SL government replies to Canada

32 Pages·2014·8.2 MB·English

Newslanka would like to wish everyone
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EWSLANKA EWSLANKA
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THURSDAY - APRIL 17 - 2014 T: 020 7978 9030 E: [email protected] ISSUE 1167
SL government replies to Canada
REGGIEFERNANDO-
ISNOWINLONDON
Givehimacallat
ByAishaNazim forum,yettheyhavegivenintopolitical CommonwealthSecretariatwillinsteadgo Commonwealthistoremainrelevant,it NEWSLANKA
(CeylonToday.lk)-Reactingstronglyto pressureandhavebenttowardstheirvote fortwoyearstowardcombatingthe muststandindefenceofthebasic 02079789030
Canada'sdecisiontosuspend base.Wecanalsoseethemannerin practiceofchild,earlyandforced principlesoffreedom,democracyand
Commonwealthfunds,thegovernment whichtheWest,asawhole,behavesis marriage. respectforhumandignity,whicharethe
saidCanadahassuccumbedtopressure purelymanagedbytheirvotebase," "Ashostofthe2013Commonwealth foundationsuponwhichthe
exertedbytheTamilDiaspora. Rambukwellacharged. HeadsofGovernmentMeetingand Commonwealthwasbuilt,"hesaid.
MinisterofMassMediaandInformation, TheCanadiangovernmentonMonday currentChairinOffice,SriLankahasa Thus,"Wecannolongerjustifyproviding
KeheliyaRambukwella,saiditwasclear announcedthesuspensionoffundingto dutytotakemeaningfulactiononhuman additionalfundingtoanorganizationthat
thatCanadahadsuccumbedtopolitical theCommonwealthoverrotatingchairSri rights,politicalreconciliationand turnsablindeyetohumanrightsabuses,
pressure,therebydesertingthevalues Lanka'sallegedrightsabuses. accountability.However,SriLankahas anti-democraticbehaviourandreligious
andprinciplesoftheCommonwealth. AgencyreportersaidonTuesdaythat failedtorealizeprogressonanyofthese intoleranceinitsmemberstates,"itfurther
"Thewaytheyhaveactedishilarious.It whileSriLankaremainschairofthe53- issues,"theAFPquotedForeignAffairs quotedtheminister.
appearstheyhavetakenitonapersonal memberbloc,Canada'sCan$10million MinisterJohnBairdassaying. Thewithdrawaloffundingcomesafter....
note.TheCommonwealthisacommon (US$9million)annualcontributiontothe "Canadabelievesthatifthe CONTONP14
OHCHR will commence assessing the evidence on SL- Hague
SRILANKANSCHOOLSOBA'SINTHEUK
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Govt. to provide psychosocial support President pardons jailed PSD officers
for conflict-affected (ft.lk)PresidentMahindaRajapaksatodayfreeda
groupofPresidentialSecurityDivision(PSD)
(ft.lk)TheSriLankanGovernmentwillsoonlaunch LessonsLearntandReconciliationCommission officersjailedovertheirinvolvementinthe
acoordinatedandcomprehensiveapproachto (LLRC)listsseveralrecommendationsand harassmentofpopularsingersRukantha
providepsychosocialsupportandcounsellingfor activitiestoaddresssocial,economicandmental GunatillakaandChandralekhaPereraseveral
conflict-affectedpeopleinthenorthandeast. healthneedsofvulnerablegroupsintheformer yearsago.
Atameetingheldwithstakeholderministries,the theatreofconflict.Theseincludewomen-headed ThePanaduraHighCourthadlastyearsentenced
ChairmanoftheCommitteeMonitoringthe households,childrenandtheelderlyaffectedby tojail10formerPSDofficersovertheincident.
implementationofLLRCRecommendationsand thewar,anddisabledpersons. The10formerPSDofficersweregiven41/2year
SecretarytothePresidentLalithWeeratungahas Anumberofministries,includingtheMinistryof jailtermsandwerealsoorderedtopay
emphasisedtheimportanceofadoptingaholistic SocialServices,theMinistryofHealth,andthe compensationtothevictims.
andcoordinatedapproach,linkingallprograms MinistryofChildDevelopmentandWomen’s AnotherformerPSDofficerwasfreedfromthe
currentlycarriedoutbygovernmentministries,for Affairsareimplementingcounsellingprograms, casebythePanaduraHighCourt.Theformer
creatinggreaterefficiencyintheprovisionof livelihooddevelopmentprogramsandhousing PSDofficerswereattachedtothesecuritystaffof
alsoharassed.Theincidenttookplaceintheyear
counsellingandpsychosocialsupport. programsforthesetargetgroups. formerPresidentChandrikaKumaratunga.
2000duringthepresidencyofChandrika
TheNationalPlanofAction(NPoA)monitoringthe Discussionsatthemeetingcenteredonthe TheformerPSDmemberswerechargedwith
Kumaratunga.
implementationoftherecommendationsofthe currentpsychosocialsupportandcounselling unlawfulassembly,organising,intimidatingand
Fearingfortheirlives,RookanthaGoonatillake
programscarriedoutbyvariousministries, robbingthepropertyworthofRs.3.6millionfrom
andhisfamilyleftthecountryfollowingthe
FOR SHOPKEEPERS capacitybuildingforcounsellingandthe thehouseofRookanthaGoonatillake.
incidentandlivedintheUnitedStates.(Colombo
evolvingofamechanismtoimprovesupport Themusician’swifeChandralekhaPererawas
Gazette)
deliverycoveringalltargetgroups.
Vice-ChairpersonoftheCommitteeMonitoring University of Peradeniya Colombo Chapter AGM
AASSSSOOSS
LLRCRecommendationsandSecretaryofthe
MinistryofTechnologyandResearchDhara
(sundaytimes.lk)TheAnnualGeneralMeetingof Treasurer:M.P.Premasiri
£3FR3O0M0 WHeijaalythatDilar.kNe,ihSaelcJraeytaartyhiolafktah,eSMeicnriesttaryryooffthe theAlumniAssociationoftheUniversityof AssistantTreasurer:NiranDeCosta
PeradeniyaColomboChapterwasheldonMarch9 Co-Editors:P.Balasingham,WimalSapukotana,
MinistryofChildDevelopmentandWomen’s
atShalikaHallNarahenpita.Thefollowingwere RauffReffai
AffairsEricIllayapparachchi,Secretaryofthe
electedasofficebearersfor2014/2015: Co-ordinator:DayaJayasekera
MinistryofSocialServicesEmeldaSukumar
President:C.Sooriyaarachchi Auditor:S.C.Mayadunne
andrepresentativesfromtheMinistryof
GeneralSecretary:D.M.D.V.Jayampathi ExecutiveCommittee:NimalGunaratne,Sunilde
EconomicDevelopment,theMinistryof VicePresidents:G.H.P.Dharmaratna,Ms.Nalinide Silva,C.Maliyadda,D.Abeysinghe,D.G.
7YEARSWARRANTY Education,theMinistryofYouthAffairsand Silva,GodwinPerera,G.P.Piyasena,JinithdeSilva Dayaratne,Dr.UdulaKrishnarathne,Dissanayake
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WallUnit Orderattendedthemeeting.(Colombopage) FareezaGhazzali
Gondola BreadUnit
Indian forces took part in SL war: Plea
(dailymirror.lk)Chennai:DidIndiaclandestinely besidescompensationtotheimmediatefamilies PresidentofIndia,whoisthesupreme
deployitsarmedforcesinSriLankaduringthe ofthevictims. commanderofthearmedforces,andwithout
finalphaseoftheethnicwarin2009? ThepetitionfiledbyDelhi-basedadvocateRam parliamentarysanctionrequiredunderArticle
APILfiledintheSupremeCourthassaidIndian Sankar,secretaryofDelhiTamilAdvocates 246oftheConstitution.
militarypersonneltookdirectpartinthewar,and Association,lastweekhasbeenlistedfor
www.easycold.co.uk thatsomewereeveninjuredinthebattle.ASikh hearingonApril17.
officerwascommandingtheforces,itsaid,citing ThepetitionsaidIndianArmy,NavyandAir
Unit1EastgateBusinessPark,ArgallWay,LondonE107PG
eyewitnessevidenceandinternationalprobe. Forcepersonnel"wereunlawfullysenttoSri
0208 558 36 66
NotingthatdeployingIndianmilitarywithout LankatoaidandabettheSriLankanforces
parliamentaryorpresidentialnodisillegal,it intheirinternalwaragainstTamilminorities"
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Royal students invent equipment to identify fish deposits
RidmaDissanayake fishermentoidentifyfish
(dailynews.lk)Agroupofstudentsfrom depositsinshallowanddeep
RoyalCollege,Colombohasinventeda seas.Itwillbeagreatsupport
specialequipmenttoidentifyfishdeposits forfishermentohavegoodfish
intheseawhichwasintroducedto harvestswithoutwastingtimein
FisheriesandAquaticResources thesea.
DevelopmentMinisterDr.Rajitha Thenewequipmentisoperated
Senaratne,recently. throughtheinternetwith
KovidaGunawardena,RavishandeSilva, satellitetechnology.Itwillsend
RahalWickremasinghe,Buddhika amessageonfishdepositsto
PrabathandSachithSeneviratne thefishermen’smobilephones
studyingintheCommercesectionof viathecommunication alsorequestedthemtobringmore
RoyalCollegehaveinventedthis equipmentinthevessel,theysaid. innovationsforthefisheriessector.Royal
equipment.TheymettheFisheries MinisterSenaratnehighlyappreciatedthe CollegeCommerceSectionHead
MinisterattheFisheriesandAquatic effortofthestudentsandtheirinterest ChandanaLiyanage,FisheriesDirector
ResourcesDevelopmentMinistry,and aboutthefisheriessector. GeneralNimalHettiarachchi,Dr.Sayuru
explainedthewaytheequipmentcanbe Hepledgedfullcooperationforthe Samarasundaraandofficersofthe
usedinfishingactivities.Accordingtothe studentstocarryoutmoreexperiments FisheriesandAquaticResources
students,thenewequipmentwillhelp anddeveloptheequipment.Theminister DevelopmentMinistrywerealsopresent.
Lanka tops Child- leader.
Devi Balika Colombo tops 2013 GCE(O/L)
“Therefore,wealwayssetupearlychildhood
Friendliness Index in developmentcentrescountrywidetopromotechild
best performance index
educationratherthanopeningorphanagesto
South Asia servedestitutechildren”,theMinistersaid.
byDulminSamarasinghe inthisindexis90.
byRanilWijayapala Students in NCP at risk (sundayobserver.lk)DeviBalikaVidyalayain Outofthe245studentswhosatforthe
ColombohasachievedthebestGCE(O/L)results examination,51%haveobtained9A's,79%have
(psruontedcatycohbilsderervne’sr.lrkig)hTthseaGndovloeornkminetontt’sheiniritniaetievdestoin of contracting renal lpaesrtfoyremaarn(2c0e1i3n)dbeyxsocfothriengde8p4airntmtheentboefst ohbatvaeinoebdta8inAe'sd.8EAig'shtayntdhr9eAe'sp.eMrcresn.tSoafmthaerasstuindgehnets
tinhethpeaCsthfieldw-FyreieanrdslihneelspsedInSdreixLaamnkoantgoSsocuotrheAasfiiarsnt disease eSxaammairnaastiinognh.ePrsinacidiptahlaMttrhsi.sPwraadsetehpeabestresults seaxiadmthinaattinoonnaenodftthheepsatusdsernattsefiasil1e0d0t%he.
cMHSCooehinuuilsindtsahtrtreeiidAernsstThri,aieesCnvshteahIinalrdKileteiaeDadr-teayitvhvelieyeaaaltrtoodSspduErmiarnLvedseanaynVtidkaicoa.onlendhndaWcudecottmAheegdeanhbi’inysgshtAthefefsatirs (icrndeaavMrreiliyeeamddleiicdorirunothter.ablDkty)rh.tRhigCeahhjeCaarrnaagnltirfaaoardUJneaniayisvatSeusrtudasmeittenyatUnsSaneininvsiteaohrirdesLittteyehcsehttuasrder tLeshaaxaaindtmk.haTianhasaettbitohehnieigsnhheaeoxdsbattmtanoiiunnpmeaedtbrifoeoinnrrm.2thA0awl1lte3scltloubtudyoledagnebststcehtwhaohicsooh,lisiesnhaveSetdtrhie SApraeh'streeffooisnrramatidhelledtshmeuaxbtotj1trehe0cemt0sr%e.tolyonwfgtuehelel.tosTthuaedchesinteutvsdeehn1at0vs0eh%oabvpteaaisnsed
scoreintheChild-FriendlinessIndexintheSouth NorthCentralProvincewereatriskofcontracting
Asianregion. renaldiseasesintheirearlyyouth. Brits warned about Victor-Nanda in NY
Thesurveywasconductedtakingintoaccount “Wesenturinesamplesofstudentsstudyingin
childhealth,education,andprotectionasthemain grades9,10,11and12totheCaliforniaState drink-spiking in SL (sundaytimes.lk)Popularsingers
criteriainmeasuringthechildfriendliness Universityandthosetestshaverevealedthatthey VictorRathnayakeandNandaMalini,
environment. arepronetocontractkidneydiseasesatanearly (dailymirror.lk)Britainhasadviseditscitizens whohavemesmerizedmusicloversin
TheMinistersaidthehotlines1929toreportthe age,”hesaid. travellingtoSriLankamainlyinthesouthern allpartsoftheworldforseveral
casesofviolenceagainstchildrenand1938to Dr.Jayasumanasaiditwasaseriousissuefacing beachresortstobevigilantastherehavebeen decades,willcomealiveinNewYork
reporttheincidentsofviolenceagainstwomen thecountrywhereevenstudentswereattherisk reportsofdrinksbeingspikedwithdrugs. onApril20attheHarbourCultural
madeamajorimpactonprotectingchildrenand ofbeingexposedtothismenace. Issuinganupdatedtraveladvisory,theForeign Centre.
womenkeepingSriLankainthehighestposition “Earlierweheardofpeopleintheir30sand40s andCommonwealthOfficesaid,“Therehave PopularmusicianSureshMaliyadde
intermsofprotectingchildrenandwomen’srights, catchingthisdisease,”hesaidandaddedthat beenreportsofdrinksbeingspikedwithdrugsin willbethemusicdirectorforthe
theMinistersaid. theywerehavingdiscussionswiththehealth barsandrestaurantsinsouthernbeachresorts. concert.TheVictor-Nandaduoisalso
HesaidtheGovernmenthadalsotakenstepsto ministryastowhatcouldbedonetorectifythis Becarefulabouttakingdrinksfromstrangersat presentingapopularseriesofmusical
preventmotherswithchildrenunderfivegoing crisissituation. barsandrestaurants,anddon’tleavedrinks concertstitled‘RamyaTheerthaya’in
abroadasdomesticaidesconsideringthesituation “Wearetalkingtohealthauthoritiesaboutthis unattended.” SriLanka.
thesechildrenfaceathomeintheabsenceoftheir issue.Wehaverecommendedthatschoolchildren
mothers. shouldbeprovidedwithcleanwateratschoolsin almostallLTTEoverseasnetwork,Policesaid.
HesaidchildreninSriLankaarefortunatetohave theNorthCentralProvince.Nearly50schools Interpol help sought to TheysaidthatNediyavanwashandlingmostof
aleadersuchasPresidentMahindaRajapaksa havebeenprovidedwithwaterpurifiers,”hesaid. theLTTEoverseasnetworkfromNorwaywhile
wholoveschildrenmorethananyotherworld (AjithSiriwardana) arrest overseas LTTE Vinayagamawashandlingintelligencerelated
activitiesfromFrance.
leaders
Dilmah launches tea capsules TherequesthasbeensoughtfromInterpolafter
(dailymirror.lk)TheSriLankaPoliceDepartment threeLTTEoperatives,whowerekilledin
(scoop.co.nz)Loyalteadrinkerswillbeableto SingleRegionrange,withtealeavescarefully hassoughttheassistanceofInterpoltoarrest NedunkernionWednesdayinashootoutwith
entertaintheirtea-lovingfriendsatthepushof handpickedinrenownedtea-growingregionsof PerinbanayagamSivaparanaliasNediyavanand themilitary,werebelievedtobehandledand
buttonwiththeNewZealandlaunchofDilmahtea SriLanka.TheleavesusedfortheEnglish SegarampillaiVinayagamoorthyalias fundedbybothLTTEoverseasleaders.
capsules. BreakfastcapsulearegrownintheDimbulaValley,
Vinayagam,bothwhoarevirtuallyhandling
AvailableinpopularEarlGreyandEnglish anareaknownforproducingrich,strongandfull-
Breakfast,thenewteacapsulesarecompatible bodiedteas.Meanwhile,theEarlGreyleavesare
withNespressomachinesandallowforan cultivatedintheRatnapuraregion,resultingina Lankan man arrested over stabbing
alternative,andquicker,teamakingexperienceto strong,bergamot-infusedbrew.
traditionalteabags.Theperfectcupoftea Easytouseandconvenient,thefoil-wrapped (colombogazette.com)ASriLankanmanhas attempttofleeand
traditionallytakesthreeminutestodrawoutthe capsulesretainthesamefreshness,flavourand beenarrestedinItalyandhasbeenchargedwith followingabodysearcha
fullflavourandgoodness,Dilmahstillencourages highqualitycharacteristicsforwhichDilmahis theattemptedmurderoftwopeople,theItalian longknifestainedwith
thisasthebestwaytomaketeawhilerecognizing renowned.Theleafpreparationinvolveswithering, mediareported. bloodwasfoundinhis
thatformanypeoplethissimplydoesn’thappen.A rolling,oxidationandfiring:thesameattention-to-
The36yearoldmanwasarrestedintheItalian possession.
teacapsuletakesjust30secondstoproducethe detailprocessusedbyDilmahformorethan25
townofNaplesafterhestabbedtwopeopleand Hiswifehadtoldthepolice
perfectcuppaeverytime. years.
laterresistedarrest. thattheattacktookplace
Settoappealtocoffeeandteadrinkersalike,the DilmahteacapsulesinEarlGreyandEnglish
Theincidentoccurredinthedistrictof followinganargument
capsulesarethelatestreleasewithintheDilmah Breakfastvarietiesare$7.79fora10pack.You
Montecalvario,wherethemanliveswithhiswife betweenherandher
willfindthem
andafriend,Ilmattino.itreportedtoday. husbandaboutthefoodhe
alongsidecoffee
Followingadisputewithtwomeninhishousehe didnotlike.
capsulesinNewWorld
hadstabbedbothofthemandrunaway.Both Herbrothers,thetwomen
supermarketsfromlate
the30and33yearoldmenhadreportedthe whowerestabbed,intervenedaftertheyfeared
MarchandCountdown
supermarketsfromlate incidenttothepoliceonbeingadmittedto shewasabouttobeassaultedbyherhusband.
April. hospital. Thetwomenwerethenstabbed.(Colombo
TheSriLankanmanwasarrestedduringhis Gazette)
65 arrested over possible revival of LTTE
(ft.lk)Thepolicehavearrested65people Speakingtoreportersatamediabriefing, Thepolicespokesmansaidthatthe
including10womenforalleged thepolicespokesmansaidthatwhile suspectsarebeingheldatdetention
involvementofapossiblerevivalof investigationsarecontinuingintothe60 centersgazettedunderSriLankanlaws
LTTE. suspectsincustody,allegationsthatone andtheyhaveaccesstotheirfamily
PolicespokesmanSSPAjithRohana womanwaspregnantafterallegedly members,adoctorandtheICRC.
saidfollowinginvestigationsfivemenhad beingrapedwhileincustodywasfalse. HeinsistedthattheDiasporaandsome
beenreleased. Hesaidthatofthe10womeninpolice mediawerespreadingfalseclaims
Healsodeniedreportsthatwomen custodyeighthavebeendetainedatthe regardingthedetaineesaddingthat
arrestedonsuspicionoverallegedLTTE Boosacampand2inVavuniyaandthey thoseincustodyareonlysuspectsand
linksinthenorthhavebeenabusedwhile havebeengivenaccesstoallthe arebeinginvestigatedoverallegedLTTE
inpolicecustody. facilitiesaccordedtoanyinmate. links.(ColomboGazette)
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PAGE 06 EWSLANKA 17 APRIL - 2014 ISSUE 1167
Milk like substance pours from the pinnacle
of the Kirivehera on the eve of Avurudu
(sundaytimes.lk)Amilklikesubstancewas Ven.SashtravediKobawakaDhamminda
seentricklingdownfromthepinnacleofthe Therowhoarrivedatthescenesaidthathe
KiriveheraontheeveofAvurududuringthe couldn’tgiveascientificclarificationforthis
timeoftheritualmilkboilinginthemorningat butin1970asimilarkindofincident
thepremisesofthe. happened.
Havingseenthisunusualscenenearly1000 Hefurthersaidthatitwasveryrarethatboth
devoteeswhogatheredtopayhomagetothis theNewYearandthefullmoonfellonthe
ancientDagabastartedchanting“Sadhu samedayandthatperhapstherewas
Sadhu”ingreatveneration,our somethingregardingthisfact.
corespondentreported. Pictureshowsthemilkysubstancecoming
TheincumbentoftheKirivehera downfromthepinnacleofKirivehera.
TID releases 19 suspects out of 60 held
over attempts to revive LTTE
ByMaduraRanwala whodiedonApril11,inaconfrontation Jayakumari,hesaid.
(island.lk)TheTerroristInvestigations withthearmyatVedivachchikallu,south ThevihanwasanLTTEcadreinvolvedin
Spurned husband jailed for pursuing Division(TID)hadreleased19suspects ofNedunkerni,wereburiedonApril13,at theLTTEairattacksonthe
includingmothersofSelvanayagam thepubliccemetery,Anuradhapuraat AnuradhapuraairbaseinOctober2007
'traumatised' wife KajeepanaliasGopiandNavaratnam governmentexpenseaftertheywere andtheKolonnawaPetroleumStorage
NavaneethanaliasAppanonApril11,12 identifiedbytheircloserelativesand facilityalsointhesameyear.
(newsnorthwales.co.uk)A bypersistentlybreachinga and13,outof60heldbyitoverattempts mothers. Thegovernmentlaunchedamajorhunt
REJECTEDhusbandwho restrainingorderimposedonhim. torevivetheLTTEPolicespokesman About41suspectsincludingsixfemales forLTTEcadresinthewakeofGopi
“relentlesslypursued”hisex-wife The26-year-oldgrabbedherarmin SSPAjithRohanatoldTheIsland werebeingdetainedbytheTIDandthey shootingatapoliceofficeronMatch13
yesterday. wouldbefurtherdetainedas atDharmapuram,aone-timeLTTE
despitebeingtoldtoleaveheralone asupermarket,despitebeingunder
Amongthe19releasedsuspects,four investigationshadrevealedtheywere strongholdeastofKandy-JaffnaA9road.
hasbeenjailedforsixmonths. arestrainingordernottoapproach
werefemalesandfifteenweremales,he tryingtoreviveterrorisminthecountry, Mrs.BalendranJayakumari,harboured
MaligaweAkalanka,ofRivuletDrive, her. said. theSSPsaid. GopiatherDharmapuramresidence
Wrexham,hadcomeoverfromSri Healsopostedaletterthroughher aThebodiesofGopi,Appanand Amongthesixwomenbeingdetained thoughsheknewofhisinvolvementin
Lankatosupporthiswifethrough doorclaiminghewouldnotbeable SundaralingamKajeepanaliasThevihan, wasAppan’sparamour,TamilNational terrorism.
heruniversitystudies. toplaycricketbecause“allhecould Alliance(TNA)activist,Mrs.Balendran
Butwithintwomonthsofhisarrival thinkaboutwasher”.
shehadendedthemarriage– Akalankaadmittedthreebreaches Three top Tigers killed in clash with army
leavinghim“lovesick”,Wrexham ofarestrainingorder–imposedon
MagistratesCourtheard. February14–andachargeof FirstconfrontationsinceMay19,2009 Thepreviousday,troopsrecoveredfour reportoftheUnitedNationsHigh
Sincethenhecausedher commonassaultandwassenttojail AirTigeramongthedead back-packscontainingrations,medicine CommissionerforHumanRightsand
“considerablepsychologicaltrauma” foratotalof180days. byShamindraFerdinando andclothes. reportsoftheOfficeoftheHigh
(island.lk)Thelargestmanhuntlaunched Thegovernmentlaunchedamajorhunt CommissionerandtheSecretary
149 arrested for drunk driving intheNorthernProvincesincethe forLTTEcadresinthewakeofGopi General,NorthernProvincialCouncillor,
conclusionoftheconflictinMay2009 shootingatapoliceofficeronMatch13 AnanthiSasitharanallegedthat
endedintheearlyhoursofyesterday atDharmapuram,aone-timeLTTE Vipooshikahadbeenarrestedfor
(dailymirror.lk)Atotalof149people 61werethree-wheelerdrivers.
withthreepersons,Sundaralingam strongholdeastofKandy-JaffnaA9road. participatinginprotestsdemandingthe
hadbeenarrestedacrossthe “Eighthundredandseventyseven KajeepanaliasThevihanand Troopsrecoveredone9mmweapon, releaseofherdetainedbrother.
countryfordrivingunderthe (877)roadaccidentsincludingeight SelvanayagamKajeepanaliasGopi, fourhandgrenades,severaldocuments SasitharansaidthatVipooshika’sarrest
influenceofliquor(DUI)duringthe busaccidents,473motorcycle beingkilled. aswellassomedryrations,alongwith wasathreattoeverychildprotesting
past24hours,thePolicesaid. accidents,308three-wheeler Themilitarysaidthattheremainingbody thebodies. injusticecausedtoTamilspeaking
Thearrestsweremadebetween6 accidentsand88otherroad wasbelievedtobeofNavaratnam AseniormilitaryofficialtoldTheIsland people.
a.m.yesterday(14)to6a.m.today. accidentshadbeenreportedfrom NavaneethanaliasAppan.Therewasno thataTamilNationalAlliance(TNA) Policeheadquarterssaidthatfollowing
ThePolicesaidamongthearrested, Thursday(10)to6.00a.m.this officialconfirmationatthetimethis activist,MrsBalendranJayakumari,had investigationsintoongoingattemptsto
76weredrunkenmotorcyclistsand morning,”aPolicespokesmansaid. editionwenttopress. harbouredGopiatherDharmapuram revivetheLTTE,authoritiesdetained60
TheDefenceMinistryconfirmedthe residencethoughsheknewofhis persons,including10womenin
deathofthreeLTTEcadresandthe involvementinterrorism.Whenthepolice connectionwiththeirallegedinvolvement
recoveryoftheirbodiesfollowinga arrestedJayakumariandtookher13- inthenewterrorismproject.
confrontationatVedivachchikallu,south year-olddaughter,Vipooshikainto Authoritativesourcessaidthatasboth
ofNedunkerni. protectivecustody,theTNAraisedthe GopiandThevianhadlivedabroad,
ThevihanhadbeeninvolvedintheLTTE matteratthe25thsessionoftheGeneva- investigatorswereintheprocessof
airattacksontheAnuradhapuraairbase basedUnitedNationsHumanRights checkingtheirrelationshipwithDiaspora
inOctober2007andtheKolonnawa Council(UNHRC). activists.Intelligenceservicesbelieve
PetroleumStoragefacilityalsointhe TheLTTEactivistsinLondonlauncheda thatAppanhadbeenstayingat
sameyear.Yesterday’sconfrontationwas protestcampaignoutsidetheBritish Jayakumari’shomeforsometimeand
thefirstbetweenthearmyandtheLTTE Premier’soffice,demandingtheBritish wasinvolvedinclandestineoperations.
sincetheLTTE’smilitarymuscle interventiontosecuretheirrelease Sourcessaidthattheyhadbeenfunded
collapsedonthebanksofthe AddressingtheUNHRC,underGeneral bytheEurope-basedLTTEgroups.
NanthikadallagoononMay19,2009. DebateonAgendaItem2ontheAnnual
PressRelease
SriLankan Airlines facilitates Umrah pilgrims from MRIA
FOR SHOPKEEPERS
R
E
AASSSSOOSS
F £3FR3O0M0 Caption:ThefirstbatchofUmrahpilgrims (Agency/Passenger)Mr.FawzanFareid devoteesintheSouthernandEastern
F beforedepartingfromMRIA,withthe said,“SriLankanasthenationalcarrier partsofthecountry,whowillotherwise,
SriLankanSalesteam. hasalwaysbeenattentivetothepulseof haveto,makealongerjourneytothe
O Colombo,April11,2014: SriLankan thepeople.Ourmissionliesfarbeyond capitalcityinordertoboardaflight.With
Airlines,thenationalcarrierofSriLanka transferringpeoplefromonepointto theever-sosupportivestaffandsmooth
nowfacilitatesUmrahpilgrimsto another.Itisabouttakingthemto completionofformalities,Iamhopeful
L
Jeddah,withitslatestroutevia wheretheydesiretobe.This thatthisisgoingtobehassle-free
A Mattala.Forthefirsttimein initiativecameintobeingasaresult journeyfromthebeginningtotheend."
history,SriLankanpassengers ofourefforttoprovideasmoothand SriLankanoperatesaweeklyflight
I willnowhavetheopportunityto hasslefreejourneytoallthepilgrims leavingHambantotatoJeddahevery
C starttheirjourneyfromthe headingfortheHolyLand.Thisisall Thursdayat1400hrslocaltime.The
country'ssecondinternational aboutrecognisingandsalutingtheir nationalcarrier,withitsstrongpresence
E 7YEARSWARRANTY airport,MattalaRajapaksaInternational devotion." intheMiddleEasternregion,currently
P (PART&LABOURINCLUDED)* www.easycold.co.uk Airport(MRIA).Accordingly,thefirst TheteamleaderofthegroupMohammad operatesatotaloffiveflightsaweekto
batchconsisting30Umrahpilgrims, IqbalMarikkarvoicinghisthoughtsonthe Jeddah.
S Unit1EastgateBusinessPark,ArgallWay,LondonE107PG departedfromMattalaRajapaksa sacredjourneywithSriLankansaid, CorporateCommunicationsDepartment
Office: 0208 5583 666 / 0203 0076 507 InternationalAirport,onThursday. “SriLankan'soperationstoJeddahfrom SriLankanAirlines
SriLankanAirlines,ManagerSales Mattalacomesasagreatreliefforthe
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Sri Lanka trip anger for Tewkesbury
No evidence on some of the missing
MP Laurence Robertson
(colombogazette.com)TheCommission concreteinformationonwhereandhowsomeof
investigatingpersonsreportedmissingduringthe thesepeoplewentmissingtherelativesofthose
ByRobinJenkins ButMrRobertsonsaidtwoLabourMPspulledout
warsaysthereisnoevidenceonsomeofthe peoplefeeltheCommissionwillfindthem.
(gloucestershireecho.co.uk)LaurenceRobertson thenightbefore,withouttellinghimwhy,andhe
peoplereportedmissing. MeanwhileGunadasasaid
wasleft‘embarrassed’and‘furious’afterhavingto decidedtocancelthewholeevent.
SecretarytothePresidential thattheCommissionhad
calloffaParliamentarytriptoSriLankaatthelast Hesaid:“IsupposeIcouldhavejustgonemyself,
CommissionH.WGunadasa foundthroughitsinquiriesin
minute. butitwasabouttakingacross-party
sayswheninvestigatingsome Jaffna,Kilinochchiand
TheTewkesburyMPandhispartner, group.
complaintsthereisno Batticaloathatmostrelatives
AnnieAdams,wereduetojetofftothe “Thecharityhaslostthousandsof
informationonwhereandhow ofthosereportedmissingare
IndianOceanislandlastThursday. poundsonthis.I’mabsolutelyfurious
theywentmissing. inapoorstateofmind.
MrRobertsonhadbeenaskedby aboutit.
“Thisisabigproblembutwe “Insomefamiliesthereare9-
legendarySriLankancricketerMuttiah “Theflightswerebookedandthehigh
arestillinvestigatingthose 10peoplereportedmissing.
Muralitharantosendadelegationof commissionerovertheredidalotof
complaintsaswell,”hesaid Thosefamiliesareinastateof
MPstohishomelandonafact-finding workonit.
addingthatthefamily shock,”hesaid.
missionduringtheEasterrecess. “It’sembarrassing.Everyone’slostout.”
membersofthosepeopleare Gunadasasaidthatafter
TheConservativeMPwasoneoffiveMPsdueto Heexplainedthattheplanhadbeentovisit
notwillingtoacceptdeath discussingwiththerelevant
visitwiththeirpartnersontheweek-longtrip, variouspartsoftheislandandtalktodifferent
certificatesandsotheyare agenciesincludingtheICRC,
whichwastobepaidforbyMrMuralitharan’s factionsinthecountry,whichhasbeencriticised
beingprovidedcounselling. itwasdecidedtohavecounsellingsessionsfor
charity,theFoundationofGoodness. fromafarforallegedhumanrightsabuses.
Gunadasasaysdespitethelackofevidenceand thosefamilies.(ColomboGazette)
(Contd:onP14)
The Geneva resolutions and the waning US power
THOUGHTSFROMLONDON- farmoretemperedviewofUSinfluenceinthe particularly,intheattemptsofWashingtonalong complicitintheCIA-operated“rendition”flightsthat
BYNEVILLEDESILVA worldtoday,especiallyinsomeregionsofthevast withsomeofitshandmaidens,tocastigateSri tookterroristsuspectstoplacesofdetentionin
AsiancontinentoverwhichWashingtononceheld LankaattheUNHRCinGenevaatthreedifferent EuropeorwhichusedEuropeanairportsor
(sundaytimes.lk)Asinthelastfewyears,thelatest
sway. votessince2012. airspacetoflythemelsewhereoutofthe
anti-SriLankaresolutionattheHumanRights
WritinginLondon’s“Guardian”newspaperover Washington’sperceivedmoralhighgroundmight jurisdictionofUScourts,inblatantviolationof
CouncilinGeneva,hasalsobeenbisectedand
twoyearsago,respectedacademic,philosopher havebeenlessofaslipperyslopehaditsown Internationallaw.
trisectedyieldingamultiplicityofopinionsonwho
andbêtenoirofmanyAmericanadministrations, recordofadherencetointernationallawandnorms Thereisenoughevidencecollatedandreportedon
didwhattowhomandwhy.
NoamChomskydrewattentiontoAmerica’s anditsabjuringofunilateralmilitaryaction,had bySenatorDickMartyoftheCouncilofEurope
Whiletriumphantcriesmightemanatefrom
waningglobalpowerinatwo-partseries andRapporteurClaudioFavafrom2005until
Washington,theprimemoverofthisresolution,
titled“Losingtheworld:Americandecline quiterecently,tomaketheseaccusations
andevenshrillernoisesfromLondonatwhatis
inperspective.” stick.
seenassuccessinGeneva,moreperceptive
TheChomskycontributionismentioned SothemainsupportersoftheUS-led
observersofUSforeignpolicyarelikelytotakea
herebecausehedevotesmuchofthe resolutionshavebeenfromCaucasian
Kensington Travel earlypartofthearticletoWashington’s EuropemanyofwhombelieveintheHoly
decliningpowerandinfluenceinAsia, Bookbutsomehowseemtoforgetthe
especiallysoutheastAsia,since admonitionofChrist-“hewhoiswithoutsin
America’signominiousretreatfrom lethimcastthefirststone.”
Vietnamafteryearsoftramplingon Justaquickcommentonthevotingitself
numerousinternationallawsforwhich overthethree-yearperiod.In2012,the
nobodyatthetopofthetotempoleof resolutionhad24votesinfavour,in2013
powerhasbeenheldaccountableand supportwas25votesandin2014itdropped
punished. to23.Allinall,thesupportbasehasbeena
Whatpromptedthisarticlewas fractionabovehalfofthe47-memberCouncil
LourdesPilgrimage LourdesPilgrimages
America’sfailuretocommemoratethe orafractionbelowit.
byCoach £199 byAir £599 50thanniversaryofPresidentJohn Duringathreeyearperiodduringwhichthree
from from OneofPullitzerprizewinnerHorstFaas’Vietnamwarpictures:
Kennedy’sdecisiontolaunchwhat resolutionswereintroduced,thesupport
17Apr, 8days:21July Americafailedtocommemoratethe50thanniversaryofPresident
Chomskycalledthe“mostdestructive JohnKennedy'sdecisiontolaunchwhatChomskycalledthe hoveredaroundonlyhalfofthetotalvote.
2&23May,20June Medugorje&Split andmurderousactofaggressionofthe "mostdestructiveandmurderousactofaggressionofthepost- NowthatdoesnotspeakmuchforUSclout
Rome&Vatican post-SecondWorldWarperiod-the SecondWorldWarperiod-theinvasionofSouthVietnam." intheworldtoday,dependingsomuchasit
from£529 invasionofSouthVietnam.” beenfarlessstrewnwiththedebrisofinternational doesonsupportfromcontinentalEurope.
£599 AsChomskywrote,thatinvasionlaterengulfed ThisissurelythepointthatChomskymakesabout
from 8dayspilgrimagebyair, andhumanitarianlawsandundeclaredwars.
allofIndochina“leavingmillionsdeadandfour decliningUSpowerwhichisparticularlytrueifone
CanonisationofPope 3*hotelinMedugorje, OneaspectoftheUS-sponsoredresolutionsinthe
countriesdevastatedwithcasualtiesstill looksatthevotinginthesameperiodby
lastthreeyearsthathasnotreceivedsufficient
JohnXXIII&JohnPaulII excursiontoSplitand mountingfromthelong-termeffectsof SoutheastAsian/EastAsiannationsoverwhich
attention,ifatall,istheirco-sponsorship.
-26-29April Mostar,pilgrimageguide drenchingSouthVietnamwithsomeofthemost Washingtonwieldedsuchimmenseinfluence
Generallyaround40countrieshavesupportedthe
lethalcarcinogensknown,undertakento duringtheColdWaryears.
Holy Land Pilgrimage resolutionsasco-sponsors.Thisislessthan20%
destroygroundcoverandfoodcrops.” Thoughthereare13-Asianmember-statesinthe
ofaUN-membershipof192countriesthoughthe
£979 ItthereforecomesasscantsurprisethattheUS resolutionswereopentoco-sponsorshipforthose CouncilIamlookingattheregionsmentioned
from wieldslittlemoralorpoliticalauthorityinAsia, aboveasitistherethatWashington’spowerand
whowantedtodoso.
8Daysbyair/23May,21Nov particularlysoinSouth/SoutheastAsiaand influenceweremostpronounced,beforeand
Butmoreimportantlywhoaretheco-sponsorsand
EastAsia,whenittriestoholdsmallerand duringAmerica’sdisastrousVietnamwarwhich
KensingtonTravel[ATOL9649] thosewhovotedforthethreeresolutionsatthe
weakercountriesaccountableforoffencesthat alsoresultedintheillegalwaragainstCambodia.
HumanRightsCouncilin2012,2013and2014?
26ThackeraySt,LondonW85ET,02079379861 Washingtonhascommittedmanifoldtimesand NotasingleCouncil-memberfromthatregionhas
Theyconsistoftraditionalwesternallieswho
www.kensingtontravel.com,[email protected] isstillcommitting,inotherpartsoftheworld. votedinfavouroftheUSresolutionsinthethree
supportedtheUSduringtheColdWar,members
ThiswaningUSinfluenceandtherefusalof years,saveSouthKoreawhichhasconsistently
oftheUS-ledNatoandthosewhosoughtNato
manynationsofSoutheastAsiaandits donesoforreasonsthataretoowellknowtoneed
coveraftertheimplosionoftheSovietUnionand
environstobendtoAmericanpressureisbest explanationhere.
"One World keentojointheEuropeanUnion.
demonstrated,fromaSriLankanperspective (Contd:onP22)
Amongthemwerealsocountriesthatwere
Shavendra, Amnesty meet on demo
One People"
(colombogazette.com)SriLanka’sDeputy protesters.
PermanentRepresentativetotheUNinNew AmnestyInternationalhasbeencampaigningfor
WWeeaarreewwoorrkkiinnggffoorraa York,MajorGeneralShavendraSilvahadmeta justiceoverthemurderofthefivestudentsas
groupofAmnestyInternationalrepresentatives wellasseveralotherincidentsreportedduring
followingaprotestheldoutsidetheSriLankan andafterthewar.
ggrreeeenneerr,,ppeeaacceeffuull,,
MissioninNewYorkyesterday(Friday). TheTrincomaleeHighCourthadlastyear
Theprotestinvolvingmostlyyouth,hadbeenheld grantedbailto13policeSpecialTaskForce
ddeemmooccrraattiiccaanndd callingforactionoverthemurderoffivestudents (STF)personnelarrestedoverthecaseinvolving
inTrincomaleeduringthewar. themurderofthe5studentsin2006.
ssoocciiaalliissttwwoorrlldd.. AccordingtotheInnercitypresswebsite,a Theincidentreferredtoasthe‘Trincomalee
representativeofanAmnestychapterin massacre’,occurredwhenthefiveTamilhigh
MassachusettswentintotheSriLankanMission schoolstudentsplayingbythebeachwerebriefly
CCaammppaaiiggnnffoorr rightsgroupscallingonthegovernmenttobring
andcameoutsayingShavendraSilvahad detainedandthenshotdead.
tojusticethosekilledintheincident.(Colombo
promisedtolookintotherequestofthe Theincidentdrewahugeoutcryamonghuman
nnaattuurraalljjuussttiicceebbaasseedd Gazette)
oonnrreeddiissttrriibbuuttiioonn UNP starts appraisal process
ooffwweeaalltthh.. (dailymirror.lk)Mr.Hashimsaidtheyfocusedon Hesaidthepartywouldhavetoreplacethe WesternandSouthernprovincesatthelast
thenumberofvotesthepartyreceivedineach organisersofconstituenciesinwhichtheparty provincialcouncilelections.
constituency.“Thecriteriafortheevaluation hadperformedbadly.Howeverhesaid Meanwhile,Mr.Hashimdeniedreportsindicating
VisitPeoples-International
wouldthenumberofvotesobtainedthepartyin organiserswhorepresentedelectorateswhich thatjointorganiserswouldbeappointedto
eachelectorateattherecentprovincialcouncil wereconsidered‘tough’intermsofobtaining constituencieswherethepartyhadfaredbadly
www.peoples-international.com
elections,irrespectiveofwhetherthepartyhad votes,mightbeexempted. duringthelastprovincialcouncilelections.
wonorlosttheelectorate”hesaid. Thepartylostnearly52electoratesinthe (YohanPerera)
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Canada suspends Commonwealth funding Coexistence and reconciliation: outstanding
traditions of Avurudu-MR
(news.yahoo.com)Ottawa(AFP)-Canada's
governmentannouncedMondaythesuspension
(dailymirror.lk)PresidentMahindaRajapaksasaid tousbygreatcelebrationsofnationalculturesuch
offundingtotheCommonwealthoverrotating
thatcoexistenceandreconciliationarethe asthisfestival.
chairSriLanka'sallegedrightsabuses.
outstandingtraditionsoftheseAvurudufestivities. Thecontinuedsustenanceofrichcultural
WhileSriLankaremainschairofthe53-member
“ThemostvaluedqualityofthisAvurudufestivalis traditionsissymbolicofanationprogressing
bloc,Canada'sCan$10million(US$9million)
takingtheidealofunderstandingandcohesion rapidlytowardsprosperity.
annualcontributiontotheCommonwealth
beyondthefamily,tothevillage,thecityandthe WewelcomethisAluthAvuruddaatatimewhen
Secretariatwillinsteadgofortwoyearstoward
entirecountry,”Presidentsaidinamessageto productionanddevelopmentinagricultureand
combattingthepracticeofchild,earlyandforced
marktheSinhalaandTamilNewYear. otherspheresaremakingimmenseprogress.Itis
marriage.
"TakingthisspiritofreconciliationtowardsSri essentialtobuildnationalunitytousherinrapid
"Ashostofthe2013CommonwealthHeadsof
LankabeingcrownedtheWonderofAsiashould developmentinthecountry.
GovernmentMeetingandcurrentChairinOffice,
beafirmcommitmentofusallatthisAluth Whatisoutstandinginthetraditionsofthese
SriLankahasadutytotakemeaningfulaction
Avurudufestival,"hesaid. festivitiesarecoexistenceandreconciliation.The
onhumanrights,politicalreconciliationand
Fullmessage: mostvaluedqualityofthisAvurudufestivalis
accountability.However,SriLankahasfailedto Pedestrianswalkpastaposterthankingnationswhich WecelebratethedawnofthisSinhalaandTamil takingtheidealofunderstandingandcohesion
realizeprogressonanyoftheseissues,"said supportedSriLankaattheUNHumanRightsCouncil
AluthAvuruddawithprideinoursuccesstowards beyondthefamily,tothevillage,thecityandthe
ForeignAffairsMinisterJohnBaird. whereaUS-ledresolution..
buildinganationself-sufficientfromanabundant entirecountry.Takingthisspiritofreconciliation
"CanadabelievesthatiftheCommonwealthisto LankalastNovember.
harvestofnature’sblessings. towardsSriLankabeingcrownedtheWonderof
remainrelevant,itmuststandindefenceofthe Canada'sforeignministeratthetimesaidthe
Onlyagreatculturalheritageandrighteousvalues Asiashouldbeafirmcommitmentofusallatthis
basicprinciplesoffreedom,democracyand decisiontoallowColombotostagesuchasa
couldprovidetheworldwithpeoplewhoarerichin AluthAvurudufestival.
respectforhumandignity,whicharethevery gatheringwasakinto"accommodatingevil."
humanevalues.Thefoundationforthisisprovided IwishyouallaHappyandProsperousNewYear.
foundationsuponwhichtheCommonwealthwas SriLankahasfacedinternationalpressureover
built,"hesaid. accusationsofwarcrimesduringthebloodyfinale
Thus,"wecannolongerjustifyprovidingadditional toitscivilwarin2009,inwhichtheUNsaysas Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera
fundingtoanorganizationthatturnsablindeyeto manyas40,000Tamilciviliansmayhavebeen
humanrightsabuses,anti-democraticbehaviour killed.Colombohasdeniedtheaccusations. For Executive Presidency!
andreligiousintoleranceinitsmemberstates." TheCommonwealthSecretariatisresponsiblefor
ThewithdrawaloffundingcomesafterCanadian facilitatingcooperationbetweenmemberstates, (asianmirror.lk)Asocialmediacampaignhasbeen thesocialmediacandidatepositioningGanansara
PrimeMinisterStephenHarper,alongwiththe organizingmeetings,andadvisingonpolicy launchedviaFacebookpositioningBBSGeneral Theraasapresidentialcandidate.Speakingto
leadersofIndiaandMauritius,boycotteda development. SecretaryGalagodaaththe AsianMirror,aBBSSpokesman
CommonwealthleaderssummithostedbySri GnanasaraTheraasapotential saidGnanasarahadnointention
commoncandidateforthenext ofbecomingacandidateatthe
MP pulls out of SL trip over UN inquiry-report presidentialelection. nextPresidentialElection.
SeveralFacebookpageshave TheFacebookcampaigncomes
(dailymirror.lk)BritishMPSharonHodgson,whois interestinseekingjusticeforthosewhohavebeen alreadybeenstartedinthisregard. inthewakeoftheincidentwhere
oneoftheMPswhocanceledtheirplannedvisitto thevictimofwarcrimesandhumanrightsabuses ThosewhoruntheFacebookpages GnanasaraTheradisrupteda
SriLanka,hassaidthatshedecidedtocancelher inSriLanka,andwasaco-signatorytoaletterin havenotyetdisclosedtheiridentity pressconferenceorganizedby
visitonhearingthecountry’sgovernmentwas 2010callingforanindependent,international orallegiances. 'JathikaBalaSena'thatwas
refusingtoco-operatewiththeUNinquiry, inquiryintothem. However,theBBShascategorically scheduledtotakeplaceatNippon
Sunderlandecho.comreported. “Iwas,therefore,delightedwhentheUNresolved statedthatthemovementhasnoinvolvementin Hotel,Colombo.
TherepresentativeforWashingtonand todojustthatlastmonth.However,when
SunderlandWestwasduetotraveltothecountry commentsfromtheSriLankanForeignMinister UN panel will be monitored – Govt.
onanall-costs-coveredvisit,supportedbythe earlierthisweekwerebroughttomyattention,
FoundationofGoodness,foundedbycricketer indicatingthattheGovernmentwouldrefusetoco- BySulochanaRamiahMohan willraisequestions."Heevenwarnedthe
MuttiahMuralitharan. operatewithsuchaninquiry,Itookadvicefrom (ceylontoday.lk)SriLankawillcloselymonitorthe witnessesthePoEwouldtalkto."Ifthewitnesses'
ALabourPartyspokespersoninitiallydeniedany colleaguesanddecidedtowithdrawfromthe UnitedNationsPanelofExperts(PoE)andthose claimsinfringetheConstitution,wewilltakelegal
knowledgeoftheproposedtrip,butMrsHodgson delegation.” theyaregoingtotalktoinSriLanka,ifthe actionagainstthem,"hesaid.
confirmedshehadbeenduetovisitbutcancelled ThebowlerisanethnicTamilandhascomeunder governmentdecidestogivethepanelpermission "Wehavelistedpersonsandorganizations,who
onhearingthecountry’sgovernmentwasrefusing fireforhissupportoftheSriLankanGovernment, tovisitSriLanka. arequestionableandwhowentallovertheworld
toco-operate whichlastweeksaiditwouldrefusetoco-operate GovernmentSpokesman,KeheliyaRambukwella, todiscreditthecountry.WewillnotallowthePoE
withtheUN withaUnitedNationsinquiryintoallegedwar inanexclusiveinterviewwithCeylonToday tomakereportsbasedontheirrecords."
inquiry. crimesandcontinuedhumanrightsabuse. warnedthatifthePoEworkscontrarytothe Hepointedoutthatfromthebeginning,the
Shesaid:“I AgroupofLabourandToryMPsandtheirpartners government'splansandactivities,thenserious government'spositiontodatehasbeenthatthe
wasduetovisit wereduetoflyouttoSriLankatomeetsenior questionswouldberaisedontheirpresenceinthe material,theinformationgatheredandthefinal
SriLankawith Governmentministersandofficials,including island. reportthatwasproducedattheUNHRCwas
alegitimate, PresidentMahindaRajapasksa,whoisaccusedof "Werejecttheresolution,werejectthePoEifthey biasedandunwarrantedwithnotransparency.
Tamil-lednon- beingresponsibleforwarcrimes. workcontrarytothegovernment'sposition,we "It'snotonlyus,evenothermembercountries
government However,theLabourmembers–MrsHodgson rejectthefinalreporttheywoulddelivertotheUN havecompletelydisagreedtothesettingupthe
organisation andJarrowMPStephenHepburn,whorepresents withorwithoutvisitingSriLanka,"hesaid."Wewill PoEandmaderepresentationsagainstit,"the
workingto theBoldons–withdrewfromthetripafteran raisequestionsabouttheirvisitandalldependson spokesmanadded.
rebuildvillages interventionbyaseniorLabourfront-bencher,who whattheyaregoingtosaytoallthosequestions WhenaskedifSriLankaisn'tcompelledtowork
inthenorthof saidthevisitwouldbetoocontroversialinlightof weraise. accordingtotheUSresolution,heclaimedthat
theislandafter theUNinquiry. ItdependsonthePoE'stermsofreference.Ifthe "thereisnocompulsionandnoonecanforce
thecivilwar. Ithasbeensaidthegrouphadbeenplanningto termofreferencesiscontrarytotheConstitution, anythingonus"."Weareasovereignnationandif
“Ihavealong- travelwithoutinformingtheAll-PartyParliamentary contrarytotheactivitieswecarryouthere,or theyraisecompulsiononus,thenwewillraisethe
standing GrouponSriLanka. contrarytotheprogrammewehavesetout,we (Contd:onP12)
Bathiudeen wants a Commission of Inquiry against BBS
(ceylontoday.lk)LeaderoftheAllCeylon thepartofthelawenforcement forcehasnotbeenbroughtintoquestion. Thestatementfurtherexplainedhowthe
MakkalCongress(ACMC)andMinisterof authoritiestocryahalttothedastardly AfewdaysbackaBBSteamhadgoneto pressconferenceorganizedbyabody
IndustryandCommerce,Rishad behaviourofthisorganizationhas theNorthandlambastedtheofficials thatcallsitselfaJathikaBalaSenawas
Bathiudeen,calledforaCommissionof emboldeneditsmemberstointensifytheir thereandupbraidedthealreadybattered disruptedbyagroupofvenerablemonks
Inquirytolookintotheincidentwherethe actseveninfrontofmediacameras. Muslimsinthemostindecentlanguage, ledbyVenerableGalabodaAththe
BoduBalaSena(BBS)actedinanunruly Halalissue whichisunbecomingnotonlyofthe GnanansaraThera,GeneralSecretaryof
manneratapressconferenceorganized "TheBBSmadeitspublicentrywithits clergybutevenofanordinaryperson. theBoduBalaSenaisnowinthepublic
bytheJathikaBalaSena(JBS)atHotel firststrikeontheMuslimsintheformof "Atleastthesocalledgovernmentofthe domain.
NippononWednesday,9April,infrontof raisinganissueinrelationtohalal LTTEwaschallengedbythelaw "Eventsinrecenttimeshavetaught
policeofficers. certification,aprocesswhichhadbeenin enforcementauthorities,butthe religiousminoritiesinSriLankathat
TheACMCcalledupontheauthoritiesto practiceforyears.Abusesbeyondall governmentoftheBBSappearstobe ethicalpurityoftheconductofthe
enforcethelawoneveryoneequallyand humannormswerehurledatJamiyathul abovethelaw. Buddhistclergyisasubjectthatisbeyond
appointaCommissionofInquiryintothe Ulamah,disregardingthefactthatitwas "Therefore,theACMCcallsuponthe theircompetenceandreview.However,
incidentsagainsttheminoritiesingeneral thesupremereligiousbodyofthe authoritiestoenforcethelawtoeveryone webelievethattheconductofourlaw
andtheMuslimcommunityinparticular, Muslimsinthiscountryandthatthe alikeandappointacommissionofinquiry enforcementofficersisstillamatterof
duringthepost-warperiod. virulentattackonitwillhurtthe intothepostwarincidentsagainstthe publicconcernandalsoaconcernof
Theministersaid,"Theimpunitywith susceptibilitiesoftheMuslims. minoritiesingeneralandtheMuslim politicalpartiessuchastheSLMC.
whichthey(BBS)wereabletogetoutof "Aquestionthatcriesoutforananswer communityinparticular,andensurethat "AprincipalobligationoftheStateisto
thehotel,notonlyafterforcingthe hereiswhethertheBBSisrunninga themuchlongedpeaceforMuslimsdawn enforcethelawtopreventimpunityandto
organizerstocalloffthepressconference parallelgovernmentlikethatoftheLTTE inthiscountryatleastnow." subjectthatprocesstojudicialpurview.
evenbeforeitstarted,butalsogetting duringitsexistencetostrikeanyplaceat SLMC'deeplydisturbed' Impunityisaprocessthatgathersitsown
themtotenderanapologyunderduress anytimewitheasewithoutaquestion Meanwhile,MinisterofJustice,Rauff momentum.Itencouragesrepetition.
inthepresenceofmembersofthelong fromthepowerthatbeandgoscotfree. Hakeem,onthedisruptionofaJBS "TheSLMCstronglyurgestheconflicting
armofthelawcallsintoquestionthe "Thepurportedmandateofthe meetingbytheBBSsaidinastatement partiestoseeklegalrecourseanddeal
uniformapplicabilityofthelawtoall governmentoftheLTTEwassaidtohave thattheSriLankaMuslimCongress withdisputesinalawfulmanner.The
citizensofthecountry. extendedonlytotheNorthandtheEast (SLMC)isdeeplydisturbedthatthe SLMCisalsocompelledtonoteitsgrave
"TheBBShas,forthelasttwoyears, whereastheself-assumedmandateofthe Officer-in-ChargeoftheSlaveIsland concernsabouttherecenttrendstowards
beenrunningamoktargetingthe BBSgovernmentseemstoextendtothe PoliceStationandotherpoliceofficers theemasculationofthelawenforcement
minoritiesingeneralandtheMuslim wholeIsland.Theiraudacitytopublicly werepassiveonlookersofthephysical agencies."
communityinparticular,andthefailureon declarethemselvesanunofficialpolice violenceinvolvedintheincident.
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