Judge Napolitano – Judging Freedom

Donald Trump ordered direct US airstrikes on Iran, after helping Israel start a war of aggression. Tehran already said it would retaliate against US targets. There are more than 40,000 US troops in West Asia (the Middle East), and dozens of military bases, which could be hit. US intelligence agencies previously said Iran was not developing nuclear weapons, but this US war will now actually make them likely. Ben Norton explains.

Glenn Diesen

Colonel Jacques Baud is a former military intelligence analyst in the Swiss Army and the author of many books. Colonel Baud discusses America’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities and the deception surrounding this war of aggression. International law, treaties and institutions are all undermined in the effort to destroy Iran and restore American hegemony.

e-Con e-News

blog: eesrilanka.wordpress.com

‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’

e-Con e-News 15-21 June 2025

‘The declaration of war against Iran (Persia) by England

or rather by the East India Company is the reproduction of one

of those cunning & reckless tricks of Anglo-Asiatic diplomacy,

by virtue of which England has extended her possessions

on that continent. So soon as the Company casts a greedy

look on any of the independent sovereigns, or on any region

whose political & commercial resources or whose gold &

jewels are valued, the victim is accused of having violated this

or that ideal or actual convention, transgressed an imaginary

promise or restriction, committed some nebulous outrage, & then

war is declared, & the eternity of wrong, the perennial force of the

fable of the wolf & the lamb, is again incarnadined in history.’

– Karl Marx, on the Anglo-Persian war, 1856-57

Replace England with the USA, and East India Company with Exxon Inc (aka Aramco, Mobile, Caltex, Chevron, etc). Replace 1856 with 2025: And here we are today, as yesterday, as in the 1953 US coup against the Iranian government of Mohammad Mosaddegh. That coup led to the installation of a puppet regime under the Shah of Iran, which itself was overthrown in 1979 (see ee 16 July 2022). The destabilization of our countries continues… And Sri Lanka, whose economy & political life is still dominated by Europe & now the USA, will be thrown into further disarray by the latest white recklessness…or, provided yet another opportunity to break our chains…

     The Concert of Europe – All of white Europe & its genocidal & settler colonial outposts, still stand behind the threat to annihilate Iran, with nuclear weapons if needed. And they keep threatening to further divide our country (see ee Who’s Who, ReMining Mullaitivu). Over these longest of days in the northern hemisphere’s summer solstice, the capitalist core countries (G7) were also plotting last week in Canada’s Rockies (for Ottawa’s role in the latest genocides, see ee Random Notes). US President Don Trump then dramatically left early, to presumably direct US warships out of the South China Sea towards the Malacca Straits to sail past Sri Lanka to reach the North Arabian & Red Seas, directing their war machinery from the Atlantic & Europe towards the eastern Mediterranean & to Palestine – so as to attack Iran, with massive bombers launched from Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago southwest of Sri Lanka.

     Meanwhile, the secretive Bilderberg Group of top economic & state leaders met in Sweden this week, to see how it could hobble if not topple China (see ee Quotes). A NATO summit is still scheduled for the Hague next week. Imperialism hopes to turn Iran into the USA’s southern front against Russia; and as China is still seen as the USA’s main enemy, the US should be expected to turn their guns towards the rest of Asia, including, sooner or later, Sri Lanka again…

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After SWRD Bandaranaike removed the English military bases from Sri Lanka in 1957, he was consequently assassinated in 1959. England then reinforced its military bases in Diego Garcia, after evicting its residents. This inspired Sirimavo Bandaranaike to join Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, in proposing UN Resolution 2832 – the ‘Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace’ in 1964. This led to the destabilization of her government that very year (see ee 12 April 2025). Her next government, from 1970-77, would also meet the same fate – so much for ‘women’s rights’! Further attempts at establishing national governments were met by imperialist-sponsored terrorist wars, waged south and north. With all this US machinery of death again assembled in the region, it is a matter of time before this government here, too, would be destabilized to enable their attempt at further colonizing Asia, hoping they can also bring a swiftly rising China to heel… 

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• Boiling over the Indian Ocean – While there is much media fog as to their actual flight path and the number of aircraft involved, the USA’s 4 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that dropped the 13,600kg GBU-57 bombs on Iran, were joined by 6 F-15 multirole warplanes to supposedly protect the Diego Garcia airbase from Iran drone or cruise missile attack. 6 KC-135 tankers were also positioned to refuel aircraft on the approach to Iran.

     England recently signed a deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with an agreement to lease Diego Garcia for £101million each year for the next 99 years. The Diego Garcia base is nominally an English Overseas Territory (BIOT), but Washington and London signed a 50-year agreement in 1966, which provided for a 20-year extension to 2036 as long as neither party gave notice of termination for 2 years beginning in December 2014. ‘Tamil refugees’ were somehow allowed to enter and stay in the heavily fortified US base in English-colonized Diego Garcia! Still, the media is refusing to state if England gave the US ‘permission’ to attack Iran from there. English Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an emergency ‘Cobra’ meeting after returning from the G7 summit. US forces apparently now refer to Diego Garcia as Dodge.”

     John Sawers, former head of MI6, on Thursday told the Chatham House thinktank’s London Conference with England’s long-term lease to the US for a base there, ‘the whole purpose of Diego Garcia is so the US can use it when they need to use it’.

     The B-52s each carried 20 cruise missiles, for launching from a distance. The media claims the B-2s supposedly had to fly all the way from their Whiteman air force base in Missouri direct to the site near Qom – a distance of 11, 200km. They received air-to-air refueling from tankers stationed in West Asia & Europe. With the ever-widening movement of US warplanes into the region, over 30 air-to-air refueling tankers crossed the Atlantic to be stationed at airbases across Europe & West Asia, joined by squadrons of F-22 & F-35 stealth fighters. The U.S. aerial refueling tankers accompanying aircraft from the Midwest to the Pacific, were a decoy, and not part of the mission. There will now be 2 US aircraft carriers in the region, once the soon-to-be-decommissioned USS Nimitz (used as decoy in this episode) sails past Sri Lanka and arrives from the South China Sea.

     None of their media covered the report of the detailed US plans for this weekend strike on Iran, published 3 days ago by Seymour Hersh (the journalist who has been used as a conduit, so they can claim media freedom, to expose US killings, from Vietnam’s MyLai to Iran’s Qassem Soleiman, etc.) There’s a long hidden history to this foggery by the media, which is more than ‘free’ and in fact very expensive!

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• 150 Years of Massive Media Fog – In 1869, England’s Reuters (now Thomson-Reuter), France’s Havas (now Agence France Presse, AFP) & Wolff (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, DPA) divided up the world of news. Then with increased ‘intervention’ by England in Iran, numerous concessions were ‘granted’ to foreign-owned businesses in 1872: Iran’s Nasaer-al-Din Shah ‘granted’ England’s (German Jewish) Baron Julius de Reuter, a ‘concession’, which covered the entire territory of Iran (Persia), giving him the exclusive rights & monopoly, for 70 years, to exploit all mineral resources including, but not limited to, coal, iron, copper, lead, & petroleum, and to construct & operate roads, railways, telegraph lines, water canals, irrigation systems, and customs services. (Nearly 60% of the world’s known oil reserves today are in southwestern Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt.)

     Thus, the history of Iranian oil agreements began with this unprecedented 1872 ‘concession ‘which caused widespread revolts. The 1872 concession initiated the era of ‘big oil’ in West Asia, and Persia itself (or Iran, from 1935) would emerge into prominence on the world oil stage. Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, who described Persia (Iran) as one of ‘the pieces on a chessboard upon which is being played out a game for the domination of the world,’ said de Reuter’s concession:

‘Literally took away the breath of Europe…

The most complete & extraordinary surrender

of the entire industrial resources of a kingdom

into foreign hands that has probably ever been

dreamt of, much less accomplished, in history.’

The violent opposition of Persians eventually forced the cancellation of the oil concession. But Reuters has never accepted the cancellation, and repeatedly filed claims for compensation. So, they will now try again…

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Despite all the fog about ending ‘forever wars’, the usual ‘liberal’ media took to, as usual, acting as if the wars on Palestine & Russia are not US/European wars. They call the US President, a madman, when he is just another white man, and there’s a method to such whiteness. As far as they, and those who urge him on, are concerned, whiteness is the success story: having annihilated other peoples and stolen their best lands wholesale on several continents. Trump has already invoked the genocidal spirits of Andrew Jackson (who invaded the native lands of the North American southeast and southwest) and William McKinley (who invaded Cuba, the Philippines, etc). The Atlantic’s (NATO’s) boundaries are fluid, and are already meeting the Pacific Ocean, washing up ashore in Sri Lanka itself.

     This ee Focus continues our look at the 19^th century roots of the US political system, of the US Capitalist Party (there really is only one party in these countries, despite the ‘loyal opposition’ hoopla) midst their mass-scale genocide & robbery of original American land, chattel slavery & imperialism. We learn how New York’s leading bankers & merchants, have ensured that various administrations deposit their city funds and buy their city goods. We see the fixing of primary elections, packing nominating conventions, repeating (the same person voting over & over again) & breaking up of meetings. How the USA became a modern model of democracy, delivering sermons to the world, is more a tribute to their historical & powerful propaganda machineries than any reality (see ee Focus).

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• In his ‘Tale of 2 Dams & Destruction of a National Asset’, Sunil Abhayawardhana describes the dubious motivations behind so-called ‘development projects’ that have failed to build local ability & capacity in the country. He describes the ecologically destructive scandal of the USA’s Gal Oya Scheme, modeled on a Tennessee Valley Authority blueprint. He then compares them to the relative success of the local industrial projects undertaken by Sri Lanka with such socialist countries as Czechoslovakia. Yet,after 1977, the sabotage of productive national assets galloped apace & JR’s accelerated Mahaweli Scheme was pursued to ‘please the Japanese & beg for more aid’.  – Whatever that ‘aid’ was actually invested in, we are certainly now living the consequences… For no matter, how much ‘aid’ or ‘investment’ is proclaimed, no class in Sri Lanka is yet allowed to, or will, invest in capital goods aka capital accumulation, or sovereign, economically productive modernization… (see ee Focus)

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• This ee Focus also concludes SBD de Silva’s look at how only the total separation of the settler economies from the ‘metropolitan centres’, as in the genocidal ‘white dominions’ provided the requisite ‘impulses for growth’. He compared the English & French settler colonies, and examines the weakness of the Algerian settler bourgeoisie compared to those in South Africa, Rhodesia or even Kenya. In such settler colonies, unlike in the genocidal of the USA & Canada, the settlers were however not an ‘adequate substitute for an indigenous bourgeoisie’. The politics underpinning their development required racialized discrimination & inequality. Economically dysfunctional, their wage costs & products were more expensive than similar goods made elsewhere.  Despite a higher level of progress, the ‘irrationalities & contradictions of a system utilizing modern technology but based on a quasi-Fascist ideology for maintaining the privileges, purity & status of a white minority’ could only lead to an ‘explosion’… (see ee Focus)

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Contents:

Dr. Itay Gal in Jerusalem Post, in Jerusalem Post, June 2025

What is Diego Garcia? The US military base that will be key to operations against Iran ….?  What is there, what aircraft operate from it, and why could it become a critical link in any future conflict in the Middle East?

 US B2 Spirit stealth bomberAs President Donald Trump weighs up striking Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities, this rarely mentioned US military base will become key to any possible US operations against Iran.Located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by water on all sides, out of sight but very close to global conflict zones, lies one of the United States’ best-known secrets, and a prime operational asset, especially when looking west toward Iran: the Diego Garcia military base.What is there, what aircraft operate from it, and why could it become a critical link in any future conflict in the Middle East?The strategic military base has dominated the media this week, but it has long held a presence on the Pentagon’s operational maps. Amid rising tensions with countries like Iran, Diego Garcia has transformed from a forgotten island into a critical strategic jumping-off point, especially for stealth aircraft such as the B-2 Spirit and the B-1 Lancer, which are capable of reaching directly into the heart of Iran and returning without requiring aerial refueling.

For Full Report

Diego Garcia – Role in Middle Eastern War | Thuppahi’s Blog

By A. Abdul Aziz. Source: Press Ahmadiyya

In 2012, as the world faced rising conflicts and tensions  His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad sent letters to major world leaders, exhorting them towards peace and justice to resolve their disputes.

Those letters are just as pertinent today as they were back then. With the Iran and Israel war unfolding, we present some extracts from the letters to he leaders of these two nations.

Letter To:

Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel

26 February 2012

We hear reports in the news nowadays that you are preparing to attack Iran. Yet the horrific outcome of a World War is right before you. In the last World War whilst millions of other people were killed, the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jewish persons were also wasted. As the Prime Minister, it is your duty to protect the life of your nation. The current circumstances of the world indicate that a World War will not be fought between only two countries rather blocs will  come into formation. The threat of a World War breaking out is a very serious one. The life of Muslims, Christians and Jews are all at peril from it. If such a war occurs, it will result in a chain reaction of human destruction. The effects of this catastrophe will be felt future generations, who will either be born disabled or crippled. This is because undoubtedly, such a war will involve atomic warfare.

Hence, it is my request to you that instead of leading the world into the grip of a World War, make maximum efforts to save the world from a global catastrophe. Instead of resolving disputes with force, you should try to resolve them through dialogue.

Thus, world leaders, and particularly you should terminate the nation of governance by force and should refrain from oppressing the weak. Instead strive to spread and promote justice and peace. By doing so, you will remain in peace yourselves, you will gain strength and world peace will will also be established.    

MIRZA MASROOR AHMAD

Khalifatul Masih V

Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Letter To:

Ayatollah Syed Ali Hosseini Khamenei         Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran

14 May 2012

As Muslims, we should endeavor to teach the world to live in peace, love and harmony. In particular, Muslims leaders need to urgently pay heed to this. For this reason, it is my request to you to draw the attention of your Government towards its responsibilities to establishing peace in the world.

If Iran is attacked it has the right to defend itself to save the country, however it should not instigate aggression and take the first step forward into any conflict. Instead, an effort should be made to leave aside religious differences and to try and unite upon common values. It is this very approach that we find was adopted in the history of Islam.

As the spiritual leader of a large Islamic nation, I hope that you will come to agree that if the entire Muslim Ummah unites and work together, world peace can be established. We should not pointlessly add fuels to enemies and grudges, rather, we should search for opportunities to establish peace and tranquility. Further, even enmity  or opposition against others should not be devoid of justice.

May Allah enable the entire Muslim Ummah and all Muslim governments to understand my message so that they prepare themselves to play their respective roles in an effort to establish peace in the world.               

MIRZA MASROOR AHMAD

Khalifatul Masih V

Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

By PalithaAriyrathna

As interpreted by Indika Shabandu, Magulmaduwa is not merely a royal audience hall—it is a living symbol of international moral law, rooted in the Buddha Sasana tradition and the universal Dhamma order of Emperor Ashoka. It is here that two civilizations once met in a righteous accord to protect a just and compassionate way of life.

On 2 March 1815, this site bore witness to the British surrender under the Kandyan Convention—a moment that, while framed as a treaty, was later questioned by voices of conscience, including a Wesleyan priest who accused the British of aligning with Mittaya Dusti,” a betrayal of both spiritual and ethical values.

This moment stands in contrast to the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), where Spain and Portugal divided the non-Christian world between them under religious pretense—ignoring the dignity of indigenous peoples. That treaty was a product of empire; Magulmaduwa was a call to conscience.

As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk visits Sri Lanka from 23–26 June 2025, it is imperative that he not bypass this sacred site. Magulmaduwa offers a rare opportunity to witness a historical moment where peace was not imposed, but emerged through Dhamma—a path of compassion, justice, and shared humanity.

Let this visit mark not only a diplomatic mission, but a spiritual awakening—a reminder that true peace begins where power bows to principle, and where the dignity of all people is honored above doctrine or empire.

As shared by Indika Shabandu, a direct descendant of Kivulegedara Mohottala, the righteous fight to protect Dhamma was not abstract—it ran through families, villages, and ancestral duty. His mee mutta, a key leader in the Sinhala army, stood against inhumanity during the Uva-Wellassa Rebellion—not to claim power, but to uphold the spiritual dignity of a people and their land. If such a figure were alive today, he would be a witness—not only to global peace narratives—but to the deep hypocrisy still embedded in many Western-led human rights efforts, where agendas are often cloaked in moral language but divorced from humanity itself. The very forces that once suppressed sovereignty under colonial flags now speak of justice from podiums—while overlooking sacred truths like those enshrined at Magulmaduwa. It is here, not in distant policy rooms, that the true blueprint for peace was written—not as conquest, but as a righteous accord. Not as doctrine, but as living Dhamma.

Every defender of fundamental rights, every voice raised for human dignity, and every advocate of peace must not overlook Magulmaduwa. This sacred hall, where the Kandyan Convention was signed, holds a profound moral legacy that demands deep study—not just as history, but as a living lesson in ethical governance. In the spirit of Article 9 of Sri Lanka’s Constitution, which mandates the protection and fostering of the Buddha Sasana, this site offers a unique opportunity to understand how peace can emerge through Dhamma—not doctrine.

As an author who has deeply conversed with Indika Shabandu, I carry a profound understanding of his thought, though I humbly recognize the limits of my conceptual capacity. Still, I firmly believe that Magulmaduwa is not just adjacent to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic—it is spiritually intertwined with it. It channels the very essence of Buddha Dhamma, embodied in place, memory, and moral law. To ignore this location is to miss a radiant thread that runs through the heart of our civilization and extends outward to the conscience of the world.

Before claiming the title of a global leader, one must first learn to be truly human. The world cries out for compassion over conquest. It is not enough to speak of peace—we must stop war in all forms, and stand where peace was once forged in spirit, not in strategy.

“Can a virtuous person recognize a wicked one, while a wicked person cannot recognize the virtuous?”

By PalithaAriyrathna

Mahinda Pathirana

මෙම වීඩියෝව තුළ ප්‍රහාරයේ නවතම තත්ත්වය, ඉරාන න්‍යෂ්ටික පහසුකම් විනාශ වුනාද නැද්ද යන්න, මේ ගැන ඇමරිකානු සහ ඊශ්‍රායල් බුද්ධි අංශවල මතය, මැදපෙරදිග ප්‍රශ්නය සහ එහි මූල හේතු, ඉරානය යනු කුමක්ද? වැනි බොහෝ කරුණු ආවරණය කර ඇත.

Phenomena

What if everything we thought we knew about the universe… was wrong? For decades, scientists believed they had the cosmos under control. Laws. Equations. Models. But now, the James Webb Space Telescope—humanity’s most powerful eye in the sky—has just sent back data that doesn’t fit any of those rules. Entire galaxies appearing far too early, mysterious structures stretching across the universe in patterns that suggest intentional design, gravitational distortions without visible mass… and light pulses coming from empty voids of space. Are we witnessing a glitch in the matrix of the universe—or the start of something far more unimaginable? Stay with us until the very end—because what the James Webb Telescope just uncovered might change not just physics, but the very foundation of our reality.

Inspired By Morgan Freeman

Why the U.S. Fears Iran More Than Any Other Nation – The Hidden Truth | Morgan Freeman Motivation What if the greatest fear of the United States isn’t about weapons or warfare — but about an idea? A nation that doesn’t submit. A people that refuse to break. This 26-minute cinematic motivational speech, delivered in the compelling tone of Morgan Freeman, uncovers the hidden truth behind why the U.S. fears Iran more than any other country. From unmatched resilience under decades of sanctions, to Iran’s rising influence across the Muslim world, this video goes far beyond politics. It’s a story of power born from faith, resistance built on sacrifice, and a legacy that cannot be silenced. Iran isn’t just a geopolitical challenge — it’s a spiritual threat to a world order built on submission. This is the speech they never wanted you to hear — stay till the end, and you’ll understand exactly why.

Courtesy The Moscow Times

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday warned the United States against launching military action against Iran, as tensions escalate in the Middle East and speculation grows over potential U.S. involvement in the conflict alongside Israel.

Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s military and nuclear program last Friday, and Tehran has responded with its own salvos of rockets and drones. Scores of civilians have been killed in both countries since the air war began, and despite global calls for de-escalation, the two sides have ramped up their bellicose rhetoric.

U.S. President Donald Trump has further fueled tensions by suggesting earlier this week that American forces in the Middle East might try to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and vaguely calling on Tehran to agree to an “unconditional surrender.”

“We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in this situation,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

Zakharova noted that any such move by the U.S. “would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences.”

Her warning came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, during which both leaders condemned Israel’s actions and called for a ceasefire.

“They strongly condemn Israel’s actions,” the Kremlin said in a readout of the call.

Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Moscow and Beijing believe the conflict must be resolved “exclusively by political and diplomatic means.”

Russia shares close relations with Iran, having boosted military ties following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, it also strives to retain amicable relations with Israel.

Despite Moscow’s ties with Tehran, Putin said Iran had not asked Russia for military assistance since Israel’s attacks began.

“Our Iranian friends have not asked us about this,” he said at a late-night press conference in St. Petersburg.

He added that a treaty signed with Iran in January does not function as a mutual defense pact and does not require either side to provide military aid.

Asked what Russia would do if Iran’s Khamenei were assassinated, Putin replied: “I don’t even want to discuss such a possibility.”

AFP contributed reporting.

RT.com

Jun 18, 2025

This war will be the starting point of reshaping the world. If Iran wins – and I believe it will, eventually – the world will shift to a multipolar order. That is the shared vision of Iran, Russia, and China. But if Iran loses, we will all live under an American empire. The White House will rule from Washington to Beijing. This is a decisive battle – not just for Iran, but for the destiny of the world.” And the Global South one might add.

In his first public address since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to strip Iran of the ability to develop nuclear weapons, eliminate its ballistic missile capabilities, and remove what he called an existential threat to the State of Israel.

This is a battle for survival,” Netanyahu told reporters in a Zoom press conference on Monday. We will continue this operation until the Islamic Republic of Iran is no longer a nuclear threat – not to Israel, not to the region, not to the world.”

Netanyahu’s bold declaration came as Israeli jets continued a fourth day of coordinated strikes deep into Iranian territory. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), over 370 missiles and hundreds of UAVs have been launched from Iran since Friday, prompting swift Israeli retaliation. The IDF claims to have struck more than 90 strategic targets across Iran, including suspected missile depots, radar installations, and command centers near Tehran, Esfahan, and along the Persian Gulf coast.

The operation has already resulted in more than 200 casualties in Iran, though precise numbers remain unverified due to restricted access for international media. Satellite imagery reviewed by analysts at the Institute for Science and International Security showed significant damage to facilities near Natanz and Parchin, long suspected of being part of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

But critics of the Israeli campaign – and its justification – are raising serious concerns about the underlying motives of Netanyahu and his allies.

‘The US-Israeli regime is lying’

Mohammad Marandi, a prominent Iranian academic, political analyst, and adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiating team, rejects Netanyahu’s claims outright.

The regime is lying about nuclear programs just to justify aggression and murder,” Marandi told RT. Tulsi Gabbard, who is the Director of US National Intelligence, just recently said Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. So it’s clear that the issue is Netanyahu, neat escalation, and the Zionist lobby in the United States is behind him.”

Iran’s nuclear program has long been a subject of contention. While Tehran has enriched uranium and developed advanced centrifuge technology, it has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons. Iranian officials argue that their nuclear program is designed solely for peaceful energy production and medical research – a position grounded, they say, in religious doctrine that prohibits weapons of mass destruction.

To prove its intentions, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015, an international accord with the US and European powers that limited uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. However, in 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the deal, reigniting tensions. Since then, Tehran has allowed international inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) limited access to its facilities, but Israel remains unconvinced.

‘They want regime change’

According to Marandi, Israel’s true objective lies far beyond neutralizing a nuclear threat.

It’s always been so-called regime change,” he said. Whether it’s the Israeli regime or the Americans or the Europeans. That’s how they are. They don’t want independent countries, and especially countries like Iran, which support the Palestinian cause.”

Marandi is not alone in his assessment. Syrian analyst Taleb Ibrahim, a longtime commentator on Iranian affairs and an author of several books on the Islamic Republic, agrees that Western powers – particularly the United States – are pursuing a broader geopolitical agenda.

If the United States will put its hands on Iran again [like it was before 1979],” Ibrahim told RT, they will block the Russian southern wall. This means that Russia will not be able to expand its influence beyond the Caspian Sea. And it will be restricted to a very narrow place between Central Asia and the Arctic.”

Ibrahim warns that China, too, would suffer consequences from a weakened Iran. China will not be able to reach the Middle East. Because if Iran becomes part of the Western bloc, it will sever China’s access. And the most important thing of all – a new world order will emerge. It will be a new American world order.”

Ibrahim believes this is not a regional conflict, but part of a sweeping strategy to restore American hegemony.

To make America great again is to regain American control across the globe. The war in Iran is just a chapter in that plan.”

Trump’s denial – and strategic silence

President Donald Trump has thus far distanced himself from the Israeli operation, saying America’s goals are purely defensive and promising that he will not be starting any wars.

But Ibrahim is unconvinced.

In strategy, if you want to make war, talk about peace,” he said. The United States is preparing for a very big war – first against China, then Russia. After this, they will try to build an American century. One government for the world, headquartered in the White House. That’s the final goal.”

A dangerous gamble

Both Marandi and Ibrahim agree that forced regime change in Iran would unleash chaos across the region.

The fall of Tehran’s current government could lead to the fragmentation of Iran – a multi-ethnic nation with Kurds, Azeris, Arabs, and Baloch who may pursue autonomy or independence in the power vacuum. It could ignite sectarian warfare akin to what unfolded in Iraq after the 2003 US invasion, and destabilize fragile neighbors like Iraq, Afghanistan, and even Turkey.

Moreover, Iran’s alliances with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various Shia militias across Iraq and Syria mean that a collapse in Tehran could trigger cascading violence across the Middle East. Global oil markets, already rattled, could see disruptions on a historic scale.

Yet, both experts maintain that such an outcome is unlikely.

Regime change is more likely in Israel and across Europe than anywhere near Iran,” Marandi said. These Western governments failed with Russia, failed with China, and they’ll fail with Iran too.”

Ibrahim agrees: It is impossible to make regime change in Iran by force. The Iran-Iraq war was designed to do exactly that – to overthrow the Islamic Republic established by Ayatollah Khomeini. But after eight years of war, billions of dollars, and support from the US, France, and Gulf states, Iran survived – and emerged stronger. The only way to change the regime is through the Iranian people. And right now, the Iranian people are standing with their leaders. They believe they are fighting the Satan – the US, the bigger Satan, and Israel, the smaller one. And that gives them unity and strength.”

As Israel continues its campaign and the international community watches nervously, the implications of the current conflict are far from limited to the Middle East.

This war,” Ibrahim concluded, will be the starting point of reshaping the world. If Iran wins – and I believe it will, eventually – the world will shift to a multipolar order. That is the shared vision of Iran, Russia, and China. But if Iran loses, we will all live under an American empire. The White House will rule from Washington to Beijing. This is a decisive battle – not just for Iran, but for the destiny of the world.”

As missiles fly and rhetoric intensifies, what began as a regional standoff may ultimately determine the balance of power in the 21st century.

Shanuka Ilangasekera Chairperson Mothers’ Movement (On behalf of concerned parents, educators, clergy, and faith-based communities across Sri Lanka)

Home – Mothers Movement

To: Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka

Subject:
Urgent Objection to HRCSL’s Recommendation to Repeal Sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code – A Violation of Article 9 of the Constitution and Article 10-All Religious and Moral Norms of Sri Lanka

This representation is submitted under our collective right to petition and participate in public
affairs as guaranteed by Article 14(1)(a) and (c) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, and in
accordance with the State’s duty under Article 27(1)(e), (f), and (g) to ensure the preservation
of moral order, cultural identity, and family as the fundamental unit of society.”
We, the Mothers Movement, comprising concerned parents, educators, and religious
communities across Sri Lanka, write to register our strongest opposition to the HRCSL’s recent
recommendation to repeal Sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code. This recommendation
violates the Sri Lankan Constitution, defies Buddhist principles enshrined in Article 9,
disregards the teachings of all major religions, and poses a grave threat to children, family
values, and societal morality. This proposal is not only unconstitutional, but it also exposes
children and families to grave ideological and psychological harm.
The proposed repeal of Penal Code Sections 365 and 365A constitutes a grave assault on the
constitutional and moral bedrock of our nation, a betrayal of explicit mandates and deeply
held societal values, directly violating the spirit and letter of fundamental Articles of our
Constitution, including Articles 3, 4(d), 9, 10, 12, 14(1)(e), 14(1)(f), 16(1), 16 (2), and 27(1)(g).

1. Constitutional Duty to Protect Buddhism: Article 9 and its upholding of
   Moral Truths
   Article 9 of our Constitution unequivocally vests in Buddhism the “foremost place,” obliging
   the State to “protect and foster the Buddha Sasana.” This is not a mere declaration; as
   affirmed by the Supreme Court in SC SD 54/2024 & 55/2024, this duty extends to upholding
   the very moral fabric and societal structure foundational to Sri Lanka’s civilization. The Court
   decisively held that equality and personal identity cannot override the religious, biological,
   or moral truths foundational to Sri Lanka’s civilization”. This underscores that the State’s duty
   extends to preserving the moral order that has historically underpinned Sri Lankan society,
   derived significantly from Buddhist precepts.
   The “existence of Buddhism” itself is paramount. The Supreme Court has clarified that
   freedom of religion cannot extend to propagation if it fundamentally “impair[s] the very
   existence of Buddhism.” Legalizing acts that directly contradict fundamental Buddhist moral
   principles, such as those governing sexual conduct, would profoundly erode this moral
   environment, directly “impairing the very existence of Buddhism” as a guiding force in society.

This restrictive constitutional stance, also seen in the ‘Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of
Religion’ bill, underscores a deliberate national policy to preserve our established religious
and moral order – our Constitutions more restrictive” stance does not grant unfettered
rights. Moral liberalization through the repeal of Sections 365 and 365A, therefore, runs
counter to the Constitution’s spirit, as these sections embody traditional norms universally
upheld by all major faiths in Sri Lanka, not just Buddhism. Therefore, moral liberalization
through the repeal of Sections 365 and 365A, falls squarely outside the protective ambit and
against the very spirit of the Constitution.
The judiciary’s commitment to preserving the Buddha Sasana’s moral integrity is further
demonstrated by the Court of Appeal ruling that issuing driving licenses to Buddhist monks
violates Vinaya Rules and Article 9. This confirms constitutional protection extends to
enforcing religious moral codes, directly mirroring how Sections 365 and 365A embody
fundamental moral principles concerning sexual conduct.
Buddha’s explicit prohibition of “pandakas” (Vinaya Pitaka, Mahavagga I.61.1), traditionally
understood to include those with same-sex inclinations, underscores the essential purity and
celibacy for monastic life.
Similarly, the Third Precept of the Five Precepts, “Kāmesu Micchācāra” (abstention from
sexual misconduct), has been consistently interpreted to include acts “against the order of
nature.”
The traditional family unit, rooted in the heterosexual union of man and woman (as implicitly
depicted in texts like the Sigalovada Sutta, DN 31), is foundational to societal stability.
Legalizing conduct deemed “lustful” (unregulated sexual conduct) and contrary to these
precepts directly contradicts Buddhist principles, undermines the Sangha’s integrity, distorts
traditional marriage, and creates an environment creates an environment where unregulated
sexual conduct, a profound barrier to Nibbana, is normalized. This would be a clear dereliction
of the State’s duty under Article 9 to foster the Buddha Sasana’s ultimate spiritual goal.
Sections 365 and 365A are not archaic; their strengthening through amendments in 1995 and
2006 reflects a continuous societal commitment to morality, family values, and virtuous
conduct. Their repeal would dismantle these shared moral safeguards, constituting a direct
assault on our collective moral foundations by paving the way for the legalization of
homosexuality.
Therefore, any attempt to legalize homosexuality (or broader LGBTQIA+ identities) must be
measured not by international trends, but by its compatibility with Sri Lanka’s Constitution,
its religious obligations, and its national ethos.
In the Buddhist worldview, duty precedes rights. Rights are not to be claimed through
demands or protests, but are the natural result of a society where individuals fulfill their
obligations—to self, family, community, nation, and the Dhamma.

The Buddha never preached about rights”; he emphasized pañca sīla (five moral precepts),
vinaya (discipline), and the path of renunciation from lust and indulgence. For laypersons, the
gihi vinaya (lay code of conduct) requires sexual conduct to be restrained, moral, and aligned
with nature—not driven by kāma (unrestrained lust).
Thus, legalizing acts driven by lust and contrary to natural order cannot be framed as a right”
in a country where the Constitution mandates protection of the Buddha Sasana. It
would undermine the moral fabric of society and the very foundation of the Constitution
itself.
This is why public morality, religious values, and national interest are constitutionally
protected limitations on any supposed right” to engage in LGBTQIA+ behaviours.
In short, Sections 365 and 365A of Sri Lanka’s Penal Code align with core Buddhist teachings,
and their repeal would contradict:

• Monastic codes (Vinaya Piṭaka) strictly prohibit unnatural sexual acts. The first of the
  Pārājika rules states that any monk engaging in sexual intercourse—particularly
  unnatural or same-sex acts—is automatically expelled from the Sangha.
• The Buddha further excluded paṇḍaka (individuals exhibiting non-heterosexual
  tendencies or confused sexual identities) from joining the Sangha, citing their inability
  to uphold the celibate discipline (brahmacariya). This was not an act of discrimination,
  but a practical safeguard to protect the Vinaya and ensure the purity of the monastic
  order.
• Lay ethics in the Sigalovāda Sutta promote sexual discipline and responsibilities
  strictly within a heterosexual marriage. Sexual indulgence outside this framework—
  particularly same-sex acts—was viewed as destabilizing to family life and societal
  harmony.
• The Five Precepts, which form the moral foundation for lay Buddhists,
  prohibit micchācāra (sexual misconduct). Traditional commentaries and the cultural
  practice in Buddhist-majority nations consistently classify same-sex and unnatural
  sexual acts under micchācāra, as they violate natural restraint and ethical order.
• Rulers are instructed in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta to protect the Dhamma-Vinaya,
  not surrender to ideologies that oppose it. Legalizing unnatural sexual conduct under
  foreign pressure would be a direct violation of this duty and breach Article 9 of Sri
  Lanka’s Constitution, which obligates the State to foster and protect Buddhism.
• The Brahmajāla Sutta warns against ideologies rooted in sensual craving (kāmataṇhā)
  that confuse identity and encourage moral decline. Movements that celebrate
  or normalize sensual identity (like LGBTQIA+ activism) are antithetical to the Buddhist
  path, which seeks liberation from such attachments.
  Thus, the repeal is constitutionally unsound under Article 9, socially destabilizing, and
  religiously destructive to the Buddha Sasana.

2. Unanimous Religious Condemnation of Homosexual acts: A Shared
   Moral Foundation bolstering Article 9
   Sri Lanka is uniquely enriched by deeply rooted religious traditions—Buddhism, Hinduism,
   Islam, and Christianity—all of which uphold a moral order that unequivocally rejects
   homosexual conduct. The repeal of Sections 365 and 365A would thus violate the profound
   shared moral foundations of all faiths, constituting an assault on this indispensable interfaith
   consensus that directly complements the State’s duty under Article 9 to protect a virtuous
   societal environment.
   A. Hinduism: Upholding Dharma through Natural Order and Procreative Union
   Hinduism, with its emphasis on dharma (righteous conduct) and the grihastha ashrama
   (householder stage), establishes the heterosexual union of man and woman as the
   fundamental unit of society, essential for societal order and lineage continuity. Acts contrary
   to this natural and procreative purpose are unequivocally deemed adharma (unrighteous).
   Manusmriti 5.151
   Through a son a man conquers the worlds, through a son’s son he obtains immortality, but
   through his son’s grandson he gains the world of the sun.”
   Rig Veda 10.85.36 – Vivaha Sukta
   Let this couple be blessed with good children and live in harmony.”
   Atharva Veda 14.2.64
   The wife should be the protector of the family, the one who brings happiness, and who
   bears sons.”
   The very essence of Hindu societal structure is built upon this traditional, complementary
   male-female relationship.
   Classical Hindu texts do not use modern labels like “homosexual,” they condemn non-Vedic,
   unnatural sexual behaviors including same-sex acts, particularly sodomy. The concept of
   Dharma is central — and anything that violates Dharma and disrupts social order
   is adharmic and to be discouraged or punished.
3. Manusmriti (Law Code of Manu):
   Manusmriti 11.174
   A twice-born man who has sex with a male, or with a female in a cart drawn by a bull, or
   with a female in water, must perform a ‘penance of purification.’”
   Manusmriti 8.369
   If a man has intercourse with another man, he shall be punished by the king with a fine, or
   corporal punishment depending on the circumstances.”
   Sodomy (anal intercourse) is treated as adharma and worthy of punishment or penance
4. (prāyaścitta).
5. The repeal of Sections 365 and 365A would thus directly contravene these deeply held Hindu
6. principles of natural order and family life, thereby eroding a significant component of Sri
7. Lanka’s shared moral heritage that supports the broader societal fabric protected by Article
8. 9.
9. B. Islam: Upholding Divine Law and the Preservation of Family
10. Islam strictly condemns same-sex acts as grievous transgressions against divine law and a
11. clear deviation from Allah’s creation, posing a direct threat to the family unit. The Holy Quran
12. explicitly denounces such behavior,
13. Surah Al-A‘raf 7:80–81
14. And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, ‘Do you commit such immorality as no one
15. has preceded you with from among the worlds? Indeed, you approach men with desire
16. instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.’”
17. Surah Hud 11:77–83
18. Allah sends angels to warn Lut. His people attempt to assault the male guests. They are
19. punished with a destructive storm and stones from heaven.
20. Surah Ash-Shu‘ara 26:165–166
21. Do you approach males among the worlds and leave what your Lord has created for you as
22. mates? But you are a transgressing people.”
23. Surah An-Naml 27:54–58
24. Indeed, you approach men with desire instead of women. Rather, you are a people
25. behaving ignorantly.”
26. Surah Al-Ankabut 29:28–29
27. Indeed, you approach men and obstruct the road and commit evil in your gatherings.”
28. The Prophet Muhammad, explicitly forbade same-sex acts and assigned harsh penalties for
29. those who commit them.
30. Abu Dawood 4462 – authenticated by Al-Albani
31. Whoever you find doing the action of the people of Lut, kill the one who does it and the one
32. to whom it is done.”
33. Tirmidhi 1456 – Hasan
34. Indeed, the thing I fear most for my nation is the act of the people of Lut.”
35. The repeal of Sections 365 and 365A would, therefore, directly contradict explicit divine
36. prohibitions central to Islamic faith, dismantling a vital part of the nation’s shared moral
37. consensus that aligns with the protection of a righteous society under Article 9
38. C. Christianity (Catholic & Protestant): Upholding God’s Design and Sacred Covenant
39. Christianity, encompassing both Catholic and Protestant traditions in Sri Lanka is against
40. homosexuality, views it as a violation of God’s law, as dismantling the natural family,
41. corrupting public morality & risking divine disfavor.
42. Relevant texts include
43. God’s Design is Male and Female as affirmed in the Bible – union of male & female,
    based on family, morality & life itself”
    Male and female He created them… Be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis 1:27–28)
    A man shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Mark 10:6–8)
44. Scripture clearly forbids homosexuality (Old & New Testaments): homosexuality is
    seen as unnatural & sinful
    Leviticus 18:22 — You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.”
    Romans 1:26–27 — Men with men committing what is shameful.”
    1 Corinthians 6:9–10 — Neither homosexuals… nor sodomites… will inherit the kingdom of
    God.”
45. Cities of Sodom & Gomorrah: Permanent warning to Nations: Legalizing sin invites
    Judgement
    The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God for their widespread homosexual
    immorality: Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire… out of the heavens.” (Genesis 19:24)
46. Redemption is offered, But Sin is still Sin – Sins cannot be legally validated.
    And such were some of you. But you were washed… sanctified…” (1 Corinthians 6:11)
    What God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:9)
    These sacred covenants, exclusively between a man and a woman and views homosexual acts
    as unnatural and sinful and contrary to God’s natural design for humanity.
    Furthermore, the creation narrative in Genesis 1:27-28 and Jesus’s teachings in Matthew
    19:4-6 (affirming the union of male and female) establish the heterosexual foundation of
    marriage as a divine institution. The repeal of Sections 365 and 365A would thus directly
    contradict these explicit Biblical teachings and core Christian doctrines, thereby undermining
    fundamental moral principles that form a significant pillar of Sri Lanka’s shared ethical
    framework, complementing the moral order safeguarded by Article 9.
    Thus, the proposed repeal would not merely be a legal amendment; it would be a profound
    betrayal of the shared moral conscience of Sri Lanka’s diverse religious communities. By
    dismantling the legal safeguards against acts universally deemed unethical or sinful across all
    major faiths, the State would undermine a robust interfaith moral consensus that strengthens
    the broader societal fabric and directly supports the State’s constitutional duty under Article
    9 to protect and foster a morally upright environment.
47. Supreme Court Determination – Rejection of Ideological Overreach
    The Supreme Court, in its June 2024 Determination (SC SD 54/2024 and SC SD 55/2024) on
    the Gender Equality Bill, delivered a profound warning against “ideological
    overreach” presented under the guise of equality. This landmark ruling explicitly upheld
    biological reality and firmly reaffirmed that laws must conform to Sri Lanka’s constitutional
    and cultural identity. The Court’s stance is a clear rejection that gender ideology or activist
    definitions of “human rights” can override national values and existing legal safeguards.
    The proposed repeal of Sections 365 and 365A directly contradicts this unequivocal judicial
    pronouncement. It represents precisely the kind of “ideological overreach” that the Supreme
    Court cautioned against, seeking to impose foreign social models and redefine fundamental
    societal concepts upon a sovereign nation with its own distinct traditions, legal system, and
    deeply ingrained moral compass. The Court’s determination provides clear judicial backing for
    maintaining laws that reflect Sri Lanka’s unique identity and traditional moral framework,
    reinforcing the necessity of retaining these Penal Code sections as a bulwark against external
    ideological imposition.
    Specifically, the Supreme Court found the Gender Equality Bill, in its attempt to introduce
    certain concepts, inconsistent with multiple fundamental provisions of the Constitution. The
    repeal of Penal Code Sections 365 and 365A, by seeking to normalize and legalize homosexual
    acts, would similarly violate the very principles enshrined in these Articles:
48. Article 3 (Sovereignty of the People): The repeal, driven by elite lobbying and foreign
    agendas rather than genuine public demand or broad consensus, directly bypasses the
    sovereign will of the Sri Lankan people, who overwhelmingly uphold traditional moral
    and family values. It represents an imposition against the nation’s democratic
    foundations.
49. Article 4(d) (Exercise of Judicial Power): This repeal would undermine the judiciary’s
    power in safeguarding constitutional morality. The Supreme Court has clearly warned
    against ideological overreach; for Parliament to now repeal laws safeguarding
    traditional morality would be a move that subverts the constitutional checks and
    balances and the judiciary’s role in upholding the fundamental law of the land.
50. Article 9 (Foremost place for Buddhism): As extensively detailed, legalizing
    homosexual acts directly contradicts fundamental Buddhist tenets of sexual
    misconduct and erodes the moral environment mandated for the Buddha Sasana’s
    protection, thus directly violating the State’s duty to foster it.
51. Article 10 (Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion): While guaranteeing
    religious freedom, this article does not license actions that would force religious
    institutions, organizations, or individuals to compromise their conscience by
    normalizing practices fundamentally opposed to their deeply held faith and moral
    convictions. The repeal of these sections would enable such an infringement.
52. Article 12 (Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination): The Supreme Court has
    clarified that equality cannot override biological reality or moral truths. Repealing
    365/365A under a distorted interpretation of “equality” for sexual orientation would
    impose an ideologically driven definition of rights that clashes with the Constitution’s
    foundational principles and societal norms, compelling a redefinition of fundamental
    human categories.
53. Article 14(1)(e) and 14(1)(f) (Freedom of Association and Freedom to Engage in any
    Profession, Occupation, Trade, Business or Enterprise): Legalizing homosexual acts
    could lead to coercion, compelling individuals, organizations (including religious
    bodies and schools), or businesses to associate with, accommodate, or endorse
    practices and ideologies that directly contradict their moral or religious convictions,
    thereby infringing upon their fundamental freedoms of association and enterprise.
54. Article 16 (Validation of Existing Law): The repeal would directly defy Article 16,
    which explicitly validates existing written and unwritten laws, including 2600 years of
    Buddhist jurisprudence and traditional moral tenets that underpinned Sri Lanka’s
    societal and legal order prior to Western occupation, further reinforced by Clause 5 of
    the 1815 Kandyan Convention As well as the 1883 Penal Code in which Sections
    365/365A are reflected). This attempt to repeal on grounds of fundamental rights
    inconsistency would therefore be a direct constitutional affront to this protective
    provision, undermining the nation’s historical legal continuity.
55. Article 27(1)(g) (Directive Principles of State Policy regarding the preservation of the
    family): By dismantling legal protections for traditional sexual morality, the repeal
    directly undermines the preservation of the natural, biological family unit, universally
    recognized as a union between a man and a woman. This contradicts the State’s
    explicit directive to foster and preserve the family as the fundamental building block
    of society.
    The proposed repeal of Sections 365 and 365A, therefore, represents precisely the kind
    of “ideological overreach” that the Supreme Court cautioned against, seeking to
    impose foreign social models and redefine fundamental societal concepts upon a sovereign
    nation with its own distinct traditions, legal system, and deeply ingrained moral compass. The
    Court’s determination provides clear judicial backing for maintaining laws that reflect Sri
    Lanka’s unique identity and traditional moral framework, reinforcing the necessity of
    retaining these Penal Code sections as a bulwark against external ideological imposition.
56. Protection of Children and Family Structures – Repealing 365/365A
    Undermines Child Protection and Social Order
    Sections 365 and 365A are essential legal safeguards, strategically strengthened in 1995 and
    2006, showcasing their continued necessity to uphold public decency and morality which
    forms the indispensable cultural foundation all communities adhere to.
    Their purpose extends to:
57. Preventing the normalization of homosexual behavior in our schools and through
    media, shielding the formative minds of our youth.
58. Protecting children from ideological grooming, exploitation, and profound sexual
    confusion, ensuring their natural development is not distorted by external agendas.
59. Preserving natural family structures and roles rooted in the sacred marriage
    between a man and a woman, which are foundational to the emotional, spiritual,
    and social development of children. This natural order ensures stability, clarity, and
    the perpetuation of our cherished values.
    Repealing these sections would inevitably open the floodgates to foreign-funded activism,
    curriculum distortions, and the insidious media normalization of morally injurious behavior.
    This would unleash a torrent of detrimental influences, directly eroding the very foundation
    of Sri Lankan family life and causing irreparable, long-term harm to our cultural and religious
    identity. This outcome directly contravenes the State’s duty to protect its citizenry and foster
    a sound moral environment, as mandated by Article 9 and reinforced by the Supreme Court’s
    warnings against ideological overreach.
60. Overstepping Mandate – HRCSL Must Respect Constitutional
    Boundaries
    The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is constitutionally bound to uphold
    human rights within the framework of Sri Lanka’s laws and Constitution—not to act as an
    ideological body pushing Western liberal agendas. The Paris Principles, under which the
    HRCSL is accredited, do not grant it the authority to override the cultural and religious identity
    of Sri Lanka or its constitutional morality. The HRCSL’s proposal not only violates this but also
    directly contradicts the Supreme Court’s clear stand in SC SD 54/2024 and 55/2024 against
    attempts to override moral and constitutional boundaries using undefined “gender identity”
    or sexual orientation claims.
    The UN too is violating its mandate:
    UN is departing from its foundational principles & Member State consensus. Article 2(7) of
    the UN Charter prohibits intervention in domestic matters. Yet, despite fewer than 30 nations
    legalizing LGBTQIA+ practices, the UN is imposing these agendas violating the existing
    religious, cultural, and traditional beliefs regarding marriage, family, gender identity, and
    sexual morality of member states. Member states never agreed to this broad, unmandated
    expansion of international law & re-interpretation of laws without member consensus.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948) & International Covenant on
  Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966): Dclares the family as “natural and
  fundamental” and grants the right to marry to “men and women.” UN is currently
  advocating same-sex marriage or alternative family structures directly overriding
  original texts without new universally agreed-upon instruments. This violates the
  original mandate and state consent.
• When Sri Lanka ratified the ICCPR in 1980, its Penal Code Sections 365 and 365A were
  in force. This means neither Sri Lanka nor the UN at that time considered them a
  violation. The current UN Human Rights Committee’s re-interpretation, asserting
  these laws violate privacy and non-discrimination rights, is thus, legally incorrect. This
  constitutes an unacceptable retrospective application of treaty law, directly
  undermining Sri Lanka’s sovereign consent to the original terms of the ICCPR, in
  contravention of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), Article 28
  which does not accept retrospective law.
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR, 1966): Gives
  prominence to the family’s “natural and fundamental” nature and its role in “care and
  education of dependent children.”
  Currently, UN bodies, are promoting diverse family models (e.g., advocating for samesex
  adoption culturally prohibited), pusingh beyond the covenant’s original scope,
  undermining national family laws and moral frameworks.
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989): Gives prominence to the “family”
  as the “natural environment” for children and the “primary responsibility” of
  “parents” (implicitly, traditional mother and father).
  Currently, UN entities like UNICEF are promoting gender identity concepts in schools
  or endorsing non-traditional family structures conflicting with parental authority,
  promoting “gender ideology” that undermines biological sex distinctions and violates
  the CRC’s original mandate to respect parental rights.
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA, 1995) & International Conference
  on Population and Development (ICPD, Cairo, 1994): LGBTQIA+ advocates cites this
  but, the original texts do not speak about “gender” allowing fluidity or non-binary
  identities, nor did they endorse same-sex marriage.
  Currently, UN Women or UNFPA’s are pushing for “gender-equality” to include SOGI
  rights or challenge biological sex violating original member state consensus and
  negotiated mandates.
  What we see happening is UN human rights mechanisms are unilaterally re-interpreting
  foundational texts to include SOGI. This is a “judicial overreach” creating new human rights
  law without formal intergovernmental process, bypassing member state sovereignty and
  violating the “accountability” and “transparency” these agencies promote. Usage of “gender
  identity” by UN agencies actively promotes a concept of “gender” detached from biological
  sex. This unmandated misuse of office for “legal gender recognition” and affirming non-binary
  identities undermines biological reality and imposes a specific ideology, contradicting
  traditional human anthropology and morality using unfair methods of legislative pressure &
  even resource/loan conditions as a leverage over member states

The HRCSL’s current recommendation appears to also be driven by foreign-funded activism,
seeking to impose external values on a sovereign Buddhist nation. This recommendation
constitutes a gross overreach and a profound betrayal of public trust. We urge the HRCSL to
look no further than its own logo and ask honestly: What does it represent?
The natural, biological family — father, mother, child — or the forced adoption of imported
liberal ideologies with no genetic, moral, or cultural foundation? The very symbol of your
institution reflects the natural human family unit, which stands as the bedrock of Sri Lankan
civilization, not temporary trends promoted by Western-funded advocacy.
Legal Consequences of Overreach:
While we appreciate the role of the HRCSL in promoting human rights within its lawful
mandate, we caution that any future attempts to promote or pressure legislative repeal of
constitutionally protected moral statutes—especially under external ideological influence—
may give rise to public interest litigation or judicial review. Where a constitutional institution
acts beyond its statutory authority or ignores Supreme Court determinations, it not only
undermines the rule of law but also risks being held accountable under Sri Lanka’s legal
system for breach of constitutional duty, particularly where public trust and child protection
are jeopardized.
Let us be clear: There is no demonstrable systemic discrimination against homosexuals in Sri
Lanka according to police or judicial statistics. Crucially, there is no public demand for this
repeal — only elite lobbying disconnected from grassroots realities. This is further evidenced
by the global corporate shift where companies like Target, Walmart, Amazon, Meta, Google,
and Rolls-Royce have scaled back DEI programs, ditched Pride sponsorships, and disbanded
DEI teams—opting instead for merit-based hiring and performance-based policies.
Organizations are increasingly scrapping gender-inclusive event standards, returning to strict
male/female categories, explicitly excluding transgender classifications. Multinational
corporations spilling significant resources into DEI and gender ideology have suffered revenue
losses, customer boycotts, and retracted sponsorships—as a result, many are reversing
course.
Sri Lanka is not legally or morally obligated to follow the trajectory of these failed global
experiments that have already begun reversing themselves. We must reaffirm meritocracy,
natural gender definitions, and family-first values, not cave into transient trends labeled
rights” for fringe groups.
HRCSL must uphold Constitutional Sovereignty and National Integrity
Repealing Sections 365 and 365A would not strengthen human rights—it would critically
weaken the moral foundations of our country, violate the spirit of the Constitution, and
gravely threaten the spiritual well-being of future generations, laying the foundation for the
erasure of our progeny.
This would constitute a direct violation of Article 9, the bedrock of our nation, which
mandates the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana and uphold the moral and
cultural fabric of Sri Lankan society

We remind all public officials that they are bound by the Penal Code, the State Liability in
Delict Act, and the Constitution of Sri Lanka. It is their solemn duty to uphold these laws and
protect the national interest, and they must not place foreign ideologies or external pressures
above their constitutional, legal & moral obligations. Any action contravening these legal
frameworks constitutes a serious breach of duty and accountability.
Furthermore, any such repeal of Sections 365 and 365A would not only violate constitutional
morality, but also expose the State to future litigation for its failure to protect children from
foreseeable harm. This risk is heightened when laws are amended under pressure from
foreign-funded ideologues, not due to local public need or evidence of injustice.
In such an eventuality, liability may attach to the officials and policymakers who acted ultra
vires—that is, beyond the scope of their constitutional authority, violating their oath under
Article 61 of the Constitution and breaching the public trust doctrine.
It must be noted that no citizen has a right to demand the repeal of protective laws, especially
when such laws are designed to safeguard the most vulnerable segment of society—children.
Any attempt to prioritize foreign narratives over national duty would be a betrayal of the
people and the Constitution, while we’ll legalize LGBTQIA but still protect children” is an
unacceptable legal fiction as well.
We urge the HRCSL to reflect deeply on its constitutional role and the values that bind our
nation.
In summary, we respectfully demand:

• Withdrawal of the HRCSL’s unconstitutional recommendation to rewrite Penal Code
  365 & entire repeal 365A;
• A public reaffirmation of commitment to Article 9 and traditional moral frameworks;
• Incorporation of institutional safeguards against future ideological overreach by
  foreign entities;
• Full compliance with Supreme Court judgments on gender, religion, and sovereignty.
  Sincerely,
  Mothers’ Movement
  (On behalf of concerned parents, educators, clergy, and faith-based communities
  across Sri Lanka)
  Shanuka Ilangasekera
  Chairperson

Mothers Movement

ශ්‍රී ලංකා මානව හිමිකම් කොමිෂන් සභාව දණ්ඩ නීති සංග්‍රහය 365, 365 (අ) A වගන්ති සංශෝධනයට නිර්දේශ ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමට විරෝධය දැක්වීම.

LGBTQIA++ ක්‍රියා ප්‍රවර්ධනය කිරීමට අවශ්‍ය නීතිමය පසුබිම නිර්මාණය කිරීමට මානව හිමිකම් කොමිෂන් සභාව දණ්ඩ නීති සංග්‍රහයේ 365, 365 (අ) A වගන්ති සංශෝධනයට අධිකරණ අමාත්‍යාංශයට නිර්දේශ ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමෙන් LGBTQIA++ ක්‍රියා නීතිමය වලංගු භාවය ඇති කිරීමට පසුබිම නිර්මාණය කරමින් සිටී.

මානව හිමිකම් කොමිෂන් සභාව මෙම නිර්දේශ නිකුත් කිරීම තුළින් ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාවේ 9 වෙනි වගන්තිය සහ 10 වෙනි වගන්තිය සෘජුව අභියෝගයට ලක් වීම සිදුවේ. මේ තුළින් බුද්ධ ශාසනයේ චිරස්ථිතියේ උන්නතියට බාධාවක් සිදුවන අතර ඉස්ලාම්, හින්දු, කතෝලික සහ ක්‍රිස්තියානි ආගම් වල පදනම් ආරක්ෂා කිරීමට ඇති කාරණා සෘජුව තර්ජනයට ලක්වෙයි. ඒ අනුව ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාවේ 14 (අ) 2 වගන්තිය වන සදාචාරාත්මක සමාජය සම්පුර්ණයෙන්ම මෙම LGBTQIA++ විකෘති ලිංගික ක්‍රියා තුළින් අභියෝගයට ලක්වේ. ජීව විද්‍යාත්මක කාන්තාව සහ පිරිමියා සෘජුවම මෙම LGBTQIA ++ තුළින් අභියෝගයට ලක්වේ.

මානව හිමිකම් කොමිෂන් සභාව LGBTQIA++ සුළුතර දහස් ගණනකගේ අයිතිවාසිකම් ආරක්ෂා කිරීමට නිර්දේශ කිරීම බහුතර මිලියන ගණනක් ප්‍රජාවගේ අයිතිවාසිකම් බිලිදීම කිසි ලෙසකින් මව්වරුන්ගේ පෙරමුණ හැටියට පිළිගත නොහැකි කාරණාවක් ලෙස සලකයි. මෙහිදී LGBTQIA++ ක්‍රියා තුළින් සෘජුවම තර්ජනයට ගොදුරු වන්නේ කාන්තාවන් සහ දරුවන්ය. මේ පිළිබඳව මව්වරුන්ගේ පෙරමුණ විදිහට දැඩි විරෝධයක් මානව හිමිකම් කොමිෂන් සභාව වෙත එල්ල කරන අතරම ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාව උල්ලංඝනය කිරීමට මානව හිමිකම් කොමිෂන් සභාවට හිමිකමක් නොමැති බව මව්වරුන්ගේ පෙරමුණේ අදහස වේ.

මව්වරුන්ගේ පෙරමුණේ ස්ථාවරය වන්නේ මානව හිමිකම් කොමිෂන් සභාව අධිකරණ අමාත්‍යංශයේ නිර්දේශ කර ඇති දණ්ඩ නීති සංග්‍රහයේ 365, 365 (අ) A වගන්ති සංශෝධනය කිරීමට ඉල්ලා ඇති නිර්දේශ ඉවත් කර ගන්නා ලෙසත්, විදේස් රාජ්‍ය නොවන සංවිධාන වලින් ලැබෙන අරමුදල් මත නිර්මාණය කරන LGBTQIA++ මතවාද ප්‍රතික්ෂේප කරන ලෙසත්ය. විදේශ අරමුදල් මගින් නිර්මාණය කරන LGBTQIA++ වැනි ලිංගික විකෘති මතවාද වලට මව්වරුන්ගේ පෙරමුණ කිසිලෙසකත් ඉඩ නොතබන බවයි. ඒ වගේම බටහිර සමාජ මතවාද අත්හදා බැලීම් වලට ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ගොදුරු කිරීමට කිසිලෙසකත් ඉඩ නොදෙන බව මව්වරුන්ගේ පෙරමුණ අවධාරණය කරමි.

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Mothers Movement

By Rohana R. Wasala

The ‘Lanka Leader’ (ලංකා ලීඩර්) Sinhala language YouTube channel of May 27, 2025 published a news item  under a headline which may be translated as follows: 

Public umbrage at General Daya Ratnayake for insulting the Mahanayake Theras”

According to the YouTube channel, the retired former Army Commander  General Daya Ratnayake participated in a religious programme conducted by a maverick Catholic preacher known as Brother Charles Thomas at the Padeniya Purana Raja Maha Viharaya on May 17, 2025. During his speech on the occasion mentioned, presumably as an invited guest, the retired military officer  was reported to have said,  ‘වන අලින් ගම වදින විට බල්ලන් බිරුවාට අලියා කලබල නොවී වගාව කා දමන බව’ ‘When wild elephants raid villages, dogs bark; but they eat up the crops unperturbed’. 

The ලංකා ලීඩර් (Lanka Leader) reported that members of the general public expressed displeasure at that remark for being derogatory towards the Buddhist prelates. It claimed that many of its readers had also taken exception to Ratnayake’s statement as defamatory of the Mahanayake Theras. I think I understand why Ratnayake’s words caused such a negative impression. My guess is that this was because people mistakenly  thought that Ratnayake’s comment contained an uncomplimentary allusion to the Venerable Mahanayake Theras with an innuendo of unjustified hostility to something that he (Ratnayake) believed was good (namely, that Charles Thomas was doing no harm).

That is a misapprehension. Ratnayake was actually doing the exact opposite; he was drawing attention to the great harm that the likes of Charles Thomas are doing to the dominant Buddhist religious cultural identity of the majority community on which the sovereign unitary state of Sri Lanka has been anchored for over two millennia.   

Incidentally, the Padeniya Purana Rajamaha Viharaya, the strategic venue chosen for Charles Thomas’s subversive act, is among the most ancient Buddhist Viharas of that type. Rajamaha Viharayas are large complexes of buildings containing monastic residences plus places of worship, places of learning for bhikkhus and preaching halls where the laity assemble for listening to bana sermons and for other Buddhist  practices. They are akin to Christian cathedrals, and grand mosques in Islam. Rajamaha Viharayas are therefore of great historic, religious and symbolic significance for Sinhalese Buddhists. The currently disputed Tissa Rajamaha Viharaya in Kankesanturai (Tamil corruption of the ancient Sinhala name ‘Kasawathpura’ or ‘City of Yellow Robes’) near Jaffna was originally built by King Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BCE during whose reign Buddhism was introduced to the island by Arhant Mahinda Thera. The king built this Viharaya to mark the place in Jambukola (Chapter XIX of Mahavamsa) or Jaffna today, where later, Arhant Mahinda’s sister Sangamitta Theri landed with a sapling from the right side of the Bodhi Tree at Gaya under which Siddhartha Gautama attained Enlightenment. The Bodhi sapling was received by the king with great reverence and was taken to Anuradhapura in a majestic procession, where it stands to this day, venerated as the Sri Maha Bodhi.

 The origin of Padeniya Purana Rajamaha also  goes back to the same epoch in the early Anuradhapura period of Lankan history (377 BCE-1017 CE). It has survived well over twenty centuries of alternating glory, destruction and reconstruction. What remains today is as it was reconstructed by Meegastenne Adikaram during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1782 CE); it was under the sponsorship of that monarch that the rite of upasampada or higher ordination (which had disappeared earlier due to the depredations caused by Portuguese invaders) was re-introduced by Upali Thera who was brought from Siam (Thailand) in 1753. A simple ceremony was planned in 2023 to mark the 270th anniversary of the arrival of Upali Thera from Siam/Thailand  in 1753 with the participation of some Thai monks to be held at the specific place in Trincomalee where Upali Thera landed with his companions. But this was more or less scuttled under the government of president Ranil Wickremasinghe for reasons easy to guess. That was an instance of the genocidal cultural asphyxiation of the Buddha Sasanaya that started during the Yaha[palanaya of 2015-19 period. Regrettably, the Mahanayakes failed to take notice of the despicable instance of deliberate neglect and to denounce it in no uncertain terms. The Padeniya Purana Rajamaha Viharaya belongs to the same Siyam Nikaya (monastic order) established by the Siamese Upali Thera under royal patronage and comes under the control of the present Mahanayake Thera of its Malwatte Chapter.                 

After this necessary digression, let’s get back to our topic. Charles Thomas has been often accused of engaging in appealingly disguised unethical proselytism on the pretext of promoting interfaith goodwill between Christians/Catholics and Buddhists. Ven Katumuluwe Sumanaratana Thera, who is the chief incumbent of this historic Rajamaha Viharaya  located in the Kurunegala district (only 25 km northwest of the city of Kurunegala), is also the Adhikarana (Judicial) Sangha Nayake of the Devamedi Hatpattuwa under the Siyam Maha Nikaya. He reportedly invited Charles Thomas to the Viharaya and provided facilities for him to stage his popular ‘Sihinaya’ (Dream) programme, and organized the controversial event despite the Most Venerable Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter of the Siyam Nikaya in Kandy having earlier (actually more than a month before) issued him a formal letter restraining him from holding the disputed programme. (All the information about Charles Thomas’s programme included in this essay, I have derived from various social media sources including the Lanka Leader YouTube channel already mentioned.)

I checked out three other Sri Lankan social media websites that use English as their medium about this particular episode involving Charles Thomas. All three seemed sympathetic towards Charles Thomas unlike the Sinhala language Lanka Leader (mentioned above) which covered the news without any bias towards or against any party or person. The first of the three English language YouTube channels, THE LEADER (May 17, 2025), reported: ‘The government has ordered a halt to a programme by Fr. Charles Thomas scheduled for today (17) at Padeniya Purana Vihara………The Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs issued a directive to the assistant commissioner general of Buddhist affairs (sic) ……………..’.

The second website of the same description that I checked out was ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ (May 17, 2025), which reported: ‘The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has issued a letter over a program organized by Br. Charles Thomas…………………

‘The letter notes that the Deputy Minister has taken steps to cancel the program following complaints from various parties, citing strong displeasure expressed by the local Buddhist community.’

The last English language YouTube channel I visited was COLOMBO POST (May 20, 2025), which describes the chief monk of the Padeniya Purana Viharaya as the ‘Chief Sangha Nayaka of the Devamedi Hathpaththu’. According to its report, ‘the incumbent of the Viharaya Katumuluwe Sumanaratne Thero has been suspended due to the holding of Brother Charles Thomas’s ‘Sihinaya’ program at the Padeniya Rajamaha Viharaya.’

These reports left me confused and unconvinced about Charles Thomas’ real designation and his religious mission, as well as about  what actually happened or was allowed to happen at the particular Rajamaha Viharaya  involving that variously described character. The Sinhala medium Lanka Leader account of the episode on which I am mainly based for this essay seemed to me to offer the most reliable account. The other three English language YouTube channels might be among the plethora of such ephemeral websites launched at short notice to beef up the current blitzkrieg of subversive disinformation against the unitary Sri Lankan state and its age-old Buddha Sasanaya or the foundational Buddhist religious establishment, which is very tolerant and accommodative towards adherents of non-Buddhist faiths. The two (unitary Sri Lanka and Buddha Sasanaya) are organically connected like a tree and its bark. The one will not survive without the other.  The interdependence of unitary Lanka and Buddha Sasanaya is a historical fact, which poses no threat to any other ethnic or religious community. 

The civilised world today is facing violent forms of extremist religious totalitarianism of apocalyptic proportions as never before, surreptitiously weaponized by certain hegemonic global superpowers in pursuit of their mutually hostile agendas. In Sri Lanka, Buddhism provides a protective umbrella of humanism and humaneness from that menace for all its diverse ethnicities and religious identities without any discrimination.   . 

What did General Ratnayake say that people found so defamatory of the Mahanayakes? During his speech on the occasion mentioned, presumably as an invited guest, the retired military officer  was reported to have said,  ‘වන අලින් ගම වදින විට බල්ලන් බිරුවාට අලියා කලබල නොවී වගාව කා දමන බව’ ‘When wild elephants raid villages, dogs bark; but they eat up the crops unperturbed’. That is as close a literal rendering as I can manage, but it doesn’t convey what the speaker really meant, to people not very familiar with the Sinhala language or with Sri Lankans’, especially Sinhalese Buddhists’ (often tragic) love-hate relationship with elephants in their natural habitat. These elephants raid adjacent human settlements for food. The Sinhala term ‘වන අලින්’ ‘vana alin’, which I have translated as ‘wild elephants’ is an elephant friendly euphemism meaning ‘forest dwelling elephants’ as distinct from the domesticated ones that are nowadays almost exclusively used for ceremonial purposes. 

The celebrated war hero’s clever remark seems to have stirred up a hornets’ nest of angry objections from some well intentioned but ill informed individuals who tend to embrace foes as friends through their inexcusable ignorance and naivety, like the Viharadhipati in this case. (But the monk’s apparent audacity in ignoring the Mahanayake Thera’s advice suggests that he  could well be a crook enticed by filthy lucre). The intelligent ones in the audience wouldn’t have missed the point that the retired general was trying to make, if they were listening to him attentively. (Sorry. I am anticipating things here. Please, see below.)

To be concluded

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NDB Bank as part of its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development is proud to support the Life to Our Coral Reefs” initiative, an ambitious five-year conservation programme spearheaded by Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) under the guidance of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. This multi-stakeholder project aims to restore and protect the Kayankerni Coral Reef in Batticaloa, one of Sri Lanka’s most ecologically significant marine ecosystems.

The Life to Our Coral Reefs” project seeks to enhance reef resilience, establish a robust research and monitoring framework, and uplift local communities through alternative livelihoods and capacity-building. This effort not only focuses on coral reefs but also benefits nearby seagrass beds and mangrove ecosystems, which are vital to marine biodiversity and coastal protection. It is guided by the globally recognised IUCN Nature-based Solutions (NbS) standard, ensuring that all conservation and socio-economic outcomes are designed for long-lasting impact.

The Kayankerni Reef designated a Marine Sanctuary in 2019, plays a vital role in supporting Sri Lanka’s fisheries and tourism industries while also acting as a natural coastal defence system. However, the reef faces increasing threats from climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, pollution, and coral bleaching. Through the project, targeted interventions will be carried out to build ecological resilience, promote sustainable tourism practices, reduce plastic pollution, and educate local communities about marine conservation.

For NDB, this initiative is a natural extension of its sustainability mandate and its belief in aligning business growth with environmental responsibility. As a bank that understands the importance of inclusive progress, NDB views ecosystem restoration not only as a conservation priority but also as a pathway to socio-economic empowerment, especially for communities that rely on marine resources for their livelihoods.

Commenting on the partnership, the Head of NDB Bank’s Corporate Sustainability Committee Lasantha Dassanayaka, stated, At NDB, sustainability is integrated into everything we do. Our support for the ‘Life to Our Coral Reefs’ initiative reflects our belief in collaborative action and long-term solutions that benefit both people and the planet. By investing in marine ecosystem recovery, we are investing in the future of our nation.”

Adding her thoughts on the collaboration, Shiranee Yasaratne, Senior Advisor of Biodiversity Sri Lanka, stated, We are delighted to have NDB Bank join us as a committed partner in this national effort to restore the health and resilience of Sri Lanka’s coral reefs. Private sector participation is vital to the success and longevity of conservation initiatives. NDB’s support demonstrates the powerful role that businesses can play in driving environmental change while fostering sustainable community development.”

With key activities ranging from coral reef monitoring, solid waste management, community-based eco-tourism, and sustainable fishing initiatives, the project is poised to deliver transformative benefits across ecological and socio-economic dimensions. Over the next five years, NDB will work alongside other private sector partners to ensure that the Kayankerni Reef is not only protected, but revitalised as a living symbol of resilience and renewal.

NDB Bank remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering the nation and enriching lives, not only through financial solutions but through environmental and social impact that ensures future generations inherit a thriving, sustainable Sri Lanka.

Courtesy Hiru News

The Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Ratnayake, has confirmed that he has received notification of the resignation of Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, from his parliamentary seat.

Ratnayake stated that the relevant Gazette notification is expected to be issued by Monday (23).

He added that the Election Commission intends to inform the Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) that a parliamentary seat is vacant and to request a new nomination.

Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma was elected to Parliament from the National People’s Power’s national list.

Reports indicate he is expected to assume duties as the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, filling the vacancy left by Mahinda Siriwardena’s retirement.

Meanwhile, heated debates regarding the anti-corruption committee, which operated during the Good Governance (Yahapalana) administration, occurred in Parliament yesterday (20).

Shenali D Waduge Citizen of Sri Lanka

To:

• United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG)
• United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
• President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
• Respected Members of the United Nations

As a concerned citizen of Sri Lanka, I would like to question the continued use and legitimization of the Darusman Report”—a document commissioned unilaterally by then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 22 June 2010, without any mandate from the Security Council, General Assembly, Human Rights Council, or OHCHR. This action has set a dangerous precedent: a first in UN history since 1945 that a Secretary-General appointed a panel of inquiry against a member state without oversight from any principal organ of the United Nations, leaked the report & became the basis for successive intrusive resolutions against Sri Lanka.

Ironically, the appointment came weeks after Sri Lanka initiated its own domestic reconciliation process through the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) on 15 May 2010. On 22 June 2010 UNSG Ban Ki Moon appoints a personally commissioned panel. The critical question: Why was no such panel appointed during Sri Lanka’s 30-year conflict, and why only after it ended? Why was the UNSG ignoring ongoing high-intensity conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Gaza.

1. Unauthorized and Unilateral Action

In 2011, a UN spokesperson stated clearly: The Panel of Experts report is not a fact-finding or investigation, and it is not a United Nations report.”

If it is not a UN report:

• Who authorized it & how did it be legitimized” within the UN system?
• How did it become the foundation for UNHRC resolutions and OHCHR statements/investigation against Sri Lanka?

2. Financial Irregularities: Who Funded the Panel?

If the panel was not a UN-mandated body, how was it funded?

Evidence suggests it was financed by the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG).

We then ask:

• Can UN funds be used for non-mandated personal initiatives?
• Did Member States approve this expenditure?
• Is there UN financial oversight & budgetary protocols – have these been violated? Has a financial misconduct taken place in allocating funds for this panel?

3. Violations of Due Process and Sovereignty The report was drafted in secrecy:

• Sri Lanka was denied participation, right of response, or cross-examination of witnesses.
• Evidence was sealed for 30 years – truth will take 30 years & be too late.

This breaches core UN and international legal standards:

• Article 10 UDHR (fair hearing)
• Article 14 ICCPR (fair trial)
• Article 2(7) UN Charter (non-intervention)
• Article 100 UN Charter (neutrality of the Secretary-General)

4. Selective Targeting and Distorted Narrative

Nnearly 300,000 civilians were rescued by Sri Lankan forces from LTTE captivity, one of the world’s biggest rescue operations conducted alongside hostilities. Yet, these humanitarian efforts were ignored, while unverified casualty figures were promoted.

No mention was made of:

• LTTE’s use of civilians as human shields or hostages
• Summary executions of Tamils attempting to flee – number of such fatalities that LTTE must be held accountable for.
• Sri Lanka’s rehabilitation and reintegration of former child soldiers & presidential pardon of 594 child soldiers the first such pardon globally.

5. UNSG’s Action – Precedent with Global Implications

This action sets a precedent allowing future Secretary-Generals to:

• Unilaterally investigate targeted member states,
• Use unapproved UN funds for unauthorized activities,
• Weaponize private reports within the UN framework without checks or due process & threaten sovereignty of states.

This is a serious threat to the principle of sovereign equality that UN vouched to protect.

6. Demand for Investigation and Remedy

Given the nature and implications of this breach, some serious steps needs to be taken:

• The UN General Assembly must initiate a formal review of the actions of former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, particularly the unauthorized appointment of the Darusman Panel.
• An internal audit by the UN Board of Auditors must be conducted into the use of UN funds for the Darusman Panel, to determine whether financial impropriety or budgetary overreach occurred.
• The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and the UN Ethics Office should examine the accountability gaps within the Executive Office of the Secretary-General that allowed an unmandated panel to be constituted.
• Based on the findings of the above, the current UN Secretary-General should issue:
  • An official clarification that the Darusman Report holds no legal or institutional standing;
  • A formal nullification of the Darusman Panel and its conclusions;
  • A public apology to the Government and People of Sri Lanka for the procedural and institutional violations caused since 2012.
  • The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) must cease all references to the Darusman Report in any mechanism, resolution, or recommendation concerning Sri Lanka.
  • Since several UNHRC resolutions against Sri Lanka were founded on this unauthorized report, and without legal standing or due process, Member States must move to rescind and invalidate those resolutions. This action is necessary to uphold the principles of fairness, sovereign equality, and non-intervention as enshrined in the UN Charter. If left unaddressed, this precedent risk being used politically against other nations in future.

Sri Lanka’s sovereignty has been unfairly targeted through politicized and extrajudicial actions. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has used the unauthorized Darusman Report and successive resolutions to intrude upon the internal affairs of a sovereign Member State. These resolutions have overstepped the bounds of human rights mandates by demanding judicial reforms, constitutional amendments, administrative restructuring, and even military downsizing and closure of military establishments—areas strictly within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign nation.

Furthermore, the Core Group initially the US & now UK, sponsoring these resolutions have acted beyond the scope of international legal norms by imposing unilateral sanctions on select Sri Lankan military officials and issuing travel advisories that stigmatize national defenders & their families based on unsubstantiated and unverified claims.

These actions not only breach the principle of non-intervention enshrined in Article 2(7) of the UN Charter, but also erode the foundational principle of sovereign equality among Member States.

This precedent threatens every Member State and erodes the foundational principles of the United Nations. If the UN is to retain the trust of nations, it must begin by adhering to its own Charter and ensuring that no official, past or present, is above scrutiny.

When one finger is pointed at another, four point back.”

The United Nations and its affiliated bodies have much to reflect upon.

Accountability, transparency, and integrity of their own conduct before passing judgment on Member States.

Selective scrutiny and politicized actions not only undermine the credibility of the UN system but expose it to the very criticism it alleges to others.

Shenali D Waduge

Citizen of Sri Lanka

By El Toque Havana Times

June 18, 2025

HAVANA TIMES – At the recently concluded 9th Congress of the National Association of Cuban Economists and Accountants (ANEC), Cuba’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Joaquin Alonso Vasquez, confirmed to delegates that the partial dollarization of the economy will not only continue but is the official strategy for the near future.

According to press reports, Alonso acknowledged the existence of three exchange rates and how this has led the dollar to become the main mechanism of interconnection” within the Cuban economy.

To correct these exchange distortions, it is necessary to link the rates through foreign currency. We have no choice but to move forward with partial dollarization, although the ultimate goal remains de-dollarization,” he stated.

Beyond the wordplay, the official statement confirms a policy that economists are quick to describe as a symptom of failure. Dollarization is usually an alternative when there is a lack of credibility and functionality in the national currency,” warned Pavel Vidal, a Ph.D. in Economics, suggesting that the measure is an admission of the government’s inability to manage the economy.

Living in Dollars, Getting Paid in Pesos

For millions of Cubans, dollarization is a dead-end. Many families are forced to seek basic goods in a market where prices are set in foreign currency, while their salaries and pensions are paid in increasingly devalued Cuban pesos. At the same time, the prices of some public services are also rising, or have a dollar-priced alternative” (such as ETECSA data packages).

The partial dollarization of the economy means the dollarization of people’s expenses, but not of their income,” summarized economist Mauricio de Miranda.

According to Miranda’s  analysis, this divide forces citizens into a desperate search for foreign currency, feeding the informal market and accelerating the depreciation of the currency in which they are paid for their labor.

This policy also creates a structural disincentive, as work is not rewarded with a salary that can cover basic needs.

Beyond what dollarization means for the average Cuban’s wallet, the government defends its implementation — and expansion — as the main measure to save the country. Thus, it insists on recovering remittance flows” through the sale of goods and services in dollars (stores, service centers, transportation).

The diaspora is considered the main alternative to the shortage of foreign currency, given that other sources — such as the export of human resources (mainly medical brigades) or tourism — have not recovered after the decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the case of tourism, Minister Alonso Vazquez admitted that the targets set for 2025 will not be met due to a very poor first quarter.”

Experts agree that the monetary crisis reflects a deeper collapse.

Economist Ricardo Torres has emphasized that the most critical issue is the lack of government policies to stimulate production. Without measures to boost domestic supply, the economy becomes heavily reliant on imports. This dependence drives up the value of foreign currency and creates a vicious cycle that worsens the situation.

As Torres explained, the economy is an interconnected system; therefore, partial solutions that solve one problem by creating another,” such as dollarization, do not resolve the crisis. The measures must be comprehensive, aimed at reactivating production to reduce external dependence and stabilize the market.

In light of this outlook, Mauricio de Miranda argues that only two coherent paths exist: either move toward full dollarization, where wages are also paid in foreign currency, or take the necessary steps to strengthen the national currency.”

His preferred option, the latter, would involve a real commitment to making the Cuban peso the sole means of payment for all domestic transactions, backed by a functional and transparent productive system and exchange market — not temporary fixes.

The economist concluded that as long as the government fails to choose one of these paths, partial dollarization will continue to operate as a factory of inequality, punishing those with the least and exposing the profound structural crisis of an exhausted economic model.

First published in Spanish by El Toque and translated and posted in English by Havana Times.

Read more from Cuba here on Havana Times.

by Mazlum Özkan

June 18, 2025

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across Iran. The targets included military and nuclear sites, and the strikes killed top Iranian commanders and scientists. Among the dead were Hossein Salami (IRGC chief), Mohammad Bagheri, and Gholamali Rashid. Nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Tehranchi were also killed.

With over 100 airstrikes across major Iranian cities, the attack marked a new level in Israel’s military campaign. The strikes hit key sites: Natanz’s uranium facility, missile depots near Kermanshah, and other military systems. Israel also hit targets far from typical defense zones, including a refueling aircraft at Mashhad Airport. One major strike hit South Pars gas field, a key site shared with Qatar. The strike on South Pars, described by Iranian officials as a strategic blunder,” endangered not only Iran’s energy security but regional stability. Some strikes hit civilian neighborhoods, killing at least 406 people and injuring over 650. Among the dead were Red Crescent emergency workers and broadcast journalists—killed while delivering aid and reporting live.

Netanyahu defended the assault, claiming it was necessary for Israel’s survival and self-defense. But with over 90 nukes and a long record of bombing countries like Syria, Gaza, and now Iran, Israel looks less like a state under threat—and more like one enforcing its dominance. If every state claimed the right to bomb others based on perceived threats, the world would descend into lawless violence. This wasn’t self-defense—it was raw power, exercised without restraint, and backed by silence from allies and victimhood rhetoric.

The timing and scale of the strikes suggest deeper motives. Just as indirect U.S.–Iran nuclear talks resumed, Israel’s attack looked designed to sabotage diplomacy.

When Israel bombs freely and the world stays silent, what’s left of sovereignty?

Trump’s Shadow and Strategic Green Light

Israel didn’t carry out this operation alone. It relied on U.S. coordination—logistical, political, or both. While Trump denied any American role, the timing tells a different story. U.S. troops moved, embassies evacuated, and Trump himself posted warnings about what’s coming next.” Behind the scenes, Israel even proposed killing Iran’s Supreme Leader. The U.S. blocked that part, not to prevent the attack, but to shape it. That’s not neutrality—it’s collaboration.

Israel acts boldly because it knows the U.S. and the West will protect it. Their silence gives Israel cover, and international law stays frozen. But while Israel struck with confidence, Iran faced a very different calculation: retaliation without escalation.

Iran’s Dilemma: Between Humiliation and Mobilization

For Iran, the assault was both a strategic and symbolic blow. It shattered the idea that Iran’s elite were untouchable—and struck a blow to national pride. The Islamic Republic faced a trap: escalate and risk full-scale war—or appear weak and risk further attacks. Facing inflation, sanctions, and unrest, Tehran looked for a way to respond without starting a war. It responded with over 100 drones and a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting Haifa, Tamra, and Israeli strategic infrastructure. Iran hit back carefully—trying to avoid a full-blown war while showing it wouldn’t stay quiet. Iran’s foreign ministry emphasized that strikes will stop only when Israeli aggression ceases, framing its response as both proportionate and sovereign.

Officials downplayed fears of radiation, though the IAEA continues to monitor the site. Newly released satellite imagery analyzed by the Institute for Space and International Security confirms significant damage to the pilot fuel enrichment plant and critical infrastructure, including electrical substations. Damaging those enrichment sites could have long-term effects—on the environment.

Yet the deeper impact may be political. Israel’s attacks, unprecedented in their scope and brazenness, provided Iran’s leadership with an opportunity to rally national unity. Even critics of the regime viewed the strikes as an attack on national sovereignty. Rather than weakening the Islamic Republic, the strikes supplied it with a ready-made external enemy narrative—strengthening its hand internally and justifying retaliatory force. Israel’s actions may have strengthened the Islamic Republic it aimed to destabilize. In waging a campaign of deterrence, it handed Iran a unifying banner as an Iranian.

A New Strategic Reality for Iran

This attack may force Iran to rethink its whole military strategy. By firing long-range hypersonic missiles, Iran showed it’s moving from ideological caution to practical deterrence.The decades-old fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini against nuclear weapons, once a key part of Iran’s defense policy—is now being questioned like never before. The attack showed that restraint doesn’t work when the other side keeps pushing harder.

Maybe survival today depends less on principles—and more on power. With the rules breaking down, advanced weapons—and even nukes—are back on the table. While Iran’s leadership has yet to formally abandon its non-nuclear stance, the logic of survivability is shifting. When power matters more than law, countries may choose to arm themselves—rather than hold back.

This isn’t just a tactical shift—it redefines sovereignty in a world where some states are allowed to stay defenseless. If Iran had nuclear weapons, would Israel have dared strike them this way?

Conclusion: From Deterrence to Hegemony—A Turning Point in the Regional Order

Israel’s June 13 assault shouldn’t be seen as just another military strike. It marked a turning point in how force is used—and who gets to use it. Israel made it clear: strike first, talk later. Deterrence is no longer the plan—dominance is. Now, even the hint of a threat is treated as reason enough to launch a war.

That big question—has deterrence been replaced by domination—has a clear, troubling answer. The scale of the attack, the choice to hit homes and energy sites, and the quiet approval from major powers like the U.S. all point to one thing: preemptive war is becoming acceptable. It’s turning into standard practice.

International law used to defend the idea of sovereignty. That protection now seems conditional—mainly for countries outside the Western alliance. Iran’s response—slow, limited, and symbolic—shows the trap it’s in. It plays by the rules, but the rules don’t apply to everyone. Iran now faces a harsh choice: keep taking hits—or rethink its whole defense strategy, including nuclear policy.

A world with no real rules. Power hits first, tells its own story, and dares the rest of the world to challenge it. Yes, Iran has its problems. Yes, the Islamic Republic faces deep internal opposition. But if that system is going to change, it must come from within. Foreign bombs won’t bring reform—only protest, resistance, and revolution can. After June 13, it’s not Iran—but Israel—that looks like the greater threat to global peace.

By Raj Gonsalkorale

Drug use disorders, a pressing issue globally, have particularly strained Sri Lanka’s public health and security systems, affecting its youth and communities. Sri Lanka has witnessed a troubling rise in drug-related issues, with a 13% increase in arrests for drug offenses during the 2022 economic crisis, totalling 152,979 individuals. The infiltration of narcotic drugs like cannabis, heroin, cocaine, and prescription medications has significantly impacted adolescents and young adults, including school-aged children. Despite these alarming statistics, there has been a notable shortage of effective prevention and treatment programs, leading to high relapse rates due to the chronic, relapsing nature of drug use disorders. UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime https://www.unodc.org/southasia//frontpage/2024/July/sri-lanka_-unodc-rolls-out-groundbreaking-drug-use-prevention-strategies-and-capacity-building-of-stakeholders.html#:~:text =Sri %20Lanka%20has% 20 witnessed %20a,economic%20crisis%2C%20totaling%20152%2C979%20individuals.

The handbook of drug abuse information in Sri Lanka 2024 released by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board of Sri Lanka (NDDCB) states that a total of 162,088 persons were arrested for drug abuse related offences, 46,939 persons were imprisoned and 2039 persons received rehabilitation treatment in numerous state and non-state institutions. Based on these numbers, it appears that out of the total arrested, 28.9% were imprisoned, and 1.25% were sent to rehabilitation centres.

In a research study done in 2021 by Nuwan Darshana, Champa Wijesinghe, and Vijitha De Silva for the department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, the study found that among a randomly selected sample of 189 male heroin addicts in five selected rehabilitation centres in Sri Lanka, with followed up for six months with two follow-up interviews at 3 months and 6 months after discharge from the respective rehabilitation centre the relapse the results at the end of three months, the relapse rate was 48.7% while after six months it was 59.6%. The easy availability and accessibility of heroin within the living community was identified as the main reason for relapse in as many as 82.6% of heroin users who had relapsed. A majority (66.1%,) of those who relapsed did so within the first six weeks weeks) after discharge. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354331421_Relapse_rate_following_institutionalized_rehabilitation_of_male_heroin_addicts_A_Sri_Lankan_experience. The study calls for the attention of policy makers who are responsible for planning and implementing follow-up programmes for drug addicts, including heroin addicts, especially during the initial period after discharge from rehabilitation centres to minimize the number of relapses

An anecdotal reason could be that rehabilitated addicts return to the same environment and conditions that made them addicts, without an opportunity to earn a living using the skills they may have learnt during rehabilitation and being stigmatised and shunned by the society around them. This would naturally leave them with no hope for their well-being and future and leading them back to the mental world of addiction as their only solace. Perhaps the rehabilitated addicts could be monitored after release and assisted to use the skills acquired to make a living, and appropriate institutions like religious institutions and humanitarian institutions included in a program to destigmatise addiction. This view is expressed in a study titled Drug Control, Detention and Treatment of People Who Use Drugs in Sri Lanka” by Ambika Satkunanathan (https://www.hri.global/files/2021/08/03/HRI_Report_-_Sri_Lanka_Drug_Control.pdf) who says there is also little post-release support or after-care to support effective reintegration into society. This is evidenced in the narratives of the interviewees who have been to more than one rehabilitation centre. They report facing stigma, which hinders social and reintegration and livelihood opportunities, as well as harassment by the police. The need for community support, particularly to secure a livelihood, was reiterated by all interviewees. Those who had received treatment for drug dependency pointed out that stigma and harassment are key reasons that lead to relapse”

While addressing challenges associated with rehabilitation is a major issue, and the government as well as several non-government entities are engaged in it and intend expanding and transforming rehabilitation approaches and services, perhaps even what is more critical is how a significant dent can be made on the supply side as well as the demand side of the supply/demand equation.

The supply side

It is well known that in Sri Lanka and of course in other countries, the major players in the drug trade are a few powerful individuals strongly suspected as being the elite amongst the corrupt, and not the minions who hit the headlines, and that they are entirely responsible for the supply chain relating to drug addiction.

It is a multimillion-rupee industry that reportedly funds among others, individuals within some political parties, in customs, the Police, the judiciary, in schools, in the pharmaceutical industry and even within the Buddhist institution to keep the industry going as a very profitable one. The human cost associated with this industry, preventable in most cases, is unimaginable although obviously it does not evoke any sympathy, empathy or consideration in the warped minds of the big fish.

No doubt, many readers will agree that only sprats have been apprehended and punished while Sharks have roamed free continuing their despicable business with some even functioning as major benefactors of some politicians, and individuals in religious and social institutions. It is an injustice to humanity to allow these big fish to roam free. They need to be apprehended and made to pay the price for their crimes with very serious punishment, including depriving them of their civic rights considering the damage they have inflicted on society. Punishing them alone is not sufficient as key players in the supply chain, including from entities mentioned above, have to be brought to book and strong deterrent punishment meted out to them as well. It would be foolish to exclude such players in the supply chain as they are all complicit in making the supply chain work and without them, both the supply aspect as well as the demand aspect of the industry will cease to function.

Whatever strategies that one decides and choose to implement to eradicate drug trafficking and consumption, it has to be considered from the prism of a supply chain as the supply component of it has a direct relevancy to creating a demand for drugs, and both aspects have many contributory players who are engaged in making the chain work and provide growth and profitability to the industry. Creating a demand and increasing that demand is key to those who supply the drugs. The unfortunate victims are school children, the youth of the country. It is reported that while the situation in 2003 was that most (65%) of drug users were in the age group 20-35 years, this group now includes children over 15 years as well. Today The small fish involved in the chain close to the consumers, are just that, small fish. They are traders, individuals and entities of varying magnitudes, but taking some of them out of the chain will not serve as an effective deterrent as there will be others ready and waiting to take the place of the small fish removed from the chain.

Although the government and its law enforcement agencies and the judiciary are responsible for apprehending and punishing the drug barons and their henchmen, if a serious dent is to be made on the supply side of the drug industry, this itself will not address the demand side of the problem, drug consumption that results in addiction.

In this context, the writer wishes to draw the attention of all relevant authorities to a question that is in the minds of many, and which generates much speculation amongst the public. This is about the fate of the substances that are detected and confiscated amidst much publicity. There is a lack of information about what happens thereafter to what is confiscated. Speculation results, including that some of what is confiscated finds its way back to the illicit trade thanks to corrupt elements within the law enforcement and justice institutions. Such speculation is harmful to the efforts being made to eradicate the drug trade and consumption and addiction, by all well-meaning individuals in all authorities. It is understood that disposal of confiscated substances is based on court orders and that most substances are held in storage thereafter until they are taken for deep sea disposal. It would be beneficial for the public to be made aware of the process and periodic notices to be published about what and how much has been so disposed.

The demand side

While rehabilitating drug addicts is a humanitarian activity, preventing them from becoming addicts is even a greater humanitarian activity. Prevention is always better than cure and the focus of the government and the society in general must be more on prevention than cure, through awareness campaigns, education, skills development and more generally reframing education centres as knowledge and skills development centres. While the writer does not have confirmed information, it is understood that the funds allocated for rehabilitation is significantly more than the funds allocated for prevention activities mentioned earlier, although the results relating to rehabilitation, on account of several factors, is far from effective in preventing readdiction. The study referred to earlier in this article as well as anecdotal information on this confirms that reoffending has not abated despite the good efforts of many who are associated with rehabilitation.

In this regard, and in order to refocus attention of policy makers towards heightened prevention activities related to substance consumption and addiction,  the activities proposed and conducted, perhaps not to the extent wished for by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB), should be supported and the primary focus of attention on the drug addiction issue shifted to (a) Eliminating the elite amongst the illicit drug industry including those who are complicit with this elite, and (b) preventative measures that reduce demand for drugs. Citing the NDDCB, their Prevention Education and Training Unit (PET Unit) is promoting drug prevention activities Island wide. This Unit maintains a balanced and comprehensive approach to the drugs problem addressing demand which supported by evidence-based responses focusing on prevention, social integration, and sustainable livelihoods. The Unit is building cooperation with the institutional bodies of the drug control system, International and National agencies and the scientific community to drive work that is evidenced-based. They conduct preventative services in the following areas. More details on each of these are available via https://www.nddcb.gov.lk/preventive-education-and-training-unit.php and readers are encouraged to access this information.

 School based prevention

Drug prevention programmes for school students with the aim of reducing the risks of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse by addressing the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviours.

  TOT for Teachers

Training programme series with the aim of providing schoolteachers with skill-based, theoretical and practical knowledge of drug prevention.

  Vocational Training Centres and Tertiary Education Institutions

Students in tertiary educational institutes have been identified to be a vulnerable group for abusing drugs.

  Preventive Education for University Students

A skills-based programme to promote positive health and personal development for university students

  TOT for Youth

A series of training of trainer’s workshop for selected youth leaders.

Family based prevention

Family skill development programs and educational programs to prevent drug use in families.

  Larger Workplaces

Drug awareness programmes in larger workplace island wide.

  Government Officers

Awareness and training programmes for grama niladhari, samurdhi niladhari, development officers, and other field officers who employed in government sector Island wide.

  Programmes for Law Enforcement Officers

A programme series for three forces, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Custom and other law enforcement officials

Community Programmes

Drug education for grass root level community groups.

 Exhibitions

Drug Prevention Exhibitions. In these exhibitions, posters, banners, and leaflets containing drug prevention messages and information are distributed among public.

The Outreach Unit of the NDDCB is entrusted with the responsibility of extending the Board’s services (prevention, treatment and rehabilitation) to drug-dependent persons and their families, high-risk groups in the community and the general public by conducting community programmes, mobile awareness, and establishment and maintaining a communication network between Divisional Secretaries, Grama Niladaries, field Officers, community leaders and civil society organizations to develop programmes on discouraging the abuse of drugs. While the efforts of the NDDCB and many others engaged in all aspects relating to arresting the supply and consumption of these harmful substances and the many rehabilitation efforts being taken must be lauded, no agency should present a picture to the public where, in their own minds, they see that reality they face is not what it is as presented to them. If this happens, they will lose confidence in the efforts being made, and more to the point, efforts that are said to be taken to arrest this menace.

In order to make sure that what is planned and what is actioned are one and the same, it is suggested that the NDDCB carries out regular monitoring & evaluation of its activities and preferably, on a periodic basis this task is assigned to independent entities in order to be more impartially informed of gaps that exist between executed action and planned action.

In this regard it is also suggested that the NDDCB develop a strategic plan for say five years identifying its key goals and objectives and the strategies and action plans to be adopted to achieve these. Such an action plan has to identify the costs associated with the activities and the approved expenditure for each action. Considering that the Western province, in particular the Colombo and Gampaha districts, have the highest number of drug consumers (around 70% as per reports), and the largest number of arrests for drug and substance related offences, it would be natural and logical for the strategic plan to give greater focus and priority to these areas, and in the allocation of funds for related activities. In planning its activities and in the allocation of funds, NDDCB should give priority to strategies that are related to prevention rather than cure including rehabilitation work and engage the services of the non-government sector for such work. Even in preventive work, the NDDCB should enlist the services of institutions that should play a pivotal role in prevention and train and carry out awareness sessions through Train the Trainer programs in such institutions rather than themselves engaging in such activities at an operational level. NDDCB’s monitoring and evaluation role will be more impartial and productive if they were to assess the results of operations carried out by the entities tasked to work on prevention under the guidance of the NDDCB.

Arresting the harmful substance supply, its use, its prevention and cure is a huge effort that is not just a government or non-government entity responsibility, but an overall societal responsibility and the ownership of the effort has to be shared by all. Drug addiction is neither incurable nor hopeless: A pioneer in rehabilitation work, Venerable Kuppiawatte Bhodhananda Thero, the founder Mithuru Mithuro movement, very rightly says Why do people turn to drugs? It is out of ignorance and craving. Many people tend to stigmatize and marginalize drug addicts and say that it is impossible to reform them. This is mere prejudice, because every individual has the potential to develop himself and achieve the highest of human values. Reformed addicts can lead successful and happy lives and contribute positively to society.” –  https://mithurumithuro.lk/ven-k-bhodhananda-thero/

නීතීඥ අරුණ ලක්සිරි උණවටුන

පුදන්නට කුසුම් දෝතින්
නීතියේ ඇත්ත යදිමින්
ගියා එදවස නීතියේ රං දේවාලයට….
මහා පූජක තැබූ උණ්ඩය
පසාරු කරෙන් ළය
තෙත් වුණා රුධිරයෙන්
කුසුමාසනයම….
රුධිරය පෑන කළ
නීතිපති දේවාලය
වරද නිවැරදි කිරීමට
ගෙනාවා නීති ස‍ංශෝධනය “22”…..
බෲටස්ලා පිරිවරාගත්ද
සීසර් – ක්ලියෝපැට්‍රා
පේන තෙක් මානයක
නොමැති මේ සිරිලක….
කෙසේනම් බිහි වෙන්නද
මාක් ඇන්ටනියෙක්
ඇත්ත කියනට හුදී ජනයට…!

http://neethiyalk.blogspot.com/2025/06/blog-post_19.html?m=1

නීතීඥ අරුණ ලක්සිරි උණවටුන
දුරකථන 0712063394

National Development Bank PLC

The NDB Bhakti Geetha competition, organised by the NDB Sports & Recreation Club 2025, was held on the 11th of June 2025. This engaging event was designed to celebrate the religious festivities of Poson Poya Day and to foster camaraderie and participation among all staff, including those from branches and departments.

Numerous branches and departments submitted video clips of their singing, showcasing their talent and devotion. From these entries, 8 branches and departments were selected as finalists to perform live at the NDB Head Office premises.

The grand finals featured impressive performances by Business Banking, Compliance, Contact Center, HR, Kaduruwela Branch, Leasing Marketing and Trade Finance teams. The live event was a spectacular display of talent and devotion, witnessed by senior management, staff, and their family members. The esteemed judging panel for the finals included the renowned singer Visharadha Ms. Pradeepa Dharmadasa and Visharada Niroshan Weerasinghe

The competition was fierce, but the winners stood out with their exceptional performances. The Leasing Department took first place, followed by HR in second place, and Marketing securing third place. Additionally, a special award for the most creative video was presented to Trade Finance, recognising their innovative approach and dedication.

The NDB Bhakti Geetha competition not only celebrated a significant religious occasion but also strengthened the bonds among the NDB family, highlighting the bank’s commitment to fostering a collaborative and spirited work environment.

Matthew Horwood Courtesy Theepochtimes

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese

Matthew Horwood

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said he has recused himself from files on national security issues related to the Tamil community.

During Question Period on June 12, Conservative MP Frank Caputo questioned Anandasangaree about why the minister recused himself, and whether the ethics commissioner was consulted prior to his department setting up an internal conflict of interest screen.

Anandasangaree responded that with all national security decisions, his main concern is Canadians’ safety. I will support law enforcement and national security agencies who do their work impartially and effectively,” he said.

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In an abundance of caution and to ensure that there is no perception of any conflict, I’ve asked the public safety officials to implement a screen on national security issues relating to the Tamil community.”

According to the ethics commissioner’s website, a conflict of interest screen refers to when an elected official agrees to abstain from any discussions, decisions, debate or votes concerning the matter that forms the subject of the conflict of interest.” It is meant to minimize the chance of conflicts arising between the public duties of the public office holder and their private interests or those of their relatives and friends.”

Anandasangaree was born in Sri Lanka before coming to Canada and graduating from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1996. He was involved with several Tamil groups such as the Canadian Tamil Congress and the Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce.

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Anandasangaree became the Liberal MP for Scarborough—Rouge Park in 2015 and has been re-elected three times. Since becoming an MP, Anandasangaree has held the roles of minister of crown-indigenous relations from July 2023 to December 2024, and justice minister from March 14 to May 2025.

Anandasangaree has also previously campaigned against human rights abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War that lasted from 1983 to 2009.

In 2009, when Anandasangaree was working with the Canadian Tamil Congress, he assisted with 76 migrants who arrived by ship from Sri Lanka seeking to become refugees Canada.

Canadian officials initially investigated the ship occupants for possible links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) before releasing them.

The Canadian government has listed the LTTE as a terrorist organization due to its terror attacks against civilian centres, and political assassinations.”

When Anandasangaree was asked about the ship during a June 3 press conference in Parliament, the minister said he has a very strong history in supporting and working with asylum seekers and those who have come to Canada as refugees.”

I continuously work with many agencies that provide front-line services to refugees. So I do believe I have the credibility to talk about issues at our border, issues of … those who come to Canada by irregular means,” he said.

Senaka Weeraratna

Members of the Justice for Animals and Nature (JAN) led by Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero visited the unique free roaming Dog Sanctuary at Midigama, Ahangama on June 17, 2025. This unique shelter which accommodates over 2400 street dogs is run by Animal SOS Lanka founded by Ms. Kim Cooling (an extraordinary British animal welfare activist). 

It is the largest Dog Sanctuary in Sri 

Lanka and best organized. It’s daily expenditure is over Rs. 1 Million and about Rs. 30 Million per month. It gives employment to more than 75 people mostly locals drawn from the surrounding villages in Ahangama. The money comes from the Animal SOS Lanka, which is a British Charity registered in the UK, and as a BOI company in Sri Lanka.

Animal SOS Sri Lanka’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect animals in need, particularly street animals, while also working to stabilize their population and eradicate rabies. They achieve this through rescue operations, providing veterinary care and refuge, implementing spay/neuter programs, and educating communities about animal welfare.

Its current Manager is Samantha (British citizen of English origin). The Governor of the Southern Province Mr. Bandula Harischandra and his staff inspected the premises on June 17 and met the Management of the Dog Sanctuary and members of JAN, and Mr. Lahiru Abeysekera, Attorney at Law (legal counsel for Animal SOS). Several matters including a long standing court case related to public nuisance law were discussed.

Every living being has a moral entitlement to live unhindered and complete its natural span of life. Humanity must respect the Rights of Animals including stray animals such as street dogs and wildlife.

 
This Animal Welfare site is an unmistakable demonstration of ‘Compassion in Action’ which is in close alignment with the Buddhist tenets of Metta and Karuna for all living beings (Siyalu Sathwayo). 

Justice for Animals and Nature 

 SUNIL JAYASIRI    Courtesy Daily Mirror

• UN has urged the Ministry to reconsider and allow the mission to proceed under the UN flag
• Sri Lanka at risk of losing $1 million UN funds, undermining key climate programmes and could result in delay any future such visit until after 2030
• The research vessel F. Nansen is set to visit Sri Lanka from July 15 to August 20, 2025 following a request from the SL government on November 24, 2023.
• Ministry of Fisheries on May 19, 2025, informed the FAO cancelling the visit due to the pending development of SPO for foreign research vessels

Colombo, June 19 (Daily Mirror) – Sri Lanka has rejected a UN request to allow a research vessel into its waters from July 15 to August 20, which will assess the long-term food security in Sri Lankan seas, citing delays in finalizing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for foreign research vessels as the reason for the refusal, a UN document revealed.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) received a letter dated 19 May 2025 from the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources cancelling the F. Nansen’s visit pending the development of standard operating procedures for foreign research vessels,” the document stated adding that stated it could result in over $1 million in losses, undermine Green Climate Fund programmes relying on the vessel’s data, and delay any future visit until after 2030.”

The cancellation of the visit by the research vessel F. Nansen, prompted by the lack of approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to accommodate foreign research vessels, could not only result in direct financial losses but also undermine the effectiveness of upcoming climate adaptation projects financed by the Green Climate Fund, which rely heavily on the data expected from the survey, a UN document has stated.

According to the UN document sent to the government stated that it would also deprive the government of vital data for decision-making in a key economic sector. The UN has urged the Ministry to reconsider and allow the mission to proceed under the UN flag.

The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator would therefore request the esteemed Ministry’s consideration to allow the visit to proceed under the United Nations flag, on the basis of the formal request from the Government. The Resident Coordinator remains available for a meeting at the earliest convenience to discuss the way forward and provide any additional information required.”

It also said that the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka the assurances of its highest consideration”.

It also stated that the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Colombo that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has coordinated the deployment of the ‘Dr Fridtj of Nansen’ (F. Nansen), a state-of-the-art vessel to Sri Lanka from 15 July to 20 August 2025, following the request by the Government of Sri Lanka to the United Nations dated 24 November 2023.

Highlighting the urgency of the mission, the UN noted that against the backdrop of declining fishing yields, the vessel’s visit will play a vital role in helping Sri Lanka’s marine institutions gain critical insights into the health of the marine ecosystem and ensure long-term food security from the sea.”

Sri Lankan fisheries experts and scientists from the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency as well as officers from the Sri Lankan Navy will be closely working with the F. Nansen technical team in implementing activities in full adherence with all pertinent national legislation. All data collected will be published only with the Government’s prior clearance. This is the fifth visit of such a vessel, the last one visiting Sri Lanka in 2018,” it stated.

Courtesy Sputnik

© AP Photo / Eraldo Peres

The G7 is becoming a relic of the past, Ranil Wickremesinghe, founder of the analytical center Geopolitical Cartographer and former Sri Lankan president (2022–2024), stated at the Valdai Club discussion during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

“We are witnessing a shift in the center of power toward a multipolar world,” Wickremesinghe stated. “The Group of Seven is fading into history, while the Group of Twenty is gaining increasing importance.”

The former president of Sri Lanka stressed that now, when “the scale of change goes beyond geopolitics and geoeconomics,” the world lacks “a global order.”

What are the Changes?

Non-state actors have begun to play a major role. This is giving rise to a new world order.

China hindered the United States from reshaping the world, so the US sought to create global divisions and launched a trade war against China.

Sanctions against Russia have changed the energy landscape. The Indo-Pacific region has become highly significant for oil trade.

According to Wickremesinghe, “BRICS is a cornerstone of the emerging new world order,” whereas “the Belt and Road Initiative and the New Development Bank are the foundation of a new economic reality.”

Touching upon regional matters, the former Sri Lankan president emphasized that ASEAN’s strategy concerning the Indian Ocean states that these are extraterritorial waters and that it is necessary to ensure the security of maritime routes.

“We will preserve the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace,” Wickremesinghe underscored.

By Dimitris Konstantakopoulos

The absolutely predictable and predicted (https://www.defenddemocracy.press/now-irans-turn-the-spectre-of-a-new-1989), military conflict that erupted five days ago in the Middle East is one of the most serious and dangerous to have broken out globally in decades. Like all major crises, it simultaneously allows us to draw highly useful conclusions about the most critical issues of the global situation, such as the nature of the present forces in power in the U.S. and Israel and also the relationship between these two states. A key question is whether the U.S. will actively engage in the conflict, and particularly whether Israel and the U.S. will use nuclear weapons against Tehran. Another enormous issue is the stance nuclear powers like Pakistan, India, Russia, and China will take in this crisis, as their interests are directly involved. The outcome of the crisis may well depend on their stance.

The adventurist attack launched by Ukraine (i.e. America) against Russian strategic nuclear bombers, violating all written and unwritten rules of nuclear stability,” on the very eve of Israel’s attack on Iran, could in fact, objectively, be interpreted as a warning to Moscow not to intervene in the war against Iran.

The war between Israel and Iran must itself be understood within the broader framework of the effort of the collective West” to prevent the emergence of alternative power poles on the planet that would challenge its five-century-long global dominance—and also to destroy states and regimes with significant independence, such as Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China (afer having destroyed Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Libya, Somalia). Western motivations are not coincidental. They are the product of structural factors, stemming (as happened with World War I and II) from the very nature of global capitalism and its inevitable, vital for its very survival result, the phenomenon of Imperialism. Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, making it the weak link in the anti-hegemonic bloc.

Those fond of historical analogies and mathematical pattern comparisons might consider the year 1942, when Hitler, having failed to capture Moscow, turned to Russia’s soft underbelly, aiming to seize the Caucasus hydrocarbons for himself and deny them to the USSR. Had he succeeded, the war’s outcome might have been different. But his armies were crushed at Stalingrad, leading to Germany’s defeat.

Today, we see something similar. After the West’s failed attempt to overthrow the Russian regime and dismantle Russia, Israel—with U.S. and other Western support—is attempting to destroy the Iranian regime, if not Iran as a state (as they did in Syria. Iran being the last independent state in the Middle East and the last ally of Russia, China, and the Palestinians. Thus, by destroying it, they would complete control over the entire Middle East, the strategic center” of Eurasia, if not of the entire world. Transforming it with a new 1989” into a springboard for further attacks against Russia, Central Asia, and China, and a launching pad for global totalitarianism—as we warned and, unfortunately, accurately predicted last December regarding the war that has now erupted https://www.defenddemocracy.press/now-irans-turn-the-spectre-of-a-new-1989/3

We cannot know for sure whether there is a general headquarters” of the collective West processing these plans, but ultimately, this is not even of great importance. What matters are the facts, which are more than sufficiently explained by the West’s core strategic objectives. As the German Chancellor himself said Israel does the dirty work for us” https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-merz-says-israel-doing-dirty-work-for-us-in-iran/live-72939104

Both the global tolerance of the live-broadcasted 20-month genocide of the Palestinian people and the war Israel has now launched against Iran prove, beyond any doubt, that Benjamin Netanyahu is today the leader with the greatest global influence in the collective West—and even beyond it, evidently due to his support from the Empire of Global Financial Capital and its allied Empire of Information Technology, as well as the various omnipotent Zionist lobbies all around the globe. The Israeli Prime Minister, about whom it has been written that he could teach Machiavelli lessons,” certainly has the wit and ability to conceal his leading role in global affairs as much as possible and, whenever possible (as with the 2003 invasion of Iraq), to have others do the dirty work and bear the consequences. As Professor Jeffrey Sachs notably observes, it is not Israel that is a U.S. protectorate today, but rather the U.S. that is a protectorate of Israel. https://www.defenddemocracy.press/jeffrey-sachs-the-us-is-leading-us-closer-to-nuclear-war-the-innerview/

Read also:

Leaders of British Jews like to investigate Corbyn’s anti-Semitism, not Israeli assasinations

Since the 2014 Ukraine crisis, we have been living in an environment pregnant with a new and nuclear August 4, 1914″—unless it is prevented by the decisive reaction of forces, especially in the East but also within the West and the Global South, who realize that the stakes are humanity’s very survival https://www.defenddemocracy.press/stop-netanyahu-before-he-gets-us-all-killed/ .

This article is being written amid reports from serious sources (https://www.defenddemocracy.press/arab-officials-say-there-is-a-strong-likelihood-us-will-directly-join-israel-in-attacking-iran/, https://www.defenddemocracy.press/sources-us-will-enter-israels-war-with-iran/  about the imminent direct involvement of the U.S. in the war Israel has launched. There are already clear signs of their participation in its preparation and execution (https://www.defenddemocracy.press/israel-and-us-modified-f-35s-to-enable-iran-attack-without-refuelling-sources-say/, https://www.defenddemocracy.press/exclusive-us-quietly-sent-hundreds-of-hellfire-missiles-to-israel-before-iran-attack/ ). It is utterly absurd for this U.S. administration to claim that Israel acts independently without consulting Washington. This charade has been played for decades and has become a wretched farce. Israel is entirely dependent on U.S. military, economic, and diplomatic support. It cannot take half a step without Washington’s backing.

We hope all this will not happen, but it might even occur before you read this article. However, we must emphasize that Iran is not an easy opponent and cannot be subdued with conventional weapons. This is why the use of nuclear weapons is not an aberration but inherent to some degree in the very logic of the Neocon program—at least as long as Israel does not fear a proportional response. It organically stems from the very program, from the internal logic of American-Israeli imperialism, as we warned alongside Gilbert Marquis as early as 2006 and 2007 in articles published in the French review Utopie Critique (founded by Michalis Raptis Pablo) https://www.defenddemocracy.press/guerre-a-la-guerre/  and in many articles in the newspaper Kosmos tou Ependyti. At that time, the U.S. administration had elaborated operational plans to bomb Iran with tactical nuclear weapons, halted only by the reaction then of U.S. military officials themselves. Senior officers threatened to resign and leaked the operational plans to renowned American journalist Seymour Hersh, who wrote about them https://www.defenddemocracy.press/the-iran-plans/, helping at the time to prevent this nightmarish scenario, which now risks returning.

By A. Abdul Aziz.

Khilafat, one of the central institutions in Islam, is a promise that Allah has given to the believers. It is a concept that occasionally raises questions, particularly regarding the selection of a Khalifa. When we say Allah chooses a khalifa,” what exactly does that mean? If hundreds of people come together to elect a khalifa, how is a Khalifa appointed by Allah?

There are two distinct types of khilafat: spiritual and temporal.

A spiritual khilafat is a position determined by Allah Himself. In this exalted role, Allah chooses a khalifa in two ways: directly and indirectly. In the direct selection, the chosen person is referred to as khalifatullah (khalifa of Allah, i.e. prophet).

In the indirect selection, the person is designated as khalifatur-rasul (khalifa of the Messenger) or al-khilafah ’ala minhaj an-nubuwwah (the rightly-guided khilafat or khilafat following the example of prophethood). This spiritual khilafat, created by Allah Himself, is unique and finds no comparison in worldly relationships.

The temporal khilafat, on the other hand, can refer to a familial dynasty or similar earthly structures. This form of khilafat is not determined by Allah, in contrast to the exalted spiritual khilafat, which is free from worldly entanglements.

While the spiritual khilafat represents a divinely chosen institution for the spiritual guidance of the believers, the temporal khilafat is a political structure created by humans. Only the former represents the true continuation of Prophethood.

It should also be mentioned here that worldly leaders have also been referred to as khala’if [plural of khalifa] in the Quran:

Then, We made you [their] successors in the earth after them, that We might see how you would act.” (Surah Yunus, Ch.10: V.15)

In this verse, worldly leaders are referred to as khala’if.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Founder Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad – The Promised Messiah, peace be on him, explain this. He states that just as Allah granted worldly dominion to the Jews before the Muslims and they committed various sins during their rule, Muslims will make the same mistakes. He writes:

Those who speak in favour of the Muslim kings clearly show that the events of the kings of both these nations [Jews and Muslims] would be similar. And so it came to pass. Just as shameful wars were waged by the Jewish kings, and many of their behaviours became corrupt, some of them becoming infamous for adultery, drunkenness, bloodshed, and extreme cruelty, the same path was adopted by many Muslim kings.

However, just as there were righteous and just kings among the Jews, there were also righteous and just kings among the Muslims, such as Umar bin Abdul Aziz.” (Tohfa Golarviya, Ruhani Khazain, Vol.  17, pp. 306–307)

This quotation clearly illustrates that, alongside the spiritual khilafat, there exists a worldly form of khilafat. It should be clear, of course, that the Ahmadiyya Khilafat is a spiritual khilafat, conducted in accordance with the principles of prophethood.

In summary, it can be established that there are two fundamental types of khilafat: a divinely guided spiritual khilafat, such as those succeeding the Holy Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) and the Promised Messiah, peace be on him and a temporal khilafat, established and governed by human agency.

How does Allah choose a khalifa?

How does Allah appoint a khalifa when we observe that a council of various individuals elects a khalifa? The issue, on its surface, raises a question: If a group of people gathers, discusses, and ultimately elects someone to be the Khalifa, how can we then say that the position is determined by God, rather than by human hands and human choice?

There are two ways to answer this question, and these two perspectives help solve the apparent contradiction between the observable human process and the deeper, spiritual conviction of God’s role:

Human action, divine outcome

The first explanation conveys that certain actions are carried out by humans, but the outcomes of these actions are ultimately from God. In other words, while humans might put forth their efforts, deliberate, and make decisions, the results of such actions truly unfold according to Allah’s will.

Divine action through human hand: 

The second explanation suggests that there are actions directly performed by God, yet they appear through or are manifested by human hands. Although it may look as though individuals are taking each step, the deeper truth is that God is orchestrating and causing events to unfold, and people become the channels through which God’s will is revealed to the world.

Both perspectives aim to clarify that while humans engage in various processes , such as sowing seeds, building structures, or electing leaders ,  the defining factor of success, growth, and ultimate outcome lies with Allah.

Therefore, the paradox of human agency and divine appointment in the matter of khilafat becomes resolvable if we recognise that God’s will can flow into this world through the medium of human actions.

Human action, divine outcome” in the Quran

To illustrate this principle of human action, divine outcome,” we find clear examples in the Quran. One of the most vivid is found in Surah al-Waqi’ah where Allah says:

Do you see what you sow? Is it you who grow it or are We the Grower?” (Surah al-Waqi`ah, Ch.56: V.65)

The apparent response might suggest that farmers claim they are the ones who grow the crops. However, they cannot even replicate the qualities inherent in a seed that enable it to sprout – it is simply impossible

The entire system of sowing and growing lies wholly in Allah’s hands and operates according to His divine decree.

Why does Allah attribute the actions of the farmers to Himself?

Here, the question might arise: Why does God take credit for something that is plainly carried out by human hands?

It can be understood in this way: the entire structure that permits a seed to develop into a fruitful plant is created and sustained by Allah. Every law of germination, photosynthesis, soil composition, and climatic conditions is part of a vast universal design. The farmer’s labour has meaning only within this divine system.

If the farmer does everything in defiance of that system – if they plant seeds in places or conditions entirely unsuited for growth – the result will be no harvest at all. If the farmer plants seeds in soil that offers no nutrients or in an environment without proper sunlight, the seeds will not sprout, and crops will fail.

Cultivating a date palm in the United Kingdom, It is impossible.

To simplify, consider trying to cultivate a date tree in the United Kingdom. Generally, date palms thrive in hot desert climates, typical of regions in the Middle East or parts of Africa.

However, if someone in the UK were to build a greenhouse or a specialised structure that mimics the climate and soil conditions of a region where dates commonly grow – monitoring temperature, humidity, light exposure, and soil composition meticulously – then the seed could sprout, grow, and ultimately produce fruit.

What happens in the case of khilafat can be thus seen as such: the people follow the system God has ordained regarding the appointment of a khalifa. They align themselves with the qualities, obligations, and prerequisites outlined by the Quran and prophetic teachings to decide who is worthy of serving as the khalifa.

Once these conditions are satisfied and the community adheres to the proper guidelines, Allah’s Will manifests in the outcome. While on the outside, it may appear to be the result of human choice, in reality, it finalises as the work of God.

Here, we are once again reminded of the example of a farmer and his crops.  Similarly, believers may elect or select a khalifa, but if God were not sustaining that process, guiding hearts and minds, providing resources and opportunities, and blessing the unity of believers, there would be no successful outcome.

Self-nomination is not allowed

The second prerequisite for the Khilafat is that no one may nominate themselves for this role. Allah states in the Quran:
So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows him best who is [truly] righteous.” (Surah an-Najm, Ch.53: V.33)

This verse calls for humility and strongly warns against self-exaltation or the pursuit of supreme authority. In Islamic understanding, exercising religious leadership requires a profound commitment to righteousness, service to the common good, and sincere devotion.

Only God knows the true virtue of a soul. True spiritual leadership is therefore not claimed by individuals themselves but is bestowed by God upon those distinguished by humility, sincerity, and loyalty to the prophetic mission.

Another essential prerequisite is that the Khilafat must not be inherited. If this occurs, the election does not align with the prophetic tradition. (Khilafat-e-Rashida [English], p. 188)

Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, the Second Khalifa of Ahmadiya Community states that, A Khalifa is appointed by God, meaning there is no human interference in his appointment. He neither desires this position himself nor becomes a Khalifa through any scheme.” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 8, p. 578)

Another prerequisite is that a Khalifa retains his position until his death. This is also evident in the practice of the rightly guided Khulafa. Each of them remained a Khalifa until their demise.

A righteous community

Another prerequisite is that the community electing a khalifa must faithfully embody the Prophet’s teachings in practice and be capable of following a khalifa. This is crucial, as the election of a Khalifa goes beyond merely conferring a title.

The community supporting a Khalifa must be prepared to live according to the Prophet’s teachings and steadfastly uphold them. If they neglect these directives, the foundation of a divinely guided Khilafat crumbles. A Khalifa is the guardian of the prophetic legacy and embodies the Prophet’s mission on earth.

Therefore, a legitimate Khilafat requires a community rooted in faith and righteousness, following the path laid out by the Prophet and affirmed by each Khalifa. However, if the community ceases to be faithful, falls into misguidance, and no longer obeys the Khalifa, the Khilafat is taken away by God. This does not occur due to the Khalifa’s faults but due to the moral and spiritual failure of the community.

Thus, the establishment of a Khilafat requires the presence of a group of true believers who implement the Prophet’s message.

Khilafat is established in a community that is already predominantly faithful and performs righteous deeds. The Khalifa does not come to renew faith but to organise, strengthen, and perfect the existing faithful community.

Khilafat serves to consolidate and advance a faithful community. The Khalifa guides the ummah, implements Islamic laws, and promotes justice and unity. Examples include the rightly guided Khulafa, who preserved the established principles after the passing of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad (PBUH).

It should also be noted that Allah protects and supports a khalifa in the same manner as a prophet. This means that a true khalifa is supported by Allah in a way that resembles the support given to prophets. (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 8, p. 578, by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood).

Unity matters

A central reason Khilafat is considered a divine institution is its role in maintaining unity among believers. A legitimate Khalifa serves as a uniting figure – someone who continuously calls the community back to the core message of the Prophet.

When humans alone try to create unity on purely worldly bases – like political alliance, shared economic interests, or social conveniences – such alliances can shift or fade over time, leading to divisions. When unity is founded on God’s guidance and the inheritance of prophetic teachings, it acquires a deeper, spiritual bond that is not so easily broken by worldly disputes.

Hence, the concept that Allah is the One who truly” appoints the Khalifa underscores that the leadership role is not meant for cultivating personal power, but for safeguarding faith, ensuring spiritual well-being, and guiding people to implement God’s commandments.

God uses the person to show His will and confirm His intentions, even in the selection of the khalifa. If we fulfil the prerequisites of the khalifa, then God’s will will also manifest in our choice of a khalifa.

Source: Al Hakam, London.

Shenali D Waduge

What can never be overlooked is the fact that Buddhist jurisprudence governed Sri Lanka for over 2600 years & formed the moral, legal & cultural foundation of the society & civilization. This was recognized & acknowledged in clause 5 of the 1815 Kandyan Convention guaranteeing continuation of Buddhism & its traditions. That historical continuity is enshrined in Article 9 of Sri Lanka’s 1978 Constitution mandating the State to give foremost place to Buddhism & protect & foster the Buddha Sasana. This means, no Sri Lankan government, elected or unelected has legal or moral authority to sign any international agreement, treaty, MOU or accept non-binding UN recommendations that compromise Buddhist jurisprudence or its principles. The power of Article 9 & the Buddha Sasana is unconditional & limitless because it reflects the unbroken will of a 2,600-year-old civilization that entrusted the State with its spiritual guardianship.

The moment Article 9 is removed or weakened, the Buddha Sasana loses its legal protection, Buddhist clery, Dhamma education, Vinaya-based guidance is erased & loses significance, foreign ideologies gain entry & legitimize & roll out all forms of immoral subversions on individuals & society under the banner of human rights” & there is no defense line to protect the nation morally, culturally or legally as psychological colonization would end up destroying an entire nation.

This is why every foreign proposal / recommendation / MOUs etc has to be viewed with caution & explore what their ultimate objectives are & how far these conflict with Article 9 which covers the entire island & not just Sinhala Buddhists but all of the citizens of Sri Lanka including their faiths. This aspect is important for all to understand & acknowledge.

Every foreign proposal must be scrutinized through the lens of Article 9 (a National shield not a sectarian clause)

The belief that Article 9 benefits only Sinhala Buddhists is false.

Article 9 safeguards the Buddha Sasana as a moral backbone of Sri Lanka’s civilizational identity. This indirectly upholds social order, public morality & inter-religious coexistence. Article 9 creates an ethnical environment where all faiths can thrive in peace. Article 9 protects cultural continuity, discipline, family structures & child protection of all. Article 9 ensure foreign ideologies that threaten moral decay & societal breakdowns are filtered out through a constitutional lens rooted in spiritual wisdom. Article 9 serves every citizen because it preserves a shared moral ecosystem.

Having established that Article 9 & Buddha Sasana represents not only the heritage of the Sinhala Buddhist majority but also the moral, ethical, legal & cultural foundation of the entire island, while serving all citizens of Sri Lanka irrespective of faith, ethnicity of background without prejudice, Article 9 essentially serves as a constitutional shield to ensure foreign ideologies, moral corruptions, rights without duties do not erode the spiritual & societal well-being of the nation.

The protective power & protective nature of Article 9 & the Buddha Sasana is enshrined in the Constitution & has to be formally recognized & respected by every arm of the State – the Executive President, the Judiciary, Public Institutions & Civil Society as being the final legal & moral safeguard on Sri Lanka’s national identity & future stability.

Thus, every MOU, treaty, foreign recommendation must be examined cautiously.

Sri Lanka has every right to adopt a constitutional filter before endorsing them. It must be used as a safeguard.

Within the lens of Article 9 & Buddha Sasana, Sri Lanka’s custodians (President, Parliament, Public Sector & Judiciary) must determine

• Real objective of the foreign proposals
• Whether it undermines the natural family, morality, education, or constitutionally accepted gender
• Whether it promotes rights at the cost of duties contradicting Buddhist & local values
• When it directly displaces religious teachings in favor of secular ideologies.

If yes” – the state has a constitutional duty under Article 9 to reject them.

Are all State Institutions & Citizens aware that Article 9

• Applies across the entire territory of Sri Lanka – every district, every province without exception.
• Offers moral protection to all faiths & communities not just Sinhala Buddhists by preserving the integrity of our national ethos & foundational heritage
• Does not permit fragmentation or compromise under influence of foreign ideologies, NGO funding or commercial interests.

This means an erosion of Article 9 becomes an erosion of the nation’s moral compass & all the communities begin to feel its consequences. The call to create a rainbow” nation is one such threat that will impact all communities adversely & why Article 9 can only prevent such roll out.

We can see growing pressures to adopt foreign legal frameworks /international agreements that conflict with Buddhist values. Some are even camouflaging their foreign objectives pretending to honor Buddhism. These are all trojan horses.

Buddha’s teachings promote Duties before Rights- individual rights arise only after fulfilment of one’s duties. This foundational principle must be universally applied in governance & law too.

Moral Duties – to oneself, one’s family, society & spiritual order – this ensures social harmony & individual progress

Neglecting one’s duties leads to disorder, social collapse & loss of spiritual integrity

Rights without duties are meaningless.

Thus, when the Constitution affirms the State’s foremost DUTY is the protection of the Buddha Sasana – it guarantees spiritual, cultural well-being of the nation for the present & future generations.

The most recent Supreme Court determination (SC SD 54/2024 & 55/2024) on the Gender Equity Bill reaffirmed that any legal redefinition of sex/gender must proceed by constitutional amendment preserving the biological & moral framework grounded in Buddhist principles.

In Basnayaka vs AG case the Court held that the Govt actions or agreements conflicting with Article 9 are unconstitutional.

As Sri Lanka faces increasing pressure to adopt international norms that conflict with social, religious, cultural & family values & also contradicts Buddhist jurisprudence the State must not sign or ratify any bilateral or multilateral MOU, pact or agreement or even UN recommendations without evaluating its compatibility with Article 9. Any instrument conflicts with Article 9 or Buddha Sasana must be declared ultra vires (beyond the govt’s constitutional authority) & be rejected, suspended or renegotiated.

Sri Lanka’s Constitution and Buddhist heritage are inseparable. The State’s constitutional duty to protect the Buddha Sasana under Article 9, anchored in the Buddha’s principle of duties before rights, mandates vigilant protection against any foreign or domestic attempt to erode Buddhist jurisprudence through international agreements or policies.

By honoring this sacred duty, Sri Lanka safeguards its identity, spiritual health, and future generations & the wellbeing & coexistences of all communities. Upholding Article 9 is not a political choice — it is a civilizational obligation, a spiritual defense, and a constitutional mandate. To defend Article 9 is to defend the soul of the nation.

Shenali D Waduge