Sri Lanka: EPDP backs TNA resolution opposing land acquisition

Protest against land grab in Jaffna ( Tamilnet photo)

A resolution demanding an immediate end to the Sri Lankan government’s forcible acquisition of private lands in Valikamam, Jaffna, and the return of seized lands to their owners was passed unanimously at a meeting of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting on Monday.

Reflecting the intense public anger over the land seizures, the resolution tabled by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was supported by the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP, a key pro-government paramilitary group-cum-political party). However, the EPDP defended the government on other seizures also discussed, prompting criticism from those who attended the meeting.

Sri Lanka: The ‘hard parts’ of the LLRC report remains disregarded

‘After the heavy rains, some wetness remains’

The wholly reprehensible quotation which this column borrows for the title this week comes verbatim from the November 2011 report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). This is where it quotes the head of the government linked Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) when the LLRC questioned him in regard to specific allegations of enforced disappearances, extortion and extra-judicial killings leveled against the EPDP by Tamil civilians living in the North after the close of the war in 2009, (see at p174 of the LLRC report).

Sri Lanka: Govt is unable to rein in its alliance partner EPDP which is using illegal weapons and resorting to intimidation and violence

EPDP leader and Rajapaksha

A pre-emptive strike by President Mahinda Rajapaksa appears to have saved his Government from one more accusation before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva — last week’s murder of Daniel Rexian (42), Chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) in Delft, the furthest inhabited island off the northern Jaffna peninsula.
Accusations, including some from sections of the UPFA partner, the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), were initially levelled against the Sri Lanka Navy that has a unit on the islet. Another partner, Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front (NFF) in a statement blamed the TNA for “the first political murder after the end of the conflict on May 19, 2009?. The date marks the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas.

13 Amendment: The President is willing to give anything to Northern PC only we capture power - Davannda

Provincial Councils can solve all regional issues - Devananda

''Q: What about the Police and Land powers?
All that is included in the 13th Amendment. The President has said that he is willing to give anything in the event that we emerge victorious, as he is concerned that the powers would be misused in the hands of others. Giving land and police powers will not be a problem to the President in the event I win the polls.''

Parliamentarian and General Secretary of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Douglas Devananda says the implementation of the 13th Amendment holds the solution to the ethnic question, and to issues pertaining to livelihood and land issues in the North.

Vote as you wish on 13A JHU resolution says MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today told the coalition partners of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that they can vote as they wish in parliament on the proposed changes to the 13th Amendment to the constitution.
The President expressed this view when he met separately with the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the EPDP today, Presidential spokesman Mohan Samaranayaka told the Colombo Gazette.

13 A amendment: EPDP, SLMC strike discordant note with Vasu, Rajitha,Tissa, DEW agreeing

UPFA constituents, the EPDP and the SLMC have strongly opposed far reaching proposal to do away with the right of two provinces or more to merge in accordance with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris has made the proposal at a meeting attended by members of the Cabinet on Thursday. However, EPDP leader, Douglas Devananda and SLMC leader, Rauff Hakeem had joined forces to thwart the move, political sources told The Island.
Minister Hakeem cut short a visit to Palestine to attend the meeting in view of a campaign by a section of the government to dilute the 13th Amendment ahead of the proposed first Northern Provincial Council election.

I listen to President bec he is the father of the Nation - Douglas Devananda

Douglas with the father of the Nation

‘I am not happy about how the northern land issue is being handled’  .
Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Leader Douglas Devananda who currently serves as the Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister of the Cabinet speaks to Daily Mirror on a wide range of issues from the planned Northern Provincial Council election to   the alleged land-grabbing in the north. Minister Devananda stood against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) even during the height of terrorism.

Activists opposed to Devananda attacked in Jaffna

A 12-member squad that came in 4 motorbikes attacked 48-year-old V. Sahadevan, the president of a newly formed group named War Affected Peoples' Movement (WAPM) and 35-year-old Puvilan Pushparaja, the treasurer of the group near Jaffna District Secretariat around 2:30 p.m. Monday.

A sand loot worth of Rs 4,000 million by Douglas Devananda’s NGO

 Vadamarachchi: the  sand robbery

Geophagia – Maheshwari Trust  by V. Sagadevan
A sand loot worth of Rs 4,000 million in Vadamarachchi East is now on process in past four years,to rob the money of thousands of millions of people .Who can question against this?

EPDP accuses occupying SL military for inaction on child rape

Will there be any justice? Mothers participating in  the demonstration

In a strange turn of affairs, SL minister Douglas Devnanda’s Eelam People Democratic Party (EPDP), a paramilitary collaborating with Sri Lanka government, demonstrated on Thursday against the rape and murder of a 4-year-old child in one of the islets off Jaffna, shouting slogans against the occupying SL military. Why the Sri Lankan forces that were quick in arresting those who were hoisting Tiger Flags is unable to arrest the culprit behind the heinous crime, the EPDP demonstrators questioned.