Swamy’s prescription for reconciliation in Sri Lanka

The HinduJanata party president Subramanian Swamy speaking at the valedictory of the defence seminar 'Towards lasting peace and stability,' in Colombo on Friday. Photo: R.K. Radhakrishnan

It will be much easier to fight Sri Lanka’s enemies abroad, if there is some devolution of powers to the Tamils areas in the near future, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy said in Colombo on Friday.

Calling upon Tamils to recognise the victory over the Tamil Tigers as their victory, he said that the victory achieved in May 2009, should not be diluted by distractions.

Sri Lanka's main Muslim party apologizes for religious tension in election campaign

Sri Lanka's main Muslim party on Friday apologized for an anti-religious statement made in the run up to elections in September, a statement released by its leader said.  Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem apologized for a statement made regarding Buddhist monks engaging in politics and insisted that his words were maliciously taken out of context.

Govt. plans extra spending despite deficit woes

 ■ Supplementary budget worth Rs. 14 b before Parliament
 ■Sluggish revenue, high imports widen budget gap; full year target under threat
 ■January-April deficit already 61% of 2012 target

The Government, already struggling to keep its budget deficit to a size agreed on with the International Monetary Fund, presented a plan for more spending this year, a Parliament document showed on Thursday.

Inquiry against SLMC over alleged anti-Govt. policy

An inquiry is to be conducted into allegations that the SLMC has taken a stand contrary to the UPFA government’s policy on national issues, during the ongoing campaign for the Eastern Provincial Council Election.

Media Minster Keheliya Rambukwella, responding to a question at the Cabinet press briefing in Colombo yesterday, said that the SLMC, despite being a constituent member of the government, was making statements violating the principle of collective responsibility and the allegation would be inquired into.

Demands of University Dons: Who’s gone Cuckoo?

By Amal S. Kumarage

President Rajapaksa conferred
with honorary Doctorate by
University of Moscow in Russia,

One can only thank Mr. C.A.Chandraprema for choosing an apt title ‘University Dons in Cuckoo land’ for his article published in the Sunday Divaina and Sunday Island of 4th August.

There is no disagreement that is exactly where university dons have been for the last several years.

The difference now is that finally they have realized how ‘cuckoo’ they have been to believe that Sri Lanka is marching towards a Knowledge Hub when over the last 6 years the reality is that funding per university student has been gradually reduced;

Do not terrorize the yellow robes - Editorial , DM

'' Whatever possessed Minister Rauf Hakeem to condemn the Maha Sangha in such a manner, it can hardly be empathized with nor can it be easily forgiven. The statement comes to light at a time when the political leaders, the clergy as well as the people of this country are trying to lay aside their differences to make a fresh start to live in peace. When it comes to the Minister’s word, neither is there any justification to it, nor does it enhance harmony. So much for being the Justice Minister, he also has resorted to make sweeping statements to gain mileage.''

Sri Lanka refuses UN intervention in post-war reconciliation

Sri Lanka's government has confirmed that a United Nations (UN) team will visit the country next month to evaluate post-war reconciliation but insisted that their feedback would not be considered, an official said here on Thursday.  Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella strongly responded to previous media reports that the UN team would provide expertise on reconciliation efforts made by the government.

The Domestic Violence Act: Seven Years On

 Chulani Kodikara

Photo courtesy Beyond Borders blog

On 9th August in 2005, the Sri Lankan parliament unanimously passed the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA).

The Act does not create a new offence of ‘domestic violence’ but instead defines domestic violence, firstly, as acts of physical violence, which constitute only those offences already recognized under Chapter XVI of the Penal Code. Secondly it recognizes emotional abuse - defined as a pattern of cruel, inhuman, degrading or humiliating conduct of a serious nature directed towards an aggrieved person.

Government should answer for Dilrukshan’s killing - AHR

Government should take the responsibility for the death of a Tamil political prisoner yesterday (08) consequent to an attack by Vavuniya prison officials, and such killings of individuals while in custody is condemned as a despicable act say the Activists for Human Rights Organisation in a media release.

The statement which bears the signature of Attorney at Law, Udul Premaratne a member of the Activists for Human Rights alleged that the LTTE suspect Mariyadas Pevis Delrukshan (34) from Paithakur, Jaffna, had been admitted to hospital six days after he sustained injuries and therefore his death amounted to murder.

“French Policy Towards Sri Lanka is Determined by Principles and Values and not influenced by the Tamil Diaspora “- French Envoy

Christine Robichon, Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, in an interview with the Daily Mirror, while commending the “huge progress” accomplished on the economic front, opines that economic development alone is not sufficient to achieve a just and lasting peace.
Foreign friends, she further asserts, cannot help much in the political reconciliation process, which is the responsibility of the government, political parties, religious leaders, civil society and intellectuals of Sri Lanka.

Expanded Army Intelligence Monitors What ‘People Eat for their Lunch’ in North-Eastern Sri Lanka

by Charles Haviland
North-eastern Sri Lanka has been off-limits to journalists and most other outsiders since the civil war ended in 2009, but the authorities have now granted BBC correspondent Charles Haviland access to much of the area.
I was with the army as they detonated left-over munitions near a major battle scene.

“Here, crouch behind these sandbags,” they told me as we stood, in protective clothing, a few hundred metres from the detonation site. “If shrapnel comes anywhere near, just duck.”

Activists say suspected Sri Lankan rebel dies of injured sustained in prison revolt

Sri Lankan rights activists say an imprisoned Tamil Tiger rebel suspect has died from injuries sustained when he was beaten by guards following a revolt in the prison.  Activists for Human Rights spokesman Udul Premaratne says 34-year-old Mariadas Dilrukshan died at a government hospital early Wednesday after being injured in a prison revolt in June in the northern town of Vavuniya.

JHU criticizes Hakeem's statement on 'yellow robe terrorism'; Bhikkus condemn Hakeem

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday criticized a statement made by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem that President Rajapksa should defeat "yellow robe terrorism".
JHU Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera speaking to Daily Mirror said that Rauff Hakkem is a Minister who does not even practice his own religion properly.

Sri Lanka: Land, Class and Ethnicity

by Sunil Bastian
Land and land policy has received much attention in recent times. There are numerous discussions and activism around land policy. For example, the LLRC has recommendations about land disputes in the North; land disputes were mentioned in the resolution passed against Sri Lanka during the 18th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council; there are studies largely based on the notion of land rights; some civil society groups have organised themselves to work against on land grabbing, and environmental groups are concerned about the impact of land use on the environment.

A Mafia running share market - COPE boss; SEC needs independence form the executive

‘SEC should be strengthened without delay’ 
'Monitor EPF investments carefully’

Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman D. E. W. Gunasekara yesterday (07) urged the authorities to strengthen the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in order to take down the influential group of investors who were operating a ‘mafia’ in the Colombo Stock Exchange.

Can Anyone Honestly say that Federalism will lead to Secession?

by M.A.Sumanthiran

M.A.Sumanthiran MP

Last week I wrote on the topic of self-determination. This drew many comments. One of which was to the effect that Tamil political leaders seem to believe that these issues can be settled by presenting a good legal brief, but they are eventually settled by practical power politics and the military.
least from the time of independence. Is federalism such a bad option? Can anyone honestly say that it will lead to secession? What is the experience of other countries on this? Why is it that the mere mention of the word is enough to whip-up negative nationalistic sentiments?

Mob led by Buddhist Priest Forcefully Takes Away Pillaiyar Statue From Hindu Temple

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj
In a peculiarly aggressive display of “Saffron Terrorism” a mob led by a Buddhist Priest has deployed force and taken away a statue of the Elephant faced deity known as Pillaiyar in Tamil and Gana Deiyo in Sinhala from a Hindu temple in Panamai on the Eastern coastal district of Amparai.In a flagrant violation of law and order and the freedom of worship, an ancient statue of God Pillaiyar also known as Vinayagar and Ganesh was seized by a mob and taken away from the Sithi Vinayagar Hindu temple in Panamai /Panama in broad daylight on Monday August 6th.

Eluded Peace, Denied Justice: Bare facts and naked truths

By Commission for Justice and Peace of the Diocese of Jaffna

On the 3rd of August, after a three day visit to the island, a senior United Nations relief official praised the Government of Sri Lanka for the 'progress' made within the past three years. "The scale of what Sri Lanka has accomplished over the past three years is remarkable and very clearly visible" said the Director Operations of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, John Ging, in a statement.  But as far as the facts are concerned, nothing can be further from the truth. 

US buyer severs ties with Lankan supplier over labour issues

The Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZGSEU) says that the recent decision by US retailer J Crew to pull out further orders from its Sri Lankan supplier Mirrai Pvt Limited, after the manufacturer refused to correct serious labour violations, is sending a message to the garment industry that codes of conduct can be more than paper tigers.

The need to setup a Land Commission as envisaged by the Thirteenth Amendment

By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha M.P
 Having now gone through the LLRC Action Plan, I can understand how sensible it was of the Cabinet to appoint, not politicians, but the Secretary to the President to work on it. And he in turn was inspired to appoint extremely competent public servants who would not be looking over their shoulders to see what political or personal fallouts their recommendations might cause.
It was also very sensible to have selected a couple of people who, in addition to their personal integrity to recommend them, have work experience that relates so closely to the major concerns of the LLRC report.

Is the Sri Lankan Govt Addressing Concerns of the International Community or the Tamil Victims of the War?

''Accountability is not only about rehabilitation and reconstruction. The Government also needs to look at the political reconciliation process as a part of the Roadmap efforts. With the war three years behind the nation, the Government needs to ensure that it is on the same page as the victim population on matters of reconciliation issues, specifics and generic. There could be differences and distinctions on what should be done, or how it should be done. ''

Top economist fires warning on rapid rise in commercial borrowings

A top economist and Daily FT’s weekly columnist W.A. Wijewardena is cautioning against the sharp rise in commercial and non-concessionary borrowings, which he estimates to be 50% of foreign debt by end this year from just 5% in 2004. 
According to Wijewardena, as per his weekly column on Page 15 in today’s issue, the ratio of commercial and non-concessionary borrowings in 2011 had risen to 43% of foreign debt from less than 5% in 2004. With the new sovereign loan of US$ 1 billion raised in July, the commercial and non-concessionary borrowing component in the total foreign borrowings is projected to rise to 50% by the end of 2012, he said.

Obliteration of Road Painting Commemorating Neelan Tiruchelvam on Kynsey Road (with photos)

Following the assassination of Neelan Tiruchelvam by the LTTE on 29 July 1999, in a spontaneous outpouring of grief and loss, friends and people with whom he worked, including from the institutions he founded, remembered and honoured him by painting peace and floral motifs and the quote ‘Secure the Sanctity of Life’ in Tamil, Sinhala and English on the surface of the road where his life was snuffed out.

Case filed in Geneva against Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka

A senior lawyer and writer who served as the Legal and Media Consultant of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has filed a case in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, against the HRCSL and the local unit of the United Nations Joint Programme on Human Rights (UNJPHR), for violation of his human rights.

Farmers protest against Army interference

Farmer associations in Kanthale carried out an agitation near Kantale tank today (5th) morning complaining that the Army is interfering in affairs of farmer associations and against the attempt to destroy the Kanthale tank.
 The farmers emphasize that a sea-plan project has been proposed for Kanthale tank, a building at the catchment area of the tank is being renovated to be used as a restaurant and these activities are a strain on their cultivations.