Courtesy Hiru News

The DIG in charge of the Anti-Terrorism and Investigation Division Nalaka de Silva who has been interdicted, admitted that it was wrong to not inform the rest of the police regarding the open warrant obtained from the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to arrest Saharan Hashim before the Easter attack.

This was when he was giving evidence before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter attack .

DIG Nalaka de Silva, who is currently interdicted, testified before the Commission for the second day stated that the lecturers who came from Saudi Arabia to teach in the madrassa schools that were active in the country during the period 2005-2015 carried out extremist teachings in those schools.

He said that the Department of Muslim Religious Affairs had intervened through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue visas to the lecturers and later they were informed to direct through the State Intelligence Service.

Nalaka de Silva said that he was transferred as the Director of the Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division on February 25, 2015, adding that it was a political transfer.

However, he said that the counter-terrorism unit had been restructured and two separate units had been set up to look into religious extremism and underworld activities.

The unit was then provided with a state-of-the-art field surveillance van by the Japanese government in August 2018 and was able to identify a person from a group of people after being given a photograph.

The commission inquired whether it was possible to identify Saharan Hashim by inserting a picture of him into the vehicle.

Nalaka de Silva stated that although there was such a facility, the vehicle was not taken out of Colombo.

Nalaka de Silva further stated that he was arrested two months after receiving the vehicle and that the CID had instructed him to remove the vehicle from usage.

The Commission then questioned whether he had attended the Security Coordinating Meeting.

He stated that his Deputy Director participated after 24-09-2017 for a special reason.

The Commission asked why he had left the meeting.

Replying to this, Nalaka de Silva stated that at the Defense Coordinating Committee meeting held on 24-09-2017, the then Defense Secretary Kapila Vaidyaratne had accused him of not inquiring into the information received regarding the activities of the Turkish terrorist organization FETO.

Nalaka de Silva further stated that he did not know about the incident until it was revealed by the Director of State Intelligence and that the intelligence services should have informed about it, adding that intelligence would not fall from the sky just because he became the director of T I D.

Nalaka de Silva further stated that the reason for withholding such information was that it could have affected the policies of the government at that time and the success of the process could be seen in comparison to the Easter attack.

He further stated that although he had obtained an open warrant for the arrest of Saharan Hashim through the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on 09-07-2018, he had not informed all the police stations in the island.

Nalaka de Silva further stated that although he had sought advice from the Attorney General before obtaining the warrant, he had not received any special advice and after obtaining the warrant, he had sought the advice of the Attorney General through two files to execute the warrant and he did not receive any guidance.

The Presidential Commission stated that the relevant officials of the Attorney General’s Department will be summoned before the Commission in this regard in the future.

Meanwhile, statements were recorded from former Municipal Councillor Madhumadhava Aravinda who appeared before the Police Investigation Unit this morning regarding the Easter attack for about an hour.

Meanwhile, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara appeared before the Police Investigation Unit on the 4th of this month.

In May 2009 Sri Lanka sighed with relief as its armed forces defeated the internationally proscribed terrorist-LTTE bringing to an end 30 years of terror. It took the 5^thPresident to order his troops to defeat the LTTE while the defense secretary at the time has now become Sri Lanka’s 7^thPresident and most of the ground commanders are now holding top posts in the present government. With LTTE’s defeat Sri Lanka began a new chapter. The people were all in agreement that they did not wish to have any future war & they never wanted to live in fear.That feeling was short lived as a result of the 2015 weak governance that undermined Sri Lanka’s national security resulting in 21/4 mass murder by jihadi suicide bombers. The weak governance entered into a series of treacherous agreements all of which spelled doom for Sri Lanka. Our forces sacrificed their lives to prevent the separatism of Sri Lanka. Their blood sacrifices should not lead to newer catastrophes by political blunders that places Sri Lanka under the United States flag via provisions of the ACSA-SOFA & MCC. We have gone through & suffered enough as a Nation. Sri Lanka’s leaders should not take us into new & unimaginable dangerous scenarios.

The US is building its military strength in the Indo-Pacific Region with US Indo-Pacific Command regularly highlighting the importance of using Sri Lanka’s strategic location. The containment of China’s rise is the US goal. The 3 agreements are part of US strategy tool – Defense (ACSA), Diplomacy (SOFA), Development (MCC).

The 3 agreements US is pressurizing Sri Lanka to sign will seal Sri Lanka’s fate forever.

1. ACSA – Acquisition & Cross-Service Agreement signedin secret in August 2017 (83pages)

Sri Lanka by signing will allow US military 

• access to Sri Lanka’s entry & exit points – Airports & Ports for logistics, support, supplies and services (food, water, billeting, transportation (air, petroleum, clothing, communication services, medical services, base operations support,
• use of local facilities, training, spare parts, repair, maintenance, port services) – all of these activities will be done by US personnel on Sri Lanka’s facilities.

You can imagine the number of US personnel and equipment and perhaps no-go areas that will be demarcated on our land.

US can at any given time use one of their infamous excuses war on terror” war on drugs” war to protect US interests” and even deny Sri Lankans entry to their own country.

Imagine how many Sri Lankan Muslims are likely to be subject to profiling from US jihadi terrorist watchlist?

War against Islamic terrorism is one that US will peddle and one that is certainly tied to the Easter Sunday mayhem.

Imagine how India/Tamils and Palaly Airport will also come under US scrutiny using varied excuses. Tamils will soon realize their folly as will India too. The drug peddlers from India & Sri Lanka may soon without jobs!

By signing ACSA, Sri Lanka has got itself unnecessarily involved in the US-Sino conflict by allowing US to use Sri Lanka for all of its logistical support services.This has completely nullified the spirit of the non-aligned status Sri Lanka has proudly been aligned to. China has been our traditional friend and we have never had to deal with altercations with China of the kind we continue to suffer at the hands of the US. We are riding on a wafer thin line of ‘hope’ that no conflict between US & China or any other country arises in Asia, for no sooner such does, Sri Lanka will be used as base by US.

What will happen to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty & territorial integrity?

These warnings were aired when an artificial independence was created for Kosovo in 2008. Today, 10,887 km² Kosovo has a US military base that is 3.86 km2 (955 acres). Today, Kosovo is no happy state.

While US bulldozes its presence on countries claiming to ‘help’ them, the most confounding aspect of this forced presence is the demand for countries to pay for US military presence. Using the argument that an agreement once signed denotes the country wanted US presence, US demands countries to pay for US military in their countries. This means soon Sri Lanka will have to soon be pocketing out to the US for US military under at least 2 agreements (ACSA and SOFA) Do we have the money to be making such payments?

2. Status of Forces Agreement / Visiting Forces Agreement (re-negotiated)

Under this Agreement US Department of Defense Military & Civilian personnel are to receive

• immunities, exemptions & privileges equivalent to diplomats under Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

• By signing SOFA Sri Lanka is agreeing to allowUS Military & Civilian personnel/US contractors & employees can enter & exit Sri Lanka using US identification, to travel even without driving license, to even carry arms.

• Sri Lanka has to provide security & protection for the US Military & Civilian personnel, their property & their records.

• US Military & Civilian personnel will not pay any tax or similar charges in Sri Lanka and can even refuse to pay tax on expressway.

• US Military & Civilian personnel are allowed to import/export anything and be exempt from any inspection, license, other restrictions, customs, duties, taxes within Sri Lanka.

• US Defense Dept vessels and vehicles will be permitted to move FREELY within Sri Lanka and be exempted from any payment. US vessels, aircrafts will not be subject to payment of LANDING FEES, PORT FEES, PILOTAGE charges, lighterage, harbor dues which will be in FACILITIES OWNED & OPERATED BY GoSL

• US owned and operated aircrafts shall not be subject to paying NAVIGATION, OVERFLIGHT, TERMINAL or similar charges by Sri Lanka while Sri Lanka cannot board or inspect any of these aircrafts or vessels.

• US military allowed to operate its own radio spectrum/telecommunications system and be FREE of COST to US by Sri Lanka

While ACSA allows US to control Sri Lanka’s entry and exit points, SOFA is allowing US troops and civilians to go anywhere in Sri Lanka immune from any checking or payments and even carrying arms.

Have policy makers and advisors not envisaged the dangers that can arise for the country & its citizens?

This automatically takes our memories to how the war on terror started and the revelations by Gen. Wesley Clark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8ityb0Ips4Afghanistan had nothing to do with 9/11 but US not only bombed by invaded it in 2001 and continues to occupy Afghanistan 19 years later with no likelihood of living.

The fates of Iraq, Libya and Syria are no different.

All those that helped US bring down their countries are also now no more or treated as traitors.

None of these countries are better off after US landed. These nations are devastated in every imaginable way. Does Sri Lanka want to enter this list and for what?

In the case of these countries, US forced itself upon them, in the case of Sri Lanka, we are inviting the devil propped by US arms industry & elite that are putting ordinary American citizens into debt while they make the profits.

Immigration & Covid-19 are newest tools to enforce US presence in countries claiming to ‘protect’ US national interests & assets.

3. Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact (MCC)

The 3^rd agreement is the MCC promising a grant gift of $480m which is not coming to the Sri Lankan Treasury or to be handled directly by the Sri Lankan Parliament but by a private company that is reporting to the MCC & US Govt. The amounts allocated are to be spent in a phased out way and careful reading of the clauses of the agreement will show that the MCC presence is not for 5 years but likely to remain indefinitely. While the greater fear for Sri Lankans is the likelihood of Sri Lanka’s land being grabbed most Sri Lankans are wondering their lives will be without land!

All 3 agreements provide tax exemptions & immunities questioning what exactly Sri Lanka is getting from signing these 3 agreements. 

Please now envisage a scenario where after signing the 3 agreements that offer US to use OUR MONEY, OUR RESOURCES, OUR TERRITORY and even OUR PEOPLE as virtual labour how do we deal with a situation like George Floyd!

How will Sri Lanka’s Government come to our aid against US troops and civilians who have been given immunity for any crime?

How do we defend ourselves, when US will be creating their own territory inside our country to which Sri Lankans will be forbidden to enter? What happens in the case of expanding of these areas – how can we defend ourselves when we don’t have territory? Even to fight guerilla warfare, LTTE needed territory. If our territory is not ours, how can we defend ourselves? These are important questions to ask ourselves taking to consideration the aspects of these 3 agreements & linking them together.

Does Sri Lanka want to be inviting conflict to become a Trincomalee oil tank farm came under attack during World War 2 by Japan. Tank 91 was destroyed by the Japanese during the attack on the Trincomalee harbor on 9 April, 1942. This is what the ruined oil tank looks like now!

This is what we went through for 30 years. We do not wish to enter a similar past this time by invitation. No nation should sign and invite troubles to their shores knowing the checkered resume of the nation Sri Lanka’s leaders are toying to sign with.

Those toying with the idea of proceeding to sign these agreements are not only going to cause internal issues that they can never deal with while knowingly making Sri Lanka a sitting duck for modern warfare between West vs East.

Shenali D Waduge

KAMALIKA PIERIS

REVISED 16.7.20

The first US intervention in the 1970s, though not recognized as such, was the JVP insurgency of 1971. This was USA’s first attempt at destabilizing the state. It was premature and it failed.  It had jumped the gun .N.M.Perera straightaway said this was a CIA activity. Apart from this, US found it difficult to get a foothold in Sri Lanka while Sirimavo Bandaranaike was in power. But things changed when JR Jayawardene became Prime Minister in 1977. 

JR Jayewardene, abandoned the earlier Non-Aligned policy, and attached himself like a limpet to the west, particularly USA. He gave the US extended facility for its Voice of America transmission station in Sri Lanka and offered the Trincomalee Oil tank farm to the US Coastal Corporation.

A very significant event during the time of JR Jayawardene was the signing of the India-Sri Lanka accord in 1987. India’s role in this was very puzzling. This Accord brought no benefit to India. India was much better off with a united Sri Lanka.  It now appears that India was only a front.  USA has been instrumental, behind the scenes. That makes sense. This Accord contained what USA wanted. It was intended to weaken the central government and remove the coastal areas from central control, through the device of Provincial Councils.

Upali Wijewardana   was killed in 1983 when his private jet plunged into the sea when he was returning from Malaysia. This removed from the scene, a promising political leader with a fresh approach. He would have been a firm leader and the US would not have been able to push him around. This was probably an assassination. 

During his time in power, JR Jayewardene brought Ranil Wickremesinghe into politics. Ranil rose rapidly up the political ladder. Starting as MP for Biyagama in 1977, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs by JR and then Minister of Youth Affairs and Employment, making him the youngest cabinet minister of Sri Lanka.

As Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe was very pro-west and pro US. He met the US President, George W Bush in 2003. It was the first time after 18 years a Sri Lankan leader met the US leader in the White House. This visit was primarily focused on building new relationships between United States and Sri Lanka. Ranil Wickremesinghe wanted to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Portuguese in Sri Lanka, as well.

Ranasinghe Premadasa was President of Sri Lanka from 1989-1993.He   started a series of Gam Udawa in various locations. These were considered a waste of time and money and was abandoned once Premadasa was assassinated. Did the CIA coin ‘Gam udawa ‘asked Nicky Karunaratne.

Chandrika Kumaratunga was President from 1994-2005. There was an assassination attempt on President Chandrika Kumaratunga in December 1999.  USA’s FBI was asked to provide the final report.

During the 2002-2006 period, US was encouraged to intervene in the Eelam war. United States was designated as a Co-Chair to the Sri Lankan Peace Process of 2002, along with the European Union, Japan and Norway.  Confidential US diplomatic cables thrown up by Wikileaks showed that the US was far more active in the Peace Process that Japan or EU. Japan appeared the most prominent, but it was Norway and US that were handling the issues, reported analysts.

Military experts from UK, USA and India, three countries which opposed the war, were given an inside look at our armed forces. US Pacific Command invited by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, carried out a comprehensive study of the armed forces, to see whether the government could defeat the LTTE.  They assured, in their top secret report that this would not happen. The army did not have the necessary equipment.  Air force    did not have a comprehensive air operational plan and lacked the equipment needed for surveillance and reconnaissance. US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was invited to advise on Sri Lanka’s intelligence. They used this to sit in on intelligence briefings. 

The Pacific Command made a series of recommendations, which if implemented, would have led to defeat in the Eelam war for the government. One recommendation was that the 53 Division should be removed from the Jaffna peninsula. Its armour, artillery   should be allocated to other Divisions, its staff for other duties, including at training facilities and military school.  The 53 division comprised Army Commandos, Special Forces and the Air Mobile Brigade.  It was one of the finest fighting formations ever deployed against the LTTE. Army headquarters ignored the recommendation.

US had arranged in August 2006 for Sri Lanka army to participate in a military exercise together with US army. Kamal Gunaratne reported that representatives from Sri Lanka army, navy, air force and US marines were present at a meeting at US embassy on 7.8.2006 to discuss plans for the exercise. They were planning to go the next day to look at the proposed exercise compounds at Hambantota and Kuda Oya.

 When Eelam War IV ended in 2009, stunned by the unexpected annihilation of the LTTE and fearing a grave threat to US security interests in the region, the US Senate Committee on Foreign relations sent 2 members to Sri Lanka in Nov 2009, to report. John Kerry, US Secretary of State, then circulated the report to the rest of the Committee. They were asked to make recommendation to increase US leverage in Sri Lanka and for securing long term US strategic interests.

Foreign Relations committee of the US Senate then issued a report which stressed the strategic importance of Sri Lanka to the US. The report said that Sri Lanka is very important to the US. It is located at the nexus of crucial maritime trading routes in the Indian Ocean connecting Europe and Middle East to China and the rest of Asia.” An alliance must be maintained. It is necessary to recast the foreign policy. US was advised to adopt a less confrontational approach to Sri Lanka. 

This recommendation does not appear to have been followed. Instead, USA decided on yet another regime change. A clear attempt at ‘regime change’ was made at the Presidential election of 2010. Mahinda Rajapaksa was considered an obstacle to US interests in Sri Lanka. Rajapakse is considered a threat to US, he is drifting towards China, said USA. Sarath Fonseka was persuaded to   contest Rajapakse for the post of President. Many said Fonseka was a tool of the US government and western interests.

Fonseka had been given permanent residency in USA. Fonseka went to the US in Sept 2008 to tour Washington, while the Sri Lanka army was fighting at Muhamalai and Kilinochchi.   He made another, trip to the US in 2009 with US Ambassador Blake ‘choreographing the moves’.  It was also rumored that USA had instructed Fonseka to give US exclusive access to the   Pulmoddai sands. (Daily News 28.1.10 p  7) .

Wikileaks leaked a classified US missive, dated 6.11. 2009, which showed that there was US involvement in the election. Asian Tribune said that a massive USD 140 million was pumped into the country through conduits, including NGOs that were friendly to US interests. ‘UK, US and Norway were supporting Sarath Fonseka,  said analyst. Sunday Observer ran a headline, ‘west behind moves to regime change’ and   said that if Fonseka won there would be external interference in Sri Lanka on an unprecedented scale. (Sunday Observer 24.1.10)  

Prior to the election Fonseka was moving to Colombo soldiers he considered loyal to him from the Sinha regiment and the Special Forces. He was also collecting deserters. After the elections results were announced, Fonseka and his entourage behaved peculiarly. Fonseka took up residence in a posh hotel, hiring a whole floor, together with, as I recall, Karu Jayasuriya Mangala Samaraweera and army deserters. A few slaps had been exchanged.

I thought ( Kamalika Pieris)  at the time  that Fonseka’s American handlers had arrived to take over the country. Nothing happened however, the defeated group eventually left the hotel. President Rajapaksa had taken the precaution of stationing the army in front of this hotel.

We see a clear alignment of political forces here,   said one analyst. Those who work for foreign masters are with Fonseka, while those concerned about the long term interest of Sri Lanka are solidly behind Rajapakse.

 Mahinda Rajapaksa won the 2010 election. After the election, there was open discussion about the impending foreign intervention in Sri Lanka. Gunadasa Amarasekera said in 2010, ‘We should now be able to see the conspiracy which had been initiated, hatched and executed meticulously going from stage to stage. This is the last stage of that conspiracy and probably the most decisive one which would determine whether we would be able to preserve our country. They would have worked on it for quite some time.

The Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya said, at a press conference in 2012 that international conspiracies were being hatched to undermine the sovereignty and independence of Sri Lanka.

There is a strong lobby within the foreign ministry among career diplomats who favor collaboration with the west, reported  Sunday Island in  April 2012. Sri Lanka  has been secretly engaging with USA,  it said. An email saying that Sri Lanka  was in close consultation with US turned out to be true, the report concluded.

After the Eelam  victory , the US initiated a series of Resolutions against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, starting in 2012. These were intended to nullify the Eelam victory by asking for an external inquiry into the final war.  The first US resolution at Geneva 2012 is a scene setter,  said Dayan Jayatilleka.  It sets the scene for an external inquiry, if  Sri Lanka refuses to cooperate.

The UN HRC consists of persons unfamiliar with Sri Lanka  but have a passing interest in international affairs,  observed Kamal Wickremasinghe. Rajiva Wijesinha, who was in Geneva at the time, said , one or two individuals with  agendas regarding  Sri Lanka were targeting us with a political motivation, the rest were simply idealistic.

The media warned in 2012 that protesters at demonstrations should be careful that they are not being manipulated by foreign interests. They should check if any of the NGOs involved are funded by foreign intelligence organisations.

In 2013 there was an explosive demonstration at Rathupaswela. Residents of Rathupaswela, Weliweriya, Balummahara and several other villages had been complaining for some time that their well water was contaminated, because of Venigros, a rubber glove factory, owned by Dipped Products Company, which was located near Weliweriya.

 This was a long standing issue, under discussion at the time. Action had been taken to bring about long term solution. The government has already provided a temporary solution to the drinking water problem reported the government.

Since the residents did not give consent to obtain pipe borne water the Pradeshiya Sabhas in Mahara and Gampaha set up tanks of drinking water free of charge. The Mahara PS has set up 14 tanks of 500 litre capacity and 33 tanks of 1,000 litre capacity while the Gampaha PS had distributed 200 tanks of both 500 and 1,000 litre capacity, said the government.

Rev. Lakpriya Nonis of St. Anthony’s Church had told Human Rights Commission Sri Lanka, that there had been a very successful meeting with Secretary/Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the Defence Secretary agreed to grant all the assistance requested.

Despite this from July 24 to August 2^nd 2013, there was a spate of public demonstrations in the area. In addition to demonstrations outside the factory, demonstrators blocked traffic on the Kandy main road and New Kandy Road.  A demonstration at Rathupaswala Junction blocked Weliweriya road .There was another demonstration at  Rathupaswala playground. The demonstrators  damaged stalls at   the weekly fair in Weliweriya town and set a three wheeler on fire.

The authorities tried to settle the matter.  The MP for Gampaha District , the  Chairman of the Western Provincial Council ,chairmen of Mahara and Gampaha pradeshiya sabhas, District Secretary of Gampaha, the management of the factory, 45 representatives of the demonstrators and the police held a 3 and half hour meeting  and the factory was shut it down temporarily on July 31.

But this did not stop the demonstration. Around 5000 people participated in the demonstration on 02.08.2013. Water and  tear gas were used to disperse the crowd but the demonstrators continued their agitation. The army arrived. The demonstrators  hurled stones and petrol bombs at the army.  Three  persons were shot and killed.

Human Rights Watch commented on the matter, so did the US embassy. The accusations were fiercely resisted by the government who replied  that they were going to see whether there had been any external forces  behind the incident, instigating people against the security forces personnel.

The parish priest of St. Anthony’s Church Gampaha has described how forces stormed the church and assaulted  persons who had taken refuge there.  The government flatly  rejected the accusation that the security forces had fired at those who had sought refuge in a church.

The Rathupaswela water  matter had been under discussion for some time, it was nothing new pointed out Shenali Waduge. Why were  the protesters carrying petrol bombs if it was a peaceful assembly. Were they thugs brought from outside. hen the  same people gang up together and come up with the same set of notions joined by the US Embassy then you wonder whether there is something more than merely protesting over water, she said.

Who gave the order to send in troops with assault rifles and body armour. Was the CIA behind this asked  Dayan Jayatilleke. He pointed out that the demonstration took place just three weeks before UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was  due to visits Sri Lanka. The demonstration would help to push the call for an international inquiry and for  opening  an office of the High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.  Both Shenali and Dayan spoke of a possible Arab Spring strategy.    But analysts observed   There is lack of interest in the part of the general public to create a Sri Lanka spring.”  The result was that Venigros relocated  successfully to the Biyagama Free Trade Zone. The villagers in Rathupaswela lost their jobs at Venigro, concluded observers.

In 2014, President Rajapakse said certain powerful nations with vested interest are trying to destabilize countries by installing puppet leaders as head of state. Foreign forces which do not wish to see a stable government in Sri Lanka are plotting with some political elements to set up a puppet government, he added.  Nalin de Silva said ‘What the west wanted is another government like that of Ranil and Chandrika, between 2002 and 2004 when the ceasefire agreement was signed.’

Mahinda Rajapaksa did not wait till his term of office as President ended in 2016 he contested again in 2015 and lost.  He was replaced by the USA controlled puppet government known as Yahapalana government .I have described the activities of the Yahapalana government in my Yahapalana series published in Lankaweb. Here  is new information.

Yahapalana    government supported a resolution sponsored by USA at the UN Human Rights  Council, where it admitted  that  the government of Sri Lanka , its own government had committed war crimes in the Eelam War.

Mangala Samaraweera   who was Foreign minister at the time said,  the final text of the  2015 Geneva resolution was largely negotiated over the telephone, with the President and I at the same hotel in New York, and the Prime Minister in Colombo accompanied by the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time and the Ambassador of the US and High Commissioner of the UK. Once consensus was reached, the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, coordinated with Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and conveyed the decision of the Government of Sri Lanka to the Human Rights Council. .

The Yahapalana appointment of Mahesh Senanayake as Army Commander   shows a link to the USA. Mahesh Senanayake had worked with the US Army as Senior Manager, Project Management of Afghan Operations and Strategic Planning for Civil Reserved Air Fleet (CRAF). (Year unspecified). He had left Sri Lanka after the defeat of Sarath Fonseka in 2010. Within 48 hours after the change of government in January 2015, Senanayake returned from overseas,  was reinstated and appointed  Army Commander  in 2017. Several officers above Senanayake were over looked in making the appointment.

In 2020, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that during Yahapalana rule, Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Sarath Fonseka, Arjuna Ranatunga and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake had tried to have Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrested over the Avant-Garde controversy. A Cabinet paper had  also been submitted seeking approval for stripping the members of Rajapaksa family of their civic rights. Their target was to put at least one member of the Rajapaksa family behind bars every week,” Rajapakshe said. ( Continued)

ADDITIONS

• In 2010 USAID was planning  to take 13 government officials from Central and Provincial ministries on a seven day study tour of Timor to see how land ownership issues are being resolved in east Timor. Timor is yet emerging form five century of Portuguese oppression, 50 years of Indonesian rule and almost a decade of internal conflict; it is not possible to believe that this fledgling adminstration has developed such a fine system of land settlements. This tour should be viewed with suspicion and what is US doing in Timor which is a sort of Australian protectorate, asked critics.

• In 2013 USA wanted  to fund two project  to the tune of 1 million dollars. One for increasing support and safety or journalists and the other for facilitating reconciliation. In the first, they want to strengthen the independent media in the area of investigative journalism. It will include journalists in Sinhala, Tamil and English and for  journalists form all parts of the country, not just Colombo.  The second project they  would identify leaders, including youth and women, and would support action in ‘pilot communities’ 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that this was a Trojan horse. This could be a long term project to help US long term objectives in Sri Lanka.  This plan to initiate several programme in organizing civil society groups in Sri Lanka and empowering youth with a view to support the reconciliation process’ sounds suspiciously like a programme of funding and training of internal subversive groups, said Kamal Wickremasinghe.

• In 2018, the  You Lead programme  of USAID and Microsoft Sri Lanka signed a partnership to launch the new Youth Works information technology portal at the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training in Colombo. USAID funds Youth Works under its $12 million You Lead initiative that supports youth employability, entrepreneurship, and skills development in Sri Lanka.

You Lead is implemented by the International Executive Service Corps (IESC) and administered by the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) .You Lead will work with Microsoft, the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training, and the private sector to develop and upload content for the Youth Works portal in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Youth Works is a flexible portal that portal will provide career guidance, technical and vocational courses, a mentorship platform, job placements, and a variety of other tools to support Sri Lanka’s young job-seekers and entrepreneurs. The portal is currently being used in 18 countries and has helped more than 26 million youth over the past two years to strengthen their skills, find employment, or start their own businesses.

• In 2019 More than forty young Sri Lankan leaders travelled to Colombo from across the country to take part in U.S. Embassy-sponsored workshops on leadership and  skill building. The participants were all members of the U.S. Embassy’s Youth Forum programme, which is conducted by the American Corners in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, and Matara. After the Colombo workshops were over, the participants travelled to Jaffna to set up a Reading Corner at a local school.

චන්ද්‍රසිරි විජයවික්‍රම, LL.B., Ph.D.

හැඳින්‌වීම

රනිල්ගේ ලිච්චවි කාටූනය

ක්‍රිස්තු පූර්‌ව 5 වන ශතවර්‌ෂයේ බෞද්‌ධ ඉන්‌දියාවේ පැවති ලිච්චවි පාලන ක්‍රමයට, දශරාජ ධ‌ර්‌මවලට, සමාන කලහැකි, යහපාලන සංකල්පයක් (ගුඩ් ගවර්‌නන්ස්-බෑඩ් ගවර්‌නන්ස්) ගැන යුරෝපයෙන් ඇසෙන්නේ, 14 වන ශතවර්‌ෂයේදී, ඉතාලියේ එක් බලවත් පුර සමූහාණ්ඩුවක්‌වූ සියෙනා පුරයේ පුර සභා (සිටි කවුන්සිල්) රැස්වීම් ශාලාවේ බිත්ති තුනක, අම්බ්‍රොගියෝ ලොරෙන්සෙටි නම් සිත්තරා ලවා, එයට චන්දයෙන් පත්‌වන මැජිස්ට්‍රේට්ලා නවදෙනා විසින් 1338 දී අන්ඳවන ලද බිතු සිතුවම් වලින්‌ය. ඉන් එකකින් යහපාලනයේ ප්‍රතිඵලත්, තව එකකින් අවපාලනයේ ප්‍රතිඵලත් දැක්වේ. වරක් තේරී පත්‌වූ පසු මේ නව දෙනා ඊළඟ චන්දය එනතුරු සිටි බිල්ඩිමේම ජීවත්‌වන්නේ තමන් ගන්නා විධායක හා අධිකරණ තීරණ වලදී අනිසි බාහිර බලපෑම් ඒමෙන් ගැලවී සිටීමටය. 1818, 1848, 1915 සිද්‌ධි කෙසේවුනත්, සුද්දන්ගේ පාලන කාලයේදීද නිතරම නීති පැණවීමේ ලේඛණවල සඳහන්‌වූ වචන නම් <පීස් ඇන්ඩ් ගුඩ් ගවර්‌නන්ස් සඳහා> යනුය!

2015-19, යූ.ඇන්.පී යහපාලනයේද අග්‍ර ගන්‍ය ඵලයක් සේ දැන් හුවා දැක්‌වෙන්නේ 19 වන සංශොධනයෙන් ගෙනා ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක සභාව හා ස්වාධීන කොමිෂන් සභා සෙට් එකය. ඒවා අහෝසි කලොත් රටේ තිබෙනවා යයි කියන ප්‍රජා-තන්ත්‍ර-වාදය නැතිවනවා යයි එක්තරා පිරිසක් විසින් බෙරිහන් දෙමින් සිටී. බලාගෙන යනවිට මේ, මීට පෙර, මේ යුද්‌ධය නම් කවදාව‌ත්ම දිණන්න බෑ යයි මොරගෑ පිරිසමය. එරික් සොල්හම් ට අනුව, ඒ අවධියේ යුද්‌ධය දිණන්න පුළුවන් යයි කී එකම ආණ්ඩුවේ ඉහළ නිලධාරියා, දැන් රටේ ජනාධිපතිවී සිටින්නේ, මුන් 225 ම එපා, මුන් අවුරුදු 72 ක් පුරාම රට කෑවා යනුවෙන් මතුරමින්, වහසිබස් දොඩමින්, මහජනයා, විශේෂයෙන් පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලන කළුසුද්දන් විසින් හිත හොඳ ගෑණුන්සේ සැළකෙමින් සිටි සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ ජනතාවගේ කැමෙත්තෙනි.

2005 දී ඔහු ආරක්‍ෂක ලේකම්වූදා සිටම, 2006 දෙසැම්බර් ඔහු ඝාතනය කිරීමේ උත්සාහයේ සිටම, 2019 නොවැම්බර් 25 ස්විස්ටර්ලන්ත තානාපති කාර්යාලයෙන් තිරගතකල, එහි දෙමළ සේවිකා ගානියා බැනිස්ටර් ෆ්‌රැන්සිස් කිඩ්නැප් කතාව හා අන්තිමේදී කොරෝනාව දඩමීමා කරගෙන දියවන්නා හෝටලයේ දොර සුප්‍රිම් උසාවිය මඟින් ඇරවා ගන්නට කල වැරදුන කුරුමාණම (2020 ජූනි 2) දක්වාම, රට දුටුයේ <ගොඨා දමණයකට> කල අසාර්‌ථකවූ ක්‍රියා දාමයකි. දැන් මේ 19-ඒ, ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක සභා-ස්වාධීන කොමිෂන් සභා රැක ගැනීම සඳහා ගොඨාභයට තුනෙන් දෙකක් දෙන්න එපා යන දේශ ද්‍රෝහී කළුසුද්දන්ගේ ව්‍යායාමය මිණීවළ උඩ සිටගෙන කරණ අන්තිම වැලපීමක් වැනිය.

මෙම කතාවේ අග මුල සමස්තයක් වශයෙන් විමසා බැලිය යුත්තේ සිංහල බෞද්‌ධයාගේ පැත්තෙන්, සත්‍ය කරුණු වටහා ගැනීම පිණිසය. සිංහලේ රට කැඩී බිඳී විනාශවී යාමෙන් බේරාගැනීමේලා ඇති අවසාන අවස්ථාවද මේ විය හැකිය. මෙම අන්තෝජටා-බහිජටා ගැටය සරලව හඳුනාගැනීමේදී පැමිණිය හැකි නිගමන සමහරක් මෙසේය.

1. මේ සභාව හෝ එය විසින් පත්කල කොමිෂන් ස්වාධීන ලෙස ක්‍රියාකර නැති බවට ශාක්‍ෂි ඇත;
2. ලුණුමිදෙල්ල ලීයෙන්, තේක්ක/බුරුත ගනයේ කැබිනට් බලාපොරොත්තු විය නොහැකි පරිදිම, දූෂණයේ අන්තයටම ගිය රටකින් මේ කොමිෂන් වලට පත්කල හැකි අවංක පුද්ගලයින් සොයා ගැනීම පවා කළුනික හොයනවා මෙන් අති දුෂ්කරය;
3. නූගත්, වැලි-බාර් පර්මිට්කාරයින්, කුඩු-පගාකාරයින්ගෙන් හා පොදුවේ හොරුන් සේ රට තුල සැළකෙන මන්ත්‍රීන්ට, ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක සභාව භාරදීම, හරියට නරියාට කුකුල් කොටුව මුරට දීම වැනිය;
4. එහි සිවිල් පුරවැසියන් තුන් දෙනා ලෙස පත්කර ඇත්තේද යහපාලනකාරයින් හා පෑස්සෙන අයවළුන්‌ පමණය. සෙසු කොමිෂන් වලද හැටි එසේය;
5. මේ සභාව හැසිරිය යුතු ආකාරය සම්බන්‌ධයෙන් රෙගුලාසි සදා පාර්ලිමේන්තුවට ඉදිරිපත් කිරීම, එහි අයිතිකාරයා සේ සිතමින් හැසිරෙන කතානායකගේ වගකීම වුවත්, අවුරුදු හතරක් පුරාම ඔහු එය කර නැත. ගොනා වැට කඩාගෙන යනවා වෙනුවට, කඹයේ දුරට සීමා කරවීමට, පීලි පැන යාමට තිබුණු අවකාශය අවම කිරීමට තිබූ ඉඩකඩ පවා මේ මඟින් රටට අහිමිකර ඇත.
   මේ කොමිෂන්, ලංකාවේ (නැති) තන්ත්‍රවාදයේ දේවාල සේ පෙන්නා දැන් දොඩවන වික්ටර් අයිවන් වැනි එන්.ජී.ඕ කපුරාළලා, ජේවීපීකාරයෝ, මේ ගැන මෙතෙක් නිහඬව සිට්‍යේය. මොවුන් අවංකවම ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදයක් සඳහා මොර දෙන අයද, නැත්නම් විදේශ මිලේනියම්/ඊළම් න්‍යායපත්‍ර කාරයින්ද? මොවුන්ගේ යටි අරමුණ රටේ සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ පදනමට පහරදීම නොවේද?;
6. රටේ පුරවැසියාට, පන්සල්/පල්ලි වලට/ වෘත්තීය සමිති වලට, මේ ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදයේ මුරදේවතා ආයතනවලට සුදුසු, නිසි පුද්ගලයින්ගේ නම් ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමට අවස්ථාවක් නොදී, බලයේ සිටින දේශපාලකයින් විසින් නොයෙක් තරාතිරමේ/මට්ටමේ හෙංචයියලාගෙන් මේවා පිරවීම, මේ මහ ලොකු ප්‍රජා-තන්ත්‍රවාදයේ බල කණුවේ නාමයෙන්ම එයට කරණ අපහාසයකි;
7. චන්ද්‍රිකා විසින් බහුභූතයක් ලෙස හැඳින්‌වූ ජේ ආර් ගේ 1978 ව්‍යවස්ථාව නිසා නොවේ නම් සමහර විට, තිස් අවුරුදු යුද්‌ධයක් තුන් අවුරුද්දකින් අවසාන කර ගන්නට නොහැකි වෙන්නට ඉඩ තිබුණි. මේ නිසා ජනාධිපතිගේ තටු කැපීම යනු, ඊළම්කාරයින්ගේ ශූක්‍ෂම අරමුණක් යන්න යයි සනාථ වන්නේ, 19-ඒ මරාලය, ඊට පසුව ගෙනා සුමන්තිරන්-ජයම්පති-රනිල් ඔරුමිත්තනාඩු ව්‍යවස්ථාවට පෙරවදනක්‌වූ නිසාය. සුමන්තිරන් විසින් කල ප්‍රකාශයකින් මෙය පැහැදිලි විය;
8. මාක්ස්වාදී, ක්‍රිස්තියානි හා ඊයේ කිව්දේ අද, අද කිව්දේ හෙට වෙනස්කරණ, දයාන් ජයතිලක නම් ස්‌වයං න්‍යායාචාරියා විසින් නොවෙනස්‌ව දිගටම ඉන්නා එකම් දේ නම් 13-ඒ ප්ලස් කතාවය. 19-ඒ රැකගැණීමේ සටනේ, ගෝටාට තුනෙන් දෙක නොදිය යුතුය යන ව්‍යාපාරයේ මුල් තැනක් ගෙන ඉන්නා ඔහු, එය 13-ඒ සමඟ බද්‌ධ කර කතා කිරීම ඉහත එක තවදුරටත් තහවුරු කරලන්නේය;
9. රට වැටී ඇති අගාධයේ තරම ගැන සිතන විට, ඉතාමත් පිරිසිදු ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක හා කොම්ෂන් සභා සෙට් එකක් තිබුණත්, ඒ මඟින් රට ගොඩ ගැනීමට සිතීම ලේනා වලිගයෙන් මුහුද හිස්කරන්නට සැදුවා වැනිය. රටට අවශ්‍ය යාන්ත්‍රණයේ තරම හිරගෙවල් වලින්, නාකොටික් පොලිස්කාරයින්ගෙන් එලිවන තොරතුරු අනුව සිතාගත හැකිය. එවැනි රැඩිකල් මාවතකට භාධාවන 19-ඒ ඉවත්කිරීමට මහජනයා එකඟවනවා නිසැකය;
10. නමින් කපුරුහාමි, නමුත් කට ගඳයි

1948 සිටම තට්ටුමාරු ක්‍රමයට, මාක්ස්වාදීන්ද සමඟ ලංකාව විනාශකල පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලන ක්‍රමය වෙනස් කරණවා මිස, නීතියේ ආධිපත්‍යය, නියෝජිත ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදය යනාදී ඇස්බැන්ඳුම් වලින් මහජනතාව රැවටූ කාලය අවසාන වීමට හොඳටම ඉඩ ඇති බව පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලකයෙක් නොවන යුද්‌ධ නිලධාරියෙකුට රට භාරදීමට සිංහල ජනයා තීරණය කිරීමෙන් පෙනී යන්නේය. සියළු සත්‌වයන් (මිනිසුන් පමණක් නොව) සුවපත්වේවා යන ධර්‌මතාවය අනුගමණය කිරීමට කුඩා කාලයේ සිට පුරුදු කරණ සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ සමාජයකින් එන එවැනි නිලධාරී ජනාධිපති කෙනෙකු, සිංහල හෝ බෞද්‌ධ හෝ නොවන කිසිවෙකුට හානියක් කරන්නේ නැත.
එහෙත් ඒ වෙනුවට 19-ඒ නැත්නම් රට විනාශ වේ යයි කියන්නේ, හැම අංශයකින්ම රට අගාධයට ගෙනගිය යූ.ඇන්.පීකාරයින්, දෙමළ බෙදුම් වාදීන්, මාක්ස්වාදීන්, ශාරියා-ඉහ්වාන්කාරයින් හා විදේශ තානාපති කට්ටල නොවේද? මේ අය නාස්ලණුවාදී කපුරු හාමිලාය;

1. මෙම 19-ඒ ගේම් එක ගැන තවදුරටත් විමසා බැලීමේදී, පැහැදිලිවම ජේ ආර්ගේ 1978 ව්‍යවස්ථාවේ ඇති අහිතකර ඇතැම්දේ ඉවත් කල යුතු බව සැබෑය. ජේ ආර් විසින්ම එයට ගෙනා සංශොධන මඟින් ඔහුගේ කැත හැසිරීම හා අශිෂ්ට මනස ප්‍රදර්‍ශනය කලේය;
2. ඔහුගේ ව්‍යවස්ථාව වත්, 17, 18 සංශොධනවත් ජනතාවගේ දරිද්‍රතාවය අඩුකලේ නැත. ජේවීපිකාරයින්ට හා දැන් පෙරටුගාමීන්ටද සියේට තුනේ හෝ වේදිකාවක් තිබෙන්නේ ඒනිසාය. මේ නිසා අවුරුදු 72 කට පසුව, ලංකාවේ, මිනිසුන්ට සතුටින් හා සාමයෙන් ජීවත්‌විය හැකි රටක් බිහිකිරීමට, එහිදී හැකි උපරිම ලෙස ජනයාගේ පුද්ගලික නිදහස (ප්‍රජා (තන්ත්‍ර) වාදය) රැක ගණිමින්ම, විනය ගරුක, ශීලාචාර රටක් ගොඩනැඟීමට, කරණා ව්‍යායාමයකදී, අවම වශයෙන් 19 හා 13 බබාලා දෙන්නා බේසමේ වතුර සමඟ පමණක් නොව බේසමත් සමඟම විසි කල යුතුව ඇත.

ලංකාවේ ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍ර (නාස්ලණු) වාදය රැක ගැනීම

19-ඒට විරුද්‌ධව චන්දය දුන්නේ අම්පාර මන්ත්‍රී, රෙයාර් අද්මිරාල් සරත් වීරසේකර පමණය! පසු කලෙක, ඊට දායකවූ හැමදෙනාම, ජීනීවා නුවරට පැනගිය ජයම්පතිද ඇතුළුව, එහි නුගුණ කියමින් හැසුරුණේ ඔවුන් බලාපොරොත්තු වූවාටත් වඩා භයානක ලෙස මේ 19 වැඩේ රට විනාශ කරණ බව ලෝකයටම (හා කොළඹ තානාපතිලාට) පෙනී යාම නිසාය. කෙටියෙන් කියනවා නම් යහපාලනයකට තියා බලු පාලනයකට වත් ඉන් ඉඩක් නොදුන්නේය. මෙහිදී පාස්කු ප්‍රහාරය හා කොරෝනාව, රට, ජාතිය, ආගම, ආරක්‍ෂාකරණ අදෘෂ්‍යමාන බලවේග විසින් ගෙනා වෙස්‌වලාගත් භාග්‍ය විය.

කිරි කලයේ ගොම බිංදු!

එහෙත් යහපාලනකාරයින් දැන් හදිසියේම මැරී ඉපදෙමින් සිටී. ලෝකයේ හොඳම පාර්ලිමේන්තුව, නියෝජිත ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදයේ මුදුන් මල්කඩ තිබෙන්නේ ලංකාවේ යයි කියූ මොවුන්, දැන්, මේ පඩංගු 19 රැකගත යුතුයයි මාරාන්තික චන්ද සටනක නියැලී සිටී. එසේද වුවත්, මොවුන්ගේ මේ කිරිකලයට දැනටමත් ගොම බින්දු දෙකක්ම වැටී ඇති බව ඔවුන්ට නොතේරේ. එනම්, මැතිවරණ කොම්ෂමේ රත්නජීවන් හූල් හා ඊටත් ඉහළින් ඉන්නා ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක සභාවේ ජවාඩ් යුෂුෆ් යන බිංදු දෙකය. රට බලාගන්නා විෂ්ණු දෙවියන් විසින් යහපාලන හොරුන්ට දඬුවමක් වශයෙන් මේ දෙන්නාගේ සිහි විකල් කර ඔල්මාදකලා වත්ද කියා සිතේ. මේ වගේ අයට ගම්වල කියන්නේ දෙයියන්ගේ හාල් කැවිලා කියාය. මේ දෙකටම වඩා බරපතල වන්නේ කලම්බු ටෙලිග්‍රාෆ් ජූලි 13 දිනැති, දේශප්‍රියගේට් නමැති ඕශල හේරත් හා මැකෝ අතර කතාවේ වීඩියෝ කොටස් ය. සමන් නමැති නිලධාරීයා විසින් කල අක්‍රමිකතාව, හූල් ද දැන සිටි බවත්, මේ අය රකින්නට මැකෝ හැසිරෙන බවත් එලිවී ඇත!

පෙරහැරවල නැටීමට දන්නා, භාවානා කරණ ලෙස බලකරමින් ලිෆ්ට් ඔපරේටර්ගේ බෙල්ලෙන් අල්ලන පූජිත ජයසුන්දර වැනි කෙනෙක්වත් ඉවත් කරන්නට නොහැකි මේ, 19 වනාහී, බල්ලාගේ පිටිපස්සේ බැඳි තුට්ටුවක් වැනි නොවේද? ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක සභාව නම් තන්ත්‍රවාදී සිල්හොරුන් විසින් මොහුව පත්කලේ, ඔහුට වඩා සුදුස්සෙක් සිටියත්, ඔහු යූ.ඇන්.පී කාරයෙක් නිසායයි විජේදාස රාජපක්‍ෂ විසින් එලිකලේය. මේ විකට පොලිස්පතිත්, ජනාධිපති සොයාගත් නැව්වල තීන්ත ගාන කොන්ත්‍රාත්කරුවෙකු වූ හේමසිරි ප්‍රනාන්‌දු නම් ආරක්‍ෂක ලේකමුත් අතර ගුණාත්මක වෙනසක් නොවීය. කොටින්ම කියනවා නම් 19 නිසා රටට <කෙලවා> දැමීම සම්පූර්‌ණ විය.

මේ කොම්ෂම් වලට ස්වාධීන විය නොහැකි ඇයි?

ඉහතින් පෙන්‌වා දුන්නේ මේ ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදයේ මුරදේවතාවා යයි කියන කොම්ෂම් සභා නමැති බොරුව ඇත්තෙන්ම ස්වාධීන නොවන බව රටට එලිකල නිදසුන් දෙක තුනකි. අප නොදන්නා මෙවැනි හොර, දූෂිත පත්‌වීම්, මැදිහත්‌වීම් කෙතරම් සිදුවනවා ඇද්ද? 19 යනු තමන් රටට කල යුග පුරුෂ සේවය යයි කියූ සිරිසේන මහතා, පසුව කිව්වේ එය නීති පොතෙන් ඉවත් කල යුතු භයානක විෂ බීජයක් බවය. එහෙත් ඔහුගේත් අළුත්ම මතය නම් 19 යේ ඇති මේ කොමිෂම් සභා ක්‍රමය නම් කෙසේ හෝ රැක ගත යුතු බවය. ඔහු කියන්නේ රටේ කතානායක විසින් මේ සභා සංකල්පය විනාශ කල බවය. එක් ඒකාධිපතියෙකුගේ, එනම් ජනාධිපතිගේ දළ කඩන්නට ගෙනා 19 න්, කතානායක නම් හිතුවක්කාර ලෙස ක්‍රියාකරන පුද්ගලයෙක් බිහිවී, ඔහු තමන්ට අයිති පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ වැඩ වෙනුවට, රාජ්‍ය සේවයට නොයෙක් අනිසි බලපෑම් කරමින් විධායකයට ඇඟිලි ගසනවා යයි හිටපු ජනාධිපති කියයි. මේ අනුව 18 සංශොධනය නමැති ඉඟුරු වෙනුවට 19 නමැති මිරිස් ගත්තා සේය.

රීසනබල් වීම-නැපෝලියන් බොනපාර්ට්ගේ නංගිලා

මුළු ලෝකයේම ඉන්නේ ලෝභ-ද්වේෂ-මෝහයෙන් පිරි පංචස්කන්‌ධ නොවේද යයි සිතන විට, සෑම මිනිසාම තමන් තුල වසන යක්‍ෂයා හා දේවතාවා අතර සටනක හැම මොහොතේම නියැලී සිටින විට, මෙත්තා-කරුණා-මුදිතා- අපේක්ඛා- කියන්නේ මොනවාදැයි නොදන්නා පාලක රැළක් සිටින රටක ස්වාධීන කියන වචනයේ අර්‍ථය කුමක්ද? අප බොහෝවිට කරන්නේ අපවම රවටා ගැනීමක් නොවේද? ඥාති සංග්‍රහය, මිත්‍ර සංග්‍රහය, දෙමව්පියන් බලාගැනීම මෙන් බුද්ධාගමට පටහැනි නැති ලෝක ධර්‌මතාවන්‌ය. මේ හැමදේකදීම වැදගත් වන්නේ මධ්‍යම ප්‍රතිපදාවය. එසේ නැතහොත් රීසනබල්වීමය. සුදුසුකම් නැති නෑයාට, දේශපාලන හෙංචයියන්ට රාජ්‍ය වගකීම් භාරදීම කෙතරම් බලු වැඩක්ද? 1956 න් පසු පිහිටුවන ලද රාජ්‍ය සංස්ථා නමැති අනගි සංකල්පය කෙලෙසා, ඒවාට දේශපාලන ගැත්තන් දමා ඒවා විනාශකලේ මේ පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලක කළු සුද්දන් විසිනි. සංස්ථා දේපොළ පවා කැබලි කොට විකුණා දැම්මේ 1978 න් පසුවය. වාලච්චනෙයි කඩදාසි, ගිංතොට තුනී ලෑලි, තුල්හිරිය රෙදිපිළි නමැති සංස්ථා මළකුණු වලින් පවා දේශපාලකයින් හා කොමිස් කාක්කන් සල්ලි ගරා ගත්තේය. හෝටල් ගරාජයක්දී වාහනය ඇතුලේ පගා සල්ලි ගනිමින් සිටියදී ඉහළම හොරු දෙන්නෙක් අල්ලස් නිලධාරීන්ට අසුවිය.

නිදොස් කෙනෙකු මෙදියත උපදනේ නැත

තමන්ගේ පන්තියට, කුලයට, ආගමට, ගමට, දේශපාලනයට, වාසි ගන්නට ක්‍රියාකරණ අය නැති කිරීමට සිතීම කිසාගෝතමී අබ සෙවුවා වැනිය. එස්. එල්. ගුණසේකර මහතාගේ, ලෝර් ඇන්ඩ් අදර් මෙමරීස් (2011) යන පොතේ සුප්‍රිම් උසාවියේ නඩුකාරයින්, අගමැති, ඇමති, ඇමෙරිකන් එම්බසිඩර් යන අයවළුන් එකිනෙකාගේ පිටකසා ගන්නා අයුරු (උදව් කරගන්නා) අයුරු රසවත් ලෙස පෙන්‌වා දී ඇත. මේවායින් තොර පරම පවිත්‍ර ලෝකයක් නැත. මා පුද්ගලිකවම දන්නා සිද්‌ධියක් නම්, එවකට සිවිල් සේවා කොමිෂන් සභාවේ සිටි පානදුරේ උපාලි දියෙස් ගැනය. මා මිත්‍රයෙකුට ඔහුගේ බිරිඳට පුත්තලමේ සිට කොළඹට ගුරුමාරුවක් ගැනීමට අවශ්‍ය විය. අඳුනන කෙනෙකු මඟින් ඔහු දියෙස් හමුවූ විට දියෙස් කියා ඇත්තේ, එසේ තමා ලඟට පැමිණ උදව් ඉල්ලීම ගැන අසතුටු නොවිය යුතු බවත්, කරගත යුතු දෙයක් කරගැනීමට උදව් ඉල්ලීම සධාරණ බවත්‌ය. නියමිත දුෂ්කර පලාත් සේවා කාලයට කලින්, නීතිය කඩා දැමීමට දියෙස් එකඟවිය. 1975 දී පමණ සිදුවූ මෙය හරිද, නැද්ද යන්න අදටත් මට ප්‍රහේලිකාවකි. කිසිවෙකුගේ උපකාරයක් නැතිව ඉතා කෙටි කාලයකින් අධිරාජ්‍යයෙක්‌වූ නැපෝලියන් ඔහුගේ මස්සිනාලාව (රෝයල් කොලේජ් ක්ලාස්මේට්ලා වෙනුවට?) ඔහු අල්ලාගත් රටවල අධිරාජයින් ලෙස පත්කරණ ලදී. නොබෝ කලකින්ම ඒවා සියල්ලම අහිමිවී ගිය ඔහුට ජොසෆින් වද නැතුව එල්බා දූපතට යාමට සිදුවිය!

යුරෝපීය විසඳුම් හා ලංකාවේ අනාදිමත් පරිපාලන ත්‍රිත්‌වය

ග්‍රීක පුර රජ්‍ය ක්‍රමය හා ඉන්පසු බිහිවූ රාජාණ්ඩු-වැඩවසම් ක්‍රමයෙන්, නියෝජිත ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදයට මාරුවීමත් සමඟ බලයට පත්‌වන නියෝජිත ආණ්ඩු, බලය අනිසි ලෙස භාවිතා කිරීම බලවත් ප්‍රශ්ණයක් විය. ඉතාලියේ සයනා පුර සමූහාණ්ඩුවේ බිතුසිතුවම් මඟින් මඟින් හා තේරී පත්‌වන නියෝජිතයින් ඊළඟ චන්දය එනතුරු ගමට නොගොස් නගර සභා පාලන ගොඩනැඟිල්ලේම නවාතැන් ගෙන සිටීම වැනි මනෝ විද්‍යාත්මක හා භෞතික උපක්‍රම පවා යොදාගන්නා ලදී. එකම පින්තූර හැම තිස්සේම දකිණ විට රැස්වීම් ශාලාවේ බිත්ති හතරෙන් පින්තූර නැති ජනේල තිබෙන බිත්තිය පවා අමතකවීම මිනිස් ස්වභාවයය.කම්මලේ බල්ලට වුන දේ වගේය. එංගලන්තයේ ඇක්ටන් සාමිගේ (1887), <පවර් ටෙන්ඩ්ස් ටු කරප්ට්, ඇබ්සොලියුට් පවර් කරප්ට්ස් ඇබ්සොලියුට්ලි> යන ප්‍රසිද්‌ධ කියමන, මෙම මිනිස් පංචස්කන්‌ධවල ස්වභාවය සංකේතවත් කරයි. යමෙකුට දේශපාලන හෝ වෙනත් බලයක් වැඩිවත්ම, එයට සාපේක්‍ෂව සදාචාර ගුණය අඩුවෙයි.

මීට පෙර මේ දුර්‍වලතාවය හඳුනාගත් ප්‍රංශයේ මොන්ටෙස්කි (1748) බලතල බෙදීමේ න්‍යාය ඉදිරිපත් කරණ ලදී. ඒ අනුව, ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක, විධායක හා අධිකරණ යන අංග තුන එකිනෙක හා බල තුලනය වන ලෙසට පැවතිය යුතුයයි යන අදහස, ඒ අයුරින්ම ක්‍රියාවට නගන්නට ඇමෙරිකන් ජනපද 13 විසින් තීරණය කරණ ලදී (1790). ජනාධිපති ඩොනල්ඩ් ට්‍රම්ප් යටතේ මේ වනවිට මෙම බලතල බෙදීමේ න්‍යාය ඇමෙරිකාවේ බලවත් අර්බුදයක් බවට පත්‌වී ඇත. මීට හේතුව රාජ්‍ය පාලනයේදී මේ අංශ තුන සම්පුර්‍ණයෙන්ම එකිනෙකින් වෙන්ව තැබිය නොහැකි නිසාය. නිදසුනක් වශයෙන් තම රාජකාරි වලදී අර්‌ධ අධිකරණ බලතල භාවිතා කිරීමට විධායක නිලධාරීන්ට සිදුවේ.

මොන නීති විධි විධාන තිබුණත්, යම් තනතුරක් දරණ පුද්ගලයා වංක නම් ඔහු හෝ ඇය රිංගා යාමේ හිඩැස් හොයා ගන්නවාමය. පුද්ගලයා දූෂිත නම් කෙතරම් හොඳ ආයතන තිබුණත් වැඩක් නැත. ජේ. ආර් හෝ ප්‍රේමදාස ජනාධිපති හා විජේතුංග ජනාධිපති අතර වෙනස එයය. ඇමෙරිකාවේ පුද්ගලික අංශය (හා රාජ්‍ය සේවය වුවත්) බොහෝ දුරට කාර්යක්‍ෂ්ම වන්නේ ඒ ආයතන අයිතිකාරයින් විසින් සේවකයින් මොනිටර් කරණා සුපවයිසර් ක්‍රමයක් අකුරටම ක්‍රියාත්මක කරවන නිසාය. වැරදි කිරීමට, හොරකම් කිරීමට, අස්සෙන් රිංගා යාමට ඇති ඉඩ ප්‍රස්ථා අවම කිරීමෙනි.

එහෙත් දැනට බොහෝ කාලයකට පෙර සිටම, විශේෂයෙන් ඉංග්‍රීසි දේශපාලන විද්‍යාඥයින් විසින් පෙන්වා දුන් පැහැදිලි කිරීම නම්, මෙසේ බලතල වෙන්කිරීමක් මොන්ටෙස්කි විසින් අදහස් නොකල බවත්, ඔහු කියා සිටියේ සමස්ත රාජ්‍ය බලයම (සම් ටෝටල්) හැකිතාක් උපරිම ඒකක සංඛ්‍යාවකට භූමිය පුරා විසිරී යායුතුය යනුත් බවය. මෙය මොන්ටෙස්කි ඔළුවෙන් හිටගැනීමක් යයි පැවසේ. නිදසුණක් වශයෙන් ලංකාවේ පන්සල් මෙවැනි ස්වාධීන ආයතනය. ක්‍රිස්තියානි හො ඉස්ලාම් පල්ලි මෙන් මධ්‍යම අධිකාරියේ චක්‍ර ලේඛන මඟින් පන්සලේ නායක හිමියන් පාලනය නොවේ. හැමදෙනාම දවසට පස් පාරක් වත් මක්කම පැත්තට හැරී යඥා කල යුතුයයි නීති නැත. ලංකාවේ අනාදිමත් කාලයක සිට පැවති ගම-වැව-දාගැබ යන (සමාජ-ආර්ථික-දේශපාලන) ත්‍රිත්‌වය, භූමිය මත විසිරී පැවතිව යුතුවන මේ නව මොන්ටෙස්කි ක්‍රමයට සමානය. මෑතක සිට ජන සභා (ජන මූල සභා) වශයෙන් යලි උපදින්නට හදන්නේ මේ ත්‍රිත්‌වයය. ස්මෝල් ඊස් බියුටිෆුල් (ෂුමාකර්, 1973 ), හියුමන් ස්කේල් (කර්ක්පැට්‍රික් සේල්, 1980) යනුවෙන් පරිසර හානිය අවම කිරීමේ, ගෝලීය උණුසුම්වීමට මුහුණදීමේ සංකල්පද මීට අනුගතය. නිව්සීලන්‌තයේ ව්‍යවස්ථාවෙන් ඒ රටේ සිවිල් පාලන ඒකක (අපේ ප්‍රාදේශීය සභා වැනි) ගංඟා ද්‍රෝණි අනුව මායිම් කලයුතුයයි නියමකර ඇත්තේද ඒ අනුවය.

පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලන ක්‍රමය පිළිකාවකි

1931-48 දක්වා පක්‍ෂ නැති ඩොනමෝර් අවධියේ රටට ගුණදායිවූ දේ සිදුවිය. අපේ මිනිසුන්ට පාර්ලිමේන්තුවක් දීම වඳුරන්ට දැලි පිහි දීමක් විය. විදුර වික්‍රමනායක කියන හැටියට ඔහු සිතුවේ ඔහු හිරගෙදර ඉන්නාවා කියාය. ඊට හේතුව මිරිස් කුඩු හෝ පිහි නොව දෙපැත්තේ අය එකිනෙකාට, හොරා, කුඩුකාරයා, බඩුකාරයා යයි කියමින් කෑගසා ගන්නා නිසා මොවුන් සිටිය යුතු හිරගෙදර නිසාය. වරක් රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහම බෑන්ඩ් එකක කන්ඩක්ටර් කෙනෙක් වගේ, කවුද හොරා යයි අත් ඔසවමින් මන්ත්‍රීන් ලීඩ් කලේය! 1960-70 කාලයේදි, විශේෂයෙන් මාක්ස්වාදීන් ඇමතිලා වන්නට ඇරඹීමත් සමඟ සිදුවූ දෙයක් නම් මන්ත්‍රීන් ප්‍රශ්ණ අසන විට ඒවාට ඇමතිලා බොරු උත්තර දීමය. මෙය පාර්ලිමේන්තුව නම් දේවාල මිදුලේ මලපහ කිරීමේ ආරම්භයය.

19-ඒ එක ගෙනා හැටි, සුප්‍රිම් උසාවිය පවා රැවටූ හැටි, මන්ත්‍රී පරාණ පඹයන්සේ නිදිමරගාතේ අත ඉස්සූ හැටි ගැන අළුතෙන් ලිවීම අවශ්‍ය නැත. රටක ඉරණම නමැති භාරධූර කටයුත්ත මොවුන්ට භාරදීම නීතියේ ආධිපත්‍යයද? ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදයද? 19-ඒ ගැන සී. ඒ. චන්ද්‍රප්‍රේම අයිලන්ඩ් පත්‍රයේ හොඳ විවරණයක් කර තිබුණේය. මන්ත්‍රීලා සවුත්තු ඔවුන් තෝරණ චන්ද ක්‍රමයේ වරදිනි. ප්‍රේමදාස 12% කටෝෆ් එක 5% ට අඩුකර, අස්‌රාෆ්ලාව, හකීම්ලාව, රිෂාඩ්ලාව, හිස්බුල්ලා-අසාස් සාලිලාව රජ කෙරෙවූවේය ඒ ක්‍රමයේ වරද නිසා ජනාධිපතිත් නැත්නම් ඊළම සුවර්ය.

කරමල සුදු කුකුළා

අබ්දුල් කලාම්, ප්‍රතිභා පටිල් හා මෝඩි විසින් බුද්‌ධාගමෙන් ලෝකයේ ප්‍රශ්ණවලට විසඳුම් සොයාගත හැකියයි කියති. ලෝක ක්‍රිස්තියානි ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍ර සංගමයේ උපසභාපති කෙනෙක්ව සිටි රනිල් පවා දැන් කෝරෝනාව මර්‌ධනයවූනේ බුද්‌ධ ධර්‌මයේ බලයෙන් යයි කියයි. මීට කලින් සිරිසේන ජනාධිපති බෞද්‌ධ රාජ්‍ය ප්‍රතිපත්ති ගැන කතාකලේය. මේ සිංහලයින්ට බුදුදහම හරියට නිතර දකිණ කුකුළාගේ කරමල වැනිය. එහි අගයක් නැත. වල්පොල රාහුල හා යක්කඩුවේ ප්‍රඥාරාම හාමුදුරුවරු දෙන්නා ලංකාවට 1956 න් පසු සිදුවු විනාශයට වගකිව යුතු යයි, ඔහුගේ, ද වර්ක් ඔෆ් කින්ස් යන පොතේ (1999) ලියූ (පොතේ මතය: හාමුදුරුවරු රජවරුන්ට අයත් කාර්යයන්ට අත නොගැසිය යුතුය) ඇමෙරිකාවේ වසන එච් එල් සෙනෙවිරත්න විසින් ලඟදී ලියා සිටියේ, 1956 ට පෙර තිබූ අන්දමේ සෞභාග්‍යකට යලි යෑමට නම්, රටේ තරුණ හාමුදුරුවරු එකතුව විප්ලවයක් කල යුතුය කියාය. මාක්ස්වාදී ශිෂ්‍යයෙකුවූ ඔහු ගනනාත් ඔබේසේකර, ස්ටැන්ලි තම්බයියා එකිනෙකාගේ පිට කසා ගන්නා කල්ලියට අයත් විය. මෙය බුදුන්ගේ රස්තියාදුව නම් පොතට වඩා වෙනස් කියමණකි. එය උතුරේ ආණ්ඩුකාරයාව සිටි දෙමළ බෞද්‌ධයයි කියන සුරේෂ් රඝවාන්ගේ මතයට සමානය.

ඩී.එස්ලා ගිය වැරදි පාර

රටක් නිදහස ලබනවා කියන්නේ, ඒ රට, වතුර යට මුණින් අතට ඔබා ගෙන සිටි කළයක් අත බුරුල් කල විගසම උඩට එනවා මෙන්, නිදහසත් සමඟ අළුගසා දමා නැගිටීමය (ඉන්‌දියාව මීට කිට්ටුවෙන් යන නිදසුනකි). අනාගාරික ධර්‌මපාලතුමා කී දේ සිහිපත්කර ගැනීමය. එහෙත් මේ සිතින් කළු සුද්දා, අයිවර් ජෙනින්ස් පස්සේ යමින්, හුදෙක් අගමැතිවීමේ අරමුණ උදෙසා 29 වගන්තිය නමැති තොන්ඩුව දමා ගත්තේය. හාමුදුරුවනේ, ආණ්ඩුව සරණං ගච්චාමි කියා පදයක් නෑ කියා සරදමින් හේන්පිටගෙදර ඥානසීහ හිමියන්ට ඔච්චම් කලේය. 1505 සිට කෙසේවෙතත්, 1815 සිට සුද්දන් විසින් සිංහලයාට කල සමූලඝාතන, වෙනස්කම්, හිරිහැර අසාධාරණ ඉවත්කර යුක්තිය ඉටුකලයුතුනේද යන්න ඔහුට නොවැටහුණේය. පෙත්සම් ගසා ජාතියක පියා වෙන්නට ලෝකයේ කිසිවෙකුටවත් නොහැක.

මෙසේ සිංහලයාට, සිංහල බෞද්‌ධයාට කල වැරදි හා අසාධාරණකම් නිවැරදි කිරීම, සෙසු සුළු ජනව‌ර්‍ග වලට කරණ වෙනස්කමක් නොවේ. දැන් ඔස්ට්‍රේලියාවේ වසන දේවනේසන් නේසයියා විසින්, ඉන්‌දියාව, ඇමෙරිකාව හා මැලේසියාව උදාහරණ ලෙස ගණිමින්, ඔහුගේ හාර්‍වඩ් ආචාර්ය උපාධියේ පෙන්වා දී ඇත්තේ, ඩිස්ක්‍රිමිනේෂන් විත් රීසන් යන මතයේ නිවැරදි බවය (1997). ඩී.එස්ලා ගිය මේ වැරදි පාරේම අද 2020 දීත් යූ.ඇන්.පී කාරයින් යමින් සිටී. මෙම කාසියේ අනිත් පැත්ත නම් ලංකාවේ ඇත්තේ හැම දෙනාටම සමාන අවස්ථා නොලැබෙන භූමිය මත දක්නට ලැබෙන විෂමතා මිස, ජාතිය, කුලය, ආගම අනුව කෙරෙන අසමානතාවන් නොවේ යන්නය (ස්පේෂියල් ඉනික්‌විටි ඇන්ඩ් අන්‌ඊක්වල් ඇක්සස්ටු ඔපර්චුනිටීස්). උදාහරණයක් වශයෙන් කොළඹ සිටි විග්නේෂ්වරන්ට තිබුණු අවස්ථා පානදුරේ සිටි මට තිබුණේ නැත. කොළඹ ආනන්ද හෝ තර්ස්ටන් එකටවත් යාමට වත්කමක් නොවීය. දරිද්‍රතාවයට ජාතියක්, ආගමක්, භාෂාවක් නැත.

පන්සල හා යුද හමුදාව

තිස් අවුරුදු යුද්‌ධය හා 1978 සිට ජේ. ආර් හඳුන්වා දුන් මත්ස්‍ය න්‍යාය නිසා, අද ලංකාවේ තිබෙන්නේ මොනතරම් විකෘතවූ, ඔල්මාදවු, ඔද්දල්වු, සදාචාරයෙන්, කරුණාවෙන්, දයාවෙන් පිරිහුණු සමාජයක්ද යන්න පේන්නේ රටින් පිට ජීවත්‌ව දිගු කලකට රටේ ජීව‌ත්‌වීමට සිතා රටට එන කෙනෙකුටය. සංචාරකයෙකුගේ මනසින් මාසයක් තමන් උපන් රටේ සිටියත් මෙම රටවැසියාගේ, ලඟ නෑයින්ගේ හෝ පරණ මිතුරන්ගේ මානසික ව්‍යාධිය/අසහනය රේඩාර් එකට නොවැටේ. යුද්‌ධය නිසා තමන් නොදැනම, තමන්ගේ යටි හිතට මරණ භය කාවැද්දී ගියේය. ලොකු මාළුවා, පොඩි මාළුවා ගිලින ආර්ථික ක්‍රමයකදී ඩොලර් වලට දූ දරුවන්, දෙමව්පියන් වුනත් විකුණන්නේය. මෙවැනි සමාජයක්, ගමේ රටේ ගෑණු අරාබි වැසිකිළි හෝදන්නට යෑමෙන් තවත් හීනමානයකින් තෙරපුණේය. බිරිඳ එවන මුදලින්, පියා බේබද්දක්, කුඩුකාරයෙක්, වෙන ගෑණූ පස්සේ යන්නෙක් විය. ඒ මදිවාට ඇඟලුම් කර්‍මාන්තය ගමේ කෙල්ලන් නගරයට ඇදගෙන ඔවුන්ගේ විනීතකම, සුන්දරකම කිලිටිකර දමන්නේය. ළමයින්ට ලමාකාලයක් නැත්තේ ටියුෂන් වසංගතය නිසාය. පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලකයා නම් අළුත් ධනවත්, බලවත් පිරිස ගම, නගරය, පක්‍ෂ පාට අනුව බෙදී මරාගන්නා තැන් බවට පත්කලේය. ග්‍රාම සේවක, කාර්යාල සේවක, කසළ එකතුකර්න්නාගේ සිට ඇමති ලේකම්, මැති-ඇමතිලා දක්‌වා හැමදෙනාම අල්ලස්, දූෂණ, මැරකම් වලින් පිරී ගියේය. ඒ අස්සේ වැල්ලවත්තේ ජීවත්‌වෙන ගමන් ශිවාජිලිංගම් අහන්නේ ඒකීය රාජ්‍යය මොන බම්බුවක්ද යනුවෙනි!

ගෝඨාභයගෙන් රටේ ජනතාව බලාපොරොත්තු වන්නේ මේ විනාශ මුඛයෙන් රට ගලවා ගැනීමය. මේ 19-ඒ තිබුණත් නැතත් ඔවුන්ට ප්‍රශ්ණයක් නැත. නීතීයේ ආධිපත්‍ය කන්නද කියා අසන්නට වත් ඔවුන් ඒ මොකක්ද කියා නොදණී. ගෙදරින් පිටවී පාරට බැස්ස වේලේ සිට ඔවුන් මුහුණ දෙන්නේ දුකට, අසාධාරණයට හා හිංසාවටය. හිටපු මහාචාර්ය එච්. එල්. සෙනෙවිරත්න යෝජනා කල තරුණ භික්‍ෂූ විප්ලවය හා සජිත් ප්‍රේමදාසද දැන් ස්ත්‍රීන් සම්බන්‌ධයෙන් කාර්ය සාධක් බලකායක් දානවා යන කාරණා දෙක අනුව යමින් ජනාධිපති විසින් කල යුත්තේ පන්සල (පල්ලිය/කෝව්ල) මුල් කරගෙන ජන මූල සභා (ජන සභා) පිහිටුවා, එයට යුද හමුදාව එක් කර දැඩි විනය ගරුක සමාජයකට අත්තිවාරම දැමීමය. බේසික් ඩිමොක්‍රසි යන නමින් මෙවැනි මහජන කවුන්සිල් ක්‍රමයක් පකිස්ථානයේ ආයුබ් ඛාන් විසින් 1959 දී ක්‍රියාත්මක කලේය. ගම්වල පාලන කටයුතු හා ආණ්ඩුව අතර සම්බන්‌ධතා මේ කවුන්සිල් මඟින් සිදුවිය.

ඒකාධිපතිවාදය හෝ ජාතිවාදය හෝ ගැන කතා කිරීමට දේශීය හෝ විදේශීය හතුරන්ට ඉන් ඉඩක් නොලැබෙන්නේ, බිම් මට්ටමින් ජනතාව බලවත් කල විට, මේ දෙකම ඉබේම අහෝසිවී යන නිසාය. සිංහල-දෙමළ පාසැල් වල උගන්වනවා මෙන්ම වැදගත් දෙයක් නම් ජන මූල සභා හෝ ප්‍රදේශීය සභා හෝ ග්‍රාම නිලධාරී වසම් හෝ ප්‍රාදේශිය ලේකම් ප්‍රදේශ භාෂාව, ආගම අනුව නොව පරිසර සාධක අනුව මායිම් කිරීමය. නාගානන්ද කියන අන්දමට උප්පැන්න සහතිකයේ ජාතිය ශ්‍රී ලාංකික කියා ලිවීමෙන් නොව, මෙසේ ගංඟා හෝ භූගත ජල ද්‍රෝණි වශයෙන් භූමියේ සිවිල් ඒකක හඳුනා ගැනීමෙන් ජාතිවාදී, බෙදුම්වාදි මඳුරුවාට බිත්තර දමන්නට තැනක් නැති කරන්නේය. භාෂාව, ආගම අනුව පාසැල් අනවශ්‍ය කරන්නේය. කුඩා ඒකක අනුව කරණ භූමි ප්‍රදේශ බලවත් කිරීමෙන් (මීනින්ෆුල් ඩිවොලූෂන්) මිනිසුන්ට තමන්ගේ පුද්ගලික අවශ්‍යතා හා උවමනාවන් බිම් මට්ටමින්ම සපුරා ගත හැකි වන අතර, ඒ නිසා විශේෂයෙන් සිංහල මහජාතියට බියක් ඇති නොවන්නේය. යම් පොදු අභිලාශ ඇත්නම් ඒවාද එක්තරා දුරකට ලඟාකර ගන්නට මඟ පාදා ගත හැකි වන්නේ ප්‍රථමයෙන් මෙවැනි භාෂාවට හා ආගමට අන්‌ධ කුඩා ඒකක වලින් ජාතීන් අතර ඇතිවන අවභොධය මඟිනි.

පන්සිය පනස් ජාතක පොත

මා දැනට කියවමින් සිටින්නේ 487 වන ජාතකයය. මේ පොත කියවීමෙන් යමෙකුට අවුරුදු 200 කින් වත් ලබාගත නොහැකි දැණුමක් හා ඥානයක් ලබාගත හැකියයි මාර්ටින් වික්‍රම සිංහ මහතා කියා ඇත. මට වයස 20-30 දී වත් මේ පොත කියවන්නට සිතුනා නම් කෙතරම් වටීද, මගේ ජීවිතය මොනතරම් වෙනස් වන්නට තිබුණාද කියා මට සිතේ. සමහර මේ ජාතක කතා ඇසුරෙන් මට සිතෙන දෙයක් නම් වාසුදේව නානායක්කාර යෝජනාවේ වැදගත් කමය. 13 හා 19 ඉවත්කිරීම හැර ජේ. ආර් ව්‍යවස්ථාවට බරපතල සංශොධන කඩිමුඩියේ අවශ්‍ය නැත. එහෙත් යම් ලෙසකින් තුනෙන් දෙකක් නොලැබුණත්, චන්ද ප්‍රකාශණයේ ඒ බව පැහැදිලිව කියා, චන්දයෙන් පසු, 1972 දී කලා මෙන් වෙනම රැස්වී ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම සම්පාදක මණ්ඩලයක් සේ ගෝඨාභය ආණ්ඩුව ක්‍රියා කල යුතුය. අර්ජුන මහාභාරත යුද්‌ධයේදී කලා මෙන් මෙය රට වෙනුවෙන් ඔහුට ඇති ඩියුටියය. රට ගලවා ගැනීමේ මේ ඓතිහාසික අවස්ථාව, නැවත උදාවේව්ද යනු සැක සහිතය. එය අපවත් කලාද යන සැකයක් ඇති මාදුළුවාවේ සෝභිත හිමිඳුන් ඇමෙරිකන් තානාපතිනි මිෂෙල් සිසන්ලාට රැවටී, තැටිය රත්‌වූ වේලේ රොටිය හදා ගැනීමක් නොව, 2005 සිටම හෝ ඊට පෙර සිටම ගෝඨාභයගේ සිතතුල ජනිතවූ ඩියුටි එකක් කියා මට සිතේ. පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලකයා ගෙන් රට බේරා ගැනීමේ රටේ අනාගත සමෘධියේ සංකේතයය.

චන්ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ

අපට ඇත්තේ යහපාලනය විසින් බලගැන්වූ මැතිවරණ කොමිසමකි. මේ කොමිසමට කිසිවෙක් නොසිතන ආකාරයේ බලතල රාශියක් පවරා ඇත. එබැවින් මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස් තුමා බොහෝවිට කටයුතු කරන්නේ විධායක බලතල ඇති මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්වරයෙකු ලෙසය. එය සැබෑ ස්වාධින මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්වරයෙකුට නම් ඉතා හොඳ තත්වයකි. ඇත්ත වශයෙන්ම ඔහු, ඔහුට අවැසි ආකාරයට සියල්ලම සිදුකරමින් සිටි. එසේ කිරීමට ඔහුට බලතල ඇත. තවද රජය ඔහුගේ කිසිදු කටයුත්තකට බලපෑම් නොකරමින් නිහඬව බලා සිටි. රජයට ඊට එහා දෙයක් කිරීමට 19 වෙනි ව්‍යාවස්ථා සංශෝධනයෙන් ඉඩක් ලබාදී නොමැත. රටේ ජනතාවට මැතිවරණයක් ලබාදීම දැන් රජයට කල නොහැක. එය සිදුකල හැක්කේ මැතිවරණ කොමිසමට පමණි.

මිට පෙර වතාවකදීද මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා අගමැතිව ජනතාවට පාර්ලිමේන්තුවක් තෝරා ගැනීමට මැතිවරණයක් දීමට සැරසුන වේලාවේද එම මහා මැතිවරණය අධිකරණය විසින් වලකාලන ලදී. ඒ 19 වෙනි ව්‍යාවස්ථා සංශෝධනයට අනුව එසේ කිරීමට මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂයන්ට බලතල නැති බැවින් යයි පැවසිනි.

දැන් එවැනි බාධාවක් නැත. නමුත් මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්තුමා හැම විටකම මැතිවරණය පස්සට ඇදීම සිදුකරන බව ඉතා පැහැදිලිය.දැන් ඔහුගේ අරමුණට පිහිටට ඇත්තේ කොරෝනා වසංගතයයි. දැන් අපිට පෙනෙන්නේ කොරෝනා වසංගතය ඇතිතාක් කල් මේ මැතවරණ කොමිසමට මෙහි මහා මැතිවරණයක් පැවැත්වීමේ හැකියාවක් නැති බවයි. පසුගිය දිනවල රටපුරාම අත්හදා බැලීම් සංදර්ශන පවත්වමින් මැතිවරණයට සුදානම් වූ මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්තුමා, මැතිවරණයට පෙර සෞඛ්‍ය මාර්ගෝපදේස ගැසට් කරණ ලෙස කාටදෝ බලකරමින් ප්‍රකාශ නිකුත් කරමින් සිටි.

මෙරට සාමාන්‍ය ජනතාව වන අප සිතාගෙන හිටියේ “සෞඛ්‍ය මාර්ගෝපදේස” ගැසට් කිරීමට නියෝග කිරීමේ බලයක් ස්වාධින මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්තුමාට ඇතැය් යන මතයේය. ස්වාධින මැතිවරණ කොමිසම පිහිටුවීමට පෙර, මැතිවරණ නියෝග කඩකරනවා නම් වෙඩි තියන්න නියෝග කරනවා යයි කිවූ මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්තුමා, ස්වාධින මැතිවරණ කොමිසමේ සභාපතිවුවාට පසුව මැතිවරණ දිනය ගැසට් කිරීමේ බලය තියෙන්නත්; සෞඛ්‍ය මාර්ගෝපදේස ගැසට් කිරීමට බලය නොතිබෙන්නත් හේතුව කුමක්දැයි අපට නොදැනේ. ඇත්තටම එවැනි බලයක් නැති තත්වයට මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්තුමා වැටී ඇත්නම් එතුමා සිදුකල යුත්තේ තැන තැන ඒ සම්බන්ධව කියවමින් සිටීම නොව, එය ලිඛිතව අදාළ බලධාරීන්ට යොමු කිරීමයි. එවිට මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්තුමාගේ ඉල්ලීමට පිළිතුරු ලැබෙනු ඇත. එය සදාචාර සම්පන්න ක්‍රියා  පිලිවෙතයි. ඒ සඳහා එතුමාට බුද්ධිය පහල වේවා! යයි අපි පතමු. මැතිවරණය කල් දැමීමට අර අදින සියලුම පාර්ශවන්ගේ බලය විනාශ කොට ස්වාධින මැතිවරණ කොමිසමට නිදහස් මැතිවරණයක් පැවැත්වීමට හැකිවේවා!

Prof. Chandana Jayalath, University of Vocational Technology

Finishing the unfinished effort of Millennium Development Goals is of national significance. Effectively, the MDGs are global benchmarks. Concurrent with that effort, it is important to have a focus on what Sri Lanka’s development agenda should look like beyond 2020. While completing the ‘unfinished business’, I believe, this question begs rather more fundamental question of multilateralism when applied to development initiatives.  The experience with the MDGs suggests that global priority setting, backed by action, does generate results. For example, the global poverty reduction target set in the MDGs has been met, most of the world’s children now go to school, and the tide has been turned on HIV/AIDS and malaria. This suggests that the increased global attention and the extra funding that pumped eventually helped a lot. In the past two decades, many countries of the world including Sri Lanka have recorded a substantial positive move. When compared to the ’90s, people are healthier, live longer, more educated and have better access to goods and services.

According to the UNICEF, Sri Lanka is among the most compelling in achieving MDG indicators in terms of literacy, access to primary education and education completion rate. Also, it is achieving MDG target for gender equality in education. Food insecurity is no longer an issue for Sri Lanka, which is self-sufficient in staple food production with a surplus of rice and maize, except of course in exceptional circumstances such as protracted droughts. New technology, innovations and research in agriculture have enabled us to increase our food production, ensuring the nation’s food security in an eco-friendly manner. Special attention must however be paid to a radical shift in education to highlight the role of science and technology. Science and technology helps especially the new upwardly mobile poor segments to leapfrog into the future. Yet, Sri Lanka faces new challenges in delivering quality education. This is fundamental to the demands of a modern technology based economy. Education goals should move beyond primary enrolment to improved job skills. Target market should be the international waters. Any mismatch between the skills provided by the local education system and the demands of foreign professional markets must be addressed in the new paradigm. This too helps restore traditional local family set up because mothers are back home and only young educated are outside. An unfair trading system and trade barriers too have hindered the local growth, when advanced economics are moving towards protectionism. Such issues have been neither addressed adequately in the original MDGs nor the local policies, I strongly believe. Therefore, it is important to move from prescriptive to reflective, actually realizing the economic value of the human brains.

Current development models have brought us to the brink of planetary boundaries. Further, continuing business as usual risks not only irreversible damage to ecosystems, but also arresting human development. The poorest people on earth are bearing the brunt of climate change. It is not sensible to talk about poverty eradication and environmental sustainability as separate issues – they are closely linked, and a renewed global agenda needs to be premised on a strong vision for sustainable development.  However, the MDGs were silent on the devastation caused by violence and conflict; the importance of open, accountable, and responsive governance; the need for inclusive growth and decent work; and the exclusion of persons with disabilities. Sri Lanka is amongst the handful of countries that introduced national targets aimed at good governance. In the post-2015 consultations, however, there has been a groundswell of support among citizens for effective governance to be recognized as a critical driver of development. I emphasize that this is possible only when the concept of participatory development is brought into effective implementation at grass route level.

Flourished with the high level of literacy and commitment to higher education in all spheres, in no doubt is a noble idea if we shape our near future economy to a more of a knowledge base. Knowledge accumulates slowly, over time, shaped and channeled into certain directions through the nudging of hundreds of daily managerial decisions. Knowledge reservoirs in organizations are not static pools but wellsprings, constantly replenished with streams of new ideas and constituting an ever- flowing source of corporate renewal. The main focus must be on people in organizations whose core capabilities are technology-based, those organizations that compete on the basis of technological advantage. I consider that the management of knowledge is a skill; managers who understand and develop it will dominate competitively. Being excelled in one knowledge domain, an organization may become unreceptive to ideas from others, unless it is not truly a learning organization. Therefore, let us foster a culture of learning.

According to Peter Senge, learning organizations are those places where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together. Our policies can well be oriented towards this strategic direction upon the basic rationale of rapid change, only those that are flexible, adaptive and productive will excel. For this to happen, it can be argued, that Sri Lanka needs to ‘discover how to tap people’s talents to learn at all levels’.  This is how an idea of a national think tank and national talent pool become a valid proposition. While all people have the capacity to learn, the structures in which they have to function are often not conducive to reflection and engagement, however. Furthermore, people may lack the tools and guiding ideas to make sense of the situations they face. Organizations that altogether form part of the economy is continually expanding their capacity to create their future require a fundamental shift of mind among their members. This is what is aptly said, in other words, dynamic capabilities as “the firm’s processes that use resources – specifically the processes to integrate, reconfigure, gain and release resources – to match and even create market change. Dynamic capabilities are the strategic routines by which firms achieve new resource configurations as markets emerge, collide, split, evolve, and die. They are antecedent organizational and strategic routines by which managers alter their resource base – acquire and shed resources, integrate them together, and recombine them – to generate new value-creating strategies. Effective routines are adaptive to changing circumstances, but this comes with the price of unstable processes with uncertain outcomes.

The potential for long-term competitive advantage lies in using dynamic capabilities sooner, more astutely (crafty), or more fortuitously than the competition to create resource configurations that have that advantage. On the other hand, to succeed in a technology business, where the market is volatile in nature, the firms have to constantly engage in the pursuit of innovation. A firm must come with improvements to its products and services resulting in a ‘supply push innovation’. Innovation refers to how an invention is brought into a commercial usage. As an example, Henry Ford did not invent the automobile; companies in Europe such as Daimler were producing cars well before Ford founded his company. Henry Ford instead focused on the innovation of automobiles, creating a method (mass production) by which cars could be manufactured cheaply to a large number of customers. Innovation is therefore a core process of turning opportunities into new ideas and of putting these into widely used practice. With an innovation led society, realization of ideas and converting them into a commercial and practical use becomes a day today phenomenon. Although there is strong evidence to connect innovation with performance, success depends on other factors as well. This inspires the importance of some kind of a strategically focused innovation in any business firm. The real test of innovation success is not a one-off in short term but sustained growth through continuous innovation and adaptation.

For innovations to be truly exploited, they need to be shared. Great developments by lone inventors, such as Thomas Edison, are largely of the past- most truly great inventions of today are the result of collaborations. Ideas are usually just starting points. They need to be refined, augmented, and merged with other ideas. This is why Sri Lanka must always look for public hearings, intellectual debates and professional forums, so as to exploit new ideas ahead of the competition. This results in an organization being able to bring new value added products and services to world markets. The innovation that results from sustained investment in R&D, combined with other related investment at the right levels, is essential in providing innovative environment that is crucial to improve competitive edge. The first step in creating a culture of innovation is unleashing the creative potential of the employees.

Our focus beyond 2020 should therefore take a ‘bottom up’ approach. The challenge is getting them to see the world with fresh eyes in order to develop fresh solutions. This is relatively inexpensive research for nurturing expertise in fields that could lead to future opportunities and threats. The key question is what are the potential costs and risks of not mastering or entertaining these aspects? For instance, no successful firm in pharmaceuticals could avoid exploring recent developments in biotechnology. Besides market analysis, sound technical judgments are the ones that should matter deciding innovative activities. Imperative is more and more effort, energy and resources on training, research and development components fostering real-time innovation – innovation without any external stimuli. This requires rethinking of all aspects of the business; strategy, processes, measures, competencies, leadership. The result is a culture that thrives on change, flexibility and adaptability.

Finally, people yearn for clever, dispassionate and principled governance. When the usual run of rulers proves cowardly, indecisive or discredited, corrupted and ruined, turning to technocrats is particularly tempting. Italy and Greece and even China are recent examples. In China; most of the political leaders are engineers, scientists, or mathematicians. A common outcome is a technocratic-military hybrid where civilian experts have the economic and social portfolios, but military men the defense and interior ministries. Egypt’s current regime resembles it. Singapore is perhaps the classic example where the political and expert components seem to have merged completely in the governance. A fully fledged technocratic movement flourished in America in the inter-war period. In a way, technocracy is a way of applying science to politics. When political power is not publicly contested at all, electability is irrelevant and expertise can give the ambitious an edge.

We can lose weight by eating less and doing more and more physical exercise. We can become wealthy if we spend less than we earn, save and invest. If this was easy we all are wealthy and not overweight. But the reality is we are fat and poor. For much in life, we all know what to do, but very few have the discipline to do it. We not only need wise leaders and wise policy, we also need the discipline to endure the pain.

Courtesy fibre2fashion

Katubedda, Sri Lanka laboratory of Bureau Veritas, a leading testing, inspection and certification provider for consumer goods and healthcare industry, has got ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for testing medical/surgical face masks. This will help face mask buyers and suppliers worldwide to test medical masks, including full EU market entry scope, in this lab.

With market estimates putting face mask annual growth over 20 per cent every year, the need for additional trusted full service laboratories continues to grow. With this latest development, Sri Lanka is the first full service medical mask lab in Bureau Veritas’ network. In addition to this capability, Sri Lanka is also one of over ten Bureau Veritas laboratories worldwide which can test fashion masks against regulatory and performance requirements.

Newly accredited capability includes packages for the EU Market – EN 14683:2019 Type I / II and Type IIR with the accredited tests for bacterial filtration efficiency, differential pressure, microbial cleanliness, splash resistance, flammability, antimicrobial efficacy study, and shelf life study.

Niraj Singh, director, Softlines and Analytical – Asia (Global Technical Services) for Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, commented, “We are seeing increasing demands for a faster and more complete service from our clients, from both buyers and suppliers. I am therefore delighted that we have a comprehensive testing capability worldwide, with our specialist test centre in Sri Lanka, however, we also have full capability to deliver knowledge management, supplier selection and product approval. Product inspection, supplier audit, document review, regulatory awareness and ISO 13485 management system certification services are additionally available worldwide.”

This accreditation is the latest development in Bureau Veritas Sri Lanka’s rapid expansion and evolution. As well as a full range of analytical and safety/performance testing, inspection and audit services for apparel/textiles, cosmetics, packaging and healthcare; Bureau Veritas Sri Lanka can also carry out biodegradability analysis, environmental studies on air, water and soil; drinking and processed water quality testing as well as a full range of testing services for the food and agriculture industry.

Courtesy WEBWIRE

Colombo – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Standard Chartered Sri Lanka announced today that Brandix is the latest company to complete a drawdown from the Bank’s global USD1 billion COVID-19 financing commitment, underscoring its ongoing efforts to support local businesses in the pandemic response.

Standard Chartered’s extension of USD12 million funding will assist the production switch to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across Brandix’s plants in Sri Lanka and India at a time when there is a drastic impact on apparel demand globally. The Bank also supported Brandix with a factor-based receivable financing solution to support the full working capital requirement.

Commenting on the impact of COVID-19 on people and the need to support businesses combating the pandemic, Bingumal Thewarathanthri, CEO, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka said: Standard Chartered has a global commitment to contribute locally to combat COVID-19 at a time when our clients need our support more than ever. Besides joining in the global pandemic fight, we are also committed to help businesses get through this tough period. Our financing support for Brandix does just that and together we can overcome this pandemic and bounce back stronger.”

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector is one of the primary foreign exchange earners for the country and has experienced a significant reduction in regular orders due to COVID-19. Production too slowed down as a nation-wide lockdown was imposed to keep the pandemic at bay.

Priyanke Perera, Head, Global Treasury, Brandix said: Amidst the demand shift across our markets, Brandix remained focused on delivering solutions that consistently resonated with our value propositions. When the need of the hour became PPE production to contain the spread of COVID-19, we swiftly made the transition to utilise our capacity, resources and expertise to address the global demand. Standard Chartered’s timely support helped us strengthen our funding to ensure that we continue undeterred in our production at this critical point. Despite the severe impact the pandemic has cast over our industry, we remain resilient and optimistic, and will work in collaboration with our financial partners towards its revival.”

Standard Chartered set up the global financing commitment to extend not-for-profit financing to companies that provide goods and services to help combat the pandemic. Brandix is the second Sri Lankan apparel company to have successfully completed the drawdown thus far. The Bank has also supported businesses in Hong Kong, Uganda, and most recently Bahrain, Vietnam and Malaysia through its USD1 billion financing commitment.

Commenting on the facility extended to Brandix, Tamani Dias, Head, Commercial Banking, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka said:, Access to funds is a key factor in business recovery following a crisis of this magnitude. At Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, and globally, our focus has been on supporting our long-standing and new partners to recover fully, and to contribute to the fight against the pandemic. We were the first in South Asia to extend a facility from the USD1 billion financing commitment and we are now delighted to be able to support Brandix in their business endeavour.”

Brandix operates apparel manufacturing units in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Haiti, and Cambodia.

Standard Chartered

We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 59 of the world’s most dynamic markets, and serving clients in a further 85. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, Here for good.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges as well as the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges in India.

For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. 

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Courtesy MailonLine

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) – For months he´s been anonymous, but now Prasad Dinesh, linked by Sri Lankan authorities to nearly half of the country’s more than 2,600 coronavirus cases, is trying to clear his name, and shed some of the stigma of a heroin addiction at the root of his ordeal.

Under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a former army lieutenant colonel credited with helping end Sri Lanka’s long civil war in 2009 with a brutal military campaign against separatists, the Indian Ocean island nation has used the armed forces to combat the virus.

When Rajapaksa was elected president last year, a health unit was created in the intelligence service that sprang into action when COVID-19 first appeared, according to State Intelligence Service Assistant Director Parakrama de Silva. Intelligence officers, health workers, police officers and military troops have worked together to identify infected people, trace their contacts and send them to military-run quarantine centers.

After Dinesh, 33, tested positive for the virus in April, navy sailors raided his village, forcing his contacts into quarantine. But authorities have blamed a melee that ensued not on the military, but on Dinesh – and said the rumpus ended up leading to at least 1,100 additional virus infections.

These cases, they publicly declared, were all linked linked to a single patient.

Referring to him only as “Patient 206,” government officials lambasted Dinesh on TV and social media, blaming him for at least three clusters of cases, including about 900 navy sailors who were infected after an operation in Ja-Ela, a small town about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital, Colombo.

Sri Lankan auto rickshaw driver Prasad Dinesh, linked by Sri Lankan officials to nearly half the country’s more than 2,600 coronavirus cases, sits in his house in Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, July 1, 2020. For months he’s been anonymous, but now Dinesh is trying to clear his name and shed some of the stigma of a heroin addiction at the root of his ordeal. Referring to him only as “Patient 206,” government officials lambasted Dinesh on TV and social media, blaming him for at least three clusters of cases, including about 900 navy sailors who were infected after an operation in Ja-Ela, a small town about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital, Colombo. Dinesh, however, says his drug addiction, which is considered a crime in Sri Lanka, makes him a convenient scapegoat. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Dinesh, however, says his drug addiction, which is considered a crime in Sri Lanka, makes him a convenient scapegoat.

“I can´t accept that I am responsible for infecting so many, including the navy sailors,” Dinesh told The Associated Press, after he had returned home following his release from a monthlong stay at a hospital.

Before the pandemic reached Sri Lanka, resulting in an island-wide lockdown, Dinesh worked as an auto rickshaw driver. But now he´s unable to find work.

“No one gives a job when they realize that I am Patient 206,” he said.

Likening him to South Korea´s “Patient 31,” whom media in that country labeled a “super spreader” because she was the first person to test positive in a secretive church community where the virus was later found endemic, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said Dinesh had undermined Sri Lanka´s fight against COVID-19.

“He is the turning point and has done huge damage to our country,” Rohana said.

Authorities say that on April 5, Dinesh was caught by village residents for a robbery and handed over to police. At the station, Dinesh had a fever as well as a leg injury sustained during the robbery, so authorities admitted him to a nearby hospital, where he tested positive for the coronavirus and stayed for 31 days.

Dinesh hasn’t contested charges that he and others broke into a house in a nearby village to take coconuts they could sell in order to buy heroin.

After he tested positive, the police who made the arrest, Dinesh’s friends and more than 100 people in his neighborhood were ordered to quarantine at home.

But not everyone complied.

Afraid that the virus would spread quickly in the congested area, Sri Lanka´s navy sent in a team of sailors to help health workers. As the sailors approached, some of Dinesh’s associates panicked.

“They were climbing trees, they were trying to jump over a fence, trying to have a bath, trying to jump into a canal,” Adm. Jayanath Colombage, a former navy commander and member of the national task force to combat the virus, said in a TV interview.

Of the 28 people seized from the community and quarantined, 16 tested positive. Two weeks later, some sailors involved in the operation did, too.

Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Isuru Suriyabandara defended the navy, saying it had deployed well-trained troops with protective gear who were quarantined for 21 days after the operation.

The first infected sailor, who was on leave in the town of Polonnaruwa, about 225 kilometers (140 miles) northeast of Colombo, was reported April 22, prompting provincial health officials to isolate 12 nearby villages.

The next day, 30 other sailors tested positive.

With the virus spreading to different parts of the country where sailors were on leave, authorities ordered troops from all arms of the military to report back to their camps.

Some 4,000 navy sailors were quarantined inside a single camp, while more than 200 relatives were taken to navy-run quarantine centers. At least 15 villages were isolated in different parts of Sri Lanka for about two weeks, and about 1,300 other people underwent self-quarantine.

Ultimately, about 900 navy sailors tested positive, with around 50 other infected people also part of that cluster. Two other clusters also blamed on Dinesh had at least 150 coronavirus cases, according to authorities.

Sri Lanka has confirmed at least 2,665 cases in all, including 11 deaths, meaning nearly half of its caseload has been blamed on one man – Dinesh.

“What to do? It is our fault for using drugs?” he said, referring to his heroin habit.

Dinesh said that he had been using heroin since 2002, but that he never became “a severe addict.” During the coronavirus lockdown, however, he used the drug more regularly, and joined three other users in the robbery to raise money to buy more heroin.

Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena launched an expansive crackdown on illegal drugs, calling users “a social catastrophe,” and his successor, Rajapaksa, also has taken a tough stance.

Authorities have used the fallout from the raid on Dinesh´s village to increase anti-drug crackdowns in slums and urban apartments.

Officials say some 300,000 people – around 1.5% of all Sri Lankans – are addicted to drugs.

Dinesh, however, said he was no longer part of that stigmatized population.

One positive of being infected with the coronavirus, he said, was that his hospitalization helped him to kick his heroin habit.

He said he had body pains for about two days. “I did not suffer severe withdrawals because I was not a severe addict,” he said.

“I have now completely given up (drugs),” he said. “I don´t even smoke a cigarette. I am always with my two kids now and play with them. I feel good.”

Schmall reported from New Delhi.

Sri Lankan auto rickshaw driver Prasad Dinesh, linked by Sri Lankan officials to nearly half the country’s more than 2,600 coronavirus cases, pushes his daughter in a swing at their home in Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, July 1, 2020. For months he’s been anonymous, but now Dinesh is trying to clear his name and shed some of the stigma of a heroin addiction at the root of his ordeal. Referring to him only as “Patient 206,” government officials lambasted Dinesh on TV and social media, blaming him for at least three clusters of cases, including about 900 navy sailors who were infected after an operation in Ja-Ela, a small town about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital, Colombo. Dinesh, however, says his drug addiction, which is considered a crime in Sri Lanka, makes him a convenient scapegoat. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan auto rickshaw driver Prasad Dinesh, linked by Sri Lankan officials to nearly half the country’s more than 2,600 coronavirus cases, sits in his house in Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, July 1, 2020. For months he’s been anonymous, but now Dinesh is trying to clear his name and shed some of the stigma of a heroin addiction at the root of his ordeal. Referring to him only as “Patient 206,” government officials lambasted Dinesh on TV and social media, blaming him for at least three clusters of cases, including about 900 navy sailors who were infected after an operation in Ja-Ela, a small town about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital, Colombo. Dinesh, however, says his drug addiction, which is considered a crime in Sri Lanka, makes him a convenient scapegoat. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Courtesy The Daily News

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said there were only 19 Covid-19 cases reported yesterday and that they had no intention of hiding the actual situation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Dr. Jasinghe said the health authorities were taking measures to reveal the actual number of cases being reported daily and warned people to be aware of the false information being circulated on social media with regard to COVID-19 numbers and only rely on the information provided by the health authorities.

Among the cases reported yesterday, four, two were returnees from Oman and UAE respectively, five were from Kandakadu, four were from Senapura, two were from Kundasale, one each from Lankapura and Rajanganaya.

The number of COVID-19 patients being treated at hospitals countrywide rose to 666 yesterday while seven COVID-19 patients had recovered and were discharged yesterday increasing the number of those who had recovered to 1,988.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, the Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka climbed to 2,665 as of 9.30 pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Government Medical Officers Association said Sri Lanka is currently passing the ‘Dance Phase’ stage in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

Courtesy The Daily News

Health authorities or Intelligence Services had not received any information that a third contact of the COVID-19 infected patients of the Kandakadu cluster had contracted the virus, DIG Ajith Rohana said today.

He told a news conference that all the first and second contacts of the patients at the Kandakadu cluster had been identified and that there was no need to have unnecessary fear or panic over a second wave.

He said only 20 patients had been identified outside the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation centre and that 16 of them were identified from Rajangana.

These 16 patients are close contacts of the infected army officer who had gone on leave from Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation Centre. Only four patients are reported from other parts of the country,” he said.

DIG Rohana said 32 clusters have been identified in the country so far where the biggest cluster was reported from the Navy Camp in Welisara, which was successfully controlled and added that the health authorities and intelligence services are taking steps to control this cluster as well.(Ajith Siriwardana)

Courtesy The Daily News

Whist stating that another prolonged lockdown will kill Sri Lanka’s economy, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed that political parties, health experts and other bodies discuss the Public Health Emergency Bill proposed by some opposition parties and enact as soon as new Parliament meet.

Mr. Wickremesinghe came up with is proposal while addressing an election rally in Biyagama yesterday.

Some former MPs and I met during the last lock down period and drafted the Public Health Emergency Bill. I suggest that parties, health experts and other bodies initiate a dialogue on it, so their amendments could be entertained. Enacting this Bill would be the first thing a UNP government will do if elected to office,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

Several countries such as Italy enacted new laws under which restrictions are imposed on movements and other steps without lock down. However Sri Lanka has not thought of it yet. It is high time Sri Lanka gave a thought to it, as another lock down will kill the country’s economy,” he added.

The drafted Bill provides power to Parliament to pass a resolution by a two thirds majority declaring a state of public health emergency upon written advise of Director General Health, provides provision for Parliament, Courts, Cabinet and Public Health Emergency Council to sit, convene and hold sessions through the use of contemporaneous or near contemporaneous audio visual linkage during the period of public health linkage and provides provisions for a person to enjoy services of any institution via technology from a state institution. The Bill also provides for the setting up of a Public Health Emergency Council headed by the President and includes Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, Ministers in charge of Health, Defence, Social Welfare, Home Affairs, Science and Technology, police, finance, foreign affairs, education, director general health, a nominee by the speaker.

The Bill provides power to the Minister of Health to prohibit or restrict public assemblies, religious worship, travel to and from places for 14 days. It also gives legal provisions to set up quarantine centres. The proposed Bill gives power to the Director General of Health to prohibit transportation of persons through ports, airports and other entry points for a similar period. It gives legal provision to the closure of any education institution.

Eight COVID-19 cases reported so far today

Eight more persons tested positive for COVID-19 as at 7.30 pm today increasing the total number of cases to 2,671, the Health Ministry said.

Five persons arrived from Qatar, two from United Arab Emirates (UAE) and one person who is a close contact of one of the positive cases reported from the Kandakadu cluster were among those tested positive today.

The Epidemiology Unit said 659 patients are under medical care right now while 2,001 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals.

Courtesy Adaderana

Election Commission on Wednesday (15) said it would be extremely difficult” to hold the parliamentary elections on August 5 as scheduled without the government legalising the health guidelines, including social distancing, amidst a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

The national poll panel also mentioned the political leaders were not adhering to the health guidelines while campaigning, jeopardising the lives of the people attending the campaign.

It will be extremely difficult to conduct the election unless the legal effect is given to the health guidelines,” Mahinda Deshapriya, the Chairman of the Election Commission, said.

Meanwhile, PAFFREL observers at a press conference today (15) said that the government should take steps to gazette the election related health guidelines without delay.

Representatives of the Association of Public Health Inspectors who met members of the Election Commission today, also made the same request.

Courtesy Adaderana

Another individual at the Kundasale quarantine center is confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19, stated the Health Ministry.

The patient has been identified as a close contact of a coronavirus-positive at the Kandakadu rehabilitation center.

This brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Sri Lanka to 2,671 cases.

More foreign arrivals push COVID-19 case tally to 2,670

Two more foreign arrivals have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as per the Department of Government Information.

They have been detected among recent returnees from United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

With the new cases, a total of 5 new coronavirus cases have been reported in the country.

Sri Lanka has reported a total of 2,670 virus-positive cases so far.

Currently, 658 active cases are under medical care at selected hospitals across the island.

Meanwhile, the number recoveries from the disease increased to 2,001 earlier today as 13 patients were discharged from hospitals.

The country has witnessed a total of 11 deaths due to COVID-19 thus far.

Courtesy Adaderana

Director-General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe says that there currently is no reason to enforce another lockdown in the country, as the current cluster remains limited in its reach.

With the upturn in the number of COVID-19 infections in the country, measures have been taken to place the area in Rajanganaya in Anuradhapura under lockdown, banning both entry and exit. Rajanganaya which is home to about 12,000 people has reported over 15 cases of COVID-19 so far.

Meanwhile, with an Army Intelligence Officer attached to the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Center residing in Delthara, Piliyandala testing positive for COVID-19, several places including shops visited by him have been shut down with staff members placed under quarantine. PCR tests of all those identified as the associates of the infected officer are scheduled to be carried out tomorrow (16).

An Inspector of Police (IP) attached to the Sigiriya Police Station along with his family were directed to quarantine after it was found that he was exposed to an infected Army officer deployed at the Kandakadu rehabilitation center. As a result, due to the risk of deploying police personnel from the Sigiriya Police Station for day to day operations a special team from the Dambulla Police Station was deployed at the Sigiriya Police Station.

Following the detection of COVID-19 positive Kandakadu facility counselor from Gampaha and his driver, PCR tests of all associates exposed to the duo were carried out today.

Meanwhile, officials at the Gampaha District Court also underwent PCR tests after it was found that the court complex was visited by the driver. The results of these PCR tests are to come out tomorrow.

A counselor at the Kandakadu rehabilitation center who attended a Catholic mass at St. Cajetan’s Church in Kotugoda, Seeduwa on July 04 has been diagnosed with COVID-19. As a result, 44 people exposed to him at the church including the priest and 04 nuns were self-isolated, while 36 more people residing in the neighborhood of the infected patient were also instructed to self-quarantine. All of them were subjected to PCR tests today.

In the meantime, another counselor attached to the Kandakadu rehabilitation center, residing in Gonapeenuwala, Ambalangoda, has tested positive for the virus. Fifty-one people exposed to him including his wife – who is a teacher – along with 11 of her students and 07 other teachers, underwent PCR tests today.

In addition, 30 residents of Hikkaduwa, Rathgama, and Dodanduwa were subjected to PCR tests today after being detected as associates of COVID-19 carriers from the Kandakadu rehabilitation facility. 

Speaking on the COVID-19 spread within the country, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated that, 73 people from Kurunegala and 73 from Nikawewa are currently under quarantine at two quarantine facilities, as they had associated with an infected patient during a rehabilitation meeting in Colombo.

Meanwhile, nearly 150 from Kundasale have been directed for quarantine along with several families in Kegalle who associated with a patient from Kundasale.

In addition, nearly 100 people in Aparekka, Matara are under quarantine, said Dr. Jasinghe.

Further, PCR tests have been carried out in many areas in the country including 101 from Kundasale, 266 from Rantambe, Thanthirimale, 200 from Polonnaruwa Hospital as a sample, and 150 from Rajanaganaya, said Jasinghe.

However, Dr. Jasinghe is of the view that the current situation does not call for the imposition of curfew in the country.

He said: If we are to impose an island-wide curfew, there should be COVID-19 issues faced island-wide. The virus has the only surface in a few areas.

If COVID-19 is spreading rapidly, that would be a sufficient reason for us to impose a curfew.

The current situation does not call for the imposition of curfew nor do we think such a situation would arise.”

The Sunday Times released the full text of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Noteworthy is that the discussions have been with the US Embassy Colombo & the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry with no inputs sought from the Ministry of Defense and completely disregarding the threats to Sri Lanka’s National Sovereignty & Security. Whoever approved this deserves to be tried for treason.

15 clauses were highlighted in the Sunday Times leaked version of the Draft Agreement of 28 August 2018 following last discussions in May 2018 between Yahapalana Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana in Washington.

As per the Agreement,

US Personnel will be referred to Members of US Department of Defense (US Military & Civilian Personnel) 

All Members of US Department of Defense (US Military & Civilian Personnelto receive immunities & privileges.

US Contractors & Employees who are non-Sri Lankans who are under contract from US Department of Defense in connection with ship visits, training, exercises, humanitarian activities & other activities shall not receive any privileges & exemptions under SOFA.

There is a confusion in this 1^stclause – while it says US contractors” under contract to the US Department of Defense who are temporarily in present & their employees, the same sentence also says ‘not under contract with the US Department of Defense” – so the question is who will not receive privileges & be exempt under the agreement?

The US embassy is making the following proposals 

• US personnel (US military & civilians of US Defense Dept) to be given privileges, exemptions & immunities equivalent to administrative & technical staff of a diplomatic mission under Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961.

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept be allowed to enter & exit Sri Lanka with US identification, move in groups or individual and Sri Lanka must accept any US identification

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept can drive any vehicle in Sri Lanka even without driving license.

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept will wear uniforms on duty

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept will carry arms on duty

• GoSL allows US Govt to exercise criminal jurisdiction over US personnel in Sri Lanka (2 parallel laws running in Sri Lanka)

• US Department of Defense & US Personnel will not pay any tax or similar charges in Sri Lanka – does this mean they can refuse to even pay tax if they travel on the Expressway?

• US Embassy also wants GoSL to cooperate & take measures to provide security & protection for US personnel, their property, equipment, records & official information in Sri Lanka (all this while US personnel is carrying arms & can travel anywhere in Sri Lanka)

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept can IMPORT / EXPORT anything & be exempt from any inspection, license, other restrictions, customs, duties, taxes within Sri Lanka (exactly why are we having an ARMED FOREIGN FORCE in SRI LANKA US military & civilians of US Defense Dept vessels and vehicles can move FREELY within Sri Lanka and be exempted from any payment.

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept vessels, aircrafts will NOT be subject to payment of LANDING FEES, PORT FEES, PILOTAGE charges, lighterage, harbor dues which will be in FACILITIES OWNED & OPERATED BY GoSL

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept owned and operated aircrafts SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT to PAYMENT of NAVIGATION, OVERFLIGHT, TERMINAL or similar charges by Sri Lanka.

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept aircrafts & vessels shall NOT BE inspected and Sri Lankans CANNOT board them

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept can contract any material, supplies, equipment, services (including construction) to be furnished or undertaken in Sri Lanka without restriction and the guidelines and regulations applicable to them will be that of the US Govt not Sri Lanka

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept acquisition of articles & services in Sri Lanka will not be subject to any taxes or similar charges

• US contractors TOO will not have to pay any tax or similar charges in Sri Lanka for activities under SOFA (what exactly are the activities?)

• US contractors can import into Sri Lanka & export out of Sri Lanka & use Sri Lanka’s any PERSONAL PROPERTY, equipment, supplies, material, technology, training or service under SOFA & shall be EXEMPT from any license, restrictions, customs duties, taxes or any other charges in Sri Lanka

• US contractors are to be given same treatment as US military & civilians of US Defense Dept for driving in Sri Lanka without license.

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept shall enjoy freedom of movement & access to & use of mutually agreed transportation, storage, training & other facilities

• US military & civilians of US Defense Dept shall operate its own radio spectrum/telecommunications system and be FREE of COST to US by Sri Lanka

• GoSL waives any claims for damages to, loss of, or destruction of property or injury or death to personnel of either party’s armed forces or their civilian personnel arising out of performance of official duties (are we to turn Sri Lanka into a war zone) Third Party claims for damages or loss caused by US military & civilians of US Defense Dept will be according to US laws & regulations

• The new SOFA will supersede the one signed on 9 Feb & 16 May 1995 and entered into on 16 May 1995

• The US embassy proposes that GOSL & US Govt or their designated representatives may enter into implementing arrangements to carry out provisions of Agreement

• On agreement of proposals by US embassy and reply by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry will be taken as AGREEMENT between the 2 Govts (this is seriously dangerous if a ministry is allowed to decide the destiny of an entire country & its populace by way of a letter the contents of which is not known to anyone)

That these proposals are even taken to a discussion is shocking without completely rejecting in its entirety.

ACSA was signed by Yahapalana in 2018 – even members of the Parliament does not know the contents of that. What is more surprising is that not one is demanding the document to be released or made available at least. Even the legal fraternity is silent.

Then we have the other damaging agreement MCC.

We may as well return to 1815 and sign the Kandyan Convention in a newer format and hand over Sri Lanka to US for another 200 years! Do we need politicians or parliament if they cannot stand up for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty?

Shenali D Waduge

RAJA WAIDYASEKERA Tissamaharama special corr.Courtesy The Daily News

The Koggala township where reputed writer Martin Wickramasinghe was born, received its name due to an engraved picture of a crane on a rock. Hundreds of books, including the novels Gamperaliya and Madolduwa, written by Wickramasinghe were based on Koggala where his ancestral home is situated.

Martin Wickramasinghe was born on May 29, 1890, at village headman’s house which was then known as Ginpathaliye Opisara Gedara. Opisara is the Sinhala word for officer, a man respected by the villagers, who was appointed by the Government to keep law and order in the village. Wickramasinghe was not only a writer but also a literarian and a historian. He received his education at Buona Vista College, a Christian Missionary School in Galle, which is situated on a hillock close to the present cement factory at Katugoda in Galle.

The Koggala beach was one of his favourite places and he used to take a stroll at the beach of Koggala at dawn often.

The Koggala lagoon consists of small islands such as the Mangrove Island (Madol Duwa), Cinnamon Island and Kathduwa which enhance the scenic beauty of Koggala.

FOLK ART MUSEUM IN KOGGALA

The Folk Art Museum in Koggala (Jana Kauthukagaraya) which is situated in a seven-acre plot of land is close to the Koggala Air Force Base. The museum is established at the ancestral home of Martin Wickramasinghe.

In the museum, in addition to the room where he was born, his personal belongings such as the table clock, the wristwatch, clothes, shoes, writings, and gifts, certificates and honorary degrees received from various universities along with books and souvenirs are exhibited. Apart from these, historical and cultural items related to ancient rural livelihoods are also displayed at this museum. It houses the utensils and implements used by farmers, fisherfolk, weavers, physicians, teachers, and housewives. This place is a key attraction of students, intellectuals, literarians and historians.

KOGGALA EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE

Koggala town became more prominent due to the Koggala Export Processing Zone, the first of its kind in the southern region, established in a 225-acre plot of land. There are more than 14 factories which manufacture various products including garments, for both export and the local market.

Koggala is a self-contained township. The area is surrounded by many star class hotels, and is full of amenities required by the tourists who arrive at Koggala from different parts of the world.

KOGGALA AIR BASE

The Koggala Sri Lanka Air Force Base is situated in the heart of the township of Koggala. This was set up during the World War by the British colonial administration following evacuation of residents from the area.

This Base is now used by the Sri Lanka Air Force. The Matara–Colombo railway track runs along the Air Base. The Koggala town has been identified as a centre for air, sea and road travel.

The second town in the southern region which has such facilities is Hambantota where all three modes of transportation are available due to the seaport, airport, road and railway services.

MADOLDUWA IN KOGGALA

The boat ride to Madolduwa is extremely fascinating. A majority of travellers visit Madolduwa more than any other island in Koggala lagoon due to the reference made by veteran author Martin Wickramasinghe in the book Madolduwa, which was later turned into a movie.

DEVAGIRI VIHARAYA

Devagiri Viharaya situated in Koggala is also known as Hirugal Devalaya. There are an ancient Bo tree, inscriptions and large statues of Lord Buddha and it is one of the oldest Shrines in the area.

KOGGALA FOREST HERMITAGE

The Koggala Forest Hermitage is situated on the island of Kataluduwa in Koggala. It has all facilities required for meditation. 

Nadira Gunatilleke and LAHIRU FERNANDO Courtesy The Daily News

No danger of Second Wave:
Contact tracing successful:
Faster control than Navy cluster:

Rumours being spread that Covid-19 infected persons of the Kandakadu cluster have been reported from various parts of the island are baseless, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said yesterday.

He said that if an infected person is actually reported from anywhere in the country, it will be announced by the authorities without any delay.

Dr. Jasinghe was speaking to the media at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday.

Only a person found positive through a PCR test is considered to be a Covid-19 infected person. Recalling the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Center staff from their residents or the Welikada Prison inmates does not mean they are already infected,” he stressed. According to Dr. Jasinghe, the identification of the infected and their close associates and the process of quarantine from the Kandakadu new cluster are successful. Therefore, there is no danger of the contagion spreading throughout the country as a second wave.

In fact, the Kandakadu COVID-19 cluster can be controlled quicker than the Navy cluster, Dr. Jasinghe said. According to Dr. Jasinghe, this latest COVID-19 cluster from Kandakadu will not drag on for months like the Navy cluster. The Kandakadu cluster can be controlled within a shorter period of time. More COVID-19 patients will appear in the next few days from this cluster from various areas,” he said.

Dr. Jasinghe pointed out quarantine is the best and most powerful weapon available at the moment in the world against COVID-19. Therefore, all required individuals need to be quarantined for 14 days at a quarantine centre and then for another 14 days at home.

Dr. Jasinghe stressed that any suspected COVID-19 persons can be released after the required full quarantine period at a quarantine centre and another 14 day quarantine period spent at home even without performing a PCR Test but there is no way of releasing any suspected COVID-19 infected person only with a negative PCR Test result.

All people and all state and private sector institutions should strictly follow all health guidelines and operational guidelines issued by the Government and the Health Ministry. The basic health guidelines are wearing a mask whenever going out from home, keeping at least one metre distance from another person all the time, washing hands with soap and water for 30 seconds often and using a hand sanitizer whenever soap and water is not available,” Dr. Jasinghe added.

Meanwhile, the NOCPCO Head, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and the Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said so far a total of 492 have been identified as Covid-19 positive from the Kandakadu cluster. Of them 429 are inmates, 47 are staff members and 16 are their close associates.

Twenty five Coronavirus-positive cases have been reported in the country yesterday, the Ministry of Health confirmed. Reportedly, the latest cases have been identified from the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in East Kandakadu. The new cases have brought the total number of COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka to 2,631. As per the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry, 639 active cases are under medical care at selected hospitals across the island. The count of recoveries in the country currently stands at 1,981 cases.

Courtesy The Hindustan Times

According to a report by the Canadian outlet Global News, a case relating to two Canadian Sikhs being placed on a no-fly list in the country has now been linked to an alleged Pakistan-based plot to use pro-Khalistan elements to conduct terrorist acts in India.

The details emerged as two men – Bhagat Singh Brar and his business partner Parvkar Singh Dulai – challenged being blocked from travelling by air. As per supporting case documents filed by Canadian security agencies, including Public Safety Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security Intelligence Service,

Brar was “promoting extremism, including the radicalisation of youth, with the aim of achieving Khalistan independence; and attack planning and facilitation, including weapons procurement, to conduct attacks in India”. 

මාධ්‍ය ඒකකය කැෆේ සංවිධානය

දේශපාලනයේ කාන්තා නියෝජනය තහවුරු කිරීම සෑම කාන්තාවකගේම වගකීමක් බව කැෆේ සංවිධානය  කියයි. එහි අධ්‍යක්ෂිකා සුරංගි ආරියවංශ මහත්මිය මේ බව සඳහන් කළේ  මැතිවරණ ක්‍රියාවලියේ දී කාන්තාව සතු වගකීම පිළිබඳ පැවති පුහුණු වැඩමුලුවකදීය. එහිදී වැඩිදුරටත් අදහස්  දැක්වූ ආරියවංශ මහත්මිය පෙන්වා දුන්නේ මෙවර අපේක්ෂක ලැයිස්තු සැකසීමේදී  සියලුම දේශපාලන පක්ෂ කාන්තා නියෝජනය සඳහා සැලකිය යුතු අවස්තාවක් වෙන්කර නැති බවයි. මේ නිසා මෙවර මැතිවරණය සඳහා තරඟ අපේක්ෂකයින් 7458 දෙනෙකු අතරින් කාන්තා නියෝජිතයින් සිටින්නේ 819 දෙනෙකු පමණක් බව ඇය ප්‍රකාශ කළා ය . මේ අනුව සියලු දේශපාලන පක්ෂ නායකයින් කාන්තාව පිළිබද දක්වා ඇති සැලකිල්ල මැනවින් පැහැදිලි වන බව ඇය පෙන්වා දුන්නාය .

මෙරට ප්‍රධාන දේශපාලන පක්ෂ සියල්ලේම  තීරක බලය පිරිමි පාර්ශවය වෙත පමණක් පවරාගෙන සිටින බව සදහන් කරන ආරියවංශ මහත්මිය පෙන්වා දුන්නේ මේ නිසාම වත්මන් දේශපාලන කරළිය තුළ කාන්තාවට සුදුසු තැන නොලැබී ඇති බවයි. මෙවර මැතිවරණය සඳහා නාම යෝජනා සැකසීමේදී සියලු දේශපාලන පක්ෂ නායකයින්ගෙන් විවෘත ඉල්ලීමක් කළ බව පෙන්වා දෙන ආරියවංශ මහත්මිය කියා සිටියේ අවසන් අපේක්ෂක ලැයිස්තු නිරීක්ෂණය කිරීමේදී එම ඉල්ලීම් සඳහා සාධනීය ප්‍රතිචාරයක් දක්වා නොමැති බව පැහැදිලි වන බවයි.

මේ නිසා මෙවර ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇති අපේක්ෂිකාවන්  819 දෙනාගෙන් සැලකිය යුතු ප්‍රමාණයක් පාර්ලිමේන්තුවට තෝරා පත් කර ගැනීමේ වගකීම මෙරට ඡන්දදායකයින්ගේන් බහුතරය වන කාන්තාවන්ගේ වගකීම බව ඇය මෙහිදී අවධාරණය කළේය. කාන්තා නියෝජනයට සැලකිය යුතු ඉඩක් අපේක්ෂක ලැයිස්තු වලින් ලබාදී නැතත්, අවස්ථාව ලබාදී ඇති කාන්තාවන් වත් පාර්ලිමේන්තුවට පත් කිරීම කෙරෙහි ඡන්ද බලය හිමි කාන්තාවන් අවධානය යොමු කළ යුතු බව ඇය කියා සිටියාය.

මාධ්‍ය ඒකකය කැෆේ සංවිධානය

by Tang Lu and Jamila Najmuddin Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

The “Wedding Boutique 2020” exhibition held in Colombo last weekend had many eye-catching and dazzling wedding products on display

COLOMBO, July 12 (Xinhua) — Early Saturday, young Ranjani Gunatilake, who is planning her wedding in December, traveled to the Waters Edge resort in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo to attend Wedding Boutique 2020,” the first wedding exhibition held in the country after a COVID-19 curfew was lifted.

She has been looking forward to the event since she saw the advertisement on social media a few days ago.

Ranjani is a client manager in a business process outsourcing company in Colombo. Her fiance, an IT professional, is currently stranded in Malaysia because of COVID-19 travel restrictions. My father passed away and my mom is not in good health. Therefore, only I could come to the wedding exhibition to customize my wedding plans and do my shopping,” Ranjani told Xinhua.

Fortunately for Ranjani, the pandemic situation in Sri Lanka is now stable and the government lifted the curfew last month and has gradually relaxed the restrictions on holding weddings.

A wedding occupies a very important place in the social life of Sri Lankans. Holding a decent wedding is a top priority for a family. And preparing for a wedding is a major responsibility for the bride and groom’s families as many items need to be purchased.

There are only a small number of wedding companies in Sri Lanka that provide a one-stop-shop” service and many families head for them.

The Wedding Boutique 2020” exhibition held on Saturday and Sunday had many eye-catching and dazzling wedding products on display. There were also wedding planners, floral designers, makeup artists, hairstylists, professional tailors, jewelers, catering service providers, fancy cake makers, photographers, sound systems and lighting experts, among others.

Among the busiest at the wedding show were the creative designers who could provide comprehensive services and guidance for planning a wedding.

The wedding photographers’ counters were also surrounded by people. A young couple were seen holding an album as the photographer and salesman pointed to their ideal wedding picture.

In front of the jewellery counter, the supplier tirelessly helped newcomers to choose their jewellery.

At a wedding hairstyle and beauty counter, there was a mannequin in a bridal dress wearing an attractive face mask.

This bridal mask was specially designed for the bride after the outbreak of the epidemic,” Sri Lanka’s famous hairstylist Ramzi Rahaman told reporters. I am very keen on designing masks. Masks have become a fashion statement,” he added.

There were some large screens at the exhibition showing colorful weddings in various styles. A manager who participated in the wedding boutique exhibition said that an Indian-style wedding in Sri Lanka would cost between 3 million and 6 million rupees (about 16,000 U.S. dollars to 32,300 dollars), while a grand Sri Lankan-style wedding will cost at least 2 million rupees (10,765 dollars).

The manager said that Indian-style weddings are ordered by rich Indians who come down from India with hundreds of guests. Sri Lankans, on the other hand, prefer their own local style, he added.

Most stalls at the exhibition displayed attractive 25% discount signs. Ajantha Wijesundara, manager of Raja Jewelers, said customers who place an order at the exhibition will get a discount of 20 to 25%. But if the order is placed after the two-day exhibition, the discount will be reduced to 10% to 15%.

Because of this, locals who are interested in planning a wedding come prepared to pay up.

I will gather information today, go home and discuss with my fiance and mother, and maybe come to sign the contract tomorrow before the exhibition closes,” Ranjani said.

Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

Considered one of the four main sacred places associated with Lord Buddha, Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is believed to be the site where the Buddha attained ‘parinirvana’.

Colombo, July 14 (newsin.asia): The Indian cabinet of India, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has granted approval to declare Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International Airport.

Considered one of the four main sacred places associated with Lord Buddha, Kushinagar is believed to be the site where the Buddha attained ‘parinirvana’.

A colossal reclining statue of Lord Buddha from the 5th Century at the Mahaparinirvana Temple pays homage to this.

The Ramabhar Stupa, also known as the Mukutbandhan Chaitya is said to be the cremation place of Lord Buddha, and is located in the vicinity of the Mahaparinirvana Temple.

The Kushinagar district is also home to numerous other monasteries and Buddhist cultural sites. The decision to declare Kushinagar airport as an International airport, will provide Buddhist pilgrims, historians and cultural enthusiasts the opportunity to comfortably explore not only Kushinagar, but also other historically significant locations such as Lumbini, Kapilavastu and Sravasti, which are in close proximity, the Indian High Commission said in a press release on Wednesday.

Lahiru Pothmulla Courtesy The Daily Mirror

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today assured that the people would be protected from the COVID-19 pandemic by mitigating the risk of the virus spreading in the country, until the pandemic is finally wiped out.

He said the government took successful measures in the wake of the virus outbreak long before many other governments.

According to the President’s Media Division, the President said this when the Task Force on COVID-19 met at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the current COVID-19 situation in the wake of the positive cases found at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre.

He recalled that there were objections from the residents when planning to set up quarantine centres at the beginning, and those who arrived from Italy and south Korea also objected to being sent to quarantine centres.

No matter what obstacle we face in the future, we will overcome the challenges and will not shy away from the responsibility of safeguarding the people,” the President said and added that the close associates of the patients found positive at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre have been sent for quarantine.

The close associates and links extending up to four circles have been asked to undergo a period of self-quarantine. The government has made plans to overcome the future challenges in a manner similar to how it controlled the situation initially,” he said.

At the meeting, the President instructed the health officials to continue with the PCR tests to keep the spread of the virus at a minimum level and instructed that the number of PCR tests being conducted at Rajanganaya and other areas where positive cases were reported to be increased and to update the people on the action taken to control the situation and about the pandemic.

The PMD said it was also agreed to expand the programme to rehabilitate the drug addicts parallel to the programme of mitigating COVOD-19 pandemic.

The President also expressed his gratitude to all those involved in the battle against the pandemic.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, President’s Secretary P.B.

Jayasundera, Chief Presidential Adviser Lalith Weeratunga, Prime Minister’s Secretary Gamini Senarath, Army Commander Shavendra Silva, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe and members of the COVID-19 Task Force and medical specialists also attended the meeting.

Courtesy Adaderana

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that the heads of both government and private entities are accountable for adhering to health guidelines in their organizations in the wake of the current spike in COVID 19 cases.  

The COVID-19 virus is prone to spread among groups until adequate and satisfactory containment. Kandakadu Rehabilitation Center is an unfortunate example.” Hence, the President emphasized the necessity of continuing easily accessible tests related to clusters of people immediately. 

The President made these remarks during a discussion with the Presidential Task Force to established to combat COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, at the Presidential Secretariat today (14). 

Although day to day life has returned to normalcy, precautionary measures should not be relaxed as the risk of COVID 19 spread remains high, the President has said highlighting the importance of carrying out simple tests such as regular body temperature checks in Rehabilitation Centers, prisons, universities, schools and similar places.  

Wearing facemasks, washing hands, maintaining social distance are vital under this situation. If you suffer from fever and ailments related to throat, you should refrain from mingling with crowds. Simple practices like these would make a difference in combating COVID-19”, the President added.   

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Secretary to the President P.B Jayasundera, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Senarath, members of the Presidential Task Force and several medical consultants were present.

Courtesy Adaderana

COVID-19 infections patients confirmed thus far in Sri Lanka increased to 2,665 today (14) following the detection of four more positive cases, the Ministry of Health said.

The latest cases include 01 contact of a patient detected from the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Kandakadu, 01 arrival from Oman and 02 arrivals from the United Arab Emirates, according to the Department of Government Information.

Earlier today, 08 close contacts of patients linked to Kandakadu COVID-19 cluster tested positive for the virus. In addition, 04 inmates at the Rehabilitation Centre in Senapura were also confirmed coronavirus positive. Meanwhile, 03 virus-positive returnees from Oman also added up the total cases count.

Accordingly, 19 fresh cases of novel coronavirus have been confirmed so far within the day.

The Epidemiology Unit says 666 active COVID-19 cases are currently under medical care at several hospitals across the country.

Meanwhile, the number recoveries from the disease increased to 1,988 earlier today as seven patients were discharged from Infectious Disease Hospital (01), Iranawila Hospital (02) and Minuwangoda Base Hospital (04).

Sri Lanka witnessed a total of 11 deaths due to COVID-19 thus far.

Courtesy Hiru News

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today answered a question raised by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding the use of foreign financial assistance received to curb the Covid 19 epidemic.

Meanwhile, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi responded to the allegations made by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on several occasions regarding the money received by the Ministry of Health from foreign countries for the Covid 19 pandemic.

Courtesy Hiru News

Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s candidate Ajith P. Perera has stated that the competition is not with the United National Party but with the Podujana Peramuna.

He stated this at a press conference today and said that he would challenge the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to contest and get results.

Camelia Nathaniel Courtesy The Daily News

Sri Lanka managed to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country very successfully from the start, in comparison to many countries in the world. Since March 30 there have not been any community cases reported in the country and the cases that were reported were all from quarantine centres and mainly those arriving in the country from overseas.

However, by last week, a new cluster that sprung from Kandakadu has so far identified a total of 519 new coronavirus cases, following the detection of an inmate who was transferred to the Welikada Prison from the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre – East in Kandakadu, testing positive.

So far, 440 of these infections are inmates of the rehabilitation centre in Kandakadu as of last morning (14). Out of this cluster, 63 of the cases are staff members of the Kandakadu rehabilitation centre. Meanwhile, 16 other cases were identified from the Rajanganaya area as contacts of the virus-positive cases of the Kandakadu cluster.

Many questions have arisen with the new cluster emerging from Kandakadu as to why the inmates of this drug rehabilitation centre were not subjected to PCR tests and how the virus had crept in without being detected by health authorities.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily News the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Dharshana Hettiarachchi spoke about the Kandakadu and Senapura Drug Rehabilitation Centres, how it all began, its current crisis and future plans. Gen. Hettiarachchi was the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation when the Bureau was first established. He later moved on and after his retirement, he was re-appointed as the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation in February this year.

Q: How and when did the drug rehabilitation programme commence?

A: In 2013, we completed the rehabilitation of the ex-LTTE combatants and converted these rehabilitation centres into centres for rehabilitation of drug addicts. Since we were able to conduct a successful rehabilitation programme for ex-combatants, the Defence Secretary at the time, who is the current President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided to make use of the same facilities to start a rehabilitation programme for drug addicts, as narcotics were becoming a real menace to society and the country as a whole.

Thereafter, the necessary legal framework was prepared to send drug addicts to the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre from the Welikada Prison through the courts. Accordingly, the necessary legal framework was drafted under the supervision of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board. At Kandakadu, we do a six-month programme for these addicts consisting of a number of subjects in an attempt to break their drug addiction. After the initial six months, they are put through another six months of vocational training to arm them with the knowledge to engage in some trade once they leave the centre and go back into society.

Q: How did the Covid-19 virus enter Kandakadu?

A: As a practice, we have been getting all these people from the Prisons Department. But during the Covid-19 period, in the month of May, there was a special programme in and around Colombo to track down the drug addicts. Accordingly, the police arrested around 66 persons and they were sent to the Air Force Quarantine Centre in Mullaitivu and another centre in Galkanda in the Welikanda area. They wanted to send these drug addicts for rehabilitation, but we insisted that unless they go through the required quarantine process, we cannot take them in as it would put the health of the other inmates at risk. Accordingly, they went through the 14-day quarantine process and thereafter PCR tests were also done and they were sent to the rehabilitation centre.

Although the PCR tests were done, we suspect that there may have been one or two who probably still had the virus in them when they entered Kandakadu. Since the months of May and June we did not have any problem. There are almost 600 persons at this Kandakadu Rehab Centre.

Q: Why were these inmates not tested?

A: It has been a very common thing that sometimes some of these inmates develop a cough or cold or fever. If anyone is ill, we usually take them to the Polonnaruwa General Hospital and have them treated. In addition, there is a doctor from the Polonnaruwa Hospital who visits the rehabilitation centre daily to check on these inmates. No one had any special symptoms or showed signs of coronavirus.

However, one of the inmates had to be produced in court for a case and we handed him over to the Polonnaruwa Prison to be brought to Welikada for his court appearance.

Prior to sending him back to Kandakadu, he was tested and his PCR test was positive and that is when we discovered that he was infected and traced him back to Kandakadu and did the tests on the other inmates and found many others too who tested positive.

The issue is that none of these patients showed any symptoms or signs of being ill. The activities at Kandakadu went on as usual and whenever anyone had a cough, cold or fever, the doctor treats these persons and they recover. This was a routine practice and no one thought much about it. Only after this inmate tested positive did we test the others and discover that many more had contracted the virus.

The rehabilitation of drug addicts is a very challenging task and the staff members involved in this process serve with great commitment.

Some quarters are questioning us as to why these inmates were not tested. But in all fairness to the officers at these centres, there was nothing out of the ordinary that warranted such testing.

Cough or cold and slight fever is a common thing at these centres and prompt action had been taken to get medical treatment for them. As there is a doctor visiting the centre daily, there was no concern as we were certain that the doctor could detect if anyone had contracted the virus. Even those who had minor ailments were treated and recovered well. Even one of the officers who was infected had been treated for a mild fever and having recovered after around three days, he had even engaged in his usual physical fitness activities such as his routine jogging without any issue. So no one expected this situation.

Even those who have been moved to the special hospital on the other side after testing positive are leading a normal life and are not showing any symptoms of being ill. This is probably why it was not detected earlier.

However, I don’t think this will have a strong impact on society as the Army and security forces are doing a wonderful job under the directives of the Army Commander, and the military intelligence units have traced all the contacts who had come in contact with these patients and have sent them for treatment or quarantine. Their mechanism is very efficient and effective. The very next day that these people tested positive, the military intelligence managed to trace all their contacts and isolate them to prevent further infection.

Q: Can social distancing be implemented at these centres?

A: This is something special unlike any ordinary hospital. These are drug addicts who most often do not adhere to rules and regulations. Even the staff are specially trained to handle these inmates. Under such circumstances and given the number of inmates and the limited resources, it is impossible to adhere to the required social distancing regulations.

It is not possible practically. In a place where there are around 500 persons accommodated, it is not possible to get them to maintain distance, especially when bathing and so on. Constructing separate bathing and toilet facilities is not practically possible.

One must understand that this facility has been set up to cater to drug addicts and not people who can act rationally.

Q: Based on the location of these facilities, is there a danger of a community spread?

A: Kandakadu is an isolated place and there is little or no danger of it spreading. In fact, even the Kandakadu Quarantine Centre was established there due to its isolation from congested town areas. Within a radius of around four to five kilometres there is no residential area, so there is no possibility of other communities being at risk.

However, in Senapura there are several residential areas in proximity, but we have taken all possible measures to ensure that these communities are not affected.

We have also temporarily stopped the families of these inmates from visiting them at these centres until the infection has been brought under control.

Q: If the 66 drug addicts who were brought to the centre were subjected to quarantine, how do you think the infection got in?

A: We must conduct a thorough investigation into this matter to see how it happened. Although they were sent for quarantine and the PCR tests were conducted, I suspect that due to some technical error, one or two positive cases may have gone undetected. We cannot blame anyone as there is evidence that the virus could surface even after 21 days. Otherwise, there is no possibility at all, as we have only been getting persons from Welikada under court orders. So if it had come from Welikada, then there would have been more cases reported from Welikada. So the only thing we can suspect is that somehow the infection could have crept through one of the 66 who were sent here.

After three months, we only allowed parents to visit their children in July. But we strictly adhered to all the health guidelines and there is no possibility that the infection could have been brought in by any of the relatives.

Hence, I expect the health authorities will do a proper investigation to trace as to how the infection could have got through.

Q: What are the future plans for the Drug Rehabilitation Centres?

A: There is a huge human resource at these drug rehab centres and the majority of them are in the prime of their youth. So we thought why not make use of this resource for the betterment and development of this country and contribute to the country’s economy.

Accordingly, we had several rounds of discussions with the Foreign Employment Bureau and the agencies and they have agreed to find out what jobs are in great demand overseas and in the future we plan to tailor our vocational training courses to suit these requirements. If it is required, we are prepared to give them the needed language training as well. Our aim is to direct them in a productive manner as soon as they complete their rehabilitation, so that they don’t get back to the same circle of drug addicts and fall prey again to drug abuse.

We are in the process of acquiring around 1,000 acres of land from the Mahaweli Authority to initiate a coconut plantation. The Coconut Development Board has already agreed to give us the saplings and the Coconut Research Institute will do soil research and show us the suitable areas for this project.

We have also initiated discussions with the Cashew Corporation to commence a cashew cultivation using the inmates at these centres. The Corporation will assist by providing us with the seeds and the expertise.

Discussions have also been held with the Ayurveda Department and we also had a workshop for our officers to grow herbal plants. The country spends millions of rupees every year to import herbal medicinal plants from India. Hence, we intend to plant these medicinal plants in Sri Lanka under this project, depending on the suitability of the climatic conditions. The produce can be given to the Ayurveda Department.

We also have plans to commence a cement block manufacturing plant, where the cement blocks produced by us can be supplied to low-income families for their construction purposes at only the material cost. Our main aim is to use these drug addicts to contribute productively towards the country’s development without being a burden on the country.

Lakmal Sooriyagoda Courtesy The Daily News

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa informed Court of Appeal that summons issued by Jaffna Magistrate’s Court requiring President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appear before Jaffna Magistrate’s Court as a witness in connection with the Habeas Corpus inquiry into the disappearance of two human rights activists Lalith and Kugan, cannot be maintained since he holds the post of President in the country.

Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera appearing for the Attorney General informed that the President was immune to the judicial process in terms of Article 35 (1) of the Constitution.

 However, Counsel Nuwan Bopage appearing for the respondents informed the Court of Appeal that there is no constitutional barrier to summon the President as a witness in a fact finding inquiry.

Taking into consideration the facts, Court of Appeal President Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna ordered the parties to file their written submissions before August 26.

On September 24, 2019, Court of Appeal had issued an Interim Order staying summons requiring then presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appear before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court on September 27, 2019. The Court of Appeal had made this order pursuant to a petition filed by Mr. Rajapaksa citing urgency and security reasons. The Court had issued this order in connection with the Habeas Corpus inquiry into the disappearance of two human rights activists, Lalith and Kugan, who went missing in December 2011 when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was serving as the Defence Secretary.

In his petition, Rajapaksa stated that he received summons through Magistrate’s Court of Jaffna to attend and give evidence in connection with the Habeas Corpus inquiry. Human Rights and political activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan went missing on December 9, 2011.

The petitioner states that the petitioner in the capacity as the Defence Secretary facilitated logistical and strategic support to be obtained through the government to the forces during the war which eradicated the separatist outfit namely the LTTE who operated heavily in the Eastern and Northern parts of Sri Lanka.

The petitioner states that the said threats continue to loom time and time again including the most recent occurrence wherein investigations are underway to ascertain any treat to assassinate the petitioner and several other high-ranking members of the military and in the government.

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva under the instructions of Counsel Sanath Wijewardena appeared for petitioner Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera appeared for the Attorney General. Counsel Nuwan Bopage appeared for the respondents.

By Dr. S. I. Keethaponcalan Courtesy Eurasia Review

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was formed in 2001. At its inception, it was an umbrella organization consisting of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), and the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF). The organization was a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) creation. Since it was an LTTE creation, the party supported the LTTE and took orders from the LTTE.   

Rewriting History 

In the recent past, there has been an attempt to detigerize the TNA. Some of the current leaders argue that the LTTE did not form the TNA. The process of detigerizing TNA is not universal. It targets the South and non-Tamil media. In the north, the party’s nexus with the LTTE is upheld because the Tiger connection is vital for harvesting votes. It is ludicrous to argue that the TNA was formed independently of the LTTE because nothing happened within the Tamil polity in this period without the LTTE approval. In this period, trying to be active and independent within the Tamil polity could cost one’s life. Even those who argue that the TNA was formed independently of the LTTE agree that it had cautious indirect backing” of the rebels.  

Long before the current leaders of the TNA started rewriting the history, an independent analyst pointed out that The TNA, founded in 2001 with the LTTE’s encouragement, was the ambiguous product of the Tigers’ anti-politics: a political formation with no real autonomy and no right to dissent, but used by the LTTE to claim popular support” (International Crisis Group 2012, p.6). In 2004, the party claimed that the LTTE was the sole representative of the Tamil people. In its 2004 parliamentary election manifesto, the party stated that accepting LTTE’s leadership as the national leadership of the Tamil Eelam Tamils and the Liberation Tigers as the sole and authentic representatives of the Tamil people, let us devote our full cooperation for the ideals of the Liberation Tigers’ struggle with honesty and steadfastness” (p.4). As I said, it is ludicrous to claim that the TNA was an independent entity its inception. The TNA members were rebels without arms.  

Transition: From Rebels to Partners 

After the LTTE was gone, the TNA became independent and making decisions without too many constraints. In 2015, the party supported Maithripala Sirisena for president and extended its tacit approval for the Yahapalana government. Some of my friends indicated that one of the top-tier leaders of the TNA worked behind the scene for the UNP campaign in 2015. During the Yahapalana government’s tenure in office, the United National Party survived at least two no-confidence motions with the TNA assistance. The TNA’s collaboration with the UNP was such that some commentators called the party a proxy of the UNP. 

One significant aspect of this collaboration was that the TNA did not try to become a part of the government by accepting ministries. The support was mostly unofficial and secretive. Why didn’t the TNA join the government? The TNA did not join the government in 2015 because the Tamil people were not there. They were mentally not ready to be part of a Colombo government. The TNA leaders feared that they would be called traitors if they join the government. It is imperative to note that the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) leaders were often called traitors by the LTTE sympathizers due to their association with the Colombo government. This fear prevented the TNA from officially joining the government despite the deep desire among some TNA members to do so. This was one reason why Sumanthiaran became an almost” minister, not an actual one.

2020 Campaign

It was against this backdrop, a recent campaign speech by Sumanthiran becomes significant. On July 11, the Kalaikkathir newspaper reported a statement Sumanthiran made at Sembiyanpattru. According to Kalaikkathir, Sumanthiran has stated that I agree that we need to work toward development. We don’t know when we will get a political solution. In a democratic environment, one has to negotiate and patiently wait for a political solution. In this interim period, we need to improve our economic development.” Sumanthiran was indirectly suggesting that political solution is not feasible in the short run; hence the Tamils should worry about development,” which is reasonable, and it reflects the reality.

What he said next may be very significant, and it could mark a considerable transformation of Tamil politics. He said, even if we are to join the new government (after the election), we need strength to negotiate ministries, number of ministries, and the nature of power (of these ministries).” One, it indicates that the TNA is now ready to join the government as a partner. Two, the TNA, which hitherto asked Tamil people to vote for it to negotiate devolution of power and political autonomy, is now asking Tamil people to vote for them to negotiate ministries. In my view, this is a significant transformation. Sumanthiran argued that there had been a change within the Tamil community. He said, expectation of our people was to secure the political rights because we can handle development issues if we have political rights. Now we see a change in this trend.” One has to wait and see if there has been a change within the Tamil community or if Sumanthiran is projecting his deep desires on the Tamil people. 

The TNA or Sumanthiran joining a UNP-led government cannot be a big surprise. The chemistry between the two is excellent. But it is certain that the UNP or the Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) will not win the August election. Is Sumanthiran talking about joining the SLPP government?   

What surprised me the most in this speech was that the TNA (or Sumanthiran) is willing to join even the SLPP government. This is new. Sumanthiran declared that this (the SLPP) government needs a two-thirds majority. But political analysts predict that they will not get a two-thirds majority. Against this backdrop, they might need our support. I have already indicated to them on what basis or condition we may join the government…In response, the government has responded with positive signals.”

This is big news. Are the government and the TNA already in negotiation, or is Sumanthiran taking Tamils for a ride? Any information on this from the government could be extremely valuable.

Nevertheless, Sumanthiran stated, nothing could be predicted now. We cannot just say that we are joining the government and accepting ministries…But I am not saying that we will not do that.” I am sure this is news for the Tamil people as well. It would be interesting to see if the TNA manifesto, which is expected sooner rather than later, will reference its plans to partner with the SLPP government.