We aren’t obliged to honour Indo–Lanka Accord

DailyMirror.lk

Monday, 08 July 2013

There was a news item published in both Indian and Sri Lankan media that Menon was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka sometime soon to convey India’s displeasure about Sri Lanka’s decision to unilaterally amend the 13th Amendment (13A) to the Constitution, which gave birth to the Provincial Councils.  Minister Basil Rajapaksa has meanwhile paid a visit to India to brief the Indian Government about the proposed changes to the amendment.

India directly and indirectly has warned Sri Lanka not to violate the Indo-Lanka Accord signed in 1987.  Most of the provisions in the 13A are a direct result of the Indo Lanka Accord.  Hence, it is pertinent to look at the so-called bilateral agreement though in my view, there is no such valid Accord between the two nations.

Duress Factor

According to the principles of Contract Law and International Law, accords signed under duress are voidable.  President Jayewardene was of course under duress to sign the accord.  India covertly trained and armed the separatist terrorists in Sri Lanka. This was later exposed by Western intelligence units.   India openly defended the terrorists, attacked Sri Lanka in international forums and finally, invaded Sri Lankan airspace to coerce Sri Lanka to sign the Accord.

In his biography, written by K.M. De Silva and W.H.Wriggins,President Jayewardene has explained in detail the trauma he underwent.  India invaded Pakistan in 1971 and created a new country called “Bangladesh”.  India invaded Sikkim in 1975 and annexed it to India as its latest State and these memories must have been foremost in President Jayewardene’s mind when he chose the best out of the two options available and signed the Accord.

True results of the Accord

India’s influence with the separatist terrorists was reflected in its undertaking to disarm all terrorists within 120 hours. However, the LTTE launched its fight against the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) on October 8, 1987, thus putting an end to a very short honeymoon.  Although India undertook to disarm the terrorists, it failed to fulfil its obligation with respect of the LTTE, which came to be known as one of the strongest terrorist outfits.  Some people boast that 37 other terrorist groups surrendered their weapons as a result of the Accord.  It is of course true but it was counter-productive from a military perspective.  Before the Accord, the 38 terrorist groups were involved in fighting each other for supremacy rather than fighting the Sri Lankan forces.  After the Accord, there was no intergroup rivalry to weaken each other, and this resulted in the LTTE gradually increasing its attacks on the Government forces.  Moreover, the LTTE was transformed into a professional military force from an amateur hit-and-run terrorist group thanks to the Rs.50 million received from India for the rehabilitation of its cadres.  In the light of the above, and as a result of the Indo-Lanka Accord, Sri Lanka had to pay a huge price in terms of human and material resources to defeat the LTTE.

Indian violations of the Accord

Let us assume for a moment there was a valid accord between the two nations.  However, Sri Lanka has now been relieved of its obligations as India failed to fulfil its obligations. According to Paragraph 2.16 of the Indo–Lanka Accord, Sri Lanka’s obligations as mentioned in the Accord were conditional to India taking five steps in the event military groups refused to surrender their weapons.  Since the LTTE neither ceased hostilities nor surrendered their weapons, India was duty bound to perform those five tasks.

The first was to ensure that Indian territory was not used for activities prejudicial to the unity and security of Sri Lanka.  But Tamil Nadu State politicians used its territory in supporting the LTTE with the tacit approval of the Central Government of India.  All successive Central Governments of India after 1996 tolerated the anti-Sri Lankan activities of Tamil Nadu politicians including the Central government as it survived on the support extended by the Tamil Nadu political parties. India never made any serious attempt to eliminate or at least curtail such activities.  Hence, India has violated the first condition.

The second was that the Indian navy was obliged to co-operate with its Sri Lankan counterpart to prevent Tamil militant activities.  The Indian Navy did not do so to prevent such activities after the departure of the IPKF from Sri Lanka.  The LTTE freely transported weapons and other supplies from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka.  Similarly, when the top terrorists were injured in the battle, they were transported to Tamil Nadu for medical treatment without any resistance from the Indian Navy.  The inactivity of the Indian Navy broke the second condition.

The third was that India agreed to provide military assistance to implement the Accord as and when requested.  As the clause clearly says, such assistance should be provided as requested by Sri Lanka.  However, the IPKF did not conduct operations as requested by Sri Lanka.  Instead, they acted as they wished.  As a result, President Premadasa was reluctantly compelled to request the IPKF to withdraw from Sri Lanka.  They did not honour this request.  They came out with their own plan for the departure, rejecting the deadline set by President Premadasa.  In this backdrop, India has not honoured the third condition either.

Repatriation of Indians

The fourth was that India agreed to expedite the repatriation of Indian citizens who were residing in Sri Lanka to India.  This is in fact an obligation overdue for a long time.  It was estimated that there were 975,000 people of Indian origin residing in Sri Lanka as at October 30, 1964. They were not recognised as citizens of India or of Sri Lanka and came to be know as ‘stateless’. Under the Sirima-Shastri Pact signed on October 30, 1964, India agreed to grant citizenship to 525,000 of them while Sri Lanka agreed to grant citizenship to 300,000.  The balance 150,000 people were equally distributed between the two nations in another agreement signed on January 27, 1974.

Although India should grant citizenships to 600,000 as stated in the above agreements, only 506,000 applied for Indian citizenship.  Sri Lanka did not want to force Indians to leave the country.  Hence, Sri Lanka brought a special parliamentary Act in 1986 to grant citizenship to balance 94,000 and their descendants.  However, India failed to grant citizenship to the people who applied for Indian citizenship and thus did not even honour the above agreements.  India kept using the Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu as the excuse for its failure.  That is why there was an obligation as per the Indo–Lanka Accord of 1987 for India to expedite the repatriation.  India is yet to honour this obligation although Sri Lanka has granted citizenship to all Indians residing in Sri Lanka and had also started bringing back the refugees in Tamil Nadu.

IPKF killing Sinhalese

The fifth was that India undertkes to ensure physical security and safety of all communities living in the Northern and Eastern provinces.  India grossly violated this clause when the IPKF with the support of the LTTE began killing the Sinhalese living in Trincomalee District in September 1987.  The IPKF was so brutal that even the Chief Monk of China Bay Temple was shot dead by the IPKF because of his resistance to the slaughter of the Sinhalese. In the aftermath, tens of thousands of helpless Sinhalese fearing for their lives flocked to Kantale and Habarana looking for safety there.

Because India has failed to fulfill any of its obligations, it goes without saying that Sri Lanka has no obligation whatsoever to carry out its undertakings such as the introduction of the provincial councils and establishment of one council for Northern and Eastern Provinces (popularly known as the merger).  Hence, Sri Lanka is free to amend the provisions in respect of provincial councils without consulting India or worrying about the Indo-Lanka Accord.

This Accord is not a landmark in Indian-Sri Lankan diplomatic relations, which have spread over several millennia but a scar continues to remain from a shameful past.  It only confirms how India has deviated from “a Non Interfering Pancha Seela Policy in its relations with its neighbours,” introduced by Sri Nehru.  Since the Indo–Lanka Accord reminds the world of India’s shameful past, India should attempt to do its best to avoid discussions with regard to the Accord.  If India insists on the Accord, Sri Lanka will be reluctantly compelled to remind India of the reasons for Sri Lanka to have signed the Accord, which it did under duress and also how India had failed to honour any of its obligations.

Finally, a CONCRETE MOVE to REPEAL the 13th Amendment and PROTECT the Nation!

 Sri Lanka Buddhist party reveals its constitutional amendment

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

May 22, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Sinhala Buddhist political party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Wednesday revealed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution proposed by them.

Legal adviser of JHU Udaya Gammanpila, Member of Western Provincial Council, briefed the content of the proposition today at a press conference held in Colombo.

JHU Gampaha district MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero said the party expects to bring in the proposal to the parliament as a private member's motion.

Full Text of the Amendment:

The proposition named as An Act to amend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka aims primarily to repeal the 13th amendment to the constitution which paved way for the power devolving Provincial Council system in the island.

Full text of the draft constitutional amendment is as follows: Whereas the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was purportedly enacted, consequent to the Indo- Sri Lanka Accord being entered into between the President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India in 1987 under duress in defiance of the sovereignty of the people of Sri Lanka and,

Whereas the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka did not approve the provisions of the 13th amendment Bill as being consistent with the Constitution in as much as only four judges of the Supreme Court out of nine held that the approval of the people at a referendum was not required to enact the 13th Amendment whilst five judges held that at least one or more of the provisions of the Bill was in violation of the Constitution and therefore required the approval of the people at a referendum and,

Whereas in terms of Article 80(2) of the Constitution "where the Supreme Court has determined that a Bill or any provision thereof requires the approval of the people at a referendum" such bill or such provision shall become law only upon the same being approved by the people at a referendum and the President certifies that the Bill or any Provision thereof has been so approved in the manner as set out in the said Article.

Whereas the majority of the Judges that constituted the bench of the Supreme Court had determined that the Bill or any one or more of the provisions thereof requires the approval of the people at a referendum, such Bill can become law only if complied with Article 80(2) upon being approved by the people at a referendum and therefore the purported certificate of the Speaker endorsed on the Bill purportedly under Articles 79 and 80(1) of the Constitution is invalid and unconstitutional and,

Whereas the Supreme Court has determined that any Bill or any Provision thereof requires the approval at a referendum the only cause of action available under the law is to comply with the process set out in Article 80(2) and the purported Amendment made to Clause 154G(2)(b) and 154G(3)(b) of the 13th Amendment Bill in Parliament without a further determination by the Supreme Court is unconstitutional and unlawful and,

Whereas the 13th Amendment in Article 154A(3) provides for the establishment of one administrative unit for two or more Provinces, to accommodate the unlawful undertaking given by the then President of Sri Lanka in the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord to establish one administrative unit for the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka on the erroneous and false basis that the Northern and Eastern Provinces form part of the homeland of one single ethnic and /or linguistic community as claimed by the separatist forces and,
Whereas the 13th Amendment has sought to abdicate the legislative power vested in Parliament and the Executive power vested in the President by the division of governmental power and restricted the Parliament and the President respectively exercising the legislative and executive power of the people and thereby offended the unitary character of the State, Whereas the 13th Amendment has vested inter alia police powers (including powers in relation to maintenance of public order) in Provincial Councils which was hitherto exercise by the Government of Sri Lanka, which will be a serious threat to national security concerns of the Republic in as much as, ,

(a) the 13th Amendment provides for the Chief Minister of a Province to directly control the Head of the Provincial Police Force and thereby all Police Officers of the said Force and even national police units operating in any province. (vide Item 11 of the Appendix of List 1 of the 9th Schedule) thereby effectively taking away the powers of the Inspector General of Police and the Government of Sri Lanka exercising any authority over such police force, ,

(b) the 13th Amendment entrusts the responsibility of prevention, detection, investigation of all offences (except the offences specified in the Schedule therein) and institution of prosecutions (subject to the powers of the Attorney General) to Provincial Councils and to enact any law on any such matter and further empower any Provincial Council to prevent any Police Officers of another Province entering such Province (vide the limitations contained in sub paragraph (k) of the 2nd item of List II of the 9th Schedule) and thereby jeopardizing the management of law and order and the national security of the Republic.

(c) the 13th Amendment even restricts police officers of the national police force from being in uniform compelling them to be in plain clothes even when performing the limited responsibilities allowed within a province such as when engaging in prevention, detection and investigation of a scheduled offence (vide Item 10:1 read with 12:1 of the relevant Appendix of the 9th Schedule).

Whereas the 13th Amendment, though based on the Constitutional structure of India, denies the Government of Sri Lanka to intervene in the event of a Province acting against the interests of the Republic, although the Central government of India is empowered to intervene in similar situations. (Vide Article 256 and 257 of the Constitution of India).

Whereas the power of the Government of Sri Lanka to give directions with regard to the manner of exercising executive power by a Province is restricted to a situation where the maintenance of essential supplies and services is threatened or that the security of Sri Lanka is threatened by war or external aggression or armed rebellion (vide Article 154J and 154K) no such limitation is placed under the Constitution on the Government of India and,

Whereas the 13th Amendment seeks to weaken the Government of Sri Lanka whilst strengthening the Provincial Councils and thereby destroying the unitary character of the State, territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and the sovereignty of its people and,

Whereas Sri Lanka is a Free, sovereign, independent and unitary State and it is the duty of the State to safeguard the independence, sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and the provisions of the 13th Amendment are a threat to the independence, sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows:- 1. This Act may be cited as the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution. 2. The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (hereinafter referred to as the "Constitution") is hereby amended by the repeal of ; ,

(a) Chapter XVIIA

(b) Article 155(3A)

(c) Ninth Schedule

3. Article 170 of the Constitution is hereby amended by the substitution, in the definition of "written law" for the words "and includes statutes made by Provincial Councils, orders" of the words "and include orders".

4. In the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala and Tamil texts of this Act, the Sinhala text shall prevail.
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Justice DENIED: The KILLER NURSE ... Adele Balasingham .... Lives Luxuriously in Southern England!

2013: Subha Aluth Avuruddak Wewa!

 

 Aluth Avurudu Message from His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa:

The "Aluth Avurudda" is a great cultural festival that has been observed by us from ancient times. It is the festival that marks the great association of Mother Earth with the Sun. Sri Lankans who are nurtured by an agricultural lifestyle meaningfully accepts the dawn of this traditional New Year.

The fullest joy of the New Year is realized in a free country where home and hearth is in full abundance. The ability to make the country self-sufficient in rice, built a society rich in ethical values and seeing this birth of a New Year of happiness, gives us much cause for satisfaction. It is a joy to us all that today, more than at other times, our people are committed to observing the tradition of the New Year and thus the revival of the nation.

The great tradition of bonding among families that is seen in the New Year adds strength to our society. Therefore, we must value the traditions that have come down to us from centuries past, protect them, and bestow this heritage to the generations that follow. This is what assures the continuance of the Sri Lankan nations.

I wish you all a prosperous New Year !
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Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar full movie in English Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Movie Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Lanka at Peradeniya Movie

TN crisis bolsters anti-devolution project – Gotabhaya

By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
 March 28, 2013, 12:00 pm






Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the ongoing crisis in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, over accountability issues here, should discourage those pushing for devolution of power under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

A hostile provincial administration in the Northern or the Eastern Province in Sri Lanka could be inimical to the post-war national reconciliation process, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said in an exclusive interview with The Island. Such an administration could be as intimidating as the conventional military challenge posed by the LTTE, he said.

Asserting that Tamil Nadu was clearly dictating terms to the Central government of India at the behest of some Western powers as well as the LTTE rump, represented by the UK-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF), the outspoken official said that the deepening crisis in Tamil Nadu was nothing but a glaring lesson for the Sri Lankan government.

"Could we afford to have a provincial administration here, which pointed a gun at the national leadership at the drop of a hat? We don’t want to be at the mercy of scheming provincial administrations," the Defence Secretary said, highlighting the danger in foreign powers using bankrupt local elements to influence sovereign governments.

"We have had bad experience on a number of occasions due to foreign interference in our affairs. We are determined not to allow external elements to meddle in domestic politics at the expense of national reconciliation," the Defence Secretary said. With an unprecedented two thirds majority in Parliament, the government could take tangible action in accordance with the country’s Constitution to safeguard national interests.

The Defence Secretary said that those wanting to drag Sri Lanka before an international war crimes tribunal should peruse a recent commentary by former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal. He said that Sibal had lucidly highlighted the absurdity of the situation in one paragraph: "If our foreign policy towards Sri Lanka should be based on the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu today, then sentiments in West Bengal should dictate our foreign policy towards Bangladesh tomorrow, and those in UP and Bihar should determine what we do with Nepal day after. It would be a mistake to begin treating our relations with our neighbours as extensions of the pulls and pressures of our domestic politics. Our neighbours are independent, sovereign countries, which require that we control our domestic lobbies and prevent them from distorting our policies in our periphery. Moreover, when the states are today resisting strongly encroachment on their powers in a federal system, they should also respect the prerogative of the Centre to make foreign policy."

The former Indian Foreign Secretary couldn’t have made the statement at a better time, the Defence Secretary said alleging that Tamil Nadu was being used by Western powers to influence the Center much to the embarrassment to all those concerned. India would never have voted against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for two consecutive years if not for heavy Tamil Nadu pressure over this particular issue, the Defence Secretary said.

According to Rajapaksa, in the backdrop of member states of the European Union and those waiting to join the grouping voting against Sri Lanka in Geneva, in accordance with a policy decision, the role of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should be examined. The Defence Secretary pointed out that EU countries and those waiting to join the grouping spoke in once voice during six votes moved against Israel also at the recently concluded UNHRC sessions, in spite of the US taking a different position. However, SAARC hadn’t probably discussed the issue, with major power taking position in Geneva contrary to the stand taken by other SAARC nations in two consecutive years, the Defence Secretary said. 

Responding to a query, the Defence Secretary said that SAARC couldn’t be blind to what was happening, both regionally and globally. He insisted that whatever differences member states could have had on political issues, terrorism shouldn’t be tolerated and tangible action should be taken to protect interests of those countries fighting terrorism.

Gotabhaya said that an effort was still being made to undermine the government in a bid to effect a change of the Rajapaksa administration. But that wouldn’t be an easy task as long as the vast majority of people remained with the government, he said.

Commenting on the recent anti-Sri Lanka sentiments expressed by Tamil Nadu politician Sebastian Seeman during a meeting in Oslo, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that those who couldn’t stomach the LTTE demise were still propagating lies against Sri Lanka. He said that some of those countries taking a hostile approach towards Sri Lanka, like the failed peacemaker Norway should know the despicable strategies adopted by the LTTE. Had they bothered to go through the file pertaining to the Kadirgamar assassination and talks between Norwegian representatives and Anton Balasingham in London, the government would realize what was going on, the Defence Secretary said.

The External Affairs Ministry quoted Seeman as having said in Oslo: "Only 50,000 Tigers gave their lives for Eelam but there are over 500,000 Tigers in Tamil Nadu. We will start our war from this point.

"*Not only Karuna but also Tamils did not give Tamil names to their children and are using other languages when speaking. Therefore Tamils are their own traitors.

*We have to ensure there is a day where Sinhalese will combat for their freedom from Tamils like Tamils are fighting them now. 

*If a Sinhala student gets 35 marks he will enter the University but a Tamil student must get 85 marks to enter the University in Sri Lanka."

*Sinhalese who cut ladies’ breasts and hang on ropes now need Tamils thigh curry. Nine crore Tamils join hands and should chase out the one and a half crore Sinhalese."

Sri Lanka's Mattala airport is a massive investment for future generation - President

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka
Colombo,
March 18, 2013

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa declaring open the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport said today the airport is a massive investment on behalf of the future generation of the country.

President Rajapaksa commissioned the airport with his arrival in a special SriLankan Airlines flight named as "City of Ruhunu Magampura" with First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and other dignitaries.

After unveiling a plaque to mark the opening and signing the golden book as the first visitor, the President accompanied by ministers and other officials inspected all the facilities of the airport. A Minister of Posts Jeevan Kumaratunga issued a commemorative stamp and a first day cover to mark the opening of airport.


A SriLankan flight from Dubai, UL226, arranged by the Upul Travels landed at the airport few minutes later, making it the first international flight to reach Mattala.


 Addressing local and foreign representatives and the guests who had arrived for the inauguration of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, President Rajapaksa briefed the development of the airport built with China's financial assistance and explained that when aircraft start landing at the Mattala Airport, a growth in the area and the country will take place.

The international Airport will become an asset to build Sri Lanka's image in the world by staging Sports Festivals as well as international conferences, the President pointed out.

The Mattala Airport is located in the vicinity of the Hambantota Port and the Hambantota International Cricket Stadium and is in close proximity to the Yala National Park, Udawalawe Elephant reserve and several religious and historic places.

Pointing out that there will be critics the President said the posterity will respond to them when they reap benefits and people and the region would be benefited from the investment.

"We have been criticized for taking loans to build this airport, it (the loan) was not for consumption but to build infrastructure," he said.

President Rajapaksa expressed his appreciation to China for the financial support given by the Export and Imports Bank of China to construct the airport at a cost of US$ 209 million.

Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Limited Prasanna Wickramasuriya says the need of a second international airport was a long felt requirement of the country. Although the Katunayake airport has a passenger capacity of 6 million it has handled more than 8 million passengers last year.

A flight of Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia landed at the airport making it the first international airline to reach the Mattala Airport. A Dubai Airlines flight also landed at the airport today.

Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne said number of international airlines will commence their flights to Mattala from tomorrow. The airport will become the aviation maintenance hub of South Asia, he added.

Germany's Lufthansa Aviation has agreed to establish an international aviation maintenance service at the Mattala airport premises at a cost of US$ 87 million. The Cabinet has approved the project.

(Photos by Sudath Silva)

Washington, D.C.—FALEOMAVAEGA Calls Upon U.S. to Re-Chart Strategy In Sri Lanka

 

Washington, DC
February 26, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ranking Member Eni Faleomavaega of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific announced that at today’s hearing entitled “The Rebalance to Asia: Why South Asia Matters (Part I)”, he called upon the United States to re-chart its strategy in Sri Lanka. Faleomavaega’s full statement was made part of the historical record and the text pertinent to Sri Lanka is included below. The Honorable Robert O. Blake, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and Mr. Joseph Y. Yun, Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, testified before the Subcommittee on behalf of the Obama Administration.

“As I have said for many, many years, the United States has neglected Asia and the Pacific at the expense of Europe and the Middle East and consequently we have placed our strategic, economic and political interests in jeopardy,” Faleomavaega said.

“Today, we are playing catch-up in a region that accounts for more than 60% of the world’s population. In 2011, the Asia-Pacific region surpassed Europe to become the top exporter of merchandise. In 2010, 20 of the world’s top container ports were in the Asia-Pacific region, including the top five.”

 “The U.S. has a vital interest in making sure there is a free flow of global trade and commerce through the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean. The Strait of Malacca is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. Thousands of vessels pass through the strait per year, carrying about one-quarter of the world’s traded goods, including oil. About a quarter of all oil carried by sea passes through the strait.”

 “For the first time since 1979, Iran Naval forces just crossed the Strait of Malacca and will dock in China, India or Sri Lanka,” the Congressman continued. “Regarding Sri Lanka, I agree with the Kerry-Lugar Congressional report which declares the need to ‘re-chart’ U.S. strategy in Sri Lanka beyond humanitarian and political concerns. The U.S. simply cannot afford to lose Sri Lanka due to its strategic importance.”

“Last week,” Faleomavaega said, “I visited Sri Lanka and met with President Rajapaksa for more than 2 hours. I also met with the Governor of the Northern Province and personally visited Jaffna because I wanted to see for myself post-conflict developments since 2009 when Sri Lanka became the first country to eradicate terrorism on its own soil by defeating the Tamil Tigers which remains listed as a terrorist organization by 32 countries, including the United States, India, Canada and member nations of the European Union, and dubbed by the FBI as one of the most ruthless in the world.”

“After a 30-year terrorist conflict, the challenges the Sri Lankan government faces are enormous but the strides the government has made to rebuild in a way that establishes lasting peace and equality for all citizens should be firmly acknowledged. The United States should join Australia in praising the work the Sri Lankan government has done in the North and East of the island in such a short period since the war, as Australian Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop and the parliamentary delegation that she led recently stated upon their visit.”

 “Regrettably, in the UN resolution it intends to submit again to the UN Human Rights Council, the U.S. fails to mention one positive development in Sri Lanka. Such failure suggests that the United States is not being even-handed when it comes to dealing with sensitive human rights issues across the globe and I am deeply concerned that our inconsistent policies will lead to a loss of credibility for the United States which will negatively impact our relations in the Asia Pacific region for years to come.”

 “So I call upon the U.S. to find a better way forward rather than using UN resolutions to de-stabilize developing nations like Sri Lanka while ignoring human rights abuses in nations like Indonesia where our geopolitical interests supersede our human rights agenda. The U.S.-led UN resolution also should be withdrawn for focusing only on the last few months of the war and failing to acknowledge that for almost 30 years the Tamil Tigers hacked to death innocent men, women and children – Sinhalese and Tamils alike – and carried out over 378 suicide attacks – more than any other such organization in the world.”

“We also do not need to criticize Sri Lanka for borrowing money from China to build its port,” Faleomavaega said. “If the U.S. or India had stepped up to assist, Sri Lanka would have accepted the assistance. As President Rajapakse said during a July 2009 interview with TIME Magazine when asked about China’s strategic interest in the port, ‘I asked for it. China didn’t propose it. It was not a Chinese proposal. The proposal was from us; they gave the money. If India said, ‘Yes, we’ll give you a port’, I will gladly accept it. If America says, ‘We will give you a fully equipped airport’ – yes, why not? Unfortunately, they are not offering to us.’”

“After visiting Sri Lanka and also meeting with Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, the Leader of the TNA, R. Sambandan, and in conversations with random citizens whose thoughts about the country I also sought, I have hope for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, like the U.S. is committed to sustainable peace and promoting and protecting human rights.”

“As a matter of record, parallel with demining efforts in the North, the Sri Lanka government has re-settled over 290,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The Sri Lanka army has de-mined about 99% of the areas identified for de-mining and from 2002 to 2012 has cleared nearly 2,000 km of land. Since 2002, the Sri Lanka government has also recovered nearly 100,000 anti-personnel landmines and UXOs.”

 “I might note that the United States, some 40 years after the Vietnam War, still has not cleaned up the UXO mess it left behind in Southeast Asia, particularly in Laos, a country which was not at war with the U.S. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has expended considerable resources to address related issues.”

“With regards to reconstruction, over 78,000 new houses in the North and East have been built, and more are underway. The Sri Lankan government is also promoting investment to generate employment in the region. Military presence is being reduced and ex-combatants are being rehabilitated and resettled.”

“While there is still much work left to do, I believe the people of Sri Lanka deserve our support as they work to rebuild after having lived through almost three decades of terrorist attacks. This is why I acknowledge the progress of the government and why I am committed to doing all I can to promote lasting peace and equality for all citizens – especially the Sinhalese and Tamils who have suffered long enough,” Faleomavaega concluded.

UN Failed In Sri Lanka, Yes It Did! – OpEd, Albany Tribune

By Sanjaya Arachchige

Albany Tribune

November 17, 2012

The mechanism that UN has put in place to “leak” information that is intended to be leaked is admirable. The second report that it leaked about Sri Lanka few days ago has served its purpose like the first one. Since the report has been officially released, it is appropriate for us- ordinary Sri Lankans to express our views on the UN’s “Failure” and its “Leaking” strategy regarding Sri Lanka.

Ever since this “Leak”, the Western media has been firing volleys of news alerts, using this piece of information as their latest propaganda weapon against our country. It has reinvigorated the misinformation campaign against Sri Lanka orchestrated by Amnesty, HRW and Crisis group along with their Tamil Tiger backers in the Western world. Yet, none of these intended outcomes of the “Leak” seems sufficient to cover up the UN’s “grave failure” in Sri Lanka. The true “system breakdown” as the UN chief calls it, is clear even in usually distorted news reports on the BBC on this issue.

Since the UN in its report categorically refers the “failure” to the final stage of the conflict, we can assume that UN had been successful in Sri Lanka for the rest of the 26 years that the conflict sustained. On that point, anyone familiar with Sri Lanka would agree that Sri Lanka had been a remarkably successful story not only for the UN but also for the Amnesty and other Human Rights worthies now critical of Sri Lanka. In fact, we never heard of such leaking reports from UN during that period when terrorism walked freely in our country.

Sri Lanka was the home to the Asia’s longest running internal war is a fact known to many. However, few know what compelled Sri Lanka to live with it for 26 years. That is where this success story matters.

The story begins with the notorious anti-Tamil riots in 1983 that no one cared to demand “independent investigations” of any sort to find out the culprits. In a matter of years, a gang of cutthroats became the deadliest terrorist outfit known to the humankind. The outfit’s contributions to the domain of terrorism include; invention of suicide terrorism, horrendous orgies of violence called “village massacres” to be used for ethnic cleansing, disgraceful “Baby Brigade” of child soldiers to lead the attack fronts and above all, the sophisticated propaganda mechanism that works hand in hand with certain organizations profit from human sufferings.

Therefore, the UN is not without souvenirs to prove its effectiveness during its successful years in Sri Lanka. It has ample bomb blasts killing civilians, village massacres, suicide blasts, assassinations and yearly major terror attack at country’s economic nerve centers – perhaps , sufficient enough to leak another report on “past success” in future .

During this time, the UN had been extremely successful in issuing elegantly drafted messages of its “concerns” and frequent “urges” for “both parties” to settle the matters peacefully.

The true success perhaps lies in something else. That is in making it impossible for the successive governments of Sri Lanka to sustain any meaningful campaign to fight terrorism. The conflict not only bled Sri Lanka but also kept the region unstable for about 26 years. When one understands the value of the success then it becomes clear why the UN laments so much on its failure.

Now let’s look at the possible damage that the UN’s failure has caused. No lives are lost in Sri Lanka due to terrorism . The country is rapidly developing and becoming increasingly stable. The very stability has become a headache for the UN’s masters as it has attracted investors from the emerging world superpowers like China, India and Russia. The country has not only become a model for hapless nations fighting terrorism but also become the pillar of regional stability. The war that was so vital to keep the pivotal region unstable to check the ongoing change in the world order has been lost! The losses incurred by Human Rights worthies who made fortunes out of this war should be added to the damage.

Finally, let us envisage the situation had the UN been still successful in Sri Lanka today. There would be one more bleeding country like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, etc. and one less middle-income country in the world . Sri Lanka would have retained its prominent position in the UN’s list of shame for child soldiers. Tamil Tiger would have retained its title as the deadliest and richest terrorist organization with its own Navy and Air Force. The region would have remained unstable with no headache from China and India gaining control over the resources. There would be sufficient human sufferings for the western media and human rights worthies to cash in.

Thus , the UN did have a complete system breakdown that led to a grave failure in Sri Lanka as the report suggests. This is true if the organization has been tasked to ensure continued conflicts and turmoil in the third world countries. In that case, the report should have recognized the efforts of Ms. Navi Pillay and Mr. Vijay Nambiar to rescue the terrorist outfit even at the last moment of the battle.

However, the world has no right to fuss too much over the UN’s lackluster performance in Sri Lanka. The organization has been exceedingly successful with Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and Palestine.

Maybe for the UN, what has happened has happened with Sri Lanka. If there is anything left to do, that is to prevent Sri Lanka from achieving lasting peace. As long as there is no proper reconciliation, there is always the opportunity to reignite the flames of destruction. Perhaps these leaking reports, the war crimes ballyhoo, and anti-Sri Lankan propaganda would achieve their purpose eventually.

Perhaps they wouldn’t if our nation stands resolute for peace and stability.

(The views expressed are the author’s own.)

Hydrogen Energy Technologies are ESSENTIAL for Sri Lanka!

By Ananda-USA

October 04, 2012

I have been advocating Hydrogen Energy Technology for many years as an important aspect of achieving of Energy Independence for Sri Lanka at this forum and elsewhere, and I am pleased that the Government of Sri Lanka is taking the initiative to explore Hydrogen Energy Technology for transportation. 

However, Hydrogen Energy Technologies should be viewed more broadly as a GENERAL SOLUTION to meeting all of Sri Lanka's energy needs .... as I explain below.

Hydrogen gas can be PRODUCED by electrolysis of water using time-varying renewable energies such as solar, wind, or excess hydro power. In the future, if Sri Lanka acquires nuclear power plants, electricity produced by these nuclear plants, and  even conventional fossil-fueled plants, can be used during off-peak hours to produce hydrogen, as a part of maximizing power plant utilization. 

The hydrogen thus produced can be STORED in tanks in a variety of forms: as a compressed gas, a gas adsorbed on certain metal hydrides from which the hydrogen can be released very simply by mild heating, or as a cryogenic liquid. 

The hydrogen thus produced can be UTILIZED to fuel transportation vehicles having on-board storage tanks and fuel-cell power units and can be dispensed from local gas refueling stations. Alternatively, the hydrogen can be used to produce electricity in large fuel-cell plants co-located with the electrolysis plants at conventional electric power generating plants. Existing electricity production plants are very convenient for co-locating hydrogen plants because the high-voltage power transmission lines and switch yard infrastructure necessary for tapping into the electricity distribution grid already exist at such plants. 

Furthermore, use of  hydrogen as an energy storage medium solves the so-called LOAD-LEVELLING problem that LIMITS the amount of time-varying renewable energies that can be fed into the existing power grid served by conventional "base-load" power plants.  To preserve the stability of the power grid, this amount can be only a small fraction of the base energy generating capacity.  With hydrogen energy storage available for storing the time-varying renewable energy at whatever time it is produced, the stability of the grid can be preserved, without having to increase the installed capacity of conventional power plants. Hydrogen production and storage will enable generating plants to run near maximum capacity at all times with the excess above the electricity demand used to produce and store energy in the form of hydrogen, thus maximizing plant utilization.

Finally, both the production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water, and the generation of electricity  by consuming that hydrogen in fuel cells, is POLLUTION-FREE, and does not produce any global warming gases, or result in a net consumption of water. When these environmental benefits are combined with the potential of hydrogen technologies to utilize indigenously produced energy by replacing imported fossil fuels, improve the nation's balance of payments, reduce power plant costs, and enhance the rate of return by maximizing plant utilization, there is no doubt that deploying hydrogen energy technology is a win-win strategy for Sri Lanka.  In a world competing fiercely for fossil fuels, this will prove to be an increasing sound strategy in the future.

If Sri Lanka is to grow economically, then we must have a plentiful supply of inexpensive indigenously produced energy, that cannot be held hostage to events in foreign countries. Hydrogen energy technologies ... in all their forms .... are the solution to Sri Lanka's energy needs, and the need for energy security as a sovereign nation. As we develop our infrastructure in post- war Sri Lanka and progress towards becoming the New Wonder of Asia,  let us adopt and invest our precious capital in the best energy technologies that will serve the nation's long-term interest. As a country that is making  MAJOR INVESTMENTS in NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, Sri Lanka has a UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY to seize the initiative and lead the world in the deployment of a sustainable cost-effective non-polluting energy strategy.

I applaud the initiatives now being taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to firmly embed Hydrogen Energy Technologies in Sri Lanka's overall energy strategy.

Jayawewa, Sri Lanka!


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Sri Lanka enters hydrogen fuel era with workshop in Colombo tomorrow

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

 




Oct 03, Colombo: Sri Lanka will take the first step to the hydrogen fuel era with the first ever hydrogen workshop in Colombo tomorrow.

A hydrogen desk set up in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka under the assistance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has organized the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy conference in Colombo on October 4th at the Cinnamon Lake Hotel as the first step to formulate Sri Lanka's hydrogen road-map.

According to the UNIDO National Director for Sri Lanka Nawaz Rajabdeen the second objective of the workshop is to use Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for wider hydrogen implementation in the country.

The experts conducting the workshop, Prof. Lalit Mohan Das of Indian Institute of Technology, UNIDO's International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (UNIDO-ICHET Associate Director Dr. Nikolaos Lymberopoulos and Senior Project Engineer of UNIDO-ICHET Dr. Frederico V Campbell arrived in Colombo this morning.

The meeting will bring together senior representatives from interested private enterprises and the government to gain insights from major international organizations on the status of hydrogen and fuel cell technology at global level, the progress made in hydrogen production from renewables and storage and the potential investment opportunities and commercialization challenges in Sri Lanka, according to the Consultant and Adviser Vittorio Coco of Sri Lanka's first Hydrogen project.

Rajabdeen announced in May that Sri Lanka would be stepping into hydrogen fuel era shortly and the first step would be through the SME sector.

"We are not looking at an immediate energy supply here - rather, the first step in our transition to modern energy Hydrogen in the medium to long term as we realize that energy independence is more and more crucial," Rajabdeen has said.

The Urban Council of Weligama has set up the hydrogen desk to develop an intercity hydrogen program for the Southern Province as the first step.

Under the advice of Coco, Sri Lanka will launch a pilot project to test hydrogen-powered three wheelers in Galle Fort where the diesel-run vehicles are not allowed to operate.

Similar project launched in India under the guidance of Prof. Das has proved that Hydrogen can be used as an alternate energy resource for vehicles and the hydrogen-powered Indian three wheelers are estimated to cost only 12% in comparison to standard three wheelers used there.

Prof. Das is also behind the famous hydrogen project in India called DELHy3W (Delhy-3W Hydrogen 3-wheelers project) with Mahindra and Mahindra.

Mahindra's HyAlfas, the world's first hydrogen powered three wheeler launched in January 2012, have reported 80 kilometers mileage for just one kilogram of hydrogen.

The three wheeler demonstration project in the Galle Fort in Sri Lanka is modeled on HyAlfa. The PPP venture plans to use 15 hydrogen powered zero emission three wheelers in Galle Fort and monitor them carefully for their pollutant free runs.

The confab tomorrow will feature presentations from the Sustainable Energy Authority, the DFCC Bank, ADB, BoI, UNIDO ICHET(Istanbul), UNIDO(Delhi), EU Delegation-Colombo, and the Indian Institute of Technology.

Delhy-3W Hydrogen 3-wheelers project, UNIDO India activities in the clean energy field, EU activities in the renewable energy field and hydrogen initiatives, funding opportunities for renewable energy in Asia, credit facilities in the field of renewable energy and hydrogen projects in Sri Lanka, and investments opportunities in Sri Lanka for renewable energy and hydrogen will be discussed at the workshop.

All should respect people's verdict!

  Editorial
SundayObserver.lk
September 16, 2012

The masses have taught a good lesson again to extremist Opposition politicians and those who exploit racist and religious sentiments to gain political mileage. The resounding victory of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at the recent elections to the North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provincial Councils are also a singular victory for all loyal and patriotic citizens.

It is not only a victory for democracy which demonstrates the masses' gratitude for President Mahinda Rajapaksa for eradicating terrorism and taking the country towards new economic horizons, but also sends a clear signal to the international community.

Voters of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kegalle and Ratnapura districts gave a convincing mandate to President Rajapaksa and his Government to continue the ongoing development work. The UPFA, having secured the top slot at the Eastern Provincial Council elections, has reiterated the fact that people in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts reject communal politics in toto.

It is an open secret how the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) conducted its election campaign in the East, in a desperate bid to advance the now defunct LTTE's previous claim as the sole representative of the Tamils. There had been an unprecedented cash flow to TNA coffers as the LTTE rump in the West worked overtime to realise Velupillai Prabhakaran's utopian separate state.

Nevertheless, the people in the East were far too intelligent and demonstrated in no uncertain terms that they were not ready to fall prey and return to those dark days again. The UPFA's victory at the Eastern Provincial Council polls was not only a great setback to the TNA, but also demonstrates to the international community that the majority Tamil community is firmly with the Government. It was a fresh endorsement by the Tamils and Muslims for the Government's efforts to develop the province after terrorism was eradicated.

The UPFA's landslide victories in Sabaragamuwa and the North Central Provincial Councils proved beyond a shadow of doubt that the masses support the President and the UPFA to the hilt. The UNP and JVP spewed fabricated stories on university admission, oil imports, child abuse, rape and even a diabolical lie on the year five scholarship examination in their election campaigns, in the hope that they could pull wool over the masses' eyes and secure more votes.

Here too, the masses repudiated these two parties outright. The JVP and the UNP polled a lesser number of votes compared to the 2008 Provincial Council elections. The UNP secured four seats less this time than what it held at the previous Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Councils. These four seats also went to the UPFA, which increased its majority further in the two Provincial Councils. The JVP, in a desperate bid to cover its political nudity, propounded a theory that the election results would not reflect the party's true position. All in all, the country emerged victorious at the elections.

The masses in the three provinces gave a fresh mandate again and endorsed the Mahinda Chinthana, which has been successfully implemented since President Rajapaksa took office in November 2005. Having eradicated terrorism in May 2009, the Government embarked on an ambitious reconciliation process while developing the North and the East.

It goes without saying that people in the North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provinces depend mainly on an agro-based economy. In this scenario, local farmers received more recognition and an added value to their produce under the Mahinda Chinthana while those in the Eastern Province are already reaping the dividends of peace. The growth rate in the province is 22 percent, compared to the country's eight percent overall growth rate.

On the President's instructions, the UPFA Government still abides by its 2005 election pledge by providing a massive fertiliser subsidy which is a boon to farmers. The subsidy which was initially provided for paddy cultivation alone has now been extended to all other major crops.

Local paddy and dairy farmers have been enjoying good returns as they now have a better market for rice and fresh milk. After the Eastern and Northern Provinces were liberated from the grip of LTTE terrorists, people in these areas are now contributing more to the national economy. The tremendous growth in the paddy, dairy and fishing industries in these provinces had resulted in a greater flow of cash into those areas. This in turn, has increased the people's purchasing power in those provinces. This is precisely why the people in the East eschewed petty communal differences and supported the UPFA.

The Government's efforts in strengthening the rural economy and eradicating terrorism earned the masses' encomiums in the three provinces. There is no doubt, whatsoever, that public opinion at the recently concluded Provincial Council elections reflects the general thinking of the entire country.

While the majority of people defeated the wily schemes of traitors against the country, the strength that the country and its Government would receive from the polls victory in facing the international challenges is immeasurable. President Rajapaksa and his Government have given people the foremost place in the country. The mandate given by the masses at the Provincial Council elections in the North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provinces are an added strength and courage for Sri Lanka to debunk the concocted stories and baseless allegations levelled by LTTE cohorts and some Western politicians who rely on the Tamil Diaspora votes for their political survival. President Rajapaksa's sincere wish since he became Head of State almost seven years ago is to build a country devoid of political, social or religious leanings.

As the President has repeatedly emphasised, the doors are still open for those who wish to join the patriotic forces in its victorious march towards new economic horizons after winning the battle against stark LTTE terrorism.

Though the UNP and the JVP had made several subtle attempts to cover their previous defeats by alleging election malpractices, they were obliged to acknowledge that the PC elections were free and fair. All major election monitors said that this was a free and fair poll.

People in these three provinces have steadfastly endorsed the Government's policies at this critical juncture as they were deeply cognizant that President Rajapaksa is the only leader who could provide the correct leadership to the country. The masses in the North Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces by their verdict have ensured that no insidious elements here or abroad could thwart the Government's forward march by levelling war crimes allegations. The international community should at least now respect the masses' verdict. The election victory is a clear manifestation that the people who truly love the country are with the Government, despite the election gimmicks of the UNP, TNA and JVP. The people have also approved the Government's rural development drive despite various misconceptions propagated by political parties with vested interests.

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 Sri Lanka always considers India as a friendly land and people - President Rajapaksa

Sat, Sep 22, 2012, 01:17 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 22, Sanchi:



India's federal structure and the emergence of states have not erased Sri Lanka's vision of India as a single land of friendship with the great bonds of history and Sri Lankan people have always considered India as a friendly land and people, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

"I believe this tradition of embracing all of India in friendship will continue to enrich our relations," President Rajapaksa said Friday addressing the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Sanchi University of Buddhist and Indic Studies in Madhya Pradesh of India.



The President laid the foundation stone for the University of Buddhist and Indic Studies in the presence of dignitaries from Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, Cambodia, Mongolia and Nepal.

President Rajapaksa together with Bhutan's Prime Minister Jigme Yoser Thinley planted a sapling of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka which is believed to be a sapling of the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

Thanking for the opportunity to lay the foundation stone, the President said the Buddha's message of tolerance and understanding is of great relevance today, as the "tragic results of enmity and hatred towards other faiths leading to violence and destruction, and great loss to societies" are seen.

"It is of equal importance in the East and West alike," said the President adding that undoubtedly there is a need to go back to the roots of civilizations and search for the wisdom that prevailed in the ancient world.
"The Buddhist and Indic value systems that paved the way to modern concepts of human rights and fundamental freedoms need to be revived," he noted.

The President expressed the hope that the University of Buddhist and Indic Studies will grow strong and the graduates of the University will be inspired by the Buddha's teachings.

"The Government and people of Sri Lanka and I will continue to contribute towards the success of this University," he assured.

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Governor of Madhya Pradesh Ram Naresh Yadav, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Ashok K. Kantha and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi Prasad Kariyawasam also participated in the ceremony.

‘Leave no room for petty politics’ urges President Mahinda Rajapaksa; We Concur!

By Rasika Somarathana

DailyNews.lk
July 31, 2012

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday emphasized that he will not allow petty minded politicians to benefit by harping on the ethnic issue. “Petty politics shattered the harmony and peace which existed 30 years ago, among all communities be it from North or South. Now with terrorism being a thing of the past, those bonds, once wounded are getting stronger again”’

“We have gained nothing but loss from disharmony. It is unity, not ethnic division which will define our success”, he said addressing a large group of rehabilitated former LTTE ex-combatants and their families at Temple Trees.

The event was organized to provide soft loans to socially re-integrated trainees to start their own employment. The loans up to a maximum of Rs.250,000 were provided through state banks with government releasing an initial allocation of Rs.300 million for the purpose.

The President after distributing the cheques among loan recipients said the government has also released Rs.400 billion for development work in the north carried out for the benefit of the public.

He told the gathering that it was the government that took care of the people and not ones from the outside. He told them that the diaspora what ever they say does not genuinely care about their needs .

Recalling the past, President Rajapaksa said 30 years ago, people from all communities lived in brotherhood both in the South and North “In our School holidays we went on visits to the North. We shared our rooms with Tamil students from the North.

“We went together to the Temple and Kovil” “We had strong bonds, be it cultural, religious or others. However, we lost all that. It is now time to rebuild that harmony we lost due to petty politics” he said.

He told the rehabilitated trainees that their childhood, youth, happiness had been lost to the gun culture which they were forced to embrace and added it was time for them to begin a new life with hope and vigour for a brighter future.

He told the trainees that they had been rehabilitated in accordance with established humanitarian practices and it was now time for them to rise as productive and erudite citizens.
“By working with commitment and dedication the loan recipients could become successful entrepreneurs, he added.

The President pointed out to the rehabilitated ex-combatants that some of their colleagues were now engaged in employment both in state and private sectors. Some have gone abroad for jobs and others are pursuing professional careers in arts, sports etc. he added.

“Also the government has taken steps to recruit 5000 rehabilitated ex-combatants to the civil security department, he noted explaining them the livelihood opportunities they have,” he said.

He reminded them that they are now going to a socially and economically rapidly developing environment which was quite opposite to the one they formerly occupied.

He urged the loan recipients to use the facility to the maximum and become successful partners of the country’s development.

“The country needs to go forward as one nation, driven by one powerful development thrust from which the whole country equally benefits,” he added.

The government has reintegrated 10,375 former combatants from the North and East into the society following the successful completion of the rehabilitation programme.

The socially reintegrated have received vocational training as a part of the rehabilitation process to enable them to be self-employed.

During the event Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera also spoke. Senior Ministers A.H.M.Fowzie, D.E.W.Gunasekera, Ministers Rishard Baththuideen, Douglas Devananda, other politicians, ambassadors, High Commissioners, government officials, state bank officials, military officers too were present.

Why the resolution isn’t right Second showdown in Geneva:

By Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

Island.lk
March 06, 2012

The US resolution at the UN HRC in Geneva has deepened the schisms in Sri Lankan society. That resolution will have the same polarising function as did the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), in defining each political tendency in the popular mind for a while to come.

Today the country is tragically dividing between those who accuse the Government of mounting protests against the US resolution at the UN HRC resolution against Sri Lanka as a diversion from issues of the rising cost of living, and those who claim that the demonstrations against the rising cost of living are wittingly or not, part of a foreign plot to de-stabilise the government which is defending national sovereignty.

That’s a debate easily resolved. If the government is using protests against the HRC resolution to mask the cost of living, that’s no excuse not to protest against such a resolution. Rather, it is a reason to protest either independently against that intrusive resolution while also protesting against the cost of living, or moving in parallel with the government on this issue while proceeding against it on the domestic front. Any other stance and tactic would only be tantamount to support of a move against one’s country; a move which has doubtless incensed the vast majority of or citizens.

Conversely, if oppositional protests (allegedly involving NGOs) are helping de-stabilise the government and undermine our defence of national sovereignty, then the answer surely is to cease and desist from those policies and actions that generate those protests, and to never meet such protests with responses that can only trigger more protests and international criticism which help the project of undermining our sovereignty.

The dominant elements of the centre-right Opposition, the UNP (apart from its ‘Reformists’, that is) opine that there is nothing wrong, or particularly anti-Sri Lankan, with a resolution that calls on the state to implement its own LLRC recommendations. The TNA has, after a sporadic show of realism, finally taken the line of the Tamil Diaspora’s pro-Tiger lobby by calling on the member states of the UNHRC to support the resolution. For the most part, the cosmopolitan civil society commentators are cheering the resolution on. On the left, the JVP opposes the resolution but opposes the government still more, on economic issues and dismissively terms the government’s anti-resolution mobilisation, a mere tactic. The breakaway Movement for People’s Struggle (Jana Aragala Vyaparaya) is strangely silent and submerged. Both these currents of the radical Left make no reference and give insufficient attention to the stand of China, Russia, Cuba and the NAM on the Resolution, and are ambiguous on the LLRC. For their part, the leftists within the government are firmly against the US move and for the LLRC’s implementation.

The reasoning of the Opposition’s leading ideologues is flawed. The problem with the resolution is not that it calls for the implementation of the LLRC recommendations. The problems are (a) where the Resolution is coming from, (b) the body of the text that precedes the seemingly innocuous points about the LLRC and (c) the sleight of hand where it expresses disappointment about the LLRC report and goes beyond it to issues of ‘accountability’. Furthermore, a resolution would provide a UN mandate – as was sought, and would have done, had we not outdrawn and shot it down at the UNHRC in May 2009. UN resolutions are notoriously elastic (Russia and China haven’t forgiven the endgame in Libya, behind the mask of UNSC 1973, meant to institute a no-fly zone for the protection of civilians in Benghazi). Even without the mandate of a resolution, the UN SG’s Panel of Experts report on Sri Lanka, originally meant to advise him on standards and norms of accountability, monstrously mutated into a 190 page indictment. The three ‘expert panellists’ co-authored a piece in the New York Times a few days ago, calling for stringent action on Sri Lanka by the UN HRC at this session, thereby amply demonstrating the partisan prejudice and politics of their project.

Certainly the implementation of reform recommendations of the LLRC report must be fast-tracked, and a compressed time–frame committed to by the government, preferably so swiftly as to pre-empt the US resolution by removing its purported basis. Even if it fails in prevention, this would help us rally the support to defeat it. However, this commitment must be made to and in the Sri Lankan Parliament. The Government of the Republic of Sri Lanka is primarily responsible to the citizens of Sri Lanka. That is what popular sovereignty in a res publica, a republic, is about. The popularly elected government of Sri Lanka is not responsible in the first or last instance to any international forum or intergovernmental body comprised of governments responsible to their respective citizenries. Sri Lanka’s Opposition may do well to move a resolution demanding a time frame and suggesting one for the implementation of the LLRC report. The push or indeed drive for implementation of reform must be from within our society, with the international solidarities and multipliers of our choosing.

I rather doubt that the vast majority of Sri Lankan people want Karunanidhi, Jayalalitha and Vaiko, still less the Tiger flag waving demonstrators who will camp in Geneva from March 5th to the 23rd, to help guarantee and hasten the implementation of the LLRC reforms. With support like this, the LLRC does not need enemies.

None in Sri Lanka and India, who were supportive of the war against the LTTE, are on the side of the resolution. Conversely, those who practised appeasement of the LTTE, were against the war, were fellow travellers of the Tigers (e.g. Vaiko, the TNA) or were lukewarm and vacillating with regard the war and considered Mahinda Rajapaksa a greater enemy than Prabhakaran, are all supportive of the resolution. This congruity, and the presence of Tiger flag bearing demonstrators outside the UN HRC in Geneva, will not be lost on the vast mass of the Sri Lankan people. The people will also remember who in the world community stands with and who stands against a Resolution which has so greatly roused the enthusiasm of the Diaspora Tigers.

As for accountability, the number of civilians killed in North Vietnam by the US bombing campaign named Rolling Thunder, commencing February 1965, was 182,000. The number of children who died in the sanctions on Iraq, according to Denis Halliday, the administrator of that programme who resigned in disgust, was 5,000 a month. Guantanamo, the vast prison camp located on the soil of a foreign country against the wishes of that country, still remains open despite a presidential pledge to close it. The National Defence Authorisation Act has provisions only describable as draconian.

These are the guys whose draft resolution seeks to preach to us about the observance of international law in the fight against terrorism? Of course it must, but who are they to tell us that, when they are serially responsible for the most egregious violations of international law, ranging from the invasion of sovereign states on false pretexts, to the practice of ‘extraordinary rendition’. Doesn’t the hypocrisy just get to you? And if it does not, what does that say about you?

In my closing remarks at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva after the special session on Sri Lanka in May 2009, I equated the allegation of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Sri Lanka, with the charge that Iraq possessed WMDs and asked whether we should buy a used car from the guys who sold the world the Goebbelsian Big Lie on WMD.

None of this is to say that all is well in Sri Lanka; far from it. Let me explain by way of analogy. A stable functional piece of furniture usually needs four legs. If it is to rest firmly, it needs these four legs to be even. Politics and political discourses in Sri Lanka remind me of furniture which either doesn’t have four legs or which have one or more legs shorter than the others.

Analogous to the four legs of a piece of furniture, the four pillars that a strong successful state and a good society must rest upon equally, are national sovereignty, popular sovereignty, individual rights and self-determination.

National sovereignty means that a nation-state (or a pluri-national state) is a political unit or community entitled to its unity and territorial integrity, and has the right to determine its own path, regulate its own affairs, without external domination, intervention or interference in its internal affairs.

Popular sovereignty means that the right to rule rests with the people, who decide who rules, how and for how long. If the rulers violate this social contract, this sacred trust, the people have the right to replace, even overthrow them. The Sri Lankan Constitution makes explicit that as a republic, sovereignty is vested in the people, who exercise it through a regularly and periodically elected Executive president and legislature.

Individual rights pertain to the sovereign individual person; to the equality of every citizen, who is inalienably possessed of a stock of rights and freedoms which must not be transgressed upon.

Self-determination refers to the right of a collective to determine its own destiny. The structural coordinates of that collective or community impose limitations upon the degree to which the right of self determination is exercised. The right to set up an independent state belongs to a nation, not a national minority. An established nation-state possesses the right of self determination. The entire (multiethnic) nation and not one part of it, is the legitimate agency of self determination. A nation which is under colonial occupation or annexation has the right of self determination (e.g. Occupied Palestine). An ethno-national minority, on the other hand, has a structurally more limited right to self governance and self administration, which may be termed the right to autonomy.

A society must rest on the equal recognition of all four of these principles, rights and fundamental values. Though at different points of history, one or the other may find itself emphasised due to the threats posed and the tasks at hand, all four must be held in equilibrium; never abandoned or counter-posed to one another.

This may require much struggle, change, transformation. But that will be undertaken one way or another, by the sovereign citizens of Sri Lanka at a time and on issues of their choosing, and with the solidarity of allies of their choice.

 Shadow of LTTE Terror Documentary Video

US-Indian Resolution against Sri Lanka Only the First and not the Last

By Dilrook Kannangara

LankaWeb.com
February 29, 2012

When the illegal CFA was signed, there were widespread protests organised by patriotic groups against it. Their slogan was a ‘respectable peace’. Interestingly the current President participated in them. These protests were extremely popular although the then government tried hard without succuss to downplay them; so successful that the CFA UNF government was toppled prematurely just two years later. Similar protests were launched in 1958 against the illegal Banda-Chelva and Dudley-Chelva (1965) Pacts, 1987 Indo-Lanka Peace Accord and the political package of 2000. People burnt the political package inside and outside the parliament. PTOMS (2005) is another case of public anger against anti-national moves despite the fact that collapsing PTOMS meant no tsunami aid to people under LTTE control. An excellent move that proved invaluable when war broke out a year later. However, there aren’t any such protests today. Government sponsored protests are too politicised that only UPFA activists and organisers participate in them. The problem with government sponsored patriotic agitations is their contradiction. On one hand they support unpatriotic moves of the government and on the other they want to display patriotism to the rest.

What created this pathetic situation?

All potent patriotic individuals and groups have been subjugated by the government. Wimal Weerawansa, Patali Ranawaka, Ven Ellawala Medhananda, Ven Elle Gunawansa and most other patriots and the movements they powered have been totally subjugated by the government. As a result there are no patriotic forces that can function independently and objectively against threats facing the nation. This is a much bigger threat than the threat posed by separatists and their western warlords. To some extent they are good salespersons. They very successfully sold patriotism to voters to get elected. But once elected they have abandoned that which made them winners.

Their cheap antics are a disgrace to the nation and fail to achieve anything. People find these antics amusing. Barking, screaming, name calling, threatening and burning aimed at UN agencies and powerful UN members cannot achieve anything. Nothing was achieved this way. Only decisive action can achieve tangible outcomes.

When the government entertains TNA demands, there is no one to oppose them either in public or from within the government!

Where are the patriots within the government? Probably they have very complex excuses – which the public either cannot understand or rightfully, don’t bother to understand – for not opposing the appeasement of TNA!

Give into some demands and there will be more demands

It was silly on the part of the government to entertain TNA concerns in the first place, sometimes at the expense of national security and equality. Once these initial demands were met (some demands were more than met), TNA leaders like typical bloodhounds started making more demands. It should have been expected. Now the demands, grievances, aspirations, allegations and all other names for extortion have snowballed. It is too big for the government to handle now. TNA has not made it a secret. They openly declare their “little now, more later” strategy. Knowingly the government has fallen head first into their trap.

Stupid antics of some by the name of patriotism look even worse in this background.

When demands cannot be won through puppets, puppeteers directly get involved. Before agreeing to anything demanded by US, EU or India, the government must consult the people, China, Russia and other genuinely friendly nations. All their interests must be protected in any move. Giving into US and EU demands will not make them friends but it can turn our friends into enemies. Same goes for TNA. Giving TNA demands never make TNA any better. It only destroys the future of non-Tamils.

We are in Geneva because of incompetent reconciliation advisors

A new breed of go-betweens emerged after the war triumph in 2009. They are called reconciliation advisors who are nothing but election refuse. People repeatedly rejected them at elections defeating them. If they had done their job properly, Sri Lanka will not be in Geneva today. Thankfully at this very late hour the government has finally realized their incompetency and not appointed them to any key position to handle the impending Geneva showdown.

Reconciliation advisors argued the reason behind allegations of war crimes is the weakness in government propaganda campaign that was not consistent. Though it is true the government propaganda campaign was weak, it is only part of the problem. They naively argued that if western nations and India know the ground reality, they would not believe anything the LTTE rump is spreading. Assuming their naive argument is correct, what did they do about it? Nothing.

US, EU and India know very well the ground reality. A few dozen visitors from these places have visited Sri Lanka with annoying frequency. They know Sri Lanka is safe for Tamils; they know Tamils enjoy an unfair advantage in Sri Lanka in terms of land rights, Tamil own land laws, the right and ability to live in any part of the island nation, all fundamental rights and equal rights. There is nothing they don’t know about it. Yet they demand more. Reconciliation advisors kept advising to appease Tamils and TNA more and more until their demands snowballed to a level they cannot handle. If TNA demands were cut down at inception, they would not be making any demands today.

Geneva has destroyed all reconciliation efforts and as a result Tamils and non-Tamils are divided to the extent they were before the reconciliation process.

What to do now?

This is not the last resolution USA will be presenting against Sri Lanka. It is only the first in a series of resolutions aimed at creating Tamil Elam and appointing pro-US and pro-Indian TNA puppets as its supreme rulers. TNA leaders are now in India getting further instructions.

At the very least now, the government must recognize the danger of inaction. The only political solution is ethnic integration in the north where the problem is. The Indian model of ethnic segregation is not going to work in Sri Lanka. It is the Sri Lankan model based on ethnic integration that works. Reconciliation advisors must make an about turn from ethnic segregation efforts (devolution, power sharing based on ethnicity) to ethnic integration efforts (making sure the Jaffna peninsular is not Tamil only). Reconciliation must break barriers to integration by scrapping the Thesawalamei Law that very effectively prevents integration. Scrapping this has no negative impact on the outcome of any future election.

Legal action must be taken against TNA for conspiring against the Constitution and the nation. The 13th Amendment must be put before the public. War time solutions are not suitable for peacetimes. People can decide its suitability to modern ground realities. Scrapping the 13A can save billions of dollars every year that can go into development benefiting everyone.

The independent Tamil nation USA and India trying to create in the island to counter China, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Russia and any other potential obstacle to neo-colonialism will be ruled by TNA. Eliminating TNA from the political sphere, legally, can disrupt their plans. It can make things easier for a proper political solution based on ethnic integration to be implemented. Similarly, western neo-colonial rulers have appointed their puppets in East Timor, Libya, etc. When it cannot be done peacefully, western colonials have used genocide to achieve it as exemplified in Diego Garcia. They provide useful geopolitical platforms to launch attacks on other nations. Giving into these moves to appease the puppeteer and the puppets is the worst the government can do. That will make Sri Lanka without any friends as friends of Lanka will find it a threat after puppet nations are created in its place.

Amidst this clamour there is resentment growing in the electorate against the government that is prepared to appease TNA at the expense of UPFA voters. Any power sharing deal no matter how weak it sounds with the TNA will be punished by voters at the next election. Since TNA will never be satisfied, no TNA voter will vote for the government. Even if they do the loss will be many times more than the gain. Losing the next national election will seal the fate of the Rajapaksha family in the hands of the opposition, US-EU axis of evil and the LTTE rump gunning for its blood. The government will be saved only to the extent it saves the interests of the people and its voters in particular.

This nation cannot stand on its own. The only way it can deflect interference from powerful nations is by having a symbolic military presence of China in the island. All nations big and small avoid confronting China for obvious reasons. There is no sense in putting off Chinese military presence in the island. It is a win-win situation for both nations which will be welcomed by most South Asian, African and Latin American nations. China is the centre of the new Non Align Movement. Sri Lanka has already aligned with China in development, finance of projects and credit. It is time to reaffirm this alignment economically, politically and militarily. Australia’s economic alignment with China saved it from one financial crisis after another. Singapore too avoided financial crises thanks to its very heavy economic alignment with China. Chinese military expertise will save Lanka from Indian sponsored separatists and any military threat they may mount.

President Premadasa successfully deflected Indian and British interference through his political and military alignment with China until Indian sponsored terror groups killed him. It is on record he is the only elected national leader since 1956 who didn’t offer any political solution to South Indian separatists. He surprised many by despatching the Indian invading army without any compromise. If anything came close to it, without a doubt it must be May 2009 when the Army Commander toured China with a military delegation at a time when India was expected to interfere in the island to avoid a “human rights catastrophe”. Since China is the only substantive lender and financier of Lankan projects, pro-western political parties have no future in Sri Lanka. If ever they come to power they will have to either lose their puppeteers and face dire consequences or lose the steady development support from China. That is a huge political incentive for the government to economically align with China. Economically, India is vastly disadvantageous to Lanka even without CEPA.

Indian action before Geneva has surprised many; it’s conduct during and after Geneva will shock them.

The Lion Flags say it ALL! 

Sri Lanka Prevails against Australia in ODI in Melbourne - March 01, 2012