Colombo, March 30 (Daily Mirror) – Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner-designate to India, Milinda Moragoda, is yet to travel to New Delhi despite India approving his appointment during the latter part of last year. His office says he will leave soon but with no confirmation of a date.
Sri Lanka and India have already gone through some diplomatic turmoil in recent months with the government refusing to hand over the East Container Terminal (ECT) to an Indian company, instead nominating the Western Container Terminal, then India abstaining from voting at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka last week and releasing a strong statement on Tamil issues in the island and now the latest issue of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters heating up once again.
When contacted, Moragoda’s Office confirmed that he will leave to take up his post to New Delhi soon but was unable to say when. An official said preparations were being made for him to leave for Delhi.
Moragoda was not available for a direct comment.
Speculation was rife months ago that Moragoda may be reluctant to take up his position as India had expressed some concerns over his cabinet rank. However the Daily Mirror learns that by the end of last year India had issued the clearance for Moragoda to be welcomed as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in New Delhi and with Indian officials maintaining to this date that his cabinet rank was more applicable to Sri Lanka than for New Delhi.
What we heard is this position would come into effect more when he is in Sri Lanka for diplomatic work and to communicate with the Sri Lankan government,” a senior Indian official said.
Moragoda was personally appointed to the post by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (Jamila Husain)
Colombo, March 28: The international community, harping on war crimes allegedly committed in Sri Lanka has done the exact opposite of promoting national reconciliation.
While wars, atrocities and human rights violations in many guises continue in the rest of the world where the perpetrators are often powerful nations, millions of dollars have been raised the world over for lobbying and justifying the UN Resolution on Sri Lanka.
Now, the UNHRC is seeking US$ 2.8 million to set up an office to put together information about the so-called war crimes committed here. All this is money that could have been used for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka towards re-shaping their lives.
For the country to move ahead, there is a need for the Tamil Diaspora, now foreign citizens who hardly visit this country but who are lobbyists for the Resolution, to understand the ground realities. Unbiased assistance by the international community would have gone a long way for Sri Lanka to develop genuine reconciliation and peace-building.
All that the UN Resolution on Sri Lanka may do is further divide the people of the country, increase feelings of suspicion and hate while taking the country away from economic, political and social stability and provide ample opportunities for diverse local and international segments to exploit the country’s quest for national unity to serve their diabolical interest.
UN and its effectiveness
With regard to the UN and its effectiveness, there seems to be scant introspection as it enters its 76th year of existence. Some describe the UN as a failed entity, conceptualized and created for the purpose of controlling the non-Western world for resources, human and material.
The intent to form a UN was first declared in 1942 and further discussed in 1943 where ‘a general international organization based on the sovereign equality of all nations’ was agreed upon. In 1944, the post war Charter for ‘collective security’ was mooted. By June 1945, deliberations for a Charter of the United Nations were completed and on July 28, the US which played a major role in the creation of this organization, approved the UN Charter.
Days later, on August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing over 200,000 persons and maiming thousands of others (and future generations) for life. The UN with aims for a world that valued human rights came into formal ratified existence two months later, on October 24, 1945.
The international community, however, seems to think, selectively, that certain wars are tea parties; sans the death, the misery and the carnage but others bristle with war crimes and atrocities.
UN Stance
Will the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka be a magic wand that will enable justice that the Tamil people? Did they expect justice from the LTTE which tortured and killed anyone who opposed them, insisted on taxes from the Tamil people, recruited children, coerced youth to become human bombs and butchered Sinhala civilians, shot at Tamil civilians who were fleeing for their lives in the last stage of the fighting and drove out Muslims from their homes in North Sri Lanka?
Will this resolution promote any progressive step, like dedicating the month of May to unity, understanding and peace – something Lanka so desperately needs to bring about an honest locally driven discourse between different stakeholders, such as Tamil civilians, Sinhala and Muslim civilians and different political and civilian players.
How will the average life of the Tamil people in the North and the East of Lanka; those without wealthy diaspora relatives and those who are marginalized such as former rehabilitated LTTE cadres, improve as a result of the UN Resolution?
Do these foreign-based persons who created the stage for the resolution to be passed, care about the ensuing danger of the Sri Lankan economy through possible sanctions which would finally be borne by the most vulnerable of its populations, such as Tamil civilians of the North-East?
Much effort has been taken by the Board of Investment (BOI) through the Jaffna office and Tamil officials there to usher in industrial projects during the past 12 years in Jaffna, Killinochchi and Mullaitivu providing jobs for Lankan Tamils of the North East.
The international community had 12 years in which they could have encouraged the Tamil Diaspora to invest in projects that will benefit the Lankan Tamil people, instead of veering off in the opposite direction. During one of the floods that struck the North a few years ago, a Sinhala philanthropist who runs a charity organization was distributing dry rations as well as other goods in the area, quipped that he could not get the Tamil Diaspora to contribute ‘even a single mosquito net.’
Local mechanisms
Sri Lanka needs trust building between communities. Every ounce of strength has to be mustered by Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim intellectuals, politicians and all others in the society at large, including the police and the Security Forces, to represent the wellbeing of the people and country, giving national harmony utmost priority. Each human being should be an ambassador of peace.
The country should seek peace, fairness and unity because these are assets for stability of a nation and not seek them because the UN or the West wants us to. Sri Lanka should implement local mechanisms locally proposed for justice and uphold the law for national unity.
Sri Lanka has done the groundwork and produced objective reports, such as the Maxwell Paranagama Commission report on Inquiry into complaints of abductions and disappearances and the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission in Sri Lanka which held regular hearings in Colombo and the North and the East. These Commissions of Inquiries were the result of an independent initiative of the then Lankan government. It is imperative that all of its recommendations are carried out for the good of the citizens of the country.
These recommendations covered a vast realm from media freedom, societal freedom and the practical implementation of justice within the context of battling terrorism, including steps to be taken on matters relating to missing persons (Tamils – mostly LTTE cadres and the Sinhalese military personnel).
International community
Most of these recommendations by the LLRC and the Paranagama commission have been hailed by many Lankan intellectuals irrespective of political affiliations, as just and progressive.
If there have been aberrations justice should prevail as recommended. We should never give any Sri Lankan citizen, ever, whether it be Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim any need whatsoever, reasons to complain to foreign nations about issues faced by them. Any citizen should feel safe complaining to his or her government, whether that citizen voted for it or not.
With regard to foreign countries telling Sri Lanka what should be done within the country, maybe Sri Lanka too can encourage nations such as America, to look into the human rights of its people, beginning with the original people of that land – the Native Americans as well as Black Americans, so that people do not get killed in broad daylight, like George Floyd was. This will need some serious researching so that any advice to another country on human rights should be aimed at unifying the diverse people of that country and not the reverse which will only encourage destabilization of a nation.
If the international community had been serious about unifying the people of Sri Lanka during the past 12 years, one of the first things it could have done is to encourage the Tamil Diaspora to see the importance of this unity forged through peace, inter-ethnic discussions, empathy and development. This may have changed the status quo.
The Diaspora is seen as a constant threat. The use of LTTE flags by the Tamil Diaspora during their protests against the Lankan Government show that they are not neutral but supporting a terrorist group that many of the Western countries had proscribed. Many Tamils may have forgotten the life under the LTTE. The documentary film Demons in Paradise” by Lankan Tamil Jude Rutnam speaks of certain aspects of these realities, beginning with the darkest scar on Lanka, the 1983 riots which should never have occurred. It led to the rise of the master of terror, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Any Tamil citizen who has lived under the LTTE or any unbiased human rights activist would be able to come up with countless stories of how lands of Tamil citizens were confiscated by the LTTE, often for not paying up what was euphemistically called ‘taxes’ but was in reality extortion.
Everyday issues
No Tamil businessman, either in the North or the East or in Colombo or abroad, was free of the long arm of the LTTE money collectors. The response to not contributing as demanded could be lethal. The killings of hundreds of other Tamils – Tamil intellectuals, such as Rajani Thiranagama and Neelan Thiruchelvam and scores of members of rival militant groups, the forced recruitment of children for terrorism, the butchering of Sinhala villagers in the night are some of the acts of the LTTE.
It is possible for a Diaspora member to dismiss these writings as those of a biased Sinhalese. However, what I am writing is not theatrics. I could write tomes on what the Tamil people went through under the LTTE because I have visited these areas independently countless times from the time of the peace process to date in connection with my work in the media, research and capacity building. My interest in comparative spirituality and national heritage has involved countless visits to the North and the East.
Because I am familiar with the everyday issues of the North, I am aware of the kind of exploitation that goes on there. Wealthy Tamil men of Lankan origin who are now holding foreign passports visit the country for short spans time and lure these women with false promises of marriage. Do human rights activists and the Tamil Diaspora know the number of children born to young North East mothers through these liaisons? Mothers are now helpless, abandoned and culturally ostracized.
It is a senior Tamil government official who gave me the information in detail. This person; a Tamil who has held high ranking government positions based in the North during the last phase of the battle against terrorism, had been frank. These comments were thought of as being ‘traitorous’ to the LTTE to the extent that the social media used by the Tamil Diaspora had denounced this Lankan Tamil using the worst possible foul language, resulting in the traumatizing his children and other family members who were studying abroad.
On the question of the numbers of missing Tamil persons (those also referred to as the disappeared), this Tamil official explained how many parents did not know at the last phase of the fighting in 2009, whether their children who had joined the LTTE were living or dead. They did not know the locations of LTTE camps which kept shifting in the last stage of the battle. Every parent imagined that his or her child escaped alive.
Also described was how large graves were dug daily for hundreds of bodies to be buried during the last lap of fighting. ‘Naturally, the parents were unaware of these developments as they were not eye witnesses. To date, they think that their children were alive on May 18 when the hostilities ceased.
Disappeared
A young girl, an LTTE child recruit who was about 22 years when I interviewed her about five years ago, shuddered when she explained that she too could have been classified as one of the ‘disappeared’ if the LTTE cadre who was carrying her to safety listened to her and left her to die in the jungles. She could have died and animals would have eaten her and there would not be definite proof she was dead. She would be categorized as ‘missing’ by her relatives.
Justice and compassion when it is selective can be sour. Last week, this writer highlighted how Thamilini, the head of the LTTE’s women political wing division who surrendered to the military along with many others, faced difficulty in getting international agencies to give her the same amount of importance as they did to other LTTE members caught in the last phase of the battle.
A well known Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer retorted to Thamilini’s appeal for legal assistance by saying he would be only able to represent her case if she pays him the usual feels charged! Thamilini was finally assisted free of charge by a Sinhala Marxist oriented lawyer, with another Tamil lawyer later supporting them.
There are hundreds of rehabilitated LTTE cadres who cannot get jobs in the North, obstructed by issues such as caste. The LTTE saga can be analyzed in the context of caste, money and class. Lankan Tamils who had the benefit of so-called high caste, money, class and international connections went abroad and supported the battle in the North. The Sri Lankan Tamils who had none of it stayed here and fought. A Tamil commentator once described the Tamil Diaspora’s role as being akin to a spectator ‘paying the ticket’ to watch a war movie. Interestingly, the most vociferous defenders of the LTTE I have heard were those who never lived under them.
Epitome of evil
If the aim of the UN Resolution is justice, this cannot be sought by abnormally sainting one side who spearhead the violence and arbitrarily, making the other which countered it as the epitome of evil.
One cannot talk of alleged civilian deaths by the Security Forces when combatting the Tamil Tigers and be silent on the constant strategy adopted by the LTTE in positioning themselves within large groups of civilians, especially children – a strategy that was increased towards the last days where they dragged children and orphans wherever they set up fighting positions so that they could claim that the air-force was bombing schools and orphanages.
It is time Sri Lankans began creating an active and honest mechanism of dealing with internal issues pertaining to the concerns of our people – Lankans can no longer leave the rights of their people to the impaired judgment of the international community. It is time they realized that every single citizen and their grievance – whatever it is – should be looked into – with honest determination – within this nation – which is a sovereign nation that needs no foreign entity telling us what to do.
Honest determination in doing this will be the defining factor for Sri Lankans. Every human life lost in the past 30 years and before as part of violence was a valuable human resource that could have been used for the betterment of the country if the circumstances were different.
We can take a cue from the man who transformed the fishing village in Singapore and made it one of the richest places in the world. Lee Kuan Yew’s miracle was achieved by carefully drawing up a national framework where no civilian gets trapped in violence. He has maintained Singapore’s national sovereignty, economic independence and the wellbeing and dignity of all of its people.
BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to boost bilateral cooperation and provide robust impetus for the latter’s post-pandemic economic recovery and sustainable development.
In a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Xi suggested that the two countries steadily push forward major projects like the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port, and promote high-quality collaboration in jointly building the Belt and Road.
Xi pointed out that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Sri Lanka have pulled together and helped each other, writing a new chapter of China-Sri Lanka friendship.
China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral ties, and stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to determine the strategic direction and achieve steady growth of their relationship, he added.
China will continue to provide as much assistance as its capacity allows for Sri Lanka’s fight against COVID-19, he said, also suggesting that the two sides seek to gradually carry out cooperation in fields like aviation and education while keeping epidemic control measures in place, and continuously explore new channels and areas of collaboration.
Stressing that China and Sri Lanka are strategic cooperative partners that enjoy sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship, Xi said China will never forget Sri Lanka’s valuable support for the restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations.
China, he added, is willing to make continuous joint efforts with Sri Lanka to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, defend their legitimate rights, promote international equity and justice, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
For his part, Gotabaya said that Sri Lanka warmly congratulates the Communist Party of China (CPC) on the 100th anniversary of its founding and highly appreciates the historic achievements made by the CPC.
Particularly, under President Xi’s strong leadership, China has made great achievements in economic development and the fight against COVID-19, he added.
Sri Lanka, he said, thanks China for its valuable support, and is willing to collaborate closely with China to firmly support each other’s positions on issues concerning their respective core interests and safeguard their common interests.
He added that Sri Lanka hopes to learn from the CPC’s experience in governing the country, and especially looks forward to strengthening exchanges and cooperation on poverty alleviation and the rural vitalization strategy.
The Sri Lankan side is willing to work with China to expand cooperation in fields like infrastructure and tourism, and smoothly advance major projects such as the Colombo Port City, he said, adding that he is confident that these efforts will boost his country’s economic and social development and bring the Sri Lankan people more benefits.(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Breakfast is considered by many to be the most important meal of the day. What you eat in the morning replenishes those sleep jaded energy reserves and fuels your mind and body for the day ahead.
Unfortunately, as our lives become increasingly busy, many of us opt to skip or skimp on breakfast and the traditions and culture that go with it. Modern Western options such as cereals, toast or even granola bars now rule many a breakfast roost.More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite.
Morning dining routines around the world often stem from deep roots. Breakfast culture is alive and kicking in many parts of Asia, even as fast-paced Western alternatives muscle their way in.
Being such a huge and varied continent, Asia is home to culinary and cultural extremes, richly reflected in its choices and attitudes towards breakfast.
1. Turkish delights
Many nations claim to have the best breakfast, but when it comes to traditional morning meals, you would be hard-pressed to upstage the sumptuous Turkish spread.
Straddling the ancient Silk Road has greatly influenced Turkish cuisine, and particularly its breakfast choices. Over about 600 years, it has gradually evolved to embrace elements and ingredients from the distant reaches of historical trade routes and the far corners of the Ottoman Empire (1299 – 1922).
The traditional Turkish breakfast, known as kahvalti (meaning before coffee”), is made up of tapas-sized dishes, and is designed to be shared, bringing together families and friends for a slow easing into the day.
Most modern Turks lead busy lives and often breakfast on a simple simit (a bagel-like hoop of bread covered in sesame seeds), observing the traditional kahvaltionly at weekends and family get-togethers.
Breads, ripened tomatoes, cucumber, fruits, olives, several cheeses, cured meats, eggs, honey, jams and copious amounts of strong Turkish tea are laid out like a banquet fit for a sultan.
You’re unlikely to ever see exactly the same make-up of a Turkish breakfast twice, as each is dependent on available and preferred ingredients.
The kahvalti is decadent and healthy in equally copious measures, and once experienced it’s never forgotten.
2. Top hoppers
PHOTO: Instagram/food_n_love
Heading east towards South Asia, flatbreads and pancakes gradually find their way onto breakfast tables.
A couple of the more unusual breakfast treats are Sri Lankan hoppers (appam) and string hoppers (idiyappam). The origins of hoppers are unclear, although they are believed to have arrived in southern India almost 2,000 years ago with either early Syrian Christian or Jewish settlers.
Hoppers are made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, which is mixed into a batter and fried in a bowl-shaped pan. An egg is added and softly cooked to finish the crispy bowl-shaped hopper, which is served with sambal (spicy coconut chilli sauce) or curry sauce.
String hoppers are made by mixing rice flour with salt and water and then pressing the dough into noodles, which are knitted together to make small cakes and steamed. The dish is usually served with fresh coconut and curry or sambal.
Both styles of hopper are synonymous with breakfast in Sri Lanka but are also popular in South India and are eaten too at other times of the day.
3. Fusion frenzy
PHOTO: Pixabay
Tracking with the trade winds along the old spice routes brings us to Malaysia, which is perhaps Asia’s greatest culinary melting pot. With bread and dairy produce blending into rice and spice, Malaysians proudly and regularly breakfast on what can be termed their national dish, nasi lemak, and national bread, roti canai.
Fragrant rice (nasi) is cooked in coconut milk with pandan leaves to give it a rich, creamy texture. Traditionally it comes with a hard-boiled egg, anchovies, peanuts, sambal and a side of rich rendang curry (usually beef or chicken), although there are many other variants.
Its origins are unclear, but nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaf in a triangular-shaped package can be found on most morning restaurant tables and at the top of most Malaysian five-star hotel breakfast menus.
The mighty roti canai is another fusion wonder. Early Tamil immigrants discovered that a dough of maida flour, oil and water, swirled around like a pizza base and cooked on a lightly oiled hotplate, then folded, could build in pockets of air.
This process gives the pancake-like bread a crispy yet soft and chewy texture.
The roti is ideally torn apart and dipped in dhal for the perfect simple breakfast. Some diners choose to add ingredients such as an egg (roti telur), a banana (roti pisang), ghee and sugar (roti boom) or even Milo (roti chocolate).
4. Baguettes at dawn
PHOTO: Unsplash
Colonial influences also reflect on the breakfast tables of Vietnam and Laos. Both were once part of French Indochina and inherited the baguette from their former colonial rulers.
The fast food” breakfast of choice in Vietnam is the banh mi, a small baguette that must rank as one of the world’s best sandwiches, sold on stalls across the country.
This Franco-Viet taste bomb came around in late 1950s Saigon, when Vietnam was sliced in half. This was when the Vietnamese were first officially permitted to modify French cuisine, and so Mr and Mrs Le – refugees from the north – decided to add local ingredients to their morning baguettes.Read AlsoTravel through Southeast Asia by dining at these 10 restaurants
The Le family still have a restaurant, called Banh Mi Hoa Ma, serving sandwiches to the people of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).
A typical Vietnamese banh mi might include local ingredients such as cha lua (pork sausage), coriander leaf, cucumber, pickled carrots and pickled daikon combined with French condiments such as pâté and mayonnaise. Added extras may include chopped meat, cheese, eggs and spicy sauces.
Across the border, you’ll find the near identical Laos sandwich.
Pho and bun bo Hue noodle soups are also popular breakfast dishes in Vietnam, while khao soi (flat noodles, ground pork, fresh herbs and vegetables with chilli in a soup) hits the spot for breakfast – and almost any other time of the day – in Laos.
5. Congee convenience
Variations on congee rice porridge are served as a breakfast staple in most of Southeast Asia. In Thailand, the most popular is jok (pronounced joke”), which has a thick, fine consistency.
Minced pork balls and chicken are the meats of choice for most jok eaters, along with an egg and a garnish of ground chilli, coriander and shaved ginger.
The exact origins of jok and regional variations are unclear, although rice porridge in China has been documented as far back as the Zhou dynasty, in 1000BC.
6. Miso-a-gogo
PHOTO: Unsplash
For the most pungent breakfasts, head to Japan. The traditional repast to greet the rising sun is based on several key dishes and is designed to be both healthy and stimulate all five senses. It is the kind of meal you would consider eating at other times of the day, too.
Steamed rice, miso soup (based on fermented soy bean), grilled fish, tsukemono (preserved vegetables and herbs) and omelette are all popular components, although the list of ingredients varies.
Even though travel is not possible right now, you could always kick-start the day by taking your taste buds on a sensory journey around Asia’s finest breakfast tables.
Colombo, Mar 30 (Prensa Latina) Sri Lanka will install seven thousand rural solar plants in an equal number of villages within the framework of a program under the name ‘Electricity for All’, according to the press. The Minister of State for the Development of Solar, Wind and Power Grid Generation Projects, Duminda Dissanayake, explained to the Daily News newspaper the new trends in the field of renewable energy development in the country.
750 megawatts (MW) are intended to be added to the national grid from these emerging facilities, the source said.
Referring to the Electricity for All program, Dissanayake said that there are around 99,675 homes without electricity and they expect to provide the service to the 33,360 families most in need.
He also pointed out that a program to supply rooftop solar panels to 100,000 beneficiary families is under way.
Narrator: Ceylon cinnamon is native to just one region of the world, and producing it requires hours of delicate work. Even the most skilled workers can make only a few pounds of quills a day. One pound of cinnamon quills can cost $27, but not all spices labeled cinnamon are the Ceylon variety. Many in the Western market are actually cheaper types of cinnamon called cassia. So what makes Ceylon cinnamon so favorable? And why is it so expensive?
Ceylon cinnamon is named after the old British name for Sri Lanka, and it is often considered “real” cinnamon. It is made from the dried inner bark of a tree called Cinnamomum verum. Growing these trees is an investment. Farmers must wait four years after a tree is planted before they can begin harvesting. At harvest, workers break down the branches early in the morning, when the bark is still moist. Ruwanpura must continuously care for the trees throughout the year, otherwise the branches won’t be suitable for making cinnamon at all. The rigorous nature of this job has only just begun.
Now peelers must do the delicate and essential work of stripping the inner bark of each branch by hand. This is the most labor-intensive part of the process, and it’s not as easy as simply shaving the outside of the bark as you would the skin from a potato. To produce the most valuable cinnamon, the bark must be made extremely thin. The thinner the quills are, the more costly they will be. Ruwanpura has spent 40 years mastering this skill. Soon after the bark is removed, each piece dries under the sun and curls up within a few minutes. After drying, the small pieces are stuffed inside a straight piece of bark, forming one 42-inch quill. By the end of a long day, workers will have only produced about 3 pounds of quills. Those then need to dry for three to four days before they’re packed into bales and sent off to a separate facility. That’s where there’ll be graded and officially priced based on their width.
PDRomanis and Sons buys bales of cinnamon from various peelers. At its facility, quills are graded over 10 scales. The most valuable quills are classified as Alba. It takes a peeler four times longer to produce one kilogram of Alba than to produce the same quantity of lower grades. The leftover, smaller cuts are turned into ground cinnamon and make up the cheapest form. But even the most valuable quills are often confused with a more widely accessible and cheaper variety of cinnamon.
Cassia comes from another kind of cinnamon tree, called Cinnamomum cassia, and it doesn’t require as much time or effort to make. Cassia bark is hard and sturdy, so quills are made as one curled piece of bark without the fillings. Ceylon cinnamon, on the other hand, is tender and soft and needs those inner layers to prevent the quill from breaking. Cassia is very fragrant and brown, whereas real cinnamon is paler, with a milder flavor. Cassia also contains, on average, higher levels of coumarin, an organic compound that can cause liver damage if consumed in large amounts. This is why researchers say Ceylon cinnamon is ultimately the healthier option. But if you’re buying cinnamon in the US, it can be hard to tell the difference between them.
Part of the confusion between the two comes from the use of the label cinnamon. In the US, it is legal to label both Ceylon and cassia cinnamon as cinnamon, while in the UK and other countries, cassia must be labeled cassia and cannot be classified simply as cinnamon. Regardless of what it’s called in the US, consumers worldwide prefer the real thing. In 2018, Ceylon cinnamon accounted for more global revenue than any other variety. And even as demand is expected to grow through 2025, climate change already poses a serious threat to cinnamon production. In recent years, Sri Lanka has experienced droughts over several months. And these long periods of dry weather can kill cinnamon trees, which need marshy, wet soil to survive. There’s also a shortage of cinnamon peelers, another threat to production that’s likely to drive up prices. This industry relies on experienced peelers who can practice the difficult work of making these quills over many years.
The separatist politician Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam who is supported by the remnants of the LTTE international network is active again. After having masked the horrendous human rights atrocities committed by the LTTE, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has started to masquerade as a human rights activist. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has written to the German Government using Sri Lanka Parliamentary stationary. Terrorist supporters have historically exploited the free education, other opportunities and privileges the country has offered them, to attack the very country. They receive the security of the State such as security guards, but attack the very Security Forces that restored stability and security for all.
The campaign of Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam was funded by the LTTE fronts. The most respected Tamil journalist D.B. Jeyaraj wrote
‘Tiger’ Diaspora Backs Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam led All-Ceylon Tamil Congress (TNPF) in Polls” http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/42456 exposed how LTTE funded Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam.
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam is notorious for promoting the genocide canard developed by
M. A. Sumanthiran and the LTTE lobby leader in Geneva Gary Anandasangaree of the Canadian Tamil Congress, the most resourceful terrorist front in Canada.
During the General Debate on the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner’s report on Sri Lanka, 26 March 2014 the President of Tamil National People’s Front [TNPF], Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, said that there is on-going genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka, said the remedy for violations at the level of gravity that occurred ultimately, cannot be anything short of a judicial process through the ICC [International Criminal Court] or an Ad Hoc special tribunal,” adding, [a]nything less would undermine the concept of international justice and the application of humanitarian law.” Selvarajah Kajendran, General Secretary, TNPF, and Visvalingam Manivannan, National Organiser, TNPF, were investigated for receiving LTTE funds from overseas on behalf of Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam.
The key question should be asked, how much did LTTE fronts pay Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam so, that the LTTE human smugglers can continue the bogus asylum seeking operations?
Why has the Inspector General of Police Chandana D. Wickramaratne not continued the investigation of LTTE funding for Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and not recommended him for designation under UNSCR 1373?
Selvarajah Kajendran, General Secretary, TNPF, and Visvalingam Manivannan, National Organiser, TNPF, were investigated for receiving LTTE funds from overseas on behalf of .Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and why have they not been listed?
Why has the speaker of the Parliament and others not drawn attention to Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam for misusing parliamentary stationary to support the human smugglers and bogus asylum speakers? Is this not a crime?
Let us investigate Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and others who have never done any good for Sri Lanka, but continue to spread venom and hatred to breakup beautiful
Two bowser trucks with coconut oil stocks have been seized by the Dankotuwa Police on suspicion of containing carcinogenic substances.
According to reports, the raid was carried out on Monday night (March 29) following a tip-off received through Hotline 119.
Thereby, 27,500 litres of coconut oil have been taken into custody by the investigating officers. The bowser trucks were found while parked at a mill in the Dankotuwa area.
Two drivers of the bowser trucks were also placed under arrest, however, they were later released after recording statements.
Dankotuwa Police said the samples obtained from the seized coconut oil stock will be directed to the Government Analyst for testing.
In the meantime, Director-General of Sri Lanka Customs has informed the companies, which had imported unrefined coconut oil, to re-export the consignment in question within this week.
Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) has confirmed through tests that the unrefined coconut oil stocks, imported to Sri Lanka by four companies, contain the highly carcinogenic substance called Aflatoxin.
The SLSI, the Food Safety Unit of the Ministry of Health, and the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) re-tested the samples of imported unrefined coconut oil, following the appeals made by the importing companies.
However, the test results released on Monday (March 29) reconfirmed that the unrefined oil stocks indeed contained the carcinogen Aflatoxin.
Thereby, Customs Chief Major General (Rtd.) G. Vijitha Ravipriya has ordered the relevant importing companies to re-export the stocks.
Ministry of Health on Tuesday (March 30) confirmed 37 more new cases of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka as the daily cases count reached 139.
The new development has brought the total number of COVID-19 confirmed in the country thus far to 92,442.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 2,749 patients infected with the virus are currently under medical care at designated hospitals and treatment centres.
Total recoveries from the virus infection have reached 89,090 while the death toll stands at 566.
Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (30) acquitted and released Former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris and two others from a case filed by the Bribery Commission.
When the case was called before Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala earlier today, Additional Director General of Bribery Commission Subhashini Senanayake informed the court of the complainant’s intent to withdraw the indictment against the suspects.
Accordingly, Former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Supreme Court Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and former Secretary to Ministry of Power and Energy M.M.C. Ferdinando who were named as defendants in the case were acquitted and released under the provisions of Section 189 of Criminal Code Procedure.
They were accused of committing an offence under the Bribery Act by failing to provide necessary instructions to take legal action against the purported irregularities which took place during the purchase of a plot of land by the Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd (LECO) between 1st and 10th of December in 2010.
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to construct four elevated railway tracks in the city of Colombo.
The project will be implemented as a private-public partnership covering the Colombo city, Cabinet Co-Spokesperson Minister Udaya Gammanpila said during the press briefing held this morning (March 30) to announce Cabinet decisions.
The four railway tracks have been named Raktha (Red), Neela (Blue), Haritha (Green) and Dham (Purple), according to the minister.
Raktha railway track, which is to be constructed from Ragama to Kottawa via Colombo Fort, is 42km in distance. Haritha railway track is 28km in distance and it is set to be elevated from Moratuwa to Kelaniya via Narahenpita.
Meanwhile, Neela railway track which is 23km long will be built from Kottawa to Hunupitiya through Irusupaya. The fourth elevated railway track, Dham, will be constructed from Port City to Athurugiriya via Borella.
I invite your immediate and very serious attention to
the following news item with the view to stop this right royal betrayal. There
is no use in closing the gate after the horse is gone
Indian
fishermen to be licensed to fish in Lankan waters
March 29, 2021
by Pamodi Waravita
Proposed as solution to illegal poaching
Local Fisheries
Association threatens union action
The Ministry of Fisheries is currently in
discussions with the Government of India for the implementation of a programme
that would permit Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters, The Morning
learnt. There are two main problems we
face in our waters. Indian fishermen illegally crossing the border, and
engaging in bottom trawling. To settle these problems we have proposed that a
limited number of Indian boats be given licenses to fish here per week,” Minister
of Fisheries Douglas Devananda told The Morning yesterday (28). Devananda further said that this plan is
currently being discussed with the Indian government and would likely be
implemented within a few months.
However, he insisted that bottom trawlers would not be allowed to
venture into Sri Lankan waters since they ruin the wealth of the country’s
fisheries resources. In 2014, the
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act was amended to make bottom trawling an offence
with a maximum prison term of two years and a maximum fine of Rs. 50,000.
Bottom trawling is widely regarded as ecologically destructive since trawlers
drag heavy nets along the ocean floor, thus depleting aquatic resources. Speaking to The Morning, All Island Fisheries
Association Convenor Rathna Gamage claimed that issuing licenses to Indian
fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters is akin to handing over the country to
India. We would be engaging in strict
union action if this plan goes ahead as it would negatively affect our
sovereignty, our resources, and our marine environment, including the ocean
bed,” said Gamage. Gamage also alleged
that approximately 30,000 boats cross illegally into Sri Lankan waters per
month. Our leaders have no backbone.
Instead of protesting and stopping their illegal activities, they have decided
to assist them,” added Gamage. Last
Thursday, the day after the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) voted
on a resolution on Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Navy arrested 54 Indian fishermen, the
largest at a given time since June 2014. It was reported that many in
diplomatic circles considered the arrests retaliation, following India’s
abstention from the vote. It was also
reported that 40 of the 54 fishermen were initially released due to
interventions by the Ministry of Fisheries. The following day, the Ministry
intervened to have the remaining 15 fishermen also released. Indian fishermen have allegedly been fishing
illegally in Sri Lankan waters for decades, especially during the height of the
war between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE), reportedly with the blessings of the LTTE. However, the end of the
civil war in 2009 made the north eastern waters accessible to Sri Lankan
fishermen and set the fishermen of the two countries on a collision course.
Over a decade later, the issue is yet to be resolved.
March 29, 2021
by Pamodi Waravita 0 Comments”
My response
to this news
The first step in
this process of national betrayals to India by our post-1948 politicians was of
cause taken by JR Jayawarhana on 29th July 1987 for fear of his
life. Thereby JR has gone down in history as the first politician who started
this historic crime. As for him this is no wonder as he was the first Sri
Lankan politician who once proposed that this country should be a part of India
if we are going to develop as the days of Dutugemunu and Parakaramabahu are
gone and they are only dreams
JR ceded this
land that had been the traditional historic Motherland of the Sinhala Nation,
at least, for the past 2500 years, to India by his historic betrayal of 29th
July 1987 Rajiv/JR Accord as follows.
1 By accepting
the Northern and the Eastern Provinces, that is 1/3 of the Land area of the
country and 2/3 of our marine territory.as Traditional Homeland for Tamils domicile
here for them to form their dream EELAM, which Wardharja Perumal declared
unilaterally in 1990.
2 Gave
Citizenship on a letter signed by a JP to all Indians (contrary to all accepted
International covenants on awarding citizenship) who had been brought by the British to work on their
plantation estates and left behind as British citizens and all those Tamils who
had entered illegally and remained here
as illegal immigrants
3 He also made
Tamil an Official Language by abrogating Sec 18 of the Constitution that had declared
Sinhala the Official Language of the country
4 He also agreed
to merged the North and the East as one Province and laid the foundation for
the permanent division of the country in to two States a) A mono Tamil State in
the North and East with future provision to merge it with the central part of
the country (by including provision for the merger of more than two Provinces with
the covert strategy of annexing the Central, Sabaragamuwa and the Uva Provinces
where there is a large Tamil population
Is this going to be the grand finale of that process
of betrayal
Is this going to
be the grand finale of that process of betrayal that is going to be taken by
this Government by allowing legal rights, agreed upon bilaterally to ceding the
right for fishing in our waters for Indian Fishermen who were illegally
poaching in marine territory and robbing our national fish resources right
throughout history?
Isn’t it like
the owner of the house helping the burglars to carry the stuff robbed form his
house and giving them consent in writing
to loot his house as they like as and when they want.
I now pause the question, was it for this type
of governance that the 7 million Sinhala people the Bhoomiputras of this Island elected this President, the
Prime Minister and their followers and the government in to power in 2019 and
2020 respectively? Does the Government honestly think it is for this type of
Governance that nakedly betrays the
Sinhala Buddhist nation the 7 million people have elected them by
defeating the rogue Yahapalanaya anarchic Government? After all why should we
have a government at all if this is the way how they govern?
As I understand it, I don’t think anyone who
voted this regime in to power will ever and never approve this kind of disastrous
agreement with any country that concede to giving in to this kind of foreign
aggression. Even in 1987 India did this. First by invading our air space with
supersonic jets and dropping parippu” as they say it and thereafter
threatening old JR of the consequences and the price he has to pay if he says
no and got him to sign the Accord which even JR”s Minister of Defense Lalith
Atulathmudali boycotted in protest.
Are we going to
repeat the same folly again by signing another agreement this time to sell our
national resources to India by another Government that has got elected for five
years only?
As protecting the
country from foreign invasion, being one of the cardinal functions of any Government,
I sincerely and fervently hope and wish neither the President nor the Prime minister or any other man or
woman in the Parliament led by people like Sarath Weerasekara, Dinesh
Gunawardhana, Vidura Wikramanaayaka, Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansaeve will allow
this tragic disaster to be inked.
One more final query before I wind up
Who is the two footed donkey adviser that made this
proposition to the Government? Doesn’t that open gates?
Firstly, to fish in all our waters right round the
Island using it as Indian version of legitimacy and
Secondly, to claim the right for sharing all our
resources even on the land as Kautilyan Indian bureaucrats and Taminadu
politicians would definitely argue based on the logic behind Rajiv/JR Accord of 1987 and historian turned legal eagle politicians
with their Sivalinga theory would cry.
Why can’t the Government of Sri Lanka go by the
International boundary between the two countries instead and confine fishing
strictly to one’s own waters accordingly an dapply the law ? On the other hand if
the GOSL agrees to give that right to Indian Fishermen then the same right
should be demanded for the Sri Lankan fishermen to fishing in Indian waters as
well by the same agreement ensuring that neither the Indian Government nor the
Tamilnadu Government or Tamilnadu fishermen will directly or indirectly
obstruct Sri Lankan fishermen
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians from
Pentecost of 33 AD until the present day will be resurrected to heaven as immortal
spirit beings to spend eternity with God and Christ. They believe that these
people are anointed” by God to become part of the spiritual Israel of God”
.Based on their understanding of scriptures such as Revelation 14:1-4,
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians go to
heaven to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God.
Colombo, March 29 (DailyFT): A Bill to provide for the establishment of the Colombo Port City (CPC) Special Economic Zone has been published in the Gazette and is slated to be presented to Parliament next month.
The 76-page Bill provides for the establishment of a Commission empowered to grant registrations, licences, authorisations, and other approvals to carry on businesses and other activities in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be established within the Colombo Port City.
The five-seven-member Commission will oversee all activities within the SEZ, including identification of a single-window investment facilitator for the promotion of ease of doing business within the Zone, and determine and grant incentives and other exemptions for the promotion of businesses of strategic importance within the SEZ.
According to the Bill, the SEZ will be an international business and services hub with specialised infrastructure and other facilities for the promotion and facilitation of economic activity, including international trade, shipping logistic operations, offshore banking and financial services, information technology and business process outsourcing, corporate headquarters operations, regional distribution operations, tourism, and other ancillary services.
The objectives of the Commission will be to promote the CPC to be a leading Special Economic Zone in the region and an attractive investment destination to attract enhanced foreign direct investments into the country.
It will oversee the creation of a safe and conducive business environment and facilitate ease of doing business in and from the Area of Authority of the Colombo Port City and endeavour to ensure that the Ease of Doing Business Index in its area of authority is maintained at a level like other attractive economic zones in the region.
The Commission will also ensure ease of transacting its business operations and administration efficiently, reliably, and transparently to enhance investor confidence; promote tourism and ancillary services by facilitating duty-free shopping, entertainment, and other similar facilities; generate employment opportunities and promote sustainable development.
The Commission will consist of not less than five members and not more than seven members, and they will be appointed by the President, under whose purview the Colombo Port City functions.
The appointees will be drawn from among experts in the fields of investment, finance, law, information technology, engineering, business or accountancy. One member among them will be appointed as the Commission’s Chairperson.
The Commission, in consultation with and with the approval of the President, will appoint a suitable person as the Director-General of the Commission, who will function as its Chief Executive Officer.
The Commission will have its own fund with a sum of Rs. 400 million being the initial contribution payable by the project company to the fund of the Commission, on account of the Commission discharging inter alia the functions of the investment facilitator of the Colombo Port City.
This sum will be used by the Commission to defray initial setting up and operational expenditures, including international promotional expenditures for the Colombo Port City and Sri Lanka, and other expenses as may be incurred by the Commission in terms of this Act.
The Bill, titled the ‘Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act’, is slated to be presented to Parliament next month.
Colombo, March 29 (CGTN): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday told Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that China is willing to work with Sri Lanka to enhance Belt and Road Cooperation and contribute to the economic revival of Sri Lanka in post-pandemic era.
Xi said China will continue to provide necessary assistance to Sri Lanka, conduct cooperation in areas including aviation and education and explore other potential cooperation areas.
Xi said China will never forget Sri Lanka’s support for the restoration of China’s lawful seat in the UN, and is willing to continue working with Sri Lanka to support each other on issues of mutual concern, safeguard each other’s legitimate rights and promote global justice and fairness.
Rajapaksa congratulated China on the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China and spoke highly of China’s achievements in fighting the pandemic and its economic recovery.
Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka hopes to learn from China’s experience in poverty reduction and rural revitalization and is willing to expand cooperation in infrastructure construction, tourism and so on, so as to benefit Sri Lanka’s economic development and its people.(CGTN)
Colombo, March 29: As early as 2002, the UN correspondent of the Los Angeles Times, Maggie Farley, noted that more than a hundred UN resolutions were being violated, and that in many cases, enforcement of resolutions was blocked by the US or its allies.
She made this observation based on a 15-year review of compliance with UN resolutions done by the University of San Francisco Professor Stephen Zunes. Zunes had concluded that compliance depended on the influence of each State and its backers. The more powerful the backer, the less the chance of compliance, he said. Those countries which did comply were made to comply by a powerful country or a set of powerful countries through sheer coercion, economic or military or both.
For a start, UN resolutions are not binding, and if they are, as in the case of some Security Council resolutions, the powers-that-be might not enforce them for economic, political or geo-political reasons. Between 1967 and 2002, Israel had violated 31 resolutions. Twelve violations related to the Fourth Geneva Convention for Occupying Powers,” relating to deportations, demolitions of homes and seizure of property.
Among the resolutions violated was No: 487 of 1981 which had called upon Israel to place its nuclear facilities under the safeguard of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency. While the US went to war with Iraq for violating UN resolutions, it would not envisage war against Israel to enforce a UN resolution. In fact, the US had used the veto several times to block resolutions on Israel. In 2018, the US quit the UNHRC complaining against its bias against Israel.
When Turkey was an ally of the US, it was able to defy UN Security Council resolutions on its troop deployment in Cyprus. Morocco flouted resolutions seeking withdrawal of its forces from Western Sahara and allow a referendum there on self-determination. The US invaded Iraq as per a UN mandate because it suited its interests.
Military Action
The UN Charter authorizes military action for the enforcement of Chapter 7 resolutions. But military interventions have proved to be difficult because of inadequate commitment from member states. The UN action in Bosnia-Herzegovina proved to be disastrous because of this.
Big Power hegemony is a major factor. The US would not allow its forces to be commanded by non-US citizens. Though the UN is a US institution essentially, no government in Washington has wanted it to be powerful, as stated by Daniel Moynihan, former US ambassador to the UN.
The Department of State desired that the United Nations prove utterly ineffective in whatever measures it undertook. The task was given to me, and I carried it forward with not inconsiderable success,” he wrote in his memoirs.
The UN has also shown its incompetence in implementing resolutions on North Korea. In their article in journal of the Institute for Science and international Security” in 2018, David Albright, Sarah Burkhard, Allison Lach, and Andrea Stricker say that 52 countries were involved in violating UNSC Resolutions on North Korea throughout most of 2017.
US President Donald Trump threatened to withhold billions” of dollars of US aid from countries voting in favor of a UN resolution rejecting his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. But despite the warning, 128 members voted to maintain the longstanding international consensus that the status of Jerusalem (claimed as a capital by both Israel and Palestine) can only be settled as an agreed final issue in a peace deal, wrote. Nevertheless, despite the UN resolution, in May 2018, the US went ahead and reclassified its Jerusalem Consulate as the US Embassy in Jerusalem.
The US also vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that condemned Israel’s use of force against Palestinian civilians. At least 116 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza border protests since the end of March 2018.
UN Resolutions
Any UN body can pass a resolution. But they are generally not binding. But even those which are biding, are either imperfectly implemented or not implemented at all .The Security Council is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. The UNSC comprises 15 members, five permanent (Russia, the UK, France, China and the US) and ten non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two- year terms. Permanent members can veto any substantive UNSC resolution.
Security Council Resolution 1373, which was adopted unanimously on September 28, 2001, was a counter-terrorism measure passed following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. The resolution was adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and is therefore binding on all UN member states. If the US has been complying with this, it is because it is directly affected by terrorism since the 9/11 attack.
International Criminal Court
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has been unsuccessfully trying to extend the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, which enables the ICC to exercise jurisdiction over the island nation. However, a Sri Lankan human rights violation case can be brought to the ICC if the UN Security Council resolves to do so. But in the UNSC, Sri Lanka is supported two veto wielding powers, China and Russia.
It is pointed that following the recent UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka, any member State can file a case against a Sri Lankan national on human rights or war crimes grounds. But here again, it is argued that the political interests of nations will play a determining role.
It is noteworthy that most cases brought before the ICC relate to poor and backward countries which have no political influence in the world. Thus far, 45 individuals have been indicted in the ICC. The list includes Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony, former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Ivor Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, and DR Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba. The over-representation of Africa and the total absence of the developed countries in the ICC cases are noteworthy.
Western Laws to Protect Soldiers
While on the one hand, Western nations are itching to prosecute soldiers from the developing countries on war crimes charges, they themselves are enacting laws to prevent the prosecution of their soldiers for war crimes committed abroad.
The British House of Commons recently adopted a Bill to prevent ‘vexatious’ prosecutions of British military personnel and veterans over war crimes allegations. The prosecution of British soldiers for alleged past crimes in Northern Ireland, and more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, has dogged the country’s military and government for years.
The new legislation proposes measures to reduce uncertainty arising from historical allegations and create a better legal framework to deal with claims from future overseas conflicts,” said the UK Defense Ministry. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told the House of Commons that the Bill would deliver on the Conservative Government’s 2019 Election promise to protect service personnel and veterans from vexatious claims and endless investigations.”
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer, a former Army Officer who served in Afghanistan, insisted that the legislation does not decriminalize torture” but strikes an appropriate balance between victims’ rights and access to justice.”
Sri Lanka is contemplating a similar protective law in view of the UNHRC’s bid to prosecute its soldiers, Education Minister and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) spokesman, Prof. G.L.Peries, told the media recently.
The Sri Lankan President said ‘the government does not wish to be associated with the power struggles in the Indian Ocean region by the global giants’.
Sri Lanka will not allow other countries to achieve their geopolitical needs by introducing separatism under the guise of power devolution” in the island nation, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said.
The government does not wish to be associated with the power struggles in the Indian Ocean region by the global giants,” Mr. Rajapaksa said, adding that the sovereignty of Sri Lanka would not be betrayed, a front-page report in the state-run Daily News said on Monday.
Speaking at a ‘Discussion with the Village’ event in the southern Matara district on Saturday, he appeared to be responding to India’s intervention at the United Nations Human Rights Council last week. Although India abstained from voting, it supported the international community’s call in the resolution for devolving political authority, holding of elections to provincial councils and implementation of the 13th Amendment that guarantees a measure of power devolution to the provinces.
The Council adopted the resolution — with 22 countries backing it — that called for greater scrutiny of human rights in the country, including through an international evidence gathering mechanism, while flagging possible recurrence of human rights violations, citing recent policy decisions impacting Sri Lanka’s Tamil and Muslim minorities.
In addition to pegging the international call for devolution, to the geopolitical needs of other countries”, Mr. Rajapaksa’s remarks also linked the demand for greater power devolution to separatism, although Sri Lanka’s Tamil political leadership has repeatedly underscored the need for enhanced powers for provinces within a united, undivided and indivisible” Sri Lanka.
The President said: We will face the Geneva challenge without fear. We will never succumb to pressures. We are a free nation. We will not be a victim of big power rivalry in the Indian Ocean,” a week after the U.N. Human Rights Council adopted a resolution.
The statement assumes significance in the wake of persisting calls from some within his government, including senior Ministers, for the abolition of the provincial council system and the 13th Amendment.
Provincial council elections
Less than a fornight before the vote on the Sri Lanka resolution in Geneva, amid Colombo’s hectic diplomatic outreach seeking support from members, Mr. Rajapaksa instructed the relevant parties to take steps to expedite the provincial council elections by either withdrawing the Provincial Council Amendment bill or rectifying its anomalies,” a statement issued by the Presidential Media division said on March 13.
According to local media reports, the holding of provincial council elections is likely to be discussed in Monday’s [March 29] weekly Cabinet meeting.
After being elected President in November 2019, Mr. Rajapaksa stated that he would focus more on development rather than devolution. In an interview to The Hindu on November 30, 2019, during his first visit to New Delhi after assuming office, Mr. Rajapaksa said the previous push for devolution, devolution, devolution” had not changed the situation in Sri Lanka.
Full devolution of powers as promised by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1987 could not be implemented against the wishes and feeling of the majority [Sinhala] community,” he noted, while the legislation envisages power devolution to all provinces in the country, including those with a Sinhala-majority.
The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has arrested two persons including a female in Jaffna for maintaining a website and YouTube channel allegedly promoting LTTE terrorist propaganda.
Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that the TID had conducted a special raid in respect of an office situated at Navalar Street in Jaffna this morning (29).
The raid has been conducted in order to trace a YouTube channel and a website that had been operated for months and those channels had promoted the LTTE ideology in the cyber space,” he said.
The Police Spokesman said that the YouTube channel and website had allegedly promoted the LTTE ideology, speeches of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran and the symbols of the LTTE terrorist organization.
He said that the YouTube channel and website had created disharmony among the ethnic groups of Sri Lanka and that therefore a 35-year-old female and a 36-year-old male, who were running the office, have been arrested by the TID.
In addition to that 05 desktop computers and 05 laptop computers recovered from the said office have also been taken into custody, the DIG said.
In terms of the Gazette notification published in 2011related to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the LTTE is a prescribed organization and promoting LTTE ideology and publishing articles in respect of LTTE terrorism or LTTE activities is strictly prohibited,” he added.
He said the arrested suspects are being brought to the TID’s Colombo office and that further investigations are underway.
Archdiocese of Colombo says that it makes them wonder as to whether there are external interferences that hamper the efficiency of investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks seeing as the culprits of this crime have not been identified even after 2 years.
As the Easter Sunday bombings were an attack on the entire Sri Lankan society, it is the responsibility of all citizens to pressurize those in power to mete out justice to the victims, the Archdiocese of Colombo stated.
Issuing a statement, the Archdiocese urges the government and the Opposition to refrain from any action that might hamper the independent and free implementation of the judicial process of the case.
They have also outlined four steps that need to be taken to bring justice regarding the terror attack.
– Expedite investigations on those directly or indirectly connected to this crime [planning, financial help, political patronage, etc.] and bring them before the law. – Thorough investigations into all those who had contacts or dealings with Zahran Hashim. – Prosecute all political leaders, officials who have been recommended in the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry for shirking their duty and not preventing the massacre despite prior intelligence warnings – Proscribe all extremist Islamic groups which are a threat to national security, and banish their foreign sponsors and local agents from the country.
The Archdiocese of Colombo also stated that action must be taken to implement or at least initiate the first steps to implement the aforementioned demands before April 21, 2021.
The full statement issued by the Archdiocese of Colombo:
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assures his Chinese counterpart of strengthening mutual cooperation in all sectors and bilateral ties.
President Rajapaksa mentioned this to China President Xi Jinping over a telephone conversation held today (March 29), President’s Media Division stated.
Yet it remains the case that if Nigerian
public and private sector players doing business with the Chinese elephant
could improve their negotiating skills and be more ambitious about their
negotiating positions, making better use of Nigeria’s ‘superpower’ qualities to
minimise the drawbacks of its antlike ones, the future of Nigeria–China
relations could be brighter and more beneficial for Nigeria than their past –
South African Institute of International Affairs
Human rights violations allegedly committed by
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government of Sri Lanka are antlike
compared to the Elephantine violations committed by giants in the world
including the USA.
The UNHRC and the West so concerned about the
Ants, looks totally disinterested when the Military in Myanmar mows down
innocent civilians fighting for their human rights. They have not raised a
finger or even a finger nail to do anything tangible to halt the Military juggernaut
from killing more people and subjugating them to the power of guns and other
military hardware. Military might has replaced human rights and the world looks
on issuing useless statements from UN pulpits. The duplicity and differential
treatment being meted out is sickening.
Yet, these human rights champions are
concerned about internal matters of Sri Lanka, but not concerned about the
Muslim extremists who killed more than 300 people during the Easter bombings in
2019 and prior to that the marauding LTTE who killed hundreds and thousands of
innocent children, women, old men and women. The dark history of the LTTE has
been inconsequential for the UNHRC or the West.
Much has been written about the plight of the
poor in the US who have no rights if they are poor. The world knows how rights
are violated in Saudi Arabia, protected by the US. They know about the
violations in Israel, again protected by the US. Palestinians have been
trampled, walls built around them, and basic living conditions denied to them.
Some of the member countries of the UNHRC, who
voted against Sri Lanka have appalling human rights records. Some others who
sat on the fence too would not have a place to hide if their records are
exposed. Others who sat on the fence did not have the guts to either side with
the Elephants or support the Ant who was being trampled.
Sections of the Tamil Diaspora, the beggars
with the wound that will never heal, provided plenty of falsehoods to the Core
group and the US, and the world media big shots sponsored the case against Sri
Lanka basing their accusations on such falsehoods, and also infringing on Sri
Lanka’s sovereignty as if Sri Lanka was still one of their colonial outposts.
It is high time Sri Lankan Tamils who wish to
call Sri Lanka their home divorced themselves from the LTTE and their
supporters overseas, and also kicked out their politicians from their
electorates and elected a set of politicians who would help to develop their
areas and improved their lot.
They must ask themselves what these
politicians have done for them since independence. They must ask themselves
what development support the Tamil Diaspora, barring a handful, have done to
improve the economic wellbeing of Tamils in the North and the East by
investing, and creating jobs or improving agriculture and agri industries so
that people would have had more self-employment opportunities. Had they done
this, the private sector in the North and East would have been booming today.
Instead they contribute to fill the coffers of
the LTTE rump, who in turn puts money in the pockets of politicians in the West
to continue their fake allegations about their hopeless” fate in Sri Lanka. This
money goes to keep LTTE atrocities under the lid and make the world think that
the LTTE was a lily white set of freedom fighters without any blemish.
The current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa may
have his faults. After all he is human. But, few seem to remember that had it
not been for him and the service commanders at the time including Field Marshal
Sarath Fonseka, who led very brave Forces personnel, and the political
leadership provided by President Mahinda Rajapakse, the island of Sri Lanka would
have had two Nations by now. There are of course those with short memories, who
owe their freedom to talk, write and act because the LTTE were defeated militarily
in 2009, and others with an objective that is still uppermost in their minds,
and that is to create a separate nation in the North and the East.
Tamil people will have to make a decision
whether they wish to be in one nation called Sri Lanka, along with the
Sinhalese, Muslims and other ethnic groups, or whether they wish to live in a
separate Nation. Such a decision however cannot be just the decision of Tamil
people, it has to be a decision of all people of Sri Lanka including the
Sinhalese, Muslims and other races, as they all have ownership of the one
country and island where everyone lives.
If the Tamil people in the North and East and
others living in the rest of the country wish to advance and work towards the
concept of one country for all, they have to choose a different set of leaders
who would pursue such a concept and work towards addressing how the road blocks
that might be impeding the one country concept may be overcome. It has to be
clear to the Tamil people that their leadership has failed them, and they have
not benefited by the divisive politics practiced by their leadership. Solutions
lie in compromise and consensus decision making by all people as no group could
have aspirations that disadvantage another group. In particular, majority
groups need to compromise more than minority groups as majorities can and they
do create imbalances simply on account of their numerical strength.
Muslim people of Sri Lanka too need to make a
decision about their future in Sri Lanka and whether they wish to replicate
extremism practiced in countries like Saudi Arabia or whether they wish to
practice moderation as the Prophet himself articulated very well in his
teachings. Extremism cannot have a place in the country. Politicians who
advocate extremist ideologies should be rejected by the Muslim people.
The UNHRC vote gave a clear indication as to
who were with Sri Lanka and who had the self-respect to defend their
sovereignty as this resolution was clearly aimed at infringing on the sovereignty
of small, poor and developing nations by those powerful ones who had become the
pseudo defenders of human rights. In saying this, there is no inference
whatsoever that any violation of people’s human rights should not be opposed.
It must be. However, such a condemnation has to be proportionate to the alleged
or actual violations, and also dealt in equal measure irrespective of a
country’s wealth or power. This is not the case today as evidenced by how the
rich and the powerful treat some nations differently to others.
The Nigerian simile mentioned at the outset of
this article rings true when it comes to Sri Lanka too. China is the Elephant
in the room which has got the Western power block which includes India, to take
measures against Sri Lanka and corral it using a UNHRC resolution, hoping that
Sri Lanka will yield to such international pressure and cave into their
demands.
Despite the uphill task, Sri Lanka should not
cave in as that would be the end of the country’s sovereignty. Sri Lanka should
however very aggressively and purposefully pursue alliances with countries in
similar situations to counter the threats from not just the Western power
block, but even from China at a future point in time. A very aggressive China,
pursuing its own agenda of being the next super power of the world, could
potentially become the Elephant that tramples nations like Sri Lanka if it felt
that an Ant was standing in its way.
Sri Lanka no doubt wants and must have the
support of all nations to improve their economic and social wellbeing of their
people. It needs investments from all corners and not loans and handouts. Sri
Lanka’s development and self-sufficiency has to come from the confidence it
generates to attract investments. In this regard, many initiatives being taken
by the Rajapaksa government has to be lauded and encouraged, while those
opposed to the government should offer constructive criticism of government
policies and practices. A democratic opposition should not resort to spreading
fake news to pursue a genuine political agenda unless that agenda is also as
fake as the fake news.
Colombo, March 27 (Daily Mirror) – Sri Lanka yesterday said talks to purchase coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer-biontech have been successful and a final agreement is expected to be reached soon. State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the US based company has offered to supply vaccines in special storage equipment during transportation.
The Pfizer vaccine requires storage facilities with minus 70 degrees
refrigeration, a facility which the Sri Lanka Government does not have.
However, Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the matter had been discussed with the manufacturer and the manufacturer has now offered asolution.
He said that the company is ready to provide facilities to transport the vaccines to storage facilities while maintaining the minus 70 degrees refrigeration.
Professor Channa Jayasumana also said that it has been found that vaccines manufactured by the company can be stored in normal refrigeration for approximately a week.
As a result, he said that steps will be taken to import the vaccines from Pfizer-biontech to Sri Lanka soon.
Meanwhile, Pfizer and Biontech announced a breakthrough yesterday
(Friday) saying that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved storage of the Pfizer manufactured COMIRNATY® vaccine at -25°C to -15°C for a total of two weeks based on data showing the stability at these temperatures in standard pharmaceutical freezers. COMIRNATY® is manufactured by Pfizer Europe and efficacy shown in clinical trials in participants with or without evidence of prior infection with SARS-COV-2 and who received the full series of vaccine (2 doses) was approximately 95% based on a median follow-up of two months.
Pfizer said the new data is a testament to the companies’ ongoing commitment to developing this vaccine further and collecting data in order to support broader and more flexible vaccine distribution and inoculation.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa accused the previous government led by Maithripala Sirisena of betraying the country’s sovereignty by co-sponsoring the UN rights resolution in 2015
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday stated that the recent UNHRC resolution against his country was the doing of local and foreign forces which do not want Sri Lanka to progress. He even vowed that his government would not succumb to such pressures.
On Tuesday last week, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution against Sri Lanka’s rights record, giving the UN body a mandate to collect evidence of crimes committed during the country’s brutal three decade-long civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Speaking at a gathering in the southern rural district of Matara on Sunday, Rajapaksa said: We will never succumb to (such) pressures (UNHRC resolution); we are a free nation. We will not be a victim of big power rivalry in the Indian Ocean.”
The president said the UNHRC resolution was the doing of foreign and local forces” which cannot see his government making progress.
Rajapaksa accused the previous government led by Maithripala Sirisena of betraying Sri Lanka’s sovereignty by co-sponsoring the UN rights resolution in 2015.
The resolution titled Promotion of Reconciliation Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka was passed despite heavy lobbying by Sri Lanka. India was among 14 countries which abstained from voting.
India has said its stand on the matter is governed by two considerations: support to the minority Tamils and stability and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.
The resolution calls upon the Lankan government to ensure prompt thorough and impartial investigation, if warranted, prosecution of all alleged crimes relating to human rights violations and serious violations of international human rights law during the country’s three decade-long civil war. The Tamil minority has welcomed the resolution.
According to the Lankan government figures, over 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the three-decade brutal war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.
The Tamils alleged that thousands were massacred during the final stages of the war that ended in 2009 when the government forces killed LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The Sri Lankan Army denies the charge, claiming it as a humanitarian operation to rid the Tamils of LTTE’s control.
At the end of the civil war, the United Nations accused both sides of atrocities, especially during the conflict’s final stages.
International rights groups claim at least 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed in the final stages of the war, but the Sri Lankan government has disputed the figures.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry says that another 69 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 increasing the total number of cases reported within the day to 237.
This brings the tally of coronavirus cases identified in the country to 92,088 thus far, while the total recoveries have reached 88,623.
Presently there are 2,906 patients who are being treated for Covid-19 at hospitals and treatment centers.
Sri Lanka has reported 02 more coronavirus-related deaths, the Director-General of Health Services confirmed today (March 28).
As per the Department of Government Information, the victims are two male patients from Colombo 15 and Mawanella areas.
The new deaths bring the number of COVID-19 related deaths witnessed in Sri Lanka to 561 in total.
01. The deceased is a 60-year-old male resident from Colombo 15. He died on 01.02.2021 on admission to Base Hospital Mawanella. The cause of death is mentioned as COVID-19 infection and chronic renal failure.
02. The deceased is a 35 old male resident from Mawanella. He died on 29.12.2020 on admission to Base Hospital Mawanella. The cause of death is mentioned as COVID-19 infection and acute diabetes.
An explosion ripped through a Roman Catholic cathedral compound in the eastern Indonesian city of Makassar on Sunday morning, shattering the calm of Palm Sunday, a holy day for Christians.
Unverified video said to have been taken at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral showed smoldering wreckage and palm fronds scattered on the ground.
Father Wilhelmus Tulak, a priest at the cathedral, told Metro TV, an Indonesian network, that a parking attendant had been burned as he tried to stop a suicide bomber. Ten people were injured, the priest said.
The cathedral was between Masses when two motorcyclists approached, looking suspicious, Father Wilhelmus told Metro TV.
Mohammad Ramadhan Pomanto, the mayor of Makassar, a multifaith port city of about 1.5 million people on the island of Sulawesi, told Metro TV that body parts were found as far as 200 meters away. He said no churchgoers had been killed.
South Sulawesi police chief told reporters that based on initial findings, one person died during the blast at the gate of the church compound. Five church staffers and four worshippers were injured and taken to nearby hospitals, he added.
What we can be sure of is that there is one body, allegedly the suicide bomber,” he said as quoted by Kompas TV. The body was attached to a motorbike, apparently (he) had yet to descend because he was stopped by a church officer.
He noted although the bombing was high explosive”, there was no significant damage at the church.
The police have set up a cordon around the church and a disaster victim identification team is investigating the incident. Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has a significant Christian minority. In recent years, Southeast Asian affiliates of the Islamic State have targeted Christian places of worship there and in the mostly Catholic Philippines.
In 2018, three Christian churches were bombed in Surabaya, the second-largest city in Indonesia, leaving a dozen bystanders dead. The suicide bombers were a married couple and their four children. Within days, members of two other families also set off bombs in Surabaya, blowing themselves up.
Last year, a Roman Catholic cathedral was bombed for the third time on the island of Jolo in the southern Philippines, killing at least 14 people. As with the Surabaya bombings, a local affiliate of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for that strike. A 2019 suicide attack on the same cathedral, which killed more than 20 people, was carried out by an Indonesian couple.
