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News Archive for Nov 2012

Legislature cuts the Judiciary down to size
H. L. D. Mahindapala
Let's face the reality as it is in our faces now. Both sides have taken their gloves off and are fighting with bare knuckles. The judiciary has taken  its glove off and dropped all pretences of fighting for "the independence of the judiciary". It is now fighting in Courts for the survival of the Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranaike. The Speaker, Chamal Rajapakse, too did not  mince his words in Parliament when he told the Judiciary on Thursday to back off and mind its own damn business, without, of course, saying so directly. The unravelling developments, however, indicate that it ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 30/11/12)

NEXT OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE!
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
Certain groups of professionals  are agitating  in the public arena with the sole intention of creating an anarchy in Sri Lanka.  Unfortunately these misguided groups are also equally well supported by some power hungry Buddhist monks who have been driving a secret political agenda.  Amongst many, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero (MS)  could be regarded as an icon in the field, who is now planning to be the Common Candidate for the next Presidential Election. Since 1991, as far as we are aware MS has been working hard at encouraging wealthy Sinhala Buddhist professionals to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 30/11/12)

"WAR - LOSERS USING HULFTSDORP"- President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Chaminda Perera -Courtesy The Daily News
* Has highest respect towards Judiciary * Some representing NGOs, foreign govts President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said some elements with vested interests, who could not achieve what they wanted through 30 years of conflict, are trying to achieve their sinister moves through Hulftsdorp. President Rajapaksa said he as a lawyer, has the highest respect towards the Judiciary and is committed to protect and promote its dignity. The President said members of the judiciary should protect the dignity of their profession. He said some persons involved in wrongdoings are in the process... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 30/11/12)

‘Roll of Honour’ of Tamil immigrants: 24 out of 26 arrested in Canada for fraud are Tamils!
 Asada M Erpini
The Durham Regional Police investigation, referred to in Lankaweb on 29 November, should be an eye opener to the human rights propagandists, and more so for the Canadian Prime Minister who wants his counterparts from other countries to boycott the Commonwealth Heads Meeting that is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in 2013. The LTTE remnants and their supporters (GTF, TRO, TGTE, etc.), furthermore, should get the names of all the …lingams, …moorthys, …pillais, .. rajahs, etc. who have been arrested engraved on brass plaques to be fixed at their Head Offices and for display... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 30/11/12)

Special screening of Ini Avan in Paris
Media Release Embassy of Sri Lanka Paris
On November 28th, 2012, a special screening of Ini Avan (Him, Here After), Asoka Handagama’s latest movie, was organized at Club Lincoln, in Paris, by Heliotrope Films. Premiered at Cannes 2012 as one of the films under the Association of Independent Cinema ACID (l’Association du Cinéma Indépendant pour sa Diffusion), Ini Avan has been listed in some of the most prestigious film festivals in the world during the past months including Toronto, Edinburg, Tokyo, Hanoi. Its cast includes Darshan Dharmaraj, Niranjani Shanmugaraja, Subashini Balasubramaniun, Raja Ganeshan, Malcolm Machado and King Rathnam. Cinematography... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 30/11/12)

Ex-CIA Agent: America creates its own enemies
Americans are in the crosshairs of terrorists worldwide purely due to Washington's policy in the Muslim world, not because there is an Islamic enemy whose only aim is to kill Americans for their freedoms and lifestyle, insists a former CIA officer Michael Scheuer. Historian Michael Scheuer, an author of "Through our enemies' eyes", who worked for CIA for over 20 years till 2004 and at one time was the chief of the CIA's 'Bin Laden unit', says America's greatest enemy -- radical Islam -- never existed: neither when Bin Laden was alive, nor now.... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 30/11/12)

Playing tennis in Hulftsdorp courts
H. L. D. Mahindapala
 By its very nature impeachments rouse public passions to feverish pitches as seen in the cases of President Bill Clinton and President Ranasinghe Premadasa. One of the reasons is the high public profile of those impeached. Second, the process and the final decision, which are invariably politicized by both sides, intentionally or unintentionally, can also have serious consequences. Besides, impeachments also tend to polarise society as seen in the current case where lawyers, most of whom ganged up initially against the appointment of the CJ, did a flip and screamed: "Doshabiyogaya bangawewa" as the Chief... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

It is the conduct of lawyers and judges that upholds the Integrity of the Judiciary
Shenali Waduge
An institute to be held in esteem must function and follow the principles of ethics and the fundamentals of integrity of their profession. Members of the Judiciary, the Legislature or even the Executive to be regarded as icons of integrity must function with integrity, ethics and high moral standards. When they do not – there is conflict and when they cross each other’s turfs it aggravates the conflict. No institute becomes doyens of Integrity by default – it is the lawyers and judges that make a Judiciary “Independent”, it is the Parliamentarians who must function as “servants”... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

Response to Fr. Emmanuel’s love for “Sinhalese Buddhists”!-Interview with Fr. Emmanuel by Sri Lankan Guardian/Nov 2012
Shenali Waduge
The man who rechristened Prabakaran “anna” as “Jesus Christ”, the LTTE as “soldiers of Christ” and LTTE suicide bombers as “martyrs” is none other than President of the Global Tamil Forum – Father S J Emmanuel now self-exiled in Germany and not the least piqued that he himself is referred to as the “Desmond Tutu” of Tamils! The LTTE-Church links is nothing anyone can hide. Afterall Tamil “nationalism” originated from an imported Christian, another S J – he was S J V Chelvanayagam and continuing an Evangelizing of Asia strategy undercover of a “Tamil Nationalist” struggle is... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

Intellectuals warn of NGO plot to destabilise govt
CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE Courtesy The Daily News
A panel of intellectuals from the Colombo University and Open University yesterday cautioned the public against attempts by some political groups and Non Governmental Organisations working to destabilize the government over the impeachment against Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake. Colombo University Sociology Department senior lecturer Dr Jagath Wellawatta yesterday said at a press conference held by university teachers at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, these groups were trying to create major civil unrest in the country by highlighting that there was a conflict between the government and the judiciary. Dr Wellawatta said they were... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

Removal of Judges comes under the ambit of legislature - Ranil
Courtesy The Daily News
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe asserted that the judicial power of the people lies with the 225 Members of Parliament. He said the judicial power of the legislature is vested in the Courts except the powers of Parliament and the privileges of Parliament. The Opposition Leader said when the 1978 Constitution was promulgated J.R. Jayewardene and Dr. Colvin R. De Silva were in one stance that it was formulated in the structure of the one in the UK. However, the sovereignty of the people stands above all. The removal of the justices comes under the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

SPEAKER RULES COURT NOTICES INVALID-Future court notices to be treated similarly:
Sandasen MARASINGHE, Irangika RANGE and Disna MUDALIGE-Courtesy TheDaily News
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday making a special announcement in Parliament said the purported notices issued to him and to members of the Parliamentary Select Committee (psc) are a nullity and entail no legal consequences. He said the ruling would apply to any similar purported notice, Order or Determination in respect of the proceedings of the Committee which would continue solely and exclusively under the authority of Parliament. Speaker Rajapaksa also said future notices from court will be treated similarly. He said: “I wish to make it clear that this ruling... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

Parliament supreme, court cannot challenge impeachment motion – govt
By Saman Indrajith Courtesy The Island
Leader of the House, Irrigation Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday told Parliament that there were no provisions in the Constitution or Standing Orders or any other law in the country to challenge the Parliamentary Select Committee, appointed to probe the charges against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranyake. Raising a privilege issue, Minister de Silva said: "A motion signed by 117 Members of Parliament, as per Article 107 (2) of the Constitution, to be presented to the President for the removal of the Hon (Dr.) (Mrs.) Upatissa Atapattu Banadaranayake Wasala Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Shirani Anshumala... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

ICAO Audit Reveals -Lankan Skies to be Safe & Secure
Media Releasea- Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka
A significant achievement by Sri Lanka Aviation in the air safety and security is contained in the Media Release, provided in the attachment. These achievements, we consider is appropriate to be brought to the notice of both national & international communities, industry associates, and those air travelers in the world over. Hence, we shall be very much thankful to you, if your web page could take care of the informative message to the readers of your well recognized web site. For Full Report Go to http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items12/USAP%20RESULTS%20TO%20MEDIA%20RELEASE%20-K1.pdf... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

LIFE ABROAD - PART IV: THE TUBE tunnels and thunders through
Dr.Tilak Fernando
The London underground railway network (colloquially known as the ‘Tube’) is 150 years old and serves a considerable part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex through tunnels as well as sub-surface covering 253 miles while transporting millions of passengers on a daily basis. The whole network operates on eleven separate ‘lines’ which are identified in the London Underground Map in conspicuous colours to help commuters easily identify and plan their travel. Inside the carriages of each ‘tube’ train a single (coloured) line indicates all stations enroute from starting point to the terminus;... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 29/11/12)

Selection of Counsel suspicious - Golden Key protesters
Jayantha de Silva Courtesy The Daily News
Golden Key depositors who lost their deposits with it’s collapse, staged a noisy protest in the vicinity of Superior Court complex yesterday against the inclusion of two Attorneys - at - law and a President’s Counsel who appeared for Ceylinco Group chairman Lalith Kotelawala, to represent Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake before the Parliamentary Select Committee hearings of the impeachment motion against her. “We have suspicion over the appearance of these Attorneys- at- law for the Chief Justice,” they said. “Until the conclusion of the impeachment process, let the hearing of the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/11/12)

24 Canadian Tamils Arrested in Massive Fraud Bust
By Amit Gossai, Toronto
24 Tamils are among 26 people facing fraud-related charges in connection with a debit card forgery ring that garnered "tens of thousands" of dollars. The Durham Regional Police investigation, dubbed Project Off-Guard, concluded last week with tens of thousands of dollars confiscated and debt card forging equipment dismantled and seized, police said. Last November, Major Crime Fraud Unit investigators received a tip from the OPP indicating a group of people was involved in fraud-related activities concerning debit cards at a local gas station in Whitby. Surveillance was conducted and initially, 12 people were arrested. ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/11/12)

PLEASE DON'T CRY
Editorial The Daily News
The day the opposition of this country finds better things to do, would certainly be a day of celebration. The wrenching sound of the latest breast beating fit of the UNP comes as a response to the launch of Sri Lanka's first satellite into outer space. The General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake was quoted as saying that the new satellite venture would cause 'serious problems', or words to that effect. A private Sri Lankan company launches a satellite into orbit, and it's a Sri Lankan venture that rightly bears the Sri Lankan flag... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/11/12)

China launches first Lankan satellite
Ananth Krishnan
SupremeSAT, a private company which has an agreement with the Chinese government-run Great Wall Industry Corporation (GWIC), carried out the launch at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in western Sichuan province, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The launch was scheduled to have taken place on November 22, but was delayed because of bad weather.Xinhua said the Sri Lankan government had “distanced itself from the launch insisting that there is no state involvement”and that it was carried out by a private company, adding that earlier reports said the total investment for the project, including the construction of... -Full Story-
(thehindu.com - 28/11/12)

කැළඹුන කහවත්තේ සියළු ගම් විදුලියෙන් ආවරණය කිරීමට කඩිනම් පියවර.පළමු අධියර විදුලිබල නියෝජ්‍ය අමාත්‍යවරයාගේ අතින් අද ආරම්භ වේ.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
රටකට තියෙන ලොකුම සම්පත තමයි ඒ රටේ ජනතාව. ඒ වගේම සෑම රජයකම තිබෙන විශාලම වගකීම තමයි තම රටේ ජනතාව ආරක්ෂා කිරීම. පසුගිය සමයේ කහවත්ත ප‍්‍රදේශයේ මහා ඝාතන රැුල්ලක් ඇතිවුණා. මෙම තත්ත්වය හේතුවෙන් මුළු ප‍්‍රදේශයේම ජනතාව මහත් කැළඹීමකට පත්වුණා. ජනතාවගේ මානසික ව්‍යාකූලත්වය හේතුවෙන් ඔවුන්ගේ එදිනෙදා කටයුතු වගේම අධ්‍යාපන, ආර්ථික ආදී සෑම කටයුත්තක්ම අඩාල වුණා. මෙම අසහනකාරී තත්ත්වයෙන් ජනතාව මුදවාගැනීමට කළහැකි එක් පිළියමක් හැටියට තමයි අපි මේ විදුලි යෝජනා ක‍්‍රමය ඉදිකිරීම ආරම්භ කළේ යැයි විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති නියෝජ්‍ය අමාත්‍ය පේ‍්‍රමලාල් ජයසේකර මහතා පැවසීය. ඒ මහතා මෙම අදහස් පළකළේ අද (28* කහවත්ත දිඹුල්වල විදුලි යෝජනා ක‍්‍රමයේ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 28/11/12)

Bar Association lobby Supreme Court to quash impeachment of CJ
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
Two moves in the past to impeach Chief Justices had worked without hiccups. And allegations against them were flimsy. For eg the charge against CJ Neville Samarakoon was a speech he made at a Tutory. According to the govt the charges against the incumbent CJ are serious. For eg the CJ had been accused of failing to declare around $250,000 in foreign currency and so on. It is highly unethical for a person who is making judgments on others to have allegations of malpractices and misconduct. The latest entrant into the impeachment controversy is the wealthy Bar Association. They have become tear-jerkers for... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 27/11/12)

TNA wants international community to stop aid to Sri Lanka
Asada M Erpini
The Sri Lankan media report on 27 November that a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, during the debate on the 2013 budget, has called on the international community, mainly India and the US, to stop giving aid to Sri Lanka. The demand and the attitude of the individual, to say the least, are nauseating.  Before going into the issue of aid from India and the US, one should look at the treasonous and ungrateful nature of the TNA MP, evident through the views he has expressed. All Members of Parliament take an oath of allegiance to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 27/11/12)

TNA Parliamentarian’s threat of “Fast unto death”
Asada M Erpini
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs, whatever they do or do not, keep the reader of Sri Lankan media amused. There is one named Adaikalanathan who is reported, on 27 November, to have said that he is ready to embark on a fast unto death unless there is a solution to the ethnic issue.  The gentleman would do well to spell out what exactly are this perennial ethnic issue and “the problems faced by my people”. If the solution for the imaginary problems is Eelam, or a separate entity for Tamils by any other name, he can... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 27/11/12)

So much so for Indian Benevolence- India's Silent War against the Adhivasees (Original Inhabitants )
THIS IS THE COUNTRY THAT TRIED TO DESTABILISE US BY HELPING THE LTTE. WE DESTROYED THEIR INTENTIONS AND THE ARCHITECTS OF THIS CONSPIRACY REAPED WHAT THEY SOWED! NOW THEY ARE LINING UP WITH THE USA AGAINST US, AGAIN TO DESTABILISE US WHILST CLAIMING A FALSEHOOD THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED GENOCIDE AGAINST TAMILS AND ARE TREATING THEM AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS, THEY ARE HAPPILY ANNIHILATING  THE UNFORTUNATE THE NAXALS IN A SILENT WAR TO GRAB THEIR MINERAL RICH LANDS. SHOW THE WORLD THE TRUTH. MY REGRET IS THAT OUR LATE LADY PRIME MINISTER BROKERED A PEACE BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA, WHEN... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/11/12)

CHINA AND LANKA before the coloniser
Prof. W.I. SIRIWEERA-Courtesy The Daily News
Sri Lanka had close contacts with China before the intervention of European colonial powers. The contacts between the two countries were mainly motivated to enhance direct and indirect commercial relations and direct cultural relations which helped exchange of Buddhist missions. The recorded evidence of Chinese trade relations with Sri Lanka dates back to the first century A.D. From this period onwards, sporadic references mainly in Chinese texts are found to missions exchanged between the two countries. The earliest mission originated from China during the reign of Emperor P’ing (1-6 A.D.) of the Han... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 27/11/12)

THE ROVING EYE- Obama the Pivot
By Pepe Escobar
The fabulous reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok does not exactly subscribe to drone wars and "targeted assassinations" - not to mention bombing of civilian infrastructure. So the Buddha may have been puzzled - to say the least - when US President Barack Obama, right at the start of his whirlwind "pivoting" tour of Southeast Asia, and referring to Israel and Gaza, came up withthis: "There is no country on earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders." So imagine the Buddha in nirvana, mercifully surveying the sorry landscape... -Full Story-
(atimes.com - 27/11/12)

Not a single condemnation from the West when Israel violates ceasefire
by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies Report post
Palestinian medical sources reported that three Palestinians have been injured, on Sunday evening, after Israeli soldiers, stationed across the border, opened fire at them in Al-Faraheen area, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip... -Full Story-
(imemc.org - 27/11/12)

Kristol’s declaration should force media to acknowledge, Israel is at core of neoconservatism
by Philip Weiss on November 26, 2012 24
Here are two superb pieces on neoconservatism, its ascension and its central concern, Israel. First, Jim Lobe at lobelog: For those, particularly in the timid or intimidated U.S. foreign-policy elite, who still pretend or somehow make themselves believe that Israel is not absolutely central to the neo-conservative worldview, I commend this week’s Thanksgiving editorial by Bill Kristol, scion of one of the movement’s two founding families, in The Weekly Standard, entitled “The West Fights Back”. While it deserves to be read — and deconstructed — in full, here’s the meat:... -Full Story-
(mondoweiss.net - 27/11/12)

The Role of Trust in the Killing of Innocent Civilians
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH),
Washington D.C. (November 26, 2012) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who recently led 26 Members of Congress in a letter asking the President of the United States to explain the legal justification for targeted killings, today released the following statement: “The CIA and the military use drones to drop bombs on our suspected enemies and no one denies that innocent people have been killed in the process. The only debate is how many. “It is hard to know how many civilians have been killed, in part because we don’t always know who we are killing.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 27/11/12)

Public Lecture on the "Trends in Indian Foreign Policy" by Dr. Arvind Gupta, DG, IDSA , New Delhi
PRESS RELEASE:
Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute is hosting a public lecture on the “Trends in Indian Foreign Policy” which will be delivered by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director General of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. The event is jointly organized by the High Commission of India in Colombo and Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute and it will take place on December 05, 2012, Wednesday from 5.00 p.m. The Kadirgamar Institute would sincerely appreciate your contribution in bringing awareness to this public lecture of timely importance prior to the date of the event by providing coverage for the attached Press... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 27/11/12)

Dangerous silence shrouds drone war
By Fouad Pervez
The world recently celebrated Malala Day in honor of the young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, an innocent victim of political violence perpetrated by the Taliban. She was rightfully honored as a hero for her willingness to speak up for her right to an education and against religious extremism. While her bravery deserved the attention it received, it lies in stark contrast to the many other innocent victims of political violence in Pakistan. Indeed, the Drone War continues with hardly a mention in the US media. It is not hard to imagine that if Malala lived in... -Full Story-
(atimes.com - 27/11/12)

Abetting murder in Gaza
By Stephen Zunes
The November 22 ceasefire between Israeli and Hamas forces is a huge relief for the civilian population on both sides - the primary victims of the conflict. But the Barack Obama administration's unconscionable decision the previous week to block a ceasefire effort by the UN Security Council not only resulted in additional civilian deaths but also serves as an indication that, despite the president owing his re-election to the hard work of his progressive base, his foreign policy will continue to lean to the right. The draft resolution blocked by the United States explicitly condemned all... -Full Story-
(atimes.com - 27/11/12)

Gota’s War – a review
By Don Wijewardana
 It was only recently that I had the opportunity to read C.A Chandraprema’s Gota’s War.  Mahinda Rajapaksa successfully confronted the LTTE when all his predecessors failed miserably. One major factor that set him apart from the rest, was the pivotal role played by Gotbhaya Rajapaksa as the Defence Secretary.  As such it was a well-deserved recognition to write an account around the part he played in the war.  Like many others I was waiting to learn the background, what went on behind the scenes that helped in the victory. This book, to a certain extent, met... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/11/12)

Civilian Casualties – International Laws and Sri Lanka Bashing
Shenali Waduge
 How many wonder as to the practicality of ONLY soldiers going through all the rules and regulations in an intense battleground situation when the terrorist enemy are not signatory to any international humanitarian laws and possesses the means to retaliate with brutality? When the enemy thrives and survives on its ability to kill and care less what these laws are except to use them to protect themselves while they mercilessly gun down Government troops and civilians how valid are humanitarian laws today? How can those who prepare international laws in the cozy confines of their offices in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/11/12)

Why on earth was TNA not banned after the elimination of terrorists ?
By Charles.S.Perera
Immediately after the elimination of the terrorists the political climate was conducive to the abolition of the TNA and the removal of the 13Amendment.  It was the  terrorists who  manipulated voting to have the candidates of the  TNA elected as MPs to be the voice of the terrorists in the Parliament.  After the elimination of the terrorists the TNA had no raison d’etre. However, having lost that opportunity we are burdened with a set of MPs who have no sense of belonging to Sri Lanka as their Island home.  They are still seeking to realise the objective... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/11/12)

The future of 13-A
By Neville Ladduwahetty  November 22, 2012, 7:41 pm  - Island
 The responsibility for the illegality/unconstitutionality of 13A should be collectively borne by the then Supreme Court and the then Parliament. When the 13A Bill was forwarded to the then Supreme Court, the only determination the Court was constitutionally required to make as per Article 120 (a) was whether it required "approval by the People at a Referendum". It could be legitimately concluded that 5 out of the 9 Judges of the then Supreme Court found that the 13A Bill AS PRESENTED required a referendum. However, the determination forwarded by... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/11/12)

WE DID IT SO CAN YOU! -Sri Lankan University Students in US respond to Amnesty’s Anti-Sri Lanka Campaign
Sri Lankan University Students in US
Sri Lankan Students Association of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA organized an awareness event on Sri Lanka’s conflict and on post-conflict developments on November 15, 2012.  During the event the student group screened “Freedom Speaks” an independent investigative documentary about Sri Lanka’s conflict to an audience of university students, lecturers, Sri Lanka community members and media  .  President of the Student Association Kasun Fernando said that the event was organized as a response to the malicious propaganda campaign carried out by the Amnesty International –USA  (AI- USA) against Sri Lanka.  He... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 26/11/12)

"2012 විදුලිය බලගැන්වූ වසරක්"-"Year of Energy Empowerment"-"மின்சாரத்தை பலப்படுத்திய ஆண்டு"
       2012 වසර තුළ විදුලිබල ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ විවිධ අංශ ඔස්සේ සංවර්ධන කාර්යයන් සිදුවිය. රටේ ආර්ථීකය සහ සමාජයීය සංවර්ධනය වෙනුවෙන්  සෘජු දායකත්වයක් සැපයීමට විදුලිබල ක්ෂේත්‍රයට අනුබද්ධ සියළුම ආයතන වලට හැකිවී ඇතැයි අමාත්‍යාංශය පෙන්වාදෙයි. බලශක්ති ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ අංශ කිහිපයක් ඔස්සේ ලඟාකරගත් ජයග්‍රහණයන්සේම, සංවර්ධන කාර්යයන් පිළිබඳව කෙටි සමාලෝචනයක් පහත දැක්වේ.   2012 වසරේ මේ වනවිට  තුළ රටේ ජනගහනයෙන් 94% ක් විදුලියෙන් බලගැන්වි ඇත.  මාස 15 ක නියඟය හමුවේ අධික තෙල් මිල දරාගෙන අඛණ්ඩව විදුලිය ලබාදෙන්නට හැකිවිය.   ඒකක 90 ට අඩු ගෘහස්ථ පාරිභෝගිකයන් වෙනුවෙන් රු. බිලියන 37.4 ක විදුලි සහනාධාර සහ පූජනීය ස්ථාන වෙනුවෙන් රුපියල් මිලියන 688 ක විදුලි සහනාධාර සපයා දී තිබේ.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/12)

The Power Principle
documentaries
This is three part documentary about how wars are used to control people and wealth. A must watch. Each part is about 1 hour 30 mins long but it will be a good investment of time!... -Full Story-
(topdocumentaryfilms.com - 26/11/12)

Interview: GOMIN DAYASRI on IMPEACHMENT
 Interviewed by Mandana Ismail Abeywickreme Appearing in Sunday Leader 25 Nov 2012
 Q: What are your views on the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake?  A:  Move by the Judicial Service Commission snowballed into a sequence of events leading to a catastrophe.    The President/Minister of Finance summoned JSC for discussion before the budget ostensibly to discuss welfare measures for the judiciary. A former Chief Justice has alluded that such discussions are common and has attended many. The President’s Secretary at the request of the JSC submitted the oral request in writing; the response was a... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

නීති වෘත්තියේ සර්ව බලධාරි ආඥදායකත්වය
වම්ඉවුර-සී. ඒ. චන්ද්‍රප්‍රේම -දිවයින
මෙම වසරේ ලලිත් ඇතුලත්මුදලි අනුස්‌මරණ දේශනය ඉකුත් බ්‍රහස්‌පතින්දා පැවැත්විණි. ආරාධිත දේශකයා වූයේ මීට සති දෙක තුනකට පෙර අප මේ ලිපියේ උපුටා දක්‌වා ලද විනිසුරුවරුන්ගේ ආචාරධර්ම පිළිබඳව බැංගලෝර් මූලධර්ම සම්පාදනය කිරීමේ ජාත්‍යන්තර කමිටුවේ සභාපති වූ සී. ජී. වීරමන්ත්‍රී මහතාය. මෙම දේශනයේ සුවිශේෂත්වයන් දෙකක්‌ විය. ඉන් පළමු වැන්න වූයේ මෙම දේශනය විනිශ්චයකාරවරුන්ගේ ආචාර ධර්ම ගැන වුවත් මේ රටේ ප්‍රසිද්ධ නීතිඥයින් කිසිවෙක්‌ එම දේශනයට සහභාගි නොවී සිටීමයි. මෙවන් මොහොතක සී. ජී. වීරමන්ත්‍රී වැනි අයෙක්‌ අධිකරණයේ හැසිරීම කුමක්‌ විය යුතුද යන්න ගැන දේශනයක්‌ පවත්වන විට හරිනම් මුළු ශාලාවම නීතිඥයින්ගෙන් පමණක්‌ පිරී යා යුතුය. නමුත් වීරමන්ත්‍රී මහතා දැනට උද්ගත... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

Hot Air Against Impeachment
Courtesy The Daily News Editorial
It does seem that those sections of partisan intellectuals and other interested civil society babblers who have taken cudgels against the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice (CJ) do not seem to know that there are contending sources of power, and that checks and balances intended in the constitutional document are for ensuring that the judiciary stands sentinel over the Executive and the Legislature, and vice versa. It isn't a one way street. Checks and balances do not mean that the judiciary keeps a hawk's eye over the legislature, while the Legislature is supine,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

IMPEACHMENT MOTION : Dec 4 D-day against CJ
Courtesy The Daily News
http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/11/26/news01.asp * THE DAMNING CHARGES * Over 20 bank accounts not declared in declaration of assets and liabilities * Taking over Ceylinco case heard by another Bench; Bought house on Ceylinco Attorney papers * Rs 34 m foreign currency deposits-not declared * Rs 19,362,500 undisclosed * Conduct unbecoming of a Chief Justice NEWS SPOTLIGHT: Forgetting integrity on impeachment A former Justice Ministry Secretary during the Sirima Bandarnaike era, Nihal Jayawickreme, has come out to bat for the anti-impeachment forces, notwithstanding the fact that there are serious integrity and impartiality... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

A coordinated, professional propaganda war: the need of the hour for Sri Lanka
Asada M Erpini
Epaasni and S de Silva, who had commented in Lankaweb on 25 November, have pointed out a critical and urgent need: going by what they say and also considering the views expressed by a few before that, Sri Lanka cannot afford to rest on the laurels of having defeated the most ruthless terrorist group in the world: it is only the military wing of the LTTE that was operating in Sri Lanka that bit the dust at the hands of the gallant men and women of the armed forces. The financial machinery and the international propaganda... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

Sri Lanka: UN's Petrie Report
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 . Canada
24 November 2012 Mr. Ban Ki-Moon Secretary-General, United Nations New York, NY, US  Dear Ban Ki-Moon: Re:   United Nations (UN) has failed in its mandate to protect civilians in the last months of Sri Lanka’s battle against LTTE terrorists – The “ Charles Petrie Report” is leaked to the Media. This reminds me of Harry Belafonte’s song, Ban Ki-Moon ‘There are holes in UNs buckets, dear Ban Ki, dear Ban Ki, there are holes in UN buckets as Sri Lanka Reports get leaked; Then plug... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

Of Prisons and Police
by Gamini Gunawardane Rtd. Senior Dy. Inspector General of Police
 The prison riot that occurred  weeks ago is perhaps the worst that happened in this country. There have been many upheavals in our Prison system from time to time, each becoming worse than the previous one. But no lessons seem to have been learned and no real long term strategies seem to be adopted to avoid repetition, having gone into the core issues ailing the prison system, other than perhaps appointing a retired army officer to head the prisons, which in my view is a naïve approach of the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

Beware of poisonous gases given out during cooking.
Dr Hector Perera            London
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless gas often formed in the process of incomplete combustion of organic substances, including fuels. CO is a gas that can build up to dangerous concentrations indoors when fuel- burning devices are not properly vented, operated, or maintained. Because it has no odour, colour or taste, CO cannot be detected by our senses such as smell. It is estimated that unintentional CO exposure accounts for an estimated 500 deaths in the United States each year. There are approximately 400 admissions to hospital with Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning in England... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

Tardy extradition bid allows abusing Catholic brother to flee to Sri Lanka
Paul Bibby, Rory Callinan and Martin Van Beynen
A FORMER Catholic brother charged five months ago with hundreds of counts of sexual abuse against children and young adults is now living in Sri Lanka because authorities dragged their feet in seeking his extradition to Australia. Former St John of God brother Bernard Kevin McGrath, who recently served two years in a New Zealand prison for sexually abusing boys there, had 252 abuse charges laid against him in a Newcastle court on June 27.... -Full Story-
(theage.com.au - 25/11/12)

Muharram and the great status of Hazrat Imam Hussein
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.
 (Given below is an excerpt the Friday Sermon of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivered on 23rd November 2012 at ‘Baithul Futhuh’, London, U.K., gave a discourse on Muharram and the great status of Hazrat Imam Hussein  Ahmadiyya Khalifa Said: We are currently going through the Islamic month of Muharram-ul-Haram which is the first month of the Muslim calendar. Generally we exchange good wishes at the start of a new year. Last Friday, when Muharram had started, someone expressed... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 25/11/12)

Media Malpractice Masks Israel's Atrocities Against Gaza
RepresentativePress
The fact that casualties have overwhelmingly been innocent civilians indicates that Israel is not so much engaged in "targeted" killings, as in "collective" killings, thus once again committing the crime of collective punishment. Israel went into the West Bank and rounded up 55 Palestinians, "arresting" them. Did Hamas go into Israel's territory overnight and "arrest" anyone?... -Full Story-
(youtube.com - 25/11/12)

1962 Coup and the 2012 Coup by "Black Coat sharks"
P.A.Samaraweera
The era after 1956 was a period of transition. Therefore, some at the top who were disgruntled by the pro-national reformation attempted to overthrow the govt of Sirimavo in 1962. Till 1956, only two-fifth of army officers were Sinhala Buddhists. But nearly 75 per cent of the people in the country were Buddhists. After 1956, this proportion of officers gradually changed which was not to the liking of some who were in the forces. As usual they wanted the forces to be dominated by non-Buddhists. The 1962 coup makers were from the so called 'super class', and from distinguished wealthy families who despised the pro-national policies of the govt.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/11/12)

“Nauru Asylum camp degrading”, says Amnesty International
Asada M Erpini
A BBC report on 23 November quotes Amnesty International (AI) as saying that an Australian asylum camp in Nauru is “cruel and degrading”. The Nauru camp holds attempted illegal immigrants to Australia: many among the detainees are Tamils from Sri Lanka, who have paid vast amounts of money – on occasion amounting to US $40,000 per head – to human smugglers. AI is shedding bucketfuls of tears that the hastily erected tents in Nauru accommodate 16 or 5 men. The group, whose avowed goal is the protection of human rights, adds that the detainees are treated... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/11/12)

Sri Lanka Continues To Be The Object Of UN Accusations But This Time They Seem To Be Somewhat Confused!
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial
November 24th 2012 Sri Lanka's stand in objecting to the United Nations recent report that Sri Lanka did not act accordingly to prevent civilian deaths during the decades long insurrection by the Tamil Tigers needs to be emphasized much more than mere protestations as the continued harrassment of Sri Lanka on this issue as well as many others is a blatant portrayal of the extents to which adversaries and enemies of the Island nation will go to discredit it. It is primarily an orchestration of the Tamil Tiger sympathetic diaspora floating around the world in ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/11/12)

The Project Director Of The The International Crisis Group In Sri Lanka Trying Create Non Existent Crises Through The Rhetoric In His Report!
In Retrospect by Sarath Kumara
Nov.24th 2012   International crisis group Alan Keenanon in a special report to the  CNN  says" its time to push back over Sri Lanka Impunity" which is not only high handed on his part but also without conviction and does not seem to have the foggiest idea what he is talking about as the issues he has written the report on are way beyond his jurisdiction and authority where he has been bold enough to take on official issues relating to the Sri Lanka Administration and its conduct during a nation threatening, decades long internal armed insurrection... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/11/12)

The Last Heart Attack -- CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta full Documentary
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
The Last Heart Attack -- CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta Documentary - Helps the world adopt the life saving planet saving peaceful vegetarian Buddhist lifestyle. Capitalism and healthcare, combined, create poor outcomes for patients. The food industry, insurance, and pharmaceutical giants need Americans to be obese, diabetic, and chronically ill in order to make a profit. If Americans consumed healthy foods how would Pfizer and McDonalds make their quarterly goals? A PATIENT CURED IS A CUSTOMER LOST!! Modern pharmaceutical companies know this, it isn't in their economic interest to cure you!... -Full Story-
(https:/youtube.com/ - 24/11/12)

Puppet State America
paul craig roberts
The United States government and its subject peoples think of the US as “the world’s only superpower.” But how is a country a superpower when its entire government and a majority of the subjects, especially those members of evangelical churches, grovel at the feet of the Israeli Prime Minister? How is a country a superpower when it lacks the power to determine its own foreign policy in the Middle East? Such a country is not a superpower. It is a puppet state. In the past few days we have witnessed, yet again, the “American superpower” groveling at... -Full Story-
(paulcraigroberts.org - 24/11/12)

"Black Friday": Madness of a Lost Society
ForbiddenKnowledgeTV
Watch this 4 minute video - not just the Americans but people all over the world should take note of the underlying message. The message is ordinary people are being 'farmed' to generate wealth for a small group of individuals in the world. And politics is just a smoke screen to make people feel that they have control over who does what. Something to think about........ -Full Story-
(forbiddenknowledgetv.com - 24/11/12)

Israel-Palestine: What is the US National Interest?
by Ralph Nader
Israeli elections are coming up in January so it is Palestinian hunting season again. Israeli cynics call it a time “for mowing the grass.” Out comes the well-worn playbook by Israel’s militaristic government that has worked to silence Israeli politicians and citizens who want a two-state solution. This is an opportunity to use and test advanced weaponry from the U.S., compliments of U.S. taxpayers, and squelch ongoing peace efforts, small and large, by Palestinians, Israelis and international peace advocates.... -Full Story-
(https:/commondreams.org/ - 24/11/12)

තාරුණ්‍යයේ හඬ සංවිධානයේ හම්බන්තොට දිසා සමුළුව අද
Voice Of Youth.
හෙටක් සහිත රටක් උදෙසා වූ ‘තාරුණ්‍යයේ හඬ’ සංවිධානයේ හම්බන්තොට දිසා සමුළුව අද පස්වරුවේ තංගල්ල සමූපකාර ශාලාවේදී විශාල තරුණ පිරිසකගේ සහභාගීත්වයෙන් පැවැත්විණ. හම්බන්තොට දිස්ත‍්‍රික් සභාවේ නිළධාරී මණ්ඩලය තෝරාපත් කර ගැනීමටද මෙහිදී සිදු වූ අතර එහි දි මහේෂ් අබේපිටිය සොයුරා සභාපතිවරයා ලෙසද, අශෝකා රාජීනි සොයුරිය ලේකම්වරිය ලෙසද තේරීපත්විය. තාරුණ්‍යයේ හඬ සංවිධානයේ ජාතික සූදානම් කිරීමේ කමිටුවේ සම කැඳවුම්කරු ගයාන් ජානක සොයුරා සහ සමාජවාදී තරුණ සංගමයේ ජාතික සංවිධායක බිමල් රත්නායක සොයුරා ද මේ අවස්ථාවට සහභාගි විය. එහි දි අදහස් දැක්වූ ගයාන් ජානක සොයුරා ,‘‘ලාංකීය තරුණ තරුණියන්ට අද අභියෝග රාශියකට මුහුණ දෙන්න සිද්ධවෙලා තියනවා. අද අපේ රටේ බහුතරයක් තරුණ ප‍්‍රජාවට තමන්ගේ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 24/11/12)

Sharia police state? Saudi husbands can track wives’ travels electronically
RT
Saudi Arabia introduced an electronic tracking system that alerts men by text message when their wife is leaving the country, even if they are traveling together. The system was swiftly condemned by activists and Twitter users. Saudi women – banned in the country from driving, denied the right to travel without their husband’s consent and required to wear a veil from head to toe – are now to be monitored by a new electronic system that tracks cross-border movement, AFP reported. Woman in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to leave the ultraconservative kingdom without the permission of their male... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 24/11/12)

An Impeachment Motion is a part of Democratic Procedure, but it is strange, the lining up to bash Sri Lanka.
By Charles.S.Perera
There is the Constitution of the  Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka prepared by a UNP President in 1978. He was very authoritarian and used his executive powers to the full. He believed America was his friend  until he became aware of the hypocrisy of America when he was dropped like a hot brick  when he needed America most. However the Constitution of Sri Lanka is now a legal document containing  XXIV Chapters and 172 Articles. It defines the Executive , the legislature and the Judiciary.  Article 107 is on  “Appointment and removal of Judges of the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/11/12)

Canada’s anti-Terror laws silent on pro-LTTE Canadian puppet parliamentarians
  Shenali Waduge
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service claims that there are more terrorist groups active in Canada today than in any other country in the world. That is an alarming scenario for Canada. Terrorists are called terrorists because they strike terror. They do not respect or honor human life and instead take potshots to nullify the right of a person to live. Why does it become difficult for even media to project terrorists for what they are instead of romanticizing their killing campaigns in order to justify their killing? Why would parliamentarians and members of society put the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/11/12)

Sri Lanka: Here Lies the rule of law
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1, Canada
22 November 2012  Hon. Bob Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP Interim Leader of  the Liberal Party of Canada House of Commons, Ottawa Cc: Editor, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Dear Bob: You have surprised me one more time of your knowledge, or the lack of it on Sri Lanka’s internal Tamil Tiger separatist war. It is time you stop your punditry pretending that you know it all as you really do not know much.   After all this time in your pretence, you have failed to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/11/12)

Response to Bob Rae's article titled 'Sri Lanka: Here lies the rule of law'
Mahinda Gunasekera   
By E-mail 84 Tambrook Drive Agincourt, ON M1W 3L9 Tel. (416) 498-0783 November 21, 2012 The Editor Globe and Mail 444 Front Street West Toronto Dear Editor, Response to Bob Rae's article titled 'Sri Lanka: Here lies the rule of law' published on November 21, 2012 I find Bob Rae's article has no substance as he too merely wants to join the band wagon of Sri Lanka thumping bogus pundits with exaggerated claims based on wild guesstimates and unsubstantiated allegations.  Bob Rae was part of the international charade along... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/11/12)

External Affairs Ministry Responds: Petrie prejudiced-Govt protests Petrie Report leak to media
The Daily News
The Ministry of External Affairs refers to the ‘Report of the Secretary General’s Internal Review Panel on UN action in Sri Lanka’ or the ‘Petrie Report’ which was leaked to the media the day prior to its being formally handed over to the Secretary General on November14, and officially made public the same day. While questioning the integrity of the report, the Sri Lanka government through its permanent Mission in New York protested against the leak of the Report on the very day, after the questionable action, to the office of the Secretary General. “The ‘Petrie... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/11/12)

MAKE NO TROUBLE FOR PSC - Parliamentarians
Courtesy The Daily News Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige
The impeachment motion is moved against the head of the Judiciary and it is hoped that judges, attorneys or other related parties would assist in continuing proceedings of this legal and constitutional action independently, as well as in a dignified manner without causing any hindrance, government parliamentarians including Ministers S B Dissanayake, W D J Seneviratne and Mahindananda Aluthgamage comprising the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) before which Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake appeared, said yesterday at a media briefing. Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne said the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/11/12)

Fully equipped IT laboratory to Kilinochchi Central College
  “Love Kilinochchi”
Students of Kilinochchi Central College now have the privilege and opportunity of attaining Information Technology (IT) education in their school curriculum. A fully equipped IT laboratory was developed and handed over to Kilinochchi Central College, today (22 November 2012) during a ceremony held at Kilinochchi. IT laboratory equipped with 8 Computers was donated by the Commercial Bank. Chairman, Commercial Bank Mr. Dinesh Weerakkody, Kilinochchi Security Forces Commander – Major General Udaya Perera, Managing Director – Commercial Bank Mr. Ravi Dias, Assistant General Managers of Commercial Bank, Regional Manager, Manager Commercial Bank Kilinochchi, other officials of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/11/12)

Sri Lanka's Money Hungry Jamiyyathul Ulama
Abdul Majeed
 Using Islam for monetary gains must be shunned. Sri Lanka's Jamiyyathul Ulama has made halaal certificates a commercial issue. Did we hear about this certificate just 5 years ago? Didn't we all know where & how to obtain our halaal food?  On the other hand do the non-believers need the certificate to buy their meat? I painfully read some communication between brother Adhil and some bake house recently. He called for a total boycott of their products, in return we teach the Sinhalese masses how to boycott ours!  We have lived in total harmony for generations and... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 23/11/12)

Dengue nation: The rise and spread of a viral challenge
R. Prasad
India plays host to all four types of dengue viruses now. New scientific insight points to the role of migration in their spread. The dissemination trail of the viruses includes Sri Lanka, Africa and the Americas. Disturbingly, morbidity and mortality in the country are rising The last few decades have seen dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, becoming one of the major public health concerns in the tropical and sub-tropical countries. So much so that over 40 per cent of the world’s population (2.5 billion) is at risk from dengue. According to the World Health Organisation, 50-100 million infections... -Full Story-
(thehindu.com - 23/11/12)

As Gaza is Savaged Again, Understanding the BBC’s Role Requires More Than Sentiment
By John Pilger
November 22, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - In Peter Watkins' remarkable BBC film, The War Game,which foresaw the aftermath of an attack on London with a one-megaton nuclear bomb, the narrator says: "On almost the entire subject of thermo-clear weapons, there is now practically total silence in the press, official publications and on TV. Is there hope to be found in this silence?" The truth of this statement was equal to its irony. On 24 November, 1965, the BBC banned The War Game as "too horrifying for the medium of broadcasting". This was false. The real... -Full Story-
(informationclearinghouse.info - 23/11/12)

A question of justice
H. L. D. Mahindapala
To say that the Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, is the central figure in the impeachment case is to state the obvious. It is her role that will be scrutinised minutely to test how well she has protected and maintained the independence of the judiciary to win the confidence of the public and the integrity of the judges in upholding the values and community standards on which the society depends for justice. In any society the independence of the judiciary does not mean that the judges can go out on their own, without any respect for... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 22/11/12)

Fonseka, Chief Justice and Hulftsdorp 'Sharks'
P.A.Samaraweera
There was a time when the UNP, JVP, TNA and the anti-govt forces were going after Sarath Fonseka. They knew him to be very ambitious  and used him to run for the President. The support given by them was his disaster. After the elections they dropped him like a hot brick. A couple of weeks ago Arjuna and Alles as well resigned from his political party. Fonseka's rally on the 18th was a failure. Now he has become a solitary reaper.   Today, the same forces who went after Fonseka are going behind the Chief Justice,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 22/11/12)

Radhika Coomaraswamy receives Fondation Chirac Special Jury Prize 2012 in Paris
Embassy of Sri Lanka Paris
On November 22nd, 2012, Radhika Coomaraswamy, former Under Secretary General of the United Nations/Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, was awarded the Special Jury Prize 2012 by the Fondation Chirac for her actions in favor of the protection of children during armed conflict in the presence of Bernadette Chirac, wife of the former French president Jacques Chirac. The event was also attended by former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Minister of Economy, François Baroin, French politicians and Ambassadors. Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka and Madam Sanja Jayatilleka were also present on this occasion. ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 22/11/12)

The UN Knew in 2008 that the LTTE Was Going to Use Civilians as Human Shields
By Kath Noble
Last week I felt like I had been transported back in time. We were back in those awful first six months of 2009, when I was by turns horrified at the plight of the people caught up in the fighting in the Vanni and disgusted with the way in which the international community was responding. Of course, we all wanted to stop the war. I hate violence. But as I argued then and continue to believe, at that point, the only way the war was going to stop was with the defeat of the LTTE. Prabhakaran... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 22/11/12)

LIFE ABROAD - Part III: Ha, 'English' sangfroid!
Dr.Tilak Fernando
  A crowded and confusing maze of corridors inside the Heathrow Airport did not pose a problem for me as hundreds of passengers after landing kept on moving towards immigration counters and baggage halls all the time (every three minutes either a plane takes off or lands at Heathrow). Metaphorically speaking, I appeared like a 'lost lamb in a flock of sheep driven forward automatically without a shepherd'! Immigration control was not sophisticated those days like now where separate lanes facilitate a quick turnaround for British/European passports holders to exit one by one as opposed to long... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 22/11/12)

Harper 'surprised' by protectionist feelings from U.S.
Prime minister fields questions in relaxed session at business forum in Ottawa-By Leslie MacKinnon,
Canada has changed its views when it comes to trade to the point that protectionist feelings on the Canadian right are "virtually non-existent," Prime Minister Harper told a business audience in Ottawa Monday. Harper said critics who opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement 25 years ago "predicted the disappearance of Canada as a nation" and "took a credibility hit" as a result. But Harper admitted he is surprised by the strong "protectionist discourse" coming from the United States.... -Full Story-
(cbc.ca - 22/11/12)

The Friday Forum and the Parliamentary Select Committee
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
The 'Friday Forum' as usual had woken up from it's deep slumber. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee, they have said , "...the process by a select committee was flawed and  had attracted criticism from 1984.." If so, why was it not rectified when there were impeachments against Chief Justices Neville Samarakoon and Sarath Silva. And also how is that all these retired arm chair 'Experts' of the Friday Forum did not take up this important issue before. Obviously because some were picking the crumbs from the previous governments. Now everyone knows about the 14 charges against the current Chief... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

MAKING BLACK WHITE - A LEGAL COUP
Editorial The Daily News
Is there a legal coup brewing in Hulftsdorp? The inspired may say it's a judicial coup, but since that could be mistaken falsely as effrontery of certain upstanding sections of the judiciary, the educated description would be a 'legal coup d'etat.' There are constitutional coups, and then there are constitutional coups that are launched through the legal apparatus, and these become quasi-constitutional coups, or what can be termed 'legal coups', at least to coin the apt phrase. There are sections within the greener than green legal community in Hulftsdorp (no, the reference is not to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

‘LEGAL COUP’ FROM HULFTSDORP
Courtesy The Daily News
There is a ‘legal coup’ or constitutional coup attempt brewing in Hulftsdorp among certain sections of the legal fraternity backed by powerful vested interests, informed sources tell this newspaper. These sources say that for a long time now, there have been subtly engineered attempts to subvert the elected government of the people, by attempting to legitimize the transfer of supremacy springing from the sovereignty of the people via the elected legislature, to the appointed judiciary. Certain prominent persons in the legal fraternity have been advocating that position in open court, while in a more subtle... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

THE WATER ENMITY
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
 The political government of Pakistan has been in a constant effort of establishing friendly relations with the neighbouring countries in spite of a lot of economic problems, continuous unfair international pressures and the ever hovering hostile clouds of enmity along the borders. It is not only the policy of the present government but on the whole the strategy of Pakistan since ever to promote cordial relationship with the neighbouring countries.  Following the same policy of friendship and alliance, a few days back President Asif Ali Zardari confirmed Pakistan's consent on visa agreement between Pakistan and India... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

Deepavali Celebration at the Sri Lanka High Commission, London
Press Release  Sri Lanka High Commission London
Over 130 members of the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora and other Sri Lankan community members living in the United Kingdom participated at the Deepavali celebration organised by the Sri Lanka High Commission in London on 16th November 2012.   The celebration commenced with a blessing and performing of Pooja by Sivasiri Ramanatha Kurukkal. “All Sri Lankans should unite irrespective of their religious beliefs and ethnic identity to develop the country” Sivasiri Ramanatha Kurukkal said while blessing the country, His Excellency the President, High Commissioner and the staff. Recalling memories of his visit... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

Deepavali Celebrated in Canada for a Third Time
PRESS  RELEASE Sri Lanka High Commission Ottawa
The Deepavali Festival was celebrated once again for the third time organized by the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa and, the Consulate General  on 18th November 2012 at the Don Bosco Auditorium in Toronto. The celebration commenced with the playing of the Nadaswaram and the National Anthems of Sri Lanka and Canada. Following the Hindu religious ceremony conducted by Kurukkal of Brampton Hindu Temple the Hindu cultural items included Baratha Natyam and other dance items performed by the School of Miss Namo Ponnambalam. Popular Hindi and Tamil songs were sung... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

Mayor of London invites Khalifa of Islam to City Hall
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.
 According to our Press Department, U.K., on 19 November 2012, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, welcomed Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Fifth Khalifa and World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, to City Hall.  During the 45-minute meeting the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and the Mayor discussed various issues, including the establishment of world peace, the true peaceful teachings of Islam, the efforts of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in fighting extremism and the persecution faced by the Jamaat in certain countries.   Praising the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at’s... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

"වැඩිවන විදුලි ඉල්ලූමත් සමඟ ලොව ඕනෑම රටකට, අන්තර්ජාතික ප්ර මිතීන්ට අනුව න්ය ෂ්ටික බලාගාර ඉදිකිරීමේ අයිතිය තියෙනවා"
ඇමති චම්පික රණවක, පරමාණුක සමස්ථානික තාක්ෂණය පිළිබඳ සමුළුවේදී පවසයි
 •        කාලගුණ විපර්යාස හේතුවෙන් සාගර පද්ධතියට වන බලපෑම සොයාබැලීමට පරමාණු තාක්ෂණය •        ලෝක කාලගුණ විපර්යාසයට බලපෑම් එල්ලකරන පොසිල ඉන්ධන ආශ්‍රිත බලශක්තියෙන් දුරස්වීම සඳහා බොහෝ රටවල් න්‍යෂ්ටික බලාගාර ඉදිකිරීමට පියවර ගැනේ.  අද වනවිට ලෝක බලශක්ති අවශ්‍යතාවයෙන් වැඩි කොටසක් සපුරාගන්නේ ගල් අඟ=රු, ඛණිජ තෙල් වැනි පොසිල ඉන්ධන භාවිතයෙන් බව ජාත්‍යන්තර වාර්තා අනාවරණය කරයි. මේ හේතුවෙන් කාලගුණ-දේශගුණ විපර්යාස අසාමාන්‍ය ලෙස සිදුවෙමින්, ලෝකයේ රටවල් බොහෝමයකට බලපෑම් එල්ලකරමින් තිබේ. මේ  තත්ත්වයත් සමග බලශක්ති උත්පාදනය වෙනුවෙන් න්‍යෂ්ටික තාක්ෂණය භාවිතයට යොමුවීම 1990 වර්ෂයේ සිට වැඩි ප්‍රවණතාවක් දක්වයි. මෑත කාලයේ සිදුවූ ෆුකුෂිමා න්‍යෂ්ටික බලාගාරයේ අනතුරත් සමඟ මේ පිළිබඳ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

SERVICE TAX - ..... how the restaurants loot your money in Sri Lanka ... Be aware
This happened at the restaurant. Let me explain.
 We had been to several restaurants recently. I observed that  "service tax" has been mis-used and charged to the customers like you and me.  Let me give an example.  Food and Beverage =            Rs. 1000.00 Service  Charges

10% =    Rs.   100.00    (10% on the Food and beverage amount) Service Tax
4.94% =         Rs.     54.34    (4.94% on F&B + Service Charges) VAT
14.5% =                      Rs.   145.00 Total =                                    Rs. 1299.34  As per the definition - "Service Tax can be charged only for the services provided to the customer".  Now, see... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

සාදින්නාගොඩ ඉපැරණි උමං මාර්ගය අනතුරේ -Save the Sadinnagoda Ancient Tunnel
ඒකාබද්ධ මාධ්‍ය නිවේදනය Joint Press Release 21-11-2012
ශී‍්‍ර ලංකා ඉතිහාසයේ හෙළ යුගය පිළිබඳව විවිධ මාධ්‍යයන් ඔස්සේ කතාබහට ලක්කරන සංවිධාන එකමුතුවක් වන අප, මේ මොහොතේ මතුව ඇති සුවිශේෂ තත්වයක් සම්බන්ධව ඒකාබද්ධ නිවේදනයක් මෙසේ නිකුත්කර සිටිමු.         උමාඔය බහුකාර්ය ව්‍යාපෘතිය යටතේ ඇල්ල - වැල්ලවාය මාර්ගයේ 10 කණුව, සාදින්නාගල කන්ද හරහා කැණීම් කටයුතු සිදුකෙරෙමින් පැවතියදී හදිසියේ මතුවී ඇති ඉපැරණි උමං මාර්ගයක පැහැදිලි සලකුණු පිළිබඳව, ඡුායාරූප ද සහිතව පසුගියදා මාධ්‍ය කිහිපයකින්ම අනාවරණය කරන ලදී. මේ ලිපිය සකස්කරන මොහොත වනතෙක් දැනගන්නට ලැබෙන තොරතුරුවලට අනුව නම්, පුරාවිද්‍යාත්මක සහ භූ විද්‍යාත්මක සුවිශේෂත්වයක් දැකගත හැකි මෙම උමං මාර්ගික ස්ථානය හා ඒ අවට පිළිබඳව කිසිදු ගවේශණයක් සිදු... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 21/11/12)

“Karunanidhi hopeful of UN intervening in Tamils issue”
Asada M Erpini
Karunanidhi is reported to have said (Hindu, November 20) that he was hopeful that the UN would intervene in the Tamil issue. “Why not?” many would say: after all he is the  leader of the DMK, a political party in Tami Nadu, which is home to over 70 million Tamils. The absurdity of the story is that he is referring to Sri Lanka’s Tamils, who are citizens of a completely different and independent state. Karunanidhi has made it clear that India voted against Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council sessions (in May 2012) at the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/11/12)

Law Professors on impeachment: PROCESS IS CONSTITUTIONAL
Priyanka Kurugala- The Daily News
* Attempts being made to mislead country * Present Standing Orders introduced by an earlier govt The procedure followed in the current impeachment of the Chief Justice is fully in accord with the present constitution although various distortions and misrepresentations are made by certain elements to mislead the country, Colombo University Prof Prathibha Mahanama Hewa said. Colombo University Prof Prathibha Mahanama Hewa addressing the Press at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday. Prof Ven Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera and Kelaniya University Mass Communication Head Rohana... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/11/12)

'Daily News' says sorry - and adds that Sher Azad column is discontinued
- EDITOR of the Daily News-Courtesy: Daily News ( Nov. 20, 2012)
A column commissioned by the previous editor of the Daily News written by one Sher Azad which appeared in the Daily News of Saturday (17/11), is being discontinued forthwith by the current editor as part of the reorganizational efforts of this newspaper, after taking over duties a few days back. The Sher Azad column will not appear anymore in the Daily News, and if any of the contents of that writer's last column hurt the sensibilities of any community, we tender a sincere apology in this regard,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/11/12)

The UN’s plan for making white people feel better
By Kath Noble -Courtesy The Island
Last week I felt like I had been transported back in time. We were back in those awful first six months of 2009, when I was by turns horrified at the plight of the people caught up in the fighting in the Vanni and disgusted with the way in which the international community was responding. Of course, we all wanted to stop the war. I hate violence. But as I argued then and continue to believe, at that point, the only way the war was going to stop was with the defeat of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/11/12)

THE MALALA EPISODE
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
 What happened to Malala is not simply a tale of brutality, cruelty, violence and aggression, it is something else based on intrigue and conspiracy. Though the militants in Pakistan are being held responsible for this cowardly inhuman action against an innocent young girl but there are people who have an altogether different opinion regarding this incident and they certainly have a lot of very solid and logical arguments in support of their point of view; they say that this brutal act is the handiwork of various anti-Pakistan foreign elements working in Pakistan under the guidance of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/11/12)

2012 නොවැම්බර් මස 03 වන දින තාජ් සමුඣි හෝටලයේ පැවැත්වු සාම සම්මේලනයේ දී කියවන ලද අහ්මදිය්යා මුස්ලීම් සමාජයේ වර්තමාන නායක හසරත් මිර්සා මස්රූර් අහ්මද්, කලීෆතුල් මසීහ් ඩ තුමාණන්ගේ පණිවිඩය
අස්සලාමු අෙලෙකුම් වරහ්මතුල්ලාහි වබරකාතුහු (අල්ලාහ්ගේ ශාන්තිය හා සමාදානය අත්වේවා ෟ
ශ‍්‍රී ලංකා ජමාතය සිය ප‍්‍රථම ජාතික සාම සම්මේලනය 2012 නොවැම්බර් මස 03 වන දින පවත්වන බව දැන ගැනීමට ලැබීමෙන් මා අතිශයින්ම සතුටට පත් වූයෙමි. මෙම අවස්ථාවට ඉහල පෙලේ ගෞරවාන්විත නායකයින් කිහිප දෙනෙකුද සහභාගි වන බව මට දැන ගන්නට ලැබුනි. මුලූ මහත් ලෝකයේම සාමය හා කාරුණීකත්වය තහවුරු කර ගැනීම සඳහා බොහෝ දෙනා එක් රැුස් වීමෙන්, ඇහුම්කන් දීමෙන්, අවබෝධ කර ගැනීමෙන් හා කථා කිරීම මගින් මිනිස් ගුණධර්ම ආරක්ෂා කර ගැන්ම අරමුණුකොට ගෙන ආගමික හෝ ජාතිභේද නොතකා කි‍්‍රයා කරන බව දැන ගන්නට ලැබීම මා ඉමහත් සතුටට පත්වන කරුණකි. අහ්මදිය්යා මුස්ලිම් සමාජය යනු... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 20/11/12)

A Pillar Built on Sand
John Mearsheimer
In response to a recent upsurge in tit for tat strikes between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza, Israel decided to ratchet up the violence even further by assassinating Hamas’s military chief, Ahmad Jabari. Hamas, which had been playing a minor role in these exchanges and even appears to have been interested in working out a long-term ceasefire, predictably responded by launching hundreds of rockets into Israel, a few even landing near Tel Aviv. Not surprisingly, the Israelis have threatened a wider conflict, to include a possible invasion of Gaza to topple Hamas and eliminate the... -Full Story-
(lrb.co.uk - 20/11/12)

A Reply to Frances Harrison of the Huffington Post.
By Charles.S.Perera
In an article  to  the Huffington Post of the 16 November,2012 Frances Harrison asks, “ What if the UN Had Spoken Out on Sri Lanka ?”  The article is to blame UN for suppressing the information it is supposed to have had  about 50,000 casualties in a war off limit to journalists and asks  if today the United Nations had informed  the receipt of such unconfirmed reports    ” wouldn’t the world take notice of it ?” What would have happened ?  We know what happened in Libya . We have seen in Libya  what happened when the ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/11/12)

Hon. Don Randall (MP), Your Interview In Ada Derana TV Sri Lanka
Vajiragnana  Warnakulasuriya
Hon. Don Randall (MP),  Dear Mr.Randall,  I have responded to you on several occasions having read your candid observations on Sri Lanka after your several visits. In your recent Adaderana TV interview you once again confirmed these along with the present progress. It is indeed gratifying to hear a positive report on Sri Lanka from an Australian representative from the Federal Parliament. Please accept my sincere appreciation.  I get the feeling these are unsolicited observations that you made in your unaided travel with your wife. I believe you were in Sri Lanka as another tourist who enjoyed the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/11/12)

"දැන් ලෝකයේ උදාවෙලා තියෙන්නේ ආසියාවේ/ ඉන්දියානු සාගරයේ යුගයයි"
 ඇමති චම්පික රණවක පවසයි
•        ආර්ථීක, තාක්ෂණික සහ යාන්ත්‍රික බලය අතින් යුරෝපය අභිබවා ආසියාව ඉදිරියට ඇදෙයි. •        ගමේ දරුවන්ට හොඳ ප්‍රතිඵල අරන් ඉදිරියටම යන්න, ටියුෂන් අධ්‍යාපනය අද හේතුවෙලා.  ආසියානු රටවල්, කිසිම රටක් ආක්‍රමණය කිරීමට පෙළඹි නැහැ. ආක්‍රමණශීලී වූවා නම් කොලොම්බස්ට ප්‍රථම, ඊට වසර 100 කට පෙර, කොලොම්බස්ගේ නැවට වඩා 17 ගුණයක විශාල නැවකින් ලොව වටා ගිය චෙන් හී නමැති චීන ජාතිකයාගෙන් පසු එම ආක්‍රමණ යුගය පටන්ගන්න තිබුණා.   ඇමති චම්පික රණවක පවසයි  1930 දශකයේ කන්නන්ගර මැතිතුමා නිදහස් අධ්‍යාපනය අරඹා, රටේ සැමටම අධ්‍යාපනයේ අයිතිය එකසේ තහවුරු කරන්න උත්සාහ දැරුවත්, එය කොළඹ, මහනුවර, ගාල්ල, යාපනය වැනි ප්‍රධාන නගර කිහිපයකට පමණක් සීමා වුණා.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/11/12)

PR - Seminar on Grad Application Process for Students in Computer Science
Graduate Application Process for Students in Computer Science
SL2 College seminar team is conducting a webinar on Graduate Application Process for Students in Computer Science. The details of which are presented below: Date: Sunday, 25th of November 2012 Time: 7.00 - 8.00 pm (Sri Lanka Time) Join us live via YouTube at www.sl2college.org/seminar The panel of speakers comprise of past and present graduate students and faculty members from universities including University of British Columbia, Canada; Indiana University, Bloomington, USA and Queensland University of Technology, Australia. Some of the topics that will be covered include differences between Masters and PhD... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/11/12)

PERADENIYA GRADS GET-TOGETHER IN OTTAWA
By Rajendra Alwis
 A special General Meeting and get-together of the newly formed Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, Canada – Ottawa Chapter (AAUPOC) was held on 29 Oct, at the St. Monica Perish Church, Ottawa, Canada. The evening witnessed a large turn up of alumni who studied in various faculties at the University of Peradeniya such as Arts, Science, Medicine, Engineering, and Agriculture. The alumni members gathered here comprised of distinguished senior government officials, professional engineers, research scientists, university professors, medical practitioners and renowned academicians. The assembled alumni and their families responded enthusiastically to the events of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/11/12)

Drinking excess alcohol and smoking harm the liver.
Dr Hector Perera      London
The present generation is more knowledgeable on most subjects such as political, medical or even on different religions due to information available from so many resources. I am sure still some people are not too much worried about getting a periodic health check although the expert medical advice is to get it done for their own sake. We got used to the habit of going to a doctor only when something is wrong not otherwise. Unlike in the past most people are cared about the health and come to know more information about the problems... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 19/11/12)

Prove China spy allegations or 'shut up,' ambassador says
Zhang Junsai's comments follow scathing U.S. intelligence committee report
Beijing's representative in Ottawa says Chinese firms are not involved in foreign espionage and he challenges anyone who says otherwise to produce evidence or keep quiet, in a rare interview airing Saturday on CBC Radio's The House. Zhang Junsai, China's ambassador to Canada, tells host Evan Solomon, "I can assure you that our companies working in other countries are strictly doing business according to the local laws." "If you really have the evidence, come [out] with it. If not... shut up," Zhang says in no uncertain terms.... -Full Story-
(cbc.ca - 19/11/12)

THE ROVING EYE - Bomb Iran? No. Bomb Gaza? Yes!
By Pepe Escobar
So many wars to launch, so little time. When you're the political leader of the most militarized nation on the planet - as is the case with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu - you gotta find ways to play with your toys. Even if you're itching to, you can't bomb Iran because you don't have the right bunker buster bombs and enough fighter jet refueling capability. And on top of it, re-elected US President Barack Obama has made it absolutely clear; the way forward is diplomacy, not bombs.... -Full Story-
(atimes.com - 19/11/12)

Ideas for building up our economy
By Garvin Karunaratne, Ph.D. former Government Agent, Matara District
 Limitations of Foreign Investment and the Private Sector
Senior Minister Sarath Amunugama has  recently said that both Foreign Investment as well as the Private Sector have not contributed as expected for our development. This is true because of inherent factors. Foreign Investment depends on the activities of foreign investors whose main idea is to invest and take way profits. If they find that other countries offer more attractive terms they are likely to take flight, as did happen in Malaysia and Thailand in the 1998 East Asian Financial Crisis.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/11/12)

“13th Amendments meaningless” – TNA MP
Asada M Erpini
“Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran admitted that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is ‘meaningless’ and that the TNA had rejected it right from the start”, goes a report in the Sunday Observer on 18 November.  This writer, as well as the large majority of the peace-loving in Sri Lanka – irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliations – no doubt, will wholeheartedly agree with the view expressed by the TNA MP. They would all only hope that the statement is a genuine sentiment.  The 13th Amendment (13A) was a ‘solution’ that was... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/11/12)

UN Failed in Sri Lanka , Yes it did !
An opinion by Sanjaya Arachchige
 The mechanism that UN has put in place to “leak” information that is intended to be leaked is admirable.  The second report that it leaked about Sri Lanka few days ago has served its purpose like the first one. Since the report has been  officially released, it is appropriate for us- ordinary Sri Lankans to express our views on the UN’s “Failure” and its “Leaking” strategy regarding  Sri Lanka. Ever since this “LEAK”, the Western media has been firing volleys of news alerts, using this piece of information as their latest propaganda weapon... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/11/12)

U.N. Report on Sri Lanka
Ira de Silva London, Ontario, Canada
Many articles have been written regarding the report from the U.N. claiming failure in Sri Lanka during the last stages of the war against the Tamil terrorists in May 2009. This implies that the U.N. considers itself "successful" in the almost thirty years that the Tamil terrorists waged war on the people of Sri Lanka and failed only in 2009. Let us examine what this success was. These are some of the highlights. When there were massacres of civilians to ethnically cleanse areas the Tamil terrorists wanted to claim as their “homeland”, thousands... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/11/12)

Many Unitary States do have Autonomous Units - A Reply to Professor Peter Schalk's Anti-Sri Lankan Bigotry
By Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
 My last conversation with Prof Peter Schalk was in the faculty dining room at Georgetown University in the fall of 2005, when I was a visiting professor at the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC. We were speaking at seminar on conflict in the Asian region hosted by the East–West Centre of the University of Hawaii. At brunch I believe it was, I reiterated with emphasis, to Prof Schalk what I had said at the seminar, namely that the Tigers strategic military achievement was unimpressive to me from a comparative... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/11/12)

CHANDRA WICKRAMASINGHE SAYS SRI LANKA RED RAIN SIMILAR TO KERALA ONES DEFINITELY WITH COSMIC CONNECTIONS
by Walter Jayawardhana
Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, Director of the Astrobiological Center at the Buckingham University, England said the recent phenomenon of red rain in Sri Lanka is reportedly similar to the red rain in Kerala in 2011 and 2009 which definitely had some cosmic connection In an email interview with this correspondent he said, “from all reports I have heard,I think the red rain in Sri Lanka is similar to the red rain of Kerala of 2001 and 2009. Professor Godfrey Louis (of Kerala) together with colleagues and  students have been studying this material now for over five... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/11/12)

PIRITH CHANTING IN LONDON TO INVOKE BLESSINGS FOR PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA
PRESS RELEASE The High Commission of Sri Lanka London
Fifteen Venerable members of the Maha Sangha  from several Buddhist Viharas in the United Kingdom gathered to invoke blessings on His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a Pirith Chanting and Sanghika Dana organised by the Sri Lanka High Commission in London. Chief Incumbent of the London Buddhist Vihara Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Kingsbury Buddhist Vihara Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara  Ven. Dr. Vitharandeniya Kassapa Nayake Thero and Venerable Maha Sangha Theras from the following Buddhist... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 18/11/12)

Wikileaks exposed scandalous Norwegian peace facilitation again
Falk RovikNAT
In October 2012 Wikileaks exposed more documents related to the scandalous Norwegian peace facilitation. It reveals Norway’s attack on freedom of speech. The Norwegian MFA is providing false and fraudulent information about me, Sri Lankan Patriots and The Government of Sri Lanka. Enclosed is an Adobe PDF with my comments to the confidential cable sent from the US Embassy in Oslo to the US State Department in Washington.... -Full Story-
(lankaweb.com - 18/11/12)

Gaza War Could Pave the Way for Israeli Attack on Iran
by Jason Ditz, November 16, 2012
'Show of Strength' Against Tiny Strip Aimed at Proving Military Readiness.Air strikes are escalating and Israel seems to be on the verge of sending a ground invasion force into Gaza Strip. All eyes are on Gaza, but perhaps not Benjamin Netanyahu’s eyes, which remain squarely on Iran. And indeed, even the escalations against Gaza are looking more and more like part of a broader strategy to sell the public on a future attack on Iran, with officials touting the rag-tag militias in the tiny, besieged strip as Iran’s “front line.”... -Full Story-
(news.antiwar.com - 18/11/12)

Stop pretending the US is an uninvolved, helpless party in the Israeli assault on Gaza
Glenn Greenwald
The Obama administration's unstinting financial, military and diplomatic support for Israel is a key enabling force in the conflict .A central premise of US media coverage of the Israeli attack on Gaza - beyond the claim that Israel is justifiably "defending itself" - is that this is some endless conflict between two foreign entitles, and Americans can simply sit by helplessly and lament the tragedy of it all. The reality is precisely the opposite: Israeli aggression is possible only because of direct, affirmative, unstinting US diplomatic, financial and military support for Israel and everything it does. This self-flattering... -Full Story-
(guardian.co.uk - 18/11/12)

The Power Principle Part 1: Empire
Metanoia Films
This documentary is about the foreign policy of the United States. It is the first of three parts. It demonstrates the importance of the political economy, the Mafia principle, propaganda, ideology, violence and force. It documents and explains how the policy is based on the interest of major corporations and a tiny elite to increase profits and the United States governments own interests in maintaining and expanding it's imperialistic influence.... -Full Story-
(forbiddenknowledgetv.com - 18/11/12)

Gaza crisis: Hamas aims missile at Jerusalem for first time
By Damien McElroy, Tel Aviv
Hamas aimed a missile at Jerusalem for the first time on Friday night, as Israeli ministers and military chiefs convened to discuss a ground invasion of Gaza.... -Full Story-
(telegraph.co.uk - 18/11/12)

Gaza conflict shows how the power of the Arab Spring was underestimated
Richard Spencer
The surprise in western capitals at the imminent Gaza war is a sign that the real risk of the Arab Spring may have been overlooked, writes Richard Spencer... -Full Story-
(telegraph.co.uk - 18/11/12)

Israel-Gaza conflict: US blames ruling Hamas group for starting the clash
indiatoday
The White House on Saturday defended Israel's right to defend itself against attack and decide how to respond to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, blaming the ruling Islamic militant Hamas group for starting the conflict . Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in agreement that a de-escalation of the violence is preferred, provided that Hamas stops sending rocket into Israel, Deputy National Security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters during the president's flight on Air Force One to Asia.... -Full Story-
(indiatoday.intoday.in - 18/11/12)

‘Israel knowingly targeted the media’ – RT reporter in Gaza
RT
The crew of RT’s Arabic-language sister channel Rusiya Al-Yaum barely escaped death as Israeli rockets targeted the media center in Gaza and destroy the building where they work. An Israeli airstrike on a media compound in Gaza city injured at least six journalists, one of whom lost his leg, Palestinian medical officials say. RT Arabic correspondent Saed Suerki said four missiles hit their office building. One of them came through the roof, reached the 10th floor, destroying everything in its path – including the equipment of al-Quds TV, a channel Israel accuses of spreading Hamas propaganda.... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 18/11/12)

Israel-Hamas 'Open War': LIVE UPDATES
RT
The US embassy in Israel has suspended consular services and instructed workers to keep children home from schools in areas located south of Herzliya. Embassy employees in Be'er Sheva have been temporary moved north to Herzliya.... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 18/11/12)

Obama's mini revolution
H. L. D. Mahindapala
 After the gruelling, 6-billion presidential election, America is sitting in the afterglow of a comparatively quiet revolution which has happened with a narrow margin, leaving America divided into two growling halves. The import of the election is yet to surface in full force. Eventually when it makes its presence felt it will stand out as the reference point from which America will draw its directions as it heads into the years to come.  The re-election of Obama is more than a personal victory for him. It is, by far, the election that will define the critical ideological shift which runs into many layers. Primarily, it is... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

Telling the Truth : UN failed 20million Sri Lankans not the ghost estimates
Shenali Waduge
 Exactly what is the UN’s game plan in continuously subjecting Sri Lanka to the wave of harassment it has been subject to increasing as a result of eliminating a terrorist organization when UN in 30 years had done pittance to bring the peace it is mandated to do? Are these reports coming one after the other as punishment for eliminating an internationally banned terrorist organization? If so, every citizen in Sri Lanka (exclusive of those that are indirect or direct supporters of the LTTE) is prepared to stand on the dock in any criminal court to accept... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

Implications of President Obama’s Asian visit to Buddhist Burma
Shenali Waduge 
When the US declares a country is of “national interest” it should not be hard to guess the reasons why more so when President Obama himself is to arrive in Burma to start an obvious “US enters Asia” drive on 19 November 2012. The US wishlist is also clear – it wants Burma to be “friends” with India implying to distance from China, US wants Burma to close ties with North Korea, it wants greater autonomy for the Rohingyas at the behest of Saudi Arabia which given the militancy attached to the Rohingyas spells clear dangers of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

Charles Haviland, BBC, Colombo: On last the last phase of the Eelam War
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 . Canada
15 November 2012 OPEN LETTER  to Charles Haviland, BBC NEWS ASIA, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Dear Charles Haviland: I just happened to read your Analysis on the final months of the Tamil Tiger separatist war in Sri Lanka. Permit me to analyze your ‘Analysis’ of the events that you seem to have pulled together from various author-accounts which turn out to be a typical British dog’s breakfast. 1.‘The final months of the war saw hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians -330,000, according to the UN Panel... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

Sri Lanka Army raises a fruit orchard at Manik Farm site
Asada M Erpini
 Manik Farm in Vavuniya was labelled by the LTTE supporters and the media correspondents from the West as a concentration camp or as detention centre. All that this anti-Sri Lanka brigade saw was that there were Tamil civilians behind barbed wire fences. The fact that these people who had been rescued by the Sri Lanka army were kept at Manik Farm, and other such refugee centres, until the landmines laid by the LTTE could be cleared and their villages declared safe was rarely mentioned. In all these stories, the Sri Lanka armed forces, which had rescued... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

MANIPULATIVE CHRISTIAN CONVERSIONS IN SRI LANKA: SOME PERSPECTIVES
by Senaka Weeraratna
 PREFACE  Buddhism which has been the moral and spiritual force in Sri Lanka in the last 2500 years, having survived a prolonged period (nearly 450 years) of persecution and discrimination directed at its adherents under western colonial rule, now faces a serious challenge from a growing Christian evangelical movement, represented mostly by foreign funded non-governmental organisations (NOGs) based in the country. This movement has as its overall aim the creation of a numerically and politically powerful Christian community in Sri Lanka (and also in South Asia) through a rapid conversion into Christianity of large numbers of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

A Victory of Sorts
By Philip Giraldi • November 7, 2012, 2:09 PM
The defeat of Mitt Romney is a victory for those of us who seek sane foreign and defense policies based on the traditional conservative principles that government policies should always serve clearly defined U.S. national interests while avoiding unnecessary interventionism overseas. Romney was truly an empty suit on foreign policy and it should be assumed that he would have continued the worst parts of the Obama program while adding some particular wrinkles of his own. His victory would have meant a return of the neocons to the front stage... -Full Story-
(theamericanconservative.com - 17/11/12)

Did Israel Honey Trap CIA Boss David Petraeus?
Washington correspondent, Chris McGreal, writes:
Senior figures in the American military, including General David Petraeus who has commanded US forces in both wars, have identified Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian land as an obstacle to resolving those conflicts. McGreal is referring to the general's official "posture" statement on US Central Command -- which Petraeus was in charge of before he was redeployed to Afghanistan by President Obama . In this, he says: The [Israel-Palestine] conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of US favouritism for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth... -Full Story-
(newstatesman.com - 17/11/12)

Who is Promoting U.S. ‘Human Rights’ Foreign Policy
By Maidhc Ó Cathail
The foreign policy of Ulysses S. Grant was “remarkable” for its concern about human rights issues, according to the author of a new book on the 18th president of the United States. “America, prior to the Civil War, had been very reluctant to call out other countries on issues of human rights,” said Jonathan Sarna, the author of When General Grant Expelled the Jews, during a discussion of the book presented by the National Archives and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month in August this year.... -Full Story-
(thepassionateattachment.com - 17/11/12)

Invitation to the Closing Ceremony and Cultural Show on Sunday,18th November, 2012 at Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Theatre of the Nena Guna Weduma: Sisu Diriya National Programme (Programme for Developing Leadership Skills of Students from Conflict-affected
Dear Madam/ Sir,
Office of the Director of Social Development Affairs to the President, Presidential Secretariat
cordially invites you to the Closing Ceremony and Cultural Show (Performances by Students - Sisu Diriya Rangana 2012  and  Aru Sri Art Theatre Produced and Directed by Mrs. Arunthathy Sri Ranganathan) of the   Nena Guna Weduma: Sisu Diriya National Programme (Programme for Developing Leadership Skills of Students from Conflicted-affected and Difficult Areas)    on   Sunday, 18th November, 2012   4:00 pm Onward (Closing Ceremony begins at 4:00 pm, Cultural Show begins at 6:30 pm) ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

Decision To Hold The 2013 Commonwealth Meeting In Colombo Was Wrong- UK Foreign Affairs Committee
Herold Leelawardena
It is reported that 'UK Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee' is very concerned about Human Rights abuses in Sri Lanka. That is well and good, but at no time should we let them forget their own human rights violations of past and present. We should remind 'the UK Foreign Affairs Committee’ to go look at self in the mirror every morning and reminiscence cruelty ‘Her Majesty's Torturers’ inflicted during their uninvited rule in many countries.  Amazingly, no ‘UK Foreign Affairs Committee’ or UNHRC or HRW touched upon hundreds of thousands of Kenyans that were severely ill-treated during Mau... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

“Moves to repeal the 13th Amendment would damage Sri Lanka’s future” - Sampanthan
Asada M  Erpini
Dear Mr. R. Sampanthan TNA Leader  Your pronouncement that the moves to repeal the 13th Amendment (to the constitution of Sri Lanka) would damage Sri Lanka’s future, as reported in the media on 16 November, would not surprise any peace-loving Sri Lankan. The tax-paying Sri Lankans, the large majority of whom happen to belong to the Sinhala ethnic group who also are contributing to the salaries and other enviable perks enjoyed by the parliamentarians, including you, are yet to hear a word of praise from you as regards the stupendous achievement of the Sri Lanka government... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

Sri Lanka’s Prison Riots : Media ethics
Shenali Waduge
For a country used to daily bombs, suicide attempts, assassinations and LTTE terror since May 2009 there has been little of such news to launch anti-Sri Lanka slogans. Many of the movements, organizations existing because of terrorist activity has had nothing much to report either so when something like a prison riot comes along its just perfect news and ideal to start the smear campaign that they are funded to do. It is even more amusing how pro-LTTE terrorist websites are jumping to condemn the prison riot and quick to insinuate that the army was involved in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

Commonwealth Secretary-General concerned about parliamentary move to impeach Sri Lankan chief justice
Director of Communications and Public Affairs-Commonwealth Secretariat
15 November 2012 Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma today expressed concern about the recent move by the Parliament of Sri Lanka to impeach the country’s Chief Justice, Dr Shirani Bandaranayake. Speaking in London, the Secretary-General said: “The Commonwealth's principal consideration is that the provisions of Sri Lanka's constitution are upheld with regards to the removal of judges, respecting the independence of the judiciary.” The Secretary-General stressed that the Commonwealth believes the preservation of the rule of law and independence of the judiciary are vital to the healthy functioning of a democracy. He... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 17/11/12)

Sri Lankan ‘refugees’ detained in Australia and the brutal offensive against Tamil Tigers - SMH
Asada M Erpini
A Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au) report dated 16 November, quoted by local Sri Lanka media, refers to a Tamil detained in Melbourne who had attempted suicide. The SMH correspondents go on to mention other similar events and the deportation of ‘refugees’ from Sri Lanka. It adds that international pressure “builds up for a boycott of the upcoming Commonwealth meeting” in Sri Lanka. The international pressure that SMH refers to is from a handful of affluent nations, comprising a mere four or five, which habitually never see anything positive happening in Sri Lanka, and their choirboys who... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/11/12)

Nation made to fear to identify by their Name in their own Indigenous land!
Anura Senevirathna (expat Hela team).      
 Most nations proudly identify with their national name and their land bears the name of their nation of people as the basic human right to their sovereign country, so no foreign entity can ever raise an illegal claim to their natural heritage to the end of the world.  The island country known as Sri Lanka without its authentic national name can be named as the only country in the world, where its Indigenous  Nation of Sinhelas are subjected to the greatest national violations in history. Although, its original name Heladiva, Island of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/11/12)

ලෝක දේශගුණ විපර්යාසය පිළිබඳව සාකච්ඡුා කිරීමට, ලෝකයේ පරිසර හිතකාමී පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්තරීහිමවරු එක්රැස්වේ.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
x        මීට වසර 20 කට පෙර ලෝකයේ දේශගුණ විපර්යාස සම්බන්ධව පලකළ අනාවැකි 100% ක් සත්‍ය වී ඇති බවට තහවුරු වේ. x        දේශගුණික විපර්යාස වලට ප‍්‍රධානතම හේතුව පොසිල ඉන්ධන භාවිතයයි.  අද වනවිට ලෝකයේ සෑම රටකටම පාහේ දේශගුණික විපර්යාසයේ දරුණු බලපෑම් එල්ලවීී ඇත. මීට වසර 20 කට පෙර දේශගුණික විපර්යාස ප‍්‍රශ්නය පිළිබඳව ලෝක මට්ටමේ සංවාදයක් ඇතිවූ අතර එහිදී පලකළ අනාවැකි, වර්තමානයේ යථාර්තයක් බවට පත්වී ඇති බව අමාත්‍ය චම්පික රණවක මහතා පවසයි. අමාත්‍යවරයා මෙම අදහස් පලකළේ, ආසියානු, අප‍්‍රිකානු සහ මැදපෙරදිග රටවල් 10 ක පරිසර හිතකාමී පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත‍්‍රීවරුන් රැුස්වන, ලෝක දේශගුණික පාර්ලිමේන්තු සභාවේ ප‍්‍රධාන ආරාධිත අමුත්තා... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/11/12)

Ossie Abeyagoonesekera: An Appreciation
David Gladston- former British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
 I got to know Ossie when I was British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, during the dark days of the Second JVP Insurrection in 1988.  His predecessor, Vijaya Kumaratunga, had been assassinated early in the year and it was clear that the threat of a similar fate would hang over whoever succeeded him.  But once elected Ossie never flinched from the challenge and I came to admire his courage as well as his political skills as he held his party together and maintained it as a credible political force.  ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/11/12)

එන්.ජී.ඕ. 2 ක්‌ වසර 26 ක්‌ පුරා මේ රටේ ගබ්සා 8,81,077 ක්‌ කරලා - දිවයින- බොදු බල සේනා ලේකම් ගලබොඩඅත්තේ ඤාණසාර හිමියෝ කියති
දිවයින
වසර 26 ක්‌ තුළ රාජ්‍ය නොවන ආයතන දෙකක්‌ විසින් මේ රටේ නීති විරෝධී ගබ්සා කිරීම් 8,81,077 ක්‌ (අට ලක්‍ෂ අසූඑක්‌ දහස්‌ හැත්තෑ හතක්‌) සිදුකර ඇතැයි බොදු බල සේනා ජාලයේ මහ ලේකම් ගලබොඩඅත්තේ ඤාණසාර හිමියෝ පැවසූහ. එයින් ගබ්සා කිරීම් 8,77,963 ක්‌ම සිදුකර ඇත්තේ විවිධ උපකරණ භාවිතයෙන් බව සහ සෙසු ගබ්සා කිරීම් සඳහා විවිධ පෙති හා කරල් භාවිත කර ඇති බව තහවුරු වී ඇතැයි උන්වහන්සේ පැවැසූහ. එසේම අදාළ රාජ්‍ය නොවන ආයතන දෙක වසර 25 කට වැඩි කාලයක්‌ තිස්‌සේ වඳ සැත්කම් සිදුකරමින් මේ රටේ සිංහල ජාතිය සහමුලින්ම නැතිකර දැමීමේ ජාත්‍යන්තර කුමන්ත්‍රණයක්‌ ක්‍රියාත්මක කරගෙන යන බවත්, මෙයට දෙමළ ප්‍රජාවද ගොදුරුවී ඇති... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/11/12)

TNA wants nine provinces replaced with three or four zones -
 By Saman Indrajith Courtesy The Island November 15, 2012, 10:08 pm
 The government should do away with the existing provinces and introduce a system of devolution and administration consisting of three or four zones so that the expenditure to maintain nine provincial councils could be reduced, TNA Leader R. Sampanthan, MP said in Parliament yesterday.  He warned that any attempt to repeal the 13th Amendment could cause grave harm and irreparable damage to the country’s future.  Taking part in the fifth-day of the second reading stage of the budget debate, TNA Leader Sampanthan said any attempt to modify or nullify the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/11/12)

Religions and Worldviews – the intimate connection
R Chandrasoma
The word ‘worldview’ ( in German Weltanschauung, Sinhala Chinthanaya) denotes the fundamental orientation of a society or civilization in dealing with the problems and challenges of the world – its basic attitudes on how man ought to interact with his fellows and the world so as  to ensure general beneficence for the living and  protection for the environment that supports him and his fellow-creatures. In translating this professed lofty ‘philosophy’ into practical action, what is deemed good for some may multiply misery for others. This is the great challenge for mankind in our current age.  There is... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/11/12)

(MP) Wimal Weerawansa’s Fascinating prediction about Sarath Fonseka’s future
... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 16/11/12)

JVP’s Political bankruptcy and that of the UNP
By Charles.  S.Perera
 JVP Parliamentarian Anura Dissanayake  says “The institutions they themselves wanted us to believe as ‘supreme’ are being demolished by Rajapaksa regime. They are being belittled and slandered. The impeachment process is not carried out for truth, justice or fair play. If you can read between the lines you would be able to see what the real intention is.  This is the real nature of Rajapaksa. All institutions they want to be cowed down are being insulted, slandered, threatened and attacked,”   The JVP are following the tactics of the  Western Governments, UN Officials, Human Rights Activists ,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 16/11/12)

A proper forum for world peace: Sri Lanka should initiate action
Asada M Erpini
What baloney! Many in Europe and the US (assuming that the Americans are familiar with this expression) will naturally pooh pooh the idea. On the contrary, Sri Lanka has every right to talk to the peace-loving nations in the world and get them together to establish a union of sovereign nations that does not have to cow down to the diktats of the USA and other rich and powerful nations, which only want to impose their hegemony on peoples who had their own cultures and civilisations for many millennia prior to what is known as US... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/11/12)

UN admits failure in Sri Lanka
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario .Canada
 November 15, 2012  The Editor THE OTTAWA CITIZEN  Dear Editor:  Let's get this story right about Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger separatist war once and for all.  It is not only the Tamil civilians who got killed, which is being blamed on the Sri Lankan Government soldiers, the Sinhalese and Muslim civilians  too were killed in the thousands by the Tamil Tigers, with machates, AK47s, claymore mines, suicide bombs, and other sophisticated war weapons. It was an every day affair which hijacked the right-to-life of 21 million peoples by the Tamil... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/11/12)

Are Russia,China and Iran losing out to the Empire?
By Hameed Abdul Karim
 The crisis in Syria has put Russia, China and Iran at loggerheads with the larger Arab population. What the Syrians wanted was for Assad to relinquish his power and transfer it to the people as early peaceful protests indicated. For months, the Syrians protested peacefully but when Bashar Assad retaliated with violence, the protesters took to arms. Perhaps President Bashar  Assad and his coterie of power hungry despots thought they could get away with a slaughter similar to the one the late Hafez  Assad inflicted on Hama by killing over ten thousand ‘rebels’.  But this... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/11/12)

Message on Islamic New Year
Reyyaz Salley Managing Trustee Shaikh Usman Waliyullah Shrine and Masjid
It is with immense pleasure that I send this message to the entire world Muslim community on the occasion of the Islamic New Year; Around the world; past year Muslims had to go through various Intricacies. World tried to tarnish the Sacred Religion Islam and its Prophet. And lot more trouble from various parties who tried to do different things to show their hatred towards Islam..All around the world we Muslims should join hands and be united and be an example to other communities. If that can be achieved... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/11/12)

Ambassador Jayatilleka rejects accusations
Embassy of Sri Lanka in France
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in France  has described as ‘ridiculous’ the accusations made by certain pro-secessionist propagandist websites, according to which the military intelligence was behind the assassination of a former LTTE commander in France. Nadarajah Mathinthiran, alias Parithi, was killed on Thursday 8th of November, outside the office of the Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC), rue des Pyrénées, in Paris XX. Mathinthiran had left the LTTE movement in the early 90′s and later coordinated its political activities in France, since 2003. Sharing his views with 'Mirror' on this matter, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/11/12)

18th death anniversary of late Mr. Ossie Abeyagoonasekera
Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute
18th death anniversary of late Ossie Abeyagoonasekera was commemorated on the 9th November by his son Asanga Abeyagoonasekera and other close political allies. Ossie Abeyagoonasekera was a Member of Parliament, leader of Sri Lanka Mahajana Party who fully supported the 13th amendment and devolution of power. He was assassinated by the LTTE suicide attack in 1994 along with late Gamini Dissanayake.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/11/12)

LIFE ABROAD - PART II: Went to sleep 'shivering like a virgin'
Dr.Tilak Fernando
Unlike the present generation of kids who are far more advanced, bubbly and confident (as we see on reality shows on TV these days) we lacked that buoyancy in our childhood, may be due to over-protective attitude of our parents! When we were kids, travel from one place to another was normally done in the company of a parent(s) or escorted by a chaperon in the case of girls. A visit from Colombo to Anuradhapura, for instance, was regarded as visiting a different territory altogether when transport was not so developed like today. In such a backdrop,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 15/11/12)

New Vegetarian Restaurant Opened at Buddhist Cultural Centre near Thummulla in Colombo
Buddhist Cultural Centre
Generally Sinhalese Buddhists in Sri Lanka which comprise about 70% of the country’s population are traditionally inclined towards vegetarianism or semi – vegetarianism in their dietary habits. Even among those who consume flesh food, Beef is excluded in as much as Muslims exclude Pork from their meals. It is commonplace now a days to see an increasing number of Restaurants even ones owned by Muslims refusing to serve both Beef and Pork to customers out of respect for their religious sensitivities. Vegetarian restaurants have been there in Sri Lanka, over a long period of time.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 14/11/12)

Ambassador Jayatilleka speaks at French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
Embassy of Sri Lanka Paris
Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka participated as a panellist at a conference entitled “Sri Lanka & South Asia: New challenges for a regional policy” organized on November 7th, 2012, at the CNRS, the prestigious French National Centre for Scientific Research. The conference gathered intellectuals and scholars from various fields. The event was organized in partnership with the Foundation for Human Sciences (FMSH - Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme) and the Asia Pacific Network.  Founded in 1939 by governmental decree, the CNRS is the largest fundamental research organization in Europe. Its stated mission is to evaluate... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 14/11/12)

"Sri Lankan representative in the advisory panel of worlds’ largest youth organization"-"ලෝකයේ විශාලතම තරුණ සංවිධානයේ උපදේශක කාරක සභාවට ශ්රී ලංකා නියෝජනයක්"
ප්‍රචාරණ අංශයලියෝ බහු මණ්ඩලය 
ලෝකයේ රටවල් 139 සඳහා උපදේශක සභිකයන් 15 දෙනෙකු පත්කෙරේ. ධනුෂ්ක රාමනායකටත්, වසර 02 ක කාලයකට නව පත්වීම පිරිනැමේ.  ලෝකයේ රටවල් 139 ක් පුරා පැතිර පවතින එකම සහ විශාලතම තරුණ සංවිධානය ලෙස ජාත්‍යන්තර ලියෝ සංවිධානය පිළිගැනේ. ලියෝ සමාජ 6100 ක්, ලියෝ බහුමණ්ඩල 32 ක් තුළ ලියෝ සාමාජික සාමාජිකාවන් ලක්ෂ 02 කට අධික සංඛ්‍යාවක් තරුණ නායකත්වය වර්ධනය කරගනිමින් සමාජ සුබසාධන ක්‍රියාවන්හි නිරත වේ. සමාජය තුළ ලබන සෑම අවස්ථාවකින්ම අත්දැකීම් ලබාගෙන, නායකත්වය වර්ධනය කොට, සමාජය, රට, ලෝකය වෙනුවෙන් අවැසි තරුණ නායකත්වය බිහිකිරීම මෙම සංවිධානයේ ප්‍රධානම අරමුණ වේ. ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළද 306 ලියෝ බහුමණ්ඩලයක් ස්ථාපිත අතර එහි නව නායකත්වය... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 14/11/12)

Protect integrity of the judicial system
S. Akurugoda
Today we are witnessing a possibility of  rapid deteriorating  of the integrity of  the country's highest institution that interprets and  applies law in the name of the state, as never before.   Although there are three institutions in the country with highest order under the doctrine of separation of powers , Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary, there should not be a question about the ranking of the powers of the three institutions. The Executive of the country elected by the people is the leader of the country, as a whole, and he is responsible to the people of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 13/11/12)

“UN failed Sri Lanka” – Leaked UN Report
Asada M Erpini
A UN internal report, which the readers are expected to accept as “leaked”,  states, “Events in Sri Lanka mark a grave failure of the UN”, as quoted by the local media on 13 November. None could state facts more succinctly or clearly than that: the UN, or the United Nations, is not united and is a mere appendage of the rich and the powerful, led by the US and which is at the beck and call of the US doing what the sole superpower of the world commands. The surprising thing is if the UN, except... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 13/11/12)

Tamil alliance and Indian role in the Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue
Asada M Erpini
A report in the media on 13 November states, “… a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian has criticized the role played by India in relation to the issues faced by the Sri Lankan Tamils”. It goes on to mention that the TNA MP has said, “India should either support or stay away from matters related to the Tamils in Sri Lanka”.   There is at least one salient fact referred to in the TNA MP’s statement that should be drummed into the heads of the concerned Indian authorities and rammed down the throats of the TNA lawmakers... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 13/11/12)

“Devil” destroys Buddhist History in Bangladesh
Shirupan Barua.
A famous Buddhist village named Ramu, in Bangladesh has been attacked by terrorists who called themselves the “followers of Islam”. They have torched 11 priceless and historically important wooden Buddhist temples and 25 houses completely; using gunpowder, petrol., and damaged more than 100 houses of Buddhist community in one night .The attack begins at 10 pm on 29th September Saturday night and continues till 5.00 am on 30th September. Latter hundreds of them who declare themselves as the “fighter of Islam”, attack at least 5 Buddhist temples in Ukhiya, and some more in Teknaf, which are also... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 13/11/12)

CJ buckles under pressure-Pulls out of ceylinco case :
Jayantha De SILVA The Daily News
Under heavy pressure to refrain from hearing cases while the impeachment hearings in Parliament are set to begin, Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake stepped down from the three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court hearing the Golden Key Shiram case. Earlier, she appeared to take up the position that there is no harm hearing such cases, and some senior lawyers such as K Kanga-Isvaran had taken the same view, apparently in her support. Giving the lie to such pre-emptive but obviously flawed observations, the Chief Justice observed during the hearing of the case... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

Double standards of the Vatican and Pope towards Catholicism and Multiculturalism
By Shenali Waduge
The Holy See ( Vatican ) alone among the 98 countries that made interventions during the recently concluded Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group at the UNHCR in Geneva categorically highlighted the need for Sri Lanka to promote itself as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-cultural country. This article seeks to query and obtain explanation as to why the Vatican encourages the maintenance of the supremacy of the Catholic faith and Christian identity in majority-Catholic nations whilst in nations where Catholics remain the minority it promotes the notion of multiculturalism and equal status to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

13th Amendment – Implications of Eelam
Sarath Bulathsinghala New Zealand
The 13th Amendment in its various manifestations is in for consideration. It is best if the following issues are discussed in this forum and elsewhere by patriots so that their implications for the future of Sri Lanka and for the future generations of all Sri Lankans are given due consideration.  Let the politicos who are only worried about their length of stay in power and their families too understand the implications.  Most of all let the people know!  Part 4. Living Space
 Sri Lanka is a country the size of Tasmania and a population... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

INVITATION to a Public Lecture by Ms. Pamela Harris, Administrator of Montgomery County Courts (USA) on "Rule of Law" at the Kadirgamar
Dear Madam/ Sir,

Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies
cordially invites you   to a Public Lecture delivered by   Ms. Pamela Harris
Administrator of Montgomery County Courts
on 
 
"Rule of Law"
 at the Kadirgamar Institute, "The Lighthouse", No. 24, Horton Place, Colombo 7   on Wednesday, 14th November, 2012 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm Please find your invitation attached. We would greatly appreciate it if this e-invitation can be circulated among your contacts.   Please RSVP with the Kadirgamar Institute... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

Photographic Exhibition held at the UN on the side lines of the Sri Lanka UPR
Media Release Sri Lanka Mission Geneva
A photographic exhibition titled “Sri Lanka; Facets of Post Conflict Development” was held in the entrance hall to the Human Rights Council Chamber at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 1 – 5 November 2012. It portrays the rapid political, economic and socio-cultural developments that have taken place in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka since the ending of the terrorist conflict in May 2009. The display was visited by a large number of diplomats, representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations as well as journalists from many countries, during the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

The Great Universities of India
AggaDhamma, August, 2012
It can be said with a great deal of certainty that India was the country where knowledge was first systematized and provision made for its imparting at the highest levels of society in ancient times. Whatever the discipline (subject), whether it was chemistry, medicine, surgery, the art of painting and sculpture, or dramatics, or principles of literary criticism, or mechanics, or even dancing - everything was reduced to a systematic whole for the purpose of passing the body of knowledge to future generations in a direct and detailed manner.  University education on almost modern lines existed... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

Child Mortality On The Rise - Senior Lecturer Liyanaarachchi Reveals
By K.A.S. Kumara and Chaminda Kankanamge in Galle
Accidents have been identified as the main cause of child deaths in Sri Lanka. Senior Lecturer of Ruhunu Medical College, Nayana Liyanaarachchi addressing the Galle District Accident Prevention Committee said “Generally, most child deaths occur due to infectious and non infectious diseases. But deaths due to the occurrence of body damage/ wounds are the fourth highest cause of death among children.” “About nine hundred and fifty thousand people throughout the world die of body damage/wound–related causes each year,” she said adding that no research has so far been carried out in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

The Poor Health of Monks
Priyantha Hettige
Dr. R. A. Gunasena has a letter in the Sri Lankan ‘The Island’ (11th October 2012), entitled “Poor Health of Monks”. He gives us the startling figure that 20% of BuddhistMonks suffer from Diabetes and 80% of Monks die of Heart disease.  He tells us that devotees give Dana that is rich in salt, oil and sugar; all potentially harmful substances – oil and sugar are best avoided and salt as a minimum. In the ‘West’ the harmful effects of these additives has been well known for years. American scientists have analyzed the effects on the human... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

Why do you need fat and oil in your diet?
Dr Hector Perera            London
Some people are more overweight than ever before and according to medical experts, diseases such as cancer and heart diseases can result due to over weight. Fat is important for many body processes. The problems arise when you exceed the amount. When you eat any tasty food, I am sure you would agree that you are tempted to eat more and more there by without your knowledge too much sugar, salt and fat enters the digestive system. Those days we need to wait until the “sinhala awrudu” season to eat certain sweets such as “kaewum,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 12/11/12)

Having 20 or more bank accounts can inevitably lead into suspicion of Money Laundering and need for a crime investigation.
by Neethi Adi kari
According to Wikipedia Money laundering is the process of concealing the source of money obtained by illicit means. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount of money laundered, either worldwide or within their national economy. Wikipedia further says that Money laundering often occurs in three steps: first, cash is introduced into the financial system by some means ("placement"), the second involves carrying out complex financial transactions in order to camouflage the illegal source ("layering"),... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 11/11/12)

An Outsider's View--22,POST-ELECTION THOUGHTS OF A NATURALIZED CITIZEN
 Shelton A. Gunaratne
 The 2012 federal elections clearly showed that the American electorate has chosen the Middle Path (the Buddhist principle of madhyama pratipada) between the extremes of capitalism (yang)) and socialism (yin) as the preferred way to solve the monumental economic and social problems of the country.  American voters re-elected Democratic President Obama, the Middle Path protagonist, with a massive 332 electoral votes compared to the 206 for Mitt Romney, his abrasive Republican antagonist. However, the popular vote for president indicated that the country was closely divided between Democrats (50.5 percent for Obama) and Republicans (47.9 percent for... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 11/11/12)

What a fool is Navi Pillai -the Uinted Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ?
By Charles.S.Perera
Navi Pillai is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, therefore   it is incorrect that I  call her a “ fool  “, but circumstances are such that I cannot do otherwise.  Navi Pillai goes to attend a summit in Bali  which was also attended by the Australian Prime Minister  Julia Gillard.  Navi Pillai had told National Times, “''I am highly concerned that detention in regional offshore processing centres such as in Nauru could result in indefinite detention and other human rights violations'' When she was informed that the Australian Immigration Department has sent home dozens of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 11/11/12)

Breaking News- Prison Riot In Colombo's Welikada Prison Indicates Inefficiency In The Prison System.
In Retrospect By Sarath Kumara
November 10th 2012
Under any circumstance, the Nation of Sri Lanka can ill afford the bad publicity of internal conflict whether it be through terrorist insurgency, undersorld criminal gangs, thuggery with lnks to officialdome, Police and armed forces brutality as most importantly it will tarnish the national image restored after the failed Tamil Tiger insurrection and the latest prison riot at Colombo's Welikada prison with its notoriety for underworld infiltration, alleged corrupt prison officials as well as deplorable conditions for the inmates attest to something wrong in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 10/11/12)

British Colonial War Crimes: Unpunished, Unaccounted and awaiting Apology
 Shenali Waduge
The British Empire was the world’s first global power and largest empire with dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and territories controlling close to 500m people covering over 33,700,000 km2- quarter of the world’s landmass. In 1909 the British Empire encompassed 20% of the land area of the Earth and 23% of its population. All the roads to all the evils that exist globally lead to Great Britain and the violence sown by one system and their engineering of sectarianism. It is this legacy of criminal history that has been passing on unabated and not a single country has... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

CJ's denial of malpractices untenable
P.A.Samaraweera
CJ Shirani Bandaranayake had denied the allegations made against her and said that she could easily refute them. She had added, that there was no financial impropriety on her part and that she will continue to duly and properly discharge her duties without fear or favour and do so impartially.   Her attorney Neelakandan had said, "...Our client has a few non-operative accounts in the NDB ...There may be non-operative accounts in other banks....Our client believes they have been closed..." Thus it appears that the defence statement is vague. Reacting to a letter sent by the CJ on this issue legal experts had... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

More accounts, in face of denials by CJ
The Daily News
In the face of denials by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, with regard to allegations of financial impropriety in the impeachment motion now before the legislature, confidential sources say there are more accounts than the 19 undeclared financial accounts referred to in the impeachment motion. Though it is now too late to include the details of these additional accounts in the motion before Parliament, the fresh revelations would be pertinent in any impeachment hearings and could give the lie to the Chief Justice’s position that ‘there may have been some inoperative accounts.’ In a letter sent through... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

Sri Lanka clarifies on impeachment move against CJ
News » International COLOMBO, November 9, 2012 Sri Lanka clarifies on impeachment move against CJ R. K. Radhakrishnan
Clarifying for the first time on what led the Sri Lankan Parliament to move a motion of impeachment against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayeke, a senior aide of the President said that it was her husband’s “dealings” and various other improprieties that forced the hand of the government. A group of ‘young backbenchers’ in Parliament had brought to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa a few acts of the Chief Justice “some time back.” Only when the number of acts began... -Full Story-
(thehindu.com - 09/11/12)

(HON) SHIRANI B, AND A BLAST FROM THE PAST
Rajpal Abeynayake Courtesy The Daily News
‘It is likely that the controversy over the Shiranee (sic) Bandaranayake issue will subside with time, and now it is only left for Justice Shiranee Bandaranayake to decide as to what she should do - whether to continue or stepdown, but it’s most likely that she would continue and she may well turnout to be a very prudent judge..’ This is the Sunday Times political columnist commenting on the Shirani Bandarnayake issue. Nothing strange, one might wonder, under the current circumstances. Except that this observation was contained in the Sunday Times Political Column... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

Today's Daily Mirror reports the great news that MR says change in PCs necessary.
Vijendra
"Amidst calls to repeal the 13th Amendment, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his budget speech, stressed yesterday that a change in the provincial council system is necessary to make devolution more meaningful to the people. He said that devolution should not be a political reform that would lead to separation. Instead, he said it should be a system that unifies all people."    ... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

Increase of Sri Lankan asylum seekers going to Australia
Asada M Erpini
 The write up by a person named James Jupp, Australian National University, that appeared in World News on 09 November is another example of disinformation aimed at vilifying Sri Lanka. The section that had been quoted in the Sri Lankan media can only make the reader wonder about the pathetic level to which foreigners who obviously know nothing about Sri Lanka are ready to descend.  Jupp titles his write up, which is clearly anti-Sri Lankan and anti-Sinhala, with the query “Why the increase in Sri Lankan asylum seekers?” He should know very well that... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

BE ALERT OF EX-LTTE FIGHTERS RECRUITED TO CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE
Malin Abeyatunge
It has been reported that the of the Govt has almost 11000  out of 12000 LTTE fighters who surrendered  to the Government forces  rehabilitated  bringing them into the main stream of the Sri Lankan society. Well that’s a fantastic effort and gesture on the part of the Government for ex-terrorists.  But yet, GoSL has done it at the expense of the national security to appease the so called international community, the UN and its LTTE biased Agencies and the humanitarian organisations in the west. We have a big problem here. Those approximately 11000  who were integrated into... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

LIFE ABROAD - Part I:On a wing and a prayer
Dr.Tilak Fernando
It is evident that today there is a burning urge for people in this country to abandon Sri Lanka and seek greener pastures elsewhere. Three-four decades ago foreign travel was mainly confined to students for further studies. Despite constant surveillance and intercepting boat loads of people bound for Australia lately, many seem to become innocent victims of illegal human cargo swindlers still. Those who were detected by authorities have ended up as 'prisoners' in illegal immigration camps thus putting an end to their dreams, high expectations and delusions of grandeur. Why do some fall prey to these... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

Head of LTTE’s Nediyavan unit in France was allegedly murdered by LTTE’s Vinayakam unit yesterday
FLASH NEWS
Nadarajah Matheenthiran (Parithy / Reagan) - Head of LTTE’s Nediyavan unit in France was allegedly murdered by LTTE’s Vinayakam unit yesterday near 341 rue des Pyrénées. The killing of  Nadarajah Matheenthiran is considered to be of serious significance because he was a high ranking LTTE leader who headed the LTTE in France for many years. Nadarajah Matheenthiran had been compelled to "quit" the leadership overtly because he had been arrested by French authorities and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. Nadarajah Matheenthiran who had appealed against his sentence was currently out on bail. Since his case was... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

USA's First Buddhist Senator
Mazie Keiko Hirono (メイジー・ヒロノ Meijī Hirono?, Japanese name: 広野 慶子 Hirono Keiko,  
  Mazie Hirono United States Senator-elect from Hawaii Taking office -  January 3, 2013   Mazie Keiko Hirono (メイジー・ヒロノ MeijÄ« Hirono?, Japanese name: 広野 慶子 Hirono Keiko, born November 3, 1947) is the U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She is currently Senator-elect for Hawaii, filling the seat being vacated by Daniel Akaka. Hirono will be the first female Senator from Hawaii, the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate, the first... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 09/11/12)

Church motivated to keep abuse secret, inquiry hears
Barney Zwartz
The Catholic Church has neither the motivation nor the ability to investigate complaints of sex abuse by clergy, and "the number-one issue" is to stop it doing so, a police witness told state inquiry today. "Where is the motivation for an organisation or person to pursue perpetrators when the consequences to that organisation are so severe?" said Patrick Tidmarsh, a Victoria Police adviser on interviewing sex-abuse victims.... -Full Story-
(theage.com.au - 09/11/12)

India-mediated 13th Amendment on its way out?
R. K. Radhakrishnan
In the strongest indication yet that Sri Lanka is having a serious rethink on the India-mediated concept of autonomy for provinces in the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, announced in parliament on Thursday that “a change in the prevailing Provincial Council system is necessary to make devolution more meaningful” to people. His announcement comes a few weeks after two coalition partners of the United People’s Freedom Alliance, which rules the country, demanded the scrapping of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution. The 13th Amendment, incorporated into the Sri Lankan constitution following the Indo-Lanka accord of... -Full Story-
(thehindu.com - 09/11/12)

Chief Justice must go to save the judiciary
H. L. D. Mahindapala
  In the current tensions facing all three arms of the state -- the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary -- there is one simple, time-tested adage that over-rides all the legal, political and moral principles that would come into play: "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion." The 14 charges levelled against the Chief Justice, Shirani Bandaranayake, by 117 legislators casts, rightly or wrongly, serious suspicion on the conduct of the CJ. Besides, the impeachment motion presented to Parliament (see full text of motion below) makes one thing absolutely clear: there is a prima facie... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/11/12)

Impeachment of a Chief Justice.
By Charles.S.Perera
There is an avalanche of articles, reports , editorials  by those have been scandalised by the Government’s decision to impeach  the Chief Justice. Harim Pieries writes in the Island  of 8 November,2012 as follows: “….However, the Rajapaksa regime should well consider that its track record and practice of fighting with friends and falling out with those in the higher echelons of the state structure is not conducive to either good governance or the long term political interests of the Administration itself…..” The Island news paper puts  the Army Commander and Chief Justice on the same footing. and... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/11/12)

CJ’s defence of financial dealings does not hold water
The Daily News
*A person of her stature cannot be vauge *Opens slew of questions Legal experts yesterday immediately reacting to a letter dispatched by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake regarding the financial improprieties cited in the impeachment motion, say that these defences are untenable. For example she states (through her lawyers) that she banked with the National Development Bank (NBD) since 2010. The letter states: ‘Our Client has declared all operative accounts that have assets in her declaration of assets and liabilities. The Bank has informed our Client that there... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/11/12)

Canada's Belligerent Attitude to Sri Lanka
Ira de Silva London, Ontario
Hon. John Baird, P.C., M.P. Minister of Foreign Affairs House of Commons, Ottawa.  Dear Sir:  Reference  your reply on October 23,2012 to my emails of September 18 and 27, and December 6,2011,  I was going to send you an immediate response, but decided to  wait a few days to read what Canada's statement on Sri Lanka would be at the U.N. in Geneva at the Universal Periodic Review on November 2,2012 and respond to both. Since it has taken you a year to reply, as well as the fact that the same letter is being... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/11/12)

13th Amendment – Implications of Eelam
Ratanapala
24 October 2012 The 13th Amendment in its various manifestations is in for consideration. It is best if the following issues too are discussed in this forum and elsewhere by patriots so that their implications for the future of Sri Lanka and for the future generations of all Sri Lankans are given due consideration.  Let the politicos and the powers that be too understand the implications. Most of all let the people know!  Part 3. Marine and Oceanic Resources 200 Mile International Economic Zones – Sri Lanka – Eelam Call for land powers is the thin end... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/11/12)

THE MISERABLE FATE OF INDIAN SOLDIERS
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
“They hang the victims upside down; they stab them with sharp instruments, force objects such as chilies or thick sticks into their rectums and most of the time the victims have to face severe beatings, electric shocks and crushing heavy rollers”, says a report of Amnesty International on the situation of human rights violation at the hands of Indian forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. Human rights violation is one of the most favourite topics for research and discussion for the western society which feels pride in calling itself a philanthropist society. But unfortunately all its... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/11/12)

ISLAM AND PEACE
By A. Abdul Aziz.
(Given below is the script of the address by Honourable Senator Dr. Iftikhar Ayaz OBE at PEACE SYMPOSIUM held at Taj Samudra – Colombo, organized by  Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka on 3rd November 2012.)  Dr. Iftikhar Ayaz OBE. OBE (Officer of the Excellent Order of the British Empire) Alfred Einstein Nobel Medal for Peace Man of the Year in Human Rights 2010 International Peace Prize University of Cambridge Ambassador of Knowledge Honoured as a Cambridge Blue Included amongst the Great Minds of the 21st Century and 500 Greatest Geniuses of the 21st Century.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/11/12)

An Archetypal Perspective for Combat Trauma
Dr. Roger Brooke -Duquesne University
In psychology’s academic and professional worlds, the name of Carl Jung seems largely to have fallen into history, yet Jungian journals and books continue to flourish. His archetypal perspective has been especially helpful recently for many combat veterans trying to make sense of their experience. One does not have to be a"Jungian" (whatever that is), or to accept some awkward and dated accounts of his archetypal theory, to appreciate this contribution and to take it up in one’s professional work. While this perspective can enrich one’s work it obviously cannot substitute for specific clinical... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 08/11/12)

NAKED MORE THAN TRANSPARENT
By Gomin Dayasri
 Impeachment is an eerie prospect - a legislative lasso twirled to hurl a justice up for unseating. It dispatches a chilling message where a government holds a majority. If the parliamentary majority is overwhelming, logistically the judiciary is tied to a kennel lashed by the party whip. Dice is heavily loaded against – unfairly. Citizens face similar ordeal when Justice takes them on contempt of court.  Chief Justice Bandaranaike always ensured a proper hearing when she heard a case likewise she must enjoy a fair trial. Deficient impeachment procedure stood in the rulebook for 30 years:... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 07/11/12)

Impeachment motion: Perera's, Sothy's, David's, Ranees, Fernando's shedding crocodile tears !
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
 The impeachment motion had revealed 14 charges against the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. Among them, the 'highlights' are : a) Rs. 34 mn. in foreign currency in 7 foreign accounts-undeclared (b) Buying luxury Ceylinco House (c) Not declaring the annual declaration of assets (d) Maintaining 20 Bank Accounts (e) Appointment of a junior Judicial Officer overlooking Snr. Officers (f) Abuse of power as CJ (g) Allegations of corruption levelled against her husband.  So, contrary to the 'defence' made by the  NGO's , Pereras, Sothys, Davids, Ranees and Fernando's, the allegations levelled against the Chief Justice are serious and controversial.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 07/11/12)

Not Only The Chairman Husband; Chief Justice Wife Must Also Resign!-UNP leading economist Dr. Harsha De Silva said on May 13, 2012
By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya -Courtesy  Sunday Leader May 13, 2012
Now, I must say the resignation of NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam is not enough, his wife must also resign! How can any investigation be carried while his wife sits as the Chief Justice?The government has already announced that it has appointed a committee to investigate the matter. At the end of the day any findings will go to the Supreme Court for a decision.-UNP  leading economist Dr. Harsha De Silva said Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake and Pradeep Kariyawasam Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake and her husband National... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 07/11/12)

LTTE terrorists in priests’ cassocks are the same as wolves in sheep’s clothing
Asada M Erpini
 A priest who originated from Sri Lanka’s North, but now based in England, is best known for his anti-Sri Lanka, pro-Eelam stand and his leading role in the Global Tamil Forum. At the recent UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that reviewed Sri Lanka’s human rights status he even had the temerity to meet Sri Lanka President’s Special envoy on Human Rights and, with a grin, to  pose for photographs with the Sri Lankan Minister. To match his anti-Sri Lanka antics, Sri Lanka (or should it be Eelam) has its own Bishop of Mannar, who at... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 07/11/12)

Undisclosed wealth among 14 charges against chief justice and Charges say her actions has “plunged the Supreme Court and the office of chief justice into disrepute
Sri Lanka News
The impeachment motion against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake was placed on the order paper of Parliament today, and there were 14 charges mention against her. It says Bandaranayake did not disclose how she obtained 19 million rupees ($146,000) to pay for a house purchased under power of attorney for another person, and says that she took control of several cases filed against the company that sold the property, having removed the judges who originally heard the cases. Bandaranayake is also accused of not declaring details of 20 bank accounts, including four foreign currency ones worth a... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

අගවිනිසුරුවරිය‍ට එරෙහිව දෝෂාභියෝගයෙන් බරපතළ චෝදනා
* වත්කම් ප්‍රකාශවල නැති ගිණුම් විස්සක් එකම බැංකුවේ
 * උපයාගත් ආකාරය හෙළි නොකළ රු.19,362,500 මුදලක්
* මිලියන 34ක විදේශීය මුදල් තැන්පත් කිරීමේ තොරතුරු වසන් කරලා
* වෙනත් විනිසුරු මඩුල්ලක් විභාග කළ සෙලින්කෝ නඩුව තමන් වෙත පවරාගෙන;
* සෙලින්කෝ ආයතනයෙන්ම විශේෂ ඇටෝනි බලපත්‍රයක් උපයෝගී කරගෙන නිවසක් මිලට අරන්
 * තමන්ට එරෙහිව නඩුවක් ගොනු කළ නීතිඥයාගේ සහෝදරියක වූ මහේස්ත්‍රාත් ඈන් ස්වර්ණාධිපතිට හිරිහැර කරලා
 * අධිකරණවල නඩු කාරණා විය හැකි හෝ මත භේදයට ඉවහල් වන කරුණු හෝ සම්බන්ධයෙන් කටයුතු කරලා
 * ජ්‍යෙෂ්ඨ අධිකරණ නිලධාරීන් සිටිය දී ජ්‍යෙෂ්ඨත්වයෙන් පහළ නිලධාරීයෙකු අධිකරණ සේවා කොමිසමේ ලේකම් තනතුරට පත්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

Employees Provident Fund (EPF) performs better than Unit Trusts
By Forward Contract - Sunday Observer
The decrease in the Unit Trust valuations as at June 30, 2012 from that as at June 30, 2011, in percentage terms, has been much higher than the decrease recorded by the EPF in its equity portfolio. Research has revealed that the net asset value of Unit Trust investments has plunged by over 25 percent during the year ending June 30, 2012, with the value of all investments of the Unit Trusts decreasing to Rs. 20.1 b by end June 2012, from Rs.26.9 b at end June 2011. Accordingly, the value of investments... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

The Way to win Presidential Elections: The USA should be ashamed
By Garvin Karunaratne, former Government Agent, Matara District
 US citizens are at the polls today to elect a new President. The tussle is between President Obama from the Democrats and Governor Romney opposing him. There have been debate after debate on the policies that each of them would follow.  However I would not be surprised if instead of the voters having their say, the Electronic Voting Machines will decide the winner as did happen in 2004. A possible alternative is for the Supreme Court of the USA to intervene, like what did happen in the 2000 US Presidential... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

WHO WAS THE FIRST TO INFORM THE WORLD THAT SPECIES MUTATE?
Mahinda Weerasinghe The Author of ‘The Origin of Species According To the Buddha’
In fact Mr. Chnadrasoma’s piece; “Mahinda Weerasinghe Hallucinations on Darwinism-Rejoinder to article published” Posted on July 24th, 2012” tickled me pink!  Through Chandrasoma is a ‘believer’ of Dawkins, to me he is nothing but a bag of wind and a promoter of hyperbole and mechanistic claptrap.  Now Dawkins and his local boy ‘Carlo’ has found it rather taxing to defend their ‘hollow’ mechanistic theories of life, so they have recruited an uncle ‘Tom’ to get their reputation whitewashed.  But Chnadrasoma’s ‘shooting from the hip’ was all cockeyed.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

Rayappu Joseph
translation of a news item from the Defence column of Keerthi Warankulasuriya in Sunday Divaiana ,Nov 04th 2012
At a  NGO meeting held in the premises of UN –Commission for Human Rights-  in Geneve  by“dollar “ driven individuals,  Rayappu Joseph , the Mannar Bishop too participated in the discussion via the Skype. We give below the statement made  by the Bishop of Mannar ,Rayappu Joseph  for the information of the compatriots.  He said “Our solution does not lie in the 13th amendment but on the status of the Tamil Nation. We are not a minority from the beginning of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

Political adepts and affected pieties.
R Chandrasoma
The masking of professed religious beliefs to secure political ends does disservice to both politics and religion That politics is a game that calls for some duplicity and strategic flexibility is a thesis that is widely acknowledged to have the ring of practical truth.  A known miser may call for open-handed generosity when addressing crowds of his supporters. Corruption is condemned  by demagogues of all stripes  while this very failing seems to be a  feature of politics almost everywhere. Given this pressing practical need to be chameleon-like in interactions with the public, few will find fault with... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

His Master's Voice
G. de Silva
Dear Editor, I came across a rather interesting article by one Bharatha Mallawarachi titled 'Sri Lanka starts to impeach chief justice' which appeared in the on-line version of Seattle Times recently - http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019573685_apassrilankachiefjusticeimpeachment.html. It was interesting not because of its content because to know that some event happening in far away Sri Lanka was considered newsworthy in Seattle - I guess there are many people who are sleepless in Seattle! On the other hand perhaps, the Americans generally like reading about impeachment processes? After all, the US taxpayers spent quite few million dollars to impeach their... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS Local poet to be Poet in Residence at Dylan Thomas festival
 by Heather Jamieson
Asoka Weerasinghe’s life-long passion for the work of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas will come full circle in late September when the Ottawa poet serves as “Poet in Residence” at the Dylan Thomas Birthplace Word and Song Festival. The September 28 to October 4 event in Swansea, Wales will also host the launch of Weerasinghe’s chapbook Once Upon a Time . . . I Returned.  A second launch will take place in his native Sri Lanka on October 13.  The chapbook is a chapter in a long autobiographical poem on his 12 years in Britain between... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

Tri-lingual official policy for SL
Anura Senevirathna (for expat Hela team).
On the 2nd November 2012 Hon. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe addressed the Human Rights Council, Geneva for the UPR (universal periodic review) of SL. The address was well structured in defence of the country and we are grateful for his noble effort. It is also vital to be constructively critical of a major flaw in the shape of “tri-lingual” official policy in the address, which runs as a dangerous undercurrent threatening the country’s national sovereignty. In the tri-lingual format, although English language is foreign, it is practically vital as a world language to communicate... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

Touch your Future
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Deputy Minister's Media Unit
Sri Lankan skills touch your Future a competition on skills innovations and educational exhibition which was held in first time in Sri Lanka at BMICH. It was opened by Hon Minister Basil Rajapaksha , Hon Minister Dullas Alahapperuma and Hon Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayaka... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 06/11/12)

Fallouts from the Impeachment against the Chief Justice
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
At the recently concluded14th session of the UNHRC, the British Govt had referred to the Impeachment motion of the Chief Justice, Shirani Bandaranayake. According to the govt, Britain and other interested parties overseas are protesting without knowing the specific charges and without knowing much about the issue. The CJ had been impeached over alleged misconduct and malpractices. There are also allegations of corruption by her husband.   The CJ was more an academic at the university and was a professor when Prof. G.L. Peiris was Dean of the Faculty of Law. And when she was... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/11/12)

Minister Samarasinghe appreciates support expressed for Sri Lanka at the UPR
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva
Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe addressing the concluding session of Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group in Geneva on Monday (5 November 2012), appreciated the interest shown by the 98 countries that made interventions during the Review on 1 November 2012. Referring to the outcome document adopted which summarized the comments made by the participating countries (attached below), Minister Samarasinghe said most speakers had commended the progress made by Sri Lanka in the short time since the end... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/11/12)

Repealing 13A is Not a Choice but a Matter of Economic and Political Survival
Dilrook Kannangara
Voices against the 13A increase with time. Mockery of the 13A is seen from the predicament the country is on today which will take a heavy toll on each of the three pillars of governance; add to it the fourth pillar of provincial councils! Indeed, if provincial councils must be referred to pass a parliamentary act, these futile units of governance must be another governance pillar. Each year the provincial councils guzzle $1.3 billion (in 2012 terms). It doesn’t give a corresponding benefit to the nation. With a very tight budget for next year, provincial councils... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/11/12)

Canada: on Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Report at the UN
Asoka Weerasinghe  Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
4 November 2012 Hon. John Baird P.C., MP Minister of Foreign Affairs House of Commons, Ottawa Honourable Minister: Re: Canada’s comments on Sri Lanka’s UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review 2012. The report in Colombo Page of November 3 says: “ Welcoming the steps taken by the government to implement the Human Rights Council Resolution of March 22, 2012, Canada urged the government to expedite implementation of reconciliation measures in the North including the reduction of military presence in the North and setting a specific date for... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/11/12)

Justice R. S. Wanasundera: a gentleman of integrity and conscience par excellence
By Dilshan Boange Courtesy: Sunday Island
 I can still recall as fragments, the first ‘conversation’ I had with Justice Raja Sirimevan Wanasundera PC. The crux of it was that a Coca Cola TV advertisement (from the USA aired back in the 1980s) showed a man who looked exactly like him. I was not even a schoolboy but a preschooler. The ‘conversation’ (largely made of my verbal output and his corresponding laughter) was in the dining room of my maternal grandparents’ home at 102 Fife Road. I can still recall my delight to have engaged him and got his attention,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/11/12)

Lankan Angel Network (LAN) Launched
PRESS RELEASE
The Lankan Angel Network (LAN) is being officially launched with the purpose of bringing together the Sri Lankan investor and mentor community and to scale the startup ecosystem. LAN has identified key challenges that entrepreneurs face at each stage of their life cycle and aims to enable them to overcome those obstacles and accelerate their business to the next level via access to potential investors and mentors in various disciplines. LAN was born out of Venture Engine 2012, a unique project that was aimed at creating real opportunity for Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs. Conceptualized by Blue Ocean Ventures... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/11/12)

What a waste of money? Local news papers published in Kilinochchi has been thrown to the Waste Paper Baskets …
Chalini from Killinochchi
A local newspaper published in Kilinochchi has been totally rejected by the public. It was reported that a newspaper namely “Voice of the Nation” has been distributed amongst the public in Kilinochchi and public those received this newspaper have used them to rap food packets instead of reading them. Publishing of this newspaper has initiated by one local politician in the area, namely S. Sreedaran and he has expended over Rs. 400,000.00 for this purpose. It was further said that owner of the press has blamed Sreedaran for this wasted effort.           People in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 05/11/12)

Sri Lanka has no obligation to abide by the 13th Amendment
Asada M Erpini
A report in a local English daily on 04 November states that, “India has reiterated its call for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution”. The constitution that India is referring to is not India’s but Sri Lanka’s, a country which is completely different from India and an independent sovereign nation over which India has no business whatsoever as far as constitution making or constitution amendments is concerned. India is also reported to have stated that there should be credible investigations into allegations as regards atrocities during the Eelam war IV. One can readily... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

Two days to go for American Presidential Elections.
By Charles.S.Perera
 Barrack Obama a non militant politician who was not against the majority but who wanted to work with the majority whites, bringing in the minorities into the  main political stream seem to have failed to appeal to the mass of the American.  But again the opposition to Obama’s  progressive policies came from the richer few who always kept  the American masses on a myth of  rich and a powerful Nation without a challenge to its  leadership in the world.  That  was the idealism that was respected and loved by the American populous.  They were the ones that... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

The 13 th Amendment: The Devolution of Powers and the Provincial Councils has killed the economy. What is required is Decentralization; not Devolution
By Garvin Karunaratne, former Government Agent, Matara District.
 As an administrative officer for eighteen years I have handled the purchase and sale of vegetables and fruits islandwide in the Department for Development of Agricultural        Marketing, granting agricultural loans to cooperatives islandwide,  Purchase of Paddy under the Guaranteed Price Scheme and Rice Milling islandwide, the registration of small industrialists and making allocations of foreign exchange for import of essentials island wide and have also handled the working of every department attending to development functions as a Government Agent of a District. At that time once a Ministry is in charge... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

India’s Economic Invasion of Sri Lanka – What is being done about it?
Shenali Waduge
Half of Sri Lanka’s post-independence was ravaged with countering terrorism. Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity was secured by its armed forces but not without sacrificing life and limb. The armed forces passed on the next phase of post-conflict to Sri Lanka’s political leadership. Nevertheless, it is more than clear that from the manner economic development is defined and approached we are watching India economically take over Sri Lanka on a silver platter. Would it not be a shame and an insult to Sri Lanka’s security forces to negate all that they fought to win when in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

The CJ Story: Is Dictatorship Crowning the Pinnacle of Democracy Unfounded?
Prof. Hudson McLean
The proposed impeachment of the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, where a Committee appointed under the Standing Orders of Parliament, comprising mainly of pro-government MPs, will leave a dark cloud, if the Final Judgment is against the Chief Justice. These are the likes & sounds of Adolf Hitler marching in Austro-German borders. Whilst there were other options to wage against the "possible (?) questionable" conduct of the CJ, was it naive that, Chamal Rajapaksa - The Speaker, the brother of the President was made the scape-goat of the entire Shakespearean Farce? Whilst the mighty Rajapaksa clan has... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

වම්ඉවුර - විපක්‍ෂයට නැවතත් මුල අමතකවේද?
සී. එ. චන්ද්‍රප්‍රේම-දිවයින
ලංකාවේ දේශපාලනයේ සාමාන්‍යයෙන් දක්‌නට ලැබෙන ප්‍රපංචයක්‌ අගවිනිසුරුට එරෙහි දොaෂාභියෝගය සම්බන්ධයෙන්ද ක්‍රියාත්මක වීමට පටන් ගෙන ඇති බව අපට දැන් පෙනේ. ඒ තම සතුරාගේ ප්‍රතිවාදියා තමාගේ මිතුරකු හැටියට සැලකීමේ උපක්‍රමයයි. යම් පුද්ගලයෙක්‌ සතුරාගේ මිතුරකු හැටියට සිටින විට ඒ පුද්ගලයාද සතුරෙකි. නමුත් සතුරා සමග විරසකයක්‌ ඇතිවූ විගස අදාළ පුද්ගලයාම මිතුරෙක්‌ බවට පත්වෙයි. ඉන්පසු සතුරා සමග සිටින විට එම පුද්ගලයා කළ කී දෙය නොකලා, නොකීවාක්‌ මෙනි. අප මෙය අවස්‌ථා කීපයකදීම දැක ඇත. අගවිනිසුරුවරිය සම්බන්ධ මේ ප්‍රශ්නය කරලියට ඒමට පෙර තිබූ මෙවැනිම අවස්‌ථාවක්‌ වූයේ සරත් ෆොන්සේකාගේ ප්‍රශ්නයයි. ජෙනරාල් සරත් ෆොන්සේකා යුධ හමුදාවේ සිටින අතරතුර ඔහු රාජපක්‍ෂ ආණ්‌ඩුවේ ප්‍රතිපත්ති ක්‍රියාත්මක... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

Canada’s flawed stance on Sri Lanka
Mahinda Gunasekera
SRI LANKA UNITED NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA 4 Arkona Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1T 1X3                    Hon. John Baird, P.C., M.P. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ottawa, Ontario Honourable Minister, Canada’s flawed stance on Sri Lanka We refer to your letter of October 22, 2012 in response to ours of October 1, 2011, and find that the reasons given to justify Canada’s position on Sri Lanka are based on wrong assessments and more with an eye to winning the votes of the large Tamil diaspora residing in the Greater Toronto area that mainly funded the Tamil Tiger led... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

Give priority to vital needs and not impeachments : MahanayakeThera
Nath Amarakone Eksath Lanka Maha Saba
According to this news item, Mahanayaka of Malwatta has castigated Dinesh Gunawardena regarding the resolution on the impeachment of the CJ . This is no surprise, but what is surprising is why a Minister had to see him on this matter. This particular Mahanayake has been prejudiced against the present government . He has used his high office to support Sarath Fonseka at the last Presidential election and had to eat the humble pie after he organized a meeting of 5000 bhikkus at Kandy Mahamaluwa and was forced to cancel... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

Peace Symposium at Taj Samudra – Colombo.
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.
 The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Jama’at) Sri Lanka organized its first annual “Peace Symposium 2012” on 3rd November 2012, at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo. In this symposium Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama, Vice-Chancellor, University of Colombo, Ven. Galagama Dhammaransi Thero, Rev. Br Darshan Chaitanya, Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka, Rev. Fr. Manjula Priyantha  of Don Bosco Seminary, Dankottuwa and Consul General for Tuvalu Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Ayaz O.B.E from London, U.K., delivered their talks on democracy, freedom, human rights, social justice, diversity and peace; the role of religion in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

A Tribute Ven.Mitirigala Dhammanisanthi Thera (1918-1999)
By Professor Jayadeva Tilakasiri
(Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit, University of Peradeniya and Vice-President, German Dharmaduta Society) Venerable Mitirigala Dhammanisanthi Thera, who passed away on July 2, 1999 aged 80 years, spent his entire life, practising the Dhamma in the most exemplary fashion and setting an example so difficult for ordinary Buddhists to follow. His was a life of' dedication, fulfilment and achievement of the highest aims he nurtured and developed from his childhood. Even in his teens he demonstrated a strong will to shun the material comforts which other children yearned for - although he had them in ample... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

To me all foods are nothing but chemicals when you are cooking it’s a kind of chemistry experiment so you’re a chemist!
Dr Hector Perera           London
When you follow or modify a recipe, you are experimenting with acids and bases, emulsions and suspensions, gels and foams. In your kitchen you denature proteins, crystallize compounds, react enzymes with substrates, and nurture desired microbial life while suppressing harmful bacteria and fungi. Here in your home chemistry laboratory that is in the kitchen, you can eat your experiments to verify your hypotheses. In a chemistry laboratory there are beakers, measuring cylinders for mixing liquids or for measuring. The tripod and Bunsen burner for heating or boiling liquids in round bottomed flasks, when I compared... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

Arhant Mahinda - Redactor of the Buddhapujàva
PRESS RELEASE (Oct 31, 2012)
The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies
is pleased to present groundbreaking research in its SPECIAL ISSUE (No. 8, 2012) on the Authorship of the Buddhapūjā ‘Homage to the Buddha’. In this issue Canadian Buddhist Scholar Prof. Suwanda H J Sugunasiri identifies Arhant Mahinda as the Redactor of the Buddhapūjā. The two-year research traces it to the time of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka 2260 years ago, along with the Five-, Eight- and Ten Precepts (Pañca-sīla, Aññhangika-sīla and Dasa-sīla). Read the full article online at http://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cjbs For enquiries, please contact Prof. Michael... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 04/11/12)

Protect Unitary Status – Defuse Racism Repeal the 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka Constitution
RANJITH SOYSA spokesperson SPUR SPUR   (Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc)  Australia
The Society for peace Unity and Human Rights (SPUR) is a 16 year old human rights organisation operating in Australia, dedicated to protecting the unitary status and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.  We have been active in countering denigration of  Sri Lanka and challenging the spread of malicious misinformation.  During the last 16 years, SPUR has been urging the Sri Lankan Government, including President Rajapaksa’s government to repeal the 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka’s constitution. The 13th Amendment, rammed down Sri... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 03/11/12)

Establishment of Buddha Sasana in Lanka by Arahat Mahinda
Article 14 The Arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka:  According to the chronicles, Emperor Asoka was crowned in the year 218 of the Buddhist era (i.e., 268 BCE).  Buddhism gained momentum as a form of religion during this period in India.  Asoka was from the Mauryan family.  His grandfather Candra Gupta founded the Mauryan Empire in 325 BC, conquering northern and central India.  Later, Candra Gupta became a practicing Jain and relinquished his thrown to his son Bindusara.  Like his father Bindusaara and grandfather Chandragupta, Asoka was a follower of the Brahmin faith.  In the early years of his supremacy,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/12)

Universal Periodic Review – MEDIA BRIEF
UN Media Brief on the Human Rights Review by the UN
Thursday, 1 November 2012 (afternoon) (Disclaimer: The following brief is intended for use of the information media and is not an official record. The note provides a brief factual summary of the UPR Working Group meeting with the State under review and does not cover all points addressed. An official summary of the meeting can be found in the Working Group report.) State under review Sri Lanka Represented by a 15-member delegation headed by Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries,... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 03/11/12)

Impeachment motion against CJ- confirms legal fraternity-Conspirators coming out of the closet
Impeachment, the correct procedure - Choksy
K.N. Choksy PC said the impeachment mechanism is the only accountability mechanism for the Higher Judiciary. As far as Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal are concerned, it is the only method by which they are made answerable for their conduct in office. Where the minor Judiciary is concerned, the Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the Chief Justice, has its own accountability and disciplinary procedure. Regarding the President, the Constitution provides an impeachment procedure by Parliament. The President is also made responsible to Parliament for his actions.... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 03/11/12)

India’s anti-Sri Lanka stance is only to garner support from Tamil Nadu parties for its and the current leaders’ survival
Asada M Erpini
India keeps on pontificating to Sri Lanka on the importance of devolution of power (to the Tamils of the North) and keeps on harping that it is committed to ensuring that the Tamil people in Sri Lanka secure life with “dignity, self respect and justice”. Some of these concepts sound impressive and, on the surface, may suggest that the vast Northern neighbour has egalitarianism overflowing in its heart. It is strange that India’s concern is only for the present day Sri Lanka Tamils who had descended from India, clearly from its southern states. Where did the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 03/11/12)

Open Letter TO Country Co-Ordinator For Sri Lanka~Mr John Argue ~Amnesty Internationnal, Canada.
Rohan  Lowerchief President Canada Sri Lanka Rights Group Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Mr. John Argue Country Co-ordinator for Sri Lanka Amnesty International, Canada. Hi, John,  My apologies for the delay in thanking you for your e-mail and good wishes. As you know, we were in Sri Lanka practically the whole month of October.and are back and are slowly getting over the jet lag.   John, we had a great time in Sri Lanka.  We took the opportunity to go to Jaffna with some Australians and Canadians of Sri Lankan origin. That was our very first trip to the North.  We travelled... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 03/11/12)

Buddhist Sri Lanka set to face another threat by Wahhabi extremism
Shenali Waduge
 LTTE extremism did not spring without a plan. Successive Governments did err and Tamil leaders stand guilty of misleading the Tamil people and tragically continuing to do so. Tamil civilians have helped little by maintaining their silence over the years – that was how Sri Lanka suffered 30 years of terror. That mistake should not be repeated. Previously it was terrorism of a cult kind – this time it is likely to lead to terrorism in religious camouflage that will rip apart the entire country unless we read the warnings and take appropriate actions ever mindful that... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 03/11/12)

முன்னாள் போராளி இன்னாள் பாலியல் தொழிலாளி ஆனந்த விகடன் கிண்டிய அல்வா!
– விசுவாசன்.
முன்னாள் போராளி இன்று ஒரு பாலியல் தொழிலாளி” என்ற தலைப்பில் பேட்டி ஒன்று இன்று லேட்டஸ்ரா வலு லேட்டாக முன்னாள் போராளிகள் பற்றி வந்துள்ளது. . ஒரு முன்னாள் போராளியின் பேட்டி என்று கூறி விட்டு பெண்புலிகளின் உருவாக்கம் புலிகளின் தலைவர் திரு பிரபாகரனை துதி பாடும் வரிகள் இலங்கை இராணுவம் கூட்டாக பாலியல் கொடுமை செய்தது என்பதுடன்  மட்டுமல்லாது புதிதாக அமைச்சர் ஒருவரும் தன்னை பாலியல் பலாத்காரம் செய்ததாக அந்த பெண் மிக தெளிவாக பேட்டியளித்தள்ளார். இந்த பேட்டி வந்துள்ள இந்த நவம்பர் மாதம் கூட விடுதலைப் புலிகளால் மிகவும் உணர்வு பூர்வமாக கொண்டாடப்படும் ஒரு மாதம் என்பதையும் நாம் கவனத்தில் இங்கு கவனத்தில் கொள்ளவேண்டும். இந்த பேட்டியை யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் வைத்து  எடுத்தவர் அருள்இனியன் என்றும் விகடன் கூறுகிறது. இனி விடயத்துக்கு வருவோம். முன்னாள் போராளிகள் பலர் இன்று விடுதலை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார்கள் தான். ஆனல் இந்த... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 03/11/12)

Violent Syria video footage: UN warns of possible rebel war crimes (GRAPHIC VIDEO)
RT
Video footage has emerged from Syria allegedly showing rebel fighters beating and kicking surrendered soldiers before shooting them dead. The UN says that if the killings are confirmed, the acts constitute a war crime. The killings took place on Thursday, during an assault by rebels in the northern town of Saraqeb – which has been the scene of heavy fighting between rebels and government forces in past weeks, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. However, the video cannot be independently verified. Rebels are now in full control of the town, after regime troops pulled back during Thursday's... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 03/11/12)

Sandy’s other aftermath: Scammers make money from generosity
RT
American police have managed to so far prevent mass looting in areas affected by Superstorm Sandy. But a new scandal is already gripping the public - scammers trying to profit on charity and donations meant to aid the Sandy victims. ­"When a natural disaster strikes, it can leave tens of thousands of families in need of help, and it can also bring out the best in the American people. In this country, we look out for one another. We have each other’s backs, because despite our differences, we are Americans first – and that’s what Americans do,” President Barack... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 03/11/12)

Third party insurance: America, you have a choice (Op-Ed)
RT
Millions of voting Americans have been misled – even coaxed – into believing that either incumbent Barack Obama or challenger Mitt Romney must become the next president of the US. A bad choice? Sure, but… “No buts!” ­Look again, however, because Americans do have a choice. For instance, consider what presidential candidates Gary Johnson (former Governor of New Mexico) of the Libertarian Party, and Jill Stein of the Green Party have to say.... -Full Story-
(rt.com - 03/11/12)

Illegal migrants vs. refugees
Asada M Erpini 
At least Australia, rather belatedly though, seems to have realised that there is a difference between an illegal immigrant and a refugee. A report dated 02 November states that a group of 26 Sri Lankans have been sent back on Thursday. It is worth noting that the report continues, “Australia had returned 116 Sri Lankans home - voluntarily and involuntarily -since 13 August”.  Peace-loving Sri Lankans who are based in Sri Lanka would wish that Canada, too, follows suit. But then, that expectation can only be far-fetched dream: Toronto alone has at least 250,000 Tamils who... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/11/12)

A BOOST FOR GUNARATNE'S TRILOGY
Lankaweb
Author Solution Inc., a subsidiary of Penguin, will begin a six-week publicity campaign for Professor emeritus Shelton Gunaratne's autobiographical trilogy on Nov. 11 ( Sunday). The company will research and create media lists specially targeted to reach the audience to whom the trilogy will appeal. Lankaweb published all the essays included in the trilogy during the period 2009-2012. iUniverse released  the book titled "Village Life in the Forties: Memories of a Lankan Expatriate"  that explicates the lifestyle  of a unique community of people in the southern village of Pathegama during the decade of the forties Xlibris released the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/11/12)

National interest and corruption in Pakistan
By Afshain Afzal
The pace, at which cases of corruption are emerging in Indian Armed Forces and its intelligence indicate as if India is the most corrupt country of the world. In the recent past, Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani pointed out that India has come to be known all over the world as among the most corrupt countries of the world. On the other hand, across the border in Pakistan, there is hardly any case of major corruption that emerged in Armed Forces of Pakistan or its intelligence. To overcome this embarrassing situation pro-Indian lobbies in... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/11/12)

HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITS UK
The High Commission of Sri Lanka London
A 15-member delegation from the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce on its recent visit to the UK had an interactive dialogue with sections of the Sri Lankan community here to build trade and commercial links and explore technology transfer. At a reception held at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London the delegates from Hambantota whose commercial interests range from textiles and the dairy industry to machinery and tyre manufacture, discussed with the UK-based Sri Lankans interested in investment and setting up projects in Sri Lanka possibilities of joining hands to further... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/11/12)

Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka speaks at International Relations Institute in Paris on Post-War challenges for Sri Lanka
Embassy of Sri Lankain France
On Thursday, October 25th, 2012, Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka spoke on the theme of “Post-War Reconciliation and External Relations: the Challenges for Sri Lanka”, at a conference organized by the ILERI, an institute for International Relations based in Paris, founded in 1948 and presided for over 20 years by its founder René CASSIN, French Nobel Peace Prize winner, followed in 1976 by former French Minister and essayist Edgar FAURE and by former French Prime Minister, Raymond BARRE. The first part of the conference consisted of introductory remarks by Ambassador Jayatilleka on the complexity of... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/11/12)

13th Amendment – Implications of Eelam -Think!
Ratanapala
23 October 2012 The 13th Amendment in its various manifestations is in for consideration. It is best if the following issues are discussed in this forum and elsewhere by patriots so that their implications for the future of Sri Lanka and for the future generations of all Sri Lankans are given due consideration.  Let the politicos who are only worried about their length of stay in power and their families too understand the implications. Most of all let the people know! Part 2. Water wars and a permanent state of war! River systems that cross the... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/11/12)

After UAE, Zomato expands into Sri Lanka; Now in Colombo
Zomato's Colombo section.
November, 2012: Zomato, South-Asia's largest restaurant and nightlife guide, which entered the Middle Eastern market last month with its UAE launch has now expanded its services to Sri Lanka. After Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, Colombo (zomato.com/colombo) is Zomato's fourth International city taking its presence to 17 cities across 3 countries - India, UAE and Sri Lanka. Providing in-depth information on around 600 restaurants across Colombo, Zomato proves to be the one-stop-shop for anyone looking to eat out or get food delivered. Zomato’s biggest strength is that it provides scanned menus, photos and coordinates for most of the restaurants... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/11/12)

"අධික වර්ෂාවත් සමඟ විදුලි ඉල්ලූම 30% කින් අඩුවේ"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
•        බලාගාර ආශ්‍රිත ජලාශ වල වැඩිම ජල පැවැත්ම ඊයේ (01) දිනට වාර්තා වේ •        වික්ටෝරියා, සමනල වැව සහ රන්දෙණිගල තවමත් 35% කට අඩු ධාරිතාවේ මේ දින වල ඇදහැලෙන අධික වර්ෂාව හේතුවෙන් දෛනික විදුලිබල ඉල්ලූුම 30% කින් අඩුවීී ඇතැයි ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ පද්ධති පාලන අංශ වාර්තා අනාවරණය කරයි. වර්ෂාව සමඟ පවතින ශීත කාලගුණය හේතුවෙන් විදුලි පංකා සහ වායුසමන යන්ත්‍ර භාවිතය අඩු අගයක පැවතීම, ඊට හේතුව බව පද්ධති පාලන අංශය පෙන්වාදෙයි. පසුගිය දින වල සවස් කාලයේ පැවති අකුණු සහිත කාලගුණය හේතුවෙන් රූපවාහිනී ඇතුළු විදුලි උපකරණ භාවිතය සීමාකිරීම හේතුවෙන්ද මෙම තත්ත්වය නිර්මාණය වී ඇතැයි ලංකා විදුලිබල... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 02/11/12)

Home grown Tun Sinhale in place of Externally imposed disastrous Provincial Councils?
Dr. Sudath Gunasekara (SLAS) Former Permanent Secretary and President Senior Citizens Movement Mahanuwara.  24.10.2012.
3 Rata Sabhas (Ruhunu, Pihiti and Maya) with 3 Governors and 3 Chief Ministers and 150 Ratasabha members  Instead of 9 Governors and 9 Chief Ministers, and 638 parasitic Provincial Councilors ?  And saving nearly Rs 600 Billion a year for the development of the country,  Currently wasted just to upkeep Provincial Councilors, their kith and kin and this monstrous and wasteful system (absolutely no benefit to the country) that take the country and the nation down the Gadarene slope for total... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review working Group in Geneva.
By Charles.S.Perera
Today the UPR working group  is to review the human rights record of all the 192UN member States..  Apparently Sri Lanka is on the top of the list and 99 member states are  to make 180 recommendations on Sri Lanka, with Navy Pillai making her own recommendations. All that is a paradox  as they who come to question Sri Lanka  do not come with clean hands. Some of them are more cruel violators of human rights in developing countries. But Sri Lanka  which has rid itself of terrorism that caused 30 years of suffering to its people... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

ABOLISHMENT OF THE 13TH AMENDMENT – A SUGGESTION
MEDIA RELEASE  - Sri Lanka Support Group, Canberra
It is refreshing that abolishment of the 13th Amendment has become a major issue in Sri Lanka and that  Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has expressed support for this move.  There is a lot of momentum in Sri Lanka now to abolish the 13th Amendment, and as patriots we must be happy about it and must work towards that.  Given the international ramifications on the abolishment, we should bear in mind that this is a very difficult act on the part of the Sri Lankan government,  as patriots we must try  everything to... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

Giving back the chance of life to 20 million Sri Lankans and allegations of human rights violations
 Asada M Erpini
Sri Lanka is again compelled to defend its human rights record at the Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that was scheduled to open on 01 November. And, who are at the forefront leading the allegations against Sri Lanka? It is none other than the mighty (or is it once mighty) US and the four or five Western colonial powers that massacred millions of people in the African, American and Asian continents and robbed the latter of what was dear and near to them during a period of nearly half a... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

AI: Sri Lanka & UPR
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario. Canada
1 November 2012 John Argue Sri Lanka Co-ordinator Amnesty International Canada. Hi John: I am not sure  whether your “Hi everyone” note which said: “Here’s a media advisory issued by Amnesty International (AI) today about concerns for human rights violations in Sri Lanka……” was supposed to sneak into my e-mails, but it did last evening. You seem to be having an amazing capacity to be the AI’s crap shooting Messiah on Sri Lanka.  I see your sponsors, the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), an organization described by the ICG... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

Minister Samarasinghe addresses the Human Rights Council at Sri Lanka’s UPR
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka took place this afternoon at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, amidst Member States and Observers of the Human Rights Council. The country’s opening Statement was delivered to the Council by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries, Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights and Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation.  Full statement is given below. Madam President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,  It is my privilege and pleasure to share with the 14th Session of the UPR... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

Amnesty International: Imperialist Tool
By Francis A. Boyle Global Research, October 24, 2012
Dear Amnesty Friends: I am in receipt of the response by three members of the AIUSA Middle East Coordination Group to my message that was entitled “NGOs As Western Tools.” You will note that they never denied any of the basic facts set forth in my original message. When Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and murdered 20,000 Arabs/Muslims with the full support of the United States, both Amnesty International and AIUSA said absolutely nothing at all despite vigorous efforts by AIUSA Members to get them both to say and to do... -Full Story-
(globalresearch.ca - 01/11/12)

Must Man’s contretemps with God plague the Animal World?
R Chandrasoma
The ritual sacrifice of animals has a long history and is intimately linked to the problematic relation of man to his God or Creator. The latter was – in its archaic or primitive conception – a Rule-Giver wont to punish severely those who disobeyed him. It must, surely, come as no surprise that some of the more ardent God-believers pre-empted the divine action by self-inflicted harm – a parody of God’s impending retribution. This notion of mortifying the flesh to appease an enraged God is a ‘displacement activity’ in the jargon of Freudean psychology – the impending... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

"ලෝකයේ අද සිදුවී ඇති පාරිසරික විපත් වලට ඇමරිකාව සෘජුවම වගකිව යුතුයි"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
 *2030 වනවිට ලෝකයේ ගල්අගුරු බලාගාර වසාදමා ඛනිජ තෙල් ආශ්‍රයෙන් විදුලිය නිපදවීම අවම කරගතහොත් පවතින තත්ත්වය වෙනස් කරගත හැකියි.   *ඇමරිකානු ජනතාව පිළිබඳව අපට කණගාටුයි. එහෙත් ඔවුන්ගේ අනිසි ක්‍රියාකාරකම් ලෝකයේ සියළුම ජනතාව අපහසුතාවට පත් කරනවා.  ඇමති පාඨලී ලංවිම දීර්ඝසේවා තිළිණ ප්‍රධානය කරමින් පවසයි.  පසුගිය දිනෙක නිව්යෝර්ක් නුවර වෝල් වීදියේ කොටස් වෙළඳපල වටකරමින් එරට 1% ක ධන කුවේරයන් වෙනුවෙන්, 99% ක් වන සාමාන්‍ය  ජනතාව නියෝජනය කරමින් රැකියා විරහිත තරුණ පිරිස් පෙළපාලි ගියා. ලෝකයේ වැදගත්ම මුල්‍ය මධ්‍යස්ථානය වන වෝල් වීදියේ කොටස් වෙළඳපලත් අද සැන්ඩි කුණාටුවට ගොදුරු වෙලා. වෝල් වීදිය වටලා තරුණයින් සිදුකල පෙරලියට වඩා ප්‍රචණ්ඩ බලපැමක් ලෝකය... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

Of glucose and arrack: Re-visiting PWC - Part X (Final)
Dr.Tilak Fernando
"These are small remembrances which bring broad smiles to our aging faces" - Old Cambrian I never expected to write so much on our school day pranks, but the nostalgia among old Cambrians who had read the series became infectious, judging by the several stories and incidents that have been pouring in, as feedback. This cannot go on forever.........! And all good things must come to an end! However, what struck me most was an 82 year old Cambrian's expression from abroad which summarised it all: "These are small remembrances which bring broad smiles to our... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

Speaker receives impeachment papers on CJ
Disna MUDALIGE-Courtesy The Daily News
*Judiciary must be neutral *Smooth operation of separation of powers breached An impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake was handed over to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday by the government, considering the questions that arose affecting the understanding and harmony of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, Information and Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said. Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the ministry auditorium yesterday, the minister said the smooth operation of the three institutions was breached due to certain aspects of her conduct in recent time. The impeachment motion with... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

Is EPF FR Case Designed To Embarrass SC?
By Faraz Shauketaly-Courtesy Sunday Leader
Pradeep Kariyawasam Knowledgeable legal circles are speculating as to whether the recently filed Fundamental Rights (FR) action against the EPF, master-minded by the UNP and petitioned by 11 Trade Unions, is a ploy to embarrass the Supreme Court.  Such a debate has arisen because the petitioners have, knowingly or unknowingly, introduced a matter which is obviously sensitive to the Supreme Court, into the FR plaint. The point of debate is the submission that has been included under the heading “Conflict of Interest, Insider Dealings and Abuse of Authority”, in which the petitioners... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)

UK: Dr Iftikhar Ayaz, OBE, nominated for Active Refugee Advocacy Award
By A. Abdul Aziz. Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.
OBE (Officer of the Excellent Order of the British Empire) Alfred Einstein Nobel Medal for Peace Man of the Year in Human Rights 2010 International Peace Prize University of Cambridge Ambassador of Knowledge Honoured as a Cambridge Blue Included amongst the Great Minds of the 21st Century and 500 Greatest Geniuses of the 21st Century. Dr Ayaz is the Consul General for the Pacific islands of Tuvalu in the U.K. He is Senator of the World Nations Congress. Vice Chancellor World Academy of Letters Deputy Governor... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 01/11/12)


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