Sri Lanka: Living ironies and redefining democracy

Activists  protest a government
order limiting the activities of
civil society groups (ucanews.com)

Rukshana Nanayakkara

Since the last Presidential election in 2010 there has been no national challenge to the existence of the government. The traditional common enemy, the main Opposition is a docile entity. So the government is losing its common enemy. At present, the credible and reasoned criticism to the government's existence comes mainly from the media and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) who work within the spheres of democracy, governance and human rights.

Sri Lanka: 'Parliamentary authorities have become puppets of the executive' - UNP

Speaker Rajapaksa: Silent

The United National Party today charged that the administration of the Parliament is deliberately delaying action on privilege issues raised by UNP Parliamentarians.  Speaking to Asian Mirror, UNP Parliamentarian Ajith P Perera said the privilege issue they raised on the clash which took place in Hambanthota has not yet been presented before the privileges committee of Parliament."It is the duty of the administration of Parliament to take measures to bring these matters before the Privileges Committee. Then only the MPs can discuss this matter and present their recommendations to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka's Administrative Service is in the doldrums

The Public Service Omission, Editorial, The Sunday Times

Details contained in the report of the Public Service Commission — the body responsible for the disciplinary conduct of public servants or now known as government servants — are published in this issue on Page 4 today.Set up during the pre-Independence era, today’s Sri Lanka Administrative Service was formerly known as the Ceylon Civil Service.

Abolishing executive presidency:UNP, UPFA red allies agree on amending Constitution

DEW, Vasu and Tissa

Communist Party General Secretary and Senior Minister Dew Gunasekera yesterday said that the UNP, too, was willing to either do away with executive presidency or dilute presidential powers through a constitutional amendment, though it had earlier pledged to scrap the presidency in the event of winning the next presidential election.

Sri Lanka: Bank Accounts of NGOs not registered with MOD are to be closed

Under me - Gotabhaya

New laws to control NGOs

The government is to incorporate new laws to register all not-for-profit or non-profit organizations (NPOs) as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development. The ministry charged that NPOs presently registered under the Sri Lanka Companies Act No. 7 of 2007 are acting out the role of NGOs. Director/Registrar of the National Secretariat for NGOs, D. M. Saman Dissanayake, speaking to Ceylon Today, observed that according to the new Act any organization that does not register with the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development will have their bank accounts closed and obtaining foreign funds will also be expressly forbidden.

Sri Lanka: PM says NGOs had armed the LTTE

Prime Minister D M Jayaratna says some Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) had armed and assisted the LTTE during the war. The Prime Minister made this comment when speaking in Parliament today on the controversy over the circular issued by the NGO Secretariat of the Ministry of Defence. Jayaratna insisted that the Government was not violating the constitution or human rights through the circular which was sent to all the registered NGOs this week.

US axes Lankan voter education funding amid controversy

Dharisha Bastians

◾US aid agency tells prospective applicants federal grant opportunity has been ‘deleted’ ◾Gota vows to investigate those receiving funds for USAID project ◾Cabinet wants US Envoy summoned says Keheliya ◾No official summons but Minister met Ambassador Sison over issue: MEA sources

The USAID has cancelled funding for a voter education program after the Sri Lankan Government raised objections and the island’s top defence official vowed to investigate organizations receiving grants to implement the project.

Sri Lanka bans activist groups from contact with media

 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has banned activist groups and NGOs from holding press conferences and issuing press releases, a Defence Ministry circular says, raising new concerns over freedom of expression in the island nation. The circular, dated July 1, also outlaws NGOs and civil society organizations holding workshops for journalists. "This is a continuation of threats on civil society," J.C. Weliamuna, head of Transparency International in Sri Lanka and a human rights lawyer, told reporters.

Sri Lanka: MOD warning to NGOs: MOD has overstepped its mandate

FMM public meeting

It’s no-go for NGOs! by  Dharisha Bastians
 Sri Lanka’s powerful Defence Ministry has sought to outlaw press conferences and media statements by Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the country, sparking a civil society outcry about an attempt to impinge upon freedoms of speech and assembly.

 A circular issued by the National Secretariat for NGOs, which operates under the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development said certain NGOs were “acting beyond their mandate” by holding press conferences and workshops.

Sri Lanka:The Shadow of Gotabhaya

English Translation of the above in a Sinhala weekly called Ravaya by Victor Ivan:
One named Gotabhaya Rajapaksa happens to enter Sri Lanka politics only after Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president.  Since leaving the military, for nearly one and a half decades, then he lived in the USA. He becomes a publicly known or powerful figure after his advent subsequent his sibling coming to power as president. With that he is appointed as the defence secretary - a post regarded as powerful- and he becomes the coordinator of the security forces in Eelam war IV that followed.

Sri Lanka bans NGOs engaging in public communications and conducting training

SLB

The Government of Sri Lanka has banned Non Governmental Organisations holding press conferences, couducting work shops, issuing press releases ect. This act amount to clear violation of number of fundermantal rights, including right to information, freedom of expression.Number of NGOs told Sri Lanka Breif that theywill chellenge the circuler in courts.

Here is the circuler in question:

Sri Lanka:Law and order: gone to the dogs

Ceylon Today

The Police Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana, was quoted by Ceylon Today on Monday as saying the police officers are afraid to man check points during the night due to the fear of armed robbers and criminals. His confession sheds light on the increasing lawlessness and the collapse of law and order in the country. The police incompetence was vindicated in no uncertain terms in Aluthgama on Sunday, where police had been ham-fisted in controlling the riots in the coastal town.

Gota should accept responsibility for Aluthgama incidents – JVP PC member

The Defense Secretary is directly responsible for the communal violence that erupted in Aluthgama and several other areas in Kalutara District says the JVP Member for Western Provincial Council Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. He said this at the monthly sessions of the PC held today (17th).

Canada Condemns Violence Against Muslims in Sri Lanka

 Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, today issued the following statement:

“Canada condemns the outbreak of communal violence against Muslims, which resulted in the loss of lives and extensive damage to property in the south of Sri Lanka on June 15, 2014.

“We offer our condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.

Horror in Aluthgama: Their Crime, Our Shame

Tisaranee Gunasekara

 “In this country we still have a Sinhala police; we still have a Sinhala army. After today if a single Marakkalaya or some other paraya (alien) touches a single Sinhalese…..it will be their end.”

Galagoda-Atte Gnanasara Thera (Aluthgama – 15.6.2014)[i]

“Call him a Bikkhu who controls his hand, also his feet; who is well controlled, who is happy within himself; who is collected….”

The Buddha (Dhammapada)

Sri Lanka: Good governance deteriorating - The Inter University Alumni Federation

(peoplesgoals.org)

The Inter University Alumni Federation said that although sovereignty was in the people, the norms of good governance, rule of law, social justice and civil rights have been systematically eroded over the past few decades. Hence, a better Sri Lanka had only become a distant goal. The Inter University Alumni Federation National Organizer, Ranjith Iddamalgoda, said this has been the constant socio-political phenomenon since the independence of our country, and as a result, the aspirations of all the segments of our society for a better Sri Lanka had only become a distanct goal.

Sri Lanka: For full justice, implement the Witness Protection Bill .

Editorial - Daily Mirror

While we need to be concerned about the human rights of convicted prisoners and of those in remand custody we need to give as much if not more concern to the victims of crime and the witnesses who testify to it. Three weeks before the Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka last year, the Cabinet approved draft legislation to protect victims and witnesses of crime, a key recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and repeatedly called for by rights activists and the United Nations.

Swiss Cabinet adopts law for freezing dictators’ assets

As a follow up to the events of the Arab spring, the Swiss cabinet has adopted a draft law on the freezing and restitution of illicitly acquired assets of politically exposed persons (PEPs).

The draft law is designed to be applied in cases where leading political figures enrich themselves through corruption or other criminal means and deposit these illicitly acquired assets in Switzerland's financial centre. It will now be debated by parliament.

Sri Lanka - BASL to AG: Take punitive action against BBS fast; ‘... impunity must end in the larger interest of people of this country.’

BBS thuggery at a Press con

Alleging that the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has brought the country and Buddhism into disrepute, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has urged Attorney General Palitha Fernando, PC to take remedial measures immediately. 

President of the Bar Association, Upul Jayasuriya said that law enforcement authorities had failed in their duty, therefore the AG should intervene without further delay.

Sri Lanka: President pressed to hold referendum to prolong the present parliament

Several advisers to the President have requested the President hold a referendum immediately, government internal sources say.

Sources add that the advisers had requested the President to hold a referendum with regard to extending the tenure of parliamentarians by another 06 years as well as bringing about a constitutional amendment aimed at abolishing Executive Presidency and establish an office of Executive Prime Minister.