Sri Lanka need not do India’s bidding: Sri Lanka does not need to please India
Posted on June 17th, 2013
Asada M Erpini
Sri Lanka is an independent, sovereign nation. The decisions on its constitution and any amendments to it are a matter for its citizens.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) keeps on harping on the need of implementing the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lanka constitution, which was forced upon Sri Lanka under the threat of invasion by the Indian armed forces. Now, it is the turn of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to join the fun: ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SLMC wants to take the Sri Lanka government to courts if the latter amends the 13th Amendment ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-to take away police and land powers from Provincial CouncilsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
As far as the peace-loving Sri Lankans are concerned, the matter of how to deal with the issue of the 13th Amendment is quite straightforward. There is no need to go beyond the 13th Amendment or worry about taking away police and land powers from Provincial Councils through legal, parliamentary procedures: what is needed is to dump the whole 13th Amendment – lock, stock and barrel – in the garbage heap, where it really belongs. The 13th Amendment was not born through legal means, and Sri Lanka need not be concerned about pleasing its illegitimate parents or the midwives who gleefully assisted in its delivery.
The fear that many in Sri Lanka have is that India is a powerful neighbour, which possesses the fourth largest army in the world. The question that one should ask in this context is, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-What has Sri Lanka gained by giving into the whims and fancies of the rulers of modern-day India?ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Indira Gandhi was happy to provide assistance in the form of military training through its military training facilities in Dehradun and many other locations in India to a rag tag bunch of no-good ruffians from the north of Sri Lanka, thus transforming them into a ruthless killing machine that had the audacity to take on the tri-forces of the legally constituted Sri Lanka government. Rajiv Gandhi ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” one can only feel sorry for the misguided man, considering how he was forced to bid adios ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” who took over the mantle from his mother was glad to continue with the intrusive policies vis a vis Sri Lanka, which ultimately resulted in the birth of the 13th Amendment to the constitution of Sri Lanka, a country over which it had no jurisdiction ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” except for the adage ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Might is rightƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
If India opts to invade Sri Lanka to impose its will on the island nation that minds its business, let it go ahead. The fighting forces of Sri Lanka are no longer a ceremonial appendage of the government: after all, they managed to annihilate the so-called invincible fighting machine as well as Pirabaharan, the superb military strategist of the western pundits. India is certain to pay a heavy price for its folly ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” much more than the over 1000 Indian jawans who had to return to Bharath in body bags. And, there will also be many who will be ready to contribute their two centsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ worth to the valiant efforts of the men and women in uniform, by working at least as cooks or cleaners, in defence of Sri Lanka.
June 17th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
If Endia invades SL the war against Endians should be NON CONVENTIONAL. It must be fought by TERRORISM. That is why beat Endia in SL. Terrorism should be aimed not ONLY at Endian invaders but MORE on its supporters living in SL. That is the MOST VULNERABLE point in the Endian strategy. Only a minority support Endia. Exceeding their death rate over their population growth rate is easy to achieve and maintain as long as the Endians stay. That will force Endia to get out. Otherwise Endia will see how Endians in SL die off.
June 17th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Patriots are caught between the DEVIL and the DEEP BLUE SEA:
1. The DEVIL: If the JHU stays in the GOSL …. NPC elections may go ahead without the 13A being REPEALED or SIGNIFICANTLY modified to protect the Nation.
2. THE DEEP BLUE SEA: If the JHU withdraws from the GOSL, the SLMC and other Anti-National Elements now straddling the fence within the UPFA may withdraw too, if that would BRING DOWN the UPFA GOSL. That would be disastrous and lead to the UNP cheered on by its Anti-National allies taking over the GOSL, and IMMEDIATELY GIFTING the Northern and Eastern Provinces to the Eelamists!
I am PUZZLED why our Patriotic President has STILL NOT DONE THE RIGHT THING and called for a simple UP or DOWN vote in a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to REPEAL the 13th Amendment. That seems to be the most OBVIOUS & SAFEST route to take.
Does he have DEMOGRAPHIC DATA that shows beyond reasonable doubt that such a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to REPEAL the 13th Amendment may LOSE? I VERY MUCH DOUBT THAT WOULD HAPPEN!
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Coalition party of Sri Lankan government warns of outcome of Northern PC election
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 17, Colombo: The Sinhala Buddhist coalition party of the Sri Lankan government Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today warned of a possible outcome detrimental to the country’s unity from the Northern Provincial Council election.
Layman leader of JHU, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that all who were loyal to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution would be answerable to the situation that might arise in case the Northern Provincial Council election is held without amending the Constitution.
Addressing a press conference, he said that the Tamil separatists might use this election as a referendum for their cause.
Ranawaka focused his argument on police and land powers vested in the Provincial Councils.
However, he declined to comment the actions the JHU would take if the Northern Provincial Council election is held without amending the Constitution.
When a journalist inquired if the JHU would withdraw the support to the government, Minister Ranawaka said in a subdued tone that political context could change at any moment.
Meanwhile, the Western Provincial Council JHU Minister Udaya Gammanpila challenged Minister Rajitha Senaratne for a debate in regard of the police and land powers of Provincial Councils. He said that he would prove the danger of granting land and police powers to the Provincial Councils.
June 17th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Lorenzo, ever since SL Tamils gave themselves over to terrorism, the only language they seem to understand is violence. Tamil racists dont hesitate to assassinate or murder their opponents, while the western world turns a blind eye. Sri Lankan patriots so far have not targetted or taken out Tamil racists – yet.
June 17th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Ananda,
“2. THE DEEP BLUE SEA: If the JHU withdraws from the GOSL, the SLMC and other Anti-National Elements now straddling the fence within the UPFA may withdraw too, if that would BRING DOWN the UPFA GOSL.”
NO.
I wish JHU WITHDRAWS from govt if NPC election goes ahead.
Govt. has 165 seats. For the govt. to collapse 52 MPs ( 165 – 113) should cross over. But JHU and SLMC have less than 20 seats.
“I am PUZZLED why our Patriotic President has STILL NOT DONE THE RIGHT THING”
UNLESS he has STOPPED being a patriot!!
June 17th, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Voice123,
There are racist Tamils, racist Sinhalese, racist Muslims, racist Burghers, etc.
But what matters is what PATRIOTIC people (of ANY ethnicity) do to save SL.
ANYTHING is kosher to save SL. I don’t wish to elaborate and hope the Endians don’t take human shields because human shields don’t stop us!!!
It was war and violence that won us peace not DAMNED peace talks or ceasefires.
Same in history.
We ALWAYS try NOT to use violence but invading SL is an EXTREMELY VIOLENT act. That will be responded.
No chickening out. If we chicken out there will be ANOTHER 13 amendment or worse.
June 18th, 2013 at 2:51 am
Good news from toiletnet.
“[TamilNet, Monday, 17 June 2013, 15:22 GMT]
In a move delicately endangering local fishing of the peoples of entire southern South Asia, the Rajapaksa Establishment in Colombo has provided facilities of a state-of-the-art fishing harbour near Colombo and State endorsement to Chinese vessels fishing beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Island’s waters. A Company in China has been graced with the rights to ply its fishing vessels with the flag of the genocidal State in Sri Lanka and to use the facilities of the Dikovita fishing harbour.”
VERY GOOD.
Deny fish to Tamil extremists on both sides of the sea in the north of SL and south Endia. This is the PERFECT catching place of fish BEFORE they reach Mannar!!
16 Chinese trawlers will soon WIPE OUT fish for terrorists!! Can Endia stop it? NO. Endia is too scared to mess with the Chinese.
Well Tamilians, this is the PRICE TAG for robbing SL’s fish. Now eat shif not fish.
Another excellent strategy by the ministry of defence!!
June 18th, 2013 at 5:14 am
Lots of ‘Divide & Rule’ and ‘Distractions’ going on in Sri Lanka !
Lankans, be smart and stay together and let’s learn how to solve our common human problems.
June 18th, 2013 at 9:04 am
Sri Lanka should go straight and abolish the 13th amendment.
Even if trade sanctions are imposed that will work for Sri lanka positively.
See how people were supporting the govt during the LTTE war.
June 18th, 2013 at 11:08 am
Post war Tamils constantly claim that due to grievances upon their people it was necessary for the formation of the Tamil Tigers to create a homeland for themselves. The fallacy of it is that they do not blame the Tamil political parties for failing to address their grievances and instead placed the blame on Colombo. It still continues as the TNA is now seeking a foreign power (India) to intervene on the issue of the 13th amendment. No political party of any nation democratic or not have the right to seek the assistance of a foreign power to dictate the domestic policies of any nation. That is sedition and the Tamil National Alliance should be charged by the Supreme court of seeking extra ordinary powers to push their agenda. If the 13th amendment is not implemented does that give the Tamils the right to again demand Eelam? the answer to this rhetorical question is a resounding NO. The TNA should be dismantled and a new party be elected by the Tamil population that regards the sovereignty of Sri Lanka as pre eminent. The blame game of the Tamils on Colombo continues today without a single reference to those Tamil politicians they voted into power and as in the past have failed to address or come to an amicable agreement with the other parties that represent the people of Sri Lanka.
June 18th, 2013 at 11:08 am
Post war Tamils constantly claim that due to grievances upon their people it was necessary for the formation of the Tamil Tigers to create a homeland for themselves. The fallacy of it is that they do not blame the Tamil political parties for failing to address their grievances and instead placed the blame on Colombo. It still continues as the TNA is now seeking a foreign power (India) to intervene on the issue of the 13th amendment. No political party of any nation democratic or not have the right to seek the assistance of a foreign power to dictate the domestic policies of any nation. That is sedition and the Tamil National Alliance should be charged by the Supreme court of seeking extra ordinary powers to push their agenda. If the 13th amendment is not implemented does that give the Tamils the right to again demand Eelam? the answer to this rhetorical question is a resounding NO. The TNA should be dismantled and a new party be elected by the Tamil population that regards the sovereignty of Sri Lanka as pre eminent. The blame game of the Tamils on Colombo continues today without a single reference to those Tamil politicians they voted into power and as in the past have failed to address or come to an amicable agreement with the other parties that represent the people of Sri Lanka.
June 18th, 2013 at 11:31 am
ONLY A FOOL WILL THINK THAT A REFERENDUM TO REPEAL 13A WILL LOSE .IF MAHINDA TRIES TO FOOL SINHALESE HE WHOLE “””varige”””WILL LOSE.. ONLY GOTA KNOWS THAT
June 18th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Lorenzo,
“Govt. has 165 seats. For the govt. to collapse 52 MPs ( 165 – 113) should cross over. But JHU and SLMC have less than 20 seats.”
You have forgotten “the other Anti-National Elements” I mentioned, lurking aboard the UPFA’ patriotic ship, scurrying around in the dark in the scuppers, searching for CHEESE with burning red eyes, and waiting for SOMEONE (among them pot-bellied Western Neocolonialist carpetbaggers) to offer them cheese to desert the good ship “PATRIOT”.
June 18th, 2013 at 1:29 pm
A Petition to STRIP LAND & POLICE POWERS from the PCS is GOOD, but a Petition to STRIP the 13th Amendment from Sri Lanka’s Constitution is ESSENTIAL & MUCH BETTER!
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Petition with million signatures to strip land and police powers to PCs handed over to Sri Lankan President
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 18, Colombo: A petition with signatures of million people against holding the Northern Provincial Council election without amending the land and police powers was handed over to the Sri Lankan President today.
The National Freedom Front led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa earlier this month launched an island wide campaign to collect million signatures against vesting land and police powers to the provincial councils under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The campaign began in Anuradhapura on June 6th and traversed the country collecting signatures.
Minister Wimal Weerawansa, Deputy Minister Weerakumara Dissanayake, Politburo Member Piyasiri Wijenayake and other members of the NFF were present at the occasion.
(Photos by Sudath Silva)
June 18th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
PATRIOTS! …. HERE it is …..JHU’s PETITION to REPEAL the 13th Amendment!
Jayawewa!
Ratna Deepa, Janma Bhumi
Lanka Deepa, Vijaya Bhumi
Mey Apey, Udaarawu
Maathru Bhumi-yayi
Maathru Bhumi-yayi …….
Aadi Sinhaley Aey Weera Meemathun Layin
Saarawu, Udaarawu
Maathru Bhumi-yayi
Maathru Bhumi-yayi …….
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Sri Lanka Buddhist party reveals its constitutional amendment
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
May 22, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Sinhala Buddhist political party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Wednesday revealed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution proposed by them.
Legal adviser of JHU Udaya Gammanpila, Member of Western Provincial Council, briefed the content of the proposition today at a press conference held in Colombo.
JHU Gampaha district MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero said the party expects to bring in the proposal to the parliament as a private member’s motion.
Full Text of the Amendment:
The proposition named as An Act to amend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka aims primarily to repeal the 13th amendment to the constitution which paved way for the power devolving Provincial Council system in the island.
Full text of the draft constitutional amendment is as follows: Whereas the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was purportedly enacted, consequent to the Indo- Sri Lanka Accord being entered into between the President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India in 1987 under duress in defiance of the sovereignty of the people of Sri Lanka and,
Whereas the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka did not approve the provisions of the 13th amendment Bill as being consistent with the Constitution in as much as only four judges of the Supreme Court out of nine held that the approval of the people at a referendum was not required to enact the 13th Amendment whilst five judges held that at least one or more of the provisions of the Bill was in violation of the Constitution and therefore required the approval of the people at a referendum and,
Whereas in terms of Article 80(2) of the Constitution “where the Supreme Court has determined that a Bill or any provision thereof requires the approval of the people at a referendum” such bill or such provision shall become law only upon the same being approved by the people at a referendum and the President certifies that the Bill or any Provision thereof has been so approved in the manner as set out in the said Article.
Whereas the majority of the Judges that constituted the bench of the Supreme Court had determined that the Bill or any one or more of the provisions thereof requires the approval of the people at a referendum, such Bill can become law only if complied with Article 80(2) upon being approved by the people at a referendum and therefore the purported certificate of the Speaker endorsed on the Bill purportedly under Articles 79 and 80(1) of the Constitution is invalid and unconstitutional and,
Whereas the Supreme Court has determined that any Bill or any Provision thereof requires the approval at a referendum the only cause of action available under the law is to comply with the process set out in Article 80(2) and the purported Amendment made to Clause 154G(2)(b) and 154G(3)(b) of the 13th Amendment Bill in Parliament without a further determination by the Supreme Court is unconstitutional and unlawful and,
Whereas the 13th Amendment in Article 154A(3) provides for the establishment of one administrative unit for two or more Provinces, to accommodate the unlawful undertaking given by the then President of Sri Lanka in the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord to establish one administrative unit for the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka on the erroneous and false basis that the Northern and Eastern Provinces form part of the homeland of one single ethnic and /or linguistic community as claimed by the separatist forces and,
Whereas the 13th Amendment has sought to abdicate the legislative power vested in Parliament and the Executive power vested in the President by the division of governmental power and restricted the Parliament and the President respectively exercising the legislative and executive power of the people and thereby offended the unitary character of the State, Whereas the 13th Amendment has vested inter alia police powers (including powers in relation to maintenance of public order) in Provincial Councils which was hitherto exercise by the Government of Sri Lanka, which will be a serious threat to national security concerns of the Republic in as much as, ,
(a) the 13th Amendment provides for the Chief Minister of a Province to directly control the Head of the Provincial Police Force and thereby all Police Officers of the said Force and even national police units operating in any province. (vide Item 11 of the Appendix of List 1 of the 9th Schedule) thereby effectively taking away the powers of the Inspector General of Police and the Government of Sri Lanka exercising any authority over such police force, ,
(b) the 13th Amendment entrusts the responsibility of prevention, detection, investigation of all offences (except the offences specified in the Schedule therein) and institution of prosecutions (subject to the powers of the Attorney General) to Provincial Councils and to enact any law on any such matter and further empower any Provincial Council to prevent any Police Officers of another Province entering such Province (vide the limitations contained in sub paragraph (k) of the 2nd item of List II of the 9th Schedule) and thereby jeopardizing the management of law and order and the national security of the Republic.
(c) the 13th Amendment even restricts police officers of the national police force from being in uniform compelling them to be in plain clothes even when performing the limited responsibilities allowed within a province such as when engaging in prevention, detection and investigation of a scheduled offence (vide Item 10:1 read with 12:1 of the relevant Appendix of the 9th Schedule).
Whereas the 13th Amendment, though based on the Constitutional structure of India, denies the Government of Sri Lanka to intervene in the event of a Province acting against the interests of the Republic, although the Central government of India is empowered to intervene in similar situations. (Vide Article 256 and 257 of the Constitution of India).
Whereas the power of the Government of Sri Lanka to give directions with regard to the manner of exercising executive power by a Province is restricted to a situation where the maintenance of essential supplies and services is threatened or that the security of Sri Lanka is threatened by war or external aggression or armed rebellion (vide Article 154J and 154K) no such limitation is placed under the Constitution on the Government of India and,
Whereas the 13th Amendment seeks to weaken the Government of Sri Lanka whilst strengthening the Provincial Councils and thereby destroying the unitary character of the State, territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and the sovereignty of its people and,
Whereas Sri Lanka is a Free, sovereign, independent and unitary State and it is the duty of the State to safeguard the independence, sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and the provisions of the 13th Amendment are a threat to the independence, sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.
BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows:- 1. This Act may be cited as the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution. 2. The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (hereinafter referred to as the “Constitution”) is hereby amended by the repeal of ; ,
(a) Chapter XVIIA
(b) Article 155(3A)
(c) Ninth Schedule
3. Article 170 of the Constitution is hereby amended by the substitution, in the definition of “written law” for the words “and includes statutes made by Provincial Councils, orders” of the words “and include orders”.
4. In the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala and Tamil texts of this Act, the Sinhala text shall prevail.
June 18th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Ananda,
I have given the list of their names. There are NO OTHER anti-SL politicians in the UPFA to make up 52 seats.
So the govt. will NOT collapse.
But unless the 13 amendment is SCRAPPED there is NO USE keeping the govt. If they think they can FOOL the people and get away they are mistaken. That should force the govt. to SCRAP 13 amendment or get out.
I tell the govt.
Disce aut Discede!
June 18th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Sri Lanka nationalist party introduces bill to abolish PC system
Tue, Jun 18, 2013, 08:46 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 18, Colombo: An ally of Sri Lanka’s governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today introduced a bill to abolish the provincial council system enacted by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1987.
JHU leader and Gampaha district parliamentarian, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero was granted leave to introduce the Bill, entitled “Bill to amend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka”
The JHU motion aims primarily to repeal the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which paved way for the power devolving Provincial Council system in the island.
June 18th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
India appoints a New Ambassador for Sri Lanka. He seems to be well qualified for the job; let us hope he will be sympathetic to Sri Lanka’s National Security concerns.
His appointment to Sri Lanka instead of to a cushy high-profile Western Country after his assignment to Venezuela reflects the high-priority India assigns to relations with Sri Lanka, particularly at this time when the PC elections are looming in Sri Lanka.
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New High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka arrives in Colombo
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 18, Colombo: India’s new High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha arrived in Colombo on Tuesday, the High Commission of India in Colombo announced today.
Sinha is a seasoned diplomat and during his career of 32 years, has handled several important assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi and in Indian diplomatic missions in the Middle East, Europe, South America and the Permanent Mission of India at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Before coming to Sri Lanka, he was Additional Secretary in the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.
He was Ambassador of India to Venezuela from January 2007 to August 2009 and Consul General of India in Dubai from August 2003 to December 2006. Earlier, he served as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from March 2002 to July 2003.
Before 2003, Sinha worked in different capacities at Indian Missions in Saudi Arabia, Italy; and in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. In the mid-1990s, he served at Indian Mission in Pakistan and at the Permanent Delegation of India to United Nations, New York.
Y.K. Sinha was born on October 4, 1958. After post-graduation in History from Delhi University, he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1981. He was member of the Secretariat of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, held in New Delhi in 1982 and CHOGM Summit held in 1983. He studied Arabic language at the American University, Cairo from 1983 to 1985.
He is married to Girija, and they have two sons: Ambuj and Vinayak.
June 19th, 2013 at 2:54 am
Gotabhaya is echoing OUR PLEAS! He is in effect saying that ETHNIC INTEGRATION of the North and East is central to achieving National Integration, and Permanent Communal Harmony! BRAVO, Mr. Defence Secretary!
RISE UP ….. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. RISE UP, in your TENS of MILLIONS, and REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DISSOLVE the Provincial Council System NOW. Raise your VOICE NOW to make PERMANENT the PEACE & HARMONY in our Resplendent Motherland!
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Gotabhaya abhors exclusivity for any race anywhere
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
June 18, 2013, 10:00 pm
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the Northern Province should be opened up for all communities to live in without further delay. That would be of pivotal importance to promote bonding among the people in the post-war era.
The Defence Secretary emphasised that the Sinhalese shouldn’t be deprived of their right to buy land in any part of the country, including the Northern Province comprising the administrative districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya.
The outspoken official said that the Sinhalese and the Muslim public servants too, should be allowed to serve in the Northern Province as well as in the predominantly Tamil areas of the Eastern Province.
Asked whether he would take up the issue with the government, the Defence Secretary said that he had explained the situation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Those who had been propagating post-war national reconciliation should promote bonding among people, he said, alleging that as long as the Northern Province remained ‘closed’ to other communities it would continue to be a breeding ground for separatist sentiments.
Responding to a query, the Defence Secretary said that many Tamil speaking people from the Northern and Eastern provinces had moved to Colombo and its suburbs as well as other areas over the years. In spite of the conclusion of the conflict in May, four years ago, they hadn’t been asked to return to their original places of living, he said. Likewise, others should be able to live in any part of the country, he added.
The Defence Secretary said that recently he had had an opportunity to meet a Tamil engineer attached to the RDA and his deputy, also a Tamil speaking official responsible for an ongoing project at a Colombo suburb coming under his purview. If they could work here without any hindrance why couldn’t the people of other ethnicities be given appointments in the Northern region, the Defence Secretary queried.
He recollected the circumstances under which the LTTE had driven the Sinhalese and the Muslims out of the Northern Province. A Norwegian found guilty of slaughtering about 80 men, women and children in 2011 was on record as having said that he was inspired by LTTE project to drive out the Muslims, he noted.
The official emphasised the importance of taking tangible measures to address contentious issues. Although, the LTTE could no longer pose a military challenge, the post-war national reconciliation process was at risk due to the Northern Province having special status, he said. The Defence Secretary insisted that Northern Province shouldn’t be exclusively Tamil and similarly there should not be any exclusively Sinhala or Muslim areas in the country.
June 19th, 2013 at 3:30 am
Tamils to vote in Provincial Council polls
By P K Balachandran – COLOMBO
NewIndianExpress.com
June 19, 2013
The Sri Lankan Parliament on Tuesday passed a Bill enabling people who were displaced from the Tamil-speaking Northern Province by the war to register for voting in the forthcoming elections to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).
With a certificate from the Grama Sevaka, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) can now cast their votes in the area in which they had lived prior to displacement. However, no person who is already registered as a voter in another place, can go back and vote in his original constituency in the North. The facility does not cover people who had left the country.
Though the measure is seen as a just and democratic one, Tamil leaders say the revision of the electoral rolls, which will be necessitated by the Act, can be used to stall polls to the NPC to be held in September this year.
“Anyone can go to court and stall the Northern elections,” said V Anandasangaree, President of the Tamil United Liberation Front. The National Freedom Front (NFF) and other Sinhalese political parties are campai-
gning against the NPC elections, as they fear that power may go into the hands of the “pro-LTTE” Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Envoy Arrives in SL
Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, the new High Commissioner of India to SL, arrived in Colombo on Tuesday.
Better known as Y K Sinha, the envoy had previously handled several important assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs, and in Indian missions in the Middle East, Europe, South America and the Permanent Mission of India at the UN.
June 19th, 2013 at 3:47 am
“Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the Northern Province should be opened up for all communities to live in without further delay. That would be of pivotal importance to promote bonding among the people in the post-war era.
The Defence Secretary emphasised that the Sinhalese shouldn’t be deprived of their right to buy land in any part of the country, including the Northern Province comprising the administrative districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya.
The outspoken official said that the Sinhalese and the Muslim public servants too, should be allowed to serve in the Northern Province as well as in the predominantly Tamil areas of the Eastern Province.
Asked whether he would take up the issue with the government, the Defence Secretary said that he had explained the situation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.”
This is what we have been canvassing for so long.
Good SLOW Gota got it at least now!!
As long as Vesawalami law is there no one other than Tamilians can buy property in the north.
June 20th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
The Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says:
1. During the height of Eelam War IV, the three-member delegation to India comprising the Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, then Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, and the Defence Secretary told India, represented by National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, that POLICE POWERS WILL NOT BE DEVOLVED under the 13th Amendment and Narayanan had FULLY AGREED with it.
2. When President Rajapaksa had assured India as well as other countries that his government would offer 13th Amendment plus, the President had meant was that he would give a better solution acceptable to all communities. It was misinterpreting the President’s assurance to propagate the falsehood that the government was ready to implement the 13th Amendment, which was forced on the then President JR Jayawardenene.
THERE YOU HAVE IT …. Straight talk from the Defence Secretary, that India was made aware that the 13th Amendment would be modified to EXCLUDE Police Powers even during the Eelam War, and that the 13th Amendment Plus would not be the same as what was forced down Sri Lanka’s THROAT by India, but was one that would serve ALL of Sri Lanka’s citizens better.
Agreements made UNDER DURESS are ILLEGAL under ANY LAW. They can be, should be, and will be ABROGATED as soon as the VICTIM OF CRIMINAL COMPULSION regains its free will. IN FACT, it is the DUTY of the VICTIM to DO SO!
It is PREPOSTEROUS to claim that Sri Lanka is DUTY-BOUND in any way to retain the 13th Amendment forced down its throat by India to satisfy her need for regional hegemony and to placate Indian Racists pursuing a Greater Tamil Nadu agenda!
Sri Lanka must be governed to serve Sri Lanka’s National Interest, not to serve India’s interests!
RISE UP …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. RISE UP, in your TENS of MILLIONS, to REPEAL this Indian BALL & CHAIN shackling Mother Lanka’s limbs, NOW!
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PCs won’t have police powers, Govt. has told India
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
June 19, 2013, 10:06 pm
India had been informed of Sri Lanka’s decision not to devolve police powers to provinces at the height of the conflict, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday.
The Defence Secretary said that both, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he, had emphasised during deliberations with senior Indian officials that devolution of police powers would be inimical to the national interest as well as political stability. “We made our position clear during talks involving top level delegations from Sri Lanka and India”, he told The Island.
The three-member delegation comprised Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, then Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and the Defence Secretary. The troika functioned as an informal group on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to inform and interact with all those who matter, within and outside the country, in general and on events unfolding in Sri Lanka from time to time and visited New Delhi several times during the war.
India was represented by National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh.
The Defence Secretary was responding to Indian media reports of Indian Premier Manmohan Singh expressing concern over President Rajapaksa’s decision to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Defence Secretary said vesting provinces with police powers would be inimical to the interests of minorities. Recollecting a discussion they had in New Delhi, Rajapaksa said that when Narayanan queried from Singh what he thought of Rajapaksa’s opposition to police powers being devolved to provinces, the Indian Defence Secretary had agreed fully with him.
When it was pointed out that President Rajapaksa had assured India as well as other countries that his government would offer 13th Amendment plus, the Defence Secretary said that what the President had meant was that he would give a better solution acceptable to all communities. It would be nothing but foolish to misinterpret the President’s assurance to propagate the falsehood that the government was ready to implement the 13th Amendment, which was forced on the then President JRJ.
Responding to allegations that Sri Lanka had gone back on its promise to implement the 13th Amendment after the conclusion of the conflict, the Defence Secretary alleged that it was the government of India that voted for the US-led resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) after having promised to throw its weight behind Sri Lanka. “India let us down in Geneva, very badly,” the Defence Secretary said.
Commenting on the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to study the national issue and make recommendations, the Defence Secretary said that the tangible actions would have to be taken to ensure the 13th Amendment wouldn’t be the cause for further chaos. If implemented fully as it is it could create a volatile situation not only in the Northern Province but other regions as well, the Defence Secretary said.