by Whitney Webb  Courtesy  mintpressnews.com

New evidence suggests that the government of Saudi Arabia not only had foreknowledge of the brutal bombings (and did nothing to stop them) but may have played a more active and direct role in the bloodshed

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA — A leaked Saudi diplomatic memo obtained by Lebanese outlet Alahed News claims that the government of Saudi Arabia had foreknowledge of the Easter bombings that occurred last month in three cities on the island nationof Sri Lanka, killing nearly 300 and wounding over 500 more. The contents of the memo, which additionally suggests Saudi complicity in the attacks, are supported by the connections recently uncoveredby Sri Lankan authorities, that the alleged ringleader of the bombings, Zahran Hashim, had to Saudi Arabia.

The document carries the Islamic calendar (Hijri) date of 11/8/1440, which equates to April 17, 2019 in the Gregorian calendar — just a few days before the bombings — and is addressed to the Saudi ambassador to Sri Lanka, Abdul Nasser bin Hussein al-Harethi, and authored by Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim bin Abdul Aziz al-Assaf. It carries the labels urgent” and top secret.”

The brief memo states the following (translated from Arabic):

His Excellency Ambassador Abdul Nasser bin Hussein al-Harethi

You should carry out the following measures immediately:

First: You should delete all documents, computer data and latest correspondence with domestic and foreign members and groups, in addition to imposing a curfew for the embassy personnel unless [travel] is necessary;

Second: You should inform all those related to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — including counselors, security forces and intelligence during the three coming days, especially on the Christian Easter Day — to avoid presence in public and crowded places, namely churches;

Third: You should send written news about the Sri Lankan authorities and their viewpoints regularly to this ministry

Ibrahim bin Abdul Aziz al-Assaf

Foreign Minister

The memo, seen here, carries the seal of Saudi Arabia, conforms with the format of other leaked Saudi diplomatic memos, and carries two watermarks. MintPress was unable to obtain a copy for independent confirmation of its authenticity.

The memo dovetails with other new evidence

The contents of the memo from the Saudi foreign minister to the Saudi ambassador to Sri Lanka, particularly its indication of prior knowledge of danger in crowded places and churches on Easter Sunday, have taken on a new significance following the arrest last Friday of Mohamed Aliyar, a 60-year-old, Saudi-educated Wahhabi scholar who operated the Center for Islamic Guidance in Zahran Hashim’s hometown of Kattankudy. According to a plaque outside of the Wahhabi religious center operated by Aliyar, the center is funded by unnamed Saudi and Kuwaiti donors.

A statement released by Sri Lankan police stated that Information has been revealed that the suspect arrested [Mohamed Aliyar] had a close relationship with … Zahran and had been operating financial transactions” on his behalf and was also involved” in the training of the suicide bombers responsible for the massacres on Easter Sunday.

A group of board members of the center, who spoke to the South China Morning Post prior to Aliyar’s arrest, stated that the center was funded by local donations, student fees, and private donors who were classmates of Aliyar’s in Riyadh;” denounced Zahran Hashim as a troublemaker;” and could not recall having seen him at the center recently. However, the police statement that followed Aliyar’s arrest suggested that his relationship with Zahran Hashim was not a part of his public persona.

Of key interest in the police statement is the mention of Aliyar’s operating of financial transactions” on Zahran Hashim’s behalf in the lead-up to the attacks. Several reports, such as this one from the BBC, noted that the attacks required detailed planning, safe houses, an extensive network of planners and handlers, expertise on bomb-making, and significant funding.” Aliyar’s connections to wealthy Saudi donors and to Zahran suggest that he may have been a liaison for much of that funding.

In addition, the leaked memo’s instruction for the Saudi ambassador to delete all documents, computer data and latest correspondence with domestic and foreign members and groups,” suggests that the Saudi Embassy in Sri Lanka may have been aware or party to these or other transactions related to the Zahran-led attacks.

While it is possible that funding had come from elsewhere, the fact that Zahran’s sister, Mohammad Hashim Madaniya, had been sent 2 million Sri Lankan rupees (around $12,000) from Zahran just days before the blast suggests that the amount of money involved in funding this operation was significant indeed and likely of foreign origin.

Extent of Saudi role

The fact that the Islamic State quickly claimed responsibility for the bombings — and that Zahran pledged loyalty to the group just hours before the attack — further suggests a Saudi role, since the Saudi government was revealed to be funding and logistically aiding the terror group in 2014. Leaked emails from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton revealed that the U.S. government has long known that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are among the main financiers of the international terror group.

The leaked memo contained in the email to Clinton states:

We need to use our diplomatic and more traditional intelligence assets to bring pressure on the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are providing clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIS and other radical groups in the region.”

While mainstream reports have long asserted that it was private Saudi donors funding the terror group, this email revealed that U.S. intelligence had determined that the Saudi government was funding the group and also providing them it logistical assistance.

The Islamic State’s widely acknowledged role in the attacks and its known relationship to the Saudis — in combination with the recent arrest and role of Mohamed Aliyar in the attacks and the contents of the memo from the Saudi Foreign Minister — strongly suggest that the government of Saudi Arabia not only had foreknowledge of the brutal bombings (and did nothing to stop them) but may have also played a more active role in the bloodshed.

Feature photo | A screenshot from an ISIS video shows Zahran Hashim, alleged ringleader of the Sri Lanka Easter Bombings.

Whitney Webb is a MintPress News journalist based in Chile. She has contributed to several independent media outlets including Global Research, EcoWatch, the Ron Paul Institute and 21st Century Wire, among others. She has made several radio and television appearances and is the 2019 winner of the Serena Shim Award for Uncompromised Integrity in Journalism.

දකුණු පළාත් ආණ්ඩුකාර, කීර්ති තෙන්නකෝන්

රටේ මුස්ලිම් ප්‍රජාව නොමැතිව විනිවිදභාවයෙන් යුත් පාලන තන්ත්‍රයක් පවත්වා ගෙන යාම අසීරු කරුණක් බවත්, මේ තත්ත්වය තුළ රටේ ජනතාවට සිය මතය ප්‍රකාශ කරන්නට මැතිවරණයක් පැවැත්වීමේ පරිසරය රට තුළ නිර්මාණය වී ඇති බවත් දකුණු පළාත් ආණ්ඩුකාර කීර්ති තෙන්නකෝන් මහතා ප්‍රකාශ කර සිටී. ආණ්ඩුකාර කීර්ති තෙන්නකෝන් මහතා එසේ අදහස් දැක්වූයේ ගාල්ලේ මාධ්‍යවේදීන් පිරිසක් රටේ වත්මන් තත්වය සම්බන්ධයෙන් ඔහුගෙන් විමසීමක් කළ අවස්ථාවකදී ය.

 වැඩිදුරටත් අදහස් දැක්වූ ආණ්ඩුකාරවරයා මෙසේ අදහස් දැක්වීය.

 ‘මුස්ලිම් ආණ්ඩුකාරවරුන්,  මුස්ලිම් අමාත්‍යවරුන් , මුස්ලිම් නියෝජ්‍ය අමාත්‍යවරුන්, මුස්ලිම් රාජ්‍ය අමාත්‍යවරුන් ආණ්ඩුවෙන් ඉවත්  වන තත්ත්වයක් තුළ ඉතාම පැහැදිලියි, මුස්ලිම් ප්‍රජාව අතහැර මේ රට පාලනය කිරීම අසීරුයි. විනිවිදභාවයෙන් හා සමානාත්මතාවයෙන්  පාලන තන්ත්‍රයක් පවත්වා ගෙන යන්නට නොහැකියි. මේ අර්බුදය අද වන විට දෝර ගලන්නට පටන් ගෙන තිබෙනවා. ඒ දෝර ගලන්නට හේතුව ආණ්ඩුව කෙරේ ජනතා විරෝධයක් මතුවීම බව අකැමැත්තෙන් වුවත් අපට පිළිගැනීමට සිදු වෙනවා. නිසි කලට මැතිවරණ පැවැත්වූවා නම් ජනතාවට ඔවුන්ගේ ඡන්දය හරහා නියෝජිතයන්  පත් කර ගැනීමට හැකියාව ලැබෙනවා.

 දීර්ඝ කාලීනව මැතිවරණ නොපැවැත්වීම හේතු කොටගෙන ජනතාවට සිය මතය ප්‍රකාශ කරන්නට නොහැකි වෙලා තියෙනවා. මුස්ලිම් අමාත්‍යවරුන් ආණ්ඩුවෙන් ඉවත්වීමේ පසුබිම තුළ මැතිවරණයක් පැවැත්වීමට අනිවාර්ය වන පරිසරයකට අද රට පැමිණ තිබෙනවා. ජනතාවට නිදහසේ ඡන්දය ප්‍රකාශ කිරීමට අවශ්‍ය පරිසරය අප ගොඩනගා දිය යුතුයි. එය තමයි ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදී රටක ස්වරූපය විය යුත්තේ. අද වෙනකොට තිබෙන්නේ ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාව විසින් බලහත්කාරයෙන් බැඳතබලා ජනතාවගේ මතය, අදහස, හැගීම ඡන්දයෙන් ප්‍රකාශ කරන්නට බැරි පරිසරයක් කෘතිමව නිර්මාණය කරනු ලැබූ තත්ත්වයක්..

 අද වන විට ඇතැම් පළාත් සභා විසුරුවා හැරලා අවුරුදු 1 ½ ක් පමණ ගතවෙලා. පළාත් සභා 09 න් 08ක් අද පාලනය කරන්නේ ආණ්ඩුකාරවරුන් විසින්. එය ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍ර විරෝධියි. මේ අර්බුදයෙන් රට මුදවා ගන්නට නම් පළාත් සභා ඡන්දය වංචනිකව කල් දැමීම අහෝසි කර පළාත් සභා මැතිවරණයකට යා යුතුයි. පාර්ලිමේන්තුව 2/3 බලයකින් විසුරුවා හැරලා පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයකට යාම ආණ්ඩුවට පහසුවෙන් කළ හැකි කරුණක්.1983 ඔක්තෝබර් අමිර්තලිංගම්  ඇතුළු TULF සාමාජිකයන් පාර්ලිමේන්තුවෙන් ඉවත්වීමට සමාන තත්වයක් තමයි අද මුස්ලිම් අමාත්‍යවරුන් ආණ්ඩුවෙන් ඉවත්වීමත් මා දකින්නේ. මෙය රටට යහපත් ප්‍රවණතාවයක්  නොවෙයි. ‘

ABTA

The Foreign Office has changed its advice for Sri Lanka and no longer advises against all but essential travel to the country.

It is currently low season for Sri Lanka, meaning very few people will have had holidays booked for this time.

Travel providers will now review the advice and make decisions as to when they will resume their programmes. Customers who are due to travel in the coming months should contact their travel company for more information. 

If you have booked your travel arrangements independently, you will be able to go ahead with your trip as planned.

by Dilrukshi Handunnetti Courtesy Mongabay.com

• Microplastics and overfishing are the leading causes of extensive marine pollution in Sri Lanka, a new survey has found.
• The survey, the first of its kind carried out in 40 years, showed that the island’s fish stock had dropped drastically by about 80 percent, in part due to high levels of microplastic contamination.
• The island’s northwestern seas recorded the highest levels of marine pollution, while seas to the east remain rich with marine life and should be made a conservation priority, researchers say.

Plummeting fish stocks and crisis-level volumes of plastic pollution should spur Sri Lanka to adopt new regulations and mechanisms to prevent further contamination of the seas around it, experts say.

The call comes in the wake of findings from a 2018 survey — commissioned by the National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA) and supported by Norway’s Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and carried out on the Norwegian research vessel Fridtjof Nansen — that were published in January.

The survey, the first of its kind in 40 years, found that nearly four-fifths of small pieces of the plastic waste in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters arrived via rivers and canals, said Terney Pradeep Kumara, general manager of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).

This means, only about one fifth of waste is sea-originated microsplastic [MPs] wastage, caused by fishermen dumping plastic in mid-sea and oil spills from ships,” he said.

The Nansen survey also highlighted that seas around Sri Lanka were polluted by second category” microplastics, such as fishing gear and packaging material.

Kumara called for collective and effective waste management mechanisms to avoid extensive marine pollution. Making coastal regions of Sri Lanka polythene-free and campaigning to reduce domestic use of plastics are essential to avert a further crisis, he said.

The severity of the microplastic contamination has contributed to a nearly 80 percent depletion in fish stocks, according to the Nansen survey findings.

In the last fisheries stock survey, carried out from 1978 to 1980, it was estimated that fish resources at the seabed level were likely between 250,000 and 350,000 tonnes. In contrast, the Nansen survey showed a plummeting of the fish stock to around 53,000 tonnes.

The drivers are overfishing, microplastic contamination and unauthorized fishing,” Prabath Jayasinghe, co-cruise leader and senior scientist with NARA, told Mongabay. This has happened over a period of time and now it has reached crisis proportions. Besides affecting fish exports, this also means Sri Lankans will have not have the benefit of their main source of protein.”

He added that the number of fishermen has also increased, putting pressure on the country’s fish stock. Aquaculture is a main source of income in the northwest, as well as coastal tourism. These industries have not grown in a sustainable manner, increasing the stress on the marine environment.

Our marine ecosystems are now at deep risk, be they the mangroves, coral reefs or estuaries,” Jayasinghe added. Pollution threat is amplified by climate change.”

Regional disparities

The survey was carried out over one complete fishing season in 2018. Throughout the study, microplastic particles were found in all the sampling stations along the Sri Lankan coast; the highest concentrations were discovered in the northwestern seas, while eastern and southern regions recorded lower levels of pollution.

The total swept area biomass estimated from the survey was 53,000 tonnes, excluding jellyfish, garbage, coral debris and sponges. The lowest biomass estimate came from the northwest (967 tonnes) and the highest on the continental shelf off Batticaloa in the east (8,173 tonnes), the preliminary findings showed.

The eastern coast showed so much promise,” Jayasinghe said. Its waters comprise rich marine resources, including fish larvae and baby fish, unlike the other regions surveyed. This region deserves a special conservation and management plan.”

In June 2018, Sri Lanka joined UNEP’s CleanSeas campaign, a global movement to tackle plastic pollution in the ocean.

A 2017 report by the U.K.-based Ellen McArtur Foundation warns that plastics in the oceans will outweigh fish by 2050, as the use of plastics has increased more than twentyfold in the past half a century. The U.S.-based Ocean Conservancy estimates that more than 150 million tonnes of plastic are currently circulating in the ocean, with another 8 million tonnes added annually. In 2016, South Asia, including Sri Lanka, generated 26 million tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean.

Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which stretches up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) off its coast and spans about 510,000 square kilometers (197,000 square miles), is eight times larger than the island’s landmass and is highly vulnerable to pollution. As a preventive measure, Kumara said, the country’s Marine Pollution Environment Act No. 35 of 2008 must be amended to impose strict punishment against polluters.

Then we need extensive awareness creation among the people. They need to share this journey,” he said

Shehan Chamika Silva Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The indictments against ten suspects including Central Bank’s former governor Arjuna Mahendran, Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., owner Arjun Aloysius and its CEO Kasun Palisena have been prepared and will be filed in the High Court by the Attorney General in connection with Treasury bond scam.

The Attorney General’s Co-ordinating Officer, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said that having considered the nature and the gravity of the case, the AG had requested the Chief Justice to direct the institution of Criminal Proceedings in the Colombo High Court before a trial-at-bar comprising three judges.

No sooner the directive is received from the Chief Justice, the AG will file the indictments on 23 counts against the ten suspects under sections of the Penal Code, the Public Property Act and the Registered Stocks and Securities Ordinance.

The suspects to be indicted are — Lakshman Arjun Mahendran, CBSL’s former deputy governor Paththinige Samarasiri, the Perpetual Treasuries Ltd, Arjun Joseph Aloysius, Kasun Oshadhee Palisena, PTL directors Jeffery Joseph Aloysius, Pushya Mithra Gunawardane, Chitta Ranjan Hulugalla, Muthuraja Surendran and Ajahn Gardiya Punchchihewa.

The suspects will be indicted in connection with the charges arising out of the Treasury Bond auction held on February 27, 2015 (in respect of the face value of Rs.10.058 billion) causing a Rs.688 million loss to the government.

Following are the charges:

1. Conspiracy to commit criminal misappropriation in respect of Treasury Bonds to the face value of Rs.10.058 billion.

2. Criminal breach of trust against the 1st and 2nd suspects and causing a loss to the Government of Rs.688,762,100.

3. Aiding and Abetting the 1st suspect to commit criminal breach of trust.

4. Criminal misappropriation in respect of Treasury Bonds to the face value of Rs.5 billion against the 3rd suspect.

5. Aiding and Abetting the 3rd suspect to commit criminal misappropriation.

6. Committing insider dealing by 3rd suspect.

7. Aiding and abetting the 3rd suspect to commit insider dealing against all the other suspects.

The above charges have been formulated considering all the evidence presented during the Bond Commission Inquiry conducted by the Commission of Inquiry appointed by the President and also considering the material disclosed during the investigation conducted by the CID.

According to the Auditor General, the estimated avoidable loss suffered by the government at this auction alone (on February 27, 2015) was approximately Rs. 688,762,100.

According to Co-coordinating Officer to the Attorney General, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, it has been a painstaking approach by the prosecutors to study thousands of pages of evidence and thereafter consider and present charges against the accused which has been so far the largest organized financial crime perpetrated in this country by any person or person which had an impact on the Financial Markets and the country’s economy.

More indictments are expected to be presented on the basis of the evidence revealed at the Bond Commission Inquiry and investigations conducted by the CID. (

Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

Colombo, June 7 (newsin.asia): The Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena told an urgently convened cabinet here on Friday, that he does not want intelligence officials to testify before the Parliamentary Select Committee on the April 21 suicide bombings as it would expose vital information to the detriment of the nation.

He said that he disapproves of the practice, the Presidents Media Division (PMD) said.

Since media is allowed to hear the proceedings, what is said at the PSC becomes public knowledge instantly.

EArlier too, President Sirisena had objected to military intelligence personnel being detained for alleged involvement in crimes committed during the war years, though such detainees were only small in number and the charges against them were serious like abduction and killing of civilians. He had felt that such detentions would demoralize the intelligence services.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is now the Leader of the Opposition, is also against calling upon intelligence and security officials to testify openly at the PSC. According to him this will result in the kind of disabilities the intelligence services suffered when an army safe house in Athurugirya was raided in 2002 under the then United National Party government headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The cabinet had been called against the backdrop of certain explosive revelations made by the former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and the Inspector General of Police (on compulsory leave) Pujith Jayasundara, at the hearing of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the April 21 suicide bombings by Jehadists in which over 250 were killed in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa.

According to Daily FT, the duo told the PSC that the Easter Sunday bombing could not be averted due to systemic failures within the security establishment, caused by lack of communication and coordination between different agencies tasked with national security, as well as a lackadaisical attitude towards security by the political leadership, two top officials told a Parliamentary Committee yesterday.

The officials, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, who appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) looking into the attacks, painted a picture of national security being heavily compromised, with the IGP kept out of National Security Council (NSC) meetings for nearly six months, and Council meetings held erratically at the whim and fancy of the President.

The IGP, in his evidence, said he had been excluded from the NSC meetings since October last year, over a trust issue that had come up over the transfer of a Police inspector.

I was informed by the then Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Kapila Waidyaratne that there was no necessity for me to attend the NSC meetings around the end of October. I was told the President had said there was no need for me to attend,” the IGP said.

The former Defence Ministry Secretary, in his evidence, disclosed that between November 2018 and April 2019, the NSC had only met four times, and that too at short notice, with both the IGP and the Prime Minister kept out of them.

Fernando, who took over as Defence Ministry Secretary on 30 October 2018, and resigned from his post after the Easter Sunday attacks, said that neither the National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) or its activities were discussed at any of the NSC meetings he attended, while a large amount of time was devoted to discuss trivial issues .”I remember there was a long discussion on a fishing issue and possible terrorist attacks using drones. Makandure Madush was also discussed at length,” he said.

The former Defence Ministry Secretary said that State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena reported directly to the President on all important intelligence matters. I was told twice by the President that the SIS Director directly reported to him. Thereafter I did not communicate intelligence reports to the President during my five-and-a-half month service in the position of Defence Ministry Secretary,” Fernando said.

The two witnesses told the Committee of the intelligence reports that had come in from early April 2019, warning of possible attacks by the NTJ, but that they were not discussed seriously.

The IGP said that in a Top Secret document dated April 9 2019, information of an alleged plan of attack by Zahran Hashim of the NTJ and his associates was sent to him by the Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) Sisira Mendis. He said he had taken measures to inform senior DIGs about the letter. He said the letter spoke of an alleged” attack, but did not speak of a specific or imminent threat.

Hemasiri Fernando said that the particular intelligence report had been brought to his attention on 8 April, and he had informed CNI to raise the matter at the weekly intelligence briefing held at the Defence Ministry the following day, which he (Fernando) presided over, but the matter was not discussed seriously, with both the SIS Chief and CNI saying that they would investigate the matter and report back.

The IGP said that on 18 and 19 April, there were two other reports of possible activity by associates of Zahran, but there were no specific details, and no warning of an imminent attack. These reports were based on the explosion of a motorcycle at a remote location in Kattankudy, which had taken place on 16 April, and the report said that a close associate of Zahran had been involved in it and it was possible he was experimenting ways to carry out a bomb attack. The 9 April report spoke of possible suicide attacks, but these reports that came later made no reference to such attacks,” the IGP said.

The two officials disclosed that they were told by the head of the State Intelligence Services (SIS) hours before the attacks that something dangerous could happen” on Easter Sunday.

On 20 April evening around 7.30-8.00 p.m., the SIS Director gave me a phone call and said the following day would be dangerous and something would happen. I conveyed that warning to all relevant Senior DIGs. On the morning of the attacks too, around 6.45am-7.15 a.m., the SIS Director called again that something dangerous would happen on that day. I again informed the Senior DIGs. I did what I could do,” the IGP said.

The former Defence Ministry Secretary said he, too, had been given similar information by the SIS chief on 20 April, who urged him to also speak to the IGP on the matter. I called the IGP, by which time he had been informed by the SIS chief as well,” Fernando said.

He added that he had received a call close to 8 a.m. on 21 April from the SIS chief, who asked him how many Methodist Churches are in Colombo, saying that attackers are likely to target these churches and not the Catholic ones. I told him I am a Buddhist and I don’t know, but I would check with someone and get back to him. I got some information and told him, but within a few minutes I heard that there had been a bomb explosion at one of the hotels,” he said.

Both officials said that it was due to system failures that the attacks could not be averted and there must be collective responsibility for the security failures, Daily FT reported.

(The featured image at the top shows National Intelligence chief Sisira Mendis testifying before the PSC)

Editorial Courtesy The Island

IGP Pujith Jayasundera, currently on compulsory leave, dropped a bombshell, on Thursday, while testifying before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which is probing the Easter bombings and allied issues. He revealed an abortive attempt by President Maithripala Sirisena to make him the fall guy. He said the President had asked him to take the blame for the security lapses that had led to the Easter carnage, resign and accept a diplomatic post, or lose both his job and pension. His noncompliance had resulted in a presidential directive sending him on compulsory leave, he said.

If IGP Jayasundera has told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then the President has a lot to answer for. Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, who resigned over the Easter bombings, obviously under duress, also said, in his testimony before the PSC, that the President had made such an offer to the IGP. Parliament ought to probe this particular allegation separately.

Going by what transpired before the PSC, on Thursday, one wonders whether President Sirisena naively thought Jayasundera would do a Mahinda Balasuriya with no questions asked.

It may be recalled that in June 2011, the then IGP Mahinda Balasuriya took the full responsibility for an incident where police shooting left a youth dead and dozens of others injured during a workers’ protest in the Katunayake free trade zone. The protesters had taken to the streets against the Rajapaksa government’s decision to introduce a private sector pension scheme. Had that regime succeeded in railroading the workers into accepting that scheme, they would have had to settle for meagre amounts of money given by the government as pensions instead of EPF withdrawals.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was very powerful at that time and Balasuriya fell in line for obvious reasons. President Sirisena, who was a senior minister in the Rajapaksa government, at that time, may have thought of doing something similar following the Easter bombings. He has been left with egg on his face.

In December 2016, IGP Jayasundera was shown on television talking to a minister over his mobile phone, in a servile manner, at a public function in Ratnapura; he was heard assuring the minister that he would not arrest someone. The Opposition called for his removal. About two and a half years on, the police chief, who used to kowtow to ministers, has plucked up the courage to stand up to the President himself! What has strengthened his backbone is anyone’s guess.

The IGP should be commended for refusing to give in to the President’s dictates, but he cannot absolve himself of the responsibility for the failure on the part of the police to prevent the Easter carnage by neutralising the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) threat. The intelligence warning at issue was an unusually detailed one, providing all necessary information about the terrorists and their movements. Jayasundera, as the police chief, should have given his subordinates specific instructions on how to handle the situation rather than merely acting as a post box to convey the warning.

The IGP ought to explain why his officers and men were not placed on red alert and ordered to clamp down on the NTJ. In February 2013, the police descended on a small schoolgirl who had stolen a few coconuts as she had no other way of raising funds to pay her school fees. She was produced in courts and released on bail. They also hauled up before courts another little girl for stealing five rupees from her neighbour, unable to bear the pangs of hunger. She was also enlarged on bail. Why the guardians of the law lacked that kind of urge to swoop on the NTJ terrorists and prevent the suicide bombings is an enormous question. Had they been under political pressure to steer clear of those extremists with links to some government politicians?

By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island

Shehan

Joint Opposition (JO) MP Shehan Semasinghe says sufficient attention hadn’t been paid to the now proscribed National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) targeting the Tamil community in Easter attacks.

Well over a month after the Easter Sunday carnage the government was yet to give a breakdown of the victims as per the ethnicity, lawmaker Semasinghe said.

Anuradhapura District MP Semasinghe, in an interview with The Island, yesterday alleged that a deliberate attempt was being made to depict the April 21 bombing campaign and subsequent developments as a conflict between the Sinhala Catholic community and the Muslims.

The NTJ attacked Zion church in Batticaloa and St. Anthony’s church, Kotahena when the Tamil mass was in progress at the latter church, MP Semasinghe said. In fact of the three churches attacked, Tamil Catholics were targeted in two-in Batticaloa and Colombo, the SLFPer said, underscoring the pivotal importance of establishing the NTJ’s motive.

Responding to another query, MP Semasinghe said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and civil society had been largely silent on the NTJ attacks on the Tamil community, though in the immediate aftermath of the bombings a section of the TNA called for military protection for northerners. MP Semasinghe said that the TNA, subsequently, changed its stand and called for a division on the vote on Emergency.

“Of the 16 member parliamentary group, eight voted against government proposal to extend emergency by another month,” MP Semasinghe said.

Estimating about 50 Tamils perished in Batticaloa and Kotahena and well over 100 wounded, MP Semasinghe said he was quite surprised over the TNA voting against emergency.

When The Island pointed out the JO’s failure to vote for the emergency, MP Semasinghe said that he wouldn’t try to defend the lapse on their part. The MP having regretted JO’s absence at the emergency vote, said that the parliament shouldn’t be divided over security measures taken by law enforcement authorities and the armed forces to neutralize the NTJ threat.

Parliament extended emergency on May 24 with 22 MPs (18 UNP and four UPFA lawmakers loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena) voting for the extension of the emergency whereas eight TNA voted against.

Referring media reports pertaining to Minister Mano Ganesan taking up current security measures in place with Jaffna Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Dharshana Hettiarachchi, MP Semasinghe said that ministers shouldn’t intervene in security matters under any circumstances. The government called in the military in the wake of April 21 attacks as law enforcement authorities couldn’t cope up with NTJ challenge, MP Semasinghe. Asked whether the JO felt Minister Ganesan had interfered in purely a security matter, the MP emphasized that the government constituent should have instead made representations to the Defence Ministry or the State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene. How could Minister Ganesan raise the issue with the Jaffna Commander, MP Semasinghe asked.

Semasinghe emphasized that ministers should stop forthwith taking up security issues with the military. The lawmaker said that State Defence Minister Wijewardene was yet to clarify All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader Rishad Bathiudeen’s recent claim that he contacted Army Commander Lt. Commander Mahesh Senanayake regarding the arrest of a terrorist suspect on his advice.

Lawmaker Semasinghe said that the TNA owed an explanation as to why it opposed re-imposition of emergency on May 24 in spite of predominately Tamil Batticaloa district being a key NTJ target. The MP said that one of the would be suicide cadres had married an under-aged Tamil girl from Batticaloa regardless of her parents’ opposition before April 21 attacks. The girl subsequently died in blasts triggered by NTJ members after being surrounded by the police in their Sainthamarudu safe-house on April 26 evening, the MP said. Unfortunately, the TNA had felt comfortable in justifying Easter Sunday attacks, the MP said, referring to TNA spokesman M. A. Sumanthiran blaming the April 21 carnage on Sri Lanka’s failure to address grievances of minorities. If so, could President’s Counsel Sumanthiran explain as to why the NTJ deliberately targeted Tamils, both at Batticaloa and Kotahena, Semasinghe asked.

The Island sought information regarding deaths and injuries caused by the Batticaloa blast from V. Sivagnanasothy, Secretary to the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training and Skills Development and Youth Affairs. Sivagnasothy said that there had been 27 deaths and injuries to 67 persons. Compensation to the tune of Rs 25.1 mn had been paid to 25 families and Rs 9.2 million paid to those wounded in the blast, the official said. Sivagnasothy said that the families of two dead and six wounded remained to be paid compensation. According to him 31 perished at Kotahena.

Sivagnanasothy placed the total number of dead and the wounded as a result of six suicide attacks, at 261 and 407, respectively. Responding to another query, the official said that altogether the families of the dead were paid Rs 170 mn and the wounded Rs 32.5 mn. According to him, the compensation were yet to be made to over 200 victims (both categories).

Semasinghe said that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter attacks was meant to humiliate President Sirisena. The JO spokesman described the PSC as a continuation of the battle between President Sirisena and the UNP over the former appointing a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) in January 2017 to look into Central Bank bond scams. However, the proceedings revealed the pathetic state of affairs in the apex body responsible for national security, MP Semasinghe said. Both parties couldn’t absolve themselves of the responsibility for allowing NTJ attacks.

The bottom line was that the government did nothing in spite of receiving specific intelligence warning on April 04, 2019 regarding the attack, MP Semasinghe said.

A section of the Indian media reported that New Delhi warned Sri Lanka thrice, with the last warning coming on the day of the incident, the MP said. Semasinghe said that those who tricked the electorate at the last presidential election in January 2015 with promise of good governance and accountability ruined the country over the past four years. Having robbed the Central Bank twice in 2015 and 2016, the government caused debilitating setback to the national economy, MP Semasinghe said, alleging that every sector was ruined due to waste, corruption and mismanagement.

Those handling economy were in a spin, the MP said.

Courtesy The Island

Wijeyadasa

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, yesterday, declared that he wouldn’t allow any serving intelligence officer to appear before Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing Easter Sunday attacks.

The assurance was given to a group of senior policemen at the Presidential Secretariat.

A Presidential Secretariat official told The Island that President Sirisena had said that he would take the responsibility for preventing intelligence officers from appearing before the PSC. Only those who retired or removed from service have so far appeared before the PSC.

The PSC has so far met thrice. Defence Secretary Gen. Shantha Kottegoda, retd, DIG Sisira Mendis, retd, interdicted DIG Nalaka Silva, suspended IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando have given evidence before the PSC.

The presidential announcement came close on the heels of former Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, MP, urging Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to halt PSC probe as it violated Official Secret Act.

President told that police said that the disclosure of state intelligence secrets before the media couldn’t be accepted under any circumstances.

President’s Counsel Rajapakse yesterday told The Island that he had explained to Speaker Jayasuriya, in writing, on Thursday, June 06, how the PSC on Easter attacks violated the second, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth clauses of the Official Secrets Act.

Rajapakse also pointed out that members of the PSC had no right to receive confidential information relating to national security.

The PSC consists of Ananda Kumarasiri (Chairman), Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne, Rauff Hakeem, M.A. Sumanthiran, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Ravi Karunanayake, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and Prof. Ashu Marasinghe.

The UPFA/JO boycotts the PSC. In his letter, Rajapakse has emphasised that the PSC could not obtain confidential information as per the parliamentary privileges conferred by the Constitution.

He has said that PSC probe cannot continue as five cases filed in respect of April 21 attacks were being heard in the Supreme Court, in addition to Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the alleged security lapses.

According to the former Justice Minister, President Maithripala Sirisena, too, violated the Constitution by purposely allowing the revelation of confidential information in or outside parliament. (SF)

Courtesy Adaderana

Jihadi ideology needs to be isolated and eliminated, as it is a threat to regional security and global peace, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu said.

Addressing an event held at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) in Colombo today (07), the Indian High Commissioner spoke about India’s foreign policy, with special emphasis on national security, and also touched upon various aspects of India-Sri Lanka relations.

Speaking on Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka this weekend, the Indian High Commissioner commented that this will be part of the first overseas trip of Prime Minister Modi after his re-election and that he will carry the message of solidarity and hope from people of India to the people of Sri Lanka, in the aftermath of the April 21 attacks.

Terrorism and radicalism pose a collective threat to humanity. The recent attacks in Sri Lanka are not just against Sri Lanka,” he further spoke.

The Indian High Commissioner stressed on the fact that terrorism anywhere in the world attacks the conscience of the whole humanity. Emphasizing that the divisive Jihadi ideology is a threat to regional security and global peace, he added that PM Modi has offered all possible assistance in this regard, should Sri Lanka require.

India has always been a First Responder to Sri Lanka’s needs and priorities. Whether it be the flood or drought, India has been the first to respond with men and material. India has also completed several people-oriented development projects all across the island, as pure gifts from people of India,” the Indian High Commissioner further said.

India is not governed by self-interest alone, he said speaking on India’s foreign policy. India has always believed in sharing its developmental successes. Growing together has been the basic tenet of India’s foreign policy.”

As Prime Minister Modi has said, India seeks a future for Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the Region, the Indian High Commissioner stated.

Individual countries cannot remain peaceful, secure and prosperous if the region and world at large were to be in turmoil, he added. It is a highly interconnected world today. We cannot banish other’s misery as his or her own problem; it is as much as ours as his or hers. It is in our individual and collective interest to maintain world peace and collective stability,” the Indian High Commissioner stressed. 

Alienation, compartmentalization and hierarchy of identities provide fertile ground to breed hate and violence. Love and tolerance are virtues which can be nurtured only in the waters of togetherness. India believes in taking everyone along in its journey towards development. Pluralism calls for celebration not confrontation,” he added.

Ambassador Pamela Deen, Director General of BIDTI and many others were present at the event.

Courtesy Adaderana

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today requested to reconsider the decision taken to close down the carpentry sheds and sawmills in Sri Lanka.

He made these comments while attending a press briefing organized by the Joint Opposition in Colombo today (7).

Rajapaksa stated that the decision to close down all carpentry sheds and sawmills in the country would lead to a large number of people losing their jobs.

The Opposition Leader said that forest plantation should be carried out for the purpose of timber and that logs of timber should be imported from foreign countries.

Rajapaksa further said that he believes the decision to close down carpentry sheds and sawmills should be immediately halted. 

Courtesy Adaderana

President Maithripala Sirisena says he disapproves bringing in state intelligence officers before the Special Parliamentary Select Committee looking into the Easter attacks and revealing state intelligence information via media.

The president stated this during the monthly assembly of the senior officers of the Department of Police held at the Presidential Secretariat today (07).

Stating that suspended officers were thus far called before the committee, the President said that officers currently serving in the security forces will not be summoned to the committee meetings. He stressed he would take responsibility regarding all of them.

The President further commented, the Attorney General has written to him that five lawsuits pertaining to the attacks on April 21st are currently being heard before the Supreme Court, however, a Special Parliamentary Select Committee operating parallelly is unfavourable for the Supreme Court’s procedures. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was notified on the matter, he added.

Although the Speaker customary announces the documents submitted to him by the President at the commencement of the parliamentary session, this was not mentioned by the Speaker, President Sirisena claimed.

lanka C news

නැවත කිසිදු ඇමතිවරයෙක් දිවුරුම් දීම් කිසිවක් සිදු නොවන බව ජනාධිපති මෛත‍්‍රිපාල සිරිසේන මහතා අද පැවති විශේෂ කැබිනට් මණ්ඩල හමුව අවසානයේ සදහන් කර තිබේ.

කැබිනට් මණ්ඩල හමුවෙන් පසුව ඇමතිවරුන් සිවු දෙනෙකු දිවුරුම් දීම ගැන එජාපය විසින් සිහිපත් කල අවස්ථාවේදී ජනාධිපතිවරයා මේ බව සදහන් කර ඇත.

පාස්කු ඉරිදා බෝම්බ ප‍්‍රහාරය සම්බන්ධයෙන් අධිකරණයේ නඩු 05ක් විභාග වෙමින් තිබියදී නීති විරෝධීව කටයුතු කරමින් පාර්ලිමේන්තු තේරීම් කාරක සභාවක් හරහා ඒ සම්බන්ධයෙන් ප‍්‍රශ්න කිරීම අත්හිටුවන තෙක් තමන් කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලය නොකැදවන බවත් රාජ්‍ය මට්ටමේ කිසිදු කටයුත්තකට සහභාගී නොවන බවටත් ජනාධිපතිවරයා එහීද පවසා තිබින.

ඇමති ධුරවලින් ඉල්ලා අස්වූ මුස්ලිම් ජාතික ඇමතිවරුන් 08 දෙනා මසකට පසු නැවතත් ඇමති ධුරවල දිවුරුම් දීමද ඒ අනුව සිදු නොකෙරෙනු ඇති බව ජනාධිපති කාර්යාලයේ ප‍්‍රකාශකයෙක් සදහන් කලේය.

කෙසේ වෙතත් කබීර් හෂීම් මහතාගේ ඉල්ලා අස්වීම මේ වන තෙක් ජනාධිපති කාර්යාලයට ලැබී නැති නිසා ඔහුට තව දුරටත් ඇමති ධුරයේ කටයුතු කල හැකි වනු ඇත.

 lanka C news

පාස්කු ඉරිදා එල්ල වූ බෝම්බ ප්‍රහාරය සම්බන්ධයෙන් අධිකරණයේ නඩු පහක් පවතිද්දී සහ ජනාධිපතිවරයා ලෙස තමන් ද ඉන් තුනක වගඋත්තරකාරැවකු කර තිබියදී ඒ සම්බන්ධයෙන් පාර්ලිමේන්තු තේරීම් කාරක සභාවක් හරහා කරුණු විමසීම, සාක්ෂි කැඳවීම නීති විරෝධී බව නීතිපතිවරයා විසින් දැනුම්දී ඇතැයි ජනාධිපති මෛත්‍රීපාල සිරිසේන මහතා පවසා ඇත.

ඔහු එසේ සඳහන් කර ඇත්තේ අද පස්වරුවේ කැඳවා ද විශේෂ හදිසි කැබිනට් මණ්ඩල හමුව අමතමිනි.

නීතිපතිවරයා විසින් තමන්ට මේ බව දැනුම් දුන් පසු ඒ පිළිබඳව කතානායක වරයා දැනුවත් කළ බවත් නමුත් කතා නායකවරයා ඒ සම්බන්ධයෙන් කිසිදු තැකීමක් නොකර මෙම තේරීම් කාරක සභාව පවත්වාගෙන යන බවද ජනාධිපතිවරයා සඳහන් කර තිබේ.

එනිසා මෙම නීති විරෝධී කටයුත්ත දිගටම පවත්වා ගෙන ගියහොත් තමන් මින් ඉදිරියට කිසිදු අවස්ථාවක රාජ්‍ය මට්ටමේ කටයුත්තකට සහභාගී නොවන බවත් කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලයද නැවත නොකැදවන බවත් ජනාධිපතිවරයා දැඩිව සඳහන් කර තිබේ.

නමුත් ජනාධිපතිවරයා ලෙස දෛනික රාජකාරී වල තමන් යෙදෙන බවද ජනාධිපතිවරයා එහිදී සදහන් කර ඇත.

රාජකාරියේ නියුතු ආරක්ෂක අංශවල නිලධාරීන් ගෙනවිත් මෙම සිදුකරන විහිළු සහගත ක්‍රියාපටිපාටිය වහා නැවැත්විය යුතු බවත් එමෙන්ම ඉදිරියේදී කිසිදු අවස්ථාවක මෙම තේරීම් කාරක සභාව හමුවට සේවයේ නිරත ආරක්ෂක අංශ නිලධාරීන් ඉදිරිපත් නොකරන බවත් ඔවුන් සියලු දෙනා පිළිබඳ වගකීම තමන් භාර ගන්නා බවත් ජනාධීපතිවරයා ප්‍රකාශ කර ඇත.

Dr Sudath Gunasekara

(All Muslim Ministers resign (June 4, 2019   06:02 pm Island)

5. 6. 2019. (With copy to HE President)

At first sight it appears to be excellent news for those who agitated for the resignation of Badurdeen. It also demonstrates the unity of the Muslims politicians and solidarity with their own people, which sadly our so-called Sinhala politicians don’t have. Muslims or Tamils have no party politics when it comes to matters pertaining to Muslims or Tamils and there lies their real strength and bargaining power. They stand united for their religions, imported nationality and culture, which they are trying to replicate in this country. They have named their political parties clearly after their purported nationality such as Muslim or Tamil in no uncertain terms blatantly displaying their communal and religious extremism. Both communities openly use the communal and religious labels to polarize and emotionally rally round all their men, women and even children from their small days.  They also have different dresses, different food, separate laws and courts, schools and even separate burial grounds. But the majority Sinhala people have none. Only Sinhalese have national political parties like the UNP.SLFP, CP. LSSP and JVP. They are open to people of all communities where as Tamil and Muslim parties are only meant for their communities. But they cry discrimination by the Sinhalese against them.

Minority political parties have a clear policy and it is only to serve their people. t Even those Tamil and Muslim politicians who join the national parties like the SLFP or UNP also serve and promote only their own communities. Their open policy is to protect their perceived identity on someone else’s country, which they illegally claim to be theirs. To achieve these goals they are prepared even to die.

On the contrary our politicians don’t have a nation, religion, a country or a culture after they join a political party. For them, their political party is their nation and religion as well. Politics for them is only a means to power and personal aggrandizement and enrichment. They never consider it to be a service to their people or the security of the country, which in fact should be the primary and most basic function of governance. Even Muslim or Tamils politicians share the same characteristics. There is no difference between the Muslims and Tamils in this regard. On the other hand our politicians even don’t know that they have a 2600 year old nation that had a glorious past even in the ancient times. I wonder at least they know whether they stand on their feet or heads for that matter on these subjects. If Sinhala politicians who are supposed have ruled this country from 1948 knew these things the story of this country today would have been different.

In trying to understand the current political drama unfolding in our country and the sequence of events connected with the resignation of Asad Sali and Hisbulla and the threat of a no-confidence motion on Rishard Badurdeen  which would definitely have been a threat to the unstable government if it was take up in Parliament, it is very important to see how it was manipulated. First they all met at Fausi’s  (SLFP) residence and then they moved on to Temple Trees (the present Head Quarters of all Ranils anti Sinhala and ant-Buddhist conspiracies are hatched over the past few years) to finalize the strategy to kill two or even more birds with one stone in agreement with Ranil. The en-masse temporary resignation of all Muslim Minsters is based on a ploy to save the government, agreed upon an assurance from Ranil for them to be reinstated after one month.  First Ranil wanted to appease the rising discontentment among the Sinhalese. Second at the same time he wanted to save the thin skin of his government from the listed NCMM. On the part of the Muslim politicians this is first to hoodwink the Muslim people that their politicians stand with their community. Second to scale down the wave of public protest in the country particularly arising from Ratana Thera’s fast unto death supported by the Christian Church and even by Hindus and some Muslims.  Third, to block the NCM against Badurdeen to save Badurdeen and his cohort from getting exposed in Parliament which is going to be really fatal for the Government that is in its last breath now.  Forth, to hoodwink the Sinhala people by announcing that all Muslim Ministers will resign, which will give them a temporary relief thinking that not only the Alibaba but all his thieves are gone for good. What is more is the ordinary people could be made to think that such mass resignation could be the end of the Yahapalanaya Government. Having agreed upon this work plan they decided to take the following steps.

The first step in this conspiracy was to find a way to save Badurdeen from getting exposed at the no confidence motion by getting to withdraw it at the party leaders meeting saying that there is no need for it now as he has already resigned. The second was to save Ranils Government at the NC motion by the JVP with the help of the TNA to get the 113 life jacket. This they ensured by agreeing to sit with the Government in the back seats. Third, after that again getting appointed as Ministers after the countrywide tension is over, probably for which Ranil has agreed, and carry on until the Presidential election thereafter until November Presidential elections.  The statement made by Ranil that he has ordered the CID to complete inquiries against this band of criminals and rogues in one month also confirms the promise he has made to them. Probably he is planning to get them exonerated as he did to Arjun Mahendram in the first CB scam and take them back to the Cabinet thereafter to continue the gambling and bungling.  This assumption is proved with the latest decision announced by Ranil not to fill those vacancies for the moment and that he has asked the secretaries of those Ministries to overlook the work probably in consultation with the former Ministers. This is no wonder for a government headed by a man who has no concern what so-ever for the people or the country other than remaining in power surrounded by his Royal College cohort until the last minute possible. The latest is the threat by Hakeem to take Political action unless situation is brought under control within a month’ More over   it is now reported that even the resignation papers have not being submitted to President as yet and these Ministers who are supposed to have resigned on the 3^rd are still enjoying all the privileges of Ministers and even they occupy the front seats in Parliament. Don’t these events clearly show that this is only a political game of seek and hide manipulated by Ranil to hang on to power.

Therefore the whole country and more particularly the President has to be extremely vigilant and be careful on this conspiracy at this moment. I propose that the President should not reappoint any of these Muslim Ministers even if they are exonerated by Ranils inquiries.  In case Ranil make such a dirty request I suggest the President turns it down and ask the PM to submit a fresh list of Sinhala MPP for these Ministries and teach a lesson to this Ranil the cunning fox and the Wahabian Muslim politicians. I don’t think anyone can challenge that Presidential prerogative to refuse. The whole country will stand by such decision, I can vouch for certain.

At the same time the whole country must agitate and compel the President to

Stop forth with all facilities given to those who have resigned and treat them as ordinary MPP

Disband immediately all personnel staff and facilities that were provided to them and close down their offices.

Also the President should immediately remove the present Secretaries, who were invariably handpicked by the previous Ministers and appoint new Secretaries loyal to the President to ensure uninterrupted service to people.

This cause of action is very necessary to ensure security to vital official documents, to prevent the former Ministers lifting them through their catchers and spies and to cut down the costs to Government. Action also must be taken immediately in regard to personnel staff of all Departments, Corporations and Statutory bodies coming under those Ministries for the same reasons. Also declare the premises out of bounds for all these personal staff so discontinued.

If this is not done the holidaying Ministers could run the Ministries from their homes with pleasure and do enormous damage to your reputation and the country. The President must send them on permanent leave to teach a lesson to Ranil and his cohort. By doing that he can tell these arrogant and prodigal sons and their catchers too, and Ranil & Co that there is a President elected by the people of the whole country as the Head of the State and the Government, Head of the Cabinet and the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces in this country.

The JVP also could be happy at the end as the purpose of their joint NCM conspiracy to save the Yahapalanaya Government is going to get fulfilled. The first part of this tragic comedy has already come to an end. Hopefully it will be complete with the defeat of the JVP NCM motion in Parliament with the support of all anti-Sinhala votes rallied round a common purpose

In this backdrop it is very important to try to understand the broader and deeper conspiracies and long term implications of this type of hasty and narrow political decisions that lack in-depth thinking and analysis on the country’s security and future. The statement made by Badurdeen in Parliament yesterday where he said that you can’t afford to antagonize the Muslim countries is a serious threat to reckon with in this regard I think. I only hope and wish authorities will take this statement very seriously. Far more serious is the open threat made by Hakeem in today’s papers that they will take ‘Political action unless situation under control within a month’. There appears to be a close nexus between his one month deadline and Ranils one month dead line fixed to complete inquiries on allegations against the accused Ministers. Does it mean that the decision to exonerate them is already inked?

Meanwhile I am happy that both the President and PM at last and at least appear to have realized the seriousness of the situation, when both of them have openly said that the resignation of all Muslim Ministers is a dangerous thing. They may have implied different things. But I don’t think both of them have any clear idea about the depth, the seriousness and the far reaching implications or what is brewing under the carpet of vicious conspiracies these Muslim politicians have in their heads. Looking at how they have manipulated the 21^st Easter Sunday carnage and their subsequent reactions ending up with en-mass resignation and the statements made subsequently have to be carefully and seriously studied as a precaution against any imminent future disasters as this country cannot afford to have any more.

One thing is crystal clear when you carefully look at the way these Muslim politicians behaved in the aftermath of the 21^st disaster. That is they all are a part of this game. There is no doubt about it. Also they are certainly not with us, the Sinhala majority, especially the Buddhists. To me they are real proverbial camels presently and temporally living in Sri Lanka tent with the ultimate vicious objective of ousting us from our own tent which we have made, valiantly protected and jealously guarded for the past 2500 years with the sweat, blood and lives of our forefathers.

Therefore I suggest that the President orders the intelligence personnel to seriously investigate in to all aspects of their behavior and take appropriate action immediately in respect of each one of them before they plan the next disaster where even the President himself could be a target.

Thereafter we have to ensure that these terrorist Muslim politicians are permanently removed from the Sri Lankan political arena to ensure the security of the country and the safety of the people to sustain.

Reflecting back the ancestors of these present day ungrateful Muslim came here on their own in search of greener pastures as traders to this country from the then Arab lands which were all deserts where they had only the burning sun at the deck, sand, dates and camels and finally decided to stay on this salubrious Paradise Island enjoying the sympathy and protection of the benevolent Sinhala Kings, until the advent of British in 1815. Since then over time they developed a mindset to capture this country and destroy the Sinhala Buddhist civilization which we no longer can tolerate as this 25,000 sq mile tiny Island is the only place on earth we Sinhala people have to live and die and untill then to say

This is my own, my native land’ as Sir Walter Scott wrote in his The Patriot.

As the Great Russian leader Putin once said to Arabs in Russia We never asked you to come and if you want to stay in Russia you have to assimilate and live as Russians or else get back to your own countries” Similarly as we have never asked your ancestors to come here you have to adjust and live as Sri Lankans peacefully with the native Sinhala people and be ruled under the Sri Lankan law and not Sharia or Muslim Law. You have to eat and dress, behave think like Sri Lankans but never as Arabian or Indians. You can’t have your mind and heart in some other country and in its culture while you have your body only here to earn your living and pray for some other country. If you can’t, then you have no option but to get back to your own countries because this is our country and our native land as it had been for 2 and ½ millennia.

So I would like to tell Hakeem and crowed to follow suit without giving us headache and killing our people using devils like Saharan and sterilizing Sinhala women going in to thousands using Muslim medical doctors who were brought up and educated with our money. These barbaric and uncivilized actions on their part clearly show their underhand plan to overtake the Tamil and Sinhala population in order to convert this Island to the Third ISIS” State in the near future.

The most important and outstanding feature in their mass resignation is their sense of unity and togetherness as a community which we don’t have in us as Sinhalese. Though they belong to different political parties and different sects, they all think and act alike, like Arabs, when it comes to the Muslim factor. When they come to that, they cease to be UNP, SLFP or any other. The best example in this case is Kabir Hakeem the UNP Chairman who resigned as a Minister. Their common denominator is ‘Muslimness’. What is even more curious is they call themselves a nation called The Muslim Nation” not found anywhere on this earth.  The whole world knows it. The term Muslim refers to those who profess Islam and not to a nation. In Pakistan they are Pakistanis, India Indians Malaysia Malaysians, Iran Iranians etc. Therefore in Sri Lanka as a nation they have to be Sri Lankans and never as Muslim Jatiya as our politicians call them.  

Unfortunately none of our all-knowing politicians seem to know this .That is why they recognize Muslims in this country as a nation (Jatiyak) along with Tamils as another. They are afraid to openly say that only the Sinhala people could be called a nation in this country. Because they are the people who have founded the civilization of this country more than 2500 years ago and they are also the architects of the civilization in this country and therefore the Bhoomiputra (sons of the soil) of this country. On the other hand what is the contribution these Tamils and Muslims have done to the life or culture of this country beside the devastations and destructions they have done from 2^nd century BC up to date in the case of Tamils and from 1818 to date in the case of Muslims?

Though they comprise a minority all minorities in this country enjoy more rights than any minority in any other country in the world. Within Sri Lanka they enjoy privileges even more than the majority due to the divide and rule colonial policies left behind by them and the crazy politics of supine Sinhala politicians who go after the minority votes without making any meaningful attempt to consolidate the 75 % Sinhala electorate. For example colonial powers enacted Muslim law for Muslims and Thesavalamei for Tamils while on Sinhale they imposed the Raman Dutch and English Laws while completely destroying the native Sinhala laws that existed for 2 1/2 millennia that was applicable to all people  in this country whether one is a Tamil, Muslim or any other up to 1815. The net result was the tyranny of minority politics in the spear of Sri Lankan politics. Time has come now to stop this discrimination   against the Sinhala majority and restore their lost rights even after 71 year of so-called Independence.

The Lesson Sinhalese have to learn from Muslim and Tamil minority politicians and the Sinhala politicians

Why can’t we Sinhalese also at least now learn a lesson from the behavior of these Muslim Politicians. This is the best time  for all Sinhalese irrespective of where you live or what religion you profess or to what political party you belong to unite as Sinhalese  –SINHALA’ as the common denominator against the minority enemies to save this country first and then the Nation and the religion there after. So making this crisis as a blessing in disguise, why can’t we also unite as a nation at least now forget the UNP/SLFP, SLPP   and JVP and think ‘only as Sinhalese’ and let us find a Leader who can stand up and boldly say that,

THIS IS THE LAND OF THE SINHALA NATION AND IT SHALL REMAIN SO FOR EVER WITH A DOMINANT SINHALA  BUDDHIST   CULTURE AS ITS CORE AND FOUNDATION, ITS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE SHALL BE SINHALA, BUDDHISM SHALL BE THE STATE RELIGION AS IT HAD BEEN FROM 307 BC AND THIS LAND SHALL BE RULED BY ONE LAW HERE AFTER.

ALL OTHERS WHO HAVE COME HERE AS INVADERS, TRADERS ILLICIT IMMIGRANTS AND SUBSEQUENTLY GOT NATURALIZED AND GOT ABSORBED IN TO THE MAINSTREAM FROM TIME TO TIME IN HISTORY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS AND TRADITONS AND CUSTOMS OF THE LAND AND ALL THOSE WHO WISH TO BE RATAVESIYO (CITIZENS) OF THIS ISLAND NATION SHALL AGREE UPON SUCH CONDITIONS AND SWEAR IN TO ABIDE BY SUCH LAWS, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMES. AND THOSE WHO DO NOT CONFORM TO THESE CONVENTIONS SHALL LEAVE THIS COUNTRY TO THEIR OWN CHERISHED MOTHERLANDS WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME LIMIIT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATION OR ANY OTHER CLAIM UNDER ANY INTERNATIONAL LAW OR CONVENTION”

    It is only within this homemade and Indigenous framework of national thinking and native culture any one can think of long lasting national reconciliation in this country and never on the utterly irrelevant and alien prescriptions evolved in a different environment imported from western or any other country.

Dharshan Weerasekera

It is time for Sri Lanka to form a strategic alliance with China

What is at stake for SL is nothing less than complete subjugation to the Americans and the resulting loss of the sovereignty

For nearly 70 years since independence, the principles of ‘neutralism’ and ‘non-alignment’ have guided Sri Lankan foreign policy. However, four geopolitical changes, to wit: many ‘non-aligned’ countries are now close allies and ‘partners’ of the US; the ‘Pivot to Asia’ by the Americans; China’s Belt and Road initiative; the new threat of Islamic terrorism in this country and the danger that interested parties might try to set up a permanent military presence here under the pretext of helping Sri Lankans ‘fight terror’ raise questions about the continuing utility of those principles for this country. 

I argue that it is time for Sri Lanka to form a strategic alliance with China. As long as the ‘Pivot to Asia’ is a major part of the US policy, and there is no indication this will change in the foreseeable future, the US will try to gain maximum indirect control over Sri Lanka owing to the importance of this country to the overall purposes of the pivot. The only question is whether Sri Lankans choose to face this onslaught alone or ally themselves with a powerful nation in order to balance the scales of power. 

An obvious choice for such an alliance is India. However, India is now working hand in glove with the US. That leaves China as the only viable candidate for an alliance. I shall briefly discuss: 1) The ‘Pivot to Asia’ and its impact on Sri Lanka; 2) China’s Belt and Road initiative and the economic opportunities it opens for Sri Lanka; and 3) The proposed foreign policy and its advantages, and meet objections. 

‘Pivot to Asia’ and its impact on Sri  Lanka
‘Pivot to Asia’ is a formal decision by the Obama administration in 2011 that the future prosperity of the US depends on developments in the Indo-Pacific region, and to devote American resources into gaining control over that territory. The pivot continues to be a major part of US policy under the Trump administration. 

The pivot puts the Americans on a collision course with China. As well-known Australian journalist John Pilger says: 
The United States is encircling China with a network of bases, with ballistic missiles, battle groups and  nuclear-armed bombers. This lethal arc extends from Australia to the islands in the Pacific, the Marianas and the Marshals and Guam, to the Philippines, Thailand, Okinawa, Korea and across Eurasia to Afghanistan and India. America has hung a noose around the neck of China.” 

Sri Lanka’s location in the middle of the Indian Ocean makes it a vital asset to both the Americans as well as the Chinese: the former to help complete the aforementioned encirclement and the latter to break out of it and in general frustrate the US’ designs in this region. 

To advance the goals of the pivot, the Americans have modified the ‘rules-based order’ which relied on the US’ traditional allies in the region by adding ‘partners.Admiral Harry B. Harris, former head of the US Pacific Command, has described the new system in a speech to the Senate Armed Forces Committee in 2017 as follows: 

This security order has been reinforced by America’s five bilateral security alliances with Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea(RoK), the Philippines and Thailand. This order is further bolstered by our growing partnerships with India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Vietnam.” 

It is in this context that one must consider the things that the Americans have been doing in Sri Lanka over the past 3-4 years. The US has pursued four tactics: 
a) Action at the UNHRC to compel Sri  Lanka to undertake internal reforms  
b) Constitutional reforms: To bring about a solution to the ‘ethnic problem.’USAID organised seminars and workshops to promote the new Constitution. If the new Constitution had been enacted, it would have turned Sri  Lanka into an ‘orumittha nadu’ (i.e. a confederation of the 9 provinces which by definition would have given each of them a unilateral right to secession). 
c) Economic reforms: These include a complete overhaul of monetary laws including the tax law 
d) Military reforms: These include the creation of a battalion of Marines capable of being deployed with the US Marines and the proposed new Status of Forces Agreement. 

Economic Opportunities 
The Belt and Road initiative launched in 2013 will connect China with the Middle East and Europe by a system of roads, railroads and sea ports. In recent years, China has extended the BRI to Africa. Sri  Lanka is undoubtedly primed to play a key role in the sea route. The opportunities that the Belt and Road opens for Sri Lanka go far beyond providing docking facilities for the ships plying the route. Ultimately, the Belt and Road could stimulate domestic technologies and industries – something that has not happened on a large-scale under the system that has prevailed since independence. 

After nearly 70 years of economic dependence on the West including foreign aid, all that Sri Lanka has to show for it is to have the West make a mockery of this country’s sovereignty, as for instance when the EU demanded that Sri Lanka fulfilled 58 conditions — those that had nothing to do with economics but rather with amending criminal statutes — if the GSP-Plus facility were to be reinstated. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is reduced to competing with Afghanistan for the dubious honour of having the worst economy in South  Asia. Reason and common sense suggest that if there is a way out of this situation Sri Lankans ought to take it, and the Belt and Road at least on the face of it appears to offer such a way out. 

Proposed Foreign Policy 
If the ultimate goal of US strategy in Asia is to defeat China and Sri Lanka is a ‘partner’ in the US’ strategic network, this country – whether it likes it or not – will have to support the efforts designed to harm Chinese interests. So, either Sri Lankans must publicly accept the premises of the Americans in respect of China or reject them. 

If they choose the Americans, it might stop the Americans from undermining the sovereignty of the country as they have been doing in the last 4 years. On the other hand, if they choose the Chinese, the Chinese will be free to expand their investments in Sri  Lanka and commit fully to helping develop this country. 

An alliance with China will also: a) Permit Sri Lankans to call on Russia in combatting the machinations of the Americans and their allies; and b) Provide economic security in the event the US and its allies wage ‘economic war’ against Sri  Lanka. So, Sri Lankans should adopt a new foreign policy based on the following three ideas: 

a) A commitment that Sri Lanka shall not support activities that directly or indirectly harm or have the potential to harm the interests of China. However, this will be balanced by a commitment that, in the event of a war between China and another country, the territory including territorial waters of Sri  Lanka shall not be available to either of those parties to engage in any activity related to the prosecution of such war. 

b) An economic policy focused on the Belt and Road

c) A strong dependence on international law and actions at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — rather than the US’ ‘Rules-based Order’ and related bilateral treaties — to protect Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the event of undue interference by international actors. 

To turn to objections, the main objection that a critic might make is that an attempt by Sri Lanka to form an alliance with China will bring down the full wrath of the Americans and their allies on the heads of the Sri Lankans. I concede that the danger is very real. However, what is at stake for Sri Lanka is nothing less than complete subjugation to the Americans and the resulting loss of the sovereignty and independence of this country forever. Under the circumstances, the reward is worth the risk. 

Furthermore, the following two factors might also help mitigate the risk involved: First, the qualification that Sri  Lanka will be neutral in the event of a war. This can address one of the chief security concerns of the Americans, namely, that in the event of a war the Chinese will use Sri  Lankato gain a military advantage in the Indian Ocean. Second, the emphasis on the Belt and Road rather than on Beijing per se. The alliance with China is primarily a commercial alliance. The Americans and their allies can do as much business as they want in Sri Lanka. This will be particularly attractive to American companies, since, as is well-known, the ‘Business of America is business.’ These companies can lobby the US Government to leave Sri Lanka to its own devises. 

මතුගම සෙනෙවිරුවන්

ගිණිකෙළි සංදර්ශන පැවැත්වීම පිණිස පැරණියන් දොඩම් ගෙඩි බොම්බ ගස්ලබු බෝම්බ හෙරලි ගෙඩි බෝම්බ ආදිය සකස්කර ගත්හ. මේ බෝම්බ වල තැන්පත් කරන ලද වෙඩි බෙහෙත් මගින් ගෙඩිය පිපිරීමක් නැතිව ගිණිකෙළි මල්දමක් විසිරී ගියහ.වර්තමාන සමාජයට මෙවැනි බෝම්බ ගැන අත්දැකීමක් නැත. නමුත් මරාගෙන මැරෙන බෝම්බ ගැන නම් ඇස් පනාපිට අත්දැකීම් තිබේ. දේශපාලන කේෂ්ත්‍ර යේ අළුත්ම අත්දැකීම නම් ඇමති බෝම්බයයි. පාස්කු ප්‍රහාරයට සම්බන්ධ පුද්ගලයන් නඩත්තු කළ බව කියැවෙන ඇමති සහ ආණ්ඩුකාර ඇත්තන් තිදෙනෙක් ඇමති බෝම්බ ලෙසට සමාජය ඉදිරියේ දැඩි විවේචනයට ලක්ව  තිබේ.

       ලංකාවේ මුස්ලිම් සහ දෙමළ චන්ද ප්‍රතිශතය රජයක් පිහිටුවීම පිණිස තීරණාත්මක සාධකයක් බවට පත් කරන ලද්දේ 1987 වසරින් පසුවයි. හිටපු ජනපති ආර්. ප්‍රෙමදාස මහතා ගේ නියමයෙන් දිස්ත්‍රික් චන්ද අනුපාතය සියයට 12.5 සිට සියයට පහ දක්වා අඩු කිරීම නිසා මේ තත්ත්වය උදාවිය. අද යහපාලන රජය තුළ මුස්ලිම් මන්ත්‍රී වරු දාහත් දෙනෙකු සිටී.මොවුහු 2004 පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයේ දී සමස්ත ලංකා මුස්ලිම් කොන්ග්‍රසය වශයෙන් මැතිවරණයට ඉදිරිපත් විය. එහිදී චන්ද 186876 ක් ලබා මන්ත්‍රී ධූර පහක් හිමිකර ගත්හ.ආර් ප්‍රේමදාස චන්ද අනුපාතය වෙනස් නොකලානම් මේ මන්ත්‍රී ධූර ඔවුන් ලැබ ගන්නේ නැත. මෙම චන්ද බලය මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ රජය ඉදිරියේ කොවල් කරගත් ඔවුහු එම රජයේ ප්‍රබල ඇමතිවරුන් බවට පත් වූහ.පොලිතින් මල්ලක තමන්ගේ ඇඳුම් පොදි රැගෙන අනාථ කඳවුරට පැමිණි රිෂාඩ් බද්යුදීන් කොටිපතියෙකු වූයේ  ඒ කාලයේ ක්‍රියාත්මක වූ උතුරුවසන්තය නිසාවෙනි.  නීති විරෝධී ජාවාරම් රාශියකට එවක ඔහු සම්බන්ධව සිටි බවට තොරතුරු ලැබෙයි.මහින්ද ගේ රජයෙන් පෝෂණය වූ මස්ලිම් මන්ත්‍රී වරු යහපාලනය පිහිටුවීම පිණීස එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂයට කරණමක් ගැසූහ. 2015 වසරේ මේ පිරිස මුස්ලිම් කොන්ග්‍රසයෙන් පමණක්ම චන්ද ඉල්ලුවේ නැත.ඒ වෙනුවට එක්සත් ජාතික පෙරමුණට හේත්තු වී මන්ත්‍රී ධූර දාහතක්ම ලබාගත්හ.මුස්ලිම් කොන්ග්‍රසය වශයෙන් ඉදිරිපත්ව ලබාගත් චන්ද 44193 වෙනුවෙන්ද එක් මන්ත්‍රී වරමක් ලබා ගෙන තිබේ.

     පාස්කු බෝම්බ නිසා මුස්ලිම් සමාජයේ මූලධර්මවාදී ක්‍රියාකාරිත්වය තහවුරු විය. ජනතාවගේ ඇස් ඇරුණි.පොලිස් මාධ්‍ය ප්‍රකාශක සඳහන් කරන පරිදි මේ සිදුවීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් පුද්ගලයන්  2289 දෙනෙකු අත් අඩංගුවට පත්ව ඇත. ඒ අතර සිංහල 330 ක් දෙමල 139ක් සහ මුස්ලිම් 1820 ක් පෙන්නුම් කරයි.මේ අතරින් සිංහල169 දෙනෙකු දෙමල 125 දෙනෙකු සහ මුස්ලිම් 1261 දෙනෙකු ඇප මත නිදහස් කරතිබේ. ත්‍රස්තවාදය වැලැක්වීමේ පණත හදිසි නීතිය සහ සිවිල් සහ දේශපාලන අයිතිවාසිකම් පනත යටතේ සහ සාමාන්‍ය අපරාධ නීතිය යටතේ මේ අය අත්අඩංගුවට පත්වී ඇතැයි වැඩිදුරටත් ඔහු පවසයි.ඒ අනුව දැනට බන්ධනාගාර ගතව සහ පොලිස් අපරාධ විමර්ශන කොට්ඨාශය යටතේ සිටින්නේ සිංහල නව දෙනෙකු දෙමල එක් පුද්ගලයෙකු සහ මුස්ලිම් 201 දෙනෙකු පමණි.පාස්කු බෝම්බ සිද්දිය මෙන්ම ඉන් පසු වුවමනාවෙන්ම  අවුලණ ලද මිනුවන්ගොඩ කෝලාහලය යන සිද්දි දෙකම ත්‍රස්වාදයට සම්බන්ධ වෙති. එසේ වූ විට එක් නීතියක් යටතේ අත්අඩංගුවට පත් කර නොගැනීම ප්‍රශ්ණයට තුඩු දෙන්නකි. සිවිල් හා දේශපාන අයිතිවාසිකම් පනත මෙතැනට අදාල නොවන්නේ ත්‍රස්තවාදය සහ ප්‍රඩන්ඩ ක්‍රියා පිළිබඳ නිර්වචනයක් එහි නොමැති බැවිනි.පොලිසියේ නීති ජාතීන් අනුව යොදන බවට තව උදාහරණ තිබේ. නයාරු ගුරුකන්ද රජමහවිහාර පරිශ්‍රය තුළ දෙමළ ජාතික සන්ධානයේ රවිහරන් මන්ත්‍රී වරයා කළ වෛරී හැසිරීමට එරෙහිව පොලිසිය විසින් මේ පනත අදාල කර ගත්තේ නැත.සාපි දොස්තර පිළිබඳ හෙළිදරව්ව කළ හෙමන්ත රන්දුනු ගෙන ප්‍රශ්ණ කළ පොලිසිය තව වෙනතුරු මෙම මුස්ලිම් මන්ත්‍රීවරුන් ගෙන් සහ ආණ්ඩුකාර වරුන්ගෙන් ප්‍රශණ කරනොමැත.විශේෂයෙන්ම සිංහලයන්ට විරුද්ධව වෛරී ප්‍රකශ කළ අසාද් සාලි ගෙන් ප්‍රශ්ණ කර නොමැත. වර්තමාන පොලිසියේ නිවට ක්‍රියාකාරම් දෙස බලන කල්හි මේවා පුදුමයට කරුණක් නොවේ.

        රිෂාඩි බද්යුදීන් හිස්බුල්ලා සහ අසාද් සාලි යන තිදෙනාට සමාජයෙන් විශාල ප්‍රතිවිරෝධයක් මතුව පැමිණෙන්නට වූයේ මේ සියලු හැසිරීම් මධ්‍යයේය. පාස්කු බෝම්බ කරුවන් නඩත්තු කිරීම පහසුකම් සැලසීම ආදී කරුණු සහ නැගෙනහිර පලාතේ මුස්ලිම් අන්තවාදී ක්‍රියා වලට අනුබල දීම යන කරුණු මත මොවුනට චෝදනා එල්ල වීඇත. මේ නිසාම රිෂාඩ් බද්යුදීන්ට විරුද්ධව විශ්වාස භංගයක් ගෙන ඒමට පවා සිදු විය. නමුත් මුස්ලිම් චන්ද වල කේවල් කිරීම් මධ්‍ය යේ රනිල් වික්‍රසසිංහ දැමූ අප්පරවැට්ටිය මේ වන විට හෙළිදරව් වී අවසන්ය. පූජ්‍ය අතුරලියේ රතන හිමියන් දළදා මාළිග භූමියේ උපවාසයක් අරඹනුයේ මේ වාතාවරණය දඩමීමා කරගෙනයි. නොසිතූ පරිදි ඒ වටා ජන රැල්ලක් එකුතු වීමද ආණ්ඩු විරොධී රැල්ලක් ලෙසට එය වර්ධනය වීමද නිසා සිරිසෙන ජනපතිවරායා සිය නියෝජතයන් හට ඉල්ලා අස්කවීඹට ඉඩ දුන්හ. ඒ අතර චෝදනා ලැබූ සිටි මුස්ලිම් ප්‍රබලයන් තිදෙන ඇරණු කොට දේශපාලනයේ සිටින මුස්ලිම් නායකයන් දහනව දෙනෙම ඉල්ලා අස්විය.එයින් ඔවුන් බලාපොරොත්තු වන්නට ඇත්තේ අසූව දශකයේ සිටම ලංකා දේශපාලනයේ කේවල් කළ හැකි මුස්ලිම් චන්ද ප්‍රතිශකය බලයක් ලෙස පෙන්වීමයි.මේ අස්වීම තාවකාලික බව ද මේ අතර පැහැදිලි වී තිබේ. විශ්වාස භංගය න්‍යාය පුස්තකයෙන් ඉවත් කර තේරීම් කාරක සභාවෙන් ඔවුන් නිදොස් කිරීමෙන් ආණ්ඩුබලය රැක ගත හැකි බව රජය සිතනවා විය හැකිය.ඒ අතර අත්අඩංගුවට ගත් පුද්ගයන් හැකි ඉක්මනට නිදහස් කරලීමට උත්සාහ දරන බව සිරිසේන ජනාධිපතිවරයා පවසා ඇත.චෝදනා නොමැති මුස්ලිම් මන්ත්‍රීවරුන් නැවත සිය තනතුරු භාරගැනීම සුදුසු බව මල්වතු අනුනායක හිමියන් පවසයි. මුස්ලිම් චන්ද නොමැතිව දේශපාලනය කළ නොහැකි බවට මන්ද මානසිකත්වයෙන් පසුවන විපක්ෂ නායක තුමා ගේ පෙළඹවීමක් මේ ප්‍රකාශය පිටිපස්සේ ඇත්දැයි සොයා බැලිය යුතුය.

        බල දෙශපාලන විගඩම් පාවා දීම් මෙන්ම ඇස්බැන්දුම්  පවත්වාගෙන යමින් ජන වර්ග අතර බෙදීම් ඇති කර රට අනතුරේ හෙළමින් බලය රැක ගැනීමට යොදන ලද අවසන් තුරුම්පු ද දැන් ජනතාව ඉදිරියේ හෑල්ලු වෙමන් ඇත. තීරණාත්මක අවස්ථාවන්හිදී පෙරළියක් ඇති කරලීමට සමත් චරිතයක් වූ රතන හිමියන් ගේ භූමිකාව මගින් දේශපාලන සුනාමියක් නිර්මාණය වෙමින් පැවතීම අප තේරුම්ගත යුතුය.සිරිසේන ජනපතිවරයාගේ හැසිරීම මුස්ලිම් චන්ද ලොබින් අන්තවාදීන් සමග කරන දෙශපාලන ගනුදෙනු ජනතාව පිළිකුලෙන් ඉවසා සිටියද අවශ්‍ය තැනදී පිටකර හැරීමටද නොපැකිලෙන්නේ නොවේ. අසාද් සාලි කලුතර දිසිත්‍රික් සංවර්ධන කමිටුවට පැමිණී අවස්ථාවේදී හූ කියා පන්නා දැමුවේ එහෙයිනි. ඒ තත්ත්වය මුසම්මිල්ටත් අත් විදින්නට වුවහොත් පුදුමයක් නොවේ. මුසම්මිල් මෙන්ම රවුෆ් හකීම් ද අන්තවාදයට අනුබල දෙන්නන් මෙන්ම මුස්ලිම් ජන වර්ගය වෙනුවෙන් නීති විරෝධී කටයුතු මෙහෙයවන පුද්ගලයන්ය. අධිකරණ ඇමති වරයාව සිටි අවදියේ මුස්ලිම් නීති සිසුන් හට වැඩි අවස්ථාවක් ලබා දෙන්නට ඔහු කටයුතු කළ ආකාරය අපට මතකය. එම නිසා ඉල්ලා අස්වී යහපාලනය ආරක්ෂා කරන්නට හීන් නූලෙන් කටයුතු කරන මුස්ලිම් නායකයන් ගැන අප කරදර විය යුතු නොවේ. මේ ඇමති බෝම්බය යහපාලනය විසින් බඩේ බැඳි ගන තිබෙන්නේ සිංහල සමාජය පුපුරුවා හරින්නටයි. එහෙත් කළ කම් පල දෙන්නට තව වැඩි කලක් යන්නේ නැත. මේ රටේ සිංහලයන්ට හිමි තැන බෞද්ධ යන්ට හිමි තැන ලබා දෙන්නට කටයුතු නොකරන  කිසිම දේශපාලනඥයෙකුට ඉදිරියේදී ජනතාව විසින් අවස්ථාවක් සලසා නොදෙනු නියතය. වසර දෙදහස් පන්සීයක් තිස්සේ රටත් ජාතියත් සම්බුද්ධ ශාසනයත් සුරක්ෂිත ව පැවත ආයේ මෙලස සිංහල බෞද්ධයන් ගේ ඉදිරිපත් වීමෙනි..සමයාරක්ෂක දෙවියන් නිසිකලට මැදිහත් වූ විට මේ ප්‍රශ්ණයන්ට නිසි විසඳුම් දැක ගන්නට හැකි වනවා ඇත .

මතුගම සෙනෙවිරුවන්

ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ

ඉදිරි මැතිවරණ ඉලක්ක කරගනිමින් පුලුල් දේශපාලන සන්ධානයක් ගොඩනැගීමේ කටයුතු මේ වන විට ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ විසින් ආරම්භ කර තිබේ.
එහි එක් පියවරක් වශයෙන් ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ  හා ලංකා සමසමාජ පක්ෂයේ නියෝජිතයින් අතර විශේෂ සාකච්ඡාවක් අද (06) බත්තරමුල්ලේ පිහිටි ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුන පක්ෂ මුලස්ථානයේදි පැවැත්විනි.
අපි ගොඩනගන අනාගත රජයක් මගින් අධිරාජ්‍යවාදී බලපැම්වලින් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව බේරා ගෙන ජනතා හිතවාදී පාලනයක් මගින් රට සංවර්ධනය කිරීම සදහා යෝජිත අපේ වැඩපිළීවෙල මැයෙන් ලංකා සමසමාජ පක්ෂය විසින් සකස් කර ඇති පක්ෂයේ වැඩපිළිවෙල බැසිල් රාජපක්ෂ මහතාට භාරදීමද මෙහිදි සිදුවිය.
ඉදිරියේ බලයට පත්වන ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ ප්‍රමුඛ රජයක් මගින් ක්‍රියාත්මක කිරීමේ අරමුණින් සකස් කෙරෙන ප්‍රතිපත්ති මාලාවට මෙම යෝජනාවලියේ සදහන් කරුණුද ඇතුළත් කිරීමට ඇති හැකියාව පිළිබදව සොයා බලන බව එහිදි බැසිල් රාජපක්ෂ මහතා සදහන් කලේය.
එකි ජාතික ප්‍රතිපත්ති මාලාව සකස් කිරීමට පත්කර ඇති කමිටු සදහා ලංකා සමසමාජ පක්ෂයේ නියෝජිතවරයෙක් සහභාගි කරවීමටද එහිදී එකගතාවයට පැමිණියේය.
එහිදි අදහස් දැක්වූ බැසිල් රාජපක්ෂ මහතා
අද ලංකා සමසමාජ පක්ෂයට විශේෂ දවසක්. ආචාර්ය එන්.එම් පෙරේරා මහතාගේ උපන් දිනය යෙදී තිබෙන්නේ අදයි. එවැනි දිනක අපේ පක්ෂ කාර්යාලයට පැමිණ අනාගත ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සුභසිද්ධිය වෙනුවෙන් දියත් කෙරෙන අපේ වැඩපිළීවෙලට සහාය දැක්වීම අගය කරනවා. ලංකා සමසමාජ පක්ෂය 2005 සිටම මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතාගේ ජනතා හිතවාදි වැඩපිළිවෙලට සහාය දෙමින් ඒ රජයේ ප්‍රභල පාර්ශ්වයක් විදියට කටයුතු කළා.
රටේ සියලු ජාතීන් එකතු කරමින් ශ්‍රී ලාංකික ජාතියක් හදන්න කැපවුනු පක්ෂයක් විදියට ලංකා සමසමාජය පක්ෂය සලකන්න පුලුවන්. පසුගිය පලාත් පාලන මැතිවරණයේදී අපි එකමුතුවෙන් පළාත් පාලන මැතිවරණයට ඉදිරිපත් වෙලා ජයක් ලැබුවත් සමහර ප්‍රදේශවල ජාතිවාදී වශයෙන් බෙදිම් තිබීම නිසා අපේ ඡන්ද ප්‍රතිශතයේ අඩුවීමක් සිද්ධ වුනා.
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතාගේ අනුදැනුම ඇතිව පසුගිය මහින්ද චින්තනය වැනි ජනමුල ප්‍රතිපත්තියක් සැකසීම මේ දිනවල අපි ආරම්භ කර තිබෙනවා. ගමින්ගමට ගිහින් තොරතුරු ගන්නවා වගේම වැඩකරන ජනතාවගේ සහ ව්‍යාපාරිකයින් ආදි සෑම ක්ෂේත්‍රයකම ප්‍රජාවගෙන් ඒ සදහා අදහස් ගනිමින් පවතිනවා. අපේ මේ වැඩපිළීවෙලට ලංකා සමසමාජ පක්ෂයේ සහාය හිමිවීම ගැන සතුටුයි.
ලංකා සමසමාජ පක්ෂයේ ප්‍රධාන ලේකම් මහාචාර්ය තිස්ස විතාරණ මහතා
වත්මන් දේශපාලන තත්ත්වය සම්බන්ධයෙන් අපි ඇඟයිමක් කළා. ඇමරිකාව මෙහෙයවන ජාත්‍යන්තර නව ලිබරල්වාදයේම වැඩපිළිවෙලක් විදියටයි අපි මෙය දකින්නේ. අධිරාජ්‍යවාදය මුල්කරගෙන මෙහෙයවන නව ලිබරල්වාදි වැඩපිළීවෙල ආපස්සට හැරවිම අවශ්‍යයි. බි්‍රතාන්‍ය සූරාකෑමෙන් මිදිලා දේශීය ආර්ථික බලයක් ස්ථාපනය කරලා දේශීය වැඩපිළිවෙලක් ඉදිරියට ගෙන යාම සිදුවෙමින් තිබියදී කුමන්ත්‍රණකාරී විදියට පැවැති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ රජය පෙරලන්න ඔවුන් පියවර ගත්තා. පසුගියදා සිදුවුනු ත්‍රස්තවාදී ප්‍රහාරයත් එහි දිගුවක්. ජනතා පදනම හිනවීම සහ මැතිවරණ පරාජය වළක්වාගන්න ආණ්ඩුවට අවශ්‍ය වෙලා තියෙනවා. ඒ නිසා රටේ අවුලක් හදලා ඔවුන්ගේ පාලනයක් පවත්වා ගෙන යන්න නිතිරිති පවා වෙනස් කරන්න මේ පාලකයෝ සූදානම්. මේ කුමන්ත්‍රණවලට යට නොවී ප්‍රගතිශීලී ආන්ඩුවක් පිහිටුවීම අවශ්‍යයි. ඒ සදහා ජනතාව තුළ අප කෙරෙහි විශ්වාසයක් ඇති වෙන වැඩපිළීවෙලක් ඉදිරිපත් කළ යුතුයි.
මෙම අවස්ථාවට ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ නියෝජනය කරමින් පක්ෂයේ නිර්මාතෘ බැසිල් රාජපක්ෂ මහතා, පක්ෂයේ ලේකම් සාගර කාරියවසම් මහතා, පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී අනුර ප්‍රියදර්ශන යාපා මහතා, පක්ෂයේ පාලක ලේකම් රේණුක පෙරේරා, පළාත් සභා මන්ත්‍රී සංසදයේ සභාපති කංචන ජයරත්න මහතා සහභාගි වු අතර ලංකා සමසමාජ පක්ෂය නියෝජනය කරමින් පක්ෂයේ ප්‍රධාන ලේකම් මහාචාර්ය තිස්ස විතාරණ මහතා,  ජාතික සංවිධායක බද්දේගම සමිත හිමියන්,  නියෝජ්‍ය ලේකම් අනිල් ද සොයිසා, පාලක ලේකම් එස්. හපුආරච්චි යන මහත්වරුන් සහභාගි වූහ

මාධ්‍ය සාකච්ඡාව  ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ

අද (06) දින මාධ්‍ය සාකච්ඡාවට සහභාගි වූ නියෝජිතයින්
■ පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී කනක හේරත් මහතා
■ පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී තාරක බාලසූරිය මහතා

පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී කනක හේරත් මහතා
අගමැතිවරයාගේ අලුත්ම අපාය මාර්ගයයි මේ දිනවල ක්‍රියාත්මක වෙන්නේ. අපි ත්‍රස්තවාදින්ට සම්බන්ධකම් තියෙනවා කියලා එක ඇමැතිවරයෙකුට චෝදනා කරද්දි සියලු ඇමැතිවරු ඉල්ලා අස්විම රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ අගමැතිවරයාගේ සැලසුම් සහගත වැඩපිළීවෙලක්. අමාත්‍යවරු ඉල්ලා අස්වුනේ මාධ්‍ය ඉස්සරහා ප්‍රදර්ශනයකට පමණයි. වරප්‍රසාද සියල්ල තියෙනවා. පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ ලේකම්තුමාත් ජනාධිපති ලේකම්තුමාත් මේ වෙනකල් ලිඛිතව අස්විම දැනුම්දීලා නැහැ කියලා ප්‍රකාශ කරලා තියෙනවා. මේක ඉදිරි මාසය නාට්‍යයයි. අන්තවාදීන්ට විරුද්ධ වුනු අපේ මුස්ලිම් ජනතාව මේ සිද්ධිය නිසා බියවෙලා. අමාත්‍යවරු සියලු දෙනා ඉල්ලා අස්වුනේ ඇයි කියලා ඔවුන් හිතනවා.ත්‍රස්තවාදයට සහාය නොදුන් මුස්ලිම් ජනතාව පවා ත්‍රස්තවාදින් විදියට දකින තත්ත්වයකටයි රට පත්වුනේ. මේක රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහගේ සැලැස්ම. රිෂාඞ් බදියුදින් ඇතුලු එජාපයට සම්බන්ධ නොවන ඇමැතිවරු ස්වාධිනව කටයුතු කරන්න සූදානමින් සිටින අවස්ථාවක කබිර් හසිම් ඇමැතිවරයාත් එක්කම එකට ගොනු කලේ එජාපය වෙනුවෙන් මුස්ලිම් ඡන්ද ටික රැකගන්නයි.
මේක තාවකාලිකයි. තාවකාලිකව එළියට දැමිමක් විතරයි. මුස්ලිම් ජනතාවගේ ඡන්ද ගැනීමේ දුෂ්ට අරමුනින් මේක කලේ. කබිර් හසිම් හිටපු ඇමැතිවරයා කියනවා ස්වාධීන පරික්ෂණයක් පවත්වන්නලු ඔවුන් ඉල්ලා අස්වුනේ. අපි කබිර් හසිම් ඇමැතිවරයාට චෝදනා කලේ නැහැ. එදා මැවනැල්ලේ බුදුපිළීම කඩන සිද්ධියේදී තොරතුරු දුන්න පුද්ගලයාට වෙඩි තියලා යනකල් ඔහුව ආරක්ෂා රකගන්න කබිර් හසිම් ඇමැතිවරයාට බැරිවුනා. ත්‍රස්තවාදීන්ටය විරෝධී සාමාන්‍ය මුස්ලිම් ජනතාව ආරක්ෂා කරගන්න මේ අයට පුලුවන් වෙයි කියලා අපි හිතන්නේ නැහැ. ත්‍රස්තවාදින්ට සම්බන්ධ එක අමාත්‍යවරයෙක් ආරක්ෂා කරන්න පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ අපි සියලු දෙනා එකමුතුව කටයුතු කරනවා වගේම මුස්ලිම් ජනතාවත් ත්‍රස්තවාදින්ගේ පැත්තට තල්ලු කරන පණිවිඩයක් මේ තුළ ගැබ්වෙලා තියෙනවා.
මේක භයානක පණිවිඩයක්. අහිසංක මුස්ලිම් ජනතාව ත්‍රස්තවාදින් තැනට තල්ලු කලේ එජාප ආන්ඩුවයි.  මැතිවරණය ඉලක්ක කරගෙන ත්‍රස්තවාදින්ගේ සල්ලිවලට යටත් වෙලයි මේ දේවල් කලේ. මොන පරික්ෂණය තිබුණත් නැතත් මාසයක් ඇතුළත රිසාඩි බදියුදින් නිදොස් කොට නිදහස් කරනවා. මේ වගේ පරික්ෂණ මොන තරම් තිබුණද? බැදුම්කර සිද්ධියේ හොරු අදවෙන කල් අල්ල ගත්තේ නැහැ. කුඩු ගහන අය හොයන්න පත්කරපු කමිටුවට සිද්ධ වුනු දේකුත් නැහැ. මුස්ලිම් ජනතාවගෙන් අපි ඉල්ලා සිටින්නේ මේ තත්ත්වය තේරුම් ගෙන සියලු ජනතාවට එකට ජීවත් විය හැකි රටක් නිර්මාණයකරන්න එකතු වෙන්න.
වෛද්‍ය සාෆිට එරෙහිව පැමිණිලි 800ට වැඩියි. තවම විද්‍යාත්මක පරීක්ෂණයක් ආරම්භ කරලා නැහැ. පසුගිය වසර ගණනාවේ වුනා වගේ සාෆි එලියට ඇවිත් ඩි. අයි. ජි ඇතුළට යන එකයි වෙන්නේ.
අපේ ප්‍රදේශයේ දැවෙන ප්‍රශ්නයක් වෙලා තියෙන්නේ සීතාවක ගග හරස් කරලා ජලාශයක් ඉදිකිරීමයි.  දැන් පාරිසරික වාර්තාව ඉදිරිපත් වෙලා තියෙන්නේ. මේ ගැන අපි ඇහුවට කිසිම තොරතුරක් දෙන්නේ නැහැ.අපේ පැත්තේ සමාජමය ප්‍රශ්නයක් බවට මේ සිද්ධිය පත්වෙලා තියෙන්නේ.

පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී තාරක බාලසූරිය මහතා
මේ දවස්වල ආන්දොලනයට පත්වෙලා තියෙන්නේ මංගල සමරවිර මහතා මැතකදි කරපු ප්‍රකාශයයි. මොහු කියන දේවලින් කුපිත වෙන්න එපා කියලා අපි බෞද්ධයින්ගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටිනවා. හිතාමතා බෞද්ධයින් කුපිත කරන්නයි එතුමා උත්සාහ කරන්නේ. රතන හිමියන්ට විරුද්ධව ට්විටර් පණිඩිවටක් දැමිම පවා පෙන්නුම් කරන්නේ කණ්ඩායම් කල්ලි ගැසිමක් කරන්නයි. දෙමළසන්ධානය වගේම මුස්ලිම් මන්ත්‍රීවරුනුත් එකම කණ්ඩායමක් විදියට කටයුතු කරන්න ගනියි. මෙවැනි නිර්මාණ මගින් එක්සත් ජාතීන්ගේ සංවිධානයේ අවශ්‍යතාවය ඉටු වෙනවා. ලංකාවේ මුහුදු සිමාවෙන් නැව් 30000ක් පමණ වසරකට යනවා. වානිජ කටයුතු වලින ්90% වෙන්නේ නැව් වලින්. බටහිර රටවල්වලට අවශ්‍ය මේ නැව්වල ආරක්ෂාව සකසා ගන්නයි. අපේ අවධානය සිංගප්පූරු ගිවිසුම කෙරෙහි යොමු විය යුතුයි. අපේ මුහුදු සීමාවන් ගුවන් සීමාවනක් ඒ රටට විවෘත කරන්න එකල වෙලා තියෙනවා. අලුත් ගිවිසුම් අලුත් පනත් එලියට ආවත් අපි ඒ කිසිවක් ගැන කතා නොකර මංගල සමරවිරගේ ප්‍රකාශ ගැන කතා කරනවා. බිලියන 5.1 ක වංචාවක් රාජිත සේනාරත්න අමැතිගේ අමාත්‍යංශයෙන් වෙලා තියෙනවාලු. තුරුකි නැවෙන් විදුලිය ගන්නවා.ප්‍රචාරණය සදහා විශාල මුදල් ප්‍රමාණයක් සජිත් ප්‍රේමදාසගේ අමාත්‍යංශයෙන් වැය කරලා. අඩුම තරමේ මධූෂ් ගැනවත් අද වෙද්දි කතා කරන්නේ නැහැ. ඒවා යට ගිහින්. බැදුම්කරය යට ගිහින්. ජනාධීපති මැතිවරණයක් හෝ පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයක් එන්න නියමිතයි. මේ හොරුන් කරපුවා ජනතාව දන්නේ නැති නිසා හොරු ටිකම නැවතත් පත්වෙනවා. අපි ඇගිල්ල දික්කලේ ත්‍රස්තවාදයට සම්බන්ධ අයට විතරයි. කබිර් හසිම් ඇමැතිතුමා කියනවා පරික්ෂණය කරන්න ඉඩ දෙන්න අයින් වුනු බව. එතුමාට බහුතරයක් ලැබුනේ සිංහල ඡන්ද. එතුමා මුස්ලිම් කියලා ජනතාව හිතුවේ නැහැ. දැන් එතුමා සිංහලයින්ට දිලා තියෙන පණිවිඩය වෙලා තියෙන්නේ අන්තවාදින් ආරක්ෂා කරන බවයි. එතුමා මහානායක හිමිවරුන් කියපු විදියට ඇමැතිකම නැවත භාර ගන්න. සැම මැතිවරණයදිම අපේ රටේ ප්‍රශ්න ඇති වෙනවා. ඉතිහාසය දිහා බැලුවාමහ එය හොදින්ම පැහැදිලියි. මෙවර මැතිවරණයේදි දරාගන්න බැරිතරම් ප්‍රශ්න ඇති කරලා. මේ මංගල වැනි අය ඉදිරියේදි තවත් ප්‍රශ්න වැඩි කරයි. ජනතාව ඉවසිමෙන් කටයුතු කිරිමයි වඩා වැදගත් වෙන්නේ.

ජනමාධ්‍ය නිවේදනයයි සමෘද්ධි සංවර්ධන නිළධාරීන්ගේ සංගමය

සමෘද්ධි සංවර්ධන දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවට අනුයුක්තව දිවයින පුරා සේවය කරන සමෘද්ධි සංවර්ධන නිලධාරීන් හට 2019 වසරට අදාලව ගෙවිය යුතු ගමන් වියදම් දීමනා හා කාර්යාල දීමනා නොගෙවා නව සමෘද්ධි සහනාධාර හිමිකම් පත්‍ර බෙදා දීමේ උත්සව වෙනුවෙන් ටී ෂර්ට් 125000 මිලදී ගැනීම වෙනුවෙන් ගෙවිය යුතු මුදල් ගෙවීම කඩිනම් කිරීම පිළිබදව බරපතල සැකයක් අප සංගමය වෙත මතුව ඇත.

සමෘද්ධි සංවර්ධන දොපාර්තමේන්තුවේ අධ්‍යක්ෂ ජනරාල් එස්. ටී. ආර්. ටී. එම්. එස්. පී. බණ්ඩාර මහතාගේ අත්සනින් දිවයිනේ සියළුම දිස්ත්‍රික් ලේකම්වරු අමතා එවන ලද 2019. 06. 04 දිනැති DSD/HO/SW/18/04/19/1  ලිපිය මගීන් එක් දිස්ත්‍රික්කයකින් ටී ෂර්ට් වෙනුවෙන් බදු ඇතුලත්ව රු.2.837,193.75 මුදලක් කඩිනමින් දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව වෙත එවීමට කටයුතු කරන ලෙස දැනුම් දී ඇත.

125000 මෙම ටී ෂර්ට් ඇණවුම සම්බන්දව මහත් මතභේදාත්මක ගැටළුකාරී තත්වයක් මතුව ඇති බවට විවිධ පාර්ෂවයන් විසින් චෝදනා කරන අතර දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවෙහි ටෙන්ඩර් කමිටුවද මෙම ගෙවීම අනුමත කිරීම ප්‍රතික්ෂේප කර ඇති බව අප වෙත වාර්ථා වේ.

ඇගළුම් කර්මාන්තයෙහි නිරතව ඇති අමාත්‍යවරයෙකු මෙම දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවේ අමාත්‍යධුරය දරණ අවස්ථාවක මෙම 125000 ටී ෂර්ට් ඇනවුමෙහි මුදල් ගෙවීම අධ්‍යක්ෂ ජනරාල් විසින් හදිසි කිරීම අප සංගමයට සාධාරණ සැකයක් මතුව ඇති බව අප මෙයින් පෙන්නා දෙන්නෙමු.

සමෘද්ධි සේවකයින් හට 2019 වසරට අදාලව මාස 05 ට හිමි ගමන් වියදම් දීමනාව හා කාර්යාල දීමනාව ගෙවීම් කර නොමැති ආණුඩුව සිය දේශපාලන ප්‍රතිරූපය වර්ධනය කර ගැනීම සදහා රුගමිග300 ආසන්න විශාල මුදලක් නාස්ති කිරීම කණගාටුවට කරුණක් බව අප මෙයින් අවධාරණය කරන්නෙමු.

ස්තූතියි.

මෙයට,
චාමර මද්දුම කළුගේ,
ප‍්‍රධාන ලේකම්.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ මාධ්‍ය සාකච්ඡාව

අද (04) දින මාධ්‍ය සාකච්ඡාවට සහභාගි වූ නියෝජිතයින්
■ පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී ගාමිනී ලොකුගේ මහතා
■ පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී රමේෂ් පතිරණ මහතා

පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී ගාමිනී ලොකුගේ මහතා
එළැඹෙන 8 වැනිදා අධ්‍යාපන සමුපකාර සමිතියේ, ඒ කියන්නේ ගුරු ගෙදර නිලවරණය පැවැත්වෙනවා. ගුරුවරුන්ගේ සුභසිද්ධිය සදහා ඉතා කුඩාවට ඇරඹුන මේ ආයතනය අද විශාල අරමුදලක් සහිත ආයතනයක්. මේ ආයතනය ඇරඹු අයට අපි ස්තූතිවන්ත විය යුතුයි. අද වෙද්දි මේ ආයතනය දේශපාලනයට ලක්වෙලා.පහුගිය නිලවරණ දෙකක්ම ජවිපේ තමන්ගේ නියා්ජිතයින් යෙදවලා මෙහි බලය ගත්තා. ගුරුවරුන් වෙනුවෙන් අලුත් වැඩපිළීවෙලක් හදනවා. සහන සලස්වනවා. ගුරුවරුන්ගේ සුබසාධනය සදහා අවශ්‍ය පියවර ගන්නවා කියලා දෙවරක්ම ජවිපේ නියෝජතයින් මෙහි බලයට පැමිණිය. ගියවර සමුපකාර දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව මොවුන් සම්බන්ධයෙන් පරික්ෂණයක් පවත්වලා කම්කරු කොමසාරිස්තුමා අධ්‍යක්ෂ මණ්ඩලයක් පවත්වලා තමයි ඊළග නිලවරණය තිබ්බේ. නමුත් ඔවුන් සංවිධානය වෙලා පක්ෂයක් විදියට නැවතත් බලය ලබා ගත්තා. දූෂණ හෙයලා සමිතිය නැවත නගා සිටුවනවා කිව්වට පහුගිය අවුරුදු තුනේම කිසිම පරීක්ෂණයක් කලේ නැහැ. සාමාජික ගුරුමහත්ම මහත්මීන්ට වැරදි අවබෝධ දෙනවා. අපේ ගුරු සංගමය හා අනෙකුත් අධ්‍යාපනයට සම්බන්ධ සංගම් එකතු කරගෙන මේ මැතිවරණයට අපෙක්ෂකයෝ ඉදිරිපත් කරන්න තිරණය කරලා තියෙනවා.  
නව දේශපාලන පක්ෂයක් විදියට ලංකාවේ සැම අධ්‍යාපන කොට්ඨාශයකම පවත්වන නිලවරණයට අපෙක්ෂකයින් යොදවන්න තිරණය කරලා තියෙනවා. සියලු බුද්ධිමත් ගුරුමහත්වරු මේ සංගමයේ වටිනාකම දන්නවා. ජවිපෙන්  මේ සංගමය බේරාගෙන දක්ෂයින් පිරිසකට භාර දෙන්න කියලා අපි ඉල්ලා සිටිනවා. පසුගිය වසරේ ඡන්දය පාවිච්ඡි කරලා තිබුනේ 19000ක් පමණයි. සාමාජිකයෝ එක්ලක්ෂ දහනමදායහක් ඉන්නවා. මේ වසරේදිත් සාමාජිකයෝ එක්ලක්ෂ 20000ක් විතර ඡන්දය දෙන්න සුදුසුකම් ලබලා තියෙනවා. අට වෙනිදා 10 සිට 4 වෙනතුරුමැතිවරණය පවත්වනවා. මේ සංගමය ආරම්භයේදි සංගමයට සේවකයෝ ගන්න විට සේවකයින්ගේ දරුවන් ගන්න තීරණය කරලා තිබුණත් අද වෙද්දි සේවකයෝ 300ක් විතර අරන් තියෙන්නේ දේශපාලන ශාඛා සමිතිවල නියෝජිතයින්ගෙන්. ඒ අවස්ථාව සේවකයින්ගේ දරුවන්ට අහිමි වෙලා. ගුරුවරුන් හා සේවය කරන අයගේ යහපතට අරඹපු ආයතනයක් මිස දේශපාලනකයින්ගේ දෙයක් නෙවෙයි. ඒ වුනාට සංගමයේ ප්‍රධාන කාර්යාලයට ගියාම දකින්න ලැබෙන්නේ පක්ෂ කාර්යාලයක් විදියටයි අපිට අවහ්‍ය වෙලා තියෙන්නේ ගුරුවරුන්ගේ පාලනයට මේ සංගමය යටත් කරන්නයි. ඒ නිසා අපි සියලු දෙනාගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටිනවා අට වැනිදා තමන්ගේ යුතුකම ඉටුකරලා තමන්ගේම පාලනයකට සංගමය ගන්න කියලා අපි ඉල්ලා සිටිනවා.

පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී රමේෂ් පතිරණ මහතා
අට වැනිදා පැවැත්විමට යෝජිත මේ නිලවරණයට ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ ප්‍රමුඛ ගුරු සංගම් විසින් ශක්තිමත් කණ්ඩායමක් ඉදිරිපත් කරලා තියෙනවා. අධ්‍යාපන සේවා නියුක්තිකයින් විසින් පාලනය කරන්න යෙදුනු මේ සමිතියේ කටයුතු සම්බන්ධයෙන් සාමාජිකයින්  ඉන්නේපැහැදිමකින් නෙවෙයි. සමාජමය වශයෙන් ආර්ථික වශයෙන් ගුරුවරු හා අනධ්‍යයන සේවකයින්ගේ සුබසාධනය වෙනුවෙන් අවුරුදු 80ට වඩා වැඩි කාලයක් තිස්සේ පවත්වා ගෙන යන ශක්තිමත් සමිත්යක් පහුගිය වසර තුනේ ජවිපේ අත්තනෝමතික පාලනය යටතේ දුර්වල වුනා. සාමාජිකත්වය ප්‍රතිලාභ ලබාදෙනවා වෙනුවට දේශපාලන වශයෙන් තමන්ට හිතවත් පිරිසකගේ සුභසාධනයට පමණක් කටයුතු කරමින් සුලු අතලොස්සකගේ ඕනෑ එපා කම් වෙනුවෙන් පෙනි සිටිම නිසා මේ විශිෂ්ඨ ආයතනය කඩා වැටිමකට ලක්වුනා. ඒ ආයතනය යථා තත්ත්වයට පත්කර සාමාජිකත්වයේ සුභ සිද්ධිය ඇති කිරීම සදහායි ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුනේ අනුග්‍රාහකත්වය ලබන කණ්ඩායමක් මැතිවරණයට ඉදිරිපත්කරලා තියෙන්නේ.
පසුගිය වතාවේ බලයට පැමිණි ජවිපේ සහාය ලබන කණ්ඩායම ගොඩනැගිලි ඇතුලු සමිතියේ භෞතික සම්පත් දේශපාලන අරමුණු වෙනුවෙන් භාවිතා කළා. සමිතියේ අරමුදල් සමිතියේ සාමාජික ජවිපේ හිතවතුන්ගේ අවශ්‍යතා අනුවයි. මානව සම්පත පැත්තෙනුත් සමිතියේ සාමාජිකත්වයට හිමි රැකියා අවස්ථා ජවිපේ සාමාජිකත්වයට හිමිවුනා. ලියාපදිංචි ඡන්ද සංඛ්‍යාවෙන් සුලු ඡන්ද ප්‍රමාණයක් භාවිතා විම නිසා මේ අය ජය ගත්තා. අද වෙද්දි ආන්ඩුවට ව්‍යාංගයෙන් සහාය දැක්වීම නිසා ජවිපේ ප්‍රතික්ෂේප වෙලා. සාමාජිකයින්ට ලබා දුන්න පොරොන්දු ඉෂ්ට කරලා නැහැ. ක්ෂණික ණය ලබා දීම කඩිනම් කිරීම, 8% පොලියට  ගත් ණයවල පොලි ප්‍රතිශතය 4% දක්වා අඩු කරන බව කිව්වත් ඒක වෙලා නැහැ. සාමාජිකත්වයේ සුබ සාධානය වෙනුවෙන් දෙනවා කිව් කිසිවක් දීලා නැහැ.සාමාජිකත්වයේ දරුවන් විශ්ව විද්‍යාලයට යන විට දෙනවා කියපු ශිෂ්‍යත්ව හො ්පරිගණක උපකරණ ඔවුනුට ලැබුනේ නැහැ. සුබසාධන කටයුතු විධිමතව විමධ්‍යගත ක්‍රමයකට කරනවා කිව්වත් ඒ කිසිවක් වුනේ නැහැ. ලක්ෂ ගණන් පොලී ගෙවමින් කාර්යාල පවත්වා ගෙන  යනවා. මේ අත්තනොමතික පාලනයෙන් ශක්තිමත් මූල්‍ය ආයතනයගලවා ගත යුතුව තියෙනවා. මේ ඉල්ලිම ඇවිත් තියෙන්නේ සාමාජිකයින් අතරින්මයි. ඒ අනුවයි අපි කණ්ඩායමක් මෙවර මැතිවරණයට ඉදිරිපත් කරන්නේ. මේ වන විටත් ලංකාවේ ලක්ෂ දෙකහමාරක් පමණ වන අධ්‍යාපන සේවා නියුක්තිකයින් අතට අපේ වැඩපිීලවෙල පත් කරලා තියෙන්නේ. සමිතියේ අරමුදල් කළමණාකරණය කර  සමිතියේ කටයුතු කළාප මට්ටමට විමධ්‍යගත කරමින් ප්‍රතිලාභ රැසක් සාමාජිකයින්ට ලබාදීමේ වැඩපිීලවෙලක් අපි සකස් කරලා තියෙනවා. දැනටමත් විශාල ණය ප්‍රමාණයක් අරන් සමිතිය ණය අර්බුදයකට හිර කරලයි තියෙන්නේ. ලෝක සමුපකාර ආයතන සමග එක්ව ශක්තිමත් ආයතනයක් ගොඩ නැගීමේ මූලික අරමුණත් අපේ කණ්ඩායම තුළ තිබෙනවා.  අපේ දරුවන්ගේ නෙත් පාදන, අධ්‍යාපන සේවයට ශක්තියක් සපයන සියලු දෙනාට ශක්තිමත්ව නැගී සිටීමේ පසුතලය සකසන්න පුලුවන් වෙයි කියලා අපි විශ්වාස කරනවා.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන අධ්‍යාපන සේවා සංගමයේ සභාපති,  වසන්තා හදපාන්ගොඩ මහත්මිය
අධ්‍යාපන සේවා නියුක්තිකයින්ගේ සමුපකාර සකසුරුවම් හා ණය දෙන සමිතිය විදියටයි මේ සමිතිය හදුන්වන්නේ. නමුත් මුල්‍ය කළමණාකරණයක් වුනේ නැහැ.දැනට දකුණු ආසියාවේ තියෙන විශාලම සමුපකාර සමිතිය. ජවිපේ ලංකා ගුරු සේවා සංගමය බලයට පැමිණි ගමන් තමන්ගේ මහසභා නියෝජතියින්ට හා පාක්ෂිකයින්ට ණය ලබා දිම නිසා සමිතියේ මුල්‍ය අර්බුදයක් ඇති වුනා. මෙම්නිසා මහජන බැංකුවෙන් රුපියල් මිලියන 1000ක ණයක් වත්මන් පාලකයින් අරන් තියෙන්නේ 13.2% පොලියට. ගුරුවරුන්ට ණය දෙන්නේ 14% පොලියට. බලයට ආවේ ගුරුවරුන්ට 4% පොලියට ණය දෙනවා කියලයි. පරිගණක 27ක් මිලදි ගන්න රුපියල් පනස් හතර ලක්ෂ හැට අටදහස් හයසිය තිස් පහක් වැය කරලා. එක  පරිගණකයක් කීයක් වෙනවාද බලන්න. මේ මුදල් සාමාජිකයින්ගේ මුදල්. අහිංසක ගුරුවරු කටේ කෙළරහ වෙනකල් කතා කරලා උගන්නලා හමුබකරපු මුදල් වලින් රුපියල් 435 ගානේ කපලා හදපු අරමුදලේ මුදල් මේ විදියට අවභාවිතා කරලා.මහ සභාව මගින් මිලදි ගත්ත ඉඩම් වලින් කිසිදු ප්‍රයෝජනයක් අරන් නැහැ.පරිපාලනය විමධ්‍යගත කරන්න කියලා දිසිත්‍රික්ක 20 විතර අධික කුලි පදනම මමත කාර්යාල පිහිටුවලා තියෙනවා. මේවාට විතරක් මාසිකව ලක්ෂ 100ක් විතර ගෙවන්න සිද්ධ වෙලා තියෙනවා. ජවිපේ දේශපාලන ක්‍රියාවලිය සදහාත් ගුරුවරුන්ගේ මුදල් වැය කරනවා. තමන්ගේ ක්‍රියාකාරිකයින්ට රැකියා දෙන රැකියා මධ්‍යස්ථානයක් බවටත් ගුරු ගෙදර පත්කරලා තියෙනවා.අපිට අවශ්‍ය වෙලා තියෙන්නේ සැබැ ගුරුවරුන්ගේ සුභසාධන මධ්‍යස්තානයක් බවට පත්කිරිමයි. අපේ සංගමය හොරු කියලා හදුන්වන්න මේ කණ්ඩායම අත්සාහ කරන නිසා අපිට රතු හොරු කවුද කියලා රටට කියන්න වෙනවා. මෙහි සභාපති මහින්ද ජයසිංහ. ඔහු මුල්‍ය චෝදනා 11ට වැරදිකරුවෙක් වෙලා සේවයෙන් පහ කරපු කෙනෙක්.අතුරු මැද පළාතේ අධ්‍යාපන ලේකම් සේවයෙන් පහ කරලා තියෙන්නේ මොහු මුල්‍ය චෝදනා පිලිගැනීමෙන් පස්සේ. රජයේ මුදල් අයථා විදියට ගනුදෙනු කිරිම නිසා සේවයෙන් පහකරපු කෙනෙක්. අතුරු පාලක මණ්ඩලයේ අපේ කිසිවෙක් සාමාජික වෙලා නැහැ. අපි ගුරු ගෙදරින් තේ කහට එකක්වත් බීලා නැහැ.
සේවයෙන් පහ කරපු කෙනෙක් නිසා සමුපකාර කොමසාරිස් විසින් මොහුව සමිතියේ සභාපති ධූරයෙන් ඉවත් කළා. මේ නිසයි අතුරු පාලක මණ්ඩල දාන්න සිද්ධ වුනේ.මේ අතුරු පාලක මණ්ඩලත් ජවිපේ වැරදි සහගත නිර්දේශම ඉදිරියට ගෙන යාම නිසා අපි අවස්ථා තුනක්ම නඩු දැම්මා. මේ මහින්ද ජයසිංහ එදා අධිකරණයට ගිහින් අතුරු පාලක මණ්ඩලයට එරෙහිව නිතිමය ක්‍රියාමාර්ග ගන්නේ නැතිව කට වහන් හිටියා. අද ඇවිත් හොරුකියලා ඒ නම අපිට ගාවලා වාසි ගන්න හැදුවට අපි සාමාජිකයෝ විදියට එදා අතුරු පාලක මණ්ඩලයට නඩු දැම්මේ. මේ වෙද්දි විවිධ කුමන්ත්‍රණ සිද්ධ වෙනවා. සමුපකාර කොමසාරිස්ගෙන් අපි ඉල්ලා සිටිනවා ජාතික හැදුනුම්පත මේකට අනිවාර්ය කරන්න කියලා. මැතිවරණය සාදාරණව තියන්න.ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන අධ්‍යාපන සේවා සංගමය ආරම්භ කරලා වසර තුනයි. අපි මේ වෙද්දි දිවයින පුරාම අපේ නියෝජිතයින්පත්කරලා තියෙන්නේ. ජවිපේ සම්පුර්ණයෙන්ම පෝෂණය වෙන්නේ ගුරුගෙදරින්. අනුරාධපරයේ ගුරුගෙදර යන්ත්‍ර රාත්‍රී කාලයේ පවා පාවිච්චි කරන්නේ කවුද කියලා අපි දන්නවා. ගුරුවරුන්ගේ සැබ සුබසාධනය වෙනුවෙන් පොහොට්ටුව ලකුණින් ඉදිරිපත් වෙන අපේ අපේක්ෂකයින්ට දෙන්න.

LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE

By Linda Oppenheimer

Cataracts cause about half of all cases of blindness worldwide.^1,2

By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have cataracts, or will have undergone surgery to remove them.³

Researchers have been investigating two different but related forms of the nutrient carnosine to help slow the development of cataracts as well as improve visual performance of cataract-affected eyes.

A new study illustrates the ability of oral carnosine in capsule form to preserve normal structure of proteins in the lens of the eye—an action that may slow or prevent the development of vision-impairing cataracts.⁴

The study shows that carnosine works through several interrelated mechanisms that help protect against the underlying changes caused by aging that lead to cataracts.⁴

In addition, human studies have found that a derivative of carnosine, N-acetylcarnosine, when used as an eye drop, can induce improvements in visual performance of cataract-affected eyes.^5,6

Many readers of this magazine have been using a high-potency carnosine supplement (500-1,000 mg/day) since we introduced it in 2000.

A number of others also use eye drops that deliver N-acetylcarnosine directly to the eye lens where cataracts occur.

Based on both established and recent science, there is now a two-part strategy of using both carnosine and N-acetylcarnosine to help reduce the risk of cataracts.

https://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2018/1/Carnosine-Cataracts-And-Visual-Clarity/Page-01

Small Scale plastic to oil conversion

Dr Sarath OBEYSEKERA

I am of the opinion that quite a few voters who had some good opinion about the minister who held and now hold a responsible ministry in the current government should guard his lashing tongue are now little confused.

Such irresponsible statements were made by Sir John Kothalawala who uttered words like Bituman tar may have to applied on monks bold heads .

UNP ended up with only seven seats in the subsequent elections.

There may be monks who are almost behaving like laymen,but generalise many chief monks as  .”මෝඩ වහන්සේලා is surely not called for.

I am quite confident that UNP needs rebranding and change of guards if they want to face the people at any future election.

Antogonising buddhist as well as Christians by critisizing the HE cardinal and ven Ratana will be a disaster for the party.

We all voted for Yahapalanaya ,but that does not mean politicians can behave like this.

After seeing  some pictures in the press where minister gives the impression that he is a canine fan,does not mean that he can bark at any tree.

Dr Sarath OBEYSEKERA

The National Joint Committee 

The reply from the office of the Prime Minister that the National Joint Committee received to the letter sent to the Prime Minister regarding the MCC agreement

Compact Development Unit, Policy Development Office, 2nd FIoor, New Building, North Wing – Temple Trees, Colombo 03. Tel: 0l I 7124402, Fax: 01 1 7124404

To Lt Col. Anil Amarasekera (Retd,) Co-President National Joint Committee 231, Kirula Road Colombo 5

Dear Sir,

The Millennium Challenge Corporation Agreement

3 i”‘ May, 2019

This has reference to your letter of 22″d instant addressed to Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on the above.

Whilst thanking you for requesting information on a socially and politically important matter as the misinformation and fabricated fake news spreads on the matter so quickly and easily without being vetted, investigated, or confirmed.

In order to provide you the complete and accurate information on the matter in the proposed agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, USA (MCC), we write to inform the following:

1. The Government of Sri Lanka, with the help of the Center for Intemational Development (CID) at Harvard University, conducted a constraints analysis (CA) to identif, constrains which hampered the economic growth in the country and identified three binding constraints; i.e. 1. access to land; 2. weakness in transport and logistics infrastructure and planning; and 3. policy instability. 2. Having considered the in-depth economic analysis, the GoSL prioritized and focused on the two binding constrains namely, access to land and improve in transport which GoSL and MCC recognize as critical constraints to economic $owh. The copy of report can be accesseci through: https://assets.mcc. gov/contenVuploads/constraints-anal)zsis-sri-lanka.pdf

3. MCC’s Board of Directors selected Sri Lanka for a threshold program in December 2015 and elevated Sri Lanka to eligibility for a compact in December 2016 after continued improvements in performance as measured by the MCC scorecard. Since early 2077, }lCC has worked collaboratively and closely with the Government of Sri Lanka, through the Office of Policy Development under the Prime Minister’s Office, to develop a dual-sector compact program in grant funding. Tkoughout the compact development process, the Government of Sri Lanka and MCC consulted with hundreds of individuals from government, the private sector, and civil society in small group discussions and one-on-one meetings to understand the root causes ofthe transport and land binding constraints and potential activities that would address those root causes. The Government of Sri Lanka and MCC also launched multiple rounds of due diligence to identifu potential projects that could meet MCC’s investment criteria. On the basis of such engagements and analyses, the Govemment of Sri Lanka submitted project proposals to MCC for consideration in November 2017.

4. Projects are identified under the grant funding after completing a rigorous due diligence process done through a period over 1.5 years. The activities will assist Sri Lanka to achieve its objective of strengthening transpofi infrastructure and land administration. The total grant amount is US$ 48t) million, which would disburse over a five-year implementation time frame.

5. Under the land administration project, the following activities will be done: (i) Preparation of Parcel Fabric map and inventory of state land. (ii) Improvement of Deeds Registry. (iii)Improvements of the land valuation system. (iv) Land Grants Registration and Deed Conversion Activity. (v) Land Policy and Legal Govemance Improvement Activity,

The above activities will be implemented in the following 7 districts with the limited funds available for the land sector. (Kegall4 Kandy, Matale, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee) Further we requested to include Gampaha district as rvell. 6. It is quite surprising that the transport component of the MCC has not been given the importance as given to the land administration project. The following activities are proposed under the Transport Development project:

(i) Establishing an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) covering the Colombo Metropolitan area to improve the efficiency, capacity and safety of the CMR road network to improve flow rate, reduce travel time and congestion, reduce traffic emission and reduce accidents.

(ii) Bus Transport Sector Modernization (BTSM) programme will make a significant improvement to the speed and quality of the public bus system combining state owned and private buses.

(iii)Developing and improvement of 137 k.m. road sections in the Central Ring Road (CRR) covering and connecting Sabaragamuwa, Uv4 Norlh Central and Central Provinces to markets in the Westem Province. Connected to this Road development, is a study to locate and finance, locations for rvholesale storage of Agro produce in collaboration with private investors at locations on the CRR Road network to be developed to improve post-harvest management of produce.

We assume that the above information would clear your doubts and all misinformation regarding the MCC grant. Please also be informed that the Agreement between the MCC and the GoSL is yet to be signed and we are unaware of any agreement signed on or about 27’h April2019. More information on the MCC grant for Sri Lanka could be obtained from the following link please. https ://www. mcc. gov/where-we-work/program/sri-lanka-compact

Please note that there is no provision for leasing of 1.2 million acres of land under this Compact to any one which is totally baseless and untrue.

R. Siriwardhane Coordinator/Consultant MCC Sri Lanka Project

c.c.to. Mr. E.M,S.B.Ekanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister, (This refers to your minute dated29l5l19).

By Upatissa Perera Courtesy Ceylon Today

Parliamentarian S.B. Dissanayake told a Media briefing yesterday that 10 complaints against former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen will be handed over to the three-member committee at Police Headquarters today (7).

Dissanayake said there were complaints related to Bathiudeen’s alleged links with extremists, scams carried out by him, information about two alleged murders in Mannar and forcible takeover of lands.

Courtesy Adaderana

Parliamentarian Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has sent a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament Karu Jayasuriya to gain his attention towards acts of jeopardizing national security.

The letter containing 12 pointers has been copied to 11 persons including the President, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, and all media institutions.

Referring to the Official Secrets Act No 32 of 1955, the letter points out that the Easter Sunday attacks cannot be discussed at the parliament or any of its committees under the Sub-Judice rule as there are 5 ongoing cases on the incident at the Supreme Court.

Rajapakshe further points out that there is also an ongoing investigation carried out by a committee appointed by the President.

An unsafe and a grave situation would arise as a result of information of state intelligence being publicized through a parliamentary committee appointed foregoing the Official Secrets Act, states Rajapakshe. The complete responsibility of this should be borne, firstly, by the Speaker of the Parliament and secondly, by the government, he said.

The letter further says, the President, as the Commander in Chief and the Defense Minister, by allowing state intelligence to be shared at the parliament or at any other place, has purposefully violated the provisions 33 (1) a and 38 (2) (i) of the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka.

Courtesy Adaderana

A case has been filed with the Supreme Court against former Governor of Eastern Province M.L.A.M. Hizbullah over Contempt of Court, says Ada Derana reporter.

The case was filed by Attorney-at-Law Indrasiri Senaratne from Marawila area.

The plaintiff has said that the former governor has commented regarding the transfer of a judge during Derana ‘Talk with Chatura’ programme on May 13th.

He further says the relevant comment is in contempt of the court and seeks legal action against the former governor.

Courtesy Adaderana

IGP Pujith Jayasundara, testifying before the Special Parliament Select Committee, stated that, on 20th of April, he had received a telephone call that ‘something’ could happen on the 21st.

Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando had given the said telephone call between 6.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., the IGP said.

According to the IGP, he was only told that there is an imminent threat and that something could take place the following day.

The IGP added that he subsequently informed the senior DIGs of the Northern, Eastern and Southern provinces in this regard and asked them to notify others as well.

More information regarding the conversations could be obtained by inspecting his telephone calls.

The IGP further emphasized that he had notified every responsible person regarding the possible attacks

Courtesy Adaderana

Mohamed Razik Mohamed Taslim, who was shot in the head by Zahran Hashim’s group, spoke to Ada Derana via a video call.

Taslim was the first person to reveal information on the suspects, who vandalized Buddhist statues in Mawanella area on 26th December 2018, is speaking to the media for the first time on how he tried to take action against religious extremism.

Investigations into the vandalism of Buddhist statues in Mawanella had led to the arrest of one of the suspects disclosed by Taslim.

As Taslim, father of three, became a target of the extremists as he went ahead to unveil more information on them.

On March 29th this year, Taslim was shot in the head while he was asleep at his home located in Danagama area, Mawanella.

Speaking to Ada Derana, Taslim said the Easter attacks could have been prevented had the authorities acted on the information disclosed by him.

Taslim is the coordinating secretary to Kabir Hashim, who recently stepped down from his ministerial post along with other Muslim ministers. He said the minister was notified regarding the suspects, however, the minister had responded it was the security forces that should be informed on the matter, not him.

Day by day, one by one was taken into custody and their testimonies revealed the duo Saddik and Shahid had led the incident,” Taslim said during the video conversation. 

Taslim says he subsequently uncovered that Zahran Hashim is also behind the said incident.

Responding to the questions, Taslim said he first learned of Zahran Hashim in late February.

Taslim says, several individuals, who were arrested over the Mawanella incident, are his acquaintances and when queries as to why they carried out an act as such, Saddik had asked him to join them.

The tip-off on the Shahid-Saddik duo was first given in February, says Taslim.

I was shot in the head at my home. At first, I didn’t know what happened. But later, when I gained consciousness, I got to know that I was shot,” Taslim continued.

Even after the tip-off was given, the police had not acted on it properly, but the attacks could have been prevented had they taken necessary measures, Taslim told Ada Derana.