Income of Rajapaksa Intanatioanal Airport in a month: USD 250

UNP MPS attaked at the AirPort

Opposition Lawmaker Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday charged in Parliament that both Mihin Lanka as well as the controversial Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) are failures.  He said that the Government invested over $ 300 million on MRIA but income during the past six months was Rs. 150,779 and this was mainly from Mihin.

Sri Lanka: President's 23 coor. secretaries cost SLR 2.3 M a month

Kumarasiri Hettige( left), most powerful

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had 23 coordinating secretaries. Each of the coordinating secretaries was paid Rs. 30,000 as monthly salary, 170 litres of petro [170X162], a transport allowance of Rs. 30,000 and a telephone allowance of Rs. 5,000 monthly, the minister said. Minister Gunawardena responding to a question raised by JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the total cost incurred by the coordinating secretaries for the past three years stood at Rs. 37,798,327.67.

Sri Lanka: Non-auditied Billions, Inflated Chinese contracts and Laundering money

''So we have a High Commission in the Seychelles where there is a population of only around 90,000. We have a branch of the Bank of Ceylon in the Seychelles. And we have Mihin Air flying direct.
Would you say that is a complete supply route?
Yes.''

Exposing the ‘Seychelles Strategy’ - An interview with Dr. Harsha de Silva

Maheen Senanayake

US should push prosecution of individuals in Sri Lanka - Congressional Caucus hears

The Panel

The US has the opportunity to prosecute Sri Lankan war criminals and place sanctions on Sri Lanka, the Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka heard at a discussion last week.

The caucus held its second such event on Capitol Hill last Wednesday.

Speaking from the discussion panel, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Just Security and Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, Ryan Goodman, urged the US to take concrete actions in working towards prosecutions of individuals and placing sanctions on Sri Lanka.

BBS & Goatabhaya Connection - A Myth Or A Reality?

Gota shows BBS the way!

Special Correspondent
Today Muslim community is at cross road in Sri Lankan Muslim history. No doubt an abrupt appearance of BBS out of blue sky in Sri Lanka is a bewildering mystery for many Sri Lankans. Many conspiracy theories were reported in relation to the origin and development of BBS. Some argued that a Norwegian agent was plotting to create mayhem in Sri Lanka. They substantiated this argument with Gnanasara thero's visit to Norway and subsequent meeting with some diaspora people over there. Some others argued that a Burmese Buddhist extremist is behind these all anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka and Burma.

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.

The crucial question is "Why is Gota conducting himself in this fashion?"

(Sanka Vidanagama photo)

Victor Ivan’s explanation of Gota’s excesses

Kumar David

In my piece last week (Black Hand or Manic Folly) I summarised a much canvassed view that a conspiracy was in progress to stir up trouble as an excuse to declare a state of emergency and set in motion a dastardly plot to impose dictatorship. I did not use names for obvious reasons but Victor Ivan in Ravaya of 22 June has taken the plunge and pointed the finger at Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse (GR); Victor accuses GR of being insensitive, heavy handed and brusque, not of intentional conspiracy.

Does the President have the will and capacity to enforce the law?

The President has addressed the nation and stated that the law will be strictly enforced. He has also called upon the police and other agencies to enforce the law. That is certainly a good thing to do. However, the critical question is as to whether the President has the will and the capacity to enforce the law. As the saying goes, diarrhea cannot be stopped by wearing tight underwear.

President Rajapaksa Scolds Rishad Badhiutheen at Cabinet Meeting and Tells his Commerce Minister to “Stop Speaking and Shut Up”

Sparks flew at the weekly cabinet meeting held on Thursday June 19th when the issue of anti Muslim violence instigated by the Bodhu Bala Sena in Aluthgama and Beruwela was discussed. Heated arguments occurred between Muslim cabinet ministers Rauff Hakeem and Rishad Badhiutheen on the one hand and Buddhist cabinet ministers Champika Ranawaka on the other.

Sri Lanka: President rejects call for banning groups over Alutgama mayhem

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that proscription of extremist organisations isn’t a problem, but such action does not guarantee that there won’t be further religious strife. The President said so in response to leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, MP, (Vanni District) at last Thursday’s UPFA party leaders’ meeting at Temple Trees.

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).

Rajapaksa home town Tangalle has become the latest ‘Chicago’

Namal Rajapaksa : the killer company?

UNP leadership council member Mangala Samaraweera says the ‘godfather, god son and god uncle’ are behind the killings taking place now. Tangalle town has become the latest ‘Chicago’, where those who speak and act against those in power are murdered in broad daylight while the police and the people look on, he told the media today. The MP noted that the private bus conductor Prabhath Chandana was shot in the head yesterday at the Tangalle bus halt in the high security zone within which the president’s home is located.

"I Will Enter Politics Form Colombo" - Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said he will enter politics one day, at the discretion of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  Speaking to Wijeya group's latest publication, 'Deshaya' Sunday newspaper, the Defence Secretary has said although he does not have personal interest in politics, he is ready to take up the challenge if and when the President wants him to do so.

Sri Lanka: President Rajapaksa's vehicles collection has increased 1005% times since former President CBK time

Driving my car ....

Craving for vehicles has no bounds!

The Presidential vehicle collection that was worth Rs.30,900,000 when President Chandrika Kumaratunga relinquished her position has been increased to Rs. 3,400,600,000 by the end of last year.

At a time when terrorism has been defeated and it is not necessary to buy bullet proof cars, Rs.315,354,000 has been spent to buy such vehicles during last year. Accordingly, the cost of vehicles bought for the presidential collection during the eight year term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is Rs. 3,400,600,000. This is an increase of 1005%.This is revealed in the annual report of the Ministry of Finance for 2013.

LT

Why might Americans, in particular, care about Gota? Here’s the dirty secret: He is one of us

Gotabhaya on a inspection tour

Sri Lanka’s Greatest War Criminal (Gotabaya) is a US Citizen: It’s Time to Hold Him Accountable  by Ryan Goodman

Monday, May 19th marks the five-year anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, which claimed the lives of 40,000 to 70,000 civilians in its “catastrophic” final phase. In 2009, Congress asked the State Department to report on the humanitarian law violations during the war, and those reports make for gruesome reading. If history is a guide, this week congressional representatives will publicly call for accountability for war crimes in Sri Lanka—as members of Congress have done on the past four anniversaries.

Pro Rajapaksa columnist details Bodu Bala Sena atrocities and advocate suppression by force

The thug: Gnanasara  Thero

Why Gnanasara has to be dealt with by C .A. Chandraprema

If there was anything that the May Day rallies showed, it was that the SLFP led UPFA even after nearly nine years in power is still an unassailable political force. Even if one factors away the natural advantage that any ruling party will have in drawing crowds for rallies, the UPFA’s showing was impressive to say the least.

It’s not just the numbers, but the enthusiasm that counts.

Sri Lanka: Minister Wimal Weerawansa accuses the 'three rulers'

Not named but all knows!

Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities - Wimal Weerawansa says that two, three persons cannot be allowed to rule the country and things would always not work out in a happy go lucky manner.

Weerawansa was speaking at an interview with the 'Lankadeepa' newspaper.

Unlawful Arrest & Deportation of British Touris: A case of abuse of power by police in restricting civil liberties in a most dishonourable manner

J.C. Weliamuna

Unlawful Arrest & Deportation of British Tourist; A close look at the series of illegal steps taken by law enforcement authorities

JC Weliamuna Ms. Naomi Michelle Coleman, a British Tourist with wide travel experience in many Buddhist Countries who had a large tattoo of the Buddha and of a Hindu God on a lotus flower on her right arm, arrived in Sri Lanka on 21st April 2014. She passed through immigration counters and came out of the Airport to the arrivals lounge and came out of the main arrival building. She responded to the media before being deported and disclosed what happened to her at the time of arrest: “taxi driver then approached her and said that her body art would be a problem.

Sri Lanka: Bodu Bala Sena is an integral part of the Rajapaksa power project

BBS mob rule

''The anarchic conduct of the BBS et al too is indicative of emerging trends. The Rajapaksas can beat back a Sinhala opposition, a Tamil opposition and a Muslim opposition. But a Lankan opposition, united across ethno-religious divides, can mount an effective challenge to the Family. Therefore the Rajapaksas need to keep the country ghettoised, politically and psychologically. The PTA will be used to discourage unity at the grassroots level; activists who promote ethno-religious sympathy/cooperation will be arrested on terrorism charges; or they will be accused of causing inter-communal disharmony. But state repression will not be enough; this is where the BBS comes in.''

The Rajapaksa Creed and the Medamulana Nikaya by Tisaranee Gunasekara

Toy Pistol Local Governance in Hambanthota, Sri Lanka

One of the visiting MPs Ajith Perere
is being threatened 

Harim Peiris

The country woke up a few days ago to news that a group of opposition UNP MPs on a fact finding visit to the new airport and port in Hambanthota had come under attack from goon squads. Subsequently, photographs showed His Worship (the UPFA) Lord Mayor of Hambanthota, Eraj Ravindra Fernando, chasing the UNP MPs with a pistol in his hand, closely followed by members of the goon squad. Subsequently the mayor was to claim that he was only acting to protect the MPs and that too with a toy pistol.