Tilak Janaka Marapana, Minister of Development Assignments, was sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister on Tuesday in place of Ravi Karunanayake who had resigned last week.

Karunanayake had resigned on account of his controversial financial dealings with stock broker Arjun Aloysisus, a principal figure in the 2015 Central Bank bonds scam.

Marapana is a loyalist of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and is expected to carry out the policies of the Prime Minister in letter and spirit, political sources said.

Continue reading ‘Development assignments Minister Tilak Marapana Sworn in as Foreign Affairs Minister .’ »

By

P.K.Balachandran

Two years into its five year term, Sri Lanka’s coalition government led by President Maithipala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is afflicted by chronic disunity; contradictions in domestic and foreign policies; and a marked inability to fulfill election promises.

Given its multifarious dilemmas and the inaction these have led to, it is no wonder that the government, which came into power in January 2015 promising “Yahapalanaya” or “Good Governance”, is reluctant to hold provincial and local bodies elections.

Dithering over Karunanayake

After much dilly dallying, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe persuaded his party man and Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake to resign from the Council of Ministers following exposure of his controversial financial dealings with Arjun Aloysius, a central figure in the multi-billion rupee Central Bank bonds scam, when he was Finance Minister in 2015.

But almost immediately after Karunanayake resigned, it became apparent that a section of the United National Party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe himself, is making efforts to re-instate him in the Foreign Ministry when the dust settles down. It is rumored that whoever becomes Foreign Minister, whether it is Tilak Marapana or Sagala Ratnayake, will only be a temporary tenant at the Foreign Ministry.

Continue reading ‘Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt Afflicted by Chronic Disunity,Policy Contradictions and Inability to Fulfill Election Promises.’ »

Minister Tilak Marapama, who is chosen to be the new Foreign Minister, is reluctant to take oaths in the position as his predecessor Ravi Karunanayake’s personal staff is still at the ministry, informed government sources said.

Aside from the personal staff, Karunanayake, who stepped down from the position last week, is still using ministry vehicle and other facilities he enjoyed as a Cabinet minister, they added.

Continue reading ‘Marapana Reluctant To be Foreign Minister With the Condition that Karunanayake’s Personal Staff Should be Retained at Foreign Affairs Ministry.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake

UNP yesterday called on President Maithripala Sirisena to take action on Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe who has compromised “collective responsibility” of the Cabinet.

Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe has been under fire for a number of controversial statements he made on Government’s move to lease Hambantota Port, leading to a number of UNP Ministers threaten him with No Confidence Motion.

UNP General Secretary, Kabir Hashim however said, that the Party has no stance on moving a no confidence motion on Rajapakshe, a member of the same party.

Instead the Minister Hashim called upon the President to take a decision on the defamed Justice Minister for his resent behavior.

Continue reading ‘UNP Gen Secy Kabir Hashim Wants President Sirisena to Decide Upon Course of Action Against Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’ »

Sri Lanka’s once popular Sunday Leader newspaper which gained popularity under slain Editor Lasantha Wickremetunga is now facing a severe financial crisis, with staff forced to go without salaries for months.

Sources attached to the newspaper alleged that the paper was facing a financial crisis as a result of mismanagement by officials appointed by former Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

Sources said that the newspaper did not go to print last Sunday (August 6) as funds were not allocated to purchase newsprint to print the paper.

However, following a last minute attempts, funds were received to publish the newspaper on August 13.

Continue reading ‘“The Sunday Leader” Newspaper Taken Over By Ravi Karunanayake Faces Financial Crisis After Arjun Aloysius Stops Assistance.’ »

(Excerpts from the “Sunday Times” Political Column of August 13th 2017)

“President Sirisena, who declared he would heed their request made a disclosure that became the talking point among those present at the CC meeting. He noted ‘Joint Opposition’ members were jubilant over the events related to Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s resignation. He warned that their euphoria would be short lived. Speaking in Sinhala, he said, “I know what is going to happen to them by next week.”

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena To Intensify “Legal Crackdown” on Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Members of his Family.’ »

Sri Lankan born Krish Vignarajah, a former Obama official, is entering the race for governor of Maryland. An official campaign kick-off and announcement is scheduled for September 19.

About her decision, Ms. Vignarajah said: “I am running for Governor because I am worried my daughter will not have the same opportunities that my mom gave me when she brought our family here when I was a baby girl. I hope Marylanders will agree the best man for the job is a woman.”

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Born Krish Vignarajah Enters US Maryland State Governor Race saying ” The Best Man For the Job is a Woman”.’ »

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

The Chinese started vying for Mattala Airport on seeing, both, then and the incumbent governments lament over the non-operation of the International Mattala Airport in the South. The Chinese built it and said it’s not their problem if Sri Lankans don’t make use of it.

However, the trend has changed with the internal politics routing the government for ‘selling’ national assets. Also the government is being webbed with geopolitics which describes that Mattala Airport cannot be given to the Chinese to manage when they have the Hambantota Port – fair enough!

The Indians have expressed their interest in managing the airport to make it a profitable business but as a joint venture so that they can share the ‘joy’ and the ‘blunder’ together.

If the Mattala Airport is given to India, this would be one of their biggest or next to Northern Railway project . Recently, the Indians also signed an agreement for USD 380 mn financial assistance to Sri Lanka Railways.

The Deputy Civil Aviation Minister Ashoka Abesingha told Ceylon Today that the debt incurring with the Mattala Airport is unbearable.

He laments that USD 252 million worth airport but generating only three million per month with one flight landing there. “The monthly instalment paid to China is USD 300 mnwhich means USD 3.6 bn annually. He also added that the expenditure incurring at the Mattala stands at Rs 25mn every month.

Continue reading ‘Will China Built Mattala Airport Management be Made a Joint Venture With India To Maintain “Balance”In Geo-political Relations?’ »

(Full Text of Statement Made on August 10th 2017 By Ravi Karunanayake M.P. In Parliament When Resigning as Minister of Foreign Affairs

‘The mainstream media in the country, websites and other social media made bold headlines about me in the last few days. Certain members of parliament too expressed different views. A no confidence motion against me has also been handed over. Therefore I thought of explaining my position to this respectable house.

A question was raised about my residency in an apartment on Monarch Residencies in Colombo 3. Therefore I testified before the Presidential Commission that was probing the Central Bank Bond Issue.

I, as a parliamentarian and responsible minister, thought that it is important to explain my position and express my stance before this honorable house.

First of all, let me explain the true factors about this matter.

We were compelled to shift to a new house as our Battaramulla residence needed some renovation. I did not use an official quarters as well. Therefore my family members looked for a place for us to stay. My family members told me that they found an apartment that owned by the daughter of Nahil Wijesuriya. Later, we shifted to that house.

Nahil Wijesuriya’s daughter is a school mate of my daughter. However, she was reluctant to lease her house in the name of a politician. Subsequently, my daughter has proposed her friend to lease the house in the name of a company owned by one of the school friends of both my daughter and Nahil Wijesuriya’s daughter – Arjun Aloysius.

Later, the apartment was leased in the name of the particular company. Our daughter reimbursed the leasing fee to that company.

After some time, the owner of the apartment decided to sell her house and one of our companies purchased it. A bank loan was obtained from Seylan Bank for the purpose. I’ll table the documents with regard to that loan – Seylan Bank – Ref: No – WTL/CRD/2016 – 1535, September 29, 2016.

Continue reading ‘Full Text of Statement Made By Ravi Karunanayake M.P. In Parliament When Resigning as Minister of Foreign Affairs on August 10th 2017.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

For those who laboured long and hard to bring fresh cleansing winds to Sri Lanka’s degenerate political culture in 2015, these are times of mortified reflection. The collective angst of the United National Party (UNP) amidst a dismaying disarray and loss of public confidence beggars the imagination. Its parliamentarians are filing no-confidence motions against its own ministers as well as those from the other half of the (dis) unity alliance. And the very air is rendered hideous with their loud lamentations that Justice is not being done.

Satire of the most devilish kind

We are battered by complaints that the focus is only on current corruption rather than gross violators of the previous regime. This is vis a vis the resignation of the UNP’s Foreign Affairs (formerly Finance) Minister in the wake of testimony before the popularly styled ‘Bond Scam Commission’ relating to an egregious conflict of interest. The public is told that it must rejoice since ‘a Minister resigned.’ Alas, this is satire of the most devilish kind.

So after whitewashing the Central Bank bond fiasco for well upon two years, is applause the fit reaction when ‘a Minister resigns’ and that too grudgingly due to a public outcry? Lest we forget, the whitewash of this incident by the UNP included appointing a committee of largely unknown party lawyers to skim over the responsibility of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran.

It also included the UNP parliamentarians in the parliamentary committee on public enterprises (COPE) insisting on adding ‘footnotes’ to the COPE report to preempt questions of legal wrong doing on the part of the former Governor. In truth, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa must be engaging in fiendish chuckles in his Medamulana lair at the predicament that the Government, (his bête noir as well as a protector of sorts) finds itself.

Continue reading ‘Public Being Told To Rejoice Over a Minister Resigning Is Devilish Satire’ »

Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

The government’s manner of communicating details of the Hambantota port deal to the public has been less than forthright, and lacking in transparency, considering public apprehensions over the fallout of the project. In an attempt to get around the opposition to a big time give-away of control over a national asset – a strategically located deep water port – there seem to have been attempts to pull the wool over people’s eyes.

The impression conveyed and widely reported as to the ratio of shares held by the Sri Lankan side and the Chinese side, was misleading. Of the two companies to be newly set up under the unprecedented 99-year agreement, the Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS) company – which was granted with the exclusive right to develop, operate and manage the Common User Facilities of Hambantota port including security – 50.7% of shares were said to be held by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and the balance 49.3% by HIPG (Hambantota International Port Group) in which the China Merchants Port Holdings Co. Ltd. (CMPort) holds a 85% stake.

However a disclosure made by CMPort on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange categorically said “SLPA will hold (i) 15% of the shares of HIPG and (ii) 42% of the shares of HIPS on the Concession Agreement Effective Date.” Sri Lanka is clearly a minority share holder in this deal, which translates into a loss of control of a national asset of strategic value, which in turn has implications for sovereignty.

Continue reading ‘India’s Worries Over China Extend Far Beyond Sri Lanka and Hambantota Port.’ »

(Excerpts From the “Sunday Times”Political Column of August 13th 2017)

” Adding to the unease of the UNP was another development. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in different public comments and in newspaper interviews, strongly criticised the Concession Agreement between the Government and the Chinese company for the Hambantota Port project.

Rajapakshe, known for wallowing in controversy, said it was his commitment to take back the Hambantota Port one day from Chinese hands. If it was clearly a violation of collective responsibility since the Cabinet of Ministers had approved the Concession Agreement, which is a legally binding document, it was to spark anger amongst UNP backbenchers.

On Thursday, they began a signature campaign for a Vote of No Confidence on Rajapakshe. The thrust of their accusations was on violating collective cabinet responsibility.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Vetoes Move by UNP Group of MP’s Associated with Ravi Karunanayake to Bring No Faith Motion Against Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’ »

by C.A.Chandraprema

The resignation of Ravi Karunanayke from the position of Foreign Minister will have far reaching implications for the UNP. This is not just some provincial politician who can be replaced by the next person on the list. Ravi K was the Assistant Leader of the UNP and it was no secret that he had ambitions of leading the party one day. He was in direct competition with Sajith Premadasa to succeed RW. Ravi K was one of the key figures in the UNP when it was in the opposition. He had been cultivating Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera for years and his perseverance paid off when Ven. Sobitha who had been a key figure in the Sinhala nationalist camp became the principal Buddhist figure in the yahapalana campaign. It is doubtful whether the yahapalana campaign would have suceded without Ven. Sobitha to give it a veneer of acceptability among the Buddhist population or at least to reassure Buddhists that they would not be sold down the river by the alliance which included the TNA and the Muslim political parties.

Thus if not for Ravi K’s cultivation of Ven Sobitha thera, the yahapalana victory itself may not have been possible. Then there was the fact that he did help the UNP with funds when it was in opposition. It was through a political party and a symbol owned by him that both Sarath Fonseka and Maithripala Sirisena contested the 2010 and 2015 Presidential elections. It was also he who dissuaded Ranil Wickremesinghe from contesting the 2015 presidential election so as to make way to Sirisena to step in. Thus Ravi’s contribution to the yahapalana campaign was even greater than that of Mangala Samaraweera. In terms of the yahapalana cabal, he ranks among the top leaders along with the likes of Sirisena, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mangala Samaraweera, Champika Ranawaka and Dr Rajitha Senaratne. Within the UNP, he was one of the top three with RW and Sajith. Ousting such a person from cabinet is going to have its consequences. Combined with all of the above, was also the most important fact that he was one of the few accessible Ministers in the yahapalana government.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Ouster is Part of President Sirisena’s Anti-UNP Conspiracy’ »

by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Fools do not feel disgrace.”
Erasmus (Praise of Folly)

Gajabinna is a Sinhala word for lies of elephantine proportions. A book named Gajabinnalankaraya (roughly translatable as In Praise of Mammoth-lies) did exist, according to the late DF Kariyakarawana. The book was in the form of a dialogue between two fictional characters and referred to a universe of impossibilities – horned-horses, furred-tortoises, wearable clouds and mirages in which one could bathe.

Ravi Karunanayake’s repeated assertions, that he didn’t know who was paying his rent and his family didn’t know about the Central Bank bond scam, can be true only in such a universe of utter impossibilities; or ‘alternative facts,’ as Donald Trump’s Counsellor, Kellyann Conway put it.

Mr. Karunanayake should have resigned days ago; but as in the case of many – perhaps most – politicians, a sense of shame seems to be something alien to him. When he at last did, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration was left with barely a stitch to cover itself. This emperor is not yet as naked as the previous one. Ravi Karunanayake would not have had to resign, had he been Mahinda Rajapaksa’s minister. Nor would he have been summoned before a presidential commission and grilled for hours. So there is a difference, but it is rapidly eroding.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake’s Repeated Assertions Bring to Mind the Sinhala Word “Gajabinna”(Lies of Elephantine Proportions)’ »

The Supreme Court (SC) declared this week that advocating for a federal form of government within the existing state could not be considered as advocating separatism and that the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) does not, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka as envisaged under Article 157A of the Constitution.

Dismissing the petition filed by H. K. Don Chandrasoma of Kelaniya who sought a Court order declaring that ITAK is a political party which has as one of its “aims” and “objects” the establishment of a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka, the three-member SC bench said, “ITAK is advocating for a federalist form of government by devolving more powers to the provinces within the framework of a
unitary state,” adding that “advocating for a federal form of government within the existing state could not be considered advocating separatism.”

Continue reading ‘“Advocating Federal Form of Govt within Existing State Is Not Advocating Separatism” Rules Sri Lankan Supreme Court in Landmark Judgement.’ »

By

Winston de Valliere

Ask any man on the street, in a big corporate office, or as I did, ask the guy who prepares tea for the staff to share his thoughts on the current miasmic mess that the government is thrashing around in and you find that there’s an amazing unanimity of opinion. It boils down to a simple statement of fact, to wit, that the continuing deplorable CB Bond Crisis that has done in Ravi Karunanayake is yet to begin exposing the real dirt in that scandal. Victim number one was CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran. Yesterday saw victim number 2, Ravi Karunanayake. More will follow.

All are of the opinion that protestations against this fact made by the ex-Finance and latterly Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake are no more than face-saving protestations. One pertinent question they all ask is this: Why resign? To pre-empt what? A collapse of the Government? That’s not even remotely relevant. To pre-empt an internecine split in the UNP-SLFP merger? What was the Government afraid of? Why were there virtual confirmed reports that the President, PM, UNP and SLFP government mounting pressure on Karunanayake to quit, if as he protests, he is guilty of nothing?

Looked at from an abstract angle, one must admit that one fails to see the rationale in an innocent man quitting for the claimed altruistic objective of not harming the Party or the Government. But then, one must ask, how cannot quitting harm the Party or Government?

Continue reading ‘If Karunanayake is Innocent as he Claims to be Then why Did President,PM and Govt Ministers Pressure Him to Resign?’ »

By Jayadeva Uyangoda

As the media predicted last week, alluding to an off-guard comment made by a junior member of the AG’s legal team of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Central Bank Bond scam, a star witness has turned the public discussion on the Central Bank bond scandal into a major political drama.

Ms. Anika Wijesuriya, a young woman entrepreneur from an extraordinarily rich business family in Colombo, has done what the Joint Opposition of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, or Anura Dissanayake’s radical JVP, has failed to achieve in more than two years. In half a day of evidence before the presidential commission comprising Supreme Court judges and a retired Auditor General , she has rocked the very foundations of the current yahapalana regime. She has also changed the terms of the political debate between the government and the opposition. All these unwittingly though.

Continue reading ‘“Star Witness” Anika Wijesuriya has Rocked The Very Foundation of the Current “Yahapalana” Regime.’ »

By

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

Let’s hope the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lotteries, Ravi Karunanayake, will not be blissfully ignorant of having ushered in a new culture, with his resignation from office, with all those quotations from the scriptures of different faiths.

And what is this new culture Ravi K has ushered in, as stated by the Prime Minister and his party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe?

Could it be the culture of ministerial resignations?

With 44 ministers in the Cabinet, that is a helluva lot of resignations that could be lined up, to make sure that the new culture really has an impact on society.

Is it possible the Joint Opposition will be ready to keep this new culture alive, by having motions of No Confidence ready, to make other ministers follow the Ravi culture in what is suddenly seen as yahapalana politics?

Or, could it be that this new culture will make the people remember better all those promises made by the Yahapalanaya Team of bringing to book those great corrupt names of the Rajapaksa Regime?

Continue reading ‘What is the “New” Culture Ushered in By Ravi karunayake’s Resignation as Claimed by Ranil Wickremesinghe?’ »

By
Saman Indrajith

UNP yesterday demanded to know why former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal or his sister Shiromi Wickremasinghe had not been summoned before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the bond issues.

UNP MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe, speaking at the Parliamentary debate yesterday pointed out that the PCoI, would need the help of informed advisors as it had so far failed to summon the most relevant witnesses.

Cabraal’s sister Shiromi Wickremasinghe was a director at Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. The names of former CB Governor Cabraal and his sister had also been implicated in the treasury bonds allegations, Prof. Marasinghe said.

Continue reading ‘UNP wants Ajith Nivard Cabraal, His Sister Shiromi Wickremasinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa To be Sumoned by Inquiry Commission on treasury Bond Issue’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday declared that it wouldn’t support the 20th Amendment to the Constitution in its present form, under any circumstances, top party spokesperson, Jaffna District MP M.A. Sumanthiran told The Island.

The TNA parliamentary group comprises 16 members, including two National List MPs.

Asked whether the four-party coalition was having discussions with the government regarding the 20th Amendment that would vest in Parliament the powers of dissolved Provincial Council, MP Sumanthiran ruled out any agreement on proposed Amendment as, he said, it didn’t reflect understanding among all political parties represented in parliament.

The proposed controversial 20th Amendment will also enable all Provincial Council elections to be held simultaneously and for Parliament to determine the date of dissolution of all PCs.

Continue reading ‘TNA Wont Support Proposed 20th Constitutional Amendment in Its Present Form States its Spokesman MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

UNP backbenchers today questioned as to why former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal or his sister Shiromi Wickremasinghe were not yet summoned before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the bond issue.

UNP MP Professor Ashu Marasinghe speaking at the Parliamentary debate pointed out the PCoI would need the help of informed advisors as it has so far failed to summon the most relevant witnesses.

Cabraal’s sister Shiromi Wickremesinghe was a director at Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. The names of former CB Governor Cabraal and his sister have also been implicated in the treasury bonds allegations.

Continue reading ‘UNP Backbenchers Want Ex- CB Governor Cabraal along with his Sister and Ex-Perpetual Director Shiromi Summoned for Treasury Bond Inquiry’ »

By

Thilanka Kanakarathna

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe express his own opinion on any subject but it is wrong to make a statement on a subject on which a collective decision was taken by the Cabinet of which he was a member, State Minister Harsha De Silva said today.

Responding to questions asked by a journalist referring to the statement made by the minister on the Hambantota Port earlier this month.

The state minister said it was unethical of the minister to do so.

Continue reading ‘Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Has Violated Cabinet Collective Responsibility By Criticising Govt Decision on Hambantota Port – Harsha de Silva.’ »

By

Prasanna Sanjeewa Thennakone

Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the sale of Hambantota Harbour – a public asset-to the Chinese was a wrong and assured the public that he would not rest until he regains its ownership on behalf of the people.

In an interview with our sister paper the Sunday Lankadeepa the minister recalled that as a politician he had always done what was right by the country and fought against corruption. As a result he said he had been able to secure government resources worth more than Rs.1,000 billion which included the Sri Lanka Transport Board, Sri Lanka Insurance Company and Litro Gas Company and vest them with the people.

Continue reading ‘Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Says Hambantota Port Agreement was wrong and Vows to Regain Ownership for the People.’ »

By Saman Indrajith

Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned from his post after making a special statement in Parliament yesterday and left his front row seat to become a backbencher.

“The media and some Opposition politicians demand that I be crucified over being probed by a presidential commission of inquiry. I decided to resign to set an example in keeping with the good governance policy we introduced and I do so without regret. I am proud to sacrifice my position. I do so for my party and people whom I always considered above me and my personal gains.”

Karunanayake said: “Allegations have been made against me during the recent past in media and social media. There has been a debate over this issue and some members raised it here in Parliament as well. A no-confidence motion, too, has been submitted against me. Therefore, I need to make an explanation to this House. I have given evidence with regard to this before the Treasury Bond Commission. I have a house in Battaramulla and it was under repair. I needed to find a new place. I do not have an official residence. My family members, too, were looking for a suitable place. They told me that there was a house available at Monarch Residencies and it belonged to Nahil Wijesuriya’s daughter, who is a friend of my daughter. We moved to that house. Nahil Wijesuriya’s daughter did not want to rent the house to a politician. Therefore, my daughter proposed to rent the house to a company belonging to Arjuna Aloysius, who is a school friend of both my daughter and Nahil Wijesuriya’s daughter. The house was rented to that company and later my daughter reimbursed it. As the owner of the house decided to sell it, our family thought of purchasing it. We obtained a loan from the Seylan Bank for that purpose. I tabled the documents pertaining to the loan facility No Seylan Bank REF No WTL/CRD/2016-1535, 29 September 2016.

I joined politics after working with former Minister Lalith Athulathmudali, who, too, was accused wrongly by his opponents. He was described as a person who swallowed ships. I was a successful businessman before I joined politics. During my career I never earned anything through illegal means. I only lost my money because of politics. I never earned anything from politics.


I have no need to acquire a house through illegal means. Many MPs in this House know that I have a house at Battaramulla. Not only those on our side but also those in the opposition have visited that house. They came there to have political discussions, as friends, to eat and drink and enjoy and sometimes to crossover to this side.

Continue reading ‘“I Have No Need To Acquire a House Through Illegal Means” States Ravi Karunayake in Parliament.’ »

By Saman Indrajith

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said in parliament that the resignation of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake signified a new political culture and he was proud of having ushered it in.

Addressing parliament soon after the resignation of Karunanayake, the Prime Minister said: The Assistant Leader of my party told me that he needed to resign from the ministerial portfolio. I told him to take that decision after discussing it with the President. He met the President on Wednesday. Later he went to meet the President with me and Minister Rajitha Senaratne and handed over his resignation. Some were demanding his resignation this morning, too, but he had already submitted his resignation.

Ravi Karunanayake’s resignation also indicates that the government will not interfere with the probe by the Presidential Commission on treasury bonds. There is no similar example in the political history. This is an unprecedented instance. The incumbent government has realised its good governance goals. We are introducing a new political culture. If anyone in the UNP is accused of stealing we would remove him or her. We will not harbour thieves.

At this point opposition MPs shouted against the PM.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Says There are Sil Redi Thieves,Drug Dealers, Tsunami Thieves, Carrom Board Thieves and Cement Thieves in Joint Opposition.’ »

By

Saman Indrajith

The leader of the Joint Opposition in Parliament and the MEP, Dinesh Gunawardena, lashed out at the Leader of the Opposition, R Sampanthan, after the latter commended MP Karunanayake. “That was a shameless speech!” MP Gunawardana shouted at the leader of the Opposition as the latter was taking his seat after making a statement.

MP Sampanthan praised MP Ravi Karunanayake for resigning from his Ministerial post adding that it was a fundamental right of a person accused of a crime to be presumed innocent till proven guilty.

Continue reading ‘“That was a Shameless Speech” – Dinesh Gunawardena Shouts at Opposition Leader Sampanthan in Parliament.’ »

By

Saman Indrajith

The Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan, in Parliament yesterday commended MP Ravi Karunanayake for resigning from his Ministerial post. He added that it was fundamental right of a person accused of a crime to be presumed innocent till proven guilty.

“It is a fundamental right of a person accused of a crime to be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty. I commend MP Karunanayake for the bold step he has taken. He has done so in the interest of good governance and the people”

Continue reading ‘Leader of the Opposition R.Sampanthan Praises Ravi Karunanayake’s Resignation as a “Bold Step in the Interests of Good Governance and the People”.’ »

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned on Thursday before facing a No Confident Motion against him submitted by the Joint Opposition Group for his alleged involvement in the 2015 Central Bank bond scam.

Karunanayake made a Special Statement in parliament and then resigned from his post.

In the statement he said that he is innocent but is quitting in the interest of his party (United National Party) and the government led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He termed the various allegations against him regarding the bond scam as “baseless” and emphasized that he has absolutely no connection with the incident in question.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Resigns as Foreign Affairs Minister After Making Special Statement in Parliament.’ »

Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake who resigned from his ministerial portfolio today questioned why others, against whom allegations had been made, could not resign if he could do so simply because there were allegations against him.

Arriving to his residence at Rajamalwatta after the special statement made in Parliament on his resignation, he said he had resigned with pride from his ministerial portfolio to set a good precedent.

“I have made this sacrifice in order to show the innocent people that they could witness a ‘new dawn’ in future. I am truly grateful for the people who still stand by me even during a difficult phase,” he said.

Continue reading ‘“Why Cant Others Against Whom There Are Allegations Also Resign Like Me” Asks Ex- Minister Ravi Karunanayake’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament today (aug 10) that Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake had set a good precedent by resigning from his portfolio.

He said no member of the previous government had resigned no matter how serious the charges levelled against them were.

Continue reading ‘Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake has Set a Good Precedent by Resigning Says Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

“History and time will decide the position I deserve,” the Minister said, while making a statement in Parliament, on Thursday August 10th.

“From now onwards, I will continue to function as a backbencher.”

“There is a conspiracy to destroy the government. I will not let them destroy the government and the party. I will protect the government to the best of my ability,” he added.

“I sacrifice my position for democracy and good governance. I have always conducted myself in a transparent manner,” Karunanayake added, quoting several religious scriptures.

Continue reading ‘“History and Time Will Decide the Position I Deserve” – Ravi Karunanayake in Special Statement to Parliament’ »

The decision to resign from his position of Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka was made with pride and not with sadness or under pressure, Ravi Karunanayake said in Parliament on Thursday August 10th.

Making a special statement, Karnanayake explained that he had no need to purchase properties illegally and said the various allegations leveled against him were baseless.

Continue reading ‘“I Resign With Pride not Sadness and not Under Pressure ” Declares Ravi Karunanayake in Parliament’ »

The no-confidence motion against former Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, submitted by MPs of the Joint Opposition (JO), will not be taken up for debate as Karunanayake has resigned, the Speaker informed Parliament a short while ago.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Informs Parliament that No Confidence Motion Against Ravi Karunanayake Would Not Be Taken Up for Debate.’ »

By Akitha Perera and Upali de Saram

Following a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat, Foreign Minister Karunanayake is likely to quit his portfolio shortly, according to sources.

A government spokesman said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, had attended the meeting at President Sirisena’s request.

Several SLFP ministers have demanded Karunanayake’s resignation pending the presidential commission of inquiry probe into alleged Central Bank-Perpetual Treasuries bond scams. They have called upon him to quit without facing the Joint Opposition’s no-faith motion.

Continue reading ‘Resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake Imminent After Meeting with President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’ »

( Full Text of Statement issued by Former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa on August 9th 2017)

“The government has gazetted the 20th Amendment to the Constitution with a view to postponing elections to the provincial councils. The Sabaragamuwa, North Central and Eastern Provinces were to stand dissolved in a few weeks time, in early October. If passed into law, the 20th Amendment would allow not only the postponement of all PC elections, but also the extension of the terms of all existing PCs up to September 2019 in a direct violation of the franchise and the sovereignty of the people. The proposed postponement of the PC elections comes in the context where the local government elections which were due in March 2015 have also been indefinitely postponed. This is the latest in a long list of outrages against democracy perpetrated by this government which came into power through a conspiracy aided by interested foreign parties on 8 January 2015.

“The dismantling of democracy began on 9 January 2015. The UNP leader who had 44 MPs in parliament was made Prime Minister and the UPFA Prime Minister who had the support of 144 MPs was sacked. The President who contested against the UPFA and SLFP as the candidate of a coalition of political parties including the UNP, TNA, JVP, SLMC and ACMC among others, seized control of the SLFP and UPFA as well after assuming power. The incumbent Chief Justice of the country was sacked from office with just a chit from the President’s office. Even though the 2015 presidential election had been fought on the platform of abolishing the executive presidency, the 19thAmendment to the constitution was a farce perpetrated on the people and the executive presidency still remains as it was.

Continue reading ‘“We Will Petition Supreme Court Against Proposed 20th Constitutional Amendment” States Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake

A Cabinet meeting heated up yesterday when discussing the slow progress made with corruption cases linked to the Rajapaksa administration, with President Maithripala Sirisena firing back at those who called on him to appoint presidential commissions to investigate the charges.

Responding to allegations made by a number of United National Party (UNP) Ministers over the lack of action taken in investigations into corruption cases connected to the previous Government compared to the speedy action meted by the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Bond Issue, Sirisena told Cabinet that law enforcement bodies tasked with investigating corruption allegations of the previous Government were not under his purview and were beyond his direct control.

“The President told the Ministers that he has done his part in appointing the commission to investigate the bond issue. He highlighted that the different investigative bodies tasked with investigations and subsequent legal action were under UNP ministers not him,” one Senior Cabinet member told Daily FT.

Continue reading ‘“I have Done my Part By Appointing Commission of Inquiry on Treasury Bond Scam” – President Sirisena Tells Cabinet.’ »

With a No Confidence Motion in parliament hanging like the Sword of Damocles over him, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunannayake on Wednesday met President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to discuss the widespread demand for his resignation for alleged involvement in the 2015 Central Bank bond scam.

Details of the discussion between the trio were not available, but Karunanayake had skipped the cabinet meeting held prior to the meeting. He also cancelled his scheduled visit to Nepal to attend the BIMSTEC ministerial meeting on Thursday.

On Tuesday, parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that he had sent the opposition’s No Trust Motion against Karunanayake to the Attorney General to see if it is legally valid, especially since a Presidential Commission is inquiring into the bond scam.

He said he would let the House know of his decision on the No Confidence Motion on Thursday.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Absent From Wednesday Cabinet meeting but Meets President and Premier to Discuss “Resignation” Issue;Cancels Thursday Nepal Visit also.’ »

BY Faizer Shaheid

(The writer is a law tutor and an independent researcher of laws. He holds a postgraduate degree in the field of Human Rights and Democratization from the University of Colombo and an undergraduate degree in Law from the University of Northumbria, United Kingdom)

Over the last few weeks, all eyes have been on Foreign Minister, Ravi Karunanayake and the owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited, Arjun Aloysius. Sri Lanka may be going through hell, but the citizens are happy to keep going as long as it is a penthouse at The Monarch Residencies that distracts them. It appears the tide has turned against Ravi Karunanayake, and all other politicians who are jumping the gun in order to capitalize politically.

The idea is to push for the resignation of Ravi Karunanayake in the pretext of the Bond scandal so as to save face for all others.

Several statements were made last week at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), regarding the evidence, but a majority of the statements were made with blatant disregard to their own corrupt histories, and it is not too puzzling to figure the motives. There is also complete disregard for the legal maxim, ‘innocent until proven guilty.’

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Must Be Presumed to be Innocent Until and Unless Proven Guilty.’ »

By Ajith Alahakoon

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was directly involved in the Treasury bond scams and he cannot absolve himself of the responsibility for them by scapegoating Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake for the biggest ever fraud in the country’s history, a senior JVPer says.

Addressing a press conference at the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte, Its Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said: The Central Bank has been under the Prime Minister. He is the one who appointed Arjuna Mahendran to the post of Governor of the Central Bank. Therefore, he should take the blame for the bond scams. He cannot say his hands are clean. The entire country is aware of his involvement. We demand that he too be sum moned before the presidential commission investigating the Treasury Bond scandals.

The MP said that the law should be implemented against all those involved in the scams. “The position of those who swindled public funds is immaterial here. The five star democracy the Prime Minister is talking of is bunkum if he plans to get away by throwing Minister Karunanayake to the wolves.

Continue reading ‘PM Ranil Was Also Involved in Treasury Bond Scam And Cannot Escape by Making Ravi Karunanayake a Scapegoat Says JVP.’ »

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is likely to sack Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake if he does not resign over revelations of seeming impropriety at a Presidential Commission of Inquiry, a government minister hinted Tuesday.

State Minister of Public Enterprise Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said President Sirisena is likely to take a decision on Karunanayake, who was finance minister before a recent cabinet reshuffle, within the next two weeks.

Media reports that President Sirisena had asked Karunanayake to step down, which the latter had rejected, are likely to be true, Abeywardena told a news conference.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena may Dismiss Ravi Karunanayake if Foreign Minister Does Not Resign Voluntarily.’ »

By Saman Indrajith

Speaker Karu Jaysuriya told Parliament yesterday that the future course of action with regard to the no-faith motion submitted by the Joint Opposition against Foreign Minister would be announced on Thursday.

There were some legal issues pertaining to the motion and its content and the matter had been referred to the Attorney General, the Speaker said in response to queries made by the Opposition.

NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, raising a point of order demanded to know why the government was delaying the taking up of the no-confidence motion. He asked what prevented the government from taking the motion for debate.

Continue reading ‘No Action on No Faith Motion Against Ravi Karunanayake Till Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Gets Opinion on the Matter From Attorney – General’ »

By

Kelum Bandara

In the face of a no-confidence motion against Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, the government is reported to be urging him to step down rather than face defeat in a vote.

After the motion was handed over by the joint opposition, government members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) decided to vote in favour of the motion seeking to unseat the minister while a section of the United National Party (UNP) had also decided not to support him if it came to a vote.

Against this backdrop, government leaders believe that it would be humiliating to the entire government if the minister was unseated through a parliamentary process.

Continue reading ‘Both Maithripala and Ranil Want Ravi Karunanayake to Resign as Minister Instead of Facing Vote of No Confidence in Parliament.’ »

A decision on the future of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake will be taken today, Daily FT learns.

The Party Leaders are scheduled to meet today at 2.00 p.m. in Parliament to decide on the no confidence motion submitted by 32 MPs.

Issues concerning Karunanayake have surfaced it is learnt during a meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe yesterday as well.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunayake’s Fate is Under Discussion By President and Prime Minister: Decision Affecting Foreign Minister To Be Taken On Tuesday August 8th.’ »

The heat on the United National Party (UNP) will increase this week as the Opposition’s No Faith Motion against Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake gathers momentum.

This morning (Aug 8th) House Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will meet Party leaders to decide on a date for the motion filed by the Joint Opposition against Karunanayake to be debated and eventually voted on.
The controversy erupted after it was revealed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), probing the alleged Bond scam, two weeks ago, that the rent for an expensive penthouse in a luxury apartment block in Colombo was paid for by Arjun Aloysius.

Aloysius is the principal of Perpetual Treasuries, the company involved in the alleged scam.
Meanwhile, high level sources told Ceylon Today, that there is a possibility that two more Cabinet Ministers from the UNP will be summoned before the Commission this week.

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Ministers Malik Samarawickrama and Kabir Hashim Likely to Testify About Ravi Karunanayake Letter Before Inquiry Commission’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

It is conventional wisdom that Minister Ravi Karunanayake should have resigned – or failing that be sacked — after those earth shattering revelations that were made at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the bond scam. Instead, he has clung to his portfolio and foul-mouthed the Attorney General’s Department while his political superiors, when not blaming media for holding Karunanayake accountable, seem to be scratching their heads, rather than acting to salvage the government’s credibility.

Allegations levelled against Minister Karunanayake, which he has failed to answer convincingly, are not about some abstract high-flown ethical variety, like the ones that may require him to be judged on stricter grounds than the average folks since he is a politician. (There are countries where the ministers were forced to resign after being accused of paying for an expensive restaurant meal from the official credit card). But, that is not the case here. Minister Karunanayake’s case is clear-cut and simple. The evidence before the commission revealed that Arjun Aloysius, whose family owns the controversial bond trading company Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., had paid the monthly rental for the penthouse occupied by Minister Karunanayake and his family while he was the then Minister of
Finance.

During the same period, Perpetual Treasuries engaged in alleged dodgy bond transactions which resulted in the Treasury losing billions of rupees, according to a COPE report. A Presidential Commission of Inquiry has now revealed many incriminating details of Minister Karunanayake’s alleged collusion with Mr. Aloysius. The Foreign Minister Karunanayake’s answers to the commission were evasive at best and at worse were condescending. At one point, the commission asked him: “Do you seriously want us to believe that your family did not tell you there was no lease agreement?”
Other evidence have now been revealed and he was read text messages extracted from Mr Aloysius’ phone implying a conflict of interest. One such text from Mr. Aloysius’ Executive Secretary refers to a reminder requesting to obtain Monetary Board minutes from one hon MP RK.

Continue reading ‘The UNP is Better Off Without Ravi Karunanayake Is The Emerging Consensus Among Party Stalwarts’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held a special meeting with Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake, on Saturday evening.

Informed government sources said the Prime Minister would soon have a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena on Minister Karunanayake’s issue.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Has “Special” One on One Meeting With Ravi Karunanayake About His Testimony Before Presidential Inquiry Commission.’ »

By

Yohan Perera

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking at a public function in Hatton today said this government would not protect thieves, and would remove them, but stressed that there should be room for a transparent investigation.

“Today there are so many investigations that ministers are brought before the Attorney General and are questioned. Was there a situation as such before? Those days, the Attorney General was an acolyte of the president. The Attorney General who questioned was removed from the department or else taken in a white van. Now there is room to question anyone. This government will not protect thieves. If anyone found committing frauds, we will act according to probe reports. The UNP is not a party of thieves. If there are thieves in the party we will remove them. Allow us to carry out a transparent and public investigation. The media in Sri Lanka don’t have an ethical right to say that such and such things have happened. Why is that? They covered up corruption of the previous government. They all went shopping “kade”. Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Silumina all went ‘kade’. Tell me who did not do it.

Lasantha Wickramatunga was trying to reveal corruption but he was killed. What happened to Eknaligoda? He also revealed about corruption and was abducted and killed. What are they (media institutions) saying now? Not to investigate on the killings of journalists now? When we try to conduct investigations on these and frauds they say it is a threat to security. They are attacking us when we conduct investigation on corruption. We got voted in because people wanted good governance. What the professionals, government servants and the average citizens of the country want is just and free society without corruption. If we do not do it we will not get votes next time. Also we do not want the votes of thieves.

Continue reading ‘Govt Will Expel Fraudsters After a Transparent Probe States Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

BY Kavindya Chris Thomas

UNP strongman, former Finance Minister and incumbent Foreign Minister in the Good Governance Government, Ravi Karunanayake, provided his testimony before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Treasury Bond issues last Wednesday (2). While it might have been an obvious strategic move, most definitely recommended by his high-calibre attorneys, Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s testimony of complete ignorance caught many off guard, as the proverbial rug of ‘Good Governance’ was pulled out from under them.

The former Finance Minister had been publicly accused – according to him due to the influence of the mass media and opposing parties that are hostile to him, which he of course, attempted to lament about during his testimony before the Commission – of being involved in the controversial 2015 Treasury Bond auction of the Central Bank alongside one particular primary dealer known as the Perpetual Treasuries of one Arjun Aloysius- also the son-in-law of the then Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran. However, it was only since last January that did many startling new revelations surfaced regarding the matter during the hearing of the Presidential Commission.

And this week, the tension that was building up from January onwards reached the boiling point when the former Finance Minister (now Foreign Affairs) marked his presence before the Commission to testify.
His testimony was based on two things; one, is the controversial undated letter he had sent to the former Central Bank Governor regarding a certain meeting at the Central Bank and secondly regarding the luxury penthouse that was allegedly purchased for the Karunanayake family, by none other than PTL’s Arjun Aloysius. Karunanayake’s attorneys explicitly mentioned that even though the matter of the letter might be under the Commission’s current mandate, Karunanayake will nonetheless be complying to provide his statement on the matter of the penthouse which has no direct relevance with the Commission’s jurisdiction

Continue reading ‘“There is a Limit to Lying At This Commission,Minister”- Ravi Karunayake Told by Additional Solicitor – General.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

It is an exceedingly disconsolate reflection that key Cabinet Ministers of the unity alliance, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice for instance, appear to have a magic cloak around them, affording impunity for acts which should have, to put it bluntly, led to resignations by now.

A favorite chorus that members of this Government love to chant is that there is freedom to criticize now, unlike in dark and dangerous ‘Rajapaksa’ times. However, to what extent is freedom of speech of any value when despite its vigorous exercise and notwithstanding act upon ugly act of undermining the Rule of Law by Cabinet Ministers, no consequences seem to ensue?

Is crudity the measuring rod between then and now?

In contrast, what we had with the Rajapaksas was outright buffoonery and robbery of public funds of a particularly crude kind. But is crudity the measuring rod that we must employ in judging if this Government is better or worse than its predecessor in its ransacking of the public coffers?

Continue reading ‘The Ministers Of Foreign Affairs and Justice Seem to have a “Magic Cloak” of Impunity Around Them’ »

by C.A.Chandraprema

The appearance of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake before the Bond Commission was the talk of the week. No one can fail to notice that there is a major difference in the way Ravi Karunanayake has been treated when compared to how Hirunika Premachandra was treated when it came to her abduction case and Galagodaatte Gnanasara thera was treated recently with regard to the multiple cases against him. Despite the fact that the men who abducted a youth from a shop had no motive to do that except for the instructions given to them by their boss, Hirunika did not have to spend even an hour in police custody. She was granted bail almost immediately. It all depends on the police and the AG’s Dept. if there are no objections to bail, the Magistrate is more often than not obliged to grant that person bail. We saw the same thing happening with regard to Gnanasara thera – he set an all time record by being granted bail three times in three different cases within minutes of one another.

Incidentally, the nexus that has built up between the yahapalana government and the Bodu Bala Sena was revealed last week once again. When Ven.Watareka Vijitha staged a one man protest in front of the presidential secretariat saying that the newly appointed SLFP organizer for Mahiyangana is also the organizer for the BBS for that area and that he has no protection, the BBS had turned up at the spot within minutes and in fact just before they turned up, the police had tried to frighten Ven Vijitha away by saying that the BBS will be there soon.

And sure enough Ven Gnanasara and Ven Magalkande Sudatta theras did turn up at the spot. How is it that the BBS can turn up within minutes of someone beginning a protest at the presidential secretariat unless there was someone in the Presidentail Secretariat to inform them? While it is true that both Hirunika and Galagodatte thera did their part in different ways to usher in this present government, Ravi K also made a major contribution to that cause.

Ravi K was one of the key persons in the UNP who paved the way for Maithripala Sirisena to contest as the common candidate by dissuading party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from contesting the presidency in 2015 as he had planned to do. It was also through the political party owned by Ravi K – the swan party – (nobody remembers its name) that the common opposition candidates in 2010 and 2015 contested the presidential elections. Ravi K had also dipped into his own pocket to bail out the UNP when it was in opposition. Yet it is clear that he has been chosen to be the fall guy for the rest of the government to be able to save their own skins. First he was shunted out of the finance ministry and made foreign minister so that the yahapalana government could claim that they were removing unsuitable or corrupt persons from office.

Continue reading ‘Was Move to Make Ravi Karunanayake the “Fall Guy” Sanctioned at Highest Levels of Maithri-Ranil Govt?’ »

By

The “Sunday Times” Political Editor

Minister Ravi Karunanayake appeared Wednesday before the Commission probing the bond scam and his testimony plunged a Government, voted to office on the edifice of fighting bribery and corruption, into its worst embarrassment.

During five hours of testimony, he denied any knowledge of how the apartment where he lived at Monarch, adjoining Colombo’s Hotel Cinnamon Grand was acquired on lease for Rs 1.45 million a month. Later it had been purchased for Rs 165 million. The deals had been done by his wife and daughter. He had only learnt that Arjun Aloysius of Perpetual Treasuries had rented it after the matter was raised in Parliament by Mahindananda Aluthgamage, former minister and an MP from the ‘Joint Opposition.’ Had he known earlier, he would have not occupied the apartment, Karunanayake who was the then Finance Minister said. Perpetual Treasuries is at the centre of the inquiry into alleged misappropriation of a colossal amount of money from a Central Bank bond scam under the incumbent Government.

A further insight into the matter can be gleaned from the relevant Q & A before the Commission:

Q: Did your wife visit the premises before you rented it.

A: I was told that she did

Q: She went there alone?

A: I don’t know.

Q: Did she tell you that she met Arjun Aloysius in the premises

A: No

Q: She did not tell you that Mr Aloysius came in and discussed matters with Miss (Anika) Wijesuriya in the presence of your wife.

A: No. All I know is that Miss Wijesuriya was the former girlfriend of Arjun Aloysius.

Q: Miss Wijesuriya said that when your wife visited, she called Mr Aloysius and he visited the place.

A: I don’t know that. I am only privy to what my family has told me.

Q: Are you aware of the existence of the company Walt & Row?

A: No

Q: Do you know that Arjun Aloysius and his father are directors of this company?

A: They are directors of many companies. That’s all I know. I do not know who is owning what.

Q: You did not know that this apartment was leased by Walt & Row from Miss Wijesuriya?

A: No. I need not know.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Tells Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunayake That “It was Better for him to Resign his Portfolio”’ »

Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake Saturday denied he was under pressure from President Maithripala Sirisena to resign following his testimony before the commission investigating the controversial bond auctions.

Karunanayake said the President had not even spoken to him on the matter since his testimony on Wednesday and there was no question of him being asked to go.

“Rubbish,” he replied when asked if he was stepping down following media reports that the President asked him to resign. “He has not even spoken to me on this issue.”

He said neither the President nor Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had discussed with him about his evidence nor did they ask him to resign.

“Why should they,” he said. ” I have not done anything wrong.”

Continue reading ‘“Why Should President or Prime Minister Ask me to Resign? I have Done Nothing Wrong” Declares Ravi Karunanayake’ »

By

Yohan Perera

Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday denied reports which said President Maithripala Sirisena had asked him to resign from his post.

“The reports and the rumours that I have been asked to resign from my post is utter nonsense,” he told Daily Mirror on Friday night.

Continue reading ‘“Reports and Rumours That I Have Been Asked To Resign From My Post Are Utter Nonsense” States Ravi Karunanayake’ »

Former Finance Minister and current Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, testifying before the Commission of Inquiry probing the Central Bank bond scams of 2015 and 2016, said he was totally ignorant of the transaction to lease out an apartment for his family from Arjun Aloysius who is implicated in the scam.

Mr. Karunanayake was questioned about the relationship with the Aloysius family, his foreign visits coinciding with Mr. Aloysius’s travel, the purchase of the Monarch apartment in Kollupitiya and as to how the money was raised for the purchase. Additional Solicitor General Dappula de Livera alleged that Mr. Karunanayake was lying under oath, but the minister denied the charge.

The Commission comprises Supreme Court judges K.T. Chithrasiri, Prasanna Jayawardena and retired Deputy Auditor General K. Velupillai.

Here are some of the questions and answers.

Dappula de Livera (DL): What kind of relationship did you have with Arjun Aloysius?

Minister Karunanayake (RK): Just a normal relationship. If anybody calls or if we associate as friends, we maintain that friendship. Just because we assume duties as a minister, we don’t forsake friends.

DL:What was the business of the company in which your wife and daughter became Directors soon after you assumed duties as a minister?

RK: International logistics. It was specially set up by Marks and Spencer to develop its global network.
Sri Lanka was chosen as the first.

DL: Is Lakshmi Kanthan a foreigner?

RK: He is an Indian, permanently living in Britain.

Justice Jayawardena: He was born in India?

RK: Yes.

DL: Is this Lashmi Kanthan related to the famous Emil Kanthan?

Justice Jayawardena: No, no this is not necessary.

RK: Who is Emil Kanthan?

DL: (interrupting) He was a wanted terrorist.

RK: That’s news to me.

Justice Jayawardena: You don’t read news? I don’t know how you can function as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Denies Lying Under Oath but says he Cannot Remember Most Things’ »

By

Winston de Valliere

It’s a measure of the man’s temperate nature that he accepted the portfolio of Sports Minister although his academic and political track record would justify him being entrusted with tasks at a higher level in the Cabinet. In the 2010 General Election, he received 132,600 preference votes which was the highest received by any candidate in the Kurunegala District.

On 24 July 2013, he resigned from the UNP and joined the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to contest the Provincial Council Elections. He broke the record of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga of most votes in a Provincial Council Election in Sri Lanka and was elected as the Chief Minister of the province on 21 September 2013. He is the 6th Chief Minister of North Western Province.

And Dayasiri Jayasekera who has switched sides on moral and ethical issues, said last week that he would vote in favour of a No-faith motion against Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake. On the other hand we had Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne saying that he hoped the Foreign Minister would come up with plausible responses to statements made by Ms. Anika Wijesuriya relating to the leasing and ultimate sale of what is said to have been her super luxury penthouse to the Karunanayake family. The Minister has now said before the Commission of Inquiry into the Central Bank’s Treasury Bond scandal that he has had absolutely no knowledge of his family’s transaction with Ms. Wijesuriya relating to the penthouse, supposedly using monies jointly owned by him in the family company Global Transportation and Logistics Ltd.

Karunanayake is listed as the Chairman, CEO/Director of the company which is at Liyanagemulla, Seeduwa with assets, the Minister told the Commission on Wednesday, amounting to almost Rs.4.5 billion. To all knowledge, Arjun Aloysius or his family do not have a stake of any nature in this company. Ms. Wijesuriya has allegedly been asked to destroy the documents pertaining to the lease and subsequent purchase of the penthouse. Which she has said she did not do and presented before the Commission.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Was Listed as the Chairman, CEO/Director of Global Transportation and Logistics Ltd. with Assets Amounting to Almost Rs.4.5 Billion’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake

​Amidst mounting public pressure, Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake is set to resign from his ministerial portfolio in the coming days. Following representations made to both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe by both United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members, the leaders are said to have advised former Finance Minister Karunanayake to tender his resignation before the No Confidence Motion is taken up in Parliament.

Sources said that the President and the Prime Minister discussed the matter during a dinner held to celebrate the latter’s 40th year in politics.

Continue reading ‘Pressure Mounting On Ravi Karunanayake To Resign As Minister Of Foreign Affairs Before No Confidence Motion Against Him Is Taken Up In Parliament.’ »

By Natasha Siribaddana

The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday handed over a No-Confidence motion against Minister of Foreign Affairs Ravi Karunanayake to the office of the Secretary General of Parliament.

Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff of Parliament, Neil Iddawela confirmed that MPs Bandula Gunawardena, Ranjith Soyza and Mahindananda Aluthgamage on behalf of the JO had handed the motion document to him.

The motion drafted by MP Bandula Gunawardena was circulated among all 51 UPFA MPs representing JO who were at the wedding of the son of the former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Ramith, to collect their signatures.

However, only 32 JO members signed the motion which was hurriedly taken to Parliament last afternoon.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Did not Sign No Confidence Motion Against Ravi Karunanayake Though he was Consulted Before Drafting.’ »

By

P.K.Balachandran

On the face of it, India’s military strength looks impressive. But what is worrying defense analysts is whether India can fight a war with Pakistan or China for more than 10 or 15 days without seeking foreign help.

The doubt arises from the Indian armed forces’ organizational and industrial shortcomings. Its defense industry is palpably weak.

The issue of preparedness has come up for discussion because of the continuing Sino-Indian military standoff at Doklam on the Sino-Bhutan border which is threatening to break into a shooting war any time.

Early this week, China claimed that India has reduced its deployment in Doklam from 400 to 40 men, in the face of Chinese doggedness. But India denied the Chinese claim on Wednesday saying that its force level remains the same as before (about 350 troops). Therefore, the danger of an India-China war persists.

With 1.3 million under arms, India has the second largest standing army in the world after China’s. Besides, it has 1.2 million in reserves and 1.4 million in its paramilitary outfits. It is believed to possess 90-110 nuclear bombs. Its defense budget is US$ 51.3 billion, which is 2.3 % of its GDP.

The much smaller Pakistan, has a 600,000 standing armed force, 300,000 men in reserve and 100-120 nuclear war heads. Its defense budget is US$ 9.5 billion which is 3.4% (higher than India’s figure).

The India-China gap in military strength is glaring and worrying. China’s Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA), which includes its navy and Air Force, has 2.3 million men and women. This is to be cut by 1 million soon, but only to arm it better and make it “lean and mean”.

Continue reading ‘” Can India Fight a War With China and Pakistan For More Than 15 Days Without Seeking Foreign Help”?’ »

By

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength” – George Orwell

“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is”. – Winston Churchill

“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance”. – Confucius

“It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have”. – James A. Baldwin

If there is one lesson that the Perpetual Penthouse Minister has given us all, it is the value of ignorance.

Not knowing is the path to progress, which is shown so well by his having been chosen as the Best Finance Minister of Asia Pacific. He must have displayed to the judges in that selection game that he knew nothing of national budgeting and even less on matters of finance.

Just now he must be ignorant of anything to do with Foreign Affairs, having a bigger interest in having Visumpaya as his official residence. Foreign Affairs to hell; who wants to know or remember how one should deal with India, Pakistan or Bangladesh… or even the US, UK and Russia? All that is best left forgotten. We must know that Foreign Policy is not built on knowledge, but ignorance.

One should also decidedly forget the background of those who are appointed as ambassadors to foreign countries, because knowing or remembering will be more than embarrassing.

Know not what you do, and even less of what your wife and daughter, who re business partners in the same company do – That is the stuff of Perpetual Success.

This could well be a new trend for Yahapalana Governance.

Continue reading ‘“Ignorance is Bliss”- Lesson Taught to Us All By Perpetual Penthouse Minister Ravi Karunanayake’ »

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake seems to lack a stable memory and, therefore, the President and the Prime Minister should refrain from sending Minister Karunanayake to represent the country.

Gammanpila said so while addressing the media at the Dr N. M. Perera Centre in Borella on Thursday (03).

Commenting on Foreign Minister Karunanayake’s statement to the presidential commission of inquiry probing the bond scam that he had no knowledge of the Penthouse deal, Gammanpila said that before the June 31 every year the MPs were required to declare their assets and liabilities and that declaration should include all details of the properties owned by their spouses and unmarried children.

Therefore, there was no way Karunanayake could claim that he was not aware of his wife’s assets, Gammanpila said.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Suffering from “Unstable Memory” Must Not Represent Country Abroad as Foreign Minister says Udaya Gammanpila.’ »

Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s daughter Onella has made an impassioned plea on her Facebook page asking why it was only her father to blame “in such a huge Government?”.

“Just ask yourself? Why only one man’s name comes up all the time in such a huge government?” she asked, making comparison to her father’s testimony.

Minister Karunanayake while testifying at the Bond Commission also asked the same question from the Attorney General when questioned about the undated and un-referenced letter sent under his signature.

“Why am I the only one to blame? There was collective responsibility,” he said.

Below is Onella’s full Facebook post:

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake’s Daughter Onella Asks why ONLY Her Father is Being Blamed In Such a Huge Govt?’ »

​Parliament yesterday moved a vote to felicitate Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on his completion of continuous membership of the House over a period of 40 years and appreciating the selfless and dedicated service rendered by him for the betterment of Sri Lanka in general and Parliament in particular.

Conveying his best wishes to Ranil Wickremesinghe by wishing him success in all his future endeavors, Minister of Higher Education and Highways and Leader of the House of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella opened the floor.

Wickremesinghe, having listened to all well-wishers, offered some advice to his fellow MPs. “I can give you some advice from my experience. Firstly, to be disciplined, to be tolerant, to do your work without being jealous of others, accept both victory and defeat equally. I had to work my way up from a Member of Parliament, a Deputy Minister, a Cabinet minister, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition, and serve as Prime Minister several times. Today I urge all to go forward. Peace and economic development have joined hands. Firstly, we should have a Sri Lankan identity with a common front. We should join hands with the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena. We should reach that political solution in this Parliament,” he said.

PM Wickremesinghe first entered Parliament on 21 July 1977, having won the Biyagama seat. He took oaths as a new MP on 4 August 1977. Wickremesinghe went on to say that the world has changed drastically over the last 40 years.

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Felicitated by Parliament for Completing 40 Years of Unbroken Service to Nation as MP.’ »

By
Hafeel Farisz and Amali Mallawarachchi

Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday defended himself before the Bond Commission insisting that he did not know of any of the transactions entered into by his wife and daughter and their connected companies with regard to the Penthouse Apartment at the Monarch residencies in which he currently resides.

In a day filled with drama, suspense, outbursts and assertions, Karunanayake took the stand for close to six hours insisting throughout that he was not aware of the transactions or connections that were put to him by the Attorney General’s Department.

“I was not aware and I only came to know after this hullabaloo (after Anika Wijesooriya’s testimony)” Karunanayake asserted.Immediately after, however, it was pointed out by the Attorney Generals Department who quoted the Hansard saying that the issue of his Monarch Penthouse apartment was brought to Karunanayakes notice in Parliament in July 2016.

An initially upbeat Karunanayake, said during the initial stages that the media was “acting Judge, Jury and Executioner”. He also said the counsel leading evidence, could do so only because the “new government was in place”. Thereafter, during a heated exchange, Karunanayake said “ I am hurt (by the line of questioning) Is this the independence of the judiciary?” he asked pointing out the overly agrressive Counsel.

On nexus with Aloysius

The day commenced with ASG Dappula De Livera questioning Karunanayake on where Karunanayake currently lives. “At the Monarch” was the reply. “What is the number of the apartment?” “5 PH2” replied Karunanayake. Then the questioning commenced on Karunanayakes relationship with Arjun Aloysius. An upbeat Karunanayake said that he knew the Aloysius family “for years”.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Tells Inquiry Commission That He Did not Know About Transactions Entered Into By His Wife and Daughter’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The office of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday accepted a no-faith motion against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake submitted by the Joint Opposition (JO) over his alleged involvement in Central Bank bond scams in Feb. 2015 and March 2016.

At the time of the alleged scams, UNPer Karunanayake held finance portfolio. President Maithripala Sirisena appointed him foreign minister in May this year in a minor Cabinet reshuffle.

A spokesperson for the Speaker’s Office told The Island that Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff of the parliament Neil Iddawela accepted the no-faith motion on behalf of the Speaker.

Thirty seven members of the JO signed the petition.

Continue reading ‘No Confidence Motion Against Ravi Karunanayake Signed by 37 Joint Opposition MP’s Accepted by Speaker’s Office’ »

by Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta and Sarath Dharmasena

Foreign Minister and former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday vehemently denied any involvement in the leasing or the subsequent purchase of a penthouse at Monarch Residencies in Colombo 03. He said all those matters had been handled by his family.

Karunanayake made the daring denial before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the alleged bond scams in Colombo.

The Foreign Minister, however, on being questioned said that he, his wife and children were still living in the same penthouse.

Senior Additional Solicitor General (SASG) Dappula de Livera, PC led the evidence of Karunanayake.

Karunanayake was extensively questioned on the questionable housing deal and other matters from 10.30 am to about 3.00 pm. Rienzie Arsecularatne, PC and a team of lawyers appeared for Minister Karunayake.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Admonished By Inquiry Commission For Making Statements Instead Of Answering Questions.’ »

By Chitra Weerarathne

The Colombo High Court yesterday imposed five-year RI on the former chairman of the Rambewa Pradeshiya Sabha for accepting a bribe of Rs. 100,000 from a farmer to have him employed in Korea.

The former Pradeshiya Sabha member, Rohit Madawe was convicted of all three charges in the indictment.

The complainant is the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Continue reading ‘Ex-Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Given 5 Year Rigorous Imprisonment Sentence for Accepting Rs 100,000 Bribe.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Proposed constitutional amendment to put off scheduled Provincial Council polls in the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North Central provinces required a two-thirds approval in Parliament, provincial councils and local government minister Faiszer Musthapha said yesterday.

Minister Musthapha was responding to a query by The Island at an SLFP media briefing at the party office on T. B. Jayah Mawatha.

Minister Musthapha said the government would soon seek parliamentary approval for the amendment.

The UNP and the UPFA secured 106 and 95 seats, respectively at the last general election. However, out of the 95 seats obtained by the UPFA, about 52 members joined the Joint Opposition (JO).

Continue reading ‘Polls to North Central,Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils to be Postponed by Amendment with Two-thirds Majority’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

State Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle yesterday accused the government of reneging on its much-touted promise to increase women’s representation in local government bodies.

State Minister Fernandopulle flayed the government for proposing amendments to local authorities act that would certainly result in the reduction of seats allocated for women.

Turning towards Provincial Council and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha, PC, State Minister Fernandopulle said that she would vote against such amendments. She questioned the government move after Minister Musthapha praised the role played by women at the local government level.

Continue reading ‘Dr. Sudharshini Fernandopulle Faults Govt For Not Honouring Promise to Increase Women Representation in Local Authorities’ »

By

S.S.Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued an Interim Order staying the proceedings of the Jaffna High Court in respect of the death of an Old Boy of St. Patrick’s College at the annual big match between Jaffna College and St. Patrick’s College.

The bench comprising Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya and A.L.S. Gooneratne issued this interim order operative until the final determination of the petition filed by one of the accused, Sivasanmuganathan Mathushan of Chulipuram in Jaffna.

The petitioner is seeking the Court of Appeal to transfer the proceedings of the said case to another Court or another judge of the High Court.

Continue reading ‘Appeal Court Issues Interim Order Staying Jaffna High Court Proceedings in “Big Match Killing”Case Being Heard by High Court Judge M. Ilancheliyan.’ »

by Dr Alavi Sheriffdeen

(The contributor is a teacher based in Australia who lost his father and little brother at the Kattankudy mosque massacre in 1990. He has been leading a number of community educational and empowerment projects in the East of Sri Lanka since the war ended in 2009)

Every year, when the Month of August approaches, a feeling of dread and despair engulfs me as the memories of 3 August 1990 come flooding back. On that fateful day, with one swell swoop, 141 worshippers were massacred while they were in communion with God in two different mosques in Batticaloa, Eastern Province. Nearly three decades later Meera Jummah Mosque in Kattankudy and Hussainiyya Mosque in Manchanthoduwai bear testimony to the bloodshed that took place within its sacred walls.

It has been 27 years today since that dreadful day when Kattankudy Mosque massacre shattered lives of many. I am one of those victims who lost a dear father and a brother, aged just 10, along with many other relatives. Each and every one who was killed in the Hussainiyya Mosque was very well known to me either as relatives or neighbours. This is one of the days that should never be repeated in Sri Lanka or anywhere in the world. Even though decades passed, its tormenting memories and scars have scorched the minds of its victims. To date, these traumatic memories are still fresh as if it just took place a minute ago.

Continue reading ‘Re-visiting the Kattankudi Mosque Massacre by the LTTE 27 Years Ago.’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe

Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday remained defiant before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry denying any knowledge of payments made on the Monarch apartment allegedly rented on his behalf and rejecting conflicts of interest with Perpetual Treasuries Director Arjun Aloysius even though he admitted to a longstanding friendship.

Karunanayake, who was Finance Minister when the bond auction under inquiry took place on 27 February 2015, responding to several fiery rounds of questions by Additional Solicitor General (ASG), President’s Counsel Dappula de Livera, repeatedly denied any knowledge of the apartment being leased for his family by Walt and Row Ltd. till the matter was raised in Parliament by MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage in June 2016. Aloysius and his father are directors of Walt and Row and the company leased the fifth floor apartment for a monthly rent of Rs. 1.45 million. The commission was also informed that Perpetual Treasuries has 28 subsidiary companies.

During five hours of questioning, the Foreign Minister noted after the revelation in Parliament his family had reimbursed Walt and Row fully and a receipt for the transaction remains in his possession.

Continue reading ‘Defiant Ravi Karunanayake Denies All Knowledge of Penthouse Apartment Payments Made On His Behalf By Arjun Aloysius.’ »

(Full text of Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Statement)

The manner in which the government privatised the Hambantota port has shocked the nation. Parliament was not allowed to debate the Agreement to privatise one of Sri Lanka’s most important strategic assets. No one knows who did the valuation of this asset. No one appears to have seen any technical/financial evaluation report. The government has also not explained to the public on what criteria they selected the company that won the bid when there was clear evidence that the other bid was much more favourable. This headlong quest to sell state assets is a direct result of the economic crisis that the government has plunged this country into. After the yahapalakayas lied their way to the presidency in January 2015, they knew it would not be possible to win the parliamentary election that was soon due by the same means, so they increased the salaries of government servants, reduced the price of fuel, gas and certain foodstuffs in order to bamboozle the people in a different way.

Thereby, they increased government expenditure while simultaneously reducing revenue, creating the present financial crisis. According to the Auditor General’s reports, the Budget deficit which was 5.7% of the GDP in 2014, had almost doubled to 10.5% in 2015 in just one calendar year. The lack of money to meet day to day expenses including the salaries and pensions of state sector employees resulted in massive foreign currency borrowings. In just two and a half years, the yahapalana government has taken foreign currency loans amounting to over USD 13.7 billion. All this money has been spent on consumption. USD 13.7 billion is the equivalent of ten Norochcholai power plants or ten Hambantota Ports, or more than twenty Southern Highways. But the government has nothing to show for all this money that has been borrowed and spent.

Continue reading ‘“Sri Lanka Wont Have Any National Assets Left By the Time This Govt Ends” – Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By

Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

The worst thing about Hambantota is Trincomalee. The Chinese are not our neighbours; we have no border with China and thus no deeply inscribed history of incursions and annexation; there is no Chinese minority on the island and China never intervened in our conflicts or supported cross-border terrorism. The real danger about Hambantota is that the Indians, whose underbelly is Tamil Nadu, will feel it necessary to redouble the squeeze on this puppet government which is greedy, bankrupt and spineless. This is not the UNP of President Premadasa, the author of “Golu Muhuda”, who sent back the 70,000-strong IPKF.

The real battleground is Trincomalee and the surrounding North and East, which is 18 miles from Tamil Nadu. That’s the decisive looming battle. If, as the Sri Lankan PM has promised the Indian PM in writing (Minister Malik Samarawickrama signed the MoU for GoSL), the Trinco oil tank farm, the ‘development’ of the Port, and the Mannar–Trinco/Mannar-Kilinochchi highways are given to the Indians, ETCA signed, and the North and East granted quasi-federal powers through a Constitutional change, this island would permanently lose control over its Northeastern periphery-cum-buffer. As a state, we would become geopolitically smaller and more vulnerable to our giant neighbour.

In Mexico, the Zapatistas led by the enigmatic, iconic Subcommandante Marcos in his ski-mask, began their almost bloodless armed uprising on the day in 1994 that NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, was signed—and the existential threat posed by NAFTA to Mexico was far less than that posed either by ETCA or the acquisition of Trincomalee by India. Where are the 21st century Puran Appus?

Meanwhile, have you noticed that every major, mainstream political formation in Sri Lanka had controversies in the past several weeks? The TNA had a problem with the NPC and Wigneswaran; the UNP members of the Cabinet lined up for and against UNP Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s stout defence of Sri Lanka against hostile UN officials; Weerawansa’s NFF rocked the JO boat by criticizing participation in the Steering Committee on constitutional change; the SLFP and UNP contradictions are growing; and the official SLFP has dissenters who are threatening to quit the government in the next few weeks. These are but symptoms of the crisis spreading.

Continue reading ‘Yahapalana Govt is Neither Liberal nor Democratic or More Liberal Than it is Democratic’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

This government has routinely blamed the corruption of the former regime for the current economic hardships in the country. Now, how on earth did it manage to behave like nothing had happened after recent jaw-dropping allegations against its former Finance Minister cum incumbent Foreign Minister?

Last week, Anika Wijesuriya, a directress of a construction company told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the alleged bond scam that Arjun Aloysius, director of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., had paid the rental of a penthouse lease of Ravi Karunanayake, while the latter was the Finance Minister in 2016. Ms. Wijesuriya, who was the original owner of the house at Monarch Residencies, said Minister Karunanayake and his family leased out the penthouse for eight months with the monthly lease rental Rs.1.45 million being paid by Mr. Aloysius.

She said Rs.7.3 million was transferred by the Perpetual Capital Holdings Pvt. Ltd. to Walt and Row Pvt. Ltd., with which she had entered into a lease agreement. Another Rs. 1.4 million was paid to her in cash. Later in September 2016, the house had been bought for Rs. 165 million by a company, Global Transportation and Logistics Pvt. Ltd., in which Mr. Karunanayake’s wife and daughter were directresses.

Later in the week, a second witness, Chief Financial Officer of the Global Transportation and Logistics Pvt. Ltd., B.R. Chinnaiya who gave evidence before the commission could not explain the origin of money that had been used to purchase the house. He revealed that the money was obtained from the chairman’s safe, into which the company’s London based chairman had dumped Rs. 145 million on two occasions, when he arrived in Sri Lanka during 2016 and 2017. Nor did the company’s statements of accounts make any reference to the origin of the said funds.

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake’s Penthouse Affair Poses Acid Test for Maithri- Ranil Govt’s Integrity’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

For decades since independence, Sri Lankans were wont to look over the Palk Strait and enviously compare the strides that the Indian legal system had been taking in regard to protection of the Rule of Law. True, serious blimps were evidenced on the radar in regard to practical implementation of good judicial decisions. Allegations of corruption were intermittently made against Indian judges themselves. However, despite these negatives and even notwithstanding the alarming undermining of a once vibrant public intellectual culture in recent times, the judicial system and the Constitution of that country still retain the respect of the teeming Indian multitudes.

A powerful lesson for the region

Now we can look equally covetously elsewhere as yet another neighbouring country holds out an example that we may justifiably yearn for. This week Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigned from office after the country’s Supreme Court unanimously declared him as ‘not honest’ and disqualified him from elected office. Sharif was ruled to have been dishonest in not disclosing his earnings from a Dubai-based company in his nomination papers during the 2013 general election.

The 2016 disclosures in the Panama Papers that three of Prime Minister Sharif’s children had used shell companies to buy properties in London were pivotal to the case. The former Prime Minister has refuted any allegation of wrong doing but stated that he will respect the Court’s decision. Certainly the ruling will potentially wreak more havoc on Pakistan’s tumultuous political systems. And it is doubtful if a single ruling of this nature will suffice to cleanse the notoriously corrupt political culture in the country. Even so, the stark fact of a Prime Minister forced to a measure of accountability stands as a potent and powerful lesson for other political leaders in this region.

In contrast, what do we have in Sri Lanka? The dismal fate which has now visited the 2015 rainbow coalition as public disillusionment if not fury grows is clear. A core component of that anger is the complete inability of the unity alliance to bring previous corrupt politicians to justice as well as maintain minimum standards of anti- corruption by its own members. Both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appear to be engaging in typical party politics at the expense of their campaign promises to bring about a change from the past.

Continue reading ‘Octopus-like Tentacles of Corruption Reach Into Highest Levels of Govt’ »

Police have launched an intense manhunt in the Northern province to arrest the killer of Police Sgt Sarath Hemachandra (PS 24330) on Saturday July 22nd 2017 in Nallur,Jaffna. 51 year old Hemachandra hailing from Chilaw was on duty providing security escort on a motor cycle to Jaffna High court judge Manickavasagam Illancheliyan when he was shot at about 5 pm on Temple Road and sustained serious injuries in the stomach. He was rushed to the Jaffna teaching hospital and provided emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday July 23rd. Hemachandra was posthumously promted as sub – inspector of police by IGP Pujitha Jayasundara. He was the father of two children.

A widespread search operation is currently underway within the Jaffna peninsula and certain areas of the Northern mainland to arrest the suspected “cop killer” who has been identified as 39 year old Selvarasa Jeyanthan is currently a resident of Nallur though his permanent address is in the 4th ward of Pungudutheevu island.. Police have taken into custody the suspect’s brother and brother in law for questioning. Both Jeyanthan’s brother and brother in law were with him when the shooting incident occurred on Temple road. Both however were not involved in the shooting.

Continue reading ‘Manhunt Launched in North for Killer of Policeman in Jaffna Shooting Incident; Suspect Identified as 39 Year old Ex-Tiger Selvarasa Jeyanthan of Nallur.’ »

By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor

President Maithripala Sirisena hurriedly interrupted the Cabinet meeting that was in progress last Tuesday. He rose from his chair and asked ministers whether they could feel something like a tremor that was causing vibration of the floor.

He said he could feel such a phenomenon where he sat — the podium in the onetime Well of the House of Parliament facing ministers seated behind rows of tables. Soon, members of his personal protection group were summoned and told to find out what was happening.
The men who left the chamber returned sometime later to tell Sirisena that the vibrations were caused by piling equipment being used in the Chinese funded Colombo Port City project. It was just across the road from the Presidential Secretariat. “Let’s hope that when the construction work finishes, the Presidential Secretariat will be intact,” he remarked half-jokingly.

The meeting continued. When discussions or decisions on some 49 items on the agenda were concluded, it was time for “any other business.”

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe rose to explain why he has been accused of abusing United Nations envoy Ben Emmerson QC, Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter terrorism. During a five-day visit to Sri Lanka, Emmerson met Rajapakshe at the Justice Ministry. Emmerson is retiring from the UN system later next week.

Continue reading ‘Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Who Confronted UN’s Ben Emmerson gets “Tuition” in Diplomacy From Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

An unidentified man seized the pistol of a Police officer and opened fire at a vehicle carrying Jaffna High Court Judge M. Ilancheliyan, wounding his security officer. The incident occurred near the Nallur Kandasamy Kovil in Jaffna last evening. Judge Ilancheliyan, who was unhurt, told reporters he was the target of the assailant and there was “a serious threat to the judiciary.”

The pistol belonged to Mr. Ilancheliyan’s advance motorcycle outrider, a police sergeant. As a routine, he would patrol the routes taken by the judge, now sitting together with two other colleagues, at the trial-at- bar of the rape-and-murder of a 17-year-old schoolgirl.

Continue reading ‘Unidentified Man Appearing to be Drunk , Seizes Pistol from High Court Judge Illanchelian’s Security Officer in Jaffna and Fires shots Injuring Police Sgt.’ »

by C.A.Chandraprema

The brawl that everyone saw taking place within the North Central Provincial Council on TV news bulletins last week was the outward signs of a new political development with far reaching political implications. The mace that was broken in the melee just about symbolised the impact this event would have on the political fortunes of the incumbent powers in the NCP and their political masters at the centre. Even though there has been considerable turbulence in the North Central Provincial Council in recent weeks, with a full blown revolt among UPFA/SLFP members against the Sirisena loyalist Chief Minister Peshala Jayaratne, that was just a dispute within the ruling UPFA group. Even though we may not have seen anything as spectacular as this in a provincial council in the past, there have been plenty of disputes and even fisticuffs between members of ruling groups in PCs and local government institutions in the past as well.

There are 33 members in the North Central Province with the UPFA having 21 seats, while the UNP has 11 and the JVP one. Thus if it comes to a division within the Council, 17 members can form a majority. This crisis began when 18 members of the UPFA presented a no confidence motion against the chief minister with affidavits from all signatories. The full force of the executive presidency was brought into play to prevent power in the NCP from slipping out of the hands of Sirisena’s loyalists. The Governor was instructed not to accept the documents from the dissident group and using the time thus bought, two of the dissidents were bought over by giving them ministerial portfolios. There was a complete purge of the board of ministers of the NCP following this revolt.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s Political Journey is Coming to an End but he does not Seem to Realise it.’ »

By Tamara Kunanayakam,
– former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva
and
Dr. PalithaKohona,
– former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York

The Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson’s haughty statement at a media briefing in Colombo on 14 July,with the UN Resident Representative at his side not contradicting the special rapporteur in any way, and his official communiqué in Geneva on 18 July, is arbitrary, judgmental, arrogant, accusatory, threatening, interventionist,and insulting.

It reeks of the worst white supremacist holier than thou attitude with regard to the non white world. When a national of a country, which has persistently violated human rights standards, including in Sri Lanka during its colonial overlordship, adopts a profoundly objectionable judgmental attitude, one must dismiss it publicly with contempt.

Continue reading ‘Why Was Ben Emmerson Allowed to Bully, Threaten and Blackmail Sri Lanka’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

United Nations Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson QC’s warning to the Sri Lankan Government following last week’s mission visit to the country was certainly the most irascible that we have seen from a UN mandate holder in a while. After more than two years of the United Nations’ uncritically accepting sunshiny rhetoric from an administration that excelled in the art, aided and abetted by Colombo’s enthusiastic cheerleaders, this was a dash of icy cold reality.

Acknowledging faults at all levels

Unfortunately however, it has all the elements of bad parenting. A cossetted and pampered child used to getting its own way does not take kindly to an undiluted dose of sternness, which also has a tad unpleasant touch of hectoring to it. Instead of a measured and carefully nuanced engagement with this Government from the start, we have over-indulgence giving way to unexpected austerity. Certainly these are extremes that are not productive.

The Special Rapporteur’s preliminary media release on his visit has been greeted with glad cries by the Rajapaksa base and its fifth column supporters in the Government to support their argument that the country will not be ‘lectured to’ by outsiders.

Continue reading ‘Ben Emmerson’s Irascible Warning Conveys Dash of Icy Cold Reality to Govt.’ »

By Vijith Samarasinghe

Last Friday marked three months since the catastrophic collapse of the Meethotamulla garbage dump in Colombo. Angry victims are blaming the government for the loss of lives and for evicting them from the area without providing proper housing or a means of income.

The official death toll of the Meethotamulla disaster is 32, with another eight people listed as missing. Residents, however, claim the real figure would be much higher, as the poorest victims, who were buried alive, did not appear in official records. The military-led rescue teams called off the search for bodies after several days. Around 146 houses have been damaged, affecting 198 families or around 1,000 people.
Unsafe open dumping in natural wetland in Meethotamulla began in 1987, and was continued by successive governments. It produced a huge garbage mountain covering 9 hectares and exceeding 60 metres in height (22 acres and 200 feet).

Local people held one protest after another against the health hazards and the danger that the massive pile could collapse and take lives. The governments of former President Mahinda Rajapakse and the current President Maithripala Sirisena deployed police to violently suppress the protests.

During the 2015 presidential election campaign, Sirisena sought to exploit the mounting anger by promising to “solve” the Meethotamulla problem. His government has now seized on the disaster to try to evict poor residents and take their land.

Continue reading ‘Three months after the Meethotamulla Disaster in Sri Lanka’ »

Against the worrying background of attempts by extremists to tear Sri Lanka apart on ethnic and religious grounds, the Minister of Coexistence, Dialogue and Official Languages, Mano Ganeshan, has brought out an excellent book showing Sri Lanka as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious island – a vibrantly colorful mosaic which was known in ancient times, quite appropriately, as “Serendib” or the Golden Island.

“People generally think that there are only 3 to five communities in Sri Lanka, but there are 19 of them,” Ganeshan told select journalists here on Friday.

The 367 page tome, entitled People of Sri Lanka, published by the Ministry of Coexistence, delineates the history, culture and contributions of each one of these 19 communities with photographs and illustrations.

It was released at a function attended by President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Leader of the Opposition, R.Sampanthan, and the Speaker of Parliament Karu Jaysuriya. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was represented by the former minister of National Languages Vasudeva Nanayakkara. Artistes from the various communities performed to the delight of the vast gathering at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.

“It is noteworthy that the country’ top leaders were assembled at the function endorsing the need to build bridges across ethnic divides,” Ganeshan said.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s multi-ethnic character is deep rooted in history States National Co-existence Minister Mano Ganeshan’ »

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

A sudden announcement by the government that it has gazzetted the long awaited Office of the Missing Persons (OMP) came in without much ado and at a time when the UN under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman was in town.

It’s obvious the high-powered official seemed to have held his ‘last round’ of serious talks to remind the government of its failure and lethargic attitude towards paying attention to the thousands of grieving parties who lost their loved ones on the battle field and beyond.

Hearing the OMP being established, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also congratulated the Sri Lankan Government for setting it up. It’s an important step for all Sri Lankans who are still looking for the truth about their loved ones.”

He also said that the UN stands ready to support this process and he looks forward to the OMP becoming operational as soon as possible, starting with the appointment of independent commissioners.”

Continue reading ‘Was Office of Missing Persons Gazetted by Govt Due to Visiting UN High Official Feltman Making Himself “Felt” in Sri Lanka?’ »

(Text of a Statement issued by Tamil National Alliance Spokesperson M.A. Sumanthiran M.P. on July 22nd 2017)

The Tamil National Alliance strongly condemns the attack on Jaffna High Court Judge Illanchelliyan. We pray for Judge Illancheliyan and for the speedy recovery of the Police officers injured in this incident.

We urge the Inspector General of Police to bring the perpetrators of this incident to justice and to investigate the conspiracies behind this incident.

Continue reading ‘TNA Strongly Condemns Jaffna Shooting Incident Concerning High Court Judge M.Ilancheliyan.’ »

The launching ceremony for a book titled ‘People of Sri Lanka’ published by the Ministry of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the BMICH this week.

The book, which contains the details of 19 ethnic groups living in Sri Lanka as well as their cultures and customs, written under the guidance of the Minister of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages Mano Ganeshan.

The first copy of the book was presented to the President by the Minister Mano Ganeshan.
Continue reading ‘National Co-existence Ministry Under Mano Ganesan Publishes BookTitled “People of Sri Lanka”About 19 Ethnic Groups Living in the Island.’ »

(Text of a Press Statement Issued Through the Media Office of the Tamil National Alliance)

A meeting was held between the Tamil National Alliance led by R. Sampanthan and visiting United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman today at the UN office in Colombo.

Mr. Sampanthan raised concerns related to matters that affect the day to day life of the Tamil people living in the North and the East. He highlighted that lands belonging to people must be returned to people. “there is no justification for the Government not to release these lands even after 8 years since the war came to an end” he noted.

Speaking further on the land issues Mr. Sampanthan pointed out that the armed forces are engaged in cultivation activities in these lands that severely affects the livelihood of our people.

Speaking of the Missing persons Mr. Sampanthan noted that there had been over 20,000 people who went missing as per the submissions given to several commissions. And he further clarified not all of them belong to the armed group. People want to know the truth as to what happened to their loved ones, people are living in trauma, and this must come to an end he added. “The Office of the Missing Persons should be established soon to give some relief to these people” Mr. Sampanthan noted.

Continue reading ‘TNA and Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan Raises Concerns about Issues Affecting the Tamil People in Meeting With UN Under -Secy -Gen Jeffrey Feltman.’ »

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Joint Opposition (JO) parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardena has called for an end to UN interference in on-going constitutional making process in accordance with Geneva Resolution 30/1 adopted in Oct 2015.

MP Gunawardena has said that the JO that represented a large segment of people strongly opposed to the current UN initiative that was inimical to Sri Lanka’s national interest.

The veteran politician was responding to Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman currently here on a three-day visit to ascertain the current status of the constitution making process.

Feltman, who had served successive US administrations, arrived in Sri Lanka last Wednesday (July 19).

Continue reading ‘“UN Must Stop Interfering in Lanka’s Constitution Making Process” – Dinesh Gunawardena tells Jeffrey Feltman.’ »

Ram Nath Kovind was elected India’s new president Thursday, the second time since independence a head of state has been chosen from the bottom of the Hindu caste system. The first Dalit President was K.R.Narayanan, who as the 10th.President of India, served from 1997 to 2002.

Kovind won the largely ceremonial position with more than 65 per cent of the vote by members of India’s parliament and state assemblies, the election commission said.

The 71-year-old former lawyer and Governor of the State of Bihar, belonging to the marginalized Dalit community, was nominated for the post by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the candidate of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The opposition Congress Party also put forward a Dalit candidate, a former parliamentary speaker Meira Kumar.

Continue reading ‘BJP Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind elected 14th President of India’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka police on Monday detained and questioned an Indian tourist who was wearing a dress with a print of the Buddha on it.

Wearing the image of the Buddha remains a sensitive matter in the island where a majority practise Buddhism. In 2014, a British tourist was deported for sporting a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm.

The 26-year-old tourist was on the island on a family holiday at a resort near Bentota, along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Before the group’s departure from Colombo on Monday, some of them were shopping at an upmarket mall in the capital.

“Just as we were about to make the payment at the counter, three cops came up to us and said they needed to arrest and take my niece. We were terrified,” said Deepam R., aunt of the young woman. The 26-year-old and the rest of the family apologised to the police and said they did not intend to offend Sri Lankans, she said.

Continue reading ‘26 Year Old Indian Girl From Chennai Detained and Questioned in Sri Lanka for Wearing Dress With Buddha Print on it.’ »

By

Taylor Dibbert

Well-known Sri Lankan Political analyst and journalist Kusal Perera has written a book about former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa titled “Rajapaksa”. Freelance Journalist Taylor Dibbert Interviews the author about “Rajapaksa” and related matters.

Excerpts-

Question: Your book “Rajapaksa” will be released soon. Would you tell us a bit about it?

Answer;

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Unravelled in Forthcomig Book Authored By Kusal Perera Titled “RAJAPAKSA”.’ »

By

Vishwamithra 1984

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”

~ William Faulkner

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), although purported to be following the Bandaranaike policies and principles, basically consists of socialized economic principles and hard nationalism bordering on extremism. Its fundamental appeal has been to Sinhalese Buddhists who it rightly assumed as marginalized and under-served by the then governing principals, a Colombo-based, English-speaking elite led by the United National Party (UNP). That is all post-Independence politics in Ceylon.

However, prior to Ceylon obtaining freedom from the British Raj, in both Councils, Legislative and State, amongst the dominating elements, the most striking was its composition that of a foreign cum English-educated, whiskey-drinking, impervious super-elite whose allegiance to and being arrogant towards the local culture of the average Haramanis. Haramanis was nurtured and nursed by the glorious tales of the Great Chronicle – Mahawansa. Living in the rural countryside, nourished by the soil of the land and its meagre fruits of rain-fed cultivations, the average Sinhalese Buddhist was literally kept in the dark. His wants and desires were not heard nor adhered to. His culture which boasts of thousands of years of monarchical rule by Kings and Queens was rooted in aggressively held beliefs and unforgiving faith in a religion that is sacred and universally accepted as a supreme philosophical teaching of life and living. They were proud of that faith and rightly so.

The then decision-makers who were mainly part and parcel of the establishment comprising of the colonial powers and Colombo-based elites executed their legislative callings with an exclusive mindset of arrogance on the one hand and a reprehensible sense of oblivion on the other. This mindset of the ruling elites was dictating the performance of its obligations without any substantial relationship to the great majority in the land whether they were Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim. But the appeal of the SLFP, as per historical records, is essentially a logical progression of the Sinhala Maha Sabha, ‘founded by SWRD Bandaranaike in 1934-35, in order to promote Sinhalese culture and community interests’. While retaining its fundamental nationalistic character, the SLFP also promulgated a message of vastly different economic policies- policies that later implemented as ‘socialist’ and ‘common man-friendly’- from the UNP’s capitalistic free-market-friendly approach.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Was An Aberration But Maithripala Is An Authentic Leader Of the True SLFP.’ »

by Maheesha Mudugamuwa

The Joint Opposition (JO) consisting of SLFP and UPFA dissidents loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa broke into two factions yesterday after one of its main partners, the National Freedom Front (NFF) opted to pull out of the new constitution making process.

NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa has informed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in writing that he and four other NFF MPs namely Weerakumara Dissanayake, Jayantha Samaraweera, Udayashantha Gunasekera and Niroshan Premaratne, would leave the Constituent Assembly (CA).

All NFF MPs, except Gunasekera, were present when party leader Weerawansa handed over the letter to the Speaker, according to sources.

The letter signed by all five NFF members said the party had decided to leave the CA for ten reasons.

Continue reading ‘Wimal Weerawansa’s NFF Pulls Out of Constitution Making Process While rest of Mahinda Rajapaksa Loyalists Continue to Remain’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena sought clarification from his Cabinet of Ministers on the procedure through which Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson obtained clearance to meet detainees held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Cabinet Co-spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne told the media yesterday.

However, he insisted that the Government had not found fault with the UN representative meeting the detainees.

“The President asked for clarification as there was no clearance obtained from the Defence Ministry. The meetings have been coordinated by the Foreign Ministry after consultations with the Prisons Commissioner. The procedure followed has been in practice during previous visits,” Senaratne said at the weekly Cabinet press briefing.

Continue reading ‘“Govt Has No Issues With UN Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson’s Visit and Report on Sri Lanka says cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne’ »

By

Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

If you say one thing and do quite another, that’s deceit. If you stick one label on something but sell quite another, then that’s fraud – a criminal act. Going by what TNA’s MP M.A.Sumanthiran has said on the record, that’s exactly what the new Constitution is intended to do. The TNA MP says that the content of the Constitutional changes will be federal but the label will not say that. TV news showed Sumanthiran speaking in Jaffna, confirming that the Interim Report of the draft Constitution fulfils the two fundamental requirements of federalism though the term itself isn’t used. If confirmation were needed he is also quoted in the state-owned Sunday Observer saying “The new Constitution will be based on the federal system although it will not be indicated in such terms”.

In other words, the wrapper will say one thing but the content will contain another thing. The wrapper will say unitary or won’t say anything at all. The content will be federal. The Constitution will be a disguised or will be disguised: Federal masked as unitary.

What is the purpose of this despicable lie and who is the intended victim? Why not call something by its real and true name? If a Constitution is going to be, in effect, federal in content and character, that must be for a reason. The obvious reason is that the drafters think that federalism is good. Then why don’t they say it openly? Why unitary on the outside and federalism on the inside? Why this covert federalism? Why not just come out of the closet and go all Federalist Pride?

Continue reading ‘If Federalism Is To Be Introduced Because It Is Good, Then Why Not Explain That To The People?’ »

By

Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka

“They are commitments that Sri Lanka voluntarily undertook in the light of 70 years of experience of Transitional Justice since the Nuremberg trials…”

-Ben Emmerson QC, UN Special Rapporteur

One of the 2 resolutions adopted at the 5th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council on the 18th of June 2007 is Resolution A/HRC/RES/5/2 namely, the “Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate-holders of the Human Rights Council”. This resolution was adopted without a vote. Article 12 of the text says that Special Procedure should “In implementing their mandate, therefore, show restraint, moderation and discretion…”

In invoking the loaded “N” word –Nuremberg–to ascribe a motivation to the GoSL in co-signing the last two resolutions, I hardly think that UN Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson QC was exercising any of those recommended qualities. The danger is that when pronounced from the position of authority he holds as a Special Rapporteur of UNHRC, it won’t be long before Sri Lanka will, at least in global public opinion, be associated with the heinous crimes against humanity committed by the Nazis in 1939-1945. It was irresponsible on Emmerson’s part, to say the least. Making careless and extravagant statements also discredits the dignity of the UN Human Rights Council itself and brings into question the impartiality of the Report and its recommendations to be presented to the Council.

In addition, Emmerson’s remarks contain false information. Transitional Justice, according to the relevant UN Background Note, emerged in the 1980s and 1990s “mainly in response to political transitions that took place in Latin America and Eastern Europe…” and has nothing whatsoever to do with the Nuremberg Trials! Nuremberg tried the leaders of a war of aggression in which the crime of genocide was committed, better known as the “Holocaust”.

Continue reading ‘New Ministry of Human Rights Under Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Must Be Created To Deal With The UNHRC’ »

Full Statement by Ben Emmerson, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, at the conclusion of his official visit

Preliminary findings of the visit to Sri Lanka

Colombo (14 July 2017),

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Mr. Ben Emmerson, visited Sri Lanka from 10 July to 14 July 2017. He thanks the Government of Sri Lanka for having extended an invitation to visit the country. The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress Sri Lanka has achieved in its law, policies and practice in the fight against terrorism since the end of its internal armed conflict, as measured against international human rights law, particularly since progress in these areas is key to its efforts in ensuring reconciliation, accountability and lasting peace in the country.

The Special Rapporteur commends the transparency and the largely courteous, constructive and co-operative way in which the Government initiated and facilitated this official visit, which allowed a frank and open dialogue. The Special Rapporteur is particularly grateful to the heads of all governmental institutions that he met and to the United Nations Country Team and its Resident Coordinator for the support extended during the visit. He had the opportunity for a constructive and informative exchange of views with the Prime Minister, the Secretary to the President, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development, the Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs. He also met, amongst others, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, the Commanders of the Navy, of the Army and of the Air Force, or their representatives, the Chief of National Intelligence, the Chairman of the National Police Commission, the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of the Special Task Force Division, the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department, the Chief of the Terrorist Investigation Division and the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation. He also met the Minister of Justice.

The Special Rapporteur and his team had discussions with the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, and High Court judges in Colombo, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya. He visited New Magazine Prison in Colombo and the prison in Anuradhapura, and was given an opportunity to meet privately with detainees accused under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, as well as to observe the impoverished conditions in which some of them were detained. He also met with their lawyers and with their families, as well as with other individuals affected by the operation of counter-terrorism legislation and policies in Sri Lanka. Finally, he met with the Chair and one of the Commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission, as well as representatives of civil society.

The Special Rapporteur is fully cognisant of Sri Lanka’s long and complex history of ethnic tensions, and the tremendous security challenges this has generated. For almost 26 years, Sri Lanka dealt with violent acts of terrorism committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamils Eelam (LTTE), including suicide bombings and political assassinations, which culminated in a prolonged armed conflict that came to an end only in 2009.

Continue reading ‘Full Statement by Ben Emmerson, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, at the conclusion of his official visit’ »

By Kavindya Chris Thomas

Last Thursday (13) Co-Cabinet Spokesman, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, addressing the Cabinet media briefing, said that the Anti-Corruption Secretariat had not delivered on its promises. This was in response to a question which was raised regarding extending the Anti-Corruption Secretariat’s term which expired on 30 June. “The government spent Rs 65 million on the secretariat, but we have not seen it achieve much,” Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. What exactly is this Anti-Corruption Secretariat and why was it shut down?

Birth

On 29 January 2015, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe put forward a Cabinet Paper, calling for an institution to crack down on large scale fraud and corruption that took place during the previous regime. The Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat was set up with the objective of collecting information from the general public (which would assist in cracking open cases) and relaying that information to the Bribery Commission or to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). When the Anti-Corruption Secretariat was formed after the 8 January revolution, it was approved by both the Constitutional Council and the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. The Secretariat which was led by the Prime Minister had a subcommittee and a rapid response committee. The secretariat also had its own short-term and long-term goals.

Following Cabinet approval on that same day, it functioned till Friday, 30 June thanks to extensions provided to its tenure, until Dr. Rajitha Senaratne stated that they have decided not to extend the term after its expiration.

Continue reading ‘Birth and Death of the Anti-Corruption Secretariat’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeals on Monday granted another date for five police officers who had been arrested in connection with the shooting of two Jaffna University students to file a counter objection on 3 August in regard to their appeal.

The accused police officers are seeking the court to transfer their case out of Northern and Eastern provinces.

They are also seeking the court to issue an interim order restraining the continuation of their case in the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court until the final determination of their application.

Continue reading ‘Five Policemen Accused of Killing Two Jaffna Undergrads Want Their Case Transferred Out of North and east.’ »

Hundreds of villagers protested near Pointpedro over the police shooting of a young worker. The town is situated on the northern-most point of the Jaffna Peninsula, where the Tamil residents were the victims of racist police violence and killings in 1984.

Yogarajah Thinesh, a 24-year-old man from Thunnalai village, was killed on Sunday evening while riding on the back of a lorry. He was sitting on a load of sand. According to reports, police opened fire with a T-56 assault rifle, hitting him in the chest and hip.

The police claimed the lorry was carrying illegally mined sand and they opened fire because the driver failed to heed orders to stop. The police admitted that two officers from a police post chased the vehicle by motorcycle and shot at it.

The vehicle driver and another person allegedly fled the scene and the police launched a search operation to apprehend them. Under normal police practices, officers are supposed to stop suspect vehicles and make arrests but they appear to have deliberately fired at Thinesh.

Continue reading ‘Protesting Villagers Attack Police Post in North After Youth From Area Dies in Shooting by Police in Point Pedro region.’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

Ben Emmerson, the UN special rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights, who visited Colombo last week criticized Sri Lanka for the slow pace of the transitional justice process and warned that the international community was running out of patience. He demanded that the government repealed the Prevention of Terrorism Act, but also insisted that the proposed counter terrorism legislation that was meant to replace the PTA should do away with admissibility of confessions to police as court evidence, which, by the way, is admissible in Britain, his home country.

Earlier another UN special rapporteur Mónica Pinto on the independence on judges and judiciary noted that the independence of courts had improved since the new government came to power, but then upon leaving the country, dropped a bombshell at the UN Human Rights Council, flaying the judiciary of many real and imaginary ills.

The problem with these folks is that they come here with preconceived notions and on their arrival, they meet a bunch of people who share the same beliefs: NGO captains, widows of dead LTTEers, lawyers appearing for hard-core terrorist suspects in detention, and in general lobbyists of fringe sections of Tamils. Thus this whole affair of UN visits is an incestuous cycle. Every UN rep after a few days in the country, proudly reaffirms his or her predisposed notions and rubs it on our faces very publicly. (Do that in Turkey or nowadays in Philippines, you get kicked out.)

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka should not shut itself to international scrutiny as Mr Rajapaksa did.’ »

By

Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

Tamara Kunanayakam was the recipient of ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’Award in this year’s ‘Top 50 Professional and Career Women Awards’ organized by Women in Management, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group. The 50 winners from Sri Lanka and the Maldives received their awards at a glittering ceremony held at Hotel Taj Samudra on Friday. Ms. Kunanayakam, best known for her defence of Sri Lanka’s independence and sovereignty as Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva 2011-2012 when a resolution was brought against the country at the Human Rights Council, said “the fact that I won this award, for me is a recognition of the values and principles I stood for.” The Daily Mirror talked to her about the less-known aspects of her background and career.

Excerpts from the interview:

Question:

How do you feel about winning this award – were you surprised?

Answer:

It was a totally unexpected surprise. The award for ‘Inspirational Woman’ is not open for nomination,the recipient is selected by the panel of judges. Throughout my life I’ve been guided by values and principles of social justice, solidarity, equality – humanist values, freedom from exploitation, peace, independence and sovereignty. You don’t expect to be rewarded for doing things you believe in!

Continue reading ‘Tamara Kunanayakam Receives “Inspirational Woman of the Year”Award.’ »

By

Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

The visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Countering Terrorism, Ben Emmerson QC, a British national, was newsworthy in the extreme. Firstly, it exposed the promise made by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to appoint a Special Prosecutor. This promise is stated in the official statement issued by Emmerson, which is posted on the UN website, and was also read out by him at the media conference and seen and heard by anyone who watched the TV news a few days back. The relevant portion of the statement reads as follows:

“The Special Rapporteur was given a personal assurance by the Prime Minister that…the Government would…set up an Office of the Special Prosecutor to bring criminal charges against those involved in the most serious atrocities committed on both sides of the conflict.” (Source: UN Sri Lanka, re-posted on Groundviews)

A great many pertinent questions arise here. Why a Special Prosecutor and who or what will he/she prosecute? The job description of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, as contained in Ben Emmerson’s written statement is “to bring criminal charges against those involved in the most serious atrocities committed on both sides of the conflict.” The wording of the written statement clearly presupposes that “serious atrocities” were committed by both sides, meaning by the Sri Lankan armed forces as well. As for “both sides”, since the Tigers are either dead, in self-exile, rehabilitated and released or (a handful) in jail, this means the only target that’s left standing is Sri Lankan military.

Continue reading ‘UN Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson Q.C. Wants ” A New Order” in Sri Lanka’ »

By

Yohan Perera

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today stressed the need to continue the national government with the participation of the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) despite the difficulties.

He said this at the foundation-stone-laying-ceremony for the Viyathpura Green Professional City in Pannipitiya last morning.

Continue reading ‘Despite Difficulties UNP and SLFP Will Continue with National Govt Emphasises Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.’ »

Media and political strategist Krishantha Prasad Cooray has been appointed as the Chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon (Lake House), succeeding Kavan Ratnayaka. He will assume duties at Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd On Tuesday July 18th.

The new appointment is in addition to Cooray being the Chairman of Hotel Developers (Lanka) Plc, the owning company of Hilton Colombo.

Cooray, whose academic training has been in Political Science and Law, is a senior professional with many years of experience in the corporate sector.

Continue reading ‘Media and Political Strategist Krishantha Prasad Cooray Takes Over as Lake House Chairman.’ »

Top professional Kavan Ratnayaka has taken over as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), succeeding industry veteran Paddy Withana.

Ratnayaka was previously the Chairman Associated Newspapers of Ceylon (ANCL).

The SLTDA is the successor to the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. Formed as the apex body for Sri Lanka Tourism under Section 2 of the Tourism Act (No. 38 of 2005), SLTDA is committed towards transforming Sri Lanka to be Asia’s foremost tourism destination. The SLTDA will strive to develop diverse, unique and quality tourism services and products that would make Sri Lanka as a unique destination, globally.

Continue reading ‘Top Professional Kavan Ratnayake Appointed Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

When disreputable elements engage in fear-mongering, one can only react with disdain. That said, this is a time where the line between the reputable and the disreputable runs very thin on the ground. Therefore it may be conceded that these are distinctions veritably without a difference.

Sensible rationale not reflected

Nonetheless, it is hard to remain quiet when former Minister of External Affairs and surely one of our most eagerly ambitious politicians, GL Peiris expounds with great gusto on the ill-wisdom of the Enforced Disappearances Bill. Listed for debate this week, the Bill was postponed by a wavering Government caught between the rock of its own swashbuckling commitments and the hard place of ultra-nationalistic sentiment before which it now wails, much like a petulant child.

This predicament is, of course, due in large part to its own failure in not engaging in a national effort to soberly explain to the people in this country why this legislation is needed in the first place. Enforced disappearances do not have sole application to the North or to citizens of Tamil ethnicity.

On the contrary, the South was the primary target of this tactic of state terror in the eighties. The Sinhala South therefore does not need to be taught as to why such a law is needed or why the State must legislate to ensure accountability to prevent future occurrences.

Continue reading ‘Perennial Failure of Justice is Because of Politicised Investigations and Prosecutions.’ »

by Rajan Philips

They are the three corners of Sri Lanka’s vicious political triangle. Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family are nothing if they are not blatant about everything. They defeated the LTTE, so they can do no wrong. They will return to power, they insist, and rule for ever, no matter what. If and when they do, the blame or credit for it must surely land on the present government – for its betrayal of the common opposition promises in the landmark election of January 2015.

The handsome prince of betrayal is of course the cleverly honest Prime Minister. He keeps clean hands but allows other dirty hands at the table and under the table. Ranil Wickremesinghe made the greatest possible political sacrifice before the last presidential election, but has since undone it by betraying the straightforward promises he made at the same election: stop Port City; expose and end government corruption; and rescue the Central Bank and restore its purpose and dignity. There were plenty of other promises – ranging from constitutional overhaul to national reconciliation to sweeping good governance. Starts have been made on almost all of them, but no sense of accomplishment or steady progress in any of them. On balance, the dim lights of achievements are blinded by the glare of broken promises.

Continue reading ‘Blatant Mahinda, Betraying Ranil, and Blame-master Maithri Comprise Vicious Political Triangle’ »