ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan has said he had an excellent meeting with President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa and discussed with him a wide range of matters. In tweets, the prime minister said, We discussed our common passion about poverty alleviation especially in our rural areas. We also exchanged views on how to give farmers more for their produce & get cheaper food & fruits to the population by using technology to eliminate middlemen.”
He noted, We also discussed other dimensions of our extensive ties to strengthen political & trade ties for our mutual benefit.” The prime minister said he inaugurated Sri Lanka’s High Performance Sports Complex. It was great to meet the Sri Lankan cricket greats invited on the occasion, who had played against me,” he said.
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb 24, 2021 / 01:26 pm MT (CNA).- The Sri Lankan government must release its report on the Easter 2019 terrorist attack on Christian churches and hotels, say Catholic leaders.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo reportedly will not meet with any Sri Lanka politicians due to the delay. He has postponed meetings with Catholic members of parliament in both the government and the opposition, the Sri Lanka newspaper The Island reported, citing sources in the cardinal’s office.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo in his cathedral city, Jan. 13, 2015
Other bishops have also spoken out about the failure to release the report from the presidential inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks, which killed more than 260 people and injured more than 500.
We have a lot of doubts about this whole process, the whole thing is getting delayed,” Bishop Winston Fernando of Badulla, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, told the Associated Press.
Nine suicide bombers attacked two Catholic churches, one evangelical Christian church, four hotels, and a housing complex April 21, 2019. The church attacks came in the middle of Easter Sunday services. Two Sri Lankan groups who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group have been blamed in the attacks.
Critics of the government investigation fear corruption or negligence has prevented prosecution of collaborators in the attack.
Fernando said the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka was alarmed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to appoint a new six-member committee to study the report without sharing the report with the Church or with the attorney general to prosecute suspects.
If there are people involved, they want to protect them, I suppose, what else?” the bishop said.
The study committee is composed only of government ministers who are members of the ruling coalition.
Fernando criticized the makeup of the committee. It was not balanced, and its integrity can be questioned because some members have other court cases pending against them, he said.
Ahead of the attacks, foreign intelligence gave warnings to the government. However, a communication breakdown between the then-president and prime minister reportedly led to a failure to coordinate a security response.
Rajapaksa’s office has said the new committee has a mandate to identify what measures various agencies should take to implement the presidential commission’s recommendations, the Associated Press said.
Earlier in February, Cardinal Ranjith wrote to Rajapaksa to request a copy of the report. The cardinal has warned that he would seek help from international Church bodies if the government does not quickly act on the report.
In October 2020, five of seven suspects arrested in connection with the attacks were released by the government, on the stated grounds of lack of evidence.
At that time, Ranjith said security officials had confirmed to him that there was sufficient evidence against many of the suspects who had been arrested. The cardinal, along with friends and family of the victims, have said they fear the release of the suspects meant corruption, or a lack of a thorough investigation, on the part of the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department.
Skeptics of the investigation were most dubious about the release of Riyaj Bathiudeen, brother of MP Rishad Bathiudeen, who is the leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress party in Sri Lanka. In September 2020 a police spokesman told journalists that Riyaj Bathiudeen had met with one of the suicide bombers before one of the attacks on a hotel, and he was accused of other acts of collaboration with the bombers.
Rajapaksa rejected any claims that a deal had been made with MP Bathiudeen in the release of his brother. Various reports speculated that a deal would have aided the president’s push for constitutional changes that would grant sweeping powers” to the president.
Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal. Its population is more than 21 million. More than 70% of Sri Lankans are Buddhists, roughly 13% are Hindus, almost 10% are Muslims, and fewer than 8% are Christians. There are 1.5 million Catholics in the country, constituting the overwhelming majority of Sri Lanka’s Christians.
The country has been plagued with periodic violence since its 26-year civil war concluded in 2009.
At the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) debate on Sri Lanka on Thursday, 21 countries spoke for Sri Lanka and 15 against, a Sri Lankan diplomatic source said.
The debate was on the Core Group’s resolution lambasting Sri Lanka for alleged rights violations and absence of accountability during the war and to date.
China, Pakistan and Russia were among the countries which spoke unequivocally for Sri Lanka, the source said. Sri Lanka had wanted the council to reject the resolution in-toto. India was neutral, the source said without giving details. Bangladesh was silent. But Australia made some constructive suggestions avoiding the harsh indictment which characterized the West-led Core Group’s contentions.
The 15 countries which supported the resolution were all from the Western bloc, the source said.
This is a major achievement, from the Sri Lankan point of view. Sri Lanka has been making no bones about the fact that it has become a victim of the Big Powers’ arm twisting for achieving their geo-political objectives. Based on this understanding, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had twice asked the 47-member Council to reject the Core Group’s resolution.
He had dubbed the resolution a tissue of lies based on unsubstantiated material largely based on the testimony of shadowy, biased and motivated sources and mere surmises. What Gunawardena found particularly galling was the equation of a legitimate State having a democratically elected government, with a terrorist group widely known to be the most ruthless one with assassinations and senseless bombings as its hallmarks.
Gunawardena had also warned that the West, led by the US, has been using human rights as a cover to destabilize States, a tendency that has to be halted if sovereign States have to survive. He also lambasted the US-led West’s tendency to meddle in the internal affairs and institutions of sovereign States going beyond the mandate of the council and violating the UN Secretary General’s instruction to maintain credibility by eschewing bias.
Here is the operative portion of the Zero Draft of February 19, on which the resolution is based:
The resolution notes the persistent lack of accountability through domestic mechanisms and regrets that the domestic Commission of Inquiry announced on 22 January 2021, lacks independence and does not include a mandate to pursue accountability for past gross violations of human rights, or for serious violations of international humanitarian law.
It recognizes the importance of preserving and analyzing evidence relating to violations and abuses of human rights in Sri Lanka with a view to advancing accountability and decides to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to consolidate, analyze and preserve information and evidence and develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law; to advocate for victims and survivors; and to support relevant judicial proceedings in Member States with competent jurisdiction.
It expresses serious concern over emerging trends over the past year, which represent clear early warning signs of a deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including the accelerating militarization of civilian government functions, erosion of the independence of the judiciary and key institutions responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights, ongoing impunity and political obstruction of accountability for crimes and human rights violations in emblematic cases” policies that adversely affect the right to freedom of religion or belief, surveillance and intimidation of civil society and shrinking democratic space, arbitrary detentions, allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman degrading treatment or punishment and sexual and gender based violence, and that these trends threaten to reverse the limited but important gains made in recent years and risk the recurrence of policies and practices that gave rise to the grave violations of the past.
It expresses further concern that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on freedom of religion or belief and exacerbated the prevailing marginalization and discrimination suffered by the Muslim community, and that the Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to mandate cremations for all those deceased from COVID-19 has prevented Muslims and members of other religions from practicing their own burial religious rites, and has disproportionately affected religious minorities and exacerbated distress and tensions.
It calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure the prompt, thorough and impartial investigation and, if warranted, prosecution of all allegations of gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law, including for longstanding emblematic cases.
It also calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka: to ensure the effective and independent functioning of the National Human Rights Commission, the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations; to protect civil society actors, to investigate any attacks and ensure a safe and enabling environment in which civil society can operate free from hindrance, insecurity and reprisals.
It requests the Government of Sri Lanka review the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and ensure that any legislation to combat terrorism complies with its international human rights and humanitarian law obligations.
It urges the Government of Sri Lanka to foster religious freedom and pluralism by promoting the ability of all religious communities to manifest their religion, and to contribute openly and on an equal footing to society.
It encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to continue to cooperate with special procedures mandate holders, including responding formally to outstanding requests. It also encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and relevant Special Procedures mandate holders to provide, in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka, advice and technical assistance on implementing the abovementioned steps.
It requests the Office of the High Commissioner to enhance its monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including progress on reconciliation and accountability, and to present a written update to the Human Rights Council at its forty-ninth session, and a comprehensive report including further options for advancing accountability at its fifty-first session, both to be discussed in interactive dialogues.
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.
They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.
Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.
With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.
Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.
Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.
The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.
Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.
The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.
Justice Minister Ali Sabry said a proposal has been made to the Cabinet to impose laws to ban wearing of the burqa in public places considering the security of the country.
He told a news conference that a Cabinet Paper has also been submitted to amend Muslim laws by November.
We have submitted a cabinet paper to amend Muslim laws by November. We have proposed to amend matters widely discussed in society such as minimum marriageable age as 18, allowing Muslim woman to sign when getting married and to ensure equal rights to women as men,” he said and added that in addition, we have proposed that burqa should not be worn in public places. This is not targeting a specific community, but considering the security of the country,” he said.
The Minister said the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance will not be abolished or amended under his tenure as the Justice Minister.
I must say, as long as I am the Justice Minister, I will never abolish or even touch the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance. I haven’t even dreamt of doing so,” he said.
The international lobbying spree by the government gathered momentum today with 21 countries speaking in favour of Sri Lanka and 15 against during an Interactive Dialogue at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Daily Mirror learns.
A core group of countries led by the United Kingdom has proposed to move a resolution on Sri Lanka calling for action on alleged human rights and accountability issues during wartime. Sri Lanka has sought to thwart the adoption of such a resolution.
The Interactive Dialogue took place amidst intense campaigning for support.
The representatives of the countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, the United States Germany and the European Union spoke against the position of the Sri Lankan government.
However, India and Japan took neutral positions. Australia also spoke with a moderate tone despite it being an ally of the western world.
Among the 21 countries that spoke in support of the Sri Lankan government’s position, ten are member states of the UNHRC. These countries are Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Vietnam, the Maldives, Cuba, Nicaragua, Eritrea, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Belarus, North Korea, Gabon, the Philippines, Syria and Egypt. (Kelum Bandara)
The Director General of Health Services on Thursday confirmed two more Covid-19 related deaths, increasing Sri Lanka’s death toll due to the virus to 459.
One of the deceased is a 62-year-old woman from Kadawatha who had passed away on February 21 while being treated at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital. The Cause of death is mentioned as a heart disease and complicated diabetes with Covid-19 infection.
The other victim is an 83-year-old woman from Wattala. She had been disgnosed as Covid-19 positive at the Kiribathgoda Base Hospital and transferred to the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital, where she passed away on February 25. The cause of death is reported as Covid-19 pneumonia and bacterial infection.
The Attorney General has received Volume 01 of the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that investigated the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The AG’s coordinating officer said that Volume 01 of the report was received today from the Secretary to the President.
However, the Attorney General has requested the President’s Secretary to submit all proceedings, documents and materials (Volumes 2-5) of the commission to the Attorney General’s Department, she said.
The President’s Media Division also confirmed that the report was officially handed over by the Director General, Legal Affairs of the Presidential Secretariat Hariguptha Rohanadheera at the Attorney General’s Department today (25).
Attorney General Dappula De Livera on February 12 requested for a copy of the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry from the Secretary to the President in order to consider forwarding charges against the suspects.
Meanwhile the final report, which was handed over to the Speaker of Parliament on Tuesday (23) was tabled in parliament by the Leader of the House, Foreign Affairs Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, this morning (25).
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks handed over its final report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on February 01.
Hearings and other procedures of the Presidential Commission officially came to a conclusion on January 27, 2021.
The Commission was appointed by former President Maithripala Sirisena on September 22nd, 2019 to investigate the series of attacks that took place on Easter Sunday same year and to recommend necessary actions.
The commission had recorded evidence from a total of 440 individuals during its term.
The commission was chaired by Court of Appeal Judge, Janak de Silva and included Court of Appeal Judge, Nishshanka Bandula Karunarathna, Retired High Court Judges Nihal Sunil Rajapaksa and A.L. Bandula Kumara Atapattu, former Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, W.M.M.R. Adikari.
President’s Counsel Ali Sabri stated that he does not intend to repeal or amend the Viharagam and Dewalagam Ordinance during his tenure as the Minister of Justice.
He expressed these views speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, today (February 25).
He said, As long as I am the Minister of Justice, we have no hope of touching the Buddhist Viharagam and Dewalagam Ordinance. I haven’t even dreamt of it.
We all acknowledge that this is a country with a history of 2500 years, based on Buddhist civilization. Can I bring laws against the traditional rights of the Sinhala Buddhist people in this country? I’m not that stupid.”
The Justice Minister further stated that steps have already been taken to ban the wearing of the burqa and to amend the Muslim marriage law.
He says that the relevant amendments to the Muslim law have been submitted to the Cabinet for them to be implemented by November.
The factors that have created dialogues in the society, such as the minimum age of marriage being 18 years and requiring the female to sign the marriage certificate, and giving equal rights to the females, have been proposed through these amendments.”
The decision not to cover faces in public was not made with the mind of targeting a specific community. [It was taken] considering national security.”
he Extraordinary Gazette Notification (No. 2216/38 – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021) allowing the cremation or burial of COVID-19 dead bodies has been issued.
REGULATIONS made by the Minister of Health under Sections 2 and 3 of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases<br />Ordinance (Chapter 222).
Regulations relating to Storage of Grain and Regulations relating to Anchylostomiasis published in Gazette No.7481 of August 28, 1925, as amended from time to time, are hereby further amended in regulation 61A thereof as follows: –
(1) by the substitution for the words, Cremation of Corpse” of the words Cremation or burial of the corpse”;
(2) in sub regulation (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words shall be cremated-” of the words may be cremated or buried. In the case of cremation, the corpse of such person shall be cremated-” ;.
(3) by the insertion immediately after sub regulation (1) thereof, of the following new sub regulation:- (1a) In the case of burial, the corpse of such person shall be buried in accordance with the directions issued by the Director General of Health Services at a cemetery or place approved by the proper authority under the supervision of such authority.”
(4) in sub regulation (2) thereof, by the substitution for the words, duties of cremation” of the words duties of cremation or burial” ; and
(5) in sub regulation (3) thereof, by the substitution for the words, by placing them with the coffin during cremation.” of the words by placing them with the coffin during cremation or in the case of burial, by taking such steps in accordance with the directions as may be issued by the Director General of Health Services.
A 11minute youtube video has been released of LTTE well-timed and poses questions for the international entities and individuals holding candles to LTTE.
The footage shows LTTE children and adults in training – how many of them are alive today.
Can the government issue a notice for all those living to present themselves or the OMP office or Reconciliation Ministry must also request them to appear and register with them.
How many of these LTTE trainees including children are alive today?
How did they die?
How many died during LTTE training?
How many died being shot trying to flee LTTE?
How many died during hostilities with a national army?
The videos show the deplorable manner LTTE are shooting dead civilians.
Are these Sinhala villagers? Where did these shootings take place?
The manner these civilians are shot at close range is shocking and shows how gruesome LTTE is.
All those holding memorials for LTTE and the LTTE overseas brats appearing on videos calling for Tamil Eelam must look at the number of children LTTE had stolen from their parents to turn into gruesome murderers.
How many Tamil children did LTTE steal from Tamil parents?
Have the LTTE promoters including the White Nations of the world have no feeling for these children denied fundamental right to education, to freedom, to live with parents?
Are the Tamil parents not happy now that LTTE is no more they do not have to fear their children being kidnapped?
Just count the kids on this video
Just think about what these kids had to go through
Just think how devastating it would have been for kids to hold a gun instead of a pen
Just think how life had been for these children
Just think how kids were asked to make bombs banned by international law
With the defeat of LTTE in May 2009 – there are no more LTTE child soldiers
With the defeat of LTTE in May 2009 – there are no kids making bombs for LTTE
With the defeat of LTTE in May 2009 – there are no kids denied their right to live like a child
With the defeat of LTTE in May 2009 – there is no fear of kids garlanded with cyanide capsules
With the defeat of LTTE in May 2009 – the Tamil child is free from LTTE
Why are the rights activists for children silent on bringing criminal charges against Adele Balasingham?
Why are the rights activists silent on LTTE using children to make bombs?
The video shows another side of the LTTE – a side no one had earlier seen.
LTTE’s treatment of domestic animals is too shocking.
To have pet dogs also kidnapped from Tamil homes shows another ugly side of the LTTE.
Kidnapped dogs and goats were used for target practice
Kidnapped dogs and goats were used to test TNT explosive devices – this was too cruel to watch
Kidnapped dogs were used to check weight to detonate land mines!
Thousands and dogs and goats fell victim to the LTTE
Look at the manner LTTE used innocent animals with no voice for their vicious ends.
This is the LTTE that the UNHRC want to white-wash of crimes and crimes against humanity.
Where are the foreign animal activists – why are they silent?
Wwould like to know how many of these LTTE children remain alive today?
What are they doing now that LTTE is no more?
What is their story
We would also like to know about the parents in these video footage, what do they feel now that the LTTE is no more? How many of these parents lost their children to LTTE?
We would like to know how many of these LTTE trainers are around – have they changed their ways, have they run away to foreign climes?
How many are today living overseas under false names?
How many of these LTTE trainers were helped out of the country by western NGOs and western governments?
How many of these LTTE trainers are still nursing separatism and terrorist tendencies?
How many of these LTTE trainers are having their identity kept hidden by foreign governments?
How many of these LTTE trainers have been given asylum/refugee status by western countries?
The western governments who have been sponsoring resolutions against Sri Lanka conveniently ignore the fact that with the end of LTTE, the Tamil parents do not fear their children being kidnapped, there are no more child soldiers, thousands of pet dogs and goats have been saved from being killed – there is so much that the whole country can feel happy about, but the countries drafting resolutions at UNHRC want Sri Lanka to continue to live under LTTE terror, want LTTE to prevail and want Sri Lanka to be punished for eliminating LTTE.
From the video clip and the manner that western governments are behaving using the UNHRC, we can only say that they are no better than the LTTE and they are no friend of Sri Lanka.
In place of Mullaiwaikkal Memorials for LTTE dead there must be a Memorial for the LTTE Child Soldier to remind the world what the CHILD went through – the horrendous CHILD ABUSE by LTTE and the fact that these children are now SAVED from LTTE for good.
We thought we knew the worst about the LTTE. It appears there’s much more to LTTE brutality. The FBI described LTTE as the ‘most dangerous & deadly extremists’ in the world. But we never thought LTTE would stoop to the level of using innocent voiceless animals as guinea pigs for their brutality.It appears LTTE’s brutality knows no bounds as thousands of pets and goats had been used for target practice and to test land mines.This despicable acts on innocent animals took place even as late as September 2008 where animals had been tied by LTTE combatants and used for their brutal terror practices. The footage of this live brutality, by LTTE on animals is shown in the video now released for the world to see in the Truth behind Dare documentary. It should put to shame the countries using the floor of the UN/UNHRC to target Sri Lanka via resolutions for ending terror in Sri Lanka.Too bad these LTTE supporters are angry about LTTE being defeated, but we are more than happy that since May 2009, no child has been kidnapped & turned into child soldiers and no pet dog or goat has ended up dead from LTTE target practice. Maybe Francis Harrison may like to come forward and count the dead dogs and goats by LTTE or Yasmin Sooka may like to add animal abuse to one of her reports! We also invite the other 3rdand 4thparties claiming ‘dead civilians’ to provide statistics on how many dogs and goats LTTE killed maliciously!
Truth behind Dare documentary on LTTE using dogs
Just look at the fear in his eyes.
These LTTE diaspora kids living and studying and working in Western countries are coming on social media demanding Eelam
Why dont’ they fly over and create it themselves?
Why do they want to outsource what they want to innocent Tamil children?
If Rudrakumaran wants an eelam – fly down from US and wear a LTTE uniform! Same goes for these kids too
The world must scorn the use of ANIMALS by TERRORIST LTTE. We do not want other terrorist groups copying LTTE abuse of animals. Therefore action must be taken when action should be taken.
It would be good to have a statement from the world’s animal activists on the LTTE treatment of animals for their terrorism especially since LTTE supporters in the West are using UN/UNHRC to resurrect LTTE and recommence terror in Sri Lanka
Chula Rajapakse MNZM, Spokesperson, United Sri Lanka Assn,Wellington NZ
The SL government is to be congratulated on their latest video above, exposing another, less well-known yet no less Horrific dimension to Tamil Tiger Carnage. This has been widely circulated among the expatriate SL communities.
However where this should be circulated most for maximum effect would be, among every state and federal parliamentarian, senator and News outlet in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Aus & NZ under a more effective title as suggested above.
This is the audience that this should target most.
Just after the end of the war in May 2009 the Uk channel four put out a video called Sri Lanka -Killing Fields without a factual basis at all.
The SL govt produced a very good counter Lies-Agreed Upon” and circulated it among the SL expatriates but not among the Western politicians and media who had been fed the SL killing fields using many media channels.
I somehow managed to screen the movie in the NZ parliamentary theatre ( where they issue the mid-day Covid briefings from) and Managed to get a few MP’s to attend and circulated CD of it to most in NZ parliament and news outlets so that there was some counter to the SL killing fields garbage.
The UNHRC condemnations going on now is the result of not conveying these truths repeatedly and relentlessly while misinformation inimical to SL is being disseminated to these recipients relentlessly by a most efficient Tiger Diaspora led by GTF (uk) TGTE (US) and CTC ( Canada )
As I have asked before there should be a branch of the foreign service dedicated entirely to disseminating factual information about Sri Lanka pro actively co-opting the goodwill, dedication, and know-how of expatriate groups in achieving this relentlessly and repeatedly. Repeated delivery of the truth briefly, well headlined, with photographs so that the message is delivered in a 30-second glance and reinforced relentlessly, is the way to go.
The target should be that the default impression in
Western minds Re SL should be HR violations did not and do not occur inSL,
The allegations flying around are Tiger Diaspora constructs to among others to
enable them to continue enjoying the comforts and protection of the west as
refugees fleeing HR violations in SL and that Minorities in SL have all the
rights and privileges of the majority and very often more.”
Unless this happens the truths about Sri Lanka would remain cloistered within the confines of a few officials, politicians, and expatriate organizations, reinforcing these to each other but not to the western politicians and media who are the ones who should receive these most. In the meanwhile, these groups will continue to be fed garbage inimical to Sri Lanka by the GTF, TGTE and CDC. With these going unchallenged, this would be the truth about Sri Lanka In the Western minds, as happens now.
Sincerely,
Chula Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson United Sri Lanka Assn Wellington NZ
Does
Sri Lanka need an opposition in the parliament when the affairs of the state are
activated and discharged? It may be a critical question because when evaluating
the role was played and is played by the opposition, the general impression of
people seems that the government, as well as the opposition, should equally
responsible for the state affairs. When investigating the political role played
in the past people have many questions to be asked without the difference in
political parties that they have been in opposition since independence.
Politics is a dynamic matter that quickly attracts the attention of the public and
a small pace of total population that may be less than 5% concern with
politics. Many people think politics is wasting time rather than supporting the
constructive development of the country. If anyone asks, do opposition politics
play a good role for the country, it may be a vague question for anyone to
answer as many people have arduousness evaluating the role played or is being
played by the opposition.
Sri
Lanka’s politics and administration had been based on totalitarian style since
the beginning of Sinhala state and the way of political administration had been
managed until the concept of democracy was introduced by the Donormore reform
process in 1932. The so-called democracy could be considered as a system that
is biased towards political administrators. Under British rule not only in Sri
Lanka but also in many colonial states applied dictatorial judgments and, in
the UK, too applied dictatorial policies and the best example was criminally
punished people deported to Australia to colonize the country without proper
consent of the domestic citizen.
No
clear evidence available about whether the Donormore commission created, political institution, the State Council did
allow an opposition in the format of current opposition or as in the way of the
Parliamentary system for representation in the council. However, outside the State
Council, opposition political movements either openly or disguisedly played the
opposing role and they had educated the public on the concerned issues. The
official opposition came to operate after the Soulbury reforms in 1947, and
since then the role played by the opposition was not been satisfied by the
public. In some instances, the role of the opposition reflected it was a useless
institution in the parliamentary system. The current role of the opposition is showing
that the opposition is playing a role in return for the payments received by them
in the parliamentary administration, otherwise, there will be a growing
opposition of the public toward them. The best example is the role played by Mr.
Sajith Premadasa, who has no idea what should he play as the leader of the
opposition.
In
the 1956 and i977 elections, fewer members were elected to the opposition, and
the role of the opposition was subject to cheapen, which was the opinion of
academics, and in 1977, Mr. Jayewardene had an idea to create more strong
opposition by transferring several government members to the opposition.
Sir
Ivor Jennings stated in his book Cabinet Government, the leader of the
opposition would be the alternative prime minister of Queen, and the Herald Laski
also expressed an opinion on the role of opposition. When critically examine
the role played by the opposition, the duty of certain members was appreciated
by people. Many accepted that Dr.N.M Perera, Dr.S. A Wickramasinghe, Dr. Colvin
R.de Silva, Mr. Prins Gunesekera, Mr. J.R. Jayewardene, Mr. R. Premadasa, and
many Tamil opposition members played an excellent role contributing to the
concept of parliamentary democracy. However, the role of the current opposition
seems to be weak, and they do less research on the government policies and have
less association with people to scrutinize the role played by them. News media
that broadly expanded in the country either praise or negatively criticize the
role of the opposition.
What
is the role of the opposition? This has been a popular question among students
of political science. If we go beyond
the views of Sir Ivor Jennings, we can develop new ideas and obtain good
returns for the parliament expenses for the opposition in Sri Lanka. What I
have seen as the major weakness of the opposition is that neither leader of the
opposition nor members of the opposition has not expressed an opinion on the
current critical issues such as the human rights report of the UN and the
report of the Easter Commission, why they are so reluctant to express firm
views on these concern matters? This
seems that the opposition is playing a double game rather than attempting to
make justice for the country.
In
other democratic states, opposition comes forward to express constructive
views, and why the opposition in Sri Lanka is reluctant to express constructive
views on government policies? The situation shows that the opposition is playing
the role of international agencies than confirming the wish of the public. If
it investigates the role played by the opposition showed that they are doing
nothing. Soon after independence, the opposition played a constructive role and
it was attracted by people. The election results in 1977 reflected the
confirmation of the role of Mr.J.R. Jayawardane as the opposition leader from
1970 to 1977.
The
current situation raises a common question to all whether the opposition should
play a role like the Western democracies or develop the opposition as in the way
of Japan that plays a very constructive role for the interest of the country.
When the opposition plays a crafty role to show they are doing a good job, and
the best system appropriates Sri Lanka is combining the opposition with the
government, and when genuinely need opposing to the government policy actions,
they should be allowed to oppose. The
opposition and the government need to work as one person for the interest of
the country.
During
the war with LTTE, the opposition UNP could have to support the war effort of
the government and share the victory with the government. If it happened UNP would have not defeated in
a regrettable way in 2020 and Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe could have stayed as a
hero in the country. This is the way opposition is working in Western
democratic countries. Why Mr. Sajith
Premadasa and his colleagues don’t like to associate with the government and
play a constructive role? There is no specific reason, but the opposition plays
a role in support of the Western aided NGOs, which are playing a role against
China and Russia. Sometimes, they may work in support of India. The commission report regarding the Easter
Sunday attack in 2019 has hinted out that who did bomb blasts and rumors are
spread to coverup the matter. Why the
opposition cannot question these matters in the parliament? Do they work like
supporters of a foreign intelligence agency?
Prime Minister
Mahinda Rajapaksa attended a Trade and Investment Conference” together with
visiting Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan in Colombo this morning.
The event, aimed at
promoting trade and investment between the two countries, brought together high-level business representatives
from Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
At the bilateral
discussions between the two Prime Ministers yesterday at Temple Trees, both
delegations expressed a keen interest in enhancing economic cooperation and
boosting investments.
This event gives an
opportunity for business leaders and investors to network and explore potential
areas for future cooperation.
Pakistan has decided to award scholarships to 100 students from Sri Lanka in top medical institutes of the country, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says.
The foreign minister said this during his trip to Sri Lanka. He had earlier announced his arrival at Colombo on Twitter.
Qureshi also spoke about defence and security cooperation between the two countries, saying that an end to the menace of terrorism is of equal importance to both Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan has offered Sri Lanka a credit line of $15 million in this regard, he said.
The Sri Lankan foreign minister had said that Imran Khan’s visit will help strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation.
Qureshi said Pakistan is standing side by side with Sri Lanka as a partner for the development of human resources, security cooperation, fighting terrorism, development and prosperity.
Pakistan has transformed its geo-political priorities into geo-economic priorities, the FM said, adding that views were exchanged on enhancement of bilateral trade and investment with Sri Lanka.
Visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his joint address to the media with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, said he instructed his delegation to explore the possibility of increasing Sri Lanka’s trade connectivity to the Central Asian region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC) t called by him as a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The Pakistani leader arrived in Sri Lanka to a rousing welcome yesterday. Mr Rajapaksa received him at the airport. Afterwards, the two Prime Ministers, flanked by their delegations, held bilateral talks.
In his remarks after the talks, the Pakistani Prime Minister said, Pakistan is part of China’s BRI. CPEC is one of its flagship projects. It means connectivity. And, I asked my delegation here to find ways and means where we can enhance our trade and connectivity, and through CPEC right up to Central Asia for Sri Lanka. We also discussed other areas where we can enhance our trading ties,”
He asserted that Sri Lanka could benefit from Pakistan’s connectivity to Central Asia.
Our trading ties mean the two countries will get together,” he said.
He started his remarks with reference to his cricketing career and links with Sri Lanka. He said he was not a stranger to Sri Lanka.
I came the first time when I was just out of the university. When you were starting your political career, I was starting my cricketing career,” he told Prime Minister Rajapaksa.
He commented on terrorism that plagued both countries. He said Pakistan was happy that it played its part in helping Sri Lanka overcome terrorism that afflicted the country for 30 years. Also, he said Pakistan suffered from terrorism for ten years and lost 70,000 lives. ()
Sri Lanka has reported 04 more coronavirus-related deaths, the Director-General of Health Services confirmed today (February 24).
As per the Department of Government Information, two male patients and two female patients are among the victims.
The new deaths bring the number of COVID-19 related deaths witnessed in Sri Lanka to 457 in total.
01. The deceased is a 68-year-old female from Boralesgamuwa. She was diagnosed as infected with the Covid-19 virus and transferred from Kothalawala Defense Hospital to Base Hospital Homagama where she died on 24.02.2021. The cause of death is mentioned as blood poisoning shock and acute kidney disease with Covid-19 infection.
02. The deceased is a 69-year-old female from Mount Lavinia. She died on 21.02.2021 on admission to Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The cause of death is mentioned as acute diabetes and Covid-19 infection.
03. The deceased is a 55-year-old male from Kotugoda. He died on 23.02.2021 while undergoing treatments at Colombo North Teaching Hospital. The cause of death is mentioned as Covid-19 pneumonia.
04. The deceased is a 60-year-old male from Wattala. He was transferred from Chest Hospital Welisara to Colombo North Teaching Hospital where he died on 24.02.2021. The cause of death is mentioned as Covid-19 pneumonia and acute heart attack.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena has appealed to all member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to reject any resolutions against Sri Lanka.
He also said it is regrettable that despite the spirit of cooperation with the HRC and its mechanism, elements working against Sri Lanka intend to table another country-specific resolution based on the OHCHR report.
Foreign Affairs Minister’s remarks came during the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) a short while ago. He delivered his speech through video technology.
The 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) commenced yesterday (February 22) in Geneva, Switzerland, and is scheduled to continue until March 23.
Core Group on Sri Lanka – consisting of UK, Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Malawi, and Montenegro – plans to put forward a further resolution at the UNHRC session to promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights in the island nation.
The new resolution comes in line with a recent report published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on human rights, reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.
UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet is due to present the relevant report during the session.
Full statement delivered by the Foreign Affairs Minister is produced below:
Madam President, Madam High Commissioner, Distinguished Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I address you today, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has published a report on Sri Lanka accompanied by an unprecedented propaganda campaign on that report.
Sri Lankan heroic armed forces militarily neutralized the LTTE in 2009 after three-decades of conflict. The Sri Lanka Government acted in self-defense to safeguard the unitary state, sovereignty & territorial integrity from the world’s most ruthless separatist terrorist organization.
The LTTE is the only terrorist organization in the world which has killed two world leaders: a serving President of Sri Lanka and a former Prime Minister of India extending its terror beyond the borders of Sri Lanka.
End of terrorism guaranteed the most cherished of all human rights – right to life of all Sri Lankans – Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslims.
Nonetheless hegemonic forces colluded against Sri Lanka in bringing an unsubstantiated resolution against Sri Lanka which was defeated by the support of friendly nations who remain by Sri Lanka’s side even today. Further resolutions were presented to this Council on purely political motives. In each instance Sri Lanka presented the procedural improprieties, and how such processes could set a dangerous precedent affecting all member states of the United Nations.
The Government which assumed office in Sri Lanka in 2015, in a manner unprecedented in human rights fora, joined as co-sponsors of Resolution 30/1 which was against our own country. It carried a host of commitments that were not deliverable and were not in conformity with the Constitution of Sri Lanka. This led to the compromising of national security to a point of reviving terrorist acts on Easter Sunday 2019 causing the deaths of hundreds.
The rejection of this resolution by the peoples of Sri Lanka was clearly manifested in the mandate received by His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in November 2019. Based on this mandate I announced at the 43rd session of this Council that Sri Lanka would withdraw from co-sponsorship of the resolution. I also stated that Sri Lanka would remain engaged with the UN system including this Council.
We have provided detailed updates to the OHCHR in December 2020 as well as in January 2021 on the progress of implementation of commitments that Sri Lanka had undertaken such as continuity of the existing mechanisms, appointment of a special commission of inquiry headed by a Supreme Court Judge, achieving the SDGs, progress made in returning lands, demining and creating new avenues of livelihoods.
These steps have been taken even as Sri Lanka was battling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for the past one year. In spite of these challenges, we held a free and fair general election in August 2020 and elected a new Government with a two-thirds majority in one of Asia’s oldest Parliamentary democracies.
It is regrettable that despite the spirit of cooperation with the HRC and its mechanisms, elements working against Sri Lanka intend to table another country-specific resolution based on this OHCHR Report. This rejected report by Sri Lanka has unjustifiably broadened its scope and mandate further, incorporating many issues of governance and matters that are essentially domestic in any self-respecting, sovereign country.
I leave it to the members and observers of this Council to make their own judgment on whether Sri Lanka represents a situation that warrants the urgent attention of this Council, or if this campaign is essentially a political move that contravenes the very values and principles on which this Council has been established. Particularly at a time when legislation is enacted by some countries to protect their soldiers from prosecution in military operations carried out overseas, only points to duplicity and the hypocritical nature of their motives. This cannot but result in a significant loss of morale among countries engaged in the struggle against terrorism.
The Council must hold the scales even. Not going by hearsay, unilateral action or one-angled doubtful sources but adhere to its guiding principles. Insistence on such ever-expanding externally driven prescriptions notwithstanding our continuous cooperation and engagement with this Council can pose numerous challenges.
As the Council is aware this is a critical time to the entire world in the last hundred years where we need to be united in our efforts to overcome the Covid19 pandemic and to revive battered economies. I appeal to the members of this Council to take note of our continued engagement and cooperation on its merit and support us by rejecting any resolution against Sri Lanka. We believe that the extent to which the resources and time of this Council has been utilized on Sri Lanka is unwarranted, and carries a discouraging message to the sovereign states of the global South.
The need of the hour, in the face of an unprecedented pandemic, is solidarity rather than rancor and acrimony arising from divisions within this council. In view of the circumstances set out above, we urge that this resolution be rejected by the Council and be brought to closure.
May I conclude quoting the words of Lord Buddha, Siyalu sathwayo niduk wethwa, nirogee wethwa, suwapath wethwa”.
May all beings be safe, May all beings be free from suffering. May all beings be well and happy.
Lt. Col. Lawrence Smith was the US Defense Attache to the US embassy in Colombo during the conflict. Lt. Col. Anthony Gash was the UK Defense Attache to the UK High Commission in Colombo during the conflict. Both were privy to top level information which they passed on to their respective governments. Their info and their observations are to be taken far more seriously than the 3rd& 4thparty LTTE linked data that UNHRC is using against Sri Lanka. The defense attache’s of both governments have effectively quelled 2 of the most serious allegations against Sri Lanka – alleged killing of surrendered and bogus figures of dead. It is the allegation of killing that constitutes the allegation of war crimes against the Sri Lanka Armed Forces fast forwarding resolutions and punitive actions. However, if such crimes were not committed, what is the UNHRC up to? This is what Sri Lanka’s defense team via the foreign ministry must be presenting. Prove your case with facts and not fairytales.
Lt. Col. Lawrence Smith’s comments made at the Sri Lanka Defense Seminar in May 2011 (whether it is his own opinion or that of the US Govt) is irrelevant, as the statement is generated by the documents in his hands while holding the portfolio as US Defense Attache to the US Embassy in Colombo. Thus, his comments clearly negates the white flag surrender fairy tales.
How silly of the US to downplay comments made by its own military attache who is obviously quoting from the same report that he sends to his Govt!
Lt. Col. Anthony Gash (Feb2007-Jun2009)
The UK defense attache Lt. Colonel Anthony Gash’sdespatches from January to May 2009 also demolishes a key allegation of killing 40,000 civilians which is the single basis to declare Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces as war criminals.
His reports were classified by UK Govt as ‘secret’
Sri Lanka must also be grateful to Lord Naseby who is taking a principled stand to fight the truth on facts.
Lord Naseby met Lt. Col. Gash in Colombo in early 2009.
Lord Naseby challenged the classification of Gash’s reports as ‘secret’ via the UK Freedom of Information Act 2000 and spent 3 years doing so.
Lord Naseby was given 39 pages of heavily blackened report.
What was readable clearly proved 40,000 deaths did not take place.
Lord Naseby has been doing what Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister/Secretary and all those tasked to represent and defend Sri Lanka have been too lethargic to do. Digging for ways to prove the false allegations against Sri Lanka was what mattered and Lord Naseby stood to the defense of Truth.
Sri Lanka foolishly co-sponsored the UNHRC Resolution in 2015.
Lord Naseby declared the contents of the despatches to the House of Lords on 12 October 2017.
Had the Government of Sri Lanka tabled Lord Naseby’s painstakingly sought facts, the UNHRC lies would have fallen flat. Then Foreign Minister Marapana admitted in 2019 that the GoSL did not use Lord Naseby’s revelation appropriately. What stops successive Foreign Ministers from doing so?
Lt. Col. Gash’s reports to the UK reveal facts too true to chew.
LTTE was keeping civilians as hostage/human shields
LTTE was controlling NFZ
LTTE was confiscating food and medicines sent for civilians using them for their combatants and families only
SL Armed Forces were carrying out the humanitarian operation with compassion at great security risk
26 April 2009 – Gash dispatch to UK Assessment”
Civilians killed Feb 1-Apr 26 – 6432”
(Gash Despatch quoting UN Country Team)
What is clear is that both the defense attache’s of the US and UK foreign missions in Colombo were pretty certain that no foul play took place.
Thus, it is pathetic for UNHRC to claim so an demand war crimes tribunals and hybrid courts.
So far its been 12years and even with a Missing Persons mechanism set up – the UNHRC cannot produce 40,000 names of the dead or even missing. This showcases what a farce the allegation is.
The sealing of witnesses for 20 years is a super ploy to ensure lies and liars are kept hidden for 20 years after which the damage is done. We can recall how Milosevic was exonerated from war crimes charges 14 years after his death having been put to prison on bogus charges. We do not wish to see the same happening to our war heroes by the same warped minds handling these kangaroo courts in the UN. How many tribunals an Truth Commissions have they held and what is the gain they have secured from these except providing themselves employment!
We have a clear case of bias and hypocrisy at play in Sri Lanka’s conflict. The very nations that supported LTTE are attempting to put Sri Lanka on trial completely ignoring their role in helping terror. They continue to do so by allowing LTTE diaspora to operate in their countries.
When the Tamils living in Sri Lanka wish to move on with life, the LTTE Diaspora and their Western stooges together with India want the opposite.
When even LTTE combatants who have lost their childhood, lost parts of their bodies, lost opportunity to become somebody in life, the LTTE diaspora and their Western stooges together with India want to create more troubles.
It is time the people of Sri Lanka realize the larger picture.
She
has been there for many years, living peacefully in the forest.
And
one day the earth beneath and around her began to shake and tremble, making her
very nervous. Then she saw: the man and his machine, the harbingers of her
ruin.
And
there she stood helplessly immersed in thoughts that were of extreme
bewilderment, which quickly turned to great sadness: how could he? Doesn’t he
or those who command him know that I am amongst the rarest, with only a very
few of my relatives living in some other locations in the country?
May
be he and those, who are above him don’t know or even if they do, would they
care? So the great tree, with such mournful thoughts was getting ready for the
inevitable that would come soon.
Then
she heard the commotion. The roar of the machine abruptly fell silent. And came
the voice ‘No. The tree stays’!
We
all know what followed next, don’t we?
And
that particular ‘Crudia zeylanica’ tree was saved by the intervention of a
valiant lady forest conservator, who was not afraid to face the political
wherewithal, which was made even more lethal by copious amounts of ignorance and stupidity of some
others, who seemed to have no compunction in removing it to accomodate for an
‘express way’. And I wonder, in spite of the efforts of all concerned how long
the tree can survive before the axe comes down, which I sincerely hope will
never happen, a hope against hope.
Some
say that changing the already completed design and the current work already in
progress of the express way, in order to save the tree, might incur few
billions. I am not a civil engineer, yet isn’t it a bit too high? And then how
about the cost of building towers or the size of expenditure spent on building
and maintaining numerous non-revenue-earning white elephants standing all
around the country: products of whims and fancies of both past and present
governors?
Now
we know this wasn’t the first instance, when in a previous occasion too, the
said officer stood her ground, while taking on the political might of another
politician, who in the course of his argument with the officer also threw a
phenomenally absurd and stupid question, (which by the way is not unusual
anyway as far as this nincompoop lot is concerned), at her: ‘what is Oxygen
for, eating?’ And then another from the same ‘Illuminati’ lamented: ‘why talk
to media, all the time?’ Well leaving aside the questionable traits of some of
our media channels, it is still the media or how else he proposes to get the
message across to the public? Is he talking about going back to olden days,
when an old van or a tractor doing rounds in the town or the village, with a
loudspeaker tied to them blaring out music and whatnot?
And
it is also quite disappointing to hear that some people are trying to belittle
what the forest officer has done.
I
wonder whether this attitude/habit has now become a national trait: belittling
and fault-finding instead of admiration and praise, when they are due? Remember
the disparaging remarks made by some belonging to our political elite itself
during the war: ‘Alimankada/Pamankada, Kilinochchiya/Madawachiya and
Thoppigala/Gana kalawak’. So the lesser mortals taking a negative,
unappreciative stance in situations like the one being discussed here, is not
surprising.
Lastly,
and in my opinion, the brave lady forest officer is a ‘David’ fighting the
‘Goliyaths’, who wouldn’t give a tinker’s cuss about the colossal damage, often
irrereparable, is done to the environment in the name of development.
