DOCSLIB.ORG

Sri Lanka Needs More Balanced and Holistic Alcohol Policy ::: Dailymirr

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sri Lanka Needs More Balanced and Holistic Alcohol Policy ::: Dailymirr Sri Lanka needs more balanced and holistic alcohol policy ::: Dailymirr... http://www.dailymirror.lk/business/features/46250-sri-lanka-needs-mo... TUE, 24 FEB 2015 12:24 Apps Ad Specs Home Delivery Feedback HOME TODAY'S PAPER 100 DAYS NEWS OPINION BUSINESS TRAVEL TECH SPORTS POLITICAL GOSSIP HITAD ARCHIVES Tamil Mirror Mirror Sports e-paper Hi TV Life Online Mirror Citizen Wisden Many RISKS can be distressingly real and could bring your business to an abrupt halt. Sri Lanka needs more balanced and holistic alcohol policy 2014-04-24 11:28:29 3333 0 0 0 0 0 0 Google + 0 By G.D. Dayaratne Alcohol sales would have no doubt peaked during the last week or so, along with Avurudu festivities across the country – rural and urban alike. The use of alcohol is embedded in the daily lives of many ordinary citizens in our island nation. Despite certain efforts by the government in regulating the production and consumption of alcohol, the Sri Lankan alcohol industry has reached new heights. Like how a bad mix of alcohol will give you a bad hangover, a bad mix of policies can give bad results. This article argues that Sri Lanka should aim for a holistic and balanced policy mix in dealing with the production and consumption of alcohol. More alcohol, more revenue In Sri Lanka, drinking customs and habits are prevalent in the country’s multi-ethnic culture, mainly as a result of nearly four centuries of colonial rule, and also, later due to the influence of globalization. Therefore, over the years, alcohol production and consumption in the country has increased - from the more locally-based drinks such as toddy to widely popular drinks such as arrack and beer. With the privatization of Sri Lanka’s key alcohol industry in 1992, the production of liquor has been increasing exponentially. This was further heightened since the end of the North-East war in 2009, with the emergence of ‘new’ markets in the former conflict-affected areas. The production and sale of alcoholic beverages can be considered an important contributor to the POPULAR POSTS Sri Lankan economy. It generates revenue for the government from the excise taxes imposed on both local and foreign legal alcohol, creates employment opportunities, and earns substantial MOST VIEWED MOST COMMENTED profits for the industry entrepreneurs. Alcohol is certainly no ordinary commodity in the market. This was clearly exemplified in the recent SC issues notice on past, where tax revenue from liquor increased from Rs.16 billion in 2005 to Rs.60 billion in 2012 – MR an increase of 275 percent within seven years. A three judge bench of the Supreme Court... However, despite the economic benefits generated from the industry, misuse or excessive Thursday, 19 February 2015 18:02 66 21409 consumption of alcohol can result in many adverse effects, on human health and on society as a ................................................................................................ whole. Lankan molested The existence of a thriving illicit alcohol industry, which accounts for nearly 65 percent of the total sleeping ... alcohol market in Sri Lanka, has also aggravated alcohol-related health problems in Sri Lanka. A Sri Lankan salesman has Therefore, it is useful to explore the implementation of effective measures to prevent or reduce the admitted that ... harm caused by alcohol in the country. As this article goes on to argue, this will require the formulation of a more balanced and a holistic policy framework. Wednesday, 18 February 2015 15:12 24 19213 ................................................................................................ Yoshitha wants to join hi... State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene... Sunday, 22 February 2015 19:20 14 17552 ................................................................................................ Prasanna Ranatunga out? A political move is underway to strip We... Monday, 23 February 2015 08:34 11 15958 ................................................................................................ 1 of 3 2/24/2015 12:15 PM Sri Lanka needs more balanced and holistic alcohol policy ::: Dailymirr... http://www.dailymirror.lk/business/features/46250-sri-lanka-needs-mo... Is there an alcohol policy in Sri Lanka? Alcohol policies or the regulations, laws and rules which govern the manufacture, promotion, distribution, sale and use of alcohol are consequential in effectively monitoring the industry and also to reduce or prevent alcohol-related harm. Throughout the past century, these policies have changed all over the world. In countries such as Australia, Canada, and many in Western Europe, positive results have been achieved through altering the patterns of drinking, specifically through shifts from hard to soft liquor. More attention is also given to promote moderate drinking for adults, considering the many health concerns and other social dilemmas attributable to alcohol. In the Sri Lankan context, the country never had a comprehensive or a pragmatic alcohol policy. Yet, it has followed certain ad hoc policies from time to time. In 1998, Sri Lanka attempted to formulate a National Alcohol Policy which only included a ban on alcohol related advertising on television and radio, but on the other hand, allowed liberal imports of alcoholic beverages. Even the ‘Mathata Thitha’ (‘End to Alcoholism’) concept enshrined in the Mahinda Chinthana Vision (2005) comprises ambitious objectives on the sensible use of alcohol. However, there has been no clear target or designed programme or a clear timeline for the strategic implementation of a policy so far. The highly politicized nature of the alcohol industry - in producing liquor, in issuing of alcohol licenses or in enforcing legislative actions (particularly in relation to illicit liquor) – has also complicated matters. Meanwhile, shortcomings in the existing taxation of alcohol production, where taxes are imposed only on legal alcohol and disregards illicit liquor, can also be seen as a drawback in effectively addressing this policy concern. What needs to be done? In this light, the need for a well framed national action policy on alcohol production and consumption in Sri Lanka is indispensable. In order to achieve this, first, it is important to understand the drinking culture in Sri Lanka. This will help get a better sense of creating a level playing field between the legal alcohol industries (producers), the government (law enforcer), as well as the consumers. Policy makers should clearly understand the harm caused by illicit liquor, particularly among the rural and urban poor, and include an effective mechanism to monitor its production and availability in the country. Re-evaluating the credibility of alcohol license holders, introducing heavy penalties for violating excise laws, and developing public awareness on alcohol-related abuse are some of the mechanisms that need to be included in a more holistic alcohol policy for Sri Lanka. After all, the most significant aspect of an effective alcohol policy lies not only in having good legislative actions, but, in implementing and enforcing it in a coherent and an effective manner. (The above article is based on the latest IPS publication ‘State of the Sri Lankan Alcohol Industry and Analysis of Governing Policies (Working Paper Series No.19) authored by G.D. Dayaratne. It is the first research publication in Sri Lanka that takes an independent and pragmatic look at this issue in order to influence this important area of national policy. The publication can be purchased at IPS and leading bookstores. For more information, visit http://www.ips.lk /publications/. To view the full version of this article, and to comment on it, visit ‘Talking Economics’ www.ips.lk/talkingeconomics) Comments - 0 Add comment Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments. HOME HOME DELIVERY ABOUT US AD SPECS WNL HOME ARCHIVES FEEDBACK Group Sites : Lankadeepa Dailymirror Daily FT Sunday times Financial Times Ada HI Mag Lanka Women WNL Tamil Mirror Mirror Sports Mirrorcitizen Deshaya Services : Home delivery Webmaster Web Ads Editorial Help Desk Google + News Alerts Book Print Ads LW HI Tamil Radio Hitad Print Times Jobs Wijeya Times Education WNL Home e-papers Lankadeepa Sunday Lankadeepa Daily Mirror Ada Tamil Mirror Daily FT Deshaya Wijeya e-paper portal All the content on this website is copyright protected and can be reproduced only by giving the due courtesy to 'dailymirror.lk' Copyright © 2004 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. 2 of 3 2/24/2015 12:15 PM Sri Lanka needs more balanced and holistic alcohol policy ::: Dailymirr... http://www.dailymirror.lk/business/features/46250-sri-lanka-needs-mo... 3 of 3 2/24/2015 12:15 PM.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Study on Ethnic Crisis and Newspaper Media Performance in Sri Lanka (Related to Selected Newspaper Media from April of 1983 to September of 1983)
    IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 23, Issue 1, Ver. 8 (January. 2018) PP 25-33 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org A Study on Ethnic Crisis and Newspaper Media performance in Sri Lanka (Related to selected Newspaper media from April of 1983 to September of 1983) Assistant Lecturer Sarasi Chaya Bandara Department of Political Science University of Kelaniya Kelaniya Corresponding Author: Assistant Lecturer Sarasi Chaya Bandara Abstract: The strong contribution denoted by media, in order to create various psychological printings to contemporary folk consciousness within a chaotic society which is consist of an ethnic conflict is extremely unique. Knowingly or unknowingly media has directly influenced on intensification of ethnic conflict which was the greatest calamity in the country inherited to a more than three decades history. At the end of 1970th decade, the newspaper became as the only media which is more familiar and which can heavily influence on public. The incident that the brutal murder of 13 military officers becoming victims of terrorists on 23rd of 1983 can be identified as a decisive turning point within the ethnic conflict among Sinhalese and Tamils. The local newspaper reporting on this case guided to an ethnical distance among Sinhalese and Tamils. It is expected from this investigation, to identify the newspaper reporting on the case of assassination of 13 military officers on 23rd of July 1983 and to investigate whether that the government and privet newspaper media installations manipulated their own media reporting accordingly to professional ethics and media principles. The data has investigative presented based on primary and secondary data under the case study method related with selected newspapers published on July of 1983, It will be surely proven that journalists did not acted to guide the folk consciousness as to grow ethnical cordiality and mutual trust.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impacts of Small Arms Availability and Misuse in Sri Lanka
    In the Shadow of a Cease-fire: The Impacts of Small Arms Availability and Misuse in Sri Lanka by Chris Smith October 2003 A publication of the Small Arms Survey Chris Smith The Small Arms Survey The Small Arms Survey is an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. It is also linked to the Graduate Institute’s Programme for Strategic and International Security Studies. Established in 1999, the project is supported by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and by contributions from the Governments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It collaborates with research institutes and non-governmental organizations in many countries including Brazil, Canada, Georgia, Germany, India, Israel, Jordan, Norway, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Small Arms Survey occasional paper series presents new and substantial research findings by project staff and commissioned researchers on data, methodological, and conceptual issues related to small arms, or detailed country and regional case studies. The series is published periodically and is available in hard copy and on the project’s web site. Small Arms Survey Phone: + 41 22 908 5777 Graduate Institute of International Studies Fax: + 41 22 732 2738 47 Avenue Blanc Email: [email protected] 1202 Geneva Web site: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org Switzerland ii Occasional Papers No. 1 Re-Armament in Sierra Leone: One Year After the Lomé Peace Agreement, by Eric Berman, December 2000 No. 2 Removing Small Arms from Society: A Review of Weapons Collection and Destruction Programmes, by Sami Faltas, Glenn McDonald, and Camilla Waszink, July 2001 No.
    [Show full text]
  • NIGHT of the SCRIBES It Was a Night of the Scribes, for the Scribes
    NIGHT OF THE SCRIBES It was a night of the scribes, for the scribes. Having written stories about other people, events and places all year round, it was the time of the year when they get a little space in the newspapers for themselves and their achievements. The Journalism Awards of Excellence organised by the Editors Guild of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Press Institute was held at Mount Lavinia Hotel on Tuesday night. The highlight of the annual event was the presentation of Lifetime Achievements medals and shawls to five veterans in the field who had been dedicated to the cause of journalism. Print journalists including cartoonists, layout artistes and photographers work- Lifetime Achievement awards winners Piyasena Ihalavithana, Neville de Silva (representative), Sarath Malalasekera, ing for newspapers published in all three languages Veeragathy Thanabalasingham and Premasiri Abeysinghe. received recognition for their hard work in 2015. Apart from the winners in most categories, to encourage others merit awards were also presented on the recommenda- tion of the eminent panel of judges drawn from journal- ism and academia. Three lucky journalists who had won awards in three categories also received return air tickets from SriLankan Airlines. The awards night culminated with the presentation of the Mervyn de Silva Journalist of the Year Award and fellowship thereafter, away from the rush of newsroom deadlines. B.A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year (English) Padma Edirisinghe. (The Sunday Observer) Padma Edirisinghe Columnist of the Year By Ryhanna Salie was the Principal of Gam- pola Teacher’s College, B.A. Siriwardena Columnist of the Year (English, Merit), she visited the village of Rasika Jayakody (The Sunday Observer).
    [Show full text]
  • The Sri Lankan Insurgency: a Rebalancing of the Orthodox Position
    THE SRI LANKAN INSURGENCY: A REBALANCING OF THE ORTHODOX POSITION A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Peter Stafford Roberts Department of Politics and History, Brunel University April 2016 Abstract The insurgency in Sri Lanka between the early 1980s and 2009 is the topic of this study, one that is of great interest to scholars studying war in the modern era. It is an example of a revolutionary war in which the total defeat of the insurgents was a decisive conclusion, achieved without allowing them any form of political access to governance over the disputed territory after the conflict. Current literature on the conflict examines it from a single (government) viewpoint – deriving false conclusions as a result. This research integrates exciting new evidence from the Tamil (insurgent) side and as such is the first balanced, comprehensive account of the conflict. The resultant history allows readers to re- frame the key variables that determined the outcome, concluding that the leadership and decision-making dynamic within the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had far greater impact than has previously been allowed for. The new evidence takes the form of interviews with participants from both sides of the conflict, Sri Lankan military documentation, foreign intelligence assessments and diplomatic communiqués between governments, referencing these against the current literature on counter-insurgency, notably the social-institutional study of insurgencies by Paul Staniland. It concludes that orthodox views of the conflict need to be reshaped into a new methodology that focuses on leadership performance and away from a timeline based on periods of major combat.
    [Show full text]
  • INDIAN OTT PLATFORMS REPORT 2019 New Regional Flavours, More Entertaining Content
    INDIAN OTT PLATFORMS REPORT 2019 New Regional Flavours, more Entertaining Content INDIAN TRENDS 2018-19 Relevant Statistics & Insights from an Indian Perspective. Prologue Digital technology has steered the third industrial revolution and influenced human civilization as a whole. A number of industries such as Media, Telecom, Retail and Technology have witnessed unprecedented disruptions and continue to evolve their existing infrastructure to meet the challenge. The telecom explosion in India has percolated to every corner of the country resulting in easy access to data, with Over-The-Top (OTT) media services changing how people watch television. The Digital Media revolution has globalized the world with 50% of the world’s population going online and around two-thirds possessing a mobile phone. Social media has penetrated into our day-to-day life with nearly three billion people accessing it in some form. India has the world’s second highest number of internet users after China and is fully digitally connected with the world. There is a constant engagement and formation of like-minded digital communities. Limited and focused content is the key for engaging with the audience, thereby tapping into the opportunities present, leading to volumes of content creation and bigger budgets. MICA, The School of Ideas, is a premier Management Institute that integrates Marketing, Branding, Design, Digital, Innovation and Creative Communication. MICA offers specializations in Digital Communication Management as well as Media & Entertainment Management as a part of its Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Management. In addition to this, MICA offers an online Post-Graduate Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing and Communication.
    [Show full text]
  • Oppression of Tamils in Sri Lanka
    OPPRESSION OF TAMILS IN SRI LANKA By MAYAN VIJE TAMIL INFORMATION CENTRE 15 JUNE 1987 SECOND EDITION 2 Publisher’s Note (Second Edition) This paper records the series of events in Sri Lanka since 1948 that have culminated in the present catastrophe. The appendices contain supporting documents and briefly outline the matters set out in the paper. The paper is based on the questions asked and details requested from us during the last two years and by no means encompasses the entirety of events in Sri Lanka. Tables, maps and a bibliography are also included. Tamil Information Centre 3rd Floor 24-28 Clapham High Street (Voltaire Road Entrance) London SW4 7UR Tel: No. 01-627 4808 15 June 1987 (The first edition was published on 21 June 1985) 3 CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Constitutional violations 1.2 Unitary state and majority rule 1.3 Political will of the majority 2.0 Oppression 2.1 Citizenship 2.1.1 Reduction of representation 2.2 Language 2.2.1 Official language 2.2.2 Employment 2.3 Colonization 2.4 Education and culture 2.4.1 Standardization 2.4.2 Violence against Tamil students and destruction of educational institutions 2.4.3 Culture 2.4.4 Freedom of worship 2.5 Economic development 2.6 Insecurity 3.0 Political reaction 3.1 Minority fears and majority reaction 3.2 Colonization 3.3 Non-violence 3.4 Judicial process 3.5 Violence by mobs 3.6 Military occupation 3.7 The 1972 Constitution 3.8 Mandate for a separate State 3.9 Violence unleashed 3.10 District Development Councils 3.11 Militant youth 3.12 Mass arrest, detention and torture
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Lanka Assessment
    SRI LANKA COUNTRY REPORT October 2004 Country Information & Policy Unit IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY DIRECTORATE HOME OFFICE, UNITED KINGDOM Sri Lanka October 2004 CONTENTS 1. Scope of Document 1.1 - 1.7 2. Geography 2.1 - 2.4 3. Economy 3.1 - 3.3 4. History 4.1 – 4.139 - Independence to 1994 4.1 - 4.10 - 1994 to the present 4.11 – 4.81 - The Peace Process January 2000 – August 4.82 – 4.139 2004 5. State Structures 5.1 - 5.47 The Constitution 5.1 - 5.3 - Citizenship and Nationality 5.4 - 5.6 Political System 5.7. – 5.9 Judiciary 5.10 - 5.13 Legal Rights/Detention 5.14 - 5.21 - Death penalty 5.22 – 5.23 Internal Security 5.24 - 5.26 Prisons and Prison Conditions 5.27 - 5.29 Military Service 5.30 - 5.33 Medical Services 5.34 - 5.46 Educational System 5.47 6. Human Rights 6.1 - 6.232 6.A Human Rights Issues 6.1 - 6.73 Overview 6.1 - 6.8 Freedom of Speech and the Media 6.9 - 6.22 - Treatment of journalists 6.14 - 6.22 Freedom of Religion 6.23 - 6.35 - Introduction 6.23 – 6.27 - Buddhists 6.28 – 6.29 - Hindus 6.30 - Muslims 6.30 - 6.33 - Christians 6.34 – 6.35 Freedom of Assembly and Association 6.36 – 6.40 Employment Rights 6.41 - 6.50 Freedom of Movement 6.51 - 6.73 - Immigrants and Emigrants Act 6.68 - 6.73 6.B Human Rights - Specific Groups 6.74 - 6.182 Ethnic Groups 6.74 - 6.149 - Tamils and general Human Rights Issues 6.74 - 6.148 - Arrests of Tamils 6.78 - 6.86 - Disappearances and Extra-judicial 6.87 – 6.95 executions - Torture 6.96 – 6.104 - Government Action 6.105 – 6.124 - Prosecution of security force personnel 6.125 – 6.142 - Up-country
    [Show full text]
  • Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka Latest Breaking News and Headlines 6/19/17, 658 AM
    'Champika, Rathana Thera responsible for Gnanasara Thera's actions' - Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka Latest Breaking News and Headlines 6/19/17, 658 AM This is Google's cache of http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Champika-Rathana-Thera-responsible-for-Gnanasara-Thera-s-actions--131036.html (http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/- Champika-Rathana-Thera-responsible-for-Gnanasara-Thera-s-actions--131036.html). It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on 16 Jun 2017 13:20:10 GMT. The current page (http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Champika-Rathana-Thera-responsible-for-Gnanasara-Thera-s-actions--131036.html) could have changed in the meantime. Learn more (http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&p=cached&answer=1687222) Full version Text-only version (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:M8DGTKjA2gAJ:www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Champika-Rathana-Thera-responsible-for-Gnanasara-Thera-s-actions--131036.html&num=1&client=safari&hl=en&strip=1&vwsrc=0) Tip: To quickly find your search term on this page, press Ctrl+F or ⌘-F (Mac) and use the find bar. (http://bestpromoslk.com/clients/maliban/2014/temptation-christmas/400-600.html) Apps (http://www.dailymirror.lk/apps/) Ad Specs (http://banner.wijeya.net/Banners/advertise_with_us/index.htm#dm_section) Home Delivery (http://www.pay.wijeya.lk/Subscribe/index.aspx) Feedback (http://www.dailymirror.lk/feedback/) Login Subscribe Tweet (http://www.dailymirror.lk/newsletter/signup) (http://content.dailymirror.lk/newsletter/signin) (http://www.dailymirror.lk/) Tamil Mirror (http://www.tamilmirror.lk/)
    [Show full text]
  • MEDIA FREEDOM in SRI LANKA 2 Media Freedom in Sri Lanka - 2020 Media Freedom in Sri Lanka
    MEDIA FREEDOM IN SRI LANKA 2 Media Freedom in Sri Lanka - 2020 Media Freedom in Sri Lanka Released to concide with World Press Freedom Day 2021 May 03 Free Media Movement Media Freedom in Sri Lanka - 2020 3 Other published works by Free Media Movement Seetha Ranjanee (2011) Martyrs of the Freedom Of Expression in Sri Lanka Free Media Movement (2017) Blue Print for Media Reform Dr Sunil Wijesiriwardena (2018 May) Role of the Media to Transform the Collective Imagination ILO-IFJ-FMM (2019) Reporting on the forced labour and fair recruitment Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (2019) Digital Media: Workers Survey Free Media Movement (2020) Digital Media Workers Survey 2020 Annual Report on Media Freedom in Sri Lanka 2020 © Free Media Movement - May 2021 1st Edition - Colombo Pages 36, Infographics 03, Table 03 ISBN 978-624-5909-00-1 No part of this report may be quoted in full or part, reproduced and distributed in any form including print, written or electronic media, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods and sales and distribution of counterfeit copies and adaptations without the prior written permission of the publisher. Researcher: Viranjana Herath (Attorney-At-Law) PhD. Scholar at South Asian University, New Delhi, India Cover, Layout & Infographic: Nalinda Seneviratne Published by Free Media Movement No. 96 Bernard Zoysa Avenue, Colombo 05 Tel. 011 236 8895 e-Mail: [email protected] www.fmmsrilanla.lk www.mediareform.lk 4 Media Freedom in Sri Lanka - 2020 Contents Message from Convener 6 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Names Or Aliases Aliases Details Achchudan Sivarasa Pirundaban
    • Names or Aliases Aliases Details Born in Jaffna, in 1972 Sivarasa Pirundaban alias Achchudan holds a French passport and presently living a low profile while actively engaging in LTTE's international terror network. He now resides with his two kids in a Middle Eastern country. Achchudan has followed his initial flying training in France and frequent visits Europe, Africa and Far East. Subject was once arrested in a far eastern country while carrying a large sum of money but has managed to escape disguised as a businessman. According to documents and technical data recovered Sivarasa Achchudan has also conducted combat flying Achchudan Pirundaban, alias training for suicide cadres. The authorities are in Suresh, the process of investigating into involvements of his brothers who are presently residing in Far East and Canada- also engaged in LTTE' international terror network. Achchudan has provided LTTE with technical assistance and training for its pilots on air suicide missions in 1998 including the 2003-2004 CFA period. He is alleged to have co-coordinated the LTTE's air raids in Colombo via satellite communication from his overseas base station. According to available reports, Achchudan owns many air power related assets overseas. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Adaikalanatham, Adaikalanathan, with strong LTTE connections. He represents a Selvam A. Selvam multi-electoral Vanni district and is a president of TELO (Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization). Once he was the chief bodyguard of Prabhakaran. Related by marriage to Sornalingam alias Shankar. He has political Ajith, Paamban - contacts in Tamil Nadu that he had developed when TN politicians visited Prabhakaran.
    [Show full text]
  • Aava Gang and the Securitisation of Jaffna
    Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research (ACPR) Situation Brief No. 1: November 18, 2016 Student Killings, Aava Gang and the Securitisation of Jaffna A topmost concern of the Tamil community in the North-East is the Sri Lankan Government’s failure to meaningfully confront systemic policing and military intelligence issues that have once again been brought to the forefront by the recent killings of two Jaffna University students by police. The government has in the aftermath of the killings chosen to utilise the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to arrest dozens of individuals on allegations of being linked to the “Aava group” under the purview of the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID). The arrests under the PTA of alleged Aava group members is creating a climate of fear that represses activism and mobilization, and is perceived by local communities as an attempt to provide justification for the police shooting amidst the annual post-war crackdown by the military in the lead-up to Maaveerar Naal (Martyr’s Day). Killings of Pavunraj Sulakshan and Nadarajah Kajan and Chunnakham Police Attack On the night of October 20, 2016, Pavunraj Sulakshan and Nadarajah Kajan, students at Jaffna University, were tragically killed by a police shooting in Kokuvil. The police responsible were part of a special task force (to be distinguished from the Special Task Force (STF)) created to respond to increased gang violence on the peninsula and on the day of the incident had reportedly been stationed at a checkpoint on KKS road. Initially the police
    [Show full text]
  • Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative Presidential Election 2019, Sri Lanka
    Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative Presidential Election 2019, Sri Lanka Report on Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative – Presidential Election 2019, Sri Lanka Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative Presidential Election 2019, Sri Lanka Page | 1 Report on Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative – Presidential Election 2019, Sri Lanka The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) is an election observation organization that contributes to both the election monitoring process and the electoral reform process of this country. CMEV was formed in 1997 jointly by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the Free Media Movement (FMM), and the INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre. One of CMEV’s starting core objectives was to maintain an updated database of election violations. This objective has now been expanded to include the observation of estimated election campaign costs of political parties, independent groups and candidates contesting elections. Contact Details : Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, Colombo, Sri Lanka Phone: +94 11 2826388/+94 11 2826384 Fax: +94 11 2826146 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cmev.org Facebook: facebook.com/electionviolence Twitter: twitter.com/cmev Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmevsl/ Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative – Presidential Election 2019, Sri Lanka Copyright © CMEV, 2020 All rights reserved. Written and Edited by: Manjula Gajanayake, National Coordinator, CMEV Published By: Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) Page | 2 Report on Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative
    [Show full text]