Letter to India’s prime minister and the minister of health 

The global pandemic preparedness accord (‘pandemic treaty’) currently being put in place by the World Health Organization (WHO) will pave the way for a fascist approach to societal management.” The beneficiaries will be unscrupulous corporations and investors whom the COVID‐19 response served well. This will result in the loss of human rights and individual freedom. 

So says Dr David Bell, a clinical and public health physician with a PhD in population health and former WHO scientific and medical officer. The treaty represents a terrifying power grab that, if successful, will give the WHO a central directing role and monopoly power in global health governance.   

As currently drafted, the treaty will hand the WHO the authority to order measures, including significant financial contributions by individual states, lockdowns, travel restrictions, forced medical examinations and mandatory vaccinations during a public health emergency of its own declaring. 

The WHO will have sole and extensive power to declare Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) for any potential or real threat for extended areas, whether these threats are biological, climate or environment related. And it will do so without proper proof and solely decide measures and medical substances to be imposed on the public without informed consent.  

Its powers will also include the official censorship of information, including free speech — views opposing the official narrative put out by the WHO ­— and it will be accountable to no national parliament or be limited by any constitutional safeguards.  

A group of prominent lawyers, doctors and concerned citizens have written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Mansukh L Mandaviya urging them to reject the WHO’s global pandemic treaty. The signatories are listed at the end of this article, and the 10-page letter can be accessed in full with all relevant links and references on the Awaken India website: WHO Pandemic Treaty Ultra Vires of the Constitution). 

Top of Form

TheWHO released a Zero Draft of the WHO CA+ (this ‘pandemic treaty’ is now officially known as an ‘accord’) with 38 Articles on 1 February 2023 and, subsequently, another draft with 41 Articles on 2 June 2023. The accord marks a fundamental change in how the WHO will function. It seeks secretively, behind closed doors, sweeping powers under its director general.    

The signatories make clear that, under the proposed accord, the WHO can, at will, call a pandemic, declare a PHEIC and then take over the authority of national governments to detain citizens, restrict their travel, require them to have vaccine passports (forced testing and vaccination) and increase social media censorship. The accord would also operate as a ‘framework convention’ that’s on-going, year after year, indefinitely. It facilitates a dictatorship role for the WHO as it moves to acquire unfettered power. 

Two instruments, the accord itself and amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, are designed to operate in parallel to give draconian powers to the WHO. Both texts irremediably entail the transfer to the WHO of the power to threaten health freedom, thereby representing a fundamental threat to national, medical and bodily autonomy.  

In their letter, the authors state that the WHO is an external, unelected body, which may not and cannot be appointed to such a dictatorship position. During the COVID-19 event, the WHO’s role in facilitating medical tyranny was clear to see.   

It advocated enforced lockdowns, which destroyed the livelihoods of millions in India and across the world and created a surge in mental health problems. It shut down schools, putting back the education of a generation. It promoted incompletely tested and unapproved vaccines under EUA (Emergency Use Authorisation) that despite the claims of ‘safe and effective’ where nothing of the sort and caused a sharp rise in spike protein-induced heart and brain disease.   

If adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024 by a simple majority vote, the ‘pandemic treaty’ will come into force within 12 months for all countries, unless a country proactively files rejections or reservations within a 10-month period. 

The letter to the prime minister and the health minister states that the accord and those pushing it are:  

Manifestly violative of Fundamental Rights of the citizens of India and, therefore, Ultra Vires of the Indian Constitution. In their very intent, they cancel the fundamental right to bodily autonomy and integrity, through mandating medical procedures, coercion and further grossly illegal acts.”  

The letter adds:  

This is a breathtaking and terrifying onslaught on fundamental civil liberties. It must be understood as fundamental, that the negation of bodily integrity of any human being means the loss of all human rights.”  

In making its point, the letter refers to the Nuremberg Code (1947) by stating:  

The consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights resumed this ban against unintentional experimentation in its 1966 text, which states: no one may be subjected without his consent to medical or scientific experiment.” 

It also references the Geneva statement for doctors (1948):   

I will respect the autonomy and dignity of my patient. I will not use my medical knowledge to infringe human rights and civil liberties, even under force. I will keep absolute respect for human life, from conception. I will consider my patient’s health as my first concern.”  

The signatories note that there is little alternative but to jettison the WHO from national life and implore the prime minister and the health minister to act to uphold the sovereignty of India and the rights of every citizen.  

They add that unelected, unaccountable and largely unknown delegates from 194 countries meet in Geneva during World Health Assembly meetings, as they did in 2022 when they adopted amendments to the IHR. The process is fraught with secrecy, autocracy and impending tyranny, blatantly devoid of any transparent, democratic process.  

These country delegates are unelected and do not represent the people of their country. The signatories ask:  

How can they negotiate on behalf of nations, let alone an international/global health regulation binding on 194 countries?” 

If the ‘global pandemic treaty’ is forced through, we could see perpetual lockdowns. At the same time, corporate interests will dominate. Pandemics will become self-sustaining by creating a bureaucracy whose existence will depend on them.   

People will be at the mercy of the police and bureaucrats who will be immune to any penalty for any acts carried out in ‘good faith’. These acts could take the form of mandatory medical procedures, forced entry into premises, forced isolation and quarantine.  

It was bad enough in 2020 with the full force of the state lined up against the public, especially those who did not agree with COVID policies, but imagine the abuse of power that could occur if the WHO acquires the powers it seeks.  

The seeds of totalitarianism were clear to see with Anthony Fauci saying that he is ‘the science’, former New Zealand PM Jacinda Arden declaring the government as the ‘single source of truth’ and social media companies working hand in glove with the deep state to censor and deplatform prominent figures and world-renowned scientists who questioned the official narrative. 

We saw the suspension of fundamental civil liberties with the threat of state violence on hand, often resulting in citizens being abused by de facto paramilitary police forces for breaching ‘pandemic rules’ that had no scientific basis.   

Governments declared that they were ‘following the science’, but what we saw were inflated death numbers, manipulated data and the fraudulent use of RT-PCR tests to help create the perception of a deadly pandemic in the minds of the public. Readers can consult the online article Stay Home, Save Lives: Uncovering the COVID Deception, which provides insight into the various deceptions that helped instil fear into the global population in 2020.  

The WHO also provided a wrong projection of mortality. The exaggeration caused panic in the population ­— part of a carefully orchestrated ‘fear pandemic’ ­— and paved the way for lockdowns and the mass uptake of vaccines sold to the public based on false claims. The synthetic spike protein of the vaccines has resulted in clotting, bleeding, heart problems and brain blood clotting as well as neurodegenerative problems. And what we are seeing across so many countries since the vaccine rollout is significant excess mortality, which the media is silent about. 

Moreover, the WHO operates within a biopharmaceutical complex, a complicated syndicate that has formed over time, which instructs world health policies. This complex involves the health agencies of national governments, including India, the US and the UK, the World Economic Forum, the Gates Foundation, the Welcome Group and major pharmaceutical companies. Revolving door arrangements between these organisations have resulted in regulatory capture.  

Researcher and campaigner Yohan Tengra of the Awaken India Movement conducted a two-year investigation into how this works in India. Through his research, he exposed the billionaire cartel that controlled India’s COVID-19 Task Force. Tengra listed not just the names of those who sat on this task force, but he also detailed how they are financially connected to the pharmaceutical-vaccine industry.  

The task force was responsible for the aggressive push to lockdown, mandatory mask requirements, forced testing of asymptomatic people, dropping ivermectin from the national protocol, suppressing vaccine adverse events and much more. 

Tengra also exposed how India’s prominent public health personalities, who regularly appeared in the media and on TV, are connected to the Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Welcome Trust, USAID, the World Bank and other aspects of the global deep state. 

We have every right to be concerned about a ‘pandemic treaty’ shaped by powerful interests with stakes in closing down economies (see the online article Systemic Collapse and Pandemic Simulation by Fabio Vighi), mandatory vaccination programmes and digital surveillance who are all too willing to strip away our fundamental rights for their own gain. 

The letter to India’s prime minister and the minister of health makes clear that the WHO’s massive conflict of interest should disqualify it from any role in world health.  

Signatories:  

Dr. Jacob Puliyel, Delhi, MD, MRCP, MPhil, Paediatrician and Visiting Faculty International  

Prashant Bhushan, New Delhi, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India  

Colin Gonsalves, New Delhi, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India   

Nilesh Ojha, Mumbai, President – Indian Bar Association, Advocate Bombay High Court and Supreme Court of India, Human Rights Activist  

Author Dr. Amitav Banerjee, Pune, MD, Formerly Epidemiologist, Indian Armed Forces  

Dr Aseem Malhotra, London (Overseas Citizen of India), MBChB, MRCP. Consultant Cardiologist  

Aruna Rodrigues, Mhow, Lead Petitioner: GMO PIL in the Supreme Court and Member Iridescent Blue Fish (IBF)  

Dr. Donthi Narasimha Reddy, Hyderabad, Public Policy Expert and Campaigner  

Dr. Megha Consul, Gurugram, Paediatrics, Senior Consultant, Neonatologist  

Dr. Pravin Chordia, Pune, MD Surgeon  

Dr. Lalitkumar Anande, Mumbai, MBBS, PG Diploma in Clinical Research  

Dr. Vijay Raghava, Bangalore, MBBS Dr. Veena Raghava, Bangalore, MBBS, DA  

Dr. Kuldeep Kumar, Haridwar, MBBS MS (GENERAL SURGERY) Dr. Praveen Saxena, Hyderabad, Radiologist & Clinical metal toxicologist, MBBS, DMRD Osmania  

Dr. Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, Faridabad, Ph.D (Diabetes)  

Dr. Gautam Das, Kolkata, MBBS, General Physician  

Saraswati Kavula, Hyderabad, Documentary Filmmaker & Freelance Journalist, Awaken India Movement  

Bhaskaran Raman, Mumbai, Professor, Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Advocate  

Ishwarlal S. Agarwal, Mumbai Advocate  

Tanveer Nizam, Mumbai  

Dr. Susan Raj, Chattisgrah, BSc Nurse, MSW(M&P), Doctorate Humanities, Behavior Specialist  

Jagannath Chaterjee, Bhubhaneshwar, Social Activist  

Dr. Abhay Chedda, Mumbai, BHMS, CCAH, FCAH  

Dr. Gayatri Panditrao, Pune, Homeopathic Physician, BHMS, PGDEMS  

Dr. Rashmi Menon, Mumbai, BHMS, ChT  

Rossamma Thomas, Pala, Kottayam, Kerala, Freelance Journalist  

Ambar Koiri, Mumbai, Awaken India Movement  

Dr. G Prema, Tamil Nadu, Classical Homeopath, Aasil Health Care  

Dr. S. G. Vombatkere, Mysuru, Human Rights Activist Advocate  

Anand Singh Bahrawat, Indore, High Court of Indore Advocate  

Vijay Kurle, Mumbai  

Advocate L Shunondo Chandiramani, Indore, High Court of Indore

Colin Todhunter is a research associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (Canada) and specialises in food, agriculture, health and development issues.

Mehjabin Bhanu – Bangladeshi columnist, security and strategic affairs analyst, and teacher.

A recent increase in remittances, touching $1.07 billion during December 1-15, 2023, underlines significant support for our foreign exchange reserves. This significant increase not only indicates promising growth but also reveals a resilient pattern in remittance flows. As Bangladesh navigates through economic transitions and global challenges, the robustness shown in remittance flows serves as a beacon of hope, promising resilience and prosperity in the times ahead.

The information provided by the Balance of Payments (BOP) Department and Statistics Department is not just a numerical update; It is a narrative of economic vitality and sustainable growth. The data from December 1 to December 15 allow a comprehensive analysis of trends and a deeper understanding of their significance, especially when compared to the earlier days of the month.

Economic resilience is a fascinating story in attracting remittances from various financial institutions. State-owned commercial banks have shown a significant positive sign, exemplified by institutions such as Janata Bank, which have significantly boosted cumulative remittances. Meanwhile, financial institutions have contributed significantly to this growth, exhibiting a commendable growth trajectory.

The dynamic is particularly noticeable in the private commercial banking sector. Remittances increased from $461.88 million to $921.69 million during December 1-15 indicating a strong financial landscape. Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s continued leading position, contributing $387.93 million, reinforces the significant role of banks in this growth narrative.

Note that Bangladesh received 21.6 billion dollars in remittances in the last financial year, which highlights the significant role of remittances in the country’s economy.

If remittance flows continue to rise in the latter half of December, it will reflect the confidence and reliance of foreign workers on Bangladesh’s economy. This sustained growth paves the way for increased economic stability, development initiatives and opportunities for the nation.

Not only that, Bangladesh ranks seventh in the world in terms of expatriate income and most of this income comes from the United States. By the end of 2023, formal total expatriate income in legitimate channels may reach 23 billion or 2 thousand 3 billion dollars with a growth of 7 percent.

Recently, the World Bank and Nomad’s report on Migration and Development has revealed this information.

The second highest remittances after the US comes from Saudi Arabia. In addition, a significant amount of expatriate income comes from several Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC) countries. This includes several countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Iraq. Although there is a negative trend in Bangladesh’s remittances or expatriate income in 2022, the World Bank has predicted growth this year.

According to the data of Bangladesh Bank, the country received 193 million dollars of expatriate income in November, which is 21 percent more than the same month of the previous year. In the 11 months up to November of this year, expatriate income has reached 19.92 billion or 1,992,570,000 dollars. As a result, according to the World Bank’s forecast, expatriate income needs to increase from 23 billion to 307 billion dollars by the end of 2023, which is considered difficult.

As a result of additional incentives given to expatriate income, remittance of expatriate income through banking channels has increased from July to November of the current financial year 2023-24.

Among the South Asian countries, Bangladesh is one of the few countries that have been able to set a unique example of socio-economic development. Bangladesh is at the forefront of economic and social indicators, leaving behind neighboring countries.

Bangladesh is seen as a model for the economic development of many less developed countries in the world today. The country has managed to maintain an economic growth rate of over six percent for over a decade.

British research institute Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) says that Bangladesh will be one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2040. Market size, economic growth, and potential in various sectors such as agriculture, industry, and service sector are significant.

According to the data of Bangladesh Bank, last September 2023, the country’s remittance flow decreased slightly, but it increased again in the following months. In September, compared to the same period last year (2022), the remittances decreased by 13.33 percent (1.54 billion dollars) to 1.34 billion dollars.

Expatriates sent about $1.6 billion in remittances in August, the lowest in six months. In February, its amount was 1.56 billion dollars. Remittance inflows fell further to $1.34 billion in September, the lowest in 40 months.

However, remittances increased to $1.98 billion in October, which was $0.64 billion higher than the previous month. In the following month, the remittance flow decreased slightly to 1.93 billion dollars, which is almost 21 percent higher than in November last year.

From this point of view, this increase in remittances indicates the trend of our economic development and will help to increase the flow of remittances in the coming days.

The current government is determined to keep the country’s socio-economic development and education rate stable. Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working towards this goal and her government’s multi-faceted steps towards expatriate income are encouraging remittance warriors to send more remittances. In the meantime, the government has increased the amount of approval to send money through legal channels.

The government is working to maintain the stability of the foreign exchange market in spite of various adversities and global crises. Also, the Hon’ble Prime Minister has been working for the last one and half decades in creating skilled manpower, providing training, providing loans, and other facilities.

We believe that Bangladesh will ensure a sustainable economy and soon achieve the status of a developed country by continuing the development of the honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in increasing the export of skilled manpower and remittances.

Lal Mia, an associate professor at the ‘Department of Political Science’ at Mashuddi Razia College in Tangail Bangladesh

Over the last several decades, one of the most important issues has been the global climate problem. Globally, climate change is having a significant impact on biodiversity, livelihoods, and human life. The frequency and severity of floods, landslides, storms, droughts, heat waves, and cold spells is increasing, resulting in severe food and water scarcity, the homelessness of millions of people, an increase in health risks and fatalities, and a grave danger to biodiversity.

Global climate change is mostly affecting coastal populations and island nations, with South Asian countries being particularly susceptible to its effects. There are several factors that make South Asian nations more susceptible to climate change, but their geographic position is what ultimately adds to their responsibilities. The increase in sea level, cyclonic activity, variations in air temperature, and altered precipitation patterns are the direct and indirect effects of the growing climate catastrophe that people in these regions are facing.

Bangladesh’s low-lying delta plain terrain makes it vulnerable to cyclones, storm surges, riverine floods, and droughts, posing a danger to people with many climate hazards even if the country’s global emissions are just 0.56%.

Bangladesh, which has been battling the consequences of climate change for decades, is listed as the sixth most disaster-prone nation in the world by the German Watches Climate Risk Index (CRI) assessment. The nation had 185 instances of severe weather between 2000 and 2019, which cost $3.72 billion in total. A 2018 USAID assessment estimates that 143 million people, or 89% of Bangladeshis, reside in “high” or “very high” climate exposure zones.

With a predicted 19.6-inch increase in sea level, it is predicted that the nation would lose 11% of its territory by 2050, forcing one in seven Bangladeshis to leave their homes. According to many statistics, by 2050, sea level rise alone would probably compel over 18 million people to relocate.

Salinization contaminates agricultural land, endangers the drinking water supplies of residents in coastal areas, and reduces the capacity of crops to absorb water, which inhibits crop development. Consuming polluted and salty water exposes residents in coastal locations to health concerns.

Wetland ecosystems and biodiversity are negatively impacted by the climate crisis, which results in habitat destruction and the loss or relocation of key carp breeding sites in the Halda River, Chittagong. It creates difficulties with water quality in wetlands, sanitises rice fields, freshwater aquaculture facilities, and aquifers, and speeds up the loss of tourist and recreational businesses as a result of biodiversity loss. It also speeds up the destruction of habitats for Royal Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans.

Bangladesh, a nation most at danger from the climate problem, has spent the past fifteen years developing several action plans to allay worries about the changing environment. Notable action plans that support increased climate resilience include the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP, 2009), Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, updated Standing Order on Disaster (2019), and updated National Environment Policy (2018). In the meanwhile, the adaptation action plans have shown several other strategies for surviving in the face of the climate disaster in addition to somewhat alleviating the suffering of the people impacted by the climate.

But in order to guarantee sustainable adaptation, quick and efficient climate adaptation strategies must be addressed together with increased climate money from committed nations and international organisations. The introduction of comprehensive climate adaptation measures, including strategies, policies, and actions to address the negative effects of climate change on economies, societies, and ecosystems, should be prioritised in order to promote sustainable development, minimise vulnerabilities, and strengthen resilience in the face of an increasingly urgent climate crisis.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Dec 20 (Daily Mirror) – The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is deliberating tycoon Dhammika Perera as one of its four potential candidates for the upcoming Presidential Election, said SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam.

He told the media today that the party has not yet finalized its decision on the Presidential candidate. 

However, he disclosed that Dhammika Perera is presently under consideration among the list of potential candidates.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is one of the most preferred and favourite destinations for Russian tourists, said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka, 
Levan S. Dzhagaryan.

Dzhagaryan indicated an estimated 200,000 Russian tourists are likely to visit Sri Lanka in 2024 and air connectivity too would be further strengthened.

He said this to Chamber of Tourism and Industries (CTISL) President A.U.M. Jaufar when he paid a courtesy call on Dzhagaryan.The CTISL representative for the Middle East and Europe, Dr. M. Inamullah and National Organiser Donald Rajapsksha also participated in the discussion. 

Sr Lanka has welcomed 181,997 Russian tourists up to December 17 of this year.

Deputy Head of Mission Alexander Dyagilev and Second Secretary Galina Kuklina also took part in this discussion, which also focused on promoting Sri Lankan tourism to the Russian market.Attracting foreign direct investments to the hospitality industry was also discussed,” said Jaufar.

Responding to the proposals made by the CTISL, Dyagilev assured that the embassy would extend whatever assistance under the purview of the mission to coordinate with the relevant Federal Russian authorities.

Courtesy Hiru News

The World Bank has disbursed the second tranche, amounting to USD 250 million, as part of the USD 500 million Sri Lanka Resilience, Stability and Economic Turnaround (RESET) Development Policy Operation (DPO). This decision comes in recognition of the ongoing satisfactory progress made by the Sri Lankan government in implementing its reform program.

Initiated on June 28, 2023, the RESET DPO, designed to provide crucial budgetary support, represents the first in a series of interventions dedicated to implementing foundational reforms. These reforms aim to reinstate macroeconomic stability, alleviate the impact on vulnerable populations, and foster an inclusive, private sector-driven recovery.

The RESET DPO is a critical initiative aimed at bolstering Sri Lanka’s resilience, stability, and overall economic recovery. The World Bank’s release of the second tranche underscores their confidence in the government’s commitment to the prescribed reforms, which are intended to address economic challenges and pave the way for sustainable development.

The funds are expected to be utilized to support key sectors and initiatives outlined in the RESET program, which includes reforms in areas such as governance, public finance management, and social protection. The financial injection is anticipated to contribute significantly to Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen its economic foundations and navigate through challenging global economic conditions.

The World Bank clarified that the release of this financial support is contingent upon the government meeting predefined milestones and completing specific prior actions. The global financial institution emphasized the importance of ongoing economic and structural reforms, citing their critical role not only in stabilizing the economy but also in unlocking its potential for private sector-led growth and transformation.

In a statement, Faris H. Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, emphasized the significance of the RESET DPO in supporting foundational reforms. These reforms aim to propel the economy toward full recovery, enhance Sri Lanka’s competitiveness, stimulate growth potential, and facilitate private sector investment for inclusive and resilient growth and job creation.

The second tranche follows the release of the initial USD 250 million in June 2023, contingent upon the successful completion of seven reform prior actions spanning three pillars: economic governance, growth and competitiveness, and the protection of the poor and vulnerable. The World Bank has coordinated its efforts with the IMF, ADB, and other development partners to ensure a cohesive and sequenced approach in supporting Sri Lanka’s economic revitalization.

Courtesy Hiru News

The Police Special Task Force apprehended a 23-year-old student enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at Jaffna University, who was allegedly involved in a drug trafficking racket utilizing the courier system.

The arrest took place during a raid conducted in the Kopai police domain on the 19th, where law enforcement authorities detained the student, a resident of Rambewa – Siyambalawewa area. The suspect, currently in his third year of medical studies, is now facing charges related to drug trafficking.

In addition to the arrest, authorities discovered 11 pills in the possession of the student. The Police Special Task Force is investigating the extent of the student’s involvement in the alleged drug trafficking network.

The arrest serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of illicit activities even within educational institutions and the importance of collaborative efforts between law enforcement and academic authorities to maintain a safe and drug-free environment for students.

By Desamanya Dr Sudath Gunasekara. Kandy.

Beside these 14,000 houses on the hills, India has already implemented a 60,000-housing scheme for Tamils in Sri Lanka as follows, for which the Sri Lankan government has already signed an MOU with the Indian government the conditions of which are not known to the general public of this country.

India builds 60,000 houses in Sri Lanka

            In June 2010, the Government of India announced that it would construct 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka at an outlay of 33 billion LKR. A Pilot Project involving the construction of 1,000 houses was launched in November 2010 and was completed in July 2012. An MOU with the Government of Sri Lanka on the modalities of implementation of the remaining 49,000 houses under the Project was signed on 17 January 2012.

•              Pilot Phase: The government of India entrusted an agency to construct 1,000 houses for beneficiaries in the Northern Province. The project was completed in July 2012.

•              Second Phase: The second phase launched on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2 October 2012, which envisaged the construction of 45,000 houses in the Northern and Eastern Provinces was completed in December 2018.

•              An innovative owner-driven model was adopted to implement the second phase, wherein the Government of India arranged technical support and financial assistance for the owner-beneficiaries to undertake the construction/repair of their houses themselves.

•              Financial assistance of LKR 550,000 per beneficiary (LKR 250,000 in case of repair cases) was released in stages and transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries by the High Commission of India. (Where?)

•              Third Phase: The third phase of the Indian Housing Project involves the construction of 4,000 houses for estate workers in the Central and Uva Provinces through an innovative community-driven approach. Letter of Exchange with the Government of Sri Lanka for this phase was signed in April 2016 and work started in October 2016.

•              In the third phase considering the difficulties in the terrain and accessibility of materials and other logistics LKR 950,000 is disbursed per beneficiary.

•              As on date close to 2300 houses are complete in the third phase and the construction of the remaining houses is currently underway.

•              Fourth Phase: During his visit to Sri Lanka on 12 May 2017, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi announced an additional 10,000 houses for the estate workers, and the agreement was formalized in August 2018. This entails an additional commitment of LKR 11 billion. Preparatory work for these additional houses is currently underway and the construction of these houses is expected to start soon. This makes the total number of houses being built in the plantation areas 14,000.

•              As of 31 December 2019, more than a total of LKR 31 billion has been?

My Comments on this serious and important news item.

 I welcome the construction of such a large number of houses for any citizen of this country by any government.  But I don’t agree with this selective preference given only to Tamils of this country as it is bound to create a special kind of attachment and allegiance to India of a section of citizens of a particular ethnic group, that is Tamils, an imminent threat to the independence and sovereignty of this country.

The only way to overcome this imminent disaster.

First of all, we must thank the NBOR for releasing this important information for the information of the general public so that firstly, there will be increased public awareness and secondly, they will take serious notice of this imminent danger and open their eyes to take precautionary action and thirdly, they will corporate with the authorities to mitigate these disasters first, in their own interest and second, in the broader interest of the country.

If immediate action is not taken to arrest this catastrophe, before long, the entire 13,000 square kilometers of land spread over in Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Matale, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, and Hambantota- comprising 1/5th of the area of this Island as they have estimated, will be converted to an area unsuitable for human settlements. Considering the ever-increasing population with the land extent remaining constant, the Sri Lankan society will be faced with a major problem of finding sufficient space for people, increasing in millions annually to live in the short run.

Therefore, the crying need firstly, to take short-term measures to arrest this calamity. Secondly, to find out the causes that have brought about this situation and finally to immediately find a permanent workable solution to stop this manmade disaster.

The problems one can visualize in the long run can become far more serious and can even go beyond our imagination for the following reasons resulting in the total disappearance of the 2566-year-old Sinhala Buddhist civilization from the face of this earth as Tamils can go to India and Muslim to countries from where they have come. But where are we going? We have no place on this earth other than this tiny island. The causes for what we are experiencing today in these regions of this type of landslides are a direct legacy we have inherited from 103 years of British colonial devastations from done for 133 years from1815 to 1948 and the 1.2 million Indian labour they left behind when they left for their home. The actual problem at stake is much wider and deeper than the NBOR report has indicated. What we are facing today is the result of cumulative causes that have been in operation for a long time on the hillsides and are attributed to many factors other than those mentioned in para 3 of the above report. Among them the most important reason was the large-scale deforestation for Coffee and Tea on these hills, running into about 1.3 million acres of never touched before as they were reserved crown forests.

The onslaught on this forest began with the opening up of these lands for Coffee. The first commercial coffee plantation was started by George Bird, in Singhapitiya, Gampola in 1824. The same year, Edward Barnes, who became Governor of Ceylon in 1824, established another plantation in Gannoruwa in 1825 (now a part of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya). This was followed by Tea after the Coffee blight in 1869. The first tea plantation estate in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was started in 1867 by Scotsman James Taylor in Loolekandura, in the Kandy district near Hanguranketha. Thereafter Tea cultivation spread all over the hill country in no time. This resulted in the deforestation of the entire hill country within a few years. With the expansion of the Tea industry nearly 1.3 million acres of prime jungle that remained as Thahanchi kele (protected forests) by Royal decree from the inception of Civilization in this country were removed to give way for Tea bushes sprawling all over the hill country.

 This large-scale deforestation, followed by setting fire to the forests, uprooting and stumping the felled trees, digging for planting tea and earth cutting for drains,  constructions of buildings, factories and thousands of line rooms for nearly 1.2 million indentured south Indian slave labour brought by the British to work on these newly opened up land and their discriminate cuttings and digging around the line rooms for cultivations followed by a massive network of roads and a Railway line across the country’s hilly terrain up to Badulla. These entire 1.3 million acres covered with the prime forest over the whole hill country that remained undisturbed for millennia got directly exposed to heavy rain and elements of weather got eroded and degraded and the streams dried up. The inner layers are unable to withstand this sudden weakening of the binding effect of the decaying root system and opening up of underground cleavages due to heavy exposure on the surface coupled with indiscriminate land use disturbing the underlying structural harmony of the whole hill country followed by heavy rain were the main causes of these earth slips  As the prime forest was removed the earth got dried up, streams dried up underground water deposits vanished fauna and flora disappeared. In fact, it is the aftermaths of all these destructions that we see as landslides and earth slips all over the hill country,

Now it reminds me of the famous Sinhala folk ‘tale of As if the man fallen from the tree was also attacked by the Bull” adding to all damages done by the white people to this Heartland of Mother Lanka for 133 years from 1815 to 1948,  today our own government elected by us has started to destroy it completely beyond recovery by aiding and abetting the Indian Government sponsored settlement and housing program followed by large scale building program that churn up the little physical stability left behind by the British on these hills by a massive housing and settlement building program including large scale infrastructure development projects with Indian and international funding all over the hill country with no regard whatsoever to the massive and irreversible damages already caused to the Physical stability of the Geographical Heartland of this country.

Way back in 199I, I declared this geographical area as HADABIMA of Sri Lanka since it functions as the Heart of the body of Sri Lanka. Thus, not only functionally but even analogically it resembles a heart when you turn the physiographic map of the central hill country 15 degrees clockwise with two outliers, the Rakwana hills on the right-hand side and the Dumbara hills on the left side with the central massif at the center resembling heart flanked by two lungs on either side. The peculiar radial drainage pattern of 103 rivers has their sources on these hills that flow in all directions providing the water to sustain all the water to keep the entire life system in the country guaranteeing the survival of the civilization of this Island nation.

Thus, its physical stability determines and dictates the survival of the entire life system and the civilization of this Island nation. Therefore, the need to protect its physical stability by protecting its forest cover, the land, and the river system without disturbing its critical physical stability is the main and the only watershed that decides the survival of life on this Island. When the heart stops the man dies. Similarly, the day physical stability of the central hills is not there the curtain will fall on the entire life system and the civilization of this Island. It is in this perspective one has to look at the need to protect the physical stability of these central hills.

Removing the forest cover on these hills will first make these rivers dry. All 103 main rivers in this Island have their sources on these hills. Continuous landslides and deforestation followed by land degradation and bad land use practices will soon lead to the drying up of all these rivers. Since these rivers form the life arteries that provide the water needed for the entire life system in the down-streams area in the lowland surrounding the central hill country, their drying up will lead to the extinction of life in the Island and inevitably thereafter human civilization in the country will vanish in the long run, in the lowlands around the entire Island together with the hill country.

The only way to avoid this disaster is the protect of the physical stability of the central highlands, the Geographical heartland, and the HADABIMA” of Sri Lanka just like you protect your own heart. Because as much as you die if your heart stops, the same way Sri Lanka’s entire life system and civilization will also come to an end if the physical stability of the central highlands is lost.

The first step in this mission is to declare all land above 5000 ft as strictly protected and banned area for any human intervention. Second to restore its original position and maintain it regularly.

Unfortunately, none of the governments that came to power after the so-called Independence has taken any step to arrest this devastation done to this country by the British for 133 years and to restore the status quo, that was there before 1815 as a heritage coming down from the inception of history. Instead, they also have continued to accelerate the destruction done by the invaders by cruelly stabbing the heart of the nation to death, for narrow political gains.

Even the Kandyan Peasantry Commission set up in 1949 did not look at this critical problem. I am asking the present-day government as to why it keeps deaf, blind, and dumb. Why don’t you understand the gravity of this disaster? Why can’t the NBRO who impose strict conditions on innocent native villagers imposing all unnecessary conditions when they make an application to put up a wattle and doab hut on their ancestral land, take action against this wanton national crime committed by the government under pressure from the Indian government by constructing 60,000 new houses on hill slope even over 60 degrees slope on land going up to almost 8000 ft MSL. In my opinion everybody including the Government and all government department are responsible for this crime of erasing a great nation in the world from the surface of this earth by keeping deaf, dumb and blind on this issue just to woo the votes of a band of Indian cooly labour left behind by the British high and dry, who have no love for this country.

As none of the post-independent government or any responsible citizen had opened their eyes on this subject and done their duty by a great nation who had defended and protected their motherland for 443 years (1505-1948) by paying with their lives. Therefore, I am making the following proposal on their behalf to arrest this death march and restore normalcy in the Central Hill country restoring its physical stability for the Sinhala nation to protect this heritage that comes down from the sacrifices of their brave forefathers.

To avoid this imminent disaster, I propose to the government that it should take the following steps

1 Declare all forests above 5000 ft above MSL as strictly reserved heritage forests of the country, as it had been done throughout history leaving Nuwara Eliya Bandarawela, Hakgala Botanical Garden, Ambewela farm, and the Horton Plain as tourist attractions. The road network all over the hill country must be maintained for tourist’ purposes.

2. Evacuate all settlements in the region between 3500 ft and 5000 ft msl and settle them at a lower contour that is between 1000-3500 leaving only the tea factories and allied offices to remain within the zone 3500 -5000. These settlements also will provide the labour required for the tea plantations between 3500-5000 ft msl.

The large-scale tea plantations between 3500-5000 should be managed by JEDB and SLPC, USAWASAMA, or big native private Companies. None should be given to foreigners.

3. Relocate all displaced plantation workers, who are willing to abide by the laws of the land in the area between 1000-35000 ft lands on 2 ½ acre farm lots together with landless Kandyan peasants in the adjoining villages. Here priority should be given to landless Kandyan Peasants, as they were the original owners of these lands. These settlements should be developed as mixed farm lots of the HADABIMMA model giving rise to a unique settlement model. Land allocation should be done by drawing lots to avoid discrimination. That will also help social integration between the native Sinhalese and estate Tamil labour. These farm lots will be HADABIMA model mixed farms with animal husbandry and these villages right around the hill country will also provide the labour for the 3500-6000 plantations in the neighboring estates. This settlement belt right around the central hills will develop a unique settlement model with a Kandyan forestry garden type adapted to suit the present-day socio-economic needs.

The present estate labour should cease calling themselves Naam 200 and they are Indiana Tamils.  They all should accept the historical fact that this is the land of the Sinhala nation as it has been for the past 2600 years. They also accepted the conditions in the Nehru-Kotalawala Pact of 1953 and ceased to be called Indian Tamils any longer. No Naam 200. No Malahayaha as they do now. Those who insist they want to retain this nomenclature and the Indian identity should go back to India. If they want to be identified in those terms then they should get repatriated as we cannot have Indian citizens within our territory.   But if they want to, they can observe their religion and customs in private. Those who want to integrate they can do that.  Those who refuse should go back to India or ask their colonial masters to provide land and citizenship in the UK. In the event they refuse to fall in line, with this naturalization, have no alternative but to go back either to India or the other legitimate motherland Britain as the UK is legally bound to take them back as they were British citizens at the time of their leaving this country in 1948.

Herewith I propose a pragmatic action plan to see an end to all these problems mentioned in this note, once and for all,

This Action plan if implemented will find a permanent solution for the following national problems.

1 First and foremost of them, restoring the physical stability of the HADABIMA (The central hill country) of Sri Lanka will guarantee the survival of the entire life system in this country and will protect the continuity of the civilization of this country that had been there from the dawn of history until the Sun and the Moon shall last.

2 It will solve the problem of landlessness among the Kandyan peasants, highlighted by the KPC Report 1951 but not touched up to date.

3. Thereby, partly rectify the historical injustices inflicted upon the Kandyan Sinhala patriots, the sons of the soil, whose ancestors were annihilated in tens of thousands in battle and hunger in 1817-1818 Uva Rebellion and 1848 Matale rebellions/Freedom struggles against the British colonial invaders, under orders of Brownrigg and Torrington the white murderers.

4 Solve the landlessness, unemployment problems, and other socio-economic problems of the Estate labour in the present plantation sector by converting them to respectable full native citizen status of this country.

5. It will also stop the exploitation of the estate labour by the pseudo-Indian labour leaders within the estate as feudal lords did in medieval Europe.

6. This will end the 224-year-old (1799-2023) ethnic animosity created between the native Sinhalese and these Malabar Tamils, first,  planted by the  Cleghorn report 1799 and second, by the Wesleyan Methodist Mission that met in Jan 1819 in Galle whose most important resolution, as they said was the division of Ceylon into two districts, to be designated as the Sinhalese and Tamil districts”   to destroy the native Sinhalese. They also imported Malabar Tamils, using their divide and rule policy and later used by the British as sepoys in their struggles against the native Sinhalese in the freedom Struggles of 1817-1818 Uva Wellassa and the 1848 Matale rebellion and thereafter exploited them to enrich the British and Indian Banks up to date by the British by engaging these  as cheap labour working under trying conditions.

And since the British left in1948, leaving the Indian labour  high and dry as a band of stateless destitute exploited by the feudal minded Estate Tamil labour leaders and communal Tamil politicians led by Thondaman and his heirs up to date and also by selfish native Sinhala political leaders  who woo them for their vote at every election,  (even though they never get it) and finally, using them as fodder by Indian Mandarins and politicians, partly in pursuance of their expansionist agenda and partly, to meet domestic politics exigencies of winning the 39 seats in Tamilnadu.

7.The implementation of this plan will also see the end of Tamil communal politics in the central hill country of this country.

8 With the completion of this humanitarian settlement program Sri Lanka will be relieved once and for all of the presence of the headache of an anti-Sinhala anti-Buddhist pro-Indian enclave consisting of 1.2 million band of Malabar Tamils in the Heartland of this Sinhala Buddhist Kingdom that was there for the last 2600 years and instead we will be blessed with a band of naturalized native citizens who love this as their own motherland, even better than the original Sinhalese just like the naturalized and integrated south Indians who came to this country in the medieval times, presently living in the South Western quarter of the country.

With the completion of this project, all the following institutions should be closed down.

1. Ministry of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development

2. The Ministry of State Infrastructure a development

3 New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region

and all other agencies with direct foreign intervention and funds to this sector based on ethnicity

 The practice of creating separate ministries and Institutions and appointing these plantation sector Tamil politicians to high posts,  such as Ministers and Governors, just to woo the estate sector Tamil votes should be stopped forthwith.

This is the type of houses built with Indian assistance on the central hills indiscriminately without any regard for the physical stability of the Central hill contrast time.

It is said that already 60,000 houses have been built and another 40 000 are to be built very soon.

Indian built Housing schemes in other parts of the country outside the hill country.

Pathfinder Economic Alert

The Pathfinder Foundation has formed a Study Group of Experts to develop a blueprint and framework aimed at doubling Sri Lanka’s economic growth rate through accelerated economic integration and infrastructural connectivity with India. The framework document is expected to be formally launched in March 2024. Most economic forecasts place Sri Lanka on an average growth trajectory of 3% per annum for the next decade. Such an anaemic growth rate will not help resolve Sri Lanka’s daunting social and economic challenges by any stretch of the imagination. Sri Lanka needs to think big and shift paradigms if the country is to find a way out of a seemingly hopeless predicament. As growth in the rest of the world including China continues to slowdown, India is expected to grow at above 6% per annum and will remain one of the best-performing economies in the world for the foreseeable future.While foreign investment into many regions is falling, investors are flocking to India due to its large market and emerging middle class.
Through an accelerated economic integration and physical connectivity strategy with India, Sri Lanka could take advantage of this momentum and easily double its economic growth to 6% per annum. India is already the largest source market for Sri Lankan tourism.

For example, at the end of the Second World War, the Netherlands seized the opportunity to develop its air, sea, rail, road, and energy sectors to become Europe’s distribution centre. Today, Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, and Amsterdam is a principal global aviation hub. In fact, Singapore, too, used the Netherlands as a model for its own planning during its early stages of development. As windows of opportunity open and close quickly, it is essential for Sri Lanka to rapidly move towards becoming the principal gateway to South Asia, the Middle East, the Far East, and beyond before circumstances evolve and Sri Lanka is left behind.

Sri Lanka’s modern historical landscape has been littered with many missed opportunities. During the 1970s, in the heyday of US and European global expansion, Sri Lanka chose to nationalise Western multinationals operating in the country and as a result lost out on potential foreign investment opportunities to East Asia. Subsequently, President J.R. Jayewardene opened the economy and worked with the West and Japan to attract funding and investment for large-scale projects such as the Accelerated Mahaweli programme, port development, export-processing zones, and other infrastructure projects. Unfortunately Sri Lanka’s inability to grasp and manage the realpolitik of the Cold War period especially in terms of the Indian relationship, ultimately contributed to an intractable war that lasted nearly thirty years. In the 1980s when Japanese investors started to look abroad to relocate their industries for competitiveness, Sri Lanka was very high on the shortlist. However, despite the excellent bilateral relationship between the two countries, due to persistent civil unrest during that period, in Sri Lanka, Japanese industries chose to relocate to Malaysia, Thailand, and other East Asian countries instead. In many ways, Sri Lanka also missed the opportunities presented during the early stages of China’s economic rise. Today, China is an important investment partner for Sri Lanka, although geopolitical realities will frame how thisrelationship can be managed.

India’s dramatic transformation into a fast-growing global economic powerhouse presents Sri Lanka with yet another chance to get the country onto a fast economic growth trajectory that will integrate it with the global economy on a competitive footing. The Pathfinder Foundation Study Group blueprint and framework will conceptually present the key requirements for infrastructure connectivity between Sri Lanka and India including land, rail, ports/shipping, airports/airlines, electricity, energy/oil, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure. It will also identify other requirements that would facilitate speedy economic integration.

The Study Group will delineate an accelerated programme to achieve physical connectivity between India and Sri Lanka, while ensuring that Sri Lanka’s national security, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and unique cultural identity are safeguarded. It will also advocate an ambitious programme like the Accelerated Mahaweli programme that will seek to mobilise funding on a global level from bilateral, multilateral and international private-sector sources. There is no doubt that this is a very auspicious time for such an initiative and international support and resources will be available, Sri Lanka must have the political will to seize this rare advantage that would put Sri Lanka on track. Besides the obvious medium and long-term advantages this program will have, there will also be many short-term spin-off benefits to the local economy as well. These will help create employment and opportunities in sectors such as construction.

Once this blueprint is complete, Pathfinder will present it for discussion in Sri Lanka and internationally. Earlier this year, the Pathfinder Foundation launched a report entitled ‘Medium and Long-term Strategy for Indo-Japanese Collaboration to Support the Economic Transformation of Sri Lanka’, which was launched in both Colombo and New Delhi.

This is a PATHFINDER ECONOMIC ALERT of the Pathfinder Foundation can read www.pathfinderfoundation.org. Readers’ comments are welcome

Courtesy The New Indian Express

Murugan is currently lodged in the special camp for foreigners in Tiruchy. He had applied for permission to travel abroad to be with his daughter in UK.

Published: 19th December 2023 10:28 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th December 2023 10:28 AM  |  A+A A-

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The centre has told Madras High Court it cannot deport Murugan, one of those convicted for assassinating former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, to United Kingdom, as per his request, but he can be repatriated to his home country Sri Lanka provided the island nation gives its nod. 

The Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Monday, made the submission before a division bench of Justices D Krishnakumar and P Dhanapal when a petition filed by Murugan, who was released last year, came up for hearing.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) AR L Sundaresan, representing the FRRO, said that Murugan seeks issuance of travel documents to exit India and go to UK but such a permission or exit order cannot be issued by FRRO. The FRRO has written to the MEA, which has forwarded the papers to Sri Lankan High Commission, the ASG added.

Only if the Sri Lankan High Commission issues a passport or travel documents to the petitioner, can FRRO proceed further and issue an exit order for the petitioner to leave for his home country,” the ASG said. He mentioned that the exit order cannot be given to any other country.

Murugan is currently lodged in the special camp for foreigners in Tiruchy. He had applied for permission to travel abroad to be with his daughter in UK. The bench disposed of the petition with a direction to the state government to provide security for Murugan whenever he visits Chennai to complete formalities for issuance of a passport.

 By YOHAN PERERA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Dec 19 (Daily Mirror) –  Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today said he did inform former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to appoint Ali Sabry as the Minister of Justice in his cabinet.

I did inform former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to appoint Ali Sabry as the Minister of Justice in his cabinet. I did this after a Buddhist monk cautioned me about the move by the former President to appoint Sabry as the Justice Minister,” Cardinal Ranjith told a press conference.

We were disturbed about the appointment initially as we thought that the Easter Sunday attacks were done by a certain religious group which could influence Sabry. However we changed our stance when it was found out that there is another conspiracy behind the attack,” the Cardinal added.

My trust on Gotabaya Rajapaksa was lost when he appointed a subcommittee to relook at the report of the presidential commission which probed Easter Sunday attacks,” he also said.

Cardinal said the church is not prepared to meet incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the latter had told Indian journalists. We want the government to carry out a probe on the matters revealed by the Channel 4 and the presidential commission, to involve the officers who carried out the initial probe on Easter Sunday attacks on the fresh probes. We also want any future probe done under international monitors,” he also said.

Referring to celebration of Christmas, the Cardinal urged all Catholics to give a meal to the needy. I am going to request all Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese to give a meal to the poor. I am also going to give a meal to the poor and spend Christmas with them,” he said in this regard.

Courtesy Adaderana

Being part of the diaspora does not make someone an extremist or anti-Sri Lankan, says Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka.

Speaking on the negative perception associated with the term diaspora” in Sri Lanka, Ratnayake explained that any Sri Lankan living in another country, regardless of ethnicity or religion, is part of the diaspora.

Ratnayake acknowledged historical events in Sri Lanka that have created distance between the country and its people, especially those living abroad. He highlighted the challenges faced by those in the diaspora who want to contribute to the country’s development but encounter bureaucratic obstacles.

Addressing the International Migrant Day at the President’s Office on Monday (Dec.18), Ratnayake emphasized the importance of engaging the diaspora and creating an environment that encourages their return and investment.

During the event, the Chief of Presidential Staff inaugurated the official website, https://oosla.lk/ for the Office of Overseas Sri Lankan Affairs.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Lakshman Samaranayake. In recognition of the exemplary services rendered by the Office of Sri Lankan Affairs Abroad, the Chief of Presidential Staff, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, presented Prof. Samaranayake with a commemorative memento as a token of appreciation.

Ratnayaka further said that the establishment of the Office for Overseas Sri Lankan Affairs (OOSLA) aligns with the broader economic reform process in Sri Lanka.

While emphasizing the need for transparency, the Chief of Presidential Staff underscored the importance of offering a level playing field and attractiveness to make Sri Lanka an appealing place for investment opportunities, attracting Sri Lankans living abroad to invest in the country.

The concept behind OOSLA was to create an overarching office that engages with the entire Sri Lankan diaspora. The aim is to assist Sri Lankans living abroad with issues like dual citizenship, passport renewals and obtaining information about their relations, with the broader goal of bringing together all Sri Lankans to contribute to the country’s development.

Ratnayaka acknowledged the challenges faced by Sri Lanka, including economic difficulties, and expressed optimism about the future, anticipating rapid growth by the end of 2024 or early 2025. He emphasized the need for collective effort and clear communication to ensure citizens understand the government’s commitment to improving their lives.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, addressing the gathering, emphasized the significance of International Migrants Day, highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with migration. The Minister underscored the need for Sri Lanka to proactively engage with its diaspora, including both permanent migrants and temporary workers abroad.

The Foreign Minister acknowledged Sri Lanka’s historical ties with migration, noting the shift from inward migration to the current trend of outward migration. He emphasized the challenges faced by those who have migrated and expressed the importance of creating conditions that encourage them to return to their homeland.

Minister Sabry stressed the need to recognize the contributions of Sri Lankan migrants, both permanent residents and temporary workers. He highlighted the importance of providing them with respect, dignity, and a sense of belonging, in line with the principles outlined in the country’s constitution.

He discussed the establishment of the Office of Overseas Sri Lankans (OOSLA) as a significant step towards addressing the concerns and needs of the diaspora.

Minister Sabry announced the approval of a new law establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission with significant powers, including the ability to provide reparations, locate missing persons, and initiate prosecutions. He sees this as a positive step towards creating an environment conducive for fair living in the country.

The lawmaker highlighted efforts to modernize services for expatriates, mentioning the aim to make all services, including immigration-related processes, accessible online. This move is intended to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and facilitate smoother interactions for Sri Lankans living abroad.

Addressing the gathering Director General of the OOSLA, V. Krishnamurthy, highlighted that in accordance with the vision of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the office commenced its operations in January 2023. He emphasized that December 18 holds particular significance as it marks the opportune day to introduce the institution to the global Sri Lankan community.

Krishnamurthy further noted that the diaspora, amounting to approximately 3 million in number, Sri Lankans who have relocated abroad for diverse reasons, has significantly influenced and contributed to the country’s economy. This acknowledgment underscores the profound impact and positive role played by this expatriate community during the preceding period.

The event garnered participation from a distinguished assembly, including Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and Secretaries of Ministries representing foreign countries. Additionally, a substantial number of Sri Lankans residing abroad engaged in the proceedings through online technology.

–PMD

Courtesy Adaderana

Pastor Jerome Fernando, who currently remains in remand custody over his controversial remarks on several religions, has been abusing the criminal justice system in the country by filing various cases, President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena alleged while speaking in court while appearing on behalf of a group of religious leaders.

The President’s Counsel stated this when a petition filed by Pastor Jerome Fernando, seeking a ruling to invalidate the order issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate under the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to remand him in custody, was taken up before the Court of Appeal today (19).

The relevant petition was called before the Appeals Court Judge D.N. Samarakoon for the presenting of written submissions.

The President’s Counsel mentioned that the Pastor had initially filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the court, seeking an order preventing his arrest while naming the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the DIG in charge of the CID, the CID director and the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the cybercrimes unit of the CID as the respondents of the petition.

He alleged that Fernando, who submitted another writ petition before the Court of Appeal regarding the same matter, withdrew the petition when the court was ready to consider it, and then submitted another petition related to the same matter.

The President’s Counsel accused the petitioner of trying to circumvent the law by submitting petitions to various courts regarding the same matter, while also accused him of abusing the criminal justice process in the country.

Furthermore, he mentioned that Pastor Jerome has not been given any special privilege before the law to act this way.

The Attorney General had raised preliminary objections against Pastor Jerome’s petition yesterday (19).

However, the Court of Appeal announced that the decision pertaining to the relevant preliminary objections will be delivered on Wednesday (Dec. 20).

Courtesy Adaderana

Nine vehicles worth Rs. 68 million owned by drug dealers have been taken into custody by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the Police during a 24-hour operation.

Speaking to the media, Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon vowed that all assets belonging to criminals, which they have acquired using ill-gotten money, would be confiscated.

Inspecting the impounded vehicles at the Illegal Assets Investigation Division in Narahenpita, the Acting Police Chief also vowed to apprehend the criminals who have fled the country to evade arrest. He emphasized that stringent measures would be taken to prevent such escape attempts.

Among the seized vehicles are two vans, three cars, one jeep, one motorcycle, and two tipper trucks.

Sri Lanka Police on Sunday (Dec.17) launched a special island-wide operation titled ‘Yukthiya’ (Justice) to crack down on drug peddling and organized crimes in the country.

Thus far, more than 4,000 arrests have been made during these special drug busts and large consignments of narcotics including heroin, ‘Ice’ and cannabis were also seized.

  Prime Minister’s Media

Under the shadow of Mahapola, new opportunities have arisen to bring together education and   knowledge.- Prime Minister

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the  Mahapola Scholarship Scheme was able to make a revolutionary impact on education and new opportunities have arisen to bring together education and   knowledge under the shade of Mahapola. He said this  while marking the last day of the ‘Mahapola’ Educational and Trade Fair which was held after a decade at Ja-Ela Municipal Stadium on 17.12.2023.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that –

Mahapola which was revived after a decade is a special program that changed the history of Mother Lanka. This program which flows like Mahaweli River, expanded in various ways and travelled all over the country making various revolutions consequent to the initiative taken by the late Minister. Lalith Athulathmudali.

I agreed as a member of parliament who was in Parliament together with Mr. Lalith  Athulathmudali. that he added something new to the history of parliament as an  excellent orator at all times. That is why we respect him even today. As a noble democrat, he bequeathed to our parliamentary democracy a way to discuss together with his opposite ideologies. Moreover Mahapola he initiated creatively for the betterment of our future generation.

Every mother and father thinks about the future of a child. It was pointed out that the Mahapola scholarship given to the children of a large population in our countryside and cities can create such an effect by solving the big issues that children had to face in the future.

The Employee’s Provident Fund which is available in Sri Lanka and Asia has become one of the largest banks for employees. At the beginning, no one thought that such a strong bank would emerge from it. Even Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali  did not think that it would be possible to endow such a huge revolution in education.

The children who can build this country produced from Mahapola are working in various institutions of our country and internationally even today. The implementation of the Mahapola program is for the growing generation of our country. When Mahapola was started, there were few universities as you could count on your fingers. Today, there are three to four times more state universities in the country. There are more than twenty private universities too in this country.

Mahapola is a hub that transforms new information technology and science to overcome challenges. A new message has started to be sent to the country that education and knowledge can be combined under the shadow of Mahapola. This program of Mahapola says that in order to overcome challenges, we must change the tradition and become the generation of a country which overcomes new challenges.

Minister Nalin Fernando, North West Governor Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and others joined this event.

  Prime Minister’s Media

JOHN J. MEARSHEIMER Courtesy The Unz Review

I do not believe that anything I say about what is happening in Gaza will affect Israeli or American policy in that conflict. But I want to be on record so that when historians look back on this moral calamity, they will see that some Americans were on the right side of history.

What Israel is doing in Gaza to the Palestinian civilian population – with the support of the Biden administration – is a crime against humanity that serves no meaningful military purpose. As J-Street, an important organization in the Israel lobby, puts it, The scope of the unfolding humanitarian disaster and civilian casualties is nearly unfathomable.”[1]

Let me elaborate.

First, Israel is purposely massacring huge number of civilians, roughly 70 percent of whom are children and women. The claim that Israel is going to great lengths to minimize civilian casualties is belied by statements from high level Israeli officials. For example, the IDF spokesman said on 10 October 2023 that the emphasis is on damage and not on accuracy.” That same day, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced: I have lowered all the restraints – we will kill everyone we fight against; we will use every means.”[2]

Moreover, it is clear from the results of the bombing campaign that Israel is indiscriminately killing civilians. Two detailed studies of the IDF’s bombing campaign – both published in Israeli outlets – explain in detail how Israel is murdering huge numbers of civilians. It is worth quoting the titles of the two pieces, which succinctly capture what each has to say:

‘A Mass Assassination Factory’: Inside Israel’s Calculated Bombing of Gaza”[3]

The Israeli Army Has Dropped the Restraint in Gaza, and the Data Shows Unprecedented Killing.”[4]

Similarly, the New York Times published an article in late November 2023 titled: Gaza Civilians, Under Israeli Barrage, Are Being Killed at Historic Pace.”[5] Thus, it is hardly surprising that the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said that We are witnessing a killing of civilians that is unparalleled and unprecedented in any conflict since” his appointment in January 2017.[6]

Second, Israel is purposely starving the desperate Palestinian population by greatly limiting the amount of food, fuel, cooking gas, medicine, and water that can be brought into Gaza. Moreover, medical care is extremely hard to come by for a population that now includes approximately 50,000 wounded civilians. Not only has Israel greatly limited the supply of fuel into Gaza, which hospitals need to function, but it has targeted hospitals, ambulances, and first aid stations.

Defense Minister Gallant’s comment on 9 October captures Israeli policy: I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly.”[7] Israel has been forced to allow minimal supplies into Gaza, but the amounts are so small that a senior UN official reports that half of Gaza’s population is starving.” He goes on to report that, Nine out of 10 families in some areas are spending ‘a full day and night without any food at all’.”[8]

Third, Israeli leaders talk about Palestinians and what they would like to do in Gaza in shocking terms, especially when you consider that some of these leaders also talk incessantly about the horrors of the Holocaust. Indeed, their rhetoric has led Omar Bartov, a prominent Israeli-born scholar of the Holocaust, to conclude that Israel has genocidal intent.”[9]

 Other scholars in Holocaust and genocide studies have offered a similar warning.[10]

To be more specific, it is commonplace for Israeli leaders to refer to Palestinians as human animals, ”human beasts,” and horrible inhuman animals.”[11] And as Israeli President Isaac Herzog makes clear, those leaders are referring to all Palestinians, not just Hamas: In his words, It is an entire nation out there that is responsible.”[12] Unsurprisingly, as the New York Times reports, it is part of normal Israeli discourse to call for Gaza to be flattened,” erased,” or destroyed.”[13] One retired IDF general, who proclaimed that Gaza will become a place where no human being can exist,” also makes the case that severe epidemics in the south of the Gaza Strip will bring victory closer.”[14]



 Going even further, a minister in the Israeli government suggested dropping a nuclear weapon on Gaza.[15] These statements are not being made by isolated extremists, but by senior members of Israel’s government.

Of course, there is also much talk of ethnically cleansing Gaza (and the West Bank), in effect, producing another Nakba.[16] To quote Israel’s Agriculture Minister, We are now rolling out the Gaza Nakba.”[17]Perhaps the most shocking evidence of the depths to which Israeli society has sunk is a video of very young children singing a blood-curdling song celebrating Israel’s destruction of Gaza: Within a year we will annihilate everyone, and then we will return to plow our fields.”[18]

Fourth, Israel is not just killing, wounding, and starving huge numbers of Palestinians, it is also systematically destroying their homes as well as critical infrastructure – to include mosques, schools, heritage sites, libraries, key government buildings, and hospitals.[19]

 As of 1 December 2023, the IDF had damaged or destroyed almost 100,000 buildings, including entire neighborhoods that have been reduced to rubble.[20] Consequently, a stunning 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes.[21] Moreover, Israel is making a concerted effort to destroy Gaza’s cultural heritage; as NPR reports, more than 100 Gaza heritage sites have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli attacks.”[22]

Fifth, Israel is not just terrorizing and killing Palestinians, it is also publicly humiliating many of their men who have been rounded up by the IDF in routine searches. Israeli soldiers strip them down to their underwear, blindfold them, and display them in a public way in their neighborhoods – sitting them down in large groups in the middle of the street, for example, or parading them through the streets – before taking them away in trucks to detention camps. In most cases, the detainees are then released as they are not Hamas fighters.[23]

Sixth, although the Israelis are doing the slaughtering, they could not do it without the Biden administration’s support. Not only was the United States the only country to vote against a recent UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, but it has also been providing Israel with the weaponry necessary to wage this massacre.[24] As one Israeli general (Yitzhak Brick) recently made clear: All of our missiles, the ammunition, the precision-guided bombs, all the airplanes and bombs, it’s all from the U.S. The minute they turn off the tap, you can’t keep fighting. You have no capability.… Everyone understands that we can’t fight this war without the United States. Period.”[25] Remarkably, the Biden administration has sought to expedite sending Israel additional ammunition, by-passing the normal procedures of the Arms Export Control Act.[26]

Seventh, while most of the focus is now on Gaza, it is important not to lose sight of what is simultaneously going on in the West Bank. Israeli settlers, working closely with the IDF, continue to kill innocent Palestinians and steal their land. In an excellent article in the New York Review of Books describing these horrors, David Shulman relates a conversation he had with a settler, which clearly reflects the moral dimension of Israeli behavior toward the Palestinians. What we are doing to these people is actually inhuman,” the settler freely admits, But if you think about it clearly, it all follows inevitably from the fact that God promised this land to the Jews, and only to them.”[27] Along with its assault on Gaza, the Israel government has markedly increased the number of arbitrary arrests in the West Bank. According to Amnesty International, there is considerable evidence that these prisoners have been tortured and subjected to degrading treatment.[28]

As I watch this catastrophe for the Palestinians unfold, I am left with one simple question for Israel’s leaders, their American defenders, and the Biden administration: have you no decency?

NOTES

[1] https://jstreet.org/press-releases/moment-of-truth-for-israels-government/

[2] Both quotes can be found in: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-09/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-israeli-army-has-dropped-the-restraint-in-gaza-and-data-shows-unprecedented-killing/0000018c-4cca-db23-ad9f-6cdae8ad0000

[3] https://www.972mag.com/mass-assassination-factory-israel-calculated-bombing-gaza/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[4] https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-09/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-israeli-army-has-dropped-the-restraint-in-gaza-and-data-shows-unprecedented-killing/0000018c-4cca-db23-ad9f-6cdae8ad0000

[5] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/25/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-death-toll.html

[6] https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2023-11-20/secretary-generals-press-conference-unep-emissions-gap-report-launch

[7] https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/defense-minister-announces-complete-siege-of-gaza-no-power-food-or-fuel/

[8] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67670679

Also see: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/international-world/us-government-gaza-humanitarian-aid.html

[9] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/opinion/israel-gaza-genocide-war.html

Also see: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/11/20/an-open-letter-on-the-misuse-of-holocaust-memory/

[10] https://contendingmodernities.nd.edu/global-currents/statement-of-scholars-7-october/

[11] https://youtu.be/Fr24GcCDgyM

[12] https://news.yahoo.com/israeli-president-says-no-innocent-154330724.html#:~:text=It%20is%20an%20entire%20nation,It%27s%20absolutely%20not%20true.

[13] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/15/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-war-rhetoric.html

[14] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/opinion/israel-gaza-genocide-war.html

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2023-11-23/ty-article-opinion/.premium/giora-eilands-monstrous-gaza-proposal-is-evil-in-plain-sight/0000018b-f84b-d473-affb-f9eb09af0000

Influential Israeli national security leader makes the case for genocide in Gaza

[15] https://www.timesofisrael.com/far-right-minister-says-nuking-gaza-an-option-pm-suspends-him-from-cabinet-meetings/

[16] https://mondoweiss.net/2023/10/israeli-think-tank-lays-out-a-blueprint-for-the-complete-ethnic-cleansing-of-gaza/

[17] https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-12/ty-article/israeli-security-cabinet-member-calls-north-gaza-evacuation-nakba-2023/0000018b-c2be-dea2-a9bf-d2be7b670000

[18] https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/watch-israeli-children-sing-we-will-annihilate-everyone-gaza

[19] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-war-gaza-public-library-destroyed-bombing

https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/israels-war-on-hospitals

Report: Israel destroyed 192 mosques in Gaza Strip 

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/09/1218384968/mosque-gaza-omari-israel-hamas-war

[20] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67565872#

[21] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-gaza-attacks-north-south-us-veto-un-ceasefire-resolution/

[22] https://www.npr.org/2023/12/03/1216200754/gaza-heritage-sites-destroyed-israel

[23] https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-groups-of-hamas-militants-surrendered-amid-gaza-fighting-7891bc22

[24] https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-vetoes-un-security-council-resolution-demanding-immediate-gaza-ceasefire/

Subscribe to New Columns

[25] https://www.jns.org/biden-is-the-primary-obstacle-to-israeli-victory/

[26] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/09/world/middleeast/us-israel-tanks-ammunition.html

[27] https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/12/21/a-bitter-season-in-the-west-bank-david-shulman/

[28] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/11/israel-opt-horrifying-cases-of-torture-and-degrading-treatment-of-palestinian-detainees-amid-spike-in-arbitrary-arrests/

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Dec 18 (Daily Mirror) – Public Security Minister Tiran Alles alleged that certain lawyers who opposed the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Acting Inspector General of Police are now appearing on behalf of cases filed by the court against notorious drug traffickers.

The Minister disclosed that these lawyers are earning billions of rupees from such cases.

Earlier, Minister Alles said that he and the Acting IGP are committed to cracking down on narcotic drugs and the underworld, irrespective of certain objections or pressures.

Accordingly, the Police launched a special island-wide operation yesterday. As a result, over 2,000 suspects have been arrested within a 24-hour period, and a substantial quantity of narcotic drugs seized.

Courtesy Adaderana

Former Secretary of Health Ministry Janaka Chandragupta, who was arrested by the CID over the controversial human Immunoglobulin import issue, has been remanded until 27 December by the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court.

Mr. Chandragupta was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) after he had arrived at the CID this morning (18) to record a statement regarding the controversial substandard Human Immunoglobulin import issue.

On Thursday (Dec. 14), the Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama had declared that the court finds the actions of the former Secretary of the Ministry of Health with regard to the process of purchasing the batch of ‘substandard’ human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), as suspicious.

Therefore, the Magistrate also ordered that all responsible parties must be arrested and produced before the court irrespective of their positions, for the administration of justice over the providing of substandard medicine to the public.

The CID had recorded a statement from the former Health Secretary regarding the matter on two previous occasions.

Courtesy Adaderana

The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has instructed to take necessary measures to inspect and remove all activities that could be harmful to children within 500 metres of schools, before the start of the new school term in February 2024.

There is a discourse within the society regarding certain things within and surrounding the schools that are unsuitable for children. Yesterday I ordered the high-ranking police officers across Sri Lanka to remove all places that sell, distribute or propagate activities harmful for schoolchildren, which are located within a 500-metre radius of all schools”, Tennakoon said.

When the next school term commences in February following the term holidays, I will not allow any such operations to continue in this country”, he said speaking during an event.

He further highlighted that strict action will be taken against such activities and establishments. 

The Acting IGP also stated that measures will be taken to remove all the things that unfavorably affect the school environment, by using the powers of Sri Lanka Police.

Courtesy Adaderana

The Sri Lanka Navy has held 14 Indian fishermen along with an Indian trawler for poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Kovilan Lighthouse, Kareinagar last night (17).

The Northern Naval Command had deployed its Fast Attack Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters. 

In this operation, naval personnel held the Indian poaching trawler with 14 Indian fishermen, as it continued to remain in island waters off the Kovilan Lighthouse, the navy said.

The apprehended Indian fishermen and the poaching trawler were brought to the Kankasanthurai harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal action.

Thus far in the year 2023, the Navy has held 35 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 240 Indian fishermen for their poaching activities in island waters. Following arrest, they have been handed over to authorities for onward legal action.

උපුටා ගැන්ම  හිරු පුවත්

Ruwan M Jayatunge M.D. PhD (in Progress) 

The Buddhist concept of Dukkha” describes the true nature of all existence. It has a profound philosophical meaning.  The term dukka has been commonly misunderstood and misused. The word dukkha means not suffering. Suffering can be found in the pathogenic paradigm. Suffering involves somatic, mental, social, and spiritual forms of distress and causing psychopathological alterations. Suffering is a subjective experience that can involve physical, emotional, or mental pain. These types of suffering can be mitigated via therapeutic or socio-economic interventions.

Dukkha is more than subjective suffering and a vast conscious experience and words cannot fully or accurately describe it. It goes beyond the pathogenic paradigm disintegrating the internal sense of coherence.

The Buddhist concept of dukkha is not suffering, despair, anguish, misery wretchedness, or disheartenment. It is not total pessimism either. Dukkha is a multidimensional concept and a complex construct that has no precise linguistic meaning. It is a vast universal experience connected to the universal consciousness based on the reality of human life. Dukkha exemplifies the true human condition.

The mundane understanding of suffering is related to the bearing of pain, inconvenience, and distress that is connected with hopelessness. According to the Buddha, the word suffering has a deep existential meaning. It is a universal explanation of the true human condition.  

Many Western Psychologists misinterpreted the word Dukkha” or universal suffering, and they viewed it as an agonizing human condition. This was due to the mistranslation done by the French Philosopher Anatole France in the late century. Anatole France translated the word Dukkha” into French as souffrance” and then into English as suffering. Ever since many Western scholars grasped the concept of Dukkha” incorrectly. Therefore, many thought Dukkha symbolized the dark side of human existence filled with pessimism and despair.

Dukkha narrates about the veracity and the accurate nature of existence. Existence has three major characteristics: impermanence, un-satisfactoriness aka dukka, and absence of a self. These are interconnected and interdependent.

Some view Impermanence as the philosophical problem of change. It is the absence of permanence and continuity. Impermanence denies the unchanging transmigrating human soul. The universe is incredibly vast and complex and constantly changing. It is not a permanent entity. The universe has normal matter, ‘dark matter’, and ‘dark energy’ which all constantly change. Nothing is permanent in an ever-changing universe. There is no physical or mental object which is permanent. The Greek Philosopher Heraclitus once stated: “No man ever steps in the same river twice.”   The world is constantly changing. Human change on the personal level as well as on the collective level.

The phenomenal world is transitory.  According to Buddhism matter is impermanent, feeling is impermanent perception is impermanent, determinants are impermanent consciousness is impermanent. When a person tries to resist the impermanent world without understanding its true nature, dukkha arises. He does not want things to be changed. But things around him change constantly. He can never go back to the same exact moment or experience again. The person is aging. He cannot stay forever young. It creates immense distress in the person. This distress is part of dukkha. The person wants an internal life for himself and his loved ones. But death is inevitable. No one cannot escape death. Fear of death and dying process is associated with dukka.

The world is filled with illusions. The person takes many imagined mental concepts as real.  The mental-physical ego-self is a mere deception.  Although we perceive the self as a distinct conscious entity there is an illusion of self. The brain creates self-identity with perceptual illusions via neural activations. The brain takes experiences, thoughts, and behaviors into a narrative to create a mythical sense of self. According to some Neurologists, the brain is a narrative-creating machine. The reality is a subjective experience. Self is not a single unified entity, but a bundle of sensations, perceptions, and thoughts lumped together. All physical and mental existence is not metaphysically real. There is no permanent mental-physical self. Self consists of the moment-to-moment flow of consciousness. When a person is trapped in this illusion dukkha arises.

The mundane understanding of dukka is suffering, related to bearing pain, inconvenience, and distress that is connected with hopelessness. Dukka is not mundane suffering or general unhappiness, uneasiness severe mental pain, or mental agony.  If Dukkha is suffering, then suffering is impermanent. It’s not everlasting or perpetual. Suffering is a subjective experience. The word dukkha has a deep spiritual, existential, and dialectical meaning. Dukkha does not symbolize the dark side of human existence filled with dread and misery. Instead, it highlights the authentic nature of all existence. Dukkha is associated with the impermanent nature of self.

Dukkha is not a pessimistic or nihilistic concept. Dukkha represents an array of emotions from happiness to despair. Dukkha refers to a state of existential confusion and fixation on deceptiveness and deviating from the reality of existence. Dukkha is an inability to understand the true nature of existence. It is the tension, conflict, friction, resistance, and change caused by circumstances of life. The illusion of self causes dukkha. It’s an existential and spiritual crisis that every man confronts, and some find the universe irrational and meaningless. Dukkha is the conflict between a rational man and an irrational universe. Dukka is a form of absurdism that men face. It is the struggle to find meaning in a meaningless world. Dukkha is about the universal un-satisfactoriness of life. Dukkha is intertwined with the whole existence.

A worldly person experiences two types of suffering; one is mundane suffering due to low socio-economic deplorable living conditions and health-related issues. These types of suffering can be fixed through worldly interventions. The second kind of suffering which is called Dukkha suffering is more than mundane day-to-day suffering. It cannot be fixed via worldly interventions.  

Is human life being full of unbearable suffering? I have spoken with the former Gulag prisoners of the Soviet Union, Holocaust survivors, and the POWs who underwent unbearable and tortuous suffering. However, most of them concurred that despite their suffering there were happy and content moments in their lives while under bondage. Despite their suffering, they had moments of inner contentment. This may be an innate survival mechanism that humans achieve through evolution.

Mr. Smaith lived a productive life of 84 years. He had a happy childhood, a good education, and a fruitful adult life with a respectable profession. He was happily married. He was a delighted man for most of the time. He disregarded some of the life stresses, negativity, and disappointment and had a positive outlook on his life. He died at the age of 84 in his sleep without any old age suffering. Although Mr. Smith is a fictitious character, we know many people who had similar lives as Mr. Smith.  Did they ever complain life is full of suffering?

Suffering can be external. A chronically depressed person might suffer due to his erroneous worldview, his negative life philosophy, and his detrimental perceptions. A person from a war-torn region might suffer due to geo-political reasons. The internal suffering could be due to disruption of brain chemistry. Think about a person suffering from drug-resistant depression with altered brain chemistry.  He is experiencing prolonged suffering.   

Some people are not aware of their suffering. For instance, patients with Alzheimer’s disease are in an intriguing condition, yet these patients are not aware of their worldly suffering.

In the past people suffered as a result of various diseases such as smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella. With the progress of medical science, this suffering has been eradicated. Therefore, we don’t see suffering due to these infectious diseases. However cellular aging (the cell biology of aging) is a universal factor that is associated with pain and discomfort. There is a suffering from the consequences of old age.  due to bodily decline and physical/mental deterioration, there is suffering.

Suffering is a personal matter as well as a collective matter.  Universal suffering covers a wide range of human experiences, and it has physical, psychological, social, and existential dimensions. These universal characteristics are common to every human. As a result, these universal characteristics bring a conscious awareness of the self’s vulnerability. They feel that life no longer makes sense. This awareness is Dukkha.

Dukkha is not clinical depression, mundane suffering, alienation, or tiredness of life that is associated with suicidal intentions. These conditions can be treated with anti-depressants and psychotherapy. But Dukkha cannot be treated with anti-depressants. Dukkha is a profound and strong awareness of life’s universal maladies.

Some Buddhist texts state that birth is suffering. Here it does not refer to normal childbirth. Childbirth is often a happy occasion for parents. In the Buddhist context, birth refers to the birth of the ego. The birth of ego and fixation leads to universal suffering. Following ego fixation, the person is mentally preoccupied with fixed belief. He has grasped a false sense of self. When his beliefs are changed or challenged, his false sense of self is compromised, and he is experiencing discomfort and anxiety. This leads to dukkha.

Aging is suffering. However, modern scientific technology especially gene therapy decelerates the aging process. Sometimes within the next 100 to 200 years, medical science will develop anti-aging treatments and humans will be able to live 250 to 300 years. Even that will not resolve Dukkha. Because aging and demise are inevitable and finally people would experience universal suffering.

Sickness is suffering. But the medical science has found treatment for many diseases. Perhaps within another 200- 300 years’ time, humankind might eradicate 95% of infectious and non-communicable diseases including cancer. Then sickness wouldn’t be viewed as a factor that brings human suffering.  

Indeed, death is suffering. The medical science can prolong the human life span. Bio-printing technology can replace skin and other internal organs and rejuvenate the human body. Although these measures would give a long life death is unavoidable. Therefore, death will be a part of human existence. Dukkha is associated with death anxiety.

A lack of meaning in life can result in dukkha. Although people have every comfort and many materialistic things, often they are hit by meaninglessness in life. They do not have a clear sense of purpose. According to Viktor Frankl, without meaning, people fill the void with hedonistic pleasures, power, materialism, hatred, boredom, or neurotic obsessions and compulsions. A lack of meaning in life would bring dukkha.

Dukkha is not about pessimism or cynicism. Dukkha is connected with true human nature. Dukkha is not an enigma without an answer. The Buddha described the comprehensive nature of Dukka and its cessation.

Desamaanya Dr Sudath Guanasekara

This includes

Physical heritage reparation.

This proposal also includes   a programme of physical heritage reparation. Among other things it includes mainly three items; they are,

a)            Forest

The restoration and rehabilitation of the destructions done to the forest, land and water resources of the central hill country, as a top national priority as it forms the foundation of the entire life system and the civilization of this Island nation. It is estimated that over 600 000 acres of prime forest had been removed for coffee and tea plantations

b)            Land

 It Is estimated that 1.3 million acres of land owned by the native people, Buddhist temples and Devalas had been illegally taken over by force by the colonial government under draconian legislations like Land Encroachment Ord No 12 of 1840, Temple Land Ordinance 1853 and Wasteland Ord 1897.

 c)Rivers

In the process 103 perennial rivers, watering the lowlands around the hill country were made to dry up due to deforestation of the main watersheds in the central hills. Deforestation also led to heavy soil erosion and loss of bio diversity due to land degradation, landslides (in the hill Country) and other calamities like recurrent downstream floods and river siltation causing heavy losses to people and property in the lowlands.

Therefore, protecting the central watersheds above 3500 ft MSL is the most fundamental and crucial factor not only for future development but also in deciding the fate of the entire life system and the future civilization in this country.

In view of this despicable backdrop of failed governance with regard the Kandyan areas for 75 years as stated above, I seek the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to this historic proposal to do justice by a great people who had sacrificed everything they had under the sun, including their own dear lives, to defend the motherland against the enemy over a period of 443 years, for us and the generations unborn.

As for me, as the son of late Philip Gunawardhana, honestly I deem it my bounden duty and unavoidable responsibility too, though already too belated, to rectify the historical injustices inflicted upon these great Kandyan people, at the first opportunity I got in my life, as the Prime minister of a government of the people, by the people and for the people, to fulfil a nations’ noble duty by them at least now.

Therefore, Cabinet approval is sought for the creation of the 

1) Kandyan Areas Rehabilitation, Development and Protection Ministry under the Prime Minister as stated under the KPC Report of 1951.

2) The Kandyan Areas Rehabilitation, Development and Protection Authority of Sri Lanka to be in charge of the implementation of the objectives mentioned in Annex 1V and all matters incidental to those objectives

3. To transfer the present Sri Lanka Hadabima Adhikaariya and the Kandudarata Urumaya Surakiime saha Savibala Ganviimei Adhikaariya with all their assets to the Kandyan Areas Rehabilitation, Development and Protection Ministry

4) to enlist the services of an expert on employment and income generation as given under item 3 above in order to make this national mission a full success.

5)To implement all the functions listed in Annexes 11, 1V and V

Dinesh Chandra Rupasinghe Gunawardena.

Prime minister of the Republic of the Democratic Socialist Republic Sri Lanka

Date………..

Annex 11

The next area of rehabilitation and reparation is heritage destruction. Usually, who write on heritage include only the cultural side. But to me it means two things, that is both cultural and physical as they are always interlinked, inter related and inter dependent. Therefore, in any programme of heritage rehabilitation and development it is important to take both these aspects in to consideration, if the desired results of rehabilitation and development are to be achieved.  This is specially so in the context of our country. (Pl: see annex 11 for details)

Usually, literature on heritage of any nation implies only the cultural side like language, religion, arts and crafts, architectural and religious monuments like buildings, statues, temple and dagabas and paintings and frescoers songs and literature, food and drinks, dresses, customs, rituals and traditions indigenous technology, administrative and legal system, the economic system. their dress and habits, human attitudes like patriotism and bravery and other nuances of human behavior.

But they don’t include the physical or natural assets like the nature of the land and its physiography, soil, its rivers and other water bodies like irrigation tanks and canals, biodiversity in fauna and flora the development and conservation of which sometimes become even more important for the survival of life and man’s survival on earth than the protection of some of the cultural heritages.  In this case the best example in our context is the central hill country of Sri Lanka. Geographically it is like a human heart both in its formation and function.  It is located almost right at the center of the Island, sloping down towards the coastal plain right round. All the rivers in the country starts there and flow down in all direction watering the rest of the country providing the water needed to sustain life in the country. If these rivers stop flowing one day, the curtain will fall on the entire life system in this country. Continuous river flow depends primarily on the physical stability of the central hill country. The stability of the hill country mainly depends on its forest cover. The physical stability of the central hill country determines and dictate the survival of the entire life system in this country. To this extent the central hill country plays the role of a heart of the living being” that is Sri Lanka.  Therefore, just like the man dies when the heart stops the Being” Lanka also, will die, the day the physical stability of the central hill country is gone. Therefore, the crucial need to protect the physical stability of the Central hill country at all cost. This lesson has t be taught to each child from his kindergarten days and every man and woman in this country should add here to this concept as a religion.

This was done during the days of the Sinhala Kings by banning all settlements and clearings on land above 3500 ft above sea level. The only exceptions were Kotmale, Welimanda and Mandaram Nuwara. All forests above that level were declared Thahanchi kele strictly prohibited forest even to enter, by Royal decree. Therefore, if you want to stop the extinction of entire life system in the whole Island leading to disappearance of civilization as well, we have to take the following steps very early.

1)Declaring all forests and lands above 5000 ft msl in the Island as strictly protected and conserved forest

2) Limit large scale tea cultivation to land above 3500 ft above sea level. They should be managed by large scale Boards either State or private, but all settlements should be banned within it confining to tea factories and offices only.

3)All settlements in the hill country should be confined to land below 3500 ft

4) land between 1000 ft and 3500 ft should be used for settlement of small holder farm families on 2 ½ acre farm lots of mixed farms. It is suggested that the landless Kandyan villagers and the displaced estate Tamils of this country who are citizens presently occupying on land between 3500-5000 to be settled on these lands as mixed village expansion settlements. That will put an end to mono Tamil settlements in the central hill country and will end Indianization of the heartland of this Island and expected to divorce all connections with India and get fully integrated to the native society just as it happened in the past. This settlement will also provide the labour required for the tea plantations between 3500-5000 ft.

This arrangement will guarantee the much-needed physical stability of the central hill country that will in turn guarantee the survival of the   entire life system in the whole Island.

(However, the Nuwara Eliya Town may be exempted from this rule. But all other hill country towns like Hatton, Talavakele and Bogawanthalawa etc should be necessarily relocated in suitable places within the 1000-3500 belt. Those who refuse to adjust to this new situation and wants to remain Indian has no alternative but to get back to India or ask UK to provide lands for them to settle down to continue as British citizens as they had been so before 1948.  Because you cannot allow two nations, one Sinhalese and another Indian’ to operate right at the center of their land of the Sinhala nation

Once this arrangement is complete then again, the paradise on earth in Sri Lanka often eulogized by many a western traveler in the medieval times will definitely reappear again on this land.

Annex 111

Although a Commission called the Kandyan Peasantry Commission was appointed in 1949 by the then Government to look in to the problems of Kandyan people on representations made by people like A. Ratnayaka, the MP for Dumbara and the Minister of Home Affairs at the time, its objectives were limited To inquire in to the socio-economic conditions of the Kandyan people and make recommendation to ameliorate them” only.

Although this Commission had done an excellent job by producing a comprehensive Report on the socio-economic conditions of these people at the time, I think The Kandyan Peasantry Commission” also has missed the wood for the trees. The Commission has failed   to look at the problems of the victims and their territory in a broader perspective of some vital areas like,

a) rectifying the historical injustices done to the natives by the invaders, by illicitly taking over their land by force under draconian land grabbing laws.

b) murdering thousands of freedom fighters, by killing some of them, savagely, violating all accepted civilized norms, executing some of them even without proper trials and banishing some of the national leaders like Ahelepola to distant countries beyond the seas to places like, Mauritius and leaving them to die as prisoners of war and criminals in unknown lands, for the noble act of defending their motherland against the invaders.

c)It also had not made any reference to the illegal, immoral and unethical Royal proclamation No 21 of Nov 1818 made by Brownrigg and the crimes committed under its cover, which unilaterally abrogated the Kandyan Convention of March 2 even before its ink was dry and the repressive military rule carried out by the invader thereafter, as pre0arranged.

 d)There is also no reference to continuing their governance under exploitation, repression and oppression, undemocratically under their Royal Proclamations ever since 1818 almost up to 1948, denying all civilized and accepted principles of natural justice to the citizens of the Kandyan Kingdom.

e) There is also no mention about the untold destruction and devastations and loss done to this country, its rich natural and physical resources, social and economic assets, age old customs and traditions and above all to Buddhism the fountain of our culture, by them.

f) There is also no reference anywhere for the need to restore what was destroyed by colonial vandalism and the need to claim compensation and to demand an apology from the oppressors for the wrongs they had done and left.

g) But the Commission supported the continuation of their tea plantations all over the hill country as a foreign exchange earner without realizing the irreparable damage it has already done and continuous to do, for the physical stability of the central highlands without realizing the environmental damage its doe to his Island nation.

h) no mention about the 12.5 million Indian labour gang that was already pausing a major demographic, political, economic and social problem to the country even by that time, not to mention perceiving future problems. I do not know as to how the KPC was planning to solve landlessness among Kandyan peasants (which they had identifies as a major problem among them) when 12.5 million Indians were occupying their ancestral land, illegally taken over by the British by force.

i) a) There is also no reference to the crying needs to restore the physical stability of the central hill country that was there in the days of the Sinhala Kings, that was functioning as the virtual heart of the body Sri Lanka.

What is even worse is The KPC Report which made extensive recommendations to ameliorate the socio-economic conditions of the Kandyan peasants was also never implemented as recommended and left justice denied to them up to date.

Annex 1V

The objecives of the Kandyan Areas Rehabilitation, Development and Protection Authority of Sri Lanka (Udarata Punaruththaana, Sanvardhana   saha Surakiime Adhikaariya).

(The Kandyan Areas Rehabilitation, Development and Protection Authority of Sri Lanka)

1 Completion of Rehabilitation of land and people by implementing the projects identified in the KPC Report to uplift the social and economic standards of people living within the Central, Uva and the Sabaragamuwa provinces and the Div. Sec Divisions අර කියපු වගා කරන යාලුවාට මේ දෙන්ඩ Contact information  of the other provinces as decided by the Board through other government line departments relevant to the subjects.

2.Implementing an aggressive and sustainable rural economic and social development through agricultural, small industrial and tourist development programme geared to employment and income generation in liaison with government departments and private organizations and individuals.

2 Implementing a Settlement Development programme in the mid country (1000—3500) by the Authority on 2 ½ acre small holder diversified farm lots. Under this scheme it is envisaged to settle 250,000 families in the 3 provinces within 5 years

3 Funding development projects initiated by other government departments. Here each line dept is expected to identify their own projects and submit them for funds. We provide funds   after project evaluation and monitor implementation to guarantee successful completion of the said projects in time.

4.Implementing other development project identified by public agencies or individuals   within the project area through the subject departments and monitoring their successful completion in time.

5) Taking action to restore the lost Physical Stability of the Central Hill Country (The Geographical Heartland- HADABIMA) of Sri Lanka on which depends the survival of the entire life system and the civilization of this country.

6) Initiating action to rectify the historical injustices done by the British to the Kandyan Sinhalese from 1815-1948 and more particularly in the 1818 and 1848 Freedom Struggles.

7)Taking action to implement a comprehensive development plan to solve the problems of landlessness, unemployment, underemployment, acute poverty and other socio- economic problems of the people living in these areas.

8) Taking action to attend to their social and infrastructure needs like roads, domestic water needs, irrigation, health, education, cultural needs marketing and administration

9) 14) Taking action to put an end to ethnic discrimination and create a socio-culturally and politically homogeneous, integrated and inward-looking Sri Lankan society in the central Sri Lanka.

10.Initiating action to demand reparation and compensation from the British Government for the destruction and devastation done to millions of acres of our land, forest, water resources and from the British government.

11 Initiating a global movement to seek compensation for centuries of land theft, genocide and cultural imperialism, large scale violation of human rights by Britain for native Sinhalese as well as Indian estate labour during the period 1797-1948.

12) Taking action to claim compensation for a) displaced native Sinhalese, their land taken over by force under draconian land grabbing laws such as the Encroachment upon Crown Land Ordinance No 12 of 1840. Temple Lands Ordinance of 1853 and Waste Land Ord of 1897 and loss of life b) compensation for the Indian indentured labour who had been subjected to exploitation from 1830s to 1948 and ill- treatment by low wages and despicable living conditions as British citizens and leaving them behind as a destitute and a stateless lot and C) the catastrophic political and economic problems willfully left behind by the British for the government of Sri Lanka.

13) Taking action to seek redress and compensation from the British Government for the native Kandyan Sinhalese as well as the laborers of Indian origin for violation of their human rights by the British colonial Government from 1815-1948.

14) Taking action to seek compensation for the destruction done by the colonial rulers to the forest, rivers, water, land and biodiversity and the havoc done to downstream areas by flood due to largescale deforestation on the highlands.

15. Taking action to return the land confiscated by the British to their original owners

The Project area covers 1/3 the area of th3 Island also 1/3 the population of the country.

That also means 1/3 the voters of the country So obviously the government that implement this programe will firstly, go down in history as the only Government that has addressed the problems of the forgotten Kandyan people and that did justice by them at last. As such the people of this area will decide as to who should govern the country in future.

Annex V

Head Office of the Ministry and the Adhikaariya Office

It is proposed that the Head office of this Ministry and the Authority should be located in Kandy being the central place of the mandated area considering the ease of delivery of services to people from an operational angle and easy access to the people on the other hand.

Staff of the Ministry and the Authority

The Secretary of the Ministry who will have authority over all activities of the Ministry and the Authority will also function as the Director General who will coordinate the work of the 3 Divisions of the Authority stated below.

Staff of the Ministry and the Authority will be kept at a bare minimum at the beginning

Board of Directors

It will be headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of KRDP who shall be an officer of Cabinet Secretary rank (SLAS)

The Ministry and the Secretariat will function from Kandy once the Cabinet paper is approved

Implementation of this programme (other than the settlement Development Programe vide item 2 above) in all three provinces will be carried out through the district administration and other government departments where the GAA/District Secs, Divisional Secs and Graama Sevaa Niladharis will act as the coordinating officers of the activities of the Authority in their respective divisions.  The services of field officers of the line ministries and departments at field level will be coordinated by the Divisional Sec and Grama Seva Niladharries

(All legislative enactments Statutes enacted exclusively for the estate Tamil community of Indian origin only stands repealed.  Ministries and all statutory organization including the Ministry for Hill Country Village and Infrastructure Development (with a ten-year special development Project with UNDP funds obtained as loans exclusively to develop the Tamil settlements on the hills), and the Upcountry new Village Development Authority   etc should be abolished. All funds allocated to these institutions will be transferred to the New KARDA. This enactment will operate as the sole legal Authority that deals with settlement of people living in the Kandyan provinces in future. The funds lying in banks and all assets belonging to them will also be transferred to the Fund of the KRDP Authority immediately

Special Advisory Committee

Prof Gerald Peiris (Emeritus-Geography)

Prof C.M Madduma bandaara

Mr.  Senaka Weraratna

Dr. Garvin Karunaratna and any other as decided by the Minister in charge of the Ministry.

Ministry of Defence  – Media Centre

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University’s Faculty of Defence & Strategic Studies (FDSS) and the Centre for Strategic Assessment (CSA) hosted the Signature Seminar addressing the issues of Responding to Disinformation and Building Disinformation Resilience with the gracious presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC MP as the Chief Guest on December 14.

This consequential event was committed to expounding upon the intricate challenges posed by disinformation within the contemporary global landscape, with a specific focus on devising strategies to bolster resilience against this dynamically evolving threat.

The conference was structured into three distinct sessions, each delineated by the overarching themes of “Strategic & International Relations,” “Political Economic & Legal,” and “Social Engineering & Operational Challenges.” Nine distinguished speakers, comprising both international and Sri Lankan authorities, actively contributed their insights and ideas throughout the entirety of the conference. The foreign experts engaged in the discussion sharing insights from their respective national experiences while drawing some parallels with Sri Lanka. The experts represented France, India, and Malaysia, contributing valuable perspectives to the discussions.

Vice Chancellor of KDU Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara, delivered the welcome address and subsequently, Hon. Ali Sabry addressed the audience underscoring the paramount significance of tackling disinformation within the realm of Strategic and International Relations.

The Foreign Secretary, Aruni Wijewardena delivered an address to the audience, emphasizing the paramount importance of fostering disinformation resilience and she extended her appreciation to KDU for its pivotal role in leading this noteworthy effort.

The first session, under the moderation of Director CSA Dr. Harinda Vidanage, delved into the nuances of Strategic and International Relations. Editor In Chief of Stratnewsglobal.in,  Nitin A Gokhale, Additional Secretary/Multilateral Affairs, MFA U.L.M. Jauhar, and Norashikin Sahol Hamid from the National Defence University of Malaysia imparted their insightful perspectives.

The second session commenced with an introduction by the moderator, setting the stage for compelling presentations by Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, Actg. DG Data Protection Authority Waruna Dhanapala and Senior Vice President Global Alliances and Partnerships, John Keels Dileep Mudadeniya.

The culminating session focused on intricate subjects of social engineering and operational challenges featured presentations by Coordinator in Charge of Healthcare Donor Activities and Diplomatic Affairs, Ministry of Health Dr. Anver Hamdani, Head of Unit for Analysis and Strategic Communication / French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Charles Thepaut and Business Consultant on Digital Transformation Isura Silva.

The subsequent participants’ discussion served as a platform for diverse viewpoints on the political, economic and legal dimensions of mitigating disinformation.

The Signature Seminar on Responding to Disinformation and Building Disinformation Resilience is the first ever combined effort of the stakeholders and proved to be a beacon of erudition.

The event convened distinguished dignitaries, experts, scholars and professionals to collectively address the complexities of disinformation, fostering a holistic comprehension of the challenges and opportunities within the contemporary information landscape.

උපුටා ගැන්ම  හිරු පුවත්

වැඩබලන පොලිස්පති දේශබන්දු තෙන්නකෝන්ගේ උපදෙස් මත දිවයින පුරා මේ වනවිට සිදු කෙරෙමින් පවතින යුක්තිය මෙහෙයුමට අදාළව වැල්ලම්පිටිය පොලිස් බල ප්‍රදේශයේ පමණක් සැකකරුවන් 55 දෙනෙකු අත්අඩංගුවට ගෙන තිබෙනවා.

මත්ද්‍රව්‍ය ජාවාරම සහ සංවිධානාත්මක අපරාධ මැඩලීම සඳහා මෙම විශේෂ මෙහෙයුම ආරම්භ කෙරුණේ අද (17) අලුයම හතරේ සිටයි.

දිවයින පුරා පොලිස් කොට්ඨාස 45 ක් ආවරණය වන පරිදි ක්‍රියාත්මක වන මෙම මෙහෙයුමට පොලිස් විශේෂ කාර්ය බලකාය මෙන්ම ත්‍රිවිධ හමුදාවේ නිලධාරීන්ද එක්ව සිටිනවා.

නියෝජ්‍ය පොලිස්පතිවරු 9 දෙනෙකු විසින් මෙම මෙහෙයුමේ සියලු අධීක්ෂණ කටයුතු සිදුකරන බවයි පොලිස් මාධ්‍ය කොට්ඨාසය සඳහන් කළේ.

Courtesy Adaderana

දේශබන්දු තෙන්නකෝන් මහතා පොලිස්පති ලෙස පත්කිරීමට විරුද්ධ වූ ප්‍රමුඛපෙළේ නීතිඥයින් බිලියන ගණනින් මුදල් ගෙන කුඩු ජාලයේ අය වෙනුවෙන් අධිකරණයේ පෙනී සිට ඇති බව මහජන ආරක්ෂක අමාත්‍ය ටිරාන් අලස් මහතා පවසයි.  

මාතර පොලිස් කොට්ඨාසයේ පැවති වැඩසටහනක දී අමාත්‍යවරයා මේ බව ප්‍රකාශ කළේය.

එහිදී අමාත්‍යවරයා වැඩිදුරටත් පැවසුවේ පසුගිය අරගල සමයේ අරගල කරුවන් සමග ගැටෙමින් සිටි බැවින් පොලීසියට මත්ද්‍රව්‍ය සහ පාතාලය සම්බන්ධයෙන් කටයුතු කිරීමට කාලයක් නොතිබුණ බවත් මේ හේතුවෙන් එම ක්‍රියාකාරකම් රට තුල වර්ධනය වූ බවත්ය.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The special police operations that commenced this morning (17) across the island have resulted in the arrest of 83 suspects thus far, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles said.

The Minister stated that this includes 45 suspects who had been wanted in connection with narcotics-related offences.

Sri Lanka Police commenced a special operation from today in order to eradicate drugs trafficking and the underworld in the country.

Over 100kg of Kerala cannabis seized in Ja-Ela

The Police Special Task Force (STF) has recovered more than 100 kilograms of Kerala cannabis during a special raid carried out at a house in the Ja-Ela area. 

The raid has been carried out based on a tip-off received by the police.

The street value of the stock of Kerala cannabis is estimated to be around Rs. 20 million, according to police.

Police said that further investigations are underway regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, the police have also arrested a 38-year-old woman, along with over 68 kilograms of Kerala cannabis at a house in the Bharathipuram area of Kilinochchi.

In a separate raid, a 53-year-old woman who had sold intoxicating pills to schoolchildren has been taken into police custody along with 1,310 intoxicating pills in the Colombo 14 area.

Suspect nabbed with Hashish worth Rs. 20 mn in Wattala

Police have arrested a person while in possession of 35 kilograms of ‘Hashish’ during a special operation carried out in the Wattala area today (17).

The street value of the seized narcotics is estimated to be around Rs. 20 million, according to Police.

42 arrested with various narcotics in joint raid at Kolonnawa

A total of 42 individuals have been arrested while in possession of various narcotics including heroin, ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine) and Cannabis during a joint raid conducted by the Police, Special Task Force (STF) and Sri Lanka Army at the ‘Sanhinda Sevana’ flats in Kolonnawa.

The raid has been carried out on the orders of Acting IGP Deshabandu  Tennakoon, Ada Derana reporter said.

A total of 156 police officers including the officers of Western Province-South Crimes Unit, 154 personnel of the Sri Lanka Army and 16 officers of Police STF had joined the special raid, which was conducted early this morning (17).

Meanwhile, the police have also used drones and police K-9 units for the operation, according to Ada Derana reporter.

During this raid, the security personnel have searched 625 individualsfrom 165 houses at the ‘Sanhinda Sevana’ flats, the police said.

Of the 42 arrested individuals, 25 were arrested on suspicion while narcotics were found in the possession of the other 17 suspects, according to police.

Moreover, police have also taken custody of several sharp weapons including swords during the raid.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Ambalangoda, Dec. 16 (Daily Mirror)- Steps will be taken to confiscate all property and wealth earned illegally through drug smuggling and underworld activities within the next three months, Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakkon said today.

He made this remark at an event held in Ambalangoda today.

He said underworld activities are rampant in the Western and Southern Provinces which amounts to 7 percent.

The Acting IGP said some 1,091 individuals have been identified as being engaged in underworld activities and that information on 790 among them have been gathered by now.

He said CCTV cameras have been fixed at the counters of the exit terminals at the airport to prevent them from fleeing the country with forged passports.

The Acting IGP further said that some 70,000 individuals with open warrants are at large in the country and that their whereabouts are unknown.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

lpitiya, Dec 16 (Daily Mirror) – Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said that a special operation targeting drug-related activities and the underworld is set to commence tomorrow.

Minister Alles has directed Police to take stringent measures against individuals engaged in drug smuggling and underworld operations.

The Minister made these directives during a community police committee meeting in the Elpitiya Division held this morning.

A group of senior officers, including Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon attended the meeting.

Minister Alles urged the public to actively support the police force in their efforts to combat drug-related crimes and underworld activities. 

“I have given the police until June 30 only. By June 30, there should be a complete change in the drug and underworld activities in this country,” he said.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Dec 17 (Daily Mirror) – Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prasanna Ranatunga has ordered a probe into unauthorized lending of housing loans in his Ministry from 2015 to 2019.

“Unauthorized lending has been done mostly in the Hambantota District,” the statement said.

An official statement from the Ministry said funds allocated for certain housing schemes under the Udagama project have been transferred to several other housing schemes.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is to start work on the construction of 98,000 houses which has been halted halfway. It has been found that work on 2,150 Udgamas has been stopped during the regime of 2015.

Meanwhile, work on 2,795 houses has been fully completed after the SLPP government came into power but work on the other houses could not be completed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.