The LTTE had a deep hatred of Buddhism and showed it by repeated attacks on temples, bhikkhus and worshippers. LTTE attacked sri Maha Bodhi and Dalada Maligawa .There was also an inhuman massacred of samanera at Arantalawa.
LTTE ATTACK
AT ARANTALAWA
On June 2nd 1987 the samanera from a temple in
Mahavapi in the eastern province, with
the Chief Priest Ven. Hegoda Indrasara and few civilians set off on a
pilgrimage to Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara. They
were stopped near the village of Nuwerathanne by 20 armed LTTE. The driver was
ordered to drive the bus in to the jungles of Arantalawa, the samanera and others
were attacked with swords and knives
by the LTTE and then shot. Altogether 31 monks and three civilians were killed,
including the chief monk. Four novice monks escaped death with critical
injuries and three are living with medical aid. One is permanently disabled.[1]
In 2020, Ven.
Andaulpatha Buddhasara who survived the Arantalawa massacre of Buddhist monks
filed a fundamental rights application, asking the acting IGP to file a case
against LTTE cadres who were responsible for the attack. The thera also asked
for Rs. 20 million as compensation.[2] The
petitioner monk was fifteen years and six months at the time of the attack. He
has suffered disability.[3]
The petitioner has demanded four million rupees in damages from the State.[4]
In 2003, the Helabima Organisation and the STF (Special Task Force) built a monument near the place where the massacre occurred. This monument stands alone in the middle of the jungles of Arantalawa
In
2013, a memorial museum was built on this location using the same bus in which
these monks were traveling. The gruesome last minutes of these small novice
monks has been re created inside this bus by a local artist. This exhibit is
open to public.[5]
Monument of Arantalawa Massacre
SEE
BELOW.
A farmer M. H. Kiriappu, 60, weeps as he looks at a photograph at an exhibition in Colombo, of his Buddhist monk son, Ven. Thaligamuwe Uparatane who was killed by LTTE terrorists in Arantalawa 20 years ago. [6]
සාසනික අදුරු සටහන Episode 02 | Aranthalawa Monk Memorial
LTTE was not just anti-Sinhala, it is also
anti-Buddhist. This aspect of LTTE rule has not received the attention it
deserves .The LTTE had a deep hatred of Buddhism and
showed it by repeated attacks on temples, bhikkhus and worshippers.
The
LTTE leaders starting with Prabhakaran were Christian, some Roman Catholic ,
some Protestant. Tamil Selvam, Balraj,
Pottu Amman, Soosai and Anton Balasingham were
Christian. Prabhakaran was
a lapsed Methodist, said one writer.
But Valvettiturai, where Prabhakaran comes
from is mainly Catholic so I do not think that can be correct.
LTTE
attacked the two most revered symbols of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Sri Maha Bodhi
in Anuradhapura and the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. These were carefully planned
attacks, intended primarily, to show their contempt towards Buddhism and the
Sinhala Buddhist community.
LTTE ATTACK ON SRI MAHA BODHI
ltte attack on Sri Maha bodiya Sri Lanka 1985 recorded by the ltte” (This video focused on violent part of a film, To see it press watch on you Tube”)
The LTTE
group which planned to attack Sri Maha Bodhi, had come into Wilpattu from Mannar
by boat during the night The group was led
by their Mannar leader Victor Fulgencius
Douglas B. Ranasinghe in his biography of Thilo Hoffman said that Hoffman had seen at Wilpattu a madela laid
out on the beach. Hoffman knew at once that it was not the work of regular
fishermen. it was a cover up by the LTTE who attacked Anuradhapura the next
day.
From Wilpattu, LTTE moved through Kala oya to Elvankulam
where they hijacked the early morning Anuradhapura bus, and reached Anuradhapura at 6 am on May
14, 1985. The bus entered the main city and at the main Anuradhapura bus
station, they opened fire indiscriminately with automatic weapons, killing and wounding civilians who were waiting for buses. LTTE
then drove to the Sri Maha Bodhi and
gunned down the worshipper there. The final casualty figure given by the
Government was 146 killed and
85 wounded. Anuradhapura residents say, is in fact closer
to 200. The LTTE then sped back to Nochchiyagama and Pukulam where
boats were waiting to take them back to Mannar.
Mervyn de Silva, forme Editor in Chief of Lake House described
the event. It was all over in less than half-an-hour, a blood-splattered scene
straight out of a movie by Sam Peckinpah, of pure, unbridled terror, he said.
A Ceylon Transport Board bus pulled up at the
bus station and four young men in military-style uniforms and carrying AK-47s
alighted and walked towards the police station some 300 yards away. Then the
rest (more than 20, said an eyewitness later) got down and in a perfectly
rehearsed drill, formed two rows along the sides of the street.
Suddenly a command, a few words shouted, they
opened up with their automatic weapons, mowing down every person in sight.With
well over 200 persons dead or bleeding to death in the street, the attackers
got back into the bus and drove to the Siri maha Bodhi and killed worhippers.
The attakc has all the hallmarks of a LTTE
operation, especially the cold-blooded attack and its ferocity, Lalith Athulathmudali, National
Security Minister told India Today. The massacre did not provoke a massive
Sinhalese backlash in the south. The community remained calm, concluded Mervy
de Silva.
LTTE
ATTACK ON DALADA MALIGAWA.
On 25 January
1998, three suicide LTTE Black Tigers drove an explosive laden truck along the
King’s street (Raja Veediya), Kandy, firing at soldiers manning road blocks
and exploded a massive truck bomb in front of the Dalada Maligawa. The truck
contained 300–400 kilograms (660–880 lb) of high explosives.
The entrance and
the roof of Dalada Maligawa were damage, but the inner chamber was intact. 10
civilians, including a two-year-old girl and her seven-year-old brother, were
killed. Over 25 people, including 4 women, a monk and a police officer were
injured.
In October 2003,
three LTTE cadres involved in the attack were convicted by the Kandy High court
and sentenced to death. Two others were sentenced to 680 years of rigorous
imprisonment and third to 490 years ( CONTINUED)
2021
cricket calendar is quite challenging for all teams. Sri Lanka has
a busy schedule as well. SLC started cost cutting
at the wrong time with the wrong people, the players. The cost cutting
should have been undertaken without disturbing the morale of the professional
players. There are far too many pen-pushers at the cricket board, some of
them hand picked by politicians and senior members of the Board.
There had been no attempt in the past 10 years to decrease the unproductive
labour costs, instead steady rise in the numbers and pay deals had taken place.
Players
contractual terms and conditions are debatable. Their pay deals put under
the microscope continuously, especially at times the teams rankings are
downgraded by the ICC. In a way, the players pay deals are
measurable, but unproductive labour costs of massive regiment of
managerial and non managerial administrative work force remain at unaffordable
levels.
SLC
has spent substantial sum of money to engage overseas psychologists to maintain
competitive mental strength of players. Whilst psychologists were doing
their part of role, the SLC was acting like a bull in the China Shop of
bringing the pay dispute to the forefront just before series of tournaments.
What
was the objective of this issue taken up for review at wrong
time.
Was
it to reduce labour costs of the Board or to punish the players for
poor performance. Punishing the players, who generate the funds for the
Cricket Board was a wrong move. At the same time, pay terms need to
be rationale, competitive and must be adjusted in a transparent manner by
reviewing the entire Labour Budget of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board
It
has been announced today that by August this year Elon Musk’s company will be
providing internet coverage to the whole world except the polar regions. Why
not the Ministry of Education or the Digital Technology Minister talk to the
relevant company and arrange to provide this facility for which the rural students
are going through untold hardships?.
Attack
on villagers by elephants
We
often see that the houses of the villages are broken into by elephants to eat
the paddy they store inside their houses. It appears the elephants somehow
penetrate the electrified fences and enter the villages to attack the houses
and peasants. Why not provide them with a basic weapon to shoot at them and
deliver painful dose that they will not forget?. Such a gadget, the Stun Gun ,
is available at low cost ($ 10 – 25) and can be operated with a rechargeable 9 volt battery. It has a simple circuit that
can be modified to enable it remotely by the wild life officials via a mobile signal
to work during suitable hours only. I am sure even an old woman can be trained
to use it effectively as the target is so large. May be the mandarins around
the Prez can get some Uni dons to carry out a feasibility study including how
to avoid misuse etc. on this idea.
The basic
policy of the prevention of the spread of Covid 19 is social distancing and
prevention of close association between strangers by barrier methods such as
facial masks , gloves and washing of hands. We have returned to our traditional
methods of greetings which is worshipping and moved away from the western
tradition of shaking hands . Worshipping has more than one meaning . It is not
only a tradition of greeting but also extension of respect to a fellow human
being another clog in the great wheel of Human Bondage the basis on which
humanity can progress. This also has reduced the need to wash hands. It is very
clear that the easterner over centuries have seen the need to practice social
distancing. This is nothing new to humanity . Humanity is only comfortable if there
is four feet between strangers in social activity and two feet between loved
ones who we know for sure does not have a communicable disease and the
closeness is comfortable. Thus social
distancing is not a stranger to humanity but the new world order that ignores
nature in search of profit at the risk of suffering , it is something new. It
is time the hubris that we can control nature is abandoned. So
should the policy of creative destruction and creative accounting in search of
profit be abandoned as it is false.
PANDEMIC AND
NATURAL WAVE PROPAGATION OF EPIDEMICS
Without
understanding the nature of an epidemic one cannot understand the reality of
the predicament humanity is facing. All natural phenomena observe a wave format
reflecting natural exacerbations and remissions be it a storm, blowing and even
physiological phenomena such as the oxygen dissociation curve. This is best
expressed in the Buddhist Philosophy that every thing is in flux and nothing is
permanent. To ignore the basic Buddhist philosophy in a Buddhist country shows
the degree to which the rulers have moved away from society. This is now
highjacked by the present world as the first wave, second wave etc. What they
do not say is that the wave format will burn itself out and be a spent force
with time when herd immunity will take over. The inevitability of the situation
must be accepted but society should do its utmost to protect the vulnerable
such as senior citizens , children etc. so that the burden on the Health care
system is minimized . A proper assessment cannot be made until the blood tests
are done to evaluate the risks . The risks of course will depend on the immunity of the citizens, Demography
of the society , climate etc. Unfortunately blindly following the west will
not give a proper assessment whose status is very different from the east and
is not pragmatic. Can a nation ignorant
of this basic concept be realistic in assessment and management of this threat
to humanity
EPIDEMICS AND
OPEN ECONOMY
As much as the
covid 19 epidemic needs to be emphasized because of it virulency the more
chronic epidemics in society has been ignored. In Sri Lanka Diabetes , hypercholesteremia,
fatty livers and kidney disease and cancers have reached epidemic proportions.
Poisoning of society has been encouraged by the Ruling classes in the name of
profits and commissions.
The best
example of this poisoning is the incidence of chronic Renal disease which
affects the 15% of the population in the North central province related to the
Mahaweli scheme. The rulers who are slaves to the IMF and World bank have not
even had the courage to properly investigate the plight of the citizens. The
rulers have abdicated their responsibility to the people. The disease has been
attributed to the heavy metals in the fertilizer.
The olden times
the rice was cooked and the excess supernatant was discarded where most of the
heavy metals were. Today the Rice cooker does not have a mechanism to rid the
rice of the pollution and hence are consumed. These heavy metals are then
distributed by the commercial marketing to the rest of the country as even the rice is contaminated. Water being the
carrier not only of nutrients but also poisons.
The interesting
question is why the Hype on the corona virus? Why has the rulers evaded their
responsibility towards other epidemics? Interesting questions that only the
rulers can answer.
This is only
the tip of the iceberg. The anti-human policies in the name of creative
destruction and open economy has to be reviewed..
FUTURE
EPIDEMICS
At the rate the deforestation in sri lanka is going on to
pander to the political ambitions of the ruling class and paying debt and
geopolitical schemes like the millennium 2000 with agreements with America will
create new diseases that are at present confined to the forest . The best example is the epidemic of dengue.
This until recently confined to the forests. The dengue mosquito was well
controlled in the forests. The relatively cold water and the tannins created by
rotting leaves are toxic to the mosquito eggs in addition predators such as
bats kept the dengue mosquito in check and confined to the forests. With
urbanization and deforestation the mosquito was offered warm water environment
to multiply and become a threat to society That was done by the authorities
allowing deforestation with out assessing the threat. Today the same
authorities who created this problem are accusing the ordinary citizens by
checking for larvae in natural collections of water be it in coconut shells
,latrines and wells etc and taking legal actions. In this process the Police ,
army are utilized to bring fear to the people. The rulers who created this
problem are now putting the blame on the ordinary citizen where as they are
liable.
This corona
virus epidemic is only the start . The annihilation of the policy of natural
social distancing by urbanization will only expose society to many such
epidemics.
SOCIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF URBANISATION AND APARTMENTAL LIVING AND ABANDONING THD EASTERN
PHILOSOPHY OF AHIMSA
One thing that
suffers most in an urbanized society is the human phenomenon of social
distancing the compromise of which creates stress , natural spread of disease
such as corono and the pressure on utilities such as healthcare. Healthcare
subsidies have been greatly reduced by IMF demands and private practice which
cannot adequately care for the consequences of urbanization such as epidemics.
The lack of social distancing and stress has confirmed the reason for the media publications of increased wife bashing
during the epidemic . In addition living in small apartments with little social
distancing has created a society where there is increased dependency on drugs
as found out in the research in New York. Another epidemic of drug usage and
its social consequences is violence. The
recent spate of Drug related Police actions are further evidence of the
consequences of Urbanization. An important message to the Resident committees
of Apartment complexes where it should take a holistic approach not
militaristic rules.. The space here is inadequate to give further details.
Consuming game
such as bats only opens humanity to diseases of animals. It is another
mechanism by which humans will be exposed to new diseases. Corono virus is
claimed to have originated from Bats.
PRESENT
EPIDEMIC AND THE UNREALISTIC MANAGEMENT
The hubris that
natural phenomena can be controlled with out consequences is a western
phenomena that is against eastern belief. The natural wave phenomena of the
epidemic are used by the ruling class as a form of propaganda. During exacerbations
or the crest of the wave the people are blamed for not adhering to the rules of
social distancing where as during the remissions or bottom of the wave they
take the credit for controlling the epidemic. With the second and third wave
their credibility is questioned by society. The long and short of it is that a
natural phenomenon like a hurricane cannot be controlled without consequences
but the wave format will continue until it burns itself off by herd immunity.
This is no different from a hurricane which burns itself off but the damage
cannot be prevented. Like wise Death and disease in this epidemic cannot be
avoided but with careful management can be minimized
CONCLIUSION
The present
management is inadequate because
Does not accept the pattern of a natural
epidemic but feel it can be controlled not accepting it is by Herd immunity.
The longer we prolong the virus has an opportunity to mutate which may be more
virulent than the original and the epidemic can recur.
There is no care plan for the vulnerable
the old and the sick. Its been proved without doubt that the old and the very
young are vulnerable. Unfortunately no such social problem is addressed
In
the non buddhist UK vulnerable citizens are cared for using what they call a
support bubble. Ie introducing another family that can interact with them in
spite of lock down without restrictions. In Buddhist Sri Lanka the elderly are
a spent force not cared for. How
Buddhist is it ?
No proper risk management has been
established in society where 80% of the
covid infected are symptomless. In sri Lankas the death rate is less than 1% a
reflection of the hot climate, natural immunity and the maintenance of social
distancing especially in the Rural areas.
Vaccination- Will it have a 100% immunity?
Will the virus have mutated by then and will the vaccine be effective? A
question that can be answered in retrospect. Still early days to pass udgement
Health care- should the government
reestablish a fully funded free health care system that has been abandoned
after IMF advised the government to
reduce subsidies.
Review of the Program of deforestation and environmental protection.
Is a absolute necessary to prevent new epidemics from forests. The use of
chemicals in food preservation must be banned. To prevent other epidemics like
cancer.
52% of sri Lankans are daily wage earners.
The frequent curfews and locked down has devastated their earning capacity. In
addition the expatriate workers mostly in the Middle East are unemployed stuck
in the middle east unable to come back because of the failing economy has caused major setbacks to their economy and
that of their dependent families. This has caused a lot of suffering. The sri
Lankan indebted economy has virtually come to a stand still where do we go from
here?
Lock down and curfews must not interfere with
the national economy. Undernutrition not only cause death but will cause more
problems if they get Corono. A Realistic approach and the acceptance that
finally Herd immunity is the answer must be accepted. If not the suffering and
dismantling of society would continue.
THIS
EPIDEMIC IS A CONSEQUENCE AND MISMANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY. IT IS TIME THE EAST
CHANGES ITS ECONOMIC POLICY ”
By Lankathilaka/Counterpoint.lk Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Colombo, June 5: Two weeks ago farmers in the town of Medirigiraya, in the Polonaruwa district, were protesting. They had not got their quota of fertilizer to cultivate their fields from their local agriculture office and it was going to affect their crop yield, their finances and the country’s food supply. These farmers also have a proud agricultural heritage stretching back to the days of King Parakramabahu when Polonaruwa, the country’s second most ancient kingdom, was self- sufficient with food. The current forecast is not rosy. The growing scarcity of fertilizer is beginning to tell as the government’s ban on its import gradually chokes the agriculture sector.
Despite warnings from agriculture sector experts and practitioners and with the writing on the wall, the government is bulldozing its way through with the decision to convert from chemical to organic fertilizer for farming.
‘The government is hell bent on pushing through with its decision’, said an aide who is advising it on the transition from chemical to organic fertilizer. These experts have laid bare a multitude of reasons for their fear of the conversion. They explain how Sri Lanka will not be able to produce the volume of organic fertilizer that is required for the change and the stark lack of preparation for it which they say will need a minimum of two years. They predict that among the cumulative effects of a sudden transition which has not been thought through and prepared for, is a drop in food production and a resulting food shortage.
Sri Lanka is not the first country in the region which wants to convert fully to organic farming. Sector experts flaunt the example of Bhutan, which in 2014 committed to convert to organic farming by 2020. Even with years of advance preparation Bhutan was not able to meet its target which it extended to 2035. By 2019, Bhutan had converted only 1. 3 percent of its total arable land to organic farming. With more and more abandoned agriculture land and a drop in yield, it did a volte face when it was confronted by looming food shortages. In 2018,Bhutan imported 63 percent of its rice requirement and 21 and 23 percent respectively of its maize and vegetable needs. To avoid the inevitability of a similar fate, experts are urging the government to rethink its decision.
‘Going 100 percent organic cannot be achieved at any cost’, says Professor Buddhi Marambe. He is a scientist in the Department of Crop Science in the University of Peradeniya. ‘It cannot be done, not in the short, medium or long term. This is one point in a 20 point plan the government wants to pursue for a greener socio– economic policy. The total ban on chemical fertilizer is not compatible with the other 19 points for the government to achieve this objective’.
Professor Marambe takes the example of Europe which as a part of its green deal committed to convert only 25 percent of its agriculture land by 2030. Yet, it is struggling to meet this target which has now been extended to 2050. ‘Despite its technological advancements, Europe was not going 100 percent organic at once as this would have jeopardized its food security.
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) sets standards for organic agriculture. It releases a comprehensive report every year. According to its latest report in 2019 from only 1.5 percent of the total global extent of agriculture land is limited to organic cultivation. Globally, this equates to only 71. 5 million hectares and just 2. 5 percent of Sri Lanka’s arable land.
The crux of the issue with fertilizer, be it chemical or organic, is to do with one of its key nutrients which is nitrogen and without which the leaves of the plant turn yellow. Fertilizer has 18 macro and micro nutrients. In addition to nitrogen, among the other main nutrients are phosphate, potassium, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. While the hydrogen and oxygen requirement is provided by water, the other nutrients have to be added especially since years of cropping and re cropping have depleted nutrients in the soil.
‘People ask me why we don’t add fertilizer to the soil in the Sinharaja forest reserve and I tell them that the land there doesn’t need replenishing because nothing is taken out of it. Therefore it keeps regenerating itself’, explains Professor Marambe.
The main source of nitrogen in chemical fertilizer is urea, which is a petroleum by product and releases nitrogen fast. One hundred kilograms of urea produces 46 kilograms of nitrogen. With organic fertilizer which consists of plant and animal matter such as cow dung, the nitrogen percentage is between 1 and 3. 5 which gives a scale of the nitrogen which is needed to provide the nutrients the plant needs. Nitrogen is also a difficult nutrient to manage. Its application has to be controlled and done at the right time for the plan to absorb it from the soil.
According to the Agriculture Department, if cultivating is to be exclusively organic, the quantity of organic matter which will be required will be ten times more per hectare.
A happy medium to maintain both high crop yields and soil fertility is to use a mix of chemical and organic fertilizer. According to astudy carried out by the Rice Research and Development Institute in Batalagoda during eleven consecutive yala and maha seasons, the highest yield was produced by plots with a mix of the two fertilizers. The field research which was carried out between 2003 and 2014 involved the application of chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer on its own, a mix of the two and not using any fertilizer at all. The quantity of chemical fertilizer that was added was what is recommended by the Department of Agriculture and the organic fertilizer that was added was at the rate of 10 tons per hectare. At the end of the study period, the average yield which was generated with the use of organic fertilizer only was 30 percent higher and was over 70 percent with the exclusive use of chemical fertilizer. It was 92 percent and at its highest when both chemical and organic fertilizer was used on the plot. The study also found that the soil fertility in plots which had been applied with organic fertilizer had a high level of organic matter and had nitrogen in it.
‘Food security is national security’, explains Professor Marambe. ‘We must have sustainable policies to ensure food security because there is no point relying on food imports from outside’.
The points which guarantee food security requires easy access to it in the right quantitiesand with the right nutrients at all times. Currently, Sri Lanka produces more rice than what can be consumed. The country’s per capita consumption rate is 115 kilograms per annum of which 107 to 108 kilograms come from grains such as rice and the rest from rice by products like rice flour. Sri Lanka feeds this need by producing at least 2. 4 metric tons of rice per annum, about 200, 000 MT a month. It has done this by increasing land productivity using high yielding varieties of paddy and increasing the area which is cultivated. Farmers have also adopted new technologies. In fact, more than 98 percent of paddy land is cultivated with high yielding varieties of paddy. The yield per hectare is 4. 8 tons, which is an average of a 7. 4 fold increase compared to the yield in 1940 which was .56. At the time, the country had to import 60 percent of its rice requirements for a population of six million people. The population today is 21. 8 million.
One of the drivers for the conversion is the scare that nitrogen concentrates in the soil leads to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). ‘The carry over effect of nitrogen from one season of cultivating to another will not be mote than between 1- 1. 5 percent if at all’, says Professor Marambe. Recent findings by the National Research Council also appear to confirm that such concerns can be unfounded. Their study into the link between CKD in farmers and groundwater contamination reveal the main reason is because farmers don’t drink enough water when they work in their fields.
Professor Marambe’s recommendations to overcome the current impasse is not to ban the import and use of chemical fertilizer. He advocates to implement proactively, the certificate program in Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) which promotes the use of the integrated plant nutrient system. The programwhich was launched in 2015 to build consumer confidence in food safety did not have many takers when it was launched in 2015. The growing number its subscribers, which his at around 400 now, is a reflection of the reality of the need for food safety.
For the government to implement this program efficiently, he recommends that it issues a directive to all farmers to register for GAPcertification and to give them time until 31 December 2022 to do this. The next step which he suggests is to direct all supermarkets to begin marketing and selling GAP certified products by 1 January 2023. ‘This will definitely help the government to achieve its overall objective of the green socio– economic policy and also not compromise food security’.
The Ministry of Health says 1,517 more persons were tested positive for the novel coronavirus today (July 04).
All new cases have been associated with the New Year COVID-19 cluster which has registered 257,439 positive cases since mid-April.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country thus far 265,079.
According to official data, 28,571 virus-infected people are currently being treated at designated hospitals and treatment centres across the island.
The recoveries count climbed to 233,317 today with 1,323 patients who were under medical care for novel coronavirus returning to health.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the pandemic outbreak in Sri Lanka reached 3,236 as the Director-General of Health Services confirmed 45 new fatalities today.
The new victims confirmed today include 20 females and 25 males, the Department of Government Information said.
Ten victims are aged between 30-59 years and the remaining 35 are aged 60 and above.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reports that another 495 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, moving the daily total of new cases to 1,517.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 265,630.
As many as 233,317 recoveries and 3,236 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The Epidemiology Unit’s data showed that 29,122 active cases are currently under medical care.
On the directives from the President, walk-in COVID vaccination programs will begin from Monday (July 05) at selected hospitals operated by the tri-forces, says General Shavendra Silva.
According to the army commander, people above the age of 30 years in Western Province can now get vaccinated at the following tri-forces hospitals:
• Army hospitals in Narahenpita, Panagoda and Werahera • Air Force hospitals in Borella, Guwanpura, Katunayake, Ratmalana and Ekala • Navy hospitals at Chaithya Road in Colombo and Welisara
In the meantime, people aged above 60 years in other provinces can receive coronavirus vaccine doses at the army hospitals at Galle Fort, Matara Nilawala Camp, Diyatalawa, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Jaffna and Mullaitivu.
Vaccination clinics will be operative every day between 8.00 am and 4.30 pm, the army chief said further.
Similarly, vaccination programs operated by Sri Lanka Army will be held at the following locations on Monday (July 05) from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm:
For people above 30 years:
Colombo District • Colombo Army Hospital, Narahenpita • Diyatha Uyana, Battaramulla • Sri Bodhirajaramaya Army Temple, Panagoda • Regimental Center – Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps, Werahera
For people above 60 years: Galle District • Vidyaloka Vidyalaya, Galle
Matara District • Mahinda Rajapaksa Vidyalaya, Matara
Badulla District • Security Force Headquarters, Diyatalawa
Anuradhapura District • Army Hospital, Anuradhapura
Polonnaruwa District • Infantry Training School, Minneriya
Kilinochchi District • Army Base Hospital, Kilinochchi
Mullaitivu District • Tamil College, Puthukkudiyiruppu
The Ministry of Finance says the government has not taken a decision to impose restrictions on the import of non-essential luxury goods.
Recent media reports claimed that the government is mulling the restrictions of electronic appliance including mobile phones, televisions and refrigerators as wells as perfumes, deodorants and other similar items.
It was further reported that steps would be taken to relax the import restrictions after foreign reserves in the country are strengthened.
However, a spokesperson of the finance ministry denied the media reports as ‘baseless.’
Meanwhile, a special press conference chaired by State Minister of Money & Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal is expected to take place tomorrow (July 05) to brief the public on the country’s current economic situation.
It
is often said that a thief shouts ‘thief’ to divert attention from himself the
real rogue so that everyone runs after the wrong person, is this the strategy
deployed by both Canada & Tamil Eelam promoters? Case of bad boys calling
others ‘bad boys’ to cover their guilt. Looks like it. Canada should be hiding
its head in shame as graves of children emerge to prove beyond doubt the crime
of genocide committed upon indigenous natives who lived in Canada before the
white man arrived. Tamil Eelam promoters have exchanged their tiger suits for
tie & coat and crying ‘genocide’ attempting to divert world attention from
its crimes. Canada & Tamil Eelam are made for each other. Complimenting
these two culprits are a bandwagon of darlings that call themselves ‘human
rights activists’ who are pursing millions to speak on behalf of the criminals
and producing fancy reports just as cover up. Where are all those genocide
campaigners beating their chests against Sri Lanka but not demanding justice
from Canada? The biggest noise regarding supposed ‘genocide’ in Sri Lanka comes
from Canada by the Eelam lobbyists – why are we not surprised! Just give
them a piece of Canada to declare Tamil Eelam, please!
Enough and more articles and documented horrific crimes by the
Government of Canada upon the indigenous natives prevail. The graves now add to
the misery of a history Canada wants to forget with simply an ‘apology’. What
has Canada’s Truth Commission actually achieved? Isn’t this the outcome of
prior international tribunals that the UN championed – none of the real victims
have got justice. But, why doesn’t the US, UN or EU go after Canada for these
crimes? Why are there no UNHRC resolutions against Canada? Why has the UNSG not
appointed any personal commissions to appraise him/her of Canada’s past? If Ban Ki Moon could appoint a personal commission even AFTER Sri
Lanka’s conflict was over, why isn’t the present UNSG doing the same on Canada?
Is it because the colonial rulers now control the international justice system,
the international media syndicate & they sway the opinion.
There
is now no denying that the whites that arrived in Canada attempted to
exterminate the native Indians of North America. This can be compared to the
manner that the LTTE gave 48hours for Sinhalese & Muslims to leave the
Northern peninsula in late 1980s. If this is not called ethnic cleansing what
is? It is only after chasing away Sinhalese & Muslims who lived in the North
even before 1948 that the LTTE & Tamil politicians backing LTTE declared
ONLY Tamils lived in the North. What a strategy! The same strategy was applied
by Hitler.
We
don’t know how many Canada exterminated just as we don’t know how many
Sinhalese & Muslims LTTE exterminated! But both Canada & LTTE cry
‘genocide’ accusing others to hide their crimes. What partners in crime. While
the west is quick to condemn Hitler, they are all mum on their own crimes!
What
Canada did to natives as confirmed even by its Truth Commission is a Crime
Against Humanity. What LTTE has done since 1980s have fallen on deaf ears.
While LTTE promoters cry ‘genocide’ there is startling silence over the
premeditated murders carried out by LTTE over 3 decades upon villagers,
children, pregnant mothers, people engaged in worship, unarmed civilians,
unarmed politicians and even unarmed armed forces & police personnel.
LTTE’s crimes must get the gavel first.
It
is probably as a result of Canada’s own genocide guilt that it is promoting
‘genocide’ bogus requests with Ontario passing the ‘Tamil Genocide Education
Week’ – a ridiculous decision when Canada should be having a ‘Canada Genocide
Education Week nationally’.
Canada is a created country raised to what it is by immigrants
who arrived/brought there from all parts of the world. These immigrants also
carry tales of colonial woes where their birth nations suffered crimes against
humanity by the colonials that ruled them. If so, Canada should be holding
genocide education weeks for all of the crimes the British did in all but 22
countries of the world. Canada should have education weeks for the crimes
committed by the Spanish, the Portuguese, the French & every colonial
country whose crimes come nowhere near those that are flagged in 21stcentury. https://youtu.be/RW37qvWc7TE
We
can recall how the West attempted to humiliate Sri Lanka throughout the
military-humanitarian rescue operation. They were probably doing their best to
liken what they did & trying their best to accuse Sri Lanka of same.
However, what Canada did in the concentration camps for the natives that lived
for thousands of years in North America can never come anywhere near to the
refugee camps that Sri Lanka operated throughout the rescue mission.
What
is undoubtedly evident is that both Canada & the LTTE rump in Canada and
where all of the LTTE-fronts unashamedly operate is that they do their best to
accuse others & try to hide and cover up their crimes. Finger pointing is
their game! Human rights & crying ‘genocide’ is their toy. What hypocrisy.
No one living in glass houses and afford to throw stones & evade
accountability. Canada has no business to be accusing other countries of
‘genocide’ hiding its own crimes.
When LTTE committed
premeditated murder – where was Canada crying ‘genocide’ of innocent people?
Have a look at how LTTE entered the sacred city of Anuradhapura
to kill people in prayer. This was in 1985 on 14thMay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWNmq_04ZeQ– LTTE
killed over 146 persons that day.
What
about the over 100 Muslims killed while praying in Kattankudy
LTTE
exploded a bomb in Colombo in 1987 killing over 150 people
Over
600 unarmed policemen were slaughtered in June 1990
LTTE
attacked the Central Bank killing over 90 innocent persons in 1997.
Most
of these attacks were during cease fires or peace negotiations displaying
complete disregard for lives or negotiations.
The
list of crimes by LTTE upon not only Sinhalese & Muslims but Tamils and
even foreigners are all well documented. Why have these crimes not been
categorized as ‘genocide’ by those abusing the term genocide?
Canada’s
extermination of the indigenous natives is clear because of the dwindling
native populace.
The
LTTE rump crying genocide in Sri Lanka must explain how Tamil population can
increase if there is ‘genocide’ in Sri Lanka! This is mindboggling.
What
is obviously clear is that Canada & LTTE rump have something very much in
common. They both want to hide their crimes by pointing fingers and to
reinforce their lies come up with silly ‘Genocide Bills’ & Education Weeks
as cover up. What partners in crime. LTTE rump will say and do anything that
the West wants so long as their crimes are kept out of international scope.
We
have no grudge in the cohabitation of criminals but we are bothered when the
guilty point fingers unfairly and unjustly.
UNSG
must appoint a personal commission to appraise him on Canada. This report can
be leaked and we hope successive UNHRC Resolutions will emerge similar to those
against Sri Lanka.
The
syndicate of criminals hiding their crimes by demanding action against other
countries must stop. As Canada cries – we want to know where UN, US & EU
are alongside the bandwagon of human rights activists.
What’s
the prime aim of a religion? This question requires careful consideration
because of the emergence of increased religious-based violence around the
world, where such violence has resulted in unmitigated human tragedy that no
religion is supposed to promote; can a religion promote violence amongst its
believers or against the believers of other religions? Some people attempt to
say they are religious while supporting violence that detrimental to humans,
and the history of various religions shows that violence had been promoted in
the name of religions. It could be considered that a lack of understanding of
the functions of religions and expectations from the religion might lead to
promoting violence. No religion could be discharged from this accusation, more
accurately could express the idea as religious philosophy may have not
contributed to violence, but religious followers took part in violent acts in
the name of religions.
Religions
were created or invented by humans and the philosophical truth of messages of
religions has not been tested by inventors many times, and the truth and the
candour of religious philosophy are highly questionable regarding all
religions. If it considers without aligned to a particular religion, it would
provide mental abetment and such benefits are useful to humans. Every day
people have to face either simple or complicated issues in such a situation
religions extend massive support to humans to deal with issues, and in such
situations, religions provide tremendous support.
How
religious contemplation absorbed human consciences is a quite difficult subject
to comprehend, and it is associated with the process of human activation. Many
people who contribute to violence do not know of the religion or how religions
would judge violence, and they assume they know religion well, and to be more
aligned to a religious commitment when deeply analyse those people work it can
be seen that they accomplish anti-religious work. The inventor of religion is
the only person who knows about the truth of religion. The truth may be violent
promotors know neither religion nor the expectation from religions is promoted
by them. Various aspects of human experience associate with the way of acting a
person, but the religious aspect invades human consciences deeper and deeper
compared to others. Why this situation is an absolutely difficult situation
that works in the human brain which motivates some people to take part in
violent acts. Sometimes, it could observe those racist feelings to work like
this and the way the brain is working for religious feeling like racist feeling
is at variance in a situation. Those are difficult psychological aspects that
are broadly analyzed by a variety of practical situations.
To
understand this situation, ideas of behaviourism philosophy may help to a
certain extent because they believe that behavior is caused by environmental
conditions. This means the reality is matter, and motion influences behavior.
According to this philosophical aspect, religious and racist motions are
stimulated by environmental conditions and people might be violent when
religious and racist motion influence the living environment that could be
changed by religious and racist aspects.
Ordinary
people of the world believe that religions aim to promote peace, unity, good
habits, the practice of merciful acts, love, and many other outstanding
qualities of human life with no difference of religions. Many people blindly
believe that only the religion they believe or practice is philosophically and
socially correct, and other religions aren’t admonishing. History confirms that
religions emerged in this world long after humans manifested to this world.
Recent discoveries on the planet Mars lead us to assume that humans or species
like humans were on Mars, and unknown reasons contributed to destroying them.
Did they follow religions? Religious leaders in neither religion come forward
to explain this complicated situation, and they will be preferred to practice
violence rather than educating potential changes to the religion they practice.
It
may feel now as though religious faith is a more mythical concept than an
actual practice or way of life. The spiritual values of all religions are equal
and nobody can discriminate one against another as they are in the
aforementioned status. Therefore, all humans have an irrevocable responsibility
to respect all religions. The authenticated truth is many people disrespect
certain regions and value other selected religions. This situation associate
with politics, culture, attitudes, and many other desires of people.
Many
people visit religious places of worship such as temples, churches, mosques,
synagogues intending to gain peace of mind. People encounter unexpected
problems that are complex or which involve a multitude of other issues that
bring about sorrow and anxiety; people need to get away from stress and need to
gain a rational mind from evil influences, therefore visiting these places of
worship transpires as a coping mechanism to deal with individual issues and
enigmas.
Participation
in activities of religious places gradually promotes people to think the right
way, tolerate others and their views, understand others’ feelings, justice, and
love for others. However, recent experience in the world disclosed that certain
religious places do practice and promote hate against others, either
misunderstanding the religious philosophy or purposely adulterating the
religious philosophy to achieve selfish outcomes. It also seems that certain
religious places promote hate among individuals, or a group of individuals or a
community based on the purely misinterpreted religious philosophy to show that
they are right religious people close to God. When we examine a practical
situation of the universe, it shows or people to assume that God is neither
human nor associated with a particular person or a group of people. A person or
a group of religious people are a bit of the universe and God who is above the
universe will not prefer for a particular religion than others. The attitudes
of some people are mere fabrications rather than the will of God. As we believe
God is justice and the maker of decisions based on justice, promoting violence
in the name of God is not the will of God or approved activities by God.
Current
experiences in many countries in connection with the operation of religious beacons
that the basic aim of religions that ordinary people expect has been gradually
disappearing or eroding because some religions in the world seem to promote
violence against the human being. Why this situation is encountering in
present? The most plausible explanation is that religions are at the hands of
wrong people, who consider or wrongfully convince society that they are on the
face of highly religious, but it is not. Not a single religious leader or the
originator of religion was expected to be happening violence in the name of
religion. In the modern era, religions have become a part of the political arm,
or a business arm, or an operational component of the society which is
performing tasks against the fundamental objectives of religious philosophers.
It also seems that many ordinary people get away from religions as the
functional areas of religions violate or contrary to the role of religions.
The
current developments of the management of religions or the operation of
corporate religions needed to be debated by all religions unless ordinary
believers may attempt to rationally think that Karl Marx’s opinion on the
religion was accurate that it was a substance like opium, which deviates human
being from the right path to the wrong way through false consciousness. Is the
faith of religion not a material thing that is possible to cause harm to
others? Why people are believing one religion attempts to insult another
religion or its believers? The answer to these problems would be the attitudes
of people or how people think about other religions without a clear
understanding of the philosophy of that religion.
About
95% of people in the world have gained a religion by birth based on the
religious faith of their parents. When religions spread in this way like a
family heritage, people do not understand the philosophy of other religions or
even the philosophy of their religion and how they should respect others. Some
people are too much aligned to own religion as educators of the religion
cultivate in the minds of kids that only right faith is their religion but
others faiths or religions are mythical or evil things without knowing the
facts and details of other faiths. In this way, hate against other faiths or
religions begins and later it continues to provoke people to take part in
violence.
When
looking at the history of all religions, it can be seen that religious writers
promoted violence using fabricated stories, and many people don’t understand
the message of religions. The philosophical views of many religions were
contained in ancient books of which authors were difficult to trace or it was
not sure whether the books were written by authors for the explanation of
religious philosophies. The obvious nature of these written contributions was
that authors wanted to make additions to literature based on fascinating
thoughts, which were in their minds. The objectives of writers were not clearly
explained, but they were believing religious mysteries, faiths, or truth
without a scientific assessment. It is quite clear that many writers had no
intention of writing religious mysteries or disclosing divine intentions. They
were merely fabricated or manipulated stories; however, later religious
teachers converted these fabrications to religious values, which might apply in
a variety of practical situations in the world.
The
style of writing shows that authors wanted to attract readers by writing
attractive mythical stories rather than developing religious principles to be
believed or worshipped or practiced by religions in the latter days. Sometimes
the same story or writing has been repeated by several religions. For example,
the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Quran present similar stories and Jataka
stories, and many Hindu books provide comparable stories. Certain stories or
readings in old religious books contradict modern religious views and laws.
Jesus Christ rejected many approaches of the Old Testament, showing that they
were not divine rules. Therefore, it is essential to careful reading of many
ancient religious books because readers need to comprehend the messages of
books rather than the literal meanings of the stories of the book. The other
significant aspect of the books was that writers focused on the society at
their times and the understanding ability of readers in their times and they
never imagined the probable changes in the future world of harms could have
happened in the society because of the readings.
When people are reading religious books such
as the Old Testament, Quran, Bhagawath Geetha, Jataka Stories, Book of Mormon,
and many others, they might misunderstand the messages contained them as some
books are carrying violent stories or motivations that are unacceptable to the
current society, which is supposed to promote peace, unity, and harmony among
the members of the community. The developing hate among various religions is
harmful to the existence of society and many people have an idea that the world
is better than without religions as the violence promoted by believers of
religions is entirely against the religious philosophy. It would not open the
gate of heaven but it might open the gate of hell.
How
the concept of time originated in this world is explained in many religious
books with the creation and this time was how to measure was not known by
anyone. Many religious books explain that the magnitude of the universe cannot
measure and humans are a tiny part of the universe and humans to understand the
universe take time and need to take a massive effort and it will take time.
According to current information, as religions believe, there was no fixed
beginning to the universe, and similarly, there will not be a fixed ending to
the universe. There may be planets with humans like us or different. They might
study about us and try to understand the nature and the behavior of the
creator.
According
to our knowledge, people were born into this world and they died after that
individuality ended and names extend to a certain period if people accept a
particular person should be in memory otherwise they ended. This is the truth
of religion, irrespective of any religion will be the truth. When people are
weak, they worship religions, thinking that religions can help to get away from
problems.
The
other vital fact is because believing in aligning to religion in peaceful
Mannar would not be harmful to the society, frequently, it will be helpful the
society.
Since
2010 Sri Lanka had 10 world class Head Coaches, whilst India had 5, England and
Australia 4 each, South Africa and New Zealand 3 each and Pakistan only
2. We hired the world best with lucrative expatriate terms to Dave
Whatmore, Tom Moody, Micky Arthur, Chandika Hathurusinhe, Trevor Bayliss, Paul
Farbrace, Graham Ford, Geoff Marsh. The first mistake was the removal of
1996 World Cup Winning Coach Dav Whatmore who was replaced by Western
Australian Off-Spinner Late Mr Bruce Yardley. Bruce battled out SLC
mismanagement and survived just only 2 years in his role.
The
political bickering in cricket start at the very top in Sri Lanka, that is at
the Ministry of Sports. Since 1996 we had 14 Ministers of Sports,
including some colourful and dubious names such as S B Dissanayake, Mangala
Samaraweera, Lakshman Kiriella, Johnston Fernando, Jeewan Kumaratunga, Gamini
Lokuge, C B Ratnayake, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Navin Dissanayake, Dayasiri
Jayasekera, Faizar Musthapha, Harin Fernando, Dullas Alahapperuma, Namal
Rajapakse.
When
Mahela and Sangakkara retired from all forms of cricket, bringing Angelow
Mathews was another mistake, who has been on the Sick List most of the
time. Rangana Herath should have been rightfully given the role
instead.
Dimuth
Karunaratne was brought in at a time SLC was struggling the same way as it is
now, but to his credit he was able to bring some sanity into the game,
especially in test cricket. Dropping Dimuth and promoting controversial
Kusal Mendis to the role of vice captain is yet another blunder of the current
management both at the levels of the Sports Ministry as well as at the Sri
Lanka Cricket Board.
Now
we need to do some breakdown of Income earned by Sri Lanka Cricket, analysed
into salaries and wages, or to call loosely Labour Costs. As a
percentage, as we understand Sri Lanka Cricket spent on Labour Costs on direct
cricket players just 28% of the total income from cricket, excluding overseas
travel and accommodation costs. By contrast, SLC spent some 41% on Labour
Costs on Coaches and SLC management team. There are far too many levels in
the management structure of the SLC authority, with far too many people, with
very little influence on the game. These include Directors, Deputy
Directors and an Army of Secretaries who are highly overpaid.
This
is a cancerous situation. A massive surgery must be carried out to save
SLC.
Looking at list of Ministers we had, we need to recruit a top class local
Professional Cricketer to head the Ministry. With reliable news headlines
circulating in the media of a possible cabinet reshuffle, a national list slot
for Arjuna Ranatunga should pave way to take over Sports Ministry. We
have used almost all world class coaches. In sports category, Cricket is a
cash-cow with a distinct quick pay back and high rate on investments. To
better manage, we need to cut costs, not only the labour costs of players, but
all staff, reduction of staff numbers, reduction or elimination of perks for
Managers.
Sports
Ministry is a money spinner. It must be headed by someone notoriously
hard to work with. Need to appoint such a person with decision making
authority, who is knowledgeable and ruthless.
The Indian Navy’s INS Sarvekshak completed a survey of the MV X-Press Pearl site on Friday and handed over survey data to Sri Lankan authorities.
The INS Sarvekshak survey of the wreckage area being handed over to Sri Lankan authorities (Photo: Twitter/@indiannavy)
The Indian Navy’s Hydrographic Survey Ship INS Sarvekshak completed survey action around the stricken MV X-Press Pearl site on Friday and handed over survey data to Sri Lankan authorities.
The ship, equipped with state-of-the-art survey equipment including the Side Scan Sonar, was deployed on June 25 at the request of the Government of Sri Lanka.
Survey operations were carried out in three search areas around the wreck in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Navy and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency of Sri Lanka (NARA).
The ship conducted an 807-mile Side Scan Sonar survey, identifying 54 prominent underwater debris from the MV X-Press Pearl, as well as one additional uncharted wreck.
The survey of the wreckage area will allow Sri Lankan authorities to issue advisories to both mariners and fishermen, as well as remove debris, ensuring the safety of navigation for marine traffic operating through Colombo port.
The INS Sarvekshak, based at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, is outfitted with state-of-the-art survey equipment such as a Deep Sea Multi beam echo sounder system, Side Scan Sonar, Sound Velocity Profilers, and a fully automated digital surveying and processing system. In addition, the ship carries a Chetak helicopter, which was extensively used for aerial reconnaissance during the survey.ADVERTISEMENT
INS Sarvekshak has previously conducted surveys on foreign cooperation in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Kenya.
Wishma Sandamali’s younger sisters Wayomi, left, and Poornima, center, are seen speaking to reporters after their visit to the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office in the city’s Naka Ward, on July 2, 2021. (Mainichi/Shinichiro Kawase)
NAGOYA — Immigration bureau officials here may have misled a doctor examining a detained Sri Lankan woman into thinking she could be feigning illness to get temporary release, her bereaved sisters reportedly heard during a July 2 meeting with the doctor.
Wishma Sandamali, who was detained at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau, died aged 33 just two days after the psychiatrist saw her. The same doctor has told her sisters that immigration services informed them, “Around the time her supporters told her she could get temporary release if she got sick, she started developing psychosomatic symptoms.”
The doctor reportedly concluded that, based on the bureau employees’ explanation, she was possibly feigning illness.
Her supporters have denied telling her that getting sick could lead to her release, and said, “It is very serious that erroneous information was presented that swayed a doctor’s judgment.”
On July 2, a group including Wishma’s sisters Wayomi, 28, and Poornima, 27, and their legal representative Shoichi Ibusuki spoke to reporters after a face-to-face meeting with a psychiatrist at Nagoya Ekisaikai Hospital. They said they would visit the Immigration Services Agency and find the truth.
According to Ibusuki and others, the doctor said that if they hadn’t been given the verbal explanation from the immigration bureau, they “wouldn’t have suspected (Wishma’s) illness was an act.”
Wishma Sandamali’s younger sisters Wayomi (front row, right) and Poornima (front row, left) enter the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office in Naka Ward, on July 2, 2021. (Mainichi/Shinichiro Kawase)
They also said they had been told that the bureau had already had a physician run tests on Wishma that turned up nothing, which allegedly led them to seek a psychiatric diagnosis.
The doctor also described Wishma’s condition on the day they saw her, reportedly telling the group, “Although I’d been told her physical health was fine, she looked exhausted and weak.”
Despite the doctor telling immigration bureau officials her condition would be better if she were temporarily released, the officials reportedly responded that they would look at the examination results.
The events the doctor described were not included in an interim report by the Immigrations Services Agency. Yasunori Matsui, an advisor at support organization Start, which gave aid to Wishma, said angrily, “We did not make the statements that the doctor has described. They were arbitrary assumptions by the immigration bureau.”
The Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau has said it will “refrain from comment” to reporters.
On the same day, Wishma’s sisters met with prosecutors at the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office who are investigating the case. While there, they asked for a swift examination of what happened.
(Japanese original by Shinichiro Kawase, Nagoya News Bureau)
With a view to assist and maintain the financial system stability by minimizing the pressure on the exchange rate and preserving the foreign currency reserve position of the country, the Hon. Minister of Finance with the recommendation of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has issued an Order under Section 22 of the Foreign ExchangeAct, N o.12 of 2017, published in the Extraordinary Gazette Notifications No. 2234/49 dated 2 July, 2021.
Accordingly following suspensions/restrictions on outward remittances will be effective for six (06) months commencing from 2 July 2021.
i. Suspend the repatriation of funds under the migration allowance out of funds received as monetary gifts by an emigrant from an immediate family member (i.e. parents, grandparents, siblings and spouse of the Emigrant).
ii. Limit the repatriation of funds under the migration allowance through Capital Transactions Rupee Accounts by the emigrants who have already claimed migration allowance under the general permission, up to a maximum of USD 10,000 or equivalent in any other designated foreign currency.
iii. Limit the eligible migration allowance for the emigrants who are claiming the migration allowance for the first time under the general permission, up to a maximum of USD 30,000 or equivalent in any other designated foreign currency.
iv. Limit the repatriation of any current income or accumulated current income (including Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Employees Trust Fund (ETF), gratuity and pensions or any other retirement benefits) by the emigrants through the Capital Transaction Rupee Accounts or Emigrant’s Remittable Income Accounts, underthe general permission, up to amaximum of USD 30,000 or equivalent in any other designated foreign currency.
V. Limit outward remittances or issuance of foreign exchange for any Sri Lankan individual who resides in or outside Sri Lanka and has obtained Temporary Residence Visa of another country which falls into a category of visa that entitles the individual to obtain permanent residency status or citizenship in that country at a future date, up to a maximum of USD 20,000 or equivalent in any other designated foreign currency.
vi. Limit the issuance of foreign exchange for any person resident in Sri Lanka who intends to leave Sri Lanka under the Temporary Residence Visa of another country up to a maximum of USD 10,000 or equivalent in any other designated foreign currency.
vii. Suspend making payments through Outward Investment Accounts for the purpose of making investments in overseas by persons resident in Sri Lanka under general permission granted in the Schedule of the Regulations No. 1 of 2021 published in the Extraordinary Gazette Notifications No. 2213/34 dated 03 February 2021, excluding:
(a) investments to be financed out of a foreign currency loan obtained by the investor from a person resident outside Sri Lanka under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Act, or
(b) an additional investment to be made to fulfill the regulatory requirements in the investee’s country applicable on the investment already made in compliance with the provisions of the Act or repealed Exchange Control Act, in a company or a branch office in that country, or
(c) an additional investment/infusion of funds (as applicable) to be made by eligible resident companies in already established subsidiaries or branch offices in overseas incorporated/established subject to the provisions of the Act or repealed Exchange Control Act, up to a maximum of USD 15,000 or equivalent in any other designated foreign currency, for the purpose of working capital requirements of the investee, or
(d) the remittances for the purpose of maintenance of liaison, marketing, agency, project, representative or any other similar offices already established in overseas subject to the provisions of the Act or repealed Exchange Control Act, by eligible resident companies, up to a maximum of USD 30,000 or equivalent in any other designated foreign currency; provided that, the Head of Department of Foreign Exchange is satisfied with the fulfillment of such requirement.
Viii. Limit the outward remittances on capital transactions through Business Foreign Currency Accounts or and Personal Foreign Currency Accounts held by a person resident in Sri Lanka, up to a maximum of USD 20,000 or equivalent in any other designated foreign currency, during the effective period of this Order;
ix. The Monetary Board shall have the authority to grant permission in terms of the Section 7(10) of the Foreign Exchange Act for the investments on case-by-case basis which exceeds the limits specified in the general permission granted in the Regulation No 1 of 2021 provided that,
(a) the proposed investment is to be financed out of a foreign currency loan obtained by the investor from a person resident outside Sri Lanka under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Act, or
(b) the proposed investment is to be made to fulfill the regulatory requirement in the investee’s country applicable on the investment already made in a company or branch office in that country in compliance with the provisions of the Act or repealed Exchange Control Act.
Further information can be obtained by visiting www.dfe.lk.
The government today ruled out any arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for restructuring its debt servicing criterion, but asserted that there were alternatives for it.
Addressing a press conference at the Government Information Department, Money, Capital Markets and Public Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal said the economy was not on the brink of a collapse despite contrasting remarks by the opposition legislators.
He said the present leaders of the opposition, who identify themselves as economic wizards, tried to prophesize the same predicament during the war time, but the then government managed to tide over all the difficulties.
This is exactly what the opposition wishes for. Once the economy is bankrupt, they believe they can capitalize on it to get back to power. Despite economy wizardry claimed by the opposition, the growth rate slowed from 7.4 percent to 2.1 percent during their time between 2015 and 2019,” he said.
The Minister admitted that economy was facing headwinds in certain areas due to the pandemic –induced lockdown of the country. He said though the government would not achieve the expected growth rate of six percent this year, it would reach five percent.
The Minister emphasized the need to normalize the tourism industry by opening up the country. (KelumBandara)
The Health Ministry says 241 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 today (July 03) as the daily count of positive cases dropped to 1,251.
Sri Lanka had confirmed more than 1,700 coronavirus infections yesterday and a little over 1,800 on the day before.
According to the Government Information Department, all new cases reported today have been associated with the New Year cluster, which has recorded a total of 256,417 virus infections since mid-April this year.
The new development brings Sri Lanka’s confirmed coronavirus cases tally to 264,046.
Official data showed that as many as 231,394 patients who were infected with the virus have regained health so far. Meanwhile, the death toll now stands at 3,120.
More than 29,000 are currently under medical care at selected hospitals and treatment centres across the country.
“I,
Basil Rohana Rajapaksa, hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely
renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince,
potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a
subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of
the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I
will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on
behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform
non-combatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by
the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian
direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely,
without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me
God.”
Thus, pledged Basil Rajapaksa, when he solemnly swore
to the Government of the United States, his unwavering and unquestionable
loyalty to America.
Basil publicly swore that he has shed
all feelings of loyalty towards Sri Lanka he may have harboured and that he
abandons Sri Lanka of his own accord without any remorse or regret.
What were the ramifications flowing from
Basil’s pledge to the US?
The ramifications to the security of Sri
Lanka are many and some are indeed frightening.
Taking a few of the ramifications, one
of them is if Sri Lanka and the US are engaged in hostilities; Basil has
pledged that he would kill Sri Lankans defending their motherland if the
necessity arose and that he would do so without any compunctions whatsoever.
Another ramification flowing from
Basil’s pledge is, if America considers it Nationally important to obtain some
sensitive information about Sri Lanka, Basil has pledged that he would
faithfully engage in espionage activities against
Sri Lanka to obtain this sensitive information.
The American- Rajapaksa also pledged
that, if it were important for America that Sri Lanka’s economy should fail,
that Sri Lanka’s fight against COVID should fail, that Sri Lanka’s educational
infra-structure should collapse, he would, with whatever authority he could
muster, sabotage and ensure the collapse of the economy, health and educational
sectors of the country.
If it is of importance to America that
Wimal Weerawansa and/or any other political leader should be taken off the
political map, Basil has pledged that he would do so.
If it is of National importance to
America that the charismatic and much-loved Mahinda Rajapaksa, along with his
progeny, should be sent to political oblivion, Basil has pledged that he would
do it without remorse.
Basil had the opportunity to recompense
his past folly and revoke his mistakes. But he chose not to. He preferred to
continue being loyal to America.
The fact that Basil applied and obtained
citizenship in Sri Lanka does in no way diminish, or mitigate to any degree,
the solemn pledge he has given to America.
When the COVID pandemic hit the country,
Basil was appointed the head of the Presidential Task Force to tackle the
problem.
The pandemic got out of hand. Basil
failed. Basil fled.
A man who is financially sustained by
the people of this country fled to America, without a word. The man was AWOL,
absent without official leave.
Many were aghast. Imagine the Commander
of the troops, while the battle is yet raging fleeing the battlefield!
Imagine, deserting your soldiers and
leaving them in the lurch to die while fighting the battle on their own!
In a military scenario, Basil would have
been immediately Court Martialed and would perhaps have had to face a firing
squad.
Or, was Basil following orders based on
the pledge he had given the Americans? Was he deliberately running down the
economy, the health and the educational sectors? Was he at America’s insistence
contributing to making Sri Lanka a failed State?
In April 2020, Basil was appointed to
head the Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation.
Today, one year later, the economy is in
shambles and the country is virtually bankrupt. The Foreign Exchange Reserves
have plummeted from US$ 7.2 million in April 202o to a precarious 4 million
USD.
Basil failed, miserably, once again. The
captain of the economic ship abandoned the ship and the crew. His proud
contribution was to have brought in the controversial Ukrainian tourists into
the Country.
Was his abject failure a result of his
pledge given to the Americans or is Basil a witless wonder whose alleged access
to limitless funds is interpreted in some circles as ‘organisational’
capability?
When Sri Lanka should be taking action
against Basil to make him accountable for his gross failures, a handful of
profiting acolytes are making sounds to make him a Minister.
Legal pundits say that Basil is not
eligible to be an MP not having contested the elections and not having been on
the National List.
Let Sri Lanka not make the same mistake
as she did with Arjuna Mahendran who worked on the agenda of another country,
who considered himself unaccountable for his acts of commission and omission
and who uses his foreign nationality to make himself unavailable when required
for investigation.
People are clamouring that Basil
Rajapaksa be investigated for the many COVID deaths that are taking place daily
and to pursue administrative and criminal action, if necessary, for his abject
failure in the task he was entrusted with.
The American Rajapaksas have become a
blotch on the canvas of the Sri Lankan Rajapaksas.
I happened to listen to a video interview recently of a popular artist in the film industry. Anyone can listen to this which in the public domain.
A particular incident she describes
vividly in the interview took my attention above all.
She had met with a road traffic accident & a kind three-wheel driver had taken her to Ragama Hospital immediately.
She was hurt very much and was in
fear of her life at the time.
She was attended to by a kind lady
doctor in the hospital then.
What interested me was what had
transpired there.
She had pleaded with the lady doctor to save her life and not to let her die that she has a young daughter at home.
The lady doctor’s response is mind-boggling, the doctor had told the patient ‘don’t worry Jesus is with you”.
For all accounts, this looks like quite an innocent and very helpful response.
In fact, this is the way this Buddhist artist has taken and described it in her interview.
However, it is quite an offense by a doctor in this noble profession to bring in religious, political, or personal views to talk to patients who are under duress and begging their kind attention.
A nurse in the UK was dismissed a
couple of years ago for offering a prayer to a patient.
There are other similar incidents
where medical staff has been penalized and erased from the registry for
bringing in their personal religious points to patient care.
Either this lady doctor was unaware
of her code of conduct or done with sinister motives.
This is where SLMA should intervene and have public education where patients’ rights are discussed and pointed out.
Our general public is quite ignorant of these ethics and takes the doctor’s word as the gospel of truth.
There has to be a system for
complaints streamlined well & attended.
Hope this will catch the eye of those who can take remedial steps to prevent doctors from exploiting poor patients who are emotionally and mentally upset by their ongoing health conditions.
BBC Channel 4 produced
several documentary films on the subject of the Killing fields in Sri Lanka.
The first Channel Four Sri Lanka killing fields” documentary was broadcast on
14.6.2011 second on 14.3.2012 during the 19th session of the UNHRC
in Geneva. The producer of these two
films, Callum Macrae was present in Geneva during the 19 session.
The third film,” No fire
Zone” was shown as a side event by its
director, Callum Macrae, at the 22nd
session of the United
Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in March
2013. Ravinatha Aryasinha representing
Sri Lanka wrote to President, UNHRC protesting and was told that NGOs have the right
to organize side events. Sri Lanka should organize an event of its own.
The
third and final film, No Fire Zone” was a full length film. ”In March 2013,
the documentary was screened by its director, Callum Macrae, at the 22nd
session of the United Nations Human
Rights Council in Geneva. It eclipsed the other two in audience
response. In November 2014 the producers released an updated version of the
film containing new items.
These films obtained the desired impact from the countries which
were loyal to the US. Those countries pretended to believe what they saw and
ignored the fact that today, no one believes what you see on film.
After he saw the first Killing fields film, British Foreign Office MinisterAlistair Burt issued a
statement on 15 June 2011 in which he expressed shock at horrific scenes in the
documentary. Burt stated that the documentary, along with other evidence,
constituted “convincing evidence of violations of international
humanitarian and human rights law” and urged the Sri Lankan government
“to give a serious and full response”.
In the United States, Congressman
Jim
McGovern, co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, described
the contents of the documentary as “a gruesome example of humans at their
worst”. He went on to say “These scenes provide much more than simply
shock value, however: They also are powerful evidence of the need for an
independent investigation to hold those responsible accountable for the
crimes..If the Sri Lankan government is unable or unwilling to act, then the international
community must respond in its place”.
Australian Foreign MinisterKevin Rudd
stated that “No-one watching this program could emerge from that
undisturbed and we don’t either”. He called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to
re-investigate alleged war crimes The Australian Senate
passed motion number 323 on 7 July 2011 which, amongst other things, noted that
the documentary was “further shocking evidence supporting allegations of
war crimes committed during the 2009 civil conflict in Sri Lanka” and
called for “allegations of war crimes to be investigated and
verified”.
No Fire Zone was considered not as just
an investigation, but as a stunning film in its own right. It was described as
“beautifully crafted and heart wrenching” by the Pulitzer Center for
Crisis Reporting in Washington. The film won many awards. No Fire Zone
(TV version) was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2014 International Emmy
Awards and was awarded the Britdoc Impact Award
as well as being shortlisted for a Grierson award.
Here is a list of the awards and screenings.
Festival des Libertes 2013 – Winner of FIDH Best Film Award.
CPH:DOX Copenhagen 2013 – FACT Award Jury Special Mention
Nuremberg Film Festival 2013 – Winner of Audience Award
Film South Asia 2013 – Special Jury Mention
WatchDocs Poland 2014 – Winner of Audience Award
One World Film Festival Prague 2014 – Winner Václav Havel Jury Special Mention
Docudays UA – Kiev 2014 – Winner of Jury Special Mention.
Festival internacional de Cine y Video de Derochos Humanos Buenos Aires 2013 – Winner Jury Special Mention.
Oslo International film festival 2013.
Movies That Matter 2013
FIFDH Geneva 2013[
Tricontinental Human Right Film Festival 2013.
Freedom Film Festival Malaysia 2013
Addis International film Festival 2013.
Sheffield Documentary Festival 2013
No Fire Zone is a different kind of film, said Callum Macrae. It is
a feature length unlike the other two, so we were able to provide much
more detail. It gives the viewer much more of a real understanding of what
actually happened in the No Fire Zones during the final months of the war. We
are trying to show the sheer awfulness of what happened. We are depicting
things that should never be shown in a movie, but it is helping to get the real
truth out there.
The footage comes from a variety of sources. Much of it was taken
by Tamils trapped in the war zone – but much has also been taken by Sri Lankan
army personnel. This material was eventually passed along to us by a group
called Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka”. It is an extremely brave
organization that has been at the forefront of getting evidence. Callum
Macrae said that no person resident in
Sri Lanka helped with the film. No one was paid for any
evidence or interview .
Those
who opposed Eelam saw these films in a
different light. The government of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka dismissed the films as fake and said that it would not investigate the so called crimes shown in them.
The
HighCommission of Sri Lanka said it
categorically denids that the Channel 4 News TV video shown in 2010 was
authentic. When Channel 4 News telecast a similar video in 2009 the Government
of Sri Lanka clearly established, by looking at it technically, that it was a fake. The present video is nothing more than
an elongated version of the same video.
Sri Lanka government tried
sporadically, to control Channel Four activity. Three journalists from
Channel four were deported from Sri
Lanka in May 2009 . They had come to report on
the poor conditions and sexual abuse in a Sri Lanka rehabilitaion camp. Defence
Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa told them
bluntly, you have been accusing my soldiers of raping civilians, your visas are cancelled, and you will be
deported. You can report what you like from your own country, not from here.
In June 2012
Channel 4’s Director of Diversity ,the well-known British journalist Stuart
Cosgrove, was asked to leave Sri Lanka
and his wife was turned back at the airport. In 2010 Stuart Cosgrove voted for
the creation of Eelam at a referendum organized by expatriate Tamils. Stuart
Cosgrove is married to a Sri Lankan born Tamil, Shirani Sabaratnam from
Vaddukoddai, Jaffna.
These
documentary films totally distorted the truth and were largely responsible for
misleading the international community with regard to the war on terror in Sri
Lanka, said Lt Col Anil Ameresekera..
The
allegations contained in the Channel 4 programmes and the photographic images
that have surfaced have given rise to considerable adverse publicity as regards
the conduct of the Sri Lanka Army,
observed the Paranagama commission.
The films were given
legitimacy when they were used by
investigating committees. The Darusman Report endorsed ‘Sri Lanka’s
Killing Fields’. The panel referred to ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’ on more
than one instance, thereby giving credence to both Channel 4 News as well as
its work, observed Shamindra Ferdinando.
The Channel
Four films were repeatedly criticsed as
fake. The Centre for the study of
Interventionism has done a report on Channel 4 films calling it a media beat up.
The Centre calls the Channel 4 films on
Sri Lanka interventionist.” This is a case of a western main stream
media picking on a particular foreign country, often a small one or a third
world one but never a large member of the western alliance, and portraying its
government in a bad light, said the Centre.
Rajiva
Wijesinha also looked at these films. We
have conclusively proved that the
Channel 4 video, was doctored, he said.
Beginning with the original claim that the scene was filmed in January 2009,
there has been fraud and sleight of hand. One of the independent witnesses was
a member of ‘Journalists for Democracy’ which had supplied the video.
In the second
film, the zooming suggests it was done by a video camera, rather than the
mobile phone that was claimed was used, continued Rajiva . Also the film
displayed a date and some other filming data. Rajiva found that the
bodies seem to diminish as the film went on, he thought this odd and was told
that this was it was because the editing has been done in reverse. The order of
recording had been segment 3, 2, 1, 4.
Rajiva pointed out that one
of the people doing the torturing was in rubber slippers, suggesting that this
was an LTTE effort. Subsequently the slippers have been cut out when the
picture is shown, but I do still have that original version, said Rajiva .
Channel Four has refused to hand over the original films. They
have refused to provide this even to the UN, which was given a different
version from Journalists for Democracy” for its investigations, added Rajiva .
Credits say it was made by the same producers who made No Fire
Zone. They thanked Tamil Guardian, Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka
(JDS), Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice and Sacha Walker for backing
their latest initiative.
The documentary began with a scene at the UN Compound, in
Kilinochchi, in Sept 2008. Benjamin Dix, a former UN staffer, was shown
recalling how the government directed the UN to vacate Kilinochchi. Dix
asserted that it was supposed to be a war without witness. This scene had been
taken from the original ‘No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka,
observed Shamindra’
Dix was followed by Gordon Weiss, a former UN spokesman in Sri
Lanka (2005-2009). Weiss alleged Sri Lanka removed UN personnel as it felt
international presence hindered offensive action. Sri Lanka was accused of
removing independent witnesses. Weiss’s scene, too, had been taken from the
original documentary.
This
documentary showed that two UN officers had stayed back in the war zone, in
late 2009. How did foreign UN personnel remain in the Vanni front five months
after the government ordered them out, asked Shamindra.
Peter Mackay
was one of these two UN persons. He
was stuck in No Fire Zone No1. Government
forces deliberately targeted those taking refuge in the first No Fire zone. The
army had carried out a very strong attack one night. Mackay went out in the
morning and saw a devastating scene
which he seems to have slept through. Mackay realized that he was seeing a very serious potential war crime.
, he had directed his staff to take photographs of the scene. (Continued)
