News Archive for May 2012

GL Summons UK High Commissioner - May 29,2012
Ira De Silva London, Canada
The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka Dear Sir: It is encouraging to note that the Foreign Minister has made note of the rank interference by the British H.C. and summoned him to express his "displeasure". Sri Lankans can only hope that Mr. Peiris was able to explain in diplomatic jargon that Sri Lanka is not a British colony and that statements such as made by Mr. Rankin are not only undiplomatic but are considered as interference in the domestic affairs of Sri Lanka. Since the spokesperson for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

“Country name change”
Anura Seneviratna.  
The recent post in Lankaweb on country name change highlighted by Lorenzo and supported by Prof. Hudson surely brings fresh breeze of rationality and logic. As a contribution to this vital topic more thoughts will not go amiss. Name of a country directly bears the name of the National Land Deed declaring National Ownership to a particular country, similar to a personal property deed which must state the true name of owner. In brief, Lanka is a pseudonym adopted by the early Indian poets to distinguish the islands beauty and it is the derivative of the Indian... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

Why some people prefer takeaways than home cooking?
Dr Hector Perera        London
Takeaways or fast food is an easy and quick way to grab a meal on the go. There are many side effects of eating fast food frequently, the body gets a high amount of calories, saturated and trans-fats and sugar with limited vitamins and minerals. It doesn’t happen over night but this can lead to an increased risk for illness and many diseases. There are many reasons behind the fact of fast food whether they are healthy or not. A few reasons why people prefer fast food are: time factor in food preparation at home,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

විදුලිය ඉතිරි කළ දහසකට නොමිලේ විදුලිය ලබාදේ 25 දෙනෙකුට සංකේතාත්මක තිළිණ ප්රාදානය අද (31) සිදුකෙරිණ.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
මහජන කැපවීම මත, පසුගිය කෙටි කාලය තුළ බලශක්ති ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ විශාල ජයග්‍රහණයක් ලබාගනිමින්, රට විදුලි කප්පාදුවකින් තොරව පවත්වාගෙන යාමට අපට හැකියාව ලැබුණා - ඇමති චම්පික රණවක පවසයි   පසුගිය 2011 වසරේ සැප්තැම්බර් වනවිට ලංවිම පාලනාධිකාරියට පැන නැගුනු ප්‍රධානතම අභියෝගය වූයේ 2012 වසරේ මුල් මාස 06 ක කාලය තුළ වැඩිවන විදුලි ඉල්ලූම සම්පාදනය කිරීමයි. ඒ වෙනුවෙන් ක්‍රමවේද 02 ක් පවතින බවට අනාවරණය විය. වැඩිවන විදුලි ඉල්ලූමට සාපේක්ෂව මෙගා වොට් 100 ක අතිරේක විදුලිබල ධාරිතාවක් පෞද්ගලික අංශයෙන් මිලදී ගැනීම ඉන් එකක් විය. ඒ සඳහා ඇස්තමේන්තුගත නොකළ මිලියන 13,000 ක් හෝ 17,000 ක් වැනි මුදලක් වැයකිරීමට සිදුවන බව... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

“PEACE EDUCATION”: PUBLIC LECTURE BY JUDGE, SRI LANKABHIMANYA, CHRISTOPHER G. WEERAMANTRY-15th May, 2012, Colombo:
PRESS RELEASE-Issued by:  Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS)
A public lecture on “Peace Education” was delivered by internationally renowned lawyer and scholar, Judge, Sri Lankabhimanya, C.G. Weeramantry, Former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) on Tuesday, 15th May, 2012.  The welcome address at the lecture was delivered by Mr. Gritakumar Chitty, International Lawyer and Former Assistant Secretary – General for United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Mr. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Executive Director of the Kadirgamar Institute welcomed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

Is not the vision of Dr. P.B. Jayasundera the same as that of the Mahathma Gandhi of India.
Professional Analyst.
The Government strategy is to promote Sri Lanka as a model tourism destination to improve the global image of Sri Lanka by creating a conducive tourism environment and improving domestic tourism, benefiting from the country’s natural, cultural and historical diversity and ensure to cater 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016. The Hon. Ministers of Finance and Planning and Ministry of Economic Affairs have laid down guidelines for this as recommended by the Secretary of both these Ministries, Mr. P.B. Jayasundera. Officials of the caliber of this official are an asset to the Nation. People like UNP National... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

HIS EXCELLENCY DR. CHRIS NONIS APPOINTED TO THE ADVISORY PANEL OF “THE QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE TRUST”
Media Release  High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner for the U.K., H.E. Dr. Chris Nonis has been appointed to the Commonwealth Advisory Panel of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Trust. The establishment of the Trust was announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia in 2011, but was launched officially on 6th February 2012 – the 60th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession. Former British Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir John Major is Chairman of its Board of Trustees, which includes the Commonwealth Secretary General. The Commonwealth... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

"ආනයනික ටින් මාළු සහ ශීත කළ මාළු සාම්පල විකිරණ පරීක්ෂාවට ලක්කෙරේ"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
පරමාණු ශක්ති අධිකාරියේ විද්‍යාගාර සහ තාක්ෂණික සහාය සහිතව දින 03 ක් ඇතුළත පරීක්ෂණ වාර්තා ලබාදීමට පියවර   ජපානයේ ෆුකුෂිමා න්‍යෂ්ටික බලාගාරයේ පසුගිය මාර්තු මාසයේ සිදුවූ පිපිරීමත් සමඟ එම බලාගාරයේ විකිරණලී ද්‍රව්‍ය මුහුදු ජලය හා එක්වූ බවට ජාත්‍යන්තර වාර්තා පලවිය. එවැනි තත්ත්වයන් මත ශ්‍රී ලංකාව අවට කලාපයේ මුහුදු තීරයන්ද කිරණ බලපෑමකට ලක්වීමේ අවදානමක් පවතී. මේ හේතුවෙන් මුහුදු මත්ස්‍යයන්ටද විකිරණ බලපෑම් එල්ල විය හැක.   මෙම තත්ත්වයන් සැලකිල්ලට ගෙන, සෞඛ්‍ය හා පෝෂණ කටයුතු අමාත්‍යාංශයත්, ශ්‍රී ලංකා රේගුවේ සහායත් ඇතිව ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට ආනයනය කරනු ලබන සෑම ටින් මාළු තොග වල සහ ශීත කළ මාළු තොග වල සාම්පල, පරීක්ෂාවකට... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

Hard facts on the ‘Other Woman’
Dr.Tilak Fernando
Too much of the wife’s possessiveness also can create the path for another woman to enter a man’s life. Some men do confess that they get the repugnant feeling of their wives want to ‘swallow’ them alive! It is when she turns into a witch and expects the husband to do everything together, even sharing every thought with her. Naturally, even some strong men folk get suffocated in such circumstances and feel hemmed in Extra marital affairs have been in existence from time immemorial. In ‘sophisticated’ societies it has become a fashion to boost... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

Beware of tricksters at the petrol station
By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai Dehiwela.
Today I went to pump petrol for my car and I asked the attendant to pump for Rs.4000 ; I knew from habit, that will bring the petrol in my car to the brim. While one attendant was  pumping the petrol, another one came to my window and told me “ See, he had pumped only for Rs.1000 and I have  told him to pump for another Rs.3000” and kept telling me to look at the meter. I did not take much notice thinking he is telling me so it must be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/05/12)

Country Name Change - Logical & Appropriate - SINHALA!
Prof. Hudson McLean
 From-;  Serendib-Taprobane-Lanka-Ceylon-Sri Lanka Thank you Lorenzo for highlighting this important sensitive subject. Brilliant! Lorenzo Says: May 29th, 2012 at 10:01 pm 1. Who named this country Sri Lanka? Totally out of the way. It was known as Ceylon and Hela.  The name change from Ceylon to Sri Lanka was the "brain-child" of Oxford educated Christian race-horse owner-converted-Buddhist  (for purely for political agenda) SWRD Bandaranaike, the Founder of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), fondly aka "Banda", having resigned from the United National Party.  It was a brilliant move, which rattled the British subservient DS Senanayake... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/05/12)

John Baird: Killing of children in Houla, Syria
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 Canada
30 May 2012 Hon. John Baird, MP., P.C. Minister of Foreign Affairs, House of Commons, Ottawa.  My…My…John, how times have changed. I watched yesterday’s Question Period on CPAC, and how righteous you looked and spoke for all of Canada, when you said that “Targeting civilians, especially executing children, is absolutely intolerable and inexcusable.”  You were referring to the killing of 108 adults and children in the Syrian town of Houla on May 27, and you had expelled the Syrian diplomats in retaliation for these killings. That... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/05/12)

ඡන්න විජේවර්ධනයන්ගේ මහා නර්තන ප්රා තිහාර්ය.
චනුද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි
ඡන්න විජේවර්ධනයන් යනු අසාමානළු මහා චරිතයක් ලෙස අප කාලාන්තරයක් මුළුල්ලේම දුටුවෙමු. නර්තන කලාව සදහාම නිර්මිත මහා පුරුෂ ලක්ෂණයන් ඔහුගේ මුළු සර්වාංගය පුරාම කැටිව පවතින බවක් දුටු අප, මේ මනුෂළුයා මහා ජාතික සම්පතක් ලෙස මනාව හදුනාගෙන සිටියෙමු. ඡන්න පිනවූයේ කාවද? ඒ ශ්‍රී ලාංකීය ජාතිය බව අප හදුනාගෙන සිටියෙමු. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සම්මාන උළෙලවල් වර්ණවත් කල ඡන්නගේ නර්තන කණ්ඩායමට මහා සම්මානයක් පුදකරන්නේ කවරෙක්ද? යන පැනය සෑම විටෙකම අප සිත තුල නලියමින් පැවති කුකුසයි.. ඒ සියළුම බලාපොරොත්තු තුලට මහා උද්වේග කාරී අභිමානයක් උරුම කරමින් ඡන්න විජේවර්ධනයෙන් ප්‍රම්‍රඛ නර්තන කණ්ඩායමට ලෝකයේ ඉහලම නර්තන කණ්ඩායමට උරුම මහා සම්මානය උරුමව ඇත.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/05/12)

PANDITH IYOTHEE THASS BELIEVED THE UNTOUCHABLES OF TAMIL NADU WERE FORMER BUDDHISTS, AND CONVERTED HIMSELF TO BE A BUDDHIST BY VISITING SRI LANKA
By Walter Jayawardhana      
Calling Pandith C. Iyothee Thass, a highly intellectual man who died in 1914 as the precursor of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu The HINDU said he believed that the untouchables in the state were one time Buddhists and he went to Sri Lanka converted himself to be Buddhist there and established few Buddha viharas  in Tamil Nadu to propagate his newly embraced dharma. D. Karthikeyan who wrote the birth anniversary article in the newspaper said, Iyothee Thass “was instrumental in articulating the idea that the lower castes were not only Buddhists formerly but were the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/05/12)

NALANDA THE FIRST UNIVERSITY OF THE WORLD IS CLOSE TO THE PLACE WHERE BUDDHA PREACHED HIS LAST
By Walter Jayawardhana
“The ruins of Nalanda stretch out below us, a poem in red. The remains of this ancient monastic university, located on the way from Patna to Rajgir consist of classrooms, stupas, monk's cells and temples. The crimson of the bricks glows in the light of the midday sun,” said Kauusalya Santhanam writing a news feature on the world’s first university, the Nalanda. “Some of the bricks look worn with age while others look bright and new; one admires their quality and endurance for the university is said to have flourished from the 5th to the 12th... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/05/12)

Sri Lanka – Improvements in the Country are Remarkable
By Kingsley Ediriweera – Melbourne, Australia
I have been away from Sri Lanka for nearly Forty Years and I am not qualified or is it fair for me to get involved in the political debate in the country of my birth. But, as an impartial observer travelling through the Country, I must confess I was quite amazed and impressed with the infra structure development. Most of the main roads have been upgraded and the others are in the process of being upgraded. It so happened that we travelled during the main Vesak Days. It was touching and informative to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/05/12)

Who Are the Rightful Owners of Sri Lanka?
Prof. Hudson McLean
Back to Basics! A simple grass-root explanation to a divisive complex problem created by a minority of senseless trouble-makers, with an Agenda, far from the obvious. Having brought about an end to terrorism, followed by a national General Election, where the current Ruling Party received an over-whelming Vote of Confidence by the majority of the electorate, still a Deaf & Dumb Brigade of Tamils as well as some Sinhala are trying to create ripples in calm waters. The Tamil trouble-makers, most of them are comfortably domiciled in the EU, USA, ANZ, have nothing to lose, but... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/05/12)

Sri Lanka’s constitution denies separatism: ITAK still wants to separate. What is delaying Govt action?
Shenali Waduge
Delaying actions concerning the welfare of the Sri Lankan people by allowing a handful to create unprecedented strife based on a notion of “ethnic separatism” not shared by the majority has led to decades of terror resulting in unnecessary damage control allowing Sri Lanka to be compromised to opportunist nations pursuing neo-colonial agendas and India desiring to turn Sri Lanka into an Indian protectorate. Sri Lanka’s Government has been warned enough. What is stopping Sri Lanka from drawing up its foreign policy without bending to Indian will? In 1949 the ITAK was formed to work towards a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/05/12)

Kandy Man with long name who fought the Brits.
By Gary Brecher
You see some pretty sick stuff when you do my job, but I just read something sicker than any Congo cannibal buffet. It’s an article by a posh little limey named Jeremey Brown condemning the Sri Lankan government for being too messy in putting down the LTTE, and demanding that we stop buying the cheap textiles the poor Sinhalese make their living churning out. What’s sick about this is that the British establishment destroyed the Sinhalese people completely. Completely and purposely, sadistically. Stole their land, humiliated and massacred their government, made it Imperial policy to erase... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/05/12)

"Ask the British High Commissioner" to bug... off
H. L. D. Mahindapala
Are the Western diplomats given too much of licence to dabble in domestic affairs which is none of their business, to begin with? Take the latest case of John Rankin, the British High Commissioner. Is it any of his business whether Sri Lanka stations its troops in the north, south, east, or west? Is he trying to do another David Gladstone, the meddlesome British High Commissioner, who walked into a polling booth in the south and tried to poke his unwanted finger in the affairs of an election in progress? How would the British Foreign... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

Batticaloa Resolution 2012 of TNA Calls for Unitary Tamil Elam
Dilrook Kannangara
It is Vadukoddai (Batakotte is the historical name) Resolution part two. For strategic reasons, TNA (ITAK) chose the Eastern city of Batticaloa. Faced with imminent annihilation of Tamil domination at the next Eastern Provincial Council election to be announced shortly, TNA leaders are struggling against all odds to keep their dream homeland in tact. ITAK also threatened to restart its old and highly controversial “non-violent Gandhi” agitation campaign. It was this campaign that created ethnic intolerance and racial hatred in the 1950s to 1970s until the LTTE capitalised on it. Essentially it is another main milestone in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

Whether Or Not The Constitutions Of The Tamil Parties In Sri Lanka Seek Secession Should be Of No Consequence To The Administration Based On Legality!
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial
May 29th 2012 Interestingly, whether it is due to a lack of cognizance and aversion to reality or basic apathy, the rhetoric that comes out of Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka seem to be careening erratically on a path which makes little sense towards rationalities as self assumed captions and imagined entitlements seem to fog the minds of this apparently beuddled lot which is more cause for amusement rather than concern as the related realities are etched in stone and veritably unshakable in a nation of majority Sinhalese whose tolerances towards the irrationalities of a representation of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

Human Rights : US vs China
Shenali Waduge
The buzz word is human rights and it has found itself a perfect tool and political instrument to advance western imperialism and usurp the sovereign status of nations. Countries that have committed and continue to commit human right abuses have in essence no moral, legal or political right to accuse others. The US continues to ignore its own human rights abuses. With international media owned and run by the West it has become a great means of manipulating the people’s minds into thinking that only the US and the West are champions of human rights. Unless people... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

Gotabhaya makes it clear
L. Jayasooriya
A foreign correspondent who interviewed Gotabhaya very aggressively today on the 28th May asked him why Sinhalese are settling down in predominantly Tamil areas to which Gotabhaya reacted very appropriately and told him that any citizen can buy property and settle down anywhere in the country he wants. He then pointed out to him that many years ago there were no Tamils in the Hambantota area but now there are. So why cannot there be Sinhalese in the North to which the correspondent had no answer. This correspondent must have been heavily paid by the LTTE to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

HINDU SAYS SAMPANTHAN’S PARTY STILL RETAINS SEPARATE STATE notion in its constitution
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (The tamil name for Sri Lanka Tamil Government Party) has refused to revisit its constitution which seeks the establishment of a separate stateat its 14th National Convention in Batticaloa recently charged the Hindu newspaper. “In short, TNA leader R. Sampanthan's gesture in Jaffna on May 1 — that of waving the Sri Lankan national flag for the first time, alongside United National Party chief Ranil Wickramasinghe — did not translate into his party endorsing his sentiment. But it reaffirmed its faith in Mr. Sampanthan by electing him as its president, even... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

Oops, BBC: Iraq photo to illustrate Houla massacre?
RT
With the shock of the Houla tragedy ringing across the world, the BBC has released a story with a harrowing picture of rows and rows of children's bodies awaiting burial… But isn’t that post-Saddam Iraq? ­Photographer Marco di Lauro who took the shot grabbed by the BBC says he nearly “fell off his chair” after finding the picture on the network’s website with a caption reading: “Photo from Activist. This image – which cannot be independently verified – is believed to show bodies of children in Houla awaiting funeral.” The picture was actually taken on March 27, 2003; it... -Full Story- (rt.com - 28/05/12)

RUSSIA PUBLISHES ITS FIRST ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF BUDDHISM
By Walter Jayawardhana
Russia has announced that they have published “The first encyclopaedia of Buddhist philosophy”  where Buddhism has seen a revival after the collapse of Communism. “The encyclopaedia analyses the philosophical aspects of Buddhism in the context of different civilisations, cultures and religions, including Hinduism, Christianity and Islam”, a report said.   Kalmykia state is a Buddhist area in Russia where Vesak Has been declared a public holiday.This is Golden Temple in Elista city there Releasing the book at a function held at the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences India’s Ambassador Ajai Malhotra... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

BUDDHIST ART FROM ANDRA PRADESH
By Walter Jayawardhana
Kappan Kishan is a Buddhist artist from Telangana province of Andra Pradesh, South India. The people from the region like to call their area as the seat of Buddhism in India. “These women, according to me, are devotees of Buddha. In this series, you can see them painting Buddha. Andhra Pradesh is the seat of Buddhism in India. So, instead of focusing only on Buddha in different stages of meditation, I wanted my paintings to reflect the association with our State,”he told the Hindu’s Sangeetha Devi Dundoo who wrote a review of his exhibition. RURAL... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

Participation at the World Economic Forum on East Asia from 30th May- 01st June 2012.
Press Release-Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS)
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) will participate as a Young Global Leader (YGL) from Sri Lanka in the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2012 held from 30th May to 1st June, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum will be attended by four hundred and sixty delegates representing governments, businesses, civil society, academia and media.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/05/12)

SARATH FONSEKA-BORN LOSER -POLITICAL SUMMERSAULTS IN THE OFFING- “IF YOU GO TO BED WITH DOGS, YOU WAKE UP WITH FLEAS!” –Episode No. 2
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
By withdrawing his appeal against the judgement in the “White Flag “ case, Sarath Fonseka has admitted the guilty verdict delivered by the Court against him..  After receiving the Presidential pardon, SF is now shouting that he has not committed any crime.   Then, the simple question to ask is:  “Why did you withdraw your own Appeal?”. Not many in the general public will take SF seriously anymore.   His foul mouth is working overtime.  He had no words of   “thanks” to the President.   He will now become a famous puppet from Ambalangoda, dancing to the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/05/12)

GOOD ADVISE TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE ON THE FACE OF REBEL ATTACKS
Mahinda Weerasinghe
Dear Editor, Rankin, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka is giving good advice to the Lankan nation, as it has been the habit of all the predecessors occupying this office. The colonials conveniently forgot their own history, so we have to keep reminding them of their notorious antics in the past! These are the chaps who brought the semi slave Indian coolies to Asian countries and exploited them mercilessly and mostly muderously. How can we ever forget how the white Europeans sent the Jews and Gypsies to gas chambers? Indeed ethnic cleansing pogroms were a standard... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/05/12)

වම්ඉවුර -SF හෙට නොව අදම කළ යුතු දෙය
සී. ඒ. චන්ද්‍රප්‍රේම -දිවයින
සරත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා හිරෙන් නිදහස්‌ වීම කාගේත් සතුටට හේතුවූ බවට සැකයක්‌ නැත. සරත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතාගේ අදහස්‌ සමග කිසිසේත්ම එකඟ නොවන උදවිය පවා ඔහු විසින් තමන්ටම කරගත් මේ වින්නැහිය නිතර දෙවේලේ රූපවාහිනියෙන් දැකීමෙන් මහත් අපහසුතාවයටත් ලැඡ්ජාවටත් පත්විය. මින් ඉදිරියට එවැනි දර්ශන අපට රූපවාහිනියෙන් දකින්නට නොලැබීමත් සහනයක්‌ බව කිව යුතුය. එමෙන්ම සරත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා තමාගේ සිරගතවීමට ලංකාවේ වෙනත් කිසිම දේශපාලකයෙකුට වඩා එඩිතර ආකාරයට මුහුණ දුන්නේය. විජය කුමාරතුංග මහතාද සිටියේ ෆොන්සේකා මහතා සිටි සිරකුටියේමය. එපමණක්‌ද නොව අච්චු කරනලද සිරකරුවකු නොවූ විජයට ආහාර පාන පිටින් ගෙන්වා ගැනීමට හැකියාව තිබුණේය. නමුත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා ජම්පරයක්‌ හා කොට කලිසමක්‌ ඇඳගෙන හිරබත්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/05/12)

Comments by Non-Ahmadi Scholars at the time of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad – Promised Messiah and Imam-Mahdi (a.s.)
By I. Ahmad. Negombo.
The Present day Mullahs are busy producing recycled misinformation about the Holy founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him) and you many read a lot of it. Now let us see what many of the respected Muslim leaders, elders and even Moulavis of the time, who lived saw and experienced first hand Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him) and his work at that critical time, had to say about him. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian died in May 26, 1908. The following day, the system of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/05/12)

104th Anniversary of Ahmadiyya Khilafat (Re-establishment of Spiritual Leadership in Islam)
By A. Abdul Aziz,  Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.
At the death of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Muslims lost not only their Prophet but also their spiritual, religious and political leader. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) had not designated any successor during his own lifetime and the  young Muslim community could not possibly survive without one. A Leader, therefore, had to be selected who would not only be acceptable to the people but also worthy of the Holy Prophet's ideals and objectives. The choice of the Muslims fell on elected Hazrat Abu Bakr who was then ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/05/12)

Media Advisory - International cricket star Sanath Jayasuriya to meet CIBC Trophy Finalists
- CIMA Canada
TORONTO, May 25, 2012 /CNW/ - CIMA Canada is pleased to announce that CIBC, the financial lead sponsor of the CIMA Mayor's School Cricket Tournament, has invited tournament finalists to a clinic and motivational talk with international cricket star Sanath Jayasuriya. "We are delighted with the opportunity to work with CIBC and Sanath Jayasuriya and present this opportunity to aspiring young cricketers," said Amal Ratnayake, Chair, CIMA Canada. "The strength of our partnership with CIBC and the inspiration and motivation from Sanath Jayasuriya will help shape the cricket careers of the rising stars amongst us." "CIBC... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/05/12)

What happened in the history of Jaffna
H. L. D. Mahindapala
The peninsular political culture which began with the occupation of the northern tip by Indian migrants who settled down as colonists in the 12th --13th centuries, can be periodised broadly into four distinct phases, focused exclusively on the internal imperatives, leaving aside the external factors, including the post-independent period that impinged on Jaffna: 1. the feudatory chieftains of Jaffna – 19 in all from Kalinga Viyebahu (1240 -1256) to Sankili Kumaran (1615 – 1619) who claimed to have descended from a royal lineage and faded away with the invasions and conquest of the Portuguese colonialists... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/05/12)

Former Gen. Fonseka Was Termed Unreliable And Irresponsible By His Critics And Now He Proves It Beyond A Doubt!
In Retrospect By Sarath Kumara
May 26th 2012 Days after his release from prison which was a magnanimous act by the President of Sri Lanka, former commander of the Armed Forces, General Sarath Fonseka has taken the liberty to dabble in foreign policy matters which only the President is privy to where he seems to have opened a whole new can of worms against his name and intentions towards the well being of Sri Lanka  somewhat injudiciously. This at a time when he preaches patriotism and his good intentions towards Sri Lanka which now have a hollow ring to them where... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/05/12)

Fonny dances to Western tunes again
The Sunday Observer
Sarath Fonseka has again attempted to undermine the supreme sacrifices made by soldiers of the same Army he once commanded. Exploiting the special Presidential pardon that enabled him to leave prison with more than three years of his full five-and-a-half-year jail term left, Fonseka is now attempting to play the role of a traitor, political analysts said yesterday. It is no secret how the retired Army Commander undermined the great feats of his soldiers in his lust for power and made sweeping statements during his unsuccessful Presidential Election campaign in 2010. He continues to play double... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/05/12)

The ‘Whys’ and the ‘Wherefores’ of Sri Lanka -One ‘Son of the Soil’s’ reading of the past and the present
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, CNN, Al Jazeera and others are feeding their hungry and even curious minds with the unadulterated truth.  It... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/05/12)

‘Tamils against military withdrawal’: Dismantling camps will give rise to terrorism - Expert
by Manjula FERNANDO Courtesy Sunday Observer
If military camps are dismantled in the North and the East, extremism and terrorism will return, international anti-terrorism expert Prof. Rohan Gunaratna warned yesterday. Responding to comments by Sarath Fonseka on military camps in the North and the East should be reduced, Prof. Gunaratna said the threat of terrorism being revived is very real because supportive political elements and LTTE proxies are still active in Sri Lanka, India and in a few other countries. “They have not abandoned the Tiger flag, Vellupillai Prabhakaran’s image or the separatist goal,” said Prof. Gunaratna, who heads the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/05/12)

India's Way- Scanning 2.4 Billion Eyes, India Tries to Connect Poor to Growth
By LYDIA POLGREEN
KALDARI, India — Ankaji Bhai Gangar, a 49-year-old subsistence farmer, stood in line in this remote village until, for the first time in his life, he squinted into the soft glow of a computer screen.His name, year of birth and address were recorded. A worker guided Mr. Gangar’s rough fingers to the glowing green surface of a scanner to record his fingerprints. He peered into an iris scanner shaped like binoculars that captured the unique patterns of his eyes.... -Full Story- (nytimes.com - 26/05/12)

In the name of “Democracy” the West stands guilty of killing Political Leaders
Shenali Waduge
Throughout almost 60 years, the US has been involved in covert operations that have overthrown over 50 democratically elected popular foreign leaders and placed dictators and tyrants as US puppets. How can Africa and Asia or Latin America produce good leaders committed to the welfare of the masses when the US ends up gunning these leaders down and installing local agents who are ever ready to allow the West to pilfer the nation while they too do the same? The story of Congo’s Patrice Lumumba is one such assassination wherein several western nations conspired to kill Congo’s... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/05/12)

On The Sri Lankan Military Presence In The North and Eastern Provinces
Janaka Yagirala
To: John Rankin The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka  Dear High Commissioner, On The Sri Lankan Military Presence In The North and Eastern Provinces  As a citizen of Sri Lanka please allow me to express my utmost disapproval of your statement expecting the Sri Lankan military presence in the North and Eastern Provinces to resemble other parts of Sri Lanka. First of all, being a sovereign nation Sri Lanka has every right to safeguard her national security. Secondly, Britain has absolutely no right to advice or meddle in the internal affairs of another sovereign nation.  I... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/05/12)

North: British HC disputes President’s claims
By Shamindra Ferdinando  Courtesy The Island

May 25, 2012, 9:49 pm Many an eyebrow has been raised over contradiction by British High Commissioner John Rankin of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s claim of scaling down of the military presence and the non-involvment of the military in civil administration in the Northern Province since the conclusion of the conflict. In his video, ‘Ask the High Commissioner’, Rankin challenged a claim by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his address to the nation on May 19, on the third anniversary of Sri Lanka’s war victory over the LTTE. Rankin discussed the human... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/05/12)

THE ROVING EYE Iran and Europe, 'till death do us part
By Pepe Escobar
So the grand Barack Obama administration foreign policy strategy of trying to square the circle between an Iranian nuclear deal and getting the eurozone economy back on the road slouches towards ... what exactly? (See War and cheeseburgers Asia Times Online, May 22) Not even Zeus knows. At least what was on the table this week in both Baghdad and Brussels has kept the ball rolling further on down the road in Moscow and Paris/Berlin.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 25/05/12)

Media Minister takes SF to task: Sarath Fonseka’s call, invitation to foreign meddling’
Samanmalie PRIYASHANTHI Courtesy The Daily News
All must work together as Sri Lankans’ Govt has no need to implement such a proposal’ ‘President courageously faced Geneva issue’ If Sarath Fonseka calls for the withdrawal of Security Forces camps from the North he is indirectly inviting foreign countries to meddle in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs, said Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. If anyone tried to take undue advantage of a pardon granted to him it will a be a very lowly and unbecoming act on his part the minister added. “The time has now come for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/05/12)

VILLAGE SKETCH—17-LOKU MAAMA OUTSMARTS ‘THIEF,’ PARTIES WITH PALS
Arcadius
Grandfather was fuming in a fit of ill temper. The top drawer of his escritoire was missing together with all its contents. Probably, it was the work of a clever burglar. A huge footprint was clearly imprinted on the wall of the front room where the escritoire stood. Grandfather had good reason to be so furious. He had won big at playing Blackjack the previous night, and upon returning home, stuffed all his booty in the top drawer, now missing. The famous black jacket that he always put on to signify his status as the Ralahamy, and the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/05/12)

ANCIENT BUDDHIST LEARNING CENTER TAXILA IS ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED SITES IN ASIA
By Walter Jayawardhana
The ancient Buddhist learning center of higher education Taxila, situated in modern Pakistan has been declared one of the most endangered historical sites in Asia by the Global Heritage Fund which promotes the preservation of historic architectural sites around the world. It is one of the finalized  list of the top 10 most endangered sites in Asia. Taxila is  in the Rawalpindi District of Punjab province of Pakistan, and an important archaeological site. The city dates back to the Gandhara period and contains the ruins of the Gandharan city of Takshasila, which was an important Hindu... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/05/12)

RANIL BLAMES THOSE WHO NEGOTIATED FONSEKA RELEASE FOR HIS LOSS OF CIVIC RIGHTS
By Walter Jayawardhana
Blaming that those who negotiated General Fonseka’s release from the jail with the President are responsible for the freedom without civic rights he received  Ranil Wickramasinghe said Tiran Alles being a member of parliament should tell the nation the circumstances under which such a sorry state came into being. UNP and Opposition leader Wickramasinghe was addressing a press conference at the party headquarters Siri Kotha at Kotte. Tiran Alles, a member of the Democratic National Alliance is the parliamentarian who negotiated the release of General Fonseka from the jail. Quoting the 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/05/12)

Strange Thought! - Dirty Game of Politics - Fonzy' Army
Prof. Hudson McLean
"Great Minds Think Alike" It is pure coincidence that a couple of scribes mentioned the "slimy actions" of Fonzy, were published by both scribes simultaneously. That goes to show that Fonzy as the General of Army misused his status, dragged the reputation of the Sri Lanka Army down the drain, for his personal gain. At no point during the past decade or even longer, any person from Sri Lanka or indeed from LankaWeb has colluded with me to prompt subjects into my "two-cents" worth of thinking! Although corruption has been rife in Sri Lanka in every... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/05/12)

WIMAL WEERAWANSA ATTACKS FONSEKA FOR TELLING TO COOPERATE WITH PROBE
By Walter Jayawardhana
Sri Lanka’s Housing Minister and leader of the National Freedom Front, a constituent party of the governing coalition,Wimal Weerawansa criticized forrmer Army Commander Sarath Fonseka for saying Sri Lanka must cooperate with  any international inquiry into war crimes they allege since we did not do such crimes. Weerawansa appealed to Fonseka not to dig out the trump cards of the US imperialists to trap “Sri Lanka”. Wimal Weerawansa argued after going to an inquiry Fonseka could always say during the last few days of the war he was out in China negotiating for arms and those... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/05/12)

TNA's Latest Demands Are Inapplicable Based On Many Realities !
Insight By Sunil Kumar
May 23rd 2012 It needs to be emphasized that categorically and definitively the TNA are a political non- entity in Sri Lanka at the present time based on the following realities which disentitle them to any claims they continue to persist in making in their multi faceted attempts to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka. It may also suprise many that they have not been accepted as a politically registered or nominated political party rowards their continuity in Sri Lanka according to reliable reports and are in danger of being made redundant and blown away from Sri Lanka's political scene. Secondly... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/05/12)

"අයනීකරණ විකිරණ භාවිතය සම්බන්ධයෙන් අදාල ආයතන හා සමාගම් දැනුවත් කිරීමට පියවර”"Seminar on Handling Radioactive Sources"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය The Media Team  Ministry of Power & Energy
ශ්‍රී ලංකා පරමාණූ ශක්ති අධිකාරිය විසින් විකිරණශීලී ද්‍රව්‍ය භාවිතයේදී විකිරණ ආකර්ශණය, අපද්‍රව්‍ය කළමනාකරණය හා විකිරණශීලී ද්‍රව්‍ය ප්‍රවාහනය යන මැයෙන් එක් දින සම්මන්ත්‍රණයක් පැවැත්වීමට නියමිතයි. එය ලබන ජූනි මස 01 වන දින එම අධිකාරියේ ශ්‍රවණාගාරයේදී පැවැත්වේ. මෙම සම්මන්ත්‍රණයේ අරමුණ වන්නේ අයනීකරණ විකිරණ භාවිතකරන ආයතන සහ එමඟින් මහජනතාවට සේවා සපයන ආයතන, විකිරණශීලී ද්‍රව්‍ය ප්‍රවාහනය කරන සමාගම්, විකිරණශීලී ද්‍රව්‍ය අපහරණය කරන සමාගම් (රෝහල්, විද්‍යාගාර, විකිරණශීලී අපද්‍රව්‍ය හා සම්බන්ධ ආයතන, රක්ෂණ ආයතන) යනාදිය දැනුවත් කිරීමයි.   අයනීකරණ විකිරණ භාවිතයෙන් මහජනතාවට සේවය සපයන්නන් හට මෙම සම්මන්ත්‍රණය වැදගත් වේ. මෙහිදී විකිරණශීලී ද්‍රව්‍ය... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/05/12)

Vesak celebration in Brampton Buddhist Mission centre ,displayed an illuminated Vesak pandal. first time in Canada
Claude Fernando ,Brampton Canada.
No wonder, It was the happiest  and exhilarated  day for Most Rev, Pannasara  thera ,  chief  Buddhist prelate in Canada and Head  priest of Brampton Buddhist Mission centre, to celebrate Vesak  festival in Brampton  on May 19th ,20th and 21st .with illuminated Vesak  pandal  (about 35 feet in  height )which had been erected first time in Canada. Rev .Sarada thera  who  is assisting  to Rev Pannasara for religious affairs in Buddhist centre, is the brainchild of this magnificent creation. The Vesak pandal was put up in front of the Lion’s club hall in Avandale road,Brampton.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/05/12)

Salat (Prayer) and God-Consciousness
By A. Abdul Aziz,Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.
(Given below is an excerpt the Friday Sermon of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivered   on 18th May 2012 from Nunspeet, Holland at the occasion of Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Dutch Jama’at, gave a discourse on Salat (Prayer) and Good-Conscience).  Ahmadiyya Khalifa  said it was God’s grace that he was being enabled to once again participate in the Dutch Convention (Jalsa). The Convention was scheduled to take place a week later but in light of the itinerary of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/05/12)

The Rise, The Fall & Re-Emergence of Sarath Fonseka
Prof. Hudson McLean
This is history repeating itself, now in Sri Lanka. The story is not new. Similar events have occurred in every Continent in these two centuries. Will Sarath Fonseka become the Pervez Musharaff of Sri Lanka? Oh! Fonzy cannot be compared with other political leaders who did spend sometime eating "cold rice"! If the ex-General desires a clean start, he should clarify all the claims against him at personal level, as well as his skeletons in his political cupboards. However Musharaff, for all intensive purposes, kept his uniform clean, unlike Fonzy. Moreover, Sarath Fonseka should clean-up his... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/05/12)

Who is the real Sarath Fonseka
Warnakulasuriya 
Is Sarath Fonseka the war hero some like to him to be or is he a fake? Where does his loyalities are? To Sri Lanka or to the foreign powers who sponsor him? Sarath Fonseka claims full credit for defeting the LTTE terrorist scum. To do that he must have been in total control of the army, the navy, the air force and the special task force. If he was in complete control of the armed forces, then he must be responsible for if there were any war crimes. How can he say the defence secretary ordered Gen... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/05/12)

Legalize all Political Party Manifestos
Shenali Waduge
Too often political parties and politicians have made a mockery of democracy by forwarding attractive manifestos promising the people they have the answers to all the ills that prevails but no sooner they are elected the promises are broken leaving voters with no means to challenge these parties. A solution to ensuring that the power of politics and democracy prevails as it should in the hands of the people, is to make sure that party manifestos are made legally binding so that any breach of a commitment made to the voter can be challenged. By legalizing political... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/05/12)

Military in the North should not be reduced!
Asada M Erpinni
A media report on 22 May mentions the leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as saying that the military presence in the North should be reduced. Apparently it is his response to President Mahinda Rajapakse’s announcement at the May 19 Anniversary Celebrations of the victory over the LTTE. The TNA leader should not treat the rest of Sri Lanka as fools. All non-LTTE Sri Lankans know and accept that the North of Sri Lanka was the birthplace of terrorism that devastated the country for almost three decades. Buttressed by the Vadukkodai Resolution of 1976 that was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/05/12)

Illegal Indian immigrants
S.Senanayake
The Controller of Department of Immigration and Emigration, Mr Chulananda Perera has to be commended for bringing to public notice the problem of Indians masquerading as tourists and engaging in employment locally. Though belated one wonders why such eventuality was not for seen by the authorities when tourism was opened up in mass scale. No wonder Indians make the highest arrivals if they embark on with such ulterior motives. Some Indian company owners are conniving with these individuals for cheap labour bypassing local market.Though the recent death of an Indian with a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/05/12)

Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) Lecture-Out of Africa and the Significance of the South Asian Archaeological Record-By Prof. Michael D. Petraglia Professor of Human Evolution and Prehistory, University of Oxford
Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) Lecture
“Out of Africa and the Significance of the South Asian Archaeological Record” By Prof. Michael D. Petraglia Professor of Human Evolution and Prehistory, University of Oxford                       on Thursday 24th May  2012 at 5.00 p.m.        at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium, No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo  07 ALL ARE WELCOME This lecture refers to work done over the last several years through genetics (mitochondria and Y-chromosome) describing how humans migrated from Africa outwards including in this case to South Asia covering Sri Lanka. Prof Petraglia is the Professor of Human Evolution and Prehistory... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/05/12)

UNP TO PRESENT A PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL TO WIN BACK SARATH FONSEKA’S CIVIC RIGHTS
By Walter Jayawardhana
Sri Lanka’s main opposition the United National Party has appointed a committee chaired by Wijedasa Rajapaksa to draft a private member’s bill to win back the civic rights  of the former Commander of army Sarath Fonseka , said the party’s General Secretary, Tissa Attanayaka. The private member’s bill will seek to win back the Commander’s military title, General and demand the government to return all his medals he had won through a hard military career  Attanayaka said. The party secretary said the UNP is glad he is out of jail and his party had always felt... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/05/12)

Former Sri Lanka army chief ready to testify about war
UPI
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, May 22 (UPI) -- The former head of Sri Lanka's army said Tuesday the country must cooperate if there is an international investigation of Sri Lanka's civil war. Sarath Fonseka told the BBC one day after his release from jail that some of the country's leaders are "hiding their faces" over the conduct of the army's 2009 victory over the separatist Tamil Tigers. Human rights groups estimated that as many as 40,000 civilians were killed in the final months of the 26-year-long war.... -Full Story- (upi.com - 22/05/12)

Euphoria tempered
Island Editorial-Courtesy The Island
The euphoria generated by Gen. Sarath Fonseka's release from prison has been somewhat tempered. It was thought initially that the presidential pardon had removed his civic disabilities, but he has admitted his freedom is limited; he cannot exercise his franchise and contest elections, though he can take part in politics. The UNP has called for the restoration of all his civic rights. Many, no doubt, will endorse the UNP's call, but its admission that Gen. Fonseka's release is conditional runs counter to the Opposition's argument that the government pardoned him under international pressure. If President... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/05/12)

Fonseka now a prisoner in the open – Former CJ Sarath N. Silva
by Samantha illeperuma Courtesy The Island
Former Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva yesterday observed that President Rajapaksa had not granted a full pardon to Gen. Sarath Fonseka. The presidential pardon had not been backdated to the beginning of his sentence passed by the second military court martial, therefore he had lost his civic rights for seven years, the former Chief Justice said. Making further observations on the pardon, Silva said when the President exercised his powers to grant a pardon to any prisoner it should not be done as a political act, but done as an act of a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/05/12)

Fonseka a pawn in game to checkmate Rajapaksa: Lanka media
PTI
Out of the editorial comments, the Sinhala nationalist Divayina was the most hard hitting; "Fonseka earned the wrath overseas for saying that Sri Lanka is the nation of the Sinhalese". "But these countries later became his supporters -- not because of their love towards him but a love caused by the hatred of these countries towards Mahinda Rajapaksa. "The former army commander who made many sacrifices during the war needs to realise that politics is a dirty game. He became a political pawn and ended up in prison." .... -Full Story- (rediff.com - 22/05/12)

SARATH FONSEKA IS TO WORK HARD FOR A STRONGER OPPOSITION
By Walter Jayawardhana
Although President Rajapaksa has released him from incarceration with a ban on elections for the next seven years Sri Lanka’s ex- Army Chief Sarath Fonseka is to work hard to build a stronger opposition in the country , he said in his first interview out of jail. In his first interview with India’s Hindu newspaper he said, “The need of the hour for the country is to ensure that there is a strong opposition.” Fonseka told the newspaper that he is preparing to launch a countrywide campaign and gain more support for the opposition. The following... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/05/12)

SARATH FONSEKA RELEASE CAME WITH STRINGS BANNING ELECTIONS FOR 7YRS
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Hindu newspaper said the Presidential release granted to his incarcerated rival General Sarath Fonseka is a conditional one and he cannot contest an election for the next seven years. “The presidential pardon is conditional. He cannot vote or contest election for the next seven years,” the newspaper said in an item filed from Colombo. When reporters asked Tiran Alles, the parliamentarian who negotiated the release with President Mahinda Rajapaksa  on the issue,  whether the release of Fonseka comes with  restrictions Alles replied he hopes it is unconditional but if it is not they will have... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/05/12)

TNA wishes to discuss re-merger with the Muslims
Asada M Erpini
A report in Daily Mirror on 20 May states, “The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has softened its stance on its long standing demand for the re-merger of the northern and eastern provinces”. But, it goes on to add, “Modalities for such a merged unit could be discussed subject to the interests of the Muslim community”. There are two glaring absurdities of the whole story: firstly, that Sri Lanka should revert to a merger of the Northern Province and the Eastern Province – one of the so called solutions to the ethnic problem, which was thrown out... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/05/12)

Sri Lanka demands War Crimes against LTTE Terrorists and India’s IPKF
Shenali Waduge
We have come to a stage in history that we need to put things in its perspective by not shying away from demanding actions on two key areas that now needs to be investigated. It is only by investigating who the LTTE was, what LTTE was involved in, the players who sponsored and supported the LTTE over the years, LTTE war crimes over 3 decades, victims of LTTE terror (civil and military) as well as investigating the war crimes, rape, looting and indiscriminate firing upon innocent Tamil civilians by the Indian Peace Keeping Force sent by India... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/05/12)

TNA softens its stance - Daily Mirror
Kelum Bandara  Courtesy Daily Mirror
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has softened its stance on its long standing demand for the re-merger of the northern and eastern provinces, and has instead noted that the modalities for such a merged unit could be discussed subject to the interests of the Muslim community, informed sources said today. The TNA handed over its proposals for a political solution to the government last year during its series of talks with the ruling party. The party has asked for the abolition of   the concurrent list introduced with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Powers... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/05/12)

“PEOPLE WOULD SERVE JUSTICE FOR THE INJUSTICE THAT WAS BROUGHT UPON ME”-FONSEKA TELLS CHEERING CROWDS BEFORE WELIKADA PRISONS
By Walter Jayawardhana
Sri Lanka’s jailed Commander of Army General Sarath Fonseka accusing he was taken away from his people for political vendetta said the people would serve justice for the injustice that was brought upon him. He was addressing a large cheering crowd of people in front of Colombo’s Welikada prisons from which he stepped out moments ago, after spending more than two years behind bars. He said, “I believe that the public will serve justice for the injustice that was brought upon me. I was taken away from my people due to political vendetta. I will not... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/05/12)

THE ROVING EYE- War and cheeseburgers
By Pepe Escobar
A specter haunts Europe. No, it's not communism; it's US rating agencies. Greece is bankrupt; the eurozone is about to crack; JP Morgan makes billion-dollar "mistakes"; there's no (jobs) future for the new generations. And yet the weaponized arm of the Western 0.1% elites occupies Chicago - turned into an Orwellian police city-state - to discuss "smart defense". In Afghanistan, the "smart" North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is in fact bound for a humiliating escape. "Smart defense" THE ROVING EYE War and cheeseburgers By Pepe Escobar A specter haunts Europe. No, it's not communism; it's... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 21/05/12)

Iran nuclear talks gaining traction
By M K Bhadrakumar
When Iran proposed and the P5+1 accepted at the Istanbul meet last month that their next round of talks could be scheduled for May 23 in Baghdad, Western observers - not even the vigilant Israelis, ironically - didn't notice the significance of the date. May 23 is a memorable day in the folklore of the Iranian revolution. That was the day the tide of the war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq turned exactly 30 years ago in 1982 when Iran'srevolutionary forces "liberated" the port city of Khorramshahr and registered their first victory on the battlefield.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 21/05/12)

Fitch Affirms Sri Lanka Insurance at 'AA(lka)'/Stable
FITCH CREDIT RATINGS
Fitch Ratings-Colombo/Mumbai/Singapore-21 May 2012: Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited's (SLIC) National Insurer Financial Strength Rating and National Long-Term rating at 'AA(lka)'. The Outlook is Stable. SLIC's ratings reflect its strong franchise and sound capitalisation levels, supported by ongoing high profitability and capital retention. Regulatory solvency ratios for life and non-life insurance segments improved to 11.55x and 2.21x, respectively, at end-December 2011 from 7.73x and 2.11x in 2010, and compare well with peers. However, Fitch notes that SLIC's risk-based capitalisation is weakened by its high equity exposure due to the associated market... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/05/12)

විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්ය වරයාගේ ප්ර/ධානත්වයෙන් මිහිඳු සෙත් මැදුරේදී රණවිරු සත්කාරයක්.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය - විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
ත්‍රස්තවාදය පරාජය කළ විජයග්‍රහණයේ තෙවර්ෂ පූර්ණ සංවත්සරය වෙනුවෙන් ජාතික හෙළ උරුමය ක්‍රියාවට නැංවූ රණවිරු සත්කාරක වැඩසටහන, 2012,05.20 දින දවස පුරා අත්තිඩිය මිහිඳු සෙත් මැදුරේ නේවාසික රණවිරුවන් සහභාගී කරගනිමින්, විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතාගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් පැවැත්විනි. මෙහිදී මිහිඳු සෙත් මැදුරේ නේවාසිකව ප්‍රතිකාර ලබන රණවිරුවන් සහභාගී කරගනිමින්, මහා සංඝරත්නය විෂයෙහි සපිරිිකර සහිත සංඝගත දක්ෂිණාවක් පැවැත්විණි. කුරිරු ත්‍රස්තවාදය පරාජය කර, ලක් දෙරණ මුදාගත් වීරෝධාර රණවිරුවන් හට මෙන්ම යුද්ධයේදී ආබාධිතවූ රණවිරුවන්ට මහා සංඝරත්නය විසින් සෙත් පැතූ අතර යුද්ධයේදී මියගිය රණවිරුවන්ට පිං පැමිණවීමක්ද සිදු කෙරිනි. ගම්පහ දිස්ත්‍රික් පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී අතුරලියේ රතන ස්වාමීන්  වහන්සේ විසින්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/05/12)

Customer Awareness Program for Chilled Fish/ Canned Fish Importers-Atomic Energy Authority
The Media Team Ministry of Power & Energy
A Customer Awareness Program for importers of Chilled/ Canned Fish has been organized by the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) on next week. The AEA has started testing imported Chilled/ Canned fish after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident occurred in Japan in March 2011. The objective of this workshop which is funded by the AEA is to create awareness among these importers, the reason for this testing process. Approximately 60 participants from companies involved in importation of Chilled/ Canned Fish, Custom Officers, Food and Drug Inspectors, Representatives from the Ministry of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/05/12)

LONDON’S GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER SAYS FONSEKA RELEASE LINKED WITH US DEMAND
By Walter Jayawardhana
London’s Guardian newspaper indicated that the release of the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka had a link with the demand of the United States from Sri Lanka to have a better record of human rights and release Fonseka. In a news item on the issue the Guardian said, “The United States regards Fonseka as a political  prisoner and has repeatedly said he should be freed. At a meeting in Washington on Friday,(May 18 )the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, called on Sri Lanka's foreign minister to address human rights issues. The newspaper said, “The move, confirmed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/05/12)

Anthropological affiliations of the Pre-Vijayan and Post-Vijayan peoples of Sri Lanka.
R Chandrasoma
That we do not have a satisfactory account of the physiognomy or salient physical characteristics of the ancient peoples of Sri Lanka is a fact few would dispute.  It is possible to have a rich description of the doings and actions of ancient peoples without a physical description of the actors  that goes beyond the banal and the commonplace. What kind of people were the inhabitabts of Sri Lanka immediately before the Vijayan ‘ invasion’ some five centuries BC? Here ‘kind’ refers to a biological variant at the sub-specific level within the ruling type Homo sapiens. While... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/05/12)

China in Africa and lessons for Sri Lanka
Shenali Waduge
For a continent that attributes itself to man’s evolution some 6million years ago and reminds us our roots are in Africa, there is little other than famine, drought, poverty, disease, poor leadership, religious conflicts, ethnic conflicts that depicts Africa. The richness of the continent saw Europeans “scramble into Africa” to devour its natural resources, land, use its strategic location and to convert its natives. Africa was divided through the Berlin Conference on 1814-15 with new borders drawn up by 1914 separating families, tribes and ethnic groups creating complete anarchy. China is the new player in Africa and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/05/12)

SAJITH PREMADASA HOPES FONSEKA’S RELEASE WILL BE WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITS
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Hindu newspaper in a front page news item said that contrary to speculation that a procedural snag is delaying the release of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka the stage has been  set for the release . After visiting the jailed leader now in Nawaloka Hospital,  with other parliamentarians of his party. the Deputy leader of the United National Party, Sajith Premadasa said his party hopes the freedom granted  will be a one without any conditions or limitations. He also told the Sirasa TV that when  General Fonseka is out he could provide leadership to all... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/05/12)

Speculation about the release of Sarath Fonseka !
P.A.Samaraweera, Australia
During the last few weeks there was speculation about the impending release of the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. In the past as well there had been such stories but this time it appears that the Green light is on for him. MP Alles and Anoma has as well had confirmed this after visiting the President. Now everyone is waiting to see what next from Sarath Fonseka. Will he go back to join the groups who ridiculed him during the war and then after the war tried to cash on his popularity by encouraging  him to run for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/05/12)

TIRAN AND PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE TELL BBC THAT SARATH FONSEKA WILL BE RELEASED ON MONDAY
By Walter Jayawardhana
The BBC said on Saturday that Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse had ordered the release of the jailed former army chief, Sarath Fonseka on Monday. “A presidential spokesman told the BBC he would be freed on Monday after formalities were completed,” the radio station said. Mr Fonseka was arrested two years ago after standing against Mr Rajapakse for the presidency. The former head of the Sri Lankan military was widely credited with the 2009 victory over the Tamil Tigers. Sri Lanka has been marking the three-year anniversary of the end of the 26-year civil war this... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/05/12)

WHERE THE TERROR BEGAN
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
‘The Meadow: Kashmir 1995 - Where the terror began’ is a book recently released in March 2012. Adrian Levy & Catherine Scott-Clark are the authors of this book. The authors say they spent a long time on doing research and investigation and finally succeeded in finding out the reality that the Indian government itself is behind the long story of human rights violations in Kashmir. Commenting upon the kidnapping of six western tourists in 1995 from Anantnag the authors say, “It appeared that there were some in the Indian establishment who did not want this never-ending... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

ප්‍රභාකරන් සාධකය සහමුලින්ම පරාජය කිරීම
වෛද්‍ය රුවන්  එම් ජයතුංග
ප්‍රභාකරන්ගේ  තිස් වසරක යුදමය ක්‍රියාදාමය පරාජය කිරීම  ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ලත් සුවිසේෂි ජයග්‍රහණයකි. මෙම ජයග්‍රහණය ලබා ගත්තේ දහස් ගණනක ජිවිත පරිත්‍යාගයෙනි. මෙම යුද්දය නිසා කායික සහ මානසික වශයෙන් ආබාධිත වූ  සංඛ්‍යාව සටනින් මියගිය  ප්‍රමාණයටත්  වඩා අධිකය . එසේම එල්.ටී.ටී.ය  විසින් ආර්ථික මර්මස්ථාන වලට කරන ලද පහර දීම් සහ සිදුකල විනාශයන් , යුද්දය සඳහා සිදු කල වියදම්  මෙන්ම යුද්දය විසින් ඇති කළ ආර්ථික අවපාතය නිසා ගතවූ කාලය තුල ලංකාවට අහිමි වූ   මුදල  අතිශයින්ම විශාලය. එම නිසා යුද්ධය ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට කළ විනාශය අති දැවැන්ත බව පැහැදිලි කරුණකි. මේ හේතුවෙන්  තිස් වසරක යුද්දයක  ශාපයෙන් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව මිදීම... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

Ranaviru Commemoration In New Zealand 2012
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson, United Sri Lanka Assn. Wellington NZ
For the third consecutive year , on the 19th of May at 6pm NZ time, The United Sri Lanka Association (USLA) hosted the Ranaviru Commemoration day at it’s official residence at Lak Madura in Tawa Wellington, with USLA President Dr. Ranasinghe  Kalupahana presiding and Hon Consul Aruna Abeygoonesekera  and wife Hiranthi in attendance, along with about hundred others. Following the singing of the National  Anthem and the observance of a two minute silence to honor the war heroes –The Ranaviru, for their sacrifices of life and limb, President... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

IN MEETING WITH EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER PEIRIS, SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON PRAISES SRI LANKA'S PLAN TO IMPLEMENT LLRC RECOMMENDATIONS
Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington DC Press Release
WASHINGTON D.C. (May 18,2012) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday praised Sri Lanka’s plan to implement post-conflict recommendations made by an independent commission recently, during a meeting with Prof. G.L. Peiris, Sri Lanka’s minister of external affairs. During their 45-minute meeting, Minister Peiris outlined the mechanism adopted by Sri Lanka’s presidential secretariat that will be used to implement recommendations made by the independent Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), which examined Sri Lanka’s successful conflict against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The commission issued its final... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

KAPILAVASTU RELICS TO JOURNEY TO SRI LANKA FOR EXPOSITIONS IN SEVEN PROVINCES
By Walter Jayawardhana
The famous Kapilawasthu relics in a New Delhi’s Museum  will travel to Sri Lanka once again for the exposition and veneration of millions of Sri Lanka Buddhists. Excavated in a ruined stupa in India by British archeologists 113 years ago the so called Kapilawasthu relics are the portion of Buddha’s fragments of bones after cremation given to his family the Sakyan clan. According to Buddhist scriptures  they received one eighth of the  relics of the Buddha and according to the excavation findings they were enshrined in the stupa in Kapilawathu For the second time since discovery,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

Mere Quirks or Superhuman Intelligence that Changed the Outcome of the War
Kumar Moses
The decision to write down the victorious war (2005-2009) in annals of history is a very insightful move. Ancestors kept many historical accounts of how repeated South Indian (mainly Tamil) invasions were repulsed. Heroic accounts of ancestors are detailed and descriptive. They help boost confidence in a military solution to similar problems. All such attempts had military, not political solutions. In addition to confidence boosting, they also point to potent military strategies to be followed. However, there are matters that would evade any meticulous attempt to document history, especially in modern times. Due to political pressure, international... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

VILLAGE SKETCH—16, SISTER AND I: GETTING (CASHEW) NUTTY
Arcadius
It is Bak, the first month of the Sinhala/Buddhist lunar calendar, according to which each month begins on the Poya (full-moon) Day.  Yet another day is about to break, and a throaty cockerel makes this break known with a well audible cock-a-doodle-doo. Although I am still asleep, I can hear mother say, “Get up you lazy tots.  You won’t find a single cashew nut under the trees by the time you get up and go.  The Habaradugewatte kids are already searching for cashews under our trees.  I can see their smoldering torches.” I am aware that the words... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

“Regional Consultation on Welfare And protection of Migrant Workers”
Sarath Wijesinghe  - Ambassador United Arab Emirates
This is an important and ground-breaking event organised by the Ministry of Employment and Welfare and Ministry of External Affairs supported by the International Organisation on 13th to 16th at Amman Jordan. The significance and the importance of this exercise is far reaching and of immense help to the migration workers, mostly  concentrated in the Middle East due to economic, regional and social falters. Though the case study is Sri Lanka, the concepts and issues, matters discussed and the decisions taken are applicable to the entire Migration Labour population, which was guided... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

LTTE Youth FROM Toronto Universities vandalizing Provincial and City Property
NEWS RELEASE:
Concerned Canadians have started lets keep Toronto, CANADA Clean project as Radical youth has been posting LTTE propaganda "Project Rajapaksa stickers" in Prohibited city of Toronto subway stations, Ontario Provincial property and University/College premises. This was started by the York University Tamil Student Association along with York University Indian cultural Association and similar Tamil Student groups who are brainwashed by LTTE groups in Greater Toronto Area.  Most of these stickers have been posted along Queens Park, Bay Street, Queen Street, University Ave intersections. Many Canadian citizens has already removed or scratched out propaganda titles of these LTTE affiliated stickers. Let's do our part and keep our beautiful city clean, if you find these stickers or posters on city... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

Peace: whose business is it anyway?
Written by  The Nation
It has been reported that US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh have ‘agreed to work closely in expediting the Sri Lankan peace process (sic)’.  That ‘decision’ had been taken when the former visited the latter in New Delhi on Tuesday. Interesting First of all, neither Clinton nor Singh are representatives elected by the people of Sri Lanka.  Nor were these individuals mandated to ‘expedite’ any process that concerns Sri Lanka.  Neither of them have bothered to explain what ‘peace process’ means.  Most importantly, neither of them has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

U.K. MPS SAY KUDANKULAM IS DANGEROUS AS IT IS IN A TSUNAMI AND EARTH QUAKE PRONE AREA
By Walter Jayawardhana
British and European parliamentarians said in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singhe that they are deeply concerned about Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam nuclear power plant as it is located in a an earth-quake and tsunami prone area, factors that push accidents .  The power plant , they argued ,”violates” the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safety  guidelines.  The Press Trust of India from London filed the following report: British MPs and members of the European Parliament have signed a letter from South Asian anti-nuclear groups to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing “deep concern” over human rights and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/05/12)

GLOOMY ECONOMIC PROSPECTS: Why U.S. Politicians Are Quiet About Europe's Meltdown
by Shamus Cooke
After the Greek elections struck fear into the hearts of the global banksters, the fallout remains uncertain. If the next Greek election produces an anti-austerity government, Greece will almost certainly make a speedy exit from the euro. If this happens — and it is looking increasingly inevitable — the consequences for the global economy are spectacularly gloomy. Yet U.S. media and U.S. politicians are largely silent on the issue, almost as if nothing were happening. What will happen when Greece leaves the Euro? Foreign banks hold over $90 billion in Greek debt in the public and in... -Full Story- (globalresearch.ca - 19/05/12)

Paticcasamuppada or the Dependent Origination.
By Charles.S.Perera
The teachings of the Buddha is deep and profound , but it becomes complicated and complex the way it is being explainesd.. The profound most teaching of the Buddha is in the Abhidhamma, but the Buddha left it out from the ordinary beings the prtajjhana as the profundity of that Dhamma would have confused them. If Paticcasamuppada is seen as a Dhamm that encompass the whole of the teachings of the Buddha then the meaning of it would be more comprehensible. Therefore without any pretention to be a specialist of the teaching or having a perfect understand... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/12)

7th OPEN LETTER TO SARATH FONSEKA MY SINCERE ADVICE TO YOU
By Stanley Perera – Kandy
My dear Sarath, I wrote you six open letters to you in which I gave you my sincere advice to you.  The time is right now for you to re-organise your election manifesto now that it is crystal clear that you will be out of jail on the 19th as a war hero as well as the future leader  to rid the country of political corruption and relieve the Sri Lankans from the burden of debt and find the culprits who ruined the country’s economy. The country is ready to accept you as the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/12)

Can we really save money on gas? The short and sweet answer is, “Yes”.
Dr Hector Perera       London
 I asked ten people, “What was the price of bread, butter, eggs, bus and train fares, weekly bus and train passes, petrol, diesel, gas and electricity prices, about 5 years ago, three years ago or just last year”, how many people would have remembered  fairly accurately?  We all know that five, three or two years ago, these things were less expensive than today but cannot remember the exact prices. Last year alone, gas prices in England went up by about 35% or something like that but even if we could remember by how much, would it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/12)

YOUNG ARTIST FACINATED BY BUDDHA DRAWING A BUDDHIST TRAVELOGUE
By Walter Jayawardhana
One of India’s famous comic book artists Bharath Murthy recently told the Hindu newspaper that he first got converted himself to be a Buddhist and now writing and drawing a comic book, “The Vanished Path” a travelogue related to the Life of Buddha and the historic sites connected with his life. He said, “I converted to Buddhism after I read the Pali teachings. There was nothing in it that I could disagree with. After this, I went on a pilgrimage to the places associated with the Buddha — Nepal, Bodhgaya, Kushinagar, Nalanda and so on. It... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/12)

Temple discovery reveals Buddhism's ancient spread to China from India
By Walter Jayawardhana
1500 years old ruins of a Buddhist temple  have been discovered in China's largest desert, offering valuable insight for historians studying Buddhism's spread from India to China, Xinhua news agency reported. The temple's main hall has a rare structure based around three square-shaped corridors and a huge Buddha statue. "The hall is the largest of its kind found in the Taklimakan Desert since the first archaeologist came to work in the area in the 20th century," said Wu Xinhua, the leading archaeologist of the excavation project. It is so far the best Buddhist site for scholars... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/12)

SRI LANKA’S FORMER POLICE CHIEF TO TEACH COUNTER TERRORISM IN INDIA
By Walter Jayawardhana
Dr. Mahinda Balasuriya, Sri Lanka’s former police chief will be teaching counter terrorism and how Sri Lanka defeated the 30 year terror reign of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at his alma mater in Vadodara ( formerly Baroda) in the Indian state of Gujarat.  The Maharaja Sayajirao University’s studentsare set to learn from Balassuriya  a lesson or two in counter terrorism and international affairs when he teaches some of his experiences as one of the key strategists in the war against the LTTE where the Lankan forces brought to an end a 30 year... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/12)

ලෙකෝ අඩහැරය දිගහැරේ-පාරිභෝගික පහසුව වෙනුවෙන් ලෙකෝ කෙටි පණිවිඩ සේවාව ඇරඹේ.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
පාරිභෝගික පහසුව වෙනුවෙන් ලෙකෝ කෙටි පණිවිඩ සේවාව ඇරඹේ.අපරාධකරුවන් අපරාධ කරකර නීතිය සොයනවා වගේ, එදා විදුලි බලාගාර හදනවට විරුද්ධ වුණ අයම අද විදුලි බිල වැඩියි කියලා චෝදනා කරනවා.මම ඕනම කෙනෙකුට අභියෝග කරනවා ආසියාතික රටවල් අතරින් අපේ රටේ වගේ අඛණ්ඩ විදුලි සැපයුමක් වගේම අවම මිලක් පවතින රටක් තවත් තියෙනවානම් පෙන්වන්න කියලා.  පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක - විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍ය    ලංකා විදුලි පුද්ගලික සමාගම, ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලය කියන්නේ මේ රටේ තිඛෙන වැදගත් වගේම බලවත් ආයතනයන්. මෙම ආයතන ජනතාවට මහත් සේවයක් සපයනවා. නමුත් වැදගත්ම දේ වෙන්නේ මෙම ආයතනයන් යැපෙන්නේ පාරිභෝගික ජනතාවගේ මුදලින් වීමයි. එබැවින් පාරිභෝගිකයාට සුහදශීලී... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/12)

MINISTER PEIRIS CONTINUES WASHINGTON VISIT WITH MEETINGS ON CAPITOL HILL, INVITES LEGISLATORS TO VISIT SRI LANKA
Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington DC Press Release
WASHINGTON (May 16, 2012) -- Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris, took part in a series of Capitol Hill meetings Wednesday on the second of his four-day official visit to Washington, discussing with members of the House of Representatives Sri Lanka’s progress in post-conflict reconciliation and development, as well as reform measures that are designed to ensure a lasting peace. Prof. Peiris first met with Representatives Chris Van Hollen (Democrat - Maryland) and Robert Aderholt (Republican - Alabama), to discuss recommendations made in late 2011 by Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/12)

The Divided Catholic Church in Sri Lanka
by Thivya  
The question of a separate North-Eastern Archdiocese loomed large in the early eighties. The arrest of Tamil Catholic priests under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act brought out sharply the ethnic divide in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Sinhala and Tamil Catholics perceived the same phenomena through different prisms. The Papal nuncio in Colombo Nicolo Rotunno was broadly sympathetic. The Vatican was concerned about the arrested priests plight. The Popes representative also took up the issue with Jayewardene. There was much speculation that a separate North - Eastern Archdiocese was in the offing. Colombo acted... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/12)

Pressures from the West
chapter 76 from Gota's War, a book by senior journalist C. A. Chandraprema
Reproduced below is chapter 76 from Gota's War, a book by senior journalist C. A. Chandraprema on Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's crucial role in ending LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka. During the final months of the war, tremendous pressure was brought on Sri Lanka by certain Western countries to halt military operations. One of the means adopted by the West to bring the Sri Lankan government to heel was by exerting economic pressure. In the years 2008 and 2009, every... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/12)

මානසික රෝගියාගේ පරිකල්පනය කෘතිය පිළිබඳව හැඳින්වීමක්
ඒ එස් වික්‍රමසිංහ
වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම් ජයතුංග ගේ නවතම කෘතිය වන මානසික රෝගියාගේ පරිකල්පනය මෙතෙක් නොවිරූ ආකාරයකට ලියන ලද අර්ධ නවකතාවකි. මනෝ භ‍්‍රාන්තීන් අත්විඳින මානසික රෝගියෙකුගේ  මනස තුල  සිදුවන වියෝජනය  සාහිත්‍යමය ආකාරයට මෙම කෘතිය හරහා  කතුවරයා ඉදිරිපත් කරයි. තවමත් පල නොවූ මෙම කෘතියේ ඇත්තේ සාහිත්‍යට ලැදි සීමිත සාමාජිකයන් පිරිසක්  අතර බෙදී ගිය ඉලෙක්ට්‍රොනික පිටපත්  සුළු  සංඛ්‍යාවක්   පමණි. එම නිසා මෙම කෘතිය පිලිබඳව විවේචනයක් හෝ ගුණදොස් දැක්වීමක් ඉදිරිපත් කිරීම  නොකල් වැයමක් විය හැකිය. දැනට  මාතෘ භූමියෙන් පිටත ජිවත් වන කතුවරයා ලාංකික  මෙන්ම නැගෙනහිර යුරෝපය , බටහිර  යුරෝපය සහ  උතුරු ඇමරිකානු  සමාජයන්  අධ්‍යනය  කරන ලද පුද්ගලයෙකි. මෙම කෘතිය මගින් කතුවරයා  පුද්ගලයා හා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/12)

Cholesterol and statins - is it fallacy?
Dr. Tilak Fernando
"The ubiquitous nature of the word cholesterol can be attributed to giant pharmaceutical companies engineering medical conspiracies to indoctrinate the medical fraternity which finally trickles down as fright to gullible people", says my friend Dr. Mass R. Usuf, the Vice President of the Homoeopathic Medical Association of Ceylon, a versatile Naturopath and holder of a Doctorate in Acupuncture and a PhD in medical palm diagnosis. During a recent discussion on the subject he expressed his views as follows: "Cholesterol is found among lipids (fats) in the bloodstream. The liver produces 80 percent (circa 1,000 mg a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/12)

Of Aisha’s age at marriage
By I. Ahmad
 It is said that Hazrat Aisha was six years old when her nikah (marriage solemnization) was performed with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Makkah, and nine years old when she moved in to live with her husband in Madina after Hijra. This piece of misinformation has led to the wrong view that child marriage has the sanction of Islam. It must be noted that establishing the authenticity of hadiths (sayings of Prophet), the narrators’ circumstances and the conditions at that time have to be correlated with historical facts. There is only one hadith by Hisham which suggests... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/12)

ON THE OCCASSSION OF THE RELEASE OF CD “BUDDHAM SARANAM” A PACKED HOUSE PLEDGES FOR CASTELESS SOCIETY IN INDIA
By Walter Jayawardhana
The packed audience at the Ravindra Bharathi National Theatre in Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andra Pradesh, pledged to strive for everything that would make the dream  of a casteless society a reality on the occasion of a release of a compact disk entitled, “Buddham Saranam” The people who gathered there in the national hall was totally focused as they repeated the worlds of the oath that was administered promising to strive for everything to create a casteless society, in the true Buddhist spirit. Among those on the dais were Deputy Chief Minister Damodar... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/12)

MINISTER G.L. PEIRIS TELLS WASHINGTON AUDIENCE THAT “HOME-GROWN” SOLUTION TO POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION WILL ENSURE LASTING PEACE IN SRI LANKA
Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington DC Press Release
WASHINGTON (May 15, 2012) – External Affairs Minister Prof.G.L. Peiris opened a four-day, official visit to Washington, D.C. Tuesday with a series of meetings with key U.S. Senate leaders and a talk on Sri Lanka’s post-conflict redevelopment and reconciliation programs, emphasizing that lasting peace, stability and growth in Sri Lanka will be achieved through home-grown solutions, not those prescribed by the international community. Nearly three years to the day that Sri Lanka defeated the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Prof. Peiris highlighted Sri Lanka’s accomplishments before a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/12)

George W Bush guilty of war crimes
MICHELLE COOKE
Former United States president George W Bush and seven of his associates have been found guilty of war crimes. But their deeds are likely to go unpunished as the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal which found them guilty is a "tribunal of conscience" and does not have the power to impose any punishment. Bush, former US vice president Richard Cheney, former defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, former deputy assistant attorney general John Choon Yoo, former assistant attorney general Jay Bybee, and former counsels Alberto Gonzales, David Addington and William Haynes II were convicted as war criminals on Friday.... -Full Story- (stuff.co.nz - 16/05/12)

INDIA HAD A BIG HAND IN TERRORISM AND TOGETHER WITH FRANCE AND BRITAIN WANTED TO STOP THE WAR-SAYS PRESIDENT’S SECRETARY
By Walter Jayawardhana
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s secretary Lalith Weeratunga alleged India had a big hand in the mid-eighties in the planning and executing terrorist strikes in Sri Lanka while India, Britain and France made intense pressure on the President to stop the war when Sri Lanka was on the verge of defeating the Tamil Tigers. Lalith Weeratunga was reading from the book Gota’s War at its launch, that tells the war experiences of Defense Secretary and the President’s younger brother Gotabhaya Rajapksa . The following is the report written by S.R.Radhakrishnan The Hindu filed on the book... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/12)

Sri Lanka: To all MPs, of the Greater Toronto Area and its Suburbs.
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 Canada
15 May 2012 Sri Lanka: To all MPs, of the Greater Toronto Area and its Suburbs. Bob Rae MP (Toronto Centre), Craig Scott MP (Toronto-Danforth), Olivia Chow MP (Trinity-Spadina), Julian Fantino MP (Vaughan), Chungsen Leung MP (Willowdale), Joe Comartin MP (Windsor-Techmseh),Mark Adler MP (York Centre), Peter Van Loan MP (York-Simcoe), Mike Sullivan MP (York South-Weston), Judy Sgro MP (York West), John McCallum MP (Markham-Unionville), Eve Adams MP (Mississauga-Brampton South), Wladyslaw Lizon MP (Mississauga East-Cooksville),  Robert Dechert MP (Mississauga-Erindale),  Stella Ambler MP (Mississauga South), Chris. Alexander MP... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/12)

An Outsider’s View—16 Paticca Samuppada Model Offers a Superb Approach to Analyze Universal Phenomena
By Shelton Gunaratne, professor emeritus at Minnesota State University Moorhead
Recently, the Lankaweb published two essays on the doctrine of paticca samuppada (P.S.): one by Suwanda Sugunasiri on May 9, and the other by R. Chandrasoma on May 12.  P.S. is central to Buddhist philosophy because Buddha intended it as an aid to understand the operational mechanics of the Four Noble Truths. It is the cardinal doctrine of interdependence or dependent co-arising, also translated as dependent co-origination, conditioned genesis, or conditioned co-production. (Note the inability of English to translate Pali/Sanskrit terminology more economically.) Both commentators have brought to our... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/12)

ODIOUS COMPARISONS VS REALITY
By J.B. Muller
(The writer is a Sri Lankan Burgher and a member of the Dutch Burgher Union and the Burgher Association. He is also a free-lance journalist with over 40 years of experience in both the print and electronic media.) ========================  Many Sri Lankan expatriates are wont to run-down their motherland unfairly comparing it with their adopted land of domicile – usually an Anglo-Saxon-Celtic dominated country.  Never forget that the governmental structure and systems still in force in Sri Lanka were  imposed upon it by the almighty British.  The changes, if any, are merely cosmetic.  What was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/12)

Toronto celebrates WESAK 2012
Toronto News
Supermoon day, May 5, 2012,  was super for  the 100 or more Buddhists who assembled on the Ontario Legislature grounds to celebrate Wesak for the 32nd year in Toronto. Sponsored by the Buddhist Council of Canada, the 4 by 8 foot Torana with a full-size face of the Buddha was unveiled by the youngest members of the audience. While the Buddha’s Triple event of Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana 'Final Demise' comes to be celebrated in many a temple across Canada, what was special about this event was that it was a pan-Buddhist celebration. Devotees making an... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/12)

Mobs, Monks and the Problem of Political-Buddhism: explaining matters to Kalana Senaratne.
by Charles .S.Perera
Mr.Kalana Senaratne’s article of the 5 May,2012 on the above subject is confusing.  He mixes religious doctrine with matters outside it.  One should not bring in Buddhist teachings in order to condemn human behaviour and people’s attachment to traditions and accepted religious norms ,  sanctity of  all that  belongs to the performance of religious rituals. Buddhism is the oldest religion of Sri Lanka, apart from what ever belief system King Devanampiyatissa followed before the advent of Buddhism. Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lankan during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa.  That was between the years 250-210... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/12)

KAPRUKA Delivers Rotten Food on Mother’s Day
Jay Pathbey – Missouri, USA
Below is a letter from a customer (named Asoka)of Kapruka  (A leading food, groceries and gifts  purchasing and delivering company in Sri Lanka that has owners/partners in USA, UK and in Sri Lanka) who has been very badly let down by Kapruka. Quote “ I am writing to you as a very disgusted and an angry customer who had done business for nearly 5 years with you.  I sent few items to my 82 year old mother one of which was 5 packs of lumprice for $25.00. Your SL folks have called and asked... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/12)

DALAI LAMA GIVES 1.1MILLION POUNDS TEMPLETON PRIZE MONEY TO CHARITY
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Dalai Lama who received 1.1 million Pounds , Templeton Prize money gave the greater portion of it to Save the Children Fund in India and the balance for science, including teaching science for young Tibetan Buddhist monks. The Templton Prize is the world’s biggest annual award a person could receive and the Dalai Lama was awarded this year’s award for his contribution to “affirming life’s spiritual dimension”. About £900,000 will go to Save the Children in India, with £125,000 set aside for The Minds and Life Institute. The Dalai Lama and the late Mother Theresa... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/12)

RAMANNA MYLVAGANAM IN TIGER TERROR PLOT FREED BY US JUDGE
By Walter Jayawardhana
A Canadian man from Malton who pleaded guilty to his role in a 2006 terror plot to supply computers and night vision glasses etc and had future plans to give them aviation equipment for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers was set free today. Ramanan Mylvaganm, 35, was sentenced to time served when he appeared before a federal court judge in a Brooklyn, New York courtroom. His lawyer, Jerry Fong, had argued Mylvaganam used poor judgment, but has learned his lesson and is remorseful. It's not immediately known when Mylvaganam will return to Canada. The United States Department... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/12)

GREAT BUDDHIST LEADER OF INDIA AMBEDKAR, REMEMBERED
By Walter Jayawardhana
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.the greatest Buddhist modern India produced was a genius who overcame difficult situations and upheld the right of the neglected sections of society, like the so called untouchables, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, District in-charge Minister of Uttara Kannada, said here in Karwar in the Uttara Kannada ,India. Addressing a function to mark the 121st birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar, Mr. Kageri said Dr. Ambedkar fought evils of society by being a part of that society. He tried to guarantee self-respect for the downtrodden by being part of the same society which had denied all rights... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/12)

Three Days in Jaffna
by Charles.S.Perera
I took lodgings at Thinnakural Rest.  A room with AC is expensive at Rs.2750, 00 per day. A room without AC would have been half that price but they said only rooms with AC were available.  I therefore had no alternative.  The room was tolerably clean.  I turned off the AC as the heat without was supportable.  The personnel were kind and friendly.  Though the Rest as a rule did not provide meals, dinner and breakfast could however be ordered in advance.  It was at Tinnakural Rest I saw the Udayam paper, I had heard of  its... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/05/12)

Chatter House: Absence of participation
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
13 May 2012 The Editor EMBASSY, Ottawa Dear Editor: Contrary to what  David Poopalapillai of the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) had to say of the absence of participation of MPs at the screening of the Channel 4's controversial document War Crimed Unpunished on Sri Lanka, I tend to agree with Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara that the attendence by parliamentarians were disappointing and poor.  Perhaps it was her 'please refrain from attending' letter that kept most of the GTA MP's away, finally realizing that Channel 4's documentaries on Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger War,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/05/12)

SRI LANKA TO RELEASE INFORMATION ON WAR DETAINEES
By Walter Jayawardhana
Going by the recommendation of the LLRC report the Sri Lanka government has decided to release the information on war detainees. According to the Ministry of Defense who said on Sunday that a decision had been made to release informationon of the detainees only to the close relatives. "A round the clock mechanism has been established by the Terrorist Investigation Division to provide details of the detainees and those who are already released", an official statement said. Release of information of those detained by the forces since the end of the war with the LTTE was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/05/12)

INDIAN RUPEES 100 MILLION WORTH OF HEROIN BOUND TO SRI LANKA SEIZED WITH CARRIERS
By Walter Jayawardhana
Indian anti- narcotic detectives  arrested four train passengers including two women and a Sri Lankan Tamil who was waiting outside in a car to receive the contraband, seizing ng more than 100 million Indian Rupees worth of heroin to be sent to Sri Lanka this Friday in Chennai. The detectives from the Revenue Intelligence in Chennai acting on a tip off that four rail passengers were carrying contraband bound to Sri Lanka were looking out for the passengers coming from Bhopal and intervened them. On Friday, a DRI press release said, they intercepted Parameshwar, 59, Badhu... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/05/12)

The Empire vs. Iran (and Syria): A New World War for a New World Order?
By Jooneed Khan
Confronted with a declining World Order it can no longer control, does the West want to re-assert its will through a new world war, which this time would be really global? A terrifying scenario emerges from the ceaseless escalation of pressures and threats against Syria and Iran, pitting, for the first time since the NATO-OECD Empire won the Cold War two decades ago, the Western trio of the UN veto club (U.S., U.K., France) against its non-Western duo (Russia and China). |... -Full Story- (rabble.ca - 13/05/12)

545 vs. 300,000,000 People
-By Charlie Reese
(CHARLIE REESE'S FINAL COLUMN  for the Orlando Sentinel...Very interesting. and politically neutral. Be sure to read the Poem and the Tax List at the end. He has been a journalist for 49 years and this is his last 'Column' in the Orlando Sentinel in which he has had tis regular slot.This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican nor anti-democrat. Straight down the middle, he has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact on each... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/05/12)

Justice in an age of terrorism
H. L. D. Mahindapala
In this age of terrorism where “well over 60 countries (are) facing threats of armed conflict” (ICRC report, Geneva 2011 – p. 5) International Humanitarian Law (IHL) – i.e., laws governing armed conflicts, or laws of war -- and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) – i.e., law specific to the right of individuals in the main -- are in a moral crisis of huge proportions. The crisis is not in IHL or IHRL per se but in their politics. Both are manipulated perversely by those who proclaim from roof tops to be champions of human... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/05/12)

What is the Doctrine of Dependent Origination ? (paticca samuppada)
R Chandrasoma
According to a leading expository work (Buddhist Dictionary edited by Ven. Nyanatiloka), the Doctrine of Dependent Origination (paticca samuppada) ‘is the doctrine of all physical and psychical phenomena – a doctrine which taken together with anatta forms the indispensable basis for the real understanding  and realization of the Teaching of the Buddha’. This is a great exaggeration. In the first instance, the Buddha never attempted to give a final and comprehensive explanation of all physical and psychical phenomena. The religious truths he announced were narrowly focused on the existential issue of the release from suffering of beleaguered... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/05/12)

VILLAGE SKETCH—15,SINGAPPURU BASUNNEHE: ‘HONEST' GOLDSMITH
Arcadius
‘Nor all that glisters, gold.’ When Thomas Gray (1716-1771) made this observation, he must have had some sort of prescience about the ornaments produced by the goldsmiths of our village, particularly those of the workmanship of Singappuru Basunnehe (Goldsmith from Singapore). He was called Singappuru Basunnehe not because he had the appearance of a man from the Straits, but because he had practiced his craft—which, of course, embodies more than one meaning—for a couple of years in Singapore.  He had left the shores of his beloved motherland with a flaming heart! I am told that some people, who... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/05/12)

A Monk On The Rampage- Monk warned the reporter of dire consequences if she ever stepped foot into Dambulla.
By Niranjala Ariyawansha  Courtesy The Sunday Leader
Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero, the Chief Priest at the Rangiri Dambulla Viharaya was in the forefront in recent times leading a protest at Dambulla to relocate a mosque which was within the sacred Vihara land, disputed by the Muslim fraternity. The issue is yet on the boil and the government has not resolved this sensitive stand off. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero is no stranger to controversy and has time and again led protests against the administrative and political structure. Our reporter Niranjala Ariyawansha interviewed the Chief monk. At the conclusion of this... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/05/12)

INDIAN BOI COMPANY BRINGS WORKERS FROM INDIA TO SRI LANKA UNDER A JOB RACKET TO BE ENSLAVED
By Walter Jayawardhana
The electrocution death occurred of an Indian worker in a private steel plant of a BOI company has revealed that workers are immigrated to work in this plant under tourist visas from India and they are working under modern day conditions of slavery. A report published by the Hindu said:  After bringing him over to Sri Lanka “The rest of the procedure seems to have been incredibly easy: convert the visa into an employment visa with help from the Sri Lankan authorities, house him in a camp next to the work place, and pay him a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/05/12)

LANKA POST inaugural ceremony
American Sri Lankan Foundation
American Sri Lankan Foundation (ASLF) recently launched ‘LANKA POST’ newspaper in New York City, USA. The inaugural ceremony was held at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York, USA, on 28th April 2012 with the presence of Ambassador Dr. Palitha T.B. Kohona and Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Major General Shavendra Silva. The first copy of the first issue of ‘LANKA POST’ newspaper was bestowed to Rev. Kurunegodada Piyathissa, chief monk of New York Buddhist Temple, by the LANKA POST editorial team. The distribution ceremony of the newspaper was held... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/05/12)

Unity among Muslims – How it is possible?
By A. Abdul Aziz.
 Ahmadi Muslims believe in all the fundamentals in Islam, the Kalima, five Pillars of Islam, the six Articles of faith etc. In fact whatever was given to us by Allah and His beloved Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, we accept and try our best to follow. We believe that there is no difference between us and what the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, taught and practiced. But, there are many differences between us and present day Muslims. One of the purposes of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/05/12)

Family shattered by negative ASIO assessment
Lateline By Steve Cannane
A Melbourne-based family of refugees has been shattered by a negative ASIO security assessment after spending more than a year living in the community. Sri Lankan woman Ranjini and her two young sons have been taken into Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre and now face indefinite detention in Australia. They are unable to find out the reasons behind ASIO's decision and have been unable to appeal against it. They have been granted refugee status and cannot be sent back to Sri Lanka.... -Full Story- (abc.net.au - 12/05/12)

Living between Phonies
By Gomin Dayasri
Are we living in the Wonderland of Alice or in a sorry State called Alas? Government blunders with self-inflicted gaffes and goofs to display its mounting incompetence - UNP reciprocates by keeping the government buoyant in promoting serially unpopular causes to alienate and annoy voters. We sure lead a life between phonies. Both would dread should the other change character – in fear of their own self-preservation. Possibly in this queer impasse the odd man out in the pack of jokers is Mahinda Rajapakse (MR), fading fast with his style of lukewarm governance disturbing urbanites... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

India fooled Tamils and Prabakaran fooled India
Shenali Waduge
Trust is like a piece of paper, once it’s crumpled it loses its originality. Several dates in history reveal the real nature of the conflict that has prevailed in Sri Lanka and it has nothing to do with any ethnic strife existing between the Sinhalese and Tamils and everything to do with how India has been manipulating a sovereign nation and its people who have been made to suffer so that India can remain undivided and maintain its stature as a regional power. A bid for self-determination did not start with the LTTE or Prabakaran. It started... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

A Contradiction Of Accusations Levelled At The Administration Of Mismanagement Portrayed By Anonymous Write Ups Upended Through UN Observations.
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial
May 11th 2012  It seems to be the order of the day that fearless accusations ( Dutch Courage Style that is  steeped in anonymity) are being thrown at he Government  about fraud, mismanagement and an overburdening of the Masses consequently to quote a few "conscientious objectors" depending on how one interprets conscientious ness!. This needs to be put into perspective as  the possible doings of the enemies of the State ever seeking an opportunity to discredit the Administration through a gross  distortion of facts, exaggerated statements from Financial Institutions and misrepresented Foreign Reports all contributing to a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

Psychosocial Problems of Child Soldiers
Professor Daya Somasundaram / Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge 
Using children in armed conflicts has been reported in many countries around the world.  Various rebel groups, and occasionally states, in Africa, Asia and Latin America exploit children in their armed conflicts. It is estimated that some 300,000 children – boys and girls under the age of 18 – are today involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide (Global Report on Child Soldiers 2001). Often these children are kidnapped from their parents and indoctrinated, given brief training and along with the adult rebel carders, sent to fight with the fully trained,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

Conspiracy against Development in Sri Lanka.
By Garvin Karunaratne Ph.D,(Michigan State University) Former Govt. Agent, Matara District
Our Newspapers were full of pictures depicting milk producers in Hatton pouring milk onto the roads in protest at the companies refusing to purchase their milk. It was reported that the private companies had stopped purchasing the milk leaving the producers helpless. This has taken a different turn now with Minister Nimal Piyatissa, the Central Province Minister for Agriculture stating  that the private companies were a part of a conspiracy to discourage local production-they “stopped the normal purchases to crate a panic situation”( “ Hatton Milk Shower- A Conspirancy”:... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

KARUNAKARAN KANDASAMY KANDASAMY RELEASED BY JUDGE FOR 5 YRS. TIME SERVED
By Walter Jayawardhana
Karunakaran Kandasamy Kandasamy, a US citizen charged for aiding the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam a terrorist group in Sri Lanka was released by the Federal Judge to time served in jail - about five years, after casting doubt on the terrorism case US District Judge Raymond Dearie who announced his sentence in Brooklyn New York said the 20 years sought by he prosecutors excessive and remarked, "This is not a garden variety terrorism case." Kandasamy, 55, had pleaded guilty in 2009 to charges of conspiring to provide material aid to a terrorist organization. But Dearie said... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

Be a fool, but don’t be an idiot – Tamara tells GL in a leaked letter
Sri Lanka Diplomatic News
According to a leaked letter,  Tamara Kunanayakam  Sri Lanka ’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva has written to the Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris on how matters should be resolved in Foreign Service and rejected a request to resign from her position at the UNHCR after only 9 months of service to accept another appointment Leaked letter states, “Your proposal to move me out only nine months after assuming duties as PR in Geneva, will suggest instability in our diplomacy and an ad hoc character, when, in a multilateral Mission, it is essential to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

Insider deal suspected in NSB’s purchase of TFC shares-Multimillion-rupee share transaction
Courtesy The Sunday Times
A staggering Rs. 390 million stock market transaction by the state-owned National Savings Bank (NSB) has triggered a major row, forcing both President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Treasury to intervene. This is while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched its own investigation into some alleged irregularities. The deal involves a 13 per cent stake of The Finance Company (TFC) being bought by the NSB on April 27 at around Rs. 50 a share. This was through four separate transactions involving two TFC directors and NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, when the share market... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

EXPOSING THE TRUTH COVERED BY TONS OF LIES
Lt Col. (Retd) A.S.Amarasekera.
Paul Joseph Goebbels a onetime Minister of Propaganda is well known for leading the German nation astray for the establishment of the Third Reich under Adolf Hitler. He believed that a lie repeated many times over would ultimately be accepted as the truth. This theory of Goebbels has been effectively put into practice by the Tamil Diaspora to mislead the world with greater success than what was achieved even by Goebbels himself. They have succeeded in making the international community believe that the war against LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka was nothing less than a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

CAMERON MUNTER-A GREAT MAN FROM AMERICAN LANDS
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
History is going to repeat itself very soon. The people of Pakistan must be ready for another episode like that of the Abbotabad Hunting. Zawahiri is in Pakistan; assured the gracious lady Hilary Clinton talking to media in Kolkata, a few days back. She further said in the same interview, "You have to go over those who are trying to kill you. You have to be focused on that." Hilary is no doubt very much true in her concept of pursuing those who are trying to kill you. Her approach in this regard must be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

ATTACKING KARUNANIDHI SUSHMA SWARAJ SAYS SRILANKA’S UNITY AND INTERGRITYSHOULD BE RESPECTED LIKE THAT OF INDIA
By Walter Jayawardhana
Sushma Swaraj, India’s Leader of Opposition addressing the Madurai convention of her Bharatiya Janata Party questioned why when Sri Lanka’s respected Tamil Leader R.Sampanthan says that he wanted Tamils to remain in a united SriLanka certain leaders in Tamil Nadu want to promote Tamil separatism for Sri Lanka. “When such a respected leader of the Tamils was for a political solution within a united Sri Lanka, why are some parties here raising the separatist issue?”she asked. In no uncertain terms she said, that the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka be respected the way India's unity... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

3.5 KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN SEIZED FROM TWO SRI LANKANS IN CHENNAI
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Hindu and Times of India said two Sri Lankan suspects of a drug cartel carrying a large quantity of pure heroin was arrested in Chennai .The ones arrested are only couriers, investigators believed. The drugs seized is valued at Indian Rupees 3.5Crore, officials said. The heroin obtained from Central India was to be taken to Sri Lanka and was to be smuggled to Europe or Africa, the report said. One of the arrested has been identified as Prasad. The report did not say whether those who are involved are from the  the former terrorist group... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

BJP NATIONAL CHIEF NITIN GODKARI BLAMES SRILANKA FOR TAMIL ISSUES
By Walter Jayawardhana
 Nitin Godkari, the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition of the Indian parliament said in Madurai Tamil Nadu that he had spoken to G.L.Peiris , the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister  and had told him that addressing the issues of “killing the Tamils” during the ethnic strife and ‘attacking the fishermen” from Tamil Nadu are two issues of primary importance to be addressed by the island nation for cordial ties between India and Sri Lanka.  The BJP Chief further said he had conveyed the message to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister when he... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

රාජ්යy සේවකයන් බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණය පිළිබඳව දැනුවත් කිරීමේ ජාතික වැඩසටහන ඇරඹේ.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය - විදුලිබල හා  බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
සමාරම්භක උත්සවය ජනාධිපති ලේකම් කාර්යාලයේදී සියළු අමාත්‍යාංශ, පළාත් සභා, රාජ්‍ය දෙපාර්තමේන්තු, සංස්ථා සහ ව්‍යවස්ථාපිත මණ්ඩල සඳහා විශේෂ චක්‍රලේඛයක් නිකුත් කෙරේ.  බලශක්ති සුරක්ෂිත ශ්‍රී ලංකාවක් සඳහා යන ගමනේදී බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණය සහ කාර්යක්ෂම භාවිතය ඉතා වැදගත් යැයි හඳුනාගනිමින් සියළුම අමාත්‍යාංශ, පළාත් සභා, රාජ්‍ය දෙපාර්තමේන්තු,සංස්ථා සහ ව්‍යවස්ථාපිත මණ්ඩලයන්හි සමස්ත රාජ්‍ය සේවකයන්  ඒ පිළිබඳව දැනුවත් කිරීම සඳහා විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශයත්, ජනාධිපති ලේකම් කාර්යාලයත් ඒකාබද්ධව විශේෂ වැඩපිළිවෙලක් දියත් කෙරිණ. එහි සමාරම්භක අවස්ථාව විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතාගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් ජනාධිපති ලේකම් ලලිත් වීරතුංග සහ විදුලිබල අමාත්‍යාංශ ලේකම් එම්.එම්. සී. ප්‍රදිනාන්දු යන මහත්වරුන්ගේ සහභාගීත්වයෙන් අද... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/05/12)

An Op Ed From a Critic of America’s Human Rights Policy
A reader, Nalliah Thayabharan, posted a very well stated comment,
A reader, Nalliah Thayabharan, posted a very well stated comment, which I published, noting that America’s professed concern for human rights is belied by the behavior of some of its allies, such as Saudi Arabia, Thailand and, formerly, Egypt. He maintains that the stated concern of the US for human rights is selective indignation, and a hammer to be used in its aims of maintaining its status as a superpower. He mentions Iran and Sri Lanka as nations unfairly (he believes) singled out by the US for selective indignation. Sri... -Full Story- (globetribune.info - 11/05/12)

Terrorism hotbed: Syria strangled by extremists ‘supported from abroad’
RT
Syrian forces have foiled a major terror plot just a day after twin blasts killed 56 and injured hundreds more in Damascus. The authorities are calling on the UN, saying the country has become a hotbed of terrorism supported from abroad. ­National security forces have killed a bomber who had 1,200 kilos of explosives in his car, in the northern city of Aleppo. This comes as Syria says it has a list of 26 terrorists – some affiliated with al-Qaeda – who were detained in recent clashes, which it will send to the UN Security Council. Syria's envoy Bashar... -Full Story- (rt.com - 11/05/12)

85 shots: US cops use more ammo per man than Germans per year
RT
Eighty-five shots: That’s the total number of bullets German police used in all of 2011, Der Spiegel reports. But what does it say when US cops use as much ammo to bring down one man as German cops need to keep the peace nationwide? The rate at which German police discharged their firearms is further underscored by how rarely they shot with fatal intent. Of the 85 bullets used in 2011, 49 were warnings shots, 36 were aimed at criminal suspects, 15 people were injured, and 6 were killed, the German daily continues. The statistics prove "our police officers... -Full Story- (rt.com - 11/05/12)

Obama falls behind Romney in polls after endorsing gay marriage
RT
President Obama’s re-election campaign roped in millions of dollars in donations this week after the incumbent formally endorsed same-sex marriage for Americans. According to the latest polling, though, that might not be enough to cinch another term. The results of Rasmussen Reports’ most recent presidential tracking poll reveal that US President Barack Obama is behind Republican Party frontrunner Mitt Romney by as much as seven percentage points. The research group’s latest results, published early Friday, suggests that only 43 percent of the American public would be willing to right now cast a ballot to re-elect President Obama; Romney, the... -Full Story- (rt.com - 11/05/12)

International Muslim Leader sends Letters to World Leaders
Source: Review of Religions, April 2012.
His Excellency Mr Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel Jerusalem 26 February 2012 Dear Prime Minister, I recently sent a letter to His Excellency Simon Peres, President of Israel, regarding the perilous state of affairs emerging in the world. In light of the rapidly changing circumstances, I felt it was essential for me to convey my message to you also, as you are the Head of the Government of your country. The history of your nation is closely linked with prophethood and Divine revelation. Indeed, the Prophets of the Children of Israel made very... -Full Story- (themuslimtimes.org - 11/05/12)

Afghan Coalition Casualties Racing Past 3,000 as USG Desperate to Contain Total War on Terror Battle Casualties to 10,000
- Kumar Moses
Coalition troop casualties in Afghanistan surpasses 3,000 and heading to over 5,000 by the target date of exit in December 2014 at the current rate. With a total casualty figure of 4,800 plus in Iraq, the US Government is desperately trying to contain the total battle casualties of war on terror to less than the psychologically important figure of 10,000. A year after 2014 will certainly push the number beyond 10,000. That is why the exit date has been set to December 2014. However, these numbers only tell part of the story. Total western casualties in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/05/12)

Reflections on the Vadukoddai War: who’s guilty?
H. L. D. Mahindapala
After the end of the longest war in Asia in the 20th century, after the end of the longest war in Sri Lankan history, after the decimation of the Tamil leadership in the democratic mainstream, after the killing of India’s prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, which boomeranged on the Jaffna Tamil leadership, after the assassination of some of the leading Sinhala leaders negotiating for peace, after the massacre of babies and pregnant mothers in all communities, after throwing forcibly recruited Tamil children into a futile war violating international humanitarian law, after the ethnic cleansing of Muslims... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/05/12)

Time Magazine’s Anita Pratap interviews V. Prabakaran (April 8, 1990 from Mullaitivu)
Q: What made you confront India?
A: India claimed to have intervened in Sri Lanka to secure Tamil interests. In actual fact, India came to secure its own interests. There was never any genuine attempt to understand and solve our problems. India deliberately aggravated Sri Lanka’s ethnic crisis. It destabilized Sri Lanka [by training and arming Tamil militants, including the Tigers] so that it could play a dominant role in bringing Sri Lanka within its sphere of influence. What I can’t forgive is the way India claimed to have intervened to protect the Tamils and then launched this... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/05/12)

Coca Cola Promotional Propaganda!
Vajiragnana Warnakulasuriya, Melbourne
Honorable Ministers, At the outset let me admit that I am clueless as to whom this letter should be addressed, however I believe every one of you have the responsibility to prevent easy access to this soft drink by the school going children! Recently I saw a news item on TV Derana that they were distributing goodies to the people as a promotional exercise for Coca Cola and that they are making arrangements to take this vehicle to the villages too. Coca Cola is a Soft drink that is every rich in Caffeine, this is very... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/05/12)

INDIAN UNION MINISTER DECLARES IN KARNATAKA THAT BUDDHISM IS FOR CASTLESS SOCIETY
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Hindu newspaper quoted the Indian Union Minister for Labour and Employment M. Mallikarjun Kharge of having said  that Buddhism was the one religion whose foundation was laid firmly on the philosophy of equality, casteless society and the principle of non-violence. Speaking after inaugurating the 2,556th Visaka Buddha Poornima celebrations at the Buddha Vihar on the outskirts of Gulbarga in the state of Karnataka May 6 Sunday, Mr. Kharge said Buddhism was the only religion that could help establish society in which everyone had equal rights. He said Buddha Poornima was an important day in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/05/12)

THE HINDU SAYS HECTOR KUMARASIRI’S ABINIKMANA “WELL APPRECIATED”IN INDIA
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Hindu said the Sri Lankan entry “Abinikmana”, the directorial debut of theatre personality Hector Kumarasiri at the Buddhist film festival in New Delhi was well appreciated. Kumarasiri participated when the film was shown at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in the Indian capital. The Hindu said, “For the first time in his nearly four-decade-long career in theatre, noted Sri Lankan theatre personality Hector Kumarasiri has directed an art film inspired by the extraordinary life of Gautam Buddha.” The film festival was organized to coincide with the Vesak festival in New Delhi The Hindu... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/05/12)

Francois Hollande, French President-Elect, Confirms Afghanistan Exit In 2012
The Huffington Post
After his election to the French presidency on Sunday, Francois Hollande wasted no time in following through on one of his highest-profile campaign pledges. Hollande's communications director, Manuel Valls, confirmed to the Telegraph on Monday that France will "announce the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan between now and the end of the year." The announcement will take place at the NATO summit being held in Chicago on May 20 and 21.... -Full Story- (huffingtonpost.com - 09/05/12)

PRESIDENT SHOULD INTERVENE TO RETAIN TAMARA KUNANAYAKAM IN HER CURRENT POST as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva
Malin Abeyatunge
I wrote to many websites (published) on 20 August 2011 titled “ Will new Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office Ms Tamara Kunanayakam be able to deliver the goods?” when she was appointed. Following are few extracts from my article on this issue. quote“”We have no qualms of the appointment of Ms Tamara Kunanayakam as Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva. Do we? May be she will join the caliber of our gentleman Politician late Lakshman Kadirgamar. However, having observed and experienced the biased attitudes towards LTTE... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

80% of India’s population lives on $2 per day but India can spend on Sri Lankan Tamils
Shenali Waduge
It has become an annoying feature to see contingents of Indians arriving in Sri Lanka enjoying Sri Lankan hospitality and returning to their native land and placing upon the gavel that the solution to Sri Lanka and the answer to the Tamil “problem” is nothing but the 13th amendment. Why we bother to invite people to hear this same chant is a good question. A country that boasts of becoming an economic power house may well like to explain why 1m of its citizens escape India annually and many of them are illegal immigrants in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

Fetus in the Buddha’s Paticcasamuppada Formula?
Prof. Suwanda H J Sugunasiri (writing from Canada)
The Buddha’s Conditioned Co-origination Formula, in Pali Paticcasamuppada, that nothing comes out of nothing, comes in two versions. Nine links in one (Mahanidana Sutta), with while three more (1, 2 & 5 below) in the other (Nidanasamyutta). But it’s not the number that matters, but that the addition allows a novel perspective. Basically, each link reads something like, “conditioned by A is B”. Thus we have in 1, ‘Ignorance’, serving as a condition for ‘Forces’. These are the physical, psychological and verbal ones lodged in our minds, but dead wrong because... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

Reduce kitchen grease and grime depositing everywhere including on you by adopting my energy saving scientific cooking technique.
Dr Hector Perera      London
Bacteria can lurk almost anywhere in the home but the kitchen is one of the main danger zones.  Warm and moist conditions make it an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive and multiply.  If you prepare or cook food, it is important that you maintain a high level of personal hygiene, always wash your hands before preparing meals to avoid contaminating the food. Furthermore, ensure that you are clean and that the same applies to what you wear because cleanliness begins with you. If you have any servants to prepare your meals then you must... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

Curry night 2012.
Sulochana.
The inaugural fund raising event organised by the Alba Asia Network was a resounding success. It was a complete sell out with over 120 participants, held at Cathcart Bowling Club on 27th April,2012. The Sri Lankan food prepared by Suneth, ably assisted by friends of Alba Asia Network, was delicious. The overwhelming verdict from all present was to hold many more Curry nights. The memorable event concluded with a raffle, followed by a disco. Dancing continued into the early hours of the morning. Alba Asia Network is an umbrella group, with two members- the Friends of Ceylon and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

FILM CONNOISSEUR ARUNA VASUDEV WANTS INDIANS TO PRODUCE FILMS ON BUDDHISM
by Walter Jayawardhana
“Film-makers in Buddhist countries are making impactful films which give people an understanding of the philosophy and aesthetic art of Buddhism. But I am unable to understand why Indian film-makers do not explore Buddhism as a subject. So this festival will give experienced and fledgling ones a fillip to make films on this subject,” says Aruna Vasudev a cine connoisseur in an interview with the Hindu writer Madhur Tankha The Cinemaya Buddhist film festival started on April 27 in New Delhi. Sri Lankan Director Hector Kumarasiri’s Abinikmana is an important entry at this film festival. The... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

GL writes to Indian CMs ahead of his USvisit Lalith in charge of LLRC implementation mechanism
By Shamindra Ferdinando -Courtesy The Island
In the wake of an Indian parliamentary delegation visiting Sri Lanka on a fact-finding mission, External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris has written to Chief Ministers of all Indian States on the progress made in the post-war national reconciliation process. Responding to a query, Prof. Peiris said that the GoSL felt that it would be useful to brief Chief Ministers as part of the overall efforts to keep all stakeholders up to date. Minister Peiris said that GoSL was confident that they would appreciate GoSL efforts to address issues, including the recommendations... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

A CHEMICAL FOUND IN TUMERIC COULD BE A CURE FOR BOWEL CANCER
By Walter Jayawardhana
A chemical found in turmeric an essential ingredient in curry Sri Lankans daily eat is to be tested for its ability to kill bowel cancer tumours in patients. Curcumin, which is found in the spice turmeric, has been linked to a range of health benefits. Studies have already shown that it can beat cancer cells grown in a laboratory and benefits have been suggested in stroke and dementia patients as well. A report from London said, “Now a trial at hospitals in Leicester will investigate giving curcumin alongside chemotherapy drugs. About 40,000 people are diagnosed with... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

TIMES OF INDIA COMPLAINS BUDDHA'S 2600 YEARS OF ENLIGHTENMENT NOT AN EVENT FOR MANY INDIAN STATES
By Walter Jayawardhana
While most Asian countries are planning to exploit the occasion of 2,600 years of enlightenment of Buddha, seven Indian states having Buddhist heritage have not spent anything substantial to tap tourists from Buddhist-majority Asian tiger economies and China, during the last two decades .complained the Times of India in a signed editorial by Sanjay Sharma. The article criticized Uttar Predesh saying, “Regions of Uttar Pradesh had played important roles in spread of Buddhism as Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath near Banaras.” Times of India attacked the state of Bihar as the state “where Buddha... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

David Icke -They Dare Not Speak Its Name ... ROTHSCHILD ZIONISM
... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 08/05/12)

Kandy to Jaffna by Bus.
by Charles.S.Perera
Kandy bus stand at the “Good Shed” is a mess. If Kandy is to be beautified it has to start with the good shed bus stand. The buses jammed all over the place is a public danger. The dark dirty space behind the stationed buses is an eyesore. It is dirty, smelly and completely disorganised. A place where people constantly gather is without toilets. The toilet facilities in public places in Sri Lanka are scandalous and is another story. If some one at the Kandy good shed bus stand is in urgent need of a toilet one... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/05/12)

US-Indian Resolution a punishment for leaning towards China
H. L. D. Mahindapala interviews John Laughland, a strong opponent of interventionism by big powers in the domestic affairs of smaller nations, on the net.
John Laughland , Director of Studies, Institute of Democracy and Cooperation based in Paris, was the first to open the Side Event of the Sri Lankan government, "Sri Lanka: Road to Reconciliation" held on March 1, 2012 in Palais des Nations, Room XXI, in Geneva. The Room was packed with diplomats, I/NGOs, Tamil diaspora activists, representatives of GOSL, journalists etc. The GOSL panel consisted of Ministers and officials. It was meant to be an... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/05/12)

What will happen to Sri Lanka if Devolution of any important subject is allowed
Garvin Karunaratne Former Government Agent, Matara District,
The Island Editorial of 30 th April addresses the task of Devolution and the 13 th Amendment and aptly calls the present situation  a “devolution minefield”. Recently Lt Col.(Rtd)  Anil Amerasekera  rightly highlighted the fundamental difference between Devolution and Decentralization, stating that once a subject is devolved it cannot be controlled even if the devolved subject is misused and handled in an unjustifiable manner. Leave alone Land and Police Powers,  if any Devolution is allowed and practiced even in Agriculture, Irrigation and Energy and many such other important aspects,  Sri Lanka will... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/05/12)

No Tamil Homelands – Part 4 - 903,557 Mostly Tamil Indian Coolies Illegally Entered Ceylon between 1843 and 1859, Higher Than Total Tamil Speakers of 871,700 in 1881
Dilrook Kannangara
The objective of this article is to show with undeniable proof that there never was any Tamil homeland in the island; not to degrade any legal citizen of the island nation. Fortunately or unfortunately, all humanity cannot be accommodated in the tiny island nation and therefore it must remain for Sri Lankans only and not for anymore illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration totally ruined the once prosperous island nation with political, economic, cultural, religious and other complications that came with them on one hand and enriched it on the other. Sadly this balance was permanently lost due... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/05/12)

Buddhism and Freedom of Religion in Sri Lanka
By Senaka Weeraratna
Buddhism has been the most powerful single factor in the development of Sri Lanka’s civilization. For more than 2, 300 years, Sri Lanka developed and projected a country image that was predominantly Buddhist. Though this pre-disposition was held back during the period of 450 years of western colonial rule, no sooner an opportunity arose after the grant of independence in 1948, the majority of the people again turned to Buddhism as expressive of their national identity and gave a mandate to a newly elected Government to restore Buddhism to its rightful place and make it an... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/05/12)

Back in the saddle, Putin faces uphill ride
RT
The newly inaugurated Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is no stranger to controversy and challenges. The question remains, however, whether the seasoned politician will be able to adjust himself to shifting political ground both at home and abroad. Much like the start of his first presidential term back in 2000, Vladimir Putin finds himself surrounded by an assortment of enemies. This time around, however, the overt threat is not related to militants in the Caucasus, or oligarchs camped out in the Kremlin. Indeed, Chechnya never looked better, while doing business in Russia no longer carries the grave risks it once... -Full Story- (rt.com - 07/05/12)

ACLU Leader Slams Guantanamo Hearing for Providing Second-Tier Justice in 9/11 Cases
PRWeb
Executive Director Anthony Romero says the hearing shows why the Guantanamo military commission system is ill-equipped for such a high-profile, pivotal trial and highlights why, in the interests of justice and fairness, these hearings should be held in a federal trial court. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (PRWEB) May 05, 2012 ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero Calls Guantanamo Hearing "Déjà vu All Over Again." The arraignment today of five accused conspirators in the 9/11 attacks highlighted the many shortcomings of the military commission system, said American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony Romero. Romero, who is attending the arraignments at Guantanamo... -Full Story- (timesunion.com - 07/05/12)

Tamara Kunanayagam and GL Peiris
L. Jayasooriya
It was Tamara's outburst against GL Peiris that attracted my attention as to how a public servant could stand up to another public servant at a higher level using such forceful language. There has to be a reason for this outburst and we the public have the right to know why Tamara has been demoted. Having watched her defend the country I have nothing but admiration for her and she has done a very good job. Was she demoted on the orders of America? It is well known how meekly Sri Lanka takes orders from... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

Appeal to Sri Lanka’s President and All Politicians
Shenali Waduge
Three years has passed since the heroic armed forces eliminated terrorism enabling Sri Lankly to proudly go down in history as the only country to have eliminated terrorism and an internationally banned terrorist organization. With that achievement the country looked forward to a future that should have been strategically planned by our legislators in governance. The baton is now with the legislators to lead the country. It was a pastime of previous governments to use the excuse of the conflict to explain their inability to solve issues that plagued the nation. The war is now over yet... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

දඹුල්ලේ පන්සල් පල්ලි අලකලංචියේ ඇත්ත කතාව කියවමු
බුලිත ප්‍රදීප් කුමාර  දිවයින
දඹුල්ලේ මුස්‌ලිම් පල්ලිය වූ කලී පසු ගිය සති දෙක තුන තුළ අපේ රටේ ජනමාධ්‍යවල වැඩිපුරම කතාබහට ලක්‌වූ මාතෘකාව බව මා අමුතුවෙන් කිව යුතු නොවේ. ජනමාධ්‍ය තුළින් අපේ අවධානයට පළමුව යොමු වූයේ ඓතිහාසික රංගිරි දඹුලු ලෙන් විහාරය සහිත දඹුලු පුද බිමේ ඊට අයත් ඉඩමක දඹුලු විහාරය ඉදිරිපිටම මුස්‌ලිම් පල්ලියක්‌ හොර රහසේ ඉදිකොට ඇති බවට කී ආරංචියකටය.
බැලු බැල්මටම ආරංචිය බරපතළය. ආගමට දහමට ආදරය කරන සිංහල බෞද්ධ සෑම සියලු කෙනෙක්‌ම කුපිත කරවන සුළුය. මේ මුස්‌ලිම් පල්ලියට විරෝධය පාන්නට ලංකාවාසී බෞද්ධ ජනතාවම පෙළගස්‌වන සුළු තරමටම පුවත ප්‍රබලය. කෙසේ හෝ සිංහල බෞද්ධ පිරිස්‌ තරමක්‌ රත්වී ගිහි පැවිදි... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

JAYALALITHA IN A MIGHTY HURRY TO START NUCLEAR PLANT IN TEN DAYS
By Walter Jayawardhana
While protesters are once again demonstrating against the controversial Kudankulam nuclear reactor in Chennai the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalitha Jayaram said in New Delhi after the Chief Ministers conference there that the plant will commission within the next ten days. But officials working for the reactor have told the Times of India that ten days time period is extremely unrealistic one for the project to commission. An official told TOI that even loading fuel in the first unit may take more than 15 days as the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is yet to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

World Muslim Leader Writes to French President
By A. Abdul Aziz.
Mr. President of the French Republic His Excellency Nicolas Sarkozy Elysee Palace 55, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore 75008 Paris France Dear Mr. President, In view of rapidly changing circumstances in the world, I must send you this letter because as President of the French Republic, you have the power to make decisions that will affect not only your nation, but the world as a whole. In my opinion, the world’s governments should be extremely concerned about the current state of things in the world. Injustices and hostilities among nations are about to switch to a global conflict. The... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

IN A VESAK INTERVIEW TO TIMES OF INDIA BANGALORE MAHABODHI SOCIETY SAYS A KANNADA TRIPITAKA IS BEING PRODUCED.
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Bangalore Mahabodhi Society is translating in parts the Pali Tripitaka into Kannada language said Bhante Ananda, the Secretary of the society in an interview conducted with the Sunday Times of India on the activities of the society in the event of the Vesak celebrations taking place in the city of Bangalore. “Apart from the spiritual activities, he said, “the Society is developing the casualty and burns sections of the Victoria Hospital.” Of the Vesak festival in particular he said , “The MBS celebrates Buddha Purnima with one week of intensive humanitarian services as Bodhi... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

IN A VESAK INTERVIEW TO TIMES OF INDIA BANGALORE MAHABODHI SOCIETY SAYS A KANNADA TRIPITAKA IS BEING PRODUCED.
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Bangalore Mahabodhi Society is translating in parts the Pali Tripitaka into Kannada language said Bhante Ananda, the Secretary of the society in an interview conducted with the Sunday Times of India on the activities of the society in the event of the Vesak celebrations taking place in the city of Bangalore. “Apart from the spiritual activities, he said, “the Society is developing the casualty and burns sections of the Victoria Hospital.” Of the Vesak festival in particular he said , “The MBS celebrates Buddha Purnima with one week of intensive humanitarian services as Bodhi Saptaha... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

Why Buddhists Should be Vegetarian
Sujato’s Blog Buddhism for a small world: views and opinions
Matha yatha niyarn puttarn Ayusa ekaputtam anurakkhe Evam pi sabbabhutesu Manasarn bhavaye aparimanam (Even as a mother protects with her life, Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings.) - The Buddha In Metta Sutta  -Translated from Pali by the Amaravati Sangha. Please consider becoming a vegan or a vegetarian to reduce the unnecessary killing of animals and reduce their suffering. The Buddha ate meat. This is a fairly well attested fact. The issue of vegetarianism is addressed a few... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

VILLAGE SKETCH—14 PUNCHI MAAMA’S SALAD DAYS:LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Arcadius
The early childhood of Punchi Maama, the younger legitimate son of the imperious village headman of Pathegama in the era of World War II (and, therefore, the younger brother of my mother), had a remarkable similarity to that of Pip Pirrip, the protagonist of Dickens’s Great Expectations.  For both were brought up “by hand” and owed their early upbringing to their much older sister—Punchi Maama to my mother; and Pip to Mrs. Joe Gargery, the wife of a kind-hearted blacksmith. Like Mrs. Gargery, mother had been wont to go on “a Rampage” and apply “the Tickler” on her... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

Statistically Authentic Z-core results for the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) Students sat for the year 2011 Examinations.
Dr. V. W. Jagath Vasanthathilaka
References related to discrepancies in the results of Advanced Level examinations and a collection of articles highlighting serious impact on Sri Lankan students facing examinations. Students have lost confidence on the entire examinations system. There is no use in conducting advanced level examination on this manner, z-score result needs a complete review without any delay. Continuation of a wrong methodology in next year and future examinations would be disastrous for the entire nation. Correction is not difficult, this can be done in few days. Scientifically acceptable and accurate method of calculation of Z-scores would... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

Physics teacher David Chandler's brilliant exploration of the North Tower Exploding WTC 1.
Alexandra Bruce Publisher, Forbidden Knowledge TV Daily Videos from the Edges of Science
Please share Forbidden Knowledge TV e-mails and videos with your friends and colleagues. That's how we grow... -Full Story- (forbiddenknowledgetv.com - 06/05/12)

VESAK MOON CLOSEST TO EARTH MAY 6, TO APPEAR 11 PERCENT LARGER THAN NOVEMBER MOON
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Vesak moon will be closest to the earth on Sunday May 6 than it is on any other night in entire year 2012 and hence it will appear very much larger. The phenomenon, called supermoon, this year coincides with 'Vesak”Celebrations all over the world. On May 6 at 9.05 pm, the distance between the earth and the moon will be 3,56,955 km, the closest this year, and the angular size of the moon will be 0.5515 degrees, scientists have said. According to astronomers  on May 6, the moon will set at western horizon a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

BOLLYWOOD SCREEN’S LATEST SUCCESS STORY PAOLI DAM SAYS HER SECRET IS HER RELIGION , BUDDHISM
By Walter Jayawardhana
Bollywood screen’s latest success story,  actress Paoli Dam coinciding with Vesak or as the Indians call it Buddha Purnima told the Times of India that the reason for her success is her religion Buddhism. In an interview she said, “I have been following this Buddhism for seven years now. Within the initial years of my practice, my life changed completely and new opportunities in my career suddenly opened up. Through Buddhism, I am able to maintain peace and balance in my life. It just feels so good." Many leading actors and actresses of Hollywood during... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/05/12)

Sequel To The recent Item- Police Brutality In Nugegoda Exposed! Time For The Government To Act! by Citizen Perera Of Nugegoda ~ 4th May 2012
Independent Observer in agreement with Citizen Perera.
The following item has been copied with all due acknowledgements and courtesies extended as the original source from, the Daily Mirror including reader comments to invite the attention to those who contradicted the recent posting Police Brutality In Nugegoda Exposed! Time For The Government To Act! by Citizen Perera Of Nugegoda ~ 4th May 2012 and at times suggested that it was cooked up and some even hurled insults at the writer. Uncannily here is another example of Police Brutality albeit of a different situation and circumstance , nonetheless with very similar... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/05/12)

A Lord Buddha statue gets a wash on the eve of Buddha Purnima in Bhopal
A Lord Buddha statue gets a wash on the eve of Buddha Purnima in Bhopal on Saturday. PTI Photo Indians call Vesak, the Buddha Purnima as it can be easily be confused with celebration of Vaisakhi also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi which  is the  celebration of birth of the Sikhs in the northern Indian subcontinent, especially in the Punjab region .... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/05/12)

SCIENTISTS ISOLATE A GARLIC COMPUND STRONGER THAN ANTI BIOTIC TO FIGHT BACTERIA CAUSING FOOD BORNE DISEASES
By Walter Jayawardhana
Scientists have isolated a compound in garlic that would fight with hundred times more potency than an antibiotic in combating bacteria that causes intestinal illness. The compound present in garlic, called diallyl sulphide, is capable in fighting Campylobacter bacteria which causes  the most commonest kind of abdominal disorder with diarrhea, cramping, pain, fever and nausea sometimes leading to more serious other conditions of food poisoning the researches said. Some 2.4 million Americans alone are affected by Campylobacter every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This work is very exciting to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/05/12)

A Humanitarian Appeal.
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.
 The hate campaign against Ahmadi Muslims reached new heights in Pakistan and even innocent children are not spared now. Government of Pakistan seems to succumb under pressure from extremists These were the findings of an annual report, the Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan, released by the Ahmadiyya Jama’at, Pakistan  recently. The report said, “There was an open hate campaign against Ahmadis in Pakistan and young children studying in nursery grade classes are not even spared from this horrific discrimination and hatred.” Six Ahmadis lost their lives because of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/05/12)

'Cluster munitions': Transparency needed
Editorial The Island
A Colombo-based UN official's claim that a foreign demining group chanced upon cluster bomb munitions in Sri Lanka's former war zone has received wide publicity in the global media. International human rights groups have used it to bolster their claim that war crimes were committed in Sri Lanka and a probe is needed. But, the Sri Lankan military says the UNDP has not yet furnished details of the alleged detection of cluster munitions such as the exact location and the identities of the deminers concerned. It is rather unbecoming of a UN organisation to remain mum... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/05/12)

Please Mr.President Tamara Kunanayakam’s place is in Geneva and should not be removed elsewhere to satisfy whims and fancies of others.
by Charles.S.Perera
If the Ambassador in Geneva Ms.Tamara Kunanayakam is to be removed from Geneva now it would be a great injustice.  Sri Lanka in such a move will have much to loose.  Tamara Kunanayakam had brilliantly demonstrated of what calibre she is made in defending Sri Lanka against the most unconcerned violator of human rights and war criminals the United States of America paradoxically of President Barack Obama, man who presented himself  as one who had been working for the underpriveldged poor Americans and stood for justice and against war. Sri Lanka has been falsely accused for the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

“Sampanthan slams President”
 Asada M Erpini
“Sampanthan slams President for silence over arrests in East” went the caption of a news item on Island on 02 May. It accompanied the now familiar photo of the TNA leader, with the trademark pointed finger, that few would say makes the subject an endearing character to those who come across it. Then, there was the Opposition Leader waxing eloquent on the “Lion Flag waving” that the TNA leader is reported to have done at the joint UNP-TNA May Day rally in Jaffna. If the Opposition Leader is capable of having a change of heart in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

Geneva - Gearing up for the next round.
by Gam Vaesiya, Ontario, Canada
Mr. Jehan Perea has raised the question of "Facing up to the next challenge in Geneva", in a publication that appeared in several electronic journals as well as in the 24th April issue of the Island. This comes in the wake of the news about attempts to relocate Ambassador Tamara Kunanayagam to Latin America. In his article Mr. Jehan Perera (JP) is thinking of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) due in October this year. The NGO lobbists have to not only plan strategy, but also begin to think of booking their plane tickets,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

Vote for Bahrain documentary to avoid the potential winning of the award for C 4 video( killing fields) documentary
Bafta TV Awards 2012 nominees: Current Affairs - which should win?Please go to this web site below and vote for Bahrain documentary to avoid the potential winning of the award for C 4 video( killing fields) documentary, as all the Tamils are promoting C4... -Full Story- (radiotimes.com - 04/05/12)

Is there a future for the Sinhalese and the Buddhists in Sri Lanka
Shenali Waduge
Tamil politicians can speak for the welfare and rights of the Tamils, Muslims can demand rights and privileges for Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Catholics can demand their rights but why is it considered taboo for Sinhalese to speak about the future of the Sinhalese or for Sinhalese Buddhists to exercise their rights in a land where Buddhism is enshrined in its constitution? It has always been accepted for everyone to speak on their rights, make their demands but the Sinhalese especially the Sinhalese Buddhists have to be cautious not to upset their fellow ethnic groups or... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

SHUSMA SWARAJ DELEGATION WHICH VISITED SRILANKA RECOMMENDS 13TH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Indian parliamentary delegation who visited Sri Lanka met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and other leaders of the NewDelhi government and recommended  the 13th amendment of the Sri Lanka Constitution should be implemented. In a 45 minutes meeting they held in the Parliament House Ms Sushma Swaraj the leader of the delegation and Lok Sabha’s Leader of Opposition informed the Prime Minister that the Tamil leaders wanted land and police powers to the Provincial governments but the Sri Lanka government indicated that they were opposed to give such powers. They informed New Delhi that signs... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

2600TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUDDHA’S ENLIGHTENMENT AND SRI LANKAN CONTRIBUTION TO BUDDHISM
By Ananda W. P. Guruge The speech delivered at the Washington D.C. Buddhist Vihara on March 23, 2012
In my recent writings and speeches, I have called this occasion the 2600th Birthday of Buddhism. In my theme article which has already been widely circulated – including in several souvenir publications – I have given a detailed account of why I hold the Buddha as the greatest human being who, for 2600 years, has been the fountainhead of a sublime way of life. His teachings lead us to a unique Path of Deliverance, open and available to all with dedication and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

Remembrance not victory
Lalin Fernando  Courtesy The Island
May 3, 2012, 12:00 pm "In the hearts of our people there is a real desire to find something done now to find lasting expression of their feeling for those who gave their lives in the war". - Sir Percy Fitzpatrick (1919) A War Heroes week is held annually in May. This in Colombo includes a Victory Parade on Galle Face grounds in the morning and a Remembrance ceremony on the Parliamentary grounds in the evening. The latter are held nationwide too. However, a victory parade would appear to be at cross purposes... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

Fitch Affirms Sri Lanka at 'BB-'; Outlook Stable
Fitch (Hong Kong) Ltd
Fitch Ratings-Hong Kong-04 May 2012: Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sri Lanka's Foreign- and Local-Currency IDRs at 'BB-'. The Outlook for both ratings is Stable. The Country Ceiling has also been affirmed at 'BB-', and the Short-Term Foreign Currency IDR at 'B'. "The ratings reflect Fitch's view that the authorities have taken the appropriate action to correct recent pressure on the balance of payments and place it on a more sustainable trajectory," said Philip McNicholas, Director in Fitch's Asia-Pacific Sovereign Ratings group. "Given the weakened state of Sri Lanka's external finances and a heavy external debt... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

In a Welimada Poultry Farm the Chicken Came first before the Egg!
By Walter Jayawardhana
The question asked often is what came first? The chicken or the egg?  For a Welimada poultry farm owner he is sure sometimes the chicken also comes first. The veterinary surgeon in Welimada in Uva province told reporters that in a freak birth one of the hens in a poultry farm there gave birth to a live chicken. But when the chicken saw the light of this world the mother hen came to the end of her life by lacerations in the reproductive tracts in her body. The veterinary surgeon P.R.Yapa said the egg appeared... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

"ඉහළ කොත්මලේ බලාගාරය හෙට ජනපති නිරීක්ෂණයට"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා  බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
• ජපන් උප අගමැති කට්සුයා ඔකාඩා මහතාද සංචාරයට එක්වේ. • ඉතිරි මෙගාවොට් 75 ලබන ජූනි මස ජාතික පද්ධතියට.  සොබාදහමේ දායාද තුළින් ජාතියට ආර්ථීක සමෘද්ධිය ළඟාකරදෙන ඉහළ කොත්මලේ ජල විදුලි ව්‍යාපෘතියේ සමස්ථ වැඩකටයුතු මේ වනවිට 96%ක ප්‍රගතියක් ලබා ඇති අතර ලබන ජූනි මාසයේදී මෙගාවොට් 150ක ධාරිතාවය ජාතික විදුලිබල පද්ධතියට එක්කිරීමට මේ වනවිට සියල්ල සූදානමින් පවති. බලාගාරයේ වර්ථමාන ප්‍රගතිය නිරීක්ෂණය කිරීම  සඳහා අතිගරු ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මැතිතුමන්ගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් සිදුකෙරෙන විශේෂ නිරීක්ෂණ චාරිකාවක් හෙට (05) පෙ.ව. 10.30ට බලාගාරභූමියේදී සිදු කෙරේ. මෙම නිරීක්ෂණ චාරිකාවට ජපන් රජයේ නියෝජ්‍ය අගමැති කට්සුයා ඔකාඩා, එරට තානාපති නොබුහිතෝ හෝබෝ, විෂයභාර අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

අටවැනි රයිගම් ටෙලීස් සම්මාන උළෙල 2012 මැයි මස 11 වෙනි දින සන්ධ්යාcවේ වෝටර්ස් එජ් හිදී පැවැත්වේ.
රයිගම් ටෙලීස් ලේකම් කාර්යාලය
වසර අටක් යනු සම්මාන උළෙලකට දීර්ඝ කාලයකි. එහි සංවිධායකවරුන්ට දීර්ඝ අත්දැකීමකි. සම්මාන ලාභීන්ට බලාපොරොත්තුවකි. වසර අටක් පුරාවට අඛන්ඩව ඉහලම තත්වයේ සම්මාන උළෙලක් පැවැත්වීම අභියෝග ජය ගැනීමකි. ඒ සතුට සහ ශක්තිය අප ශ්‍රී ලාංකික ටෙලි මාධ්‍යය සහ ජනතාව සම`ග ඛෙදා හදා ගන්නේ මෙවර, සුවිශේෂි වුද සමස්ත ටෙලි මාධ්‍යයම ආවරණය කරන්නාවුද ජාතියේ ටෙලි සම්මාන උළෙල සංවිධානය කිරීමේ භාරදූර වගකීම ඉතා සාදරයෙන් පිළිගනිමිනි. යමක් වටින්නේ හර වටිනාකම් රැකගෙන දිනෙන් දින වෙනස් වන්නේ නම් පමණි. එකම රටාවකට සම්මාන ලාභීන් පොලීමේ පැමිණ සම්මාන ලබා ගන්නා උළෙලක කිසිදු රසයක් නැත. ප්‍රෙක්ෂකයින්ගේ උනන්දුවක් නැත. බොහෝ සම්මාන උළෙල වලදී ප්‍රේක්ෂක අත්පොළසන් නාදය පවා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/05/12)

IMF, World Bank & ADB Agenda Colombo Port Bunkering Privatisation
By Nihal Sri Ameresekere
Published: April 2011 "It is an `eye opener' on socio-political realities, of those holding selected and elected influential and powerful public office, including Secretary, Finance Ministry, P.B. Jayasundera, compromising national and public interest, with scant regard for the `rule of law', and hollow dictates by international agencies, on governance, transparency and level playing field. "President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, in a Memorandum to Cabinet Ministers opposed this privatization. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe disregarding the President had pushed the deal, with his Advisor, former Secretary, Ministry of Finance, R. Paskaralingam; approved by Economic Sub-Committee of Cabinet,... -Full Story- (articlesbase.com - 04/05/12)

How to Fund the Massive Infrastructure Investments That We Need Now
“RICH TRUMKA IS RIGHT”
Washington D.C. (May 1, 2012) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today offered the following solution after AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka called for massive infrastructure investment at the Building & Construction Trades Department's 2012 Legislative Conference.“After decades of neglect, our infrastructure is crumbling as maintenance and replacement schedules get pushed back. Much of our aging infrastructure is beyond its useful life or at full capacity. We need to invest in repairing and renewing our crumbling infrastructure before disaster strikes... -Full Story- (kucinich.house.gov - 04/05/12)

I saw my friend in Jaffna .
by Charles.S.Perera
I planned to got to Jaffna alone, so that I would be able to see for myself the Jaffna Peninsula and its people  without  opinions  and prejudices. I was to see my friend for the first time and I informed him of my visit.  He at once invited me to come and stay with him.  It was very kind of him and my intention was not to put him into any inconvenience and therefore booked a room in a lodging in Jaffna Town.  I left early in the morning to take a bus from Kandy to Jaffna. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/05/12)

Human rights excuse for neo-colonialism
(China Daily 04/21/2011 page9)
Editor's note: The human rights issue is being used by a handful of countries as a pretext and tool to pursue selfish interests, demonize the image of other countries and intervene in their internal affairs, a Beijing Daily commentary said on April 15. The following are excerpts: The US State Department published on April 8 an annual report on other countries' human rights, lashing out at human rights conditions in more than 190 countries and regions. As expected, the unpopular report has once again evoked unanimous rebuttals and criticism from the targeted countries, including China.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/05/12)

UNABLE TO FACE A WELL PREDICTED DEFEAT FOR DMK KARUNANIDHI SAYS HE IS BOYCOTTING BYE ELECTION
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Pudukottai by-election is likely to be a cakewalk for the ruling Jayalalitha led AIADMK, as the main Opposition DMK of Karunanidhi has decided to boycott the poll, saying that opposition parties would not get justice from the Election Commission, reported the Hindu. Political analysts said in the Pudukottai area AIADMK candidate Karthik Thondaiman is so popular that even an election took place he is sure of getting a hands down victory adding a new embarrassment to Karunanidhi who is bogged down with all kinds of crisis including revolt in his family and the 2G Spectrum... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/05/12)

US troops commit inhuman acts because they are ordered to!
Shenali Waduge
In a world that has been taken over by those wanting to profit by any means, we are unlikely to see sanity prevail in spite of appeals to end wars and to allow people to live in peace. It has become a trend to occupy countries and completely devastate life beyond levels of tolerance. Occupational armies send troops too young to understand the dynamics of what actually motivates nations, their leaders and those financing the wars. By the time they discover the truth they have been psychologically affected and return home very much a victim of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/05/12)

KARUNANIDHI BOGGED DOWN BY 2G SPECTRUM SCAM AND FAMILY REVOLT IS TRYING TO BRUSH ASIDE TROUBLES BY CLAMORING FOR EELAM SAYS THE PIONEER
By Walter Jayawardhana
India’s Pioneer newspaper said in an editorial that Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi’s recent clamor to divide Sri Lanka and carve out a separate Tamil homeland has been done for a political mileage and it can also be seen as an attempt to brush aside all troubles in his own party and home. Bogged down by the 2G Spectrum scam and the recent revolt in his party by his second son and Union Minister MK Alagiri, Mr Karunanidhi seem to have sought refuge in the Eelam issue, it said. Written by Swati Das the editorial warned India... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/05/12)

Glaring mistake in UK human rights report spotted Defence Secy calls for a second look at UNICEF report
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the majority of complaints, received from Tamil speaking parents, during a post-war inquiry, related to children forcibly recruited by the LTTE during eelam war IV. The UNICEF analysis had been carried out in collaboration with the Northern Provincial Department of Probation and Child Care and the Government Agent of Vavuniya, the Defence Secretary told The Island. He was responding to the UK’s 2011 human rights report, which alleged that UNICEF’s Family Reunification and Tracing Unit still had 600 outstanding cases of children missing during the final... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/05/12)

NGO Crackdown: Bogus Reports Fuel Intervention Industry
by grtv
Far from helping an embattled nation, NGOs operating in Syria are being accused of helping the push towards military intervention. Some are peddling unverified reports to deliberately encourage foreign action. The agencies hold sway with groups like NATO, which has weighed in on their findings before - with deadly consequences. RT's Marina Portnaya has more. Egypt has denied licenses to eight US-based non-profit groups, saying they violated the country’s sovereignty. Many states are concerned that foreign government-backed NGOs are really agents for their sponsors, rather than independent action groups.... -Full Story- (tv.globalresearch.ca - 03/05/12)

Police Brutality In Nugegoda Exposed! Time For The Government To Act!
Citizen Perera Of Nugegoda
May 4th 2012 These are times when the world at large is pointing fingers at Sri Lanka  over Human Rights Violations and Sri Lanka's Law Enforcement Agencies are said to be the main culprits. The following item which is not only of similar vein but also a rank disregard for law abiding gainfully employed citizens of Sri Lanka where the only crime of this victim seems to have been the reality that he is not Sinhalese does not help Sri Lanka's cause towards maintaining a good image with particular reference to world opinion and most importantly when there is such a dependency on tourism towards... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

Another Outrage – Another Apology
Hameed Abdul Karim
Leon Panetta had to face the cameras yet again to issue yet another of his recycled apology when Obama’s warriors were caught once again with yet another outrage in Afghanistan. This time personnel of the 82nd airborne division were featured posing with the mangled remains of dead Afghans. But guess what? There was no ‘shock and awe’. It seems like the world has been anesthetized with the empire’s massive propaganda machinery that has worked round the clock to dehumanise its victims. Like the empire’s previous victims in Vietnam or Korea or Kampuchea or the many Latin American... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

Buddhist Sangha Bashing - Cartoon in the Sunday Leader ( April 29, 2012)
An Observation of the Press Commission (1964) The Final Report of the Press Commission ( 1964) headed by Mr. Justice K.D. de Silva made the following comment in respect to Communalism in the Press: The Report quotes Dr. K.N. Jayatillake, Professor of Philosophy, University of Ceylon, as follows: " With regard to the English reading public, the impression has been created that the communal and religious minorities must get together and oppose the Sinhalese Buddhist majority if they are to get any rights at all. The point of view is put forward that the Sinhalese Buddhist majority is intolerant and is trying to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

ශ‍්‍රී ලංකාවේ සාම සහන සැලසුම්කරු ලෙස නෝර්වේ පත්වූයේ කෙසේ ද? කුමකටද? ‘PAWNS OF PEACE-EVALUATION’ AND, LESSONS UNLEARNT !Sinhalese Translation of report Part two
මහින්ද වීරසිංහ
ඔබට සිංහලයකුට පුරුදු පරිදි සුළුදිය පහකොට සෝදා පිරිසිදු වීමට හෝ දෑත් සේදීමට හෝ ස්නානය කිරීමට අවශ්‍ය වූවා යයි මොහොතකට සිතන්න. ජලය අයිස් කැට මෙන් සීතලය. අල්ලන පමාවට හිම සේ මිදෙයි. ඒ නිසා සේදීම අමතක කරන්න. නෝර්වීජියානුන්ට දරා ගන්නට සිදු වූ  දුෂ්කර තත්වය මෙයයි. ඔවුන්ගේ ජාතික චරිත ස්වභාවය සැදුනේ ද මෙවැනි දුෂ්කරතා වලිනි.     පරහිතකාමී බව දක්වන කුඩා ක‍්‍රිස්තියානි ග‍්‍රාමයක ඔබ සිටිනා බව සිතන්න. 60 ගණන් වල තෙක් පැවතුන කි‍්‍රස්තියානි මානසිකත්වයේ නිසි ස්වභාවය අවබෝධ කර ගැනීමට උදව් වන කතන්දරයක් මම දැන් කියන්නෙමි. එය මට කීවේ එවැනි ‘කි‍්‍රස්තියානි තීරුව’ කින් එන නෝර්වීජියානු යහළුවෙකි. එය ඔබට ඉලකැඩෙන සිනා නංවන්නක් විය... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

Holier than thou...
Harvey Perera
Just as the British media (directed by invisible hands) gives prominent coverage of ethnic incidents in Sri Lanka, so should Sri Lankan newspapers give headline coverage of incidents like this between communities in Britain. Why are they so complacent? Click on:   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17877896 With an ulterior motive such as to gain control of some trading advantage or some important resource, certain Western countries resort to interfering in, and manipulating internal communal conflicts of other nations, specially smaller developing countries like Sri Lanka, often with devastating consequences. One can see what's hapening in Syria now. These Western countries have serious unresolved communal problems of their own, yet they pompously stand judgement over others, whilst... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

An Ahmadi Muslim Politician has been appointed as Human Rights and Goodwill Ambassador for Peace
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.
The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has appointed H.E. Malik Nasim Ahmed (Elected Reserve Member of the Swedish Parliament) as the International Human Rights Commission’s Ambassador for Human Rights and Peace At Large for Scandinavia Countries from Sweden from 16th April 2012. H.E. Malik Nasim was also appointed as a GOODWIL AMBASSADOR OF PEACE AND HUMANITY, Sweden, by Dr. Dr. Datu Camad Ali, Founding Chairman & Executive President of Southern Philippines Muslim &Non-Muslim Unity & Development Association (SPMUDA International). H.E. Malik Nasim is renowned for his services to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

Wisdom all important to get over the tensions at Dambulla
by Arjuna Hulugalle- Courtesy The Island
May 1, 2012, 7:32 pm Man, living in community will invariably have social and political problems. This applies to a tribal society, a nomadic society, a settled rural society or a highly structured civilization, whether Greek, Roman, European or Asian. Minimizing problems and tensions depends on leadership and how well the leaders are able to keep the population on the path of reason. Wisdom is therefore all important in leadership In any society there will be those who create trouble because of a personality defect. They are others who are insecure and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

A TEAM OF BRITISH UNIVERRSITY SCIENTISTS CLAIM THEY DISCOVERED SIGNS OFLIFE IN A METEORITE FROM MARS|
by Walter Jayawardhana
A team of  British university scientists have announced that they discovered signs of life in a meteorite recovered from a desert in Morocco. The team  in a preliminary study published in the current issue of the Journal of Cosmology say the electronic microscope pictures taken by the team of the piece of meteorite show “signs of life”. “In July 2011 a rare meteorite from Mars fell over the desserts of Morocco and was recovered fairly shortly afterwards in October at a location near the village of Tissint.   This so-called Tissint meteorite was blasted off the surface... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

Karuna Floats Eelam Balloon Again - April 30,2012
 Ira de Silva London, Canada
The Editor The Telegraph, Calcutta, India Dear Sir: It is a sign of India's bullying and aggressive policy towards it's neighbours that people like "Karuna" constantly make statements such as this and the Indian Government reacts to internal politics by harassing it's neighbours. It is a fact of Indian history that the Tamils of India have wanted a separate state even before independence from the British. The British did not agree to create a separate state for the Tamils. After independence, the DMK movement tried again to create a separate country Dravida Nadu (Dravidastan),... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/05/12)

May is the “War Hero Commemoration Month”
Asada M Erpini
It has been announced that the one-month period from 30 April to 30 May has been declared as the Ranaviru Month. This announcement is a statement that should be applauded by all Sri Lankans. Anyone who disagrees with this commemorative action does not have the right to be called a Sri Lankan. The spontaneous celebrations of the people that Sri Lanka witnessed immediately after the defeat of the terrorist LTTE was branded by many as triumphalism. The groups, many of whom were based in Colombo, who thrived on the suffering, destruction and mayhem that the country... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

POLITICAL SOLUTION THAT WE NEED
Mahinda Monnankulame
We talk much about the political solution these days to restore the peace in the country after the war. We had number of unfruitful rounds of talks in the past and will talk once again at the coming Parliament Select Committee too. This also can be a another futile attempt if the government sticks to the myth that the 13th amendment as the only solution and the solution has to be 13th +/- . It is clear when the power is given, people tends to colonize based on their own identity and builds up the ideas of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

Jayalath Jayawardena's Medical Bills !
P.A.Samaraweera, Australia
It had  been reported that President Rajapakse had sanctioned one million Rupees from the President's Fund to meet UNP., MP., Jayalath Jayawardena's medical bills , in the UK. He had sent the Medical Bills to Ranil Wickremasinghe and he had passed the buck to the President. After he knew that someone is paying his bills, Jayalath had left for Paris for a second opinion about his surgery. Will all these bills be paid by the President's Fund? And the money saved by the UNP  will be used for propaganda against the govt. Jayalth, his acolytes along with the LTTE backers did... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

Sri Lankan monks join rampaging mob
By Sudha Ramachandran
BANGALORE - Sri Lanka's Muslim community is insecure and angry. A mosque in the central town of Dambulla was attacked with petrol bombs and vandalized around 10 days ago by a mob led by radical Buddhist monks. To add insult to injury, the government has bowed to the mob's demand and ordered the mosque's demolition and relocation.Monks can be seen going on a rampage, with one monk even disrobing and exposing himself. Muslims say the mosque is about 60 years old. The monks insist it was built after 1982 when the government declared the area... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 01/05/12)

Report of the Buddha Sasana Presidential Commission -2002, Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations
Buddha Sasana (Chapter 1)
The Commission recommends the following definition to the term “Buddha Sasana”. 12.1 "Buddha Sasana is defined as the Buddha, the nine super-mundane (navalokuttara) Dhamma, the Sangha, the Buddhist temples (viharas) with their ancillary structures, forest hermitages (aranya senasana) and meditation centres, Bo trees, stupas, image houses, relic chambers, dhamma books and libraries, designated buildings for performance of vinaya acts by the sangha (uposathagara), fields, gardens and properties belonging to the Buddhist temples, Buddhist education, devalas, nuns and nunneries, the laity who had taken refuge in the Triple Gem, Buddhist literature, culture and civilisation, Buddhist festivals... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

2002 Report of the Presidential Commission on the Buddha Sasana
Chapter 09 Conversion of Buddhists to other religions
translated from Sinhala 9.1 Currently in Sri Lanka, there are followers of four main religions, viz. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. There are historical reasons that account for this. 9.2 Historical sources bear witness that many belief systems existed in Sri Lanka and in India when Buddhism was officially introduced at the time of King Devanampiyatissa. Buddhism, which was so sensible, became popular among the people of Sri Lanka, and by the 4th and 5th centuries Anuradapura became the centre of Theravada Buddhism. Sri Lankan Buddhists have protected this proud state... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

The Protection of Buddhism and the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka
By Senaka Weeraratna
Buddhism, more than other ideology or religion, has played a singular role in creating an unique civilization and shaping the destinies of this country. It falls on the current generation therefore to ensure that Buddhism continues to flourish in Sri Lanka and that the State performs its historic public duty, as enshrined in the National Constitution, to extend patronage, protection and foster Buddhism both within and outside the country. It is an incontrovertible fact that Sinhala Buddhists see around them forebodings of a disastrous turn of events that, if allowed to continue unchecked, may reduce them... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

DMK FUNCTIONARY INVOLVED IN KILLING A FIVE YEAR OLD GIRL TO TAKE BLOOD AND SPRINKLE AS A VOW
By Walter Jayawardhana
New CID investigations revealed that a DMK functionary led gang has killed a five year old girl to take her blood to sprinkle around a large building as a vow of black magic in one of the most barbaric and eerie acts. The Hindu reported: “The CB-CID on Saturday arrested three persons, including a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionary, who allegedly masterminded the gruesome murder of a five-year-old girl in a hamlet near here in January 2011. According to the police, A. Ayub Khan of Katchakatti, the DMK functionary, sprinkled the child's blood around a newly constructed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

SUPREME COURT TAKES OVER MERCY PLEAS OF “RAJIV KILLERS” FROM MADRAS HIGH COURT
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Supreme Court today decided to adjudicate itself the mercy pleas of Rajiv Gandhi killers against their death penalty due to the delay of over 11 years in deciding their mercy petitions by the President Pratiba Patil, reported the Pioneer Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a female suicide bomber of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Thenmozi Rajaratnam alias Dhanu from Sri Lanka during an election tour of the Prime Minister in the city of Chennai at a place called Siriperumbudur, in Tamil Nadu,  May 21 1991. Minutes before assassination A bench headed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

KARUNANIDHI SAYS NEW DELHI WILL SUPPORT HIS SEPARATIST MOVEMENT IN SRI LANKA
By Walter Jayawardhana
D.M.K. and the newly appointed Tamil Eelam Supporters Organization (TESO) leader Muthuvel Karunanidhi said  he was optimistic that his new struggle to bifurcate Sri Lanka and carve out a Tamil Eelam would receive the blessings of the Indian Central government, eventually. He was recently showered with praise as the senior most Indian leader by Congress leader A.K.Antony, whom he met as an emissary of the Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Antony also added that they valued his advice. Accepting his advice they definitely did when India voted against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/05/12)

Pakistan Condemns U.S. Airstrike After Drone Ban
By SEBASTIAN ABBOT and ASIF SHAHZAD
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani officials on Monday condemned the U.S. for carrying out its first drone strike in the country since parliament demanded they end two weeks ago, but qualified that it should be seen in light of the presence of Islamist militants on Pakistani soil. The mixed signals indicate the delicate tightrope the government is trying to walk with the American attacks. They are very unpopular in Pakistan, so opposing them makes sense for political reasons. But the government does not seem to want the strikes to torpedo attempts to patch up ties with... -Full Story- (huffingtonpost.com - 01/05/12)

"The Real Terrorist Was Me"
Speech By War Veteran
Video Our real enemies are not those living in a distant land whose names or policies we don't understand; The real enemy is a system that wages war when it's profitable, the CEOs who lay us off our jobs when it's profitable, the Insurance Companies who deny us Health care when it's profitable, the Banks who take away our homes when it's profitable. Our enemies are not several hundred thousands away. They are right here in front of us - Mike Prysner... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 01/05/12)

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