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Samagi Janabalavegaya leader Sajith Premadasa says that every family will be given Rs 20,000 after they come to power.
He was speaking at a public rally held in Kaduwela yesterday.
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe states that since the 19th Amendment to the Constitution established the commissions, the suspects of the terrorist attack on Easter Sunday were quickly arrested with the assistance of the National Police Commission.
He made this statement participating at a meeting held today at Sirikotha party headquarters with a group of lawyers representing the party.
It is curious how the unfortunate Sinhalese, to whom the credit of the decorations (of a dance hall for a visiting British dignitary) was due, are always overshadowed by the more widely known Tamils who are their fellow islanders.” – Ceylon in Early British Times, J. P. Lewis, CMG, Government Agent of the Northern Province. Left Ceylon in April 1910. Printed and published by the Times of Ceylon Company, Ltd.
No community in Sri Lanka has dehumanized their fellow-man and reduced him/her to the lowest depths of wretched slavery as the Vellalas—the dominant casteist elite of Jaffna — who ruled Jaffna with a fascist fist from feudal times. Nor has any other leadership used its powers to massacre its own people on a mass scale as the Tamil leaders. The first mass killer of Tamils was Sankili who marched down to Mannar on the Christmas eve of 1544 and massacred 600 Tamils for not recognising him as sole representative of the Tamils. As Catholics the Mannar Tamils owed allegiance to the King of Portugal. The second mass killer of Tamils was Prabhakaran, the first- born child of Vadukoddai (Batakotte) Resolution, written and proclaimed by the Vellala leadership on May 14, 1976. Based on the Saivite casteist ideology the Vellalas devalued and degraded their own people, the non-Vellalas, to sub-human levels. The Vellala supremacists put the knee to their necks and choked the oppressed Tamils under the hierarchical Saivite casteist system, leaving hardly any oxygen for them to breathe.
Jaffna Tamil political culture born out of (1) systemic oppression and persecution of the non-Vellalas endorsed in the Thesawalamai , (2) Saivite rituals that determined the Jaffna-centric lives from the womb to tomb, and (3) casteist dogmas of the Vellala Guru, Arumuka Navalar who elevated the Vellalas and anointed them as the God-given rulers of Jaffna, enabled the Vellalas to tighten their grip on the peninsula. The Vellalas who monopolised power and leadership – no one else was given space to counter their power – wrote the darkest chapter in the history of Sri Lanka making Jaffna the hell-hole of discrimination and oppression of Tamils by Tamils. In Gramscian terms the Vellala hegemony concretised Vellala power which, in its last days, turned into Tamil mono-ethnic extremism, which in turn turned into Tamil nationalism” – the last refuge of the decadent and feudal Vellala casteists.
The consequences of extreme Vellalaism had frozen Jaffna into a feudal gulag, fenced by thatched cadjan leaves. Vellalism warped Jaffna society. In the last days of the British raj, the Vellala hegemonists, moving reluctantly out of the decadent and dying casteist framework into a class, were confused and were casting around looking for a solid ideology to hold the Jaffnaites under their hegemony. They realised that the two primary forces that sustained them — feudal casteism and colonial patronage – were slipping out of their grip. Besides, with market forces and modernity creeping into Jaffna, the Vellala power-base run on hierarchical casteism, was losing its validity and the Vellalas were fighting with their backs to the walls for survival. The low-castes too were beginning to assert themselves.
But the numerical superiority of the Vellalas (53%) gave them the upper hand. They were also entrenched in their casteist bases because they owned the land, the kovils, and schools. They were also in control of local councils and as obedient subalterns to the ruling colonial masters, which made them close partners in running the imperial regimes, they had accessibility to preserve their privileges and push their agenda. Being at the peak of the hierarchical Hindu-Saivism, the ruling ideology, also gave them the power to enforce the rituals that controlled the daily behaviour of the Jaffnaites from the womb to the tomb.
But by the second decade of the 20th century Vellala supremacists were beginning to feel the rising heat against Vellalaism. Creeping modernity was undermining its feudal power. Besides the Vellalas were in the process of transiting from a caste into a class. The norms, the bonds and the Hindu-Saivite ideology that gave them power and held them together were coming apart slowly but surely. The rise of the English-educated Jaffna youth in the twenties against casteism and communalism was the first organised resistance to Vellalaism. Retreating from feudalism into modernity was not easy. In the twenties the Tamil youth were ready to make the great leap by abandoning casteism, communalism and feudalism. But the counter-revolution came swiftly from the Vellalas. G. G. Ponnambalam, who was thrown out of Jaffna, returned by shaping the new Vellala agenda. He swung to the other extreme and laid the foundations of anti-Sinhala-Buddhist racism with his demand 50-50” for 12% of Tamils. The very first racial riot was sparked by Ponnambalam’s provocative anti-Sinhala-Buddhist speech in Navalapaitiya in June 1939.
The English-speaking Saivite Jaffna Vellala leaders, who were ensconced comfortably in the British administration, were confused and looking for a way out. They never took to liberalism, humanism, socialism, pluralism, multiculturalism etc. Not even nationalism. They were only out to protect and consolidate the threatened power of the Vellalas. Their first reaction was to ask for one extra seat for the Vellala elite in the Western Province causing the first Constitutional crisis when Governor Manning was in the process of reconstituting the constitution of the Legislative Council. The demand for an extra had nothing to do with Tamil nationalism”. In fact, one Tamil Legislative Councillor argued that the extra seat was needed to represent the Tamils who had settled down in the Western province to ensure their Thesawalamai rights.
It was a time when nationalism was rising right across the colonised world. It was the rage in India. But the Vellala leaders were obsessed with only preserving their casteist rights encoded in the Thesawalamai – the Bible of the Vellalas. Tamil nationalism”, which would have meant an independent movement pushing a separatist agenda, never featured either in their rhetoric or their ideology. The Vellala leadership was jockeying for Vellala casteist rights encoded in the Thesawalamai and not for the rights of the Tamils which would have meant going into partnership with the low-castes. Nationalism involved a substantial cross-section of the population. But the Vellalas consistently spoke only for the Vellalas and not for the low-caste non-Vellalas.
As everyone knows, the non-Vellala low-castes were excluded from Vellala society as pariahs, outcasts. Besides, in India, one of the key items in the nationalist movement was against oppressive casteism. Nationalism went all out to embrace all layers of society. The Vellalas wouldn’t have a bar of it. The Vellalas did not demand an extra seat in the name of the oppressed low-caste. They asked for it only as a demand of the Vellalas by the Vellalas for the Vellalas. Later they would classify it as the grievances, demands and aspirations” of the Tamils. Pro-Tamil propagandists are now trying to interpret this demand for an extra seat for the Vellalas as the first signs of the birth of Tamil nationalism”. But it was the first move of the Vellalas to demand a disproportionate share of power to be equal with the majority. It was a naked grab for power by the Vellala elite as seen in the demand for 50” per cent share of power for 12 % of the population. In fact, the Vellala leaders who were unable to justify the disproportionality of the demand for 50% for a minority of 12% argued that 50 percent” demand was not for Tamils only but for all minorities. But Tamil nationalism” as it turned out was for the Vellala elite only.
Consider also the launch of the separatist movement by S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, the father of Tamil separatism. It was not done in Jaffna – the heartland of the Tamils, as they claim. On December 18, 1949 he launched it in the Government Clerical Service Union in Maradana. He was addressing the English-educated Vellalas who dominated the public service. When he cried discrimination” he meant jobs for the Vellala boys in the government service and not the Tamils – a medley of Tamil-speaking people with characteristic regional and cultural differences. Chelvanayakam’s federalism”, self-determination”, Eelam” etc., were ideological labels minted to cover-up Vellala hegemony that denied he non-Vellalas their basic rights and rally the oppressed masses around them by pretending to be their saviours when in reality their main political objective was to use them as cat’s paw to retain their traditional casteist power, prestige, positions and perks. When in the last lines of the Vadukoddai (Batakotte) Resolution they urged the Tamil youth to take up arms and never cease until they achieved Eelam they meant that the Vellala elders were going to ride on the backs of the youth to power.
Since they could no longer rule Jaffna on an outdated ideology of casteism in the 20th century the decadent and feudalistic Vellalas latched on to mono-ethnic extremism, crying that the end of the Tamil language and culture is coming. They wrapped themselves round Tamil nationalism” targeting Sinhala-Buddhist as their bogeyman. They could no longer lay claims to the divine right to rule Jaffna on Saivite casteism. But they could claim legitimacy as defenders and saviours of the Tamil language and culture which cut across caste divisions.
The dying caste resurfaced as a class, retaining their feudal power, as Tamil nationalists’. It worked for them. They had survived in electoral politics of the post-Donoughmore period only by demonising the Sinhala-Buddhists. Success in Jaffna politics depended on how effective each political party was in demonising their Tamil rivals with anti-Sinhala-Buddhist hate politics. Those who ran the most effective anti-Sinhala-Buddhist hate campaign won the day. No political ideology that went outside the Vellala-dominated, mono-ethnic extremism targeting the Sinhala-Buddhist had any chance of surviving in the electoral politics of Jaffna.
From the beginning of ethnic rivalry, beginning with the one-seat demand in the 1920s, the Vellala leadership paraded on the political stage with unwarranted arrogance. Their arrogance rose to the point of claiming to be one of the two majorities. Prof. K. M. de Silva in his brilliant analysis of the split in the Ceylon National Congress wrote that Arunachalam shared the prevailing opinion that the Tamils were not a minority but were one of two majority communities.” (p.113 – Ceylon National Congress in Disarray, 1920 – 1: Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam leves the Congress” ; The Ceylon Journal of Hisotiral and Social Studies Vol ii, July-Decemeber, 1972, No.2) , K. C. Nithiyandanda, the Secretary of the then powerful Government Clerical Service Union, (the uncle of Douglas Devananda), summed it up when he told me: You govern, we rule!”. He meant that the Tamils had the tools of the administration (the executive – the public service) in their hands to rule while the Sinhalese had the political power in the legislatures to govern.
Arunachalam split the National Congress by pushing a claim for an extra seat for the Tamils in the Western province, in addition to the seats given to them in North. (See Prof. K. M. de Silva’s incisive analysis cited above). The Vellala leadership never stopped increasing their demands since then. They had increased their demands from one seat in the Legislature of 1920 to Federalism (meaning 2/3rd of the North-Eastern coastline and its hinterland (Eelam)) in 1940-50s.
Mark you, on the eve of independence (1948) the English-speaking Saivite, Jaffna Vellalas (SJVs) were the most powerful and privileged community in Sri Lanka. Holding key and disproportionate positions in the public service, professions, economy, elevated them to commanding heights of power. When the sun was going down over the British Empire the Tamil father in Jaffna was reaping the harvest of the son shining in Colombo. The young English-speaking Vellalas who colonised Colombo suburbs like Wellawatta(m), were highly priced items in the Jaffna marriage market. In Jaffna the Vellala landowners and political manipulators closed the doors of the peninsula to prevent the other” (asangha) from entering their domain. When they replaced casteism with mono-ethnic extremism, they withdrew into their domain excluding outsiders behind the ubiquitous cadjan curtain. They resisted the slow but steady invasions of Marxism, which swept the South, and stopped it before it could cross the Jaffna lagoon. They successfully blocked the invasion any non-Vellala ideology from crossing the Jaffna Lagoon into the peninsula.
The Vellalas succeeded in retaining Jaffna as their exclusive domain. But while they kept Jaffna as a mono-ethnic enclave, they had no compunction in colonising the south demanding more jobs, space and power. They were, for instance, demanding pluralism and diversity in the south while excluding any outsiders from stepping into Jaffna. Though the Marxists emerged as the biggest threat to the state in the early forties, the Vellalas soon outstripped them and turned into the most divisive and disastrous force in the post-Independent era.
The Left-wing petered out with the collapse of the Marxist morons in the JVP who misled the Sinhala youth into a premature death. But the Vellalaism gathered momentum as they incrementally escalated their demands pushing mono-ethnic politics to the extreme end of the political spectrum. At its height Vellalaism turned into the most critical factor in the post-independent decades. Though they spread their tentacles down South, going right into the heart of Colombo, they never abandoned Jaffna as their base – the only enclave that gave them all the casteist privileges in the Thesawalamai.
With one foot in the Thesawalamai North, where their laws prevailed, and the other in the South the Vellalas consolidated their power to the maximum possible limit. No other force had challenged the democratically elected state at the centre as the Vellalas. They were the most formidable force that motivated, directed, financed and organised their political children, the Tigers, to form a state within a state. Without the Vellala backing the Tigers would have crumbled soon after they began killing their fellow-Tamils (e.g., Alfred Duraiyappah) in the seventies. Whether it is inside Jaffna, or outside the Jaffna, or even in the Diaspora it is the Vellalas who ran the agenda for the Tamils. At the core of all Tamil politics there is an omnipresent Vellala. The financing, internationalising, propagandising, were all done by the Vellalas, taking cover in safe havens in the West. The non-Vellala Prabhakaran and his gang merely carried out the killing, torturing, persecuting and the general leg work for the Vellalas who were manipulating the Vadukoddai agenda in the background. It is the Vellala global networking and lobbying that enable them to rise as the deadliest terrorist force” (FBI).
Clearly, no other political group had organised themselves into destructive juggernaut as the Vellalas. The failure to factor in the Vellalas as the overdetermining force that exacerbated the North-South relations distorted the political realities beyond recognition. Their monopoly of power inside the peninsula and their capture of the commanding heights of power in the state bureaucracy, professions and private sector in the South enabled them to manipulate national politics, particularly to project and propagate the Vellala grab for power as the Tamil nationalism”. Besides, the key issues in the Vellala agenda which were presented as Tamil grievances,” Tamil aspirations” and Tamil demands” had nothing to do with the basic issues of non-Vellala Tamils of Jaffna, nor the Tamil-speaking people in the East, Central Hills or in the Muslim community.
This is only a miniscule fragment of the unwritten, untold history of Jaffna that exacerbated North-South relations. It was the Vellalas who prepared, organised, internationalised and financed the forces that led to the futile war declared by them in the Vadkoddai Resolution. It was they who violated the crime against peace – the first charge faced by the Nazi criminal at the Nuremberg trials. They committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Most of all crimes against their people. And it is the Vellala moralists who are demanding justice from the world. This is like the Nazis demanding justice from the Jews!
Readers would note that the focus so far has been exclusively on the Vellalas and not on the Tamils. Tamils, as defined later by Chelvanayakam to increase his electoral clout, included all Tamil-speaking people. It included the Batticoloa Tamils in the East, the Indian Tamils of the central hills, the Tamil-speaking Muslims located mainly in the East and Western coast. I took care to separate the Tamils from the Vellalas because they had categorised themselves as a superior caste who excluded some of the Tamils. Since they elevated themselves from the rest of the Tamils with their arrogance and with notions of casteist supremacy, ostracising the their fellow Tamils as pariahs / untouchables, they should be considered as a separate society entity with a political agenda of their own. They were the prime decision-makers at the top. They belong to an exclusive political class. As revealed by Jane Russell (Communal Politics Under the Donoughmore Constitution, 1931 to 1947) the low castes were kept out of the Vellala political circles that made the key decision. The Vellalas virtually monopolised power, wealth, and privileges, including front row seats in the Church!. Chelvanayakam began his separatist campaign only with the Vellalas in the Government service. Only they had the internal and external political network, manipulative skills, the experience and the connections to organise and pull the levers of power. I use the word Tamil in the larger sense to include the low-castes. The Vellalas I consider to be a parasites who sucked the blood out of the Tamils to protect and nurture their own self-interests.
Even though the Vellalas maintained their distinct identity in practically every area, they were conscious of the political need to liaise with all the Tamil-speaking people to increase their political clout in the electorates. In fact, S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, the father of Tamil separatism, realising the need to form a Pan Tamil front to present a formidable Tamil force to confront the Sinhalese, launched the Iyakkum (movement) of Tamil Payasoom Makkal (the Tamil-speaking people) trying to create a unity of all Tamil-speaking people in the whole island inclusive of the Tamil-speaking Muslims.” (p.70, S. J. V. Chelvanayakam and the Crisis of Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism (1947 – 1977), by A. J. Wilson, son-in-law of Chelvanayakam). The non-Vellallas realised soon that the Tamil grievances”, Tamil aspirations” and the Tamil demands” of the Vellala Vadukoddians had no relevance to their political circumstances, grievances, aspirations or needs and they left the Iyakkum for the Vellalas to run it.
This is also meant to be a prelude to examine Dayan Jayatilleka’s political science. Like all political scientists / commentators he has never factored in the most evil and destructive force that came out of Jaffna to exacerbate North-South inter-ethnic relations. In fact, his writings have never shown any in-depth knowledge of the Vellala factor that made all the difference to peaceful co-existence of the nation. He is shedding copious tears to the Tamil aspirations”, Tamil grievances”, and Tamil demands” which originated from the most privileged bloc in Sri Lanka. As a Marxist he is rooting for the most exploitative, cruel, oppressive caste/class in the history of the nation. What is his knowledge of Marxism worth when he can’t distinguish between oppressors and the oppressed? Can he explain how the alleged issue of job discrimination in government service affected the non-Vellala low-castes in Jaffna who were not even allowed to drink water from the Vellala wells? If he were to shed tears should it have been for the Vellala priviligentsia or the persecuted Tamil slaves kept under subhuman conditions by the Vellala oppressors?
The history of the Vellalas dovetails neatly into the Marxist and Gramscian models of a ruling class distorting and exploiting ideology to hang on to power. Clearly, Dayan has shown no originality in his thinking. He is parroting Tamil propaganda which is sophomoronic. He takes to anti-Sinhala-Buddhist hate politics because he has not done his homework. He must have read the Prison Notebooks of Gramsci. But how many books on Tamil history has he read? In expectorating anti-Sinhala-Buddhist hatred, without analysing the dialectics of history which rejects mono-causal theories, he comes down to the level of a perverted intellectual whose best efforts are in displaying his colossal ignorance garnished as profound political philosophy.
What happened to the dialectics of the Marxists whose interpretations of history is based on the clash of thesis and anti-thesis? Dayan, the Marxist, is now writing history as the sound that comes out of a clap with one hand? Like the other commentators he is blaming only the Sinhala-Buddhists. It is time that smug theoretical humbugs like Dayan gave up theorising for the world to regain its normalcy, sanity and peace.
This article focusses on Australian MPs, in particular, Labour Party members as to why they have a soft corner for Tamils and Tamil refugees who are domiciled in NSW. It is seen that this may be to attract votes. Tamils have a shrewd strategy where they approach foreign politicians and brainwash them to talk about genocide, discrimination and oppression and human rights violation. This is a tactical move by Tamils use to coerce and damage SL image and reputation. Those MPs do not realise that they are violating Human Rights in Sri Lanka and Australia, by instigating and triggering ethnic differentials, economic progression and peaceful environment by intoxication and indoctrination.
Recently an MP for prospect gave a speech on Sri Lanka which he was so irresponsible, however, the Federal Foreign Minister has the responsibility to convey anything on behalf of Australia. My reply can be read in the following pages: (i) http://nrnmind.blogspot.com/2020/06/13-th-june2020-diplomatic-invasion.html (ii) http://nrnmind.blogspot.com/2020/05/27-th-may-2020-dr-hugh-mcdermott-mp-po.html
I have given my credentials in (ii) above.
Point N0. 1
Western Sydney University; A statue of Scholar poet Thiruvalluvar was to be erected in the campus, if correct, of the Western Sydney University in 2019. Quote ref: https://m.facebook.com/hugh2019/posts/2820219784673494
In the perspective of Justice, let me ask a question: What has Thiruvallluvar got to do with the Australians? Is it necessary for Australians to view the statue of a person whom they do not know? If Tamils do not know about Thiruvalluvar, then they can buy the text of the said Poet and read. That’s what I have done. I am a patriotic Australian. How much of dollars is the state government(s) spending on grants to Tamil Diaspora? E.g. Seniors, Hindu association, building temples, Associations, Congresses etc. These funds could be diverted to Childcare, aged care, education, Medicare, sports, research, etc where Australians will benefit.
What is Social Justice?; Quote; justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.” individuality gives way to the struggle for social justice”
Distribution of wealth shall bet through governmental services and not private social get-together bodies because it will be considered ethnic and leave room for corruption.
Thiruvalluvar references.
QuoteRef: (i)https://www.facebook.com/hugh2019/videos/vb.142247399137426/1409926975702789/?type=2&theater, (ii) https://www.facebook.com/hugh2019/videos/vb.142247399137426/1409926975702789/?type=2&theater
Point # 2
Question: In a few years, the Tamil Diaspora may approach the university to construct a statute of Vellupillai Prabakaran, the leader of LTTE. Will the management approve? More than the approval, the Tamils may approach through another politician.
Point #3
Why not erect the statue of the English scholar, Shakespeare”? Shakespeare is known internationally and by all people in all countries.
Point #4
If approached would the management approve a statue of a leading SriLankan person? The person is:
Quote: Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera (1408 – 1491)[4] was a Buddhist monk and an eminent scholar,[5] who lived in the 15th century in Sri Lanka.[1] He was a polyglot who was given the title “Shad Bhasha Parameshwara” due to his mastery in six oriental languages which prevailed in the Indian subcontinent.[6] Sangharaja Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera was also a distinguished author, veteran astrologer and a proficient ayurvedic physician.[1] Quote ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thotagamuwe_Sri_Rahula_Thera
This is only an example.
Point #5
In the seventies, the GOSL introduced standardisation for entry to Universities, which limited the number of Tamil students to enter Universities. Armed resistance and Terrorism gave birth from the younger quarters because of the standardisation. This was during Srimavo’s period through Badi-ud-din Mahmud as Minister for Education.
However, in Sydney, the opposite practice has given birth. Tamil has been introduced as a twelfth year subject to make it easy for the Tamil students to enter Medical and E” faculties. The marks scored would be high and hence the aggregate is high which allows the student to enter the faculty. If standardisation is Racism” then, it may be considered that this act is also Racism.
It cannot be expected from the Australian quarters to allow such practice which only happens in NSW.
Point #6
Unemployment figures may rise during this COVID-19 endemic period. NSW has allowed engaging Tamil teaching teachers to teach year 12 Tamil Language which is against norms and discriminatory to other races. Question is-What is the Tamil Language rich in like that of French is rich in Chemistry”.
Point #7
Issuing letters and circulars in the Tamil Language in certain Council areas. This will result in an act by the NSW government to limit the progress of Tamils in English Language and life. Tamils are here to stay as Australians and not as Tamils. There shall not be a Tamil Eelam in Australia. All shall achieve competency and proficiency in the English Language which is a Universal Language. By introducing such measures, the NSW government may be impairing the reputation of the English language. Maybe the reason is that most of the migrants in this area are illiterates and boat migrants.
The organisations and associations do not care, but selfish for their achievement and popularity.
It is the state government who shall be careful enough to guide and direct the citizens in the correct path.
It is an appeal not to introduce RACISM” and ethnic differentials in Australia. There shall be only one language spoken, written, and communicated and that can only be English Language and one race which is Australian”
Point #8
Please refer page http://nrnmind.blogspot.com/
The page consists of a large number of heavy weapons manufactured/ purchased by the terrorist group LTTE. These were not manufactured for tourism purpose. These were manufactured to kill people, state machinery and assets. Can any country raise their hands and say that they will tolerate such acts and give in to the demands of the LTTE? GOSL had every right to protect its sovereignty and wipe out terrorism. The truth is hidden from the rest of the world. The last picture indicates how the LTTE controlled areas were shrunk into Mullivaykal.
Point #9
In the North killing by rowdies and thieves is being carried out. Drug smuggling, attack on women and theft in houses are common. What have the Labour MPs and TDs got to say about this.
REVISED 20.6.20
Ven. Ellawala Medhananda has drawn attention to the damage done by ‘non-Buddhists’ (Hindus and Muslims), to the Buddhist monasteries, hermitages and ancient ruins in the north and east. Medhananda says that more than five hundred sites with ancient Buddhist ruins are either destroyed or are being destroyed in the north and east.
Destroying Buddhist ruins in the East started long ago, said Medhananda. Initially, it was done secretly and cleverly. Now it has got speeded up and is now done openly on a large scale. At Niyankallugama, the ruins were shot and destroyed, while Medhananda was there, exploring in 1972. Only Buddhist places face this destruction, not the other religions, observed Medhananda. Buddhists are now facing an ‘asarana, ahinsaka, nivata, niyalu’ situation.
The ruins in Jaffna and elsewhere are in danger, said Medhananda speaking in 2009 during Eelam war IV. Medhananda wanted the Department of Archaeology to take control of the Buddhist ruins in the cleared areas of the Vanni.
Daily Mirror Online reported in June 2010 that Medhananda had said that more than 50 sites of archeological importance in the Mullaitivu district have been desecrated by the LTTE and used as bunkers and fortifications. A total of 1633 sites have been desecrated in the Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts and that they should be preserved from further damage. Ellawala Medhananda there requested the President to take steps to hand over the control of these archeological sites to the Department of Archaeology for preservation. Monuments like moon stones and ancient fortresses belonging to 11th century have been severely affected.
It is clear, says this writer (Kamalika Pieris) that there is a well planned, externally directed campaign, to convert the north and east of Sri Lanka to a Hindu/ Muslim territory.
Medhananda found that ruins he had examined earlier had vanished when he went a second time. I found that ruins I had seen in 1966 had disappeared by 1976. What I saw in 1976 had disappeared by 1986” said Medhananda.
Buddhist sites in good condition in Trincomalee in 1960 had vanished when Medhananda visited them in 1980. Hindu kovils had been built over many of them. What we saw in 1964 at Veddikinarimalai had disappeared by 1973. The ruins seen earlier at Veheragama have now vanished, said Medhananda in 2013.
Galkulama had ruins stretching all the way to Kiliveddi. An Inscription there showed that its name was Girimahalaka Maha vehera and it had been built by Dutugemunu. This place has been completely destroyed, said Medhananda. Its stupa has been destroyed and bricks scattered for miles .
The inscription at Veheragala vihara, near Araganvila showed that kings had worshipped there. All the building, including the stupa have been destroyed, said Medhananda . Veheratenna which had ruins dated to 5th century AD was heavily destroyed. Kurundammalai had over 100 acre of Buddhist ruins including an image house. Sunetra wewa(Tirumangala) area had Buddhist ruins for 5 acres or so. They have been deliberately destroyed. At Rugam too, the ruins have been deliberately destroyed. Stone pillars at Pulukunava were broken into pieces. This vandalism is not natural it has been done by persons, said Medhananda .
Jayarampala, a few miles north of Karanda oya had many Buddhist ruins. These have been vandalized. The Viharakadu region close to Dighavapi has been leveled using machinery. In 1972, they were planning to shoot and destroy the Buddhist ruins at Niyankullukama. At Paravankandam the ruins including stupa were destroyed in April 2002 to convert the area into a paddy field.
Then there is the Sri Vardhana Bodhi of Kiliveddi, Mutur. When Medhananda visited in 1952 he found a large Bodhi tree, with stone pillars, moon stone, step slabs. He saw them again in 1965. Thereafter Tamils living near Tirumangala wewa moved to Kiliveddi and destroyed its Buddhist ruins , including the moonstone.
They built a kovil near the Bodhi, continued Medhananda . This kovil was then extended close to the Bodhi. The branches of the Bodhi were cut, supposedly for telephone wires. They were cut in such a way that so that the trunk was affected. When Medhananda visited in 1977, the tree and the ruins were gone. The Bodhi was totally destroyed and a kovil set up. There are no Buddhist ruins there now, concluded Medhananda .
The plan to eliminate all signs of an ancient Buddhist civilization was greatly helped by the fact that most of these ruins are not registered in the Department of Archaeology as archaeological monuments. Thottama, Manthottama, Pannala oya and Ambalan oya has archaeological remains that which are not registered, said Medhananda . Panama pattu forest range is full of archaeological ruins. There is no protection for any of it, he said.
In the case of archaeological sites for which there are records in the Department, another tactic was used. The files vanished, they went missing. There were 11 cave inscriptions near Kundikudichchi aru. The Ampara Kachcheri held the file on this. This file is now missing, said Medhananda .
Files also vanished when new kovils are constructed. There was a hill with a stupa, and eleven cave shrines to the east of the Pannala oya. Now there is kovil there, said Medhananda . There had been a file at the Ampara Kachcheri describing the Buddhist remains of the area, but with the construction of the kovil those documents disappeared, he said.
Rock inscriptions were specifically targeted. They were sought out and deliberately destroyed. Mundikulammale ruins, Ampara had rows of caves with inscriptions. These have been extensively destroyed, said Medhananda . Mahagirilla Savarankeligala had a unique inscription relating to a ‘pase budun’. This was recorded by the Department of Archaeology. Medhananda found the stone containing the inscription smashed to pieces and the inscription destroyed.
Kadolupotana kanda, Eravur had three inscriptions which showed that this area was under Kavantissa. These inscriptions have been destroyed. Mundikulam malai site in Ampara, had an inscription, discovered by Medhananda, which stated that Vihara Maha Devi lived there after she became a nun. The rock and the inscription had been broken up. An Inscription at Dimbulagala cave dated to 2 century BC, was found mutilated by Medhananda in 1980. Only two words remained.
Eeratiperiyakulam vihara ruins had an inscription discovered by Parker. This inscription had disappeared, when Medhananda looked for it. Kurundammalai known earlier as Kurathgama had an inscription dated to Mahinda III (801-804) which said that the king had come to settle a problem about water. C.W. Nicholas had seen this inscription. When we went it was not to be seen”, announced Medhananda.
Two inscriptions at Lahugala the akuru ketu gala inscription on Karapavata vihara, and Galhitiode inscription on Ayapavata vihara were destroyed. Thannimuruppu wewa inscription at Kurundammalai is now destroyed. Nilaveli had an inscription saying that the vihara was known as Kanikaravelli vihara. The inscription has been tarred over. A Sanskrit Mahayana inscription at Kucceveli Maha vihara was defaced in 1981, recited Medhananda.
Stupas have been destroyed systematically. The stupa at Nilaveli was there in 1966, it had disappeared by 1978.Medhananda saw a huge stupa, 300 by 33 feet, on the Trincomalee- Kantalai road, near 246 km post. This has been cut in two and bricks scattered all over the teak plantation nearby. Teak has been planted on top of the stupa, as well, reported Medhananda.
Vilankulam stupa was also huge 150 ft in circum, and 35 in height. This too had been deliberately destroyed and bricks scattered all over. When I saw it in 1978, Sellappa Nalliah and Inamuttusamy had built a house at the top of the stupa, with toilet and well, said Medhananda.
The stupa near Kinniya wells vanished after the Ceasefire agreement of 2002. The media reported in 2002 that senior monks of Seruwila and Tamankaduwa had said that the bricks unearthed while levelling a mound near the hotwells at Kinniya belong to Anuradhapura era and the mound was a stupa. This has been levelled to put up a Hindu temple. The monks had complained to the authorities.
Buddha statues were also damaged. Medhananda found a destroyed Buddha statue and moonstone at Oddusuddan. Statues at Mudu Maha vihara, Panama seen in 1990 have disappeared, said Medhananda. Kucceveli Maha vihara had Mahayana statues ‘in pleasing form’ when Medhananda visited in 1966. When Medhananda visited in 1978 the upper parts of most of the statues were destroyed.
The Buddha statues at Daluggala Raja Maha Vihara was damaged and the pilima head taken as a lip galak. At Ridikanda the statues had been dragged down from the hill and destroyed. Due to all this, the Buddha statue found Paravankandam was removed to the Police station for safety, and is now in Ampara museum, said Medhananda.
Medhananda observed that Hindus and Muslims had taken physical possession of lands which were sites of Buddhist worship in earlier times. Once they are on the land, they erase the Buddhist remains and prevent Buddhist coming there, observed Medhananda. There was a Sinhala village at Sakkam wewa near Pannala oya, called Bodhianga. Now it is no longer Sinhala.
At Mottayakanda the Muslims have bulldozed all the Buddhist ruins. Kombanacci, originally Somawathi vihara, in Kiliveddi, Trincomalee, is now a Muslim area and one part of the ruins is now a ‘goat farm of a Mussalman’.
Ilankaturai, near Seruwila, earlier Lankapatuna, has been encroached by non-Buddhists and Hindu kovils have come up. At Nelugala buildings were set on fire by non-Sinhalese, and the Sinhala settlers driven away. A Hindu kovil was constructed there.
Inscriptions showed that Linemalai originally had an aramaya known as Sipavata, hosting many monks. One inscription stated that Mahadatika Mahanaga had donated two channels named Dakapunaka and Girigamaka and its taxes to the vihara. Another inscription indicates that a rate rala from Uva ruled this area. And that Uva province extended to Pottuvil. A wewa Inscription said the wewa was donated by danu silpa chalu”. Now Linemalai is Muslim and Tamil. LTTE chased away the few Sinhalese there.
Viharagalkanda had a large flat area thanitalawa with huge number of Buddhist ruins . When we visited, a Tamil man was living there, farming bananas. We explored the site , examined the ruins and copied the inscription.
When we visited Gokanna vihara, Trincomalee (Koneswaran) in 1960, we faced much opposition from the Hindus, said Medhananda. Medhananda was able to go to Mundikulammale ruins, Ampara in 1964 and 1999 without any fear. But it is now dangerous for Sinhalese to go there” he said in 2003. No Sinhalese can go to Rugam now either.
Rugam-Piyalutana vihara on Badulla-Batticaloa road has a vihara built by king Yatalatissa. In 1972 there was a plan to convert 18 acres to a wewa and settle non Sinhalese on there. There are Buddhist ruins at Mahaoya, Veheragala, and Dambaliyadde gala. In 1972 it was planned to settle non Sinhalese there. There had been a planned programmed to hinder Buddhists in Sembumalai, observed Medhananda.
Bhikkhus have tried to save these Buddhist ruins by setting up avasa on the premises. They were chased away. When monks try to settle, they are harassed and they run away, observed Medhananda. In my view, says this writer, (Kamalika Pieris) this is due to the fact that these actions were not known or supported by the Nikayas. It these ventures had been supported by a Nikaya, it would not have been easy to dislodge them.
Kohukumbure Revata had lived at Dighavapi In a small hut, under great difficulty. He was killed by a Muslim in 1950. This got great publicity at the time, said Medhananda. A monk had once treid to live at Budu patum Kande. Monks had set up an avasa at Girikurumbika vihara, but now there is nothing. A monk had taken up abode at a Lena in Niyaguna kanda vihara Ampara and the villagers looked after him, now he is not there said Medhananda in 2003.
Ven, Sri Sobitha tried to rebuild the stupa Bollagama Raja Maha Vihara,Ampara in 1911. Kekirihene Seelavansa is keeping the temple going today, despite the fact that the vihara has no support, the villagers are too poor, reported Medhananda . A monk has settled at Maha kachcha kodiya vihara, Vavuniya and is struggling to survive.
The main strategy used to suppress Buddhism in the north and east, was to promptly substitute Hindu kovils for the destroyed Buddhist ruins. Hindu kovils have been built over many of the Buddhist shrines, said Medhananda.
When I visited Sembumalai in 1978, the Buddha statue seen earlier was missing. Many ruins were purposely damaged and a Hindu kovil has been established. The Poosari’s statements that it was built in 1938 cannot be accepted as the materials used for the kovil were new. There is a kovil at Palamottai with a notice giving its ‘history’ in Tamil.
There have been knee jerk reactions in Colombo, to this kovil building. the media reported in 2002 that All Ceylon Buddhist women’s Congress, National council of Buddhist women and Success, Colombo jointly appeal to the President, PM and Minister for Buddha sasana to immediately order an investigation into the alleged destruction of the ancient Samudragiri vihara in Ilankathurai. Our information is that this temple has been torn down and its stone pillars used to build a new Hindu kovil, they reported. However, Medhananda observed in 2003 that stupa and pilimage at Samudragiri vihara, Lankapatuna has been destroyed and the kovil set up. Samudragiri will be completely destroyed very soon, he predicted.
Kokkadicholai had ruins which showed that there has been an aramaya there, earlier. Guard stones, parts of stupa could be seen. Villagers had told Medhananda when he visited in 1968 that there had been an inscription too. Kokkadicholai is now completely Tamil, said Medhananda. They have encroached over most of the 22 acres. Ruins have been destroyed. A kovil, named Kanakone Ishwara Kovil, has been built over the aramaya. The evidence is still there. The Kovil started small and is now enlarged. There is a Pullaiyar kovil too, concluded Medhananda.
Rahatgala had 30 acres of Buddhist ruins including an ancient two storied building. It is today known as Shanthamalai, it has two kovils. The huge stone ansana and asanaghara at Viharagalkanda has been deposited there.
The stupa and arama of Okanda vihara were in good condition in 1978.They have now disappeared. There is now a Murugan kovil there, said Medhananda. Taravakulam, Batticaloa district, had a Buddhist vihara which is now converted to Hindu kovil. Sangamon kanda was a Buddhist religious site, with two cave inscriptions . Now it is a Siva kovil, Medhananda continued.
There are three sets of ruins between Nelugala and Toppigala. Hindu statues have been set up in them and Toppigala also now has a Hindu kovil. Nelugala was once Ruhuna’s Piyangalu vihara. The Buddhist evidence has been destroyed and a kovil set up, added Medhananda .
LTTE had put up a Hindu kovil At Oddusuddan. LTTE had also built a kovil at Nilaveli by 1981. Vishnu devale was coming up in 2003 at Dharmavardanarama in Nikawewa area.
In some kovils the Buddhist link is visible. At Tirumangala the kovil had a Buddha statue. Kantakonishwaran kovil near Vellavali, built on a huge, ancient Buddhist monastery, has used the ruins as altars. the huge stone ansana and asanaghara at vihara gal kanda had been taken to santamalai where a hindu kovil had been set up on the Buddhist site. At Kandakudichchi aru where the stupa was replaced by a kovil, one mal asana gala was placed before the Hindu statue and the other was used as a step. Villagers in Veheragoda, Ampara, said that the stone door frame belonging to the stupa had been taken away to a kovil at Mandur. ( Continued)
Appendix.
It is sad to note that ever since the International Monetary Fund(IMF) took over running our country at the end of 1977, the Central Bank has been playing a dubious role.
Let us take the devaluation of our Rupee. I quote from my book: How the IMF Sabotaged Third World Development:
In 1977 with the Structural Adjustment Programme being enforced on Sri Lanka the control of our foreign exchange went out of the control of the Central Bank to the foreign banks and to the private sector.
President Jayawardena meekly submitted and the Rupee was devalued from Rs 15.00 to Rs. 32.00 to a pound sterling in a few months at the end of 1977. That was a devaluation of over a 100%! Thereafter the IMF repeatedly tried to get the two State banks privatized but the Government resisted. In many countries the State banks are no more and the foreign banks really control the foreign exchange of the country.
Let us go into detail because no one will believe this. It is really the height of absurdity to even think that the foreign exchange of Sri Lanka is controlled by the foreign banks and the private companies. But this is the hard truth. Even our celebrated economists fail to get out of the clutches of their text books to understand how the IMF has commenced controlling our economies.
The IMF itself has said:
In a free floating regime the exchange rate is determined by the market forces. The Central Bank does not intervene in the process.. The Central Bank has control over the domestic money supply”
Let us look at what happened in reality when Sri Lanka free floated the Rupee in 2001.
The incoming foreign exchange itself was manipulated by the foreign banks to earn profits. When the two State banks had to pay a large bill in foreign currency and the two public sector banks did not have sufficient foreign funds to meet the bill, they had to buy foreign currency from the foreign banks that had collected foreign currency and were hoarding it, The foreign banks then increased the price of the foreign exchange they held. This did happen in Sri Lanka on 25/1/2001 when the US $ that was trading around Rs 82.00 was increased to Rs. 100.00 and Rs. 106.00. The profit in this increase goes to the foreign bank. The State banks had to buy the dollars at the high price quoted by the foreign bank. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka was helpless. The Central Bank said: ’In a free floating regime the market forces determine the exchange rate.. The Central Bank does not intervene in the process.. The Central Bank has control only over the domestic money supply.’(The Island.lk 17/2/2001)
This is the policy even today(2020) Thus even the foreign exchange earnings of a sovereign country is a commodity exploited to make a profit.
The manipulation of currencies is quite a common occurrence”.(From How the IMF Sabotaged Third World Development(2017, pg 44)
My opinion is that we do not require a vast Central Bank to handle the domestic Rupee. A senior administrator from the Administrative Service can easily handle that task with a few Accountants and clerical officers
This detail of what did really happen in Sri Lanka on 25/1/2001 illustrates the predicament in which our country is faced. We do not even get the foreign exchange that comes in. The foreign exchange that is collected by each bank is treated as the property of that bank and they can manipulate an increase in the sale price by hoarding the currency they have collected. Each bank fixes its own buying and selling rates. Let me tell my own experience of how the foreign banks hoard our foreign currency. – In around 2000 I instructed my Bank, the Bank Of Scotland to remit a thousand pounds to my NRFC Account at the Bank of Ceylon. I was due to go on a holiday to Myanmar and I needed dollars. Strangely this money came to my NRFC in Rupees and the Bank of Ceylon Foreign Branch told ,me that this happens very often. They told me that the Rupees were sent by Standard Chartered Bank and directed me to them. Standard Chartered refused to credit the money in pounds to my NRFC account and I had to have a bitter fight with them for two full days, even throwing my weight about to get the money in dollars. At that times there were around four SLAS officers who had worked directly under me who were Secretaries of important Ministries and I had to quote their names. With that the bank caved in. This proves the fact that the local foreign banks fight to get hold of the dollars that come in.” (From: How the IMF Ruined Sri Lanka & Alternative Programmes of Success.
This happened in 2000 and imagine the hoarding of our foreign exchange the foreign banks have been doing upto now.
Going further into our foreign exchange- what happens to the foreign exchange that is collected by private registered money changers- and they do collect far more than all the banks put together. The fact is that the foreign exchange collected by money changers is sold immediately to customers with a profit. There too the Money Changer fixes the rate. It is important to note that this money does not come into thde
This collection does not come into the coffers of our Government.
What is the possible remedy. This is simple. Have a currency board and the Government has to collect the total foreign exchange that comes in, The Government has to fix the buying and sales price and all banks and dealers have to buy and sell at the rates fixed by the Government. Professor Steve Hanke of the USA is perhaps the only world authority on this aspect. He came in when similar foreign exchange problems cropped up in Turkey and in Indonesia. There he recommended that the only way is to abandon floating and install an orthodox currency board with a fixed exchange rate.”
It is the height of absurdity to allow our hard earned foreign exchange to be manipulated by foreign banks- to make a profit.
To my thinking . Every dollar that comes in has to be the guarded property of the Government.
There are further developments that have come about which deserves immediate attention by our Central Bank.
In the past few decades money transfers are made without reference to banks. Dollars are paid in a foreign country to dealers and telephone instructions are made to hand ovcr rupees in Sri Lanka. No dollars get sent to Sri Lanka. Ways and means have to be developed to get this money sent to Sri Lanka in dollars.
There are many investors that bring in a small investment, get down to trade in the local rupee and take away the profit in dollars from our reserves for ever. This is I think not allowed by the recent decision of the Government not to allow the repatriation of profits. However investors would have entered into agreements to enable them to take the profit in dollars. These go from our reserves. Our country is the net loser.
Another recent development is for Uber eats and Uber Cars to trade in local rupees and take away profits in dollars. This is not a small amount when one notes that Uber Eats delivered 3 million orders within 3 months( AdaDerana:17/10/2018) Here too it is our foreign exchange reserves that gets depleted when profits are repatriated. Hope this is covered by the recent decision to stop repatriation of profits.
Another development is in hotel bookings. Advertising hotel availability is today, totally handled by foreign companies based overseas. They take the bookings but the condition is that the payment is to be collected by the hotel in local Rupees. However the hotelier gets an invoice from the international booking agency to pay 15% of the collection. The hotelier takes this invoice to a bank and the bank pays it in dollars. Here too our reserves suffer. Not a dollar has come in but out goes the payment in dollars again from our reserves. In fact it is important to note that tourism as happens today does not bring in foreign earnings. The answer lies in out tourist authority running a business to market hotel bookings using the internet and charge in foreign currency. There is no other way. An immediate decision is to stop paying the 15% to the foreign booking agency in dollars unless the hotelier gets paid in dollars and the dollars are banked by the hotelier in a bank. .
It is time that our Central Bank sleuths come out of their slumber and get down to real hard thinking as to what happens to our foreign exchange. It is the Central Bank and no one else that can look into this.
Garvin Karunaratne, Ph.D. Michigan State University
Author of How the IMF Ruined Sri Lanka and Alternative Programmes of Success, Godages, 2006 How the IMF Sabotaged Third World Development, Kindle/Godages: 2017
19/06/2020,
Are you starting to get the picture? China is on the rise. If you doubt this, just read the following:
# When you total up all imports and exports, China is now the number one trading nation on the entire planet.
# Overall, the U.S. has run a trade deficit with China over the past decade that comes to more than 2.3 trillion dollars.
# China has more foreign currency reserves than anyone else on the planet.
# China now has the largest new car market in the entire world.
# China now produces more than twice as many automobiles as the United States does.
# After being bailed out by U.S. taxpayers, GM is involved in 11 joint ventures with Chinese companies.
# China is the number one gold producer in the world.
# The uniforms for the U.S. Olympic team were made in China.
# 85% of all artificial Christmas trees the world over are made in China.
# The new World Trade Centre tower in New York is going to include glass imported from China .
# China now consumes more energy than the United States does.
# China is now in aggregate the leading manufacturer of goods in the entire world.
# China uses more cement than the rest of the world combined.
# China is now the number one producer of wind and solar power on the entire globe.
# China produces 3 times as much coal and 11 times as much steel as the United States does.
# China produces more than 90 percent of the global supply of rare earth elements.
# China is now the number one supplier of components that are critical to the operation of any national defense system.
# In published scientific research articles China is expected to become number one in the world very shortly.
Are you starting to get the picture? In future China will employ millions of American workers and dominate thousands of small communities all over the United States. Chinese acquisition of U.S. businesses set a new all-time record last year, and it is on pace to shatter that record this year. The Smithfield Foods acquisition is an example. Smithfield Foods is the largest pork producer and processor in the world. It has facilities in 26 U.S. states and it employs tens of thousands of Americans. It directly owns 460 farms and has contracts with approximately 2,100 others. But now a Chinese company has bought it for $ 4.7 billion, and that means that the Chinese will now be the most important employer in dozens of rural communities all over America.
Thanks in part to our massively bloated trade deficit with China, the Chinese have trillions of dollars to spend. They are only just starting to exercise their economic muscle.
It is important to keep in mind that there is often not much of a difference between the Chinese government” and Chinese corporations”. In 2011, 43 percent of all profits in China were produced by companies where the Chinese government had a controlling interest in it.
Last year a Chinese company spent $2.6 billion to purchase AMC entertainment – one of the largest movie theatre chains in the United States. Now that Chinese company controls more movie ticket sales than anyone else in the world.
But China is not just relying on acquisitions to expand its economic power. Economic beachheads” are being established all over America.
For example, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. recently broke ground on a $100 million plant in Thomasville, Alabama. Many of the residents of Thomasville, Alabama will be glad to have jobs, but it will also become yet another community that will now be heavily dependent on communist China.
And guess where else Chinese companies are putting down roots? Detroit. Chinese-owned companies are investing in American businesses and new vehicle technology, selling everything from seat belts to shock absorbers in retail stores, and hiring experienced engineers and designers in an effort to soak up the talent and expertise of domestic automakers and their suppliers. If you recently purchased an American-made” vehicle, there is a really good chance that it has a number of Chinese parts in it. Industry analysts are hard-pressed to put a number on the Chinese suppliers operating in the United States .
China seems particularly interested in acquiring energy resources in the United States. For example, China is actually mining for coal in the mountains of Tennessee. Guizhou Gouchuang Energy Holdings Group spent 616 million dollars to acquire Triple H Coal Co. in Jacksboro, Tennessee. At the time, that acquisition really didn’t make much news, but now a group of conservatives in Tennessee is trying to stop the Chinese from blowing up
their mountains and taking their coal.
And pretty soon China may want to build entire cities in the United States just like they have been doing in other countries. Right now China is actually building a city larger than Manhattan just outside Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
Are you starting to get the picture? China is on the rise. If you doubt this, just read the following:
And what we have seen so far may just be the tip of the iceberg.
Source: Michael Snyder, Guest Post
BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera told the PCoI probing Easter Sunday carnage yesterday many detailed accounts of the activities of the extremist groups .
The yeoman service this Thera has done to bring this to the notice of the authorities over the years is well known. He has been lambasted many a time very unfairly by many but no surprise if you find the supporters of such extremists behind this public criticism.
The politicians in power always showed a blind eye to his complaints and rather were happy to project him as a militant Bhikku to stay in power with the support of such extreme groups in their alliance.
However the country has come to appreciate,no doubt the importance of these disclosures which if not of his brave stance would never have come to light.
It is also disappointing to see the print media continue to print his photo always in a militant stance which is a disservice to the people who await eagerly to bring punishment to these wrong doers.
A preliminary objection has been taken under Section 39 of the Judicature Act that a rent case filed in the District Court of Colombo has no jurisdiction for the case to proceed.
The inquiry regarding the preliminary objection was held by way of written submissions and the plaintiff’s lawyer had submitted the written submissions along with judgments and several letters in English language.
The district court rejected the preliminary objection raised regarding that there was no jurisdiction to proceed the case after considering the written submissions and ordered to file the answer.
Accordingly, the defendant had filed the answer with a cross claim and request for the translations of the judgements and other documents in Sinhala language which were filed with written submissions on behalf of the plaintiff under Article 24.3 of the Constitution and procedural procedure of the District court before commencing the pre trial.
Article 24.3 of the Constitution is as follows;
Any judge, juror, party or applicant or any person legally entitled to represent such party or applicant, who is not conversant with the language used in a court, shall be entitled to interpretation and to translation into Sinhala or Tamil provided by the State, to enable him to understand and participate in the proceedings before such court and shall also be entitled to obtain in such language any such part of the record or a translation thereof, as the case may be, as he may be entitled to obtain according to law.
The order regading the translations to be obtained in Sinhala language was to be delivered on April 2nd, but due to the curfew imposed by the Covid-19 situation, the cases which were reserved for calling on 2nd of April were called on 15th of June and the above mentioned order was again reseved on July 15th.
This legal issue is considered in Court number 03 of the District Court of Colombo.
This
is an English translation of the article:
‘දිසා
අධිකරණයට ඉංග්රීසි භාෂාවෙන් ඉදිරිපත් කරන නඩු තීන්දු සහ ලේඛනවල පරිවර්තන සිංහල
භාෂාවෙන් ලබා දිය යුතුද?
නියෝගය
ජූලි 15 ට කල් යයි…!’
Media Unit,
Dr Thilaka Padma Subasinghe Memorial Law Education Programme,
දිසා අධිකරණයට ඉංග්රීසි භාෂාවෙන් ඉදිරිපත් කරන නඩු තීන්දු සහ ලේඛනවල පරිවර්තන සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් ලබා දිය යුතුද? නියෝගය ජූලි 15 ට කල් යයි…!
කොළඹ දිසා අධිකරණයේ පවරා ඇති ගෙවල් කුලී නඩුවක එම නඩුව පවත්වාගෙන යාමට අධිකරණ බලය නොමැති බවට අධිකරණ සංවිධාන පනතේ 39වන වගන්තිය යටතේ මූලික විරෝධතාවයක් ගෙන ඇත.
එකී මූලික විරෝධතාවය සම්බන්ධයෙන් විමසීම ලිඛිත දේශන මගින් සිදුකළ අතර පැමිණිල්ලේ නීතිඥවරයා විසින් ලිඛිත දේශන සමග ඉංග්රීසි භාෂාවෙන් නඩු තීන්දු සහ ඇතැම් ලිපි කිහිපයක් අධිකරණයට ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇත.
ලිඛිත දේශන සළකා බලා නඩුව පවත්වාගෙන යාමට අධිකරණ බලය නොමැති බවට වූ මූලික විරෝධතාවය ප්රතික්ෂේප කරමින් උත්තරය ගොනු කිරීමට දිසා අධිකරණය නියෝග කර ඇත.
ඒ අනුව විත්තිකරු විසින් හරස් පැමිණිල්ලක් සමග උත්තරය ගොනුකර ඇති අතර, පැමිණිල්ල වෙනුවෙන් ලිඛිත දේශන සමග නඩු වාර්තාවට ගොනුකර ඇති ඉංග්රීසි භාෂාවෙන් ඇති නඩු තීන්දු සහ ලිපි කිහිපයේ පරිවර්තන ‘පූර්ව නඩු විභාගයට’ පෙර සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් ලබා දෙන ලෙස ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාවේ 24.3 ව්යවස්ථාව සහ දිසා අධිකරණ කාර්ය පටිපාටිමය විධිවිධාන යටතේ ඉල්ලා ඇත.
ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාවේ 24.3 ව්යවස්ථාව මෙසේය;
අධිකරණයක භාවිත වන භාෂාව නොදන්නා යම්කිසි විනිශ්චයකාරවරයකු ට ජූරි සභිකයකු ට හෝ යම්කිසි පාර්ශ්වයකට හෝ අයදුම්කරුවකුට නැතහොත් ඒ පාර්ශවය හෝ අයදුම්කරු නියෝජනය කිරීමට නීතියෙන් බලය ලබා ඇති යම්කිසි තැනැත්තෙකුට එම අධිකරණයේ සිදුවන කටයුතු වටහා ගැනීමටත් ඒ කටයුතු වලට සහභාගි වීමටත් හැකවන සේ රජය විසින් සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් හෝ දෙමළ භාෂාවෙන් සපයනු ලබන භාෂණ පරිවර්තන සහ පරිවර්තන ලබා ගැනීමටත් නඩු වාර්තාවකින් නීතිය අනුව ලබා ලබාගැනීමට හිමිකම ඇති කවර වූ කොටසක් නැතහොත් එහි පරිවර්තනයක් එම භාෂාවෙන් ලබා ගැනීමටත් හිමිකම ඇත්තේ ය .
සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් පරිවර්තන ලබා ගැනීමට අදාල නියෝගය අප්රේල් 02වෙනි දිනට ලබා දීමට නියමිතව තිබූ අතර කෝවිඩ් -19 තත්ත්වය හේතුවෙන් පැවති ඇදිරි නීතිය හේතුවෙන් අප්රේල් 02 කැදවීමට තිබූ නඩු ජූනි 15 කැදවනු ලැබූ අතර එකී නියෝගය නැවත ජූලි 15වන දිනයට නියම කරන ලදී.
කොළඹ අංක 03 දිසා අධිකරණයේදී මෙම නීතිමය කරුණ සළකා බලයි.
මාධ්ය අංශය, වෛද්ය තිලක පද්මා සුබසිංහ අනුස්මරණ නීති අධ්යයන වැඩසටහන,
Human nature in itself provides us with a strong inclination towards a belief in God. There are certain sins which human nature doesn’t like to get involved in. For instance, relationship with mother, sister and daughters etc. These are certain things which even a atheist will not like to do. But if there is no fear of a super being, Why not to lie all the times? why not to steal and commit adultery? What are the reasons that keep them away from these evils? If they do not feel the power of some unseen, then they should do whatever pleases them. Then truth and lie and justice and oppression should be all the same for them. It’s only God’s fear that is ruling on their hearts. Although their mind does not acknowledge the existence of God but the human nature created by God cannot defy it. So even an atheist at heart holds some view about God and judgment day. While in distress, everybody pray to a super-Being for relief. Why so, if they don’t believe in that super-being, whom we call God?
200 suspects have been arrested; inquiry is now focusing on financial networks connecting suicide bombers; role of foreign groups suspected
Sri Lanka’s probe into the April 2019 Easter terror bombings is in its final stages”, authorities have said, while raising suspicion that the suicide bombers were funded by two foreign outfits”.
The Colombo Crime Division, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), who are investigating the attacks of last summer, have arrested over 200 suspects since.
Also read: Sri Lanka Catholic church forgives Easter bombers
The coordinated bomb blasts at three luxury hotels in Colombo and three churches in Colombo, nearby Negombo, and the eastern city of Batticaloa, were the deadliest attacks in Sri Lanka’s post-war decade, claiming 279 lives.
ASUKA, NARA PREF. – In a small western Japan village known for little more than its ancient burial mounds, an asparagus-loving Sri Lankan farmer has put her heart and soul into showing she belongs, despite sticking out like a green thumb.
Udara Kametani, 36, has grown a wide variety of vegetables in Asuka, Nara Prefecture, since she started out as the only foreign female farmer in her area about four years ago, but it is asparagus that has become her true passion.
I fell in love with it,” she said with a smile when asked to describe her relationship with the vegetable.
As her operation has grown, she has been able to provide fresh produce to around 50 stores in her area and neighboring prefectures.
The key is not to think of how tiring or grueling it is, but to have fun,” she said.
The village with a population of some 5,500 is known for its many ancient kofun mounded tombs, including the Kitora Tumulus, which features a mural from the seventh century with the world’s oldest constellation chart.
But with little else going on, Asuka has seen its population decline as younger residents move to find opportunities on offer in Japan’s large cities, said Udara’s husband Akio Kametani, 49.
But Udara is committed to expanding her vegetable business in the region where she and her family have put down roots.
Udara’s Japanese journey began through her television in Sri Lanka.
She was exposed to some Japanese shows and dramas and was inspired to dive deeper into the culture. This interest culminated in a decision to move to Tokyo to study tourism at Daito Bunka University from 2006.
She met Akio, a teacher who speaks Sinhala, one of Sri Lanka’s official languages, and they moved to settle in his native Nara Prefecture.
After giving birth to their son, now 9 years old, Akio encouraged Udara to take up a hobby or find a job she would enjoy.
She worked in a range of jobs over a few years without finding something she was passionate about, and when her husband brought up farming as a possible change, she was skeptical about that, too.
I was against it because it looked like hard work,” she explained in fluent Japanese with a sometimes Kansai lilt. But after going to a farming workshop, I realized that I liked it.”
The yearlong workshop was run by the agriculture ministry to encourage people to work in the farm sector to solve the issue of major labor shortages, especially in rural areas, due to Japan’s aging population.
Lectures ran for around four months before students took part in on-the-job training for about eight months.
Four years on, she has built a business growing produce ranging from tatsoi, an Asian leafy green, plus romaine lettuce and broccoli, among others. She is most dedicated to growing asparagus, however.
During the workshop, I went to a lot of different farms to see how to grow various vegetables,” she said, but it was asparagus that sparked her interest and imagination.
When I first saw asparagus, it was a jungle of green. The greenhouse was stiflingly hot, but it was incredibly cool when I crouched down.”
According to Udara, asparagus is fairly self-sufficient even when left alone and can reach nearly 2 meters tall if not trimmed. Although it can be harvested after one year, many farmers wait for three years so they can be rewarded with thicker and longer spears to take to market.
Moreover, asparagus, as a perennial plant, produces for as long as 10 years.
We’ve waited three years to make something great,” Akio said. Udara finally harvested her asparagus and sold them this spring.
While waiting for her perfect asparagus, she grew other produce but her focus remained on making the green spears her main business.
The two greenhouses she set up to grow asparagus are 50 meters long and have to be visited daily from February to October.
From November to January, asparagus cultivators have to lay down fresh fertilizer to get ready for the next season’s harvest.
Although she never lacked motivation, Udara’s journey has not been straightforward. As a mother and entrepreneur, she has to balance the early morning starts of a farmer with raising her child and managing the household.
My son was 5 years old when I went to the farming training, but I needed to attend every day,” she said. During asparagus season, I have to tend to the vegetables from 5:30 in the morning.”
Even though she gets some help from her friendly neighbors, Udara mostly does the heavy lifting herself.
Although exhausting, she focuses on putting her work in a positive light, framing the challenges she faces in a way that she can take joy from the difficult moments.
So many people have helped and supported me,” Udara said. I’m still new to farming, so those with more experience have given me advice.”
I’m constantly learning and happy when people cheer me on,” she added.
Some of that support has come from her homeland, too.
Udara’s Japanese farming exploits have seen her featured in Sri Lankan media, with people at home hailing her for following her dreams against heavy odds.
Now a few years into her farming career, Udara is looking to branch out and to add more variety to what she produces.
I want to start growing summer vegetables you don’t see often in Japan such as winged beans and cassava,” she said.
Not happy just toiling on her farm, Udara also grows vegetables in her backyard for her family to eat and notes that she has a plan to grow various fruits in the near future.
Having lived in Japan for 14 years, she said she only occasionally returns to Sri Lanka, and only when she can drag herself away from her beloved farm.
Her commitment is commendable and shows she has what it takes to make her business a success, but when asked if she feels special to be the only woman from outside Japan working in her farming community, Udara remains modest.
I personally don’t think it’s terribly unusual,” she said with a grin. But it makes me happy to do something different.”
පාස්කු ඉරුදින එල්ල වූ ත්රස්ත ප්රහාරය මෙහෙය වූ සහරාන් හසීම් සහ අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව භාරයේ සිටින නීතීඥ හිජාස් හිස්බුල්ලා පුත්තලම ප්රදේශයේ මද්රසා පාසල් ළමුන්ට විදුහල්පති ඉදිරියේම අවි පුහුණුව ලබා ඇති බව අනාවරණ වී තිබෙනවා.
ඒල එම සිසුන් අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවට ලබා දී ඇති ප්රකාශවලට අනුවයි.
එම ප්රකාශ ඇතුළත් විශේෂ වාර්තාවක් අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව පෙරේදා කොටුව මහේස්ත්රාත් අධිකරණයට ඉදිරිපත් කළා.
ඉකුත් වසරේ පාස්කු ඉරුදින එල්ල වූ මරාගෙන මැරෙන ත්රස්ත ප්රහාරය සම්බන්ධයෙන් අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව වැඩිදුර විමර්ශන වාර්තාවක් පෙරේදා කොළඹ කොටුව මහේස්ත්රාත් අධිකරණයට ඉදිරිපත් කර තිබුණා.
එහි සඳහන් වූයේ මෙම ප්රහාරය සම්බන්ධයෙන් ත්රස්තවාදය වැළැක්වීමේ පනත යටතේ අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව භාරයේ රඳවා තබා ගනිමින් විමර්ශන සිදුකරනු ලබන නීතීඥ හිජාස් ඕමර් හිස්බුල්ලා සම්බන්ධයෙන් තවදුරටත් දීර්ඝ විමර්ශනයක් සිදුකරමින් පවතින බවයි.
මෙතෙක් සිදුකළ විමර්ශනවලට අනුව නීතීඥ හිජාස් ඕමර් නැමැත්තාගේ ජාතික හැඳුනුම්පත් අංකයට අදාළව ජංගම දුරකථන අංක 7ක් සහ ඒවා භාවිත කර තිබූ ජංගම දුරකථන 9ක් සම්බන්ධයෙන් කරුණු අනාවරණය වී තිබෙනවා.
එම දුරකථන විශ්ලේෂණ වාර්තා ලබා ගනිමින් සැක සහිත දුරකථන සම්බන්ධතා සම්බන්ධයෙන් තවදුරටත් ප්රශ්න කරමින් අනාවරණවන කරුණු අනුව දීර්ඝ විමර්ශනයක් පවත්වන බවයි අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව අධිකරණයට දන්වා සිටියේ.
මෙම නීතීඥවරයා විසින් සාමාජිකත්වය හා සභාපතිත්වය දැරූ සේව්ද පර්ල් සොසයිටි නැමති සංවිධානය මගින් පුත්තලම අල් සුහරියා මද්රසා විද්යාලයට යොමුකර තිබූ ළමුන් 24 දෙනෙකු සම්බන්ධයෙන් කරුණු අනාවරණය වී තිබෙනවා.
ඉන් ළමුන් 10 දෙනෙකු හෙළිකර ඇත්තේ නීතීඥ හිජාස් මද්රසා පාසලට පැමිණ අන්ය ජාතීන් හා ආගමිකයන් කෙරෙහි වෛරයක් ඇතිවන ආකාරයේ දේශණ පවත්වා පුහුණුවීම් සිදුකර ඇති බවටයි.
පාස්කු ඉරුදින ප්රහාරය මෙහෙය වූ මොහොමඩ් කාසිම්, මොහොමඩ් සහරාන්, ඉල්හාම් මොහොමඩ් ඊබ්රහිම් සහ මොහොමදු ඊබ්රහිම් මොහොමදු නවුෆර් යන අය පාසලට පැමිණ පැය එක හමාරක පමණ කාලයක් වීඩියෝවක් පෙන්වූ බවත් එම වීඩියෝව මගින් ගුවන් හමුදාවෙන් පැමිණ බෝම්බ ගසන ආකාරය සහ මියගිය පුද්ගලයන් වැටී සිටි ආකාරය පෙන්වා සිටි බවද එක් සිසුවෙකු ලබාදුන් ප්රකාශවල සඳහන්වනවා.
තවත් සිසුවෙකු ලබාදුන් ප්රකාශවල සඳහන්ව ඇත්තේ හිස්බුල්ලා නම් නීතිඥවරයා පැමිණ දේශනයක් පවත්වා ප්රොෙජක්ටරයක් ආධාරයෙන් ඊශ්රායලය හා පලස්තීනයේ යුද්ධයට සම්බන්ධ වීඩියෝවක් පෙන්වූ බවයි.
ඊශ්රායලයේ ක්රිස්තියානි පිරිස් අල්ලා සිටින්නේ තමන්ගේ පල්ලි බවත්, ලංකාවේ කතෝලික අයට ප්රහාර එල්ල කළ හොත් ඒ අය බියවනු ඇති බවත් නීතීඥ හිජාස් හිස්බුල්ලා පැවසූ බව සිසුවෙකු ලබාදුන් ප්රකාශයක සඳහන්වනවා.
අදාළ සිසුවා ලබාදුන් ප්රකාශයේ වැඩිදුරටත් සඳහන් වන්නේ 2018 දෙසැම්බර් මාසයේදී නසීර් නවුෆර් නැමැත්තෙකු පැමිණ තවත් දේශනයක් පැවැත්වූ බවයි.
එහිදී පරිගණකයෙන් තැනූ රොබෝවරයෙකු මරා දමන ලෙස ඔහු පැවසූ බවට ද සිසුවෙකු ප්රකාශ ලබාදී තිබුණා.
මිනිස් රූප දෙකක් ගෙන එක් අයෙකු මැරුණහොත් අනෙක් පුද්ගලයා ඉතිරිවන බව කියා ඊශ්රායලයේ ඉගැන්වීම් සිදුකර තිබෙන බවද ළමුන් ප්රකාශ ලබාදී තිබෙනවා.
වැඩිදුරටත් එම ප්රකාශවල දැක්වෙන්නේ අපේ ආගම කතෝලික අයගෙන් බේරාගත යුතු බවත්, කතෝලික ආගමට විරුද්ධව අපි වැඩ කළ යුතු බවත් අදාළ පුද්ගලයා ප්රකාශ කළ බවයි.
එම සිසුවා වැඩිදුරටත් පවසා ඇත්තේ 2019 ජනවාරි මාසයේ දිනක පාස්කු ප්රහාරය සිදුකල සහරාන් හසීම් සුදු පැහැති KDH වර්ගයේ වෑන් රථයකින් පාසලට පැමිණ දේශණ පැවැත්වූ බවයි.
එහිදී ආගම වෙනුවෙන් පන දිය යුතු බව සහරාන් පැවසූ බවත්, ආගම බේරාගැනීම සඳහා සටන් කිරීමට ධෛර්ය තිබෙන්නේ කාටදැයි විමසා සිටි බවයි.
එහිදී ඇතැම් සිසුන් සටන් කිරීමට කැමැත්ත පළ කළ බවත් ඔවුන් පමණක් රැඳි සිට අනෙක් සිසුන්ට ඉන් ඉවත්වන ලෙස විදුහල්පතිවරයා පැවසූ බව එම සිසුවා ප්රකාශ කර තිබෙනවා.
සහරාන් හෂීම්ගේ සොහොයුරෙකුවන මොහොමඩ් රිල්වාන් නැමැත්තා තුවක්කුවක් ගලවා වෙඩි තබන ආකාරය පෙන්වූ බවද සිසුවෙකු ලබාදුන් ප්රකාශයක සඳහන්.
එලෙස පාසල් ළමුන්ට ගිනි අවි නැරඹීමට ලබාදුන් අවස්ථාවේ විදුහලේ විදුහල්පතිවරයාද සිට තිබෙනවා.
එමෙන්ම අරාබි ජාතික පුද්ගලයන් 4 දෙනෙකු පැමිණ ළමුන්ට රුපියල් 3000 බැගින් මුදල් පරිත්යාගයක්ද සිදුකර ඇති අතර එම අවස්ථාවේ විදුහල්පතිවරයාටද අරාබි මුදල් මිටියක් ලබාදුන් බව අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවට සිසුවෙකු ලබාදුන් ප්රකාශයක සදහන්.
මෙම සිසුන් ලබාදුන් ප්රකාශ අනුව මරාගෙන මැරෙන බෝම්බකරුවන සහරාන් හෂීම්ට අමතරව ඉල්හාම් මොහොමඩ්, මොහොමඩ් ඊබ්රහිම්, මොහොමඩ් ජෙෆ්රි ෆාතිමා, නීතීඥ හිජාස් හිස්බුල්ලා, මොහොමඩ් අසාම් මොහොමඩ් මුබාරක් සහ තවත් පිරිසක් වරින්වර මද්රසා පාසල්වලට පැමිණ වැඩමුළු හා දේශන පවත්වා ඇති බවට කරුණු හෙළිව ඇතැයි අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවේ නිලධාරීන් අධිකරණයට දැනුම් දී තිබෙනවා.
The sinister political hand in the obstruction of the archaeological survey at the Pottuvil Muhudu Viharaya was exposed today.
This was with the actions of a candidate contesting the forthcoming general election from the All Ceylon Makkal Congress Party led by former minister Rishad Bathiudeen.
Today, the CIA disclosure is about this sinister attempt to promote the personal political agenda by inciting ordinary people.
Attorney General Dappula de Livera said today the prisons have become the playgrounds of criminals and pointed out that the prison department lacked honest and efficient officers.
He said this when addressing prison officers at the Welikada Prison and claimed that a majority of the jailers were addicted to taking bribes from criminals.
It is a well known secret that prison inmates are protected by prison officers and prison officers are protected by inmates,” the AG said.
He said there was no discipline among the prison officers and inmates and pointed out that the rehabilitation of inmates had not been properly carried out.
The AG said the public too had lost faith in the prison department.
I know that there are a few honest officers in this department. However, majority of them are corrupt,” he said.
Hence, it is essential to put things right and for that, we need strong leadership and honest and efficient officers.”
No matter who administers the country, Islamic extremism cannot be eradicated until the government leaders ban extremism across the country, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary the Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thera told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on the Easter Sunday Attacks.
“Extremism in the country is like a cancer now,” he said.
When the Commissioners asked the monk about the situation in the country at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks, he said at that time the country was without a leader who could take the responsibility of handling the affairs of governance in an efficient manner.
“The Easter attacks resulted in showing up country’s leadership as a failure,” he said.
During the monk’s testimony, PCoI Chairman Supreme Court Judge Janak de Silva said the commission had received several complaints against the manner in which the BBS behaved on several occasions.
“I raised this matter up so as to provide a proper perspective to the testimony,” the Chairman said.
With reference to the riots at Aluthgama, the monk said former MP Rajitha Senaratne’s behaviour adversely affected the situation. (Yoshitha Perera)
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) submitted a report pertaining to the Easter Attacks of last year to the Fort Magistrate’s Court on Friday (19).
During the investigations, revelations have been made that 24 students had been sent to a Madrasa in Puttalam by suicide bomber Zahran Hashim and his clan.
The report said that under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) the CID is conducting further investigations into Lawyer Hijaz Hizbullah.
According to the investigations that have been carried out so far, 07 phone numbers and 09 mobile phones were registered under Lawyer Hizbullah.
Revelations were also made on 24 children who were sent to the Al Suharia Madrasa in Puttalam through the ‘Save The Pearl Society’ where Lawyer Hizbullah held the title of chairman.
The CID told the Fort Magistrate’s Court that among the 24 students, 10 have identified Lawyer Hizbullah to have conducted lectures at the Madrasa, teaching them to hate other religions and races.
One child has given evidence saying that they were shown a video of an air force bombing and visuals of dead people by Mohamed Kasim Mohamed Zahran, who led the Easter Sunday terror attacks, Ilham Mohamed Ibrahim and Mohamed Ibrahim Naufer.
Another child, testifying on the matter, has said Lawyer Hizbullah had conducted lectures at the Madrasa. The child went on to say that the lawyer had shown them a video of the wat between Israel and Palestine, saying that Israeli Christians had taken the mosques under control and the only way to make them scared is to attack the Christians in Sri Lanka.
The child also revealed that an individual named Hassir Naufer had conducted another lecture in the month of December 2018, stating that in Israel, it is taught that if one person dies another will remain and that they should also follow this teaching.
The positive cases of novel coronavirus confirmed in the country hiked to 1,950 on Friday (19) as three more arrivals tested positive for the virus.
The number of active coronavirus cases under medical care meanwhile stands at 467.
Sri Lankan has confirmed 11 deaths due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The number of patients who recovered from the COVID-19 increased to 1,472 today (20) as a total of 26 more virus-positive regained health.
These recoveries are reported from the Infectious Disease Hospital (14), Welikanda Base Hospital (02), Kattankudy Base Hospital (04), Minuwangoda Base Hospital (02), Hambantota District General Hospital (02) and Theldeniya Base Hospital (02).
On your birthday this year, We
patriotic wanted to write to you and thank you for everything you have done for
our country.
Your work is truly mesmerizing and you are an exemplary leader for future
generations who wish to follow the world of politics.
Thank you once again! I’m wishing you a joyous birthday today and a prosperous
year to come!
පළාත් පාලන ආයතනවල සභිකයින්ගේ නිවාඩු ප්රශ්නය විසදා ගැනීමට නොහැකිව, ෆෙස් බුක් කමෙන්ට් එකක් වෙනුවෙන් විනය පරීක්ෂණයක් පැවැත්වීමට යෝජනා කරන මැ.කො., දැන් එයින් ඔබ්බට ගොස් සභා ලේකම්වරුන් හරහා ද කොස් ඇට බාවන්නට උත්සහ දරමින් සිටී.
ජා ඇල නගර සභාවේ සභිකයෙකු සම්බන්ධයෙන් මැ.කො. ජා ඇළ සභා ලේකම් වෙත යවා ඇති ලිපිය මේ සමග දැක්වේ. ලංකාවේ කිසිදු නීතියට වලංගු නැති, නීතිමය වටිනාකමක් නැති මැ.කො. මේ ලිපිය ද, සභිකයින්ගේ නිවාඩු අවුල සම්බන්ධයෙන්ම වේ. විනය පරීක්ෂණ ඉල්ලීමක් මගින් රාජ්ය සේවකයින්ගේ කට වසා දැමීමට මැ.කො. ට අවශ්ය වූයේ නීතියට පටහැනි මෙවැනි නියෝග පෙරළා ප්රශ්න කිරීම වැලැක්වීමට ය. පළාත් පාලන කොමසාරිස් කළ නොහැකි දේ, සභා ලේකම්ට කරන්නට කියන මේ ලිපිය විමසමු.
සභා ලේකම්ට මෙවැනි කිසිදු නෛතික පදනමක් නැති, අනීතික ලිපියක් ලියමින් උපදෙස් දෙන්නට හැකියාවක් තිබේද? නැත! නීතියට පිටින් දෙන මේ උපදෙස සභා ලේකම්වරු පිළිපැදිය යුතුද? නැත.
මැ.කො. අලුත්ම අනීතික ලියවිල්ල පේළියෙන් පේළිය විග්රහ කරමු.
1. මැ.කො. මේ ලිපිය ලියන්නේ සභිකයෙකුගේ නිවාඩු ප්රශ්නය ගැන, ජා ඇළ නගර සභාවේ ලේකම් ගේ ලිපියකට පිලිතුරු ලෙසිනි. මැ.කො. අතිරේක මැ.කො. (නීති විමර්ශන) බී.පී.සී.කුලරත්න දෙවන ඡේදයේ කියන්නේ ‘ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාව හා පවත්නා නීතිය අනුව සභා රැස්වීම්වලට සහභාගිවීම හා කාර්යාල සම්පත් පරිපරණයට හා සභා වාර වලට සම්බන්ධ වීම නිල ධූරයේ බලය අයුතු ලෙස භාවිත කිරීමක්‘ බව ය.
ප්රශ්නගත කරුණ ගැන ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාවේ 104 ආ. (4) අනු ව්යවස්ථාවේ (අ) ඡේදය ආරම්භ වන්නේ –
මැතිවරණයක් පවත්වනු ලබන කාලපරිච්ඡේදය තුළ දී, රජයට හෝ යම් රාජ්ය සංස්ථාවකට හෝ අයත් යම් නිශ්චල හෝ චංචල දේපළක් -” යනුවෙනි.
මැ.කො. විසින් 2020. 06. 06 දින නිකුත් කර ඇති අංක 2178/29 දරන අති විශේෂ ගැසට් පත්රයේ ප්රකාශයට පත් කර ඇති විධානවල පළමුවන ඡේදය මෙසේ කියයි.
ඒ විධාන, ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාවේ 104 ආ ව්යවස්ථාවේ (4) වන අනු ව්යවස්ථාවේ (අ) ඡේදය යටතේ රජයට හෝ යම් රාජ්ය සංස්ථාවකට හෝ අයත් යම් නිශ්චල හෝ චංචල දේපළක් පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයක දී යම් දේශපාලන පක්ෂයක් හෝ ස්වාධීන කණ්ඩායමක් හෝ යම් අපේක්ෂකයකු තෝරා පත් කර ගැනීම ප්රවර්ධනය කිරීමේ හෝ වළක්වාලීමේ කාර්යය සඳහා භාවිත කිරීම තහනම් කිරීමට කොමිෂන් සභාව ඇති බලතල යටතේ නිකුත් කරනු ලබන බව‘ කි.
රජයට හෝ යම් රාජ්ය සංස්ථාවකට හෝ අයත් යම් නිශ්චල හෝ චංචල දේපළක් එවැනි භාවිත කිරීමක් වළක්වාලීමට කොමිෂන් සභාවට ඒ අනුව පැහැදිලි බලයක් ඇත. සිදු විය යුත්තේ ද, වසර ගණනක් අප පෙනී සිටියේ ද, ඒ වෙනුවෙන්ම ය.
එහෙත්, ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාවේ 104ආ ව්යවස්ථාවේ (4) වන අනු ව්යවස්ථාවේ (අ) ඡේදය මගින් පළාත් පාලන ආයතනයක යම් නිශ්චල දේපළක් හෝ චංචල දේපළක් හෝ සම්බන්ධයෙන් විධාන කිරීමට කොමිෂන් සභාවට බලයක් ලබා දී තිබේ ද? නැත. කිසිසේත්ම නැත!!
* ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාවේ 170 වන ව්යවස්ථාවේ, දක්වා ඇති අර්ථ නිරූපණය තුළ ‘රජය’ යන්නට අර්ථය නිරූපණය කර නැත. එහෙත් අර්ථ නිරූපණය පිළිබඳ ආඥාපනතේ ‘රජය’ යන්නට අර්ථ නිරූපණයක් දී ඇත. (2 වන වගන්තියේ (ඈඈ) ඡේදය) එය මෙසේ ය.
‘ රජය” හෝ ජනරජය” හෝ ශ්රී ලංකා ජනරජය” යන්නෙන්, ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රජාතාන්ත්රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය අදහස් වේ;’
* ඒ ආකාරයෙන් ම 170 වන ව්යවස්ථාව අනුව රාජ්ය සංස්ථාව” යන්නට සහ පළාත් පාලන ආයතනය” යන්නට ද අර්ථ නිරූපණය දක්වා ඇත. අර්ථ නිරූපණය පිළිබඳ ආඥාපනතේ (2 වන වගන්තියේ (ප) ඡේදය) පළාත් පාලන ආයතනය යන්නට දී ඇති අර්ථය සමග ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාවේ අර්ථ නිරූපණයට සම්පූර්ණයෙන් ම සමාන වේ.
* මේ අනුව 104ආ ව්යවස්ථාවේ (4) වන අනු ව්යවස්ථාවේ (අ) ඡේදය මගින් පළාත් පාලන ආයතනයක (එනම් දැන් පළාත් පාලන කොමසාරිස්වරුන් හා අලුතෙන්ම සභා ලේකම්වරුන්ට අනීතික බලපෑම් කරමින් ලියුම් ලියන පරිදි, යම් නිශ්චල දේපළක් හෝ චංචල දේපළක් හෝ සම්බන්ධයෙන් විධාන කිරීමට මැ.කො. බලයක් නැත.
එයට හේතුවක් තිබේ. පොදු දේපළ විෂයයෙහි ලා සිදු කරනු ලබන වැරදි පිළිබඳ පනතේ ද පොදු දේපළ” යන්නට දී ඇති අර්ථ නිරූපණය අනුව පළාත් පාලන ආයතනවල දේපළ ඇතුළත් වී නැත. ඒ පනතේ පොදු දේපළ යන්නට දී ඇති අර්ථය මෙසේ ය:
“public property ” means the property of the Government, any department, statutory board, public corpora-ration, bank, co-operative society or co-operative-union.
* එසේම රාජ්ය සංස්ථාවකට දී ඇති අර්ථ නිරූපණය, පළාත් පාලන ආයතන සම්බන්ධයෙන් අදාළ කර ගැනීම ද කළ නොහැකි වනවා සේ ම, පළාත් පාලන ආයතන රාජ්ය සංස්ථා ගණයට ඇතුළත් කිරීම ද කළ නොහැකි ය.
* පළාත් පාලන ආයතනයකට සභිකයකු වශයෙන් තෝරා පත් කර ගැනීම කරනු ලබන්නේ පළාත් පාලන ආයතන ඡන්ද විමසීම් ආඥාපනතේ විධිවිධාන අනුව වේ. එසේම, එසේ පත් කර ගන්නා සභිකයකු නගරාධිපතිවරයා / සභාපතිවරයා හෝ නියෝජ්ය නගරාධිපතිවරයා / උප සභාපතිවරයා යන ධුරයකට පත් කිරීම ඒ ආඥාපනතේ නියම අනුව කරනු ලැබේ.
* පළාත් පාලන ආයතනයක් විසින් තීරණය කළ යුතු ප්රශ්න හා කරුණු ඒ පළාත් පාලන ආයතනයේ සභිකයන් විසින් තීරණය කළ යුතු ය. මේ තීරණ ගැනීම පිළිබඳ මූලික නීතිවල විධිවිධාන අනුව (මහා නගර සභා ආඥාපනතේ 21 වන වගන්තිය, නගර සභා ආඥාපනතේ 26 වන වගන්තිය සහ ප්රාදේශීය සභා පනතේ 14 වන වගන්තිය) මේ තීරණ ගැනීම සඳහා සභිකයන් මහා සභා රැස්වීමට පැමිණිය යුතු ය.
සභාව ගත යුතු තීරණ, ගැන බලපෑම් කරන්නට ප.පා.කො. ට හැකියාවක් නැත. සභා ලේකම්ට කොහෙත්මක හැකියාවක් නැත. මැ.කො. ගොඩනැගිල්ලේ සිටින නීති විශාරදයින් මේ කරුණ හොදින් දනී. තමන්ට බැදගන්නට බැරි දර මිටිය බැදගන්නට පා.පා.කො. බැරිනම් සභා ලේකම් ‘ගැරඩියන් කර ගන්නට‘ උත්සහ දරයි. එය බැරි වූ විට, ‘විනය ඉස්සරහට‘ ගනී.
දැන් අපි නිවාඩු ගැන බලමු.
මේ අනුව නගරාධිපති / සභාපති හෝ නියෝජ්ය නගරාධිපති / උප සභාපති හෝ යම් සභිකයකු නිවාඩු ලබා ගැනීම පිළිබඳ විධිවිධාන ඇත්තේ වක්ර ප්රතිපාදනයක් ලෙස ය. දැන්, මැ.කො. සේනක පල්ලියගුරුගේ ඇතුළු පළාත් පාලන කොමසාරිස්වරුන් 8 දෙනා ද, දැන් ප.පා.ආයතන සභා ලේකම්වරුන් ද ලව්වා කොස් ඇට බාවන්නට හදන්නේ ඇයි ද යන්න පැහැදිලිය. එය ප්රශ්න කළ විට, වෙනදා උඩ පැන බුකිය/මාධ්ය දෙවනත් කරන, මහින්ද දේශප්රිය, රත්නජීවන් හූල් වැනි ප්රජාතන්ත්රවාදයේ නිර්මාපකයින් ද, මැ.කො. ශ්රීන් බොරලැස්ස, තිලිණ, නාලක ඇතුළු කණ්ඩායම ද කට වසාගෙන නොදැක්කා සේ සිටින්නේ ද ඒ නිසාය.
අර්බුදය, මැ.කො. පත්ව ඇති අපහසුතාවය සිහි බුද්ධිය ඇති අයෙකුට වටහා ගත හැකිය. ප්රශ්ණය ඇත්තේ, මැ.කො. උත්තර නැති ප්රශ්නවලට ප.පා.කො. සහ දැන් අලුතෙන් සභා ලේකම්ලා ‘ලවා කොස් ඇට බාවන්නේ ඇයි ද?‘ යන්නය.
2. මෙම ලිපියේ පලාත් පාලන සභිකයන්ගෙන් තෝරාගත් කොටසකට පමණක් මැ.කො. අදාළ කරවන්නට හදන ‘මැතිවරණට නිවාඩු ගැනීම‘ පිළිබඳ මූලික නීතිවල නියමය සලකා බලමු. නීතියක් නම් එය සැමට එක හා සමානව බල පැවැත්විය යුතුය. නමුත්, සභාපති/උපසභාපති හා තෝරාගත් කිහිප දෙනෙකුට හැර මැ.කො. ඔවුන් පනවන නීතිය සැමට ක්රියාත්මක කරන්නේ නැත. (උදාහරණයක් ලෙස ජ.වි.පෙ. හි සභිකයින් විශාල පිරිසක් අපේක්ෂකයින් වෙති. ප්රධාන පක්ෂවල සභිකයින් රැසක් ස්වාධීන කණ්ඩායම්වල අපේක්ෂකයින් වෙති. නැගෙනහිර ගාන කීයද කියා නි. මැ.කො. තිලිණිට පැවසිය හැකිය!
සභිකයින්ට අදාළ නිවාඩු නීතිය කුමක්ද?
සභාවේ අවසරය කලින් නො ලබා, සභාවේ අනුගාමී රැස්වීම් තුනකට පැමිණ සිටීම පැහැර හරින සභිකයකුගේ ධුරය, එනයින් ම අත්හරින්නේ ය. (ම. න. ස. ආඥාපනත 13 (2), න. ස. ආඥාපනත 12 (2) සහ ප්රාදේශීය සභා පනත 7) තේරෙන භාෂාවෙන් නම් මන්ත්රී ධූරය අහිමි වන්නේය.
මේ අනුව යම් සභිකයකු තමන් වෙත පැවරී ඇති ව්යවස්ථාපිත වගකීම නිසි ආකාරයෙන් ඉටු කිරීම පිණිස මහා සභා රැස්වීමට පැමිණිය යුතු ය. මෙසේ ස්වකීය ව්යවස්ථාපිත වගකීම ඉටු කිරීම වෙනුවෙන් මහා සභා රැස්වීමට පැමිණෙන සභිකයන් වෙනුවෙන් මාසික දීමනාවක් ගෙවීමට අමාත්යවරයා විසින් ගැසට් පත්රයේ ප්රකාශ කරන ලද නියෝග මගින් ප්රතිපාදන සලසා දී ඇත. මේ නියෝග සෑදීමට අමාත්යවරයාට බලය ලැබී ඇත. [ම. න. ස. ආඥාපනත 289, න. ස. ආඥාපනත 193 (2) (උඋ) සහ ප්රාදේශීය සභා පනත 19 (1) (xxviii)]
මේ බලය යටතේ සාදන ලද නියෝග අනුව, (ලංකාවේ වලංගු නීතිය අනුව) යම් සභිකයකු මහා සභාවේ අවසරය ඇති ව නිවාඩු ලබා ගත් අවස්ථාවක දී, අසනීප තත්ත්වයක් මත නිවාඩු ලබා ගැනීමක දී හැර ඔහුට දීමනා ලබා ගැනීමට හිමිකම් නැත.
* පළාත් පාලන ආයතනයක සභිකයකුට ඉටු කිරීමට නියම වී ඇති ව්යවස්ථාපිත වගකීම, ඔහු පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයේ අපේක්ෂකයකු වීම මත අහිමි කිරීමට යම් නීතියකින් විධිවිධාන සලස්වන්නේ නම්, ඒ නීතිය වෙනත් නීතියක විධිවිධාන අභිබවා යන තත්ත්වයක් පෙන්නුම් කරයි. එසේම ඒ සභිකයා වෙත පවතින අයිතිය සීමා කිරීමක් ලෙස අර්ථ දැක්විය හැකි ය. ඒ අනුව යම් පළාත් පාලන ආයතන සභිකයකු පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයට ඉදිරිපත් වීමේ හේතුව නිසා, ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථාවෙන් ඔහුට හිමි වී ඇති මූලික අයිතිය උල්ලංඝනය කිරීමක් වේ.
* පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයට නාම යෝජනා දීමෙන් පසු නිවාඩු ලබා ගැනීම කළ යුතු බවට සහ ඒ කාලය තුළ දීමනා ලබා ගැනීම නොකළ යුතු බවට මැ.කො. නිකුත් කර ඇත. (මේ බලය මැ.කො. ලැබෙන්නේ කෙහෙන්ද? උත්තර නැත! අහන එකාට නොව ශෙයා කරන එකාට විනය පරීක්ෂණ ය.) ඒ අනුව, එය සිදුකරන සභිකයෙකු, ඒ යම් සභිකයකු මැතිවරණ නීති උල්ලංඝනය කළ අයකු ලෙස සැලකීමට ඉඩ කඩ නිර්මාණය කර තිබේ. එවැනි යම් සභිකයකු පාර්ලිමේන්තුවට තේරී පත් වුවහොත් ඔහුගේ පත්වීම අවලංගු කිරීමේ අධිකරණ නියෝගයක් වුව ද නිකුත් කිරීමට ඉඩ ප්රස්ථාව එමගින් විවර වේ.
සරළව, මොරටුවේ පොහොට්ටුවේ නගරාධිපති ට, වැලිගම දුරකතනයේ සභාපති ට, මහියංගන අලියාගේ සභාපති ට මැ.කො. මේ අවනීතිය අදාලය. හැබැයි, ඒ හතර වටේ සභාවල තවත් සභිකයෙකුට, ඔය ගැන වගේ වගක් නැතිව අපේක්ෂකත්වය දැරිය හැකිය.
මැ.කො. තෝරාගත් පිරිසකට පමණක් මේ නීතිය අදාල කිරීම තුලින් සිදු වන්නේ කුමක් ද? පලාත් පාලන ආයතන සභිකයින් පිරිසක් මේ උගුලට හසුවන අතර, තවත් පිරිසක් නිවාඩුත් නොලබා, දීමනා ද ලබා, මැතිවරණයේ අපේක්ෂකයින් ලෙස ද කටයුතු කරති. හැබැයි, නාම යෝජනා පත්රය තමන් අතේ තියාගෙන ඉන්න, පත් කළ සභිකයින් කවුදැයි කියා හොදින්ම දන්න, මැ.කො. ඒ ගැන කටයුතු නොකර මේ ගැන කිසිදු බලයක් නැති ප.පා.කො. හා දැන් සභා ලේකම්වරුන් ‘කොස් ඇට බාන්නට‘ කියයි. (නීතියටම කටයුතු කළ මහියංගන ප්රා.ස. සභාපතිට අත්වූ ඉරණම පසුව කථා කරමු)
* මැ.කො. නිකුත් කළ විධානවලට පළාත් සභා ඇතුළත් කර නැත්තේ දැනට පළාත් සභා අක්රිය තත්ත්වයේ පවතින නිසා විය හැකි බව පෙනේ. එසේ වුව ද, අමාත්ය මණ්ඩලයේ යම් අමාත්යවරයකු හෝ හිටපු පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්රීවරයකු යම් පළාත් සභාවක නිශ්චල හෝ චංචල දේපළක් අවභාවිත කළ හොත් ඒ අවභාවිතය මේ විධානවල පාලනයට යටත් නොවේ. (දැනට සිදු වන්නේ නැතත්, උදාහරණයක් ලෙස මාතලේ දිස්ත්රික්කයට තරග වදින, නාම යෝජනා නිවාඩු ගැසට් එක ගැසූ, ස්වදේශ කටයුතු ඇමති ජනක බණ්ඩාර තෙන්නකෝන් හෝ (අලියාට හෝ දුරකතනයට බලය හිමි) මාතලේ මහ නගර සභාවේ සම්පත් සම්බන්ධයෙන් එම තර්කය සමගි ජන බලවේගයේ අපේක්ෂක අලුවිහාරේ සහෝදරයින්ට ද, අදාල සමීකරණයක් ගොඩනැගෙයි. සැ.යු. මාතලේ එවැන්නක් සිදුව නැත. මෙම මහපොළොවට සමීප සෛද්ධාන්තික උදාහරණයක් පමණී)
මැ.කො. පලාත් පාලනය හා නිවාඩු කථාවේ ව්යවහාරය අවබෝධ කර ගෙන නැත. නැතහොත් මේ තත්වය හොදින්ම දැනගෙන, ඒ සඳහා වන ඉඩකඩ අවුරා තැබීමෙන් කැමැත්තෙන්ම වැළකී ඇත.
ප.පා. සභිකයින්ගේ නිවාඩු ගැන මැ.කො. තනා ඇති සම තරග බිමේ විස්තරය ඒ ආකාරය. හිටපු ජනාධිපතිවරුන්ට පුළුවන්. අගමැතිට පුළුවන්. කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලයටම පුළුවන්. හැබැයි ප.පා. සභිකයන්ට බැරිය!!
පලාත් පාලන ආයතන සභිකයින්ගේ නිවාඩු ගැටළුවේ දී, මැතිවරණයකට තරග කරන සියළු සභිකයින් නිවාඩු ගත යුතු බව අනිවාර්ය කිරීම, දේශපාලන පක්ෂ හා ස්වාධීන කණ්ඩායම් නායකයින් හරහා සිදු කළ හැකිය. එසේ නොවේ නම්, කළ හැකි බොහෝ දේ මැ.කො. දන්නේය. එසේ තිබිදී, මේ ප්රශ්නය තවදුරටත් ජංජාලයක් කර ගන්නේ ඇයි දැයි, විනය පරීක්ෂණ තියන්නේ ඇයි ද? එක පිට එක ලිපි ලියන්නේ ඇයි ද? පැහැදිලි කිරීම මැ.කො. වගකීමකි.
මැ.කො. කමෙන්ට් එකකින්, තමන් ප්රශ්න කරන රාජ්ය සේවකයින්ට විනය පරීක්ෂණ තියන්නට පෙර, තවදුරටත් කටුව අස්සේ රිංගාගෙන නොසිට, පහත ප්රශ්නවලට පිළිතුරු දිය යුතුය.
1. පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයකට හෝ පළාත් සභා මැතිවරණයකට ඉදිරිපත්වන පලාත් පාලන ආයතනයක යම් සභිකයෙකු නිවාඩු ලබා ගත යුතු බව සදහන් පනත හෝ චක්රෙල්ණය කුමක් ද?
2. එසේ ලබා ගත යුත්තේ රාජකාරි නිවාඩු ද? පුද්ගලික නිවාඩු ද?
3. එම නිවාඩු, වැටුප් සහිත නිවාඩු ද? වැටුප් රහිත නිවාඩු ද?
ගැසට් ගසා ජනාධිපතිවරයා දණ ගස්සවන්නට තරම් ශක්තියක් තිබුණ, කොවිඩ් 19 න් රට බේරා ගත් මැ.කො., ප්රජාතන්ත්රවාදයේ මුරදේවතාවුන් යැයි තමන් සිංහලෙන්-දෙමළෙන් රාජ්ය භාෂා දෙකෙන්ම අභිසෙස් ගන්වා සිටින මැ.කො. ට මේ ටික අපේක්ෂකයින්ට ලියා යවන්නට බැරි ඇයි?
හිතවත් මහින්ද දේශප්රිය, රත්නජීවන් හූල්, අබේසේකර මහත්වරුණි, කොමසාරිස් ජනරාල් හා නියෝජ්ය, ජ්යෙෂ්ඨ හා සහකාර කොමසාරිස්වරුනි, දැන්වත් මේ විකාර ලිපි ලිවීම නවතා, විනය පරීක්ෂණ නාඩගම නවතා මහපොළවට පැමිණෙන්න.
දේශපාලන ලෝකයේ හිට්ලර් වැනි ඒකාධිපතියන් යැයි කියන්නේ දේශපාලනඥයින්ට පමණක් නොවේ. අනීතික වැඩ කර, තම නිරුවත වසා ගන්නට ‘ආයතන සංග්රහය‘ උස්සාගෙන එන රාජ්ය නිලධාරීන්ට ද එය අදාළ ය. කලක් වීරයින් ලෙස සැලකුණ මිනිසුන් වසර පහක දී, කුණු කුඩයට වැටෙනු අප දැක ඇත. දේශපාලනඥයින් පමණක් නොව එය කොමසාරිස්වරුන්ට, නිලධාරීන්ට ද, සිදු විය හැකිය. මා මිත්ර 2015 වසරේ මිනිසා, මහින්ද දේශප්රියට එය සිදු නොවේවා යන්න මාගේ ප්රාර්ථනය යි!
රජිත් කීර්ති තෙන්නකෝන්
Sri Lanka’s Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) is planning to launch a long-awaited multi-million-dollar global tourism promotion campaign in January 2021 if tourism does not bounce back to the pre-Covid level in two years, local media reported.
Currently, the final terms of references (TOR) of the five-year campaign are being reviewed by an appointed Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), which is likely to be completed this month, the Mirror Business quoted the SLTPB as saying.
Our aim is to finish the procurement process by December and to kick off the campaign by January,” a top SLTPB official told the newspaper.
Initially, the SLTPB plans to float 11 tenders, including three local tenders, to select a creative agency, a social media agency and a campaign-monitoring unit for the five years, Xinhua news agency reported.
Eight international tenders would be invited to select agencies for destination
representation.
Despite the Covid-19-induced crisis, Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are maintaining their midterm target to achieve revenue of $10bn from tourism by 2025.
The President does not seize illicit liquor, he doesn’t catch rapists, drug peddlers or terrorists. The President is entrusted with policy planning, giving directives and advising, was what former President Maithripala Sirisena insisted when the journalist who interviewed him last week for the BBC Sinhala service repeatedly asked whether he (Sirisena) feels, even slightly, responsible for the unfortunate Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 that occurred as a result of a major security lapse.
Sirisena was the President, Head of State, Minister of Defence, Minister-in-Charge of Police and also Commander-in-Chief, when the Easter Sunday attacks were carried out last year. Today, completes one year and two months after the attacks.
A brief translation of the conversation between former President Sirisena and the BBC journalist goes as;
BBC: Would you or former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe accept responsibility?
MS: Responsibility for what?
BBC: Responsibility for the Easter Sunday attacks…
MS: Why would I accept responsibility? Responsibility should be accepted by those who were responsible.
BBC: Were you aware of an imminent attack?
MS: If I were aware, would I have let it happen? What kind of question is that?
BBC: You were the President, Minister of Defence, Minister-in-Charge of the Police at the time…
MS: The President does not seize illicit liquor, nor does he catch rapists, drug peddlers or terrorists. The President is entrusted with policy planning, directing and advising.
BBC: There are reports that such directives were not issued…
MS: These duties were properly implemented by the President. It was those below the chain of command who have neglected their duties.
BBC: Neither you, nor former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have accepted responsibility for this attack. You have also not apologised to the public. In other countries, such an event would have witnessed apologies and the resignation of subject ministers. Would you like to make this an opportunity to apologise to the public?
MS: For me to apologise, I should have known about it. You keep on stressing this fact… I am amazed by your repeated questions. If the security officials of both the President and the Prime Minister were unaware of those, how would the President or the Prime Minister know?
Forced to shelve
President Sirisena who is contesting the forthcoming General Election from Polonnaruwa electorate was making headlines since Monday (15), as he was caught in an embarrassing situation.
The former President, who arrived in the Polonnaruwa District Monday morning to take part in an event organised to hand over education scholarships and gifts to some 260 students from the District, who had qualified to seek University entrance, was forced to shelve it following the intervention of officers from the Election Commission (EC).
Sirisena said that he had always adhered to Election Laws during his long political career, but expressed his regret at not being able to fete the students who had qualified to enter University, after they had arrived from far-flung villages in the District.
However, Sirisena vowed that one day he will invite the students to commend their achievement in qualifying for University education at an appropriate event to be held under his aegis at the end of the Parliamentary Poll.
Free and fair election
Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) Mahinda Deshapriya said the use of aircraft, helicopters or similar vehicles for propaganda activities of candidates targeting the 5 August General Election as well as the use of State finances for such activities, has been prohibited by the EC.
He said an Extraordinary Gazette Notification published in this connection by the EC has stipulated that all Ministry Secretaries and Heads of State institutions have given a declaration regarding the non-use of the aforesaid items for the upcoming Poll.
He said that no Cabinet Minister or member of his or her staff would be allowed to use vehicles of the State or State institutions sans the registered vehicle number issued by the Motor Traffic Department in the run-up to the Election.
Deshapriya added that two vehicles have been assigned for the use of officers attached to the President’s Security Division.
He added that all Ministry Secretaries and Heads of State Departments must ensure that their vehicles are not being used under bogus licence plates.
It is in this backdrop, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assured to create the background to hold a free and fair Election, while giving priority to the health protection of the public.
The Ministry of Health has issued recommendations to hold the General Election on 5 August amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be recorded as the first Election to be held under such circumstances in the country. As such, the Government will extend its fullest cooperation to the Election Commission (EC) to make the Election process a success while adhering to health guidelines,” the President had said.
He said this during a meeting he had with the Chairman and Members of the EC at the Presidential Secretariat on 17 June.
The Government took all possible measures to control the spread of COVID-19 and this operation was not aimed at the Election but to secure the wellbeing of the people, said the President, adding that the prevention mechanism will continue for several months more.
The Election can be held without any obstacle if the public is made aware of the situation,” he has opined.
Initial preparations have been completed and the contribution of all political parties and officials and members of the security forces will be essential for the process, Chairman of the EC said.
Deshapriya pointed out the importance of establishing a legal basis to ensure the compulsory participation of public officials in Election duties. He was of the view that these regulations should be incorporated into the Establishments Code. When all partners act in a responsible manner during Election rallies and house-to-house campaigns, an effective Election can be held, he had pointed out. He highlighted the importance of the necessity of declaring future COVID-19 prevention recommendations through a Gazette Notification.
The President agreed to provide the required assistance in the event of the lack of space related facilities, while holding the Election adhering to health instructions.
Deshapriya pointed out the need for providing transportation facilities to those who will leave for their hometowns from 31 July and return after the Election.
Under the radar
Signs of Presidetn Rajapaksa getting frustrated with public officials were evident time to time over the past few weeks and he evidently lost his cool finally last week as he reprimanded the topmost officials of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
On Monday (15) he informed heads of State Banks that the State Banks must directly intervene to revitalise the stalled economy of the country and had warned that if anyone attempts to scupper the policies of the Government in this connection, he will not think twice before taking stringent action against such officers.
The President had stressed that he had, under no circumstance, advised anyone to grant loans to only his relatives, friends or those who had supported him in whatever capacity.
The President had made these remarks during a review meeting convened to look into activities of the BOC, held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday.
Rajapaksa had pointed out that by levying a double-digit interest for loans, the aspirations of a Nation cannot be fulfilled and averred that it should be brought to a single-digit before supporting the development initiatives of the Government.
He had then opined that the State Banks should take the lead in providing financial relief to farmers, small and medium-scale industrialists and investors.
The President had further emphasised that he will not renege on the promises that he had given to the masses during last year’s Presidential Poll campaign and warned that anyone who attempts to scuttle it will be dealt with.
And, then came the bombshell.
In a scathing attack on the hierarchy of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reprimanded them of miserably failing in carrying out their duties in reviving the economy and regulating finance institutes despite earning handsome salaries.
The Government had put forward its proposals for economic revival. The Central Bank has not extended its support towards it thus far,” the President noted while asking them to give reasons for their failure.
He made these observations at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat where Governor of the Central Bank Prof. W.D. Lakshman and officials of the Central Bank, Secretary to the Treasury S.R. Attygalle, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera and Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga were present.
Central Banks in leading countries such as the United States, Japan and Australia as well as in small countries have put in place required mechanisms to revive economies in their respective countries, he pointed out.
What is the tool we have used? We have used nothing. Our Central Bank has not done anything towards this. Monetary and Fiscal Policy has been formulated by the Central Bank. That should be done in accordance with the economic policy of the President of the country.
You have several tools that can be used. Those tools have to be utilised. However, our Central Bank does not use a single tool. It just remains idle. We asked to release Rs 150 billion to Banks. This is not a fault of the business. The Government owes a huge sum of money to companies due to mismanagement in the past. Let this money be kept as a security for Banks to release loans to them. Then they can run the economy. This is a money circulation process. This is a very simple tactic and this is a basic economic principle. But, what are you doing? Governments have to take the blame for your conduct. You do not monitor. Look at the status of finance companies.
It is your responsibility to regularise and monitor these companies. However, you have failed in your task. Leasing companies too evade their responsibilities. The ETI is not in a position to repay the people. The Finance has closed down without informing. How are we going to pay for that? There is no management there. All at the Central Bank are economic specialists drawing very high salaries. You have a responsibility. I have presented you a mechanism. If you are unable to follow it, present me your version of the mechanism by tomorrow morning.
Look at what governments of other countries have implemented to save their small scale and medium scale businesses. Do we see the same efforts over here? It looks as if you are here to hinder the government effort and are trying to impede my duties. I do not have to assume this tone if you stood by your duties. It has been eight months since my appointment to office, and I have been requesting you to revive this collapsed economy ever since.
I do not want to talk about mistakes of the previous government. As all of you know, you were there when the Central Bank Bonds scam was executed. If you supported them to commit this crime, there is no reason for all of you to not to join hands with me to deliver justice. The public must be made aware of the issue of how we move forward with these types of officials. The people of this country have bestowed a great power on me to build this country. I request all of you to allow me to build this country.
COVID-19 has spread throughout the world. Now it has become a global economic crisis. Due to the firm commitment of our works in the health sector, Army, Intelligence and the Police we were able to return to normalcy before many other countries in the world. The restructuring of the country’s economy before it further collapses lies in your hands. Lend your support to me to achieve success in this endeavour. Either accept my suggestions in this regard or reveal your strategies.
In this context, a place like the Central Bank where the top economic experts are rendering their service, isn’t it your responsibility to present a proposal to conquer this situation. What have you submitted in this regard. What is the guidance you have given me? There is nothing and you have not come forward to support me.
If you are not on the same page with my suggestions please give me your strategies to revive our economy by tomorrow morning. Give me your suggestions on how to strengthen the economy, how to assist Banks under these dire circumstances, how to categorically assist small scale and medium scale businesses. If what I say is wrong, do not hesitate to let me know,” the President insisted.
Waking up from slumber
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), which appeared to be in a deep slumber for several months, has finally woken up and has come up with a number of measures to provide relief to the public who have been plunged into dire financial straits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but only after being severely chastised by the President.
In a decision made late Tuesday night, following a meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, attended by CBSL Governor and officials at the Presidential Secretariat, the Monetary Board of the CBSL decided to make available a total of Rs 265 billion, to the businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Monetary Board announced the decision to introduce new credit schemes under Section 83 of the Monetary Law, Act No. 58 of 1949, thereby providing funding to commercial Banks at the concessionary rate of 1 per cent against the pledge of a broad spectrum of collateral, on the condition that the banks should pass on these benefits through increased low-cost lending to domestic businesses.
This scheme, including the existing refinance scheme of Rs 50 billion, is expected to inject a total of Rs 150 billion additional liquidity to the commercial banks, which will in turn on-lend to domestic businesses at 4 per cent.
The Board also announced the decision to reduce the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of licensed commercial banks, which will result in injecting around Rs 115 billion of additional liquidity to the domestic money market, enabling the financial system to expedite credit flows to the economy.
In addition, construction sector enterprises will be provided with a facility to borrow from commercial banks, using guarantees issued by the Government equivalent to the amount due on account of contracts carried out in the past, under a new dedicated credit scheme funded by the CBSL and made available at the aforementioned concessionary rates.
The Monetary Board announced that operating instructions on these new credit schemes will be issued in due course.
The Board asserted that the financial sector is expected to pass the benefit of the high level of liquidity and the reduced cost of funds to the economy without delay, by increasing lending to businesses and households at low cost. The Monetary Board will continue to monitor economic and financial market developments and will take further policy and regulatory measures to support a sustained revival of economic activity in the period ahead.
The question however is why did CBSL officers have to wait until being lambasted by the President, in order to provide relief to the public who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fact that the Monetary Board was able to come up with these relief measures within a matter of few hours was equally surprising. The question that arises from this scenario is whether it was sheer lethargy that prevented the CBSL from coming up with these measures or whether something else had influenced them to fail so spectacularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic?
Few more to be summoned
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to summon a few more officials from State departments and corporations, who are not ready to toe the line of the Government, a senior official at the Presidential Secretariat said.
He added the President would seek their views as to why they oppose the advice and instructions given to them by the present administration and conduct their activities in such a manner.
The representative from the Secretariat said that already a spate of complaints had been received by the President’s Secretary regarding a growing number of State institutions that are guilty of dereliction of their duty by the people.
He noted that President Rajapaksa’s attention has been drawn to such institutions who shirk their service by the public, either intentionally or unintentionally.
The officer from the Secretariat added already that they were conducting a programme to identify all State institutions that have failed to efficiently perform their duty by the people on the advice of the President.
He said the President would shortly summon heads of such institutions to seek their views in this regard and affirmed that those who shirk their service would be taken to task by the President.
17 summoned
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing acts of political victimisation on Monday issued summons to 17 persons including four politicians to appear before it based on the complaint lodged with it by the Chairman of Avant-Garde Security Services Private Limited, Nissanka Senadhipathi.
Senadhipathi, in his complaint, had alleged that certain persons in the previous United National Front-led regime had allegedly attempted to forcibly take over his firm and the Rakna Lanka Security Firm, who were both engaged in deep sea protection services.
President of the PCol, Judge Upali Abeyratne issued the summons to 17 persons after having perused the evidence given before the Commission by Senadhipathi.
Hence, the summons were issued to former Ministers Patali Champika Ranawaka, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Arjuna Ranatunga, former Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake, former Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, President’s Counsel (PC) Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, former Navy Commander Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police S.A.D. Gunawardena, former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Senior Police Inspector Shani Abeysekara, Rear Admirals J.J. Ranasingha and Nilantha Heenatigala, former Officer-in-Charge of the Galle Harbour Police Inspector Induka, CID Police Inspector Aluthge Senarath, Assistant Superintendent of Police Lasantha Ratnayaka, Additional Solicitor General Wasantha Navaratna Bandara, State Counsel Janaka Bandara, Upul Jayasuriya PC and Lieutenant Commander W.H.P. Weerasingha respectively.
Abeyratne also ordered the Police Inspection Unit which is attached to the PCoI to record statements from each of the 17 persons before launching a probe into the statements.
Sallay vs Sooka
A known LTTE sympathiser, Yasmin Sooka, has been sent a Letter of Demand to the tune of Rs 1 billion, by Director of the State Intelligence Service, Major Genaral Suresh Tuan Sallay.
The letter sent through Maj Gen Sallay’s Attorney Pasan Weerasinghe, states that on or about 1 June 2020, Sooka, in her capacity as the Executive Director of the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has issued a press statement, making various defamatory remarks against Maj Gen Sallay. The press statement is said to be published via the ITJP’s Sri Lanka website.
The letter of demand notes that the defamatory implications have resulted in parties with vested interests making attempts on the life of Maj Gen Sallay.
Further, it states that the defamatory remarks of Sooka published by the ITJP Sri Lanka website have caused unto the Maj General’s character and reputation a significant damage, which the Major General has valued at Rs 1 billion and in turn, demanded that Sooka and the ITJP pay the stated amount.
The letter of demand has also notified Sooka and the ITJP to cease and desist from issuing further defamatory remarks and of the intention of Major General Sallay to seek litigative remedies, both civil and/or criminal, if Sooka and the ITJP fail to adhere to the said demands.
Sooka is very well known for her bias towards the LTTE.
She first became involved with Sri Lanka when the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed her as one of the three panel members to advise him on the last three months of the conflict in Sri Lanka. The panel was headed by Indonesian politician Marzuki Darusman.
The heavily biased final report that was leaked in 2011, co-authored by Sooka, came out with damning allegations against the Sri Lanka military.
Sooka was also a guest speaker at the 2013 conference of the Global Tamil Forum, another known LTTE front, in the UK where she was introduced as ‘comrade’.
Opposition political parties today expressed their views on the match-fixing allegation made by former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage with regard to the 2011 Cricket World Cup final with some of them calling for investigations.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Hirunika Premachnadra told a news conference that those who were in the Sri Lankan cricket team should reveal the truth to the people. We condemn this statement made by Mr. Aluthgamage. He as insulted and tarnished the image of the cricketers through this allegations. People in this country should stand up for our cricketers who had brought fame to the nation unlike the politicians,” she said. It could be part of the SLPP election campaign and makes one wonder whether he directed this allegation against the Prime Minister.”
UNP Gampaha District Candidate Kithsiri Manchananayake said Sri Lanka should seek ICC assistance to carry out an investigation on these allegation.
JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake also called for an investigation into this allegation. Mr. Aluthgamage made a serious allegation and we urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to conduct an investigation,” he said.
I wrote to the ICC in 2012 regarding this matter, yet they failed to respond”
Some Cricket officials have purchased car companies, started new businesses after match loss”
The Team changed in the last moment without prior consultation”
An Indian newspaper knew about the team change before us, but how?”
This match made me initiate anti-fixing bill”
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said he had already complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the alleged match fixing incident in 2011 and demanded an investigation to be carried out to find out ‘how certain cricket officials’ allegedly purchased car companies and started new businesses within a year of losing the the match.
He reiterated that he did not refer to any players, but officials in the cricket industry.
Enumerating his allegation over the 2011 Cricket World Cup fixing, Aluthgamage said he had written to the ICC in 2012 regarding the alleged fixing of matches and three other important issues, he had noticed in Sri Lankan Cricket during his tenure.
He said this was the third time him was speaking on this particular matter and there was nothing new or different to what he had said earlier.
He claimed that until the cricket match was played with New Zealand, the Sri Lankan team was playing well and that the final with India was a match the Sri Lankan team were to tipped to win.
The team who played the final match was not the team we had selected, finalized and sent off. At the last moment, without the consultation of either me as the then minister of Sports or officials of the Sri Lanka Cricket Control Board, four new players had been included to the team. We saw this only when we watched the match. How could four players get replaced without due approvals and consultations? The new players were inexperienced compared to the rest of the team. Why did they do that out of the blue?” Aluthgamage questioned.
Despite the Sri Lankan officials being unaware of the change of the team members, an Indian newspaper had carried an article regarding the change of the team a day before the final match, he alleged. Then, he raised another question as to how Indian media knew about something so important that the Sri Lankan Sports Minister and Cricket Control Board had no idea of.
He claimed that he is still in possession of the said letter, but cannot publish it. However, he said the ICC had not responded to his letter.
Aluthgamage said it was the 2011 Cricket WC Final match which made him initiate the bill “Prevention of Offences Related to Sports” which made Sri Lanka the first South Asian nation to criminalise several offences related to match-fixing.
Mahela has said that the circus has started. I don’t understand why Sanga and Mahela are making a big deal about this. I am not referring to any of our players. Everyone is talking about just two minutes of a half an hour interview I gave to a TV channel. Even Arjuna Ranatunga has openly talked about match fixing issues earlier,” Aluthgamage further said.
No matter who administers the country, Islamic extremism cannot be eradicated until the government leaders ban extremism across the country, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary the Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thera told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on the Easter Sunday Attacks.
“Extremism in the country is like a cancer now,” he said.
When the Commissioners asked the monk about the situation in the country at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks, he said at that time the country was without a leader who could take the responsibility of handling the affairs of governance in an efficient manner.
“The Easter attacks resulted in showing up country’s leadership as a failure,” he said.
During the monk’s testimony, PCoI Chairman Supreme Court Judge Janak de Silva said the commission had received several complaints against the manner in which the BBS behaved on several occasions.
“I raised this matter up so as to provide a proper perspective to the testimony,” the Chairman said.
With reference to the riots at Aluthgama, the monk said former MP Rajitha Senaratne’s behaviour adversely affected the situation.
Investigations into the coordinated terror attacks on Easter Sunday have revealed that the brother of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Bathiudeen Mohamed Riyaj, has had maintained direct links with the bombers, says the Police Spokesperson.
SSP Jaliya Senaratne stated this during ‘BIG FOCUS’ programme on TV Derana this morning (19), responding to a question on the progress of the probes regarding the former minister’s brother.
Bathiudeen Mohamed Riyaj is currently under the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The Police Spokesperson said the former minister’s brother had aided and abetted to transport the bombers.
Probes have further revealed that Mohamed Riyaj also rendered financial assistance to the bombers to orchestrate the attacks, SSP Senaratne added.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Sports has called for an immediate probe into the allegations made by Mahindananda Aluthgamage on ‘match-fixing’ at the 2011 World Cup final.
Mahindananda recently made a controversial statement, claiming that he does not accept Sri Lanka’s defeat in the 2011 World Cup (final) as a defeat. According to the information I have received I believe that it was match-fixing,” he had said further, speaking on his startling revelation.
On April 2, 2011, India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the ICC World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. During a televised interview recently, Aluthgamage claimed that the final was fixed. However, he said he was ready to take full responsibility for his comments.
Aluthgamage had stated that the Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had picked the squad for the World Cup final against India and that the team was changed in the last moment”.
Four players were changed,” he said. In addition to that two players were brought down from Sri Lanka and that neither the cricket board’s nor the Sports Ministry’s approval had been obtained for it. That is completely wrong.”
Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena tweeted a response to news reports on the revelation. He asked for the names and pieces of evidence, involved in the matter.
Jayawardena took to Twitter and wrote, Is the elections around the corner Looks like the circus has started names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC.”
Kumar Sangakkara, who was the Sri Lankan skipper in that game, has also opened up on the issue. He said that the former minister needs to take the evidence to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Sangakkara replied to fellow cricket legend Mahela and wrote, He needs to take his evidence” to the ICC and the Anti corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated thoroughly.”
Attorney General, today (19), told the court that issuance of arrest warrants by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and several other bond scam suspects has followed a lawful procedure.
The writ applications filed by Ravi Karunanayake, PTL owner Arjuna Aloysius, Central Bank employees Sangarapillai Pathumanapan and Indika Saman Kumara, seeking a court order to revoke the arrest warrants issued against them, were taken up for consideration today (19).
A three-judge bench consisting of Appeals Court President Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Shiran Gunaratne and Sobhitha Karunaratne sat for the petition hearing.
The writ applications have been fixed for support on June 26.
The petitioners had alleged that the Colombo Fort Magistrate issuing arrest warrants on them based on the B report submitted to the bench by the police is against the law and had sought the Appeals Court for a revocation of warrants.
On 06 March, the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court issued warrants for the arrest of Karunanayake and 9 others over the Central Bank bond auctions of March 2016.
The Attorney General subsequently directed the Acting IGP to obtain arrest warrants against several suspects in the Central Bank bond scam case including the former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, former Governor of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran, Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius, CEO Kasun Palisena, former Director of the Public Debt Department of the Central Bank T.H.B. Sarathchandra and several others on charges of conspiracy, criminal misappropriation, cheating, and market manipulation in respect of the bond auctions of March 2016.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake accordingly issued arrest warrants on ten suspects in the case, except on the tenth suspect, Buddhika Sarathchandra.
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