By Prof John Evans
The book titled “Selected Essays on President Mahinda Rajapaksa” by Dr Levins .T C Rajaratnam has been published by Sarvodaya Viswa Lekha (ISBN 978-955-51312-2-3). The Author has in his acknowledgement stated that the book is a compilation of a collection of articles published in the newspapers and the electronic media. The book is a living testimony of President Rajapaksa’s credentials and has successfully wiped off all the negativism and created a positive and affirmative impression of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The entirety of the book justifies the actions and effective leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
Dr.P.A.Samaraweera, Australia
Sri Lanka's former top Army Officer in a farewell letter to the troops has said, "...I want to assure you that I will commit myself to protect democratic freedoms which we are rapidly losing... I pledge to work to restore human rights, media freedom, social justice, ethnic unity and peaceful co-existience. I will be by your side like a shadow..." So the General discarded the uniform because of his passion for politics. All political parties are committed to preserving the doctrines he had analysed. However, with all the signs he is making, he is keeping everyone in suspense.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
The government gave all kinds of signals for the past several months that it would go for a premature presidential election early next year before the parliamentary polls. Grand preparations were made for an announcement to be made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa of his decision at the recent SLFP convention in Colombo. But, he only consulted the convention as to which election should be held first, presidential or parliamentary. All the delegates wanted a presidential election. The President then promised to refer their decision to the party's Central Committee, saying there was ample time. We haven't heard anything from the... -Full Story- (The Island - 21/11/09)
Ira de Silva London, Ontario
Professor C. Kananganayakam University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario Dear Sir: Panel Discussion at Munk Centre for International Studies on Monday Nov. 16,2009 titled Illusionary Justice: Threats to the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Sri Lanka I am writing to you because I was informed of your association with the Munk Centre and the University of Toronto. If this panel discussion was not in your area of control, please forward it to the relevant authorities. The announcement stated that the panel discussion would include Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, the Executive... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-20 21:44:37 Print COLOMBO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The decision to announce a snap presidential or parliamentary poll in Sri Lanka will be made within a few hours, a senior minister told reporters on Friday. Dallas Alahapperuma, the minister of transport said the decision would be announced by President Mahinda Rajapakse "in a few hours." "It is only a matter of few hours now," Alahapperuma said. Analysts say Rajapakse might call a presidential election two years ahead of the schedule in order to capitalize on his popularity after he crushed the three-decade old separatist campaign of Tamil Tiger rebels.... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 21/11/09)
COLOMBO: The unease in the Sri Lankan Opposition in naming General Sarath Fonseka as their joint candidate for the Presidential elections against President Mahinda Rajapaksa, continued with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe laying down a fresh set of tough conditions before the retired general. The UNP boss told the media that Fonseka must agree to abolish or drastically prune the powers of the Executive President; appoint him (Wickremesinghe) as the prime minister; give important Cabinet portfolios to the then pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Marxist-Sinhalese nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP); and implement the 17th Amendment of the Constitution, which... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 21/11/09)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has released more than half of the thousands of displaced civilians held in government camps after the end of the country’s ethnic conflict earlier this year, a minister said Friday. ‘We feel the security situation has eased considerably now to allow people to return to their homes,’ Human Rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told reporters here. He said 136,328 men, women and children still remained inside camps across the island’s north, down from some 280,000 at the end of the fighting in May with the defeat of Tamil Tiger guerrillas.... -Full Story- (dawn.com - 21/11/09)
In a village deep in west Sri Lanka, one of the island's few remaining communities of African descent breaks into song - a poignant elegy to a disappearing culture.The music starts with a slow, gentle rhythm played on a tambourine, spoons and coconut shells, before it builds to a climax with dancers swinging their hips, hands and feet wildly. The performance is a direct link back to the small minority's distant African past. "We are forgotten people," Peter Luis, 52, said. "We are losing our language and, having inter-married many times, our children are losing their African features."... -Full Story- (telegraph.co.uk - 21/11/09)
COLOMBO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday Sri Lanka's budget deficit targets for both this and next year are challenging due to slow revenue growth, but still within reach. A visiting IMF mission, after conducting the second review of a $2.6 billion loan programme, said the nation's post-war economic conditions have improved, but need more reforms in the next two years. "We see a sign of turn around" Brain Aitken, the mission head told reporters in Colombo. "The budget reforms are the key goals in the next two years. Now that the crisis is... -Full Story- (in.reuters.com - 21/11/09)
Mel Gunasekera (AFP) 21 November 2009 SIRAMBIADIYA, Sri Lanka - In a village deep in west Sri Lanka, one of the island’s few remaining communities of African descent breaks into song — a poignant elegy to a disappearing culture. The music starts with a slow, gentle rhythm played on a tambourine, spoons and coconut shells, before it builds to a climax with dancers swinging their hips, hands and feet wildly. The performance is a direct link back to the small minority’s distant African past. “We are forgotten people,” Peter Luis, 52, said. “We are losing our language and, having inter-married... -Full Story- (Khaleej Times - 21/11/09)
Source: Government of Sri Lanka Date: 20 Nov 2009 President Mahinda Rajapaksa is confident that the resettlement in the north could be completed within next few weeks. Majority of the IDPs have already been resettled at present. They have been provided with infrastructure facilities,common amenities with full security. Rest of the IDPs will also be resettled soon after solving their housing problem. The President disclosed these facts at a discussion with UN Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes held in Colombo last evening. Holmes said Sri Lanka has taken maximum measures to establish lasting peace in the country.... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 21/11/09)
by Niyata Kulatunga COLOMBO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- While praising the Sri Lankan government for accelerating resettlement of war displaced civilians in the north, a senior official from the United Nations has stressed the need of further improving the conditions of the camps in the north where more than 100,000 Tamil civilians are still being held six months after the conclusion of the island's bloody civil war. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes who concluded his four-day visit to the island told reporters here Thursday evening that he was impressed by the progress made by... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 21/11/09)
It seems there is hope for Tamils stuck in squalid refugee camps after being displaced by the conflict raging in Sri Lanka's north for more than two decades. Ever since the long-running civil war there ended six months ago, Sri Lanka's government has been under pressure over an estimated 300,000 people made homeless by the fighting. But the head of Humanitarian Affairs for the United Nations, John Holmes, has just visited the refugee camps and says more than half of those who were staying there have been able to move home.... -Full Story- (abc.net.au - 20/11/09)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka won praise from a top U.N. official Thursday for expediting the resettlement of ethnic minority Tamils detained in government-run camps since the end of the country's civil war six months ago. Some 300,000 displaced were forced into camps after fleeing the final months of the government's decades-long war with the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, which ended in May. The Tamils are held against their will in overcrowded camps with poor sanitation. Although more than half have been released, critics have slammed the government for the slow pace and have urged it to hasten resettlement. The government says... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 20/11/09)
By Dr.Levins T.C.Rajaratnam
It is a privilege to pay tribute to the Greatest Patriot of Sri Lanka who saved the Nation from disaster with whom I am well acquainted for several years. Chapter VII of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Article 30 states: 30. (1) There shall be a President of the Republic of Sri Lanka, who is the Head of the State, the Head of the Executive and of the Government, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. (2) The President of the Republic shall be elected by the people, and shall... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/11/09)
Sumanananda Premseri
The Buddhist Maha Vihara Brickfields is pleased to launch its first ever Dhamma publication in Luganda, the language of the people of Uganda, in Africa. This is the 16th language undertaken by the Vihara’s FREE PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM. The book is a translation of “How to Practise Buddhism? authored by Ven Dr K Sri Dhammananda. The book was translated by Nicholas K. Ssewanyana and Tom Kyembe and edited by Bhante U. Buddharakkhita, currently the only native African Theravada Buddhist monk. Ven Buddharakkhita has also authored another popular book, “Planting the Seeds of Dhamma”- the Emergence of Buddhism... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/11/09)
09-10-09 Attempts to connect a private liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant to Sri Lanka's state-run power utility outside a competitive bidding process is not legal under a new public utility regulatory law, officials said. Sri Lanka's power sector came under the regulation of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUC) this April. Under the regulatory law, all large plants have to face a competitive bidding process and also have to be listed in the long term generation plan of the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which is the only transmission licensee allowed to buy new plants. LNG plants... -Full Story- (gasandoil.com - 20/11/09)
COLOMBO (AFP) – Nearly 60,000 people were left homeless in Sri Lanka Thursday following flash floods in the capital Colombo and the suburbs, an official said. "We have a list of over 58,000 individuals who were left homeless in and around Colombo," Kodipillai said, adding that they were being housed in public buildings. Thousands of homes were flooded on Wednesday, forcing people to seek temporary shelter in public buildings, he said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Water levels were receding on Thursday but flood victims required shelter until their homes could be cleaned or repaired, he said.... -Full Story- (Yahoo - 20/11/09)
B. Muralidhar Reddy COLOMBO: Even as Sri Lanka awaits a formal announcement on the dates for presidential and parliamentary elections, leader of the 18-party United National Front (UNF) Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday advocated switching to a parliamentary model akin to the Indian system. A booklet outlining the shift with a Prime Minister as the executive head and President as constitutional head was presented by Mr. Wickremesinghe to monks at a temple here. Earlier, he said the alliance headed by him would consider nominating General (retired) Sarath Fonseka as a consensus presidential candidate only if the former Army chief endorsed a... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 20/11/09)
Nov 19th 2009 | COLOMBO From The Economist print edition The war’s winners fall out WHEN Sarath Fonseka sought permission this month to retire as chief of Sri Lanka’s defence staff from December 1st, President Mahinda Rajapaksa replied through his secretary that the general, who had led his government’s victory against the Tamil Tigers, could consider himself retired with immediate effect. So General Fonseka had to vacate his office in less than two days. He was told his large security detail would be slashed. He must quit his official residence. The impromptu farewell ceremony for him was so hastily arranged,... -Full Story- (economist.com - 20/11/09)
Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Date: 19 Nov 2009 (Colombo/New York, 19 November 2009): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes concluded the final day of his three-day mission to Sri Lanka. He met Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, Secretary of Defense Gotabaya Rajapaksa, head of Uthuru Wasanthaya—the 180-day resettlement and reconstruction program in the North--Basil Rajapaksa, and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 20/11/09)
Come down to earth, warns Judge Weeramantry
H. L. D. Mahindapala
Part 1 The marked and recurring theme in Judge C. G. Weeramantry’s legal philosophy has been to resurrect and elevate religions and traditional values to the highest level in the global agenda as a guide to the future. He demonstrated his commitment to his principles when, as a member and later as Vice-President of the International Court of Justice – the highest judicial institution in the world – he wrote some of his judgments based on essential religious philosophies propounded for the preservation of posterity. In returning... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
Politics threaten the environment
H. L. D. Mahindapala
Part II In his book Tread Lightly on the Earth Judge Weeramantry provides a compelling argument for humanity to rediscover the wisdom of traditional societies that found their happiness in less than in craving for more and more. For how long can 6.5 billion people keep on exploiting the limited resources of the earth? For how long can the market place keep on feeding the greed of consumerism and its own greed for profit by exploiting the greed of consumers? Is globalization the spade that is digging the grave of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
by Lt Col (Retd.) Anil Amarasekera
When I wrote the article ‘United we stand divided we fall’ I could see trouble brewing ahead with an effort by vested interests to divide the nationalistic forces. It is now fast reaching the boiling point with the resignation of General Sarath Fonseka from the post of Chief of Defence Staff. That there has been a lot of love lost between President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse and the former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Sarath Fonseka, is obvious to the man on the street and it is not my intention to add... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
Reviewed by Dr Muralidaran Ramesh Somasunderam
The writer makes a new analysis of the conflict in Sri Lanka, touching on the areas of terrorism, ethnicity, and the political economy. The Introduction and Chapter 1 indicates the wide approaches to these sensitive areas of study, and comment. In the past, most of the writers have dwelt with this subject as an ethnic conflict, and have tended to set it within a historical context of the story of Sri Lanka from its past history. This approach is narrative, and seeks to set this conflict within certain known parameters. This appears to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
Asoka Weerasinghe. Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario Canada
November 18, 2009 Professor Chelva Kananganayakam University of Toronto Toronto Dear Professor Chelva Kananganayakam: Re: MUNK CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Panel Discussion on Illusionary Justice: Threats to the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Sri Lanka on November 16, 2009. I am not certain why I am writing to you, perhaps may be because you are affiliated with the University of Toronto. If you feel that this topic does not concern you at all, then forgive me, but I had to let my bile spill on someone at U... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
"Return must be both voluntary and informed" (Colombo/New York, 18 November 2009): United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes concluded the second day of his three-day mission to Sri Lanka today with visits to Vavuniya in the north and Mannar in the northwest. In the morning, the ERC met General Kamal Guneratne, the Competent Authority (CA), and Mrs. Charles, Government Agent for Vavuniya, in charge of Menik Farm camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) near Vavuniya. They reiterated the commitment of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
By Walter Jayawardhana
President Mahinda Rajapaksa celebrated his 64th birthday by distributing gifts to 64 twins at a Buddhist temple in Narahenpita Colombo. pictures by Nalin Hewapathirana Clad in a cream coloured national costume the President came to the temple ceremony where the twins have been brought. Among the twins brought to meet the Presidents were also triplets. The President fed them with cakes. Not only the 64th birthday of the President but also the fourth anniversary of his becoming the President fell on November 18 2009. At the temple ceremony where health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva wished... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
By Janaka Alahapperuma
President Mahinda Rajapaksa celebrates his 64th birthday today (18th November) and the fourth anniversary in assuming office as Executive President the same day. Many religious programmes are planned to celebrate and invoke blessings on the Head of State Island wide. Venerable Maha Sanga including Uduwe Dhammaloka thero chanted Seth Pirith at President’s House in the early hours of this morning to bless the President on his birthday. ‘Everybody should respect the President for leading the country towards historical victory over three decades long war against terrorism’ says the felicitation message issued by Anunayaka Thera of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
Dr.P.A.Samaraweera, Australia
It was reported in the 22nd Nov. issue of the Catholic Leader - Brisbane, that Dr. Brian Seneviratne (Catholic married to a Tamil) and Fr. Pan Jordan (Tamil), presently in Brisbane, beleive that the Pope must visit welfare camps in Sri Lanka to see for himself the mistreatment of the 280,000 IDP'S. In fact, the current number is about half of this. Both had referred to the appalling conditions in the welfare camps. They have made this observation in response to Pope Benedict's recent call to free displaced civilians from internment camps. However, it was also reported... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
By Walter Jayawardhana
The remainder of the original group of 78 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers , after a three week stand off agreed to leave an Australian customs ship moored of near the Indonesian island of Bintane on Wednesday, Australian newspapers reported. The 78 asylum seekers were picked up by the Australian ship Oceanic Viking in International waters while they were on their way to Australia. When they were to be taken to Bintane, the Tamils refused to disembark demanding that they be sent only to Australia. Last week part of the asylum seekers agreed to go to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
By Walter Jayawardhana
The mandatory security clearance for civilians to travel overland from Northern Province to other areas will be no longer needed government sources said. The biggest beneficiary of the lifting of the former security measure will be citizens travelling on the A9 highway. The confidence of the government that such security measures are no longer necessary has led to this decision.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
Media Release -Public Communications Division Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka
This is further to my initial Statement made on 04 Nov. 2009 on the question raised by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake , Member of Parliament and raised again by Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe, Leader of the Opposition on 06 Nov. 2009 seeking a statement by me on our continental shelf submission under the Law of the Sea Convention of 1982. In this connection, I did undertake to make a formal Statement on 17 Nov. 2009. Hence, Hon Speaker, I now make my Statement on the Continental Shelf Submission of Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Media Release Public Communications Division Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka
Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, I warmly welcome you all this afternoon for an interactive session on the role the Sri Lanka Diaspora can play in the post conflict developmental efforts. I am confident that our interactions will be fruitful in view of the overwhelming response we have received to the invitation extended by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for this important event. I know each one of you has excelled in your chosen professions and having perused your profiles,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Ranjit Wickremeratne
We all wish you from the bottom of our hearts very happy birthday to you on this great day. May Lord Buddha give you strength, wealth and good health to overcome all the evils facing you today. May you live long taking our country forward with happiness Love and Peace May God Bless you on your 64th birthday. Your Excellency as you rejoice this day with your loving family and the rest of our victorious population make a wish to have a peaceful country under your leadership with all to live in Peace irrespective of colour, Faith,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)