sanctioning the use of the Tamil version of ‘Sri Lanka Matha’. Those who ask this question by way of supporting the obvious answer to the rhetorical question (‘there’s no reason to have more than one version’) point to India’s case.

India is made of many states populated by people speaking several major languages and hundreds of dialects and yet has one national anthem. They also point to the fact that very few countries have more than a single version.

While a general global trend can indicate ‘better way’ it does not mean that all countries should necessarily fall in line. Just because federalism works for India (according to some people) and makes sense in the USA it does not follow that Sri Lanka should also adopt a federal model.

Just because the capitalist mode of production and a development model that takes growth (at the cost of almost everything else including the health of the planet) as the driver and objective of the paradigm it does not mean that it is either good or should forbid exploration of alternatives.

What needs to be assessed is whether or not any proposal on anything suits Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans taking into account social, political, economic, environmental and historical factors. It is in this context that the two-language national anthem idea needs to be commented on.

Continue reading ‘National Anthem Tamil Version is an Affirmation of a Single Nation, a Unitary State and a Territory Undivided’ »

Eleven more Cabinet Ministers, five State Ministers and ten Deputy Ministers were sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat a short while ago, the President’s Media said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe & President Maithripala Sirisena At Kataragama Dewalaya Premises, Mar 22, 2015

After swearing in the new cabinet

Cabinet Ministers

1. A.H.M.Fousie – Minister of Disaster Management

11. Mahinda Amaraweera – Minister of Fisheries

Continue reading ‘Eleven Cabinet Ministers, Five State Ministers and Ten Deputy Ministers from SLFP Sworn in by President Sirisena.’ »

by

Priya Venkateshan

I have been provoked enough to write this, provoked by this piece by novelist Aatish Taseer, “How English ruined Indian Literature” in The New York Times. I need to rebut this.

pic: facebook.com/BritishCouncilindia

I’m supposed to be a Tamilian, on paper. My father grew up speaking Tamil. My mother’s was a more complicated story. Her father had grown up in Andhra, her mother from Chennai, and they raised her in Karnataka. She had grown up not learning to read or write either of her parents’ languages, and instead was very fluent in Kannada. In my case, my parents lived in Bangalore and decided to send me to a CBSE school, where Hindi was mandated to be one of your languages. So in school, I learnt English and Hindi, at home I spoke Tamil, and outside it was Kannada.

As a result, my Hindi is text-bookish when it’s not Bollywoodish, my Kannada is spoken with a terrible Tamil accent, and I cannot speak anything but a Brahmin dialect of Tamil….and what’s more, I am not fluent in reading and writing any of those languages, just purely functional. Would things have been better if my first language at school had been Hindi? Going by my South Indian friends who studied at Kendriya Vidyalayas, probably not.

Schools are not great places to learn languages. Ask any American who took Spanish in high school and even today can barely manage to string a few sentences together.

I’m not alone. Fewer and fewer children are born in India with both parents speaking the same language.

Even fewer grow up in a state where the official language is the same as their mother tongue. An increasing number move all over the country during their childhood. This goes all the way to the top.
Continue reading ‘Adopting English as Lingua Franca is the reason for India Staying Together.’ »

BY AATISH TASEER

NEW DELHI — A BOATMAN I met in Varanasi last year, while covering the general election that made Narendra Modi prime minister of India, said, “When Modi comes to power, we will send this government of the English packing.”

pic: facebook.com/BritishCouncilindia

The government of the English! The boatman naturally did not mean the British Raj; that had ended nearly 70 years before. What he meant was its extension through the English-speaking classes in India. He meant me, and he could tell at a glance — these things have almost the force of racial differences in India — that I was not just a member of that class, but a beneficiary of the tremendous power it exerted over Indian life.

“English is not a language in India,” a friend once told me. “It is a class.” This friend, an aspiring Bollywood actor, knew firsthand what it meant to be from the wrong class. Absurd as it must sound, he was frequently denied work in the Hindi film industry for not knowing English. “They want you to walk in the door speaking English. Then if you switch to Hindi, they like it. Otherwise they say, ‘the look doesn’t fit.’ ” My friend, who comes from a small town in the Hindi-speaking north, knew very well why his look didn’t fit. He knew, too, from the example of dozens of upper-middle class, English-speaking actors, that the industry would rather teach someone with no Hindi the language from scratch than hire someone like him.

India has had languages of the elite in the past — Sanskrit was one, Persian another. They were needed to unite an entity more linguistically diverse than Europe. But there was perhaps never one that bore such an uneasy relationship to the languages operating beneath it, a relationship the Sanskrit scholar Sheldon Pollock has described as “a scorched-earth policy,” as English.

Continue reading ‘English Remains the Language of the Dominant Elite in India Despite Decades of Independence from Britain.’ »

BY Gagani Weerakoon

Following a shock decision worked out in total secrecy last Friday with Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, President Maithripala Sirisena will swear-in 30 SLFP MPs as ministers, 15 of them with Cabinet rank and 15 others as Deputy Ministers, in a political feint that will see the promised Sirisena-Wickremesinghe National Government coming to fruition with more than a month to elapse before government completes 100 days in office.

SLFP members who are holding positions in Parliament and top posts in the party are not among those who will be sworn-in today as ministers, deputy ministers or state ministers, the source added. This would hence leave out Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva, Chief Opposition Whip John Seneviratne and SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa from the list.

None of the Sandanaya Alliance members have been offered anything.

Continue reading ‘Maithri and Ranil Strike SLFP-UNP Deal for National Govt:15 Cabinet and 15 Deputy Ministers from SLFPto be Sworn in;10 More SLFP State Ministers in Pipeline.’ »

By GARDINER HARRIS

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — No social function on this island is as important as the recent annual Royal-Thomian cricket match, but this year’s event was particularly special because of what has become known here as the Royalist coup.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe welcomed PM Narendra Modi at daybreak on March 13, 2015

It was celebrated last weekend in party tents with toasts involving many drinks, and in acts of silliness that often unfold during the match. As usual, not a lot of attention was paid to the young people in white clothing who were batting a ball around the green pitch.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the 136th annual Royal Thomian match in Colombo-pic by: Suhasini Haidar

Royal College and St. Thomas’ College, both founded by British clergy in the early 19th century, are this country’s Eton and Harrow — bastions of privilege that have groomed Sri Lanka’s leaders for nearly two centuries.

The schools have competed in cricket every March for 136 years, making it one of the longest continuous cricket rivalries in the world — a point almost every spectator will make within seconds of meeting a foreigner.
Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Hosted Narendra Modi for Lunch on Friday but went to the Royal-Thomian on Saturday.’ »

by

P.K.Balachandran

Former Sri Lankan Consul General in Sydney, Bandula Jayasekara, has suggested that the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, be allowed to visit Sri Lanka purely as a Buddhist pilgrim and on the strict condition that he talks no politics while being here.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama cuts the first birthday cake of his 80th year to share with Indian friends in New Delhi, India on March 22, 2015. (Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL)-via: facebook.com/DalaiLama

The former diplomat was commenting on the controversy kicked up by an invitation to the Dalai Lama to visit Lanka.Many Lankan officials feel it will annoy China which sees the Tibetan monk as a separatist and a terrorist.

Jayasekara, who is the only Sri Lankan to have interviewed the Dalai Lama for a newspaper, told Express here on Saturday, that anybody should be able to worship at shrines of his or her religion, irrespective of political affiliation.

Continue reading ‘“Dalai Lama Should be Allowed to Worship at Kandy Temple of Tooth and Anuradhapura Maha Bodhi Tree-Bandula Jayasekara’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

With each passing week, the stresses and strains within the yahapalana coalition that formed the present government are coming more and more out into the open. Last week, at a seminar at the OPA auditorium,  Dr Jayampathy Wickremeratne who is an advisor to President Maithripala Sirisena alleged that some people in the government were trying to destroy the president’s credibility by blocking the abolition of the executive presidency. Dr Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, the spokesman of Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha’s National Movement for a Just Society, who spoke at the same seminar was more specific and pinpointed minister Champika Ranawaka as the person blocking the abolition of the executive presidency.

 Had the present government been composed of just Maithripala Sirisena on the one hand and the UNP on the other, it may have turned out to be a smooth partnership. In actual fact, these were the two principal partners on the yahapalana platform. Had the JVP joined the campaign directly as in 2010, they too could have staked a claim to being a principal partner. As it turned out, the JVP ducked the responsibility and the UNP was left holding the baby. Others like Champika Ranawaka, Rajitha Senaratne, and Hirunika Premachandra may have addressed meetings but the ground level work like manning the polling booths, organizing meetings, doing house to house campaigns etcetera was done by the UNP. They may have not been as energetic as the JVP, but they did their part and in any case the vast majority of the votes that Sirisena got were UNP votes. If the UNP now expects a free hand to govern, that is certainly their right.   

The whole point in doing politics is to look after the interests of those who elected you to power and in the case of Sirisena it is undoubtedly the UNP voter who elected him into power. Before being elected into power, the president spoke of the abuse of power under the Rajapaksas and his wish to dismantle the presidential system. He wanted to give more powers to parliament and the cabinet. If he simply did what he said he was going to do and gave the largely UNP government a free hand while taking a back seat, there would be no stresses and strains at all in the government. But as many yahapalana activists are now beginning to realize, there is a small group of people around President Sirisena who do not want him to relinquish presidential power so that they can use it for their own benefit. No doubt this small group played a part in his campaign, but certainly not a part that outweighed the role played by the UNP.

Continue reading ‘Champika Ranawaka Pinpointed as the Person Blocking the abolition of the Executive Presidency.’ »

By Ambika Satkunanathan

The ‘wife of Neelan Tiruchelvam’ is a phrase that has been frequently used to describe Sithie, a corporate lawyer with a deep and abiding interest in social justice, research and the world of ideas, and the arts, since she passed away.

http://www.neelan.org/

However, to those who knew Sithie she was never merely ‘the wife’ of Neelan Tiruchelvam, a constitutional scholar, legislator, peacemaker and institution-builder.

After Neelan’s death Sithie wanted to further the values Neelan worked for during his lifetime and realized that an indigenous grantmaking organization could make meaningful contributions to address existing gaps in responding to the needs of communities.

Sithie Tiruchelvam

This belief led her to establish the NeelanTiruchelvam Trust, the only indigenous grantmaker that supports human rights and peace-building work in Sri Lanka. NTT is rooted within the community and has supported catalysts for social change by focusing on community initiatives.

After the Trust was established Sithie dedicated considerable time and energy towards creating an organization that was more than a grantmaker, as she understood that in order to create confidence among partners and grantees NTT had to support their institutions in ways that extend beyond solely funding projects.

Sithie Tiruchelvam and Neelan Tiruchelvam-pic courtesy: The Hindu

Hence, with her support and guidance, NTT actively sought and supported nascent community organizations, often in conflict-affected areas, that were engaged in innovative work in difficult circumstances, sometimes in isolation.
Continue reading ‘Remembering Sithie Tiruchelvam the Corporate Lawyer with a Deep and Abiding Interest in Social Justice, Research, Arts and the World of Ideas’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

The proposed 19th Amendment to the constitution is a far cry from what the public was made to expect in terms of constitutional reform before the presidential election. Before the election, what we saw was an opposition platform that fulminated against the executive presidential system and promised its abolition. At his first appearance at Sirikotha, the common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena in order to highlight how he will dismantle the presidential system said that even after becoming president, he will continue to address Ranil Wickremesinghe as ‘Sir’ and that he will never step into any of the presidential residences in Colombo or the outstations.

The entire election was fought on the premise that if Maithripala becomes president, all executive power will be transferred to the prime minister and the president will become a ceremonial president. In fact UPFA speakers at that time were asking derisively from the stage, if Maithripala was contesting for the position of president only to transfer all his powers to someone else, what is the point in voting for him? There is no doubt about the fact that when people voted for Maithripala, given the rhetoric they heard from the stage, everybody actually expected power to be transferred from the president to the prime minister (and the cabinet).

 But 19A does not reflect that expectation. In fact it seeks to retain the executive presidential system virtually untouched. The constitutional amendment seeks to ‘repeal’ the existing Article 30 of the constitution which deals with the presidency and replace it with another Article. The repeal of an entire article and substitution of another in its place would give one the impression that sweeping changes would be made in that Article.

Continue reading ‘Instead of Abolishing it, the 19th Constitutional Amendment seeks to Retain Executive Presidential System Virtually Untouched.’ »

By Jayadeva Uyangoda

pic via: facebook.com/UNPofficialpage

Within just three months in power, the National Democratic Front (NDF) coalition seems to be disintegrating. All indications are that the unity that the NDF coalition partners showed in the pursuit of their common objective of dislodging the Mahinda Rajapaksa family from power has largely dissipated.

The signs are also that President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, the two pillars on which the NDF government is built, have developed somewhat conflicting agendas and interests. They don’t seem to publicly support each other’s positions on controversial issues, as they did in the recent past.

Meanwhile, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a key partner of the coalition, is targeting Prime Minister Wickremesignhe and his UNP, in a move to re-build its own political identity and constituency.

The JVP, which supported the coalition from outside, is promoting its own political agenda and interests, and in the process has emerged as the most vociferous critic of the NDF government.

Meanwhile, the civil society movements, that actually built the political space and the agenda for the NDF to emerge as a force capable of defeating the Rajapaksha rule, are moving away from the coalition.

Continue reading ‘National Democratic Front Coalition Seems to be Disintegrating within Three Months of Being in Power’ »

By

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

A new trend in politics was seen by what President Maithripala Sirisena said at the meeting of electorate and district organizers of the SLFP at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute earlier this week, and later emphasized in his first meeting with newspaper editors and media heads at the Janadhipathi Mandiraya, on Wednesday.

facebook.com/maithripalas

The trend is one of unquestioned leadership in the politics of the SLFP and its allies in the UPFA, as well as the declaration of his firm commitment to the principle of a limited National Government given to the people that saw his election on January 8, and to a larger and continued National Government after the next general election.

His meeting with the media saw President Sirisena face up to the reality of the rapid passage of the 100 days, that many consider a policy by itself, instead of being an important political slogan of the presidential poll campaign.

Politicians, the public and the media who appear to have taken the 100 days as a solemn political undertaking, were clearly shown that what is important about that period are the constitutional changes, the opening up to democracy, the move towards reconciliation and the battle against corruption, and not the number of days.

Continue reading ‘Recent Events Demonstrate President Sirisena’s Determination to Leave his own Imprint of Political Leadership.’ »

BY DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

“They lifted a rock against us which they will drop on their own feet”- Zhou Enlai

“There is great disorder under heavens! The situation is excellent!” – Mao Zedong

Look, there must be a reason why Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe has been in occupation of Temple Trees three (relatively brief) times, but has never made it to President’s House and doubtless never will. I think he is going to have to pack his bags yet again. The many and several reasons that would necessitate, sooner rather than later, the dismissal of the Ranil Wickremesinghe-Mangala Samaraweera government by President Sirisena, could be summed up under one thematic heading or as the French would say, chapeau: the fusion of arrogance and stupidity.

President Maithripala Sirisena assumed duties at Presidential Secretariat- on January 15, 2015

Does the Prime Minister and his UNP not know that the only version of the 19th amendment that could be implemented is one that the President is entirely comfortable with and that if he is on board, so might be the SLFP, and if it and the JHU are not, it could be a symptom that the President has his doubts?

Why waste time with an oversized 19th amendment?

The entire debate as to whether or not the mandate was for abolition is meaningless because it cannot be resolved. A decision must be made and only one man can decide upon this, namely the President. He wields a veto. Can’t Ranil Wickremesinghe recognize that?

If he can, then why not simply ask President Sirisena to send back an amended draft that can be regarded as final?

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena will have to Dismiss this Arrogantly Stupid Ranil-Mangala-Ravi Govt Sooner or Later’ »

BY DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

Sri Lankan civil society intellectuals and commentators who support the new dispensation are making the same mistake as Francis Fukuyama did, but in a far more facile and therefore far less forgivable form. When the Cold War ended, Fukuyama famously posited the End of History. It was crudely misunderstood to mean that history as a narrative had arrived at a terminus, which is not at all what he meant. Fukuyama had used a Hegelian flourish to indicate the liberal democratic capitalism has triumphed over all other competing ideologies as a paradigm of how society should be ordered.

pic via: @UKinSriLanka: HC John Rankin and TNA Leader R. Sampanthan discussed recent political developments & positive prospects for Sri Lanka-on Mar 18. 2015

While there was much more to what he said than what his ignorant critics thought, Fukuyama was wrong in his general prognosis, in his own terms too. Dr. Henry Kissinger’s latest book on World Order is precisely about the competing (regional) visions of how the world should be ordered, and how those competing visions stem from different historical, civilizational, cultural and ideological matrices, or what Dr. Kissinger calls in the volume’s subtitle, “The Character of Nations”.

In Sri Lanka today, cosmopolitan civil society is on a delusional high. Not for the first time it is going against the grain of ‘the character of the nation’. Its neoliberal ideologues and opinion makers are certain that the End of History has arrived and ‘liberal democratic pluralism’ has triumphed. The Sinhalese have reached a stage of enlightenment that has seen the back of the old Statism and is conducive to reaching out to the Northern Tamil nationalists in refashioning the Sri Lanka political order.

The Southern nationalist-populists have been marginalized and their hero Mahinda Rajapaksa is strictly a has-been with a minor band of malcontents. The SLFP is safely in the hands of Chandrika and her proxies. The decades-old order of the strong Presidential state is about to end. A new liberal democratic capitalist order, with a quasi-Westminster model is about to be born. Accountability shall be achieved according to international standards. The UNP and the SLFP shall move hand in hand, under the joint auspices of Ranil and Chandrika, beyond the 13th amendment and towards federalism. China will be shown the door as we reincorporate ourselves as subordinate, peripheral unit in the Western-dominated world order and in an Indo-US dominated regional one.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Moderate Intelligentsia Does not Stand Up Against Political Immoderation from the Tamil Nationalist Side’ »

Ultimately, obtaining a piece of the silverware was not to be for two of the one-day game’s greatest batsmen, with Sri Lanka’s World Cup exit also signalling Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene’s ODI farewell.

For Jayawardene, retirement beckons, while Sangakkara will continue playing the five-day game until Sri Lanka’s Test series against India in August.

For more than a decade, the pair has been a staple of the Sri Lanka line-up.

Best friends who were schoolboy rivals before making their international debuts, together they have played in World Cup finals and claimed a World T20 title together.

They have pursued a passion for charitable work and gone into business together.

Both have captained Sri Lanka and have batted 293 times together in international cricket for a total of 13,368 runs, more than any other due in cricketing history and ahead of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly with 12,400.

Continue reading ‘Best Friends Sanga and Mahela After Great Partnership Exit Together From One Day International Cricket’ »

By Nisthar Cassim

* Says expeditious resolution of several longstanding and urgent national issues require a national government for two years in the country’s interest; absence of Govt-Opposition cooperation cause for delay and past failures

(pic: Sri Lankan High Commission in London organised a multi-faith religious ceremony to invoke blessings on President Maithripala Sirisena, at the High Commission premises in London, UK, March 11, 2015)

* Insists polls only after reforms; both UNP and SLFP supporters and candidates during campaigning must bear in mind need for unity government

* Laments country faces mounting global and local challenges amidst rising aspirations of international community and local people

* Stresses lasting solution to ethnic issue is critical, onus on all to keep guns silent by preserving peace

* Hints enabling environment for more national minded Sri Lankan Tamils living abroad to contribute to socio-economic development back home

* Dismisses rumours he may cling on to executive presidency; Says ‘I got a mandate to abolish it andI will do it right’

* Implies former President Rajapaksa must follow examples of President Jayawardene and Kumaratunga

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday sounded magnanimous and sincere driving home the point that global and local challenges were mounting for the country and the medium-term way forward to resolve some pressing and longstanding issues was a committed national government.

His remarks came during his first formal interaction since the election with heads of media institutions over breakfast at President’s House. He was responding to a question raised as to what role he would play in the upcoming general election given the fact that he was the Common Opposition Candidate at the 8 January presidential poll.

Sirisena said that around 49 political parties and organisations backed him as the presidential candidate and he would work with all for the country’s wellbeing.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena wants to Form a United National Govt For at Least Two Years After New Elections.’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

Everyone keeps guessing as to what former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Premier Narendra Modi discussed a few hours before the latter’s departure to New Delhi after a two-day State visit.

Formmer President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Prime Minister Narendra Modi-Mar 14, 2015

Mahinda went to meet Modi after making accusations that the Indian intelligence service RAW connived with Western intelligence forces to topple his government.

Mahinda contended that Modi was unaware of that intelligence plot by RAW and the West. No officials were present at the talks between Modi and Mahinda. Therefore, only Modi and Mahinda know what they discussed while the rest keeps on guessing.

On the last occasion Mahinda met Modi, the latter extended his best wishes to Mahinda for the presidential poll Mahinda was to contest. So Mahinda boasted to everyone at that time that Modi was with him.

Continue reading ‘What did Indian PM Narendra Modi and Lankan Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Discuss at their One to one Meeting in Colombo?’ »

Speaking in Parliament today on bringing forward amendments to the United Nations Regulations 1 and 2 of 2012 promulgated under the United Nations Act Number 45 of 1968, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera drew the attention of the House to a matter related to the he UN regulations discussed in Parliament.

He referred to the the Gazette notification of 21 March 2014 when 424 individuals and 16 entities were listed as terrorists or terrorist organisation.

He further went on to say, “this was done to build up the hysteria about the LTTE regrouping in the run up to the Presidential election. They banned several Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora groups under these provisions for their alleged links to the LTTE.

However, most of the organisations listed may have merely been vocal proponents of Tamil rights. There was hardly any tangible evidence to link them to the LTTE. Some of the individuals listed had even been dead for some time.”

Continue reading ‘Mangala Samaraweera Seeks Review of Proscribed 16 LTTE Entities and 424 Individuals in the Global Tamil Diaspora.’ »

Mangala Samaraweera, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka addresses during the High Level Segment of the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council, Palais des Nations. Monday 2 March 2015. Photo by Violaine Martin

Hon. Speaker,

I stand before you today to present amendments, in line with our international obligations, to United Nations Regulations 1 and 2 of 2012 promulgated under the United Nations Act number 45 of 1968.

As the House is aware, following the Al Qiada terrorist attacks in September 2001, the Security Council of the United Nations, acting under Chapter 7 of its Charter, adopted resolution 1373 on 28 September 2001 which is a wide-ranging comprehensive resolution setting out steps and strategies to combat international terrorism. The resolution which is binding on all States called on countries, among other steps to be taken, to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism. On 15 October 1999, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1267 setting out in particular, measures to be imposed against the Taliban. This resolution and its modifications and subsequent resolutions imposes upon member States of the UN, a series of obligations relating to sanctions measures against entities and persons associated with the Al Qaida or Taliban as designated by the Sanctions Committee of the UN and whose names appear on the ‘consolidated list’ adopted by the Committee.

Sri Lanka, in keeping with its international obligations had duly gazetted regulations to give effect to the provisions of these two resolutions in 2012. This had been done under United Nations Act no 45 of 1968 in Extraordinary Gazette numbers 1758/19 dated 15 May 2012 (referred to as United Nations regulation number 1 of 2012) and 1760/40 dated 31 May 2012 (referred to as United Nations regulation number 2 of 2012).

Continue reading ‘“No Country can Take Cover Behind Concept of Absolute Sovereignty which is no Longer Valid in the Modern World”-Mangala Samaraweera’ »

By Latheef Farook

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment on the implementation of 13th amendment ,his suggestion that cooperative federalism is better for Sri Lanka, his invitation to Tamils of Indian origin to visit New Delhi to discuss their issues and his advice to Tamils to be patient makes one wonder whether Sri Lanka is a independent country or an Indian colony.

pic courtesy of: rediff.com

Mr. Modi described his two day visit to Sri Lanka on 13 and 14 of March 2015 as an opportunity to further strengthen relationship in all its dimensions .Friendly relations between two neighboring countries are essential and thus the visit was a welcome development.

While in the island he sent two clear messages to the government.

1-Early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment would help build a future that accommodates aspirations of all sections of the society. Specifying Tamils he said “this includes the Sri Lankan Tamil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity, in a united Sri Lanka.” There was no mention on the rights of Muslims who were categorized under “all sections”.

2-He said “cooperative federalism” was working well in India and suggested that it could be a model for Sri Lanka too. As expected this message was received well by some Tamils in Jaffna, but certainly bound to cause serious concern in the south.

Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi when Chief Minister of Gujerat State was Accused of “Genocide” Against Muslims in Feb 2002’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

One must always say what one sees. But especially – and this is the hard part – one must always see what one sees – Charles Péguyi

New Year~April 2013

Paranoids live in their own world, uncluttered by facts and unrestrained by reality.

In the paranoid’s world nothing is impossible. Robert H. Welch Jr, retired-candy manufacturer-turned-politician, believed that John Foster Dulles and Dwight Eisenhower were dedicated communist agentsii. His psycho-ideological heirs accuse President Obama of being a closet-Muslim and the Affordable Health Care Act of enabling the mass-euthanising of the aged.

In Sri Lanka diehard Rajapaksa-supporters see 2015 as 1815. In their paranoid eyes, what happened on 8 January was not a democratic defeat but an evil conspiracy masterminded by foreigners and implemented by locals.

In 1815 Lanka lost its independence; this lost independence was really regained not in 1948 or even in 1972 but in 2009, with the defeat of the LTTE. Just five years later, another bunch of unpatriotic Lankans, following in the treacherous footsteps of their 1815 forefathers, betrayed the country again and turned it into a de facto colony.

Forget reality. Forget that under Rajapaksa rule, the second and third most powerful people were American-citizens. Forget how desperately eager Mahinda Rajapaksa was to host the Commonwealth, that politically insignificant emblem of a dead-and-gone British empire. Forget how close we came to becoming a neo-colony of the emerging imperial power, China (Chinese officials reportedly prevented the flying to the Lankan flag in the Colombo South Port on Independence Dayiii).

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya is kleptocracy, impunity, familial politics, familial economics, racism , intolerance, repression, arrogance & ignorance.’ »

By

Dinesh Raheja

Deepika Padukone

A cheesy line of dialogue in the Diwali blockbuster Happy New Year proffering a rather simplistic piece of wisdom can be paraphrased thus: “There are two types of people in the world—winners and losers”. Few people these days can be tagged with a rare degree of sanguineness than the film’s leading lady, Deepika Padukone, and she is undeniably a winner. Her seemingly obvious triumph is unique for the surprising fact that a few years back she was a hair’s breadth away from being labelled a loser, headed for a plateau peo¬pled by interchangeable B-town beauties.

Yet, look at Deepika today! The 28-year-old has racked up five money-spinners and a clutch of acting trophies in two years, with HNY opening to a staggering Rs 100-crore weekend. What’s more, the dimpled Deepika’s cartilage-defying moves and glib Marathi accent pro¬vide perk and passion to the testosterone-¬heavy film. Shahrukh Khan, her co-star in a trio of hits now (Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express and Happy New Year), reflects, “I think Deepika was always a star. We had shown the OSO song Aan¬khon mein teri to Amitji (Bac¬hchan) and he had prophesied, ‘She will be a huge star!’” About his protegee’s remarkable trajectory, Shah¬rukh observes, “I have not¬hing to do with her success. She has earned it…. She has made great choices. Besides Cocktail and Finding Fanny, she has wisely chosen commercial films.”

Continue reading ‘Deepika Padukone Illuminates Hindi Screen with Flaming Successes in Succession’ »

(Full Text of Letters Sent by Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P. to President Maithripala Sirisena on January 13th 2015 after being appointed State minister of Higher Education and on February 10th 2015 giving Notice of resignation.Prof. Wijesinha who was one of the original group of Govt MP’s to cross over with President Sirisena has subsequently crossed back to the opposition third row from the side of the treausury benches. The letters are published here in order “explain” the circumstances of Dr.Wijesinha’s cross over)

January 13 2015

Your Excellency

Thank you for appointing me to the State Ministry of Higher Education. It involves work I will enjoy, and I will try to fulfil the commitments and the principles in your manifesto as best possible in the next 100 days.

However, in accordance with the practice you set yesterday, in taking up office, of speaking straight, I thought I should express too my sense of disappointment that I am not a member of the Cabinet.

This violates the commitment in the manifesto that there would be a Cabinet consisting of representatives of all parties in Parliament. In this regard I believe that Mr Radhakrishnan too might feel disappointed, and I hope remedial action can be taken in his case too.

Continue reading ‘Full Text of Two Letters Sent by Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha to President Maithripala Sirisena in Jan and Feb 2015.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says that some countries had the wherewithal to overthrow democratically elected governments, though Sri Lanka lacked such capacity.

Ex-Def Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

War veteran Rajapaksa points out that there had been many such interventions over the years in various parts of the world. Sri Lanka was a case in point, Rajapaksa said.

The ex- Defence Secretary was responding to a query whether he endorsed his brother and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa accusation that the US, British and Indian intelligence services had got him ousted. Alleging that he had been a victim of a conspiracy involving intelligence services in an interview with The Hindu, the former President said that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was operating without the sanction of the government.

Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says Intelligence Services Under Him were Used for National Security and not for Political Purposes like Monitoring Maithripala Sirisena’ »

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a special statement in Parliament on March 16th 2015 responding to critics over the recent Treasury Bond issue as well as exposing the improper conduct of various institutions of the past regime and those allegedly connected to it.

Using Parliamentary privilege, Wickremesinghe’s special statement was akin to a “name and shame” exercise but it set the record straight on the 27 February 2015 Treasury Bond issue which has resulted in political controversy over alleged insider dealing and other issues.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to reveal in detail the improper conduct of the previous regime in many spheres.

pic: https://www.facebook.com/ranil.wickremesinghe.leader

The Full Text of the Statement is as follows –

I am a firm believer that Parliament, the supreme legislature, should be kept informed of matters of public importance. It is even more essential on matters of financial significance. Article 148 of the Constitution stipulates that the “Parliament shall have full control over public finance.”

Yet, the Honorable Members of this house are aware they have been kept in the dark on such matters in the past. We have raised questions and received no answers. We have exposed irregularities on the floor of this house. The only response we received was ridicule and insults. My silence should not be misconstrued. It was by no means a cowardly attempt to be deaf, dumb or blind to issues. Nor was it in the belief that remaining quiet would allow such issues to be forgotten. To the contrary, it was only because I felt my first statement with regard to the so-called controversy over Treasury Bonds should be made to this House. 



Let me begin with the background of events. The Ministry of Highways of the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration made commitments and signed contracts totaling over Rs 100 Billion, without any monetary allocation. Funds were needed urgently to meet these payments. During a meeting on February 26 attended by Minister of Finance, Minister of Highways, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, the Governor Central Bank and the Deputy Governor, it was decided that Rs. 15 Billion would be required urgently. It was decided to raise a part of these monies through an auction of Treasury Bonds. By then, the Central Bank had already advertised the issue of Rs. 1 Billion Treasury Bonds. I insisted on a public auction because private placements have led to corruption and lack of transparency. Previously, parcels of Government bonds were handed out to selected individuals on a favored basis through a system of private placement. It took place outside the normal auctions of Government bonds.

Continue reading ‘Unlike Under the Previous Regime there is Total Freedom now for Media, Opposition and Civil society to Criticize this Govt over “Bond” issue-Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Gen.Lalin Fernando

Every private in the French Army carries a Field Marshal’s baton in his knapsack (Napoleon)

There is a lot written and spoken about Field Marshals (FMs) just now. The latest is about the privileges that FMs should apparently have. It appears Hitler’s Germany is the source for these anachronistic examples. The privileges it gave FMs were ‘compelling and influential role in military matters, tax exemption, become a member of nobility, equal to Government officials, constant protection or escort, right to report directly to Royalty’. The rank was abolished in Germany after WW2 (1945).

Hitler (a former Corporal) promoted many to FM rank. Unfortunately many of them like Goering were arraigned at Nuremburg war trials after WW2. One FM, the famous FM Rommel of Africa fame, suspected of being part of a coup to kill Hitler, was invited to and did commit suicide. Another, Von Paulus was promoted FM at Stalingrad on 24 January 1943 and ordered not to surrender but allow himself to be killed or commit suicide. He surrendered with 300,000 troops on 31 January. Over 750,000 Germans had been killed in the combat zone while 1750 tanks, 6,000 guns and 1,500 aircraft were lost.

Japanese Commanders were also tried and many executed for the same reason. (Emperor Hirohito had been stripped of his honorary FM rank granted by the British King at the outbreak of war but was not charged with war crimes!). None on the winning side were accused. Not even for Hiroshima or Nagasaki, Dresden or Hamburg. The prosecutors were all Europeans just as they are now in Geneva, (less Russia) baying for SL’s blood. Theirs may not be the best example for SL to follow now.

Some ask whether the SL army is big enough to have a FM. The size of the army is not a criterion for promotion to FM. India has 1.2 million troops but no FMs now. Presidents and former Generals Didi Amin (Uganda) and Ayub Khan (Pakistan) promoted themselves. There were some in Africa. One was even accused of cannibalism (Bokoso).

Continue reading ‘China and India Have Armies of 1.3 and 1.2 Milion Commanded by Generals and not Field Marshalls which rank is now Defunct.’ »

By Ifham Nizam

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was not a superman, said Water Supply and Urban Development Minister Rauff Hakeem yesterday, in response to the challenge made by Rajapaksa during an interview that no one could do what he had done.

Urban Development Minister Rauff Hakeem

Answering questions after a media briefing, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader stressed that being the President’s brother and Defence Secretary he could use force to evict people as he wanted and an inquiry was going on in that regard. The recommendation of the inquiry would be revealed to the public soon.
Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Used Force to Evict People from their Houses States Urban Development Minister Rauff Hakeem’ »

By Gagani Weerakoon & Skandha Gunasekara

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha

Expressing his displeasure over the conduct of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the incumbent government, former State Minister of Higher Education, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha crossed over to the Opposition yesterday.

He said the move to gazette the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and transfer of executive powers to the Prime Minister is both ill-timed and a wrong decision, thus, he can no longer be a part of the government.

After making a special statement, he crossed the Well of the House and occupied a seat in the third row of the Opposition.

Prof. Wijesinha emphasized that he will continue to operate as an independent member and is committed to President Maithripala Sirisena, as he still believes he is the only person who could perceive good governance and not someone else who lies to the August assembly.

Continue reading ‘Ex-State Minister of Higher Education, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha Tables Resignation Letter and Crosses Over to Opposition Third Row seat After Issuing Special Statement.’ »

By

Rasika Jayakody

Political analyst Kusal Perera, who was a close confidant of Mahinda Rajapaksa during the early 90s, draws parallels between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party now and the SLFP in 1991.

President Maithripala Sirisena

“Party Leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike, due to failing health, was not in a position to actively engage in political activities of the party. Bandaranaike, though she was the party leader, was not in total control over the Central Committee of the SLFP and her son, Anura Bandaranaike, was appointed as the National Organizer of the party and as the Opposition Leader in Parliament. Anura Bandaranaike too did not have total control over the Parliamentary group of the SLFP with one group attempting to promote Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as the future leader of the appoint.

However, after Indrapala Abeyweera was killed by the JVP, Mahinda Rajapaksa, a Parliamentarian from the South, was appointed as an Assistant Secretary of the party. Knowing he could not deliver much with the Assistant Secretary post, Rajapaksa, developed a strong support base at the village level, outside the party hierarchy. This village level support was a key characteristic in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s politics,” Perera explained in an interview with a vernacular newspaper last weekend.

In fact, it was this strong grassroots level support base that elevated him to the positions of Opposition Leader, Prime Minister and President subsequently, especially when certain seniors of the party were blocking his way.

Similarly, today, President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, does not have “full control” over the Central Committee or the Executive Committee of the party. Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva has still not received support from all the members of the Parliamentary group of the UPFA.

A group of Parliamentarians and Central Committee members of the party are on a feverish mission to promote Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the party. However, unlike CBK in the early 90s, Rajapaksa has been rejected by the majority of Sri Lankan voters at the Presidential election which was held on January 08, this year. It is clear that in the present context the former President is not as marketable as CBK in the early 90s, as a fresh political icon.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Though SLFP Chairman Does not have full Control over Central Committee or Executive Committee of the Party.’ »

BY DEMOS

The once sober judicial officer Wigneswaran, who functions at present as the Chief Minister of the NPC, appears to have suffered a sudden manic seizure following the recent change of Government, to have had the incomprehensible temerity to make the infuriatingly provocative statement to the effect that all Governments in Sri Lanka have been following a policy of genocide, targeting the minority Tamils since the country gained Independence in 1948 (and for good measure, implying thereby, unambiguously that this has been so, ever since the ‘fair minded Brits’ left the island’s shores for good!).

What was the insidious motive that inspired W to make such a patently traitorous statement?

Has he voluntarily become the sounding board of a newly fired-up Tamil Diaspora?

This needlessly provocative statement could not have been possibly made on sudden impulse by a man who had spent a good part of his official life on the Bench, as a sitting Judge!

What is completely inexplicable however, is that such an invidiously malicious statement could have been made at a time the new Government was reaching out to the Northern Tamils with certain positive, conciliatory measures which would have been a precursor to many more such meaningful steps the new political dispensation had lined up for the NPC.
Continue reading ‘Delusional Illusions of Northern Chief Minister Wigneswaran who was once a Sober Judicial Officer.’ »