Popular international video blogger and social media influencer Nuseir Yassin, whom host Nas Daily has posted a video, praising Sri Lankans for looking after tourists who are currently stranded in Sri Lanka due to the Covid-19.
Its an undeniable fact that all the religions on this earth claim to be from GOD. Hazrat Muhammad(PBUH), Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Buddha, Baba Nanak and every religious leader taught people to believe and worship GOD.
Although all religions have slight differences in the attributes they ascribe to God, but all the religions hold the common view that there is a God who has created this universe.
History tells us that even those ancient religions that no longer exist in this world, they also held the view of God, whether they were in ancient America, or in jungles of Africa or in England, or in Java or Sumatra, or in Japan and China or in Siberia or in India.
It is an important point that what’s the reason for this thought-provoking unity among so varied religions? In ancient times people were not linked together through any means of communication or transport, then how is it possible that people living in isolation thousands of miles away from each other, held the common view about the existence of God? Many of the lands were even not discovered at that time.
Even now it is difficult for two persons to completely agree on any issue, then how come this universal unanimity regarding the existence of God? All these facts lead us to the only possible conclusion that not only there is a living God but also that God has always manifested Himself through some means to his men to make them believe in Him.
Historians agree that if there is such universal unanimity about any issue then there is no reason to disagree with it. Another fact worth noting is that there have been a small number of atheists all the time, this proves that the ‘existence of God’ is not related to any psychological need of human beings. In this world, one can lead one’s life without acknowledging the existence of God, though he will be attempting to close his eyes to the very obvious and clear truth.
The Supreme Court, yesterday, fixed Sept 2, 3, and 4 for argument as regards the 12 petitions filed against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando for their failure to take action to prevent the Easter Sunday bomb attacks despite repeated advance intelligence warnings.
The Supreme Court granted further time till June 16 for former President Sirisena and former Prime Minister Wickremasinghe to file objections against the fundamental rights violation petitions filed over the Easter Sunday attacks.
The dates were fixed when twelve fundamental Rrights violation petitions came up before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice S. Thurairaja and Justice Gamini Amarasekara.
President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha with Counsel Pulasthi Rupasinghe appearing for former President Sirisena informed court that some parties were yet to serve notices on their client.
Taking into consideration the facts, the Supreme Court three-judge-bench ordered that notices be served on the respondents, before May 22.
The petitions are to be mentioned on May 27 to ascertain whether the relevant papers were served on the parties. The respondent parties were directed to file their objections before June 16 and petitioners were directed to file their counter objections before July 16.
Twelve petitions were fixed for argument on September 2, 3 and 4.
The court ordered the Attorney general and other parties to make written submissions in this regard before July 30.
Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena has conveyed his deep appreciation to the Cuban Government for the support extended through the dispatch of a Cuban medical team to the Republic of Haiti to attend to the medical needs of Sri Lankans employed in Haiti.
The Foreign Minister conveyed these sentiments during a meeting with the Cuban Ambassador in Sri Lanka Juana Elena Ramos Rodriguez on Tuesday (12 May) at the Foreign Ministry.
The five-member medical team was dispatched by the Cuban authorities on the express request of the Sri Lankan Government to support the over-100 apparel sector employees in Haiti.
The medical team which arrived in Haiti on 7 May, advised the Sri Lankan employees on best practices to be adopted for the prevention of COVID-19 spread, regular health screening, and primary care for those in need.
In this regard, Minister Gunawardena once again conveyed his gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla through the Cuban envoy in Colombo, the Ministry of Foreign Relations said in a statement.
The Foreign Minister also discussed COVID-19 containment measures adopted by Sri Lanka and Cuba, assistance sought by the Sri Lankan Government in obtaining diagnostic medical items from the Cuban Government to contain the virus, as well as future strategies for economic cooperation.
Ambassador Rodriguez commended the Sri Lankan Government for the successful COVID-19 containment measures implemented through timely and centralized action, making use of the effective health system prevalent in the country.”
The Cuban Ambassador updated the Foreign Minister on developments in Cuba and the Caribbean region, activities of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and connectivity between Cuba and the European and Asian regions.
The discussion also focused on existing cooperation between Sri Lanka and Cuba in the bilateral and multilateral spheres on issues of relevance, the release said.
It is reported that no decision was taken during the meeting by the Election Commission held today whether to postpone the General Election.
A senior commission officials stated that June 20thwould remain as the day for the General election.
Meanwhile, the election commission has decided not to allocate preferential numbers to the candidates at this moment.
The senior officer stated that the gazette which was tabled before the commission in this regard was not considered today.
The Election Commission was presided by its chairman Mahinda Desphapriya at his office today.
In addition, the secretaries of political parties with coalitions and the election commission met this afternoon for a discussion on June 20<sup>th</sup> election.
At the same time, the Supreme Court decided to consider the fundamental petition filed by Charitha Gunarathna against holding the election on June 20<sup>th</sup>.
The petitioner requested the top court to declare the relevant gazette of the election null and void as it is contravened to the Constitution.
However, the supreme court decided yesterday to consider the petition on the 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> of this month.
Later, an individual filed his petition requesting the court to declare the previous petition null and void.
The Coast Conservation Department today took action against the forcible acquisition of lands in the coastal belt surrounding the ‘Muhudu Maha Viharaya’ following the revelations through the Hiru CIA program.
Accordingly, the unlawful barbed wire fences were removed.
Muhudu Maha Viharaya which is situated in Pottuvil, in the Eastern Province, is a valuable archaeological site with a Buddhist heritage that has long been the subject to forcible acquisitions by illegal land grabbers.
Hiru CIA has exposed these illegal land plunder on several occasions and the invasions continued and unlawful fences were erected during the curfew imposed to control the spread of covid 19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse’s attention was drawn to the CIA revelations and the Prime Minister had called on Minister S.M. Chandrasiri to look into the matter.
The Coast Conservation Department officials accompanied the Minister on inspection and confirmed the revelations of the Hiru CIA program.
Coast Conservation Officers have been advised the people to remove the unauthorized barbed wire poles.
However, the wire fences had not removed.
Accordingly, the Coast Conservation Department officials today removed the barbed wire fences that had been erected in the area.
Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila states that the Opposition is calling for the reconvening of the Parliament with the intention of uniting the UNP.
He also expressed his views regarding the statement made by former Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday.
A petition has been filed requesting the Supreme Court to issue a Writ by annulling the nominations of Samagi Jana Balavegaya for the General election.
The petition has been filed by a UNP candidate who expects to contest from the Colombo District.
The petitioner states that Samagi Jana Balavegaya is formed based on Ape Jathika Peramuna and Ape Jathika Peramuna has not given its approval to appoint Ranjith Madduma Bandara as General Secretary of Samagi Jana Balavegaya at that time.
The petitioner also pointed out therefore the nominations handed over under the signature of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya General Secretary is not legally valid.
Our correspondent stated that the petitioner, therefore, requested the top court to issue a Writ order to the Election Commission to annul the nominations of Samagi Jana Balavegaya.
The election Commission, Samagi Jana Balavegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Ape Jathika Peramuna president, Senaka Silva and its Secretary Diana Gamage have been named as the respondents.
Our correspondent also stated that the petitioner has filed a motion today and requested the top court to consider his petition on May 18, 22 and 28th.
The Mahanayakes blessed High Commissioner-designate Gopal Baglay for a happy and fruitful tenure here
Colombo, May 11 (newsin.asia): The High Commissioner-designate of India in Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on Monday offered prayers to Lord Buddha through a video call each to the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Nikaya and the Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thero of Malwatte Nikaya.
The High Commissioner-designate prayed for the health, happiness, peace and prosperity of the people of Sri Lanka and India.
He also stressed that Buddhism is one of the strongest pillars connecting the two nations and civilizations from the time when the Great Indian Emperor Ashoka sent his children Arahat Mahinda and Theri Sangamitta to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha at the request of King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka.
The High Commissioner-designate sought Lord Buddha’s blessings in further strengthening the multifaceted ties between the two friendly maritime neighbors.
The Most Venerable Mahanayake and the Most Venerable Anunayake welcomed the High Commissioner-designate to Sri Lanka and blessed him for a happy and fruitful tenure here.
The High Commissioner-designate had arrived in Sri Lanka on 08 May 2020 during the auspicious week of Vesak onboard a special aircraft carrying the fourth gift consignment of essential medicines and medical items weighing 12.5 tonnes from India to Sri Lanka.
Restart Lanka” campaign will aim at getting Sri Lanka to seize the new opportunities.
Colombo, May 11 (newsin.asia): After 52 days of economic uncertainty as businesses and shops remained closed due to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak, Sri Lanka re-opened for business on Monday, much to the relief of the public.
With COVID-19 now well contained by the medical personnel and authorities, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the greenlight for economic activities to resume lifting the nation wide curfew which lasted more than a month.
While curfew still remains in place in Colombo and Gampaha, it was indeed a positive sight to see Colombo slowly breath back to life as employees from the public and private sector left their homes for their workplaces. What was even more encouraging was how health guidelines were maintained by all citizens which are meant to support the battle to eventually eliminate the spread of the coronavirus which has so far infected over 850 people out of which over 300 have recovered. The 9 lives we lost in the COVID-19 battle will not be forgotten.
While Sri Lanka now recovers from this war against the coronavirus, on Monday, a national campaign to get Sri Lanka’s economy back on track’ – ‘Restart Sri Lanka’ – was launched to provide the impetus for Sri Lankan businesses to reinvigorate the economy and to create that optimism to move forward and support the corporates and small and medium enterprises.
The project, which is a nation wide campaign, was launched under the auspices of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and by the national body of marketing in Sri Lanka – The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing. Today, I am proud to say that I too am part of this campaign which will bring tangible benefits for our economy as well as provide vital help for businesses to move forward.
Sri Lanka is a resilient nation and has never lost to any battle. From the 30 year conflict, to last year’s Easter Sunday terror attacks, Sri Lanka’s economy always bounced back in full vigor so much so that we are presently a hot spot for investments as well as one of the leading destinations for tourism.
Today, as we resume amidst the COVID-19 war, this will once again not stop our businesses from achieving greater heights as well as put Sri Lanka back on the global trading/investment hub.
This battle against the COVID-19 tested us all and within these days while we remained indoors, we saw our true potential. Sri Lanka can today proudly say that while we faced the virus, we produced most of the essential products locally such as top quality facial masks, PPEs, scrubs and even ventilators. We created our own disinfectant chambers, sanitizers, tested our ayurvedic medicines to boost the immune systems as well as began our own research on the virus.
Furthermore, people grew more closer to nature and began valuing the importance of food which eventually led them to grow food in their own homes and the Home Garden Challenge which I initiated in March has today spread all over the country. Today, with the unity and hard work of all, Sri Lanka successfully has prevented a community transmission of the virus and has contained it within identified clusters only. The virus never broke our strength.
Today, as countries begin to ease restrictions, the export market will eventually open up. But things will change in the post COVID-19 world. Demands will be different. Product necessities will be different. Tourism sector will change. And for that we have to be prepared.
Sri Lanka’s advantage is that we have already realized our potential and can supply to these new demands in the global market. Our diplomatic missions world over have already begun studying the product demands in the global market so Sri Lanka can have the advantage of entering the market early with locally made products.
Businesses have also started studying the import market and what will best suit the Sri Lankan market in the post COVID-19 world.
Sri Lanka has a long road ahead to reach its full potential again, but it is a road we have been on before following the end of the war and the Easter terror attacks. If we did it then, we can well do it now and this time around, the entire world is on the same journey as us.
With the ‘Restart Sri Lanka’ campaign, the road to success will be only easier. As businesses begin today, I wish you all the best of luck but urge you all to maintain health guidelines and remain safe.
A raid conducted by CID sleuths, investigating into last year’s Easter Sunday carnage, has yielded evidence which would certainly solve hitherto unknown mysteries and enable arrests of key politicians behind the terror attacks which killed 269 persons and injured over 450 others, according to highly placed sources.
The new evidence had been unearthed after a raid by the CID, at a training centre, at Karbala Road, in Palamune, Kattankudy, last week. The training centre had been run, for women, by the terrorist leader Mohamed Zahran Hashim, who led the Easter Sunday suicide bombings.
The CID officers have uncovered the information on the location of the women’s training centre during the interrogation of a suspect, arrested in connection with the vandalism of Buddhist statues, in Mawanella.
Later, the CID officers were able to go with the suspect to the Karbala area of Kattankudy and search a hotel, called Ziyad Garden. Subsequently, the police commandos inspected its rooms and the hotel compound.
The CID officers questioned the owner of the hotel and the previous owner of the land and recorded their statements.
Investigations have revealed that the wives of the suicide bombers, who were killed in the series of bombings, on churches and hotels, on April 21, last year, had participated in lectures conducted by the National Towheed Jammath leader, and the suicide bomber Zahran, at the site..
A senior police officer said that a woman who had attended the lectures, at the Karbala Road training centre, had been identified and she would be taken into custody soon. “Several politicians, who had channeled funds and provided assistance and facilities to the NTJ, would be taken in. The investigators will not give consideration to the post or status of the suspects. There will be arrests of key persons who managed to evade the law.”
Eleven CID teams are conducting further investigations.
One such team, on Saturday, arrested a Hajjiyar who had given a land, in Trincomalee, to NJT, to conduct firearms training to Muslim youth.
It has been revealed that five youth, from Mawanella, have been given firearms training, in 2017, in the land given by the suspect, by the name of Mohamed Hanifa Haja Mohamed. He had also pro vided a T-56 assault rifle for the training. The suspect had served as an informant for military intelligence units during the war and was later involved in politics. He was arrested from Thoppur. He has a house in Mawanella.
CID sources said that the land at Thoppur was used as a livestock farm and a person, identified as Sadiq, who is a key disciple of the suicide bomber and NTJ leader Zahran, had given weapons training to the youth in that farm.
Investigations have ascertained that Sadiq, one of the main suspects in damaging Buddha statues, at Mawanella, had been to Syria and received training from ISIS. Upon his return from Syria, he had run the training camp, at Thoppur, on the instructions of Zahran. He had told the Mawanella youths about his terrorist activities in Syria and was preparing to launch a second series of attacks after the Easter Sunday carnage last year, CID sources said.
The Defence Ministry has urged the public to be aware of an ongoing scam using a mobile-based digital e-wallet cash transfer system and ransom by threatening individuals.
It has been revealed that an organized group is operating a mobile-based cash transfer scam to take ransom by urging them to pay money to take their names out from some on-going criminal investigations, stated the ministry.
This was brought to the attention of Defence Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne by the Police at a recent meeting held with top defense officials at the ministry.
According to Police, the fraudsters had called individuals, threatening and demanding them to pay between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 using mobile cash transfer systems.
We are investigating such incidents which tantamount to ransom using mobile cash transferring systems but people have to be more mindful about these scams,” the Defence Secretary said.
He said some individuals had been urged to pay Rs. 25,000 to fraudsters using a mobile digital cash transfer system to get their names out from the on-going inquiry on the Easter Sunday attack.
Separately, Major General Gunaratne has also instructed the Police to investigate such scams operating from prison cells to get ransom from family members of suspects in remand prison by impersonating as police and making them pay hefty amounts using the same mobile cash transferring systems.
The Defence Ministry requests the public to complain to the nearest police station or contact 119 if they have been approached by such fraudsters.
The Defence Secretary said the Ministry would take stern legal action against those fraudsters and also those who have links to this scam.
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa emphasized the need to work with relentless courage to eradicate the coronavirus while keeping people’s lives and economy active.
The President pointed out that the economic activity in the country has resumed and that we don’t need a famine to follow the Covid-19 pandemic.
The President made these comments while participating at a discussion held with the Presidential Task Force for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, this afternoon.
The President has also stressed the importance of conducting random tests in where people gather such buses, three-wheelers and construction sites as well as crowded areas such as the Manning Market.
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also pointed out the need to continue investigations to determine the reason for such a large number of covid-19 positive persons from the navy and from Keselwatta.
The Sri Lanka Poduajana Peramuna states that the cases against politicians who have robbed billions of national resources should be investigated immediately.
They made this statement when they came to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, today to inquire into the current status of the top ten complaints filed with the Commission.
Members of the Sri Lanka Poduajana Peramuna came to the Bribery and Corruption Commission this morning to look into the complaints made against former ministers and officials of the Yahapalana government.
The MPs who came out of the commission said that although it has been almost four years now, they are not satisfied with the report submitted by the commission, regarding the progress of the complaints
We received a news story about a Public Health Inspector who used the money he had for his wedding and distributed dry rations to the people in the area.
The relevant report is from the Padavi Sri Pura area
Prof. Savitri Goonesekere, Dr. Usvatte-Aratchi and Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare of the Friday Forum have come out with another one of their usual sermons composed purportedly to guide the people trapped in Covid19 pandemic. Prof. Savitri Goonesekera and her two ideological clones front up claiming that they are not alone but have the backing of their fellow-travellers — just to impress that there are some heavyweights behind them. That apart, in these critical times we should welcome this sermon of public intellectuals as a beacon of light thrown into the surrounding darkness. But, unfortunately, they seem to be more confused than the populace looking for a way out, putting in doubt their capacity to even find the difference between the Corona virus and Toyota Corona.
These intellectuals begin by commending all those engaged in
fighting the invisible enemy – from the President down to the public health
system at all levels. They even venture to say that in this crisis the state’s
dedication and commitment has placed us in a much better (position) than in
some developed countries.”
Then they abandon the Covid19 pandemic which has gripped the
whole world and – hey presto! — switch to local politics which has nothing to
do with the critical issues related to viruses and the people, their central
theme. Of the sixteen paragraphs on their sermon on VIRUSES AND THE PEOPLE only
the opening para deals with the pandemic. The rest is focused on fear-mongering
to promote their usual anti-national political agenda.
These intellectuals of the Friday Forum know that in this crisis
thousands are dying daily without a cure. And the figure is likely to rise to
millions if a cure is not found soon. Scientists say that a more contagious
mutant of coronavirus strain has been sweeping Europe and the US. (Sky News).
But they say that what is of special importance to all
citizens” is, (1) threats to democracy, (2) tendency to authoritarianism, (3)
violating rule of law, (4) failure to complete the rewriting of the
Constitution to redefine democracy as a government not of the majority and (5)
generally to keep the Sinhala-Buddhist majority tied to the cart that gives the
minority a free ride.
According to the three leading persons and their fellow members
the issue facing the nation is not Covid19. It has been taken care of
effectively by the committed and dedicated State run by the Rajapaksas, they
say. According to them the issue is the politics of the Rajapaksas.
They don’t say so openly but the subtext refers to the politics
of the Rajapaksas who won a mandate, against all odds, with the backing of the
majority who happens to be the Sinhala-Buddhists.
Now their worry is that the Rajapaksas might win a huge
majority (a 2/3)” in the coming parliamentary election, whenever it is held. So
they shift the focus of their sermon away from the critical Covid19 and direct
it to target their anti-Rajapaksa, anti-majority political agenda.
They say that what is of importance to all citizens”, inter
alia, is a government elected with a huge majority (a 2/3) (which) can soon
transform itself into an authoritarian regime, in the name of the People”!
Ringing their alarm bells, they cry out loud: This is not a time to reject
democracy and replace it with authoritarianism in the name of strong
leadership.”
Imagine the three leading personalities walking into a hospital
ward full of Covid 19 victims and announcing that the crisis facing them is not
finding a vaccine asap but rewriting the Constitution to cut down the legal/
constitutional status of the majority until it is brought down to the level of
a minority – i.e., to make the minority the majority — and also to prevent the
creation of a government elected with a huge majority (a 2/3).” They are
joined by another fear-monger from the Peradeniya University. Quite
appropriately, he calls himself ANI Eka-nayake – a name which translated
loosely can mean one-man ruler. Obviously, these people stuck in enforced
boredom have nothing better to do than to stoke fears of Gotabaya becoming an
Eka-nayake”.
As against this group in academia and NGOs the compassionate
world is rallying behind the collective endeavours to save the world from a
virus that is threatening to rain chaos on civilisation.
This is indeed a crisis that must be viewed from a global
context and just not within the local parameters. Bill Gates who was the first
to warn in 2015 the coming of the next virus (to that of Ebola) is pouring
billions into finding a cure. Nearly a hundred laboratories the world over are
labouring round the clock to combat the invisible enemy overcrowding
cemeteries.
Donald Trump the Commander-in-Chief of the world’s mightiest
military power, is helpless in preventing a miniscule microbe entering his
domain. Some of the scientists are doubtful whether they can find an answer
within the next 18 months, though there are heart-warming snippets of news
saying that they are on the verge of breaking through. Some analysts predict
that millions would die, perhaps with the coming of a second wave.
And what is the response of this group to this pandemic which is
threatening to explode into Biblical proportions? They are using this deadly
virus to push their anti-national political agenda as if that is the most
urgent need to save our part of the world. Prof. Savithri Goonesekere should be
ashamed to lend her name to such a partisan and heartless propaganda campaign
that has no relevance to the pandemic. She has a reputation to protect,
particularly that of her respected husband.
When she goes down this track of exploiting the agony and the
suffering of our people to make them believe that the most important thing at
this moment is to fall in line with the failed agenda of this group of
intellectuals, she declares openly that she is in the bandwagon of divisive and
corrosive politics that will reignite destructive minoritarianism – a force
that has been the bane of the nation in the post-independent period.
With time hanging on their hands in these boring days the other
two have also exposed their utter indifference to the most critical threat to
our lives. One does not have to be in the professoriate to know that when a man
is shot with an arrow the others around him do not have to rewrite
constitutions to find solutions.
Elementary intelligence would have informed them that the first
thing to do is to pull the arrow out and apply the first available remedy. UN’s
World Food Program (WFP) is predicting the escalation of food starvation from
135 million to double that (245) as a consequence of the pandemic.
As of now we do not know how the food supply chain will hold out
if the mechanism breaks down globally and more importantly in our neck of the
woods.
And all what these people can think of is rewriting the
Constitution and other issues totally irrelevant to the crisis facing humanity.
Their political cynicism reveals only their inability to rise from the depths
of their moral depravity.
According to the three the future lies in reversing the mandate
given to Gotabaya. This means also preventing Mahinda Rajapaksa getting a
majority in the coming parliamentary elections. Their perennial political
ambition has been to whittle down the powers of the majority and their
representatives until the minority is enthroned as the majority. Right now they
are frustrated because decades of anti-Sinhala-Buddhist propaganda have been
rejected by the electorate giving a mandate to the Rajapaksas to redress the
imbalances of history.
So they pick up any stick that comes to hand to beat the
Rajapaksas and the majority. Now they have picked up the Covid19 to shift the
focus of their sermon to the politics of the majority and the Rajapaksas
without naming names.
Hinting at the grand sweep of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ride to power
– and also the possible chance of winning a Parliamentary majority – they say:
World history as well as the post independence history of Sri Lanka shows how
a government elected with a huge majority (a 2/3) can soon transform itself
into an authoritarian regime, in the name of the People”.” They also
sermonise, with another Jeremiah: Critical issues of democratic and
accountable governance must be discussed in public and private fora, and
continue to engage our attention.”
What has all this got to do with their theme titled, VIRUSES AND
THE PEOPLE? None of the issues listed by them has any relevance to the
immediate existential needs of the people. Coronavirus is challenging on an
unprecedented scale the values on which the global society is based. The most
urgent question is, when will normalcy return.
And when it returns what will the new normalcy look like? If the
virus drags on will social distancing change future human relationships? Can
technology take the place of absent human beings? Can a new supply chain be
developed and maintained to bring food to the table? Can an all-purpose antidote
be developed in laboratories to prevent the spread of future viruses which may
be deadlier than Covid19?
Will a second wave sweep the globe like a tsunami killing more
people? Can the interconnected global market survive the overwhelming backlash
from the pandemic? What shape and form will the future schools and universities
take? What new instrumentalities and strategies must the global community and
states organise to combat future viruses which could turn more virulent? What
preparations must be put in place to meet the challenges of the inevitable
viral crises that are bound to break out in the future?
This pandemic has thrown mankind off balance. The new challenges
are humongous and numerous. Instead of going after the big issues our lumpen
intellectuals pick on their two bete noirs – the majority consisting mainly of
the Sinhala-Buddhists and the Rajapaksas.
Their obsession with the majority and the Rajapaksas who
represent them is incurable. They will turn each new crisis and twist it, as
they have done in the past, to project the majority as the evil force that is
causing all the problems to the minorities. It is, of course, common knowledge
that the coronavirus is a leveller: it does not differentiate between the
minority and majority.
But our local egg heads – or is it bone heads? – have run to the
conclusion that it is not coronavirus that must be dealt with urgently before
it gets out of hand but the Sinhala-Buddhist majority and the Rajapaksas who
are on the verge of transforming itself into an authoritarian regime.”
They are politicising the virus to raise fears about (1) the
majority (Sinhala-Buddhists) and (2) authoritarianism (Rajapaksas) – both of
which, according to them, are waiting to take over the nation at the opportune
moment.
Let me reemphasize their hidden agenda circulating in their
warped political imagination. They say: This is not a time to reject democracy
and replace it with authoritarianism in the name of strong leadership.” Here
they project the fear of some hidden force/s waiting to reject democracy and
replace it with a dictatorship. There is no evidence for this statement. This
is their imagined fear.
They are totally irresponsible – nay, idiotic! – when they make
sweeping statements without having evidence to substantiate it. Which serious –
I repeat, serious, not stray — political platform has come out saying that
they want to reject democracy and replace it with authoritarianism? When in the
first flush of victory at Nandikadal the fringe freaks floated the idea of making
Mahinda Rajapaksa a king”, the notion was cut down instantly by the late S. L.
Gunasekera and the nation as a whole, including the Rajapaksas who pooh-poohed
it.
Subsequent attempts to extend the life of the presidency too
failed. An irreversible and concretised sense of democracy has prevailed since
independence. This reality is known to the Three who state:
The response to the Covid19 pandemic has shown us very clearly
that effective political leadership can be given, especially in a time of
national crisis, when it is combined with space for the contribution of
relevant stakeholders in making decisions.”
If, as they say, an effective political leadership can be given
in times of crisis ” in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in making
decisions” why must the Rajapaksa leadership reject democracy and replace it
with a dictatorship”? Do they know what they are talking about? They can’t make
one statement in one place without contradicting another.
These are sophomoronic academics who can’t write a credible
paper to get an ordinary pass in the kindergarten. On second thoughts, after
cogitating over the priorities listed by them I think there is a possibility of
my agreeing to change the Constitution provided the first clause is written to
guarantee the prevention of the professoriate being inundated with idiots.
Take, for instance, the example of the Rajapaksas fighting,
almost single-handed, the most bitter war that raged for 33 years (from May
1976 when the Tamil declared war against the Sinhala state” to Nandikadal in
May 2009) within a democratic framework , however defective it may have been.
If there was one excuse for the Rajapaksas to take over dictatorial powers it
was the Vadukoddai War declared by the Tamil leadership against the
democratically elected state.
The issues pressing the Rajapaksa brothers were far more
daunting than the current threats to the nation. They had to fight not only a
Tamil Pol Pot at home but also an international front backed by some of the Big
Brothers who descended with the sole intent of twisting the arm of the two
brothers. But they didn’t. That knocks off ten points of Ekanayake whose
perverse political imagination can only concoct images of Gotabaya riding in
Hitler’s boots.
The majority, to their everlasting credit, fought the most
brutal war waged by a minority within parliamentary parameters, giving
protection even to the TNA (Terrorist Nominated Agents).
Besides, who has heard anyone of them, including Ekanayake in
academia, demanding that the Vadukoddai War fought from the Tamil end should
conform, at least in a minimalist way, to democratic norms.
On the contrary, they were all rallying round the Tamil Pol Pot
and urging the international community and the GOSL to strengthen his powers. I
can’t remember any one of them demanding the dismantling of Tamil tyranny as
the first step to restore peace, security and stability and reconciliation.
Advancing bogus theories they were arguing the need to consolidate Tamil
tyranny in order fight their bogeyman, the Sinhalese.
Their actions have made it to mean prostituting democratic
values to consolidate and legitimise minoritarian brutalities and fascism.
Sri Lanka is placed one among five countries successfully dealing with COVID-19 crisis, in a world, that as of 11 May 2020 has 4.1million COVID-19 cases, 283,868 deaths & just 1,493,401 recoveries. Sri Lanka has only 533 active cases and just 9 deaths. The commendation for this success goes to the Sri Lankan President and his Team comprising the health officials, the Armed Forces & Police, dedicated team of public officials and the phenomenal service being given by the country’s intelligence services.. Key appointments have been made based on suitability and considering their track record. Appointments have not been made to suit the whims of some NGOs or tabloids 24×7 tirelessly engaged in a smear campaign regarding Sri Lanka’s efforts. The appointment of Maj. General Sanjeewa Munasinghe no doubt will produce another foreign funded report on the usual theme of ‘militarizing governance’.
Paid to look into the human
rights of South Africans, the EU doesn’t seem interested to question how Sooka
can plug another entity to that NGO and have this new entity on a witch hunt
against Sri Lanka 24×7. How many reports has she produced about the plight of
South Africans in South Africa against the annual reports produced against Sri
Lanka?
Sri Lanka, a sovereign country,
cannot make a single appointment without her unit producing report after report
sensationalizing issues.
So before she starts churning
another report, let us produce some facts.
The GoSL has appointed Maj.
General Sanjeewa Munasinghe as Secretary of the Ministry of Health. He is not
just a military person. He functioned as the Director General of Army Medical
Services and was former Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps. He passed
out from the Faculty of Medicine – University of Ruhuna and underwent training
at the Sri Lanka Military Academy before being attached to the Sri Lanka Army
Medical Corps. He was the first Director General Army Health Services in 2014.
He may be a military person but he has an impeccable medical history record
that is suited for the role he has been appointed to. With the health services
coordinating with the Armed Forces, the synergy will no doubt work.
With regime change in 2015, a
plethora of NGO bigwigs were appointed to various state apparatus roles and 4
years on, they have produced absolutely ZERO results. Using mumbo jumbo terms
like reconciliation, peaceful coexistence and what not – all their work only
produced 21/4 and the possibility of more Zaharans on the loose.
So Sooka and the report makers are
reminded to not throw stones from glass houses.
Who are these foreign-govt funded
NGOs to decide the most suitable person for Sri Lanka’s requirement? If
suitability is the question, EU should seriously assess what their selected
Executive Director has done for South Africa and what she has done against Sri
Lanka.
What really is her job role?
Sri Lanka has enough of issues to
deal with.
These Report-Churning-Zaharan’s”
are simply out to fish in troubled waters.
Cannot wait to read her next
report on this appointment though!
Maybe similar appointments should be made on a regular basis to keep her team preoccupied!
And by the way he is also Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe besides being a Maj. Gen.
The multicultural concept was nothing but a political ploy first introduced to demonize the majority, denationalize the people and create a system that minorities could rule over the majority, their heritage and history had no place and majority had to give into minority whims and fancies. In the West, the experiment proved a great failure and resulted in a wave of killings and increase in hate speech and racism which eventually resulted in not placing blame upon those whose actions were causing the reactions. It was what primarily led to Brexit with the traditional British wanting their Britain back. In Sri Lanka, with regime change, the majority was demonized and cornered and the minorities were made to believe they ruled the show. This eventually led to entire state apparatus and systems made vulnerable leaving a time bomb for a showdown of the kind that unfolded on Easter Sunday.
Appeasing policy doomsday failure
Every time a nation has adopted a policy of appeasement in a global environment of vultures and predators, nations are bound to see catastrophic results.
History repeats unless lessons are learnt
Historical facts may be unsavory to those that have bloodied histories that adherents do not wish to be reminded. But, if we do not learn from them we are likely to be the next victims. Both Abrahamic religions have a history of conquest, conversion and mass murder of those that do not submit. Religious texts are full of division encouraging these adherents to slay the non-believers. Whatever present day adherents say or claim we are quoting out of context, it is using these terms and phrases that mischief makers use to manipulate weak people and turn them against non-believers. These are realities and truths that cannot be swept under the carpet because it is disagreeable to some. It is these unchecked and unmonitored movements that resulted in what we saw on 21st April 2019. Even with advance warnings, no action was taken and it simply showed the level to which the rulers and their coterie had been euthanized.
We only later came to know that the perpetrators were not only rich, from good homes and had been educated overseas but the units that had been shadowing extremism had also been closed down. This clearly links the role of Sri Lanka’s enemies in using the subject in question as cannon fodder for their global agendas. Elsewhere these entities are the ready-made suicide bombers praying before killing and going to kill even their own. The West has mastered the art of manipulating them through their religion and use them to kill several birds using one brainwashed religious fanatic. Historically, the West is doing what their ancient rulers did and likewise the other party is also responsible for a wave of crimes too. India has none of its ancient ruins today as a result of their conquest. The oldest university in the world with ancient books were burnt to cinders and for months the skies were black. The once Buddhist nations from Persia to Indonesia were all lost to the sword. No one can brush aside the existential fears of Buddhists who have examples of the past and the methodology used to showcase why they fear. Present day incursions may not be identical but the eventual result is the same. Sripada/Samanala Kanda has become a multicultural site and without amicably sharing subtle maneuvers are at play to overtake and claim exclusive ownership. This is the fear the majority Buddhists have and it is not an unfounded fear. The example of Maldives will show how its Buddhist history before 12th century has been officially expunged and every effort is made to destroy every Buddhist ruin unearthed in Maldives. The attack on the Maldives museum to destroy Buddhist heritage is nothing anyone can deny.
We are therefore puzzled at the motive of Zaharan’s handlers. That Zaharan committed suicide showcases he was no leader but who are the one’s calling the shots? What are their plans. The discoveries of orphanages indoctrinating children, females being brainwashed ring alarm bells. New Zaharan’s cannot be allowed.
Actions against this type of murderous extremism cannot be shouted down and silenced by flagging slogans like hate speech and racism against people’s right to question. No one wants to end up like the victims of Easter Sunday. If hate speech and racism is the issue what should be ideally done is to expunge the references from the religious texts that people manipulate to kill. So long as these phrases remain inside religious texts there will always be Zaharans. Let us not forget, the Easter Sunday mass murders took place after praying for success of their mission. China is taking action against any religions that have hate lines in their religious texts.
Hiding behind international slogans
Multiculturalism which is anti-majority and assimilation requiring only majority to follow minority demands is set to doom and fail and is reason for failure. Every wrong action of minorities are defended at international levels and the modus operandi is set up for them to go crying to the international representative handling minority affairs who automatically delivers the gavel of guilt on the majority. There are no international representatives to listen to the grievances of the majority.
At the ground level there are media, human rights entities and social media platform and players employed and kept ready to attack anyone in the majority accusing them and ridiculing them and name calling them racists, fundamentalists and what not. They even have a system set up to report and bloc them and sites that claim their versions as false or fake news. Who is to just fake and false news! The demonizing of the majority is a very well structured and financed international game plan. What is the proportionality? People questioning or probing are calling racist and hate speech but those they question end up committing mass murder and that is fine! And the easiest get away is to shout ‘islamophobia’ and hope that sweeps everything under the carpet. That was how Zaharan and lot was able to escape radar.
Going forward
Sri Lanka’s leaders cannot forget that Sri Lanka is prey to geopolitical maneuvers on account of its geopolitical positioning and as Sri Lanka’s location is of vital interest to both our enemies and friends. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka is caught in a quagmire. Balancing our friends and enemies will always pose a challenge and has its ups and downs. In such a scenario it is important that Sri Lanka has a policy to use as shield. That Mrs. B mastered to perfection. She remains a cherished leader by both Western and Eastern leaders for her straight talk & actions
Righteous Rule: One Country One EQUAL Law
Where steadfast and rule of law has been made clear to all, people have abided so long as the law applied to all without favor. This is what needs to return to practice.
Article 12 says Everyone is EQUAL before the Law” – this means the marriage law has to be the same for all communities. There cannot be a parallel legal system oft times challenging the Country law and demanding prominence over National Law.
We need an assertive Sinhala majority leader who would lead because only when the majority is protected the majority protects the minority. No minorities have protected the majority and in towns where the minorities are the majority it is their rule and law that prevails. We can give enough of examples of how outcast the majority are made to feel. But among the majority the minorities are always embraced and accepted. Let it be reminded that 20% of minorities cannot be rich if the majority are discriminating against them Enough of examples can showcase how the minorities rule in businesses and other areas. One minority community which is the richest in Sri Lanka have never voiced any issue about being discriminated but they are a few thousand but they are also the richest in Sri Lanka. How is that possible if the majority was discriminating the minorities? This bogus discrimination tagline and slogan is only for job opportunities for some while for the international players it is a good excuse to bully and politically pressure a government into giving them room to interfere. When those who cry and call for international interventions do so because they see personal opportunities for themselves and do not think about the implications to the country, these are the parties we naturally consider as enemies of the nation because they are helping destabilize the nation and rewriting a false script on behalf of their foreign paymasters. Take a good look at those petitioning against the country using various reasons. The name list is virtually the same and gets repeated with every petition. They are the pen-Zaharans of Sri Lanka.
It is for this reason that Sri Lanka must vote in a strong Parliament. We cannot afford to have weaklings and appeasing MPs in Parliament.
We must have straight talk. Rule of Law that is applicable to all. No special laws and certainly no lobbying to change rules simply because it comes with bribes of funding which is the biggest nuisance in curbing rule of law. The very parties that cry about discrimination are not shy to lobby and forward handsome handouts just to sway the decision in their favor.
We cannot afford to have more Zaharan’s and with recent arrests and the characters arrested the citizens have every right to fear the chameleons posing as human rights activists, lawyers, professionals and academics than the one’s carrying out the attacks. Zaharan and his team of suicide bombers are dead having committed one mass murder. Their handlers are still loose and the type of arrests taking place shows that the danger of more Zaharan’s being unleashed is more than possible which requires a very strong leadership, no special treatment for those under radar because funds or other favors are being offered, investigators must be given protection and full freedom to unearth the plots and players and the rulers must not dilly dally in taking actions against them. No person planning to kill people can hide behind their position.
21/4 was not the only act of mass murder Sri Lanka has witnessed. It is unfortunate that the other murderer has not been sentenced for their crimes committed over 30 years while another group also now in politics have also not been made to account for the murders they committed too. So we have a history of injustices to the victims because of weak rule. This cannot go on because weak rule leads to a weak country. People have great confidence in the present leader to deliver justice to the victims following the rule of law.
A country cannot go far when segments of society only demand from the nation without doing their duty by the nation. All of those who hold lists of demands hardly have done any duty to the Nation.
Covid-19 came to the attention of the
world as a new disease around the beginning of this year. From the very outset,
the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated very candidly that this was a
completely new disease and that they too were still in the process of learning
more about it. Even as late as 29 February 2020,
the WHO was advising against the imposition of
international travel bans. It was only on 6 April that the WHO
recommended the use of face masks if it was not possible to maintain social
distancing. Every country in the world had to learn more about this disease
through experience.
Sri Lanka began preparations for this
pandemic quite early. The President set up a task force to combat the
Cronavirus as early as 26 January 2020. Even though there were no Coronavirus
patients in Sri Lanka at that time, the first quarantine center was declared in
Hendala on 4 March. The first Coronavirus patient was discovered on the night
of 10 March. From 11 March all passengers coming into Sri Lanka from Coronavirus
affected countries, were sent for
quarantine. As the armed forces and police carried out an effective contact
tracing programme to identify those who had come into contact with patients,
this disease has now been brought under control to a satisfactory degree.
At this moment, Sri Lanka is well ahead of most
countries in the world in terms of controlling the spread of Coronavirus. Our
doctors, nurses and other medical personnel, our intelligence services who
maintained a very effective contact tracing operation, our armed forces,
police, public health inspectors and others who played a frontline role in
working directly with the public, should be proud of what they have achieved.
It’s noteworthy that while 25 Sri Lankans resident in Britain have died of the
Coronavirus, only nine Sri Lankans resident in Sri Lanka have died of this
disease so far. It must also be stated that had Gotabhaya Rajapaksa not been
elected President on 16 November last year, none of these achievements would
have been possible.
With the Coronavirus outbreak now under control to a
certain degree, the government has
gradually begun relaxing the curfew. Even though steps were taken to impose
curfew and to shut down the country, in reality, no country can be shut down
completely. While the majority of the people were confined to their homes,
millions of others continued to work throughout the country. The health
services, armed forces, police, paddy farmers, vegetable farmers, fishermen,
distributors of food, medicine and other essentials, and even some factories
continued to function. What is meant by restoring normalcy to the country, is
the process of extending this state of
affairs in a controlled way, to the section of the population that had been
confined to their homes during the shut down.
At the outset, government and private sector
institutions will begin functioning with a
limited number of employees. The number of passengers on trains and buses will
be limited. Schools and tuition classes will remain closed. Social distancing
rules are to be maintained when commencing work in this phased manner. At the
early stages, when curfew was relaxed in certain
districts, people did not observe social distancing norms. However after a
while, people became more mindful of the need for social distancing in public
places. The public should continue to be mindful of the need for social
distancing even after the curfew is relaxed. We
should all be aware that even though the spread of Coronavirus has been brought
under control, it has not been eradicated completely.
Random sample testing among members of the
public will continue to be carried out. The quarantine centres will be kept
open. Even after the restoration of normalcy has begun, it may be necessary to
isolate and lock down certain areas and even to impose police curfews.
Coronavirus patients may continue to be
found, but I believe our health authorities have by now mastered the manner in
which such situations should be handled. We will have to maintain a balance
between steps taken to prevent the spread of the disease on the one hand and
the restoration of normalcy on the other.
Even countries like Italy, Britain, France and the USA which experienced
tens of thousands of Coronavirus related deaths have now commenced programmes
for the gradual restoration of normal life.
The
people fully cooperated with the efforts made to bring the spread of
Croronavirus under control. We request the people to extend their fullest
cooperation once again to the armed forces and police for the phased
restoration of normal life in the country.
