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Murali DIES!!!!

Its a sad day when one of your role models pass away. Murali Was a prolific actor that lent his tale ts to over one hundred films over his vast career. Arguably his greatest performance was his debut film, Aadharam where he burst onto the scene as a legitamate star than can carry a film through the summer months, as those are notoriously the hardest months to get attendance up in theater due to the scroching sun and the apparent lack of air conditioned cinemas in the country. Murali was also known for his charity towards the city he hailed from, chennai. He routinely made sure that his whole neighborhood was fed during the various festivals throughout the year, making sure stomachs were full and the children had toys to play with. Even though he was a Hindu, he made sure the local Tamil was treated as well as the others in the community. Murali was at the hieght of his career when he made the film Thalolam. This piece of cinematic art is by far one of the most underrated Tamil films of all time in my opinion. What hindered the accolades of the movie probably had something to do with the fact that it was considered very contreversial at the time. The political thiller was not critically acclaimed because of the stance it took against the current prime minister's advisors, most particularly Lenin Rajendran; who was known for imtimidating the press and making sure there were no damning articles that tarnished the reputation of the government. After some time to let the mesage sink in, it is know widely accepted as a classical examaple of film noir.

The official cause of death was attributed to a heart attack that put him into cardiac arrest. He was not known to be either a big smoker or heavy drinker, and was president of the chennai tennis club for seven years, from 2002-2010.

Murali has an unreleased movie that is due out in the winter, entitled kavna. Historically, films with dead actors in it usually do well in the box office, like how Heath Ledger made the Batman: Dark Knight a blockbuster hit. Arguably it could have been a hit without the death of Ledger; but one could argue that his death helped contribute to the success of the movie as a whole.

WE HAVE MOVED!

Hello loyal readers,

This blog has grown so much the short time we launched it a couple weeks ago.

My father and I have decided to launch a simpler, cleaner website called

http://www.tamildaily.net

It is the same people behind it, but a more user friendly website that I hope you will all enjoy.

I will post up the most popular articles on the new site, but if you want any of the oder articles, just come by, we won't shut the site down or anything.

So, head on over to www.TamilDaily.net for the best in Tamil News!

Dangerous development in Sri Lanka to build 1-GW nuclear power plant .

Click Here-Sri Lanka to build 1-GW nuclear power plant by 2030 Reuters

Who is going to assist Sri Lanka to acquire Nuclear technology ?
This is an absolute dangerous development in Sri Lanka given the close close associations of the GOSL and the first family with unreliable and rogue regimes like Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, and Libya.
Pakistan and China who provided both legal and illegal weapons to Sri Lanka to finish off the LTTE Tigers have all the nuclear technology to build nuclear plants which can also produce nuclear weapons.
China has deep pockets to develop such secret projects without even international supervision.

The President has already snubbed the western powers last year as confessed by the Editorial in the Island, whose editor is well known to be close to the administration of the GOSL. There has been no retraction by the newspapers no denial by the GOSL or foreign ministry that the President avoided phone calls from the State Department, British Government, EU officials, Norway and snubbed India.

There are already elements of the Sinhala extremist in the Cabinet and government. Those who were members of the rebel group the JVP. One of their leaders of the 1971 insurrection and who was jailed was a cabinet minister, until last year, when he was injured in a bomb incident in deep South, near Hambantota. What type of elements of the radical Sinhalese would be in charge of the GOSL in 2030 when nuclear technology would be fully availbale among them? Already the radical JHU member is the minister of Power in the current cabinet.
These are absolutely dangerous trends the international community should take notice and nip it in the bud.
The International community shouldn't forget that GOSL has become a virtual puppet of China, Pakistan and Iran. What would be India's reaction to this dangerous development?

Sri Lanka to build 1-GW nuclear power plant by 2030

COLOMBO, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka is to have its first nuclear power plant within the next 20 years to generate cheap electricity to draw large investments and boost its post-war economy, a top government official said on Monday.
"We have received government clearance to set up a nuclear power plant of 1,000 MW," M.M.C. Ferdinando, the secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy told an investor forum in Colombo.
Ferdinando said the government would begin feasibility studies soon for nuclear power in addition to coal, and hoped to get safety approval from the World Atomic Energy Authority.
"You have to have the plant and safety measures for disposal before starting the plant by 2030."
Ferdinando did not elaborate on the cost or whether Sri Lanka would get help from Iran, which has been a staunch anti-western ally of the island nation and its main crude oil supplier.
Investors have long complained of expensive electricity and poor infrastructure, neglected during a 25-year war that ended in May last year, had deterred potential investors.
The $42-billion economy, which currently depends 60 percent on diesel power and 40 percent on hydro power, is in the process of building a 900-MW coal power plant with a loan of more than $1.3 billion from China and a 500 MW coal power plant with an Indian loan.
Sri Lanka plans to cut its diesel power dependence to 20 percent of total electricity generation by 2017 once both coal power plants have started full operation. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Desecration of Saiva temples in upcountry escalates

TamilNet: 20.09.10 Desecration of Saiva temples in upcountry escalates

Desecration of Saiva temples in upcountry escalates

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 September 2010, 04:15 GMT]The destruction and desecration of Saiva temples is reported to be on the increase in Kandy district. Since January this year about twenty Saiva temples have been plundered, desecrated and destroyed, Saiva community sources in the central province expressed serious concern. Unidentified gangs of persons entered Saiva temples and stole money from tills, jewelleries from statues and damaged statues of gods and goddesses in these temples, according to complaints lodged with the respective police stations in Kandy, Galaha, Gampola and Pusellawa. In Pusselawa alone eight Saiva temples were looted. Two Saiva temples in Galaha town in Kandy district were looted by unidentified gangs.In Galaha upper division two Amman temples were destroyed and statues and other belongings of the temples stolen.Saiva community organizations in the upcountry express serious concern over the failure of the police in arresting the culprits involved in the crime and the failure to ensure protection to Saiva temples even after complaints to the police.

Rehabiltation of Karuna from a Colonel to a Sinhala band singer

Click here- Sri Lanka Guardian: Rehabiltation of Karuna from a Colonel to a Sinhala band singer

Watch video as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIj6lnJEFv0&feature=player_embedded#!
Sunday, September 19, 2010


Rehabiltation of Karuna from a Colonel to a Sinhala band singer
" The government’s dirty tricks department played its due role break the TMVP on his return. Karuna soon became a minister and one of the joint Secretaries of the President’s party SLFP."
by Dr Paddy Silva(September 19, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The video clip below presented with this news will confirm the transformation of one time buddy of the LTTE leader Velupillai Pirabakaran to a drunken singer of Sinhala baila songs.Karuna’s transformation has been rapid since he severed his links with the LTTE. Past six years have been very testing time for him and his fishing expedition has finally landed him as a Sinhala singer and dancing minister of the President Mahinda Rajapakse’s rule. When Kauna left the LTTE, he was nowhere to turn. He crossed over to India and aligned with ENDLF lead by Paranthan Rajan. Soon he left the group and lived a private life with his wife and children. He wanted his children to do well and sent his wife and children to the UK. He then moved to Sri Lanka form his hideout in India and formed the TMVP with the Chief Minister of Eastern Province Pillayan.During this time with the help of the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse, Karuna entered the UK with a false diplomatic passport issued in Colombo. He was soon caught and sentenced to six months imprisonment in the UK and thereafter deported to Sri Lanka. The government’s dirty tricks department played its due role break the TMVP on his return. Karuna soon became a minister and one of the joint Secretaries of the President’s party SLFP.With the ministerial job came about lots bounties. Liquor and attractive women completely alienated Karuna from the cause he stood for and also distanced him from the Tamil people.He soon abandoned his wife and children to enjoy the extensive luxuries provided by the government. His marriage irretrievably broke down and according to information Karuna is adopting a ‘I don’t care’ attitude towards his family members. He attempted to destroy the political life of Pillayan, but could not do so. Since his appointment as minister in the new government, Karuna has gone further to enjoy the bounties offered to him by the government. It was reported, he was found drunk and crawling on the floor at a reception of a foreign mission is Colombo recently. With his new ministerial job, he is said to be attending public functions with his guitar. He went one step further in the bending process to appease his leader Mahinda Rajapakse to become a Sinhala musician. Karuna must be having a lot actions wrapped in his sleeves. Will it be his public music and dance with his Manike holding a bottle of Mendis Old Arrack will be the next? Or will it be a dance with Mahinda or his brother gota? We are all waiting to see. Karuna and Misnister Mervin Silva will keep the hilarious part of the government going whilst the Dirty Tricks Department will carry on with its dirtier tricks camouflaged by the maverick goons.

UNP 'undermining TNA'

UNP 'undermining TNA'

By P Sivaramakrishnan BBC Tamil service     War of words have broken out between the UNP and the TNA The largest Tamil party in parliament the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) has accused the main oppostion party in Sri Lanka, United National Party(UNP) of undermining its political inidividuality, the TNA General Secretary has told the BBC Tamil Service. War of words have broken out between the TNA and UNP over the nomination of the TNA MP Sumanthiran to the parliament council by the leader of the opposition. The nomination was immediately rejected by the TNA. UNP leader Ranil Wikramasinghe then went on record saying that he nominated the TNA MP knowing well they would reject it. "This is undermining the political individualtiy of the TNA" Selvam Adaikalanathan, one of the General Secertaries of the TNA told BBC Tamilosai. Cooperation for development Sumanthiran's nomination was done by the opposition leader without consulting either him or his party says the TNA General Secretary.  We respect Ranil as leader of the oppostion, however we don’t approve of any acitivities aimed at weakening us   Selvam Adaikalanathan, MP According the controversial 18 th amendment to the Sri Lankan consitituion which was passed by the parliamemt a few days ago, a five member parliament council which will recommend heads of organisations like Election Commission, Judicial Commission, Human Rights Commission, Police Commission, Public commission and others However the President can either accept or reject it . The five member Parliament council including the speaker, prime minister, leader of the oppostion and one member nominated by the PM and oppostion leader. "We voted against the 18 th amendment along with the JVP while the UNP boycotted the voting" points out Selvam Adaikalanathan. "That being the case nominating a MP from our party is undermining the our individuality," argues the TNA General Secretary. The TNA aslo wants "Ranil Wikramasinghe to stop such activities in future". "We respect Ranil as leader of the oppostion, however we don’t approve of any acitivities aimed at weakening us", Selvam Adaikalanathan further said. The TNA had made it clear to the President that it will cooperate with him in all aspects of welfare activities of the Tamil people says Adaikalanathan cautioning at the same time that, the TNA will continue to oppose the government on anti people policies. Selvam Adaikalanathan also points out that "till date the government has not placed any concrete proposals regarding political solution to the decades long ethnic conflict" in spite of the fact that the TNA has assured to discuss with the government on such proposals. He also told the Tamil Service that the local citizens of mannar district have urged the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to have a sitting in mannar so that the locals there will also have a chance to voice their opinion. The LLRC after hearing the views of the residents in Killinochi for two days is going the Mullaitheevu for the people to testify before them. The years long civil war came to an end in May 2009 when the LTTE was militarily defeated and its leader Prabakarans body was found on the banks of the Nandikadal lagoon in the Mullaitheevu district.

TID torture Tamil detainees held under PTA

Click Here-TamilNet: 19.09.10 TID torture Tamil detainees held under PTA

TID torture Tamil detainees held under PTA
[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 September 2010, 07:07 GMT]The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) of Sri Lanka government continues to torture hundreds of Tamil youths arrested and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without trial, a journalist who had met the detainees said, under conditions of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka government intends to keep the Tamil youths who were combatants of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in detention for five more years, sources close to Sri Lanka prison authorities said. Tamil youths who had been arrested under PTA in the North and East besides those arrested in Colombo and its suburbs where they had been employed have been detained for more than five years in places like Colombo TID Head Office and Boosa Prison.TID men who had brought LTTE former combatants held in the camps in Vavuniyaa and Velikantahai to Colombo in the name of interrogation continue to torture them.
The TID men further threaten the youths that they may have to spend their lifetime in prison if they refuse to sign statements prepared by TID.The TID men attack the detainees blindly using iron rods, cricket bat and batons besides squeezing their testicles. Videos of detainees being killed and tortured are shown by the TID men to terrorize the detained youths.Not only the Tamil detainees but their family members who visit them are also subjected to untold difficulties.
Only ten minutes are allowed for such visitors who had travelled a long way to see the detainees.The visitors are not allowed to give any food that they had brought along but forced to by food from the prison canteen run by a Boosa Prison officer if they want to give the detainees any food.It is alleged that Abdeen, a Muslim officer of the Division Four of the TID exhorts money from the relatives who come to see the detainees and that another Muslim officer Mohamed torture the Tamil detainees with racial hatred.Meanwhile, the detainees in Boosa Prison are not allowed medical treatment if they fall ill while the sanitary facilities are very poor. There are only three lavatories for hundreds of prisoners and only a minute given to each to bathe. A request for more water is responded with ruthless attacks.

President Rajapakse went to the extent of avoiding telephone calls from the US State Department and the British government leaders.-Claims Editor of Island Newspaper today.

President Rajapakse went to the extent of avoiding telephone calls from the US State Department and the British government leaders.-Claims Editor of Island Newspaper today.

In a revealing editorial praising President Rajapakse's arrogance the editor of the Island Newspaper well known for his ascinine and sarcastic attacks on the West, as he earns his "brownie points from the Temple Trees and President's house occupied by the first family claimed today that President Rajapakse went to the extent of avoiding telephone calls from the US State Department and the British government leaders.

He also claimed that " And the real objective of his visit to Jordan, while the war was raging, was to prevent the UNSG from coming here".

Let the UN be urged to appoint a panel to probe how Norway, the US and the EU manipulated .......................

Another bravado claimed by this editor was against India " Exasperated beyond measure, he minced no words when he told the visiting Indians that even if India were to violate Sri Lanka's air space and ‘drop lentil’ again–India ......... 

If this was indeed the attitude and arrogance of President Rajapakse, and there is no doubt to dispute such shocking claims

of the editor it is no wonder 16 months after the war ended against the Tamils and the LTTE, with 40,000 Tamil civilians dead, 60,000 injured and 300,000 incarcerated no world leader want to shake the blood stained hands of President Rajapakse in garments soaked  with Tamil blood.

President Rajapakse is to meet the Iranians, Malaysia Prime Minister a country which illegally arrested K P and renditioned him to Sri Lanka, and another small Asian country while in New York. The Chancellor of Germany already refused to meet President Rajapakse in Germany, when he dropped by the country as an uninvited guest or tourist using his diplomatic passport.

Quotes of the Editorial of 20th September 2010.

Full editorial available  .................http://thetamillatest.blogspot.com/2010/09/probe-how-norway-us-and-eu-manipulated.html
http://thetamillatest.blogspot.com/
Quote"  

Ranil's approach was in sharp contrast to how President Mahinda Rajapaksa handled the Co-Chairs and the other meddlesome members of the international community. The latter had the intestinal fortitude to stand his ground in the face of unbearable pressure they brought to bear on him in a bid to stop the war and rescue Prabhakaran and other LTTE leaders. He went to the extent of avoiding telephone calls from the US State Department and the British government leaders. And the real objective of his visit to Jordan, while the war was raging, was to prevent the UNSG from coming here.

When a powerful Indian delegation consisting of Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, Indian National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan and the then Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Alok Prasad, under pressure from Tamil Nadu, visited President Rajapaksa on April 24, 2009, and sought an immediate end to the final assault on the LTTE, he saw red. Exasperated beyond measure, he minced no words when he told the visiting Indians that even if India were to violate Sri Lanka's air space and ‘drop lentil’ again–India, which saved Prabhakaran in 1987, had done by way of a dire warning during Operation Liberation in the North––he would go the whole hog to destroy the LTTE! Had he given in to Indian pressure and suspended the war, the international allies of the LTTE would have made use of the opportunity to rescue Prabhakaran.

Let the UN be urged to appoint a panel to probe how Norway, the US and the EU manipulated the CFA to aid and abet the LTTE against a UN member State and, in the process, helped the outfit with the launching of its eelam war IV, which left thousands of people dead and about 300,000 others displaced.

Unquote"

A western diplomat commented that President Rajapakse's behavior reminded him of Idi Amin's era, or when President Saddam Hussein killed thousands of Kurds despite appeals of the international community. Sudan's leader is another example.

Israel's attacks on civilians with their relentless bombing in Lebanon and Gaza last year killed leass than 3,000 in the two wars compared to 40,000 Tamil civilians in a matter of weeks.  

Probe how Norway, the US and the EU manipulated the CFA demands Sinhala editor well known for his racist comments.

Click Here -The Island

Editorial

Let the UN be urged to appoint a panel to probe how Norway, the US and the EU manipulated the CFA to aid and abet the LTTE against a UN member State.

Probe Co-Chair's Crimes
September 19, 2010, 12:00 pm
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's panel on Sri Lanka has commenced work, after a delay of six months, in time for the UNGA's 65th session, to probe the alleged war crimes during the Vanni offensive, which was concluded over one and a half years ago. While the UNSG, egged on by his western masters, is trying to embarrass President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New York, it has been revealed by a respected former Sri Lankan ambassador and scholar who was once involved in the now defunct Peace Secretariat that the war, only the final stages of which the UNSG wants probed at the behest of the US, the EU and Norway, could have been avoided, if Norway etc. had not rejected four proposals that Sri Lanka had made as regards the CFA, which they crafted in 2002.
Testifying before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), Dr. John Gooneratne said on Thursday the then UNP-led UNF government had presented those proposals aimed at making the CFA pave the way for evolving a negotiated solution, preventing arms smuggling, ensuring freedom of movement for political parties in LTTE-controlled Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu and ending the forcible conscription. Ironically, the same countries––Norway, the US and the EU––that rejected Sri Lanka’s proposals and thereby helped the LTTE abuse the truce with impunity, prepare for its eelam war IV and plunge the country into a bloody conflagration, now want only the final phase of the war probed!
What Dr. Gooneratne told the LLRC about a remark that the late Anton Balasingham had made during the LTTE's talks with the government is of interest. Cornered by former law professor G. L. Peiris on some point, LTTE spokesman Balasingham had cynically asked, "Now professor, supposing I agree to what you are asking of us, can you get it through Parliament?" This question warrants a comment as there is a misconception in some quarters that the LTTE did not agree to a political solution because the governments it dealt with were incapable of the implementation thereof.
In fact, what the LTTE did was to demand things that no government could grant! Its ISGA demand, which it used to justify its exit from talks, is a case in point. Even the then Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Chris Patten were prompted to note very critically that 'the ISGA far exceedes the Oslo Accord and does not resemble any kind of known federalism'.
The political tug-of-war between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the UNF government from 2001 to 2004 was deplorable and condemnable but that was no reason for the LTTE's intransigence. Prabhakaran never wanted a political solution. He wanted only one thing––eelam. It may be recalled that by the time President Kumaratunga presented to Parliament in 2000 a draft constitution containing Regional Councils which envisaged devolution beyond the 13th Amendment, the LTTE had already rejected them out of hand.
From Dr. Gooneratne's revelation about the four proposals at issue, one sees that the present Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's predicament is mainly due to his pusillanimity, indecisiveness and servility to the international community. If he had taken people into confidence and told them that his government's proposals had been rejected by Norway etc. and explained to them his difficulty in defying the Co-Chairs, perhaps he would not have had to pay such a huge political price for signing the ill-fated, disastrous CFA. His mistake was to grovel before Norway, the US and the EU in a bid to be in their good books while biding his time as part of a grand plan to win the presidency, which he mistakenly thought was within his easy reach as Prime Minister, regardless of the adverse impact the CFA had on the country.
Ranil's approach was in sharp contrast to how President Mahinda Rajapaksa handled the Co-Chairs and the other meddlesome members of the international community. The latter had the intestinal fortitude to stand his ground in the face of unbearable pressure they brought to bear on him in a bid to stop the war and rescue Prabhakaran and other LTTE leaders. He went to the extent of avoiding telephone calls from the US State Department and the British government leaders. And the real objective of his visit to Jordan, while the war was raging, was to prevent the UNSG from coming here.
When a powerful Indian delegation consisting of Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, Indian National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan and the then Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Alok Prasad, under pressure from Tamil Nadu, visited President Rajapaksa on April 24, 2009, and sought an immediate end to the final assault on the LTTE, he saw red. Exasperated beyond measure, he minced no words when he told the visiting Indians that even if India were to violate Sri Lanka's air space and ‘drop lentil’ again–India, which saved Prabhakaran in 1987, had done by way of a dire warning during Operation Liberation in the North––he would go the whole hog to destroy the LTTE! Had he given in to Indian pressure and suspended the war, the international allies of the LTTE would have made use of the opportunity to rescue Prabhakaran.
It is a supreme irony that Norway, the US and the EU, responsible for loading the CFA in favour of Prabhakaran––who committed his first murder when he was still a teenager; massacred tens of thousands of civilians; assassinated an incumbent President (Ranasinghe Premadasa), a Foreign Minister (Lakshman Kadirgamar), an Opposition Leader (Gamini Dissanayake); attempted to assassinate another Head of State (President Chandrika Kumaratunga) leaving her critically injured; killed an Indian leader (Rajiv Gandhi); forcibly recruited children as combatants; blasted civilian targets; engaged in gun running, drug trafficking, money laundering and extortion and violently suppressed democratic dissent by murdering Tamil politicians including TULF leader A. Amirthalingam and Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam––pretend to be perturbed by the 18th Amendment!
Let the UN be urged to appoint a panel to probe how Norway, the US and the EU manipulated the CFA to aid and abet the LTTE against a UN member State and, in the process, helped the outfit with the launching of its eelam war IV, which left thousands of people dead and about 300,000 others displaced.

An Open Letter to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission

Click Here-Sri Lanka Guardian: An Open Letter to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission


Sunday, September 19, 2010

An Open Letter to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission

LLRC’s mandate is very limited. Within its limited instruct, it has still not made any effort to reach the involved parties in its process from February 21, 2002 to May 19, 2009 authorised by the President.
by Rajasingham JayadevanHon Chitta Ranjan Silva ,Chairman,Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission,24 Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies,Horton Place,Colombo 7Sri Lanka Dear Sir, (September 19, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) After considerable thought and with the dejected innermost feelings, I address this open letter to the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).I write this as a Sri Lankan Tamil living in the Diaspora, who experienced the fair share of the failings of the state of Sri Lanka to recognise me as a citizen of the country.

The culpability of the failures must be heavily rested with the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) that led to the appointment of your Commission in a chaotic hurry, I believe, to manufacture a doctored post-mortem report from the conditioned LLRC it mandated to undermine the international outcry over the war crime claims against Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, your mandate is very limited, is politically motivated to teach lessons to the opponents of the government and to bury the ‘whole truth’ of war crimes under the euphoric victory over the LTTE and systematic cover-ups.
The unfolding events of over sixty years that led to the bloody massacres of thousands of civilians in the final onslaught of the government forces against the Tamil Tigers will never be unravelled and the victims of the failures of the government will not be given the opportunity to breast beat and cry to discharge their hurts and pain. It is open knowledge that the LLRC was evidently formed in a hurry to jettison the effort of the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon appointed a panel of experts to advise the world body on ‘accountability issues’ relating to possible human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.
When I did my research a month ago to find the terms of reference of the LLRC, I was taken on the rollercoaster by the state media publications. The first reference I found was of Minister Keheliya Rambukawella published in the much read government’s Defence Ministry website stating that ‘LLRC would find the root causes of the terrorist problem and what happened during the last three decades which would be helpful for reforms that would go hand in hand with constitutional reforms too’. I got some comfort, though Keheliya Rambukawella in his usual bullish upbeat branded the end result as a ‘terrorist problem’. Fortunately he gave some comfort that ‘root causes’ will be dealt by the LLRC. When I traced the terms of reference of the LLRC which stated: ‘The Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa under Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, to inquire and report on matters that took place between February 21, 2002 to May19, 2009……’This is totally different to what Minister Rambukkawela asserted that gained so much publicity in the media.

I questioned myself as to why the scope has to be limited from February 21, 2002 to May 19, 2009? I contended, it is clearly a cynical move to officially castigate the opposition United National Party for signing the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002 and of course to elongate the President for defeating the LTTE in the battle in May 2009. After all, it is a Commission appointed by the President, who is being accused of committing war crimes as the head of the arms forces of Sri Lanka. LLRC is also clearly an effort to give him the clean bill of health on his horrible mission to militarily punish the Tamil people unwholesomely to vanquish the LTTE. LLRC’s mandate is very limited. Within its limited instruct, it has still not made any effort to reach the involved parties in its process from February 21, 2002 to May 19, 2009 authorised by the President.

Even the panel members of the LLRC could be beneficiaries of the decades old state sponsored marginalization policy against the Tamils. They may have achieved their status by entering the state universities following the introduction of the standardization policy against the Tamils that significantly scaled down the Tamil entries and seeded the Tamil militancy that lead to the full scale war in the country.Who are these involved parties falling within the mandate of the LLRC?
1. The mandate of the LLRC is clearly aimed to discredit the opposition UNP.
The Ceasefire Agreement was signed between the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and the LTTE and there is no report that such an important person like Ranil who is a party to the CFA is not giving evidence to the LLRC.Judging from the terms of reference of the LLRC, Ranil will be foolish to give evidence as the outcome of the LLRC is a foregone conclusion, irrespective of him presenting his case. The LLRC shadowed by the Defence Ministry is conditioned by its tainted appointments to the panel and the mandate given to exercise judicial or moral far-sight to make fair decisions.
Evidently, it is a fact that the Attorney Generals of Sri Lanka are petty parochial politicians. One has to follow the political role played by the present Attorney General who whips up the failures of the state to the international audience without any scruples of holding an esteemed legal position of a state institution.
2. Norway that brokered the ceasefire agreement on 21 February 2002 has not appeared before the Commission so far and whether the Norwegian Minister Eric Solheim has been invited to give evidence is not known. Even if he is invited, it will be a good guess of even a beggar in the streets of Colombo that he will not attend and it is knowledge even if Norway attends or not the LLRC process and outcome will be all out to discredit the Norwegians as a mouth piece of the LTTE.
3. The LTTE is a party to the Ceasefire Agreement. The top leaders of the LTTE are no more to give evidence or even the few surviving will not consider appearing before the LLRC. Some of the involved persons in the Ceasefire Agreement have been killed during the final confrontation including those killed whilst carrying the white flags and some killed in the torture chambers of the military, post 19 May 2009 victory.The
LTTE negotiator Anton Balasingam too is not here to give evidence. He passed away well before 19 May 2009. The only person remaining now is Anton’s wife Adale who could unravel her side of the facts of the LTTE on the failures of the ceasefire agreement. She too will not attend the LLRC inquiry due to constraints faced by the Commission.The behaviour of the government officials at the peace talks since Mahinda Rajapakse came to power was acrimonious. At the final rounds of talks, it was Anton Balasingam who pleaded with the government to offer something to present to his leader Pirabakran, but the war-minded government disregarded the plea and snubbed him and walked away from the talks. There are many stories like this the LLRC will not hear from the Norwegians, LTTE or even the observers at the peace talks.
.4.There is also a government custodian Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Col Karuna still to give evidence before the LLRC. He participated in the peace talks. He got huge stories of his own to tell until he broke way from the LTTE. He is being accused of swimming in the pool of alcohol and devil dancing with women provided by the GoSL and whether he is in a fair state of mind to give credible evidence before the LLRC is a trillion dollar question only the Defence Ministry can answer.
5. We have not heard the evidence of the Former Foreign Secretary Dr Palitha Kohane. He has not told his side of the story about the killing of white flag carrying LTTE men on his advice to the international players. Equally stand with him, is the UN Secretary-General’s Chief of Staff Vijay Nambiar. He too has volumes to unravel.
6. Then the there are also evidences stacked up against Dr Palitha Kohana and Vijay Nambiar. There are Tamils in the Diaspora who were involved in the arrangement for the surrender of the slain white flag carrying LTTE men. Apart from their lack of enthusiasm to appear before the limited LLRC mandate, they can be easy prey to be branded as the ‘mouth pieces of the LTTE’ by the state machinery of Sri Lanka.
7. I also have credible information that a leading international journalist played an important role on the attempted surrender of the white flags carrying LTTE men. This credible witness account is only valuable to an independent international inquiry on war crimes in Sri Lanka.
8. The LLRC has not created the conditions for the Diaspora Tamil witnesses who survived the military onslaught whilst they were engaged in community service in the war region to appear. Their experience in the battle front published in the respectable media is crucial, as the mouth strapped Tamils in Sri Lanka will not have the courage to unravel their experience due to fear of the military and the paramilitary forces.
9. British Channel 4 TV produced firsthand evidence of the war crimes perpetrated by the Sri Lankan forces which internalised the cry for a global War Crimes Inquiry. LLRC is not the right forum for them or their contacts to give first hand evidence on the stories. 10. Then the LLRC appears to be prevented from hearing the evidence of the former General of the Army Sarath Fonseka. He has publicly affirmed that his subordinates have committed war crimes and also implicated the Defence Secretary of complicity in war crimes. In the evidence much publicised of the Defence Secretary when he branded the Army General a traitor wanting him to be hanged for his revelations was not questioned in the LLRC proceedings. So far the evidence given before the Commission is limited to the agents of the government who had benefited from the six decades long disempowering of the Tamils from the mainstream. Even the Tamils who came forward before the LLLRC are messengers of the government who live on the pittance dished out by the state and some of them even do not fear robbing the very people whom they claim to represent.Even the panel members of the LLRC could be beneficiaries of the decades old state sponsored marginalization policy against the Tamils. They may have achieved their status by entering the state universities following the introduction of the standardization policy against the Tamils that significantly scaled down the Tamil entries and seeded the Tamil militancy that lead to the full scale war in the country.

The interesting of the evidences given so far was that from the government Minister and Tamil paramilitary leader Douglas Devananda. He went outside the mandate of the LLRC to publicly apologise over his conduct when he was a warring gun man fighting against the government. What he failed to testify was his paramilitary rule post the defeat of the LTTE that is holding the vulnerable Tamil people at gun points to extend his deceptive democratic crusade to replace him as the alternative leader to Pirabakaran.

When I read that the BBC was barred by the Defence Ministry from attending the LLRC hearing of the victims of the war in the north, it spoke of volume of the Defence Ministry’s agenda and its influence to produce a very favourable report to denounce the demand of justice by the right thinking people of Sri Lanka and the international community. Well! The LLRC process is proving to be façade- a façade that the government will attempt to prop-up to undermine its responsibility to be accountable.
I hope and pray the LLRC process will not become a blot in the catalogue of spoils stacked against Sri Lanka.
Yours sincerely
R Jayadevan

Tamils protest outside U.S. Consulate over Rajapaksa policies, UN (Includes interview and first-hand account)

Click Here- Tamils protest outside U.S. Consulate over Rajapaksa policies, UN (Includes interview and first-hand account)


Tamils protest outside U.S. Consulate over Rajapaksa policies, UN Special
By Andrew Moran.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/297736
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Toronto - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to visit the United Nations next week and deliver a speech to the General Assembly. Outside of the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, hundreds of Canadian Tamils protested his presence at the UN.
Digital Journal reported this week that the National Council of Canadian Tamils, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam and other non-governmental organizations will rally in front of the United Nations in New York to protest Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to the UN where he will deliver a speech to the General Assembly.
On Friday, hundreds of Canadian Tamils protested outside the United States Consulate in downtown Toronto on University Avenue to show their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to allow the Sri Lankan President to set foot in the United States, and potentially Canada.

■ Andrew Moran
More than 500 Tamils protesting in front of the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on University Avenue.
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“The protest is to tell the world that the world shouldn’t allow a war criminal to come into their country; it could be Canada, U.S., or any country, especially Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is responsible for 30,000 lives,” said the National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) Chairman Mohan Ramakrishnan. “He is coming to the U.S. and we as Canadian Tamils, we stand by the protest and we don’t like to welcome him.”
The large rally was succeeded by a march along University Avenue to Queen Street to City Hall and back to the U.S. Consulate. The walk contained chants of “Mahinda Rajapaksa – War Criminal” and “Close the camps – Save the Tamils.” Marchers also carried signs stating: “UN & USA bring this war criminal Sri Lankan President to justice,” “UN & USA investigate war crimes on Sri Lanka” and “UN, USA don’t engage with war criminal Rajapaksa.”
During the demonstration, representatives handed out vital information to the general public about who Rajapaksa is and the recent 18th constitutional amendment that passed on Wednesday that “will fundamentally transform Sri Lanka’s political system, stripping away the facade of democracy.”

■ Andrew Moran
Hundreds of Tamils marching along University Avenue in front of the U.S. Consulate.
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According to Agence-France Presse, the recent constitutional changes will end a two-term limit on the Presidency and increases Presidential powers over the nation of Sri Lanka as it removes the checks and balances on the executive branch.
Furthermore, according to the Sri Lankan Guardian, the Sri Lankan President will only have to seek the opinion of a five-member council in order to appoint several commissions, including the Human Rights Commission, the National Police Commission, the Finance Commission and many others.
The five-person panel includes the Prime Minister, the speaker, the leader of the Opposition, a Member of Parliament that is appointed by the PM and an MP nominated by the Opposition leader.

■ Andrew Moran
More than 500 Tamils protesting in front of the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on University Avenue.
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The U.S. State Department spokesperson, P.J. Crowley, said in a written statement: “The United States is concerned that this constitutional amendment weakens checks and balances and thus undermines the principles of constitutional democracy.”
Speaking with various representatives at the U.S. Consulate, Ramakrishnan said they were very cooperative and will provide any kind of support to the Canadian Tamils and the organizations involved. The NCCT Chairman noted that there will be continued dialogue between the two parties in the future.
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Massive Tamil rally planned for Rajapaksa United Nations visit
New York - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to address the United Nations General Assembly next week in New York. The National Council of Canadian Tamils has announced that it will stage a massive rally opposing his visit.
In the Media Sep 14, 2010 by ■ Andrew Moran in World - 8 comments

Canadian Tamils march, rally through Toronto's busiest Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/297736#ixzz0zx1ZZNQB

Tamils scheduled to demonstrate against President Rajapakse in front of the UN. Details .........

Tamils scheduled to demonstrate against President Rajapakse in front of the UN. Details .........

 

USTPAC will hold a rally in front of the UN in New York on Wednesday, September 22. Details will follow. The Sri Lankan President is expected to speak to the UN Assembly on this date. The purpose of the rally is to:
(1) Expose Tamil Genocide conducted by the Rajapaksa Government in Sri Lanka
(2) Call for War Crime Investigations
(3) Cal...l the UN Secretary General to promptly start the work of the Advisory Panel
We encourage other organizations in the US and Canada concerned about human rights in Sri Lanka to join the rally. Please spread the word and participate in the event. Arrangements are being made by Ilankai Thamil Sangam to deploy a mobile billboard calling for accountability.
CONTACT INFO: 609 341 0916 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              609 341 0916  

 

Large number of Canadian Tamils and bus loads of US Tamils are confirmed to participate.

So are Sinhalese supporters of General Sarath Fonseka who has been jailed recently.

 

Rally against War Crimes -

Longer time needed to attract investment to post-war Sri Lanka

Click Here-Longer time needed to attract investment to post-war Sri Lanka


Longer time needed to attract investment to post-war Sri Lanka
One and a half years is not enough, and more time should be given for the foreign investors to decide to invest in Sri Lanka -- was the response by Sujeewa Mudalige, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL), when asked by a journalist as to why Sri Lanka fails to attract foreign investors even after the war ended 18 months back.
A press briefing was held in Colombo this week to announce the holding of the 31st ICA National Conference from October 28 to 30. The conference theme this year is “The World sees Opportunity in Sri Lanka.”
Mr Mudalige said that the conference would bring together the knowledge, expertise and experience of a panel of high profile speakers from both the local and international arena. He said last year there were around 1,000 participants and this year they expect more than 1,200 participants.
The conference would discuss such topics as: Sri Lanka – The way forward and the Role of Professionals; Opportunities and Challenges in the Green Economy; Attracting Foreign Direct Investment – Opportunities for the Sri Lankan Corporate; Risk in today’s Board Room – The CFO, The CEO, The Auditor, The Chairman; Business sense of IFRS – Opportunities to derive and Recent Business Failures and its impact on Economic Revival.
Mr Mudalige said that the accounting profession is very important and valuable and there is no difficulty in finding a job for accountants. Those who study accountancy need not wait until they complete, but at various stages they could readily obtain employment. He said that these Chartered Accountants are in great demand and almost half of their members are employed in abroad.
He said that ICASL is a government body, but unlike the other government managed higher educational institutions, ICASL has not become a burden to the government as all expenses are covered by student fees and member subscriptions.
He told the Business Times that 100,000 qualify for the university education out of 250,000 who sit for the GCE A Level but only 20,000 are absorbed to the universities. But at ICASL as a single body, the annual intake would be around 10,000 and they have already opened up branches in several key points in the country, including Jaffna.
He told the BT that they have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Higher Education to open up another unit of ICASL to provide education to produce graduates in business management and allied fields so that they could absorb another chunk of those left out.
He said that they have asked the authorities to provide them with land and other necessities so that they could offer residential facilities too while providing education. He said that they are confident that the government would respond positively on their proposal.
He said that such graduates could find employment easily as every average enterprise needs somebody to deal with their financial and accounting matters such as filing tax returns, etc. Further, these graduates would find a ready job overseas.
Responding to another query from the media in relation to Sri Lanka losing GSP+ concessions and the government repeatedly antagonising traditional, friendly countries and in such a scenario how could the country expect foreign investors to come to Sri Lanka, Mr Mudalige said that Sri Lanka would find some difficulty as there are also other similar countries opening their doors to foreign investors and thus Sri Lanka has to meet such competition. He said that in their conference these matters will also be discussed.

President and entourage scheduled to land at the Waldorf Astoria, New York.

President and entourage scheduled to land at the Waldorf Astoria, New York.

Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Elaborate arrangements are being made by the Sri Lankan staff for the UN to welcome the 40 delegates.
This would be one of the largest delegations to the UN, although Sri Lanka is a tiny country, being bailed out by the IMF only last year.

Most interesting is the story that President Rajapakse made a private visit to Germany to meet the former Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl, a decade or more ago. He was a tourist 6 years ago in Sri Lanka, during the tsunami, and was an eye witness to the destruction. He promised financial assitance to rebuild the government hospital in Galle which was water damaged. Even after 6 years of the promise the funds was slow to come by, and the President is going with the hat in his hand, with a former friend of Ranil Wickramasinghe and the UNP, businessman Noel Selvanayagam. In previous years prior to the ceasefire agreement Selvanayagam used to accompany Ranil in such trips especially to USA and Europe.

Selvanayagam is a good friend of Minister G L Peries, and has a company in Germany managed by his new friend. She is a girl. Why should the President of Sri Lanka, need the help of a Tamil businessman and wheeler dealer, to meet the former German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Juergen Weerth, and the former Chancellor of Germany  Helmut Kohl? The former President of Sri Lanka's associates point out that the Germans are concerned of the dark history of certain Horas called the  "Hambantota Horas". The Muslim journalist who sits in the Spectator Cafe, enjoying his recent friendship with a very, very powerful US citizen, is now getting certain priviledged information related to defense. However, using the Tamil businessman to seal deals in Germany for the President and the country sounds rather bizzare, when the current German chancellor herself has refused a meeting with the President Rajapakse on this trip.
http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_09_18_002.html

May be the Rajapakses, Peries, Sajin Vaas and Noel Sevenayagam should have used the new Senator from Hamburg a Tamil man from Poin Pedro, multi millionaire  71 year karunakaran. He is now known in Germany as Senator Ian Karan.

The lame and silly excuses given by the Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickramasinghe about the nomination of TNA MP Sumanthiran to the Parliamentary Council looks even more ridiculous. Why the UNP leader could not appoint a Tamil, Muslim or Sinhalese like Wijedasa Rajapakse makes matters more confusing.

The new broker for Sajith Premadasa with the UNP leadership is another Royalist and blue eyed National List MP, Harsha De Silva. It is not a coincident that Ravi Karunanayake, Sajith Premadasa, Harsha De Silva and Ranil Wickramasinghe are all royalist in this "Battle Royal".
Another Royalist making the news is the aspirant to the Chief Justice position, C R "Bulla" De Silva, who also is the Chairman of the "comedy store" LLRC. A member of the commission in the LLRC Professort Jiffry died a couple of days ago. There is speculation that C R De Silva has some serious illness.

Talking about the Royalist, the next Foreign Minister in 8 weeks is another former minister who is not in Parliament now. He is due to enter Parliament through the back door, via the National List. He has been working very hard with the "Brothers Inc", and his spine, if he has one is very supple. Simply plastic and it "Bends like Beckam".
The current Sri Lankan ambassador to the UN, Palitha Kohonna is being recalled due to poor performance, unlike his former deputy Bandula Jayasekera was removed for alledged sexual misconduct. Kohonna is likely to be replaced by Romesh Jayasinghe the current Foreign Secretary a career diplomat. His deputy Major General Shaveendra De Silva has already arrived in New York but not presented his credtials yet.

USTPAC will hold a rally in front of the UN in New York on Wednesday, September 22.

Details will follow. The Sri Lankan President is expected to speak to the UN Assembly on this date.

The purpose of the rally is to:
(1) Expose Tamil Genocide conducted by the Rajapaksa Government in Sri Lanka
(2) Call for War Crime Investigations
(3) Cal...l the UN Secretary General to promptly start the work of the Advisory Panel

We encourage other organizations in the US and Canada concerned about human rights in Sri Lanka to join the rally. Please spread the word and participate in the event. Arrangements are being made by Ilankai Thamil Sangam to deploy a mobile billboard calling for accountability.
CONTACT INFO: 609 341 0916    

Rally against War Crimes -

Click Here: Govt. getting stronger, UNP getting weaker

Govt. getting stronger, UNP getting weaker
President takes big delegation for UN sessions amid speculation over John Ameratunga
Main opposition party plans alms giving to mark death of democracy, but within crisis continues
By Our Political Editor
Barring a minor glitch, the take off from the Bandaranaike International Airport for President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday morning was smooth. The glitch came when two passengers, earlier living in the north, refused to be body searched during security checks. One, now a British passport holder yielded and another, a female chose not to take the flight.
President Rajapaksa boarded a regular SriLankan Airlines flight UL 503 to London en route to Berlin. Besides his security detail, joining him were External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, Sajin Vaas Gunawardena MP and businessman Noel Selvanayagam. The visit to Germany is private. Among other matters, Rajapaksa is to meet former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. During the devastating tsunami in December 2004, Kohl was on holiday in Sri Lanka and was trapped in a hotel in the south. This was to raise concerns in his home country. He later escaped the rising waters with the help of the SLAF.
As a tribute to the victims, the Helmut Kohl Foundation, is now building a tsunami memorial hospital in Galle. Selvanayagam is a good friend of the Foundation's chief Juergen Weerth, a former German Luftwaffe (Air Force) pilot and one time Ambassador in Sri Lanka. A planned trip to Mexico by Rajapaksa was cancelled. That visit was to have co-incided with the celebrations for Bicentinario Independence and Centinario Revolution of Mexico. Instead, a Sri Lanka delegation led by Deputy External Affairs Minister Gitanjana Gunawardena carried a special message from President Rajapaksa to Mexican President, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa.
John crossing over?President Rajapaksa will fly from Germany to the United States. He is due to arrive in New York tomorrow (September 20). A large retinue from Colombo left on Friday for New York to be part of Sri Lanka's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) sessions. Ahead of those sessions, Rajapaksa will also take part in the plenary meeting of the General Assembly on Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Some 150-world leaders will take part in this event. He will address the MDG summit on September 22 and the General Assembly the next day. In the latter, he is listed as the seventh speaker on the opening day after Brazil, the United States, Switzerland, Malawi, Pakistan and Costa Rica.
A surprise inclusion in the President's entourage would have been United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian John Ameratunga. A former Minister of Internal Security, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ameratunga is now the Chief Opposition Whip, a post in which he is responsible for enforcing discipline among UNP parliamentarians. When Parliament debated the 18th Amendment to the Constitution and passed it with more than a two-thirds majority last week, there was speculation that Ameratunga would vote in favour of the Government. However, he did not.
Upon receiving an invitation from President Rajapaksa to travel with him to the UN, Ameratunga consulted his party leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe. The latter's advise was to politely decline the offer. He pointed out that Ameratunga was the first signatory to a vote of no-confidence against External Affairs Minister Peiris. So, Ameratunga left on Thursday on a hurriedly arranged visit to Washington DC. Before his departure, Ameratunga, 70, told a group of his supporters that he saw no future in the UNP. He said he would have to take a decision upon his return and urged them to stand by him.
Ameratunga's conduct came up for discussion at yesterday's meeting of the UNP Working Committee. Ravi Karunanayake begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting (MP-Colombo District) asked what was wrong with Ameratunga. He said the Chief Opposition whip had been "whipped" by the Government to go abroad. He said Ameratunga was consorting with the Government. Talatha Athukorale (MP-Ratnapura District) alleged Ameratunga's travel costs to the US were paid by the Government. Dayasiri Jayasekera (MP-Kurunegala District) also raised similar questions. They wanted to know from Wickremesinghe what the position was.
The UNP leader said he had spoken to Ameratunga before he left. "I know him well. I know he will not quit the party," he said. Ameratunga had told Wickremesinghe he was going to see his daughter in Washington. Karunanayake interrupted to say his daughter was not in Washington but lives in Boston. Wickremesinghe said upon Amertunga's return, he would ask him to refund the money if he had gone on a Government ticket.
President Rajapaksa's entourage is expected to include renegade UNP MPs Lakshman Seneviratne, Manusha Nanayakkara and Sri Ranga, the ones who voted with the Government on the 18th Amendment. Ministers Champika Ranawaka and Nimal Siripala de Silva are also in the team. The Sri Lanka mission in New York has made elaborate plans for the delegation.
UNP Young Turks Sajith Premadasa (right) and Dayasiri Jayasekera in a pensive mood at a meeting with top professionals. Pic by Sanka Vidhanagama
Several rooms have been reserved at plush New York hotels for the Sri Lanka delegation that is estimated to be around forty in all.
A fleet of limousines have been reserved for their use. The UN issues each delegation only five passes, which means that the rest of the large delegation would have to watch the proceedings at the UN from the television sets inside the UN building. An official of the Sri Lanka mission in New York was busy contacting missions of other countries assigned to the UN to ascertain whether they could spare any passes. If one thought that President Rajapaksa was going to speak to a world forum, it would appear that he was speaking to his own delegation at a world assembly.
There is considerable interest however focused on President Rajapaksa's visit to New York, both in Sri Lanka and abroad. Last Tuesday, UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky, told a news briefing at the UN "The panel of experts probing accountability issues in Sri Lanka and support staff have been conducting intense preparatory work, and indeed the panel will meet with the Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon) this week, marking the formal commencement of its activities." The panel would thus be in session when the Sri Lanka delegation to the UN is in New York.
On Monday, Nesirky told reporters "The Secretary-General held his first meeting today with the Panel of Experts established to advise him on the issue of accountability with regard to alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka. This meeting marks the formal commencement of the Panel's four-month mandate. The Secretary-General is pleased that the Panel is fully underway and looks forward to receiving its advice. The Secretary-General is committed through his focus on this issue to contribute to lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka."
In his address to the General Assembly, President Rajapaksa is to counter international criticism against Sri Lanka over this issue. He will explain how a Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation is addressing the issues already raised. Another issue still under debate is whether to respond to US Government's reaction to the passage of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
On September 11, spokesperson Philip J. Crowley told a US State Department news briefing, "The United States has closely followed the progress and the passage of the 18th Amendment in Sri Lanka. The amendment eliminates term limits for the president and expands the power of the president over independent institutions, including the elections, police, and human rights commissions, as well as the judiciary.
The United States is concerned that this constitutional amendment weakens checks and balances and thus undermines the principles of constitutional democracy.
"The United States calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to promote the principles of good governance, democracy, and independent State institutions. The United States looks to the government to take measures that will strengthen democracy including appointing appropriately qualified officials to bolster independent institutions, increase transparency, enhance power sharing and dialogue, and promote national reconciliation."
There are two schools of thought. One view is that the Government has already responded to the US statement by saying the 18th amendment is an "internal matter." This was through a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry. Later, during a meeting scheduled much before the State Department spokesperson's remarks, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella also expressed the Government's concerns to US Ambassador Patricia Butenis. During the friendly conversation, the latter was to ask Rambukwella about matters related to the media including the proposed Media Development Authority.
Hence, one view was that there was no need to repeat Sri Lanka's position and engage the United States in a prolonged debate. The other view, however, is that the Sri Lankan position should be clearly outlined to the UN since it was the appropriate forum to educate the international community. The fact that the 18th Amendment was "passed democratically with over a two-thirds majority by elected lawmakers", it is argued, should be emphasised.
Electoral reformsIn the absence of President Rajapaksa, it was Prime Minister, D.M. Jayaratne, who chaired last Wednesday night's weekly Cabinet meeting. Of particular importance was a discussion on the introduction of laws for a new electoral system for the upcoming local government elections. Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A.L.M. Athaulla, told Ministers that the Legal Draftsman's Office had said it would take months to prepare a comprehensive set of laws for local government polls.
However, it had pointed out that the required changes could be effected by amending provisions in the existing laws. Three Ministers - Susil Premajayantha, Dinesh Gunawardena and Wimal Weerawansa - said the Government should go ahead with amendments to existing laws since the matter required immediate attention. Since the Opposition parties have also concurred with most of the changes to electoral reforms, UPFA leaders believe it could be presented in Parliament as urgent legislation.
UNP's woes
For the United National Party (UNP), its travails continued. Officially, the party is now in 'mourning' for the "demise of democracy" on September 8. This was when Parliament approved the 18th Amendment to the Constitution with more than a two third's majority. The party leadership has decided that in keeping with Buddhist traditions that follow the demise of a person, they would hold a dana or alms giving on December 8 - the third month after "democracy" died. It will be held in Colombo where a large group of Bhikkus would attend. The party has decided to draw large crowds for this event though the move is akin to crying over spilt milk. More so when the party missed out on opportunities to protest before the Amendment was passed. The UNP officially boycotted the debate and declared it would not recognise this amendment.
Ranil's spin.
Wickremesinghe spoke at a joint meeting of the UNP Parliamentary Group and the Working Committee on August 29 at Siri Kotha. The political commentary in the Sunday Times of September 5, which reported on this, said: "Wickremesinghe said that as leader of the Opposition, he would not recognise the Parliamentary Council that is being set up to handle the functions of the Constitutional Council…."However, on Thursday Wickremesinghe struck a noticeably discordant note that raised doubts whether he endorsed the 18th Amendment. He named Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran to serve as the Opposition's nominee in the Parliamentary Advisory Council. This Council is required to make 'observations' to the President on the appointment of Commissions.
Within seconds after an SMS news message declared on Thursday morning that Wickremesinghe had nominated Sumanthiran, the Tamil National Alliance was to snub him. Sumanthiran said he rejected the nomination since his party was opposed to the 18th Amendment. TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran told the Sunday Times, "Wickremesinghe consulted Sumanthiran over the matter. The latter declined his offer of nomination and said he could not do so without consulting the party.
Wickremesinghe was informed of this since TNA does not accept the 18th Amendment." Premachandran later said that the TNA is of the view that it should not make any contribution to the Council. Somewhat embarrassed, Wickremesinghe hurriedly summoned a news conference to explain his actions. He said, "I especially said (in the morning) that under the present circumstances, after discussing with other parties of the Opposition, when I make a nomination for the parliamentary council, both members of the Opposition should boycott the Council.
"Otherwise, the Government will try to fill the positions of the Parliamentary Councils and announce that only Ranil Wickremesinghe is boycotting the Council. If this boycotting is to be successful, both members of the Opposition should boycott. When the public questions us as to why we boycott the Council, then we could answer them. I also said in the morning that because the Prime Minister, the Speaker and the Opposition Leader are Sinhalese, the nominee should be either Tamil or a Muslim."
"Even though the TNA holds the second place in the Opposition as a party, I appointed MP M.N Sumanthiran without consulting the TNA. I don't have a problem with MP Sumanthiran not attending the Parliamentary Councils. I knew before the nominations that the TNA would not take part in the Parliamentary Council. I was informed of that before. The TNA said that it rejects the appointment, which is good. If MP Sumanthiran didn't attend the council meeting, only three of the five members of the Council will take part in it and that will be a disadvantage to the Government.
"Then the President will remove Sumanthiran which will be good too. He can fire them and I can appoint them. I'll keep appointing and he'll keep removing. Ranil will appoint and Mahinda will remove them. If someone resigns, I'll appoint another. The Opposition has decided, we will make the formal decision next week when we meet, to boycott the Council.
"When people start laughing at this, the Government will have to bring another amendment to the Constitution and then they can remove my power of appointment and remove the Opposition representation of the Council. That is fine with me. This one week given to make the amendment is a dangerous legislation to give our objections. No one can figure out whether a man is a thief or not within one week. It took the Government one year to find out thieves in the Government and it took them another year to catch them."
There were several startling contradictions however, in Wickremesinghe's remarks. In the first instance, the UNP had chosen to boycott the parliamentary debate on the 18th Amendment. That meant that the UNP was dissociating itself completely. In nominating Sumanthiran to the Parliamentary Advisory Council, for whatever reason he gives now, Wickremesinghe is acknowledging that he is indeed accepting the 18th Amendment -- even if he is to make a joke by making appointments that would be meaningless. The argument that he was doing so to tire the Government out is not going to make him a winner, or the Government a loser. After all, there will be a stage when the Speaker will use the discretion available to him and nominate a person.
On the other hand, if as the UNP says, it is dissociating itself from the 18th Amendment, what is the need to formally acknowledge provisions contained in it? That was certainly a loss of face for Wickremesinghe. To use his own words at the news conference, "The Government will try to fill the positions of the Parliamentary Councils and announce that only Ranil Wickremesinghe is boycotting the Council…." Why is the leader of Sri Lanka's main Opposition party worried about Government accusations of a second boycott when he and his party had boycotted the debate in Parliament? Would that be a democratic act? Or is it because the UNP has already announced that "democracy is dead"? This episode also highlights an inherent weakness in Wickremesinghe. He does not consult other party leaders in making important decisions. There have been many instances in the past too.
UNP independents
It is against this backdrop that Wickremesinghe faced two critical issues this week. One was an announcement by Dayasiri Jayasekera (MP-Kurunegala District) that some 25 MPs would sit in Parliament as independents in the Opposition. Though the numbers are not that high, a few of them did confirm this in remarks to the Sunday Times. Here is what they said:
Dayasiri Jayasekara: "The implementation of the reforms has been delayed for several months. The leader has asked for further time to implement the reforms. We are losing time. We want this completed within this week. The leader has said he wants to groom the younger members for leadership. There was plenty of opportunity to do this earlier. We do not want to quit the party or join the Government. If we remain independent of the leadership we are sure no one will join the Government.
"We have at least 25 members from the UNP (parliamentary group) who are backing us. Its not only them, we have the support of Provincial Council and other local council members from our party. We also have the support of UNP trade union members who have expressed their support to us. Our aim is to create a group which could act against the Government".
Ashoka Abeysinghe (MP-Kurunegala District): "The local government elections are coming up and if the party continues in this manner we will not be able to face the voters. The UNP supporters are demoralized. We have to raise their morale. We need to carry on with a new leadership, as we cannot tell the voters that the reforms of the party are still on the way. We have made a proposal that the opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe be made the Senior Leader and that he should hand over the party leadership to Sajith Premadasa while Karu Jayasuriya will remain as Deputy Leader. We hope this proposal will be implemented by next week. In the event our proposal is not accepted we will sit as independent members in Parliament, without joining the Government."
Kabeer Hashim (MP-Kegalle District): "We hope that at least part of the reforms will be implemented enabling us to resolve the problems before the end of the week. Sajith Premadasa is currently discussing with the party leader ways of how the issues could be resolved. Our expectation is that the split in the party could be avoided if some of the reforms are implemented.
Thalatha Athukorale (MP-Ratnapura District): "Before the next parliamentary sessions we will decide whether we should act as independent members in Parliament. The younger members called for a meeting with the leader. This was not granted. There was another meeting summoned, but one of the MPs was left out. (The reference was to Sujeeva Senasinghe, MP-Colombo District). This is the type of treatment meted out to the younger members. Though claims are made that responsibility is being shared among the younger MPs, in practice it does not take place. We need a strong set of reforms to face the upcoming local elections. If the reforms are not implemented, we will sit as independent MPs at the next sessions."
Sujeewa Senasinghe (MP-Colombo District): "The leadership has been extending support for the strengthening of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Government. We should stop the slide in the party and prevent members from crossing over. The only way to do this is to implement the reforms. The party is travelling on the track according to the wishes of President Rajapaksa. The government will not like the formation of an independent group. The members who wish to remain independent will not cross over to the Government. If the reforms are not implemented we will act independently".
Rosy Senanayake (MP-Colombo District): "We want the reforms of the party at least before the next budget. If that does not happen, I will not quit the party, but will remain independent in Parliament. Otherwise we will never be able to rise against the President. We have been promised that the reforms will be completed by September 30."
Truce proposedHowever, the actions by these MPs and others will be on hold for now. At yesterday's meeting of the Working Committee, Kabir Hashim (who earlier carried a proposal to Wickremesinghe - See details below) sounded a different note. He said things were getting out of hand in the party and the situation should not be allowed to worsen. He wanted a weeklong "truce" to sort out issues. Wickremesinghe asked "why a truce? We are not at war." Hashim was to later say what he meant was a cooling off period until issues were sorted out.
The issues, party reforms in particular, would take a longer time. Tilak Marapana, PC and former Defence, Aviation and Highways Minister, said that an entirely new party constitution was being formulated. Hashim asked whether it was not possible to amend the existing constitution to incorporate recommendations made by the reforms committee. However, the move did not gather support.
An argument ensued between Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa. It came when the UNP leader criticised Lakshman Seneviratne (MP-Badulla District), now under suspension from the post of Assistant Secretary, for working with the Government right along. He said these were the people who wanted prathisanvidana (reforms). Seneviratne had even gone against the late President Premadasa by signing an impeachment motion to oust him.
Sajith Premadasa rose from his seat and told Wickremesinghe not to speak that way. "It is we who have been speaking about prathisanvidana," he declared. Wickremesinghe shot back that he too spoke of prathisanvidana. Premadasa accused Wickremesinghe of rushing to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa without telling anyone in the party while they were discussing prathisanvidana, and that he (Premadasa) got to know that Wickremesinghe had met the President only through others.
Wickremesinghe then said that he had told the General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya before he went and to ask them right now. Attanayake was to confirm the party leader told him before he went to see the President, while Jayasuriya said that he had also told him the first time, but had left a message the second time because he was at a meeting with the Maha Nayakas (high priests) on the second occasion.
Nevertheless Hashim had requested a week's grace period to work out an acceptable compromise with the Premadasa faction demanding he take over the party leadership.

Ravi Karunanayake objected to this on the footing that secret talks were taking place by a section of the party. Wickremesinghe was to say that whatever secret talks may be taking place, the party's Working Committee will have to endorse the decisions.
In view of the budget debate possibly in October, the Working Committee decided to have the party's annual sessions either in late November or in December this year. They also discussed the decision on Friday by a General Court Martial finding Sarath Fonseka guilty of "disgraceful conduct" in military procurements. Both Wickremesinghe and his deputy Jayasuriya said the party should launch a campaign to protest against this. The party has also decided to launch a campaign to protest moves to abolish the Colombo Municipal Council and set up an development authority to administer the city, something exclusively revealed in the Sunday Times last week.
Another major issue was taken up at the meeting of the Working Committee yesterday. This was a proposal by deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya for a new programme titled 'Grama Charika'. Under this, all party leaders would visit villages, live there for two nights and begin educating the public of the situation in the country. The proposal was accepted and Jayasuriya was appointed to a chair a committee. It included Joseph Michael Perera, Kabir Hashim, Sajith Premadasa, Rosy Senanayake, P. Yogarajan and Upali Samaraweera.Jayasuriya discussed the move with leader Wickremesinghe and a few others early this week. He wants civil society organisations also to be invited to join in the effort.
Ahead of yesterday's meeting, a group of UNPers met at a Kirulapone residence on Friday to discuss their strategy. Among those present were Kabir Hashim, Thalatha Athukorale, Ranjit Madduma Bandara, Piyasena, A. Sasitharan and Bodhi Ranasinghe. The discussion revolved around making Sajith Premadasa the Senior Deputy Leader of the party. Several calls were being made to him to turn up for the meeting, but there was no show.
Such a move would mean the sidelining of incumbent deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya. Wickremesinghe was not in favour of such a move. To get round this, the pro-Premadasa faction was trying to ask Gamini Jayawickrama Perera to step down as party Chairman and to hand that over to Karu Jayasuriya, but Jayawickrama Perera was in no mood for that either.
Jayasuriya's offer to resignLater that day, Hashim met Wickremesinghe with the proposal to make Premadasa the Senior Deputy Leader of the UNP. He also wanted Wickremesinghe to ensure the choice of picking ten per cent of the UNP candidates for the local polls be given to Premadasa. Present with Wickremesinghe at that time were Jayasuriya, Joseph Michael Perera, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera and Lakshman Kiriella.
Jayasuriya promptly offered to resign his post as deputy leader and remain a backbencher. Since he made a call for opposition parties to unite, an aide said, Jayasuriya felt unity in the party was essential.Wickremesinghe was not in favour. Even in the unlikely event of this proposal being accepted, the question remained whether it would resolve the crisis within the UNP. Ravi Karunanayake who is 18 years a parliamentarian and seventh on the line of party seniority, is demanding that he should also be given an equal position. Another was the protests the ouster of Jayasuriya would draw from the Buddhist clergy.

Wickremesinghe, UNP sources said, has taken up the position that any proposal that was contrary to recommendations made by the UNP Reforms Committee should be discussed with the committee. Since the Committee has already made its recommendations known and a new constitution was now being formulated for the party, Wickremesinghe was of the view that new changes cannot be made now. That effectively shut out moves to foist Premadasa as a Senior Deputy Leader. It also saw the possibility of a settlement to the party in-fighting over the leadership mantle, but what was clear was that Premadasa was, once again, willing to serve under Wickremasinghe. It was only last week he publicly declared he wanted to contest Wickremesinghe for the leadership. That was after vowing weeks earlier not to seek any party positions. On Friday, Premadasa addressed a group of professionals and faced a barrage of embarrassing questions. He admitted he had no magic wand to bring the UNP back to office.
There are no clear signs though that the internecine problems of the UNP will be resolved soon. The result is a Government that is growing stronger every day and an Opposition that is becoming weaker every hour.