19 january - 2012

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LLRC report, basis for reconciliation - Krishna
By Chaminda Perera
2012 CALENDAR - SEE PAGE 25
NEWSLANKA
ISSUE 1050
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External Affairs Minister of India S.M. Krishna(2nd right)
joined in the Thaipongal celebrations held at Temple Trees
under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Here
President Mahinda Rajapaksa feeding a cow after the
Komatha Pooja ., First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Prime
Minister D.M. Jayaratne, External Affairs Minister Prof G.L.
Peiris, Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious
Affairs K.D.S. Gunawardena and Indian High Commissioner in
Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha were present.
Picture by Sudath Silva
Newslanka wishes you all a
Happy 'Thai Pongal’
64th National Day of Sri Lanka
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom
will celebrate the 64th National Day of Sri Lanka on
Saturday, 04th February, 2012 at 1030hrs.
All are welcome!
RSVP: 020 72621841 – Dilshad or
Dharsany on Ext.287
Sri Lanka High Commission
13 Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU
www.srilankahighcommission.co.uk
TNA response to LLRC report
Below is the executive summary
from the TNA response to the LLRC
report.
(20/01/12) - EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
i. As the elected representatives of
the worst affected victims of the war,
the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
has consistently maintained that
genuine reconciliation in Sri Lanka is
contingent on a credible
accountability process that ensures
the right of victims to truth, justice
and reparations. On 15th May 2010,
the President appointed the Lessons
Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission (LLRC) and held out to
the world that this Commission
would address accountability issues.
ii. The LLRC's processes and
practices have failed to win the
confidence of the Tamil community.
The Commission also falls
dramatically short of international
standards applicable to
accountability processes.
iii. The ethnic and gender imbalance
in the membership, the conflicts of
interest and patent lack of
independence of the members, the
general lack of competence of the
majority of members in International
Humanitarian Law (IHL) and
International Human Rights Law, and
the absence of any consultation
whatsoever with the victims'
representatives and the larger Tamil
community with regard to its
mandate, processes and practices,
call the independence and
competence of the LLRC into serious
doubt.
iv. Moreover, the LLRC's
methodology assigned relatively
lower importance to victims'
perspectives. The LLRC was also
under-resourced and understaffed
for the task of pursuing genuine
accountability for violations during
the last stages of the war. For
instance, the time the Commission
spent gathering evidence in the
North and East, relative to the time
spent in Colombo, was woefully
inadequate. The Commission spent
a mere twenty-two days in the North
and East in total, compared to the
fifty-six days ... CONT ON P2
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PAGE 02
19 JANUARY - 2012
SKY WINGS LTD
ISSUE 1050
Police looking for stone throwers
Supun Dias
“Where The Sun Never Sets”
(dailymirror.lk) The police are looking for a number
of individuals who had been throwing stones at
passing vehicles in the Southern Expressway.
Police warned people not to throw stones at
vehicles travelling on the Southern Expressway.
These incidents had been reported in Welipenna,
Kurudugahahethekma, Aluthgama and Dodangoda
areas.
The Police said that those involved will be strictly
dealt with by the law. Recently the Southern
Expressway Traffic Police Division was informed by
a monk after the car he was travelling in was
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stoned.
The police also informed motorists travelling along
the highway to inform the traffic police in the
expressway on 1969 immediately if such incidents
occur.
The first such incident was reported in the second
week after the opening of Sri Lanka’s first
expressway where 10-15 vehicles were damaged.
However no suspect was arrested in connection
with the incidents.
A total of 57 accidents have been reported causing
injuries to 18 persons so far since the first
expressway opened on November 27, last year.
Tamil-speaking policemen to be enlisted in N-E
to Colombo, Far East and beyond.
by Jayampathy Jayasinghe
(sundayobserver.lk) A massive recruitment program
has been launched to enlist Tamil-speaking men
and women from the Northern and Eastern
provinces to foster a good relationship between
diverse ethnic communities, Police Media
Spokesman, SP Ajith Rohana told the Sunday
Observer.
Fifty Tamil-speaking males have been selected as
Sub Inspectors of Police to undergo training at the
Police Training School at Kalutara from January 25.
On completion of training the Probationary Sub
Inspectors of Police will be posted to Tamilspeaking areas of the Northern and Eastern
provinces where they can attend to their work in
their own language.
This is the largest batch of Tamil-speaking Police
Sub Inspectors to be selected since the setting up
of the Police Department almost 146 years ago.
The Police Spokesman said that following the
recruitment drive launched last year the Police
Department had received a large number of
applications from Tamil- speaking individuals, men
and women from the Northern and Eastern
provinces who have expressed their willingness to
join as police constables.
The prospective applicants are being interviewed
by senior police officers to fill the cadre of 350
constables which had fallen vacant in Northern and
Eastern provinces. “We hope to recruit these
constables as early as possible and they will be
posted to Tamil-speaking areas,” he said.
Royal Mail apologizes, withdraws
Prabakaran stamps
by Sujeeva Nivunhella in London
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“I am happy to note that our bilateral trade in
goods would touch the 5 billion US Dollar mark.
India is also a leading player in Sri Lanka, as far
CONT FROM P1
as investments and tourist arrivals are
... “We also signed MoUs for Cooperation in the
Field of Agriculture and for Cooperation between concerned. To sustain this positive momentum in
our trade and economic relations and take it to
the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and
the next level, it is necessary to finalize a more
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of
comprehensive framework of economic
Sri Lanka.
cooperation.
“Our development assistance projects are
“India is committed to the unity, sovereignty and
entirely based on the priorities set by the
territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. It is our hope that
government and the people of Sri Lanka. The
the vision and leadership that resulted in an end
main themes are connectivity, housing, health,
to armed conflict will now be employed in the
education, livelihood restoration and economic
quest for a genuine political reconciliation.
revival. I would be visiting Kilinochchi tomorrow,
We look forward to progress in the ongoing
to handover medical equipment to the District
dialogue process, in order to address this issue
General Hospital, and also reopen schools we
in a timely manner. We will continue to work with
had helped repair. As a token gesture, we are
the government of Sri Lanka, and help in
also providing 10,000 bicycles to IDPs in the
whatever way we can, to take this process
Northern Province.
forward, in a spirit of partnership and
cooperation.
“We have noted the many constructive
recommendations contained in the recentlyreleased report of the Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
These recommendations, when
(ESTABLISHED 1991)
implemented, would mark a major step
forward in the process of genuine national
reconciliation, to which the Sri Lankan
We deal in all aspects of
government is committed. Sri Lanka must
seize this opportunity.
Civil Law including
The government of Sri Lanka has on many
EImmigration
occasions conveyed to us its commitment to
move towards a political settlement based
EPersonal Injuries
on the full implementation of the 13th
ECivil Litigation EFamily Law Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution,
and building on it, so as to achieve
meaningful devolution of powers.
EConveyancing
EProbate
We look forward to an expeditious and
OPEN LATE EVENINGS
constructive approach to the dialogue
For a Fast & Friendly Service, please call process. We believe that continuation of the
dialogue between the Government and the
TNA would pave the way for political
settlement, including under the rubric of the
Parliamentary Select Committee.
“I discussed this matter with President
Rajapaksa this morning. The President
assured me that he stands by his
E-mail: [email protected] web: www.stanleyandco.co.uk commitment to pursuing the 13th
Amendment plus approach.”
Krishna
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(island.lk) Royal Mail, the competent authority on
issuing stamps in the UK has apologized to Sri
Lanka and banned the use of a pro-LTTE stamp
with the photograph of former LTTE leader
Velupillai Prabakaran, following an official
complaint by the Sri Lankan High Commission in
London.
Under the existing regulations, an individual can
personalize their mail by combining a Royal Mail
TNA response
CONT FROM P1
... spent on hearings in Colombo. The Commission
often cited the lack of time as the reason for cutting
short the testimony of witnesses. In many cases,
prospective witnesses were never given the
opportunity to testify and were requested to merely
send in their concerns to the Commission in writing.
v. The LLRC did not have an effective witness
protection programme. To make matters worse, the
attitude of the members towards witness protection
reflected in the lack of concern when witnesses
complained of threats, and in the failure to ensure
confidentiality of in camera statements after the
LLRC concluded its work continues to severely
undermine the safety of witnesses in tangible ways.
For instance, one witness from Kalmunai, who
complained of being tortured and sexually
assaulted, was later summoned to the Fourth Floor
of the Criminal Investigation Department. This
incident confirmed that the government monitored
the LLRC's proceedings and that the anonymity of
witnesses was easily compromised. The climate of
hostility prevailing in Sri Lanka towards those who
stamp with a photograph of an individual through
their "Smiler Service". Pro-LTTE groups had made
use of this facility to personalize a stamp with
Prabakaran’s photograph.
On receiving the complaint, Royal Mail had
investigated and identified the offensive stamp.
The Sunday Island learns that Royal Mail had
issued only a few of the offensive stamps and
cancelled further orders. It regretted the incident
and apologized to anyone offended.
accuse the government of war crimes renders any
accountability mechanism futile unless witnesses
and victims are convinced that testimony
implicating senior government functionaries in
crimes will not be met with reprisals. Moreover, the
failure to seek video testimony of witnesses now
living overseas deprived the LLRC of the testimony
of those who are relatively free of potential
reprisals.
vi. The LLRC's interim recommendations, issued
more than a year ago, are yet to be meaningfully
implemented. The Progress Report released by the
Inter-Agency Advisory Committee appointed to
ensure such implementation reveals nothing but
the lack of genuine progress. The failure of the
government to implement these modest interim
recommendations signals, if not confirms, the
government's lack of commitment to implement the
Commission's final recommendations.
vii. The final report of the LLRC was released
through Parliament on 16th December 2011, and
purports to deal with a number of issues including
those related to IHL. Yet the LLRC disregards
credible allegations made against the government
(Contd: on P4)
Navy helps injured Fin Whale to refloat
in 7-hour operation
(island.lk) An injured 38-foot Fin Whale
washed ashore at Vella beach in Kalpitiya on
Friday was freed from an entangled fishing net
and guided back into the deep waters off
Dutch Bay in a tough seven- hour naval
operation.
Timely action by personnel attached to SLNS
Vijaya in the North-western Naval Area saved
this marine mammal, which had beached due
to the entangled fishing net hindering its free
movement.
The whale was first sighted by naval
personnel deployed for coastal protection. It
had been struggling in shallow waters with
injuries to its fin and abdomen area. The Navy
Naval personnel busy helping the 38-foot Fin
swung into action and pumped water helping it
Whale to swim back into the deep waters off Dutch
to breathe and guided the animal to refloat.
Bay in Kalpitiya.
Nicknamed ‘The Greyhound of the Sea’ by
whale lovers for its great speed and slender
regain its strength and head back home, Naval
build, it was a big relief to see the mammal
sources said.
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NEWSLANKA
19 JANUARY - 2012
Sri Lanka is still under threat - warns Defence Secretary
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s public
lecture at the SLFI recently titled ‘Future
Challenges to National Security in Sri Lanka’.
It is also important to realise that the total number
of dead and missing will include people in the
several categories:
*Those who died of natural causes
*Those who died of accidents
*Those who left this country through illegal
means, particularly by boat to India or to South
East Asia, and from there to the West
*Those who died whilst fighting as members of
the LTTE
*Those who died as a result of being coerced to
fight by the LTTE
*Those who died as a result of resisting the LTTE
It is only for the remaining deaths that the Sri
Lankan Military can bear any sort of responsibility.
This number is too small to lend credence to
the allegation of irresponsible mass military
action that is at the heart of the claims about
war crimes made by the rump of the LTTE
and its sympathisers.
Solicitors & Commissioners for Oaths
A closely related issue to the number of
We are an established law firm based
civilian deaths during the Humanitarian
in North London, specialising in:
Operation is the allegation of impunity that is
Immigration matters
levelled against the military. Again, those
(Visas, TIER 1 General - Highly Skilled Migrants,
who level this criticism have very little
TIER 2 Skilled Workers (Work Permits), Students,
understanding of the true picture.
Domestic Workers, Appeals - Judicial Reviews etc.)
National security
The Sri Lankan Armed Forces are not some
Residential/Commercial Conveyancing
ragtag groups assembled at random and
Landlord and Tenant Disputes
sent to war, but historic institutions with
Divorce
(Contd: on P24)
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ISSUE 1050
Fifty nineth Founder's Day
of Devi Balika Vidyalaya
(dailynews.lk) For every school, Founders' Day is
a day to honour their achievements and
successes. As the
name suggests, it
marks the day the
school was founded
as well as shows
appreciation towards
its founding
members.
2012 marks a
monumental
milestone of Devi
Balika Vidyalaya
because last Sunday
(January 15) the
school reached her
59th Milestone since
Principal of Devi Balika
been founded by
Vidyalaya, Pradeepa
Founder Principal
Samarasinghe garlanding the
Deshabandu Dr.
picture of the founder
Wimala de Silva in
principal, Deshabandu Dr.
1953. Nearly
Wimala de Silva
Devi Balika Vidyalaya
reaching her six decades of age Devi Balika
Vidyalaya is one of the leading girls' schools in Sri
Lnaka.
Devi students are widely recognized within our
societies by spreading the knowledge and unique
qualities they gained from school, in building
stronger community.
UK Government on Sri Lankan Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission Report
(Asiantribune.com): Given below the full text of
the written statement submitted to the UK
Parliament by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Alistair Burt on the Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission Report:
Alistair Burt : I would like to inform the House of
Government’s views on the Sri Lankan Lessons
Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’s (LLRC)
report, which was published on 16 December
2011. The LLRC was established in May 2010 to
look into the conflict between the Sri Lankan
government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE).
The British Government welcomes the fact that
the LLRC report has been published in full. We
have read the report closely and have considered
in particular its findings relating to reconciliation
and an enduring political solution in the North
and East; accountability for alleged war crimes
committed during the conflict; and ongoing
human rights issues in Sri Lanka.
We have noted the Sri Lankan government’s
initial response to the report. We have also seen
statements from political parties in Sri Lanka,
from respected human rights organisations and
from other governments.
The British Government believes that the report
contains many constructive recommendations for
action on post-conflict reconciliation and a
political settlement. Implementation of these
recommendations, however, is the real test of Sri
Lanka’s progress.
We note the Commission’s conclusion that the
root cause of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka lies
in the failure of successive governments to
address the genuine grievances of the Tamil
people and the recommendation that the
(Contd: on P16)
TNA response
viii. The LLRC's approach and methodology in
dealing with the above allegations is flawed due
to two main reasons: (1) the selective application
of evidence, and (2) the failure to apply the law to
the facts.
ix. The Commission extensively cites the
evidence of government doctors who worked in
hospitals within the theatre of conflict without any
reference to the context within which these
doctors provided testimony to the LLRC (i.e. the
fact that they were taken into custody, after which
they publicly recanted their earlier statements on
the situation during the final stages of the war).
Thus, the credibility of the evidence provided to
the LLRC by these doctors was heavily
compromised. The Commission failed to call for
crucial evidence in terms of Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) footage, videos of aerial attacks
and military logs particularly since military
witnesses acknowledged that every attack was
videotaped and received the official sanction of
the commanders. The LLRC also failed to
consider the significance of population estimates
provided by the then
(Contd: on P6)
tenth month of the year and Pongal means
“boiling over” or “spill over”. Pongal is referred to
as ” Tamizhar Thirunaal" ("the festival of Tamils").
Thai Pongal is celebrated either on the 14th or
the 15th of January every year. In India it is
usually observed as a three-day festival
dedicated to the worshiping of Mother Nature.
Bhogi or Bong is the day prior to Pongal, it is on
this day that people get rid of their old belongings
and prepare themselves to focus on new
beginnings. Houses are cleaned and decorated
to bring out the festive looks. The second day is
Pongal which falls on the first day of the tenth
month called “Thai” in the Tamil calendar. And the
last day is called Mattu Pongal; it is a day where
cattle are felicitated as the role of cattle is vital in
Indian Tamil farms and agriculture. The idea
behind Mattu Pongal is to pay tribute and
homage to the cattle for their annual hard works.
On the day of Pongal it is a tradition that people
surrounding the vessel to shout out "Pongalo
Pongal!" as the milk boils over the vessel and
then introduce freshly harvested rice grains in the
pot and blow the conch (sanggu). The
boiled/spilled over milk is regarded as a good
omen according to the Tamils as it connotes
prosperity and luck. Then the cooked rice is
offered to the Sun God during sunrise to show
their gratitude for their harvest.
CONT FROM P2
with respect to violations of IHL amounting to war
crimes and crimes against humanity. These
allegations include deliberately underestimating
civilian numbers in the Vanni in order to deprive
them of food and medicine; deliberately or
recklessly endangering the lives of civilians in No
Fire Zones (NFZs); targeting civilian objects
including hospitals; and executing or causing the
disappearance of surrendees.
Thai Pongal
CONT FROM P1
... On the day of Pongal it is a tradition that
people surrounding the vessel to shout out
"Pongalo Pongal!" as the milk boils over the
vessel and then introduce freshly harvested rice
grains in the pot and blow the conch (sanggu).
The boiled/spilled over milk is regarded as a
good omen according to the Tamils as it connotes
prosperity and luck. Then the cooked rice is
offered to the Sun God during sunrise to show
their gratitude for their harvest.
According to the Tamil calendar Thai refers to the
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19 JANUARY - 2012
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NEWSLANKA
19 JANUARY - 2012
Doctor who aided Tamil Tigers wants job back
A Sri Lankan doctor jailed in the United States for
aiding Tamil Tigers rebels has asked to be
allowed to return to work in north London.
Dr. Murugesu Vinayagamoorthy spent four and a
half years, from 2006, in a US prison for providing
material support to the proscribed organisation.
He now wants to return to his practice in Enfield,
the General Medical Council (GMC) heard.
He denies having been a member of the Tamil
Tigers.
'Child soldiers'
Dr Vinayagamoorthy, 62, has been suspended
from practising at the surgery in Edmonton he
shares with his wife Pushpam.
The GMC argued that his fitness to practise had
been impaired because of his conviction and
involvement with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam) which had "stepped wildly beyond
any reasonable boundary".
He denied being an LTTE member, however.
A disciplinary hearing in Manchester heard that
Charles Garside QC, for the GMC, said: "My
Dr. Vinayagamoorthy was detained following a
fundamental submission is that a doctor who so
taped conversation with undercover agents in the
far departs from moral and ethical standards as to
US who were purporting to be State Department
actively support a terrorist organisation is
officials.
The doctor was said to have remarked: "As far as impaired."
He outlined the history
suicide bombing, there was no
of the LTTE's guerrilla
option. We had to achieve what we
separatist war against
want to achieve."
the Sinhalese
He went on: "A few child soldiers are
government in which
alright, a lot was really bad."
'Unease with doctor'
suicide bombing was
used.
It was alleged he attempted to bribe
"The doctor practises in
the supposed officials into removing
London, a very multithe LTTE from the country's list of
racial city including
designated foreign terrorist
The medical regulator has argued Sinhalese and Tamil
organisations.
to uphold the doctor's suspension people," he said.
He was also accused of operating
"A substantial number
the bank accounts of a man who was
of people would feel unease at consulting a doctor
in charge of arms procurement for the
who was convicted of offences in relation to
organisation.
terrorism."
At the GMC hearing he admitted passing
The hearing continues. (Source: BBC)
details of the payment required for the bribe
on to the group.
Congratulations Carey College!
(dailynews.lk) Carey College Colombo 8 was placed first in the Primary Group Dance
(boys) at the All Island Dancing and Drama Competition 2011. They performed the dance
'Polpithi Haraka'. The students were trained by the school dancing teachers, Waruni
Liyanage, Nuwan Ranjith Priyanga and Siril Devaratne. The lyrics and the music direction
was done by M.R. Chulasinghe and Piyum Chulasinghe.
China offers SL help to find
Silk Route wrecks
(dailymirror.lk) Chinese authorities
are seeking permission to explore
Sri Lanka's coastline for possible
Chinese ship wrecks from the
ancient Silk Route era, an official
said Wednesday.
Sri Lanka, an Indian Ocean island,
was a key trading post along the
ancient Silk Route which saw silk,
spices and handicrafts travel by
road and sea between Asia and
Europe.The seas around the
island's southern port of Galle are
known to have at least 75 ancient
ship wrecks, of which 25 have been
well documented.
The unsolicited offer by Science
Foundation of China to deploy
experts to look for vessels along Sri
Lanka's coast was under
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consideration, Director General of
Archaeology Senarath Disanayake
told AFP. He said, however, that the
Chinese had asked to keep half of
all antiquities brought up from the
ocean bed -- a condition Sri Lanka
could not agree to.
"They also want us to pay for a
vessel to carry out the exploration
and that is something we can't
afford," Disanayake said.
China is increasing its presence in
Sri Lanka with the construction of a
deep-sea port in the island's south
as well as several other key
infrastructure projects.
Sri Lanka's immediate neighbour
India has become sensitive about
increasing Chinese influence on the
island. (Source: AFP)
ISSUE 1050
TNA response
CONT FROM P2
Government Agent for Mullaitivu, or consider the
authenticity of a letter sent by the Commissioner
General of Essential Services to the Government
Agents in the Vanni directing them to refrain from
requesting international agencies for food.
Crucially, the Commission failed to consider the
fact that the Ministry of Defence had issued
statements in mid-February 2009 grossly
underestimating the Vanni population. Such vital
evidence points towards a systematic attempt on
the part of the government to prevent food from
reaching the starving population of the Vanni, and
thus ought to have been closely examined by the
LLRC.
x. The LLRC also fails to correctly apply the law to
the facts. It neglects to examine the possibilities of
violations of IHL and domestic law that are credibly
alleged to have been committed.
xi. The Commission erroneously concludes that
the definitions of 'civilian' and 'civilian population' in
IHL are unclear. First, the LLRC ought to have
elaborated upon the definition of direct or
continuous participation in hostilities and its
implication on the Principle of Distinction in order
to ascertain the proper definition of 'civilian' in IHL.
The law is clear that whoever does not fulfil the
criteria of direct participation in hostilities is a
'civilian' and cannot be targeted. Instead of dealing
with the law, the LLRC seeks to divert attention to
the 'unprecedented' nature of the Sri Lankan
experience. Yet the Commission does not justify
why the criteria that have been adopted to define
the concept of 'direct participation in hostilities' are
not applicable to the Sri Lankan situation.
Moreover, in defining the term 'civilian population',
the Commission makes no attempt to apply the
jurisprudence of the International Criminal Tribunal
for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which has held
that the absolute ban on attacks against civilians
extends to a population that is 'predominantly
civilian', and that 'the presence within the civilian
population of individuals who do not come within
the definition of civilians [i.e. combatants] does not
deprive the population of its civilian character.'
xii. The LLRC concludes that the government
security forces did not deliberately target civilians
within the NFZs. While there is credible evidence
that the LTTE did in fact mingle with the civilians
within the NFZs and prevented them from leaving,
the only narrative that the LLRC accepts is that the
security forces had no choice but to respond to
LTTE attacks from within the NFZs. This analysis
is flawed for a number of reasons.
xiii. First, it ignores established IHL principles with
respect to the Principle of Distinction, which hold
that an attack remains unlawful if it is conducted
simultaneously at a lawful military object and an
unlawfully targeted civilian population.
xiv. Second, the LLRC's preferred narrative of
'retaliation to LTTE attacks' is an unreasonable
generalisation that does not apply to numerous
accounts by victims of the conflict, and particularly
to the attack on the United Nations Hub at the
Suthanthirapuram junction located inside the first
NFZ.
xv. Third, the Commission wrongly concludes that
the actions of the security forces complied with the
Principle of Proportionality. The LLRC reaches its
conclusion that the attacks were proportionate
without actually applying the test of weighing
anticipated military advantage against civilian loss.
(Contd: on P8)
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Truce between Buddhika and UNP
Salley irked by Maharoof being appointed
above him?
By Lal Gunesekera
(island.lk) Experienced Municipal councilor of the
Colombo MC Azad Salley threatens to resign from
the CMC on Thursday (19), but will continue to be
with the SLFP and not rejoin the UNP, which he
left to contest as an UPFA candidate at the Local
Government Elections to the CMC.
Salley told The Island yesterday (15) that his
resignation would be made official at a Council
meeting on Thursday (19).
He said that it was the duty of the Council
members in whatever party they represented to
see that the CMC administration moved forward
and not oppose every proposal for the sake of
opposing. If one could not work as a team its
pointless to remain.
Salley said that he had informed Additional
Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath on
January first about his intention to resign from the
CMC and that it was embarrassing for him to sit
with persons who were found guilty of
malpractices in the previous Council which was
dissolved.
Yohan Perera
He had sacrificed the chance of contesting for
Mayor and a position in the UNP Working
Committee to join the UPFA to contest the
elections to the CMC, but he just could not work
together any longer with corrupt Councillors and
that one day very soon everything would come to
light.
Meanwhile another senior politician who crossed
over to the UPFA from the UNP to contest the
CMC elections Mohamed Maharoof was made
Deputy Group Leader of the UPFA at a meeting
held at the CMC UPFA Leader’s office on Friday
(13).
Maharoof was elected to the CMC from the UNP in
1982 and was Deputy Mayor in 1991. He was
elected an MP from Colombo Central in 2000 and
appointed Minister of Urban Public Utility in 2001,
but crossed over to the UPFA from UNP last year
(2011).
Observers said what has irked Salley most was
CMC Opposition leader Milinda Moragoda’s
decision to appoint Mahroof as his Deputy in the
Council
A/L results fiasco, President to take
appropriate action
Sandun A. Jayasekera
(dailymirror.lk) Though the five member committee
that probed the 2011 GCE Advanced Level results
fiasco held certain officials at the data processing
unit of the Examination Department responsible
for the blunder, it was up to the President to take
appropriate action against them, committee
secretary Dhara Wijetilaka said today.
“Since the committee was appointed by President
Rajapaksa, the report was handed over to him and
it is up to him to act accordingly,” Mrs. Wijetilaka
said.
“We are not ready to comment on the findings or
recommendations of the report or to make it a
public document. It is entirely the responsibility of
the Presidential Secretariat to act on the
recommendations and release it to the public,”
Mrs. Wijetilaka stressed.
Asked as to why the committee did not inquire into
the core issue, the controversial Z-score, she said
the committee was not mandated to pass
judgments on the Z-score and therefore did not
invite Prof. R.O. Thatil who reportedly invented the
Z-score for University enrolment in Sri Lanka. (
Protesters allege intimidation in the north
Activists who travelled from the South to Jaffna
to protest against disappearances say they
were stopped by state security forcers.
Udul Premaratna who spoke on behalf of the
Movement against Disappearances and
Abductions said that they were blocked at
several places north of Omanthai, Vavuniya.
UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana whose party
membership was suspended after being at logger
heads with the party hierarchy had come to a truce
with the party, General Secretary Tissa
Aattanayake said today.
Mr. Attanayake told a news conference today that
he has had a discussion with Mr. Pathirana and
had come to an agreement. He said this
agreement should be approved by the working
committee of the party. Mr. Attanayake however
did not elaborate on the agreement.
Meanwhile the UNP General Secretary denied
reports which said that he (the General Secretary)
had requested the party members and other
associates of the party not to attend a get together
organised by Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri
Jayasekera. According to the reports, the request
had been made in writing. He said a police inquiry
TNA response
CONT FROM P6
This test could not have been adequately
performed without a reasonable estimate of
civilian casualties and damage to civilian objects
caused due to each attack. Moreover, the
Commission does not examine in detail whether
the security forces could have used alternatives to
the use of heavy weapons in order to minimise
civilian casualties, particularly in the case of the
second and third NFZs, where the government's
own stated position was that heavy weaponry was
unnecessary. The LLRC chooses to cite an
obscure and irrelevant precedent set in 1990 by
the International Centre for the Settlement of
Investment Disputes (emphasis added) to
conclude that a re-construction of all the
conditions under which the combat action took
place is next to impossible. Yet it failed to cite the
would be held on this issue as the likely position is
that some interested party had forged his
signature. Mr. Attanayake said he had sent a copy
of this letter which he received from Mr.
Jayasekera to the IGP.
He also denied the reports that a disciplinary
inquiry would be held against Mr. Jayasekera. “No
such decision was made at any time nor did we
discuss such a matter at the working committee
meeting on Monday,” he said.
However he said action would be taken against
anyone who does not adhere to the order made by
the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe according
to section 7.3 of the party constitution. According
to these orders every member has to emphasise
the party’s cohesiveness and political line. In
addition, no one would be allowed to function on
their own and organise meetings and other
functions.
jurisprudence of the ICTY, which has
unequivocally held that commanders must
consider whether striking a target is expected to
cause incidental loss of life, injury to civilians,
damage to civilian objects or a combination
thereof, which would be excessive in relation to
the concrete and direct military advantage
anticipated. Accordingly, the ICTY has held that if
such casualties are expected to result, the attack
should not be pursued.
xvi. Moreover, the LLRC fails to evaluate the
implications of the unilateral declaration of the
second and third NFZs. In light of the experience
with respect to the first NFZ and the LTTE's tactics
of mingling with the civilian population, it could be
easily inferred that the government, at the time of
declaring the second and third zones, was well
aware of the likelihood that civilians would be
seriously
(Contd: on P14)
CID probes charges against Mervyn
By Chris Kamalendran
"We were checked meaninglessly and even
falsely accused. They said that they have
received information that we were carrying
bombs. It took five hours for our vehicles to
pass ten kilometres
from the Vavuniya
town "said Udul
Premaratna.
The protesters who
were not able to
enter Jaffna had to
return after holding a
demonstration in
Puliyankulam.
"Nearly 50 soldiers
carrying poles
intimidated us in
Puliyankulam,"
charged Mr.
Premaratne.
The planned protest
was organised by a
number of political
parties and human
rights organisations.
CHECK THE LATEST ISSUE
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ISSUE 1050
(sundaytimes.lk) Allegations of extortion and other
illegal activities by Minister Mervyn Silva are being
probed by Criminal Investigation Department
detectives on a directive by Police Chief
N.K.Illangakoon.
The probe follows a petition handed over to the
Ministry of Defence by UPFA members of the
Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha .A copy of the petition
has also been given to the CID.
According to the petition, the alleged extortions
took place when commercial establishments were
forced to pay vast sums of money for a so-called
Kelaniya Reawakening movement.
Container yard operators had been told to pay
large sums of money on the grounds that roads in
the area were going to be paved with concrete.
One of the biggest victims in the recent months
has been a leading tea export house. Recently two
of Minister Silva’s associates were abducted and
released after being detained by unidentified
groups while a third person had surrendered to the
police on his own.
The Sunday Times learns that Mr Silva’s
coordniating secretary Amal Rodrgo who was
detained for about 10 days and released had soon
after left the country while another persons was
abducted in Moratuwa and released in Negombo
three days later. Meanwhile, both Mr. Silva and
Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna
Ranaweera have given evidence before a probe
PS members petition the MOD.
Pic. Mangala Weerasekera
committee appointed by the Sri Lanka Freedom
Party.
This committee comprises Minister and SLFP
General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena Minister
Susil Premajayantha, who is also General
Secretary of the UPFA. For the past two weeks,
Minister Silva and the PS Chairman have been
publicly accusing each other of corruption and
acting against the party’s interests in the Kelaniya
area.
Minister Premajayantha said they would submit
their report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who
would take a decision. Meanwhile an attempt by
Minister Silva to meet the President after the
weekly Cabinet meeting last Wednesday proved
futile with the President turning down the request.
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19 JANUARY - 2012
Reformists tell Sirikotha inquiry panel:
Ranil, cronies must go
Former Galle Dist. MP to launch ‘MahindaRanil partnership’ tomorrow
By Shamindra Ferdinando
(island.lk) UNP reformists yesterday appeared
before a three-member committee inquiring into
Decenber 19 incidents at Sirikotha following the
re-election of Ranil Wickremesinghe, to reiterate
their demand to oust Wickremesinghe from the
leadership.
They also demanded that all those wanting to
retain Wickremesinghe, too, should be chased
out of the party. Speaking to The Island on behalf
of the reformists after the conclusion of Sunday’s
inquiry, Lal Perera, one of those accused of
going on the rampage at Sirikoha, emphasized
that all 18 UNPers arrested by the police at the
behest of the leadership on false charges,
appeared before the three-member committee.
They told the committee that the so-called secret
vote hadn’t really been secret due to ballot
papers issued to Working Committee members
eligible to vote at the Dec. 19 poll being
numbered by the party. They also stressed the
importance of identifying those responsible for
bringing in a group of outsiders to Sirikotha on
the day before the poll to suppress dissent.
The committee is headed by attorney-at-law
Srinath Perera. Wickremesinghe constituted the
committee after vowing to punish all those
responsible for Dec. 19 incidents regardless of
their standing in the party.
Perera said that they responded to a recent
advertisement published by Sirikotha inviting
those having information pertaining to the
incident to appear before the committee.
Wickremesinghe’s camp would never have
thought we would appear before a committee
widely believed to be loyal to the incumbent
leader. Now they have an opportunity to prove
their critics wrong, the spokesperson said.
Srinath Perera’s committee couldn’t be unaware
Govt. accountable for missing civilians in war
of the urgent need to throw out Wickremesinghe
and his cronies, whose failure to launch a
cohesive campaign targeting the corrupt
Rajapaksa regime was one of the major reasons
for the deterioration of the party, he said.
The Reformists said that they wanted the Srinath
Perera’s committee to release its complete
observations and recommendations. They
dismissed threats to remove Deputy Leader
Sajith Premadasa and parliamentarian Dayasiri
Jayasekera as being nothing but a joke.
They alleged that Wickremesinghe was dancing
to the tune of President Rajapaksa, whose hand
could be clearly seen.
According to Lal Perera the Reformists would go
ahead with their campaign regardless of
attempts by Wickremesinghe to silence those
pushing for his ouster.
Former Galle District UNP MP Lakshman
Ananda Lanarolle, who once nursed Baddegama
electorate will launch a book titled ‘MahindaRanil Hawula’ ( Mahinda-Ranil partnership) at the
National Library Services Board tomorrow
(Jan.17) evening in support the Reformists’
campaign.
Sources told The Island that Lanarolle, who had
been at the forefront of the struggle against
Wickremesinghe would explain how
Wickremesinghe had sacrificed the party to
protect his position with the support of President
Rajapaksa.
Former Gampaha District MP Reginald Perera
and Southern Provincial Councillor, Maithree
Gunaratne are scheduled to address the
gathering. Among those expected to attend the
book launch are one-time Assistant Leader,
Rukman Senanayake and former Vice Chairman,
Imitiaz Bakeer Marker.
Sources said that their ‘oust Ranil’ campaign was
on track in spite of Wickremesinghe securing the
first-ever poll on Dec. 19.
Two to contest for
BASL top post
SPECIAL OFFER
(sundaytimes.lk) Two prominent members of
the legal profession will contest for the
Presidency of the Bar Association of Sri
Lanka (BASL) at its election of office bearers
to be held next month. They are UNP MP
Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe P.C and Thirantha
Walaliyadde P.C.
Mr. Rajapakshe submitted his nomination
papers to Returning Officer Solicitor General
Palitha Fernando PC., to contest the post of
BASL president. The six proposers of Mr.
Rajapakshe's candidature are Mr. Faisz
Musthapha, PC, Mr. D.S. Wijesinghe, PC, Mr.
Gamini Marapana, PC, Mr. S.A.
Parathalingam, PC, Mr. Ikram Mohamed, PC
and Mr. Manohara de Silva, PC, the
seconders being Ms. Anoma Gunathilleke,
Mr. Neville Abeyratne, Dr. Harsha Cabraal,
PC, Mr. K. Neelakanda, Mr. Udaya Rohan de
Silva, and Mrs. Chathurika Wijesinghe.
Thirantha Walaliyadde P.C. too will contest
for the post of President. The proposers of
his name are Suhada Gamlath P.C., Kapila
Waidyaratna, Upul Jayasuriya,
G.E.W.Gunaratna, Ravi Matugama and
Saliya Peiris. Elections for office-bearers for
the year 2012/2013 will be held on February
22.
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ASSOS
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‘We cannot face families with plethora of
questions being asked’
TNA- Govt talks on Jan 17-19
By Ravi Ladduwahetty
www.easycold.co.uk
Unit 1 Eastgate Business Park, Argall Way, London E10 7PG
Office: 0208 5583 666 / 0203 0076 507
the manner that it ought to have been.
However, Senior Minister and Communist Party
Leader DEW Gunasekera said that it was stated
in the LLRC report that nothing could be done in
respect of the missing persons as there was no
evidence. Leader of the House Nimal Siripala
De Silva and government spokesman Keheliya
Rambukwella were both not available for
comment.
Meanwhile, the government and the TNA will
meet on three consecutive days January 17-19
in respect of the land powers in accordance with
the 13th Amendment and to arrive at a
consensus, TNA National List MP M.
Sumanthiran said.
He also said that there have been a series of
talks between the government and the party and
he was confident that some agreement was
possible in that direction.
He also stressed that the land powers which
were specified in the 13th Amendment of the
Constitution were not being adhered to and
stressed that some efforts should be made to
reaching agreement in implementing them.
(island.lk) The government was responsible for
all the missing and dead civilians in the northern
and eastern theatres of war, but little had been
done to address the issue, the Tamil National
Alliance charged yesterday.
"This is an absurd situation where thousands of
civilians died and have gone missing and
especially in the final phases of the war and
even the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission ( LLRC) report has taken it lightly
and mentioned it only as a passing comment
which is the most grave issue of the entire
aspects of that report," TNA Spokesman and
Jaffna District MP Suresh Premachandran told
The Island yesterday.
"We were expecting proper answers for this in
the LLRC report which has failed to provide the
true picture on this and we are grilled by the
people of the northern and eastern provinces as
to what has happened to
their kith and kin and we
are left speechless," he
said.
The Jaffna District MP
said it might not be an
issue for the government,
but it had become an
issue of epic proportions
for them as they were the
representatives of the
Tamil people and it was
the government which
was answerable to the
people of the North and
the East in this regard, he
said.
Responding to a question
as to what the TNA’s
expectations from the
government in this regard
were,he said: "It all
depends on what the
reaction of the
(sundaytimes.lk) UNP's Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa visited the
government is to this
Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter, Ven Thibbotuwawe Sri
sensitive issue. Even the
Sumangala Thera to obtain blessings on his birthday, on Thursday.
LLRC report has not
The incumbent chief priest presented Mr. Premadasa with a jewelmentioned this aspect in
studded replica of an elephant .
Bejewelled elephant
for b’day boy Sajith
President has immunity - US Justice Dept
(sundayobserver.lk/2012/01/15) The US Justice
Department, based on a directive from its legal
adviser Harold Koh, has suggested to the District
Court of the District of Columbia that President
Mahinda Rajapaksa has immunity from the
Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA) suit filed
by three Tamil plaintiffs for alleged complicity in
war crimes.
US Case law indicates that no Court has ever
subjected a sitting Head of State to suit once the
Executive Branch has suggested the Head of
State immunity.
Judge Colleen Kollar Kotelly had earlier called
upon the State Department to indicate by
January 13, 2012 whether or not the State
intends to file a Statement of Interest regarding
issues identified in President Rajapaksa’s motion
filed last month, and if so, a date by which the
Statement of Interest would be filed.
Judge Kotelly, who served as the Presiding
Judge on United States Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act (FISA), has considerable
expertise in legal issues on extra-territorial
defendants and immunity defences.
The response from the US Justice Department
was filed on Friday before the deadline.A
spokesperson for Tamils Against Genocide
(TAG) which sponsored the legal action said
they expected Judge Kotelly to agree with the
suggestion and to dismiss the case, the proLTTE TamilNet reported. It acknowledged that
the suggestion of immunity clearly articulated the
US State Department’s continuing support to the
Sri Lankan President.
The decision by the US State Department has
closed the avenues available for bringing legal
action against President Rajapaksa in US
Courts, legal analysts said.
UNP rejects A/L Results Committee Report,
says politicized
by Zacki Jabbar
7 YEARS WARRANTY
ISSUE 1050
The UNP yesterday rejected the report of
the Committee that examined
the mix up in last year’s
Advanced Level Examination
results and countrywide
rankings, alleging that there
had been government
interference.
Akila Viraj Kariyawasam MP,
told a news conference in
Colombo that that a proper reassessment of the Z-Score
was required, but the Committee which
was under political pressure, had white
washed the culprits in an attempt to give
its members an exit mechanism.
"The Z-Scores should be assessed
afresh to rectify any injustices that have
occurred," he said adding that
unless this was done the
students who had been affected,
would feel victimized and also
suffer mentally.
There are many who were made
to believe that they had entered
university, only to be told in less
than 24 hours of their being
omitted from the list. Moreover,
the education authorities should
calculate the Z-Scores from
scratch, the MP observed.
Kariyawasam had earlier written to Prime
Minister D.M.Jayaratne requesting him to
ask the Speaker to re-summon
parliament on January 14, ahead of the
scheduled date of January 17, to debate
the mix up in the A/L results and
countrywide rankings.
Though technological issues have been
blamed for the errors, it was clear that
the urgency with which the results were
released had led to the mess up. Since
contradictory views were being
expressed on a matter of utmost national
importance, it was imperative that the
highest legislative body in the country
addressed the issue so that the mistakes
could be rectified and repetitions
avoided, he said.
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19 JANUARY - 2012
University teachers join the fray as undergrads’
protests snowball
(sundaytimes.lk) Academic staff to strike on
Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake and others
Tuesday as Govt. under pressure puts on hold
are set to meet with student representatives
private university Bill By Leon Berenger
shortly, in a bid to defuse the crisis, a senior official
The wave of student protests over the proposal to
said.
introduce private universities in the country has
“We are in the process of planning a meeting with
now spread even higher, with the academic staff
the student leaders and giving a hearing to their
lined up to strike on Tuesday, in support of the
problems. Together, we must work out a solution,
undergraduates, as the Government backed
or else the entire education sector will be in
down, saying it had put the move on hold.
disarray,” Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil
Federation of University
Navaratne said.
Teachers’ Association
He cautioned that,
(FUTA) spokesman Dr.
there were others
Mahim Mendis said that
who plan to ride
the Government had no
on the student
right to bring proposals,
issue to further
private universities or
their personal
whatever, sans
agendas. “This
consultations with the
should never be
relevant people
allowed to be the
involved in those
case. Therefore,
subject areas.
we should work
He added that, there
out a solution at
was zero transparency
the earliest,” he
by the Government
said.
when dealing with
Earlier in the
important matters
week, university
concerning higher
students
Rajarata Medical Faculty students holding an Adhishtana throughout the
education in this
pooja. Pix by Indika Handuwala and Athula Bandara
country. “Higher
country took turns
Education is an
to hit the streets in
important component in any country, but the
noisy protests, beginning from Colombo to the hill
Government does not want to see it that way, and
capital of Kandy, and later extending to the south
therefore, a pittance of 1.9% was put aside from
in Matara, as well as to Anuradhapura and
the State coffers towards this sector.
Ratnapura.
“The authorities decided to freeze the
The end result of it all was the Sri
controversial Bill only after we spoke of trade
Jayawardhanapura University being forced to put
union action. This has always been the case in
up shutters, the Medical Faculty at the Rajarata
previous issues as well. Therefore, their word
Campus being closed, nearly half a dozen
cannot be trusted, and the upcoming strike on
students arrested and put behind bars, with at
Tuesday is to send a strong message to those
least some 40 undergraduates seeking medical
holding high office,” he said.He warned that, if the
treatment, following clashes with the police.
Government fails to address these issues without
At the start, the Government took a tough stand,
delay, there will be more trade union action in
refusing to change its position, saying that the
various forms
demonstrations were being fuelled by covert
The Government, for its part, says that only a
groups with an armed uprising in mind, and
small section of the people are against this move,
warned of a severe crackdown, if the protests
while the majority who are for it should speak up,
continued.The students, for their part, scoffed at
or resort to some kind of action. However, Higher
(Contd: on P15)
ISSUE 1050
Teacher unions dismiss expert
committee report
by Dasun Edirisinghe
(island.lk) Teacher trade unions yesterday
dismissed the recommendations made by experts
committee appointed by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa to look into the matters related to the
mess up of the district rankings of the GCE (A/L)
results.
General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Service
Union (CTSU) Mahinda Jayasinghe told The
Island that there was nothing different between the
statements of the Education Minister and the
experts committee on the messing up of rankings.
He said that the report was totally fabricated by
the government.
There were five steps in the results evaluating
process: marking the answer scripts, grading the
results (A, B, C and S), computerizing the data,
making country rankings and finally district
ranking, Jayasinghe said.
"The committee recommendation conveniently
said like the Minister that the error was in the final
step and it was corrected by the Examinations
Department the following day," he said.
The trade unionist claimed that none of the
experts from the statistics field were included in
the committee. It should have investigated the
formula which combined the Z scores of two
syllabuses.
Jayasinghe said they were demanding the reevaluation of answer scripts along with
investigation of the Z score formula which
combined the results of two different syllabuses
without putting innocent students in trouble.
General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union
Joseph Stalin said that the committee failed to
investigate the messing up of the results.
Stalin noted that the committee report said there
was nothing wrong, but they recommend that it
should not be repeated next time and called for
action to prevent such incidents.
"So, the committee admitted there was something
wrong with the results," he said.
SL Tamils want self-determination
(dailymirror.lk) A Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora group
said Sunday that it will support discussions for a
political settlement on the island if the solution
alters the structure of governance in the country.
The Global Tamil Forum (GTF), which is seen by
the Sri Lankan government as an organisation
which promotes the ideologies of the Tamil Tiger
rebels, said that Tamil speaking people in Sri
Lanka are entitled to the right to selfdetermination, reported Xinhua. In a statement
emailed to the Sri Lankan and international media,
the GTF which has offices in several countries but
not in Sri Lanka, said that the ethnic conflict in Sri
Lanka has not ended despite the end of the war
nearly three years ago.The Sri Lankan
government defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in May
2009 after 30 years of war but since then has
initiated talks with the Tamil National Alliance
(TNA), a key political party in Sri Lanka. However,
the discussions which have failed to see the light
of a final political solution despite pressure from
India.
Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna is
scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka Monday to push
for progress on a political solution for the
Tamils."The governance structure of the country
should recognise that the Tamil speaking peoples
are entitled to the right to self-determination and
granting to them irreversible autonomy in the
areas of historic habitation. We for our part will
support the full implementation of such an
arrangement if agreed upon, and urge the
international community to encourage the Sri
Lankan government to come up with such an
acceptable political solution and ensure its
genuine implementation," the GTF said in the
statement sent to the media.
The GTF has been having discussions with
representatives of foreign governments including
the US and Britain, urging for a political solution in
Sri Lanka.The Sri Lankan government, however,
does not recognise any statement from the GTF
and even boycotted an invitation to attend the
celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the
African National Congress in South Africa as the
GTF was among the invitees. (Source: IANS)
Mahinda acts swiftly to scotch Chamal for PM story
Enjoys "Puswedilla’’ at Lionel Wendt Theatre
By Shamindra Ferdinando
(island.lk) President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday (Jan 13)
thwarted what insiders called a calculated move on the
part of disgruntled elements within the SLFP-led
coalition to trigger a revolt against the Rajapaksas.
A furious president acted swiftly and decisively to scotch
rapidly spreading rumour that his eldest brother Speaker
Chamal Rajapaksa was to be sworn in as the Premier at
the expense of D.M. Jayaratne.
Asked whether the president had felt the move posed a
serious threat to the unity and stability in the coalition,
well informed sources pointed out had the SLFP leader
took it lightly he wouldn’t have called SLFP seniors and
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leaders of UPFA constituent parties to Temple Trees
Friday evening to personally assure them there wouldn’t
be a cabinet reshuffle.
Having neutralized immediate threat of dissension,
President Rajapaksa Saturday (Jan.14) evening enjoyed
‘puswedilla’, a political satire at the Lionel Wendt. Among
the audience were several top politicians and officials
and their families.
The much talked about drama depicts how President
Rajapaksa maneuvered besieged UNP leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe, the workings of the
president’s inner circle and the current
political issues.
Failure on the part of the president to
take remedial action could have
caused a catastrophic situation, the
sources said. The abortive bid to
trigger trouble in the dominant party in
the coalition, which had been free of
internal dissent over the past few
years, caused ripples in political circles.
The sources said that the move was a key part in the
overall political strategy pursued by those trying to
destabilize the SLFP in spite of the president introducing
the 18th Amendment to the Constitution to pave the way
for him to contest the presidency for an unprecedented
third term.
These sources said that during Friday’s meeting the
president on his own explained that the story doing the
rounds about Chamal being the next prime minister was
nothing but a lie aimed at fomenting internal strife in the
SLFP and the government.
He alleged that a member of his cabinet had conspired
with a section of the media to undermine the government
but stopped short of naming the culprit. However, he
declared that he got in touch with the newspaper which
was involved in the conspiracy.
The president was meeting UPFA seniors in the wake of
reports that Chamal Rajapaksa could be sworn in as
early as Jan. 17 when parliament met after the end of
the budget debate late last December.
Among those present at this meeting were SLFP
General Secretary Healthcare Minister Maithripala
Sirisena and Irrigation and Water Resources
Management and Leader of the
House Nimal Siripala De Silva, mentioned as being in
the frontline for the premiership.
They were joined by UPFA General Secretary Susil
Premajayantha, SLFP Treasurer Dallas Allahapperuma,
Minister S.B. Dissanayake, Minister Bandula
Gunawardena, Dew Gunasekera, Dinesh Gunawardene,
A.L.M. Athaulla and Wimal Weerawansa.
At the end of the informal meeting, the President invited
the ministers for dinner.
Responding to a query, the sources said that earlier
some speculated about Minister Basil Rajapaksa
seeking the premiership though that failed
to trigger a reaction among the party
seniors. However, recent reports on
Chamal Rajapaksa’s elevation to
premiership drew angry reactions from
some government members, they said.
The SLFP had been relatively free of
internal strife, while the UNP struggled to
come to terms with Sajith Premadasa
publicly challenging Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The sources said that in spite of a series of problems
plaguing the coalition there had never been a challenge
to the leadership. The Sunday Island learns that the
government is of the opinion that the UNP or the JVP
couldn’t pose a real challenge to the UPFA in the
foreseeable future unless a rift within the government
could cause a rebellion against the Rajapaksa family.
They pointed out that a section of the party resented the
government’s failure to rein newcomer R. Duminda Silva,
MP, leading to a gun battle between the ex-UNPer’s
gang and ex-SLFP strongman, Bharatha Lakshman
Premachandra on Oct. 8.
The assassination of Premachandra triggered strong
protests in the government, with a section alleging
President Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa of throwing their weight behind Silva.
Sources said that the ongoing battle between Public
Relations Minister Mervyn Silva and an influential
section of Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha members, too,
had placed the SLFP in an extremely difficult position,
with the latter pushing for punitive action against Silva.
``The government seemed to be harassed by Silvas,’’
the sources quipped referring to on and off criticism
leveled by former Chief Justice, Sarath Nanda Silva, R.
Duminda Silva and Mervyn Silva.
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Internet visas: More than
3,000 payments per day
(island.lk) More than
3,000 users make
payments for online
visas via Lanka Gate
Internet Payment
Gateway (IPG) , the
ICT Agency of Sri
Lanka (ICTA) said.
"Reports say that the
government’s income from the issue of online visas hit
the Rs. 70 million mark within 10 days," the agency
said.
The Lanka Gate Internet Payment Gateway (IPG) is the
country’s first government sector IT payment gateway
and was being implemented successfully, the
Department of Immigration and Emigration said.
Presidential Advisor
and ICTA Chairman
Professor P. W.
Epasinghe said that
in the future,
payments for all
government services
would be made via
the Lanka Gate
Internet Payment
(IPG) created by
ICTA.
From the beginning
of this year it has
been made obligatory
for all tourists to Sri
Lanka to obtain their
visas online. Within
eight days, close
upon 24,000 tourists
have paid visa fees
using the site, the
ICTA Chairman said.
ICTA eServices
Programme Head
Kanchana Thudugala
pointed out that daily
close upon 3,000
foreigners make
payments through the
Lanka Gate for
obtaining their visas.
In addition ICTA Chief
Executive Officer
Reshan Dewapura
said that there were
several government
services that could be
availed of without
making payment to
the Lanka Gate
Internet Payment
Gateway. Among
these are train and
bus time-tables,
current status of
applications for
national identity cards
and the obtaining of
vehicle revenue
licenses.
19 JANUARY - 2012
Harry’s post on HNB Board deemed vacated
(island.lk) Harry Jayawardena is deemed to
have vacated his post as Director of Hatton
National Bank PLC in keeping with Central
Bank governance regulations.
"At a meeting of Board of Directors of Hatton
National Bank PLC on January 12, 2012, it was
decided that by operation of Monetary Board
Direction No 11 of 2007, as amended by
Direction No 5 of 2008, issued under the
Banking Act, Mr. D H S (Harry) Jayawardena is
deemed to be vacated his
office as a Director of HNB
after having completed his
term of office," the bank said
in a stock exchange filing
yesterday (Jan. 17).
"His vacation of post as
Director of HNB was
accepted by the Board with
effect from December 31, 2011," the bank said.
Lankan shines at Hyderabad International Week
ISSUE 1050
TNA response
CONT FROM P8
exposed to harm. This inference gives credence to
the allegation that the government deliberately or
recklessly lured civilians into harm's way by
repeatedly declaring NFZs with the knowledge that
such zones would be subsequently attacked due to
the LTTE's presence within them.
xvii. The LLRC's overall analysis of the allegations
against the government reveals a fatal
contradiction. On the one hand, the LLRC
unquestioningly accepts the narrative provided by
the security forces that they carefully and
meticulously planned each attack and used
sophisticated means to ascertain the precise
location of civilians within the NFZs. The LLRC
also accepts the position of the government that
strict procedures were followed prior to each
attack. Hence the military command was intimately
aware of the nature and precise location of each
and every target. On the other hand, the
Commission concludes that the civilian deaths,
which did in fact occur, were unintentional, and
resulted from an unprecedented situation where no
other choice was possible. It also concludes that
decisions to return LTTE artillery fire were made in
the heat and confusion of an armed conflict by field
commanders in situ, and thus could not be secondguessed. This narrative of field commanders being
left with no option but to return fire despite the
presence of civilians in the area that was being
subjected to counter-attack contradicts the LLRC's
position that attacks had been carried out within
the NFZs only after careful planning and with
possession of intimate knowledge of the precise
whereabouts of civilians. Incidentally, it is also
diametrically at odds with the internationally
publicised position of the government during the
last stages of the war, which was that the use of
heavy weaponry was no longer necessary. If the
location of civilians were known, then their deaths
could not be simply dismissed as unintentional
without further investigation. Hence the LLRC's
analysis is, at best, self-contradictory, and reflects
its reluctance to genuinely examine the allegations
against the government.
(Contd: on P15)
Harry out!
by Dasun Edirisinghe
Prabath Samarasooriya did Sri Lanka proud by successfully showcasing two sets of
collections ‘Expect the unexpected’ inspired by Sri Lankan eclectic culture and ‘Jassana’
inspired by the Jessana area in Sri Lanka. Using strong elements in this collection such as
bright and bold colours and prints, Prabath concentrated on a creative cut and simple yet
dramatic silhouettes. Commenting on the collection Prabath said “I just want to depict all
my Sri Lankan collections which use local fabrics, which makes it very unique. Enjoying
immense success in Hyderabad, Prabath certainly made an impression on the Indian
market; so much so that he had a sellout show.
(island.lk) Petroleum
Industries Minister Susil
Premajayantha has
appointed Wasantha
Ekanayake, a board member
of the Ceylon Petroleum
Corporation (CPC) as its
acting chairman.
The appointment will come
into effect on January 16.
This follows chairman Harry
Jayawardena handing over
his resignation to the Minister on Friday.
"The Minister has accepted the resignation", official
sources said yesterday. "Jayewardena is out".
Ekanayake will oversee duties until a new
chairman is named.
Ekanayake, an officer of the Sri Lanka
Administrative Service (SLAS), works for the
Ministry of Finance and Planning. He sits on the
CPC Board as the Treasury’s representative.
'War tourism' attracts millions of visitors to Sri Lanka
(thenational.ae) DUBAI // The Sri Lankan
government is eager to tap into growing interest
in the UAE to see parts of the island nation that
had been unsafe for decades.
Since 26 years of civil war ended in 2009, Sri
Lanka has been rebuilding its battered north and
encouraging tourism internally and from outside
the country. Much of this is "war tourism", sights
such as a tractor converted into a tank and a
network of underground tunnels that the Tamil
Tigers dug.
Sarath Wijesinghe, Sri Lanka's ambassador to
the UAE, said in the past few months the number
of tourists visiting his country had increased by
46 per cent.
"In fact in the northern and eastern areas we
have are seeing around 500,000 tourists per
month."
Overall, the numbers of visitors to Sri Lanka was
900,000 in December alone.
Mr Wijesinghe said there was an appetite for "war
tourism" as many people were curious and
inquisitive about the history of the country.
"I would say you can call it war tourism but we
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are looking to increase all kinds of
tourism including medical, cricket and
environmental," Mr Wijesinghe said,
adding tourists would be able to learn
more about the civil war and see what it
was like for people during that time.
Mobisher Rabbani, the president of the
Overseas Pakistanis and Sri Lankan
Society in Dubai, last month visited the
city of Jaffna at the island's northern tip.
"We were taken to see a network of
underground tunnels used by the Tamil
Tigers and it was amazing to see how
well everything was fitted out," Mr
Rabbani said. "The strangest sight for
me was seeing a tractor that had been
converted into a tank with slabs of
War relics, such as this destroyed water tank in Jaffna,
armour attached to it."
where Mobisher Rabbani stands, have become popular
The war relics have been preserved by destinations in Sri Lanka. Courtesy of Mobisher Rabbani
the government and have information
has been a popular destination for expatriate
boards telling people what happened at the
Pakistanis.
scene.
The number of Sri Lankans in the Emirates is
He said Pakistan supported the Sri Lankan
estimated at 300,000.
government from 1989 to 2009 and the island
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TNA response
CONT FROM P14
xviii. A similar criticism may be levelled at the LLRC
with respect to its analysis of the allegation that the
security forces deliberately targeted hospitals.
While admitting that hospitals were in fact shelled,
the Commission concludes that, due to the
nonavailability of primary evidence of a technical
nature, it was not possible to reach a definitive
conclusion that one party or the other was
responsible for the shelling. This position is difficult
to maintain given the purported precautions taken
by the security forces to minimise civilian
casualties. Evidence before the Commission
revealed that the security forces had at their
disposal 'state of the art' surveillance devices that
enabled them to closely monitor the conflict zone,
often in 'real time', in order to monitor the
movements of the civilians with a view to avoiding
civilian casualties. Yet the Commission failed to
call for such surveillance footage or to recommend
further investigations into the shelling of hospitals.
xix. The LLRC admits to over a thousand cases of
alleged disappearances of persons after surrender
to or arrest by security forces. Hence it
recommends that a Special Commissioner of
Investigation be appointed to investigate alleged
disappearances and provide material to the
Attorney General to initiate criminal proceedings
as appropriate. However, the LLRC makes it clear
that, in its opinion, these disappearances are
isolated incidents perpetrated by a few. The
Commission comes to this conclusion despite
specifically conceding its lack of capacity to
conduct investigations. In fact, during public
hearings in Puttalam, the Chairman of the LLRC
refused to interpret its mandate as contemplating
any investigative functions. Without even so much
as acknowledging an investigative function, the
LLRC still went on to conclusively determine that
over a thousand incidents, many taking place in
the space of just a few days between 17th and
20th May 2009, were isolated and unconnected,
and not systematic. Such a mischaracterisation is
prejudicial to any future investigation, and is
cynically aimed at countering allegations of war
crimes and crimes against humanity with respect
to the systematic practice of enforced...
(Contd: on P21
Lanka's first monorail in H'tota
Senanayake now
senior DIG
Shirajiv SIRIMANE
By Hemantha Randunu
The Public Service
Commission (PSC) has
promoted Anura Senanayake
to the rank of Senior DIG with
effect from Jan. 14.
Senanayake, who played a
critical role in police
operations in the city and its
suburbs at the height of
eelam war IV was promoted
to the rank of DIG in 2008.
Senanayake joined the police
department on Oct. 15, 1973
as a Sub Inspector and was
promoted to the rank of Inspector in 1981, Chief
Inspector in 1985, ASP in 1989, SP in 1995 and
SSP in 2000.
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the accusation, saying that, the State, instead
of addressing the crisis at hand, was talking
about an armed revolution, and that, the
protests were linked to the Tamil Diaspora,
which only infuriated the students and
aggravated the crisis.
“This claim by the Government, only sounds
like a ‘school boy howler’,” said InterUniversity Students’ Federation (IUSF)
president Sanjeewa Bandara. He described the
Government’s decision to put on hold the
private universities issue, as a small victory for
the students.
“However, this is not enough, the relevant
authorities must do away with it altogether, and
as they cannot be trusted to keep heir word, as
past events clearly showed, we plan more
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(dailynews.lk) South Asia's first monorail track will
be built in Hambantota linking the new
Hambantota Airport and the Suriyawewa
International cricket stadium. The project is
expected to get off the ground next year.
Hambantota district Parliamentarain Namal
Rajapaksa told Daily News that this would be a
three kilometre stretch and they are currently
talking to several investors in this regard.
He said that one of the main aims of this proposed
rail track is that it would link key development
projects that are already taking place in the City of
Hambantota.
"One would be the proposed IT park where over
1.500 would be directly employed and the
proposed convention centre, Airport, a 3,000 room
apartment complex and several key investment
projects," he said.
Since this is a very expensive project the
monorail track is expected to be constructed
on a build and operate basis where both the
investment and maintenance costs would be
less expensive to the country.
He also disclosed plans to construct a night
market for Hambantota, which would open at 9
p.m. and go on till around 4 a.m. Rajapaksa
also said that the Colombo-Marata Highway would
be completed by 2013. "This would be extended to
Hambantota by 2016 and the railway line too
would be extended to Hambantota," he said.
protests beginning next week.” he added.
He said that, apart from the private university
issue, there are other matters as well, such as
the jailing and suspending of students, the
closure of university facilities, the Advanced
Level Exam results fiasco and late-night police
visits to the homes of protestors.
“We will continue with the protests, until the
Government addresses these matters at the
very earliest. It is this high-handed action of the
authorities that forced the students onto the
streets, and now it is accusing us of having
connections with the Tamil Diaspora. Perhaps,
sections of the State are connected with the
Tamil Diaspora,” he said.
He added that the Government was bankrupt
in finding solutions to the festering crisis within
the halls of higher education, and was, instead,
behaving like a clown in a circus.
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PAGE 16
(sundaytimes.lk) This week our ‘Budget Traveller’
columnist offers some tips for those contemplating
on taking the hike to Adam’s Peak
It’s Sri Pada season! Now would be the time to pull
over a sweater (or two), slip on your trekking shoes
and scale the fourth highest mountain in Sri Lanka.
During December to April the lights along the path
to the top of Adam’s Peak
(also known as Sri Pada
and Samanalakanda) are
switched on to guide the
pilgrims as they scale the
mountain as part of a
religious ritual. That is a
sight all by itself at 3am
when you begin the accent.
The silhouette of the 2, 243
meter high mountain,
against a deep blue sky and
dotted with sparkly lights in
a wavy pattern. It’s what a
shutterbug’s dreams are
made of. These particular
six months are considered
the best time to shin up as
the weather in the area is
most accommodating;
during May the monsoon
drifts in making it difficult, almost treacherous to
climb. Besides, with good weather you have less
cloud cover and a better chance at catching the
breathtaking spectacle of the sunrise as it creeps
over the peak.
The sunrise is by far the best I’ve seen yet; it
makes the laborious accent that can leave your
legs feeling like jelly, completely worth the aching
joints and raw, biting cold. And in order to catch it
you must prepare yourself.
What you need is warm clothing- it gets terribly
nippy up there. Pack a snug warm sweater, a cap,
a pair of good trekking shoes and a raincoat— just
in case it rains. You’ll be starting your journey up at
about 3am, so take some food with you- a bottle of
water, sandwiches and light snacks for an energy
19 JANUARY - 2012
Onward and up
boost. There are a few shops along the way but
the prices of items are expensive as the
“enterprising” locals make a few extra bucks off
weary travellers.
There are six trails that you can take- each has a
different level of difficulty. I’m going to tell you
about one of the easier routes. Known as the
Hatton- Nallathanni Trail, it starts off right
at the foot of the mountain so you have a
distance of about 6 km to the top. It
should take you about 3 hours to reach
the peak- the round trip being 6 hours
give or take; generally climbing down is
much faster.
This was a road trip I took with my family
but I’ll suggest a possible route you could
take via public transport. If you take the
9.45am Colombo Fort- Badulla train, you’ll
reach Hatton by 2.30pm. A first class
ticket would cost you Rs. 460. Once you
get to Hatton you can take a bus leading
from Dickoya to Maskeliya. From there
take another bus up to Nallathanni. We
stayed at the Punsisi Guesthouse which is
a 2 minute walk to the foot of the
mountain. Be sure to have a light dinner
and turn in early;
setting your alarm
to sound off at 2am.
Waking up in the wee
hours of the morning,
shroud yourself in the
warm clothing you’ve got,
have a hot cup of tea and
something light to eat
before you set off. At the
3am, you can start your
journey. There’s no chance you can wander off the
trail as it’s marked out with steps. Steps of stone,
earth, concrete; wide steps, steep steps, short
steps. It’s steps—all the way to the top. Not the
best for the knees of the uninitiated. There were
several times I thought I’d finally reached the top
but a few steps up would reveal the seemingly
ISSUE 1050
never ending lighted
trail reaching into the
dusky sky. Bleak as it
may
seem—remember
that the sunrise at the
peak will be worth it.
You’ll know you’re
getting closer when
you see the
Siddhalepa massage
spot, they knead out
any knots in your
muscles; for a fee of
course!.
You should reach the
summit at around
6am and if you were
to look back, you’ll
see a sheer drop
winding down behind
you. Good for
pictures; though not
so good for those who
(sundayobserver.lk) The Sri Pada season is now in full swing with
suffer from vertigo.
thousands of pilgrims and tourists climbing the Holy Peak daily. The
Continue up towards
sunrise from the summit
to the flat landing.
of Sri Pada is often described as one of the most stunning sights
When you reach
anywhere in the world. Here tourists from New Zealand set up their
there, give yourself
cameras to capture that perfect moment when the first rays of the Sun
a pat on the back,
beckon the faithful at the top of Sri Pada. Pic: Saman Mendis
find a spot to sit and
watch as the sun
For a few extra tips, I’d recommend that you pick a
claims the sky.
day that isn’t a public holiday or the
Extraordinary is how I’d describe it. As the
sunrises, you’ll also notice the triangular shadow weekend—preferably. Or else the pace of your
casted by the peak grow on the land below. On a journey will be restricted as many devotees flock to
make their pilgrimage during this time to worship
very clear day, you might even be able to see
the sacred footprint. Always, always remember not
Colombo from up there.
Heading back, I’d recommend the scenic route. On to litter. Carry empty water bottles and food
the opposite side is a trail down. This is a more dirt wrappers down with you and dispose of them
when you return. Also, keep in mind that we’ve
road, with steps appearing only occasionally.
been having unpredictable weather lately, so check
There’s a lot more wild life and scenery to soak up
along this route with several temples along the way what the forecast looks like before planning your
trek. Till next time, happy trekking!
to keep you on track.
Jacqueline dazzles for Colombo Jewellery Stores with 20’s look
(undaytimes.lk/120115)( Sri Lankan beauty queen
and Bollywood star, Jacqueline Fernandez was
back in the island to launch the Colombo Jewellery
Stores latest collection. Celebrating 90 years, the
jewellery store themed the collection on the 20’s
and Jacqueline dressing aptly looked stunning in a
20’s designed gown and elaborately styled hair.
Releasing three movies this year, Jacqueline has
been quite busy in Mumbai. She’ll be performing
alongside some of Bollywood’s biggest stars such
as Saif Ali Khan and John Abraham in Race 2
which is set to be released in November. The Sri
Lankan beauty queen will also be playing the role
of Sanjana in Raaz 3D directed by Vikram Bhatt
and pitched to be released in August.
“This year I hope to concentrate on my career in
cinema. Cinema is something I’ve wanted to do
since I was younger and I know I have what it
takes to be an actress,” says Jacqueline describing
how cinema is a longterm career path she hopes
to pursue.
Having won the International Indian Film Academy
Award for Best Debut and the Stardust Award for
Exciting New Face in 2010 for her co-starring role
as Jasmine in Aladin Jaqueline is certainly making
waves in Bollywood.
Speaking about her rise to fame in India in just two
years, Jacqueline says, “I’m very lucky to have
made it this far while competing against some of
the most famous actresses who are experienced
and well versed. I certainly consider myself lucky.”
She says learning Hindi was her biggest challenge
when she got to Mumbai and trying to make her
career in the Indian movie industry. “I didn’t even
know how to direct a rickshaw to my home. It
wasn’t easy but I’ve managed.” Prolifically making
movies, she’s picked up the language fast.
While she’s busy in Bollywood, Jaqueline says she
is very interested in making movies in Sri Lanka.
“I’d like act in Sri Lankan movies and promote the
industry. Sri Lankan cinema has a lot of potential
but it also needs a lot of support as well.” She
shares that she has been approached with roles in
Sri Lankan films but she’s being selective, adding
“the script really matters to me”.
Popping down to Sri
Lanka for the unveiling
of Colombo Jewellery
Stores latest
collection, Jaqueline is
thrilled with the
intricate vintage
themed pieces.
Personally designed
by the store’s third
generation CEO
Akram Casim, who
based his designs on
trends at the time his
grandfather
established the
jewellery store,
Stepping out in style:
Jaqueline says she’s
Jacqueline at the launch of the
proud to endorse
Colombo Jewellery Stores
Colombo Jewellery
latest collection.
Stores as it’s the best Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte
for quality jewellery
that is more than just an accessory.
Northern Province to be returned to civilian
administration. We note the Sri Lankan
government’s recent assurance that it will ensure
from P4
the withdrawal of security forces from all aspects of
Sri Lankan government should take the lead in
community life and restrict their role exclusively to
delivering a devolution package. We urge the Sri
security matters.
Lankan government to implement quickly this
We agree with the recommendation that more
recommendation and the LLRC’s call for the
action be taken to help
internally displaced
persons rebuild their
lives. We also agree
that the government
should make available
Incorporating
J.A.
Phillips
&
Co.
Est.
1947
con.
to relatives a list of all
Solicitors
detainees in custody
281 The Broadway, Southall, Middlesex UB1 1NG
since the end of the
conflict; publicly
declare all detention
plus VAT and
sites; and allow family,
judicial and
disbursements
International
Committee of the Red
Will also undertake Business Sales, Purchases & Transfers,
Cross access. We
Company Law, Immigration & Nationality, Work Permits,
support the call for
anyone responsible for
Wills & Probate, Family Law in UK
unlawful detentions to
& Sri Lanka on different fee scales.
be prosecuted.
Specialist in speeding & traffic Offences.
The British
Government is, on the
whole, disappointed by the report’s findings and
recommendations on accountability. Like many
others, we feel that these leave many gaps and
unanswered questions. We welcome the
acknowledgement that “considerable civilian
casualties” occurred during the final stages of the
conflict and the recommendation that specific
incidents require further investigation. But we note
that many credible allegations of violations of
international humanitarian law and human rights
law, including from the UN Panel of Experts report,
are either not addressed or only partially
answered. We believe that video footage,
authenticated by UN Special Rapporteurs, should
inform substantive, not just technical,
investigations into apparent grave abuses.
The British Government believes that the report’s
recommendations on ongoing human rights issues
in Sri Lanka are well founded. We hope they will be
implemented vigorously. We welcome especially
the focus on tackling attacks on media freedom
and disappearances – including thousands of
outstanding cases.
We encourage the Sri Lankan government to move
quickly to implement the LLRC report’s
recommendations. Some recommendations could
be completed in a matter of months. Others may
take time to implement fully, but initial steps can be
taken now. Ultimately, the success or failure of the
LLRC will be judged on the Sri Lankan
government’s implementation of its
recommendations.
On accountability, implementing the report’s
recommendations would represent a useful first
step. But we continue to believe it is important that
an independent, credible and thorough mechanism
is put in place to investigate all allegations of grave
abuses.
The British Government has consistently
condemned terrorism in all its forms. The LTTE is a
brutal and ruthless organisation which remains
proscribed in the UK. Our long-term interest is in a
stable, peaceful Sri Lanka, free from the scourge
of terrorism, and as a fellow member of the
Commonwealth, conforming to the standards and
values which Commonwealth membership
requires.
Sri Lanka’s aim of achieving reconciliation amongst
its people is one we value. It can be achieved
through an honest acknowledgement of the past
and processes, in which all parties take part, to
ensure justice, reconciliation and political progress.
We remain committed to helping Sri Lanka achieve
lasting peace and reconciliation and will work with
international partners to this end, including with the
assistance of relevant international organisations.
- Asian Tribune -
By Megara Tegal
UK Government
Conveyancing Specialist
e
Edward De Silva & Co.
Will do house conveyancing at
£350
Tel: 0208 571 2299 Fax: 020 8571 2014 Email: [email protected]
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NEWSLANKA
19 JANUARY - 2012
ISSUE 1050
Sri Lankan envoy to Sweden Ambassador Alahapperuma presents his credentials
to King Carl XVI Gustaf
By Aruni Amarasinghe
The newly appointed Sri Lankan envoy to Sweden,
Oshadhi Alahapperuma presented his Credentials
to His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, the King of
Sweden recently at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
Representing the Sweden Government the
Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps called at the Sri
Lankan Embassy which is located in the heart of
Stockholm and escorted the Ambassador and his
accompanying suite to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in limousines provided by the Court. Later
the Sri Lankan Ambassador was taken to the
Royal Palace of Stockholm in a horse-drawn Royal
Mews' carriage according to tradition. The Royal
Guard presented arms when the carriage arrived
at the outer courtyard of the eastern wing of the
Palace and the military band played while the
Ambassador alighted from the carriage at the inner
courtyard.
Two Chamberlains welcomed the Ambassador and
his suite. He was then escorted into the Palace
while a guard of honour composed of grenadiers
lined the stairs leading to the audience chamber.
Later he was received by a Lord-in-Waiting and
followed by the Master of Ceremonies in the
second Chamber. In the third chamber the
Ambassador was received by the First Marshal of
the Court, the Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff
and the Grand Master of Ceremonies. Finally
Ambassador Oshadhi Alahapperuma was escorted
to an audience with His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf,
the King of Sweden to present his Letter of
Credence.
After the official ceremony the Ambassador had a
'one to one meeting' with the King. The King was
very much interested in knowing about the root
cause for the conflict in Sri Lanka and His Majesty
said that he is very happy that the Sri Lanka war
was ended. The King was interested to know
about the ongoing rehabilitation programs
especially those affected by the war and the
tsunami. The King especially mentioned about the
visit to Sri Lanka by the Crown Princess Victoria in
2005.
Ambassador Alahapperuma took the opportunity to
explain the steps being taken by the Government
of Sri Lanka headed by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa to develop northern and eastern parts
of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the war and also to
rehabilitate the war-affected youth and the people.
He further stated that within a short period of time
after the war the rehabilitation took place which is
now coming to an end. Ambassador also
mentioned that almost all the Internally Displaced
People (IDPs) have been resettled in their places
of origin.
The King recalled his visit to Sri Lanka in 1966 as
a Cadet Officer and Ambassador Alahapperuma
made a request to His Majesty the King Carl XVI
Gustaf to visit Sri Lanka once again as the country
has returned to normalcy after 30 years of conflict.
At the end of the audience the Ambassador
requested His Majesty for permission to introduce
his accompanying suite, Mr.S.B. Wijekoon, Minister
Counsellor and Mr. L.G.Dissanayake, Third
Secretary (Commercial).
After the presentation of Credentials, a multireligious function was held at the Embassy to
bestow blessings on Ambassador Oshadhi
Alahapperuma. Chief incumbent of the Stockholm
Buddhist Vihara, Ven. Kirindigalle Dhammarathana
Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Tapovana,
Ven. Watapana Pannaratana Thero and SweLankan Catholic Priest Rev Father Michael
Bjerkhagen conducted the religious proceedings.
Sri Lanka's newly appointed envoy to Sweden,
former General Manager of Mobitel, Ambassador
Oshadhi Alahapperuma, is an engineer by
profession. He was born in Matara in 1972. His
primary education was at Meegasdeniya Junior
School, Urugamuwa, Kumaratunga Munidasa
Maha Vidyalaya, Dickwella, Matara and secondary
education at Ananda College, Colombo.
He completed obtained a BSc in Engineering,
specializing in Telecommunication at Electro
Technical University at St Petersburg, Russia.
He has worked in the telecommunications sector
and attended training programmes at Ericsson in
Stockholm and Gothenburg in March 2004 and
October 2005 respectively. Prior to his
appointment, Ambassador Alahapperuma worked
as an engineer at Mobitel Ltd in Sri Lanka from
2003 to 2010. Since 2010 he has served as
Private Secretary to Hon Dullas Alahapperuma,
Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development.
He is also fluent in the Russia and conversational
Swedish.
Pix by: Alexis Daflos- The Royal Court,
Sweden & Janaka Samanpriya
6 April(Easter for Lourdes tour), 9 Feb 2012
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ISSUE 1050
31st Night Dance Blast with the Stars
Reality UK a charity based in the UK held
their second 31st Night Dance at the RnB
Banqueting Venue in Kingsbury on 31st
December 2011. Many came together for
New Years Eve and where honoured with
the presence of Neil Warnakulasuriya and
Nelson Waas of the Sunflowers together
with Saman De Silva, Vincent De
PaulPeiris, Aundre Martinez and the
upcoming band, The Revolution.The Deputy
Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Mr
Amzawas among the distinguished guests
who attended the dance.
The charity's Patron Ven.
AkuralaSamithagave a heart touching
speech. He also gave an update as to the
progress of the charity and its tremendous
efforts to raise funds for adults and children
with learning and physical disabilities in Sri
Lanka. He spoke of his personal
experience when he visited a care home in
Bingiriya which the charity is supporting and
described how the disabled people were
suffering.
The President of the charity, LukithCooray,
gave a warm welcome speech and thanked
everyone for coming and supporting a good
cause.
The stars brought everyone to
the dance floor and kept them
dancing the whole night with
their repertoire of scintillating
music except during short breaks
when the Auction,Raffle Draws
and competitions were held.It
was not until the early hours of
the following day when the event
was brought to a close with the
singing of the Sri Lankan
National Anthem, when all the
satisfied guests reluctantly
started heading home.
Reality UK welcome any kind
donations made by either visiting
their website on www.realityuk.org or by
contacting their committee members; Lukith
(07956 344 738), Lalindra (07405 634 319),
Dilal (07912 107 945) and Anthony (07956
569 786). You can also email them at
[email protected].
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PAGE 21
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ISSUE 1050
TNA response
CONT FROM P15
disappearances and the execution of surrendees.
xx. The LLRC does not adequately deal with the
issue of the scale of civilian casualties during the
final stages of the war, particularly given its own
admission that it was a 'key question' confronting it
and 'crucial to its mandate.' The LLRC heard
specific evidence from two key sources the Bishop
of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph and Ms.
Imelda Sukumar, who served as the Government
Agent (GA) for Mullaitivu during the relevant time
in relation to the number of civilians trapped in the
NFZs. While the Bishop of Mannar cited official
figures from the Kachcheris of Mullaitivu and
Kilinochchi placing the number of persons residing
in the Vanni in early October 2008 at 429,059, the
GA for Mullaitivu herself testified that there were
approximately 360,000 civilians remaining in the
NFZ in the Puthumattalan area in January 2009.
Given that only 282,380 civilians came out of the
Vanni into government-controlled areas, the
number of persons unaccounted for remains
between 75,000 and 146,679. Even in the light of
this compelling evidence placed before it, the
LLRC does not acknowledge the number of
civilians unaccounted for, or the likelihood that a
majority of these civilians died during the final
stages of the war.
xxi. The LLRC deals with a number of human
rights issues including allegations concerning
missing persons, disappearances and abductions,
treatment of detainees, illegal armed groups,
conscription of children, vulnerable groups,
Internally Displaced Persons, the Muslim
community in the North and East, the freedom of
expression and the right to information, and the
freedom of religion,
association and movement.
However, the LLRC fails to
consider some of the more
sensitive issues, thereby
revealing selectivity in its
approach. For example, the
alleged involvement of one
Iniya Barathi in a number of
human rights violations is not
mentioned in the section on
human rights in the LLRC's
report. Many witnesses in
fact identify Iniya Barathi as
responsible for human rights
abuses. Instead of
mentioning the involvement
of this individual in the
disappearances that took
place in the Eastern
Province, the LLRC only
makes vague references to him in the chapter on
'reconciliation'. The Commission makes no attempt
to examine in any detail the evidence against this
individual, nor to highlight his alleged connections
to the TMVP and the SLFP.
xxii. Given the circumstances, the LLRC has
compromised its impartiality and credibility, and
has reinforced impunity.
xxiii. On countless occasions, the LLRC assured
distraught witnesses that it would 'look into the
matter,' thereby promising some form of follow up
on individual cases of disappearance, detention,
land grabs, assault, harassment, extortion and
death. However, the LLRC report only provides a
brief statistical analysis of so-called follow-up work,
which would be of no use to the witnesses
concerned. It is not clear as to how the LLRC
proposes to communicate its specific findings to
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specific witnesses. It is, however, apparent that the
Commission's final report, assuming it is even
accessible to these witnesses, does not provide
the answers that were promised to them during the
public sittings.
xxiv. The LLRC also failed to evaluate its own
deficiencies in dealing with gender specific issues.
The composition and approach of the Commission
established an insurmountable barrier to women in
terms of truth telling. In fact, it was reported that
the LLRC had been 'desultory', 'curt' and
'dismissive' towards female witnesses. There are
also reports that the Commission chastised women
for crying and demanded written submissions in
place of oral testimony. Hence, women in general
have encountered a distinct lack of sympathy when
recounting their experiences before the
Commission.
xxv. Many of the LLRC's recommendations
pertaining to human rights presuppose institutional
independence of certain key institutions including
the judiciary, the Attorney General's Department,
the National Police Commission and the Public
Service Commission. However, the Commission
does not address the recent repeal by the
Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of
salient provisions in the Seventeenth Amendment
that safeguarded the independence of public
institutions. Moreover, the continued application of
the Eighteenth Amendment places virtually
insurmountable challenges to the implementation
of the LLRC's final recommendations.
xxvi. The LLRC also made recommendations on a
number of issues that are not directly related to
accountability. These recommendations have
positive elements, and if implemented, would be
welcomed and supported by the TNA.
(Contd: on P23)
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Ashirvada Pirith Chanting ceremony at Athula Dassana International Buddhist Temple.
Ashirvada Pirith Chanting ceremony
was held at Athula Dassana
International Buddhist Temple, to
invoke the blessings for the New Year
and for being successful in completing
six months as a Buddhist temple in
Hounslow, performing the Buddhist
religious rituals and services to the
devotees of London and surrounding
areas.
On the full moon poya day of 08th
January 2012 all the devotees
gathered to the temple to observe the
Eight Precepts. During the day they
have participated in several activities
such as Dhamma sermon and
Meditation. It was Mrs. Irangani
Samarakoon and her friends who
sponsored for the Dana to the
Reverends and the devotees.
Deputy Minister of High Education Mr.
Nandimithra Ekanayaka, the chief
COLVIN & PARTNERS
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guest for the ceremony brought the
Relic Casket in procession.
Ven. Dediyawela Wimala Thero of
Upton Park Buddha Vihara, Ven.
Teldeniyaye Amitha Thero of Leicester
Buddhist Vihara (Head of the temple),
Ven. Pasgoda Piyarathana Thero and
Ven. Anuradhapura Pannarathana
Thero from Edmonton Samadhi
Meditation Centre, Ven.
Bambarabotuwe Ananda Mangala
Thero and Ven. Homagama Kondanna
Thero are the monks who took part
honourably in this sacred occasion.
Head of the Athula Dassana
International Buddhist Temple, Ven.
Wanduramba Kassapa Thero
transferred the merits and the
blessings of the Noble Triple Gem to all
devotees who contributed much to the
success of the temple and to their
departed relatives.
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PAGE 23
Letchworth Buddhist Temple Celebrated New Year 2012
Letchworth Buddhist Temple celebrated the 2012
New Year in grand scale with the patronage of
Maha Sangha and the BCCL working committee.
The celebration started on the Eve of New Year by
offering Buddha Pooja and chanting Seth Pirith. In
the morning on the New Year Kiri Ahara Pooja was
offered to Buddha and Maha Sangha. Most Ven.
Dediyawala Wimala Thero conducted special
blessings and chanted Seth Pirith followed by
offering Buddha pooja and Dhane to Maha
Sangha.
There was a large turnout of devotees and friends
of the Letchworth Temple to full fill their New Year
resolutions to achieve mundane goals in their lives.
The Maha Sangha and the BCCL working
committee extend their appreciation and best
wishes to all the devotees and the friends of the
Temple for their continued support. May the New
Year bring Peace, Prosperity and Happiness to
everyone through out the world.
Sri Lanka Embassy Organizes a “Sath Budhu Wandanawa”
Sri Lanka Ambassador to the United
States His Excellency Mr. Jaliya
Wickramasuriya and the staff of Sri Lanka
Embassy, organized a “Sath Budhu
Wandana” Buddhist religious ceremony
on Saturday (Jan 7) at the Sri Lanka
Residence , Washington DC.
The purpose of the event was to invoke
blessings to President His Excellency
Mahinda Rajapaksa and to all Sri Lankans
in the United States and elsewhere.
The event organized to coincide with the
2600th Anniversary of Lord Buddha's first
visit to Sri Lanka, was conducted by
venerable Bandarawela Seela Viweka
thero of Mahamewna Buddhist Monastery
in California.
The Event was attended by about 200 Sri
Lankan American Buddhist and nonBuddhist residents in the United States.
Copies of an audio compact disc
containing Buddhist sermons of venerable
Kiribathgoda Gnanananda thero produced
under the auspices of Ambassador
Wickramasuriya were distributed among
the participants as a “Dharma Dana”
following the religious activities
UK teacher praises Lankan students’ enthusiasm
(sundayobserver.lk/2012/01/15) An English
geography teacher has been on a field trip with a
difference – to Sri Lanka. Daniel Sutcliffe, head of
Geography at Poulton’s Hodgson Academy, spent
a week at a Sri Lankan school to
mark the start of a new international
partnership.
But his journey was no walk in the
park as it took 36 gruelling hours for
him to get to his destination, the
Sujatha Maha Vidyalaya in Badulla.
But when he arrived, a large
welcoming ceremony, complete with
guard of honour and a dance
performance was waiting for him.
The teacher was greatly impressed
with what he saw during the trip,
particularly with the attitude of the
people.
He found a community with a
refreshing attitude towards
education and the importance of
schooling.
Teacher, Daniel Sutcliffe with students of Sujatha Maha
Sutcliffe said: “When I went walking
Vidyalaya in Badulla
TNA response
CONT FROM P21
The TNA intends to closely monitor the
implementation of these recommendations.
However, these recommendations should not be
mistaken for those addressing accountability
issues.
xxvii. Amongst the LLRC's recommendations
unrelated to accountability are its
recommendations on reconciliation and
devolution of power. The Commission
emphasises that a political settlement based on
devolution must address the ethnic problem as
well as other serious problems that threaten
democratic institutions. The Commission
recommends devolution to local government
institutions to ensure greater peoples'
participation at the grassroots level. Moreover, it
recommends that the government take into
account the shortcomings in the functioning of
the Provincial Councils system. Yet the only
concrete suggestion that the LLRC makes in
terms of an actual model is the establishment of
a Second Chamber comprising representatives
from the Provinces, so as to generate a sense of
confidence among the political leadership and
people in Provinces. These sentiments on
devolution are exceedingly vague, noncommittal,
and do not measure up to past proposals
including the majority report of the All Party
Representative Committee's Expert Committee
appointed by the President in 2006. Yet, even the
implementation of the LLRC's modest proposals
remains uncertain, particularly given the nonimplementation of the provisions of the Thirteenth
Amendment to the Constitution and the recent
views expressed by the President in relation to
devolution of governance to the Provinces.
These views validate strong fears amongst the
Tamil community that the government is not
genuinely prepared to deliver to the people a
political solution premised on meaningful
devolution.
xxviii. The LLRC in some way also acknowledges
CHECK THE LATEST ISSUE
& OUR ARCHIVES AT
around the local town, people I hadn’t met would
shout out ‘Hello Mr Daniel’.“The biggest cultural
shock for me was the genuine appreciation for
education in Sri Lanka.
“The children are so desperate to learn.
“They are keen to break the cycle of poverty and
see education as the way forward.“It was also
amazing to see a group of parents helping to build
a new classroom at the school.”
They are really involved in school life and are keen
to help in any way they can.”Hodgson Academy on
Moorland Road, has been linked with the Sri
Lankan school as part of the Global School
Partnership on behalf of the British Council.
Students from each school have already been in
touch with each other, swapping video diaries.
Sutcliffe’s trip marked the start of the new
partnership with the school.The partnership is
aimed at promoting new cultures, customs,
lifestyles and sustainability projects.Sutcliffe
also found time to explore the area, which has
several attractions for visitors.
His visit included trips to local places of interest,
and a stop-off at what is believed to be the oldest
surviving wooden bridge in the world.
The Bogoda wooden bridge is estimated to be
more than 400 years old and is in the Udawalawe
National Park.There was more in store for the
English visitor as he prepared to leave the school.
The Sri Lankan students wore traditional costumes
during a ceremony to mark his departure at the
end of the week.Now there is a chance that the
Poulton School may return the compliment.Plans
are being made for a representative from the
Sujatha Maha Vidyalaya to come to England and
visit Hodgson Academy in the next few months.
(Fleetwood Today, UK)
the intrusiveness of the military in the North a
fact that the TNA has already brought to the
public's attention on numerous occasions. The
Commission hence recognises the need to
disengage security forces from all activities
related to civil administration as rapidly as
possible. The TNA welcomes this
recommendation and intends to closely monitor
and publicise the progress of its implementation
over the next few months.
xxix. Despite these positive recommendations,
the need for an accountability process that meets
international standards while delivering on the
right of victims to truth, justice and reparations
(including guarantees of non-recurrence) is an
urgent and important one.
Given the government's failure to institute a
process that meets these benchmarks, the TNA
calls on the international community to institute
measures that will advance accountability and
encourage reconciliation in Sri Lanka in keeping
with the recommendations of the UN Secretary
General's Panel of Experts.
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Lucky day Sunday
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NADESAPILLAI - HELAN JOYCE - B4/F16,
19 JANUARY - 2012
Sri Lanka
from P4
a long and distinguished track record of
professionalism and discipline. The military's officer
cadre comprises people of a very high calibre.
They have received ample training, including
university education, not just in Sri Lanka but in
prestigious military academies all over the world.
The military has well-established internal
mechanisms, including directorates for the
upholding Human Rights and International
Humanitarian Law. It also has a strong military
justice system to deal with offenses of any kind.
During the course of the Humanitarian Operations,
the specific allegations made against military
personnel were investigated, and allegations
considered credible are being and will be dealt with
under both military and civil law.
Of course, it must also be understood that there is
a distinct difference between the actions of
individuals operating on their own accord outside
the bounds of military obligations and any military
operations undertaken for the achievement of
specific military objectives. A soldier raping
someone has nothing to do with military
operations. It is a criminal act that can also be
dealt with under the general law.
However, if somebody is targeted and killed
through a military operation for having been
involved in terrorist activities, that is a legitimate
military objective which takes place for the
upholding of national security. Perhaps the best
example of such an operation in recent times is the
assassination of Osama bin Laden. There is an
argument that he could have been captured alive.
However, the position of the US government is that
bin Laden was a grave threat to national security
and that he was therefore killed in a covert
operation by the United States military. The same
standard should be applied to situations in smaller,
less powerful countries such as Sri Lanka. Yet
another issue brought into international focus by
those critical of Sri Lanka is reconciliation.
The principle thrust of the criticism is that not
enough is being done. Here, again, there is some
misunderstanding about the actual situation in Sri
Lanka. Reconciliation is certainly important, but
what is necessary in Sri Lanka is vastly different
from what was needed in other countries about
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with regard to reconciliation is both out of context
which the term is often used.
Sri Lanka is not, for example, a nation that suffered and grossly premature. The attempt to
internationalise the situation in Sri Lanka, and the
from a dictatorial undemocratic government that
harsh criticism being levelled against this country
ruled for many years over a marginalised
by parties with vested interests is particularly
population. It is instead a fully-fledged democracy.
unfortunate in today's context. The government of
During the period of the conflict, a number of
Sri Lanka has done an enormous amount of work
Presidents and governments from different parties
since the end of the Humanitarian Operation to
were elected by the people to govern the country.
bring back normalcy to a long-suffering segment of
Despite the conflict, all people outside the North
our population. Soon after the defeat of the LTTE,
and East lived in peace with security and dignity.
particular attention was paid to the North, where
Communal harmony prevailed. Even the majority
there were several issues that needed to be
population of the commercial capital is no longer
addressed urgently.
Sinhalese. On the contrary, Colombo has been a
The most pressing of these was resettling the
shining example of multicultural coexistence for
many years. Replicating its success throughout Sri 294,000 Internally Displaced People who had been
the LTTE's humanshield during the last stages of
Lanka is only a matter of time and economic
the war. The areas they were displaced from had
growth. It is quite evident that the reconciliation
been mined heavily by the LTTE as it retreated.
necessary in this country is not quite the same
Demining these areas quickly was critical to
thing that those who talk about it, particularly
resettlement, and it is pleasing to note that
outside Sri Lanka, often imagine it to be.
demining was carried out at an unprecedented
Resettlement of IDPs
pace. The Sri Lanka Army did the bulk of the work
Nevertheless, the government took steps not long
while several Non Governmental Organizations
after the end of the Humanitarian Operation to
and foreign agencies provided a lot of assistance.
establish the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
As demining progressed, reconstruction of villages
Commission. This Commission was mandated to
and resettlement of IDPs took place.
study all matters connected with the conflict,
(Contd: on P26)
including the breakdown of the ceasefire and the
Humanitarian
Operation.
Blessing Puja^Lucksri UK fj;ska&
Its report has been
Y%S ,xldfõ iqm%isoaO Ydia;%fõÈkshlf.a fiajh
released, and it has
Services of Sri Lanka's famous astrologer
made certain
comments on existing
issues as well as
recommendations to
overcome them. This is
a large, comprehensive
foajdYs¾jdofhka Ydia;%lSu iy ish¿u foaj mQcd
report that is presently
bgqlr fokq ,efí'
being studied. Once its
Blessings of God - astrology and pujas to the Gods will be fulfilled
contents have been
assimilated, the
government will decide
Saraswathie Puja
Dhanalakshmi Pujas
on how best to
implement the
proposals made by the
Commission.
All other Pujas
All other services
Humanitarian Operation
It is therefore clear that
,smskh# NO 60, BELMONT ROAD, HARROW, HA3 7PN
the criticism levelled
ÿrl:k#
020 8863 4485 / 07404 642 869 E-mail: [email protected]
against the government
wdYs¾jdo mQcd
v Ok ,laIaó mQcd
v iriaj;S mQcd
v wfkl=;a ish¿ foaj mQcd v wfkl=;a fiajd
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Athurugiriya Sixty Perches land for sale. All
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higher-level involvement in LTTE activities have
been earmarked for prosecution. Today, there are
less than 700 detainees remaining in government
from P24
custody.
Most of the demining work is now complete and
there are less than 3,000 IDPs remaining in camps International observers
In addition to demining, resettlement and
today. It has to be emphasised that these people
rehabilitation, the government has also provided a
are staying in the camps voluntarily, and that they
great deal of assistance to citizens in the North to
will be resettled as soon as their villages are fully
help them resume normal lives. Support has been
de-mined and deemed safe for occupation.
given for the restoration of livelihoods.
Another critical issue the government faced
This includes concessionary financing being
involved the 11,000 former LTTE cadres who
extended to individuals for farming, fishing, and
surrendered or were detained during the course of
business. Markets and other facilities to support
the Humanitarian Operation. Despite the fact that
all of them had been engaged in terrorist activities, these activities are being rapidly developed.
Infrastructure development has also been
the government took the bold decision to
expedited. Programmes are underway to rapidly
rehabilitate and reintegrate the vast majority of
develop roads, rail, electricity and irrigation.
them to society without delay. That was a
It should be emphasised that the military is playing
commendable decision that speaks volumes for
a key role in undertaking these development
the government's commitment to reconciliation,
programmes, as these are considered high priority
and it should be noted that such generosity has
and difficult for civil organizations to handle on their
rarely been shown to similar detainees in other
own. Through all these means, the government is
parts of the world. Neither in Afghanistan nor Iraq
working very hard to restore normalcy to those
nor in any other recent conflict have combatants
civilians who suffered for so many years because
been rehabilitated and reintegrated with such
of the LTTE's dominance in those areas.
speed.
Perhaps the most critical gain resulting from peace
Unfortunately, some sections of the international
is the restoration of democracy and democratic
community are wilfully blind to this fact and
continue to criticise the government on the issue of institutions to that part of the country. Despite the
war ending less than three years ago, local
detentions. But any examination of the facts will
authority elections, provincial council elections, a
show the truth. There were 595 child soldiers
Presidential election and a General election have
among the 11,000 LTTE cadres in government
all been held over the past two years.
custody.
Last year in the North, people were able to
They were rehabilitated under a programme
exercise their franchise freely and without fear for
supported by UNICEF and reunited with their
the first time in three decades. It should be noted
families within one year. All adult cadres also
that international observers had few adverse
underwent extensive rehabilitation programmes.
comment about the conduct of all these elections.
Psychological care, spiritual therapy and
That electoral transparency and political plurality
vocational training were provided, and the vast
has returned to these areas is clear from the
majority of them have now been reintegrated with
society. Only a small number of cadres with known results of these elections, in which the Tamil
National Alliance did
well. However, the
government party ran a
close second in a
number of Districts.
(SIZE - 10 cm x 7 cm or 7cm x 10cm)
That is a significant
in a region
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dictatorship.
Apart from the threat
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and what is happening
in Sri Lanka, another
critical factor to
consider is the broader
geopolitical situation in
this part of the world.
All of you should be
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House for sale
Please take the usual care when arranging
meetings with prospective partners, etc...
Please note that replies to classifieds are
posted once a week. To reply to the
classified ads, just write down all the
details you wish to mention & post to the
Newslanka P.O.Box address. Write the
reference number of the ad on the outside
of the envelope. We will then forward it to
the advertiser. If you receive replies and are
not interested, then it would be nice to say
no-thank-you to the people who write to
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Horn of Africa and the Pacific is becoming
increasingly important in international economics,
politics and military activities. Emerging economies
in this region are shifting the axis of global trade
and commerce away from the West.
Global energy security, industrial activity and even
financial stability are increasingly dependent on
what is happening in the Asian region. Asia is also
critical for global security, as most of the countries
from which terrorist groups like Al-qaeda draw their
strength lie within this region. For all these
INCLUDING VAT
reasons, increasing global attention is being paid
protests in the recent past. To a certain extent,
to Asia.
such protests are perfectly fine as long as they are
Sri Lanka is situated in a uniquely strategic
peaceful, do not disrupt the life of the people, and
geographical position within this region. That fact
does not obstruct university education overall.
has focused the attention of many western powers
Under such conditions, they are in fact an
on our country. They are all keen to see that Sri
encouraging indicator of the robustness of our
Lanka never aligns itself with anyone other than
democracy. Unfortunately, there could be some
them. They are particularly worried that Sri Lanka
who seek to expand these protests into something
is becoming increasingly close to powers emerging
less peaceful and therefore less conducive to
from this part of the world.
democratic dialogue. We need to be aware of this
Economic powers
possibility and guard against it. The last thing Sri
In this context, there is a strong misperception that
Lanka needs now is for our fast-tracked economic
exists internationally and even in Sri Lanka about
development to be derailed by instability.
the extent of Chinese influence on this country.
(Contd: on P27)
The fear in this regard is unfounded. China is a
country that Sri Lanka has had a close
On 16th January
relationship with for many years.
The primary involvement of China in Sri Lanka
is in commerce and trade. In this regard, Sri
Lanka is little different to a number of countries
around the world. China is fast becoming one of
the world's greatest economic powers, and its
commercial links and economic influence on
other nations will only increase as befits a
nation of its strength.
This is only natural, and not something to be
unduly worried about. Sri Lanka has many
friends on the global stage. China is one of
them. There is no reason for anyone in Sri
Lanka or outside to worry about the relationship
between our two nations.
A more realistic potential threat to our national
security is the possibility that certain groups
may strive to create instability in Sri Lanka
through indirect methods.
Having seen political change accomplished in
countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Libya
through uprising, some parties that have failed
Our precious daughter.
to achieve their objectives through democratic
means might resort to such activities even here.
Have a wonderful day, Love from Mummy,
This is only a very minor possibility, but we
Daddy and all your family and friends in here
have already seen certain groups encouraging
and in Sri Lanka
students to take to the streets in various
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NEWSLANKA
ISSUE 1050
Sri Lanka
from P26
Sri Lanka is a democratic nation. The true value of
democracy is that engagement with the
government is not only possible but also welcome.
The democratic process will sort out the
disagreements that are bound to arise from time to
time. The government must and will listen to the
voice of the people. Unlike the countries in which
dictatorships reigned before being derailed by
popular uprising, if the people wish to change the
government in Sri Lanka, they can do so without
any problem at the polling booth.
In actual fact, elections at every level have been
held all over Sri Lanka over the last two years, and
it is clear from the results that the popularity of the
government is extremely high. Any group or person
trying to resort to non-democratic means to
19 JANUARY - 2012
destabilise Sri Lanka because they have not
achieve their objectives within the democratic
process should be resisted and rejected.
In this context, it is important for all of us who
believe in our motherland to stand together and
work towards the betterment of the nation,
irrespective of our political differences.
Unfortunately there are a handful of Sri Lankans
who do not seem to care for their homeland.
Speaking to the media, publishing articles and
making presentations at various forums, these
individuals harshly criticise not only the
government because of whatever ill feelings they
harbour against it, but also speak against the
country as a whole.
While their ability to speak in this fashion
demonstrates the freedom of speech that exists in
Sri Lanka, their actions are unwarranted. Whatever
disagreements one may have with the
government, speaking or writing or working against
the nation itself is not just unpatriotic but
treacherous.
Such actions beg the question whether there is a
hidden agenda behind such actions; an agenda
that is not far removed from the one shared by
those who seek to destabilise this country.
During the course of this lecture I have
highlighted a number of national security
threats that face this nation. We must face
reality and guard against all eventualities. It is
of vital importance for all of us to protect the
peace that has been regained after so long and
at such cost.
We must stand firm and not allow anyone to
drive this country back to the state it was in
during the past thirty years. As a nation, Sri
Lanka has had more than its fair share of
suffering. We must all work together to put the
PAGE 27
past behind us, and work towards a brighter future
for this nation and all her people.
That will be the best defence against those who
seek to oppose us. Let us all work together to
make this better future a reality. Concluded
Rain seals Sri Lanka’s fate
Rex Clementine
reporting from Bloemfontein
(island.lk) The downward trend of the national
cricket team continued as Sri
Lanka suffered a fourth
successive series defeat, when
they lost the crucial third ODI to
South Africa here at Springbok
Park in Bloemfontein by four
runs, according to the
Duckworth/Lewis Method on
Tuesday, after posting what
looked like a competitive total
(266).
Rain was predicted in the
evening and Sri Lanka
consolidated their position when
Lasith Malinga took two wickets
cheaply in his first spell. But
South Africa promoted Francois
du Plessis at number four and
he smashed a career best 72 off
74 balls, to guide the home
team.
For some reason, the Sri Lankans have been
fascinated by Kosala Kulasekara and his
performance on Tuesday might as well convinced
the team to move on. The 32nd over of the South
African innings bowled by him proved to be
crucial in deciding the series. South Africa
needed to be 170 for five at the end of 32nd over
to win the contest and when the over began they
were only 153 for five. A. B. de Villiers smashed
13 runs off Kosala’s over, brining South Africa
closer to the target.
The Proteas took five runs off the next over
when he threw down the stumps with a direct hit,
bowled by Rangana Herath, but still they were
Sangakkara was miles away.
short by four runs.
Mahela Jayawardene, yet to make a half-century
The signs of a heavy downpour were visible by
against the Proteas on tour, fell for 15 to another
now and captain Dilshan in panic mode sent for
direct hit, this time by Colin Ingram.
Lasith Malinga to control things.
But South Africa scored eight runs Nuwan Kulasekara was promoted to number six
and he smashed 40 runs off 38 balls, to push Sri
off him to get ahead of the
Lanka beyond the 260 mark.
required rate for the first time in
the game and ironically, it
proved to be the last over of
the innings, as the rain got
heavier, forcing the players
CHILD LANKA committee would like to invite all the
indoors.
members with their families, friends and well-wishers
The players never returned
to the annual alms giving ceremony to be held at the
to the field and South Africa
LONDON BUDDHIST VIHARA
won by four runs to take an
on
Sunday 18th of March 2012
unassailable lead with two
more games to go.
at 10.30 a.m.
Francois du Plessis was
We would like to make a kind request to all attending
named Man of the Match
on the 18 th of March 2012 to dress appropriately to
and apart from top scoring,
suite the temple in white clothes.
he also contributed to the
Thank you,
team immensely with his
Yours sincerely,
exceptional fielding in the covers to prove
Mrs.Priya Siriwardana
why the South Africans consider him to be
President Childlanka
the best fielder in the world.
After an opening stand of 94 runs between
Dilshan and Tharanga, Sri Lanka were
cruising, as Dinesh Chandimal and Kumar
Sangakkara added 52 runs for the third
wicket in 54 balls. Sangakkara in particular
had looked in serene touch cover driving
Dale Steyn exquisitely for four.
Chandimal set off for a single after cutting
Lonwabo Tsotsobe, but du Plessis dived to
his left, making the batsmen hesitate and
Petes win a thriller as Julian bags 12 wickets
Under-19 Cricket
By Reemus Fernando
(island.lk) St. Peter’s College cruised to
thrilling 18 runs victory over Wesley College
with just three balls to spare as spinner Julian
de Zilva completed a match-bag of twelve
wickets in their Under-19 cricket encounter
which ended at Campbell Park.
Chasing a target of 204 runs to win a half
century by Lahiru Perera and 48 runs by
Ashen Fonseka took the match to the wire but
Zilva managed to snare the last wicket with
just three balls to spare to guide Petes to a
thrilling victory. Zilva bowled 22.3 overs and (4
maidns) picked up six wickets in the second
innings.
Scores:
St. Peter’s 148 all out in 62.4 overs
(Shasheen Fernando 29, Dinith Hewathanthri
45, Chemila Obeysekara 25 n.o.; Sachin
Jayawardena 5/19, Ashail Kariyawasam 4/36)
and (4 for no wicket overnight) 149 all out in
48.2 over (Shehan Fernando 45, Shasheen
Fernando 32, Dinith Hewathanthri 25; Ashail
Kariyawasam 6/42, Sachin Jayawardena
3/19)
Wesley 94 all out in 32.4 overs (Lahiru Perera
21, Ashail Kariyawasam 39; Julian de Zilva
6/22, Dushan Hemantha 4/32) and 185 all out
in 54.3 overs (Lahiru Perera 57, Ashen
Fonseka 48; Julian de Zilva 6/56)
Shehan picks up hat-trick in Carey victory
Paceman Shehan Nanayakkara picked up
four wickets including a hat-trick as Carey
College cruised to an innings and 43 runs
victory over St. Thomas’ College in their
match which ended with more than two
sessions to spare at Railway Grounds
yesterday.
Scores:
Carey 248 all out in 64 overs (Chirath
Mapatuna 62, Sachila Sulakshana 45,
Thenuka Silva 30; S. Sewmina 5/60, D.A
Ebert 3/61)
St. Thomas’, Kotte 88 all out in 22 overs (M.
Sandaruwan 25, D.A. Ebert 18; Charith
Maduranga 6/34, Chirath Mapatuna 4/37) and
117 all out in 21 overs (K.K. Karunaratne 58,
J.A. Ebert 28; Shehan Nanayakkara 4/30,
Chirath Mapatuna 3/31)
DSS in innings win over Lumbini
D. S. Senanayake College romped to an
innings and 13 runs victory over Lumbini
College as their bowlers came together to
restrict Lumbini to 170 and 200 runs
respectively in their match which ended at
Wijerama Mawatha yesterday. It was their
third outright victory of the season.
Scores:
DSS 383 for 8 wkts decl in 69.2 overs (Kavin
Bandara 57, Lasith Abeyratne 40, Duleeka
Brahmanage 43,
Uveen Bandara 89,
Visal Amugoda 33,
Supun Madusanka 39,
Binura Fernando 28
n.o.; Nadeeshan
Senadeera 2/50,
Jammika Darana 2/65,
Kevin Krishan 2/22)
Lumbini (104 for 7
overnight) 170 all out
in 39.1 overs
(Jammika Darana 46,
Rasan Mannan 26;
Suchintha Karunaratne
4/47, Supun
Madusanka 2/41,
Binura Fernando 2/40,
Saveen Cyril 2/04) and
200 all out in 44 overs
(Janith Dias 32,
Pradeep Wasantha 47,
Contd: on P28)
CHECK THE LATEST ISSUE
& OUR ARCHIVES AT
ANNUAL ALMS GIVING
MAPIYA VANDANA
On Sunday 22nd January 2012 At 6.30 pm
A special programme has been organised by the
Jethavana Buddha Vihara to convey our gratitude to
parents.
Programme
6.30 pm Gilanpasa Puja &BuddhaVandana
6.40 pm MapiyaVandana
7.30 pm Blessing &Pirith Chanting
Conducted By KahaduweShanthadeavaThero
Merit transferring to the departed parents and to bless our
parents who are alive with us.
All are cordially invited to participate in this auspicious
ceremony and receive blessings for the Year 2012for
good health, happiness and prosperity.
All devotees can contribute to this noble event purchasing
aflower bouquet at the Vihara. All donations will
strengthen the JBV Trust Fund which maintains the
Temple.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
ORGANISED BY
Jethavana Buddhist Vihara
13 Booth Street, Handsworth,
Birmingham, B21 ONG.
Tel: 0121 554 1466
Email: [email protected]
Every Sunday
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PAGE 28
NEWSLANKA
19 JANUARY - 2012
ISSUE 1050
Nothing is going right for us – Dilshan
(dailymirror.lk/2012/01/18) Tillakaratne Dilshan
wants to finish his job as captain of the ongoing
series against South Africa and then leave it to
the selectors to decide his future. The skipper
revealed his intentions after Sri Lanka lost the
third ODI against South Africa at Bloemfontein
on Tuesday night.
"I have to finish this one-day series. They have
appointed me for this series. After that it's up to
them to decide on who’s going to captain for
the next two or three years. I'm still comfortable
as captain," Dilshan said at the Chevrolet Park,
Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
Dilshan is yet to win a series as captain after he
was handed over the reins for Sri Lanka's tour
of England in May 2011. Since then, Sri Lanka
has lost four Test series on the trot, while losing
a similar number of ODI series at the hands of
England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa.
"Everything is going against us. I think it was a
good chance for us to win here but
unfortunately the rains came. We can’t control
the weather," Dilshan said on the result of third
ODI which was decided on the Duckworth and
Lewis rain rule.
"As a team, we are really disappointed the
way the series is going," the skipper said. With
their four-run win at Bloemfontein South Africa
has already secured the series with a 3-0 lead
with two more matches to go.
Sri Lanka's top order failed one again as
South Africa displayed stunning skills in
fielding to restrict them to 266 on a placid
batting track.
"Everyone got starts but after 30-40 runs,
everyone got out. One guy from the top
order should bat at least till the 40th or 45th
over," Dilshan said. According to the skipper,
the two run outs of Mahela Jayawardene
and Kumar Sangakkara had cost them a lot.
"I think we were short of another 20 runs
and this wicket was really good. Before the
start I thought a 250 or 260 score was a
good total but when we started batting, I
thought it should be somewhere around
280," Dilshan added. The skipper was
extremely disappointed of his team's fielding.
"I think, we gave away 15 to 20 runs and even
today, we didn't field well," Dilshan said.
It was a tough call to make as dark clouds
approached the night sky.
"It was really dark and I couldn't see the clouds
coming. Suddenly the rains came and that's
why I brought Lasith (Malinga) to get the
wicket," Dilshan said
South Africawas 15 runs behind at 153 for five
at the end of the 31st over, when the par score
was 168. However, the Proteas smashed 13 off
Petes
from P27
Tharushan Iddamalgoda 25 Rasan Mannan 30;
Binura Fernando 3/26, Supun Madusanka 2/48,
Suchintha Karunaratne 3/45)
Isipatana earn first innings points
Isipatana College scored first innings points
against St. Sylvester’s College as Malin Dias and
Kaminda Dananjaya shared seven wickets
between them to restrict their opponents to 180
runs in reply to their 196 runs in the tournament
match which ended at BRC Ground yesterday.
Scores:
www.berkeleyasia.com
Isipatana 196 all out in 91 overs (Pavan Anjana
58, Salinda Ushan 24, Matheesha Ranaweera
35, Malin Dias 20, Charith Rajapaksha 26;
Nimesha Mendis 7/52, Indunil Samarananda
2/42) and 91 for 3 wkts at close in 39 overs
(Salinda Ushan 26 n.o., Pavan Anjana 38 n.o.;
Nimesha Mendis 2/17)
St. Sylvester’s (58 for 3
overnight) 180 all out in
79.4 overs (Faiz Ahamed
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36, Harsha Madushan 26
@ Servicing repairs most major marques
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@ Air-conditioning
2/42, Malin Dias 3/27,
@ Vehicle recovery
Kaminda Dananjaya 4/43)
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beat under-strength Royal
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positives to take. While Isuru Gunathilaka scored
64 runs, 15-year-old skipper Chamika
Karunaratne and Poorna Aluthge picked up five
wickets apiece to restrict Sebs to 286 runs. Royal
had slapped a four-match ban on ten players for
a breach of discipline. The absence of speedster
Gaurav Deva due to injury, further weakened
Royal.
Scores:
Royal 176 all out in 55.2 overs (Isuru
Gunathilake 64, Geeshath Panditharathne 21,
Poorna Aluthge 22, Naveen Bandara 22; Amila
Aponso 4/40, Sanitha de Mel 2/40, Isuru Mendis
2/38) and 118 all out in 33.1 overs (Ronaka
Ahangamage 33, Geeshath Panditharatne 15,
Chamika Karunaratne 21; Sanitha de Mel 4/40,
Amila Aponso 3/22, Anuk Fernando 2/21)
St. Sebastian’s (195 for 5 overnight) 286 all out
in 56.1 overs (Avishka Fernando 50, Anushka
Perera 51, Nishamal Fernando 66, Sanitha de
Mel 37; Chamika Karunaratne 5/81, Poorna
Aluthge 5/103) and 9 for no loss in 0.5 overs
Dharmasoka earn first innings points against
Trinity
Chasing a target of 239 runs to win in 32 overs,
Trinity College were 172 for seven wickets at
close as Dharmasoka College earned first
innings points in their match which ended at
Ambalangoda yesterday.
Scores:
Dharmasoka 263 all out in 79.5 overs (Pasan
Priyaranga 24, Yohan de Silva 88, Adeesha
Thilanchana 32, Gihan Mihiranga 39, Lakshan
Jayasinghe 2/50, Alwin Fernando 4/74) and 149
all out in 43.5 overs (Tharaka Silva 25, Adeesha
Thilanchana 31, Gihan Mihiranga 51; Lakshan
Jayasinghe 2/41, Alwin Fernando 4/56, Janishka
Premasinghe 2/27)
Trinity (123 for 4 overnight) 174 all out in 39.3
overs (Niroshan Dickwella 36, Janishka
Premasinghe 46, Bhagya Palihawadana 22,
Dinuk Wickramanayake 34; Ramesh Mendis
the next over from Kosala Kulasekara to close
the gap and overtook Sri Lanka in the decisive
34th over, extracting seven runs off Malinga.
If another wicket had fallen, Sri Lanka would
have been right on top with the D/L par score
climbing to 192 after 34 overs.
"After losing the first ODI, we came back
strongly in the last two. We're getting close
but we didn’t finish well. We're doing every
possible thing but everything is going wrong
for us at the moment," Dilshan lamented.
The skipper backed himself for wasting 49
balls for his 33 runs.
"I didn’t want to take a chance since Upul
was batting really well. He was scoring runs
and we were going at nearly five runs an
over. I didn’t need to take a chance,"
Dilshan said.
Twenty-two year-old Dinesh Chandimal
looks well set to occupy the number 4
position and it's almost impossible for Mahela
Jayawardene to make a comeback to his usual
slot in ODI cricket.
"We want to give a secured position to
Chandimal and to get the maximum out of him,"
Dilshan said
(Daminda Wijesuriya reporting from
Bloemfontein)
3/35, Chamath Gunasinghe 6/43) and 172 for 7
wkts at close in 32 overs (Janishka Premasinghe
31, Heshan Wanniarachchi 45, Bhagya
Palihawadana 45, Ron Chandraguptha 33 n.o.;
Yohan de Silva 2/41, Duminda Kannangara 3/37,
Ramesh Mendis 2/40)
A draw at Panadura
The match between Royal College, Panadura
and Moratu Vidyalaya ended in a draw at
Panadura Esplanade yesterday.
Scores:
Moratu Vidyalaya 163 all out in 50.4 overs (Ishan
Nilaksha 20, Janith Samarajeewa 39, Sanka
Ramesh 43; Thenuka Dananjaya 5/58, Kavindu
Ashan 4/65) and 238 all out in 60.5 overs (Ushen
Tharuka 39, Champaka Fernando 22, Ishan
Nilaksha 55, Janith Samarajeewa 21, Dushan
Sulakshana 20, Udith Harshana 38; Asanka
Alwis 2/15, Thenuka Dananjaya 3/70, Kavindu
Ashan 3/72)
Royal Panadura (238 for 5 o/n) 281 for 8 wkts
decl in 63.5 overs (Damindu Ashan 95, Dulanjan
Charith 48, Kavindu Ashan 57, Asanka Alwis 50;
Sanka Ramesh 4/103, Safran Preena 2/77) and
94 for 6 wkts at close in 21 overs (Dulanjan
Charith 25, Dulip Gayan 21; Iresh Chamara 5/43)
Kusal disappoints Sri Sumangala
In reply to Nalanda College’s 222 runs, Sri
Sumangala College, Panadura were 148 for two
wickets at one stage before Kusal Dias produced
a six-wicket haul to restrict them to 198 runs in
their tournament match which commenced at
Kalutara Esplanade yesterday.
Tharuka Nadeeshan and Aruna Dharmasena
(95) were involved in a 148 run partnership for
the second wicket for Sri Sumangala.
Scores:
Nalanda 222 all out in 50.3 overs (Woshantha
Silva 37, Koshan Danushka 27, Lahiru Jayakody
34,
(Contd: on P30)
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Royal continues struggle to discipline players
Under-19 Cricket
PAGE 29
Trinity win u-17 and u-20 age categories
at Junior Weightlifting Championships
Most of the senior players in the current Royal
side had been witnessing how their school and
by Reemus Fernando
the Ministry of Education were turning a deaf
(island.lk) Struggling to overturn the bad
Girihagama – 69 kg category – Clean and Jerk
by Upananda Jayasundara –
ear to breach of discipline by a particular player,
precedence set by predecessors during the last
under-17 105 kg; K.H.B. Seneviratne – Clean and
Kandy Sports Special Corr.
who had a strong bond with a VVIP during the
couple of years where discipline became a
Jerk 77 kg under-20 130 kg and S. Liyanarachchi
WEIGHTLIFTING: Trinity College had a field day,
last
couple
of
years.
In
an
unprecedented
move,
– Clean and Jerk 62 kg under-20 with 132 kg.
victim of political influence, Royal College
winning
the
Senior
and
Junior
Championships
of
There was another award for S. Liyanarachchi of
dropped a number of its senior players including the particular player who brought discredit to the
the
Junior
National
Weightlifting
Championship
school and the country’s junior team through a
Trinity as he won the ‘Best Lifter’s award in the
the skipper on disciplinary grounds for its 115th
held at the University of Kelaniya. Trinity won the
serious breach of discipline (when he
under-20 age category.
traditional cricket fixture against St. Joseph’s
under-20 Championship, collecting 20 points while
represented the Under-19 team) was awarded
College which commenced at Reid Avenue
Kurunegala WLC
All Island School Colours.
yesterday.
came second.
Royal commenced its acts of disciplining players
15-year old Chamika Karunaratne took the
Then in the
after the controversial player left the school last
reigns of the team in the absence of regular
Under-17
year.
It
dropped
the
incumbent
First
XI
captain
skipper Imal Liyanage for yesterday’s encounter,
Championship,
for the crucial Inter-School Under-17 quarterwhere they slumped to 105 for six wickets
Trinity came on
final match several months ago. Incidentally, he
before the tail-enders laboured to push their
top with 20 points
has been dropped again for the on-going match.
to have an overall
total to 189 runs.
However, despite fielding a relatively an under
winning tally of 49
It is reliably learnt that some of the leading
points.
players had been involved in a serious breach of strength team, Royal youngsters manage to
even honours at stumps restricting St. Joseph’s
The three forcesdiscipline and Liyanage had been suspended
to 122 for six wickets with spinner Devind
Army, Navy and
pending a disciplinary inquiry. However, a team
Air Force and
Pathmanathan picking up three wickets for 39
official said that the absence of some of the
more than 20
runs.
senior players was due to injury.
clubs participated.
Scores:
The performances
Royal 189 all out in
of the Trinity
70.4 overs (Hashen
Championships. Standing (from left):Y.R. Jayasooriya, L. Girihagama, H.I.
weightlifters
Ramanayake
19,
Up to 80 percent of women will
Asahr, K.H.B. Senevirathna, I Shehan, T.D. Karunathilaka, I. Rangala, D.
should be lauded
Isuru
Gunathilaka
36,
struggle with premenstrual
Samarakoon, U. Samarasekera. Squatting and seated (from left): P.
as they also set
Chamika
Karunaratne
syndrome and its uncomfortable
Abeysundara, D.M.B. Rathnayake, Kevin Bandara (Capt.) S.I. Abeyrathtna
up
three
of
the
33, Shaqib Nazeer 16
symptoms, report Yale
(MIC), P.K.G.N. Dayan (Coach), S. Liyanarachchi, A. Akil, J.M.S.T.P.
new junior
n.o.; Supeshala
researchers. The reason: Their
records. Lochana Jayasundara. Picture by Upananda Jayasundara – Kandy Sports Special Corr.
Jayathilaka
4/37,
nervous systems are sensitive to
Priyamal
the ups and downs in estrogen and
Perera 3/45)
progesterone that occur naturally
every month. But snacking on 2
St. Joseph’s
cups of yogurt a day can slash
122 for 6 at
these symptoms by 48 percent, say
close in 29
researchers at New York's
overs (Dilan
Columbia University. "Yogurt is
Fernandopulle
rich in calcium, a mineral that
30, Vidusha
naturally calms the nervous
Jayasinghe 22,
system, preventing painful
Sadeera
symptoms even when hormones
Ealing
Samarawickra
"FOR THE AUTHENTIC
are in flux," explains Mary Jane
ma 34; Devind
Minkin, M.D., a professor of
Pathmanathan Sri Lankan FOOD PAPAYA COMES
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NEWSLANKA
19 JANUARY - 2012
ISSUE 1050
South Africa thrash Sri Lanka by 258 runs.
Lanka's reputation in One Day cricket was
shattered as South Africa bowled out the islanders
for their lowest ever total in 37 years to register a
massive 258 runs win in the first One Day
International played at Paarl, yesterday. This will
also go down in the history books as Sri Lanka's
worst ever defeat in One Day cricket. The previous
was losing to Australia by 232 in Adelaide in 1985.
South Africa made 301 for eight in 50 overs and Sri
Lanka could manage only 43 all out against the
hostile attack of Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
and Dale Steyn. The previous lowest for Sri Lanka,
in the shorter version of the game was 55 against
West Indies at Sharjah 1986. The main reason for
the defeat was nothing else but Sri Lankans
inability to face the top quality rising deliveries. The
South African quickies executed their game plan
up to the mark and Sri Lanka was five down for
nine in the fifth over. There was no way out of that
situation.
Only the lower order batsmen dragged Sri Lanka
out of facing a possible world record. The lowest
ever total recorded in an ODI is Zimbabwe getting
out to Sri Lanka for 35 runs at Harare in 2004. Sri
Lanka had bowled out Canada for 36 runs in a
world Cup match, at the same grounds in 2003
and Zimbabwe for 38 runs in 2001 at SSC grounds
Colombo.
Thanks to the lower order, Sri Lanka could retain
those records in the books. Jacques Kallis and
Hasim Amla guided South Africa to 301 for eight
wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Kallis carried his
cracking from into the One Day series with a
masterful 72 and Amla played an innings of solidity
to compile his ninth century in ODI cricket. It was
the experienced all-rounder, who has 10,000 plus
runs and 250 plus wickets in both forms of the
game, took Sri Lanka bowling attack by the scruff
of its neck.
He paid a scant respect to Sri Lankan bowlers in
compiling his 85th half century in ODI cricket. His
80 ball innings included 6 fours and a massive six
off Nuwan Kulasekara, hit early in the innings.
Kallis cut and drove with authority and the two
cover drives he played against Malinga, in the first
over of batting power play, was treat to watch.
Kallis survived on 52, after a confident appeal for
an LBW, but the DRS confirmed that the South
African umpire, Marais Erasmus, was correct in his
decision. A smart throw from Mahela Jayawardane
sent Kallis back to the Pavilion and that also ended
the second wicket partnership of 144 runs with
Amla who played the second fiddle to senior
cricketer.
Amla stayed in the middle until Kumar Sangakkara
dived to his right to hold a brilliant one handed
catch in the 46th over. Amla's dismissal put
Malinga on a hat-trick but Faf du Plessis
negotiated with the next ball to prevent a hat-trick
for Malinga. The express man was firing in all
cylinders to claim five for 54, his fifth five wicket
haul in ODI cricket. Sri Lanka opted for Ajantha
Mendis instead of Rangana Herath, who was the
most successful bowler in the test series. Mendis
claimed one for 54 in his eight overs.
As usual, Dilhara Fernando started off with a wide,
which landed way down the leg side and sped
pass boundary. His reputation for no balls is such
as 'Cricinfo' commentator coming out smartly when
Dilhara was given the ball.
"Dilhara Fernando, one of three Sri Lankans to
have played at Paarl before, comes on now. Two
slips in place. What are the odds on a no-ball to
start off?" said the 'Cricinfo' commentator. His nine
overs cost 65 runs for Sri Lanka, without a wicket
to his credit.
(Daminda Wijesuriya reporting from Paarl)
South Africa innings (50 overs maximum)
Hashim Amla
Graeme Smith
Jacques Kallis
AB de Villiers*†
Albie Morkel
c †Sangakkara b Malinga
c †Sangakkara b Malinga
run out (Jayawardene)
b Nuwan Kulasekara
c Mathews b Malinga
112
6
72
52
25
Jean-paul Duminy c & b Mendis
Faf du Plessis
b Malinga
Robin Peterson
not out 4
Dale Steyn
b Malinga
Morne Morkel
not out 1
Extras
(lb 2, w 15)
17
Total
(8 wickets; 50 overs)
1
10
1
301
Fall of wickets
1-9 (Smith), 2-153 (Kallis), 3-244 (de Villiers), 4279 (Albie Morkel), 5-279 (Amla), 6-283 (Duminy),
7-298 (du Plessis), 8-300 (Steyn)
Bowling
O
Lasith Malinga 10.0
M
0
R
54
W
5
Nb Wd
0 1
Sports Minister to inquire about cricket crisis
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A Sports Ministry media release said that Minister
Mahindananda Aluthgamage has instructed the
newly elected Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Chairman
Upali Dharmadasa to submit a report in one
week’s time on the current cricket crisis.
Sri Lanka’s National cricket team, now in South
Africa, were on the verge of suffering their fourth
successive One-day International series defeat
by yesterday to receive continuous criticism from
fans and critics alike. Most of their main batsmen
failed to perform reasonably well in recent series
while the unity of the National team too was
questioned.
After studying the present situation, proposals
needed to be made on short, medium and long
term solutions, Aluthgamage has informed
Dharmadasa, according to the above release.
Dharmadasa was elected as SLC Chairman
uncontested on Jan. 3. He was subsequently
subject to criticism for receiving strong political
backing before his rival camp, led by Thilanga
Sumathipala, pulled out from the election citing
political influence and breach of SLC constitution
during the election process.
Dharmadasa meanwhile had told the media that it
is unfair to discuss about sacking present Captain
Tillakaratne Dilshan from captaincy as a remedy
to ongoing failure of the National team. He has
said it is normal for cricket to make progress as
well as setbacks ‘as in our life.’
"Not only Sri Lanka, even if you look at other
countries, India also lost three Tests to Australia,"
he has also said.
The SLC will discuss all the issues with the
selection committee and making any changes in
the team, including the captaincy, is up to the
selectors, he had added.
"I don’t think it is fair to sack the captain merely
because he lost a series," some international
media reports quoted Dharmadasa saying.
Petes
Joseph Vaz College to 204 runs in their
tournament match which commenced at
Wennappuwa yesterday. In reply, Mahanama
were 80 for two wickets at close.
Scores:
Joseph Vaz 204 all out in 75.5 overs (Nipun
Deemantha 61, Asitha Fernando 51, Ravindu
Dilshan 21; Rumesh Madusanka 6/24, Nayana
Prabath 4/40)
Mahanama 80 for 2 wkts at stumps 17 overs
(Duleeka Thissakuttige 37 n.o., Chathura
Wanniarachchi 30 n.o., Primash Obris 2/27)
Richmond 260, St. Benedict’s 15/3
St. Benedict’s College were 15 for three wickets
at stumps in reply to Richmond College 260 runs
on day one of their match which started at
Kotahena yesterday.
Scores:
Richmond 260 all out in 81.4 overs (Sithara
Gimhana 75, Pabasara Waduge 22, Hasitha
Madushan 61, A.K. Tyron 41; Dilan Angelo 4/29,
Yohan Soyza 5/72)
St. Benedict’s 15 for 3 wkts at stumps in 11 overs
(Prabath Nishantha 2/10).
from P28
Vihan Wickramarachchi 31, Malinda Vimukthi 25;
Anju Tharaka 2/38, Tharuka Nadeeshan 5/77,
Yeshan Madusanka 3/20)
Sri Sumangala 198 all out in 42 overs (Tharuka
Nadeeshan 59, Aruna Dharmasena 95; Kusal
Dias 6/40, Koshan Danushka 4/51)
Madusanka picks up six wickets
Left-arm paceman Rumesh Madusanka picked
up six wickets for Mahanama College to restrict
Email: [email protected]
Ratnam in comfortable win over Nandimithra
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By Tony Mike
(dailymirror.lk) Former champions
Ratnam lived upto their potential to
score an easy 3 goals to one victory
over lowly placed Nandimithra in the
Dialog Champions League second leg
soccer match played at the Kelaniya
Footabll Complex on Sunday.
Ratnam scored their first goal through M.
Yogarajah in the eighth minute and a
minute away from the short whistle
Tharindu Eranga made it two-nil.
Soon after Nandimithra's S.
Ramanayakewas sent off by referee A.
A. Tharanga for a serious offence.
Playing with ten men in the second half
Nandimithra did well to reduce the lead
to 2-1 with a fine goal scored by S.
Satheeswaran.
However Ratnam sealed the match with
their third goal being scored by skipper
Mohammed Rowmi in the 84th minute.
With this win Ratnam lead the points
table with 35 points from 16 games while
Army is lying second with 32 points.
Renown is third with 24.
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PAGE 31
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South Africa condemn Sri Lanka
to fifth loss in a row
Colin Bryden
(dailynews.lk/2012/01/16) South Africa
condemned Sri Lanka to their fifth successive oneday international defeat with what home captain
AB de Villiers described as a “clinical” five-wicket
win in the second one-dayer at Buffalo Park.
Despite an innings of 92 not out by Dinesh
Chandimal, Sri Lanka’s total of 236 for six was not
enough to put real pressure on the home side,
who sealed a well-paced run chase with eight balls
to spare. Hashim Amla made 55 and man-of-thematch JP Duminy an undefeated 66 for South
Africa.
Amla hit five fours and two sixes and took
advantage of the early powerplays as he and
Graeme Smith (28) put South Africa in control with
an opening partnership of 76.
Duminy, by contrast, hit only one boundary in his
87-ball innings - a six off Sri Lankan captain
Tillekeratne Dilshan - as he played the anchor role
in the second half of the innings.
Dhammika Prasad took three for 46 but South
Africa were able to play cautiously against
dangerman Lasith Malinga, who only conceded 38
runs but took his only wicket in his final over when
the result was all but assured.
SRI LANKA
U. Tharanga c De Villiers b M. Morkel . . .
66
T. Dilshan run out (Du Plessis) . . . . .
K. Sangakkara c De Villiers b Tsotsobe . . . .
D. Chandimal not out . . . . . . . . . . . .
M. Jayawardene c Steyn b M. Morkel . . . . .
N. Kulasekara c Peterson b Tsotsobe . . .
A. Mathews c M. Morkel b Steyn . . . . .
EXTRAS (lb1, w5) . . . . . . . .
TOTAL (6 wkts, 50 overs) ...
South Africa’s fielding won them
the game – Dilshan
0
3
92
19
22
28
6
236
Bowling: Steyn 9-1-54-1, Tsotsobe 10-2-43-2, M.
Morkel 9-1- 39-2 (3w), A. Morkel 6-0-29-0,Duminy
6-0-26-0 (1w), Peterson10-0-44-0 (1w)
SOUTH AFRICA
G. Smith c Tharanga b Prasad . . .
H. Amla b Prasad . . . . . . . . . . . . .
J. Kallis c Chandimal b Prasad . . .
J. Duminy not out . . . . . . . . . . .
A. de Villiers run out (N. Kulasekera) . . .
F. du Plessis c and b Malinga . . . . . .
A. Morkel not out . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EXTRAS (lb3, w1) . . . . . . .
TOTAL (5 wkts, 48.4 overs)
28
55
37
66
17
18
12
4
237
Bowling: Malinga 10-1-38-1, N.Kulasekera 8-0-470, Mathews2-0-13-0 (1w), Prasad 10-0-46-3,
Dilshan 8.4-0-44-0, K.Kulasekera 1-0-6-0, Herath
9-0-
Injury time goal saves Java Lane
By Tony Mike
(dailymirror.lk/2012/01/16) In a tense and thrilling
Dialog Champions League second leg encounter
Java Lane earned a creditable one-all draw against
Renown played at the City Football Complex on
Sunday.
A player who was very lucky not to have got the
marching orders from the referee for kicking an
opponent during a fisticuff amongst several players
from both sides was the ultimate hero for Java Lane
to seize the equaliser during injury time after his
side was reduced to ten men in the 88th minute.
Renown minus their star player Fazlur Rahman did
not start well and it was Java Lane who created
some fine moves to threaten the visiting side.
However the early attempts made by 16-year-old M.
Zarwan and Nagoor Meera were well saved by
Lanka Travel & Tours
9480
KUWAIT AIRWAYS
Renown custodian Y. Satheeskumar.
Thereafter both sides tried hard to score and it was
at the half hour mark Mohammed Zain grabbed the
opportunity to slot the ball into the net to give
Renown a one-nil lead.
At half time the club from Kotahena led one-nil and
maintained it till injury time.
In the 85th minute players from both sides were
involved in fisticuffs but referee B. M. S. Basnayake
handled the situation well and brought it under
control. But three minutes later T. M. S. Saldin of
Java Lane was sent off for a second caution. During
injury time there was a mess up in the Renown goal
area and defender of Java Lane Mohammed Naleer
who played a great game rushed in quick time and
to slot the ball into the goal to give his side a
creditable draw.
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Rex Clementine - reporting from East London
Ajantha Mendis had to be left out after sustaining a
(island.lk) After all the lows in Paarl, where South
back injury. "It’s very unfortunate, but we brought
Africa bowled out the tourists for their lowest total
only two spinners and one of them was injured and
to inflict Sri Lanka’s worst ever defeat in limited
had we played another spinner it would have been
overs cricket, Buffalo Park in East London provided handy here."
the Sri Lankans with conditions that were similar to The tourists now need to win the next three games
home.
to win the series as the five match
Any chances of Sri Lanka squaring the
encounter now moves to the interior of
series in the second ODI were
South Africa to places such as
thwarted as the Proteas fielded as well
Bloemfontein, Kimberley and
as any team in the recent history, to
Johannesburg.
restrict the visitors to 236 runs for six
"We can take some positives from this
wickets.
game after having a disastrous game
While Francois du Plessis ran out
in Paarl. Guys like Sanga, Mahela and
Dilshan with a direct hit from point,
I are not in good form and if we can
Dale Steyn took a terrific catch at short
come to the party that would be
fine leg while still airborne to see the back of
fantastic for the side." Talented young batsman
Mahela Jayawardene. Then after Nuwan
Dinesh Chandimal was the standout for the Sri
Kulasekara had given some much required
Lankans, making an unbeaten 92 and holding the
urgency to the innings at number six, having hit
innings together. "He is one of the fine talents we
two fours and two sixes, Robin Petersen ran
have got. We have to give him more opportunities
backwards from mid-on to take another diving
at number four. That’s the reason why we have got
catch to end Kulasekara’s cameo.
him to bat at number four and have Mahela at
"They fielded really well. In the meantime, we
number five. We hope he will continue in the same
didn’t field as well as we could. If we are short by
form in the next couple of games as well," Dilshan
20 runs, we should put up an effort whereby we
added.
save 15 or so runs and
create the pressure,
but we didn’t do that,"
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Dilshan said,
addressing a media
briefing after Sri Lanka
Return
suffered a five wicket
From
defeat with eight balls
Plus taxes
to spare.
"We were short by
*Low season + Taxes
about 20 to 25 runs.
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or
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NEWSLANKA
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19 JANUARY - 2012
ISSUE 1050
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