issue 1157 - Newslanka

Transcription

WE CARRY THE BROADEST SELECTION OF SL NEWS
TO THE BROADEST CROSS-SECTION OF SRI LANKANS
NEWSLANKA
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THURSDAY - FEBRUARY 06 - 2014
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SL celebrates 66th Independence Anniversary
NEWSLANKA
ISSUE 1157
REGGIE FERNANDO OUR MAN IN LONDON
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06 FEBRUARY - 2014
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Former journalist Mel murdered
(ft.lk) Former AFP Journalist
and senior economic reporter
Mel Gunasekera was found
stabbed to death in her home
in Battaramulla.
Gunesekera who was 40 years
old was Assistant Vice
President of
Fitch Ratings
Lanka at the time
of her death.
Her body was
discovered by
her parents
when they
returned from
church on
Sunday morning,
police said.
Gunesekera had been alone at
her home at the time of the
intrusion, the reports said.
Police are suspecting a failed
robbery, Police Spokesman
Ajith Rohana said, adding that
investigations were still
underway.
The suspect is believed to
have entered the Journalist’s
home through the front window
while Gunasekera was still
asleep. Her body had been
discovered near the pantry
with slash wounds on her
neck, police said.
Gunasekera’s neighbours had
installed CCTVs with a view of
the road and police are now
surveying that footage to
examine if the
suspect could be
identified.
A magisterial
inquiry was
conducted into
the murder late
last morning.
Police also used
sniffer dogs on
the scene during
their
investigations.
Mel Gunasekera, who reported
primarily on economic and
political affairs, had worked
with the AFP Colombo Bureau
for five years before joining
Fitch Ratings Lanka in 2012.
She also served as Assistant
Business Editor at the Sunday
Times and was the Founding
Editor of Lanka Business
Online, a premier economic
news portal in Sri Lanka. (DB)
Richmond student dies
in an accident
(dailymirror.lk) A 17-year-old
Advanced Level student of
Richmond College, Galle died
after falling from a tree while
engaged in decoration work in
connection with the school
inter-house sports meet, Galle
police said.
The tragedy had occurred
when the victim Pradeep
Kavinda Madanayaka had
attempted to cut down an
arecanut tree on Thursday
evening. He was rushed to the
Karapitiya Hospital where he
succumbed to his injuries.
The post-mortem was due to
be held at the Karapitiya
hospital. (D.G. Sugathapala)
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Lankan arrested after bomb threat on plane
(dailymirror.lk) Police at Arlanda airport in
Stockholm have arrested a man suspected to be a
Sri Lankan national who attempted to enter the
cockpit of a plane destined for Sweden claiming
he had a bomb, foreign media reported.
The Emirates airline flight, which departed from
Dubai, was due to arrive at Arlanda before midday
on Sunday. Not long after the plane left the United
Arab Emirates, drama unfolded as they would be
bomber rushed through the cabin screaming and
shouting according to witnesses.
Passengers reported that he tried to break into the
cockpit before he was apprehended by members
of the crew. He was wrestled to the ground and
had cable ties put around his arms reports the TT
news agency.
The man was kept stable for the remainder of the
flight with passengers saying he was lying on the
floor.
"There was no chance he would have been
successful in trying to get into the cockpit,"
Kenneth Knuts of the border police at Arlanda told
TT.
"We met at the flight a man from Sri Lanka who
had caused a disturbance onboard and had been
shackled by the staff," Albin Näverberg of the
Stockhollm police told Expressen. When the plane
landed at Arlanda at 11am the man was taken in
for questioning and subsequently arrested on
suspicion of attempted aviation sabotage.
Bus accidents on the rise; authorities
plan to leash bad drivers
injured from both buses were rushed to the
Ratnapura Provincial General Hospital.
(sundaytimes.lk) Bus accidents continue to rise,
Police said a speeding private bus from Colombo
with 20 people suffering injuries rushed to the
to Maduru Oya hit an SLTB bus, killing one and
Warakapola Base Hospital and Kegalle Teaching
injuring 68 persons.Last December, a six-year-old
Hospital on Friday after a bus collided with a lorry
boy was killed when a private bus collided with an
in Warakapola on the Colombo-Kandy road. On
SLTB bus in Thihagoda, Matara. Another eight
Wednesday, 15 passengers were admitted to the
persons were admitted
Eheliyagoda Hospital
to the Matara General
after their bus suffered
Hospital.There are
brake failure and,
about 23,000 buses in
veering off the road, hit
the country, 18,000 of
a sand mound in
them in private service.
Idamgoda,
A new law is expected
Eheliyagoda.
in two months that
In Kekirawa last week,
would institute a
18 schoolchildren were
taken to hospital with
December 2013: An accident in Matara claimed the separate category for
injuries after their bus life of a six-year-old and injured eight others. Pic by driving licences for
passenger
crashed into a tree,
Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk
transport.“Buses,
and a 22-year-old man
three-wheelers, passenger transport vans and
was killed when a bus hit his bike near an entry
other vehicles will come under this category,” said
point to the Southern Expressway. There were a
Motor Traffic Commissioner General S.H.
number of reports last month of private buses
Harischandra.“We have received the draft
trying to overtake Sri Lanka Transport Board
document from the Legal Draftsman with the
(SLTB) buses without any regard for safety.In one
proposed changes. Once passed, a driver has to
instance, a private bus plying from Suriyawewa to
renew the licence every four years and undergo
Colombo hit a SLTB bus and veered off the road
training.”
on the Ratnapura-Pelmadulla main road. The
(Contd: on P4)
By Nadia Fazlulhaq
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PAGE 04
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
Northern Muslims demand share
of Indian housing
(island.lk) More than 1,200 protesters took part
in an agitation in Vavuniya.
The majority of them were northern Muslim IDPs
and they demanded houses being built in the
North by India.
They demanded that more Indian Housing
assistance be
extended to them
as well as they
had been robbed
of their properties
and driven away
by the LTTE.
The protests
which began at
Vavuniya Gamini
Sinhala School,
soon spilled over
into the streets.
Protesters also signed a public petition
addressed to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and External Affairs Minister of India
Salman Khurshid to help the displaced Muslims
as well.
Dilneth’s dream shattered: Help save his life
(island.lk) The dream of nine-year-old Dilneth
Bandara, a bright student eagerly looking
forward to sitting for the Year 5 scholarship
examination this year, has been cruelly
shattered. He has been diagnosed with relapsed
acute lymphoblastic leukemia and as a result,
his bone marrow is in remission.
Dr. Revanthi Raj, Senior Consultant, Paediatric
Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation
of Apollo Hospital, Chennai, says the patient can
be accepted to perform high resolution HLA
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typing before offering Bone Marrow Transplant.
The child should be brought to the hospital at
the earliest along with
the donor for a
complete
reevaluation. The
duration of the stay
for treatment will be
5-6 weeks in
Chennai, the doctor
said.
The patient
needs MRD
assessment and
allogeneic bone
marrow
Dilneth Bandara,
transplantation to
save his life, says Dr. Wasantha
Rathnayake, Consultant Paediatric
Oncologists, NCI, Maharagama.
The cost of the medical treatment and stay
at Apollo will cost an estimated Rs. 7 million,
which the parents of the child cannot afford.
The child’s father, K. M. G. W. Bandara is a
staff sergeant attached to the military police.
His mother worked for the National Blood
Transfusion Service, but her salary has
been stopped as she had to stay by her
beloved son’s bedside at the National
Cancer Institute and hence, could not report
for duty.
As Bandara has to look after his family,
particularly the needs of his sick child, with
the remuneration he draws as a soldier, an
appeal is being made for funds to save the
child’s life.
Those interested in contributing towards this
worthy cause, which revolves around the life
of a loveable child, can do so by making a
deposit to Account No. 320-2-001-03578257, People’s Bank, Borella, Colombo
8 or Account No. 75271997, People’s Bank,
Narahenpita, Colombo 5.
Bandara’s address is L 34, Anderson Army
Flats, Park Road, Narahenpita, Colombo 5.
Contact numbers: 071-8085378 or 0774377689.
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(colombogazette.com)
The Colombo
Commercial High
Court dismissed an
intellectual property
case filed against
singer Iraj Weeraratne
over the song ‘Mata
Aloke Genadevi’ when
it was taken up for
hearing today.
The case had been filed by the wife of late
songwriter Herbert M. Seneviratne claiming
the song was taken off a track owned by her
husband.
She had demanded Rs 10 million as
compensation from the singer over the track
which is a big hit in Sri Lanka.
However on hearing the case today the
Colombo Commercial High Court dismissed
the case filed against the singer. (Colombo
Gazette)
ISSUE 1157
Jailing of Lankan gang hailed
(colombogazette.com) The British Government
says the arrest and jailing of a criminal gang who
smuggled Sri Lankans into the UK is a major
breakthrough.
David Fairclough from Home Office Immigration
Enforcement Criminal Investigations unit said
the international organised crime gang conspired
to smuggle desperate people into the UK purely
for their own financial gain.
He said the gang
members were major
players in bringing Sri
Lankan nationals to the
UK illegally but thanks to
the cooperation of
agencies across Europe
they have been stopped.
“People smuggling is a
serious crime, which
preys on some of
society’s most
vulnerable people. This
investigation
demonstrates that we
will stop at nothing to
track down those
responsible, no matter
where they are in the world,” the British High
Commission in Colombo quoted him as saying.
The five members of the criminal gang who
smuggled Sri Lankans into the UK from France
have been jailed for a total of 23 years.
The men, four Sri Lankans and one British
national, were caught after a Home Office led
investigation, supported by Kent Police, the
National Crime Agency (NCA), Europol and
French, German and Swiss law enforcement
agencies.
The gang helped Sri Lankan illegal immigrants
attempting to reach the UK by smuggling them in
vehicles through the Channel ports.
A UK court heard this week how the five men
charged their Sri Lankan ‘clients’ around £4,500
each for the service. Many of the smuggling
attempts were foiled by Border Force officers
who discovered stowaways hiding in vehicles
stopped at ports including Calais, Dunkerque,
Coquelles and Dover.
Of those who reached the UK, some would also
travel onwards from the UK to North America
using falsified documents. Investigations are
ongoing to find the individuals who entered the
UK illegally.
At the Maidstone Crown Court this week, the
gang’s ringleader, 37year-old Sudharsan
Jeyakodi, of Bradley
Road, Luton, was jailed
for 5 years and 4
months. His accomplices
Kamalanesan Kandiah,
39, Chubramanian
Vignarajah, 42, British
national Amarjit Mudhar,
46, and John Anes
Soundaranayagam
Uvais, 41, were jailed for
5 years, 3 years and 4
months, 4 years and 8
months and 5 years
respectively.
Jeyakodi and
Vignarajah, of Aurelia Road, Croydon, pleaded
guilty to conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration
in August last year. Kandiah, of Balmoral Drive,
Hayes, London, Mudhar, of Brick Lane, Northolt,
London, and Uvais of Mitcham Road, East Ham,
London, were found guilty of the same charge
on 17 January following an 8 week trial.
Kandiah, Mudhar and Vignarajah were arrested
in the UK in May last year when officers from the
Home Office Criminal Investigations team
carried out a series of raids in London, Luton,
Essex, France and Germany.
Jeyakodi and Uvais were arrested by police in
Zurich, Switzerland, in June last year. Extradition
warrants were obtained and specialist officers
from the Home Office flew out to Switzerland to
bring the pair back to the UK. (Colombo
Gazette)
Alleged family dispute leads to suicides
Amila Parabath Wanasinghe
(dailynews.lk) The bodies of a 43-year-old
mother and her 10-year-old daughter were
fished out of a well in Sravasthipura,
Anuradhapura by the Anuradhapura Police on
February 1 morning. They were identified as that
of Alahakoon Mudiyanselage Pathirana Menike
and her daughter Shraddhanjali Karunaratne.
Police investigations revealed that Niroshini had
committed suicide by jumping into the well with
her daughter following a quarrel with her
husband who is a tuition master, the previous
day. The husband who returned home on
January 31 evening after a tuition class had
complained to the Police that
his wife and daughter were
missing from home.
Neighbours who have seen
the two bodies floating in the
well had alerted the Police
on February 1 morning and
the Police had arrived on the
scene and retrieved the two
bodies.
Anuradhapura Additional
Magistrate Uresha de Silva
Shraddhanjali
later visited the spot and held Pictures
by Amila
an inquiry into the deaths.
Prabath Wanasinghe.
Bus accidents
the NTC’s 24-hour hotline number, 1955.
“Disciplinary action can be taken against such
drivers and conductors following inquiries,” he
said. “The NTC is also conducting training
programmes with traffic police. They are being
shown videos of problem driving taken with
CCTV cameras.” Mr. Gunewardena said in order
to promote responsible driving the NTC was
planning to grant awards to good drivers
nominated by the public as well as establish
welfare facilities for drivers, conductors and their
families.
from P2
Drivers obtaining a passenger transport driver’s
licence will have to undertake compulsory
training on first aid, technical areas and
ethics.There were 2184 accidents involving
private buses between January and October
2013, 186 of them resulting in fatalities.National
Transport Commission (NTC) head Roshan
Gunewardena said the public could make
complaints about bus drivers and conductors on
Army says student was ill
(colombogazette.com) The military says the
university student who died while undergoing
leadership training, had been ill.
The university entrant who was undergoing the
“Leadership and Personality
Development” joint training programme
at Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers (SLEME) training school of
the Army at Gannoruwa, passed away
yesterday while receiving medical
treatment at Peradeniya Teaching
Hospital after a surgery for a prolonged
illness.
Lahiru Sandaruwan Rathnayake of Kudawewa,
Ambagaswewa, Nochchiyagama, was earlier
diagnosed to be suffering from diaphragm-related
illness, according to medical reports, and had
been under treatment before he joined the ArmyUniversity Grant Commission Joint Training
Programme with 269 others.
He was admitted to the Peradeniya Teaching
Hospital on January 26 and subjected
to an urgent laparatomy surgery on
Tuesday but succumbed to his illness
yesterday.
The post-mortem, conducted by Dr D.P.
P Senasinghe, Consultant Judicial
Medical Officer at Kandy General
Hospital during the inquest into his
death by the Kandy Magistrate,
confirmed the death was due to an “Ischaemic
Brain Damage, following Cardio Vascular
Compression in Congenital Diaphragam Hernia”.
(Colombo Gazette)
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ISSUE 1157
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
Mel Gunasekera (1973 -2014):
Who knew no bounds to her loyalty
NPC eclipsed by TNA dogma Daily Mirror Editorial(05/02/14)
(dailymirror.lk) The resolution that was adopted in
the Northern Provincial Council calling for an
international investigation into the alleged
violations of human rights and international
humanitarian law during the last lap of the war has
triggered a debate in the South over its legality. But
what matters most is not the legality of it, but the
shadow it has already cast over the much needed
and much talked about reconciliation among the
various communities in the country.
The resolution may be legally valid so long as it is
just an expression of opinion and unless the
Council did not reach out to the UNHRC or any
other member of the international community to sell
it or it did not espouse in one way or the other the
concept of secession, like the famous resolution
adopted by Vardharaja Perumal’s North East
Provincial Council in 1990. But it has already
reached the people of the South with a grim
message, that would have further vindicated the
suspicion in the minds of many of them on the NPC
in particular and on Tamil politicians in general. The
Council seems to have mixed its priorities up with
those of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the
political party that runs the council. However, even
the TNA had been evasive in this matter on an
earlier occasion. The party was planning to go to
Geneva in order to canvass for one of the two
resolutions on Sri Lanka that was moved by the US
at the UNHRC, but rightly abstained from doing so
at the eleventh hour citing the ground situation, in
other words due to the fear that it might have some
sort of bearing on the reconciliation process.
There is a popular argument that the accountability
is an inevitable ingredient in the reconciliation
recipe, which is generally logical and thereby
acceptable. But it is contentious that the
accountability extracted through a coercive process
PAGE 05
such as an international investigation would serve
the purpose, since the process itself would need a
long time during which many harrowing incidents
would be revisited.
On the other hand, going by the attitudes of the
apologists of the so-called international
investigation on violations of human rights in Sri
Lanka, it is apparently not going to be a probe into
the atrocities allegedly committed by both
protagonists of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, in
spite of their hollow claims that both sides violated
human rights and international humanitarian law.
Nor would it cover the incidents took place before
the years 2008 and 2009, during which a large
number of civilians were killed on buses, trains and
in many villages by the LTTE.
Not a single foreign leader or diplomat or official of
the UN bodies, including the UNHRC has so far
approached any Tamil civilians in the Wanni to be
acquainted as to who or what compelled the
civilians in the Wanni to be entrapped in a small
and ever shrinking land area in Mullaitivu in the
years between 2007 and mid- 2009. Nor has such
a foreign dignitary ever reportedly questioned a
Tamil civilian as to whether the LTTE used the
entrapped people as human shields. Nor have
these aspects been addressed by the NPC
resolution either, apart from its movers’ attempt to
include the terms such as “genocide” which is
highly contentious in the Sri Lankan context. Even
Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran had expressed his
reservations on this term.
Hence a lopsided investigation by the government
or by an international tribunal would not bring in
reconciliation. The support by the NPC for such a
lopsided international probe would also be a
disservice to it. Government’s failure to address the
issue candidly would not justify the NPC’s action.
(LBO) One of the most humbling
experiences in my professional life is
the opportunity I had, to work with Mel
Gunasekera for nearly ten years and
to build a rewarding friendship.
Mel took over the challenge of
building LBO at a time most people
were skeptical about the future of web
as a delivery mechanism of news.
That was way back in 2000 when the
web was in Jurassic Age. In Sri
Lanka, she created a wholly new
branch of journalism and a new form
and art of writing financial news. LBO
would not have reached to what its
today, if not for her commitment and
leadership.
She was fiercely independent and
never bowed down to commercial or
political pressure. She was
committed-stubbornly- to the highest
standards of her profession. She always committed
to serve the rights of her readers the right to know
unbiased, accurate and insightful news, timely.
Relentless pursuer of truth, Mel was guided by only
one voice- the powerful voice of her own
conscience.
Once, during the early days of LBO, Mel reported
on a landmark regulatory action against a powerful
service provider. The company together with the
PR and advertising agency brought much pressure
upon her to retract her stories. She didn't deviate
from her principles and continued to cover the
story.
That was Mel, a shinning light of financial
journalism in Sri Lanka.
Mel's untimely death in the hands of an assailant
brings us close to the reality of the lowest of depth
our society has fallen to. A piece of metal was more
valued than a human life by the coward who
murdered a wonderful human being at her prime
age.
Mel was ever so effervescent- who lived her life to
the fullest, packing her days with her work, other
interests and time for her family and friends. She
was funny and loving. Never a boring person to
hang out with, her conversations were always full
of witty remarks and often interrupted by her own
loud laughs.
We lost Mel, at a time this country needs more of
people like her. With her death- her brother lost a
loving sister, her parents a wonderful daughter and
the rest of us, her friends, lost a friend who knew
no bounds to her loyalty.
Sleep well my friend.
--Lakshaman Bandaranaike - Publisher LBO
“We Do not Accept the View that the Provincial Councils are Empty Shells With no Powers at all”
By C.V.K.Sivagnanam
(dbsjeyaraj.com) (Text of Keynote address delivered
by C.V.K. Sivagnanam, Chairman, Northern
Provincial Council at Canadian Tamil Congress
“Thai Pongal” Dinner held in Toronto on January 18,
2014.)
Mr. President, Honorable guests, dear brothers and
sisters, ladies and gentlemen.
First of all, I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous
Tamil New year and Thai Pongal greetings.
I also bring greetings and well wishes from our Chief
Minister C.V.Wigneswaran, Ministers and Members
of the Northern Provincial Council.
It is a great honour and pleasure for me to
participate in this great event. I sincerely thank the
Canadian Tamil Congress and others who were
instrumental in inviting me to take part in this
important cultural event.
Tamils celebrate many festivals such as Chittiraip
Pirappu, Aadip Pirappu, Navarathiri, Sivarathiri,
Deepavali, Pongal Vizha, Good Friday and
Christmas.
However, several centuries prior to the origin of
other festivals, Tamils have been celebrating Pongal
Vizha which can be traced all the way back to 2500
years. We can glean information about Pongal
Vizha in the Sangam Literature which was written
between 300 B.C. and 300 A.D.
The ancient Tamils were aware of the fact that Sun
provided warmth and caused rainfall which is
essential in growing and harvesting paddy. They
also found the cattle played an important role in
cultivating paddy. Therefore, as an act of gratitude
and to honor both the Sun and the cattle they
celebrated Pongal Vizha. The concept is the same
as the Thanks Giving Day celebrated in the Western
countries.
This celebration also underscores the honour and
value given by the Tamil community to those who
toil hard to produce food for human beings. Tamil
culture gives importance to nature and Sun
symbolizes that phenomena. As you know the Sun
seen from the earth untiringly rises and sets on a
daily basis to give sustenance to the farmers of the
human species and the herd of the animal species.
We are the innovators of the ideology of workers
rights and egalitarianism. We are the pathfinders of
labour rights and ethics. The Tamil race which was
confined to Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka has now
spread to many countries of the world either as
migrants or as political asylum seekers.
We are very proud of our Tamils in Diaspora in their
zeal to preserve their language, their culture and
their values. What more in abiding with the laws and
customs of their host countries where they sought
refuge. I look at this celebration as part of their
success story and a reflection of the rich culture and
ethical behavior of our people.
I consider it appropriate to express some views on
the functioning of the recently inaugurated Northern
Provincial Council, since I am attending this function
in my capacity as the Chairman of the Northern
Provincial Council.
The Provincial Council system, as you all know,
came into effect as a result of the 1987 Indo-Ceylon
Agreement signed by Rajiv Gandhi prime minister of
India and J.R. Jeyawardene president of Sri Lanka.
The Agreement provided for the temporary merger
of the North and East till a referendum is held in the
eastern province. But, on a petition filed by the JVP
the Supreme Court ruled on October 16, 2006 that
the annual proclamations issued by President
Jayewardene and his successors through gazette
notifications were null and void and had no legal
effect.
The ruling was influenced by politics rather than
evidence led before the learned judges. In a way it
also reflected the politicization of the judiciary. The
North-East Province was formally de-merged into
the Northern and Eastern provinces on 1st January
2007.
However, the same judges ruled that the merger
could be effected by an Act of Parliament. Although
the leader of the opposition UNP promised to
provide the necessary support of his party to secure
a 2/3rd majority in parliament, the government true
to form baulked at the offer.
Sinhalese dominated Provincial Councils in
Southern Sri Lanka can have their own views and
objectives, but we are very clear that the
amalgamation of the North and East, our traditional
homeland, is a must for the survival of our people as
a Nation.
The present government after claiming they have
liberated the eastern province, held provincial
Council election in the Eastern Province in 2008 and
again in 2012.
Likewise, the government announced in May 2009
that they had liberated the Northern Province as
well. But dragged its feet on without holding
elections for more than 4 years. Finally, elections
were held on the 21st September in 2013 largely
due to pressure exerted by India, US and the
international community.
When the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) decided to
contest the election, we clearly stated that the
Provincial Council system created under the 13th
amendment is not the solution to the ethnic conflict
between the Tamil and Sinhala Nations. We stood
and we stand steadfast in this view.
We have enumerated the reasons for contesting the
elections in detail and in clear terms in our election
manifesto. We stated that there was an absolute
need for a Council with members elected by the
people of the Northern Province. All these years our
people were deprived of their political and civic
rights in the absence of an elected Council. The
military dominated administration deprived those
& OUR ARCHIVES AT
rights of our people.
There was a necessity to prevent the grabbing and
acquisition of the land owned by our people. There
was a necessity to prevent the exploitation of our
natural resources and there was an urgent need to
prevent the well-planned settlement programs in the
North by bringing in people outside the Northern
Province. There was also the dire necessity to
expose, in a democratic manner, the unwillingness
of the government in finding a viable and durable
solution to the ethnic crisis.
In this background, we thought to make use of the
Provincial Council to pressurize the government for
a solution to the ethnic problem and to bring the
issues open at the international level. We have also
the task to resettle the thousands of internally
displaced people in their own homes, to improve the
standard of living of those families where females
are the only breadwinners, to provide livelihood to
89,000 war widows, to emphasize the need to
release the political prisoners who have been
detained for long periods without charges or trial.
These are the daunting tasks facing the provincial
council today.
I also must mention the fact that there was another
important reason to contest the elections. It is to
prevent the Northern Provincial Council
administration falling into the hands of supporters of
the ruling chauvinist government.
We did not accept the view trotted by some people
that the Provincial Council system has no powers at
all. That it is an empty shell. Working and assisting
our people by exercising the limited powers of the
system is an absolute necessity. At the same time,
we will continue to agitate for devolution of powers
going beyond the 13th Amendment. As of now, the
executive powers are vested with the Governor. But,
we believe those powers cannot be exercised by the
Governor alone without decentralizing and
delegating those powers to the Provincial Council
Ministers and Officers on the basis of statutes
enacted by the Council.
People have elected a stable Provincial Council led
by the former Supreme Court Judge C.V.
Wigneswaran. The Chief Minister, Ministers and the
Council are determined to fulfill the expectations and
aspirations of our people to live in dignity and
honour in the land of their birth.
We are skeptical that the Sri Lankan government
would readily support the smooth functioning of the
Council. But, we will try our best to work with the
government without unnecessary confrontation to
achieve our goals with help from the international
community.
We all realise and understand that extra funds are
needed to undertake meaningful rehabilitation,
resettlement, reconstruction and development of a
region severely affected during the long war years.
However, this fact has not been taken into
consideration by the Finance Commission which for
the year 2014 has allocated funds on the same
basis like the other eight provinces of the country.
Only a total of 1876 million rupees has been
allocated for capital expenditure out of a total sum of
15,520 million rupees. When we divide these paltry
1876 million rupees among all five districts of the
North, one could realise the insufficiency of funds to
each district of the Northern Province. This amount
is sufficient only to construct about 17 kms of road
at present cost.
We have been debating in open forums about the
inadequacy of funds for development of the North.
Our Chief Minister had recently discussed these
issues with the President.
This government is telling the international
community that we have conducted the elections for
the Northern Provincial Council, people have been
given their democratic rights to elect a Council of
their choice and we will fully support all Council
activities. But in reality this government has not
taken any concrete steps to fulfill the aspirations of
the Tamil people.
If they have goodwill of any sort, the government
could have allocated a special fund for the Northern
Province which has been abandoned and neglected
for the last 30 years without any development.
This government has so far not shown its goodwill
towards the Tamil people. Under these
circumstances we have no alternative but to seek
the support of the international community as well
as assistance from the Tamil Diaspora to build the
Northern Province.
I take this opportunity to make an earnest request
and a message to the Tamil Diaspora spread all
over the world. As I mentioned earlier, the problem
regarding an equitable and just political solution to
the Tamil National Question has been
internationalized as never before after the war
ended in May 2009. This is largely due to the
untiring efforts of the Diaspora Tamil. We are
grateful for your support and efforts to espouse of
our cause, working towards an equitable political
solution and exposing human rights violations by the
government. We are aware of the political and
economic strength and potential you have to further
accelerate your political and humanitarian activities.
I once again seek your support and assistance in
bringing about a political solution to the ethnic
conflict, in achieving basic human rights of our
people, in assisting resettlement and rehabilitation
our people to stand on their feet, in improving their
overall standard of living, in assisting economic
development of our homeland. Our people deserve
to live in peace, equality and prosperity. Once again
I thank the CTC and Board of Directors for the
opportunity to meet you and participate in this great
cultural event.
Thank you.
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
PAGE 06
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
ISSUE 1157
Gotabhya says Biswal ignorant
By Shamindra Ferdinando
(island.lk) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa yesterday said that Assistant Secretary
of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal
wouldn’t have declared that Sri Lanka’s human
rights record had deteriorated five years after the
conclusion of the conflict if she had been properly
briefed by the US embassy in Colombo.
Biswal had been totally ignorant of the situation
here as she was misinformed, Defence Secretary
Rajapaksa said in an interview with The Island
yesterday.
The US official met the Defence Secretary before
visiting Jaffna, where she held talks with Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) representatives, including
Ananthi Sashitharan, wife of LTTE terrorist Elilan.
An American of Indian origin, Biswal succeeded
Robert O. Blake recently.
Biswal said the US believed Sri Lanka’s human
rights record had deteriorated five years after the
war ended. Democracy was also under threat in
Sri Lanka where she said rule of law had
weakened while corruption had increased during
this time period. "We are concerned about the
worsening situation with respect to human rights,
including continued attacks against religious
minorities, as well as the weakening of the rule of
law and an increase in the levels of corruption and
impunity. All of these factors lead to undermine the
proud tradition of democracy in Sri Lanka", she
said.
"Respect for human rights and a promotion of
transparent and democratic governance are
essential. Unfortunately, continued deterioration in
these areas is already beginning to take its toll on
democracy in Sri Lanka," she said.
The envoy was also critical of attacks on religious
minorities as well as intimidation of local residents
who complained that they were intimidated after
they spoke with visiting foreign dignitaries to
discuss Sri Lanka’s rights issues.
Defence Secretary said that Biswal hadn’t been
able to comprehend that the Northern Provincial
Council couldn’t be held until the defeat of
the LTTE, though the elections were held on
November 19, 1988 to the then temporarily
merged North-Eastern provincial Council
under the supervision of the Indian army.
Rajapaksa said that Biswal hadn’t been
aware of the nexus between the LTTE and
the TNA and the circumstances under which
the latter had to call a media conference in
Colombo to recognise the terrorist group as
the sole representative of the Tamil
speaking people. The TNA’s relationship with the
LTTE had been highlighted out by the EU following
parliamentary polls in Dec 2001, the Defence
Secretary said. In fact, the EU election monitoring
mission alleged that the TNA benefited from preparliamentary poll violence perpetrated by the
LTTE, the Defence Secretary said. Biswal could
obtain a copy from the EU, he said.
In spite of being the main beneficiary of the LTTE’s
battlefield defeat, the TNA continued to attack the
government on the human rights front, the Defence
Secretary said, adding that he regretted the US
was giving credence to baseless allegations and
lies propagated by the political grouping.
Recalling the circumstances under which the TNA
on behalf of the LTTE ordered Tamil speaking
people not to exercise their franchise at the
November 17, 2005 presidential polls, Defence
Secretary Rajapaksa said that had the US
Embassy bothered to examine gradual increase of
the number of voters in the Northern Province
since the defeat of the LTTE, it would have
been able to advise Biswal.
The Defence Secretary said that he had
informed Biswal of the increase in Northern
votes since the eradication of terrorism. At
the presidential election in January 2010
about five per cent exercised their franchise
in the Northern Province, at the
parliamentary poll in April same year it was
12 per cent. At the subsequent local
government polls 45 per cent voted and the
first Northern Provincial Council saw a staggering
72 per cent exercise their franchise, the Defence
Secretary said. The TNA’s chief ministerial
candidate alone had obtained more than 100,000
preferential votes, the Defence Secretary said,
urging the US to review its position.
He noted that the Northern Provincial Council polls
had been held in peaceful environment. He asked
whether it would have been possible if the
government had allowed Tamil parties to carry
SL denies refusing visa to US official
(dailymirror.lk) The Sri Lankan External Affairs
Ministry today denied reports that it had refused a
visa to top US official Catherine Russell. The
Ministry said such reports were a fabrication and
incorrect.
“What has been reported is totally erroneous. Sri
Lanka has not denied a visa to Ms. Russell as
there was no reason for such a refusal. Her visit
had to be rescheduled because if otherwise she
would have
been unable
to meet some
of those
whom she
planned to
meet. These
things
happen, it’s a
mere
request to
reschedul
e her visit,” External Affairs Ministry Public
Communications Director Prabhashini
Ponnamperuma said.
According to reports filed by foreign media, the
Sri Lankan Government had refused a visa to
Catherine Russell, the US Ambassador for
Women’s Issues, forcing her to cancel a high
level visit scheduled for this month.(Jehan
Gunasekara)
weapons. Referring to the Norwegian Ceasefire
Agreement (CFA) signed in February 2002, the
official said that it envisaged disarming all Tamil
groups/political parties, while recognising the
LTTE’s right to maintain a conventional military
capability in the then temporarily merged NorthEast Province.
Responding to allegations that religious minorities
were being targeted, the Defence Secretary asked
whether a government in its right mind would
sponsor attacks on minorities knowing the impact
on its voter base. No sane political leader would
allow attacks on minorities, the Defence Secretary
said, insisting that an attempt was being made to
portray isolated incidents as a project undertaken
by the government. The likes of Biswal would
never realise how the LTTE influenced violence
abroad. The Norwegian who had massacred over
80 people in Oslo in June 2011 had declared that
he was following the LTTE attacks directed at
Muslims in Northern and Eastern districts of Sri
Lanka, the Defence Secretary said.
Referring to the recent strip searching of an Indian
diplomat in the US arrested on charge of fraud, the
Defence Secretary said that Sri Lanka had never
resorted to such measures even at the height of
the war in spite of the LTTE using female suicide
cadres to target high profile political targets. Today,
one of those who had encouraged women cadres,
Adele Balasingham lived in the UK, without being
held accountable for her crimes, he said.
Affable Lankan doc in London launches
maiden music album
By Sujeewa Nivunhella in London
(island.lk) Dr. Kusum Subasinghe, a popular Sri
Lankan doctor in London, launched her first music
album titled ‘Kokil Gee’ recently.
The affable doctor, who has lived in London for
over 35 years, started to sing as a hobby since her
student days in the Colombo Medical College. Her
husband, Dr. Gnanesh Subasinghe, a clever
keyboard player, always encouraged his wife to
sing.
The couple was a common sight at every Sri
Lankan cultural event in London, playing the key
board and singing.
A charming, but elegant event was held in
Westminster University Hall in Harrow to release
her album. There were 18 songs in her album with
most of the music by the late maestro Stanley
Peiris. Veteran musicians Rohana Weerasinghe,
Victor Ratnayake, Sanath Nandasiri and Anthony
Surendra also
contributed towards
this initiative.
Stanley Peiris,
Victor Ratnayake
and T. M.
Jayarathne had
joined Kusum to
sing few duets. The
lyrics were by
Premakeerthi De
Alwis, Rodney
Vidanapathirana,
Dr. Ajantha
Ranasinghe, Prof.
Carlo Fonseka,
Saman
Kusum Subasinghe
Chandranath
Weerasinghe and Geethanath Kudaligama.
Australia refuses to back int’l probe against SL
(dailymirror.lk) The Australian government is
refusing to back an independent international
investigation into alleged war crimes during the Sri
Lankan civil war as the government of Sri Lanka
rejected a new report detailing "credible" claims of
civilian bombings, extrajudicial killings and other
abuses. The United Nations Human Rights Council
is due to consider a new resolution on the
allegations next month. Britain and Canada have
already called for an international inquiry, saying Sri
Lanka has failed to heed two previous UN
resolutions for it to launch its own judicial inquiry
and prosecutions. There are reports the US will
sponsor the resolution for an international inquiry.
Asked if Australia supported a UN-sponsored
investigation and would co-sponsor any resolution,
Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop was noncommittal.
"The Australian government has consistently urged
Sri Lanka to ensure that all
allegations of serious
international crimes
committed by both sides to
the conflict are investigated
and prosecuted in a
transparent and
independent manner," she
said in a statement. "Any
future formal investigation would need to be agreed
by the international community and would be a
matter for relevant bodies at the time."
Sri Lanka's high commissioner to Australia, Admiral
Thisara Samarasinghe, rejected the allegations in
the report by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre
released on Wednesday. The report outlined
evidence that Sri Lankan security forces corralled
civilians into no-fire zones and then launched
artillery on them, and had assassinated rebel
soldiers as they tried to surrender.
"These are unsubstantiated and biased
speculations orchestrated by a defeated terrorist
organisation," he said, referring to the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam or Tamil Tigers.
The PIAC Report, which interviewed 30 witnesses
and examined other material, found there was
considerable evidence that suggests both sides in
the conflict had committed war crimes or crimes
against humanity but the victorious Sri Lankan
government was responsible for the "vast majority"
of them.
It said there was enough evidence to bring senior
military and government officials in Sri Lanka to
trial before an international court.
Admiral Samarasinghe said the report was
designed to whip up sentiment ahead of the UN
meeting and that there needed to be more respect
Mangala to demand Rs.10 bn
from state-owned newspapers
(dailymirror.lk) Claiming that there is
a limit to one’s patience in the face of
mud-slinging against one through the
state media, UNP MP Mangala
Samaraweera yesterday demanded
Rs 10 Billion from two newspapers of
the state owned Lake House (ANCL)
Group as damages for tarnishing his
image.
Issuing a statement, Mr.
Samaraweera said, “I do not seek an
apology from the Editors of the two
state run newspapers: these morons
who parade as journalists will not
understand such a noble concept as
an apology. I will be asking for Rs.5
Billion each from two English
newspapers of ANCL.
for the strides Sri Lanka had made in reconciling
the country after almost 30 years of conflict.
Australia is not a member of the UN Human Rights
Council but co-sponsored the two previous
resolutions calling for action by Sri Lanka in 2012
and 2013.
"A change of government should not mean a
weaker position from Australia on human rights,"
Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Tanya Plibersek
said. The wording of the mooted new resolution
has not been completed but the US has said it
would sponsor one. Australia aims to join the
human rights council in 2018. (Sydney Morning
Herald)
(island.lk) External Affairs Minister, Prof. G. L. Peiris
presenting a plaque on behalf of the Dr. A. C. S.
Hameed Memorial Committee to parliamentarian, A.
H. M. Azwer in appreciation of authoring ‘The Valley
of Gems’, a book containing parliamentary
speeches of the late Dr. A. C. S. Hameed, veteran
parliamentarian and the first Foreign Minister of Sri
Lanka. The book edited with a Forward from
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, was ceremonially
launched at the BMICH yesterday. Looking on is
Faiz Mustapha, PC, who chaired the ceremony as
the Chairman of the Dr. A. C. S. Hameed Memorial
Committee.(Pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja)
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
ISSUE 1157
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 07
PAGE 08
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
GL responds to Biswal
UK, US discuss resolution
(colombogazette.com) Britain and the United
States have had talks today on the proposed
resolution on Sri Lanka to be submitted at the UN
Human Rights Council in Geneva next month.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and
Central Asia, Nisha Biswal,
met the British Minister of
State at the UK Foreign
Office Hugo Swire in
London today to discuss
about Sri Lanka.
Swire tweeted saying he
had a productive
discussion with Biswal on
the human rights situation
involving Sri Lanka and the
March Human Rights
Council session.
Biswal flew to London from
Sri Lanka where she had
meetings with the
Government and the opposition on the human
rights issue and from London she will head to
Geneva for more talks with diplomats from several
countries, including India, on the situation on Sri
Lanka.
In a statement yesterday, the Government said
that it was evident from Biswal’s visit to Sri Lanka
and that which preceded
from the US, as well as
“intrusive behavior” by
other representatives of
that country, that there is a
desire to believe the worst
of Sri Lanka and seek to
build on that premise to
justify punitive action
against the country.
The Government said that
as a sovereign state and
one of Asia’s oldest
democracies, Sri Lanka
does not wish to be
dictated to by others in the
international community in the conduct of its
internal affairs. (Colombo Gazette)
SL wants West to outlaw Eelam flag
Denotes terrorism and separatism
LTTE a proscribed organisation
Affairs Ministry Additional
Secretary Rodney Perera said.
"The Eelam flag carries an
Chamikara Weerasinghe
anti-Sri Lankan statement.
(dailynews.lk) Sri Lanka is with considerable
Besides, it represents
resolve pushing the West to outlaw the LTTE
separatist terrorism. It is not
Eelam flag, the use of which has become a
common sight in their countries by LTTE remnants recognised in terms of the
Constitution of Sri Lanka," he
and the Tiger Diaspora organisations, External
told the Daily News
yesterday.
"The choice of the Eelam
flag of the LTTE is to
promote terrorism and
Solicitors & Commissioners for Oaths
separatism in Sri Lanka. It is very unfortunate
We are an established law firm based
to observe that LTTE remnants and Tiger
in North London, specialising in:
Diaspora organisations operating in these
Immigration matters
countries influencing the Western political
(Visas, TIER 1 General - Highly Skilled Migrants,
establishment even as they carry the flag of a
TIER 2 Skilled Workers (Work Permits), Students,
proscribed terrorist organisation," he said.
Domestic Workers, Appeals - Judicial Reviews etc.)
"The European Union, US, UK, Australia and
Residential/Commercial Conveyancing
Norway and other countries that banned LTTE
terrorists, are expected to prohibit the use of
Landlord and Tenant Disputes
the Eelam flag -- which denotes a terrorist
Divorce
General Litigation (Sale of Goods, Services, Debts etc.) movement against a sovereign nation -- by
those pro-LTTE organisations in their
Employment Law
countries," Perera said. Pro-LTTE
We also offer comprehensive services on legal
organisations operating in the West under
maters in Sri Lanka
various names such as the UK based Tamil
Youth Organization (TYO), Global Tamil
Aiming to provide a reasonable, flexible accessible
Forum and York University Tamil Students'
and effective service to all
Association,
(Contd: on P14)
Contact: Shanthi Senadheera (Solicitor),
SHANTHI & CO
Padmini Senadheera (Solicitor),
Dinu Senadheera (Solicitor)
206 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park,
London N4 3NX
Tel: 020 7561 9494 Fax: 020 7561 9495
Emergency: 07956 129 642
Email: [email protected]
Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
ISSUE 1157
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE?
COOKED UP STORY
SL has already demonstrated economic
resilience
Sri Lanka does not wish to be dictated to by
int’l community
(dailynews.lk) The External Affairs Ministry
responding to the latest comments and
allegations made to the media by visiting US
Assistant Secretary of State for South and
Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal, pointed out
that the latest allegation of religious intolerance
repeatedly made by the US appears to be to give
credence to isolated incidents as a regular
occurrence.
“It is well known that many of the facilities for
religious worship which have been targeted are
those operating in violation of the guidelines
governing the establishment of these places,” an
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said in a
release yesterday.
It has generally been found that these incidents
have been a reaction on the part of the
community resident in those areas. Attributing
blame to the government is totally unwarranted.
While legal action has been taken with regard to
some incidents, others have been settled
amicably. Therefore, the criticism is grossly
disproportionate and politically motivated, the
statement said.
The assertion that the US does not want to see
Sri Lanka being left behind in Asia’s economic
progress is patronizing.
As a country that faced a protracted conflict, Sri
Lanka has already demonstrated economic
resilience and a projection of sustained
economic stability.
The claims, be it on the pace of implementation
of the LLRC, allegations of religious intolerance
or insufficient progress in addressing
reconciliation and accountability,are
unsubstantiated. They have been as
preposterous as a visiting US official stating to
being convinced of a figure of 40,000 missing
persons based on a purported census of 2008
carried out by a civil society institution. Reckless
and irresponsible statements without evidence
have been recoursed to in order to create an
impact to give way to prejudged action, the
release said.
While stating that ‘Bona fide friendship is
extremely welcome’ the release has pointed out
that however, ‘the basis of a friendship is formed
through fairness and open mindedness and not
predetermined conclusions’.
The External Affairs Ministry while responding to
the comments made by the US Assistant
Secretary also has once more reminded that we
are a sovereign nation.
“As a sovereign state and one of Asia’s oldest
democracies, Sri Lanka does not wish to be
dictated to by others in the international
community in the conduct of its internal affairs”.
The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson made
the following observations, reacting strongly to
the comments made by Biswal: “It is evident from
this visit and that which preceded from the US,
as well as intrusive behaviour by other
representatives of that country, that there is a
desire to believe the worst of Sri Lanka and seek
to build on that premise to justify punitive action
against the country.
“Details of evidence have been requested with
regard to allegations of individuals who have met
with foreign officials being intimidated. However,
such information has not been forthcoming,
thereby drawing damaging conclusions. Such
intimidating action could be resorted to by
interested parties in order to bring disrepute to
the government of Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is
imperative to receive the required information for
investigations to be initiated.
“The government of Sri Lanka more than any
other entity, including short term visitors to the
country, has the paramount interest of
maintaining a peaceful and unified Sri Lanka.
The action of a US spearheaded Resolution in
the UN Human Rights Council runs completely
counter to the position that country is motivated
with an “inclusive vision” in this regard.
“It is well known that such action only serves to
polarize the communities within Sri Lanka and
outside, causing a strain on the sensitive
reconciliation process. It also seeks to divide the
international community, whereas keeping them
in a cohesive group would serve Sri Lanka better
through assisting in meeting the challenges.
“There is a lack of objectivity in recognising the
substantial progress in addressing the
challenges during the brief span of four and a
half years since the end of an armed conflict of
30 years. Therefore, “patience wearing thin” is a
misnomer. It is the trajectory of the
democratically elected government of Sri Lanka
to ensure the best for its people. Statements
during the last few days are indicative of a desire
to believe the worst and to work to a
preconceived political agenda.”
Sri Lanka’s democracy in peril: US envoy
(ft.lk) Concerns over continued attacks on
religious minorities, corruption, impunity
Cites ‘insufficient progress’ on justice,
reconciliation and accountability’
Urgency that has gripped international
community is justified: US envoy
Says frustration over lack of progress
heightening calls for international inquiry in
US and around the world
By Dharisha Bastians
A deteriorating human rights climate and
insufficient progress on reconciliation, justice and
accountability five years after the end of conflict
was placing Sri Lanka’s proud democratic
traditions in jeopardy, a top United States envoy
said in Colombo on Saturday (1).
“We are concerned about the worsening situation
with respect to human rights, including continued
attacks against religious minorities, as well as the
weakening rule of law and an increase in the
levels of corruption and impunity,” US Assistant
Secretary of State for South and Central Asian
Affairs, Nisha Biswal told journalists over the
weekend.
Biswal, who was appointed late last year as the
Obama Administration’s key focal point on the
region, has placed Sri Lanka on notice at the
conclusion of a two day visit to the island,
pledging that Washington would sponsor a third
resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights
Council in March.
“It’s too early to determine what the text of the
resolution will be exactly,” Biswal said, stopping
short of saying if the US would include a call for
an international war crimes inquiry in its third
resolution.
She said that clear expectations had been set out
in two previous resolutions on Sri Lanka at the
& OUR ARCHIVES AT
UNHRC, but the lack of progress against those
recommendations had prompted Washington to
go before the Council once again to seek a third
resolution to “underscore mounting concerns”.
Asked if she believed sufficient time and space
had been granted to Sri Lanka after the end of a
brutal war to work on reconciliation issues,
Biswal noted that five years after the end of the
conflict, meaningful steps towards reconciliation
were yet to be taken.
“It has been the desire of many to provide space
for the Sri Lankan people to come together, to
heal the wounds of war. But when that space is
not used productively and aggressively to pursue
peace and to pursue reconciliation, to pursue
justice and accountability, then it draws the
concern of the international community. And
that is where we find ourselves,” the US
official explained.
“Substantial steps towards reconciliation
have been too few and far between,” she
noted during a press briefing at the
American Centre in Colombo.
She said the lack of progress in Sri Lanka
had led to “frustration and scepticism” both
in the US and in the international
community. This frustration has led to
increasing calls for an international inquiry
about the final phase of the war in Sri
Lanka, the US official explained. Biswal
underscored that the US had always had a
strong desire to see a Sri Lankan process
to address allegations of abuses during the
war. “But there is frustration over the pace
and the international community’s patience
is wearing thin,” she said.
“The culture of deteriorating human rights
gives us great concern, when churches and
mosques are burned down, when people
feel they cannot practice their faith freely and
without fear, then the urgency that has gripped
the international community is justified,” Biswal
noted.
Assistant Secretary Biswal is the second high
ranking US official to visit Sri Lanka since the
beginning of this year ahead of the March
sessions of the UNHRC. She held discussions
with Government, Opposition and TNA officials in
Colombo and also flew to Jaffna for meetings
with Bishop Thomas Soundaranayagam, TNA
Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan and civil society
representatives. She also held discussions with
Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri
during her visit to the north.
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
ISSUE 1157
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 09
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
PAGE 10
NEWSLANKA
Sihala Ravaya temporarily banned
from protesting
BY Ruwan Laknath Jayakody
(ceylontoday.lk) President of the Sihala Ravaya,
Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thera, including all
the monks of the Sihala Ravaya, have been
temporarily banned from engaging in protests.
The order was made by the Chief Magistrate,
Colombo, Gihan Pilapitiya, during
the hearing held on Thursday (30).
The order had been made in relation
to the protest organized by the
Sihala Ravaya that was held on
Wednesday (8) in front of the Prime
Minister, D.M. Jayaratne's office.
The decision to temporarily ban the
Sihala Ravaya from protesting
would be effective until the end of
the trial.
Sihala Ravaya members are charged with causing
public turmoil by behaving chaotically and also
trying to forcibly enter the Prime Minister's office. A
scuffle had ensued between the police and the
protesters at the time the protest was held. The
Sihala Ravaya will be marching from Kandy to
Colombo against the slaughter of cattle on Sunday
(9) February. National Convener of the movement,
Ven. Magalkande Sudhaththa Thera, told Ceylon
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
Today that, "A march and a protest are different
from each other. But we have a feeling that the
police are trying to stop the march as well."
"Previously, at the behest of the police, we
presented 15 of our youth to the Court, and on
Thursday (30), at the behest of the Colombo
Crimes Division (CCD), four monks
including myself presented ourselves
before Court without summons or a
warrant being issued. We obey the
law of the land, but the police
continue to insult us by arresting Sri
Lankan youths. Yet, drug smugglers
and dealers are roaming scot free,
living their dastardly, decadent lives,
and are left to freely proliferate their
evil vices, while we who are protesting and fighting
this scourge, are being curtailed. We are being
harassed by the police and the Prime Minister's
cronies. They may stop us from protesting, but
there are thousands of others – groups,
organizations and individuals waiting out there to
protest. We ask the government to withdraw this
case and request the police to investigate the
Prime Minister," Sudhaththa Thera added.
JHU wants Northern PC dissolved
(ft.lk) The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday
called on the Government to dissolve the Northern
Provincial Council (NPC).
The JHU which is a key constituent in the ruling
UPFA coalition Government said the Governor of
the Northern Province should dissolve the council
as a result of the recent resolution adopted calling
for an international war crimes investigation,
during a press briefing yesterday.
The NPC had adopted three resolutions on
Monday including one supporting an international
probe on war crimes and another calling for a UN
probe on the Mannar mass grave.
JHU member Udaya Gamanpilla said that the TNA
dominated council is working against national
interests.
He said that most TNA members in the NPC are
still working according to the agenda of the LTTE.
The former Western Provincial Council member
said that the Government must also ban all groups
and organisations that still promote the LTTE
ideology. (Colombo Gazette)
Wigneswaran blames Mahinda
SPECIAL OFFER
(colombogazette.com) Northern Province Chief
Minister C.V Wigneswaran has blamed President
Mahinda Rajapaksa for the resolutions submitted
at the Northern Provincial Council
last week.
Wigneswaran said that the
resolutions could have been
avoided had the President given
ear to what the NPC members
were asking for.
“The Resolutions are the outcome
of the heightened feelings among
our members for which the
President alone is the sole cause.
Under the Law he should have appointed a Chief
Secretary with the concurrence of the Chief
Minister. He is refusing to get rid of the -present
incumbent who was there as an appendage of the
Governor and Rishard Badurdeen even before we
came in. They feel I have been taken for a ride.
They think I was naive for trusting
such a person. If the President had
given permission to change the
Chief Secretary I could have
prevented the Members bringing
Resolutions saying we have got to
wait patiently, etc. Now we have
nothing. So their emotions are
finding openings,” Wigneswaran
said.
The NPC had on Monday passed a
resolution seeking an international war crimes
investigation in Sri Lanka.
The resolution, which was amended from the
original document
before being adopted,
rejected domestic
investigations into
alleged crimes
FROM
committed against
£3300
Tamils during the war.
Wigneswaran had
earlier met some of the
NPC members and
urged them not to
create rift in the
working relationship
between the
Government and the
NPC.
He had noted that the
resolution calling for
7 YEARS WARRANTY
an international probe
(PART & LABOUR INCLUDED)*
in Sri Lanka was
Unit 1 Eastgate Business Park, Argall Way, London E10 7PG strongly worded and
got it diluted.
(Colombo Gazette)
FOR SHOPKEEPERS
ASSOS
www.easycold.co.uk
Office: 0208 5583 666 / 0203 0076 507
ISSUE 1157
LAUGHABLE: SWIRE IRE ON LLRC
UN, other organizations accept LLRC as a
credible process
Govt not concerned about individual views
Chaminda Perera
(dailynews.lk) Petroleum Industries Minister Anura
Priyadarshana Yapa yesterday lashed out at
British Minister of State at the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) Hugo Swire for
making a statement devaluing the Lessons Learnt
and Reconciliation
Commission (LLRC) appointed
by the Sri Lanka government.
He stressed that the Sri
Lankan government is not
concerned about the views of
an individual or a country when
the United Nations (UN) and
other organizations have
accepted the LLRC as a
credible and viable process to promote
reconciliation between the communities in the
aftermath of the conflict and investigate the
incidents that took place during that period of time.
“We are not concerned about the views of an
individual and Swire’s announcement means
nothing,” he said.
Senior Minister DEW Gunasekera said the British
government has apparently deviated from its
original position over the LLRC process due to
pressure from vested interests.
The senior minister further said that the views
expressed by Swire that the LLRC has not met
with international standards are contrary to that of
the United Nations and the UN Human Rights
Council.“Britain was fully satisfied with the LLRC
process and they had earlier demanded a report,”
he said.
Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Senior
Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera were responding to a
statement made by the British
Foreign and Commonwealth
Office on Wednesday, outlining
that Sri Lanka’s domestic
Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission
(LLRC) appointed to address
accountability issues did not
meet international standards.
Responding to questions
raised on Sri Lanka, the British
Minister of State at the Foreign Commonwealth
Office (FCO) Hugo Swire said, “We have also
highlighted that any domestic process should be
credible, independent and transparent to be
accepted by the international community. We do
not believe that any of the processes established
to date by the Sri Lankan Government - such as
the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission - meet these standards”.
Top monk as common candidate
(colombogazette.com) A prominent Buddhist
monk has been approached to contest as the
common opposition candidate for the next
Presidential elections.
Chief incumbent of the Kotte Nagaviharaya, the
Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero told reporters
he was approached to come forward as the
Presidential candidate on behalf of the
opposition.
The Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero said that
discussions are being held with some political
parties on the proposal.
He however said that he will announce his final
decision on the invitation once he finalises a
policy statement he is working on.
The Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero said that
he hopes to share his policy statement with
members of the Government apart from the
opposition.
He says his main policy is that the Executive
Presidency must be abolished and there must be
a Prime Minister answerable to Parliament.
The opposition had earlier approached former
President Chandrika Kumaratunga to be the
common candidate but so far she has not given
a favorable response.
UNP MP Ashoka Abeysinghe had met the former
President and discussed the proposal for her to
be nominated as the common opposition
candidate.
The UNP leadership council is also expected to
discuss the proposal of having a common
candidate, following the conclusion of the
upcoming provincial council elections.
Report by Indika Sri Aravinda
Ranil challenges MR for a debate
(dailymirror.lk) UNP National Leader Ranil
Wickramesinghe challenged President Mahinda
Rajapaksa for a debate on the critical issues
faced by the country and its people.
He threw this challenge while speaking at a
meeting organised by the Rakwana UNP
electoral organisation, at the Farm Land Hotel, in
Godakawela on Saturday.
“I can prove to the country the failure of the
government to reduce the cost of living and give
relief to the people. I can also prove the collapse
of free education and free healthcare services in
the country. Further, I can prove the
government’s failure in preserving democracy,
law and order and the rule of law among other
social issues, He said.
“I don’t know if the President will agree to this
challenge. If such a debate is arranged, I’ll prove
that the President has already electrocuted the
people on a chair.(Sujith Mangala De Silva)
No forced removal says Gota
(colombogazette.com) Secretary
Defence and Urban Development
Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the people in
parts of Wanathamulla will not be forced
to relocate to the housing scheme at
Dematagoda.
The Ministry of Defence quoted him as
telling the residents of estate 54 and 66
in Wanathamulla that the Dematagoda
project is focused on providing better
living conditions for the low income
families living in slums and to make
Colombo a show case city in the region.
“No one is forcibly removed from their
present locations and the people have
the liberty to make their own decisions.
Those who are
willing will be provided with
new houses,” Rajapaksa
said.
The housing project was
launched in 2011 after
research conducted in 2010
found that there is an urgent
need of 68000 houses for low
income families in Colombo
and its suburbs. Under the
first phase nearly 15000
houses are being
constructed. The first of this
mega project, the 500 unit ‘Mihindusen Pura’
housing scheme in Demetagoda was ceremonially
vested with the public on 18th November, last year
by the President.
The Rs. 7 Million worth housing unit has a floor
area of 400 square feet and comprises of a living
room, two bed rooms, kitchen, sanitary facilities
and other amenities. Initially a house owner has to
pay Rs 50 000.00 and the rest in a monthly
installment of Rs. 3950.00 payable in 20 years.
The maximum amount each beneficiary has to pay
under this scheme will be just Rs. 1 Million.
(Colombo Gazette)
ISSUE 1157
NEWSLANKA
& OUR ARCHIVES AT
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 11
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
PAGE 12
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
AI India tells India to back call for war crimes
probe against SL
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN , Our Special
war crimes, including the use of civilians as human
Correspondent
shields, killing individuals who tried to escape and
(island.lk) India must support demands by civil
recruiting child soldiers.
society actors, UN officials and survivors of human The Sri Lankan government continues to deny
rights abuses in Sri Lanka for an international
credible allegations of crimes under international
investigation into alleged war crimes committed
law committed by its forces and to resist calls for
during the civil war, Amnesty International India
independent investigation of senior officers
said today.
allegedly responsible, several of whom remain in
Amnesty noted that the elected government of Sri
positions of authority.
Lanka’s Northern Province also reinforced such
In April 2013, a military court of inquiry exonerated
calls on Monday by seeking an impartial global
the Sri Lankan military for civilian casualties in the
probe.
last stage of military operations, concluding that
Amnesty issued the statement even as visiting Sri
any casualties that occurred were the fault of the
Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof GL Peiris
LTTE. The inquiry’s full report remains
was meeting his Indian counterpart Salman
unpublished.
Khurshid here to discuss bilaterial
A second military inquiry into alleged
issues.
extrajudicial executions of individuals
Last year, while supporting a UN
who surrendered to or were captured
Human Rights Council (HRC)
by the Sri Lankan military in the final
resolution asking Sri Lanka to conduct
days of conflict was initiated in March
an "independent and credible
2013, but by the end of 2013
investigation", India had noted that
investigators had not even interviewed
such an investigation must be to the
witnesses other than army field
"satisfaction of the international
commanders.
community". Given the lack of progress
"The chances of justice or truth
from the Sri Lankan government’s side,
emerging out of an army inquiry into its
it is now time for facilitating an
own alleged crimes are very slim
international investigation, Amnesty
Ananthapadmanabhan, indeed," said Ananthapadmanabhan.
said.
Chief Executive, Amnesty Since the war’s end, President
International India
On 27 January 2014, Sri Lanka’s
Mahinda Rajapaksa has steered his
Northern Provincial Council passed a
country in what the UN High
resolution calling for an international investigation
Commissioner for Human Rights has described as
into alleged war crimes committed during the
"an increasingly authoritarian direction". The
country’s armed conflict. The government came to government has concentrated powers in its own
power in a landmark election in September 2013.
hands and led an assault on dissent, harassing
"An elected body of representatives calling for an
and attacking critics including journalists, human
international probe shows how little faith some
rights defenders and opposition politicians.
people in Sri Lanka have in any domestic
"Sri Lanka has not kept several promises to
mechanism," said G Ananthapadmanabhan, Chief conduct a credible investigation into past and
Executive, Amnesty International India.
present abuses and prosecute alleged
"India must take note of this resolution, and press
perpetrators. India must keep the pressure up on
Sri Lanka at every opportunity to conduct an
Sri Lanka to do the right thing, accept an
independent international investigation into all
international investigation and cooperate with it"
allegations of crimes under international law
said Ananthapadmanabhan.
committed by Sri Lankan government forces as
The government of the U nited States has said it
well as the LTTE."
will sponsor a third resolution on promoting
There is substantial evidence, including
reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka at the
eyewitness accounts by civilians and humanitarian UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March
workers, that in the last months of the 2009 Eelam 2014.
war, Sri Lankan government forces committed war In March 2013, India and 24 other countries voted
crimes, including alleged enforced
in favour of a resolution calling on the government
disappearances, extrajudicial executions,
of Sri Lanka to conduct an independent and
intentionally shelled civilians and protected areas
credible investigation into alleged violations of
such as hospitals, and blocked food and medicine international law, and asking the UN High
from reaching civilians trapped by the fighting,
Commissioner for Human Rights to present a
Amnesty charged.
comprehensive report on Sri Lanka in March 2014.
There is also evidence that the LTTE committed
Kandasamy Kamalendran Removed
From EPDP Membership
(Asiantribune.com): Leader of the Opposition
and Councilor of the Northern Provincial Council
Kandasamy Kamalendran, has been removed
from the basic membership of the Eelam
Peoples Democratic Party.
The Administrative Secretary
of the Party has informed
him by a Registered Letter
sent through the
Superintendent of the
Prison, that the decision
to remove him from the
membership of the party
with immediate effect has
been taken based on the
decision to suspend him from the party taken
on 16 January 2014, by the Central
Committee of the Party.
Lourdes Pilgrimage Lourdes Pilgrimages .A statement on the removal of Kandasamy
Kamalendran from the membership of the
by Coach from £199
by Air from £599
Party was released yesterday by
S.Thavarajah , EPDP Media Spokesman.
9 Feb, 17 Apr,
8 days : 21 July
Accordingly the statement revealed that the
2 & 23 May, 20 June
Medugorje & Split Party’s Administrative Secretary’s letter
delivered to Kandasamy Kamalendran
Rome & Vatican
from £529
further stated that “No sooner you have been
from £599
8 days pilgrimage by air, arrested on the allegation of murdering
Canonisation of Pope
3* hotel in Medugorje, Daniel Roxian, Chairman of the Delft
John XXIII & John Paul II
excursion to Split and Pradeshiya Sabah, who was one of our
- 26 - 29 April
Mostar, pilgrimage guide senior member of the Party and remanded
on the orders of the Kayts Courts,
subsequently the Party Secretary General
suspended your Party membership with
from £979
immediate effect and the Party Central
8 Days by air / 23 May, 21 Nov
Committee which met in Jaffna on 23
December 2013 has unanimously ratified the
Kensington Travel [ATOL 9649]
decision of suspension imposed by the
26 Thackeray St, London W8 5ET, 0207 937 9861
Secretary General of the Party.
www.kensingtontravel.com, [email protected]
- Asian Tribune -
Kensington Travel
Holy Land Pilgrimage
ISSUE 1157
Sri Lanka, India Foreign Ministers discuss
bilateral relations, maritime security
(ft.lk) Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister Prof.
G.L. Peiris, who is on a three-day visit to India,
met his Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid in
New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss key bilateral
issues.
The two Ministers have held discussions on the
entire range of bilateral issues including the Indiafunded development projects in Sri Lanka,
especially in the Northern Province, increasing
trade and economic cooperation and the
fishermen issue.
They viewed the recent meeting in Chennai
between the fishermen’s
associations of the two
countries as a first step
in the right direction, and
agreed to consider the
proposals put forward by
the fishermen’s
associations.
According to official
sources, during the
meeting Khurshid has
emphasised that India
attaches the highest
importance to the safety,
security and wellbeing of
Indian fishermen, and
thanked the Sri Lankan
Minister for his personal efforts in ensuring the
release of the Indian fishermen.
“It was agreed that the Governments of India and
Sri Lanka will remain engaged to ensure that
fishermen on both sides can continue to pursue
their livelihood in a safe, secure and sustainable
manner,” official sources told Indian media.
The two Ministers have also discussed the issues
relating to the progress of long term
developmental projects in Sri Lanka undertaken by
India, especially, the housing project to construct
50,000 houses for the displaced in the Northern
Province.
Construction of 43,000 houses under the ownerdriven model was underway with more than
10,000 houses already completed in 2013 in the
Northern Province of Sri Lanka in the second
phase of the flagship housing project by India.
The Ministers also reviewed the ongoing bilateral
trade and economic cooperation as well as the
growth in tourism on both sides. In this regard Sri
Lanka would be the partner country at the
Surajkund International Crafts Mela from 1-15
February, 2014.
The talks also focused on the satisfactory
progress of the trilateral
cooperation on maritime
security among India, Sri
Lanka and Maldives,
according to official sources.
The three countries view that
it was important to raise the
level of maritime cooperation
between them in the current
maritime security
environment in the Indian
Ocean Region (IOR).
It was expected the two
ministers would discuss the
third US-sponsored
resolution against Sri Lanka
during their meeting.
However, the official sources have not revealed
any discussions on the issue except to say that
the “issues of common interest that are likely to
figure in forthcoming international meetings of
which India and Sri Lanka are both members were
also discussed”.
During his stay, the Sri Lankan Minister will also
meet envoys accredited to Sri Lanka but based in
New Delhi to apprise them of the Government’s
progress in resolving the human rights issues and
the measures taken to implement the
recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
Independence
presidential elections.
“We should keep in mind that our contest is not
among blue, green, red or yellow parties; or
Sinhala, Tamil Muslim and Burgher communities.
Our contest is between those who love this
country who those have hatred towards it.
People in our country who belong to all religions
and speak different languages are moving
together in unity and strength towards
reconciliation and development. With utmost
goodwill, I call upon all countries to join hands
with us in the path to democracy, development,
national freedom and the strengthening of
human rights,” the President said in his address.
CONT FROM P1
... freedom to travel to one-third of the country.
The Tigers were in forceful occupation of twothirds of the coastline of the country. Not only the
unity of the country, but the economy as well
was almost in its deathbed,” the President said.
He said that public opinion from all parts of the
country including the north, east, south and west
were reflected in elections to the lowest
democratic bodies to the presidency, as see in
elections held to Pradeshiya Sabhas and
provincial councils, general elections and
Sex symbols likely to lose nominations
By Niranjala Ariyawansha and
Menaka Indrakumar
(ceylontoday.lk) The Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(SLFP) yesterday decided to refrain from giving
nominations to three artistes, Gayesha Perera,
Ruwanthi Mangala and Judith 'Ginger' White, to
contest the upcoming Western Province Council
(WPC) election, sources at SLFP Headquarters
told Ceylon Today.
However, Ceylon
Today learns that
Parliamentarian
Duminda Silva, and
Dehiwala-Mount
Lavinia Mayor,
Danasiri Amaratunga,
are trying hard to
obtain nominations for
the three popular
female artistes.
Reliable source said,
99% of the senior
SLFP members
strongly opposed
giving nominations to
actresses and singers,
hence the party
decided to refrain from
giving nomination to them.
Even though the government expected to get a
grand victory at the WPC election, by fielding
actresses and singers, as candidates, senior SLFP
members had noted that fielding artistes in
elections damages the reputation of the party.
It is learnt that these three artistes had given
ridiculous answers to the questions asked during
the interview and they were unaware about simple
political matters. Meanwhile, senior party officials
have also considered the statements given to the
media by these artistes and the answers had
incurred their ire.
Gayesha Perera had told a newspaper that she
would receive 100,000 votes in the election.
Ruwanthi Mangala told Ceylon Today that she is
unaware of the content of the Constitution.
Recent media statement of Campaign for Free
and Fair Elections
(CaFFE) said that the
government as well as
the opposition had
given priority to sex
symbols in the
upcoming PC election
and that indicated the
decadence of political
culture of Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, the
General Secretary of
the SLFP had said that
though the party
received more than
200 applications to
contest the upcoming
PC elections, they can
give nominations to
only 25 SLFP candidates to contest from the
United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
However, when contacted, Judith White (Ginger)
said, "I am 200% sure that I will contest the
upcoming elections and the people are ready to
vote for me too. I will get the nominations. I have
been ready for this for the last 12 years. I have laid
my foundation and there is nothing for me to do
but build my empire."
ISSUE 1157
NEWSLANKA
& OUR ARCHIVES AT
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 13
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
NEWSLANKA
PAGE 14
By Gagani Weerakoon
(ceylontoday.lk) Dissanayake Mudiyanselage
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, was unanimously
appointed as the new Leader of the Janatha
Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) at the 7th National
Convention held at the Sugathadasa Indoor
Stadium, Colombo, on
Sunday (2) evening, ending
speculation from the time
former leader, Somawansa
Amarasinghe, went public
about his intention to step
down.
Dissanayake, who was born
on 24 November 1968,
would create Party history
as the third leader since its
inception on 14 May 1965
by the Founder, Rohana
Wijeweera. Dissanayake
played a pivotal role in the
1988 insurrection and was
elected to Parliament for the
first time in 2001,
representing the Kurunegala
District.
He also held the Cabinet
portfolio of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and
Irrigation under President Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunge's 2004 UPFA Government.
He is also noted for his parliamentary speeches,
and his speech on the forcible eviction of Tamils
from Colombo in June 2007 had been highly
appreciated.
Along with a new Leader, the Party also appointed
a 30- member Central Committee (CC) at the
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
Anura takes the reins
convention, and the policy framework of the JVP
under the theme 'Our Vision,' was also adopted
unanimously.
The Central Committee which so far had 25
members will become a 30-member committee
with the appointment of five new members.
Accordingly, the former
leader, Somawansa
Amarasinghe, Tilvin Silva,
Anura Dissanayake, Vijitha
Herath, Lal Kantha, Bimal
Ratnayaka, Sunil
Handunnetti, Jinadasa
Kithulegoda, R.
Chandrasekar, Lakshman
Nipunarachchi, Nihal
Galappaththi, Samantha
Vidyaratna, Mahinda
Jayasinghe, Nalinda
Jayatissa, Gamini
Ratnayaka, Wasantha
Piyatissa, Attorney-at-Law
Sunil Watagala,
Samanmalee Gunasinghe,
H.P. Dhammika, Chandrika
Adhikary, Wasantha
Samarasinghe, Samantha
Koralearachchi, Sumathipala
Manawadu, M.D. Wijeratna, Sisira Kumara
Wahalatanthri, Namal Karunaratna, Nalin Hewage,
T.B. Sarath, Sudath Balagalla and Janaka Adhikary
were appointed as members of the CC.
The Central Committee which met later elected
Tilvin Silva as the General Secretary and
Education Affairs Secretary, Vijitha Herath as
Propaganda Secretary, Sunil Handunnetti as
‘Take-over of private lands of Tamils in North’
discussed at London Forum
By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London
(island.lk) The Sri Lankan army’s "take-over of
private land belonging to Tamils in the North of
Sri Lanka" was a key issue at the International
Conference of the British Tamil Forum and All
Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, on Friday
in Committee Room 14 of the British Houses of
Parliament.
The Conservative MP for Illford North, Lee Scot
and Labour Party MP for Mitcham & Morden,
Siobhain McDonagh opened the proceedings.
Among the Sri Lankan politicians who addressed
the parley were Tamil National Alliance MPs Mavi
Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran,
Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanethiran, Selvam
Adikkalanathan, Sivagnanam Sritharan, S.
Thandayuthapani and the Leader of the Tamil
National People’s Front, Gajendrakumar
Ponnambalam.
National Sama Samaja Party’s Internal
Secretary, Ranath Kumarasinghe also spoke.
There were many academics/activists and
journalists from the world over who also
addressed the conference.
There were many common themes in the
speeches of the
activists, with
particular emphasis
on what they called
"the urgent nature of
the crisis and the
need to understand
the land grabs issue
within the context of
the long-running
campaign of
structural genocide
being waged by the
Sri Lankan state".
Professor Oren
Yiftachel from Israel’s
Ben Gurion University
pointed out how Sri
Lanka and other
oppressive states use
the language of
democracy and rule
of law to enable,
legitimise and
conceal the state’s
seizure of oppressed
peoples’ lands and
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ISSUE 1157
Financial Secretary, K.D. Lal Kantha as
Administrative Secretary, Somawansa
Amarasinghe as International Affairs Secretary and
Bimal Ratnayake as National Organizer, a post
created anew. Accordingly, the five-member
politburo will become one of seven-members with
the new appointments of Handunnetti and
Ratnayake who had been co-opted to serve in it
Outgoing leader, Somawansa Amarasinghe, in his
last speech as the Party's leader, said a
revolutionist cannot retire unless he was killed;
thus, irrespective of the attempts by various
factions to make him retire, they will not succeed.
"Nobody comes to this Party saying I want to be
the leader of the Party. We all come here saying I
want a chance to perform my duties and
responsibilities. Therefore, I will have no problem
to work in the Party with or without a position," he
added.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the JVP, Tilvin
Silva, said the Party decided to appoint a new
leader to gear up the struggle to become the true
opposition of the country.
"Now people have lost faith in the government, and
they are looking for an opposition. Today, they
question the opposition and not the government
because they know if the country has a true
opposition it will be difficult for a government to go
off track. They also know that the official
Opposition, the UNP, is not in a position to perform
their duties as it is busy being a coalition to the
present government," he added.
Ganeshan breaks ranks with CWC
By Franklin R. Satyapalan
(island.lk) Parliamentarian Prabha Ganeshan has
pulled out his party Democratic National Front from
the Alliance with the Ceylon Workers Congress
(CWC) over disagreement on the number of slots to
be given to his party to contest the forthcoming PC
polls from the districts of Colombo and Kaluthara
under the CWC banner.
When contacted the Leader of the CWC Deputy
Minister Mutthu Sivalingam said that several parties
including Parliamentarian Prabha Ganeshan’s outfit
had expressed willingness to contest jointly under
the CWC banner in the districts of Kalutara and
Colombo whilst they supported the UPFA in all the
other districts where the elections were to be held.
He said that former Upcountry People’s Front
Parliamentarian and Deputy Minister P. P.
Radhakrishnan, who joined the CWC, had been
appointed Vice President of the CWC and entrusted
the task of forging a strong alliance.
The appointed CWC Vice President P. P.
Radhakrishnan, contacted for comment, said that
several parties including the Sri Lanka Indian Origin
Front (SLIOF) led by Annamalai Muthappan
Chettiar, the Telungu Congress led by S.
Paneerchelvan and the Democratic People’s Front
Led by Parliamentarian Prabha Ganeshan had
expressed willingness to contest together but
Prabha had wanted to leave the alliance at the last
minute without giving any valid reason.
Nadeesha, Manamendra in the fray; Feroza out
(dailymirror.lk) The main opposition UNP has
included popular actress Nadeesha Hemamali in
its list of candidates for the Matara District for the
upcoming Southern Provincial Council Elections
while Nawa Sihala Urumaya leader Sarath
Manamendra was given the ticket from Colombo
District.
Nadeesha told the Daily Mirror that she signed the
nomination papers and would contest from the
Matara District.
Mr. Manamendra also signed nomination papers.
In addition former Sirasa FM channel head M.
Marikar was also given the ticket from the
Colombo District, The other candidates in
Colombo included Marina Sahabdeen who is a
sitting member of the Dehiwala Mount Lavinia
Municipal Council.
Colombo Mayor A. H. M. Muzammil’s wife Feroza
Muzzamil was however a surprise omission as it
was widely speculated earlier that she would be
contesting from the Colombo District. In addition
the president of the Colombo Wholesale Traders
Union M. Palaniyandi will also contest from the
Colombo District.
Former UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene’s son
Dr. Kavinda Jayawardene is also
contesting.(Yohan Perera)
Salley claims govt. squandering money
on lobbying firms
By Lal Gunasekera
(island.lk) The UPFA government was
squandering Rs. 15.7 million a month to retain two
major lobbying firms, Thompson Advisory Group
LLC (TAG) and The Majority Group to improve the
image of Sri Lanka ahead of the UNHCR
convention in Geneva, Switzerland next month,
Leader of the National Unity Alliance (NUA) and
Central Provincial Council member Azath Salley.
If the government got its act together and
honoured its promises it would not
have to spend taxpayers’ money in
that manner, Salley said. He said
that the government, desperate for
votes at the WP and SP elections
next month, had sidelined
experienced politicians to make way
for six actresses and a singer. The
government was so bankrupt that it had been
compelled to field artistes to get votes, he added.
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British Tamil Forum National Council of
Canadian Tamils, Norwegian Council of
Eelam Tamils and Tamil Rehabilitation
Organization (TRO) have openly carried
the Eelam flag of the LTTE during their
protests against Sri Lanka, he said.
"We urge the foreign governments to
prohibit the use of the LTTE Eelam flag
by anyone in any manner as they did
Hitler's Nazi flag. We expect them to
& OUR ARCHIVES AT
make it law in these countries," Perera
said. Some of these organisations,
impacted on the British political
establishment so much that they went to
the extent of urging British Premier David
Cameron to shun the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
in Colombo last November, External
Affairs Ministry sources said.
"Even as we speak the members of Tami
Tiger Diaspora in UK, Canada and US
are urging British parliamentarians to
push UN sanctions against Sri Lanka at
the forthcoming UN Human Rights
Council sessions," Perera said.
"We learn the US is going to bring its third
successive resolution agaist Sri Lanka at
the forthcoming UNHRC sessions in
March, but sanctions are an unlikely
option. The US will highlight the necessity
of process to address some of the issues.
We cannot address some issues in the
country to satisfy international interests
because we have to look at the national
interest in certain matters," he said.
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
ISSUE 1157
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 15
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PAGE 16
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How A Sri Lankan Company Helped J.P. Morgan Chase Connect With Millennials
This story appears in the February 10, 2014
issue of Forbes Asia.
(forbes.com) Krishan “Kris” Canekeratne has one
message for his clients–if they want to get, and
hold on to, the next generation of customers, the
millennials, they need to change how they do
business.
Canekeratne, cofounder and chief executive of
Virtusa VRTU +1.11%, an information-technology
services company that partly originated in Sri
Lanka and is headquartered in Massachusetts,
says millennials–or those born after 1984–are
more digitally savvy than any previous
generation.
“They grew up with a handheld device that’s more
powerful than a supercomputer of five or ten
years ago, one that’s inextricably linked to their
side,” says Canekeratne, 48. “This is their
Tushara, went to the U.K. to study mathematics
preferred way of communicating. If enterprises
consumers will want access through their
and computer science. After graduating the two
don’t take advantage of this ? they will lose a
preferred medium,” says Canekeratne, whose
married in Colombo in 1989 and moved to New
large part of their customer base.”
founder’s stake, along with his wife, is worth $53
York for their respective jobs.
His company helped JPMorgan Chase JPM
million.
In the early 1990s Canekeratne was working at a In one case Virtusa is working with three
+0.85% cater to that clientele by creating a
mobile-banking app that changes how people can startup in New York, where he was building a
banks–two in Europe and one in the U.S.–to help
do certain mundane tasks like depositing a check. platform to transfer microfiche and microfilm to
them get new millennial customers. (Virtusa says
high-performance optical storage to provide
Instead of going to a bank branch to deposit a
it cannot name the banks because of clientinstant access for archival files. He was traveling
check, they can take pictures of the front and the
confidentiality agreements.)
frequently to India and Sri Lanka and realized that The idea, which came out of the company’s
back of the check with a smartphone or iPad and
the outsourcing industry there was mostly
use the Chase mobile app to deposit it.
innovation lab in the southern Indian city of
focused on mundane things like maintenance of
The app was a huge success, and other retail
Hyderabad, is for the banks to target such
companies’ IT
banks have since developed versions
potential customers with exactly what each
systems, checking individual may need. For instance, if the bank can
of that service, says Hansa Iyengar, an
for bugs and
analyst at Forrester Research.
find out where a young new graduate is starting
updates.
Apart from helping its clients target
his first job, it can send him a text message
“There was a very offering him a preapproved car loan and a list of
their audience via current technologies
like mobile phones and tablets, Virtusa
strong talent pool
car dealers whom the bank works with, the goal
also offers consulting services and
in South Asia, but being to draw him in as a customer for that and
much of it was
other services.
Chartered Management focuses on the traditional IT work of
developing software and integrating
being deployed
The key is to offer traditional services that help
Accountants
systems for companies in banking,
against things that the banks make money but with a modern touch
We have over 15 years experience in dealing & Tax Consultants
insurance and telecom sectors.
were not very
that the potential customer understands and is
For the fiscal year ending Mar. 31,
intellectually
comfortable with.
with Tax Office, VAT Office, Companies House and other agencies
2013 Virtusa netted $28 million on
stimulating,”
Virtusa says it’s easy enough to gather
We handle simple bookkeeping services to complicated
recalls
information about people and flesh out their lives
HMRC tax inquiries. Our services include but are not limited to: revenue of $333 million, a 40%
earnings gain that helped it attain
Canekeratne.
so that a company can market pertinent products
Krishan and Thushara Canekeratne
v Business Start Up - Self-employed and Partnerships
FORBES’ Best Small Companies
In 1996 the
to them, since there’s plenty of data publicly
v Company Registration, VAT/PAYE registration
list. Nearly three-quarters of sales
couple moved
available on a range of social networks, including
and Company Secretarial Services
were in North America, with most of the rest in near Boston to start a company, which eventually LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
v Self-employed and Partnership Accounts
the U.K.
had six engineers working out of their basement
“What does a young millennial do when he
v Company Accounts
Sri Lanka’s budding IT sector has often been
and another ten in Colombo who worked from
graduates and gets a job?” asks Canekeratne.
v Self- Assessment (Income Tax)
drowned out both by the country’s 26-year-old Canekeratne’s ancestral home built by his
“He updates his status.”
and Corporation Tax
civil war, which finally ended in 2009, and by
grandfather, a judge. The engineers were housed The company is in various stages of building this
v Payroll Management, PAYE & NIC, Construction
its bigger neighbor India’s gigantic offshore
out for the three banks.
in what used to be the chambers where his
Industry CIS tax refunds etc
“If I can send him this text message, offering him
business.
grandfather met with clients.
exactly what he needs at that point, I have
For the year ending last March, Sri Lanka
In the next couple of years Canekeratne
v Bookkeeping and VAT returns
exported software worth $600 million. The
cofounded with friends another company (eDocs) potentially dropped the seed to create a lifelong
v IHT, CGT and other UK Capital Taxes
government, in an effort to boost the sector,
that he later sold to Oracle ORCL +1.16%. During relationship with that millennial,” says
v Business Consultancy, Business Acquisition/
Canekeratne.
offers
attractive
tax
breaks,
and
thus
Virtusa,
that period he and his wife had two sons. “We
Takeover, Income Certification etc
like others in Sri Lanka, doesn’t pay taxes.
then stopped having children and stopped
FREE advice for Entrepreneurs and Business Virtusa is Sri Lanka’s largest tech employer
starting companies,” says Canekeratne with
Investors to set up businesses in the UK (see box, p. 22), though it has an even larger
a laugh.
Virtusa listed on the Nasdaq in 2007, just
Principal Tax Consultant; Prasanna Dalu Godage MSc, ACMA, CGMA workforce–4,500 people, a little more than
double its staff in Colombo–across three
ahead of the global financial crisis. (Tushara
The Annual General Meeting was held on 2nd
Indian centers in Hyderabad, Bangalore and
stepped down before the offering and now
February 2014 at President Perry Peerera's residence
Chennai. Employees at all centers do similar
advises the board.) “When we were out
in Tolworth, Surrey.
work for clients.
doing the road show, we were seeing the
The following members were unanimously elected to
Canekeratne grew up in Colombo, where he
Dow oscillate 300 to 400 points every day,”
hold office for the year 2014/2015.
112 Station Road, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 7BJ
was the national champion for golf and table
recalls Canekeratne. “If we hadn’t seen it
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
tennis in the “under
through then, I’m not sure if we’d have found
PRESIDENT: John Kern
16″ category, as well
another window of opportunity to go public,
VICE PRESIDENT: Perry Perera
as the president of the until perhaps now.”
Hon.SECRETARY: Narada Wijayatilake
student union at his
One of Virtusa’s challenges, analysts say, is
TREASURER: Sirini Nizar
high school. His
its size. It’s a midsize IT company, which, to
Asst.SECRETARY: Jeeva Dissanayake
father, until his
its credit, often competes with the big boys
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Incorporating J.A. Phillips & Co. Est. 1947
con.
retirement in the early from India. But “they’re not very well known
Ranjani Perera
Solicitors
1980s, ran one of the
in the marketplace,” says Jimit Arora of
Surangani Amaratunge
11 Greenford Avenue Southall Middlesex UB1 2AA DX: 119585 Southall 3
largest conglomerates Everest Group, a consulting firm. “People
Faiz Nizar
on the island nation,
who work with them like them, but people
Charmain Wijayatilake
Rowlands, a holdover who don’t work with them don’t know them,
Asoka Disanayake
from the days of the
and that’s a large disparity.”
plus VAT and
Murtaza Ali Kaderbhoy
British Raj. (Rowlands One of the bigger threats for Virtusa, says
Godwin Jayasuriya
disbursements
no longer exists.)
Arora, is that “as large companies rationalize Hareetha Jayasuriya
After finishing high
their portfolios, the guys who get
Nihal Perera
Will also undertake Business Sales, Purchases & Transfers,
school Canekeratne
marginalized first are the smaller guys. They Subi Perera
Company Law, Immigration & Nationality, Work Permits,
went to the U.S. to
need to quickly scale up and hit the billionMany other plans and priorities for future projects
study computer
dollar revenue mark.”
towards the Maharagama Cancer Hospital was
Wills & Probate, Family Law in UK
science at Syracuse
Virtusa believes that some of that growth will discussed at the meeting.
& Sri Lanka on different fee scales.
University. Around the come from millennials as they emerge as
The meeting was adjourned with delicious snacks
Specialist in speeding & traffic Offences.
same time, his
consumers and employees.
prepared by the host Ranjani Perera and committee
members who generously contributed.
Email: [email protected] childhood sweetheart, “As we go through that shift, more
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PAGE 18
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
ISSUE 1157
MOVERS AND SHAKERS ATTEND CFSL CARLTON CLUB MEETING
Held on Thursday 16th January 2014.
Nearly eighty 'movers and shakers' attended
the hugely successful meeting of
the Conservative Friends of Sri
Lanka at the Carlton Club in
London. The Conservative
Friends of Sri Lanka started 2014
with a bang, people from all over
the UK attended the Reception at
the Carlton Club. They came
from the world of politics,
business, banking, medicine, law,
education, media, public
relations, sports, voluntary sector
and people from the community to engage and network with each
other and to hear the eloquent
Nirj Deva - the Conservative
Member of the European
Parliament for South-East England. Nirj was
first elected in 1999 as an MEP. Also attending
this high level event were diplomatic
representatives to the Court of St. James.
Nirj created history by being
the first Asian-born member of
the European Parliament,
before that he was a member
of parliament in the House of
Commons for the London
constituency for Brentford &
Isleworth. Nirj Deva was born
in Sri Lanka and educated in
Sri Lanka and in the United
Kingdom. He is currently Coordinator on the Committee on
Overseas Development and
Coperation and a member of
the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the European
Parliament. Nirj Deva is also a bureau member
of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Speaking to a packed audience in the Carlton
Club, Nirj Deva spoke of Sri
Lanka's geo strategic
position in South Asia and
the need for the country to
maintain the delicate
balance when it came to
foreign policy issues. He
paid tribute to Sri Lanka as
one of the world's oldest
democracies and
suggested that
misunderstandings occur
because people are not aware of the country's
history and the island's pivotal position as one
of Asia's oldest democracies. Nirj also spoke
about the dominant position in the geography of
the Indian Ocean occupied by Sri Lanka hence
the need for a balanced foreign policy. Sri
Lanka is presently chairing
the Commonwealth of
Nations.
Nirj Deva received a
standing ovation for his
erudite speech at the
Conservative Friends of Sri
Lanka Meeting. Following
Nirj Deva's stirring address
was a screening of the
moving documentary, 'The
Last Phase,' narrated by
Richard Mundy and directed
by Jeevan Chandimal. The
film tells the story of Tamil
citizens - mostly women and
children -who were trying to
escape the LTTE human shield. They suffered
injuries when they were shelled by the LTTE
and were flown to Colombo hospitals for
surgical treatment and were
helped and supported by the
medical authorities
for several months.
Speaking at the
Carlton Club event
were the President of
CFSL Dr. Lionel
Samarasinghe, and
other executive
members. They
urged those present
to support the the work of the
Conservative Friends of Sri Lanka an
organisation affliated to the
Conservative Party. They highlighted
the plans of the Conservative Friends
of Sri Lanka who were working hard in
several constituencies at grassroots level.
'Come and join us,' urged Dr. Lionel
Samarasinghe who reiterated the group's total
commitment to the Conservative cause.
www.conservativefriendsofsrilanka.org
Neelan Tiruchelvam the Foremost Intellectual of Contemporary Tamil Politics
In a few seconds of lunacy the tigers murdered the look at the current predicament of the Sri Lankan
began interacting with Neelan Tiruchelvam. My
foremost intellectual in contemporary Tamil politics. Tamils and lament to myself “if only Neelan was
relationship with him grew over the years as I
allowed to bring about a political settlement
moved into English journalism via ‘‘The Island ‘’and The void created is yet to be filled. It is particularly
felt at this juncture as the Sri Lankan Tamils
through his devolution package then”.
‘‘The Hindu ‘’.
flounder in a rudderless,leaking boat on choppy
He had great influence over me in imparting
VISION
Neelakandan Tiruchelvam, well-known as Neelan
knowledge, stimulating thought, shaping my career waters deprived of able sailors to steer boat safely
ashore.
or Dr. Neelan, strove ceaselessly to achieve a
and moulding my beliefs. I will always remain
“Any man’s death
peaceful solution to the Tamils
grateful for the advice, knowledge ,assistance and
diminishes me because I
issue. He dedicated himself to that
help provided by him during various phases of my
am involved in Mankind,”
cause with a sense of
life. Neelan and his wife Sithie were like an elder
wrote the metaphysical
purpose.Although he could have
brother and sister to me.
poet John Donne.The
easily enjoyed a lucrative
I always recall with grief the last 50 minute
ethnic conflict in Sri
academic or professional career
telephonic conversation I had with him just 35
Lanka has extracted a
abroad, he chose to remain in
minutes before he was killed.I was one of the last
Colombo through very trying
persons to speak to him on that fateful day. I spoke heavy human toll. In my
personal capacity as a Sri
circumstances and pursued his
with him on the telephone from Toronto for 50
Lankan Tamil and in my
vision of a lasting political
minutes from 7.50 am until 8.40 am (Sri Lankan
professional capacity as a
settlement where all communities,
time). I used to call him regularly those days.
journalist , I have lost
including that of his own, the Sri
Usually he winds up the conversation after a while
count of the number of
Lankan Tamils, coexisted with
saying “you are going to run up a massive phone
people related or known
justice, dignity and peace.
bill”. But on that day he was in a mood to talk and
to me who have
Although a citizen of the world in
was pensively reflective .When I ended the
encountered violent
every sense Neelan also felt
conversation he seemed a little surprised.
deaths.But no man’s
deeply about the plight of “our
Thirty-Five minutes later Neelan was killed at
death as a result of the
people” as he would refer to the
9.15 a.m on his way to office at Kynsey terrace
Tamils when talking to me. It was
as the assassin waiting for him near the Kynsey ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka
has diminished me as
this concern about the Tamil
road-Rosemead place junction threw himself
that of Neelan
predicament and the yearning to
upon his vehicle.When the office aide Rajah
Neelan Tiruchelvam (January 31, 1944 – do something meaningful about it
Tiruchelvam .
rang me from Colombo to convey the tragic
July
29,
1999)
–
Portrait
held
during
a
Ever since his death I
that drew me closer to him. At the
news I could not believe it. “I spoke to him only
Memorial Lecture in his honour –
same time Neelan was not ethnoa little while ago” I wailed. Sadly the loyal Rajah have written several
pic by: Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai centric and realised fully that
too is no more having passed away some years articles about
Neelan.Drawing much
ultimately a solution acceptable to
ago.
from such writings I write this column to mark the
all sections of the people had to be found.
PREMONITION
70th birth anniversary of Dr.Neelan Tiruchelvam.I
Neelan Tiruchelvam is one of the few Tamils who
Whenever I cautioned Neelan about his safety
dared to spurn a “request” by the LTTE that he
he had a fatalistic attitude about death. “No one would have very much liked to celebrate his life
should support and work for it. Although the LTTE
can prevent it when it
sought to portray Neelan Tiruchelvam as some sort
happens, we just have to
of a traitor with whom it would never have any
go on doing what we
interaction, there was a time when it solicited his
have to do,” he told me
services. It was politely rebuffed.
once. He also seemed to
This overture came during the spring of 1988 when
have a premonition about
Neelan Tiruchelvam was a visiting lecturer at
how he was going to die.
Harvard University. Visvanathan Ruthirakumaran,
“There are countless
2 ST. MARK'S PLACE, WIMBLEDON
the international legal advisor of the LTTE who is
vehicles in Colombo now.
LONDON SW19 7ND
now the self-styled “prime minister” of the
There is a traffic jam at
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, was
every junction. All
Chandrika
Anton Balasingham
G L Peiris
then a tertiary student at the Harvard Law School.
security measures
Kumaratunga
Rudra, as he is known, is the son of the former
become a mockery if my
TULF mayor of Jaffna, Rajah Visvanathan. It was
car is held up. None of
Web: www.courtyardsolicitors.co.uk
and work in an article dedicated to him on his
Neelan Tiruchelvam who enabled Ruthirakumaran
the police assigned for my safety will be able to birthday but I find myself unable to do so as the
to obtain a place at the Law School. What Neelan
contact: DON SAMAN Wickremabandu do anything.” How prophetic were those words. immense sense of loss and grief that I feel
did not know then was that Rudra had links with
overwhelms me.It is a sadness that will not go
(former principal solicitor of Don Saman & co East Ham The lone assassin slipped easily between
the LTTE.
vehicles held up at the traffic snarl at
away
and
pervades
my
thoughts
even
on
the
1991-2003)
Rosemead Place and blew himself up.
(Contd: on P21)
occasion of his birthday.I feel the loss acutely as I
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj
Seventieth Birth Anniversary on January 31st
2014
(dbsjeyaraj.com) Neelan Tiruchelvam (January 31,
1944 – July 29, 1999) – Portrait held during a
Memorial Lecture in his honour – pic by:
Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
January 31st is the birthday of eminent
Constitution lawyer, academic and politician
Dr.Neelakandan Tiruchelvam. Neelan as he was
popularly known would have completed the biblical
life span of three score years and ten had he been
among the living today. Born on January 31st
1944,Neelan Tiruchelvam, was brutally
assassinated fifteen years ago by the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)on July 29th 1999.He
was 55 at the time of his death.
I had a close personal relationship with Neelan. He
was my friend, philosopher and guide. He was
greatly instrumental in moulding my career. He was
in a sense my political mentor. It was as a
journalist on the Tamil daily “Virakesari” that I first
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ISSUE 1157
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 19
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ISSUE 1157
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ISSUE 1157
Neelan
from P18
RUTHIRAKUMARAN
One fine day in 1988, Ruthirakumaran took a
pleasant-faced man in his late thirties to drop in
on Neelan Tiruchelvam at Cambridge,
Massachusetts. It was during this meeting that
Neelan Tiruchelvam discovered that the “friend”
was none other than Rev. Fr. Thomas Amalathas,
the New York-based head of the LTTE outfit.
(Thomas Amalathas is no longer the LTTE chief in
the U.S. He has also renounced his priesthood
and is now married to a Romanian woman, who is
a doctor by profession.) Amalathas was a
prominent player on the LTTE stage. He
requested Neelan Tiruchelvam to support and
directly help the LTTE in propaganda and
international legal work. Such requests made by
Neelan’s brother-, Father-Murugeysen
Tiruchelvam and Neelan
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
the LTTE to Tamils are equivalent to those
described in mafia jargon as an “offer made that
he could not refuse”.
Neelan Tiruchelvam refused, of course gracefully.
To Neelan Tiruchelvam, an ardent believer in nonviolence, democracy and constitutionalism, the
LTTE and all that it stood for was anathema.
There was absolutely no way that he would have
ever consented to be coopted by the Tigers. He
told me then that he would have never met
Amalthas had Ruthirakumaran not sprung a
surprise on him. But Neelan Tiruchelvam did not
reprimand Rudra. Ruthirakumaran and Amalthas
confirmed to me that Neelan Tiruchelvam turned
down the LTTE offer.
In later years when he knew that the LTTE was
targeting him, he did not criticise them. He never
spoke harshly to anyone, not even to his worst
enemy. In the case of the LTTE, Neelan
Tiruchelvam had tremendous sympathy for its
cadres although he was totally against its overall
objective and methods. He was of the opinion that
these youth were sacrificing their lives needlessly
for an impractical and unattainable goal.
One instance of his magnanimity and integrity
was when he told the Canadian national daily The
Globe and Mail that the LTTE chief in Canada,
Suresh Manickavasagam, was likely to be
“interrogated aggressively” if deported. This
remark by him was of great value to Suresh
Manickavasagam’s lawyers in obtaining an
injunction against the deportation order. Although
his detractors accused him of collaborating,
Neelan Tiruchelvam always fought for the rights
of Tamils. He was uncompromising and fearlessly
independent in that. Only his approach was not
that of a rabble-rouser or a cheap showman. His
was the quiet, behind-the-scenes approach of a
democratic hue.
PREDICAMENT
Unlike many prominent Tamils who seemed
wittingly or unwittingly oblivious to the tragic Tamil
predicament Tiruchelvam was a man very much
concerned about it. Since political hypocrisy was
not one of his attributes Tiruchelvam realised that
the establishment of Tamil Eelam was neither
desirable nor attainable. The pursuit of such a
mirage through a violent compaign could only
result in long term misery for the Tamils he felt. The
fact that the arena of conflict was primarily the
Northern and Eastern Provinces meant hardship
and suffering of the highest order for the Tamils.
Besides he was very worried about the dispersal of
the Tamil community from their areas of historic
habitation and their consequent relocation to
other parts of the world.
‘It is this permanent migration that would be the
most detrimental factor to the well-being of the
Tamils in Sri Lanka’ was a constant comment of
his. A reduction of numbers would result in
diminished political importance he felt. In that
context a letter by former Central Bank
Governor N.U. Jayawardena that was published
in a Colombo newspaper some time ago is
relevant. Mr. Jayawardene in that pointed out
two things. First he said that the Sri Lankan
population would achieve zero growth by 2025
and stabilise itself. Second given the current
rate of Sri Lankan Tamil outward migration its
population percentage at that time would be
only 1.9%. As such it would become a
‘Manageable minority’ was NUJ’s conclusion.
The drastic long term effect of the conflict on
the Sri Lankan Tamils was something that was
either not realised or willfully ignored by the
‘Vocal Warriors’ of the Tamil Eelam armed
struggle. The question of whether the LTTE
would win or lose the war became irrelevant in
a situation where the Tamil population itself
would become a feeble entity as it has already
become. The longer the conflict rages on the
more the economy of the Tamil areas decline.
Population decreases. In the final analysis the
Tamil war that began with a bang will decay into
a pathetic whimper. There was also the factor of
geopolitical reality that was against the birth of
PAGE 21
a Tamil state on the Island. However much the
sacrifice and valour of the Tigers there was just no
way they could achieve their goal in the long run.
For these reasons and more Neelan Tiruchelvam
was among those actively involved in trying to get
the war suspended. He was also working diligently
behind the scenes to get the government to
resume talks with the LTTE. Tiruchelvam felt that
only third party facilitation initially and subsequent
mediation would succeed. This view that the war
(Contd: on P23)
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
PAGE 22
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
ISSUE 1157
Athula Dassana Multi Cultural Buddhist Community Centre celebrates
66th Sri Lankan Independence Day in UK
Athula Dassana Multicultural Buddhist Community
Centre had successfully organised celebration of 66th
Sri Lankan Independence Day at the Lampton School,
Hounslow on Saturday 01st February 2014. This is the
second year the celebration took place and the event
was organised with a theme of “The Lion”.
The event was one of the most successful events
organised by the Athula Dassana Multicultural
Buddhist Community Centre with a large number
gathering, representing Most Venerable Mahasanga,
invitees and devotees of the Athula Dassana Buddhist
Temple. The chief guest of the event was His
Excellency Dr. Chris Nonis, Sri Lankan High
Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
H.E. Dr. Chris Nonis Highlighted the importance of
celebrating Independence Day and his speech
reminded us the history of gaining our freedom. He
also reminded the importance of remembering leaders,
soldiers and citizens of the country who had shed their
blood and lives to gain our freedom.
Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Chief Incumbent and
President of Athula Dassana Multicultural Buddhist
Community Centre briefly disclosed the purpose of the
event. The main focus was to educate younger
generation about their mother land, focusing on the
historical aspects whilst allowing children to
experience and learn about the culture. It is important
for this to happen as children who are born in the UK
or have come to live in the UK do not always get a
sense of Sri Lankan Culture in their everyday lives
rather than when at home, therefore by celebrating this
day, it allows us to educate children and for them to
experience the importance of Sri Lankan culture.
The other invitees present at the event was Most
Reverend Dediyawela Wimala Thero, Letchworth
Buddhist Temple, Reverend Konwewe Ariyarathne
Thero, London Buddhist Temple, Reverend
Aheliyagoda Dhammapala Thero, Thames Buddhist
Temple, Reverend Panamure Thapassi Thero, Enfield
Abayarama Vidharshana Meditation Centre, Reverend
Homagama Kondangha Thero, Kavidhaja Mediation
Centre, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, Hon. Ms. Seema
Malhothra Member of Parliament, Mr. Sachin Guptha
Mayor Of Hounslow, Miss. Lakmini Shah, Councillor,
East Ham.
Mr. Sunil Kariyakarawana, Buddhist Advisor, Ministry
of Defence, UK, Mr. Indunil Wijekone, Sri Lankan
Airlines, UK, Mr. Nalin Perera, Tourist Board, UK.
Hon. Ms. Seema Malhothra had appreciated the effort
by Athula Dassana Multicultural Buddhist Community
Centre in bringing Sri Lankan culture and tradition to
the Sri Lankan community living in a foreign country.
Whilst the Mayor of Hounslow, Mr. Sachin Guptha had
remarked that Hounslow is a multi-ethnic and
multicultural borough and he was always impressed by
the culture and the values of Sri Lankan community
living in his borough.
Following officials represented the Sri Lankan High
Commission in UK, Mr.Sepala Rathnayake Minister
Councillor, Mr. M.K.H.Herath Chief Secretary, Dr.
Kokila Waidhyarathne Minister Education,
Mr. Prasad Rosa represented LycaFly was our main
sponsor for the event.
There were a large numbers of business community
and devotees also present as invitees to the event. Dr.
Nishane Bajramovic, Managing Director, Estetica
Dental Clinic, Mr. Tharin Konstan, Owner, White Bear
Restaurant, Mr. Nishantha Pathirana, Chairperson,
Ipswitch, Sri Lanka Ekamuthuwa, Mr. Ranga
Ranasinghage, Managing Director, TSL Exchange, Mr.
Wasantha Pathirane, Mr Bandara Wekadapola.
The compares of the evening were Mr.Chanuka
Samarakoon, Mrs. Maheshi Kokila and Mr. Vijitha
Alwis.
Mr. Roshan Lutes and his team from Saro dancing
Academy and students of Athula Dassana Dhamma
School enriched the event with traditional cultural
dances and performance.
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ISSUE 1157
Neelan
from P21
should end and talks with the Tigers should be
initiated did not endear him to many sections of
the government.
DEVOLUTION
The advent of Chandrika Kumaratunga as
President in 1994 opened up fresh political space
for Constitutional reform. New proposals providing
greater devolution was formulated. The legal,
constitutional and political expertise of Neelan
Tiruchelvam along with that of then Constitutional
affairs minister Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris
contributed greatly to the formulation of the
package in 1995. The LTTE and its supporters
were critical of the constitutional reforms
proposals, known generally as the devolution
package, which sought to find a solution to the
decades-old ethnic strife. These proposals were
hailed by impartial academics as the most
progressive breakthrough in the political sphere of
resolving the Tamil national question.
While Sinhala hardliners accused Neelan of
promoting separatism by trying to push through
the devolution package, the LTTE and its cohorts
charged him of betraying Tamil interests. These
contrasting allegations made by the hawks on both
sides were proof enough that Neelan Tiruchelvam
was on the right track in seeking a negotiated
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
settlement that would provide maximum devolution
within the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty
of Sri Lanka.
Neelan’s fault in LTTE eyes was the co-authoring
of a set of constitutional reform proposals with
Prof. G. L. Peiris. These proposals released on
August 3,1995 were described as the “GL-Neelan
package” by sections of the media Within a few
days of the package details appearing in the
newspapers, the LTTE summoned a press
conference on Aug 11th 1995 at their Chundikuli
headquarters in Jaffna. It was held by the LTTE’s
political adviser Anton Stanislaus Balasingham
and LTTE’s Political Wing Head Suppiah Paramu
Tamilselvan.
Balasingham condemned the package even
though it had not been submitted to the Tigers
formally .Rejecting the package as an act of
treachery against Tamils, Balasingham went on to
say-“The Government is operating with an absurd
and ridiculous scheme that proposes a political
solution to Tamils and a military solution to the
Tamil Tigers. This scheme is based on a
misconceived fantasy that the LTTE and the Tamil
people could be separated by enticing the Tamils
with a devolution package.”
CAMPAIGN
That was the green light!Thereafter the vicious
campaign against Neelan began in the Tamil and
even sections of the English media. He was called
& OUR ARCHIVES AT
a traitor to the Tamil community because he
participated in a positive exercise of constitution
making instead of rabble rousing like some other
Tamil sycophants of the LTTE.
Few bothered to analyse the package
constructively. Despite its shortcomings the GLNeelan package was the best possible scheme of
power sharing to be
evolved in postindependence Sri
Lanka. As Neelan
himself said “the
proposals of August
3,1995 represented the
boldest attempt to
redress the imbalance
in the relationship
between the different
ethnic groups through
devolution of power to
the regions.”
Neelan with
characteristic modesty
and disdain for hogging
the limelight played
down his involvement
in the August 3
proposals known as the
“GL-Neelan” package.
In private and in fora
PAGE 23
that mattered, Neelan stoutly defended the
package.
He would often lament that much of the mud
slung at him in Tamil circles was “ill-informed” and
without any grasp of what the package was all
about.
(Contd: on P24)
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET
PAGE 24
NEWSLANKA
Aries(the Ram) 21st March-20th April
Don't ignore any emotional issues that could be causing
problems. Work diligently and you will get ahead this
week. Be sure that you have all the facts before you take
action. Lucky day Friday.
Taurus(the Bull) 21st April - 20th May
Don't count on others to cover up for your shortcomings.
Don't expect others to live up to their promises and you
won't be disappointed or find yourself stuck with delays.
Lucky day Wednesday.
Gemini(the Twins) 21st May - 20th June
Don't expect new acquaintances to be completely honest
about themselves. You need time to rejuvenate.
This is not the best day to visit relatives who get on your
nerves. Lucky day Tuesday.
Cancer(the Crab) 21st June - 20th July
Friends and relatives may be hard to take this week.
Your domestic scene could continue to be in an uproar
this week. Arguments may flare up in your home. Don't
let the cat out of the bag. Lucky day Tuesday.
Leo(the Lion) 21st July - 19th / 22nd Aug
Get some sound advice and help setting up a workable
budget. Partners may try to argue with you; however,
you must stand your ground. You must lay down ground
rules so that you can complete a job. Lucky day Friday.
Virgo(the Virgin) 20th / 23rd Aug - 22nd Sept
Be sure you get accurate information. Your tendency to
dramatize may be a little much for your partner to take
constantly. Social events will be favorable. Don't lend or
borrow money or belongings. Lucky day Tuesday.
Libra(the Scale) 23rd Sept - 22nd Oct
Take time to deal with the concerns of children. You will
earn recognition for the work you are doing. Too much
too fast will be the attitude surrounding your home
environment. Lucky day Monday.
Scorpio(the Scorpion) 23rd Oct - 21st Nov
Throw yourself into your work. Make career changes that
may increase your income. Pamper yourself for a change.
You can receive recognition for the work you've done.
Lucky day Tuesday.
Sagittarius(the Archer) 22nd Nov - 20th Dec
Travel could include delays and other minor problems.
You may interest some of them in a service you have to
offer. You may have difficulties at an emotional level with
mates. Lucky day Wednesday.
Capricorn(the Goat) 21st Dec - 20th Jan
You may want to take a trip; however, before you do,
make sure that your car is serviced properly. Driving too
fast or double parking will result in difficulties with
officials. Lucky day Saturday.
Aquarius(the Water Carrier) 21st Jan -19th Feb
Be confident in your endeavors and others will believe in
your efforts. Take a close look at documents be fore
signing on the dotted line. Instant romance could be
yours if you go out with friends. Lucky day be Saturday.
Pisces(the Fishes) 20th Feb - 20th March
Don't use the interstate as a racetrack. Take care of any
dealings with government agencies. Be sure to find out
all you can before you commit to anything.
Lucky day Tuesday.
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
ABEL - BEULAH
ABEYSENA Dr ALDO - No. 81, Station Rd,
Wattala
AL HAJ A.H.M. MIHILALAR - No. 08, Malwatta
Cross Road, off Malwatta Road, Dehiwala.
AMARASENA - H.A. - No. 8, Mudalinda
Pirivena Road, Hiththatiya-East, Matara
ANNIE IGNATIUS DEVASAGAYAM - 93/2,
Manning Place, Wellawatte.
ANTONY - L V - Dr A.M. Sebastiampillai, 44/4,
Pamankada Road, Colombo 06.
AZEEZ GNEI JARVIE - No. 1013 B,
Nagahamulla Road, Battaramulla.
BADDEGAMAGE - DHARMAWEERA
CHANDRASIRI - “Piyakara”, Angagoda,
Bentota.
BASNAYAKE - IRWIN STANLEY
DAN - MEADOW. - 1, Valley Road, Lexington,
MA 02421.
DAPHNE SILVA - No. 69, Rajapihilla Road,
Kurunegala
DAYAWANSA A.K.
DE SILVA - PRIMILA - No. 29, Rajawatte
Terrace, Siebel Avenue, Colombo 5.
DELIKAN - MAURICE - 280/14, Lourdswatta,
Dampe, Madapatha, Piliyandala.
FERNANDO - CELINE - No. 79, Corea Avenue,
Chilaw
FERNANDO - PATHTHAGE WILBERT - No.
260/1, Erawwala East, Pannipitiya.
FERNANDO Mrs. W. RANIE MABEL - No. 367,
“Sumali”, Morawinna, Panadura.
Neelan
from P23
He was very proud of the package but accepted
that it had its shortcomings from a Tamil point of
view. What he felt was that the package was the
best possible as a starting point.
A particular source of satisfaction was the
proposed change of the unitary state into a union
of regions. He felt that if there was a Tamil
consensus around it and the LTTE lent its
bargaining clout the package could be enhanced
further. Alas!That was not to be and the LTTE
campaign sought to undermine the package as a
complete sell-out.
With the LTTE taking up cudgels against the
package and the war intensifying, the Chandrika
Kumaratunga government too altered its
approach. Naturally, Neelan was placed in an
unenviable position while his critics became
increasingly strident. On the other hand, the
original package itself underwent a series of
revisions. The end result of all this was the
systematic whittling down of the original package
to which Neelan had contributed immensely.
PROPOSALS
The August 3 1995 package lost much of its lustre
when presented formally as government
proposals on January 16,1996.The Parliamentary
select committee proceedings saw the devolution
proposals being diluted further when tabled as a
white paper on October 24, 1997.
It was against this dismal backdrop that the LTTE
assassinated Neelan. After Neelan’s death, the
devolution package he conceptualised in its
original form was further eroded. In the short-lived
honeymoon period between the PA and UNP the
devolution proposals got reduced in scope and
scale . With Neelan’s demise there was no one
from the Tamil side to contribute positively to this
exercise. Ultimately a caricature of the original
Neelan package came to parliament but even the
TULF refused to support it .
Kumaratunga in her address to parliament did not
even mention Neelan’s name despite his having
paid the supreme sacrifice. And then the UNP did
a somersault and refused to support the bill codrafted by it.Years later the political scenario
changed drastically. The LTTE entered a peace
process with the UNP and began talking to a
‘Sinhala’ government about power sharing.
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JAYATUNGA - G.W.S. - No. 550, Mihindu
Mawatha, Malabe.
JAYAWARDANE - SOMA - No. 8/B, Ja-Ela Rd.,
Gampaha.
JULIAN ANTONY SELVADURAI - 99A, De
Alwis Road, Mount Lavinia.
MANSOOR - FATHIMA. - Maligawatte Muslim
Burial Ground.
MARIAM - THATTIL - 673, Pitipane, Negombo.
MYLVAGANAM - LUKE DURAIRATNAM Wilson Funeral Home Chapel Wellington, New
Zealand.
NAWASIRI - W.A.A. - 28, Beddagana Road
(North), Pitakotte, Kotte
PEIRIS - LAKSHMI
PERERA - CHANDRANI - “San Christo”,
Dambokka, Boyagane S.P.O. Kurunegala
PERERA - MADGE CELESTINE - 32
Woodlands Avenue, Kohuwala
PIYADASA - Mrs. J.P.I. - No. 115, New
Parliament Road, Battaramulla
PODIHAMINE - B.G. - 5/15A, 1st Lane, Samaja
Mawatha, Pathiragoda, Maharagama.
REV. SR. MARY SHEILA PERERA - Good
Shepherd Convent, Nayakakanda
ISSUE 1157
OBITUARIES
ROSLYN FERNANDO - "Shanthi", Galle Road,
Katukurunda, Kalutara.
SANNASGALA - NALINI RATNAYAKE - No. 3,
Lake Crescent, Colombo-02
SEENITAMBY - MARY PHILOMINA. - 2B/125R,
N.H.S. Raddolugama.
VANDER WALL - RALPH ANTHONY - 6/36,
Hilly Street, Mortlake NSW 2137, Australia.
VENKATESWARAN - KAMALA - 42/1, Galpotta
Road, Nawala
WIMALARATNE - BATUWANGALA
ZARB - Francis Zarb, 21, Dale Avenue Apt.
247, Toronto, Ontario M4W 1K3, Canada
Death of Professor
David Jinadasa
Kalupahana
(1936-2014)
(island.lk) Professor David J. Kalupahana
passed away peacefully at home in Hawai’i on
January 15.
Prof. Kalupahana was one of the leading
interpreters of the early Pali Buddhist tradition
and Nagarjuna. He was the former head of the
department of philosophy, University of Hawai’i
where he served as a professor since 1972.
Lo and behold! The chief government negotiator
was vindicated in a way, the brightest star in the
was none other than G.L. Peiris with whom
Tamil political firmament is no more and nothing
Neelan had engaged in constitution making, years could ever bring him back. The loss to his family,
ago.The Tiger chief negotiator was the very same friends, colleagues and associates is
Balasingham who dismissed the ‘GL-Neelan’
irreplaceable. So too is the loss to his community,
package derisively earlier.The GOSL-LTTE talks
country, humanity at large and the intellectual
achieved a significant breakthrough in Norway
realm.
when the negotiating parties decided to “explore”
SCENARIOS
a federal solution. Despite this advance, the talks
When replying to his critics after Neelan’s
thereafter failed to follow through with this in
assassination I wrote that with the passage of
subsequent meetings.
time his positive contribution would be
BALASINGHAM
acknowledged by the Tamils.In the aftermath of
Meanwhile Anton Balasingham made a startling
the LTTE’s “reappraisal” of Neelan’s
revelation on March 11, 2003 when he spoke at
constitutionalism I wrote in 2003 of two possible
the ceremonial opening of an LTTE bank
future scenarios.
(vaippagam) at Kilinochchi. The speech was
“As time progresses two possible scenarios could
reported in full in the Jaffna based “Uthayan” of
unfold. Positively the LTTE after fits and starts
March 13 2003. Here is the relevant excerptcould really enter the negotiating process in a
“1995 aam aandu Neelan Thiruchelvam
meaningful manner. If and when that highly
arasamaipputh thirutha varaibhu ondrai
unlikely occurrence does happen, the original
samarppithhaar. Athu sariyaana varaibhu.Athu
scheme of devolution as drafted by Neelan in
etkakkoodiyathu. Aanaal pinnar 2000 aam aandu
association with GL could very well be a starting
antha varaibhin adippadayil Chandrika oru
point. Apart from a few modifications particularly
thirutha varaipai samarppithaar.Antha varaibhu
in terms of the devolutionary unit, that original
Neelan Thiruchelvathin varaibhin oru
draft needs little addition. Against such a
araikkuraiyaana oru thokuthiyaagum.”
backdrop Neelan’s reputation will no longer
(Neelan Tiruchelvam presented in 1995 a draft
remain tarnished in the eyes of certain segments
amending the constitution.That was a correct
of the Tamil people.”
draft. That was acceptable. But later in 2000
(Contd: on P26)
Chandrika submitted
wdYs
¾
jdo
mQ
c
d
Blessing Puja^Lucksri UK fj;ska&
an amended version
Y%S ,xldfõ iqm%isoaO Ydia;%fõÈkshlf.a fiajh
based on that draft.
Services of Sri Lanka's famous astrologer
This one was only a
half-baked version of
the earlier draft by
Neelan Tiruchelvam)
After vilifying Neelan
as a traitor and the
foajdYs¾jdofhka Ydia;%lSu iy ish¿u foaj mQcd
August 3rd 1995
bgqlr fokq ,efí'
devolution package as
an act of treachery for
Blessings of God - astrology and pujas to the Gods will be fulfilled
years the LTTE was
now acknowledging
the merits of Neelan’s
Saraswathie Puja
Dhanalakshmi Pujas
draft . After
condemning the “GLNeelan” package,
All other Pujas
All other services
Balasingham was now
praising it. The wheel
,smskh# NO 60, BELMONT ROAD, HARROW, HA3 7PN
had turned full cycle.
ÿrl:k#
020 8863 4485 / 07405 903 846 E-mail: [email protected]
Even though Neelan
v Ok ,laIaó mQcd
v iriaj;S mQcd
v wfkl=;a ish¿ foaj mQcd v wfkl=;a fiajd
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Recent events have shown the
emergence of the negative scenario
envisaged by me in 2003. The
from P24
intransigent LTTE continued with war
“In a negative light, the Tigers could
and ultimately paid the price with the
continue to be intransigent and
entire world backing the Sri Lankan
inflexible in their quest for Tamil
Government .The Tamils are in dire
Eelam. This could result in war.
straits. Even the 13th amendment is
Initially the LTTE could have the
under threat.The wisdom and
upper hand and Colombo’s position
foresight of people like Neelan
shaky. As time goes on, the
Tiruchelvam who tried hard to bring
international community could rally
about a just settlement earlier is
round Colombo in a way never seen
being realised and appreciated.
before. The prospects are endless.
SANCTITY
Ultimately the fortunes of the LTTE
Whatever the future of the Tamil
could turn for the worse. If that
people, Neelan and all those killed
happens, the Tamil cause by
under the pretext of alleged treachery
extension would be weakened
will not be resurrected physically.
considerably. The Tamil plight would
be terrible. In that context the wisdom Neelan was a man who respected the
sanctity of life as supreme. He felt
and foresight of people like Neelan
strongly that it was the most
and their positive contribution to the
Tamil people would be realised fully.” fundamental right of all as all other
rights were meaningless to a lifeless
Neelan
PER WEEK
INCLUDING VAT
person. Neelan was concerned about
the growing intolerance and violence
among the Tamil community itself.
During the emergency debate of June
15th 1999 Tiruchelvam stated-“We
cannot glorify death whether in the
battlefield or otherwise. We, on the
other hand, must celebrate life, and
are fiercely committed to protecting
and securing the sanctity of life,
which is the most fundamental value
without which all other rights and
freedoms become meaningless.”
The glorification of death and the
justification of political violence was
abhorrent to him. It is pertinent
therefore to ponder on this virulent
phenomenon within the Tamil
community at a time of remembering
Neelan Tiruchelvam and celebrating
the sanctity of life on his 70th birth
anniversary.
ISSUE 1157
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 27
MEDITATION
SATURDAYS
FROM 4PM- 7PM
AT
THAMES BUDDHIST VIHARA
0208 657 7120
English / Sinhala sessions = flexible
4pm - 5pm
Beginners and regular meditators
Dhamma discussions on Simple basic
dhamma
in the Path -from establishing firm foundations,
balancing responsibilities and spiritual life
5pm - 6pm - Guided Meditations
6pm-7pm Suitable for regular meditators. but
All are welcome !
Dhamma discussions on Vipassana and
kamatahan /share and learn from
experiences.
with specific sense of the goal of Purification
of Mind.
INVITATION TO ALL CATHOLIC DEVOTEES
Buddhist Religious School
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LANKA
oyus mdie,
For The 18th Successive Annual Celebration
Under the leadership of
SUNDAY, 23RD FEBRUARY 2014
Ketumati Buddhist Vihara,
Manchester
At 3.00 p.m. promptly healing service
3.30pm: festive holy mass followed by the procession.
VENUE:
SS. MICHAEL & MARTIN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH,
94 BATH ROAD, HOUNSLOW. MIDDX. TW3 3EH
(Ketumati Buddhist Temple), the York
Buddhist Community has launched a three
hour Religious + Meditation class
to be held from 2pm to 5pm every
2nd Saturday of every month,
commencing from the
Plenty of free car parking behind the Church.
CONCELEBRATION OF FESTIVE MASS
BY SRI LANKAN PRIESTS
Catholics of Sri Lankan origin, those intermarried Sri Lankans
and their interested friends and well wishers of Sri Lanka
cordially welcome.
Home prepared food gratefully accepted.
This church is well served by public transport from Southall
bus H32 connecting to Ealing, Perivale, Northolt, harrow,
Kingsbury, Edgware, Neasden, Chiswick 237 and Wembley and
Hammersmith 91..
Tubes to Hounslow west and any bus to Houslow. 3 stops.
Sponsored by the committee of
ASSOCIATION OF SRI LANKAN CATHOLICS IN THE UK.
Patrons: Most Rev. Archbishop Emeritus Dr. Oswald Gomis,
Sri Lanka.
Right Rev. Bishop Emeritus Dr. Patrick O'donoghue,
Bishop Of Lancaster.Uk
Membership Free. Established In 1996
Non Political, Multiracial, Multicultural, Multiethnic, And
Multilingual As In Sri Lanka.
2nd week (14th)
of September 2013
at
Moor Allerton Sports and
Social Centre,
Stonegate Road, Leeds, LS17 6EL
(Opposite Fire Station)
Teachers Ven. Pidiville Piyatissa
(Chief Priest),
Ven. S. Buddharakkhitha and
Ven. G. Pemananda
Different age group classes will be
conducted. All age groups are welcome.
For more details:
[email protected]
Please let us know anyone wishing for a special
prayer intention, writing to the address above.
MEDITATION & RELAXATION
SESSIONS
Every Tuesday
7:30pm – 9:00 pm
conducted by
Dr. Senevi Aturupana
Buddhist Chaplain
Aggamahāpandita
Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi, MBE
Chief Sangha Nayake of UK
ALL ARE WELCOME
REGISTER NOW
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020 8204 3301
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PAGE 28
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
Sangakkara hits 319 in Sri Lanka’s 587
(dailymirror.lk)(AFP) - Kumar Sangakkara
scored 319 as Sri Lanka piled up 587 before
their first innings ended just before tea on the
second day of the second and final Test against
Bangladesh in Chittagong on Wednesday.
Sangakkara was last man out after compiling
his ninth 200-plus score. He put on 100 for the
eighth wicket with Ajantha Mendis (47).
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan was
Bangladesh’s most successful bowler with five
wickets.
Sri Lanka won the first Test by an innings and
248 runs in Dhaka last week.
Nugegoda Lyceumers soccer champions
(ft.lk) At the Inter International Schools Soccer
Tournament conducted by The British School in
Colombo the Nugegoda Lyceum International
School Under 17 Boys team emerged Champions
beating Wattala Lyceum team at the finals.
The following three players of Lyceum
International School Nugegoda received special
awards:Best Player – Shavin Kaluthanthri
Best Goal Keeper – Himath Weraduwa
Best Defensive Player – Steve Kurunduhewa
The Girls team of Lyceum Nugegoda were
Runners up. At the finals Nugegoda Girls played
against the British School.
The matches were
played at the
Football Federation
Grounds in
Baddegana.
The team was
coached by Sarath
Jayasinghe and
Nishantha Silva. The
teachers in charge
were Sandarenu
Herath, Dinithi
Wijenayake and
Chanaka Prasad.
ISSUE 1157
Rajapaksha helps Sri Lanka to series win
(ft.lk) Sri Lanka Under-19s took an unassailable 20 lead in the three-match series with a
comprehensive 111-run win over Australia Under19s at Colts Cricket Club ground. Like in the first
one-dayer at the same ground on Saturday, the
Australians failed to pass 200 and on Monday they
were bowled out for a paltry 137 in response to
248.
Sri Lanka opted to bat and they got off to a poor
start, losing Sadeera Samarawickrama in the first
over to the left-arm seamer Matthew Fotia.
Hashan Dumindu and Minod Bhanuka added 50
for the third wicket before Bhanuka fell for 27.
Priyamal Perera and Harsha Rajapaksha then
added 81 for the sixth wicket to take Sri Lanka to a
competitive score. Perera’s 58 came off 90 balls
while Rajapaksha’s 43 came off 39. Both fell to
Fotia who finished with 6 for 39, his best figures in
U-19 one-dayers.
Australia got off to a brisk start but lost their
openers before the seventh over. They moved to
88 for 3 before the halfway mark but a steady fall
of wickets hurt them in their chase. They lost three
wickets for 11 runs, with Rajapaksha claiming
Damien Mortimer and Jake Doran. He later
dismissed James Bazley to finish with 3 for 33 and
round-off a good all-round performance.
Australia will look to sign-off their short tour with a
consolation win in the final match on Thursday at
the R Premadasa Stadium, before the teams head
to UAE for the U-19 World Cup.
Chief Scores: Sri Lanka Under-19s 248 (Perera
58, Rajapaksha 43, Fotia 6-39) beat Australia
Under-19s 137 (Mortimer 41, Rajapaksha 3-33) by
111 runs
Huey sees Philippines through in Sri Lanka tie
By M. Shamil Amit
(dailymirror.lk) A win by Treat Huey who beat Sri
Lanka’s number one Harshana Godamanne was
sufficient for Philippines to win Asian Oceania
Davis Cup tie between the two countries which
was played at the SLTA hard courts .,
The match between the duo was expected to be a
closely contested affair but Huey though
conceding the first set settled down to win the next
three sets to end with a 3-1 victory in the five set
game.
The tie was deadlocked at one each on day one
but Philippines surged ahead after winning the
doubles encounter on the second day. Though two
matches were scheduled to be played on the third
day the win by Huey deemed unnecessary to play
the other game.
Philippines will now meet the winner of the tie
between Pakistan and Vietnam to decide who will
be in contention for Group I promotion. The losers
of the two ties will meet in a relegation play off
scheduled to be played in April.
Result:
Treat Huey (Philippines) beat Harshana
Godamanne (Sri Lanka) 3-1 (2-6, 6-4-6-4-6-4)
NEWSLANKA
ISSUE 1157
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 29
SLC will fight ICC like Sri Lanka fought terrorists
By Channaka de Silva
(dailymirror.lk) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) executive
committee will have a crucial emergency meeting
today to take the final stand on the controversial
position paper of the International Cricket Council
(ICC) which is aiming to bestow world cricket’s
controlling powers and financial benefits on just
three cricket boards – India, England and Australia.
However, SLC has already taken a firm decision to
vote against the proposals as the special
committee of SLC Office Bearers appointed to take
the final decision, met on Saturday morning at the
SLC headquarters and decided that Sri Lanka
should oppose and resist the move to bring in
some alarming changes to the world cricket’s
governing and financial structures.
The Special committee discussed the legal opinion
on the proposals provided by SLC’s legal advisors
and also the financial analysis carried out by a
team headed by SLC Treasurer Nuski Mohamed.
At Saturday’s discussion, the committee members
identified some clauses of the proposals that might
provide some benefits to Sri Lanka but after careful
consideration, felt that most of the crucial changes
can cause both long term and short term harm to
Sri Lanka’s cricket.
As the proposals would not be taken one by one
for vote at the ICC meeting and just one vote be
taken to ask if the cricket boards are for or against
the proposals, the committee had decided that Sri
Lanka should oppose the proposals in toto.
The Committee is expected to make their views
known to the exco today, and will also explain at a
special meeting on Wednesday the pros and cons
and why Sri Lanka would oppose the proposals, to
all stake holders of SLC.
SLC yesterday issued a communiqué, calling all
stake holders to be present at the meeting.
“President and the members of the Executive
Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wish to
invite the Presidents and the Secretaries of the
Member Clubs and Associations, Past Presidents,
Past Secretaries and Past Captains of Sri Lanka
Cricket to brief on the revised position paper
forwarded by ICC, on the subject matter of the
recommendations put forward by a working group
on the ICC’s future structure.
The briefing will take place at 2.30 p.m. on
Wednesday 5th January 2014 at the Auditorium of
the Ministry of Sports, Race Course (Reid Avenue),
opposite Royal College” stated the communiqué.
“It is going to be an extremely transparent
procedure and as we go on for this crucial battle
we need the blessings of all. This is about the
game and the country, not about personal gains or
any other petty issues. As we go against high and
the mighty of world cricket and take such a bold
decision, there is obviously going to be deep
repercussions.
We will definitely have to suffer. So, in hard times,
we want all stake holders to be with the SLC and
support our stand” said a top SLC official.
“This is going to be historic decision. It has the
potential to change the course of this entire sport.
We certainly don’t want to be remembered in future
as those who destroyed the game we loved and
ruined Sri Lanka’s standing in world cricket.
Whether we go with the proposals or go against it,
we will have to suffer consequences. These
proposals would hand the controlling power of
world cricket to India and allies, and we are going
to be second class citizens in cricket world.
Whatever happens, it is best to face and fight the
Isipathana thrash Trinity 22-0 to bag Cup C'ship
injustice like true warriors and keep our heads
high. We can at least be proud that we gave it our
best punch and did not lack trying, like cowards”
he added.
“After all we have provided an example to the
world under a great leader. We fought brutal
terrorists who were internationally powerful. But we
fought them and defeated them despite
international pressure. Today we are a proud
nation because of that heroic victory. But for our
bravery and defence of our dignity, we are also
paying a heavy price. Look at all these
international conspiracies against Sri Lanka. But
do we mind? No, because we know that we did the
right thing and keep our heads high despite the
adversity. We Sri Lankans are not afraid of bullies”
said the official, who asked not to be named.
“We can be servile to India. Beg and negotiate a
few financially lucrative tours and other
arrangements which would set us financially well
off for a few years. But there is something more
than that to consider. These changes would give
complete control to India and its allies. Once they
get this passed, they are almighty and we cannot
be certain what would happen. We have to think of
Sri Lankan cricket’s future” explained the official.
“They might even change the rules of the game to
fit them. We have past examples. The bouncer rule
was brought in by the then powerful England and
Australia and wiped of West Indies cricket. In
recent times, We know how India’s resistance has
stopped DRS becoming law. There is a great
danger lurking behind these proposals” he added.
“Once they get this passed, they will dictate terms
to us. We have to bite the bullet short time and try
to get out of it” he said.
“They also bring a ludicrous argument about the
Those running cricket have no clue – Arjuna
by Rex Clementine
Anuradha Abeysekera
(dailynews.lk) Hat-trick of tries by energetic
Sudam Sooriarachchi helped Isipathana
Colloege, Colombo to bag under-19 Schools'
Rugby Sevens Cup Championship beating
strong Trinity College by 22 points (one goal,
three tries) to nil in the final at the Royal College
Sports Complex, Colombo 7 yesterday.
Pathanians led 10-0 at breather. The two-day
tournament was conducted by the Sri Lanka
Schools' Rugby Association (SLSRA) and
sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka PLC. The Plate
Championship was won by Wesley College who
defeated Kingswood College by 15 points (three
tries) to 12 (one goal, one try) in the final after
leading 10-0 at half time. C.W.W. Kannangara
Vidyalaya, Borella emerged Bowl Champions as
they beat Prince of Wales College by 28 points
(four goals) to nil in the final while Lalith
Ethulathmudali MV, Mount Lavinia walked away
with the Shield Championship taming Royal
Isipathana captain Shenal Deelaka Silva receiving
college, Panadura in the final by 12 points ( one
the Cup Championship trophy from chief guest
goal, one try) to 7 (one goal).
Singer Sri Lanka Marketing and Commercial
Some exciting games were showcased during
Director Mahesh Wijewardena.
the tournament and Pathanians booked their
Pathanians.
Cup final berth by beating St. Joseph's College
7-0 while Trinity defeated St. Peter's College 19-17 Trinity too had to go by six players for a while
when their no. 15 was issued a
in Cup semis.
yellow card just after the second
Isipathana lads dominated the
half begun. Sudam sprinted for
Cup final from the beginning
over 30-meters to score his
but had to play with six players
second try under the post but
for one minute after their no.13
for the third time in a row
was let out for a sinbin at the
Pathanians missed the
initial stage. Sudam scored the
conversion.
first try under the post for
Trinity players tried hard to
Isipathana but himself missed
penetrate strong Pathanian
the easy conversion. Umalka
defence in few occasions but
Gunaratne faked Trinity
failed to do so. Sudam escaped
defenders to touch down from
from all trinity defenders to
left corner widening the gap but
score the final try of the match
the conversion went astray
where he ran for more than 40
again for Pathaninans.
meters before touch down from the right and Isuru
Isipathana led 10-0 at half time. Even in the
Kangahawatte made no mistake with adding the
second half Colombo boys did not give any
extra points this time. Isipathana won 22-0.
chance to opponents and Trinitians were
Pradeep Fernando refereed.
struggling to cope aggressive attack by
amount of cash they bring into the game. But you
have to understand that sponsors come in only
when there is fan interest in it. Fan interest is built
up by the fact how competitive the sport is. So, in
turn, how the sporting talent merit is what actually
brings in money. You think Indian fans would be
happy to see a world cup without South Africa,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka?” he questioned.
“We can negotiate and strike a deal with India, but
in long term the damage it is going to cause Sri
Lanka cricket is too big to make any deal worth it.
In the last seven year circle ICC made US $ 1.6
billion.
When it was equally divided among members we
got something like US $55-60 million after paying
membership fees and other things. ICC expects
they would earn around US $ 2.7 billion in the next
eight year circle.
According to the present model, we should get
something like US $ 140 million, but according to
the new model we would only get US $ 90 million.
India who should get US $ 140 million under
present structure would get US $ 540 million. That
is the size of the disparity. Do you think the
performance of our cricketers should be worth
such a lot of money less than the performance of
India’s cricketers?” he asked.
According to other SLC sources, one of the main
concerns they have is the fact that the working
Group of the Finance Commercial Affairs who
drafted the controversial position paper have no
mandate to carry out a serious issue such as a
constitutional change. “They are not qualified to do
that and no one asked them officially to do it. That
is the basic issue” said the source.
(Contd: on P30)
(island.lk) World Cup winning former Sri Lanka
captain Arjuna Ranatunga says he will not attend a
briefing called up by Sri Lanka Cricket this afternoon
to discuss proposed changes to the ICC structure. In
a media release earlier this week, SLC had called all
former Presidents, Secretaries of the board
and Past captains to brief on revised position
paper forwarded by the International Cricket
Council.
"Cricket board never gives a hearing to what
the past captains say. They hardly listen to
us. Then why are they all of a sudden
interested now to get our viewpoints?"
Ranatunga asked in a brief interview with
The Island yesterday.
"They want to use us as the cat’s paw and tell the
three boards (Cricket Australia, England and Wales
Cricket Board and Board of Control for Cricket in
India) that our past captains and stakeholders don’t
want us to agree to the proposed draft. Did SLC
consult past captains when they put up stadiums
that have created the current financial crisis of the
board?"
Although the proposed changes to the ICC were
confronted with strong opposition earlier on, several
boards have softened their stance since supporting
the move. Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket South
Africa have resisted the move with lukewarm
response from Sri Lanka.
"Why can’t the Executive Committee take a
decision and say that we are against this move.
SLC has asked the ICC for a loan and if the ICC
agrees to provide the loan, will SLC agree to the
proposed draft?"
"We have a President who can’t take
responsibility. The Ex-Co has no confidence in
the President and the President should step down.
Being President of SLC is not like being President of
the Film Corporation. You don’t deal with pretty
actresses here. At global cricket meetings you deal
with experienced cricket administrators."
Hamasiri to resign
(colombogazette.com) National Olympic Committee
(NOC) chairman Hemasiri Fernando has decided to
resign from his post following a rift with Sports
Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
Fernando said that he will not take responsibility of
the Sri Lankan team preparations for the next Olympic
Games.
Fernando said that he was finding it difficult to work
with the current Sports Minister adding that the
Minister will need to take full responsibility of the
“death” of sports in Sri Lanka.
“I have been involved with the National Olympic
Committee for 16 years. I have achieved my
responsibilities but I cannot continue anymore,” he
added.
Aluthgamage had in
December slammed
comments made by
Fernando to the media
on the sports law.
Speaking in parliament,
the Sports Minister said
that Fernando, after
writing to the
International Olympic Committee
(IOC) alleging that the local sports law
was having a negative impact on the
independence of local sports
associations, had gone on to use the
local media to continue a scathing
attack on the sports law.
Aluthgamage said that Fernando was
misleading the public through the
views expressed and allegations he raised on the
sports law.
The Minister said that Fernando is a secretary to a
Government Ministry and has no right to question a
National sports law approved by Parliament.
(Colombo Gazette)
New sports pavilion for Jaffna school
(island.lk) A new Sports Pavilion
constructed by the Sri Lanka Navy worth
of 1.1 million was gifted to the Delft Maha
Vidyalayam in Jaffna during the Inter
House Athletic Meet prize giving
ceremony on 29th January at the school
ground, according to the Defence
Ministry.
Fulfilling a long felt need of the school the
pavilion was construction by the Sri
Lanka Coast Guard under a proposal of
its Director General, Rear Admiral
Ravindra Wijayagunarathna with funding
from the Moretom Cricket Club of
Australia and Class 56 of Royal College,
Colombo under the patronage of the
Director General of Sri Lanka Coast
Guard, Commander, Security Force
Headquarters (Jaffna) Major Gen. Udaya
Perera graced the occasion as Chief
Guest and handed over the new Pavilion
for the use of the school.
Uthayaraja Jelansika and Nitharshan,
leader of the drill display and the school
band respectively received special gifts
from the Jaffna Commander for their
excellent performance at the event. A
special financial grant was also gifted to
the principal for the development of the
school.
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NEWSLANKA
PAGE 30
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
National Carrom Championship
Minsadi creates history by entering top 16
Another 15 year lass from Mahamaya Vidyalaya,
Tharushi Himahansika has also booked a quarter
final berth in women's singles by beating Rebeca
Dalrene 25/13, 25/12 in pre quarters.
On the virtue of their victories these two girls will
qualify to play in the forthcoming Grand Slam
championship from February 14 to 16 where only
the crème of carrom, the top 16 local ranking
players are eligible to play.
Meanwhile Nishantha fernando and Chalani
Lakmali won the mixed doubles title in the 46th
Carrom Nationals taming Chamil Cooray and
Madushika Kanchanamala 12/25, 25/20, 25/24
after an exiting final battle. Nishantha and Chalani
overcame Lahiru Eshan and Joseph Roshita 25/6,
25/15 while Chamil and Madushika edged uot
Mohamed Shaheed and Rebeca Dalrene in semis.
Anuradha Abeysekera
(dailynews.lk) The 46th Carrom Nationals being
worked off at the Maharagama Carrom Federation
premises during the week-ends showcased some
excellent up and coming talents as two new young
girls entering national rankings by qualifying to
play women's singles quarter finals.
Remarkable feat
More remarkably a 13-year girl from Anula
Vidyalaya, Minsadi Laknara who has won the
under-13 singles crown at the last year's Junior
Nationals created history by being the youngest
ever player to be among country's top 16 women
slicers when she defeated Sumalya Vidanagama
17/11, 19/18 in ongoing national singles pre
quarters last weekend.
way ICC has acted is enough proof that something
sinister lies underneath. We don’t know what
would happen in the future. But we shouldn’t
agree to something like this, which is plain daylight
robbery” said the SLC top official.
Meanwhile International cricket personalities and
cricket journalists have begun a vociferous
campaign against the ICC moves to marginalize a
section of the cricket world and trying to segregate
ICC’s member nations on financial merit rather
than the playing merit.
Renowned writer Scyld Berry had given a stunning
example of how cockeyed the new system could
be. He questioned what the difference between
match-fixing and demotion-fixing could be?
“The Big Three propose that their countries would
not be relegated from the first division even if they
finished bottom. Suppose New Zealand finish fifth,
Australia sixth, England seventh and India eighth –
yet New Zealand are demoted” he wrote.
SLC
from P29
He added that no one needs to dissect the
proposals to understand the true nature of the
document.
“The way it was secretly drafted with the
connivance of the three boards of India, England
and Australia, the little period of time offered to
other boards to study a document of such
magnitude which obviously changes the entire
game as we know it, the way they have offered
various concessions as bribes to entice the less
affluent and less powerful boards to get it passed
are enough indications that it would give immense
benefits to the big three and nothing to others.
If it was a genuine effort to improve world cricket,
why all this secrecy? Why all this hurry? The more
inputs you have, the better your proposals would
be. But no one was given a chance. The diabolical
ISSUE 1157
Five- Gen. Perera hands Sri Lanka massive win
(dailynews.lk) Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera picked
up five wickets as Sri Lanka thumped fragile
Bangladesh by an innings and 248 runs in the first
Test in Dhaka on Thursday.
Bangladesh, trailing by a huge 498-run margin on
first innings, were bowled out for 250 in their
second knock after lunch on the fourth day at the
Sher-e-Bangla stadium. Perera, a 31-year-old
playing in his second Test, finished with five for
109 while seamer Suranga Lakmal took three as
the hosts were dismissed in 51.5 overs with a day
to spare.
Bangladesh, who resumed the
day at 35-1, failed to cope with
Sri Lanka's pace and spin
assault and lost their last nine
wickets for 215 runs despite
the even-paced pitch. The
hosts were reduced to 197-9
before the last-wicket pair of
Rubel Hossain and Al-Amin
Hossain boosted the total with
lusty hitting during an
entertaining partnership of 53
runs off 38 balls.
Rubel made 17, while Al Amin
returned unbeaten on a
quickfire 32 off 18 balls that
contained four sixes and one
boundary.
Bangladesh, who made 232 in their first innings,
conceded their highest Test total of 730-6
declared. Three Sri Lankans hit centuries including
Mahela Jayawardene, who scored an unbeaten
double-ton.
Sri Lanka have now won 14 of their 15 Tests
against Bangladesh, eight of them by an innings
margin, and drawn the other.
On their previous tour in 2008-09, Sri Lanka had
won the first Test by 107 runs and the second by
465 runs.
Bangladesh, who languish at the bottom of the
Test rankings at number 10 -- lower than
unfancied Zimbabwe -- have lost 68 of their 82
Tests since gaining full status in 2000. They have
won four Tests, two each against Zimbabwe and
the West Indies.
Opener Shamsur Rahim was dismissed off the
second ball of the day, fending at a vicious short
ball from Shaminda Eranga and edging a catch to
wicket-keeper Dinesh
Chandimal.
Number three Marshall Ayub
had scored 18 when he gloved
a bouncer from to Kaushal
Silva at short-leg as
Bangladesh slipped to 50-3.
The hosts reached 102 before
Perera broke through by
trapping Shakib Al Hasan legbefore for 25.
Mominul Haque smashed
eight boundaries in a fluent 50
off 57 balls, but the assault did
not last long as he became
Perera's second leg-before
victim. Skipper Mushfiqur
Rahim was bowled by Perera
for 14 off what became the last
ball of the session, but Nasir Hossain (29) and
Sohag Gazi put on 33 for the seventh wicket after
the break.
Gazi hit a 19-ball 23 with two fours and as many
sixes before being leg-before to Lakmal.
The second Test starts in the port city of
Chittagong on February 4. It will be followed by
two Twenty20 matches and three one-day
internationals. AFP
Kandy overcome Havies to keep league hopes alive
At the breather it was Kandy who led 13-10.
The game was played at a hectic pace with both
teams giving nothing away. Kandy once again took
time to settle, a common occurrence this season
which should be a concern for their new coach
Adrian Ferris. Havies played well with their three
quarters working the line at every given
opportunity. Skipper Sudarshan Muthuthanthri and
Flanker Sharo Fernando played their hearts out.
Also in attack winger Dhanushka Ranjan returning
from injury was
dangerous when given
the slightest of space.
Seat sales specialist to Sri Lanka, Gulf and the Far East
Kandy too moved the
ball through their
skipper Roshan
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defence with his
powerful runs.
By Shamseer Jaleel
(dailymirror.lk) Hopes of retaining the league title
faded away for Havelock SC when they were
beaten by Kandy SC in the return leg of the inter
club rugby second round match played at a packed
Nittawela rugby stadium yesterday. In the end
Kandy Sports club emerged victors by 33 points (5
tries, 1 conversion, 2 penalties) to 25 points (4
tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) and kept their hopes
alive.
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Samisoni too occupying the pack leader’s position
looked unstoppable at times. On the wing Richard
Dharmapala with his deceptive running sent the
opponents back peddling.
Nittawela was lightened up by the number of
spectators returning to the venue after a lapse of
nearly one month. Last time it was a full house was
9480
£195
From £320
for the Navy game.
William Hakalo missed a 45 meter penalty
awarded against Kandy for hitting from the sides in
a ruck in the early stages of the game. Then in the
5th minute of the game Havies drew first blood
through a debatable try scored by Terence Henry.
The push over try was cleared by assistant referee
D. Nimal as referee Jamaldeen was un-cited. Soon
afterwards Kandy skipper Roshan Weeraratne
missed a 40 meter penalty but was successful
within the next couple of minutes through a 30
meter penalty to reduce the gap to 5-3. Fifteenth
minute of the game saw Havies attacking through
their powerful three quarters and through a cross
kick winger Dhanushka Ranjan scored a try. Then
it was Kandy’s turn when their full back Lavanga
Perera covered 40 meters to touch down. Kandy
missed the chance of overtaking Havies when
David Halifornia missed a 45 meter penalty.
Within the next five minutes Roshan Weeraratne
missed another kickable penalty. But on stroke
of half time centre Gayan Weeraratne dummied
his way to score a try for Kandy to take “lemons”
at 13-10 favouring Kandy.
After the turn around second row Dinesh
Sanjeewa, Number 8 Samisoni, Winger Richard
Dharmapala scored for Kandy. Roshan
Weeraratne put over a penalty and David
Halifornia converted one of the tries. For the
Park Club tries were scored by winger
Danushka Ranjan (an intercepted try) and fly
half Daniel Felefix. William Hakalo put over a
penalty for Havies.
Referee-Nizam Jamaldeen
Assistant Referees-Dharmapala Nimal, Asela
Muthumala
Kandy Sports club will host CR & FC in their last
home match on February 9 at Nittawela. Kick -off is
scheduled at 4 p.m. If Kandy wins rest of their
three matches (one home and two away) with
bonus points and Havies beat Navy then Kandy
will be within reach of the Cup.
020 7724 6667
ISSUE 1157
NEWSLANKA
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
PAGE 31
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NEWSLANKA
Registered at the Sri Lanka GPO as a newspaper- Reg. No. QD/119/News/2010
06 FEBRUARY - 2014
ISSUE 1157
WWW.NEWSLANKA.NET

issue 1157 - Newslanka

Transcription

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