Courtesy Hiru News

Ten (10) more persons have tested positive for Covid-19 (new coronavirus) infection.

The country total has increased to 935 according to the latest information by the Epidemiology unit of the Ministry of Health.

Covid-19 Situation Report as at 2020-May-15| compiled according to the Health Promotion Bureau and the Epidemiology Unit data

Total confirmed cases – 935
Recovered and discharged – 477
Active cases – 449
New Cases for the day – 10

Courtesy Hiru News

Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday acknowledged that the government has provided the necessary funds to transport IDPs from Puttalam to Mannar during the last presidential election.

This was when he spoke to the media after making a statement to the CID regarding the incident.

However, former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had earlier stated that the money had been provided by an NGO.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recorded statements from Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera for over five hours regarding the incident of providing the necessary facilities to transport IDPs by bus from Puttalam to Mannar during the last presidential election.

Meanwhile, the ‘Sinhale’ National Organization has strongly condemned the statement made by the former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera that there are Sangha cliques in the country.

Other politicians expressed their views regarding the statement made by Mangala Samaraweera regarding the Sangha.

Courtesy Hiru News

Opposition politicians and several other parties expressed their views regarding the remand of former MP Rajitha Senaratne.

Courtesy Hiru News

DIG Chandana Athukorala, who was in charge of the Negombo division at the time of the attack</strong>

DIG Chandana Athukorala, who was the SSP in charge of the Negombo division at the time of the attack, said that although the officers in the lower ranks were instructed to provide armed police protection to Catholic churches, no officers had been deployed for security.

This was when he was giving evidence before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attacks. He is currently serving as the DIG of the Police Welfare Division and was the first person called to give evidence today

When did you first become aware of the threat?

The Presidential Commission asked him when he first became aware of an attack of the Thawheed Jamaat organization. Responding to this, DIG Chandana Athukorala stated that on the evening of April 12, 2019, he received a file through a messenger and that he had opened it the next morning.

The Presidential Commission asked him when he first became aware of an attack of the Thawheed Jamaat organization. Responding to this, DIG Chandana Athukorala stated that on the evening of April 12, 2019, he received a file through a messenger and that he had opened it the next morning.

He further stated that it contained information about the attack and that it was sent by DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was in charge of the Western North Division at the time.

The DIG stated that he had sent a letter he had prepared to the Police OICs, District Officers and the OIC of Negombo Division Intelligence, after he had looked into four files.

Not aware of Islam extremism or any such organisation

The Commission then asked the DIG whether he had any prior knowledge of Islamist extremism or any such organization. Deputy Inspector General of Police Chandana Athukorala stated that he was made aware of such an incident after the letter.

The DIG has also pointed out that he had not received more written or verbal information from the superiors by the 17th.

DIG Nandana Munasinghe called and informed

However, Senior DIG Nandana Munasinghe, who was in charge of the Western Province, telephoned him and informed him that there could be an attack on Catholic churches the following day.

The DIG said before the commission that he had acted in accordance with the instructions and informed the officers in charge of the police stations to provide armed police guards to the catholic churches.

DIG Chandana Athukorala stated that since he did not receive a response to his letter, he inquired further details from the OIC of the Negombo Division Intelligence but he did not have any further information.

Special attention not provided

The Presidential Commission asked him whether he did not give special attention, since the Senior DIG Nandana Munasinghe provided information over the phone.

The DIG stated that he did not pay any special attention to the telephone calls since they receive calls very often.

Do you feel that you have failed in your duties?

The Presidential Commission has inquired whether he does not feel that he has failed in his duties in this regard and the DIG has said that it is his junior officers who are responsible for it.

However, DIG Chandana Athukorala has admitted that he is also responsible in the face of continued interrogation by the Commission.

I did not believe such a serious incident would take place

The Deputy Inspector General of Police, giving evidence before the Presidential Commission today, said that although he had received information from his superiors, he did not believe such a serious incident would take place.

Courtesy Hiru News

Defense Secretary Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne has taken steps to establish a navy sub-divison for the protection of the Pottuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya which has been invaded by illegal acquisitions.  

This was after he visited the area to inquire about the safety of the Pottuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya based on the Hiru CIA revelation.

On several occasions, the Hiru CIA program revealed about the plunder of land at Pottuvil, highlighting the importance of protecting this historic sacred site.

The land invasion was so intense during the last Yahapalana regime that the Pottuvil Pradeshiya Sabha had taken steps to turn the beach adjacent to the Pottuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya into a cemetery.

While the Pottuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya was losing land at an alarming speed, the ‘yahapalanaya government turned a blind eye into those revelations.  

After the election of the present government, the invaders were silent and gradually recommenced their work during the Coronavirus pandemic, when countrywide curfew was in force.

The Hiru CIA team exposed the demarcation of the coastline around the Pottuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya using illegal fencing, amidst the obstruction of the invaders.

Minister S.G.M. Chandrasena and a group of officials were deployed to investigate the plunder of lands belonging to the Muhudu Maha Viharaya on the instructions of the President and the Prime Minister after the illegal land grabbing incidents were exposed by Hiru CIA.

Meanwhile, yesterday the Defense Secretary Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne also visited to look into these issues.

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute has written an open letter on 13 May 2020 to Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice urging Sri Lanka to abide by due process in the case of arrested lawyer Heejaz Hizbullah. While the International Bar Association President is Horacio Bernardes Neto. The IBAHRI is only an entity within the IBA. IBAHRI President is Michael Kirby. The IBAHRI in its letter is asking Sri Lanka to ‘uphold the rights of lawyers to be able to carry out their professional responsibilities” but the arrest has nothing to do with any lawyer being denied his/her right to carry out professional responsibilities. The arrest is related to his connections to the mass murder that took place on Easter Sunday. IBAHRI should not confuse the prima facie reason for the arrest nor try to divert attention away from that fact. The rest of the letter is virtually a cut and paste of ICJ and Amnesty International statements being circulated.    

Strangely IBAHRI is issuing a statement after a drought of 7 years. Its last statement on Sri Lanka was in 2014 https://www.ibanet.org/Article/NewDetail.aspx?ArticleUid=39648b5e-489b-4634-a530-558464f9502f

The selective topics of the IBAHRI is seen in its own website

A lot has since happened. How come IBAHRI did not question the due process followed in the removal of Chief Justice Mohan Pieris, if they saw fit to question the removal of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake? Didn’t IBAHRI see fit to question why a sitting CJ was removed from post by not allowing him to enter his chambers on the flimsy argument that the rulers never considered him appointed as CJ. Didn’t IBAHRI want to question the status of his judgements and verdicts made during the 2 ½ years he was Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice?

Attorney Hejaaz Hizbulla was arrested on 14 April 2020 by CID along with former Minister & ACMC Leader Rishad Bathiudeen’s brother Riyad Bathiudeen and another in connection with the Easter Sunday mass murder.

15 April 2020 – CID in writing informs BASL that the attorneys arrest and detention is owing to his connection with terrorist activity that took place on Easter Sunday.

16 April 2020 – The police spokesman informs that the arrested lawyer was associated with the bombers and had been involved with the bombers as an office bearer in an organization. The Sri Lanka Bar Association claims this association is purely based on professional capacity. However, the Bar Association President had been informed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court that the attorney’s arrest was not related to any function he attended on a professional capacity.  The arrest was due to a clear prima facie evidence against him. Was this not communicated by the BASL to the IBAHRI given that other details of the arrest had been communicated to them?

25 April 2020 – 158 persons most claiming to be lawyers (less than 1% of the entire lawyer fraternity in Sri Lanka) without disclosing their Bar membership numbers release petition claiming it is the right of lawyers to defend the ability to function as lawyers, without obstruction, fear or favour”

29 April 2020 – 216 attorneys giving their Bar Association member sends a detailed letter to the Bar Association President. Poignant remarks in that letter is quoted

undue collateral pressure must not be brought to bear or be exerted on the investigative process or on the investigation officers”

there are various forces and unlawful influences that are at play, who/which are attempting exert pressure to release Mr. Hizbullah and to discontinue the investigations against him, but that most fortunately, the investigation officers and the Sri Lanka Police are remaining steadfastly committed to their duties and to not succumbing to these pressures. The investigation must be taken to a full and logical conclusion and no amount of repetition would be in vain, in emphasising this fact”

Immediately after the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, 6 foreign intelligence units arrived to assist but we are yet to know what they unravelled. The disappointment in not getting to the bottom of those who planned the attack is what has resulted in a new investigation with new teams.

On 5^th May attorney Gowry Thavarajah filed a FR seeking release of arrested lawyer http://www.themorning.lk/fr-petition-filed-seeking-release-of-detained-lawyer-hejaaz-hizbullal/

Only people in high places can pervert course of justice in preventing justice being meted

This is evident from the propaganda and hype associated with the arrest & arguments for release. Every attempt is being made to dilute the arrest – propaganda depicts his arrest due to him being a Muslim, being a minority, handling high profile cases against the govt… all of these are clearly to divert the attention of the people from wondering if the arrested lawyer really had been involved in the crime of killing innocent people.

The legal fraternity must put the human rights of the victims before surrounding a colleague simply because he is ‘one of them’. How can the legal fraternity international and local, lobby for one person immediately following arrest without giving benefit of doubt and waiting for the investigators to reveal on what grounds and why he has been arrested.

The allegation against him is no small a crime. It is linking him to the killing of over 300 people 46 of whom were foreigners.

There is nothing the international nor local legal fraternity can say that a lawyer cannot be part of a conspiracy against the country.  

Turkey arrested 14 lawyers in 2017 for alleged terrorist involvement

The main suicide bomber Zaharan Hashim has Rs.140million in gold and cash. This shows a bigger nexus at play.  

No one is above the law and no lawyer is above the law as well.  

The police arrests people not by status but by evidence before them.

Lawyers on the other hand depending on their ability to argue a case can even turn a murderer into an innocent and an innocent into a murderer. The value of lawyers and their ability to twist the law increases their demand.

The police however, can only frame charges based on the evidence before them.

Therefore, it is morally wrong and indefensible for the international bar association human rights institute to interfere in an investigation which has hardly got off the ground. Allow the police to prove the arrested lawyer was part of the Easter Sunday plot. Defend him in court but it is incorrect to demand his release simply because he is a lawyer. This is a very specious argument.

It is unfair by the victims who have died, the victims who are injured and the victim families who continue to mourn their dead. Did one of these lawyers writing petitions even consider to appear on behalf of them for legal issues that may require legal attention?

But, in a matter as serious as that which happened on Easter Sunday, which is of national security risk and concern, the Government has every right to lift the lawyers cloak and determine if the arrested lawyer was involved in the mass murder.

The cloak of ethics does not apply when a criminal lawyer defends a known murderer because it is his professional service to defend a murderer and he is paid handsomely to win the case. Even if a man has committed murder, a good lawyer is able to present him as innocent and win the case based on legal arguments. Strange is the justice system that prevails.

The cloak of ethics does not excuse or exonerate anyone in the legal fraternity simply because they are a member of the legal fraternity from being investigated, arrested or even charged for wanting to kill innocent people. None of us have made any conclusions. We are all keenly watching how the investigations unfold. If there is circumstantial evidence, then he is very much answerable. Let the court decide that. Natural and probable consequences of his conduct in the Easter Sunday mass murder as well as plans to carry out further mayhem cannot be exonerated simply because the international legal forums international and local send letters and petitions. Being lawyers they should know this is not how justice is meted out.

There is a thin line that will determine if he has provided only legal advice to the suicide bombers or whether he provided material support to carry out the suicide bombings. Let the police produce the evidence and let his legal defence argue his case and allow court to decide.

No lawyer can be afforded preferential treatment simply because he is a lawyer. In a crime of the nature that took place on Easter Sunday, all suspects whatever their status or profession should have no favors afforded to them. Given, the scale of the crime it is unfair for the Bas Association – international or local to be issuing statements without allowing the course of justice to prevail. The context of the matter is not to argue the merits or demerits of his legal professionalism but to fathom if the arrested lawyer was part of the mass murder that took place on Easter Sunday and planning another attack as revealed following mass arrests made. The Bar Associations both international & local must surely view the possibility of more murders as a concern far above demanding release of a lawyer implicated in the plot simply because he is a lawyer!

“Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done” 

Shenali D Waduge

By Gandara John

/Contd from Part 1

With dedicated medical-personnel and with selfless and disciplined military and police cadres leading the way, Gota very likely saved the lives of about a Million Sri Lankans who may otherwise have died if the medical-lockdown strategy had not been initiated.

This strategy, as was explained previously, is logically simple: Isolate the people from the virus and prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease; in military parlance, interdict the population from the disease: And, in the meantime, medically treat all those infected by the virus

From statistics on COVID virus fatalities, it would appear that Sri Lanka has found a cure for those affected by the disease.

The rationale of this anti-COVID campaign-approach was placing human life at the apex of Sri Lanka’s concerns. Every single human life was considered precious; there was no discrimination in treating patients; their wealth, station in life, age, infirmities etc mattered not the least.

This was in total contrast to the approach taken by America. The American approach to the anti-COVID campaign was ‘herd-immunisation’; the rationale for that approach was not ‘Humans first’, but rather ‘Economy first’.

In pursuing this policy of ‘herd-immunisation’ – an entire population being deliberately exposed to the COVID virus – all those who are infected and survive, develop immunity to the virus; those who are poor and cannot afford medical treatment, those who are old and  infirm, those who have no medical insurance, those who are homeless,  they are all considered expendable. Many in this category are the black, coloured and Hispanic communities in the US.

In short, the Americans are adopting a policy of ‘survival-of-the-fittest’ as their solution to the COVID virus; the resources in the country will be available only to those who are young, strong, wealthy and healthy.

This is the law of the jungle that was first publicly propounded and practised by Hitler and the Nazis. Now, following this law are the US and their crony European states.

With the Nazi-style ‘herd-immunisation’ programme in place, Americans today are dying like dogs, on the streets of the US. In New York alone the daily death-tally is presently about 3oo0. As at date the total death count in the US, due to COVID, is nearly 100,000 and is expected to rise to a million before the virus is brought under control.

It is ironic that in this scenario, some Americans, like vultures, are feasting on the misery of the doomed.

It is indeed pertinent that the US in 2018, prior to this pandemic, surprisingly closed down the ‘National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense’. 

It is also interesting to note that the Americans warned NATO and Israel in November 2019 of a deadly virus attack that would unfold anon.

Whistle-blower Rick Bright – Head of the ‘Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’- having prior knowledge of the virus forewarned the Americans about it, in January 2020; he was sacked from his job by the US Administration.

It is pertinent that news coming out of the US on COVID-19 is censored.

Interestingly, a former Editor of the Japan Times Weekly, Yoichi Schimatsu, a regular contributor to several reputed global media outlets including those in US and China, writing to ‘Rense’ asserts that COVID 19 is augmented with HIV proteins and a DNA sequence of M-tuberculosis for upgrade to make it a lethal biological weapon.

Yoichi adds, COVID-19 targets human testicles and its TB strand blocks the immune system.”

A reader could be forgiven if his or her mind went immediately to the US-Government funded ‘Pathfinder International’, a eugenic organisation, committed to de-populating the world by employing viruses and other means; ‘Pathfinders’ believe that the world is overpopulated and that there is a need to make the world, its land and its riches the exclusive preserve of a selected breed of persons, by culling selected segments of the human population.

Are they looking at a blond haired, blue-eyed, white skin breed?

Over the years, Pathfinders have fine-tuned eugenics to a fine art; they have come a long way since the terrible days of the Auschwitz extermination camps.

As was mentioned in Part 1 of this article, Agent-Moragoda, the founder of ‘Pathfinder Foundation’, unsolicitedly and without raising any security concerns from the previous Sri Lankan Government, had the impertinence to draft Sri Lanka’s National Security doctrine; the paper has been broadly described as a shoddy piece of work, not worth the 34-pages it is written on.

Agent-Moragoda, basing his arguments on several fallacious assumptions and drafting his unsolicited paper in the immediate aftermath of the Easter bombings last year, has floated the notion that Sri Lanka’s National Security should be handed over to the Americans!!

What is indeed revealing is that Agent-Moragoda in August 2019, when drafting America’s doctrine for Sri Lanka’s National Security, appears to have had a premonition of the COVID-19 attack.

Says Agent Moragoda in page 2 of his document, Quote: …. National Security policies of a country should bring within its purview, the broader issues of survival of humanity and connected long term threats to human security concerns, such as food security and environmental security, which some security policy makers advocate countries to adopt in their national security policies. Long term survival of humanity, though a noble task, is a far broader objective, beyond the capabilities of a single state.” Unquote.

This writer is unable to resist asking Agent-Moragoda. Who are these security policy makers who are so powerful as to advocate so many countries on National Security, huh?”

Agent-Moragoda’s comments, put a new spin on the Easter-Bomb attack and the COVID virus attack. Were these two attacks, from Sri Lanka’s perspective, contrived to drive us desperately into the waiting arms of the Americans and willingly sign the MCC Agreement which remains the most contentious issue between the two countries; over 6.9 Million Sri Lankan adults are opposing it while the American Administration is trying to force their ‘gift’ horse down our throats?

The face behind the Islamic veil?

Sri Lankans distinctly remember how ‘Easterbomb’ Teplitz gleefully and very insensitively announced, just two days after the Easter tragedy while the country was in deep shock and mourning, that the MCC booty had been upped by 60Million USD; Teplitz’s Matara-boy Samaraweera was quick to chortle ‘This is the proverbial silver lining in the dark cloud’.

Matara Americanisation Centre

 It was Agent-Moragoda who, about a month ago, attempted to coerce Gota to rescind Sri Lanka’s ‘human-lives-first’ strategy and adopt instead America’s ‘economy-first’, ‘herd-immunisation’ strategy. This was widely opposed by the medical fraternity. Fortunately, saner counsel prevailed.

It is hoped that the exit-strategy from the medical-lockdown presently in progress, is strictly in line with the laid-down medical guidelines.

What was Agent-Moragoda’s motive to push for the Nazi style herd-immunisation strategy? Was it Agent Moragoda’s plan to get a Million Sri Lankans to die like dogs on the streets of our country?

Agent-Wickramasinghe had already done the necessary spadework to allow an American-led Indo-Pacific military force to invade our country, in such circumstances.

In the first week of June 2017, feigning sickness and pretending to seek urgent medical attention, Agent-Wickramasinghe slipped furtively into the US in what he termed was a private visit. He went through this charade at a time when there was an ongoing National Disaster with hundreds dead and hundreds missing in flood waters and mud slides; his presence in Sri Lanka was considered vital, at the time.

In the US, Agent-Wickramasinghe shed his medical garb to  attend the Ocean Conference organised by the UN; he committed Sri Lanka to SDG 14 (Sustainable Goal 14) which permits US led forces to ‘invade’ Sri Lanka in certain circumstances including those caused by pandemics similar to those being encouraged by Agent-Moragoda.

It is presumed that the Auditor General has made sure that Agent-Wickramasinghe has not misappropriated State funds during his private visit to the US.

The whole concept of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (there are many SDGs) is a part of the globalisation process (or colonisation of the world by the US) which has come under attack by the COVID 19 virus. This will be touched upon in Part 3 of this series where the main thrust is on what economic guidelines should be followed in the post-COVID era; Agent-Moragoda, echoing his master’s voice, is pushing for solutions, within the ‘globalisation’ template. 

 /to be contd

Gandara John is a freelance journalist and can be contacted at gandarajohn@outlook.com

KAMALIKA PIERIS

Revised 27.6.20

Ven. Ellawala Medhananda was born on 28^th January 1937. He was named Piyaratne. His father was Ellawala Imiyahami Punchi Mahatthaya and his mother was Hapurugama Kiri Ethana. Father was a person of some standing in the village. He owned considerable land.   He was a building contractor and had 12 or so workers under him.   He   also engaged in gemming. He was not very religious, but would read the Pujavali or Jataka Pota before going to sleep.

Piyaratne was the sixth of eight children, 5 girls and 2 boys.  He first attended a school in Ellawala. On passing the Grade 5 exam, he attended Ruwanwella Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. According to his biographer, young Piyaratne met a bhikkhu on the road and decided, then and there, to become one himself.  His mother welcomed the idea. His father did not, but advised him not to back out halfway, now that he had taken the decision to be a monk.

At thirteen he went to Napawala Sumangalaramaya, in Getahatta, hoping to be ordained as a samanera. Instead he was made to work all day long at household tasks including cooking and washing up. He did not like it. He left the temple and went home, walking all the way, not once but thrice.  Each time Loku Hamuduruwo, Ven. Soratha, came to his house and persuaded him to return.  Piyaratne returned for the fourth time and was   ordained a samanera in 1950.

In 1955 he was sent to Ratmalane Parama Dhamma chetiya for his education. He recalled that at the time, the Pirivena was not developed unlike now. The food was inadequate. He got lunu kanda for breakfast every day. Loku Hamudurowo gave him five Rupees a month and his mother gave another ten, but this was not enough for his needs. However, he got pens and copy books as pirikara.

From Parama Dhamma he moved to Vidyodaya Pirivena. He stayed at Hunupitiya Gangarama while attending Vidyodaya. His subjects were Sinhala, history, Sanskrit.  Medhananda was at Vidyodaya when it was elevated to a University.  He obtained an honors degree in Sanskrit, with a class, from there. Then he obtained a second honors degree from University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, specializing in Sinhala. He also obtained a Masters degree from University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He started on a Ph.D thesis but could not complete it,   due, he said, to his teaching commitments. 

On graduating, in 1962, Ven. Medhananda went headlong into secondary school teaching.  He taught in several schools in the   Uva-Sabaragamuwa provinces.  They were, in sequence, Badulla Dharmaduta Vidyalaya, Karandana Maha Vidyalaya,   Kuruwita Maha Vidyalaya,   Uduvaka Siddhartha Vidyalaya, Ellepola Maha Vidyalaya and Anura Maha Vidyalaya, Getahetta.   (Dates not provided)

W.J.M. Lokubandara , when he became Minister of Education decided that Ven. Medhananda should be in the Education Department, not puttering about in secondary schools. He appointed him  as assistant director in the Education Department, where his first task was inspection of schools. Medhananda was also in the religious education section.. Ven. Medhananda  worked in several zonal and provincial  education divisions in Sabaragamuwa  and retired from the Eheliyagoda division.

Medhananda‘s first appointment was to Badulla Dharmaduta Vidyalaya.  He stayed at Kailagoda Vihara while teaching there. Dharmaduta was a leading school in the district, it had 3000 to 4000 students. It was trilingual. Medhananda  taught history, Sinhala and Buddhist civilization. Medhananda introduced Advanced level classes to Dharmaduta,  with history as one of  the A level subjects. Students were eager to take up History at A level, Medhananda said. He  also started a sil movement  in the school.  

Karandana Maha Vidyalaya had excellent students, recalled Medhananda. They came from good homes and were well brought up. He taught Buddhist civilization and history at A level. When Medhananda transferred to Kuruwita these students had no one to teach  these two subjects. There was just 8 months left before the exam. Medhananda got them down to his temple every evening and taught them.’They did well in the exam.’

Medhananda’s longest period of teaching was at Kuruwita. At Kuruwita he started a school magazine ‘Gaveshana’ to encourage pupils to write creatively. Kuruwita was a large school and the principal was too old to manage the school. MP Nanda Ellawala asked Medhananda to find a good principal for Kuruwita. Medhananda scouted around and found a suitable person, the principal of Weligepola Maha Vidyalaya.

Medhananda was next  asked to accept the post of principal at Uduvaka Siddhartha Maha Vidyalaya for one year. it was a neglected school. No principal ever stayed long  .Medhananda was asked   to turn it round. 

Uduwaka was in a bad state,  recalled Medhananda . The school had just three classrooms, the lavatory had no door, the access road was so bad that not even a tractor could go on it. Medhananda obtained donations from well wishers   and provided the school with class rooms, an open air theatre, library, playground and  Budu medura .He also built  class rooms for ‘industrial training.’ He spoke to the owner and obtained the adjoining land for the school, when others had failed to do so.

The school had no water, Medhananda obtained water from a stream one kilometer away on a hill. His team  did all the work .The wood needed for  building was obtained from nearby Danagala Kanda. Medhananda obtained a permit, cut down trees and   with the help of pupils,  the logs were carried downhill and loaded to lorries below.

Medhananda said he too participated in the physical labor involved.  He said he had carried bricks and  sand, dragged wood, cut drains, and dug the soil when necessary. He was Principal and labourer, both.     He arrived in school early. He returned after school had closed and stayed there till 7 or 8 pm. Sometimes he slept there, on a bench, especially when  building was in progress.

Ven. Medhananda found that discipline was very lax in the school. students came and went as they wished, were absorbed in love affairs and spent school time in the nearby boutiques. Medhananda   put stop to this. No pupil could leave school once he came in, except with permission. Parents could not hang around in the school either.

Despite this, some pupils   left the school premises during school hours without permission. Medhananda   caned them  before the whole school. Parents protested. Medhananda did not give in.

Medhananda   created a prefect  committee of 15 girls and 15 boys   and gave them much responsibility; They were entrusted with looking after classes when  teachers were not  available. 

 Medhananda insisted that the staff must be punctual and  should take less leave. They must go to class on time. Teachers must move from one class to another quickly, without wasting time chatting. he was very strict about this.  The staff resented all this for about a month, then  settled down said Medhananda . 

The number of pupils increased from the initial 300 to 1500 during Medhananda’s time. they came from Hanwella, Dehiovita, Eheliyagoda   and Karandana. There were only 5 in the A level class when he arrived. He coached them  and all five entered University  to study in the Arts  faculty.  The numbers in the  A level class then rose to 150. 

In addition to the arts stream, Medhananda introduced commerce. He wanted to start science as well and began to build a laboratory. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, MP helped with money from the Decentralized Fund.

Then in 1977 the government changed . UNP came to power. UNP supporters in Uduwaka were opposed to Medhananda . They wanted Medhananda removed.  but the MP of the area, resisted. He   said it was Medhananda  who  had developed the school.

A meeting to decide  on the  building needs of the schools in the area,  took place in the Education Department . Medhananda participated and said that his science building needed to be completed. The MP for the area, who was also present, said that Uduwaka  did not need a science lab. Medhananda pointed out that  pupils from ten miles away attended Uduwaka. The school served about 10 villages,  ‘These are poor  people. Please approve the remaining money.’ No said  the  MP,  Uduwaka  does not need a science lab.  Education   must be done the way I want it.

There was an argument between Medhananda and MP.  A few days later Medhananda  got a letter transferring him to Ellepola  Maha Vidyalaya in Balangoda  as ‘upa guruverayek’.  Medhananda  went to  Nissanka Wijeyeratne, then Minister of Education , and got the transfer cancelled, he then returned to Uduwaka, signed in as principal, and then asked for a transfer. 

M.L.M. Aboosally was MP for Balangoda at the time. He intervened. He personally  visited Medhananda   and asked Medhananda to name any school he wanted. Medhananda  had no preference. Aboosally  then appointed  Ven. Medhananda as principal of Ellepola Maha Vidyalaya  since the principal   there was going on transfer. Medhananda   observed that it was a Muslim politician who had come to his aid, not the Sinhalese.

Ellepola Maha Vidyalaya  gave him a welcome when he arrived. Ellepola had sufficient buildings  but otherwise, Ellepola was a bad as Uduwaka, Medhananda recalled.  Medhananda   started A level classes and gave the school an open air stage.

Wimal Wickremasinghe, MP for Eheliyagoda, then asked Ven. Medhananda to take over Anura Maha Vidyalaya, Getahatta  . Medhananda  improved that school too. The access road was improved and  buildings renovated.  Medhananda  added new buildings, including a  library and  shrine room. Pupil count rose from 364 to 2000. There were only 3 pupils in A level class initially.  Under Medhananda ,  Anura Vidyalaya’s  Arts and Commerce results for ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels  improved so much, that Anura ended up as one of the five schools with the best results in Sabaragamuwa. 

Medhananda taught Sinhala, History and Buddhist civilization in the schools he went to.  He encouraged students to study these subjects.  He also encouraged them to explore the historical sites in their area.

At Dharmaduta, he told the pupils to go and look at historical places in Badulla.  They first went to Matigahatenna pansala, where Medhananda found an inscription. Pupils then went to Alupota and  other archaeological sites in Moneragala. Karandana students were taken on exploration to Valaellugoda kanda.  Advanced level students from Uduwaka   joined Medhananda in his exploration of the ‘whole of the Sitawaka kingdom.’

When history was removed from the school syllabus, in 1972, Medhananda tried to compensate. He wrote many essays to the mass media on history and archaeology and also arranged for an all island series of talks. There was a good response, said Medhananda to his biographer.

Medhananda has been among the group who had agitated for the return of history to the school syllabus. He had very unflattering things to say about its removal. When Histoyr was brought back to schools, Medhananda, then in the Ministry of Education, was on the board responsible for Grade 9 History textbook.

Ven. Medhananda  has also had a successful,  though  brief, career as a University teacher. After his spell at Kuruwita Maha Vidyalaya , he was asked to join  the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, his University , as a lecturer. Ven.  Kaluachchimulle Mahanama had left for postgraduate studies abroad and Medhananda was asked to fill in. He was given a room in the Vice Chancellor’s quarters to live in.

He taught Sanskrit at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Medhananda recalled that   some lectures were attended by more than 400 students. University teachers had also attended his lectures. My view ( Kamalika Pieris) is that he would have lectured on history and Buddhist civilization  in addition to Sanskrit  and the increased audiences would have been for these, not Sanskrit.

In 1971 the teaching at Sri Jayewardenepura  was hampered by the fact that  the JVP was giving the lectures inside the University .  The University  closed. Medhananda and some other s decided to use the time to  translate   Sanskrit works to Sinhala.

While teaching at Sri Jayewardenepura, Medhananda accepted a request to take over Uduwaka Anura Vidyalaya. When the undergraduates go to know of this, they signed a petition asking that  Ven. Medhananda be persuaded to  stay on in the University. The petition was signed by undergraduates of  Colombo, Peradeniya and Sri Jayewardenepura . Medhananda observed that as far as he  knew, this was the first time that such a request had been made.  Medhananda said he still had a copy of this petition.

Medhananda insisted that he must go to Anura Vidyalaya as he had accepted the position. The University  was   determined not to lose his services. Sri Jayewardenepura  asked Medhananda  to teach on weekends, as a substitute could not be found. Medhananda  readily  agreed. He taught in the University during weekends, for two years, without pay. But the University eventually   found a way to pay him, and he got paid for his full period of work, including arrears. University had kept a complete record of the lectures he had given. Medhananda travelled to Nugegoda from  Getahatta   in his own car. He owned a Vauxhall car,  ‘in rather poor condition,’  bought for 3000 rupees.  

Ven. Medhananda is a prolific writer.  That is well known. He has written many books on Sri Lanka history and on Buddhism. Medhanand. also composed many kavi. His biographer, Kahatapitiya says, Medhananda had learnt how to write Kavi from ‘Sirisena Maitipe pavat va gena yanu labu Arunaloka grantha vidyalayen”.

 Medhananda  has contributed  poems and prose writings to Ambavanaya”  and ‘Sinhala Bauddhaya’. His first published book of poems was Athvasi hasna’( date not available). In 1956 he wrote  Abhinava swarna mayura sandesaya.’   This was a sandesa  sent from Napawala to Natha devale, Kandy, asking Vishnu to protect  rata, jatiya, agama.

In 1958 he published  ‘Sokaye geethaya’  which was based on a story written in English.   A relative gave him the money to print this work and Medhananda had  sold a considerable number of copies, each  priced at fifty cents, which was a big sum those days.   His next composition, influenced by the Sanskrit work on the subject, was  Buddha charita maha kavya. ( continued)

Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

High Commissioner Gopal Baglay said he has prayed to Lord Buddha for the prosperity of Sri Lanka and India

Colombo, May 14 (newsin.asia): The new High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay presented his Letter of Credence (credentials) to the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday in a ceremony held through video-conferencing, a release from the Indian High Commission said.

The High Commissioner thanked the President for arranging the traditional ceremony in an innovative manner and stated that the use of technology to overcome challenges, such as those posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, has been stressed by the leadership of India as well as Sri Lanka.

He pointed out that today’s novel initiative underscores the significance the two countries attach to their friendly and multi-faceted ties, and also highlights India’s continued commitment to closely working with Sri Lanka in facing common challenges.

The High Commissioner conveyed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the people of Sri Lanka warm greetings from the leadership and the people of India. Stressing the immense significance attached by India to its relations with Sri Lanka, he reiterated the abiding commitment at the highest levels in India to developing and strengthening the existing close friendly ties and cooperation between the two countries.

Highlighting the shared Buddhist heritage of Sri Lanka and India, the High Commissioner stated that he had prayed to Lord Buddha through video calls earlier this week to Most Venerable Mahanyake of Asgiriya Chapter and Most Venerable Anunayake of Malwatte Chapter, for peace and prosperity of our two peoples.

The High Commissioner recalled that as Sri Lanka’s closest maritime neighbor, India has been the first responder when Sri Lanka faced difficulties, be it natural calamities, or the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, the High Commissioner noted that India has sent four consignments of essential life-saving medicines and medical material weighing over 25 tonnes to Sri Lanka in the last few weeks as goodwill support from the people of India.

In addition, Sri Lankan health professionals have also participated in various online-training program organized by eminent health institutions in India on management of COVID 19 pandemic.

Re-iterating Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to jointly fight COVID-19 pandemic, the High Commissioner assured President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of India’s continued cooperation to Sri Lanka, including for economic recovery, in all manners possible.

The High Commissioner recalled that Prime Minister Modi had paid a solidarity visit to Sri Lanka during his first overseas tour after assuming the office in his second term. He noted that the first overseas visit by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to India in November 2019 had imparted significant momentum to the bilateral relationship. Similarly, the first overseas visit by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in February 2020 after assuming office to India had guided the implementation of bilateral understandings for shared prosperity and security.

The High Commissioner stated that he looked forward to working closely with the leadership of Sri Lanka for their further implementation as well as deepening India’s long-standing partnership with Sri Lanka as our closest maritime neighbors in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.

Prior to his current assignment, High Commissioner Gopal Baglay served as Joint Secretary in Prime Minister’s Office in India since 2017. Earlier, he had worked in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India including as the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry, Joint Secretary (External Publicity) Division, Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran), and Joint Secretary (States) from 2014-’17.

Baglay also served as the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Pakistan (2011-2014), and in Indian Missions in Kathmandu, London, Russia and Ukraine. A Masters of Science, he speaks Hindi, Urdu, English and Russian and has also studied Sanskrit, Ukrainian and Nepali. He is currently observing the stipulated health protocols, at India House.

Courtesy The Island

The coming two weeks are critical to Sri Lanka’s battle against COVID-19, Army Commander Lt. Gen Shavendra Silva said, yesterday, urging people to follow health guidelines. “If people follow these regulations, we will be able to rid the country of COVID-19,” he said.

Silva, who also heads the presidential task force battling the coronavirus, said that the new COVID-19 cases were found only from quarantine centres and no new cases had been reported from the community.

“A lot of sacrifices were made by all to ensure this. If we act responsibly, in the next two weeks, we should be able to overcome this,” he added.

Kelum Bandara Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The government has worked out a roadmap for reopening the Bandaranaike International Airport for inbound and outbound passengers with guidelines that include the setting up of a laboratory to test them for COVID-19, Civil Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said today.

He made these remarks regarding the inauguration of a new passenger terminal and an access road to the airport. He said arrangements had been to reopen the airport anytime soon, subject to clearance by the health authorities.

The Minister said precautions would be taken to ensure that COVID-19 cases were not entering the country.

According to health guidelines, all inbound passengers would be disinfected upon arrival. The disinfectant cubicles have already been installed at the airport. There will be arrangements made for social distancing.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Brandix Apparel Limited has started to export 200 million face masks to the United States, the company said.   

Issuing a statement Brandix said that Special Representative of the President and Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication, Basil Rajapaksa, symbolically handed over the first batch of face masks from a production of 200 million face masks for export by Brandix, to U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Alaina B. Teplitz.

The handover took place at the Brandix Headquarters on 14th May 2020 in the presence of A. Sukumaran – JAAF Chairman, Ashroff Omar – Brandix Group Chief Executive Officer and Ms. Ranga Ranmadugala – Board Member of Brandix Apparel Limited. 

U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Alaina B. Teplitz expressed her appreciation to Mr. Rajapaksa and Brandix. As the world combats this global pandemic, the long friendship between the United States and Sri Lanka is helping both our countries overcome this challenge.  Our collaboration has resulted in quality products that can help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Impressively, the fabric used for the face masks was produced in Sri Lanka, while the chemicals used for the antimicrobial finish were made in the United States, demonstrating a synergy that benefits all. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the Sri Lankan Government and Brandix to sustain the global supply of PPE.”

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Rajapaksa said, We are proud that products manufactured in Sri Lanka such as these 200 million face masks are being exported to nations like the US, where it will play a vital role in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. This collaboration between the two countries has resulted in sustaining our national economy, in addition to paving way for global customers to reach out to Sri Lanka for quality products in the months ahead. We are glad that a leader in apparel like Brandix utilized its resources to lead the way in this journey, giving the global market a glimpse of the advanced infrastructure and agility that is already in place within Sri Lanka, in order to meet the current and future market demands.” 

The face masks produced by Brandix have been manufactured combining the efforts of over 15,000 of the company’s Associates and an extended network of several supply chain partners in the country. The face masks, produced as 3-ply and of cotton-based fabric with antimicrobial finish, is stretchable for better fit and meet stringent hygiene standards.

Speaking on the endeavour, Ms. Ranga Ranmadugala – Board Member of Brandix Apparel Limited commented, The apparel industry is a key export revenue generator in Sri Lanka, generating $5.6 billion of exports in the last fiscal year itself. However, the unavoidable decline in trade and production output resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, has left the industry facing its toughest predicament in recent times, impacting Sri Lanka’s positioning against other apparel export markets. In this daunting background, the production of a large volume of face masks for export to the US is truly heartening as it reaffirms the continued trust and partnership the two nations uphold.” She added, Despite the challenging conditions and the tough road ahead, the industry will continue to do its part to combat potential long-term impacts of the pandemic and bring in revenue to replenish the national economy. We are also happy that we can continue to sustain livelihoods through continued production as well. As a leader in apparel, we assure the Government of Sri Lanka that we will do our utmost to support the journey ahead.”

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Courtesy Adaderana

Nine more persons are reported to have contracted the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health.

With the new cases, the total number of cases in the country has come up to 925.

As per the tally of the Epidemiology Unit, 471 active cases are currently under medical care at selected hospitals across the island.

Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka rose to 445 today (14).

There have been nine fatalities due to the virus in the island.

Wesak Day is marked with great veneration in Sri Lanka. It is the day celebrating the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Buddha. It is one of the most colourful events in the world. It is also a day many Buddhists go to the temple to meditate. It was also why LTTE on orders of LTTE Mannar Commander Victor chose 14 May 1985 to kill pilgrims and Buddhist Theros inside Buddhists’ most sacred town of Anuradhapura arriving in buses dressed as Sri Lanka military and then going on a shooting spree that killed 146 civilians and wounding over 80 and killed a further 18 Sinhalese civilians in Wilpattu while escaping. This was just one of over 300 such attacks by LTTE over 3 decades which finally saw an end to LTTE in May 2009. The so-called international community that never bothered to end LTTE attacks against innocent unarmed civilians, is today questioning the Sri Lanka Armed Forces on whether it applied proper laws of war to eliminate LTTE and doing its best to frame charges against Sri Lanka for ending LTTE. It highlights the hypocrisy of the entities supposed to be protecting unarmed civilians that did nothing to question what rules of war LTTE was using to kill people.

LTTE terrorists in arms are no more but there are plenty of terrorists operating in suits and holding foreign passports and today there are more non-Tamils representing LTTE than when Prabakaran was alive. The secret lies in the very rich and powerful LTTE kitty which was $300m annual profits in 2004 and which must be far more now that expense for maintaining combatants and buying arms and ammunition is not required.

The power of money is what prevents justice against all those that were linked to LTTE terrorism covertly/overtly. Today, Tamils that had nothing to do with LTTE, Tamils who realize that LTTE was simply fooling them and Tamils who are fed up, with the lies of their Tamil politicians, want to just live in peace. They have far more important things to think about than an elusive Eelam. But, they are not allowed to live in peace because the political system is such that the miscreants continue to pressure their lives and the justice system is weak not to take action against those that were party to terrorism while the political system is such that the biggest sinners end up getting elected to Parliament and prevent any legislation that will take action against them. The international system is such that lobbying and money can influence them to turn the other way or go on a witch hunt against the victims.

This is the sorry state of affairs we have to live in.

Fast forward to 2019, exactly 10 years after LTTE defeat, members of the other minority has been roped into to quote hate speech from their religious texts and carry out the gruesome multiple mass murder on another religious event – Easter Sunday. Over 300 innocent lives perished including some 46 foreigners when rich and educated Muslims struck 7 venues almost simultaneously. We do not know why or what their objective was but from the recent arrests taking place, it is noted that some high profile people are involved. The arrests also note that these people are camouflaging their ulterior motives behind the positions they hold and this is far more dangerous than a terrorist carrying a gun.

Why do people want to take the life of another? How many do they need to kill to achieve their objective? Can they really reach their objective?

Who are steering people to kill and who are controlling the one’s steering people to kill?

What is important at this juncture is to identify the bigger enemy. Is it the men, women and children who were trained to take up arms and kill or the one’s that provided the training and indoctrination to kill?

We all know the answers, but nothing gets done because of the web of deceit that prevails. All of these murderous entities have powerful political ‘friends’ and monetary backing that are able to use people and propaganda to their advantage. That is how LTTE has prevailed and that is why Easter Sunday plotters and planners are still on the loose.

The power of money is such that they are able to get other influential people to canvas for their release, the power of propaganda is such that they can present any wicked mind as an innocent lamb. The apparatus is run and influenced by money and able to play with people’s minds and divert, distract or completely change people’s perceptions – they can make the most innocent person into a psychopath and a psychopath as an innocent being.

Is it a surprise that in 1945 when World War 2 ended there was no other conflicts plaguing the world? Today, apart from 11 countries, every country in the world is having some sort of conflict. Who is benefitting by these conflicts? Who are the actual victims?

One thing that is clear and should be understood is that – if people are going to back evil plotters just because he/she belongs to their community or is a member of their religion, the world will never see peace because people who back the wicked are themselves aiding and abetting murder indirectly.

People must not simply denounce LTTE. LTTE is just a name but that name is given life by people who promote it – therefore when denouncing LTTE people must openly denounce all those linked to LTTE (Tamils, non-Tamils)

People must not simply denounce the Easter Sunday bombers (they are now dead) people must now identify and denounce the one’s linked to them, the one’s that planned and plotted this crime.

People must not defend wrong doers just because they belong to one’s community or religion. Let this be a start to change!

Shenali D Waduge

By Rohana R. Wasala

The Island on Monday 11, 2020 reported: ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya leader Sajith Premadasa, yesterday, called for an end to the discriminatory and prejudicial manner in which the government conducted the last rites of Muslims who had died of Covid-19, and continued racist attacks on Muslims.

“Racist attacks perpetrated against our Muslim brethren is abhorrent and should be confronted by all of us. Such heinous acts are contrary to the noble teachings of the Lord Buddha”’

 According to another news report in the same newspaper, All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader Rishad Bathiudeen in a long petition to the president appeals to him ‘to permit Muslims dying of Covid-19 to be buried and not cremated…’.

We saner ordinary Sri Lankans feel that both the defeated presidential candidate and the  controversial Muslim politico who has been under a cloud for some time now accused of causing environmental damage to the Wilpattu forest reserve, and considered worthy of being questioned   in the course of fresh investigations being conducted into last year’s April 21 terror bombings, are making a mountain out of a molehill to gain some political advantage out of the Covid-19 emergency. Their desperate pretensions need not worry anyone and need not be answered.

It was regrettable that even the sedate Bimal Ratnayake of the JVP, former MP, lamented  alleged discrimination against Muslims, who, he said, should be allowed to have an honourable burial if they are not let live honourably (as reported in lankacnews a couple of days ago). I never believed the formerly decent Bimal Ratnayake could utter falsehoods, but now I do.

UNP parliamentary candidate Oshala Herath has filed a fundamental rights petition (May 11, lankacnews) before the Supreme Court challenging the practice of cremating bodies of Muslims who died of Covid-19 infection. Whether the judiciary will intervene to countermand a vital scientific recommendation of the health authorities of the government appointed task force to maintain and control the spread of the deadly Covid-19 contagion  is yet to be seen, as my common sense tells me. 

However, opinion in the Muslim world about cremating bodies of dead Muslim Covid-19 victims is divided. Most sensible Muslims accept cremation as a scientific imperative which should be accommodated with necessary adjustments if possible to make it compatible with their religious beliefs in the prevailing situation.  A report by Agaddir Ali carried in Gulfnews.com on April 3, 2020  under the headline: ‘Coronavirus: Sharjah Ruler issues directive on burials’ ran: 

 ‘His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Friday directed the Department of Islamic Affairs in Sharjah not to allow the burial of any coronavirus victims in Al Saja’a area of Sharjah’ 

(Doesn’t ‘not to allow the burial of’ in this context mean ‘allow the cremation of’?)

A month ago (April 12), Colombo Times carried this piece of news: ‘President of the All-Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama Sheikh Rizwie Mufthi said here in a TV interview that the ashes of the dead person who is cremated could be buried with due Islamic rites in a Muslim graveyard’.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has issued a statement (as reported in The Island of May 9, 2020 and in other print and online sources) expressing its ‘deep concern over reports on escalating hate speech and hostility towards Muslims in Sri Lanka and rejected the publication of allegations ….(against)… the members of the Muslim community…………… as responsible for the spread of the new coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19) in this country, the authorities’ cremation of bodies of the Muslim victims of the pandemic, and the arrest of members of the community who reject these practices’. The OIC ‘reaffirms its position rejecting all policies and practices targeting the rights of Muslims anywhere, and calls on the authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the safety and security and rights of the Muslim community, a commitment to respect their practices and religious rituals, safeguard their dignity and stand firmly against all parties behind the promotion of hatred, Islamophobia, and anti-Muslim sentiment in Sri Lanka’. 

While thus articulating its cautious expression of concern, the OIC stresses the importance of synergetic global cooperation among nations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. My description of the OIC’s ‘expression of concern’ as cautious is because it diplomatically expresses concern only over ‘reports’, rather than perceived or actual instances, of discrimination against the Muslim citizens of Sri Lanka. We Sri Lankans know that these allegations are fanciful fabrications.

The objective way The Island reported on the issuing of the OIC statement was not followed elsewhere. The tamilguardian and the Daily FT websites ran the headline: ‘OIC deeply concerned over the targeting of Muslims………’, and Colombo Times similarly cried out ‘OIC rejects targeting Muslims in Sri Lanka…’., where mere allegation was reified as reality, perhaps in the interest of journalistic sensationalism.    

The relevant Sri Lankan government authorities will respond to the OIC statement in an appropriate manner if they consider it important to do so. I as an ordinary Sri Lankan think that the document is based on misinformation provided by some source/s in Colombo that is sympathetic to one or more of a number of fundamentalist Islamic groups that are said to be active outside the mainstream Muslim community in Sri Lanka. Muslims form some 9.7% of the country’s multiethnic, multi-religious population.  Although it has been issued from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the OIC is headquartered, it refers to Sri Lanka as ‘this country’, which suggests that it originated in Colombo. So, the voice is likely to be that of the fundamentalist sympathisers in Sri Lanka. It does not reflect the opinion of the peace-loving mainstream Muslim community.  

Those reports about hate speech and general hostility towards Muslims in Sri Lanka that the OIC communique mentions are baseless.  Sri Lanka is a democracy. People have a right to criticise persons, groups, and institutions freely, but without infringing their rights in the process.

Criticising persons, institutions, or ideologies that deserve such criticism cannot be should not be identified as hate speech. That some young Muslim men vandalised  a number of Buddha statues in Mavanella, and that they had some relationship with a fundamentalist terrorist group that had a secret arms dump at a place called Wanathavilluwa are facts. That the April 21 terror attacks om some churches and hotels last year were carried out by young Muslim suicide bombers is also a fact. However, ordinary Muslims were not attacked in retaliation by Sri Lankans of other faiths including the victim Catholic community. 

Actually, it was not the rights of the Muslims that were being violated in this connection during the six months prior to the election of the current president followed by the change of government. Before November there was general dissatisfaction in the country with the lackadaisical way investigations were being conducted into these heinous crimes, barely a month ahead of the tenth anniversary of wiping out Tamil separatist terrorism. Some tangible progress has been made since, with breakthrough discoveries of secret hideouts, training centres, and arms caches of terrorist suspects, and some significant arrests by the CID, which seems to be working with fresh initiative. Media are being apprised of the progress of the investigations with utmost care and necessary restraint so as not to unnecessarily expose the normal innocent Muslim community (amongst whom the terrorists were taking refuge incognito) to the threat of indiscriminate suspicion and social exclusion. Some powerful Muslim politicos who were flourishing in previous administrations thanks to their conscienceless ability to switch allegiance to the winning party or alliance with each change of government are being suspected of having had undisclosed relationships with the terror suspects. 

As reported in the media, latest  revelations made in the course of investigations seem to confirm those suspicions. Naturally, other people tend to look askance at them when these individuals appear to be too worried about performance of funeral rites that tend to violate the health guidelines laid down for the safe disposal of bodies of victims of the deadly, highly contagious Covid-19 disease, which is still killing hundreds of thousands around the world.

By Rohana R. Wasala

The Island on Monday 11, 2020 reported: ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya leader Sajith Premadasa, yesterday, called for an end to the discriminatory and prejudicial manner in which the government conducted the last rites of Muslims who had died of Covid-19, and continued racist attacks on Muslims.

“Racist attacks perpetrated against our Muslim brethren is abhorrent and should be confronted by all of us. Such heinous acts are contrary to the noble teachings of the Lord Buddha”’

 According to another news report in the same newspaper, All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader Rishad Bathiudeen in a long petition to the president appeals to him ‘to permit Muslims dying of Covid-19 to be buried and not cremated…’.

We saner ordinary Sri Lankans feel that both the defeated presidential candidate and the  controversial Muslim politico who has been under a cloud for some time now accused of causing environmental damage to the Wilpattu forest reserve, and considered worthy of being questioned   in the course of fresh investigations being conducted into last year’s April 21 terror bombings, are making a mountain out of a molehill to gain some political advantage out of the Covid-19 emergency. Their desperate pretensions need not worry anyone and need not be answered.

It was regrettable that even the seemingly sedate Bimal Ratnayake of the JVP, former MP, lamented  alleged discrimination against Muslims, who, he said, should be allowed to have an honourable burial if they are not let live honourably (as reported in lankacnews a couple of days ago). I never believed the formerly decent Bimal Ratnayake could utter falsehoods, but now I do.

UNP parliamentary candidate Oshala Herath has filed a fundamental rights petition (May 11, lankacnews) before the Supreme Court challenging the practice of cremating bodies of Muslims who died of Covid-19 infection. Whether the judiciary will intervene to countermand a vital scientific recommendation of the health authorities of the government appointed task force to maintain and control the spread of the deadly Covid-19 contagion  is yet to be seen, as my common sense tells me. 

However, opinion in the Muslim world about cremating bodies of dead Muslim Covid-19 victims is divided. Most sensible Muslims accept cremation as a scientific imperative which should be accommodated with necessary adjustments if possible to make it compatible with their religious beliefs in the prevailing situation.  A report by Agaddir Ali carried in Gulfnews.com on April 3, 2020  under the headline: ‘Coronavirus: Sharjah Ruler issues directive on burials’ ran: 

 ‘His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Friday directed the Department of Islamic Affairs in Sharjah not to allow the burial of any coronavirus victims in Al Saja’a area of Sharjah’ 

(Doesn’t ‘not to allow the burial of’ in this context mean ‘allow the cremation of’?)

A month ago (April 12), Colombo Times carried this piece of news: ‘President of the All-Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama Sheikh Rizwie Mufthi said here in a TV interview that the ashes of the dead person who is cremated could be buried with due Islamic rites in a Muslim graveyard’.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has issued a statement (as reported in The Island of May 9, 2020 and in other print and online sources) expressing its ‘deep concern over reports on escalating hate speech and hostility towards Muslims in Sri Lanka and rejected the publication of allegations ….(against)… the members of the Muslim community…………… as responsible for the spread of the new coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19) in this country, the authorities’ cremation of bodies of the Muslim victims of the pandemic, and the arrest of members of the community who reject these practices’. The OIC ‘reaffirms its position rejecting all policies and practices targeting the rights of Muslims anywhere, and calls on the authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the safety and security and rights of the Muslim community, a commitment to respect their practices and religious rituals, safeguard their dignity and stand firmly against all parties behind the promotion of hatred, Islamophobia, and anti-Muslim sentiment in Sri Lanka’. In this statement, quarantining is interpreted as arrest!

While thus articulating its cautious expression of concern, the OIC stresses the importance of synergetic global cooperation among nations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. My description of the OIC’s ‘expression of concern’ as cautious is because it diplomatically expresses concern only over ‘reports’, rather than perceived or actual instances, of discrimination against the Muslim citizens of Sri Lanka. We Sri Lankans know that these allegations are fanciful fabrications.

The tamilguardian and the Daily FT websites ran the headline: ‘OIC deeply concerned over the targeting of Muslims………’, and Colombo Times similarly cried out ‘OIC rejects targeting Muslims in Sri Lanka…’., where mere allegation was reified as reality, perhaps in the interest of journalistic sensationalism.    

The relevant Sri Lankan government authorities will respond to the OIC statement in an appropriate manner if they consider it important to do so. I as an ordinary Sri Lankan think that the document is based on misinformation provided by some source/s in Colombo that is sympathetic to one or more of a number of fundamentalist Islamic groups that are said to be active outside the mainstream Muslim community in Sri Lanka, who form some 9.7% of the country’s multiethnic, multi-religious population.  Although it has been issued from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the OIC is headquartered, it refers to Sri Lanka as ‘this country’, which suggests that it originated in Colombo. So, the voice is likely to be that of the fundamentalist sympathisers in Sri Lanka. It does not reflect the opinion of the peace-loving mainstream Muslim community.  

Those reports about hate speech and general hostility towards Muslims in Sri Lanka that the OIC communique mentions are baseless.  Sri Lanka is a democracy. People have a right to criticise persons, groups, and institutions freely, but without infringing their rights in the process.

Criticising persons, institutions, or ideologies that deserve such criticism cannot be and should not be identified as hate speech. That some young Muslim men vandalised  a number of Buddha statues in Mavanella, and that they had some relationship with a fundamentalist terrorist group that had a secret arms dump at a place called Wanathavilluwa are facts. That the April 21 terror attacks on some churches and hotels last year were carried out by young Muslim suicide bombers is also a fact. However, ordinary Muslims were not attacked in retaliation by Sri Lankans of other faiths including the victim Catholic community. 

Actually, it was not the rights of the Muslims that were being violated in this connection during the six months prior to the election of the current president followed by a change of government. Before November 2019 there was general dissatisfaction in the country with the lackadaisical way investigations were being carried out into these heinous crimes, barely a month ahead of the tenth anniversary of wiping out Tamil separatist terrorism. Some tangible progress has been made since the re-opening of investigations with breakthrough discoveries of secret hideouts, training centres, and arms caches of terrorist suspects, and some significant arrests by the CID, which seems to be working with fresh initiative. Media are being apprised of the progress of the investigations with utmost care and necessary restraint so as not to unnecessarily expose the normal innocent Muslim community (amongst whom the terrorists were taking refuge incognito) to the threat of indiscriminate suspicion and social exclusion. Some powerful Muslim politicos who were flourishing in previous administrations thanks to their conscienceless ability to switch allegiance to the winning party or alliance with each change of government are being suspected of having had undisclosed relationships with the terror suspects.

 As reported in the media, latest  revelations made in the course of investigations seem to confirm those suspicions. Naturally, other people tend to look askance at them when these individuals appear to be too worried about  the performance of funeral rites that tend to violate the health guidelines laid down by the authorities for the safe disposal of bodies of victims of the deadly, highly contagious Covid-19 disease, which is still killing hundreds of thousands across the world. Should we worry about the selfish concerns of those politicians who are indulging in a desperate struggle for political survival, clutching at straws?

A GP Nurse in the UK

If you get Covid-19

You basically just want to prepare as though you know you’re going to get a nasty respiratory bug, like bronchitis or pneumonia. You just have the foresight to know it might come your way!

Things you should actually buy ahead of time (not sure what the obsession with toilet paper is?):

• Kleenex,

• Paracetamol,

• whatever your generic, mucus thinning *cough medicine* of choice is (check the label and make sure you’re not doubling up on Paracetamol) 

• *Honey and lemon* can work just as well!

• *Vicks* vaporub for your chest is also a great suggestion.

• *a humidifier* would be a good thing to buy and use in your room when you go to bed overnight. (You can also just turn the shower on hot and sit in the bathroom breathing in the steam).

• *If you have a history of asthma* and you have a prescription inhaler, make sure the one you have isn’t expired and refill it/get a new one if necessary.

• *Meals* This is also a good time to meal prep: make a big batch of your favorite soup to freeze and have on hand.

• *Hydrate (drink!) hydrate, hydrate!* Stock up on whatever  your favorite clear fluids are to drink – though tap water is fine you may appreciate some variety!

• *For symptom management* and a fever over 38°c, take Paracetamol rather than Ibuprofen.

• *Rest lots*. You should not be leaving your house!  Even if you are feeling better you may will still be infectious for fourteen days and older people and those with existing health conditions should be avoided!

• *Wear gloves and a mask* to avoid contaminating others in your house

• *Isolate* in your bedroom if not living alone, ask friends and family to leave supplies outside to avoid contact.

• *Sanitize* your bed linen and clothes frequently by washing and clean your bathroom with recommended sanitizers.

*You DO NOT NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL unless* you are having trouble breathing or your fever is very high (over 39°C) and unmanaged with meds. 

90% of healthy adult cases thus far have been managed at home with basic rest/hydration/over-the-counter meds.

*If you are worried or in distress or feel your symptoms are getting worse* 

*Preexisting risks* If you have a pre-existing lung condition (COPD, emphysema, lung cancer) or are on immunosuppressants, now is a great time to talk to your Doctor or specialist about what they would like you to do if you get sick. 

*Children-* One major relief to you parents is that kids do VERY well with coronavirus— they usually bounce back in a few days (but they will still be infectious), Just use pediatric dosing .

*Be calm and prepare rationally* and everything will be fine.

[4/1, 10:04 PM] Karen Allen: This is to inform us all that the pH for corona virus varies from 5.5 to 8.5.

All we need to do, to beat corona virus, we need to take more of an alkaline foods that are above the above pH level of the Virus. 

Some of which are:

 *Lemon – 9.9pH* 

 *Lime – 8.2pH* 

 *Avocado – 15.6pH* 

 *Garlic – 13.2pH* 

 *Mango – 8.7pH* 

 *Tangerine – 8.5pH* 

 *Pineapple – 12.7pH* 

 *Dandelion – 22.7pH* 

 *Orange – 9.2pH* 

How do you know you have coronavirus?

1. *Itching in the throat,* 

2. *Dry throat,* 

3. *Dry cough.* 

4.   High temperature 

5.   Shortness of breath

6. Loss of smell or taste

So where you notice these things quickly take warm  water with lemon  and drink.  

Aloysius Hettiarachchi.

I am not a medic, but in this Covid-19 pandemic, the most qualified medical experts or scientists appear to be clueless as we are as to how Covid-19 behaves. Hence, I like to put the above question for our medics to ponder, giving my own observations and those of a few others.

A few days ago I wrote an article that was published in this forum giving a link to a video showing how the 5G mobile transmissions affect bees by the distortion effects it has on earth’s magnetic field. That discussion explains how a compound called ‘cryptochrome’ present in all living beings including viruses are being shaped by the earth’s magnetic field and helps them to find a sense of direction on earth. So, it is natural to think that man-made EMFs of very high frequencies ( in GigaHertz) affect the covids as well as all animals including we humans. I give that video link once again below:

I give below another link to a write up by an expert who had worked in the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) of the US giving the very bad effects of high-frequency radio communication.

I have heard that living very near to transformers or staying or playing in fields over which high tension power lines cross also cause cancer and leukemia type of diseases due to high-frequency radiations coming from them. I had to point out all these to stop a 5G testing program in Colombo.

The point I am trying to make is that it is mostly in countries where 5G is being used where we observe the effects of Covid-19 is felt most. In the case of patient 32 in Korea about 10,000 worshipers were packed to a single hall and an enormous amount of radiation of 5G,4G, etc would have been concentrated in that building. Even in Singapore, the sudden upsurge of cases occurred in congested living spaces of construction workers who no doubt would have used mobiles all the time. Similarly in all those cruise ships and battleships where thousands of passengers and sailors got affected there would have been heavy mobile users. Even in the case of the Welisara Naval base, those young guys would have been using smartphones most of the time. Even the non-smart phones use high-frequency waves (~ 1.2 GHz) with sufficient power to give a headache if used for a long time.

Therefore my humble opinion is that our medics should study how Covid-19 has spread in SL and see whether there is a link to the two.

Aloysius Hettiarachchi.

Palitha Mapatuna

As authorised by the constitution, a proclamation was issued by the president, whereby dissolution was made of (the last) parliament. He also, per requirement, made stipulation of the dates of the following resulting general election and convening of the new parliament.

However, subsequent intervening of unforeseen circumstances in Sri Lanka (Covid 19) made meeting the aforesaid dates not possible.

These circumstances were beyond the control of the president and it is, therefore, apparent that he would be absolved of the necessity of adhering to these dates, as it is not possible to do so.

                                                           ***

The general election and convening of the new parliament are dependent on the dissolution and not vice-versa. The election and convening are secondary and functionally different to the dissolution.

Again, if one conceives dissolution, election and convening as three parts of a hierarchical structure and in that order of precedence, a change in the latter two will leave the first part intact.

The validity of the proclamation and consequent dissolution derives from constitutional authority in the president and, assuming the proper procedure had been followed, these will remain unimpaired due to necessary postponement of dates.

Devoid of ‘stories’ that may cloud basic principles, the essential position seems as above.

It appears that, in the circumstances, the commission of elections would need to hold elections when conducive to do so, relying on Sections 24(3) and 129 of the Parliament Elections Act (No. 1 of 1981).

Covid 19 and the related circumstances are extra-ordinary occurrence. It cannot be reasonably expected that provision had been made for them in the law. As such, and if required, the ‘doctrine of necessity’ may need to be utilised.

Palitha Mapatuna

CraXe

TEDxBerlinSalon

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Mallence Bart-Williams introduced her second home Sierra Leone and its talented people, who are part of her project FOLORUNSHO.

Find out more via http://www.tedxberlin.de Mallence Bart-Williams was born in Cologne, Germany. She is a Sierra Leonean writer and filmmaker and a German fashion designer. She pursued her studies in economics and finance in Paris, Singapore, and Great Britain. Today she lives across the globe, produces an all-natural cosmetics line in Hong Kong, and is the founder and creative director of the Freetown-based creative collective FOLORUNSHO, a ‘SHARITY’ that she initiated with street kids in Sierra Leone.

Due to her German-Sierra Leonean roots she perceives herself as a bridge connecting two vastly different worlds. Her diverse background enables her to see creative solutions to common problems. Within their three years of operation, her collective has taken homeless children off the streets and into school, developed a sneaker and clothing collection, published a book and documentary of their story, and has held fine art exhibitions.

Through her work with FOLORUNSHO she connects cultural contrast, enabling people to share ideas, take action, and get results. About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Economy

May 13 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan stocks rose on Wednesday, boosted by gains in financials and consumer stocks, while the central bank announced stimulus measures to bolster the tourism-dependant economy during the COVID-19 pandemic after markets closed.

** The benchmark stock index closed up 2.81% at 4367.25, snapping a two-day losing streak.

** Sri Lanka’s central bank said it would provide additional funding under refinance facility or other credit operations for the banking sector, adding it would now permit licensed banks to consider some assets as liquid in computation of the statutory liquid assets ratio.

** The island nation, which is heavily dependent on tourism, has reported 889 confirmed coronavirus cases and nine deaths as of Tuesday.

** Ceylon Cold Stores Plc, which makes soft drinks and ice creams, rose 17% and was the biggest boost on the index, while Ceylinco insurance, down 21%, was the biggest drag.

By Feizal Samath Courtesy TTG Asia

Sri Lanka – similar to Maldives – is considering reopening its air and sea borders in July to foreign tourists.

However, Sri Lanka Tourism’s chairperson Kimarli Fernando said arrivals would be mostly overseas Sri Lankans returning to visit relatives and friends. In anticipation of this, the government is planning to aggressively promote domestic tourism in nine provinces to help fill hotels and resorts.

She was speaking at a webinar on Monday hosted by the Cinnamon group of hotels, titled Charting a course for Sri Lanka’s tourism future, in conjunction with several other tourism stakeholders.

To reassure travellers, Fernando shared that hotels will have to go through a new certification process to ensure their properties are compliant with globally accepted health and safety standards. Also in the works is the Visit Sri Lanka Year campaign in 2022.

Another positive sign Fernando shared was that several airlines have expressed an interest in resuming flights to Colombo, and were actively seeking partnerships with tourism authorities.

Anita Mendiratta, UNWTO’s special advisor to the secretary-general, shared that according to latest projections, there will be a 60 per cent drop in global tourism travel, yet Asia will be the first region to recover. Business travel and people travelling to meet their loved ones overseas would be the first to take off.

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotels Group, believes that tourism will take 12 to 18 months for a full recovery.

We are looking at cash flows and how to sustain during this period,” he said, adding that in light of the situation, buffet-type meals will also not be offered for a long time to maintain social distancing.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators has issued a set of guidelines for DMCs to follow once tourism gets underway. For instance, group photographs will be discouraged, while local guides on the tour bus will have to speak from behind a screen.

By Dr.C.G.Ilangakoon Courtesy Ceylon Today

COVID-19 has triggered a precise message to humanity and the whole world with no exception whatsoever – “I, your Mother-Earth, tell you very seriously, these words are my final warning. I don’t need you. I can live without you. Even right now, I am living in the presence of your absence. Then, it is you who want me and who cannot live without me. Thus, should you want to live with me, in and on me, observe my laws of love, mutual understanding, cooperation and collaboration. Be constructive instead of being destructive. 

Respect not, man-made social labels like Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim or respect not, the religious labels like Buddhist, Hindu and Islam, but the truth I created about humanity. 

Besides, honouring the dignity of mother earth, I do not care about super powers, whatsoever the self-declared supremacy by some. Just look at the miserable agony, some so-called super powers have been de-superised in to. This is my FINAL WARNING”!

This is the first insight, the prosperity vision any country must be guided by, should its central objective be to reach the loftier altitudes of authentic development. Why authentic development? The “development”, in its generalised context, can cause not only deterioration, but also total destruction. 

This is what the BR Vision is all about, the GR Viyath Maga perception is all about and the SLPP Manifesto is all about. Their final destination is to achieve authentic development, the discerning victories of which, would cascade down, to benefit the absolute majority of the people of Sri Lanka and to patriotically profit the future of our motherland.

Failed governance

With fake promises of “Good Governance”, the UNP with a limited number of SLFP politicians captured power, only to fail Sri Lanka of its military, political and economic victories gifted by the Rajapaksa administration. 

The President of the Good Governance himself appointed a presidential commission to probe the Central Bank scam, which mortgaged the Nation and the future generation to be born, for a terrific period of more than 30 years. Destroying the economy of the country totally, the 7% developmental index of the island was reduced to 3%. 

The victory over the LTTE terrorists and the peace, the people enjoyed thereafter, were blown up in to pieces by the Islam State of Syria and Iraq religious racists. In short the UNP good governance   failed miserably. Hence, the vast majority of the country rejected it along with its living masters. Now there is a call for the former Parliament to be reconvened along with its failed and also people-rejected politicians. 

A winning journey cannot be attained with the failures of the UNP team. That will be against the wishes of the people. Thank God that we have a courageous newly elected President, who can take sweeping decisions, which would benefit the public and profit the people. The people are fed up of a corrupt West-worshipping cult of politicians betraying the motherland.

Wisdom vs. Ignorance

What the world needs is not intelligence, but wisdom. Why? Intelligence can understand and know only what “appears to be”.  Wisdom can comprehend not only what appears to be, but also that, which “is” the truth. Now, the confusion is, “the man is taking that which is, to be that which is not and he is taking that which is not, to be that which is”. 

This mishmash is conditioned by intelligence and in such context, intelligence could be deemed to be a component of ignorance, which is not-knowing or the inability to know. eg: Does the American President consider himself to be Donald Trump? The present writer, of course does not. However, if the US President is in the affirmative, he is an intelligent man and not one of wisdom. Why? When he was born in to this world, he was not “Donald Trump”, but a nameless innocent human – baby. Then, how did he become “Donald trump”? His parents gave him that social label. Why? For him to be identified as a separate individual. 

Thus he became a label-being. In such a frame of reference, we all are artificial label-beings, who are devoid of the beautiful truth of human-being. Why has the current writer taken up this “Intelligence Vs Wisdom” dialogue in a text, the actual orientation of which is economic prosperity? If anyone wants a promising wish to be fulfilled, powerfully willed in to the opulence of milk and honey, before all, he/she must be a conscious natural human-being, well set in the void of aforesaid artificial social labels like “Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim” and man-made religious labels like ” Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic”.

The presence of these artificial labels, which comprise lies in place of truth, will never allow the explosion of any true development and this is exactly what has dishonoured the whole world. 

With so much social and religious labels, with such a high degree of the progress of science and advancement of technology we are all on the verge of a catastrophe. Why? The commonality of the human-being is destroyed and the fake identification in to separated false social and religious entities is established and this utter foolish and devastating process is being granted a stupid extent of reputation and recognition. This unfortunate condition promotes communal terrorism and religious racism. The Tamil LTTE Elam dream and the Caliphate of Islam State of Iraq and Syria( ISIS) are best terrorist and racist examples of this.

SLPP Manifesto

This crucially central factor, in my personal opinion, has well been innovatively grasped by the BR Vision and it is qualitatively seeded in the SLPP Manifesto – the proposed and people-approved Constitution of the Economy of Sri Lanka. Thus in Section 9, The Heading Para, under the rubric of “Virtuous, Disciplined and Law-abiding Society”, at Page (70) of the Sinhala version of it writes: “For any country, what is required to have for its authentic development is, the attainment of economic prosperity, refined with the nourishment of spiritual advancement. A person, to whatsoever the extent, may be rich and wealthy, if he is full of fear, doubt and suspicion, jealousy, hatred and vengeance, he is not a rich man. 

To be rich, his mind must be full of happiness, wealthy in well-intensions and must have the ability to be kind and compassionate. Then only a birth could be given to a society, wherein, the mutual respect shall be rich and the cooperation with each other shall be the order of the day. Hence, we are powerfully devoted to create, not only a rich person, but also an individual, rich in discipline and righteous in thought, word and deed”. This is the human-being, with whom the attainment to the right prosperity is possible.

New Propensities

The SLPP Manifesto is a beautiful prosperity-pregnant policy document. Nonetheless, it is not in a static state and destined to the stagnation of hibernation and dogmatism. It comprises dynamism with the capacity to be empirically operative in the law of the survival of the fittest. In such context, no doubt could be had on its adaptability. 

COVID-19 has projected a useful space for it to be augmented with couple of new trends and domains of operation: (1) A foundation has been powered by COVID-19 to be innovative in creating a private-public partnership. The germ has depicted the truth that people should not burden each and everything on the State and relax in lethargy, anticipating that the culmination of their all dreams shall be reached by the government itself, without their active involvement. 

Then, conversely, it has pragmatically convinced the Government that in the absence of peoples’ participation, no sensible project could be successful. In fact this is what has happened to Sri Lanka. The public delight in lethargy, blaming the Government for each and everything. 

Now, if both parties can rise above intelligence and be galvanised in to action via the above said wisdom, seeing things for what they truly are, the COVID-19  curse can be transformed in to a beautiful blessing (2) A pragmatic space has been created to seek new opportunities. 

The investors should seize these possibilities to engender the trends of long-term technological innovation and also capital market reforms (3) The dire need to revitalise the entrepreneurial spirit in the domain of commerce and trade of Sri Lanka. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka has led to significant impacts on businesses and industries. 

Hence, a webinar can be hosted with the participation of all pertinent stakeholders, in order to structure an insight, with a view to reacting for the mitigation of the negative impacts and adaptation to the changes, preparing for the bounce back in new opportunities (4) Consideration of the reflections of public opinion. 

The social media, Web chats, official webinars etc. can be made use of to assimilate the public opinion and simultaneously be transparent to intensify the public trust in the agenda of the present Government to be revolutionised (5) Balancing imperatives between disease control, economic recovery and population movement to reach the annual GDP growth at least to  5%  for the year 2020 (6) The refinement of monetary policy by the relaxation of the reserve requirement ratio and the loan prime rate. 

However, a new cycle of global interest rate cuts to be initiated by the US Federal Reserve, to address the stock market fall must be in careful view (7) The regulation of Fiscal policy via tax reductions, payment concessions, introduction of social security packages and target funding (8) Formulation of policies for returning to work and the implementation of the production process through Local Government Bodies, however, under the total supervision and control of the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in order to prevent the empirical and secret involvement of communal terrorists and religious racists.

Entrepreneurial paradigm shift

The adversity is a state of mind. Now it is vital for the entrepreneurial spirit to feature the faith and capability to turn the existing crisis into opportunities. The business models are already shifting. Remote work and online business, which faced obstacles previously, are now a necessity. 

Business must embrace the following strategies in order to seek and seize opportunities: (1)Digitalisation is the future. The outbreak is an opportunity to reshape and implement digital strategies. It in turn will create new opportunities. Capability building and new value creation are key for such transformations (2) Risk management needs to be re-evaluated. 

More attention will have be directed to insurance, multiple sources of income and customers, and integration of online and offline business. To many Sri Lankan businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), separation of family and business, diversified asset allocation and insurance are fundamental to risk management (3) SMEs need to take initiatives actively. Beside cost control, unique competitive edges have to be developed to the fullest. SMEs need to reflect on how to relate to and seize the next wave of growth.

A safe and healthy living environment is now considered equally, if not more important than economic growth. Earlier detection and prevention will be crucial for a future public health and management system. The system in Sri Lanka has to prove its capability subsequent to the outbreak that the private sector has made a significant contribution. This again demonstrates the necessity and potential of public-private partnership. 

The outbreak has accelerated the need for the application of new technologies. Social communication has to be greatly diversified, making room for efficient and online measures of interaction. This trying time is also shaping the entrepreneurship of the private sector. Many businesses were driven not only by profits but also a desire to provide a social good.

Government support for innovation

The UNP-introduced market-liberalisation destroyed, not only the independence of the economy of Sri Lanka and the food security based self-sufficiency, maintained historically, nourished with the concept of  Tank, Dagoba and  Temple, but also the beautiful mutual understanding, mutual respecting and mutual cooperating ethicality in the character of the individual. Besides, it never allowed any domestication of innovation. 

The domesticity of the novelty was never a boon for the marketers of commercial liberalism. If a talented youth was successful in a scientific discovery, no priority was given to it. On the contrary, it became a barrier for their governance. Why? The invention impeded the import of the invented commodity and such impediment became a huge barrier to play the game of commission for those who had the competence to import.

COVID-19 now vividly demonstrated the promotion of the innovation-localisation is an indispensable imperative. Besides, many talented youth, men and women mushroomed from many domains with their invented products, which the present President and the Prime Minister subjected to their valued scrutinisation. 

But, the powerful lesson, taught by the COVID-19 pandemic is not fully satisfied only with such appreciation. Such mastery of our own citizens should be caused to be transcended to higher result-oriented altitudes to profit the motherland and its people – indeed, one of the best paths to perpetuate the consistence of the political power of the Rajapaksa regime.

 Therefore, the perseverant supportive efforts of the Government on following realm would be truly appreciable : 

(1) Emerging New business models, especially in sectors such as health, logistics, automation, online office, entertainment, retail, and education (2) New generation smart cities, which can be the  key to the future public agenda. Besides certain urban functions, a new generation smart city will systematically enhance public management by integrating supply chains, traffic, emergency and disaster warning (3) Big data Banks could be more widely used for public wellbeing, especially for tracking, analysing, and supporting timely public decision-making (4) Transcendence of Offline-driven businesses to begin into online, especially in education, entertainment, and retail (5) The extension of value chain of healthcare to cover early detection and prevention along with the  promotion of a comprehensive healthy ecosystem for public health agendas (6) Transformation of Social media from being the channel between not only individuals and business, but also public and the Government.

About the writer:
Dr. Gamini Ilangakoon is a Lawyer, specializing in International Treaty Laws.

By Rohana Aryaratna Courtesy Ceylon Today

It is a proven fact that LTTE terrorists led by a mentally deranged criminal changed their terror tactics by disguising themselves as saviours of the Tamils from the Sinhalese scourge. By transforming the conflict into an ethnic issue, they could easily brainwash innocent Tamil civilians into becoming a combatant force sans military fatigues.

Makkal Padai Brigade

They named it the ‘Makkal Padai Brigade’ (Tamil civilian armed force) and trained its members to kill. The Brigade comprised of all ages ranging from 7 to 35, including even angry grandfathers. Hence on the advice of their theoretician who spent a luxurious life in London, or the Tamil diaspora, or maybe the bankrupt Tamil politicians, the LTTE changed their terror tactics into an ethnic war.

At present, the LTTE relics and their Western allies, who were down-hearted by the defeat they had to suffer at the hands of the heroic and patriotic Armed Forces, are trying to make amends, by bringing in so-called human rights organisations to instigate a worldwide prejudice against Sri Lanka, its rulers and the armed forces. 

The recent pardoning of Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has come in handy to these defeated and bankrupt elements. They have aligned their war crimes charges and so-called human rights violations alongside this pardoning issue. Western Nations, their lackey NGOs and the pseudo human rights groups who were dependent on the LTTE diaspora for various political reasons, have taken up this pardoning issue as a kind of world shattering news as well as an unpardonable offence.

Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake was one of the 14 suspects said to be involved in the murder of eight Tamil civilians, including two underage boys. As we earlier mentioned, LTTE terrorists had trained civilians including children and were using them as combatants against SriLankan soldiers. 

There had been several attacks launched by Tamil citizens and also due to the findings of the intelligence services about the existence of the Makkal Padai Brigade, Tamils wearing civilian attire were strictly barred from entering areas where the Army was located. 

Although the Army personnel were ever ready to lay down their lives in order to protect their motherland they too should be considered as human beings, not willing to get killed in a situation where it is not a face to face combat position. And as it is, they have been ordered to be more careful when meeting enemies wearing civilian attire.

It was revealed during the trial against Ratnayake that the nine displaced Tamil civilians had returned to Mirusuvil to collect their belongings and in the process had been arrested by the soldiers from a nearby camp. According to Maheswaran, the only survivor of the so-called massacre, these civilians had been stopped by two soldiers and later more soldiers had joined in the interrogation process.

You may call this speculation but we have to ask this question regarding the dependence on one witness who may have been angry and confused about the harassment as well as may be the failure of their alleged mission to attack the soldiers. And the other question is why was the circumstantial evidence and the versions of Ratnayake and others not considered as reliable evidence at the trial.

Was Maheswaran a reliable witness?

Why was Maheswaran unable to recognise or identify these nine soldiers? It can be argued that he was unable to do so due to the stressful and complicated mental condition he may have been experiencing at that moment. If a witness is governed by revenge or is in a stressful mental condition can his evidence be considered as reliable?

Be that as it may, of the 14 soldiers who were charged, nine were acquitted, four discharged and only one remained – Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake, and he was considered as the sole accused for the murder of eight Tamil civilians only on the evidence of Maheswaran who was unable to identify the other accused. Why was Maheswaran unable to identify the others who is said to have got involved in the crime? 

Wouldn’t it be due to his disturbed mind he was not able to identify them? If so can Maheswaran be treated as a credible witness?

In any case after a lengthy 13-year long trial out of the 14 soldiers charged for the controversial incident dubbed ‘Mirusuvil massacre’ where nine dubious Tamil civilians were killed, the soul accused Sunil Ratnayake was found guilty and was sentenced to death.  In other words Ratnayake who was found guilty of 15 charges, was ‘proved’ to have single-handedly killed all these 8 civilians.

Yahapalana regime pardons LTTE terrorists

Many members of the Armed Forces and the public felt that his conviction was unjustified, especially as a whole slew of convicted LTTE terrorists were pardoned by the Yahapalana regime.

With the pardoning of Sunil Ratnayake by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa the whole bandwagon of pseudo crusading gangs calling themselves human rights activists and instigated by frustrated Western nations and LTTE relics have condemned the President’s action as an unpardonable offence.

If these human rights activists are genuinely interested in redressing the wrong decision, why were they silent when the LTTE butchers who had murdered pregnant Sinhalese and Muslim women and children, were released by the previous Government? And if they are so concerned about justice, why did they not object when Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena were releasing hardcore LTTE ‘butchers’ who had butchered sleeping women and children, people in prayer, Buddhist monks in temples etc.

This concern for human rights seem to be a bluff that is used as a kind of an excuse to cover up the frustrations they had to experience after the Great Defeat. Under the SriLankan Constitution, the President has the arbitrary power to release anyone found guilty of criminal charges. And the President has acted accordingly.

President Trump grants clemency

Similarly in the United States where every act is seemingly performed according to Democratic principles, President Donald Trump had recently granted clemency to a former Navy Seal who had been found guilty of war crimes.

Chief petty officer Eddie Gallagher had been convicted of posing with the dead body of a teenage Islamic State terrorist, he had killed in Iraq in 2017. He had also boasted in an e-mail to a friend, after sending the above mentioned photograph that shows him holding the deceased captive by the head, saying ‘Good story behind this, got him with my hunting knife.’

After the President Trump’s action there was uproar from military leaders and the Navy Secretary Richard Spencer who had written a scathing opinion piece for the Washington Post attacking Trump, was ousted by the White House.

This is how things happen in a country like US where every action is said to be aligned with Democracy and also are very much concerned and worried about human rights state in other countries.

‘What’s sauce for the goose’ should be ‘sauce for the gander’ too. In conclusion I would like to add some excerpts from a speech by Justice A.H.M.D.Nawaz, President of the Court of Appeal: “So I articulate the proposition that law and justice cannot be distant neighbours. If they become distant neighbours in the hands of judges,the quality of justice is undermined and it reminds me of Jesus Christ who said  “the Sabbath was made for man and no man for Sabbath”. Justice must not be rigid and the rigour of the law untampered by milk of human kindness is not justice but akin to denial of it.”

Justice Nawaz continuing further said: “Instead of coalescence between law and justice, there has grown a dangerous distance between the two, and the law and lawyers have begun to lose much of their legitimacy among people whom they are unable to protect against injustice. 

All this is painfully true, but it is not the whole truth. I have watched with wonderment that there are other influences and traditions at the bar which never died and which must be crucial for the commitment we have made under the Constitution to bring real justice, dignity and freedom to all citizens of this extremely exciting country, of so much promise and richness: so much romance and cruelty.”

(aryaratnar@gmail.com)

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) are providing US$400,000 (LKR 74 million) to the Ministry of Education (MoEd) towards the National School Meal Programme. 80,000 primary school children will receive one month’s worth of food rations to help them and their families cope with the school closures due to COVID-19.

The contribution is reflective of the long-standing partnership between WFP and the Government of Sri Lanka and WFP’s continued support for the country’s flagship National School Meal Programme since 2003. It will enable the Ministry of Education to commence the first phase of the take-home ration programme, while further resources are mobilized by MoED to expand the programme.

The generous funding contribution from the Government of Australia is very timely,” says Brenda Barton, WFP Country Director in Sri Lanka. Already, 40 percent of all primary school-aged children are too thin. For many children, the meal they get in school is often the only meal they will get in a day. Take-home food rations will be key to help safeguard children’s health and nutrition during this difficult time when the country is battling COVID.”

The packages comprise eggs, lentils and other dry commodities specified by the MoEd, to ensure diet diversity for children and their families. Distribution will start later this month to children at schools identified by the MoEd in the Central, Uva, Northern and Eastern Provinces. After this initial phase, the take-home rations will subsequently be extended by the MoEd to all schools covered by the National School Meal Programme. 

The Government’s decision to close schools within 48 hours of Sri Lanka’s first Covid-19 case, was integral in preventing the spread of the virus” says the Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma. We recognise the importance of sustaining the National School Meal Programme amidst these school closures. We are thankful to WFP and the Government of Australia for providing us with funds to supply take-home rations to children covered by the School Meal Programme.”

Globally, WFP has supported school meals since 1963 as an essential safety net which helps bolster children’s access to education, health and nutrition. In Sri Lanka, over 1.1 million primary school children have been receiving mid-day meals through the Government-funded National School Meals Programme. The take-home ration method has also been widely used by WFP, even before COVID-19, when restrictions arise such as limited access to schools.

The devastating economic impact of COVID-19 has highlighted the need to ensure food security for Sri Lankans. WFP will continue to work with the Government of Sri Lanka to complement the National School Meal Programme by supporting locally-grown food production and value chains through smallholder farmers. Furthermore, WFP is supporting MoEd on measures such as in-school handwashing stations, in preparation for the re-opening of schools.

Courtesy Ada Derana

Two more persons have tested positive the novel coronavirus raising the tally of total cases in the country, stated Ministry of Health.

The two new Covid-19 positive patients are navy personnel, according to the Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

Accordingly, the total number of cases reported from Sri Lanka stands at 891.

Currently, 500 active cases are under medical care at selected hospitals across the island, as per the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry.

Meanwhile, with seven new recoveries reported today (13), the count of recoveries recorded in the country is at 382.

Nine of the coronavirus patients reported from the country have succumbed to the disease so far.

Courtesy Hiru News

Former Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne who was ordered to be remanded until the 27th of this month was brought to the Negombo Pallansena Youth Correctional Center.

Commissioner General of Prisons Bandula Jayasinghe stated that all suspects who were remanded were taken to the Center for quarantine purposes due to the prevailing covid 19 pandemic.

They will be sent to the remand prison after conducting a medical examination.

Rajitha who was remanded until 27 May, taken for quarantine (Video)

Former MP, Rajitha who was remanded has been taken to the youthful offender’s correctional center at Pallansena in Negombo.

Former parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne who was ordered to be remanded until the 27th was taken to away from the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court a short while ago.

It was to the youthful offenders correctional center at Pallansena in Negombo.

Commissioner General of Prisons Bandula Jayasinghe stated that all suspects who were remanded were taken to the Center for quarantine purposes due to the covid 19 epidemic.

They will be sent to the remand prison after a medical examination.

Courtesy Hiru News

Minister S M Chandrasena advised the officials that an inquiry should be initiated against those who have illegally distributed lands of the ‘Muhudu Maha Viharaya’ which belong to the Department of Archeology.

This was at a meeting with state officials today following the revelation by Hiru CIA regarding the illegal land grabbing of the ‘Muhudu Maha Viharaya’ land.

Hiru CIA has been investigating the illegal acquisition of the ‘Muhudu Maha Viharaya’ land, in Pottuvil in the Eastern Province. CIA continued to raise awareness on these matters to authorities.

Minister SM Chandrasena had summoned a team of government officials such as the Department of Archeology and the Coast Conservation Department to the Ministry of Environment for a special discussion in this regard.

Courtesy Hiru News

Organization and the ‘Nawa Sinhala’ Organization allege that President’s Counsel Ali Shabri had made a racist statement expressing his views to Al Jazeera International News Service.

They made these comments at two press conference held today.

We contacted President’s Counsel Ali Sabri regarding these allegations.