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News Archive for Mar 2014 H. L. D. Mahindapala  The final count in the UNHRC which did not give US-UK-EU-OHCHRC resolution a clear cut majority in a body of 47 members has become controversial with one side claiming that it is half full and the other side saying that it is half empty. Whatever the political arguments may be, it is useful to scrutinize how the numbers finally came down to assess the overall meaning and consequences of the vote. Even as a speculative exercise the numbers are important because it was a game played with US throwing all its might behind the anti-Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/14)  By Gomin Dayasri   At the rehearsal a marquee was propped to entertain voters - it need be reassembled at the next outing with future elections getting hotter and closer. Who will stand on the victory stand? Is it the obvious candidate, as always? Eyebrows will be raised if the opposition finds a common candidate.  Provincial Council elections are loose balloons launched to gauge political weather patterns. Most formidable factor emerging is, unless there is a common candidate from the opposition it is a one horse race but a formidable candidate can mount a serious challenge in view of an... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/14)
Ishara Mudugamuwa Courtesy The Daily News The UPFA acquired one million more votes than the UNP. It is a runaway landslide. The UPFA has also obtained 525,000 more votes than the combined opposition, SLFP Treasurer and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said. Looking at the outcome of the WPC and SPC elections what is important is to compare votes of the UPFA with those obtained by the opposition. By adopting this criteria it is very clear that the UPFA stands leagues ahead of the others,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/14)
Mahinda Gunasekera Toronto, Canada March 31, 2014 Mr. Carl Gershman President National Endowment for Democracy 1025 F Street NW, Suite 800 Washington DC 20004, USA Dear Mr. Gershman, Re: Grants made by the NED to Sri Lankan Groups I am a Canadian of Sri Lankan origin who is very much concerned about funding programs and group activities initiated by you in Sri Lanka. It is somewhat troubling to note that your organization has been making financial grants to various groups in Sri Lanka especially with your track record of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/14)
Courtesy The Daily News Sri Lanka’s efforts at achieving national reconciliation and significant progress in many spheres received support of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America during the adoption of the resolution on March 27 and consideration of the High Commissioner’s Report on Sri Lanka on March 26 at the Human Rights Council. China’s stand: “The international community must respect the right to choose a country’s own path of development.†The Chinese pointed out that the co-sponsors of the draft resolution on Sri Lanka “used the problem of human rights to openly... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/14)
By Pepe Escobar It-s hardly a match between equals - as one is playing Monopoly while the other plays chess. It-s as if Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been postponing his checkmate, while US Secretary of State John Kerry increasingly realizes he-s facing the inevitable. Lavrov has explained over and over again, a loose federation is the only possible solution for Ukraine, as part of a "deep constitutional reform". That would imply ethnic - and even sentimentally - Russian eastern and southern Ukraine would be largely autonomous. Kerry gave signs of agreeing around two weeks ago that Ukrainian... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 31/03/14)
By Pepe Escobar German Chancellor Angela Merkel could teach US President Barack Obama one or two things about how to establish a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. As if Obama would listen. He-d rather boost his constitutional law professor self, and pompously lecture an elite eurocrat audience in the glittering Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, like he did this Wednesday, on how Putin is the greatest threat to the US-administered global order since World War II. Well, it didn-t go that well; most eurocrats were busy taking selfies or twittering.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 31/03/14)
 Mohamed Faizal, Eravur-Courtesy: Sunday 'Nation' (Sri Lanka) Dear respected scholars from different religions in Sri Lanka, I am writing this open letter to you seeking a religious verdict on an important issue that has grave ramification for a lot of people - use of loudspeakers in religious premises. I think you have a responsibility to publicly state your respective religion’s positions on this matter. I have a feeling that you may be acting against your religion’s injunction when you use loudspeakers. First of all, issuing a religious verdict on an issue is to pass judgment on that issue using... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/14)
By Mario Perera, Kadawata The Resolution finally went through though not in an overwhelming or convincing manner. The sponsors, the few white sharks, and their supporters the multi-coloured sprats compelled to stick to them in the hope of catching the crumbs that fall from their table, apparently had their way. Both the resolution and the support cannot stand the scrutiny of morality. The core and substance of the action are nothing else but self interest and opportunism. Might rigged up in the mantle of morality and righteousness yet again won the day…or did it? There were however other mighty... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror Saturday, 29 March 2014 00:49 Hectic events over the past few weeks in Sri Lanka have driven home three salient truths on the security front relating to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organisation. The first is that Tiger or pro-Tiger elements in the Tamil Diaspora will persist with efforts to resurrect the LTTE and disrupt life in Sri Lanka. The second is that the Sri Lankan state will effectively respond to such a challenge regardless of international implications. The third is that the strongly entrenched security apparatus in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canad 28 March 2014 Hon. John Baird, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Lynne Yelich, MP, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hon. Jason Kenney, MP, former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and Multiculture Dear John, Deepak, Lynne & Jason: Re: US sponsored Resolution againt Sri Lanka at the UNHRC So with the US sponsored UNHCR vote against Sri Lanka, 23 countries in favour, 12 against and 12 abstentions, Canada’s intentions to have it go through with more countries... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
plumblossom It is very clear that the TNA is a separatist and extremist party and it is painfully clear that their final goal remains Eelam in a combined North and East of Sri Lanka.  What is of great concern is the TNA’s insistence in keeping the ethnic ratio of the Northern province static in order to finally achieve Eelam at some future date.  In my opinion, the only way to solve the tamil issue is for sinhala catholics, sinhala buddhists and muslims and any others (burghers, malays and others) to be relocated to the Northern province so... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva Sri Lanka’s efforts at achieving national reconciliation and significant progress in many spheres received support from countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America during the adoption of the resolution on 27 March 2014 and consideration of the High Commissioner's Report on Sri Lanka on 26 March 2014 at the Human Rights Council. China said “the international community must respect the right to choose one’s own path of development.†They also pointed out that the co-sponsors of the draft resolution on Sri Lanka “used the problem of human rights to openly... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
Senaka Weeraratna Sri Lanka is being hounded at the UNHRC for Human Rights violations by a group of nations led by USA, Britain and EU countries whose involvement in colonial crimes of the most brutal kind, has never been brought to book. The crimes against humanity committed in Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America in the last five hundred years during European Colonial rule represent one of the darkest chapters in human history. International law and international institutions in charge of 'enforcement' of International law have been so structured that crimes committed during the colonial... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
P.A.Samaraweera  UPFA again had a landslide victory. Here are the live results from the internet showing the seats secured by the UPFA and the trailing party (UNP) .  Colombo Dist.     seats                     Gampaha Dist.   seats         Kalutara Dist.  seats                UPFA                     18                           UPFA                23               UPFA                  13 UNP                       12                            UNP                 10                UNP                   06   Galle    Dist           seats                     Matara Dist.        seats          Hambantota Dist. seats  UPFA                       13                         UPFA                        10            UPFA                       08F UNP                         06                        UNP                            04              UNP                        04                Seats won by other parties are not shown here. UNP retained Colombo North. So come Colombians are still for the UNP.   In the western province as a whole UPFA had secured 56 seats, while the UNP received... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
PRESS COMMUNIQUE – MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY & COMMERCE, SRI LANKA Colombo District voters launch ACMC to WPC! “Jackpot in our first time outside N & E!“-Rishad Majority votes from Colombo North Polling Div  Political newcomer All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) radiated with sudden joy on 30 March as it bagged an immediate election victory in its first ever election tussle outside North and East. "I and my party thank the people of Colombo District for placing their confidence on us. This victory tells us that there is a need for change. I and ACMC stress... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
Pathfinder Economic Flash A recent IMF study used a number of statistical and modeling based methodologies to conclude that Sri Lanka’s current potential economic growth rate is 6.7%.This implies that the economy is likely to over-heat if the growth rate exceeds 6.7% on a sustained basis, i.e inflation would rise above the mid-single digit target and the balance of payments/reserves would come under pressure. The government growth target is 8%.The challenge, therefore, is to explore ways and means of raising the potential growth rate (6.7%) to reach the target rate(8%), assuming that the IMF estimation of the potential growth... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
Sri Lanka News The ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) took the lead and went for another landslide victory for the UPFA while main opposition United National party further deteriorated its vote base at the expense of other opposition parties.. The ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has claimed the overall victory at both the Western and Southern Provincial Council polls while UNP power retained in the Colombo North, Colombo Central, Borella and Colombo West polling divisions Voting for the two Provincial Councils concluded at 4 pm yesterday. Voters cast their votes in a peaceful atmosphere with a relatively... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/14)
Insight By Sunil Kumar March 30th 2014 Â A United Nations General Assembly Resolution is voted on by all member states of the United Nations in the General Assembly. General Assembly resolutions usually require a simple majority (50 percent of all votes plus one) to pass. However, if the General Assembly determines that the issue is an "important question" by a simple majority vote, then a two-thirds majority is required; "important questions" are those that deal significantly with maintenance of international peace and security, admission of new members to the United Nations, suspension of the rights and privileges... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/14)
By Our Correspondent Guwahati: All Assam Media Employees Federation (AAMEF) has expressed serious concern at the sudden closure notice issued by the management of Sangbad Lahari, a Bengali daily simultaneously published from Guwahati & Shillong, paving the way for making over 50 direct and 100 indirect media employees jobless overnight. The notice from Ms S. Chaudhuri, general manager of Shillong Times Pvt Ltd, Meghalaya (Ref no ST/63/14, dated 26 March 2014), narrates that the management has decided to close down the publication of Sangbad Lahari w.e.f. 1st April 2014 due to reasons beyond its control. The management has however... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/14)
Ira de Silva London, Canada Another LLRC type investigation is needed urgently is the view of many Sri Lankans in Sri Lanka and overseas. India abstained from voting against Sri Lanka possibly because in the past two months, when Sri Lankans were aware that India would not support Sri Lanka because of it's domestic politics which has been the driving force of India's foreign policy on Sri Lanka, there were many articles and comment in the Sri Lankan media that exposed India's as well as the western countries hypocrisy in claiming concern for Sri Lankans safety and security when... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth 2 has made her choice. She has picked General Peter Cosgrove as the Governor General of Australia. Peter Cosgrove is incidentally a former defence forces chief. Though the appointment was officially endorsed by the Queen the appointment in fact was made by David Cameron’s Conservative Party. Was it not David Cameron who found it unpalatable that Sri Lanka had chosen a military officer to be the Governor of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province and continues to send diatribe from the UK that military personnel should not be Sri Lanka’s Governor? Our... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/14)
Courtesy The Daily News Will press ahead with Sri Lanka's own reconciliation plan Resolution only hurts our reconciliation efforts President Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected Thursday's UN Human Rights Council resolution calling for a probe into alleged human rights violations, telling AFP that he would instead press ahead with Sri Lanka's own reconciliation plan. "We reject this," President Rajapaksa said. "This resolution only hurts our reconciliation efforts. It does not help. "But, I am not discouraged. We will... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/14)
Dilrook Kannangara UNHRC 2014 was the worst ever for Sri Lanka. However, it was the best in Lanka’s media response.  If we fail to learn from history, we will repeat historical mistakes. It is extremely difficult for us to accept defeat and even more difficult to accept the fallibility of our strategy. But UNHRC voting has laid it bare. Only 12 members voted against the resolution. It is a worsening situation. In 2012 Sri Lanka received 15 votes for its case and 13 in 2013. However, in 2014 only 12 voted for Sri Lanka. Obviously the case for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/14)
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne The US, UK and Canada, with all their power and might could muster only 23 votes at the UNHRC session - one less than 2012 and two less than 2013. Twelve voted against the Resolution while 12 others abstained. Therefore, as a whole there are 24 against the Resolution. As such, the sponsors and the co-sponsors of the Resolution cannot be that happy. With the massive campaign conducted by the US, UK, Canada and the LTTE rump, their expectation was 35 votes. The biggest shock and disbelief to the Resolution sponsors was the abstention of India. Political scientists consider this as a setback for the US. And... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/14)
Shenali D. Waduge Sri Lanka can claim a moral victory on the basis that 2014 UNHRC Resolution was adopted against Sri Lanka with 23 votes while a majority comprising 24 nations did not support the Resolution by either voting against or abstaining with India joining the list of abstentions. This is a striking difference from the pattern of voting shown on the last two occasions at UNHRC in 2012 and 2013 when Sri Lanka’s Human Rights record was reviewed. India’s decision not to support the Resolution despite a raucous Tamilnadu threatening to break away from India is a clear... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/14)
Editorial (Daily News) At the time of writing, word was not out on the vote on the US sponsored Resolution against Sri Lanka, at the UN Human Rights Council. Sri Lanka does not expect to win that contest, but the moral victory has long been assured. There is a virtual avalanche of support for the war winning President on the Geneva issue that makes clear that moral victory comes from doing the right thing. There was no capitulation, period, in the face of damnable lies. The practice of diplomacy requires politeness to the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/14)
... -Full Story- (https:/youtube.com/ - 28/03/14)
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva Mr. President, Anyone unaware of the ground situation in Sri Lanka walking into the Human Rights Council today could not be blamed for thinking that Sri Lanka is the most troubled place on this planet. However, as you are aware, Sri Lanka is clearly not an urgent situation that warrants the Council’s continued attention. Draft resolution HRC/25/L.1/Rev.1 is the third consecutive resolution presented by the US against Sri Lanka in this Council in the past three years. It is presented without the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/14)
Press Release -Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva Exercising the right to reply on statements made regarding the arrest and detention of Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari, and the incidents in Killinochchi last week, Sri Lanka asked the member states at the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council on 26 March 2014 how their respective countries would react if there was a credible threat of re-grouping terror networks and if they would remain passive bystanders or take proactive action to ensure terror networks were kept at bay. Detailing the circumstances which led to the arrest of Ms.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/14)
Committee for a United Sri Lanka Following a successful side event at the Palais des Nations, where “The Last Phaseâ€, a documentary based on the lives of two former LTTE combatants and told from the point of view of Jeyawadani, a former female combatant, who grew up with the doctrine of the said terrorists group in ‘Sencholai’ and spent her youth in the medical wing of the same group, participating in many of battles launched by this group. Married to a former Sea combatant, they both take turns sharing the story of their childhood, youth, their marriage, the birth... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/14)
By Pepe Escobar German Chancellor Angela Merkel could teach US President Barack Obama one or two things about how to establish a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. As if Obama would listen. He-d rather boost his constitutional law professor self, and pompously lecture an elite eurocrat audience in the glittering Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, like he did this Wednesday, on how Putin is the greatest threat to the US-administered global order since World War II. Well, it didn-t go that well; most eurocrats were busy taking selfies or twittering.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 27/03/14)
RT The last 65 years of US foreign policy has been based purely on bullying: “You either do what we say, or we-ll use proxy forces to invade or occupy your country.†They invaded Panama, they invaded Vietnam, Korea, Somalia on a humanitarian basis. They bombed Yugoslavia. They went to war against –they meaning the US government – went to war again in Iraq, they invaded Afghanistan. It is just a record of one war after another and the use of economic sanctions to bully more vulnerable and weaker economies.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 27/03/14)
Warna Hettiarachchi Toronto, Ontario Canada Dear Diplomats, Lawmakers and Distinguished Leaders of World’s Nations,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxVao1HnL1s  May I draw your attention to the above YOUTUBE link of a CBS 60-Minutes report by Christiana Amanpour depicting how the US and Britain secretly planned inhuman relocation of Diego Garcia atoll’s natives and inhabitants through deportation to Mauritius and Fiji Islands to facilitate establishing a US airbase for B52 bombers and for Britain to benefit from missile deal.  In an era of Human Rights preached by American, British, Canadian, Mauritian, UN lawmakers, how did you miss this?  Can you stand up to be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/14)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Canadian Sri Lankans of Ottawa held a large Hands Off Sri Lanka protest rally outside USA Embassy on Tuesday March 25 2014 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm in subzero temperatures. Various Ottawa organizations, religious figures and members from Toronto and Montreal too joined in protesting against the US resolution. This rally was together by the newly formed organization Voice of Canadian Sri Lankans of Ottawa in less than 3 days.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/14)
Dr. Tilak Fernando As mentioned in my 'Life Abroad Part 71', another Sri Lankan from down under, Nicky Karunarathna from Australia, has come out forcefully with his personal experiences against the LSSP activities of the by- gone years, having read episode 70 under the caption 'Vivian gave beans'. It is not my wish to get too involved in politics or religion, as no one can win at the end of the day except those getting implicated get their adrenalin levels up due to individual beliefs and egos! However, in a democratic framework of mind, impartiality and objectivity should... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/14)
H. L. D. Mahindapala  The Vellahla political class/caste that dominated Jaffna politics in the feudal and colonial times as sub-rulers under the colonial masters was hoisted by their own petard when they passed the Vadukoddai Resolution on May 14, 1976. It was an official declaration of war by the ruling Vellahla elite against the democratically elected state of Sri Lanka. In it the Vellahlas handed over power to the militant youth to take up arms against the state until they achieve the separate state of Eelam. The Tamil militants took the guns and first turned it on the ruling... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
Courtesy The Daily News Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha responding to the High Commissioner's Report on Sri Lanka, informed the UN Human Rights Council on March 26, 2014 that rather than encourage and support the ongoing reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, as well as the constructive engagement Sri Lanka continues to maintain with the Council, it was ironic that the draft resolution on Sri Lanka being mooted by some members of this Council, is reflective of the same partisan politicized agenda through its request to the Office of the High Commissioner... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
Sri Lanka Mission Geneva 26 March 2014 Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha responding to the High Commissioner's Report on Sri Lanka, informed the UN Human Rights Council on 26th March 2014 that rather than encourage and support the ongoing reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, as well as the constructive engagement Sri Lanka continues to maintain with the Council, it was ironic that the draft resolution on Sri Lanka being mooted by some members of this Council, is reflective of the same partisan politicised agenda through its request to the Office of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
In order to not appear hypocritical, Obama rewrites history around Iraq War while denouncing Russia - Jon Queally, staff writer Russia has pointed to America’s decision to go into Iraq as an example of Western hypocrisy. Now, it is true that the Iraq war was a subject of vigorous debate, not just around the world but in the United States, as well. I participated in that debate, and I opposed our military intervention there.... -Full Story- (commondreams.org - 26/03/14)
Dilrook Kannangara It will be the burial of reconciliation if the UNHRC resolution goes ahead. The best chance for reconciliation was immediately following May 2009 when the war ended. However, the Tamil community driven by vengeance, defeatism and false beliefs of Tamil homelands, and due to the absence of a Tamil leader with foresight, reconciliation was replaced by vengeful UNHRC and other foreign action against Sri Lanka. The sum product of all these was the murder of reconciliation in cold blood. Now the most decent thing they can do is to give reconciliation a decent burial. It borders total... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
Sandasen Marasinghe Courtesy The Daily News Emergency Regulations which is a focal point of foreign communities were introduced to the Sri Lankan legal system by British Colonial rulers. The same was used to imprison heroes like Philip Gunawardena and Dr. N. M. Perera even without a court trail, former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said. He said though they talk of human rights violations today, the Colonial rulers violated those rights and imprisoned heroes and deprived them of their civic rights and seats in the Senate, sometimes even without... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
Kalinga Seneviratne Courtesy: Dhaka Courier (Bangladesh) Focus on UNHRC Part 1UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) head Navi Pillay’s current campaign against Sri Lanka over alleged human rights violations – along with similar campaigns against Libya and Syria earlier – could jeopardize the cause of human rights around the world, as Sri Lanka forcefully challenges her selectivity and bias. Pillay has last month released a report calling for an international investigation into alleged war crimes when the Sri Lankan armed forces crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a final battle in May 2009. Sri Lanka’s Permanent Envoy... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
Insight By Sunil Kumar March 27th 2014  At the UNHCR Summit it appears almost in desperation that The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, in a statement after presenting her report on Sri Lanka today at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has said that an international investigation is a must in Sri Lanka.  Pillay has said that new evidence has surfaced over the war in Sri Lanka and witnesses are willing to come forward and give evidence before an international commission. "Sure Sure Navi Pillai!" are these coerced witnesses loaded with false evidence? one might ask as she continues... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
Peace without lies In 1818 to quell the rebellion against colonial British, Indian sepoys were ordered from India. They arrived in Sri Lanka to serve their white masters. Â These Indian troops remained in Ceylon from 1818 to 1920 - how many years.... 102 years in Sri Lanka. Â India is again serving the white masters.... India proudly voted alongside the US at the 2012 Resolution against Sri Lanka. Â India proudly voted alongside the US at the 2013 Resolution against Sri Lanka. Â India little realizes that the US is interested in the breaking up of India more... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
Mahinda Gunasekera Toronto, Canada The Members of the UNHRC - 2014 Geneva Dear Heads of Missions to the UNHRC, Re: US/UK sponsored resolution HRC25 of March 24, 2014 relating to Sri Lanka It is indeed regrettable that the USA and UK thought it fit to bring up a resolution for the third successive year relating to Sri Lanka's ongoing healing and reconciliation following a three decade long conflict with the internationally designated terrorist movement called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), aka Tamil Tigers, which was decisively ended with the defeat of the LTTE... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14) By Shelton Gunaratne  The Minnesota Buddhist Vihara (MNBV) will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Sunday (March 30, 2014). A guest monk, the Venerable Pallebage Chandrasiri Nayaka Thera, chief monk  of Oregon Buddhist Vihara, will conduct the Atawisi Buddha Puja and anusasana. The Venerable Witiyala Seewalie Nayaka Thera, the founder-president of the vihara, said that he came to the United States in 2003 and founded the MNBV the very next year with the assistance of the Vietnamese temple in Blaine, a suburb of the Twin Cities. Currently, the vihara is located in North Minneapolis. The Malwatte Chapter of the Siam Sect... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror The Supreme Court yesterday issued an Interim Order suspending the operation of the Administrative Standing Instructions of the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran.  The Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Justices K.Sripavan and Sathya Hettige issued the Interim Order until the final determination of the fundamental rights petition filed by Northern Province Chief Secretary challenging the Chief Minister’s interference with her employment and his bid to remove her from office.  The Court granted leave to proceed with her rights application for the alleged infringement of her fundamental rights to equality and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/14)
H. L. D. Mahindapala The names of the 205 Catholic priests listed in the anti-Sri Lankan letter sent to UNHRC reveals the low depths to which the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has fallen. It reveals that the Catholic Church is divided on ethnic lines into two irreconcilable camps. It confirms that the Tamil-wing of the Catholic Church does not sing from the same page of the Bible as the Catholics in the rest of the nation. Like Rev. Fr. S. J. Emmanuel they say alleluia to Tamil racist politics than to the universal brotherhood of non-Tamil Catholics in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
Charles.S.Perera               Your Excellency USA has great scientists and technicians who have develop technology to reach into the outer space.They sent  men to the moon. But the minds of the American Presidents, even Senators and those of the US State Department have not seen a parallel development, remaining at a primitive level following the rule of the jungle - the survival of the fittest. It has not changed, it is what America is even today. It pounces on the developing nations, like the animals in the jungle hunting the weak and feeble animals of prey, not allowing them to rise... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
by Senaka Weeraratna Attorney - at - Law The term ‘Bias’ is defined as an inclination of temperament or outlook to present or hold a partial perspective and a refusal to even consider the possible merits of alternative points of view. An individual may be biased towards or against another individual, a race, a religion, a social class, or a political party. Being Biased connotes being one-sided, lacking a neutral viewpoint, and not having an open mind. Bias arises in many forms and shapes and is generally treated as synonymous with prejudice or bigotry. Bias and Conflict of Interest... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
By Pepe Escobar Any (bureaucratic) doubts the New Cold War is on have been dispelled by the Group of Seven issuing a pompous, self-described Hague Declaration. Abandon all hope those who expected The Hague to become the seat of a tribunal judging the war crimes of the Cheney regime. The G-7 also cancelled its upcoming summer summit in Sochi as a means of "punishing" Moscow over Crimea. As if this carried any practical value. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded with class; if you don-t want us, we have better things to do. [1] Everyone knows the G-7... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 25/03/14)
By A. Abdul Aziz. 23 March 2014, marks the 125th anniversary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – a global Muslim community that has evolved from very humble beginnings into one of the most dynamic social, humanitarian and spiritual movements in the world today. The community was established in 1889 in Qadian, a modest Indian village, by the prophet Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be the awaited Messiah whose advent was foretold in the Muslim, Christian and Jewish traditions. He set out to revive the central Islamic message of peace and tolerance in order to address... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
Ira de Silva London, Canada Members of Parliament & Senator Segal  I am forwarding an article that appeared on March 23, 2014 in a Sunday newspaper in Sri Lanka. http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/03/23/time-to-establish-a-self-governed-tamil-state-in-canada/. Please review it urgently as it provides a solution not only for Sri Lanka, but for Tamil Nadu, India in their goal to separate from India. In your quest to get the Tamil votes in Canada you constantly harass Sri Lanka. If you create a Tamil Eelam in Canada it would greatly help you in getting the so-called bloc of Tamil votes which could be a million or more,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
Malin Abeyatunge For the second time in succession, India has voted against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC for the resolution brought by USA and its allies against Sri Lanka. Let our President at least now realize that India is not a friend and for that matter Pakistan is a sincere friend. Of course, she has never been a friend who trained LTTE, the most notorious and brutal terrorists outfit in the world LTTE to set against Sri Lanka. We reminisce the true courage President Mahinda Rajapaksa had at the last stages of the war against LTTE terrorist without bowing... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada Canadian Sri Lankans in Toronto held a large Hands Off Sri Lanka protest rally in front of the USA Consulate on Monday March 24 2014 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The rally was organized with the leadership of Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada [SLUNA - Est. 1983] The rally organizers called on USA and the co-sponsor UK to withdraw the country specific resolution against Sri Lanka, and to refrain from bringing similar unfair resolutions to harass Sri Lanka which is an independent sovereign member country of the UN and UNHRC. Various Sri Lankan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson, United Sri Lanka Association, Lower Hutt New Zealand. To:Hon Julie Bishop MP Foreign Minister of Australia Australian Parliament , Canberra. Re ; Australian Response To Pressure On International Inquiry On Sri Lanka Dear Ms. Bishop, As Prime Minister Abbot and you as Foreign Minister contemplate Australia's position on the resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, I write to inform you that our membership and Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
 George Rupesinghe I have submitted the following to The Sydney Morning Herald in response to their editorial today. To The Editor The Sydney Morning Herald It is distressing that the Herald, too, has succumbed to the widespread propaganda of the defeated Tamil Tiger terrorists to draw a smokescreen over the decades-long conflict in Sri Lanka and concentrate on unsubstantiated allegations of war crimes in the closing stages of the war and on-going issues on human rights (Australia abetting Sri Lanka's stand on human rights inquiry, 25 March). Why not call for a full international investigation into the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
Ira de Silva London, Canada The Editor New York Times New York, New York Dear Sir: Re: Dispute on Sri Lanka War Crimes Escalates - March 23 by G. Harris and D.Bastians There are several statements in this article that indicate to anyone who has a knowledge of Sri Lanka and the ground realities, that the writers are merely using information that is questionable and unsubstantiated, perhaps believing that it becomes "fact" by constant repetition. For example, "about 40,000 people, many of them civilians, are estimated to have been killed in the war’s final stages in 2009". This number of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
From Peace Loving Moderate Muslims - Sri Lanka. Secretary General, United Nations. The Commissioner, UNHRC. Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka. Secretary, Ministry of Defense and Urban Development, Sri Lanka. Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka. Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Sri Lanka. Hon. Cabinet Ministers of Sri Lanka. Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Sri Lanka. Media Institutions of Sri Lanka. Dear Sirs / Madams, An Appeal to all Peace Loving Nations and People to Save Sri Lankan Muslim Community from Islamic Extremism We wish to draw your urgent attention to the extremist Islamic religious movement by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/14)
CNN This piece, and several others on Sri Lanka, complement the CNNGo TV series. Starting in Sri Lanka-s freshest seafood market and the renovated racecourse in Colombo, this month-s CNNGo TV episode then ventures beyond the capital city to the seaside city of Galle and the tranquil tea farm-filled countryside. More on Sri Lanka plus the full show can be found here:... -Full Story- (edition.cnn.com - 25/03/14)
H. L. D. Mahindapala Of the many contradictions, misinterpretations, distortions and perversions in the political culture of the north the role of religion, in all its dimensions, is the least explored and understood. In contrast, Buddhism has been explored almost exhaustively in the south, mainly to demonize it as the force that exacerbated inter-ethnic relations..  One of the remarkable contradictions of Jaffna society, missed by sociologists and other social scientists, is that it is primarily a Hindu society dominated by the Christian – mainly Catholic – hierarchy. From S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, the Christian leader of Tamil separatism, to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/14)
By Garvin Karunaratne-Formerly of the Administrative Service of Sri lanka  It is sad that the UNHCR, an international institute which should look after Human Rights has today been hijacked by certain Imperialist Countries and is being used to punish sovereign countries that do not follow their dictates. The UNHCR of today was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006 charged with the task of upholding “the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rightsâ€. One year after its institution the UNHCR adopted its “Institution Building Packageâ€, where the UNHCR held as its aim, “to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/14)
Dilrook Kannangara India has been the bane of Sri Lanka since historical times. In addition to raising, arming, training, financing and protecting Tamil terrorist groups, India invaded Sri Lanka in 1987 and forced the 13A to the Constitution which has caused its share of miseries. Further, India voted against Sri Lanka twice at the UNHRC despite preferential trade and defence ties. India will likely vote against Sri Lanka this year too. It is time Sri Lanka turned to dependable alliances as almost all UNHRC members have. It is time to recognize that the Non Aligned Movement is long dead... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge “ Slaughter every man, woman, and child (including babes suckling at the breast)†were the orders given by Governor Robert Brownrigg (3rd British Governor of Ceylon from 1813 - 1820) to Maj. Gen. Hay MacDowell in 1818 that left the people in the agriculturally rich grain growing region of Uva-Wellassa of then Ceylon in a state of famine and starvation. Uva – Wellassa region was the granary of the Kingdom of Kandy before it was annexed by the British in 1815 under an Agreement now known as the ‘Kandyan Convention’ entered into with the Traditional... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/14)
Ruwan M Jayatunge M.D.   Abstract: This paper discusses the use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in addictions providing two case studies. Addictions have become a major public health problem impacting millions of individuals and their families. Although the etiology of addiction is multi-factorial clinical evidence shows that frequently the addictions are associated with concurrent mental health problem such as PTSD, or depression. Treating these concurrent conditions would help to reduce the negative impact of addictions. EMDR has been proven effective in the treatment of PTSD and Depression. Therefore EMDR can be used as one of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/14)
RT former Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko saysUkrainians must take up arms against Russians so that not even scorched earth will be left where Russia stands.Note the conversation- every word is in Russian not in Ukrainian because even they are ukrainians russian is the common language.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 24/03/14)
by J.B. Müller The Sri Lankan Diaspora overseas (mainly in Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the USA) eagerly and indiscriminately absorbs everything appearing about their Motherland in the international print and electronic media. All what is done is done in the naïve belief that there isn’t a spin on the news and that it is completely unbiased and objective. Nothing could be further from the truth! Of course, expatriates would like to believe that the BBC, VOA, Deutsche Welle, and CNN, and others are feeding their hungry and even curious minds with the unadulterated truth. It might be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/14)
Dr Hector Perera     London Most chefs and other people just fry this and that without due care to the emissions given out during the process of frying. Back home in Sri Lanka as well we fry far too many things to mention here. Usually for lunch and supper some fried fish, “papa dams†dry red chilies or at least dry sprats are fired. How do I know because I myself do those things even in England, but not on regular basis? Next time just observe the frying of chips, fish and chicken in your local takeaway shop. The chef... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/14)
By Charles.S.Perera 53, rue du Petit Pont, 93220, Gagny, France, 4 March,2014.  Honourable Delegate to the 25 Session of the UNHR Council, Geneva,  Your Excellency, Please reject the USA Resolution Against Sri Lanka and Let Sri Lanka live in Peace.  Sovereignty of a nation should be respected under all circumstances. But  the USA and its Allies do not recognise that time honoured democratic principle.  For USA , sovereignty of a developing country ends when USA decides to intervene into its internal affairs.  USA known  for its torture camps, killing of  innocent men, women  and children in drone attacks, for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/14)
Bernard Wijeyasingha Maybe Sri Lanka too should adopt the US policy on terrorism . Those who want to damage the US or US interests abroad as in Libya or the Middle east should be considered as "freedom fighters" by Colombo and given whatever support Sri Lanka can give including hosting them within Sri Lanka, supporting their cause etc. Please keep in mind India's MDMK party, led by Vaiko has promised in its manifesto released on Saturday that it would lift the ban on LTTE in India and would work for holding of a referendum on the creation of Eelam... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/14)
The Sinhala Language version of Bertolt Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle  Directed by Parakrama Niriella  Produced by Janakaraliya Cultural Foundation of Sri Lanka  Bagged  5 Major Awards included with Best Direction and Best Play From the State Theatre Festival 2014  It will perform next on the 27th March 23, 2014 for the Inter National Theatre Day Festival at Nelum Pokuna Theatre (Entrance Free) and on the 02nd April For the Colombo International Theatre Festival at Colombo British School 3.00 & 6.30pm (Tickets : Rs.500.00, 1000.00 and 2000.00)  ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/14)
Courtesy RT Download video (7.36 MB Fifteen years after NATO invaded Yugoslavia, memories of the 78-day bombing are still haunting present-day Serbia. Above all, people ask why the alliance brought them death and destruction. RT presents its documentary 'Zashto?' from the war-torn country. On March 24, 1999, when NATO started its ruthless bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, Jelena Milincic was a student at the University of Belgrade, and just 18 years old. When the first strikes hit in the evening, she, her mother, sister, and best friend cowered under a table. Remembering this now, 15 years later, they laugh. Back... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/14)
The meeting rooms at the Palais des Nations in Geneva have been reverberating with pro-LTTE rhetoric during the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council sessions which are now underway. Meetings on human rights, conflicts, sexual violence among other issues, have been discussed in these corridors by many parties and players who are using all possible means to strengthen the resolution on Sri Lanka which is sponsored by the United States. Loud voices, rising passions, tears, gory details of the conflict, academic discussions…these rooms have seen them all. It is in this backdrop, a young, professional group of people... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/14)
Ira de Silva London, Canada The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka  Dear Sir:  India does not want Chinese ships to enter it's waters to help search for the missing Malaysian plane while every other country is doing what they can to help in the search. This typifies Indian attitude to the other countries in the region, namely that India does not care two pins about their problems, lacks humanity while making a song and dance about human rights abuses, which shows the world the true face of India - that of an aggressive, inhumane, regional bully.  Since... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/14)
Malin Abeyatunge It was reported in the print media that Mr. Rauff Hakeem of SLMC, currently the Minister of Justice has sent a dossier to UNHRC consisting 50 pages  titled “Religious Violence in Sri Lanka†blaming that under the present Government there are religious intolerance and hate campaigns citing around 241 anti-Muslim attacks and 52 Christian churches between the 12 month period from January to December 2013 . Majority of these are not religious attacks but rightful protests against illegal religious activities by the Muslims and the Evangelist sects. These protests cannot be labelled as attacks as cited by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/14)
RT Rallies have swept eastern Ukraine, with residents protesting against Kiev’s coup-imposed government and demanding a referendum to decide on the future of the region. Thousands took to the streets in Kharkov, Donetsk, Lugansk, and Odessa on Sunday.About 5,000 protesters gathered in the city of Kharkov on Sunday to rally in favor of federalizing the country and holding people’s referendums in eastern Ukraine.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 23/03/14)
The Voice of Russia In Part IV of this Talking Point series, he looks at who benefits and who pays with regard to Ukrainian ‘cronies’—the pro-western and the pro-Russian.Little has been written to date about the close connections between the Ukraine-s ‘crony capitalists’ pro-western wing-s connections to western capitalist interests, and USA capitalists in particular.... -Full Story- (voiceofrussia.com - 23/03/14)
By Charles.S.Perera Sovereignty of a nation should be respected under all circumstances. But  the USA and its Allies do not recognise that time honoured democratic principle.  For USA the sovereignty of a developing country ends when USA decides to intervene into its internal affairs. USA known  for its torture camps, killing of  innocent men, women  and children in drone attacks, for destruction of countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, through bombardment, has no moral right to present a resolutions at UNHRC against Sri Lanka, which carried out a responsible military operations to eliminate terrorism that caused immense suffering to its... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/14)
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada 22 March 2014 Hon. John Baird, PC, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada Hon. Deepak Obhrai, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Lynne Yelich, MP, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario. Dear John and Deepak and Lynne: What do you know!  Today’s Ottawa Citizen’s front page says, “Nadon ruling latest blow to PM. Tories left scrambling after Supreme Court rejects nominee.â€Â  Page B7 says, “Supreme Court’s Nadon ruling hits like an earthquake.†It not only hit your... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/14)
Irina Sukhoparova, RT Western sanctions might push Russia to deepen cooperation with BRICS states, in particular, to strengthen its ties with China, which will possibly turn out to be a big catastrophe for the US and the EU some time later. On March 18, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, claimed in a BBC interview that Russia would switch to new partners in case of economic sanctions being imposed by the European Union and the United States. He highlighted that the modern world isn-t unipolar and Russia has strong ties with other states as well, though Russia wants to... -Full Story- (rt.com - 22/03/14)
The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL) will hold its 7th Annual Research Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences on Thursday 27th, Friday 28th and Saturday 29th March 2014 at the Mahaweli Centre, 96 Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Nelum Pokuna Mawatha), Colombo 7. Registration will be from 7 AM to - 8.15 AM the 27th, the sessions commence at8.15 AM. Around 370 abstracts have been submitted to this year’s Research Conference on the following subject areas: Sociology, East-west Encounters, Media, Education, Gender, Governance, Economics, History of Science and Technology, Archaeology, History, Buddhist Studies/Philosophy, Aesthetic Studies, Library Science and Language Studies.  On the 27th at 9 AM a Special Symposium on “Dharmapala,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/14)
By A. Abdul Aziz.  (Given below is the excerpt from the addresses delivered by the Head of the World-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad on various occasions in the recent time.)  In today’s world we find so much strife, restlessness and disorder. In some countries members of the public are fighting and waging wars amongst themselves. In some nations the public is fighting against the government, or conversely the rulers are attacking their own people. Terrorist groups are fuelling anarchy and disorder to fulfill their vested interests and so they are arbitrarily killing innocent women, children and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/14)
Bernard Wijeyasingha USA The inclusion of the 13th amendment in the latest round of human rights resolution against Sri Lanka should be a wakeup call to Colombo that this issue of singularly giving the Northern and Eastern provinces land and police acts when it goes against Sri Lanka’s laws of equal treatment to all provinces should demonstrate the political motives of India. At the end of March India will join the UNHRC in condemning Sri Lanka on human rights issues, including supposed ongoing human rights violations on minorities. That translates to stopping Christian missionaries converting Buddhists or the Muslims... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/14)
By Bandu de Silva           The above Caption summarises what Satya Moorthy wrote in Ceylon Today newspaper dated 13th March 2014. The article had been originally featured in the Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter. Satya Moorthy’s article which was entitled “Why India should not vote against Sri Lanka at UNHCR †would have warmed the hearts of many Sri Lankans. The issue where the article was published, however, matters little provided it was well communicated. It is the communicator and the contents issuing, as it is in this case, from a person who is a Senior Fellow at the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/14)
Courtesy Voice of Russia, Foreign Policy, RT Despite its claims to respect any nation's right to self-determination, the US, in reality, has quite often stood behind coups in many countries, backing one political force and not recognizing the legitimacy of another. Now, it seems a similar story is being repeated. Not recognizing the legitimacy of the recent referendum in the Crimea, where the majority of respondents voted for the peninsula's separation from Ukraine and unification with Russia, the US, at the same time, practically openly supports the political forces that overthrew President Yanukovoch and seized power in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/14)
RT The US has been selective in supporting the self-determination of nations. It continues to dismiss Crimea-s choice to reunite with Russia, while at the same time backs the coup in Kiev. And the idea is hardly new for Washington. The current situation in Ukraine has something in common with the one in Colombia, James Petras, a political analyst and Professor (Emeritus) at Binghamton University, New York, believes. The common part is the US role in what-s going on in both countries, he suggests in his op-ed, recently published at the website of Montreal-based Centre for Research on Globalization.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 22/03/14)
The Voice of Russia Most accounts of the situation in the Ukraine and Crimea have focused to date on political events and conditions, says author Dr Jack Rasmus. Little has been said in the press about the economic consequences of the coup and subsequent events, or likely scenarios for the future. In Part 1 of this Talking Point series, he looks at who benefits and who pays with regard to the IMF-s dealings with Ukraine.... -Full Story- (voiceofrussia.com - 22/03/14)
The Voice of Russia Most accounts of the situation in the Ukraine and Crimea have focused to date on political events and conditions, says author Dr Jack Rasmus. Little has been said in the press about the economic consequences of the coup and subsequent events, or likely scenarios for the future. In Part II of this Talking Point series, he looks at how Russia loses and the US gains from the crisis.... -Full Story- (voiceofrussia.com - 22/03/14)
The Voice of Russia Most accounts of the situation in the Ukraine and Crimea have focused to date on political events and conditions, says author Dr Jack Rasmus. Little has been said in the press about the economic consequences of the coup and subsequent events, or likely scenarios for the future. In Part III of this Talking Point series, he looks at what it means for the European economy, and what the multinationals want out of it.... -Full Story- (voiceofrussia.com - 22/03/14)
Dilrook Kannangara Global human rights violators have found a large loophole in International Law and International Humanitarian Law. Exploiting this loophole they have developed armed drones to kill civilians with impunity. For the sake of the continuation of the human race, these vile killers must be condemned and stopped. UNHRC must be moved against drones. A resolution must be brought to UNHRC preferably by Pakistan (suffers heavily due to drone attacks on civilians) to condemn, investigate, compensate for and put an end to drone attacks. Thousands of civilians have been killed in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/14)
Sri Lankans around the world urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to reject the proposed draft Resolution (HRC-25) directed against Sri Lanka. World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka issuing a press release said, "The draft resolution is in contravention of the basic principles of the UNHRC as enunciated in its 'Charter,' including the principles of "universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity and constructive international dialogue," along with the norms of fair play and justice. The draft Resolution raises concerns with respect to two sets of issues: first, a purported increase in human rights violations in the country; and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/14)
by Kalinga Seneviratne Special to The Nation ( Bangkok, Thailand) Courtesy:  The Nation ( Bangkok, Thailand)  Sri Lanka’s move for international peacekeepers to intervene during its civil war is now seen as a monumental mistake by most in the country Anti-government protesters blow whistles at a Bangkok rally. Caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul recently asked the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to mediate in the escalating political conflict. In Thailand anti-government protesters blow whistles at a Bangkok rally. Caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul recently asked the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to mediate in the escalating political conflict.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/14)
PRESS RELEASE  Embassy of Sri Lanka Brussels Welcoming Hon. Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Senior Minister for Scientific Affairs, and the delegation, who was on a five-day official visit to Brussels, Ms. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science of the European Commission, said she was pleased to have this discussion with the Minister and to enhance the collaboration in the area of Science and research with Sri Lanka. The Commissioner also informed that the South Asia launch of the EU Flagship research and innovation programme- the "Horizon 2020" was held in Colombo and it is the largest publicly funded... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/14)
voiceofrussia.com "I think they will take it with irony because Russian experts have warned for a long time that this association agreement between the EU and Ukraine would hit Ukrainian industry because it opens Ukrainian markets to European exports, " Babich told VoR. "Theoretically, it also opens the EU markets for Ukrainian products, but we all understand that Ukrainian exports are not competitive on the European market. "So what will happen is this association agreement will make Ukraine even poorer - it will increase Ukraine-s insolvency so the West will have to provide more economic aid to Ukraine primarily because... -Full Story- (voiceofrussia.com - 21/03/14)
voiceofrussia.com The fault in Ukraine is not Russia’s, it is the US’. The US is the one who organized, financed and provoked the coup, and the US was incompetent and lost control of the coup to the ultranationalists who threat to the Russians in the Crimea. So, it is purely normal for the Russian government to react as Ukraine is not an area of the United States’ strategic interests, Paul Craig Roberts, former Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury and a contributor to Global Research, told the Voice of Russia. Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/2014_03_05/The-fault-in-Ukraine-is-not-Russias-it-is-the-US-US-former-Treasury-official-7211/... -Full Story- (voiceofrussia.com - 21/03/14)
voiceofrussia.com In this Talking Point, Spiked editor Brendan O-Neill argues that western observers ditch their critical faculties whenever Russia is involved. The first casualty of war is truth. And the first casualty of any skirmish on the world stage that involves Russia is critical thinking, he says. No sooner does the great bear of the East speak or act on an issue beyond its borders than western observers, of both a right and left-wing persuasion, switch off the bits of their brains that do actual thinking in favour of indulging in thoughtless Moscow-mauling.... -Full Story- (voiceofrussia.com - 21/03/14)
RT Russia has finalized the legal process of taking Crimea under its sovereignty, as President Putin signed a law amending the Russian constitution to reflect the transition. Earlier Russian lawmakers ratified both the amendment and an international treaty with Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which was legally required for the incorporation.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 21/03/14)
RT Vladimir Putin has mocked US sanctions imposed on Russia, saying he will open an account at US-sanctioned Rossiya Bank. During a meeting with the country-s senior security officials he added that he won-t introduce a visa regime with Ukraine. Putin treated with irony the recent sanctions imposed on certain Russian lawmakers. “Yes, these are those so-called ‘polite people in camouflage with guns’,†ironically said Putin hinting at Western accusations that Russian soldiers have taken bases in Crimea.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 21/03/14)
RT The West has so far refused to legitimize Crimea-s decision to secede from Ukraine. Yet Kosovo, which was a part of Serbia, also broke away from its parent country, but has been recognized by the US and most of the EU. But what makes one breakaway more justifiable than another, in the eyes of the world community?... -Full Story- (rt.com - 21/03/14)
By, Dr. Nishan Wijesinha (Specialist Consultant) M I S Services, 107, St. Anthony’s Road, Colombo 3  Pulling a Chair out from underneath while one sits down is the most commonly seen act of injury by Preschoolers. We all owe each other a duty of care to act reasonably; this is the law's way of making sure that each member of our society is held responsible to act like another similar person would. Thus, a Preschool 4 year old child is expected to act like other 4 year old children; as an adult is expected to act like a reasonable... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/14)
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial, March 21st. 2014 Despite the harsh accusations against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC Summit there remains a very salient reality that the accusers seem to have it all wrong. They appear to be playing to the sensitivities of a world that knows little or nothing about the realities of what transpired in Sri Lanka beyond what has been cleverly cooked up and distorted beyond acceptance by those who know first hand about the troubles during the nearly three decade long internal armed insurrection of the Tamil Tigers which was legitimately put down by the Government's Armed Forces.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/14)
The Pathfinder Foundation The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) has signed an MOI with the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), New Delhi on first week of March 2014. This follows a recent meeting Milinda Moragoda, Founder, PF had with Ajit Doval, Director of VIF in New Delhi. The two Foundations will work towards enhancing economic relations between the two countries; deepening civilizational links, including the exploration of the possibility of promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the leading Hindu and Buddhist establishments of the two countries; jointly organizing lectures/seminars/conferences on important issues facing the two countries for the development of closer bilateral relations. The two... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/14)
Review by: Chandre Dharma-wardana, Ontario, Canada; Dec-2013 The separatist conflict in Sri Lanka and the souring of Canada against Sri Lanka. Document - 4 Source documents from the Subcommittee on Int. Human Rights (SIHR), Canadian Parliament. Review by: Chandre Dharma-wardana, Ontario, Canada; Dec-2013 e-mail/couriel : hrfocus11 yahoo.ca A review of the Testimony given by: Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Executive Director (ED), Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), to the Human-Rights subcommittee, Canadian House of Commons,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/14)
By Pepe Escobar "We are paying very close attention to the situation in Ukraine. We hope all parties can calmly maintain restraint to prevent the situation from further escalating and worsening. Political resolution and dialogue is the only way out." This, via Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong, is Beijing-s quite measured, official interpretation of what-s happening in Ukraine, tailored for global consumption. But here, in a People-s Daily editorial, is what the leadership is really thinking. And the focus is clearly on the dangers of regime... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 20/03/14)
MEDIA RELEASE – March 2014 SPUR (Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc) PO Box 4066, Mulgrave, VIC 3170, Australia The neo-colonial arrogance of the British political and media establishment is becoming increasingly apparent during the past few months. Prior to the recent CHOGM event in Sri Lanka, British Prime Minister Cameron signalled to the Tamil Tiger (LTTE) fronts in the UK that he would convey a ‘tough message’ to Sri Lanka. Under the façade of independent observation, he and his media lap-dogs went about their pre-determined strategy of denigrating Sri Lanka at every opportunity.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/14)
Malin Abeyatunge  Sri Lanka is just a tiny dot in the world map. Yet two powerful countries USA and UK are very much concerned about this tiny island which is also called the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Why are these two countries are so concerned about Sri Lanka, started bullying for almost three years and bringing Resolutions at the UNHRC session against Sri Lanka for war crimes? Is it because of our strategic position in the Indian sub-continent? It’s true during the WW II Trinco harbour was a strategic point so the enemies could hide their naval ships in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/14)
Dr.Tilak Fernando It is interesting to note that life experiences of those who had lived abroad have appealed to many 'old timers' and are being rekindled by reading various occurrences of fellow Lankans connected with Ceylon at various stages. Some of those Lankans who have undergone noteworthy incidents are eloquent in deciphering their encounters in detail, others are capable of putting them in black and white as feedback, and still there are those types who thoroughly take pleasure in reading other's affairs and hark back to their own past happenings thus limiting such experiences unto themselves.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/14)
Stewart Bell | Five years after they were caught buying arms for Sri Lankan rebels, three Canadians have signed an open letter from prison acknowledging they were wrong and renouncing political violence. “We incorrectly believed that violence could achieve the goals that we sought,†they wrote. “We now realize that what we did was not helpful in leading to a positive resolution of the issues that existed in Sri Lanka.†The rejection of armed militancy is a complete reversal for the Toronto men, who were part of the international weapons procurement network that supplied the Tamil Tigers, or LTTE, during... -Full Story- (news.nationalpost.com - 20/03/14)
RT Pakistani leaders hope to convince the United Nations Human Rights Council to pass a resolution that would force US drone strikes to adhere to international law – a request that inspired the US to boycott the talks altogether, according to a new report. The draft of a Pakistani resolution, first reported by Colum Lynch of Foreign Policy, proposes that nations “ensure transparency†when discussing drone strikes and “conduct prompt, independent and impartial investigations whenever there are indications of any violations to human rights caused by their use.â€... -Full Story- (rt.com - 20/03/14)
RT Russia’s Foreign Ministry has published a reciprocal sanctions list of US citizens, consisting of 10 names, including: House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, Senator J. McCain; and advisers to President Obama D. Pfeiffer and C. Atkinson. THE LIST OF OFFICIALS AND LAWMAKERS These officials, along with another five named by the Foreign Ministry, are banned from entering the country. The move comes in response to US sanctions imposed against Russian officials after the March-16 referendum in Crimea, which Washington considered “illegitimate.â€... -Full Story- (rt.com - 20/03/14)
RIA MOSCOW, March 20 (RIA Novosti) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said after a meeting with the Russian president on Thursday that he shares Russia’s concern about Russian speakers in Ukraine. Ban met with Vladimir Putin to discuss the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, which he says poses “great risks to the countries themselves and beyond.â€... -Full Story- (en.ria.ru - 20/03/14)
Norman A. Bailey, Ph.D. The hypocrisy aside, the West-s moves on Crimea are ludicrously feeble. Granted that hypocrisy is the mother-s milk of both domestic and international politics, but the outcry from Europe and the United States over the Russian seizure of Crimea really is beyond the pale. The current provisional Ukrainian government is the product of a coup d-état. Crimea was transferred to Ukraine in 1953 by Khruschchev (who was born in Ukraine) without asking anyone in the Crimea whether they wanted to be transferred or not. Even former Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev stated, "Crimea was merged with Ukraine...without... -Full Story- (globes.co.il - 20/03/14)
RT In perhaps the most pivotal address of the post-Soviet era, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the West to cut the bull on two decades of double standards and put the Cold War to rest. Here are the top 10 moments from his barn-burning address.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 19/03/14)
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada 19 March 2014 Hon. Deepak Obhrai, MP Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, House of Commons, Ottawa Dear Deepak: Here’s what I read last night in ColomboPage. ‘Canada calls on Sri Lanka to respect the rights of the detained activists.’ The comment was fair. But at the same token, I wish the high powered West comply with what they try to preach to others, especially to the developing countries. Your comment was directed at Sri Lanka because the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) of Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/14)
Chanaka Bandarage On Tuesday, 18 March 2014, a group of Sri Lankan Australians (16) from  the ACT, NSW and Vic met with Australian Parliamentarians in the Canberra Parliament and explained to them in length the adverse effects of the proposed US Resolution on  Sri Lanka. Altogether 8 MPs and Senators from different sides of the Australian politics were met with. The meetings were held in a friendly, cordial and polite atmosphere. The Sri Lankan Australian delegation made a humble request from the Australian legislatures to support Sri Lanka at the forthcoming Geneva sessions. They explained to them that the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/14)
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva Mr. President, Sri Lanka wishes to exercise its right of reply on statements made regarding the arrest and detention of Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari, and the detention of Mr. Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen. Investigations revealed that K.P. Selvanayagam a.k.a. Gobi who had been overseas and returned to Sri Lanka was actively involved in reviving the LTTE through regrouping LTTE cadres and recruiting unemployed local youth with the intention of using them for acts of terrorism. The intention of these LTTE operatives headed by Gobi had been to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/14)
 By Bandu de Silva The administration of any country trying to throw stones at others should look at skeletons in its own cupboards before speaking out. The United States of America, perhaps, with its three century old record, is the last country that could open its mouths about human rights or humanitarian considerations. We are not speaking of the times of British colonial expansion into America when they ousted the French. That was three centuries ago. Though not far away, we are prepared to relegate that chapter to the history books. We look at times within our own memory... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/14)
 Shenali D Waduge Tipped to speak at the UNHRC Sessions in Geneva on 19th March 2014 is Dr. Varatharaja, one of the five doctors who appeared in the Channel 4 clips and who also admitted that he  and the other doctors lied and who has now found his way to foreign climes with the help of the Tamil Diaspora and is appearing after several years of silence to come out with another new version. 2014 version by Dr. Varatharaja is likely to spin a new story against Sri Lanka. It would be nicer if he were to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/14)
RT Russia and Crimea have signed treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol in the Russian Federation following President Putin’s address to the Parliament. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin requests parliament to ratify the agreement that would see both Crimea and the city of Sevastopol joining Russia.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 18/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge  When the goal of both Christianity & Islam in partnership with its denominations desire to rule and dominate the world and use the modus operandi of conquests, commerce, conversions using billions in funding dispersed through heritage Christian and Muslim dominated nations and via faith-based funding championed through NGOs what defences are available to Buddhists and Hindu who do not have a goal to dominate the world or to convert, procreate or even funds to counter these incursions? The defence for Hindus & Buddhist becomes precarious when State apparatus of majority Buddhist and Hindu nations fall prey... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/14)
Insight By Sunil Kumar March 18th 2014 As the UNHCR Summit approaches perhaps is is in desperation and in anticipation of a non culpability ruling or a vote that would favour Sri Lanka that Sri Lanka's antagonists in the name of self envisioned and blinkered animosity appear to have stepped up their campaigns to once again villify the Island Nation over the issue of human rights violations and what they damningly term "crimes against humanity". They are probably also becoming more and more aware that there will be many favourable votes for Sri Lanka and no easy ride for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/14)
S. Akurugoda  As per a news item appeared in the Daily Mirror dated 14th march 2014, UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe vowed to topple this government in the same way he toppled the government of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. He has told a rally at Avissawela that the UNP would form the next government in 2015.  As we remember, Ranil toppled the government in 2002 following the same way he learnt from his father Esmond Wickramasinghe, perhaps the only way the UNP leader is aware of,  who toppled the SLFP coalition government of Mrs Bandaranayke in 1964.  Esmond... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/14)
Dr Hector Perera      London As a University student in England, I had plenty of problems when I had to live, study and cook in a single room. With a very limited budget I could not afford to buy takeaway food for daily consumption, except for an occasional treat. The University canteen food was very reasonable but I just had my lunch there and the supper at my one room accommodation.  As a Sri Lankan, I was used to eat rice and curries so I wanted eat that type of food even when I came over to England but couldn’t... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/14)
වම් ඉවුර සී. à¶’. චන්ද්â€à¶»à¶´à·Šâ€à¶»à·šà¶¸- Divaina à¶…à¶´ මේ ජීවà¶à·Šà·€à¶±à·Šà¶±à·š à¶¢à·à¶à·Šâ€à¶ºà¶±à·Šà¶à¶» à¶¶à¶½ à¶à·”ලනයේ à¶»à·à¶©à·’කල් වෙනස්‌කම් ගණනà·à·€à¶šà·Šâ€Œ සිදුවෙමින් à¶´à·€à¶à·’à¶± යුගයකය. එක්‌ à¶´à·à¶à·Šà¶à¶šà·’න් à¶¶à¶§à·„à·’à¶» à¶¢à·à¶à·“න් ද අනෙක්‌ à¶´à·à¶à·Šà¶à·™à¶±à·Š චීනය හ෠රුසියà·à·€ à¶´à·Šâ€à¶»à¶¸à·”à¶› සන්ධà·à¶±à¶º à¶…à¶à¶» à¶šà¶¹ ඇ ල්ලකට ලංකà·à·€ ද ම෠වී සිටී. මේ à¶¶à¶½ අරගලයේදී ලංකà·à·€ මේ වන විට සිටින්නේà¶à·Š, සිටිය යුà¶à·Šà¶à·šà¶à·Š චීනය හ෠රුසියà·à·€ à¶´à·à¶à·Šà¶à·š බවට කිසිදු à·ƒà·à¶šà¶ºà¶šà·Šâ€Œ à¶±à·à¶. à¶»à·à¶¢à¶´à¶šà·Šâ€à·‚ ආණ්‌ඩුව චීනය හ෠රුසියà·à·€ à¶à¶¸ මිà¶à·”රන් à·„à·à¶§à·’යට සලකනව෠නම් à¶’ à¶œà·à¶± කිසිවෙක්‌ පුදුම විය යුà¶à·” à¶±à·à¶à·Šà¶à·š මේ රටේ à¶´à·à·€à¶à·’ à·„à·à¶¸ ආණ්‌ඩුවකටම ගටම මිà¶à·”රන් à·„à·à¶§à·’යට සිටියේ චීනය හ෠රුසියà·à·€ වන නිසà·à¶º. චීනය සමඟ මුලින්ම සම්බන්ධකම් ඇà¶à·’à¶šà¶» à¶œà¶à·Šà¶à·š එස්‌. ඩබ්ලිව්.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/14) By Pepe Escobar Let-s cut to the chase - short and sweet. 1. The Obama administration-s "strategic" gambit to subcontract the State Department-s "Khaganate of Nulands" to extricate Ukraine from the Russian sphere of influence - and ultimately annex it to NATO - by instrumentalizing a coalition of willing neo-nazis and fascists with a central bank veneer (prime minister "Yats"), is in utter shambles. 2. Moscow-s counterpunch was to prevent in Crimea - as intercepted by Russian intelligence - a planned replay of the putsch in Kiev. The referendum in Crimea - 85% of turnout, roughly 93% voting for... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 17/03/14)
By Pepe Escobar Every sane sentient being knows that Ukraine-s "unity" is not worth a new hot or warm war. Or even the current Western-peddled Cold War-style hysteria. Especially when Russia, once again, fights fascism - as embodied by some of the key players now in power in Kiev, and the US and EU-s response is to relentlessly demonize Russia. Crimea - historically, culturally, sentimentally - is Russian, conquered by Catherine the Great from the Ottomans in 1783. Sevastopol was founded by Catherine. If a swing band would play... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 17/03/14)
Nicolas J.S. Davies, AlterNet The U.S. is backing Ukraine’s extreme right-wing Svoboda party and violent neo-Nazis whose armed uprising paved the way for a Western-backed coup. Events in the Ukraine are giving us another glimpse through the looking-glass of U.S. propaganda wars against fascism, drugs and terrorism. The ugly reality behind the mirror is that the U.S. government has a long and unbroken record of working with fascists, dictators, druglords and state sponsors of terrorism in every region of the world in its elusive but relentless quest for unchallenged global power. Behind a firewall of impunity and protection from... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/14)
 Charles.S.Perera Your Excellencies, UN Commissioner Navi Pillai’s report calling  for an International Independent  Investigation  should be rejected as her  impartiality is questionable due to obvious conflict of Interest. Delegates to the 25 Session of the UNHR Council in Geneva have been hearing complaints against Sri Lanka for no other reason but for the eliminating of terrorism under which the Tamil civilians themselves suffered   for over three decades. Those complaints which may have no direct connection to the elimination of terrorism are nevertheless off shoots of the same complaint. You may have notices that those Sri Lankan Tamils who complains... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/14)
By Shelton A. Gunaratne(1)  The dasa-raja-dharma or the ten royal virtues contains the Buddhist ideal of governance or kingship. These virtues are applicable to all leaders in society, but particularly to those whom we chose to govern us. The people in Asia have used them for more than 2,500 years to judge the performance of their rulers, who could reform themselves through public feedback after getting accustomed to the perks of power over time.  The dasa raja dhamma appears in Sutta, KuddakanikÄya, JÄtaka, in the following form (Wikipedia):  DÄnaÅ‹ sÄ«laÅ‹ pariccÄgaÅ‹ ÄjjavaÅ‹ maddavaÅ‹ tapaÅ‹ akkodaÅ‹ avihimsañca khantiñca avirodhanaÅ‹... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/14)
Dilrook Kannangara SLMC is part of the government coalition. However, it always undermines the government and the nation due to its allegiance and association with Middle Eastern extremist cults. It does this while enjoying the perks of being part of the ruling coalition. It is high time the ruling party made a decision to expel the double agents of the SLMC and cut down on the myriad of perks showered on them. Â SLMC - a History of Allegiance with Terror and Separatism SLMC came to prominence in the 1980s as Tamil terrorists attacked Muslims. It came to secret... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/14)
Lanka Bauddha Sanrakshana Sabhawa Sponsored by the Lanka Bauddha Sanrakshana Sabhawa was held on February 15,2002 in Colombo. The following Resolutions were adopted at this Seminar: 1) This House RESOLVES to request the Government and in particular its Minister of Mass Media to establish a Media Commission or a statutory authority with similar powers for the purpose of ensuring that the following requirements are met: a)Â Â Â Â to abide by the duty imposed by Article 9 of Chapter 2 of the National Constitution on the State to foster and protect the Buddha Sasana, and accordingly take steps to ensure that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/14)
Prof. Hudson McLean Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: Russian Roulette A Gun to Sri Lankan Sovereignty.  Russia / USSR has been a good supportive friend of Sri Lanka from the days of Ceylon. And to add to that, Sergei Lavrov the Russian Foreign Minister, who was attached to the Embassy of USSR in the days gone by, and speaks Sinhala. Under any circumstances, Russia deserves the fullest support of Sri Lanka. However the current situation in Crimea on Sunday 16th March 2014, draws a line, due to the adverse effect it might have on Sri Lanka.  ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/14)
 Shenali D Waduge When 96% of world media is owned by 6 companies we do not need to go far to conclude the nature of biased coverage. The fact that media houses are owned by a handful has gone to show that we cannot trust the coverage being relayed. In Sri Lanka’s case all that we ask is why is Sri Lanka’s press not supportive of Sri Lanka’s gallant stand against the bullying western colonial countries at Geneva? That Sri Lanka’s media has never taken the stand against LTTE terror except to report on events as they have unfolded... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge  The incident of a former LTTEr living in an Indian-built home in Kilinochchi shooting a Sri Lankan policemen during a search operation cannot be ignored. In the 1970s Prabakaran had just 26 men and over a handful of decades later that number turned into thousands and led to thousands of corpses and a brutal terrorist conflict that lasted 3 decades. The players that spurred LTTE then are no different to those that are attempting to revive the LTTE again. Read between the lines to understand what the calls to remove the army will next lead to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/14)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror A woman had been arrested in Kilinochchi on charges of harbouring an LTTE suspect, who was absconding after shooting a police Sub Inspector, the Police said. “She was arrested on charges of harbouring a criminal. She was produced in Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court and will be brought in Colombo today for further investigations,†SSP Ajith Rohana said. Meanwhile, foreign media reported as having said by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that the woman, Balendran Jayakumari was being punished for repeatedly protesting over the fate of her son, an under-age rebel who disappeared in the conflicts, which... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/14)
 Sunny Sunil's Column Of Positive Analysis February 2March 15 th 2014 While there have been many observers fron the Buddhist Clergy in the form of prominent monks from the Buddhist hierarchy in Sri Lanka admirably so, regarding the United Nations misguided calls for Human Rights Violations Investigations, not only irrelevant and illogical but also quite inapplicable in the case of Sri Lanka, all the calls thus far have not included attestation of much Christian sentiments which has been a cause for concern from many observers. The popular belief is that Christians have supported the insurgency of the Tamil Tigers through various anomalies such... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/14)
 Shenali D Waduge Now that Ananthi Sasitharan is in Geneva she needs to be given the podium to explain how her husband on behalf of the LTTE recruited young children denied them every human right a child is entitled to and trained them not only to kill but to commit suicide by biting a cyanide capsule that Adele Balasingham a nurse living exile in UK first taught them. If the UNHRC now in session does not raise these questions from Ananthi whose husband recruited the most number of Tamil children then there is some serious flaw in the ‘HUMAN... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/14)
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne The US was exposed on Thursday's session of the UNHRC in Geneva for its human rights abuses by a Committee of eighteen experts. This committee is charged with upholding the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Committee had expressed their deep concern about the US record on human rights and had  suggested that the US had failed to meet human rights obligations. The Report had criticised the US for its tactics such as the use of unmanned drones targeting Al Qaida, but killing innocent civilians, transfer of detainees to countries such as Algeria which practice torture,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/14)
Mahinda Gunasekera By E-mail 84 Tambrook Drive Agincourt, Ontario Canada M1W 3L9 March 15, 2014 The Editor Daily Island Newspaper Colombo, Sri Lanka Dear Editor, TNA claims French support for US Resolution against Sri Lanka I refer to the news report filed by Shamindra Fernando on the subject published in your edition of March 14, 2014, and wish to comment as follows: TNA Chairman of the Northern Provincial, Mr. C.V.K. Sinagnanam's claim after meeting with the visiting French ambassador in Jaffna that France was supporting the proposed US resolution against Sri Lanka is probably an attempt to boost the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/14)
Mahinda Gunasekera Toronto How come MP Rathika meets banned LTTE leaders in Tamil Nadu after her so called ordeal in Sri Lanka? More revelations of MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan's visit to Sri Lanka and Tamilnadu, South India have now surfaced. She claimed that her private visit to Sri Lanka after some 27 years was to meet with relatives and see her former home in Jaffna and engage in some charitable work just before the March 2014 UNHRC sessions in Geneva. Her cousin I believe was Mrs. Ananthi Sasitharan who was elected as an MP of the Northern Provincial Council,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/14)
Pravda It has not been that long after the burial of the victims of the Maidan, and the recent history of the Ukrainian tragedy is already being rewritten by the supporters of Kiev junta and biased Western experts. They are doing it without any regard to the generally known facts and witnesses. What myths are used in the information war? Myth 1: President Viktor Yanukovych is illegitimate. The issue of the legitimacy of Yanukovych is considered by a British political scientist and researcher of fascism Roger Griffin in simple terms: "from the moment when he ordered security forces to open... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 15/03/14)
By Pepe Escobar Every sane sentient being knows that Ukraine-s "unity" is not worth a new hot or warm war. Or even the current Western-peddled Cold War-style hysteria. Especially when Russia, once again, fights fascism - as embodied by some of the key players now in power in Kiev, and the US and EU-s response is to relentlessly demonize Russia. Crimea - historically, culturally, sentimentally - is Russian, conquered by Catherine the Great from the Ottomans in 1783. Sevastopol was founded by Catherine.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 15/03/14)
Bandu de Silva US -India Cooperation against Sri Lanka            The post war period, last three years especially, Indo-Sri Lanka relations were seen going through a period of stress. The first manifestation of this came with India extending support to a Resolution that US along with European Union succeeded in passing at the UNHRC in Geneva in 2012 and again in 2013 calling for accountability greater demonstration of commitment to reconciliation. These were seen as arising from electoral compulsions which New Delhi is facing in Tamil Nadu which accounts for big slice of votes for any party aspiring for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/14)
By Shelton  A. Gunaratne [1)  Dear Mr. Sampanthan: May I suggest that the TNA and the GoSL consider ahimsa and dharma principles of Hinduism and the dependent co-arising (paticca-samuppada) doctrine of Buddhism to bring about amity and harmony between the Sinhala and Tamil ethnic communities in Sri Lanka.  If you try to resolve problems in Asia by applying Oriental wisdom rather than by applying Occidental thought, which brainwashed us to rely on the white man’s wisdom for more than 500 years, we will stand a better chance of peaceful co-existence. Let me call upon the so-called... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha USA ".... The populations of the countries that have ratified the Rome Statute ((Andorra, Antigua, Dominica, Barbuda, Nauru, Liechtenstein, San Marino) is hardly 347,000 while the populations of countries that have not ratified the Statute runs into billions – China 1.25b, India 1b, Indonesia 230m, Russia, 150m, USA, 312m, Japan 125m."- When the western world discovered the new world in the 15th century it opened up a vast continent to Europe. As the decades and centuries went by the indigenous populations were easily wiped out. In the case of the Aztec civilization and the Inca civilization... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/14)
Chanaka Bandarage On Friday 7 March 2014 about 50 patriots from different parts of Australia converged to Canberra to meet with representatives of the UNHRC member countries located in Canberra. The delegates met with nearly 30 such Missions located in Canberra. They also met with the Office of Julie Bishop, Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs for Australia, a friend of Sri Lanka.  The delegates had lengthy discussion with representatives of the UNHRC member countries and most representatives offered  signs that their countries may not vote in favour of the proposed US Resolution in Geneva this time. It seems many... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/14)
RT “It is clear that the implementation of the right of self-determination in the form of separation from the existing state is an extraordinary measure. In Crimea such a case apparently arose as a result of a legal vacuum, which emerged as a result of unconstitutional, violent coup d-état carried out in Kiev by radical nationalists, as well as direct threats by the latter to impose their order on the whole territory of Ukraine.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 14/03/14)
Reported by: Comrade SK Senthivel, General Secretary, NDMLP Comrade SK Senthivel, General Secretary of the New-Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party addressed a meeting for the youth held at the Jaffna office of the Party. The following is an excerpt of his address. The US has exposed its imperialist ulterior motives by releasing the draft text of the resolution that it intends to bring up at the United Nations Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva. Not knowing that, the US-loyalist Tamil nationalist leaders conducted false propaganda among Tamils that the Geneva resolution would turn out to be a great blessing to the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/14)
mahinda -Â With the latest outcome as a result of search efforts being extended to Indian ocean where Sri Lanka and its ocean is fully within the circle of the suspected Aircraft path demarcated by the CIA / Pentagon and other experts. Â At a time Sri Lanka is facing HR and War Crimes threat at the instigation of USA and West and amidst the news on USA a seeking a Military base in (S.E.A.) Sri Lanka, it is worth being inquisitive and alerted as to what is taking place in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/14)
Mahinda GunasekeraToronto, Canada Sri Lanka’s recent experiences with the United Nations Sri Lanka has been a member of the United Nations since December 1955 completing 58 years of membership in the world body. Sri Lanka has made a noteworthy contribution towards the goals and ideals of the United Nations, especially in the areas of formulating UN Conventions on terrorism, Law of the Sea, GATT negotiations, disarmament, peacekeeping duties, several other areas of international concern and even presiding over the UN Security Council in 1960 during the U-2 spy plane crisis. Sri Lanka has at all times honored the UN’s... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/14)
RT The West has condemned the upcoming referendum in Crimea as “illegitimate†and is preparing sanctions against Russia. However, the West’s seemingly random policy on other referendums hints at a double standard in their governments’ rhetoric. Crimea will vote Sunday whether to remain an autonomous region in Ukraine or to join with Russia. Western leaders have claimed the referendum is a farce and that Russian forces have occupied the region. Moscow, however, maintains there has been no such invasion and the referendum represents the Crimeans’ right to self-determination.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 14/03/14)
RT United States taxpayers make large interest payments to the top four technology firms for the $163 billion in US government debt the companies own and shelter in tax-free offshore accounts. Apple, Cisco Systems, Google, and Microsoft legally hold $124 billion in US Treasury securities and $39 billion in US government agency debt in accounts overseas, allowing them to avoid the 35 percent (maximum) corporate tax rate in the United States, according to Securities & Exchange Commission reports. Together, the companies would be the 14th biggest overseas holder of Treasury securities, just ahead of countries like Norway, Singapore, and... -Full Story- (rt.com - 14/03/14)
RT “It contains unacceptable and unjust wording and the conclusions are completely distorting the essence of what is happening in Ukraine,†the ministry’s department of information and printing said. The statement reads that Russia considers the adopted document as “further evidence of the persistent refusal of MEPs to base their work on common sense and objective facts.†It added that such a move was to be expected ahead of the EU Parliament elections.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 14/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge  The US National Security Agency is tasked prevent terrorism but why would Obama administration need to use Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo, Apple, YouTube and other web-based services gaining access to over 59,000 user accounts, monitoring phone calls, bugging buildings even watching people type on their pcs? Moreover, since when did the US administration start thinking that their allies were ‘terrorists’ so much so to spy on world leaders? If countries have thought themselves as America’s ‘strategic partners’ all this while they need to wake up to the fact that the FIVE EYES Group are the only... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
Wimal Now Rauf’s document submitted to UN is used by LTTE diaspora to take it up with UNHCR to say that the Singhalese are beating Muslims & Tamils. A copy of the report is given to Gajan Ponnambalam and he has taken this report to Qatar, Kuwait & Saudi Arabia and he is convincing the respective governments to vote against Sri Lanka based on the Hakeem’s falls report. Friends, Hakeem has done this filthy job in many previous occasions for Halal package. He himself is like a third grade prostitute. Will sleep with whom ever pays him. His Halal... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy Island Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields was meant to pave the way for Western powers to intervene in Sri Lanka. Last week, The Island dealt with some of the issues highlighted by the documentary produced by the British media outfit, Channel 4 News and the failure on the part of the government to counter them. Although the documentary was first shown to UK audiences on Channel 4 in June 2011, Channel 4 News made its initial allegations in August 2010 Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields is often mentioned as the basis for an international war crimes probe... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
Media Release Sri Lanka MissionGeneva.  Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights, Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe has said Sri Lanka’s opposition to the Resolution being moved by the US, UK and a few other countries against Sri Lanka was a fight on a matter of principle and that Sri Lanka would not compromise on it. Noting that what is happening to Sri Lanka today, could happen to any other NAM country tomorrow, Minister Samarasinghe called upon all Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states to continue to show solidarity with Sri Lanka.  Minister Samarasinghe made... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
By Shamindra Ferdinando President Mahinda Rajapaksa early this week declared that since the vast majority of internally displaced Tamil people in the Northern Province had been resettled, it was now the responsibility of the government to resettle the Sinhalese and the Muslims chased away by the LTTE. President Rajapaksa emphasised that the right of all those evicted by terrorists at gunpoint more than 20 years ago to return should be recognised. The President was addressing a propaganda rally at Ratmalana Railway grounds on Monday (March 10) in support of those contesting the Colombo district on the UPFA ticket.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
Dr.Tilak Fernando I had the great opportunity of meeting with Violet Vivienne Gunawardena in London, in July 1994, at a luncheon, just prior to her departure by cutting her holiday short to get actively involved in the 10th Sri Lankan Parliamentary elections held on August 16, 1994. Her ambition was again to be an advocate for Left participation in the People's Alliance coalition government dominated by the SLFP led by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Seizing the opportunity I 'pushed' some hard questions to her, and she spoke her mind out. Early life   ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
 Courtesy ADA DERANA Ram Jethmalani with MDMK chief Vaiko at a felicitation function in Chennai. Photo: ENS ‘LTTE created by Indira Gandhi for protection of Indian interests’ March 9, 2014  02:05 pm India’s former Union Law Minister and advocate Ram Jethmalani has said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was created by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for the protection of Indian interests. Jethmalani also hit out at the India-Sri Lanka peace accord signed in 1987 stating that it was the great betrayal of Indian interest. He said LTTE... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
By A. Abdul Aziz.     (Given below is an excerpt of one of the recent Friday Sermons of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivered on 28th February, 2014, at ‘BaithulFuthuh’, London, U.K. gave a discourse on a Conference of some living religions known as Wembley Conference -1924).  Ahmadiyya Supreme Head said: A conference on world religions was held here in London in 1924 which was graced by the Second Khalifa of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (Khalifatul Masih II) -  (may Allah be pleased with him). These days... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
Lanka BPO Academy (LBA) head office has been relocated to the Nugegoda Keells Super Building at 126 Highlevel Road. LBA operated from another building in Nugegoda and has relocated to a larger premise to provide a better service. Lanka BPO Academy (www.lankabpoacademy.lk) is a dedicated training organisation that aims to train human resources for the benefit of Sri Lanka. LBA has a focus on IT, Business, Management, Customer Service, Call Centres, Accounting and Investment related areas delivering standard certifications as well as customized training programs. LBA specializes in training for the outsourcing industry in Sri Lanka including Business Process... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/14)
By Bandu de Silva Shift of Policy  India’s shift of policy towards Sri Lanka from a positive one to a negative one, can then be traced to the ascendancy of the opposition to power under Mr.Jayewardene, replacing Mrs.Bandaranaike. The Indian government watched his inclinations, his criticism of the predecessor’s policy of Non-Alignment as being pro-Soviet, which was a position held by the West, his abandonment of Socialist economic policies and opening the economy to heavy foreign investment and launching the accelerated Mahaweli Scheme which brought massive foreign participation in the form of Aid projects, all sent different signals to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge One of the complaints made by Israel over the years is that there is a disproportionate number of Resolutions against its country. What Israel does not acknowledge is that none of these Resolutions get anywhere because almost always the US uses its veto power or forces watering down of allegations. Thus the Resolutions end up a mere joke and just a number used statistically to place on record that UN records Resolutions against even Israel. 62% of all Resolutions have been against Israel. You will not find the US/UK or EU going after Israel as it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
 Shenali D Waduge “If I may say so, this is not a court set up to bring to book prime ministers of the United Kingdom or presidents of the United States.†(Former British Foreign Minister – Robin Cook) When the Treaty for an international court is hastily drafted in 4 weeks by a Coalition of NGOs and is almost 70% funded by EU member nations and has to date since becoming a permanent tribunal (11 March 2003) indicted 27 Africans from 7 African countries only it is extremely hard to not wonder why only one continent and only... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
by Iromi Dharmawardhane Abstract [1] Following the Sri Lankan Government’s military defeat of the internationally proscribed terroristorganisation, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009, Sri Lanka embarked on an essential and long-term twofold post-conflict strategy: (i) rehabilitation and reintegration of former LTTE combatants, and (ii) the rebuilding of the conflict-affected Tamil communities of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The rehabilitation program was by many counts a success, with demonstrated cognitive transformation in attitudes and behaviour of most of the (formerly) radicalised combatants. Reconciliation initiatives were implemented to fulfill the urgent social, political, and economic needs... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha USA Small nations have shown that the US is only powerful if they allow the US to be. From Iran to North Korea the US stands helpless because they have leaders who refuse to give into the US no matter how much pressure is exerted on them. Both North Korea and Iran (and for that matter Syria) continue to defy the US is due to the support they receive from Russia. Sri Lanka is in a unique position in that she has had the unwavering support of both China and Russia who being Security Council members... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
Ira de Silva London, Canada Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka Dear Sir: Former Indian Union Law Minister R. Jethmalani has confirmed that the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi created the LTTE. Sri Lanka knows this as must any other country that has a passing interest in this region. However what is being ignored in the west is that while India was responsible for creating the LTTE and provided support throughout the decades of LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka, the western countries who are so vocal about being against terrorism and human rights abuses, also supported the LTTE terrorists who conducted their... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson United Sri Lanka Assn. Hi Jan,  Thanks for your response . I really value that . I have no doubt you believe what you say. However, I do not think a brief visit , sponsored by a diaspora, unsurpassed in their capacity to manipulate & misinform, and meeting  activist arranged by them, is likely to give you a picture that even remotely resembles the truth. We, my family and I and many like us , are victims of the terror your sponsors funded that forced us out of Sri Lanka. Now,as SL... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
Dr Hector Perera  London Some energy can be saved with low fire cooking that means you must not waste energy unnecessarily. There are many acceptable reasons why one should cook on low fire. One of the reasons is then only the water in the form of juice in foods such as vegetables, fish and meat come out slowly or ooze out then slowly react and interact with the spices or margarine or butter in the cooking pan. Many people including the TV chefs in Britain, just put fire at full blast and cook. What might happens is likely... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
Nalin de Silva The Geneva circus has begun. Some people would like it to be the Geneva spring after many a springs, including the academic spring and the Aluthkade spring have failed for two reasons. The UPFA led by the SLFP and by the President is nationalistic in the sense that it is anti colonialist, and it has stood up to all the pressure applied by the anti national forces in the country instigated by the West led by England. Secondly none of the leaders of the parties in the opposition are nationalistic and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/14)
By Bandu de Silva No impact of Pre-independence Indian politics On Sri Lanka’s side, the great movements that took place in the sub-continent during the pre-independent phase had little impact on the emerging island nation. A few Leftists had come under the influence of India Socialists like Jayaprakash Narayan overseas. These links were maintained to some extent. The Bolshevik-Leninist party led by Colvin R de Silva at the time of Independence was an outcrop of the BLPI in India under the shadow of which all Sri Lankan political prisoner escapees from Sri Lanka functioned. As for the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
S. Akurugoda Addressing the 'Janapathi Janahamuwa' program telecast live last week, President Rajapaksa has said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay in connivance with a handful of powerful countries, based on wrong information, demanded an international investigation against Sri Lanka despite the fact that the government had eradicated three decades of terrorism and ensured the most important human right that a person can have, 'the people’s right to live in any part of the country without fear'. In an another piece of news item, the President added that the Government has succeeded in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
By Charles.S.Perera  USA and its close allies who never intervened to help Sri Lanka during the terrorism under which Sri Lanka was suffering, are very active now  after Sri Lanka on its own eliminated a ruthless terrorism. They are not only present but interfering excessively into Sri Lanka’s internal affairs, and showing an exaggerated concern over a violation of human rights and war crimes during the course of elimination of terrorism by the Government and the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka.  USA, its allies and its Agent  Navi Pillai of UNHRC have left out 30 years of terrorism under... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
By Charles.S.Perera.  United States of America is a failed State, trying to recover its lost prestige and leadership through a Hitlarian methodology to create a white hegemony in the world- to become a police state. In its blind search for power it uses human rights as a weapon, regime change as an object, arming dissenting groups in countries as freedom fighters against the governments in place as a springboard to destabilise governments, and impose trade embargoes as a stranglehold to subjugate nations.  To-day America has become a world police state with its foot soldiers, the Ambassadors at Large, Assistant... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
by Kalinga Seneviratne Special to The Nation ( Bangkok, Thailand) Sri Lanka's move for international peacekeepers to intervene during its civil war is now seen as a monumental mistake by most in the country In Thailand anti-government protesters blow whistles at a Bangkok rally. Caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul recently asked the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to mediate in the escalating political conflict. Kavi Chongkittavorn recently wrote about the dangers of Thailand asking the UN to mediate in the current crisis ("Thailand must be careful what it wishes for", Opinion, March 3). As someone from Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson United Sri Lanka Assn Dear Editor,  Jan Logie Green MP  in her maiden address to the NZ parliament on 12th of February 2012, described herself as a leftie, feminist, lesbian and admitted to " having gone off the rails in the past". Sadly, really sadly her recent  call in parliament  for NZ to support calls for an international investigations on Sri Lanka makes me fear that history is repeating itself. Thankfully the responsible administration that NZ is lucky to have presently is unlikely to let NZ "go off the rails", by paying heed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
Editorial The Island Former Indian Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani has said the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi created the LTTE to protect Indian interests as she believed China and Pakistan were establishing their power in Sri Lanka. He has made no revelation. That Sri Lanka got a RAW deal from India is only too well known. Jethmalani has also suppressed part of the truth, we reckon. India was troubled by the late President J. R. Jayewardene’s pro-American foreign policy more than Sri Lanka’s ties with Pakistan or any other country. It was also to tame JRJ, who used... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
The UNHRC hype is not really about war crimes is it  Why would the TNA and Tamil tiger diaspora back Sri Lanka's War time Army Commander in the elections as opposed to the President? While accusing the Government of War Crimes? The TNA and LTTE diaspora funding - was to back the former Army Commander who has been clear that it is he that commanded and mobilised the Army and has stated categorically - then and now... “If there are allegations of war crimes against the army, I have said that I am ready to answer that anytime... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha USA There are a few issues that the Tamil Diaspora are facing that will hinder their efforts of using their host nations to condemn Sri Lanka on selective human rights issues with the ultimate goal of creating Eelam using diplomacy. With each attempt of a human rights resolution the Tamil Diaspora have failed in reaching any objective. The past two attempts only cemented relationships between Sri Lanka and China and isolated India in the region. Another issue facing the Tamil Diaspora is that they are no longer in Sri Lanka. The million odd Sri Lankan Tamils... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha USA Problem with Nehru’s approach that Indians recruited to foreign nations should be given citizenship follows the Colonial mentality. I doubt if Nehru would feel the same way if the British imported Africans from her African colonies into India to do the same indentured labor. If so that would make his demands hypocritical and invalid as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. It also demonstrates his imperial nature in dictating what other nations’ immigration policy should be when it came to Indians. Nehru’s approach of making citizens of Indians working in foreign lands completely falls apart... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha USA The post world war 20th century takes its roots from the Colonial era when Christian nations of Europe created empires which reshaped the world. Out of them the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French and British Empires stand out. Each in its own way pushed Christian values upon the nations they subjugated. When the Portuguese set out to create a Colonial Empire their nation was in the throes of the Inquisition which was a group of institutions within the judicial system of the Roman Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy. This fire brand version of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha USA Problem with Nehru’s approach that Indians recruited to foreign nations should be given citizenship follows the Colonial mentality. I doubt if Nehru would feel the same way if the British imported Africans from her African colonies into India to do the same indentured labor. If so that would make his demands hypocritical and invalid as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. It also demonstrates his imperial nature in dictating what other nations’ immigration policy should be when it came to Indians. Nehru’s approach of making citizens of Indians working in foreign lands completely falls apart... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
By Paul Craig Roberts March 10, 2014 "Information Clearing House - Over the decades various administrations, seeking to improve their economic record, monkeyed with economic statistics to the point that the statistics are no longer meaningful. According to Friday’s (March 7) payroll jobs report, the US economy created 175,000 new jobs in February. If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I’ll let you have at a good price. Even if 175,000 jobs were created in February–remember now, February was a cold month whose low temperatures are used to explain poor housing and retail sales performance,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
By NJ Thakuria Guwahati: As the nation prepares for the next general election, Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) has urged all political parties to show their sincerity towards the implementation of various welfare schemes to media persons engaged in both print & electronic media. The Assam based scribes' body also insisted on enrolling a special protection laws for journalists on duty in the election manifestos of all political parties. Expressing grave concern over helpless working condition of media persons, particularly the private television journalists of northeast India, the JFA has urged both the Indian Union labour ministry and province... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/14)
By Bandu de Silva The question raised in the title of this article may encapsulate the essence of Indo-Ceylon relations from the inception of independence of the two countries nearly 66 years ago until 1962 India’s border war with China and later Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism set India on a different course. The two countries started their relationship after independence not with a positive note as over two millennia of recorded history and other living evidence would expect one to see, evolving from such a situation, but with a “problemâ€. The problem has gone down in history as... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/14)
By Bernard Wijeyasingha The history of US foreign policy is fraught with tragedy for those nations foolish enough to let a nation whose history and culture is basically defined by isolationism. It took world war two and an attack on Pearl Harbor for the US to wake up to the menace of the Axis powers. Even after Japan attacked the US it was the European stage that the US first took on. The first American invasion against Nazi Germany was in Africa where we landed in the north coast of Africa. To sum up that war it was brought... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/14)
By Bernard Wijeyasingha Recently I had a phone conversation with a dear American friend of mine. He and his wife are devout Christians and they belong to a particular sect of Christianity. My conversation started on the geopolitics of the world and as I talked to him he introduced the Christian God into the picture. I have no problem with his belief but I did find this subtle change of subject from geopolitics to religion a bit unsettling. By now he was in command of the conversation as we debated the pros and cons of Christianity. In the process... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/14)
By Bernard Wijeyasingha Indian political leaders have demonstrated that they lack any vision and by that I go far back as Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who upon independence took India into a massive Socialist society. Fearing the effects of Colonialism Nehru closed India’s economy to the world and created her own industries which on the surface looked sound. But as the years went by and these industries functioned without any competition that an open market would give they either ended up producing shabby products that went unquestioned or went bankrupt only to be bailed out by the government. Even... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/14)
මà·à¶°à·Šâ€à¶º à¶…à¶‚à·à¶º à¶à·à¶šà·Šà·‚à¶« හ෠පර්යේෂණ අමà·à¶à·Šâ€à¶ºà·à¶‚à·à¶º • වර්à¶à¶¸à·à¶± දේà·à¶´à·à¶½à¶± à¶šà·Šâ€à¶»à¶¸à·€à·šà¶¯à¶º à¶à·€à¶à·Š à¶‘à¶šà·Š රියà·à¶½à·’à¶§à·’ à·€à·à¶©à·ƒà¶§à·„නක් ලෙස සිà¶à· කටයුà¶à·” කරන ආකà·à¶»à¶º දක්නට à¶½à·à¶›à·™à¶±à·€. • à¶´à·Šâ€à¶»à·à·ƒà·à¶‚ගික à¶à¶½à¶ºà·š කෙනෙක් දේà·à¶´à·à¶½à¶±à¶ºà¶§ එනවිට ලබà·à¶¯à·™à¶± මà·à¶°à·Šâ€à¶º à¶´à·Šâ€à¶»à¶ à·à¶»à¶º à¶´à·Šâ€à¶»à¶à·’à¶´à¶à·Šà¶à·’ගරුක, විනයගරුක වෘà¶à·Šà¶à·“යවේදියෙක් දේà·à¶´à·à¶½à¶±à¶ºà¶§ එනවිට  ලබ෠දෙන්නේ නෑ.  අද à¶…à¶´à·š රටේ à¶´à¶šà·Šà·‚ භේදයෙන් à¶à·œà¶»à·€ දේà·à¶´à·à¶½à¶±à¶ºà¶§ බලපà·à¶± ව්â€à¶ºà·à¶°à·“න් කිහිපයක් à·€à·à·…ඳී à¶à·’à¶¶à·š. ඉන් à¶´à·Šâ€à¶»à¶°à·à¶± ව්â€à¶ºà·à¶°à·’ය à¶à¶¸à¶ºà·’ දුරà·à¶ à·à¶» බලය හ෠දුරà·à¶ à·à¶» දේà·à¶´à·à¶½à¶±à¶º. නියම ආකà·à¶»à¶ºà¶§, නියම à¶šà·Šâ€à¶»à¶¸à¶ºà¶§ මුදල් සොය෠නොගෙන à¶šà·…à·” ආර්ථීකයක් මඟින් මුදල් සොයà·à¶œà¶à·Š බලවේගවල ග්â€à¶»à·„ණයට, à¶´à·à¶¯à¶© ග්â€à¶»à·„ණයට à¶…à¶´à·š දේà·à¶´à·à¶½à¶±à¶º à¶šà·Šâ€à¶»à¶¸ à¶šà·Šâ€à¶»à¶¸à¶ºà·™à¶±à·Š හසුවෙමින් à¶à·’à¶¶à·š. අද à¶…à¶´à·š à¶´à·€à¶à·’à¶± ඡන්ද à¶šà·Šâ€à¶»à¶¸à¶º යටà¶à·š මිලියන සිය ගණනක් මà·à¶à·’වරණ ජයග්â€à¶»à·„ණය සඳහ෠වියදම් කරන්න à¶…à·€à·à·Šâ€à¶º වන à¶…à¶à¶»,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/14)
By Aileen Torres KINGSTON Thu Mar 6, 2014 (Reuters) - More than 150 years after European colonial powers abolished slavery, a coalition of Caribbean nations is considering legal action to seek a formal apology and monetary compensation. Caribbean leaders meeting next week in St. Vincent are expected to study a broad legal outline for the reparations claim prepared by a British law firm. The subject of reparations has simmered in the Caribbean for many years and opinions are divided. Some see reparations as delayed justice, while others see it as an empty claim and a distraction from... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/14)
"Your latest attempt to denigrate Sri Lanka is a continuation of your pernicious campaign that has already been exposed in the book Corrupted Journalism Channel 4 and Sri Lanka. Your allegations are such unmitigated and unsubstantiated rubbish that you make even gutter journalism appear to be Pulitzer Prize-winning professionalism. What makes your journalism doubly dubious and obnoxiously unbalanced is that you expect us to comment on footage which, in fairness, we have not even been given the opportunity of seeing or hearing. It is a pity that your continuing propagandist vendetta against Sri Lanka only continues to undermine the process of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge The United Nations was formed by 51 states in 1945 following World War 2 that led to 55million deaths. UN comprises 193 member states, 45,000 employees and 35 associated organizations. However, this so called ‘peacekeeping’ body has failed miserably in keeping peace around the world. 83 different conflicts around the world proves this and the root of these conflicts all lead to some involvement (direct /indirect) to the US and its Allies bringing us to ask what has the UN done against the violations being community with impunity by the US? It has reached such a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
By Mahinda Weerasinghe HOW JAFFNA CATHOLICS AIDED THE BRITSH EMPIRE’S  EXPLOITATION OF INDIAN COOLI SLAVES! (Part III) As referred to, in the prorogue, I am outlining a straight forward story using material borrowed directly from other historians. Obviously I do not need to reinvent the wheel! I have only done one thing to such oodles and oodles of research; edited, simplified and placed it in a logical sequence so as to get peek at a comprehensive portrait of the period! In fact this report pursues an unswerving thread. It’s a tale concerning manipulation, greed and avariciousness by a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
Shenali D. Waduge A billion dollar funded Christian Evangelical effort to harvest souls in India with the fullest support of the ‘secular’ Governments of USA and EU and right wing Christian missionary organizations in the West which is in full swing, has alarmed the public throughout India. Social media websites, newspapers, political affairs analysts and the like in India are now constantly focusing on the growing threat to the rich Hindu heritage of India from a well – organized Christian movement based in USA that blatantly demonizes Hinduism as the religion of the devil and aims to replace... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
Group of senior Buddhist professionals in Sri Lanka We are a group of senior Buddhist professionals in Sri Lanka whose mission is to promote religious and communal harmony among the various segments of the country. We are much perturbed (?)over the news item appearing in the Island of 5th March 2014 with banner head line ‘Mannar Bishop leads for call for international war crimes probeâ€. According to the news item the ‘appeal is made by a group of Catholic priests and Rev sisters from the Northern and Eastern provinces urging the Geneva based United Nati.ons Human Rights Council (UNHRC)... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
P.A.Samaraweeera, Melbourne 'Tiger' Bishop, Rayappah Joseph of Mannar, along with LTTE backers and NGO's had submitted some proposals asking the US to include them in the final draft of the US Resolution to the UNHRC. In their memo, they had given 7 requests and some of them had been 'separatism' to the North and East, an international investigation on war crimes in Sri Lanka, acceptance of the traditional homeland theory, a remembrance day for the tiger terrorists and so on. Rayappah Joseph and his gang had requested that their proposals be included in the US Resolution. The Tamil diaspora as... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
Jayantha de Silva Victoria Australia Member of the US Congress 27 February 2014 Dear Sir/Madam, Vilification of Sri Lanka by World Tamil Forum Using False Propaganda With the UNHRC meeting scheduled for March, the Tamil Diasporas have once again stepped up their propaganda campaign to convince the International Community to grant the Tamils a Homeland withinSri Lanka that they failed to achieve after 26 years of terrorism.  Thanks to an honest and discerningForeign Minister, Australia may be the only First World country that will not vote in favour of a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC meeting. Ms Julia Bishop not only realized that the Tamil propaganda was completely false, but has the moral... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
Ira de Silva London, Canada The Editor The Hindu Delhi, India  Dear Sir :  Reference your news item on March 7,2014 that the Indian External Affairs Ministry has indicated that India is yet to take a final call on the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka, is this not what India did on two previous occasions when it was abundantly clear to both those that were for the resolution and those who were against it that India was going to vote against Sri Lanka? It seems that the Indian Government does not have the integrity or honesty to make it known publicly that it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
Garvin Karunaratne PhD(Michigan State University, International Consultant, 10/3/2014 It is time that the members of the UNHCR do consider the fact that the LTTE Rebellion aganist the democratically elected Government of Sri Lanka violated all the human rights of the entire 20 million population of Sri lanka for three decades. The LTTE killed all Tamil Leaders, including two Mayors of Jaffna. Tamil Members of Parliament, Indian leaders like Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Ministers and President Premadasa of Sri Lanka. During that period no one was safe in Sri Lanka. The LTTE attcked Colombo many a time killing Civilians, monks... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti -Courtesy Ceylontoday.lk Under the guise of demanding accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, the United States is exerting pressure on Sri Lanka to secure concessions, possibly of a military nature, Tamara Kunanayakam, Sri Lanka's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, said. Â Â Kunanayakam told Ceylon Today the US needed a strategic foothold in Asia and would use the UNHRC resolution to promote an international investigation into alleged rights violations to eventually secure a regional military base in the island for the US to achieve its ultimate goal of domination, even... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
Courtesy Island March 8, 2014, 7:30 pm For months Geneva was the main topic of conversation in this country. But last week, the bottom seemed to fall out of the whole issue. One reason was that when the first draft of the resolution against Sri Lanka was tabled, it did not have the institution of a commission of inquiry against Sri Lanka or any such thing. All it did was to request the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to ‘assess progress towards accountability and reconciliation’ ‘to monitor relevant national processes’ and ‘to investigate alleged... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Says; It is high time for Sri Lanka to push the issue of human rights violations committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force to the Council in Geneva. This is not a “tit for tat†issue but given that the UNHRC is so “concerned†about human rights violations supposedly commited by the Sri Lankan military which ended the war then it is equally imperative that the human rights violations commited against Sri Lankans by the Indian Peace Keeping Force be addressed simultaneously. This would be a litmus test of the objectivity of the UNHRC and a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Says; Since it is now obvious working with the accusers to come to some mutual understanding is almost impossible Sri Lanka has to act independent of them. Seek out those elements within Sri Lanka who continue to perpetuate the propaganda and the lies. One main group would by the Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance. They should be held accountable for their role in working with New Delhi and the nations who host the Tamil Diaspora in supporting this concocted human rights resolution. The TNA spend more time taking advice from New Delhi and Chennai... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/14)
By: Mike_Whitney “From the moment the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the United States has relentlessly pursued a strategy of encircling Russia, just as it has with other perceived enemies like China and Iran. It has brought 12 countries in central Europe, all of them formerly allied with Moscow, into the NATO alliance. US military power is now directly on Russia’s borders…This crisis is in part the result of a zero-sum calculation that has shaped US policy toward Moscow since the Cold War: Any loss for Russia is an American victory, and anything positive that happens to, for, or in... -Full Story- (marketoracle.co.uk - 09/03/14)
By Robert Parry If you were living in Crimea, would you prefer to remain part of Ukraine with its coup-installed government – with neo-Nazis running four ministries including the Ministry of Defense – or would you want to become part of Russia, which has had ties to Crimea going back to Catherine the Great in the 1700s? Granted, it-s not the greatest choice in the world, but it-s the practical one facing you. For all its faults, Russia has a functioning economy while Ukraine really doesn-t. Russia surely has its share of political and financial corruption but some of that... -Full Story- (consortiumnews.com - 09/03/14)
Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva  Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, has said "the draft resolution on Sri Lanka deposited with the Human Rights Council by a core group comprising - the USA, UK, Mauritius, Montenegro and Macedonia, violates the constitutional provisions of Sri Lanka, is highly intrusive in nature and is in breach of the sovereignty of the Sri Lankan people and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka". "In being politicised and in clear contravention of accepted principles of conduct in the Council", he said, "the resolution... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
Chanaka Bandarage On Friday 7 March 2014 about 50 patriots from different parts of Australia converged to Canberra to meet with representatives of the UNHRC member countries located in Canberra. The delegates met with nearly 30 such Missions located in Canberra. They also met with the Office of Julie Bishop, Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs for Australia, a friend of Sri Lanka. The delegates had lengthy discussion with representatives of the UNHRC member countries and most representatives offered  signs that their countries may not vote in favour of the proposed US Resolution in Geneva this time. It seems many... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
Lankaweb Special Correspondent Hela Veda, Sri Lanka's indigenous medicine is a national heritage that has been passed down through the generations by our forefathers considered to be from the time of Ravan the great king of Lanka in the time of Indian great epic Ramayana. A Sri Lankan entrepreneur Nature's Beauty Creations has created a series of herbal teas that intertwine our historical past with the wonders of Hela Veda using natural herbal ingredients indigenous to Sri Lanka. Before tea was introduced during the colonial regimes, royal families and elite society in ancient Sri Lanka consumed various herbal wellness... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
Dr. Tilak Fernando When the word ‘Teeth’ is analysed, it can be used in many forms and phrases such as ‘kick in the teeth, fed up to the back of teeth, etc., but my attempt in this episode is to get my teeth into a Sri Lankan who was very much proficient in dental science in the UK. I do not, however, wish to discuss the 2007 comedy horror film Teeth directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein. Dentistry According to the Indus Valley Civilization evidence, dentistry was first practised as far back as 7,000 BC. This earliest form... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha says: It would be irrational to believe that Sri Lanka will replace Diego Garcia. The point that Diego Garcia’s lease is going to run out in 2016 and revert to Mauritius since the nation of Mauritius claims the archipelago where the island of Diego Garcia belongs would mean the end of the US presence in Diego Garcia. Both China and India have developed long range missiles that can reach Diego Garcia and Mauritius does not want a US presence when she reclaims Diego Garcia. Neither does the nation of Mauritius. This article claims that the reason... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Says; The situation of the Sri Lankan war against Tamil terrorism and the civil war in Sierra Leone not compatible. As stated the war in Sri Lanka was never a civil war. During the 28 year long war Colombo had a population whose ethnic makeup was 30% Sinhalese, 30% Tamil and 30% Muslim with the remainder being of Christian and other faiths such as the Parsees. In addition across Sri Lanka Sinhalese and Tamils coexisted peacefully except for the Northern and Eastern provinces where the Tamil Tigers had control. Unlike Sierra Leone the people of Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
TEHRAN (FNA)- A leaked phone call between the EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet revealed that the two discussed a conspiracy theory that blamed the killing of civilian protesters in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, on the opposition rather than the ousted government. The 11-minute conversation was posted on YouTube, it is the second time in a month that telephone calls between western diplomats discussing Ukraine have been bugged, the Guardian said. In the call, Paet said he had been told snipers responsible for killing police and civilians in Kiev last month were protest movement... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
Based on Wikipedia Only few people knew that both  Nikita Sergeyevich  Khrushchev and Leonid Ilyich  Breshnev, the most successful leaders of USSR  who kept USSR together were Ukrainian origin. They were ruling USSR from 1958 to 1964 and from 1964 to 1982  and were born in Ukraine or of Ukrainian origin. Brezhnev was born in Kamenskoe into a Russian worker's family in ukraine. After graduating from the Dniprodzerzhynsk ( in Ukraine) Metallurgical Technicum, he became a metallurgical engineer in the iron and steel industry, in Ukraine. He joined Komsomol in 1923, and in 1929 became an active member of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
by Eric Walberg In the latest color revolution, it was not an army but a rump parliament that pulled the plug on the elected president on a wave of protest, pushing out Ukraine-s Viktor Yanukovich on 22 February. He apologized from exile in the Russian city of Rostov-on-the-Don for his weakness during the uprising, but his fate was sealed when he was disowned by his own Party of the Regions, the largest party in the fractious parliament. The rump parliament unsurprisingly ordered the release of Yanukovich-s arch rival, ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from prison, a condition for Ukraine-s signing... -Full Story- (vijayvaani.com - 08/03/14)
by Sesha Samarajiwa Courtesy Asian Tribune I am at the ancient Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya in Sri Lanka. I have come to this sacred Buddhist place seeking some sorely needed serenity. In a great hallway there, I see once again a painting – a panel of paintings – that tells a familiar story of brutal intolerance. It shows an army of Portuguese soldiers destroying this very temple. In fact, they did set fire to this sacred place and partially destroyed it. They also confiscated the temple, banning Buddhists from entering the precincts. Later, the Buddhists reclaimed and rebuilt the temple... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge  There are many wanting to know why a country enjoying 4 years of post-terrorist peace with people and even former cadres getting on with their lives should be hounded by the likes of Navi Pillay, the US, UK and even India bringing Resolution after Resolution with non-associated additions with each new Resolution while no such Resolutions have come before the UNHRC for the Christian West’s successive imperial military interventions and regime change programs – the reasons are complicated just as they are unjust raising the need to always juxtapose demands made by US directly or through... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/14)
Kissinger: Leave Ukraine to Ukrainians John Glaser, Ukraine crisis is merely an illustration of how degenerate and juvenile our politics has become in the generation that has followed his. Henry Kissinger, architect of the destruction of Indochina and secretary of state to one of America’s most corrupt leaders, wrote an Op-Ed in the Washington Post yesterday making arguments that, if uttered on any of the cable news shows, would be condemned as anti-American. Kissinger’s analysis is a balanced one, in contrast to much of what we’ve seen. “Public discussion on Ukraine is all about confrontation,†he laments. “Far... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/14)
By Charles.S.Perera The UNO according to its Charter is to develop good relations with its member states, to develop, peace and security. UNO is to harmonize the actions of its member states to solve their common economic, cultural or humanitarian problems. It accepts the equality of all states without consideration of their economic or political status. Every one working in the UN System from the Director General to the junior most staff member should be an embodiments of the noble principles laid down in the UN Charter. All members of the UN System should perform the duties allocated to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/14)
By Bandu de Silva  Whether Sri Lanka will have to finally face a Sierra Leone like situation depends on what the UNHRC decides on the draft Resolution which was finally submitted to the Council yesterday (March 7th ) in the original form with no major modification of its Clause Three. The original Clause 3 led India to express some reservations on it and seek a modification. The only modification is the words “relevant mandated agencies†being replaced by “Relevant special procedures.†The modified form makes the position even more complicated. What are the special procedures anyway?  That the Draft... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/14)
Dilrook Kannangara Sri Lankan government should be congratulated for its defiance against threats by the UNHRC Chief, many rapporteurs, US diplomats, British PM, Indian foreign minister and PM, TNA politicians, NGO camp and the likes of Dayan Jayatillake. They knew very well UNHRC has no mandate to impose an international investigation as it violates the supreme concept of sovereignty on which the UN is based. Knowing very well their inability to impose international investigations, demilitarisation demands and devolution demands, they opted for fear tactics. They hoped for an “out of court settlementâ€. However, the government stood firm and rejected... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/14)
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Says: March 5th, 2014 at 8:18 pm Russia cannot be seen without including the CSTO, SCO and China. The CSTO was formed as Russia’s NATO but unlike the members of NATO the CSTO members are financially sound, rich in natural resources and strategically better placed. Many NATO members are in deep financial trouble including the US, UK, France. Putin did not take over the Crimea to engage in proposals for peace talks. Already the world has accepted the annexation of the Crimea as part of Russia. President Obama wants to make the Ukraine a member... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/14)
Russia Starts Massive Air Defense Drills Amid Crimea Standoff MOSCOW, March 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Western Military District has begun large-scale air defense drills at its southern testing range of Kapustin Yar on the backdrop of further escalation of tensions with the West over Ukraine. Kapustin Yar, located some 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, will host about 3,500 troops and over 1,000 units of military hardware for about a month. The exercise will culminate with live-firing drills, involving S-300, Buk-M1 and other air defense systems. “It is for the first time that all air... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/14)
Kiev snipers hired by Maidan leaders - leaked EU's Ashton phone tape The snipers who shot at protesters and police in Kiev were allegedly hired by Maidan leaders, according to a leaked phone conversation between the EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and Estonian foreign affairs minister, which has emerged online.“There is now stronger and stronger understanding that behind the snipers, it was not Yanukovich, but it was somebody from the new coalition,†Urmas Paet said during the conversation.“I think we do want to investigate. I mean, I didn’t pick that up, that’s interesting. Gosh,†Ashton answered.The call took... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/14)
Ira de Silva London, Canada The Editor, Letters The Telegraph Calcutta, India Dear Sir: It is indicated that India and Sri Lanka were "non-committal" on the third resolution against Sri Lanka tabled at the UNHCR in Geneva. No one in Sri Lanka will find that surprising because they know that India will as usual vote against Sri Lanka although Mr. Singh claims to be "thinking about it" as he has done in the past and Sri Lanka is well aware of India's constant harassment of Sri Lanka based on the claim that they want to help the Sri Lankan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge SRI LANKA When public sentiments against international public officials are voiced internationally there is an urgent need to investigate why the world public should openly find an international public official unsuitable. Thus, the UN Secretary General is duty bound to listen and in the least hold an impartial inquiry to ascertain the grounds on which people in different parts of the world are vocalizing their dissatisfaction with Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Countries too need to pay heed to calls of the public and place an official No Confidence Motion against her. Navi... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/14)
Janaki Chandraratna PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA  Dear Senator  I refer to your speech to the Australian Parliament on Human Rights Abuses in Sri Lanka on 12 February 2014. The purpose of this speech was to request Australian Parliament’s support for the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka, which is expected to be tabled at the March 2014 UNHCR meeting. The resolution calls for a full independent inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka. As evidence for alleged allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka you tabled the Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s (PIAC) report “Island Impunity? Investigation into international crimes in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/14)
By Shelton A. Gunaratne  My hometown newspaper, The Forum of Fargo-Moohead, carried an unusual editorial (on Feb. 18, 2014) appreciating the change of seasons wrought by the Earth's axial tilt of 23.4 degrees. Wisely, the editorial did not attribute this natural phenomenon to a creator God thereby leaving the readers to infer whatever they wished. However, Christian propagandists in the area could not resist their temptation to disrupt the editorial's neutrality by injecting a mischievous religious slant to the Earth's tilt. Ken Koehler, a religious educator in the area,  reacted to the editorial with... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/14)
Mahinda Gunasekera By E-mail                                                                                       84 Tambrook Drive Toronto, Ontario Canada M1W 3L9 March 5, 2014 The Editor ZeeNews.com Essel Studio, FC-19, Sector 16-A, Noida - 201301, India Dear Sir/Madam, Re: 'US led UNHRC Resolution on Lanka disappointing -Karuna' - March 5, 2014 I refer to the above captioned news report published in your edition of March 5, 2014, and wish to comment as follows: The DMK Party Chief, Mr. M.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/14)
 Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Geneva Minister of External Affairs and Leader of the Sri Lanka delegation Prof. G.L. Peiris, delivering the National Statement at the High Level Segment of the 25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today (5 March 2014), rejected the Report of the High Commissioner in its entirety, saying it was fundamentally flawed and disregarded the substantial progress made by the Government during the five years which have elapsed since the end of the thirty year conflict against terrorism. He said it also pays scant regard to the complexities and local nuances of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/14)
Minister of External Affairs & Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation Mr. President, Madam High Commissioner, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. May I at the outset congratulate you Mr. President, as well as Members of the Bureau on your election as office bearers of this Council. I pledge my delegation’s support to you at all times in the discharge of your office. Sri Lanka also reiterates its continued support to the High Commissioner in the discharge of her mandate as contained in GA Resolution 48/141,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge  The hype behind the US sponsored third resolution against Sri Lanka looks to be frizzling out with US/UK and India managing to get as co-sponsors nations that would hardly constitute power bases. Thus the 2 world bullies and their stooge together with Montenegro, Macedonia and Mauritius have placed the 1st draft forward. Nations of the UNHRC are obviously more concerned about the situation in Ukraine where a democratic leader has been replaced by a US puppet. If this could happen to Ukraine representatives of the UNHRC and the UN General Assembly must seriously think the likelihood... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/14)
By Kalinga Seneviratne* | IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis SINGAPORE (IDN) - UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) head Navi Pillay’s current campaign against Sri Lanka over alleged human rights violations – along with similar campaigns against Libya and Syria earlier – could jeopardize the cause of human rights around the world, analysts say. Pillay released a report in February calling for an international investigation into alleged war crimes when the Sri Lankan armed forces crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a final battle in May 2009. Navi Pillay | Courtesy: Wikimedia Sri Lanka’s Permanent Envoy in Geneva conveying... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/14)
Shenali D. Waduge, SRI LANKA The Christian Inquisition in Europe, Goa and other parts of the Portuguese Empire of Asia including Sri Lanka, goes down in history as one of the most horrible crimes against humanity. The Inquisition launched by the Vatican, Catholic Church, civil authorities of Spain and Portugal paved the way for a brutal legal system in most parts of Europe that lasted for over 600 years. There was neither a Rule of Law, nor respect for Human Rights nor religious tolerance in Europe during the period of the Inquisition. Heretics were burned at the stake for merely... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/14)
Dharshan Weerasekera ‘Flawed UN Strategy’ A reply to Vernon Boteju (Senior Attorney at Law) UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay’s long-awaited report on Sri Lanka is finally out. In it, she does exactly what I predicted in a paper published a few weeks ago in the Foreign Policy Journal, (“The UN’s Sri Lanka Strategy and its implications for international lawâ€) to wit: whereas up to March-2013 the primary and principal basis for allegations of war crimes against the Government was the Report of the Secretary General’s Panel of Experts (POE) of March... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/14)
By Peter Lee The coup in Kiev was a loss for Russian President Vladimir Putin, but doesn-t look like much of a win for the US, Europe, or Ukraine. What we see in Ukraine today is the messy consequences of a clumsily executed regime change strategy. Clumsy, because somehow it excluded pro-Russian forces in Ukraine that make up about half of the country. And clumsy because it blew out of the water an EU-brokered transition deal by which Viktor Yanyukovich and his party would have stayed in the government and Russia would have supplied US$12 billion to help Ukraine... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 04/03/14)
By M K Bhadrakumar How far the blunt and threatening posture US Secretary of State John Kerry took in his interview with the CBS News toward Moscow - and President Vladimir Putin in person - over the Ukraine situation was genuine and how far it was intended to meet the domestic criticism of the Barack Obama administration being "weak" in its foreign policies doesn-t really matter. What matters is that Kerry demanded virtual capitulation by Russia under the shadow of US retribution and that-s being plain dishonest and unrealistic.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 04/03/14)
By Tom Engelhardt There is, it seems, something new under the sun. Geopolitically speaking, when it comes to war and the imperial principle, we may be in uncharted territory. Take a look around and you-ll see a world at the boiling point. From Ukraine to Syria, South Sudan to... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 04/03/14)
By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON - A familiar clutch of hawks have taken wing over the rapidly developing crisis in Ukraine, as neo-conservatives and other interventionists claim that President Barack Obama-s preference for diplomacy over military action invited Russian aggression. At stake in the current crisis, according to these right-wing critics, are not only Ukraine-s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also Washington-s "credibility" as a global superpower and the perpetuation by the US and its Western allies of the post-Cold War international order.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 04/03/14)
Lyuba Lulko Emergence of statehood is evident in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. A government independent of Kiev has been formed, a referendum to change the status of the Crimea from the autonomy to a state has been announced, and a decision to form their own Ministry of Defense has been made. The primary goal is to hold a referendum on self-determination. But what-s next?... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 04/03/14)
RT Russia will not go to war with the people of Ukraine, but will use its troops to protect citizens, if radicals with clout in Kiev now try to use violence against Ukrainian civilians, particularly ethnic Russians, Putin told the media. Putin, who was given a mandate by the Russian senate to use military force to protect civilians in Ukraine, said there is no need for such an action yet.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 04/03/14)
 Shenali D Waduge SRI LANKA It is time the world stood up against a tyrant that is destroying world peace and exposes not only the tyrant but the other nations working in association with the tyrant. It is only then can the world find true peace. Should the world continue to heed derogatory statements and reports issued by the US State Department on nations while the US blatantly violates every law in existence and the UN can only silently watch because its officials have degraded themselves by bowing at the feet of imperialists headed by the US? Planet earth... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/14)
By Arturo Garcia MSNBC host Rachel Maddow noted on Monday the “central awkwardness†in U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry chastising Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine under, as Kerry put it, a “completely trumped-up pretext.†“Absolutely true,†Maddow said. “And something on which the United States has absolutely no leg to stand on after we did exactly that same thing, famously, and on a much larger scale.â€... -Full Story- (rawstory.com - 04/03/14)
RT Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin says ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has sent a letter to Putin asking him to use military force in Ukraine to restore law and order. "Under the influence of Western countries, there are open acts of terror and violence," Churkin quoted the letter from Yanukovich to Putin in the third emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. "People are being persecuted for language and political reasons," Churkin read. â€So in this regard I would call on the President of Russia, Mr. Putin, asking him to use the armed forces of the Russian... -Full Story- (rt.com - 03/03/14)
Robert Bridge Although Obama’s talk tough was little more than tossing raw meat to the hawks in the Republican Party, diseased beyond recognition by Neo-Con ideology, his comments nevertheless betrayed a breathless amount of hypocrisy. After all, Washington wrote the book on violating the territorial integrity of sovereign states with its 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was wrongly accused of harboring weapons of mass destruction. Urgent pleas on the part of UN weapons inspectors, not to mention worldwide anti-war protests, fell on deaf ears in Washington as intelligence-challenged leaders dropped smart bombs on Baghdad.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 03/03/14)
 Shenali D Waduge, Sri Lanka  Garth Pritchard, a Canadian filmmaker who accompanied the forensic team to Kosovo said “this was a massacre that never happened….I was standing there when the forensic teams were telling Louise Arbor there were no 200,000 bodies and she didn’t want to knowâ€. Louis Arbor was the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she was part of the ‘mass grave’ lie. Her successor is Navi Pillay and she is happy to continue the mass lies. Sri Lanka is the target and every effort is being taken to co-link rapes with the Sri Lankan military presence... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/14)
Shenali D Waduge  On 8th September 1951, 51 nations gathered at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco to officially end World War 2 and to formally end Japan's position as an imperial power, and to allocate compensation to Allied civilians and former prisoners of war who had suffered Japanese war crimes. Powerful nations objected to Japan being set up as a US military base and coercing Japan’s to align to the West. India did not even attend the conference. Japan, would recall that it was little Sri Lanka who defended Japan before all the nations present and went a step forward... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/14)
By Kalinga Seneviratne | IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis SINGAPORE (IDN) - Giving a press conference at the end of seven-day visit to Sri Lanka, United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) head Navi Pillay, a South African, said that she was highly offended by comments in the Sri Lankan media accusing her of bias because of her Indian Tamil ethnicity. “Some media, ministers, bloggers and various propagandists in Sri Lanka have, for several years now, on the basis of my Indian Tamil heritage, described me as a tool of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). They have claimed I was in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/14)
Mahinda Gunasekera Tambrook Drive Agincourt, Ontario, Canada February 6, 2014  By E-mail Mr. Scott Reid, MP Member for Lanark- Frontenac-Lennox and Addington Chair of the Sub-Committee on International Human Rights Of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Int’l Dev. House of Commons Ottawa Dear Mr. Scott Reid, Resumed Hearings on the Human Rights situation in Sri Lanka : Nov 7 to Dec 10,2013 Further to my earlier communications, I have pleasure in forwarding an article published in the Colombo Telegraph on February 14, 2014, written under the pen name of 'Mango', which gives a detailed analysis... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/14)
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Geneva  Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris who leads the Sri Lanka delegation to the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) arrives in Geneva on Tuesday (4 Match 2014), and is scheduled to deliver the Sri Lanka National Statement at the High Level Segment of the HRC on the morning of Wednesday.  The 3 day High Level Segment began today with statements by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, President of UN General Assembly John W. Ashe, President of Human Rights Council Baudelaire Ndong Ella, High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navi... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/14)
by John Pilger The racist theory of “separate development†has followed a line that runs from De Beers’s earliest monopolies to Marikana today. It is inspired by a global order of “free markets†upheld by force.The murder of 34 miners by the South African police, most of them shot in the back, puts paid to the illusion of post-apartheid democracy and illuminates the new, worldwide apartheid of which South Africa is both a historic and contemporary model.... -Full Story- (newstatesman.com - 03/03/14)
by Michael Barker (Swans - April 20, 2009) The International Crisis Group was set up in 1995, and describes itself as an "independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation," which works "through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict." Taking issue with this misleading self-description, Diana Johnstone described the Crisis Group as a "high-level think tank supported by financier George Soros... [devised] primarily to provide policy guidance to governments involved in the NATO-led reshaping of the Balkans." Johnstone adds that "[i]ts leading figures include top US policy maker Morton Abramowitz, the eminence grise of NATO-s new humanitarian intervention policy... -Full Story- (swans.com - 03/03/14)
BBC World markets fell on Monday amid a growing sense of crisis over events in Ukraine. In London, the FTSE 100 closed down 1.5%, while markets across Europe fell as much as 3.5%. Markets in the US also dropped sharply in early trading. Earlier, the Russian rouble fell to a fresh all-time low against both the US dollar and the euro, while Moscow-s stock exchange fell nearly 11%.... -Full Story- (bbc.co.uk - 03/03/14)
BBC The government will not curb trade with Russia or close London-s financial centre to Russians as part of any possible package of sanctions against Moscow, according to an official document. The document, which was photographed as a senior official carried it into a meeting in Downing Street, says that "the UK should not support for now trade sanctions or close London-s financial centre to Russians", while it confirms that ministers ARE considering - along with other EU countries - visa restrictions and travel bans on key Russian figures.... -Full Story- (bbc.co.uk - 03/03/14)
By Jonathan Marcus On paper, at least, the Ukrainian military looks credible, though it is numerically inferior to the Russian armed forces - Moscow having about four times as many active troops and twice as many tanks as Kiev.Given the divisions inside the country, there must also be question marks about the loyalty of elements of the Ukrainian military to the new interim political authorities in Kiev.... -Full Story- (bbc.co.uk - 03/03/14)
H.L. D. Mahindapala  The anti-Sri Lankan resolution sponsored USA, UK and India – the three prime movers -- will rely essentially on the report presented by Navy Pillay, the High Commissioner of UNHRC. It is likely that other nations too will be influenced by it. In the following analysis addressed to Ms. Pillay, the former Editor of The Observer, H. L. D. Mahindapala, exposes the failure of Ms. Pillay to deal with the central issues fairly and comprehensively. It also exposes the partisan approach of Ms. Pillay which accuses only Sri Lanka and not the violations of human rights... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/14)
RT The Russian Foreign Ministry has said “unacceptable threats†by US Secretary of State John Kerry over Crimea failed to take into account the violent power seizure in Kiev carried out by radicals.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 03/03/14)
RT Media reports about an alleged Russian ultimatum made to the Ukrainian armed forces in Crimea are “total nonsense,†a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 03/03/14)
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey -Courtesy Pravda The irresponsibility of the western media calling Oleksandr Turchynov "Interim President" and referring to the "new Government" of Ukraine walks hand in hand with the notion that Governments can be deposed and instated by groups of armed thugs on the streets. Turchynov claims power, but what about the massive voting fraud in the Rada? Under the law, under the Constitution of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov is not the Interim President, he is an imposter, the leader of a Putsch who has as much right to declare himself or to be declared Interim President as the author... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/14)
TRUE NEWS SUMMARY It all started with the European Union at one point developed its Eastern Partnership Initiative and promoted the idea of association agreements with some of the focus countries purely based on geopolitical ambitions of  NATO. Ukraine was a prime target. Shortly before signing the Eastern Partnership Initiative at the Vilnius Summit of the Eastern Partnership at the end of last November President Yanukovich had second thoughts about getting only EU involved in the deal. Evidently he understood the possible implications of entry into force of this agreement realising that the EU hasn’t got the sufficient economic... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/14)
By Charles.S.Perera USA was about to intervene in Syria to help rebels to depose President Bachar el Assad and his government. Fortunately Russia intervened requesting America not to intervene in Syria as it was an internal problem. To-day the rebel forces in Syria are withdrawing, despite an opposition to the regime of el Assad says that they have not given up their battle, Syrians are able to take rest to evaluate the wisdom of their action against the regime of Bachar el Assad. All internal problems of countries could be solved by the government and its people  if they... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/14)
By JULIE PACE WASHINGTON — Despite blunt warnings about costs and consequences, President Barack Obama and European leaders have limited options for retaliating against Russia-s military intervention in Ukraine, the former Soviet republic now at the center of an emerging conflict between East and West.... -Full Story- (kansascity.com - 01/03/14)
During an interview at New Europe Studios, Ambassador Chizhov described the relationship between the European Union and Russia During an interview at New Europe Studios, the Head of the Russian mission to the EU, Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov accused foreign forces of helping the Ukrainian opposition which he described as having fallen into the hands of right-wing extremists and neo-Nazis. We all know that the European Union at one point developed its Eastern Partnership Initiative which included Ukraine. From the outset it did not include Russia and we never sought a place among those “focus countries†of the Eastern Partnership. Though... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/14)
Malin Abeyatunge  There is some hidden agenda in Northern Province Chief Minister Vignesweran’s suggestion of granting of Dual Citizenship to the Tamil Diaspora to encourage them to invest in Sri Lanka. It sounds okay on the face of it but there is some sinister move under this suggestion. This is a very subtle ploy by the TNA and pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora (a) to get the LTTE activists among the Tamil  Diaspora back in to Sri Lanka to start another separatist war (b) to allow free  flow of illegal funds to fund another separatist war. The demand by TNA to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/14)
Mahinda Weerasinghe   Part III of the series took some time to formulate, due to several reasons! Partly personal, partly strategic, but mostly; as lot of crisscrossing topics should be juxtaposed and that was an intimidating task.  Above all, I should attempt to make this tale hang together, also in order to make it, concise, economic and lucid, so that any global reader will grasp its essence effortlessly. On the other hand if the tale is to be told in its entirety, it would take tomes to encapsulate. In essence compiling two centuries of clandestine historical great game tactics... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/14)
by Senaka Weeraratna  Sri Lanka’s foreign policy must tilt towards extracting the maximum support and assistance from countries that have a shared Buddhist heritage, because these countries are natural allies of Sri Lanka. A shared past acts as a powerful reminder of a sense of duty to one another particularly in times of crisis. This is true in human affairs. It is equally true in international affairs and underlying religious ties and loyalties must be activated to gain maximum advantage. The unity and solidarity that underlies the formation and functioning of the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/14)
Dilshan Boange Courtesy: The Sunday Nation On February 22, 2013 at the Maha Bodhi Society premises in Maradana Colombo, a discussion was held towards creating new channels of Lanka-Indo relations initiated by Buddhist activists from both here and India who have opened a dialogue as private citizens, hoping to strengthen bonds of amity between the two countries on the basis of shared Buddhist heritage. The initiative was the culmination of a successful goodwill tour of Sri Lanka, recently, by a delegation of Indian Buddhists, consisted of both clergy and laity. The eight member Indian Buddhist delegation led by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/14)
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