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News Archive for May 2014

'Modi, Rajapaksa meeting turned a new leaf in Indo-Lanka ties'
Terming the first meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mahinda Rajapaksa as "very successful", a senior minister said the Sri Lankan leader's trip to New Delhi has turned a new leaf in Indo-Lanka ties. "It was a very successful first meeting," Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, said referring to Rajapaksa's bilateral meeting with Modi this week.... -Full Story- (Times of India - 31/05/14)

Sri Lanka’s Top Central Banker Welcomes Modi
Sri Lanka’s central bank governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, says the election of Narendra Modi as India’s new prime minister will be good for his nation’s economy and make his job “a little easier.” Getting India’s economy growing at a faster clip is going to be a top priority for Mr. Modi, who was propelled to power by voters in India who want better job opportunities, higher standards of living and a more efficient government.... -Full Story- (WSJ - 31/05/14)

Jayalalithaa to meet Narendra Modi
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who had boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will meet him on June 3 to take up issues relating to the state’s growth. Jayalalithaa will meet Modi at his South Block office in New Delhi on June 3, a state government release said, adding, she will present a memorandum to the Prime Minister. “This memorandum will include some crucial issues relating to Tamil Nadu which have been pending with the Government of India,” the release said, in an apparent reference to Jayalalithaa’s demand for a relief package from the Centre among others.... -Full Story- (Adaderana.lk - 31/05/14)

Congratulations Mr. Modi; “The New Prime Minister of India”.
By Mahinda Weerasinghe
By the time you read this piece you will be discharging your duties as the new leader of India. My advice would be superfluous to you, however, I am offering some indicators, which I feel would be invaluable at this initial stage of your watch! Mr. Prime Minster, obviously the security and the well being of the Indian Union would be the primary concern to you as the leader of the Nation. On the other hand as a Hindu Nationalist, I am assuming that you came through the block vote of Hindus; hence it’s vital that you... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 31/05/14)

Sampanthan asks for meeting with Jayalialitha to discuss Tamil issue in Sri Lanka
By Asada M Erpini
The local media reports on 29 and 30 March mention the R. Sampanthan, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, asking for a meeting with the Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu (TN) to “discuss the Tamil issue in Sri Lanka”. The headline of one of the stories includes, “to resolve the national issue”. As far as most Sri Lankans are concerned, the “Tamil issue” or the “national issue” that the TNA leader and his ilk keep on harping about has never been clearly enunciated by any of them. If one were to compare the average... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 31/05/14)

Reply to Opperman
By Shelton A. Gunaratne
Paul Opperman (“An argument based on silliness,” The Forum, May 11, 2014) questions the purpose of my essay titled “Natural law says it’s all in flux” published a week earlier on May 4, 2014). My purpose was to point out the Buddhist approach to conflict resolution that is hardly known and discussed in this part of the world. Opperman says “the reader has to doubt” the sincerity of my “closing call for dialogue” between the Sinhalese and the Tamils in Sri Lanka “when the apparent purpose of most of the essay” was to elevate that... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 31/05/14)

How will Narenda Modi balance Hindu Nationalism against neo-colonial corporate agenda
Shenali D Waduge
Majority Hindus in India are happy. They have elected an Indian to lead India. An Indian that Indians feel will protect instead of balkanize India. Modi himself is a man of dreams. He aspires to script a glorious future. There is an issue. Modi may have a dream but there are ground realities about how the world runs. The world runs to the dictates of a handful in whose hands the worlds wealth, the global leaders, politicians, the corporate, the monetary system, the banking system are all concentrated. Modi’s Gujarat model, needs money. Those eager to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 30/05/14)

Kofi Annan unfit to head any UN International Investigation
Shenali D Waduge
Kofi Annan has been showered with credentials so much so that he became the ‘outstanding choice’ to broker peace in Syria. When that choice is made by the US there is little for us to imagine in whose interest the agenda has been set. Annan’s accolades include post of UN Secretary General, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 and include countless awards, positions and honorary degrees that obviously outshine his failures and bias. It is obvious that the same cartel of UN heads and officials are being pulled out of hats and recirculated to head... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/05/14)

Sushma gets thumbs up from Sri Lanka
Cutting across ethnic and party divisions, Sri Lankan leaders have welcomed the appointment of Sushma Swaraj as India’s External Affairs Minister. Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Neomal Perera, told Express on Tuesday, that having interacted with Swaraj when she came here as head of an all-party parliamentary delegation in April 2012, he could say that she has a “vast knowledge” of international relations and will do a “fantastic job” as Foreign Minister. “She has both character and charisma and will bring credit not only to India, but to the South Asian region as a whole,” Perera said.... -Full Story- (Adaderana.lk - 28/05/14)

Have The Sri Lankans Lost Their Cricketing Marbles Or Is It Sheer Apathy ?
Top Spin By Sunny May 29th 2014
  There will be many excuses over this present performance by Sri Lanka in the Third ODI at Old Trafford. England have bowled out Sri Lanka for 67 on a decent batting strip so what are the excuses  pray tell ? Too much extra curricular activities ? ( who cares if they toured Manchester United and Jayawardena was gifted a Ryan Giggs signed T.shirt that Russel Arnold bragged about in additioin to his sometimes Malapropian comments far removed from the true dialogue nature of a cricket commentary! which bring a degree of amusing... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/05/14)

Is Pope visiting Sri Lanka to apologise for Crimes of the Portuguese and Catholic Church?
Shenali D Waduge
An Apology to Sri Lanka for crimes against humanity committed by the Portuguese Conquistadors who were exclusively Roman Catholics, during their presence in this country from 1505 – 1658, should be the overriding reason for any future visit by a Pope. It is an apology long overdue to Sri Lanka as well as to several other countries in Asia for similar mass murders and other wrongs committed by the Portuguese. It is a shameful chapter that no amount of dodgy interpretation can erase. Pope John Paul II has gone down in history for making a string... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/05/14)

JVP apologizes for 88-89 killings
The JVP is tendering an apology to the people for the more than 6,000 killings it had committed during the 1989-90 terror period, said the party’s leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in London yesterday (27).... -Full Story- (srilankamirror.com - 28/05/14)

HRW hits out at Malaysia for repatriating 3 suspected LTTE activist
Global rights advocate Human Rights Watch has hit out at Malaysia for violating international laws in “forcibly” repatriating three men to Sri Lanka, whom a top police official had claimed were suspected Tamil Tigers out to revive the separatist group. The international non-governmental organisation claimed the trio, who were under the protection of United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, were returned to Sri Lanka without any evidence being presented to substantiate the terrorism allegations.... -Full Story- (Adaderana.lk - 28/05/14)

India returns goodwill gesture; releases 85 Sri Lankan fishermen
India has agreed to release 85 Sri Lankan fishermen who are lodged in different jails in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. This was conveyed to Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday morning. In a good will gesture, the Sri Lankan government had released all the Indian fishermen in their custody before Rajapaksa’s visit.... -Full Story- (Adaderana.lk - 28/05/14)

Protect Tamils, Modi to Sri Lanka
India has agreed to release 85 Sri Lankan fishermen who are lodged in different jails in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. This was conveyed to Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday morning. In a good will gesture, the Sri Lankan government had released all the Indian fishermen in their custody before Rajapaksa's visit.... -Full Story- (Times of India - 28/05/14)

Protect Sinhala Buddhism from the educated – IV
By Nalin de Silva
We have identified Sinhala Buddhism as a culture and the main question that has drawn our attention is the survival of this culture in Sri Lanka while many forms of Theravada cultures had disappeared from the face of the earth. We have also said that prior to the arrival of Arhant Mahinda there had been a Hela Buddhist culture according to Varigapurnikava which even claims that Rathnavali or Agnipali, the mother of Kuveni (Mahapali according to Varigapurnikava. It should be mentioned that Kuveni is a degrading name coined by non Yakshas. Even Yaksha is a... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/05/14)

Animal Welfare Bill of the Law Commission
By Senaka Weeraratna
In 2006, the Law Commission of Sri Lanka prepared an Animal Welfare Bill, based on an exhaustive study of modern legislation governing animal welfare in foreign jurisdictions and the views of the public. It took the Law Commission under the Chairmanship of former Supreme Court Justice the late Dr. A.R.B. Amerasinghe and in the final stages under Professor Lakshman Marasinghe, over six years to finalize the draft Animal Welfare Act, after reviewing many drafts. Several eminent lawyers worked on the drafts in their capacity as members of the Law Commission. The project to have the antiquated Prevention of Cruelty... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/05/14)

Malaysia extradites 3 suspected Tamil Tigers to Sri Lanka: Report
Three suspected Tamil Tigers arrested in Malaysia have been extradited to Sri Lanka where they are being questioned, a Sri Lankan official was quoted as saying on Tuesday.Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said the three suspects were brought to Sri Lanka on Monday night by officials of the Terrorist Investigation Department, China's Xinhua news agency reported.... -Full Story- (Straits Times - 27/05/14)

Modi wants more devolution in Sri Lanka - Indian Media
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has requested Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to deliver on his promises to devolve wide powers to the country’s Tamil-majority regions — a formula called ‘Thirteen-Plus’ that was promised during diplomatic negotiations with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in 2010.... -Full Story- (Adaderana.lk - 27/05/14)

High Hopes for Pak-India Rapprochement
By Afshain Afzal
India is on the world focus. This time the elections results of the world biggest democracy has surprised the western players and proved to be a setback to Washington’s long term strategy in Asia, which aimed at to steal eastern culture, traditions and values through local westernized puppets. The May 2014 elections witnessed the victory of Baharat by electing Mr. Narendra Modi; someone who wants to bury the past and take everyone on board in nation building process. Washington has been forced by the popular verdict of Indian masses to give due respect to someone West... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 27/05/14)

CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA
ALI SUKHANVER
This highly civilized, educated and marvelously scientific world of today says that child labour is simply a severe violation of basic human rights; but in spite of this realization, throughout the world more than 215 million children aging from five to seventeen are compelled to work under conditions that are considered illegal, perilous and extremely exploitative according to the book of moral values. What is Child labour? Different people might be having different definitions of child labour but the easiest and the most impressive answer to this question is that child labor is the work that harms... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 27/05/14)

Modi’s India: A Civilisationaland Geopolitical Shift
Susantha Goonatilake
The USA had refused to give Modi a visa. And after Modi’svictory,Obama changed his colours and invited Modi to visit the US.It was like “kissing the hand that cannot be cut.” The visa ban was on allegations of religious intolerance and specifically the Gujarat riots on which courts found Modi not guilty. US, the human rights policeman has killed millions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Probably the ban was the result of selective campaigning by the usual foreign NGO spies, US using human rights as a tool. The US had not banned leaders of Saudi Arabia, one of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/05/14)

UN & Navi Pillay explain how 3 LTTE operatives arrested in Malaysia held UNHCR passes
Shenali D Waduge
Suddenly not only are LTTE emerging alive from the dead at least that was what internationally accepted reports initially revealed to embarrass Sri Lanka, but now supposed ‘refugees’ holding UNHCR passes are being arrested as well. Quite a lot of unlawful activities are taking place all revolving around the world’s favorite terrorist organization the LTTE. Moreover, having banned the LTTE in 32 nations, these countries to spite Sri Lanka obviously are even making a mockery out of their own ban by allowing LTTE to hold memorial services for dead LTTE terrorist cadres and we believe it... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/05/14)

Pro-Tamil Tiger activists infiltrating Canadian political parties
M. Gunasekera
The Sunday Leader newspaper of Sri Lanka has yet another article in their May 25th edition wherein they have exposed the organized efforts by former pro-Tamil Tiger activists who were the spokespersons for the internationally designated terrorist group known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). They constantly white washed the terror acts of the LTTE's and justified the unbridled violence in pursuit of a mono-ethnic racist  Tamil separate state to be carved out of Sri Lanka's sovereign territory, which failed as a result of the crushing military defeat suffered on May 18, 2009 with the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/05/14)

Remembering Ven. Bowatte Indraratana Thero
by  Senaka Weeraratna
A little over a year ago on Vesak day May 24, 2013  to be exact Ven. Bowatte Indraratana Thero made the supreme sacrifice by giving up his precious life in front of the Dalada Maligawa to draw public attention to a noble cause i.e. slaughter of cattle and other living beings in Sri Lanka in the most inhumane fashion, in a manner similar to the martyrdom of Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc whose self – immolation in a spirit of self sacrifice on June 11, 1963 in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) turned... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/05/14)

Srilankan Airlines Employee Turns King Kekille!
Opinion-By Dr.Tilak S. Fernando
 An incident that took place at the Bandaranaike International Airport’s Exit Lounge during the early hours of 15 May 2014, when passengers were about to be embarked into a Paris bound SriLankan aircraft, certainly makes King Kekille ( Kekille Rajjurwo) have hysterics! It happened on the 15th night (early hours of 16th) when a sister of a very Senior Government Minister was waiting patiently at the final Exit Lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport until the call came to embark the plane. She had gone through checking-in procedure at the SriLankan counters, cleared the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/05/14)

Vote bank politics proved fatal for Muslims
by Ashok B Sharma
The decline in Muslim representation in the Lok Sabha to the level of 23, accounting for a mere 4.4% of the entire strength of the Lok Sabha, has given rise to concerns among Muslim clerics and the so-called secularists. A cursory look at the past will show that the situation is similar to that in 1957 when 23 Muslim MPs were elected after the general elections. The highest number of Muslim MPs elected was 49 in 1980 general elections. The results of the recent general elections has, however, led to much head-shaking among the... -Full Story-
(vijayvaani.com - 26/05/14)

Vaiko Detained for Protesting against Mahinda Rajapaksa=s Visit
New Delhi: MDMK chief Vaiko was today detained along with 100 of his party cadres for defying prohibitory orders after he led a demonstration in Delhi against the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for Narendra Modi-s swearing-in ceremony.... -Full Story- (ndtv.com - 26/05/14)

It is good Modi isn-t listening to Tamil politicians
By M.R. Narayan Swamy
Narendra Modi deserves praise for not acting like Manmohan Singh vis-a-vis Sri Lanka. Under pressure from Tamil Nadu, Manmohan Singh, the outgoing prime minister, refused to go to Sri Lanka in October last year to attend the Commonwealth summit. It was a perfect self-goal.... -Full Story-
(newkerala.com - 26/05/14)

Intellectual Prostitutes
The attached is most true. if one was to read newspapers such as the Sri Lanka Daily News, the Australian and the Adelaide Advertiser - an independent, balanced and fair press, I certainly do not think so!!!! John Swinton, the former Chief of Staff at the NEW YORK TIMES was asked to give a toast before the prestigious New York Press Club in 1953.  Below is his candid confession [it's worth noting that Swinton was called "The Dean of His Profession" by other newsmen, who admired him greatly]. "There is no such thing as an independent press - at this... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/05/14)

UN Day of Vesak celebrations in Melbourne,Australia
UN DAY OF WESAK was celebrated in Melbourne on 24 th May. Including the Australian Buddhists, hundreds of  Buddhists from  countries such as Sri Lanka,Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia ,Singapore, Hong Kong, Tibet.Japan and Bnagla Desh took part in offering of Dana to nearly70 members of Maha Sangha representing all traditions . In the afternoon a colorful pageant with Sri Lankan and Vietnamese drummers followed by the membersof Maha Snagha , floats of Buddha statues and devotees traversed the Collins Street , Melbourne Central to the Town Hall. At the Melbourne town hall, Wesak meeting was held... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/05/14)

“Modi Wave”: Some Foreign Policy Dimensions
By Bandu de Silva
Commentaries which have appeared in the Sri Lankan media so far on the future policies that India under Modi government might follow have to be considered more speculative than analytical. There is a good reason for this. One does not have analytical material placed under a prism to judge analytically which way the future might follow under the Modi administration. Analysts have to go by the past performance. Here one has on the one hand, evidence of what BJP basically stood for with its Rashtriya Swayam Sewaka Sangh and other Hindutva associated past, despite, also... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/05/14)

Jayalalitha or Tamil Nadu have no right to dictate to Modi having not voted for BJP
Shenali D Waduge
The Indian newspapers, the very same that went overboard in partnership with its Western parties, to portray that the devil-incarnate was likely to lead India is using a lot of print space to vocalize the pressures being exerted by Tamil Nadu upon BJP not to include Sri Lanka’s President as State invitee for the inauguration. Tamil Nadu has every right to make demands upon Modi and the BJP had the 76million in Tamil Nadu voted for BJP – but they didn’t. 38 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats went to the AIADMK, translated Tamil Nadu chose... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/05/14)

An Epidemic yet to be conquered,
By Garvin Karunaratne, Ph.D. Michigan State University
I was stunned  to read  a news item stating that  youths from schools in. Anuradhapura are very likely to be the cannon fodder for renal disease. "Students in grades 10 to 12 in the North Central Province are prone to contact renal diseases...earlier it was people in the 30s and 40s."(Daily Mirror (12/4) Further a Presidential inquiry has been initiated A few months ago I myself saw bowsers filling Arpico shells(water tanks) in the rural hinterland in the Anuradhapura District. The  Government for its part has taken it seriously. It defies me that the spread of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/05/14)

INDIA WILL SHED ITS "SLAVE OF SONIA" IMAGE & JOIN GREAT HINDU-BUDDHIST FAMILY OF NATIONS
by Kalyan S. Kalyanaraman
Date: 19/02/2014 An appraisal of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India coming from a Sri Lankan is truly amazing . Such insight we will never see or hear from Indian media and its talking heads. Not only that Senaka Weeraratna, the author of the article below went through whole article praising and correctly enunciating the future of India with Modi at the helm, without once mentioning 2002 riots, a rare thing that will not make the plethora of self styled progressives,human right activists, leftists,Maoists , Islamists, SoniaG chamchas and even detractors with in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/05/14)

Invitation to President of Sri Lanka by Mr. Narendra Modi Stirs up a Hornet’s Nest in Tamil Nadu
Asada M Erpini
 According to reports in Hindu on 24th and 22nd May and in many other media, there is a cacophony of protests and howls by the leaders of Tamil political parties in India against the invitation extended to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka by the next Prime Minister of India to attend his swearing in ceremony on May 26.  “Rajapaksa is the butcher of Tamils”, according to Vaiko, as stated in a DNA report dated 23rd May, and he has further said, “Rajapaksa should be prevented from attending the ceremony”. Concurrently, the vitriolic anti-Sri Lanka... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/05/14)

On Anniversary , a Victory Parade and a Crackdown in Sri Lanka. The New York Times May 18th 2015 – Gardiner Harris & Dharisha Bastians
A Response To The Many Inaccurate Claims-Dr. Chula NA Rajapakse MNZM United Sri Lanka Association Wellington , New Zealand
The above article in the NYT has many inaccurate claims that compels a response. The most glaring of these is the claim that , “ The United nations has estimated that 40,000 people, many of them civilians were killed in the final stages of the war….”. This is not a United Nations claim. To appreciate fully the fallacy of this claim, it is best to describe how this claim evolved. The first number for the Tamil civilian casualties appeared in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/05/14)

Rule India like Cakkavatti Dharmasoka - Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka Appeals to Narendra Modi
Senaka Weeraratna
In a congratulatory message addressed to Shri Narendra Modi, Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, President, Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, has while noting with supreme joy that Shri Modi has been the first leader of modern India to represent the timeless and ancient city of Varanasi in the Lok Sabha, called on Shri Modi to lead India like the great  Cakkavatti Emperor Ashoka and in a manner that will illuminate our part of the world as it did in Ashokan times. Ashoka                                             Narendra Modi ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/05/14)

Vesak Celebration at the Berlin Buddhist Vihara in Germany
Senaka Weeraratna
On 11th May 2014, a Vesak celebration and alms giving took place at the Buddhist Temple ( Das Buddhistsiche Haus) in Berlin - Frohnau organized on behalf of the German Dharmaduta Society, Colombo, by Mr. Tissa Weeraratna, Vice-President of the Society, with the co-operation of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Berlin. Ven. Santharakkhita Thero of the Buddhist Temple in Berlin (Das Buddhistische Haus) and Ven Pallegama Vijitha Thera of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Pilgrims Rest,New Delhi took part in the ceremony. Members of the Sri Lankan community living in Berlin, Hon. Sarath Kongahage the Ambassador of Sri... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/05/14)

Break the silence: world war is beckoning
By John Pilger
Why do we tolerate the threat of another world war in our name? Why do we allow lies that justify this risk? The scale of our indoctrination, wrote Harold Pinter, is a "brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis", as if the truth "never happened even while it was happening". Every year the American historian William Blum publishes his "updated summary of the record of US foreign policy" which shows that, since 1945, the US has tried to overthrow more than 50 governments, many democratically elected; grossly interfered in elections in 30 countries;... -Full Story-
(atimes.com - 24/05/14)

The attempt to ban the use of the herbicide "Glyphosate" in Sri Lanka.
by Professor Chandre Dharmawardana, Canada
Permit me to comment on the feature by Darshana Ashoka Kumara, entitled "Lies, Cover-Ups and Complicity Kill - Governments and Corporations; Glyphosate ban lifted in Sri Lanka" dated 16th May 2014, that appeared in the Sri Lanka Guardian. Similar articles have appeared elsewhere, essentially promoting the idea that Glyphosate, a well known herbicide, should be banned in Sri Lanka to "prevent kidney disease". The article seems to bemoan the staying (i.e., putting on hold until further review) of the push to ban Glyphosate instigated by a number of militant activists. It should... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/05/14)

GOSL must gag the Minister of National Integration or wind up his Ministry
Shenali D Waduge
Cabinet Ministers of Sri Lanka have no business to go off on a tangent expressing their rejected and defunct ideologies through Ministries they enjoy at the expense of the taxpaying public and based purely on compassionate grounds of the head of State, a sentiment that is not shared by any member of the common masses. Such Ministers have no business to go shooting their mouths off placing the country in an embarrassing situation. These Ministers entering from the back door tend to forget that they enjoy Ministerial portfolios and luxuries that come with it purely because... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/05/14)

Rebirth of Indian Buddhism under Narendra Modi
by Senaka Weeraratna
Newly elected Prime Minister will promote India’s rich Buddhist heritage to attract tourists and scholars and enhance India’s standing in the world New Delhi, India -- The world’s first Global Buddhist missionary Anagarika Dharmapala and the most talked about man in India today and perhaps in the entire policy and decision making world the Prime Minister designate of India the iconic Narendra Modi, share something in common with each other. Both were born on Sept. 17 though 86 years apart. Anagarika Dharmapala was born on Sept. 17, 1864 and Narendra Modi saw light... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/05/14)

Canada admitted defeat
Nalin de Silva Courtesy: Island
I was not surprised when the High Commissioner for Canada in Sri Lanka said that Canada would boycott the victory celebrations in Matara. According to the President it was a victory for peace that was celebrated, and in any case it was not a victory over the Tamils in the country. It was a victory over the cruelest terrorist outfit in the world, and when the LTTE was defeated by the armed forces in Sri Lanka it was the Tamils in the Northern Province more than any other ethnic group in any other province... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/05/14)

Joseph Stalin - Psychopathology of a Dictator
Ruwan M Jayatunge M.D.
Joseph Stalin was one of the main architects of creating a collective trauma in the Soviet Union. His actions and policies brought immense suffering to the people. The aftermath of Stalin’s repression still impacts the post Soviet Society. However despite all the negative consequences Stalin is still remembered in Russia as a great hero who saved the Soviet Union from Hitler’s Fascist aggression and transformed the country in to a super power. A survey commissioned by the Carnegie Endowment in 2012, suggested that Soviet dictator Josef Stalin has remained widely admired in Russia and... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/05/14)

FOREIGN POLICY NO-GO FOR INDIAN STATES - Dr. Subramanian Swamy
legislator Dr. Subramaniam Swamy puts it quite bluntly--only the Central government in New Delhi could and would deal with Sri Lanka-- It is a subject matter between Center and SL President--Can't force SL government to do something against it wishes
  Senior BJP leader Dr. Subramanian Swamy yesterday said India has to deal with the elected President of Sri Lanka vis-a-vis the Tamil community in Sri Lanka and that state governments have no say when it comes to foreign relations. "If India wants to do something for the Tamils in Sri Lanka,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/05/14)

STATE OF THE NATION
Gomin Dayasri (Courtesy; Daily Mirror)
Look back in satisfaction; look forward in dismay. Lost the way in failing to take the right turn in not keeping to an intelligible road map. Excelled in the war zone: bungled at the peace precinct.The defeat of terrorism was the moment of glory-a valued building block not availed to construct a better future instead allowed to fritter away. Worse: the momentum gained from the military victory, that brought much admiration, gradually eased due to lack of foresight. Living on borrowed time, gripping gratitude with a clutched fist –that may soon fall out of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/05/14)

Investigate foreign funding of Bar Association of Sri Lanka – Is National Security compromised?
Shenali D Waduge
Only people with clean hands can claim right to find fault with others and question their integrity. In taking an oath of loyalty to the National Constitution and country to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty how far the BASL has compromised itself in accepting funds and donations from foreign sources is a matter that the Sri Lankan State needs to immediately investigate.  The manner that the legal independence of Sri Lanka is being compromised by entering various agreements with parties that have a history of overthrowing governments and installing puppets necessitates an immediate inquiry before... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 22/05/14)

Life Abroad - Part 80-SEEING THROUGH IDEOLOGICAL SHAM
Dr.Tilak Fernando
(Continuation of Nicky Karunarathna exposures from 79) ..... "With the signing of the Indo-Lanka Pact it became the birth of the most dangerous anarchist period of Sri Lankan history associated with merciless killings by the regime with a vengeance; finally the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) hijacked Nicky Karunarathna's efforts and his collective goal". Whether it was done under heavy pressure exerted by Rajiv Gandhi on J. R. Jayewardene at the time, as some suggest, the signing of the Indo-Lanka Pact by merely ignoring the first ever Sangha Sabha that remonstrated against it was viewed by... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 22/05/14)

Narendra Modi will promote India's rich Buddhist heritage to attract tourists and scholars and enhance India's standing in the world
Senaka Weeraratna
The world's first Global Buddhist missionary Anagarika Dharmapala and the most talked about man in India today and perhaps in the entire policy and decision making world the Prime Minister designate of India the iconic Narendra Modi, share something in common with each other.  Both were born on Sept. 17 though 86 years apart. Anagarika Dharmapala was born on Sept. 17, 1864 and Narendra Modi saw light of day for the first time on Sept. 17, 1950. On going research indicates that Narendra Modi may have more in common with Anagarika Dharmapala than the sharing of a... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/05/14)

Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL)
Monthly Public Lecture  ‘Post-Independence Crises in our Society and the Arts’
by Prof. D.C.R.A. Goonetilleke Emeritus Professor of English, University of Kelaniya, and a scholar of both national and international repute, author of "Sri Lankan English Literature and the Sri Lankan People 1917-2003" and editor of "Kaleidoscpe: An Anthology of Sri Lankan English Literature", Volumes 1 and 2. on Monday 26th May 2014 at 5.00 p.m. at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07   ALL ARE WELCOME  ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/05/14)

Dhammapada and Bhagavad Gita can help Lanka foster ethno-religious amity
Shelton A. Gunaratne
This week, by chance, I experienced the joy of reading the two jewels of Buddhism and Hinduism—the Dhammapada and the Bhagavad Gita respectively. Until I read these two ‘jewels,’ I had no idea that Hinduism and Buddhism were so close to each other in terms of the pathway one should follow to reach our ultimate goal--Nibbana (the supreme bliss of non-existence in the case of Buddhists) or Moksha (liberation from cyclic existence to experience the ultimate bliss of joining the eternal Atman of the Supreme Ultimate in the case of Hindus). I am now convinced of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/05/14)

India, Sri Lanka and nationalism
Nalin de Silva
BJP has won the elections to Lok Sabha with an overwhelming majority and Mr. Modi can form a government without the support of the other parties that went into an alliance with the BJP. However, it is very unlikely that in India we would see a pure BJP government, in spite of BJP having a clear majority. There have been some “moda” (foolish) statements made on the victory of Mr. Modi (Modi gena moda katha) , such as it would create a dark age for South Asia, but we should not be disturbed by the statements... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/05/14)

Sri Lanka President holds discussions with UN Secretary-General and Iranian President
By Janaka Alahapperuma
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is in Shanghai, China on an official visit to attend the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) met with the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon this evening (May 21). The President enlightened him about the post-war development activities and the progress achieved in other sectors after the Secretary General's visit to Sri Lanka in May 2009. The President requested the Secretary General to pay another visit to Sri Lanka to witness the real ground situation by himself and see the progress Sri Lanka... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/05/14)

NPC’s Governing Council admits it lied to the public
H. L. D. Mahindapala
In response to my article “Jehan (Pacha) Perera has done it again” the Governing Council of the National Peace Council (NPC) has rushed to defend their Executive Director  with the following paragraph: “We also take issue with Mr H L D Mahindapala whose article “Jehan (Pacha) Perera has done it again”   was published on the page opposite the editorial of the Daily News on the same day.   One of the points made in this article is that, to quote him, “When I met Jehan in Geneva I asked him why he keeps on boosting Balasingham's... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/05/14)

Sri Lankans in Canada enjoy rare treat of Sarachchandra stage gems Maname and Sinhabahu
By Rajendra Alwis
Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s iconic twin drams Maname and Sinhabahu were staged recently in the Canadian capital of Ottawa. This marked the first time the celebrated Sri Lankan playwright’s work was shown in Canada, much to the delight of Canadians of Sri Lankan origin. “It required meticulous planning and a lot of hard work by a lot of people, but the end result is worth all the trouble,” said President of the Peradeniya Alumni Ottawa Chapter Dr. Sange De Silva, one of the event’s organizers, at the inaugural ceremony. Speaking further he said: “This is a watershed... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/05/14)

Narendra Modi - From August 15 to Red Fort
by Sandhya Jain Courtesy:  Vijayvaani.com
Narendra Modi According to an apocryphal story about Chandragupta Maurya, the conqueror’s first attempt to seize the kingdom of Magadha failed. Wandering in disguise one night, he came across a mother scolding her son for chewing his bread from the middle. “Eat the outer sides first and then move to the centre of the roti. Not like Chandragupta Maurya who straightaway attacks the centre”, she admonished. The challenger learnt a valuable lesson, and the rest is history. In 2009, it was expected that the BJP and RSS would select the Gujarat Chief Minister as... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/05/14)

Mahinda and Modi
By Mahinda Pathirana, University of Sabaragamuwa Courtesy: Island
May 19, 2014, 8:23 pm   In the wake of Narendra Modi’s BJP powering into the ‘head office’ of India, Dr. Dayan Jayathilake comes out as usual with a warning to Mahinda Rajapakse. Writing to the ‘The Island’ on 15th May 2014, he says; "Mahinda is caught between a rock and hard place," the rock referring to Narendra Modi and the hard place being Mahinda Rajapaksa’s very Ministry of Defence, which according to some, runs beyond Mahinda’s control. He further forecasts that Sri Lanka, unless this government takes note... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/05/14)

Canada May Be Hoist By Her Own Petard
Tamil Canadian politician claims to be walking in Prabhakaran’s footsteps By Camelia Nathaniel -The Sunday Leader
A terrorist ideologue is masquerading as a politician in Canada.  He is planning to contest the forthcoming Ontario Provincial election in the riding of Scarborough Rouge River on June 12, 2014.  Having penetrated the Provincial political system, his mission is to penetrate the Canadian political system at a federal level. He is none other than Neethan Shanmugaraja who operates under the name Neethan Shan. A shadow leader of the LTTE in Canada, Neethan radicalized an entire generation of Tamil youth to support... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/05/14)

“Let us all be eco-centered rather than ego-centered” – Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva
Minister of Health and Vice President of the 67th World Health Assembly, Maithripala Sirisena, addressing the World Health Assembly today (20th May 2014) said “the World Health Assembly has a historic opportunity to once again appeal to the world community to demand those countries releasing large amount of carbon-dioxide and offensive gases to the atmosphere - to adopt carbon free energy sources to run their industries. These developed nations should be held responsible for releasing large quantities of offensive gases, and the people in developing and poor countries are the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/05/14)

"It-s a dead end": German FM joins chorus of discontent over Russia sanctions rhetoric
RT
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for restraint in imposing new sanctions on Russia, as politicians, businesses and the general public in Germany grow ever more skeptical of putting more pressure on Moscow. Steinmeier defended the already imposed sanctions against Russia, but said that he still preferred "cooperation instead of confrontation" with Moscow, according to a Saturday interview with Thüringische Landeszeitung.... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 20/05/14)

Lessons for Tamils and India from Tamil Nadu insular voting mentality
Shenali D Waduge
 A harbinger to the largest democratic exercise in history was the lone state of Tamil Nadu desiring to be different from the rest of India. They thought differently and voted differently. Whereas the Modi wave was consistent throughout India it was not so in Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, their unanimous choice was Jayalalitha and not because of any accolades for good governance or high levels of integrity. It was simply because she was Tamil and her AIADMK manifesto promised Eelam or a separate Tamil State. For Tamils the promise of such was enough whether it... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/05/14)

Address By USLA Spokesperson At Ranaviru Commemoration , At, Lak Madura, USLA Wellington
 Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson, United Sri Lanka Association
Ladies & Genlemen I would like to join you all in reinforcing once again our eternal gratitude to the Ranaviru , who sacrificed life and limb to liberate Sri Lanka from three decades of Tiger terrorism. Unfortunately, the honor and glory of this achievement has been challenged and denigrated by the ongoing allegations that, this liberation had been achieved through violation of the human rights of the three hundred thousand rescued Tamil civilians during the last weeks of this liberation. These allegations originated from the international Tiger Diaspora within days... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/05/14)

Who wishes to mourn the LTTE dead?
Shenali D Waduge
On 18th May 2014, Sri Lanka celebrated the victory over the internationally banned terrorist movement LTTE. Sri Lanka has every right to celebrate the defeat of terrorism and the victory of peace. It came after 3 decades and the loss of civilian lives, military lives, assassinations of politicians, destruction of public property and affected the country’s economy and growth. That peace is now into its 5th year. That victory came at the cost of nearly 30,000 lives of military men who bravely sacrificed their lives so that we could live in peace. There are close to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/05/14)

Replying- The Island Newspaper Item Of 17th May "This Race-War Is More Appalling Than The Dutugamunu-Elara Conflict Five Years After The Civil War.
Insight By Sunil Kumar
May 18th. 2014 In response to the Island Newspaper Item of 17th May 2014 composed by Mr Kumar David the following summation needs to be broadbased on the overall flavour of the item as a symposium of racism composed by someone who sounds not only like a racist himself but also a sycophant of the now defunct Tamil Tigers bitter in dissapointment that his boys were defeated and now trying to bring in an element of racism perhaps in a feeble attempt to invoke sympathies in a manner akin to flogging a dead horse in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/05/14)

The Fear Mongering Over Modi's Anticipated Attitude Towards Sri Lanka Seems Premature.
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial, May 17th.2014 The Indian Prime Ministerial victory of Indian Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi has hardly settled in its global impact but already alarm bells seem to be ringing in the minds of some about a likely scenario comparable to Russia and Crimea as well as the ongoing tirade of actress turned politician Jayalalitha whose bellyaching over Tamil issues in Sri Lanka never seems to end and there are fears indicated by these skeptics that she too will be instrumental in an anticipated Indian aggression towards Sri Lanka. where the likes of Karunanidhi and Vaiko... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/14)

Canadian High Commissioner's Boycott of May 18, Parade in Matara
Ira de Silva London, Canada
The Canadian High Commissioner says Canada will not be represented at the Victory Day Parade in Matara. Her claim is that "such events won't help post-war reconciliation". She goes on to state "I will not be in Matara, but I will be thinking and remembering all those who lost loved ones over the thirty year conflict."   Regarding her claim that such events won't help post -war reconciliation" perhaps she should review what Canada has done since 2009 to help post war reconciliation bearing in mind that Canada's foreign policy regarding Sri Lanka is predicated on... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/05/14)

Scientific energy saving cooking demonstration at Sirasa TV in Sri Lanka
Dr Hector Perera   London
The general public should know whether my SCIENTIFIC ENERGY SAVING COOKING can apply to some other kinds of food. I showed only energy saving cooking of rice and chicken only to SIRASA TV just a day before Vesak in 2014 on a live programme. I have to understand that some people cook far too many kinds of food on daily basis other than chicken curry and rice. One of the reasons, why I chose to cook chicken is because it gives out more curry smell while cooking. I demonstrated how to avoid any smell depositing... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/05/14)

Canada boycotts Sri Lanka's Victory Parade
Asoka Weearsinghe  Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
17 May 2014. Her Excellency Shelley Whiting Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka Dear Shelley Whiting: I just read the news item in The Island which said: “Canadian High Commissioner Shelley Whiting yesterday said that her country wouldn’t be represented at the Victory Day parade in Matara on Sunday (May 18). The Canadian envoy said that the annual military parade wouldn’t help post war national reconciliation, therefore she shouldn’t accept the government invitation.” That statement reminded me of what Anne McLellan, then Liberal Minister of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/05/14)

TNA's proposal on a 'common' candidate
S. Akurugoda
According to media reports TNA has proposed to make Northern Provincial Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran the common candidate at the next Presidential Election. All the Presidential elections we had since its inception, other than the last Presidential election conducted in 2010, were direct contests between the UNP (as a single party) and the SLFP (supported by smaller parties). The candidates, except those led by UNP and SLFP were merely contenders by name. Since the last Presidential election was conducted soon after the defeat of LTTE amidst maximum popularity of the incumbent President, while that of the UNP... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/05/14)

Canada's Response To Banned Sri Lankan Terror Fronts Overseas Dismays Many Discerning Sri Lankans Aware Of Related Realities.
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial,
May 1st.2014 Only a feeble minded simpleton without the capacity to comprehend the direction Canada  is taking with respect to Sri Lanka in recent times would have thought contrary to the breaking news that Canada will not enforce the Sri  Lankan ban on named groups who have the notoriety of being supporters and sympathisers with the Tamil Tigers ( dead and buried in Sri Lanka hopefully never to be recussitated or revived but making desperate attempts to regroup overseas!) So when the Canadian Government  has indicated through dialogue from the  Cdn.Foreign Ministry that it will not... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/05/14)

Rajapaksa Slams War Commemoration Absentees
Outlook
President Mahinda Rajapaksa today slammed countries that stayed away from the celebrations to mark the fifth anniversary of Sri Lanka-s victory over the LTTE, and called them "blind, deaf, and dumb." He accused them of being ignorant to the progress Sri Lanka has made since the end of the war with the Tamil Tigers in 2009. "Some governments are blind, deaf and dumb. They are opposed to our celebrating this victory," he said addressing a victory parade in his birthplace in the Sinhalese heartland of Matara in the south.... -Full Story-
(news.outlookindia.com - 18/05/14)

Lanka Hires Pakistan Lawyer for UN Rights Probe
By PTI
COLOMBO: Faced with an impending UN inquiry, the Sri Lankan government has hired a prominent Pakistani lawyer to defend itself over its human rights record and alleged war crimes, a media report said here today. Aitzaz Ahsan, a 70-year-old Pakistani legal expert, was in Colombo last week for consultations on the matter, a Sunday Times report said. His visit came after President Mahinda Rajapaksa made an appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.... -Full Story-
(newindianexpress.com - 18/05/14)

Vesak Celebrations in Wellington New Zealand
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM DGMC Committee.
Over two hundred and fifty Wellington residents of Sri Lankan origingathered on the night of Saturday the 17th May,for the last of a series of events to celebrate Vesak, at Wellington's Sri Lankan Buddhist monastery, The Dhamma Gavesi Meditation Centre at 115a Coast Rd, in the Wellington suburb of Wainuoimata, established over five years ago under the leadership of Venerable Welimada Jinalankara Thero, . The celebrations started with a day's Ata Sil program on Saturday the 10th for adult devotees with about 30 participating. Resident Sri Lankan monk Ven Sugathavanso conducted the days... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/05/14)

Congratulations from Sri Lanka to Narendra Modi – Prime Minister of Bharat
Shenali D Waduge
India, that is Bharat, has elected its 16th Prime Minister in a historic election. He is none other than Shri Narendra Modi securing a virtual landslide victory in a mammoth election drawing 800million eligible voters. There has not been a clearer vote on Bharat’s choice of leader. It is a victory that individually Shri Narendra Modi can be proud of because it means he does not need to go behind unruly coalition partners to blackmail him at every turn. Indians can be proud that they have given the numbers for Shri Modi and the BJP to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

Frosty-Sri Lanka
Asoka Weerasinghe  Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
15 May 2014 The Editor, EMBASSY                                                                                                                                                                            Ottawa. Dear Editor: In your essay, “Taking the temperature of Canada’s diplomatic relations”, on “Frosty - Sri Lanka”, you mentioned that Foreign Affairs spokesperson Jean-Bruno Villeneuve had said in an e-mail statement Sri Lanka’s government had called on Canada last week to respect the listing, the Colombo Gazette reported on Thursday. And that Canada refused to recognize Sri Lanka’s labeling of two Canadian Tamil organizations as terrorist groups last month because it is “concerned about the motives” of the Sri Lankan... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

Who is manipulating the world food and medicine supply?
Shenali D Waduge
Too many catastrophic events are occurring too close together and should make any to wonder if there is a pattern and more importantly whether those causing the events are the same people. On this basis we must wonder whether those who control mainstream media, global banking systems, global food supply, production of medicines and drugs, control technology and frequency, global weather, arms and weapons manufacture and trade are the same people who control the politicians and political systems, lawmakers and judges who are blackmailed for past indiscretions probably engineered by them, the same people who... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

UN Ukraine report shows double standards in attempt to whitewash Kiev-s actions - Russia
RT
Moscow has accused a UN report on violence in Ukraine-s Odessa of being purposefully blind to hard facts and simply “carrying out a political order to whitewash” the actions of the coup-appointed government in Kiev. The Russian foreign ministry believes that the report presented by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is marked by a systematic and routine ignorance of any Kiev involvement in sparking the Odessa carnage, while placing all the blame unequivocally with the pro-Russian self-defense forces. The ministry statement remarks that not a single word was said about neo-Nazi elements who engaged in setting buildings... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 16/05/14)

Wesak 2014 in Malaysia
More than a million devotees and visitors visited Buddhist temples and centres throughout Malaysia on Wesak Day, which fell on May 13 this year and a national holiday. While the mood was of piety and devotion, there were places where it took a carnival like atmosphere with stalls selling various types of food, drinks, delicacies, religious hymns and also images and paintings of the Buddha and other deities. At the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur which was established by Sri Lankan Buddhists in 1894, about 100,000 devotees visited this 120 year old temple since Wesak Eve. Within... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

“Canada to Boycott Victory Day Parade”: Does the Move Surprise Sri Lankans?
Asada M Erpini
The Island on 16th May reported a statement attributed to the Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka that she will not attend the Victory Day Parade, to be held on 18 May 2014. The stance adopted by Canada and the statement by its representative to Sri Lanka are exactly what peace-loving Sri Lankans would expect from this country. When the Commonwealth Heads of  that Sri Lanka had ever ogranised. It is pathetic that the far away Canada – nearly 13,000 kilometres distant from Sri Lanka – sees ‘human rights violations’ and ‘atrocities’ against the Tamils as... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

LTTE "dead" resurfacing: Public Apology and Compensation due to Sri Lankan Forces
Shenali D Waduge
The case of Kathiravel Thayapararaja appearing from the 'dead' cannot be taken lightly. If not for his arrest by the Indian police the world would have continued to believe the University Teachers for Human Rights report, continued to accept the War without Witnesses report, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights report and continued to rely on the Australian Government Refugee Review Tribunal report compiled under Country Advice against Sri Lanka. These 4 entities declared that Sri Lankan Forces extra-judicially killed Kathiravel Thayapararaja on 15th September 2009 going so far as to even quote places of torture... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

UN slams Canada over natives rights
PressTV
A UN official has warned that Canada is facing a crisis over the conditions of its aboriginal population, “grappling with a housing crisis” as well as “poor education and healthcare.” James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of the indigenous peoples, made the warning on Monday, as he published a report on the situation of Canada’s First Nations. Anaya called on the administration of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take “urgent action” to address the housing crisis for the indigenous population and to provide “sufficient funding” for services, including education, health and child welfare. Anaya... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

UK corporates gather to discuss impact to Indian real estate on the eve of the country’s election
Jones Lang LaSalle India
JLL and the Confederation of Indian Industry hosts India Day event in London  London, 15th May 2014: UK corporates gathered today to discuss the advantages of India’s anticipated growth plans and true potential of India’s Real Estate market at St. James' Court, The Taj Hotel, London. The India focused event 'India 3.0- Decoding a Billion Opportunities’ hosted by JLL, in partnership withthe Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), involved keynote sessions, presentations and a panel discussion revolving around India’s rising economy, where real estate continues to form a key ingredient for success. Keynote speakers addressed... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

A RELIGIOUS POLICE UNIT : CART BEFORE THE HORSE?
By Sugath Samarasinghe
We read in the newspapers that a special Police Unit has been established to deal with religious strife matters.This maybe a good political move to meet the recent phenomenon of the rise of religious conflicts in the short term. But the interesting question is under what law will this unit operate? There may be a few provisions in the Penal Code and some sections in the Code of Criminal Procedure and of course the general provisions of the Penal Code on offences such as, criminal force, trespass, mischief, assault and causing hurt etc. The obvious inadequacy... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

Jehan (Pacha) Perera has done it again
H. L. D. Mahindapala
 The callous way the NGOs twist history, both local and global, to push their political agenda, is one main reason why the state should curtail their anti-national propaganda campaigns because it is the innocent people who will have to pay with their lives for their lies. Sri Lanka has paid enough for 33 bloody years because the NGOs had concocted histories, propagated political myths and deliberately pursued misinformation campaigns, with absolute disregard to the consequences of their venomous campaigns against the state which went all out to woo the Tamil Tigers and put an end... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

What do we do with Bodu Bala Sena
 Donald.Chandraratna, Perth, W.A
There is plenty of talk in the media about racism, racial vilification and incitement to violence against minority groups in the country, allegedly orchestrated by various organisations, religious as well as civil. Hence there is an appeal to the ruling party by a number of lobbyists to bring in legislation and other punitive measures to silence groups such as Bodu Bala Sena and others. These commentators in your columns argue from the premise that if such measures are not put in place there could be a pent up tide of bigots on the rampage soon. My... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

LIFE ABROAD - Part 79 INDO-LANKA PACT AND PANDEMONIUM
Dr.Tilak Fernando
(Continuation of Nicky Karunarathna exposures – continued from Pt.78) “During that era while the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) was living underground, every single political entity was in total disarray, being in an ‘anesthetised’ condition, due to the existed regime being so lethal”. In such a backdrop the JRJ Government never expected in their wildest dream that any element or group would have the capability or guts to come up against the State to disrupt their rulership. ‘They were over confident thinking everything was under their thumb’. Nevertheless, in the process of putting the jigsaw together with... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/05/14)

Indian Elections and Sri Lanka: fresh start or more of the same?
By Susantha Goonatilake
The Indian elections are now on. And they might have repercussions on Sri Lanka. India is the only country that after Independence has interfered directly in Sri Lanka. This was with a Congress government training and arming around one dozen Tamil groups. Since 1989 that is for nearly 25 years India has not had a single party ruling the country, coalitions dominating. These included regional chauvinist parties like the various off-shoots of the DMK or some that catered for particular castes like the Dalit-oriented Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Mayawati. How Sri Lanka understands these changes... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

DARWINIAN VERSION OF ‘EVOLUTION’ STILL HOLDS SWAY, INGRAINED AS IT IS, IN THE WESTERN MIND SET!
Mahinda Weerasinghe
The work “The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution” by Biologist Richard Dawkins, has received a positive review by, Anjana Ahuja in ‘The Times’. She describes Dawkins's account of the evidence for evolution as "fine, lucid and convincing". It may perhaps be so to Anjana Ahuja, but then she is not informed and ignorant of an alternative to such a hollow, mechanistic Theory of ‘survival’! Indeed, it is such short comings of Darwinian deterministic theories, and slipshod logic of guys such as Dawkins, which has strengthened the Judeo-Christian sects’ beliefs in a “God” and “creation”. If they are... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Ban Mosque Loudspeakers harassing devotees at Buddhagaya’s Mahabodhi Temple
Shenali D. Waduge
The continuous daily disturbance of the solemn proceedings at the Mahabodhi Temple at Buddhagaya and the harassment of the Buddhist devotees gathered there through the screeching sound of the call to prayer (Azan) by loudspeakers at a newly established Mosque close to the Mahabodhi Temple, the holiest Buddhist shrine in the world, is the most striking example of the abuse of religious freedom. To compound this daily humiliation of Buddhists at the most venerated site of Buddhism, is the deafening silence of the civic authorities meant to keep the peace at Buddhagaya and sense of utter helplessness pervading... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Wakey, Wakey Ms Pillay There is chaos in your own backyard
Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth, W.A
 Some highly paid UN spokesperson has said that the ban on commemorating the tiger outfit by the Sri Lankan military in the North will be investigated. The whole organisation seems to be preoccupied with micro managing Sri Lanka when human rights are trampled upon in so many places in the world. Do not know whether Ms Pillay has only the map of Sri Lanka hanging behind her big desk. Shame on this organisation when right in her native backyard innocent girls are held captive, waiting to be auctioned off, by another terrorist group. Ms Pillay... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Canada's relations with Sri Lanka is 'Frosty' Canada says.
Asoka Weerasinghe  Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
14 May 2014 The Editor  THE EMBASSY, Ottawa Dear Editor: I was absolutely stymied to read the comment about ‘Taking the temperature of Canada’s diplomatic relations’ as being ‘FROSTY’ when it comes to Sri Lanka. You said, ‘Tensions have built between Canada and Sri Lanka as reports of the abuse of the country’s Tamil minority by government forces continue to pop up…”   But I don’t think the Canadian Government has any moral right to complain about the alleged “…abuse of the country’s Tamil minority”, when Canada still... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

NZ refusal to Co Sponsor US Motion Against SL at UNHRC
Dr. Chula N A Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson, Unite Sri Lanka Assn. Wellington NZ
The Editor, Dear Editor, I was delighted to hear at a public meeting   addressed by Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Prof. G.L Peiris now on an official visit to New Zealand, that New Zealand had refused to co-sponsor an US, UK, EU & Canada motion at UNHRC in Geneva in March, calling for an international investigation into highly contentious allegations of human rights violations by Sri Lankan forces during their war of liberation from three decades of Tamil Tiger terrorism, allegations initiated by the diaspora of the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Export Orientated Manufacturing Industry In Sri Lanka
Chula Rajapakse MNZM Lower Hutt.NZ 
Dear Editor, The demise of manufacturing opportunities elsewhere, like the imminent loss of car manufacturing industry in Australia, opens opportunities to new players With a harbor barely a mile off the busiest see rout in the world, bridging europe, africa, asia & far east, international air access to the largest planes flying, workforce with 95% literacy & computer literacy approaching 70% , all year round summer weather, what better export orientated industrial manufacturer's dream than SL & Hambantota. The first key to success in this regard is "... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Vesak Celebration and Almsgiving at the Sri Lanka High Commission in the UK
The High Commission of Sri Lanka London
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom organized an almsgiving for twenty Venerable members of the Maha Sanga representing the Buddhist temples in the UK, on Wednesday 14th May, with the participation of the Sri Lankan community, as part of its Vesak Celebrations, and also to invoke blessings on H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government and the people of Sri Lanka. The High Commission premises were colourfully adorned with Vesak lanterns, Buddhist flags and decorations. Chief Sanganayaka of Great Britain & Head of the London Buddhist Vihara Ven.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Sinhala Buddhist activist Karuna Basnayake felicitated
Press Release by British Sri Lankan Forum
Mr Karuna Basnayake (86) was recently honoured by British Sri Lankan Forum (BSLF) for his long term commitment towards the Sinhala and Buddhist community by awarding a special commemorative plaque in presence of a large gathering in London. Mr Wimal Edirweera, President of Sinhala Centre was invited to present the award to Mr Basnayake.   Mr Basnayake, a patriotic senior citizen in our community has been involved in community work almost from his arrival in the UK well over 40 years. He was the 1st to open up a Sri Lankan... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Bodu Bala Sena
By Charles.S.Perera
 Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century  BCE.  Thereafter  Sri Lanka became an exclusive Buddhist country.  Later  Sri Lanka was subject to attacks first by the South Indian Tamil marauders, who may have plundered and ransacked Buddhist Temples and monasteries.  Later in 205 BCE a Chola Prince  Elara  set up a Kingdom in Anuradhapura.  During which period   Hindu  Kovils were built in once exclusive Buddhist land.  King Dutugamunu defeated King Elara in battle and re-established the Sinhala Kingdom in Rajarata in 261BCE.   It marked a great revival of Buddhism bringing it back to the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

A Sect in Islam flees from its own country – why?
by A. Abdul Aziz.
 Pakistan made history in 1974 by becoming the first country in the world to amend its constitution to declare Ahmadi Muslims as non-Muslim. Thirty years ago, in 1984, Ordinance XX was enacted making it a criminal offence for Ahmadis to call themselves Muslims, a ‘crime’ punishable by 3 years imprisonment. Under Pakistan’s notorious anti-Ahmadi laws and blasphemy laws extremist violence has flourished with Ahmadi Muslims, Shia Muslims, Christians, Hindus and others massacred on simply grounds of faith.  The laws have resulted in: Hundreds of Ahmadi Muslims being killed on grounds of faith: In May 2010, a deadly attack on... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

India wants Sri Lankan state jobs – are we witnessing another sell out?
Shenali D Waduge
We were under the impression that Sri Lanka’s unemployment was hovering at 4.4% and then we are informed by a Sunday newspaper that the Minister of Labour and Labour Relations says there are ‘enough vacancies in Sri Lanka’ – not for Sri Lankans, only for Indians and that too in Sri Lanka’s public sector, the engine that steers the Government. The report claims that discussions have already commenced with the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka and his Ministry as well as relevant institutions such as the BOI/Labor Department/EPF and ETF. The Sri Lankan state is... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Unpaid media employees of India
By NJ Thakuria
India’s highest court on April 9 ruled that journalists and non-journalists of newspapers and news agencies are entitled to a pay hike under the recommendations of  the Majithia Wage Board. Dismissing pleas by various owners seeking a review of its earlier judgment, the Supreme Court directed publishers to implement the recommendations of the latest wage board from this month on. The bench comprising Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoiand Justice Shiva Kirti Singh ruled that the wages as revised ‘would be payable from 11 November 2011’, when the Indian Union government notified the recommendations of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

C.A. Chandraprema in 2001
C. Wijeyawickrema
Mr. C. A. Chandraprema, a Christian-Marxist, who became famous after writing a book, Gota’s War, has become the leader wanting to purify Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. He has the support of the owners of the Island newspaper, and he must be the sub-editor preventing any pro-Buddhist replies printed in the Island newspaper. BBS has become a threat to all kinds of entities in Sri Lanka because it exposed the game played by prime ministers and presidents of Sri Lanka since 1948 in treating Sinhala Buddhists as if they are the proverbial kind-hearted woman. One Pani Wewala... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/05/14)

Sri Lanka's Media racist towards Buddhists
Shenali D Waduge
Mass media have a power far more than Governments to tilt public opinion to their line of thinking using a plethora of modes at both international and local levels with a dangerous ability to make mountains out of molehills. The scope of their manipulation is phenomenal and profit driven. Humans are sensitive to emotional blackmail and fall victim to either mind conditioning or the human weakness of money and power. Media stands guilty of portraying situations in worse scenarios for its own gains and is largely accountable for creating tense situations in a country. Sri Lanka is... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 10/05/14)

WWII Victory Day parade rocking Red Square
RT
Russia marked the 69th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany in World War II with a traditional May 9 military parade on Moscow’s Red Square, featuring 11,000 troops, 49 military vehicles and 69 warplanes. After Russia’s defense minister, Sergey Shoigu, inspected the servicemen gathered for the parade, he reported to the commander-in-chief of the Russian armed forces, the country’s president, Vladimir Putin - and the parade was opened.... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 10/05/14)

Conservatives and the Supreme Court Justice of Canada
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
8 May 2014 Hon. John Baird, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs  Hon. Deepak Obhrai, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Lynne Yelich, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario: Dear John, and Deepak and Lynne: “Ouch!” I know…I know Canada. I know how difficult and embarrassing it is when your governing parties act like a bunch of goody-two-shoes, brazenly going after puny Sri Lanka with hockey sticks and baseball bats, when little Sri Lanka deals with their... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/05/14)

Hon Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa visits Sri Lanka High Commission in London
High Commission of Sri Lanka London
The Hon Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa was in the UK to attend a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). The Hon Speaker is the immediate Past President of the CPA. The Hon Speaker was welcomed by High Commissioner Dr. Chris Nonis, to the Sri Lanka High Commission, during his stay in London.  The Hon Speaker commended the work carried out by the staff of the Mission for the Sri Lankan community, as well as the several Commonwealth related events held at the High Commission in recognition of His... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/05/14)

Dr Chris Nonis, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to the UK, meets Prime Minister of Pakistan, HE Nawaz Sharif, in London
Sri Lanka High Commission London
Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Chris Nonis, met the Prime Minister of Pakistan, HE Nawaz Sharif, during his visit to London. Dr Nonis articulated the strong and longstanding friendship and  cooperation that exists between the two countries, and the value of the comprehensive bilateral Free Trade Agreement. HE Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reaffirming his strong bond of friendship, spoke about his meeting with HE President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting  2013, chaired by  President Rajapaksa.    ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/05/14)

THE ROVING EYE-Putin displays Ukraine chess mastery
By Pepe Escobar
Russia-s celebrations of the 69th anniversary of the defeat of fascism in World War II come just days after Ukrainian neo-fascists enacted an appalling Odessa massacre. For those who know their history, the graphic symbolism speaks for itself. And then a geopolitical chess gambit added outright puzzlement to the trademark hypocrisy displayed by the self-proclaimed representatives of "Western civilization". The gambit comes from - who else - Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is now actively mixing chess moves with Sun Tzu-s Art of War and Lao Tzu-s Tao Te Ching. No wonder all those... -Full Story-
(atimes.com - 09/05/14)

US’s Indian Ocean bases and “Strategic Rebalancing Plan toward Asia and Pacific”(SRPAP)
By Bandu de Silva
In my last article entitled “America’s Indian Ocean bases, US Geneva Resolution ,……..” published in your website I did not discuss the significant impact that US’s Strategic Rebalancing Plan toward Asia-Pacific (SRPAP) might have on the US bases in other parts of the Indian Ocean. I mean particularly, on the prospects of continuation of the massive US military base in Diego Garcia after the present lease of the atoll to US expires in 2016, though I referred to indication of US activities elsewhere in the Asia –Pacific region since 2012 pointing out briefly that... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/05/14)

Remaking Law through use of Buddhist Jurisprudence
by Senaka Weeraratna
In the pre – colonial era, Asia had a number of highly successful civilizations that are the subject even today of intense academic discussion. They were based in India (Chola, Pandya, Chera, Pallava), Sri Lanka (Sinhala Buddhist), China(Sui, Tang, Ming, Song, Mongol Empire also called Yuan, and Qing dynasty), Korea (Goryeo), Tibet (Vajirayana Buddhist), Japan (Kamakura, Edo), Vietnam (Lý and Trần Dynasties), South East Asia (Champa, Anghor Cambodia, Pagan Burma, and Dvaravati, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya Kingdoms of Thailand) and Sri Vijaya, Sailendra, Mataram and Majaphai Kingdoms of Indonesia, among others. Civilizations display intricate cultures, including literature, professional... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/05/14)

Protect Sinhala Buddhism from the educated–III
By Nalin de Silva Courtesy Island
Varigapurnikava has not been published in its entirety or what is remaining of it, but only some extracts of it by Ven. Manewe Vimalarathana Thero. Also when I mentioned that Varigapurnikava believed in Abhidhamma what was intended to say was that Varigapurnikava believes that Abhidhamma was taught by Budunvahanse, as there are some schools of thought such as Sauthranthikas that do not believe in Abhidhamma as one of the pitakas (baskets). What is interesting is that according to Varigapurnikava Abhidhamma had been first (and probably last time as well, if considered as a... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/05/14)

Life Abroad - Part 78 GENESIS OF A SANGHA SABHA
Dr. Tilak Fernando
(Nicky Karunarathna exposures - continuation from 77) Nicky Karunarathna had somehow persuaded Ven. Muruttetuwe Ananda thera and obtained permission to use his temple, Abayarama of Narahenpita, to convene a meeting and managed to get as many participants as possible to attend the gathering. Few monks, many Buddhists and prominent leaders in the society had attended the assembly on the following day at 11.00 am in the presence of Ven. Sobitha thera of Naga Vihara, Kotte. "Dinesh Gunawardena was the only politico with some gusto out of all the political leaders who attended the meeting! At... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/05/14)

Starr Forum: Indian Ocean: The Vortex of Destiny
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former prime minister of Sri Lanka, is currently a Robert E. Wilhelm fellow at the Center for International Studies at MIT. The Sri Lankan politician and current leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lankan parliament was prime minister of Sri Lanka twice, from May 7, 1993 to August 19, 1994 and from December 9, 2001 to April 6, 2004. A member of the United National Party he was appointed party leader in November 1994. During his one month stay at MIT, Wickremesinghe will study how to formulate a constitution sans... -Full Story-
(techtv.mit.edu - 08/05/14)

Sri Lanka issues stamps honouring Ho Chi Minh
RT
SRI LANKA (Biz Hub) — Sri Lanka has issued about 500,000 new stamps with seven designs featuring former President Ho Chi Minh to celebrate his 102th birthday on May 19. The collection has been designed by Sri Lankan artist Kumudu Tharaka who has depicted Ho Chi Minh with vivid and bright colours. All the stamps feature Minh-s portrait and a red flag with a yellow star.... -Full Story-
(vietnamnews.vn - 08/05/14)

Russia to Quadruple Precision Strategic Weapon Platforms by 2021
RT
MOSCOW, May 8 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will quadruple its arsenal of long-range precision delivery platforms in the next seven years to strengthen the country-s strategic deterrent, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday. "Taking into account the role and importance of long-range high-precision weapons in strategic deterrence, we are planning to quadruple by 2021 the number of carriers of high-accuracy weaponry," Shoigu said. Igor Korotchenko, a leading Russian military expert, said that submarines, fighter jets and strategic bombers were all included as high-precision weapon platforms, and their total number would quadruple.... -Full Story-
(en.ria.ru - 08/05/14)

No Russians among Slavyansk self-defense forces – NYT reporters
RT
Self-defense forces in the anti-Kiev stronghold of Slavyansk are Ukrainians, not Russians, who distrust the new regime and the Western powers that support it, New York Times reporters have discovered. The forces also said they are not being paid to fight. Two New York Times reporters have spent a week in the city of Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine, talking to members of the self-defense forces. The journalists visited self-defense checkpoints and observed the forces as they battled Ukrainian troops amid a military assault on the city on Friday.... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 08/05/14)

2 southeast Ukrainian regions to hold referendum May 11 as planned
RT
The councils of the People’s Republics of two southeastern cities of Donetsk and Lugansk won’t postpone the referendums on their regions’ future as part of Ukraine and will hold them as planned on May, 11, the cities’ anti-government activists said. “This is not our decision [of the politicians] , this is the decision of people of Donbas region,” said Andrey Purgin, one of the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, “People of Donbas [Region] got their chance to make a heroic deed and we can’t deprive them from this chance.”... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 08/05/14)

I am a Sri Lankan Muslim Pragmatist
Bisthan Batcha
May 2014 Many articles and papers have been written over the past year or so by various Commentators attempting to offer an analysis of the sudden emergence of stridently anti-Muslim Groups in Sri Lanka. The conceptual framework which underlies most of these analyses is based on the postulate that the Cause of the ‘Muslim Problems’ is the emergence of these Groups. This amounts to a convenient externalization of the solution to the Muslim problem, which simply put would then be to ‘Ban the Racist Buddhist Groups’. But silencing the voice of Racist Groups through legal procedures does... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 07/05/14)

The abstract truth- වියුක්ත දත
... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/05/14)

QUANTUM JUMP IN REMITTANCES REVENUE!
Rasika Somarathna Courtesy The Daily News
An increase of US $5 b over 2013 Accent on skilled manpower, reason for the surge Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B.Jayasundera predicted that considering the current growth trends, Sri Lanka migrant worker remittances will surge over US $12 billion by 2020, an increase of US $5 billion from the current US $7 billion. Highlighting the importance of migrant worker remittances to the Sri Lankan economy, Dr.Jayasundera pointed out that remittances reached US $7 billion in 2013 when tourism brought in US $1.5 billion and Foreign Direct Investment US $1 billion for the same period.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 07/05/14)

The Pissing Tanker is on a Mission to Stop Public Urination in India
GlobalVoices
Public urination is a problem in many South Asian countries, especially India. Its not uncommon to see men urinating in public on walls, alleys and corners. The lack of public toilets is an issue, but poor understanding of hygiene and public decency also contribute to the problem.In the video below uploaded to YouTube by The Clean Indian, you can see their Pissing Tanker in action... -Full Story-
(globalvoicesonline.org - 07/05/14)

Claims that Moscow holds key to resolving crisis in Ukraine are Western ploy – President Putin
VOR
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed as groundless claims that Moscow holds the solution to the Ukrainian crisis. "As for the key to resolving the problem being in Russia - it is a ploy of our Western partners which has no grounds to it," he said at a press conference following his meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Didier Burkhalter. Putin said that Russia cannot be regarded as being party to the current conflict in Ukraine. Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_05_07/Claims-that-Moscow-holds-key-to-resolving-crisis-in-Ukraine-is-Western-ploy-President-Putin-4426/... -Full Story-
(voiceofrussia.com - 07/05/14)

Putin Calls on Ukrainian Federalists to Put Off May 11 Vote
RIA
MOSCOW, May 7 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday urged pro-federalization activists in southeastern Ukraine to postpone a referendum on self-determination to ensure the start of nationwide dialogue. “We are calling on representatives of regions in southeastern Ukraine, supporters of federalization in the country, to postpone the referendum set for May 11 in order to create all necessary conditions for this dialogue,” Putin said at a joint news conference with OSCE Chairman Didier Burkhalter in Moscow.... -Full Story-
(en.ria.ru - 07/05/14)

The IMF goes to war in Ukraine
Pepe Escobar
Predictably, the massive loan is not for the benefit of “the Ukrainian people.” Kiev is essentially bankrupt. Creditors range from Western banks to Gazprom – which is owed no less than $2.7 billion. The “loan” will pay back these creditors; not to mention that $5 billion of the total is earmarked for payments of – what else – previous IMF loans. It goes without saying that a lot of the funds will be duly pocketed – Afghanistan-style – by the current bunch of oligarchs aligned with the “Yats” government in Kiev.... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 07/05/14)

A message for the World Youth Conference May 2014
By Garvin Karunaratne
Introduction. Bringing about World Peace is the motto of this year’s World  Youth Conference. While Peace is an ideal to be achieved, it is necessary to assess the most burning  problem faced by youths all over the World. Unemployment and low incomes is undoubtedly the burning problem of the day and deserves some thought- and a second place at this Conference. In every country the unemployment rate is highest amongst the youth. The rate varies from 40% in countries like South Africa to below 10%. Countries where the youth unemployment rate is high are perching on top... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/05/14)

‘Hunuwataye Kathawa’ (Caucasian Chalk Circle) At the Lionel-Wendt, Colombo
Directed by Parakrama Niriella,
‘Hunuwataye Kathawa’, Directed by Parakrama Niriella, depicting Bertolt Brecht’s epic drama style, was adjudged the ‘Best Drama’ at the State Drama Festival 2014 bagging 05 awards. The drama will be performed at the Lionel Wendt at 06.30 pm on Sunday the 11th March 2014. Produced by Janakaraliya Cultural Foundation, ‘Hunuwataye Kathawa’ was performed at the International Drama Festival in Kerala in January 2014. Performing Artists Sanjeewa Upendra, Selvaraj Leelawathy, Ronika Chamalee, Sathis Surendra Ekanayake, Nishantha Kularatne, Sumudu Mallawaarachchi, Rasaiah Lohanandan, Arosha Tharanganie, Devran Sri Livera,  Murugesu Ajanthan, Palitha Abelal, Inoka Lankapura, Sarath Banagala,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/05/14)

GLARING ERROR
Ranjith Soysa
At a recent presentation of population statistics of Sri Lanka-as reported in Sunday Island 4th May 2014 under the heading : Population:Census expert disputes anti-Muslim claim - in refuting the claim that the Muslim population's average increase is alarming, the Director of Population and Demographic Division of the Department of Census and Statistics STATED that comparatively the the increase in Sinhalese population was 1.04% and the Muslim population was 1.87% from the period 1981 to 2012. But, the relevant figures if examined diligently shows that in fact the increase in Muslim population during the said period... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/05/14)

The 16th World Conference on Youth commenced in Hambantota
By Janaka Alahapperuma
The 16th World Conference on Youth 2014 commenced this morning (06 May) at the Magam Ruhunupura International Convention Center in Hambantota on a grand scale under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. President of the United Nations General Assembly Dr. John William Ashe and special envoy on Youth Affairs of the Unite Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Ahamad Al Hendavi were among the special guests.  Ministers of Youth Affairs from 27 countries, special diplomats and representatives from youth organizations in 118 countries have participated in the today’s opening ceremony of the conference. The objective... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/05/14)

Disregarding Sri Lanka's Banning Of Named Tamil Tiger Fronting Organizations Could Have Dire Global Ramifications.
Insight By Sunil Kumar
May 6th. 2014  Confounding and perhaps sidelining the UK, Canada, France, Norway and the rest of the countries ( Not forgetting Tamil Nadu and its egregious cacophonists )  that have chosen to ignore Sri Lanka's ban on named Tamil Tiger fronting organizations which is based on years of investigative procedures and much research towards justification, the US  State Department has agreed in principle to the Sri  Lanka Govt's long term assertion related to the ban.  The US State Department, in its latest counter terrorism report, has announced that " the LTTE uses the large Tamil Diaspora in North America, Europe and Asia  for their activities, countries... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/05/14)

Canada plays politics in the Commonwealth
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
4 May 2014 Hon. John Baird, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Hon. Lynne Yelich, MP, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs House of Commons, Ottawa Dear John and Lynne: I have just read in ColomboPage the news item “Canada does not recognize Sri Lanka’s ban on Tamil Diaspora groups.”   To be honest I did not expect you all to recognize this ban for the very reason that you Conservatives are not in a position to do an act of Hara Kiri, when the federal... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/05/14)

1956 – A Year of National and Religious Awakening
By Senaka Weeraratna
 Buddhism has been the most powerful single factor in the development of Sri Lanka’s civilization. For more than 2, 300 years, Sri Lanka developed and projected a country image that was predominantly Buddhist. Though this pre-disposition was held back during the period of 450 years of western colonial rule, no sooner an opportunity arose after the grant of independence in 1948, the majority of the people again turned to Buddhism as expressive of their national identity and gave a mandate to a newly elected Government to restore Buddhism to its rightful place and make it an... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/05/14)

Tuskers put their hands up for the future
Written by Sachin David- Courtesy The Papare.com
The Sri Lanka XV’s rugby team really challenged one of the big two Asian Nations for the first time in the longer version of the game this weekend when they went down to Hong Kong 41-10 at the Colombo Race Course grounds.  Although many would say 41-10 is quite a hiding, Sri Lanka really did make a mark against a much more structured and professional outfit. Unlike the Tuskers the entire Hong Kong team is a fully professionalised unit. They train together on a regular basis and have a well-organized training regimen... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/05/14)

Destruction of archaeological sites in Sri Lanka
Dr D. Chandraratna, Perth, Western Australia 
 It was rather sad to read an interview given by Ven Medhananada Thero to the ‘Ceylon Today’ News-sheet recently lamenting the destruction and pillaging of the archaeological treasures of ancient Sri Lanka. He referred to Diyathithawela Nandimitra Aranya, Kudimbigala in Seruwila in particular, and a number of other places that have been dug for treasures and some others fenced up for habitation. The tragedy of this ongoing vandalism is not only the permanent loss of the heritage for the entire human race, but also more importantly the likely distortion of the historiography... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/05/14)

Employed charities as fronts to collect funds for activities -CANADA ETC. MUST TAKE US RED ALERT - Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva
Chamikara Weerasinghe
Now that the US State Department, in its counter terrorism report, has announced that the LTTE uses the large Tamil Diaspora in North America, Europe and Asia for their activities, countries such as Canada, France, UK and Norway where the Diaspora are present in large numbers, must exercise caution against them, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva noted yesterday. "The government has been saying this for such a long time during and after the war. Pro LTTE Tamil Diaspora organizations are still functional and active in their operations in North America, Europe and... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/05/14)

Families refuse to bury dead in India-s Assam
Al Jazeera and agencies
Relatives of those killed by suspected Bodo rebels demand security after 32 members of Muslim community shot dead.Relatives of those killed in India-s northeastern Assam state have refused to bury their dead, demanding that the state-s chief minister, Tarun Gogoi, visit their area, according to local media reports. On Saturday, authorities called in the army to restore order after suspected Bodo separatists killed at least 32 people from the minority Muslim community in two days of violence that began late on Thursday. "Does our life have no value? We are only demanding that... -Full Story-
(aljazeera.com - 04/05/14)

Student banned from representing Tamil culture at multicultural assembly
By Dale Carruthers ,The London Free Press
LONDON, Ont. — A student in London, Ont. is crying foul after his high school barred him from carrying a controversial flag at a multicultural assembly. Kumar Makandu, a Grade 12 student at Central secondary school, had carried a Tamil flag at the annual assembly for the past two years but was told by administration leading up to the event on Friday that he couldn’t showcase the flag.... -Full Story-
(torontosun.com - 04/05/14)

Canada, please give refuge to LTTE/fronts & help create Eelam in Canada
Shenali D Waduge
Writing as a member of the general public of Sri Lanka it was sweet news to hear the Canadian government’s political decision not to enforce a ban on 16groups proscribed by Sri Lanka. What a welcome decision delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. The only catch was that one of the 16 groups named happened to be the LTTE which Canada proscribed in 2006. Canada’s decision to give legitimacy to the banned 16 groups has more or less invited a stream of Tamil Diaspora to seek membership in these banned entities and flood into Canada.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/05/14)

Healing the Addiction Memory
Ruwan M Jayatunge M.D.
Abstract: This article discusses addiction and formation of the Addiction Memory. Addiction has been described as a brain disorder involving brain structures and neural circuits. Addiction impacts long term associative memory including multiple memory systems. Addiction has pathological associations with learning, memory, attention, reasoning, and impulse control. People with addictions suffer from high levels of early maladaptive schemas. The Addiction Memory (AM) plays a crucial role in relapse occurrence and maintaining the addictive behavior. Healing the addiction memory is imperative in treating addictions. Pharmacological and psychological methods are being used to treat addictions. Among... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/05/14)

The Press Commission Report (1964)- Some Extracts and a Brief Commentary
By Senaka Weeraratna Attorney - at – Law
  " The Press is an instrument which is primarily meant to serve the real interests of a country. It can also be misused. If we were not satisfied that the newspapers of the Lake House and the Times groups were guilty of anti -national and anti - Buddhist conduct on a large scale, we would not have recommended a drastic change in the ownership of the newspapers belonging to these groups. From the evidence placed before us we are satisfied that the existing newspapers did not hesitate to fabricate, suppress,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/05/14)

HON SPEAKER CHAMAL RAJAPAKSA MEETS PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THE UK
Sri Lanka High Commission London
Dr Chris Nonis , Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, hosted a gathering in London in honour of Hon Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. The Hon Speaker, who is the immediate Past President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association(CPA), was in the UK to attend the meeting of the Executive Committee of the CPA. L to R: Rt Hon Lord Sheikh, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Dr Chris Nonis, Ian Paisley M.P.,       Hon Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Worshipful Mayor Frances Stainton, James Wharton MP, David Morris, MP.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/05/14)

Sri Lankan journalist in RSF information heroes list
By NJ Thakuria,
Guwahati: Sri Lankan journalist M. V. Kaanamylnathan, who has 50 years’ tough experience in journalism in the island nation has been honoured by an international media watchdog as an information hero. Involved with Uthayan, a Tamil-language daily newspaper in Sri Lanka since 1985, Kaanamylnathan is included in the list of 100 information heroes, which has been prepared by Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) and released on May 3 on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day. The list includes media (information) activists (aged from 25 to 75) from 65 countries who have helped to promote the freedom... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/05/14)

The 13th Amendment and its MISPERCEPTIONS
By Neville Ladduwahetty  Courtesy Island
The message in comments such as "to show concrete movement towards a meaningful devolution of power" and "to ensure that Provincial Councils are able to operate effectively", with the most recent being the need to "expeditiously implement the 13th Amendment", is that power has NOT been devolved from the Center to the Provinces. This is factually not correct. This misperception is due to the inability to appreciate that while power has constitutionally been devolved from the center to the periphery, how these powers work in practice depends on the structural context in which they... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/05/14)

MUSLIM PARLIAMENTARIANS' LETTER TO THE HIS EXCELLENCY MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE
N M Ameen President Muslim Council of Sri Lanka
April 25th 2014 His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse, The President, Office of the President, Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka, Temple Trees, Galle Road, Colombo- 03 . Your Excellency, We, the Muslim parliamentarians wish to bring to your Excellency's kind attention the continued hate campaign, intimidation and threats to Muslims, carried out by some Buddhist extremist elements of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Sihala Ravaya and Ravana Balakaya organizations.These groups have been targeting Muslim places of worship, Halal food, the Muslim attire and now the resettlement of the Muslim lOPs who... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/05/14)

Obama is Terrorist Ally, Commission Finds
By: Charles Benninghoff- .examiner.com
According to the findings of a blue-ribbon investigative panel, the September 11, 2012 attack on our embassy in Benghazi, Libya was a traitorous act by the Obama regime. On behalf of the American people, this independent investigation was conducted by the Citizens’ Commission on Benghazi that consists of such luminaries as former Congressman Allen West, 3 former CIA officers and multiple retired officers from every branch of the Armed Forces. This Commission’s report concludes that Obama “switched sides in the War on Terror” and actively provided weapons to Al Qaeda in Libya. This shows that Obama... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/05/14)

THE ROVING EYE-NATO-s soft war on Russia
By Pepe Escobar
Poor NATO. NATO - still in the process of being epically humiliated on a daily basis by a bunch of Pashtuns with Kalashnikovs in Afghanistan - is now considering "new defensive measures" to deter "evil" Russia from "aggression" against NATO members, mostly the Baltic states.The bottom line: global Robocop NATO can only survive if it faces a mortal threat. So what better platform to "harmonize" NATO than a "hostile" Russia? Either that, or keep licking those Pashtun-inflicted wounds in the Hindu Kush.... -Full Story-
(atimes.com - 02/05/14)

Canada's Response To Banned Sri Lankan Terror Fronts Overseas Dismays Many Discerning Sri Lankans Aware Of Related Realities.
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial,
May 1st.2014 Only a feeble minded simpleton without the capacity to comprehend the direction Canada  is taking with respect to Sri Lanka in recent times would have thought contrary to the breaking news that Canada will not enforce the Sri  Lankan ban on named groups who have the notoriety of being supporters and sympathisers with the Tamil Tigers ( dead and buried in Sri Lanka hopefully never to be recussitated or revived but making desperate attempts to regroup overseas!) So when the Canadian Government  has indicated through dialogue from the  Cdn.Foreign Ministry that it will... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/05/14)

Lessons from President Premadasa: May Day LTTE victim
Shenali D Waduge
 It was on 1st May 1993, at the UNP May Day Celebration that LTTE eliminated a sitting President and blew him to smithereens using its infamous suicide human bomber. President Premadasa is remembered by many in different ways. Caste / Upbringing no factor to Lead a nation: He proved that a person did not necessarily need to be of high caste, elite upbringing, come from elite Colombo schools or tutored at home to lead a nation. President Premadasa carved a niche of his own. He woke up at 4a.m. every morning, he rang his advisors... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/05/14)

Indo-Lanka Pact -LIFE ABROAD - Part 77
Dr.Tilak Fernando
(Nicky Karunarathna revelations - continued from Part 76)
  Not perturbed by Colvin's feral moods and ignominious behaviour and the LSSP taking the stand of strengthening J.R. Jayewardene's hand to sign the Indo-Lanka pact, Nicky Karunarathna has taken a very stern stand because he had foreseen the disastrous effects on the country as a whole. 'The LSSP got its own agenda, hoping it would dismember the country as well as the Sinhala/Buddhist majority. They were obsessed with the idea of the latter (Sinhala/Buddhist majority) being their real enemy that stood against any chance of their coming... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/05/14)

Protect Sinhala Buddhism from the educated – II
By Nalin de Silva
 Before we proceed, a mistake made in the last week has to be corrected, as it is somewhat serious. Kuhn’s Structure of scientific revolutions was referred to as Structure of scientific discoveries and it is hoped that nobody was misled by that reference. It is a cardinal sin, though it is not a ‘pancanatareeya kamma’, to refer to scientific discoveries, as scientific theories meaning of course western scientific theories are not discovered, and all knowledge is created due to avidya (loosely translated as ignorance) if we go by Paticcasamuppada. The talk of universal laws stem... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/05/14)

Disapora's LTTE funding continues and LTTE int'l network persists-US REPORT
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
While claiming that the LTTE’s financial network of support continued to operate throughout 2013, the United States on Wednesday said that the LTTE uses its international contacts and the large Tamil diaspora in North America, Europe, and Asia to procure weapons, communications, funding, and other needed supplies. Issuing its Country Reports on Terrorism 2013, the US State Department stated: “There have been no known attacks in Sri Lanka that could verifiably be attributed to the LTTE since the end of the war, but LTTE’s financial network of support continued to operate throughout 2013.” “Despite... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/05/14)

Centuries-old ties between Russia and Ukraine not to be broken - Russian official
Voice of Russia
The centuries-old ties between Russia and Ukraine can’t be broken either by Western politicians or by "the anti-popular Kiev regime", Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council, upper house of Russian parliament, said on Thursday, May 1.... -Full Story-
(voiceofrussia.com - 01/05/14)

Dmitry Kiselev: “Western behavior borders on schizophrenia”
© RIA Novosti. Sergey Guneev
Director General of the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency Dmitry Kiselev, host of the popular television program Vesti Nedeli (News of the Week), is the only journalist in the world to be targeted by political sanctions. The European Union included the prominent TV journalist on a list of Russians barred from travelling, owning property or banking in the EU. The World Press Freedom Committee, one of the leading organizations on the rights of journalists, has come to his defense. In an interview with Izvestia, Kiselev said that the sanctions against him threaten the rights of... -Full Story-
(en.ria.ru - 01/05/14)


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