{"id":92670,"date":"2019-08-29T23:29:12","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T05:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=92670"},"modified":"2019-08-28T22:27:58","modified_gmt":"2019-08-29T05:27:58","slug":"how-civil-or-representative-is-sri-lankas-supposed-to-be-civil-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/08\/29\/how-civil-or-representative-is-sri-lankas-supposed-to-be-civil-society\/","title":{"rendered":"How \u2018Civil\u2019 or \u2018Representative\u2019 is Sri Lanka\u2019s supposed to be \u2018Civil Society\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

They call themselves \u2018civil society\u2019 but how\nrepresentative are they? Note how connected they all are and how they continue\nto open new \u2018social movements\u2019 with sugar-coated objectives\u2026 most have been\naround for decades but what exactly have they done. Some of the popular\nentities are even accused of taking funds from multiple sources for the same\ntask or claiming reimbursements for events not even held. But they do not shy\nfrom pointing fingers and projecting themselves as better than the politicians\nthey want to oust. When these entities are really no better than the one\u2019s they\nclaim are corrupt \u2013 what really is the alternative for the people? With\nelections round the corner is it not possible that hidden hands and heads are\npushing new movements to spread their wings with objective to marshal\ndisgruntled voters with a hidden objective of transferring the people\u2019s choice\nto the imperial choice eventually. It is quite obvious all of these have some\nform of international invisible backing and are being used simply to attract\nvoters away from a nationalistic platform as it does not benefit the imperial\nagenda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of these players at some point or the other have come to the rescue of the imperial agent though to camouflage that their tactic is to say \u2018Reject 225 + 1\u2019 but then everyone who came to abolish the Presidency didn\u2019t abolish it because they simply couldn\u2019t. These are mere slogans used to fool the masses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Members of the Lawyers Collective<\/strong>,\nfrom left, K.S. Ratnavale, Chrishantha Weliammuna and Jayampathi Wickramaratna\nleave after a press briefing in Colombo January\n2013.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawyer\u2019s\nCollective – “<\/strong>\u0db1\u0dd3\u0dad\u0dd2\u0da5<\/strong> <\/strong>\u0d91\u0d9a\u0db8\u0dd4\u0dad\u0dd4\u0dc0<\/strong>“<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Associated names – Lal Wijenayake,\nChandrapala Kumarage, and JC Weliamuna<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its facebook page\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Lawyers-collective-Sri-Lanka-\u0db1\u0dd3\u0dad\u0dd2\u0da5-\u0d91\u0d9a\u0db8\u0dd4\u0dad\u0dd4\u0dc0-913615878656918\/ <\/p>\n\n\n\n

campaigned for 19a, promoted aluth parapura, thanked\nall those who strove to remove CJ Mohan Pieris \u2013 also featured on its FB is\nNagahakanda Kodituwakku claiming that CJ Mohan Pieris must resign<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NewsfirstSL\/videos\/843977245662535\/UzpfSTkxMzYxNTg3ODY1NjkxODo5MjE2MzgxMTc4NTQ2OTQ\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even the Executive Council of the SL Bar\nAssociation called for his resignation <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.newsfirst.lk\/2015\/01\/17\/basl-calls-cj-mohan-peiris-tender-resignation\/72647\/?fbclid=IwAR2WmvFnj1rt0HzJm39u0luadmM_7c8OYT-wUJyLUi8rHWl8N3XcRcO2NNM\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The above charged President Rajapakse\nclaiming the removal of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike was illegal. Why did\nthese same lawyers not hold a similar press briefing when Chief Justice Mohan\nPieris was dismissed simply by not allowing him to enter his chambers? Shirani\nBandaranayake was CJ 43 \u2013 but CJ 44 is\nboth Mohan Pieris & Sri Pavan. How can this be? How biased has this Lawyers\nCollective been?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/notes\/shenali-waduge\/exposing-the-hypocrisy-of-the-champions-of-rule-of-law-democracy-removal-of-a-ch\/10158305600209466\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lawyers for Democracy<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior lawyer KS Mr Rathnavel who is also member of\nLawyers Collective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2018, Lawyers for Democracy issued statement in\nresponse to Mahinda Rajapakse\u2019s statement on dissolution of Parliament \u2013\nsignatories to this statement were K.S. Ratnavale, J.C. Weliamuna, Lakshan\nDias, Sheath Nethsinhe. Why didn\u2019t Lawyers for Democracy raise objection to the\nmanner RanilW was appointed PM after a Presidential Election or the manner CJ\nMohan Pieris was removed without due process being followed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawyers for Democracy\u201d\u00a0in a statement issued in 2017,\u00a0justified the appointment of Ramanathan Kannan as a High Court Judge inspite of the Judicial Services Association (which represents the district judges and magistrates of Sri Lanka) adopting 5 resolutions for his removal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2013 article by Dharisha Bastians titled\nRajapakse hiding behind monk-led mobs to attack civil society\u2019 covering press\nbriefing of Centre for Society & Religion<\/strong>\nbecause the supposed monk-led mobs had charged them of being funded by the US\nembassy to provide evidence to UN inquiry using LTTE families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nimalka Fernando addressed briefing, CPA head\nPakiasothy Saravanamuttu also gave a statement, Brito Fernando was also part of\ngroup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good governance activists included \u2013 Just\nSociety Convener Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, Gamini Viyangoda, former Ceylon\nChamber of Commerce head Chandra Jayaratne<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Movement for Social Justice<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by Ven. Madulawe Sobitha thero to usher in what\ninfamously became known as yahapalana or good governance. In November 2014 its\nfirst meet was attended by <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Democratic Party\nLeader Sarath Fonseka and MP Arjuna Ranatunga, while the former President Chandrika\nBandaranaike, issued a message pledging support to the group \u2013 it clearly\nestablished its bias and allegiance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

University Teachers\u2019 for a Just Society<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convener Venerable Dambara Amila Thero, Prof. Jagath\nKumarasinghe, Prof. Rohan Fernando, Dr. Mahim Mendis, Dr. Nirmal Ranjith\nDewasiri all openly campaigned for 2015 Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena \u2013\nagain showcasing their bias. They attended the November 2014 \u2018yahapalana\u2019 press\nmeeting organized by Ven. Sobitha thero. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

December 2014 \u2013 Nearly 150 civil society groups under\nleadership of Maduluwawe Sobitha thero signed agreement in December 2014 and\nAugust 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Movement for a Just Society<\/strong> head Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The architect of the Yahapalana \u2013 Good\nGovernance Government \u2013 Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha thero launches first mass rally\nof the collective <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Paravasi\nBalaya\u2019  (<\/strong>\u0db4\u0dd4\u0dbb\u0dc0\u0dd0\u0dc3\u0dd2<\/strong> <\/strong>\u0db6\u0dbd\u0dba<\/strong> Citizen\u2019s Power)<\/strong>  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

on Tuesday, 2 December 2014 at Hyde Park,\nColombo. The theme of the rally is \u2018Escaping the Trap\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera,  Common\nOpposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena, Opposition Leader Ranil\nWickremesinghe, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, JVP Leader Anura Kumara\nDissanayake, TNA National List Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, Democratic\nParty Leader and former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, Mano Ganeshan of the\nDemocratic Peoples\u2019 Front, Sunil Jayasekara of the Free Media Movement, Ravaya\neditor k.W. Janaranjana, Gamini Viyangoda, Dr. Chandraguptha Tenuwara and\nnumber of other academics and activists a will address the rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 2015 \u2013 Colombo-based Civil Society\nGroup\u2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

issue press release – conveners were Pakiasothy\nSaravanamuttu, Nimalika Fernando, Shanti Sachithanandan, K S Ratnavale<\/p>\n\n\n\n

June 2015 \u2013 Joint statement by 17 organizations and 52\nactivists ahead of August General Elections<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\nJanuary 2016 the Civil Society Collective<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

organized a press conference titled \u2018Citizens Initiative for Constitutional\nChange\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speakers at this event were \u2013 S G Punchihewa (human rights activist), Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu (CPA), Lal Wijenayake, Rohana Hettiarachchi (PAFFREL Executive Director), Kumuduini Samuel, Sudarshana Gunawardena (Rights Now Executive Director), Shan Wijetunga (Transparency International) Lionel Guruge CPA Senior Researcher in charge of CPA Outreach programas chaired the briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\nhttps:\/\/outreachlk.wordpress.com\/author\/outreachlk\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 2016 \u2013 People\u2019s Movement Against Port City\u2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

organized by Catholic priest Sarath\nIddamalgoda led a protest to demand the government stop the Port City project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Port City was stopped immediately in January\n2015 by Ranil and recommenced by Ranil in 2016 but no Sarath Iddamalgoda to\nprotest against it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 2016 \u2013 Brito Fernando, President of the\nFamilies of the Disappeared says govt should not fish for Opposition MPs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aluth\nParapura<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

personalities associated with this group are\nSharmini Serasinghe, Samanalee Fonseka, Indrachapa Liyanage, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who knows the outcome of the Woodstock\nfestival would immediately realize where Red Woodstock of Love 2016 was heading\nof course heavily funded with $$$ all aiming to infuse foreign corrupt immoral\ncultures as western trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advocata\n(earlier Advocata Institute) Sri Lanka<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colombo-based\nneoliberal <\/strong>think tank connected to the US Govt  https:\/\/www.advocata.org\/about<\/a>  & launched in\nMay 2016 at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute & 3 months after the launch\nMinister Malik S quotes Advocata\u2019s privatization plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board of Directors \u2013 CEO, Anarkali Moonesinghe, Frank\nLavin<\/strong> Chairman & CEO, <\/em>Fredrik Erixon<\/strong> Director \u2013\nECIPE (<\/em><\/strong>European Centre for International Political Economy linked to\nCATO Institute), <\/em>Henry Ergas Professor of Infrastructure\nEconomics, <\/em>Nishan de Mel<\/strong> Executive Director – Verite Research, <\/em>Parth\nJ Shah<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President – Centre for Civil Society, <\/em><\/strong>Premachandra\nAthukorala<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor of economics \u2013 ANU, <\/em><\/strong>Razeen Sally<\/strong> Professor at\nLee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy \u2013 NUS, <\/em>Rohan Samarajiva<\/strong> –Chairman\n\u2013 Lirneasia, <\/em>Reuben Abraham<\/strong> CEO – IDFC Institute, <\/em>Suri\nRatnapala<\/strong> –Professor of Law, Queensland Uni.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: Verite Research is promoting MCC economic corridor\nin Sri Lanka and is MCC agent in Sri Lanka<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lirneasia<\/strong> \u2013 Rohan Samarajiva is its Chairman, Vinya\nAriyaratne (General Secretary of Sarvodya is in Lirneasia Board), Vinya is also\non the board of Sarvodaya Fusion \u2013 so too are Rohan Samarajiva, Madhu\nRathnayaka (Virtusa), <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2018 Vinya formed National Peoples\u2019 Movement (NPM)<\/strong> with Deshodaya <\/strong>(entity\nwithin Sarvodaya) and United Professionals Movement<\/strong>\ntogether with 17 civil society groups. Slogans being promoted in lieu of\n\u2018yahapalana\u2019 is \u2018Together\nWe Can\u2019 and promising to \u2018Save-Serve Sri Lanka\u2019. These intellectuals believe a\n\u2018new face\u2019 in politics will save Sri Lanka! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nagananda Kodituwakku<\/strong><\/a>\u2019 Vinivida Foundation<\/strong> is also a partner of NPM. Nagananda is carrying out his presidential bid by collecting donations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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from FB post<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Notice\nUnited People\u2019s Movement comprises Deshodaya (entity of Sarvodaya), Kalyanamithra Society, Sinhala Weera Widana Society.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what\u2019s the link with United\nProfessionals Movement (UPM) and United People\u2019s Movement? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

National\nAlliance of Alternative Forces<\/strong> (NAAF) formed on 8 August 2019 by Professor\nKrishan Deheragoda (President) and Dr. Rohan Pallewatta (Leader) of Social\nDemocratic Party of Sri Lanka, Ananda Stephen (General Secretary) of National\nDevelopment Front, Navin Guneratne of Movement to Unite Motherland, Dinesh\nKirthinanda of Alternative Political National Alliance, Professor Siri Hettige\nof Movement for Democracy & Justice, Dr. Prasanna Cooray of Democratic\nSocial Alliance and Swarajya Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Rohan\nPallewatte and Mr. Nagananda Kodithuwakku supposedly contesting for 2020\nPresidency joined NAAF pledging support for a single National Candidate under\nthe theme Reject 225 + 1\u201d and \u2018total system change\u201d.  35 Associations representing nearly 150\norganizations took part in its meeting held on 22 August 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is\nthe link with NPM and NAAF?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came Abhiman Lanka “<\/strong>\u0d85\u0db6\u0dd2\u0db8\u0db1\u0dca<\/strong> <\/strong>\u0dbd\u0d82\u0d9a\u0dcf<\/strong>”\n(Dignified Sri Lanka)<\/strong> also\nlaunched on the same day by the same people promoting either Rohan Pallewatte\nor Nagananda Kodituwakku.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incidentally, with JVP presenting its Presidential candidate as its party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake \u2013 Abhiman Lanka invites JVP to join it \u2013 the alliances that were working in isolation are now closing ranks & joining! https:\/\/www.lankanewsweb.net\/67-general-news\/47670-\u2019\u2019Abhiman-Lanka\u2019\u2019-invites-JVP-to-join-alternative-force-amidst-presidential-polls–VIDEO-?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Law & Society Trust<\/strong> \u2013 formed by late Neelan Tiruchelvan\nhas on its board of Directors \u2013 Chairman Chandra Jayaratne (supporter of\nyahapalana government) Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda, G Alagaratnam (BASL President\nin 2015), <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donors are controversial – National Endowment for\nDemocracy (NED) for land rights (note recent Land Privatization bill attempting\nto privatize all state land) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/lstlanka.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Annual-Report-2018-V2.20-for-website.pdf\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Centre for Policy Alternatives<\/strong> <\/strong>headed by Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu has on its Board \u2013\nProf Jayadeva Uyangoda who is also on the Board of Law & Society Trust,\nAritha Wickremasinghe appointed Director to board of National Intellectual\nProperty Office by Ranil Wickremasinghe government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPA has been a promoter of \u2018federalism\u2019 in Sri Lanka and\nits head in 2016 was appointed, Secretary of the Task Force on Consultations\non Mechanisms for Reconciliation \u2013 clearly establishing a link with the ruling\nRanilW government. Pakiasothy also was at one time a Transparency International\nDirector.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.cpalanka.org\/donors\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Its list of donors include USAID, EU, Ford Foundation,\nGTZ, National Democratic Institute, NORAD, Asia Foundation, Berghof Foundation,\nFriedrich-Naumann-Stiftung, UNDP, UNHCR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 2014 an expose of funding corruption in the\nCPA was revealed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPA was accused of billing for un-held workshops, getting\ngrants from 2 donors for the same task (EU & UNESCO paid CPA to do same\ntask \u2013 each paying EURO 99,497.16), duplicating receipts, hotel bills and\nhoodwinking donors. These are the people preaching anti-corruption! The article\nclaims CPA asked Galle Face Hotel to issue 4 bills for the same amount under\ndifferent descriptions omitting alcohol intake. As per the article\nInternational Federation of Journalists is one of the \u2018most corrupted media\norganizations in the world\u2019 including double-billing. The entire article should\nbe read \u2013 names of Rohan Edirisinghe, Sunanda Deshapriya, Victor Ivan are all\nmentioned. These are the entities and mouthpieces preaching about\nanti-corruption and good governance and holding workshops across the country\npromoting it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Expos\u00e9: Centre For Policy Alternatives Defrauded And Hoodwinked Donors<\/a><\/blockquote>