Issue No. 160 December 2018 - March 2019

Indefinite strike over unresolved wage dispute cripples estate sector

Protest in Nuwara Eliya town. Pic by Shelton Hettiararchchi

The workers are demanding their basic daily wage be increased from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000. – Sunday Times -09/12/2018

Human Rights Review : December 2018 - March 2019 Institute of Human Rights INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Editorial 03

 A Country in turmoil

Situation in the North & East 05  Killings of two PCs in Batticaloa :... 06  Army still holds 14,769 acres

 Keppapulavu: Land Struggle Reaches 07  Flash floods in North  Deprived of their dwelling places for nearly 10 years when will we get our lands back?

Corruption - Past & Present 08  Executive Presidency Misconceptions

 How lawmakers prosper with taxpayers‟ money 09  Inside Story of the First - Ever Foreign Indictment of A Lankan Ambassador 10  More portfolios; a reward for protecting Govt. during crisis? 11  Is Customs Dept „Customised‟ for some VIPs? Charles exposes corrupt cargo consignments 12  Act quickly to deactivate the drug barons 13  Madush is the Tip the iceberg looks nothing like him 14  Bond scam no fault of mine, says Ranil 15  Less that 20% MPs use laptops on their tables 16  seeks divine help to end power crisis

War Crimes / Reconciliation 17  Rebel cadre turned politician rules out re-emergence of war 18  Approval for TRC mechanism Navi Pillay blasts Govt 19  Expert opinion on Mannar mass grave clears Sri Lanka of war crime 20  UN rights chief warns Sri Lanka of fresh conflict

Human Rights 22  The sad plight of migrant domestic workers 23  Remembering Lasantha...10 years since death, his killers still remain free

 Mass graves: The dead tell a tragic tale of delays and disputes 24  „Prisoners are human beings‟ 25  A NATIONAL SHAME! Tea industry workers and their plight 26  Concerns over social issues in the SP plantation community 27  Murder in the forest reserve Staff Information 28

Edited by Leela Isaac Layout designed by Hashini Rajaratna 2

EDITORIAL

A COUNTRY IN TURMOIL

Since October 2018 the country has been in turmoil due to the political crisis caused by the difference of opinions between the two leaders of the National Unity government. Though it was named „yahapalanaya‟ or Good governance, if ended up as „No governance‟.

After the courts ruled that President Sirisena had violated the constitution of the country is appointing Ra- japaksa the leader of the SLFP as the new PM and dissolving parliament, Ranil Wickramasinghe formed a fully UNP government without the support of the President‟s party. Then it ceased to be a national govern- ment and the number of cabinet ministers had to be reduced to 30.

With this reduction in the number of cabinet ministers began the power struggle among the politicians which continues up to date. In their struggle to hold on to power, perks and positions they have become totally oblivious to the needs of the people. MPs from both parties clamour to get ministerial posts, using which they can amass more and more wealth, by way of commissions and bribes. Almost every Member of Parlia- ment wants to be a minster of some sort, the latest category being non cabinet ministers! Soon we could have a cabinet of 225 ministers, doing nothing in the national interest but doing everything in their own self- interest.

In today‟s parliament, almost all are corrupt, ignorant and inefficient. There are a few who may really want to serve the country but caught up in this den of thieves, they remain helpless. Though the parliament is supposed to be the law making assembly almost 80% of its members would have no idea of what they are supposed to do, many of them not having gone beyond grade nine or ten.

Many politicians today seem to have the support of the underworld of drug traffickers, bank robbers, mur- derers and criminals of all types. They help politicians to come to power and stay in power. At election times they provide the politicians with millions or billions lf rupees, from their ill begotten wealth to buy votes. Therefore the candidates and the party that gets the most amounts of money gathers the majority of votes. There is no law in our country to monitor campaign funding. Over the years the people themselves have got used to this corrupt system and don‟t hesitate to sell their votes to the highest bidder, even if he happens to be a criminal. Once in power he is expected to promote and protect the people who voted for him, even when they break the laws of the country.

Whatever party comes to power at the next elections the life of the ordinary citizens is not going to improve. The government members and the members of the opposition are both involved in corruption, therefore the opposition is totally ineffective. When in trouble they protect one another. There is no national policy or eco- nomic plan to take the country . While exports drop, imports keep increasing. The farmers, the plan- tation workers, those displaced during the war or the tsunami, parents and relatives of those who have been „disappeared‟ during and after the war, the war widows, women who seek employment in the middle east, unemployed youth, university students, pensioners, all these groups face problems and express their griev- ances. But those in power have no time even to listen to the people, their discussions are all about the most important issue for them, that is how to win the next election.

With so many problems unsolved including the ethnic problem, the country could face anarchy and economic ruin. This „divided‟ government is weak corrupt and inefficient. The people must realise the danger the coun- try faces. Unless they give up their party loyalties, encourage and support men and women of integrity to enter politics, there is very little hope for this country, with this most corrupt parliament holding on to power forever. Leela Isaac 3 March 2019

The Buddha’s Prophecy on Corruption

King Kosol of India had 16 muddy water but no animal ven- amounts of money regardless of strange dreams and he desired tured to drink the clean, clear how dirty the means were. That to find out whether they were and cool water. would occur all over the world. good or bad or to what they The Buddha’s Prophecy They would be tricky and corrupt meant. He approached the Bud- „In the future people will be full without shame. It would become dha for clarification. As at today, of greed and desire. They would more and more severe resulting corruption is the subject of the crave for more and more money in disorder. There would be day and as such I quote Dream 9 and will never be satisfied. They fights over positions in which and the Buddha‟s Prophecy. will not want clean, honest low- they could gain more wealth. The Dream paying jobs which will not satisfy They would fight over who King Kosol dreamt of a big pond. their greed. They would seek should get more money, who The water in the outer part of political power and seats in Na- should get less and should get the pond was clean, clear and tional Assemblies so that they nothing.‟ cool but the water in the middle could rule the country and man- (Reference: The Buddha’s 16 was cloudy and muddy. Big and age the finances of the countries. Prophecies) small animals fought to drink the They would acquire large

Extract from an article by Re. Fr. Leopold Ratnasekera

On January 1 the „DAY OF PEACE’, Pope Francis had broached on this controversial subject for very good reasons in order to insist on politics as a service to peace based on ensuring social justice to all and respect for human dignity without any distinction and that, in the context of various political situations that are in vogue around the world at the moment as we enter the New Year. To quote him directly: “Political office and political responsibility thus constantly challenge those called to the service of their country to make every effort to protect those who live there and to create the conditions for a worthy and just future. If exercised with basic respect for the life, freedom and dignity of persons, political life can indeed become an outstanding form of charity. Going into specifics, the Pope states: “We think of corruption in its varied forms: the misappropria- tion of public resources, the exploitation of individuals, the denial of rights, the flouting of community rules, dishonest gain, the justification of power by force or the arbitrary appeal to raison d‟état and the refusal to relinquish power. To which we can add xenophobia, racism, lack of concern for the natural environment, the plundering of natural resources for the sake of quick profit and contempt for those forced into exile”. Thus he has given us the full litany of modern evils that scar politics and depriving thereby the people of the im- mensely large quantum of benefits and blessings that can be accrued from the just exercise of political power and authority as a genuine and noble service to society at large. His peace letter begins with the following observation: “We know that the thirst for power at any price leads to abuses and injustice. Politics is an essential means of building human community and institu- tions, but when political life is not seen as a form of service to society as a whole, it can become a means of oppression, marginalization and even destruction”. We know that politics calls for great sense of responsibil- ity since it concerns the life of people and that for politicians, their genuine, sincere and authentic service is not only just a matter of duty but one of conscience and moral concern. Good politicians are an asset to the people as they journey towards social peace and material prosperity while bad politicians are the bane of the people for they will certainly fall short of the ideals and the hopes that people at large have placed in them. It is a very serious and morally reprehensible breach of trust, the bad effects of which will disrupt the entire social fabric of a people or a country. If politicians are genuinely committed to the service of the peo- ple and be catalysts in their journey to economic prosperity, social cohesion working towards building politi- cal stability, the path to progress of a country is clearly assured. Bad politics will disrupt peace, create divi- sive conditions and stagnate growth. It is therefore the bounden duty of the people to choose good politicians to ensure their common good and all-round well-being. Pope Francis‟s reflection on politics as a service to peace is a timely theme for all who are engaged in this noble profession to give it a serious thought.

-- 14/01/2019

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Excerpts from an article by Sulochana Ramiah Mohan Killings of two PCs in Batticaloa: Ex-LTTE cadre arrested, three taken in for questioning

Three ex-LTTE cadres have been taken ders are alleged to have links to the Maaveerar in for questioning in Batticaloa, by a seven- commemoration held in Thandiyadi in the member special Police team over Friday morn- Vavunativu Police Division on 27 November ing‟s killings of two Policemen at Vavunativu, in 2018. the Batticaloa District. Thandiyadi was an LTTE-controlled area One ex-LTTE cadre, Rasanayagam Sar- and currently an STF camp is located in the ar- vanandam (48), has been arrested in Vatta- ea. katchi in Kilinochchi. Four other suspected ex- Since the STF camp is there, in the last LTTE cadres were taken in for questioning. Two three years, people of the area could not com- of them were known as K. Prabhakaran and memorate Maveerar Day. Ajanthan both from the East. Apparently, an unregistered organization Prabhakaran was taken in for question- called „Thesathin Vergal Amaippu‟, led by K. ing by the STF in Thambiluvil in Ampara. Prabhakaran has been actively engaged in flood Another two who were taken in for ques- relief programmes etc in the last one year in tioning were released yesterday after confirm- the Eastern Province. This organization has also ing that they had no link to the murders. been collecting funds for the recently-held According to information, two Eastern Maveerar Day celebrations. They have collected Province senior most top political wing leaders, money from shops and business establishments of the routed...... Tamil Tigers, who survived the in the area. military onslaught had funded the Maveerar Prabhakaran was taken in for question- Day celebrations for the first time. One of them ing by the STF in Thambiluvil in Ampara. is living in South India and other in the UK, it is It is alleged that the last month‟s alleged. Maveerar Day celebration was funded by the The brutal killings of the two Policemen Tamil Diaspora. - Walpita Gamage Niroshan Indika Prasanna It is also alleged that after the event the (34) and Ganesh Dinesh (28) was reported on place had been unattended and flags and other Friday morning when another officer had gone items used at the event were scattered and not on duty. removed. Apparently these two policemen had The dead Policemen‟s pistols were also ordered the people there to clear the place and stolen, it was revealed. this had irked some men who had been watch- The funerals are expected to take place ing the two policemen. in Kalmunai and Galle today (Sunday). According to an inside source, the mur- - - 2018/12/02

“The purpose of terrorism lies not just in the violent act itself. It is in producing terror. It sets out to inflame, to divide, to produce consequences which they then use to justify further terror”

-Tony Blair -

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Despite presidential order to release lands by 31 Dec ARMY STILL HOLDS 14,769 ACRES Despite President ‟s direc- ers of political parties. tives to the relevant authorities to release On 4 October, the Presidential Media Di- lands, in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, to vision reported that President Sirisena had in- their original owners, before 31 December, the structed the authorities to complete the process Sri Lanka Army still holds a total of 14,769 of releasing lands in the Northern and Eastern acres. Provinces to their original owners, before 31 The Army has assured that 263.55 acres December, after resolving all the issues. The of lands to be released out of a total 14,769 instructions according to the Media report had acres being held. been given at a meeting of the Presidential Task According to statistics, the Army was Force to monitor development projects conduct- occupying a total of 12,200 acres of State and ed in the two Provinces, the letter stated. 2,569 acres of private lands, in both Northern “We, whose lands have been taken away and Eastern Provinces, as of 25 November from us forcibly and are still suffering immense- 2018. ly nearly 10 years after the end of the war, de- Army Commander Lt. General Mahesh mand that you keep this promise and ensure Senanayake, in a communiqué to the Northern that the authorities abide by instructions you Province Governor has emphasised that the Ar- gave them several months ago. We also de- my will release another 1,099 acres of State mand that the Prime Minister and leaders of all lands,- mainly in forest reserves of the Kilinoch- political parties and alliances support this fully chi, Mullaitivu and Mannar Districts, to the re- and demand that the President implement this spective District Secretaries within the first two decision. weeks of January 2019. The Sri Lanka Army We are deeply disappointed that there alone had held a total of 84,524 acres of land has been inadequate resettlement assistance (private and State) in the North and East by 18 and other restrictions and obstructions they May 2009 and had released a total of 69,754 have been faced in this regard which have ham- acres by 25 November 2018. pered their resettlement,” the letter further Displaced persons, civil society activists read. and organizations including the People‟s Alli- Many of the displaced communities from ance for the Right to Land, have written to the North, are also currently facing great hard- President Sirisena urging him to fulfil his prom- ship due to the recent floods, resulting in fur- ise that all lands in the North and East would be ther displacement, damage to property and pos- released to their original owners before 31 De- sessions and destruction of their paddy lands cember. and thereby loss of livelihood. Copies of the letter were also sent to Reported by Gagani Weerakoon Prime Minister and lead- -Ceylon Today - 30/12/2018

and har- participated in meetings with Excerpts from an article by Ruki Fernando a s s m e n t government politicians, local Keppapulavu: Land Struggle Reaches from the Tamil politicians, government A r m y , officials, the media, religious Boiling Point after 700 days of protest Police and clergy, representatives of inter- i n t e l l i - national community and others. “We want to sleep, cook, eat in gence agencies, and also brave Their stand inspired simi- our own house and farm our own the , rain, heat, cold and lar protests. They tasted some land” dust. They have faced challenges success, when a part of the Ar- 700 days is a long time in continuing their livelihoods, my occupied Keppapulavu was for a day and night protest out- sending children to school and released in December 2017. But side an Army camp. Since March caring for their elderly. It is the the protest for the release of the 1, 2017, the people of Keppapu- longest running community-led full extent of their lands contin- lavu, located in the Mullaitheevu day and night continuous protest ued. district in Northern Sri Lanka, for land in Sri Lanka. They have -Daly Mirror - 28/01/2019 have been doing just that. They also engaged in protests in Co- have had to brave intimidation lombo and elsewhere, and have 6

Excerpts from an article by Mirudhula Thambiah Flash floods in North the spill gates of the Iranama- the water in the Iranamadu du Tank were opened. Tank is now only utilised for Last week was horrifying to The Iranamadu Tank Kilinochchi. the people in Kilinochchi and which was built with sponsor- Those affected by Mullaitivu as they experienced ship of the Asian Development floods blamed the Authorities flash floods. Many families Bank was opened by President for not issuing warnings re- from both districts were af- Maithripala Sirisena on 7 De- garding floods. However, Kili- fected by the unpredicted cember, post renovations. The nochchi District Irrigation De- rainfall (370mm). The most capacity of the tank was partment Director, N. affected were the people in raised from 34 feet to 36 feet Suthakaran denied the allega- Kilinochchi; their houses, pad- during renovations. tions claiming that overflow of dy lands and other belongings The Tank was built to the Iranamadu Tank was not went under water. People and provide water to the the only reason for heavy some agricultural organisa- Peninsula and Kilinochchi Dis- floods. tions were of the opinion that trict. However, some people -Ceylon Today - the calamity occurred since were against this, therefore 30/12/2018

Excerpts from an article by Mirudhula Thambiah Deprived of their dwelling places for nearly 10 years when will we get our lands back?

“Every year we observe a period of fasting for soon be returned on a particular date. We turn 21-days prior to holding a religious festival at back with hope and little happiness but when our temple. Now, however for the past 10 years the date arrives we find that we were only we have not observed any of these rituals. It is duped and no further action was taken,” she frustrating to have to live indefinitely in a said. makeshift shelter when we have our very own People of Keppapilavu left the Menik ancestral land. Please return our lands back to Farm in 2012 for resettlement. Initially they us. I‟m only asking for my land. Why doesn‟t had to live in temporary shelters as soon as the Army understand our plight? It is our land. they were released to Keppapilavu but later the We are not forcibly asking for some oth- security forces set up a model village for these er land. We have lived here for many years. people. Some families agreed to live in this vil- We need to go back home. Our President lage while the majority of them retorted against should release our lands. We have had enough this decision and began to fight for their land of this agony!” A weeping Thangavelayutham rights on 1 March 2017. Sivapathapushpam shared her plight with Cey- “We are not against the government, reconcilia- lon Today. tion, the security forces, or the country‟s peace. Sivapathapushpam is one of the many We are only asking them to return what right- lamenting residents of Keppapilavu-Mullaitivu fully belongs to us. Some families from our vil- awaiting the Security Forces release the re- lage, who are currently settled at the Kep- maining 171 acres of land in the heart of the papilavu model village, are now producing illicit city where an Army camp is currently situated. liquor (Kasippu) as their livelihood. When their “I wanted to live on my land. I did not livelihood lands are under the control of securi- just leave my land in 2008 to dwell on the ty forces, these families did not have any choic- streets. Why has the government neglected our es. Students are now consuming illicit liquor demands? We are longing to return to our and have skipped schooling,” she stressed. lands. We have visited on at least five She further thanked the people from occasions so far and have begged from many South for the solidarity they have extended for authorities to release our lands. We have wait- the struggle of Keppapilavu residents. ed agonisingly for ten years now. Some authori- ties give us assurances that our lands would -Ceylon Today—27/01/2019

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Excerpts from an article by Rajeewa Jayaweera despite being repeatedly rejected by the people. He presides over his political party Executive Presidency Misconceptions like a tin-pot dictator while making grandi- ose speeches on democracy. He too tink- Regrettably, the chances of successfully implement- ered with the constitution (19A). Whereas the rein- ing a system as in France for the greater good of troduction of term limits for Presidents was wel- the people of Sri Lanka is nonexistent due to the come, there were other undesirable elements in- quality and caliber of our political leaders who make cluded for narrow political gain in the poorly drafted politics a family business. No Presidential or Parlia- 19A. mentary system of governance will succeed as long Into the fray came a traditional backroom as such self-serving leaders are at the helm. They boy for nearly three decades who contested as a are also backed by equally self-serving lackeys. „Common Candidate.‟ His inexperience in govern- One leader, without gracefully retiring after ance and newly developed craving to remain in of- two tenures as Head of State tinkered with the Con- fice notwithstanding his undertaking given during stitution to enable him to contest and remain in of- his oath-taking ceremony not to contest the Presi- fice till the baton could be passed to his offspring. dency again has created the present imbroglio in Fortunately, the constitutional amendment (18A) he the country. engineered was reserved by the government that Hardly material for the all-important office followed. of Executive President. Another leader simply refuses to fade away -Sunday Island - 2018/12/09

How lawmakers prosper with taxpayers’ money

Drafting a new constitu- comprise entirely of family mem- cians. tion with no perks and bene- bers. “We want people to at- fits for politicians : Kodi- “Then they get the car tend Parliament to save the na- tuwakku permit and allowances for petrol, tion and not to rob public money. “People who are occupy- diesel etc. Car permits come un- In fact all these unlawful events ing office in the legislature and der Excise Duty (Special Provi- take place because the citizens executive are required to hold sions) Act Section 3 (c ). are not concerned about their public office for public good,” These are tax-free car own rights.” said Nagananda Kodituwakku, permits and such tax exemptions Attorney-at-Law and public liti- are given for economic develop- SL has a Rs. 10.5 trillion gation activist. ment. Therefore it cannot be debt thanks to corrupt politi- “Therefore nobody is ex- abused for the import of vehi- cians : Ramanayake pected to rob. Sri Lanka is a rep- cles. This has become a lawless Known to be the only resentative democracy. After land. They obtain permits to sell Member of Parliament to have October 26 it is very clear that and abuse public funds. There rejected an allowance, an official all 225 representatives have are ministers who sell permits residence or vehicles, UNP Par- robbed with absolute for millions of rupees simply be- liamentarian Ranjan Rama- impunity. When the Rs. 100,000 cause there‟s no rule of law. nayake has certainly set an ex- additional allowance was given, Some of them don‟t even know ample. “The salary is a very nobody refused it except for that selling a vehicle permit is small aspect of their income,” he . Even the unlawful.” said airing his views about the members of the People‟s Libera- In his run-up to be the exorbitant salaries of ministers tion Front (JVP) accepted it.” Presidential Candidate in 2020, and abuse of public funds. “They Speaking further about Kodituwakku said he is in the have ways and means of getting the abuse of public funds Kodi- process of drafting a new Consti- more income. Many of them tuwakku pointed out that when a tution where there are no pen- have liquor and licences for sand minister takes office, his staff sions, perks or benefits for politi- (Continued on page 9)

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(Continued from page 8) in the process and eventually that money went to. I believe mining and other businesses. escape. In order to change these that those keep silent are the Some have choppers, ships and trends, the public need to be people who destroy the country. houses overseas. Most of them more conscious. Sri Lanka was Therefore the citizens need to be are those who entered politics on not indebted to any country when more active.” he said. a very low profile. As Ramanayake fur- per the asset declara- ther said that citizens can tion rules, public serv- now use Facebook as a ants in other countries tool to voice out against such as USA are corruption. “They can use required to show their the Right to Information assets to the public. We Act rather effectively and had two cases against find information about Duminda and Sa- ministers‟ incomes. In the rana Gunawardana be- end they are the tax pay- cause both of them hid ers and they need to their assets. But in the know where their money end they paid a fine of Rs. 2000 we gained independence, but is going. In countries like China and Rs. 3000 respectively and right now we have a Rs. 10.5 the people are very active and got away. This shows that no- trillion debt to cover. All this is they don‟t allow politicians to rob body cares about what they do. because of corrupt politicians. the country. So we need to get “People who advice cor- During 2004-2006 Sri Lanka re- the citizens involved as much as rupt politicians to escape from ceived a lot of funds in aid of the possible,” he said. such frauds are those who have tsunami. Those funds were By Kamanthi Wick- been employed in private tax enough to repay our loans, but ramasinghe companies,” he continued. “So what happened in the end? No- -Daily Mirror - 2018/12/18 they know how to find loopholes body even knows where half of

Excerpts from an article by Nirmala Kannangara Inside Story of the First - Ever Foreign Indictment of A Lankan Ambassador

It was revealed last month that former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Washington D.C., Jaliya Chitran Wickramasuriya is facing criminal prosecution in the United States of America, according to an indictment and supporting documents unsealed on December 20, 2018 in the United States District Court for the District of Colombia. The indictment, filed under seal on May 1, 2018, charges Wickramasuriya with two counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count of visa fraud. The charges stem from allegations that in early 2013, Wickramasuriya and others embezzled about US $332,000 from the (GoSL) in connection with a property purchased in Washington D.C. that was intended to serve as the new Sri Lankan embassy. He was also charged with committing immigration fraud in connection with an immigration application that he signed in the United States in 2014. The US Government has requested an arrest warrant for Wickramasuriya and intends to arraign him before court. -Daily Mirror - 09/01/2019

“True equality means holding everyone accountable in the same way, regardless of race, gender, faith, ethnicity or political ideology”

-Monica Crowley -

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Excerpts from an article by Nirmala Kannangara More portfolios; a reward for protecting Govt. during crisis?

Two more non-Cabinet ministers and a dep- same powers and privileges as the Cabinet ministers uty minister were sworn in on Friday bringing the are vested with.The argument that Parliament mem- number of non-Cabinet ministers to five. Earlier, in bers cannot serve the people without ministerial the wake of Ranil Wickremesinghe being reappoint- portfolios is ludicrous. It was in a way an admission ed Prime Minister last month, three non-Cabinet that they were doing nothing for the people. Accord- ministers had been appointed. ing to their contention all 225, including the Speaker The new appointments must be a response have to be ministers, so that they can serve the to the grumbling by many ruling party MPs who had people. been sidelined when the UNF government was re- Do all ministers serve the people? Can one instituted last month due to the 30-member limit cite a single decision taken by the Transport Minis- imposed on the Cabinet by the 19th Amendment to ters after 1957 to provide a decent, disciplined and the Constitution. Also there are new ministerial as- efficient public transport service which has now be- pirants among the backbenchers of the ruling party come a nightmare to the commuters? We have ten as well. These grumbles have been contending that transport ministers, including those at the provincial they were unable to serve the people without minis- level. But have they ever thought about the millions terial portfolios and had taken great pains in pro- of man-hours wasted on the roads due to the con- tecting the government during the recent political gestion and attitude of the operators of bus and and Constitutional crises. train services which is hostile to the commuters? We It is vividly clear that the portfolios of newly had a very few education ministers who had at- -introduced non-Cabinet ministers are a ploy by the tempted to transform the education on par with the government to increase the number of ministers at economic needs of the country. How many agricul- the expense of the tax-payers, as President Rana- ture ministers or irrigation ministers thought about singhe Premadasa introduced the posts of State the tens of thousands of abandoned lakes in the dry Ministers. Earlier, the government was attempting zone? How many of them thought about proper to increase the number of Cabinet ministers by at marketing facilities for the farmers? least two, arguing that the 30-member Cabinet Yet, a recent newspaper report said that the specified by the 19th Amendment did not include government spends Rs.7.5 million per month to the President and the Prime Minister. maintain a minister! Hence, increasing the number How cleverly has the government violated of ministers without any justification is a national the 19th Amendment? You can‟t increase the num- crime. ber of ministers to more than 30. But you can ap- -Daily Mirror - 15/01/2019 point any number of non-Cabinet ministers with

The Eran report been searching for long for such than Wickremaratne in the cur- a partner without success. It is rent political establishment to State Minister of Finance Eran clear that no such partner will have undertaken this job. He Wickremaratne was not ex- be found if the government had a fairly long career in bank- pressing rocket science when he does not agree to clean the air- ing and eventually rose to the said last week that State Owned line‟s balance sheet by writing position of Chief Executive Of- Enterprises (SOEs) need inde- off or absorbing the massive ficer of the National Develop- pendent governance and „fit and losses it carries in its books. ment Bank. At considerable per- proper persons‟ appointed to Given the present state sonal financial sacrifice, he gave run them. He has also recom- of relations between President up this position to enter politics. mended linking with a strategic Maithripala Sirisena and the The Wickremaratne Com- partner, preferably non- UNP, it is all to the good that mittee has recommended that competitive, to bring SriLankan Sirisena appointed a UNPer to the government retains the Airlines into which tax money of head the committee which was white elephant carrier as it the Lankan people have long charged with reporting within would be very expensive to been poured as if into a bottom- two weeks. It kept to this dead- wind it up. Its recommendation less pit. The national carrier has line. There is nobody better (Continued on page 11)

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(Continued from page 10) not to pursue its bid. Attracting planter brother-in-law to chair is that the government and the fresh proposals will undoubtedly the airline‟s board, rather thatn local private sector hold 51% need sugar coating the pill. hiding his head in shame about while the rest be sold under its Hardly a day passes what happened during is kins- proposal. Hopefully a foreign without fresh scandals at Sri man‟s watch is waxing eloquent investment partner would come Lankan Airlines emerging before about the doings of his succes- in although the long-running the Presidential Commission of sors who have too often been search thus far has found no Inquiry now investigating its no better than their predeces- takers. About two years ago, a affairs. These are highlighted in sors despite their being elected San Francisco-based private the media and the sorry state of in 2015 on a lofty platform of equity firm, TPG, with a track affairs that was allowed to pre- good governance – yahapalana. record of turning round losing vail for many years is constantly airlines after extensive had after in the limelight. The former -Editorial extensive due diligence decided president who appointed his -Sunday Island- 3/02/2019

Is Customs Dept ‘Customised’ for some VIPs? Charles exposes corrupt cargo consignments

Ex-Sri Lanka Customs Director General “We found one of our officers also being (DG) Mrs. P. S. M. Charles, who was removed involved. The team monitored this and detect- from her post on 30 January 2018, opines that ed it out of the Port and brought all the culprits one of the reasons for her removal from the to book excepting for one person. He has not post was due to her and her officers investigat- come to Customs to give a statement. He is ab- ing several serious consignment scams, which sconding and our team who want to arrest him had political links. have come under pressure not to arrest him. It One of the biggest detections made re- is from a Cabinet Minister from a „different po- cently was the Pepper “transshipment cargo” litical party‟. which is a BoI project under the Hub Operation. “When the scam came to light, we found According to Assistant Secretary, Cus- several political henchmen behind this. The DG toms Staff Officers‟ Union, Sudath de Silva, the was threatened to call off the investigation and pepper that was imported from India, is pro- also urging her to transfer officers investigating cessed here and then exported as a Sri Lankan the transfer cargo of pepper.” product without a single penny imposed on In- The Sri Lanka Customs that operates dia under the Indo-Sri Lanka Trade Agreement. under the Finance Ministry found her to be inef- “The entire service brings no revenue for ficient unable to reach the Rs.1.69 trillion reve- Sri Lanka because it goes as Sri Lanka- nue target set by Finance Minister Managala Sa- produced pepper and there is no Customs duty maraweera. imposed on India because it is a 'product origi- She also emphasises another incident nated from Sri Lanka'. where 40 containers full of beedi-wrapping He also pointed out there is another leaves from Tamil Nadu (mostly from Tuticorin) scam within this scam, where the quota for this has gone unchecked through air cargo and she transshipment is 2,500MT per year and the 143 has recalled the files and currently investiga- containers they have imported from India this tions were in progress. “Normally, once we start time had a pepper transshipment exceeding the investigations we don't stop half way through.” quota amounting to 2, 800MT. “This is depriving Another famous automobile company has the poor Sri Lankan farmers‟ pepper produce”, been found of revenue fraudulence and under he said. her that case has been revisited. Charles has “In another scam of beedi-wrapping also appointed a team to investigate the case. leaves, container were detected to go as She recalls an importer who brings down 'controlled delivery'. He also endorses the beedi old vehicle spare parts and assembles it here -wrapping leaves coming from India, was one of before selling. “We have confiscated eight of his the highest duty recovering commodities duty containers for investigations,” she said. stamped at Rs 4,200 per Kg. (Continued on page 12) 11

(Continued from page 11) caught. This was not done in the last 15 years With her transfer to the Finance Ministry or so,” she notes. and the appointment of a new DG, all hell broke She also says that she abstained from loose with Customs officials and several unions politics influencing her work and that‟s the rea- who are currently continuing on their go- son why the Unions was in favour of what she slow, alleging that her transfer was also about was doing but some who have political affilia- the Department holding investigations. tions did not approve of her. “I took disciplinary actions on wrong do- By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan ers in the Customs, nearly 15 persons got -Ceylon Today - 03/02/2019

Act quickly to deactivate the drug barons distributing of narcotics such as Sri Lanka is a country that‟s narcotics. Heroin, Marijuana, Cocaine, Ice blessed four times over with the There have been several and Ecstasy, but the use of these hallowed teachings and tenets of awareness programmes and anti deadly drugs is seemingly Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism -narcotic marches organised by spreading at an alarming rate and Islam. But sadly though, religious leaders while Narcotic making one wonder whether these four major world religions Bureau officials assisted by Po- enough is being done to elimi- have not had that much of an lice, STF and Navy personnel nate this menace. impact when it came to liberating continue to crack down hard on -Editorial this country from the clutches of the smuggling, trafficking and -Daily Mirror - 07/02/2019

FM should resign for removing Customs DG: Opposition

Finance Minister Rs.1,000 billion to the state,” he told a news brief- should resign from his post for removing Customs ing. Meanwhile, addressing the news briefing, MP Director General P. S. M Charles, the Opposition Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane said all the conditions said yesterday. made before reinstating Ms. Charles should be with- MP said Ms. Charles drawn. had been removed because she had continued to “These conditions had been placed only to investigate incidents of smuggling at Customs, irk- scare off and threaten Ms. Charles. Already, con- ing some individuals. tainers full of spies such as pepper had been re- “By reinstating Ms. Charles, Minister Sama- leased without paying duty to the Customs by some raweera has admitted that it was wrong to remove higher-ups‟,”he said. her from the post of Customs Director General. The Reported by Lahiru Pothmulla work-to-rule campaign launched by the Customs -Daily Mirror - 07/02/2019 workers against this move resulted in a loss of over

CHANGE IS VITAL an astronomical gain – the litany of gains gets better; their salaries are ) In the present context, change is absolutely vital, supplemented by numerous allowances and they are not just necessary but absolutely vital! „Country even paid to attend Parliament! What a gross un- first‟ should be everybody‟s prerogative, very spe- derstatement of amassing wealth when these poor, cially the politicians. When it is time to put the deprived morons make doubly certain they are in- country first, it is time for all of you hypocrites we cluded in every contract in their constituencies; fat- call politicians to go home. Taking into account what ten their bank accounts by giving out government has been amassed, all of you have stashed away contracts on which they get a kick back and when not just here in Sri Lanka but in foreign banks too; the load of money becomes an overload, it can be it should be a free ride for you with nothing to worry conveniently deposited in foreign banks. We now about. know why they won‟t go home – they won‟t unless There are countless ways in which our par- we send them back by not voting for them! That is liamentarians can become rich overnight. The good- our sacred duty; do not vote for them and bring ies don‟t end there though; he is entitled to a duty- them back! free vehicle permit which can also be disposed of at -Daily Mirror - 12

Excerpts from an article by Sanjeewa Fernando Madush is the Tip the iceberg looks nothing like him

The filthy lucre from drug peddling, ransom Whoever wins, they have little issue. collecting, kick-backs, abduction for money, com- The likes of Madush are different to the mission from multi-billion projects, is not a flame Maru Siras, the Podi Wijes or the Cheenas, albeit all that only Madush has been drawn in to; it is a com- are uniformly violent. With incarceration or execu- mon cause nowadays. Woe unto those who think tion of the latter types, the threat to society is that Madush and the like are men apart though averted or at least diminished. They have no they are and sumptuous in terms of news wor- bunches of lawyers to run to courts to bail them thiness. More and more individuals are vying to out. They do not have politicians attending their stick a finger in the honey pot. It is not only those funerals or political weddings being funded by their with tattoos, gold chains, funny haircuts and heroin blood tainted money. They were not there doing peddling mistresses who are in the game. business. Rather they were impetuous, emotionally driven, revengeful and extremely violent individu- No men apart als. Yet the types such as Madush are like the film They are in national costumes, military uni- Character „Terminator‟ in the film by that name. form, priestly garbs and even professional attire. It They are interminable, tenacious, influential, well is only when the more extreme and obnoxious fig- backed by power and therefore impenetrable by ures like Madush get involved, the search light law. They are in big business unlike the Maru Sira falls. and the ilk. Madush might be incarcerated for life or Such an overarching umbrella of black busi- even executed. But like the „Terminator‟, Madush is ness, not in the fringe, but in the very core of insti- not the name of an individual. It is the reference to tutions and agencies mandated with upholding the one unit in a long line of manufacture that produces sovereign power of the citizens, do pose a formida- them. ble threat to our sovereignty. They influence peo- Just that this particular unit Madush has ple‟s representatives, rig elections, bribe law en- tinted hair, gaudy tattoos, stand out gold chains forcement, flaunt justice with ill gotten money, and funny hair cuts! He is the tip of the iceberg; make an impact on policy making by virtue of their those who constitute the base, do not look like him funding of politicians; they are at the disposal of at all! corporate giants or big businessmen, most of whom They look very different and they pose a are with murky origins. It is a conglomerate, an threat to the sovereignty of the country, from with- empire! They have usurped sovereignty of the peo- in! ple without realizing it. Their filthy money funds -Daily Mirror - 20/02/2019 political parties from either sides of the divide.

To mark the fourth anniversary of Bond scam JVP led VAC protest march on February 27

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led it anymore as we in the COPE and the Presidential Voice Against Corruption (VAC) is to stage a protest Commission had found out all details on it,” Mr. march from Galle Face to Presidential Secretariat on Handunetti said. Wednesday February 27 to mark the fourth anniver- Mr. Samarasinghe said Prime Minister Ranil sary of the Bond scam. Wickremesinghe is also trying to avoid talking about JVP MP, Committee on Public Enterprises it by merely saying the government had frozen (COPE) Chairman Sunil Handunetti and its (VAC) Rs.12 billion belonging to Perpetual Treasuries (PTL) National Organiser Wasantha Samarasinghe told the which is the prime suspect of the case.” media yesterday that suspicion is mounting gradu- This Rs.12 billion is not an asset belonging ally that more and more people are involved in it to PTL but people‟s money which PTL had used for with the continuous delay in revealing every detail its transactions. Also we find PTL Chief going to Op- on it. position Leader‟s son‟s wedding. “There is no reason for the President to hide (Continued on page 14)

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(Continued from page 13) question President as to why he had swept the bond issue under the carpet,” he said. He also called for the publication of the doc- PAC also called for action against those who ument which the Presidential Commission had come have been found guilty of various offences by the across. Mr. Samarasinghe said this document con- special presidential commission on serious tains the names of politicians, other prominent per- crimes. sons to whom PTL had given cash. Reported by Yohan Perera “The objective our protest would be to -Daily Mirror - 25/02/2019

Bond scam no fault of mine, says Ranil

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Par- he filed in the Supreme Courts against the privatiza- liament yesterday said that those who question him tion of Lanka Marine Services Ltd, Mr. Wickre- about the bond scam should read the report of the mesinghe said the transaction was done in 2000 Presidential Commission which probed the issue as and therefore it was not relevant as neither he n or it had not faulted him for anything. Mr. Nanayakkara were ministers in that govern- The Prime Minister said this while winding ment. up the debate on his expenditure head in Parliament He said the oil refinery in Hambantota would last evening. He was actually responding to few be commissioned in few weeks together with the question raised by UPFA MP Vasudeva Nannayakka industrial zone there. “More zones will come up in earlier during the day. “Has Mr. Nananayakka read Milleniya, Trincomalee while we have already the bond commission report yet?" he asked. launched another zone in Bingiriya.” Responding to another question raised by Mr. Nanayakkara, whether Mr. Wickremesinghe was Reported by Yohan Perera & Ajith Siriwardana aware that he was the third respondent of the case -Daily Mirror –15/03/2019

Singapore rejects SL President’s claims on harbouring Mahendran

Singapore today rejected However, Sri Lanka‟s Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan President Maithripala request to return Mahendran In February last year, Sirisena‟s allegation it was shel- “lacked certain information re- Mahendran was named a key tering a former central bank quired under Singapore´s extra- suspect in the multi-million Dol- chief who was wanted for fraud, dition laws” and the city-state lar bond scam in Sri Lanka and saying Colombo failed to provide has requested Colombo to pro- fled abroad, failing to appear in documents to support its extradi- vide them, the spokesperson told court to respond to charges. A tion request, AFP reported AFP. damning presidential report into President Sirisena said “To date, Singapore has the scandal accused Mahendran he appealed to Prime Minister not received the requested sup- of insider trading and recom- Lee Hsien Loong in January to porting information and docu- mended the state recover its return Mahendran, who is be- ments as yet. We look forward to losses from Mahendran and his lieved to be in Singapore, but receiving the requested infor- son-in-law. claimed nothing had been done. mation from Sri Lanka, so that Sri Lanka‟s central bank A spokesperson for Singapore‟s we can consider the request fur- also launched a forensic audit to Ministry of Foreign Affairs said ther in accordance with our ascertain the extent of insider authorities in the city-state have laws,” the spokesperson said. trading during Mahendran‟s ten- been cooperating with their Sri Singapore can extradite ure at the bank. Lankan counterparts on the case fugitives to declared Common- -Daily Mirror - 21/03/2019 since January. wealth countries, which includes

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Less that 20% MPs use free laptops on their tables

ECONOMYNEXT- Less than 20 „Technology and Economic He said some senior min- percent of Sri Lankan legislators Transformation‟. isters are against digital pene- use their official laptops or have "I have the statistics, and tration in the country, and do registered e-mail addresses, and I know they haven‟t even regis- not want children learning in many opposed the government‟s tered an email address," he digital classrooms. digitalization attempts, a minis- said. "The older generation (of ter said. Sri Lanka ministers are ministers) thinks it‟s completely "We have laptops on our also opposing attempts at the weird and wrong and it will com- parliament tables but less than use of advanced technology in pletely corrupt," Fernando said. 20 percent have used it," Tele- the style of those who opposed Most Sri Lankan legisla- communication, Sport and For- new technology in an earlier tors innovation and are protect- eign Employment Minister Harin age. ing legacy local industries which Fernando said. Fernando said he tried to would be wiped out if faced with He was speaking at the bring in digital cabinet papers global competition. Institute of Policy Studies‟ New but senior ministers opposed it -Sunday Island - Thinkers‟ Symposium 2019 due to a lack of digital familiari- 24/03/2019 which was held under the theme ty.

PTL director now at Lake House – JVP

The JVP, yesterday (23), in Parliament, re- scam case as yet. The passport has been im- vealed that one of the directors of Perpetual pounded due to Court procedure. I appointed Treasuries Limited (PTL) has been appointed as him in gratitude to his grandfather‟s contribu- the finance director of Lake House. tion to the Lake House. In addition, he has the “He is a defendant in the Central Bank required qualifications too. I don‟t want to steal Treasury Bonds scam. His passport has been from the Lake House. Now, I‟m not connected impounded. This Government is under Arjuna to the Limited either,” he Mahendran‟s thumb,” Anura Kumara Dis- stated. sanayake said. “Thank you very much Minister. In grati- Responding, Minister Ruwan Wi- tude to Ranjan Hulugalle‟s grandfather, you jewardene admitted that he has in fact, made have appointed him as the finance director of the appointment, despite being aware that the Lake House. He has worked for Perpetual Treas- individual was a director of Perpetual Treasur- uries in gratitude to his grandfather,” Dis- ies. sanayake quipped. “It is true that I have appointed him. I Reported by J.T. de Silva know that he was a director of Perpetual Treas- -Ceylon Today - 24/03/2019 uries. He hasn‟t been convicted in the Bonds

“When politics is no longer a mission but a profession, politicians become more self-serving than public servants”

- Emmanuel Macron -

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Sri Lanka seeks divine help to end power crisis Sri Lanka's state energy provider sought The tree is so revered in the Buddhist- divine intervention Thursday to break a crip- majority country of 21 million that it is guarded pling power shortage, dispatching envoys to the round-the-clock by heavily armed security forc- country's north to offer holy water to a tree sa- es. cred to Buddhists. The energy board this week abandoned efforts nation has endured wide- to stimulate rain through cloud seeding after spread energy shortages all week as a severe earlier attempts failed. drought bites into hydro-electricity production, About a quarter of the island's electricity resulting in unpredictable blackouts and emer- is generated by hydro plants, but capacity is gency measures to slash usage. approaching zero after the monsoon failed to Some businesses were hoarding fuel for bring adequate rains. generators, fearing the situation would not im- The Public Utilities Commission of Sri prove, as hours-long rolling outages forced Sri Lanka said it would seek legal action against Lankans to sleep outdoors to escape the heat. the state-owned after In the hope of provoking much-needed receiving complaints about unscheduled power rain, the Ceylon Electricity Board said it would cuts being imposed across the country. offer alms to the Sri Maha Bodi, a tree in Anu- The capital, Colombo, has not been af- radhapura revered by the island's Buddhists. fected but daily restrictions are being imposed Pots of water blessed by monks were everywhere else in Sri Lanka and residents have sent by motorcade to the Bodi, believed to have complained of random periods of "load shed- grown from a sapling of an older tree under ding" without warning for the better part of a which the Buddha attained enlightenment more week. than 2,500 years ago. The shortages conjured up memories of "There will be several offerings at the the island's worst-ever power shortage in 1996, bodi today and lunch will be offered to monks when the entire country went without electricity tomorrow after overnight religious ceremonies," for four straight days. a CEB official said Thursday. Reported by Colombo AFP -Sunday Island—31/03/2019

Excerpts from an article by Niranjala Ariyawansha leading the public on the pre- vailing power crisis, hiding the Power crisis worsens Utilities Commission of Sri truth from the people and be- All citizens, except for those in Lanka (PUCSL). having jestingly at a moment Colombo City, are literally in Entire power grid at risk when the crisis has gone so the dark from time to time for Engineers pointed out far.“The Minister thinks he will up to three, four and five that since maximum capacity lose popularity if power cuts hours, exposing the extent of power is being generated are announced publicly. But a serious power and energy through all power plants, a what he cannot understand is crisis. The reason is that no breakdown could occur at any that when he is playing major power plants have been power plant at any moment. around with basic require- built in the country during the The reason is due to ments of the people, any sort past several years and as a the lack of power plants and of popularity he did have result the Ceylon Electricity high demand, no power plant would be completely de- Board (CEB) imposed has been deactivated and stroyed,” a top official of CEB „unofficial scheduled power maintenance carried out. Pre- said. cuts‟ across the country to viously, as hydropower plants It has to be empha- control discrepancies arising ran continuously during rainy sised that politicians exist to due to increasing de- seasons, thermal power plants subjectively manage a crisis mand. These had to be were halted and repaired. But and not to use it to build an named „unofficial scheduled now, all Power Plants operate image of themselves. However power cuts‟, since no official during both rainy and dry sea- as all responsible parties did approval has been received sons. They pointed out that a not carry out their job proper- from either the Ministry of breakdown could occur at any ly, the country is now in the Power, Energy and Business time. dark. Development or the Public The Minister is mis- -Ceylon Today-24/03/2019 16

Rebel cadre turned politician rules out re-emergence of war

K. Thulasi is a former LTTE cadre who had been well versed in handling firearms when LTTE activities were at its height in the north. However, he had given up the use of firearms during the final stage of separatist war that took place in Mulliwaikkal in Jaffna and surrendered to the Sri Lanka Army. Following rehabilitation, under the Sri Lanka Army, he entered politics and became the leader of a political party on behalf of mili- tants. The political party he leads operates under the name „Liberation Campaigners of the North‟. This is how he expressed his views about the war that concluded in the north in reply to questions asked by jour- nalists. “According to the present political system in the country, I state with responsibility that no such war would erupt again in this country. If somebody thinks that a solution can be found by means of such a war, it is an act of sheer folly because I do not think that such a person has gained the experience in war like us. I can talk about the war with responsibility because I continued gaining experience as a militant and han- dled firearms until the finals hours of the war in Mulliwaikkal. All leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), including Prabhakaran, were killed in the presence of our eyes. After that incident, we surren- dered to the Army for want of a leader,” said Thulasi before answering a barrage of questions. -Interviewed by Romesh Madushanka -Daily Mirror - 13/12/2018

Reconciliation starts with the majority – Sritharan

Tamil National Alliance MP S. Sritharan, who is oncile like the South Africans did, it makes no preparing to travel to Geneva to attend the sense.” United Nation Human Right Council (UNHRC) South Africans are 80 per cent native people session, said Prime Minister Ranil Wickre- and 20 per cent white people; where the mi- mesinghe‟s attempting to bring about reconcili- nority suppressed the majority. But in Sri ation based on „forgive and forget‟ process, like Lanka it‟s the 72 per cent dominating the Tam- the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) ils, so reconciliation and similar processes of South Africa, should be decided by the Tamil should begin from the majority. It is they who community, because they are „still in the dark‟ need to be advocated about reconciliation, he not knowing what happened to the people who noted. surrendered during the war. He added that land had not been re- Sritharan, who will be attending the UN- turned in the last 10 years and people are still HRC session, where Sri Lanka would be taken in prison under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for review on 20 March 2019, told Ceylon To- (PTA). “And then urging the Tamils to reconcile day that the Government cannot introduce new and forget the past… Actually from what does strategies every time they find it difficult to he want us to forget and move forward?” address the issue. Sritharan lashed out. “He was chief guest at the Kilinochchi He pointed out there are more than a event and he made such a statement and there 100,000 Army personnel in the North and ask- was no time to discuss the matter during the ing them to forget the past is not possible. event. After we spoke, he delivered his speech “Whatever the Cabinet Paper he is going and we did not know what he would be saying to present or presented has nothing to do with at the meeting. We did not have a chance to the people who have been wounded. There is respond, too,” Sritharan stated. already a decision taken in Geneva urging Sri He also added that Northerners lack Lanka to probe those allegations.” Sritharan proper income and were devastated by the war. explained. “So, the Premier cannot ask the Tamils to rec- (Continued on page 18)

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(Continued from page 17) ment‟s progress on this subject. I have not How can new strategy be introduced heard about a Cabinet Paper being prepared on saying „this is not good‟ or „that is not right‟ TRC or a similar process. He never discussed and bring a closure on the ethnic issue? Isn‟t it anything with the TNA about this. Let him talk a whitewash? he lamented. and I can assure you that is not going to hap- “If he is presenting a Cabinet Paper, let pen. If he says we have reconciled, ask him to him go ahead with it and the affected people show how we have moved forward all these should have no say about it. When the culprits years. There are scores of unattended matters are from the majority whom will they ask for- and those have to be sorted and it‟s not the giveness from? We are the ones who should time to talk about any TRC process for decide. Not the oppressor, but the oppressed,” Sri Lanka,” he noted. he stressed. Reported by Sulochana Ramiah Mohan “I will be in Geneva taking part in the -Ceylon Today—17/02/2019 sessions and will be talking about the Govern-

Approval for TRC mechanism Navi Pillay blasts Govt Former United Nations High Commissioner for Hu- the above, including truth telling, prosecutions and man Rights Navi Pillay came strong on the current reparations. Sri Lankan Government for trying to seek Cabinet “It was by no means a perfect system, but approval for a truth and reconciliation mechanism, was conceived as politically expedient in the con- when its leaders accepted to address justice and text of the events there but that context cannot be accountability in post-war Sri Lanka. compared with the massive killings, disappearances „ ‟I am disappointed to learn that on the eve and atrocious crimes suffered by populations in Sri of the interactive dialogue on the Office of the Unit- Lanka.” ed Nations High Commissioner for Human She reiterated that the UN has promoted Rights‟(OHCHR) report on Sri Lanka in the UN Hu- TRCs in conflict and post conflict contexts as part of man Rights Council, the Government of Sri Lanka is transitional processes. Transitional justice is con- resorting to yet another delaying tactic to es- cerned with how societies emerging from conflict or cape……implementation of Resolution 30/1,” she from repressive rule address the legacy of past vio- told Ceylon Today. lations of International Humanitarian law and hu- On Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe‟s man rights, ensuring accountability, justice and recent call to the masses for a process of truth tell- reconciliation. The experience of those who suffered ing, regret and forgiveness, similar to the Truth and human rights violations must be central to shaping Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of South Africa, transitional justice responses. This means respect for a true reconciliation, Pillay said, “The key prom- for rights of participation, gender perspective and ises of justice and accountability are missing in the implementation of the rights of victims to an effec- Prime Minister‟s message.” tive remedy, she noted. Pillay, while in Office had also been tough She pointed out that Transitional Justice on Sri Lanka and continued to voice against the (TJ) rests on four pillars: the right to the truth; the conduct of the local politicians‟ time and again fail- right to justice; the right to reparations and the ing to work on a long-lasting reconciliation process duty of states to prevent the recurrence of viola- for the people who have suffered from the bloodiest tions. war in history. “The goal is to restore and protect the Pillay, a famed judge and jurist of South rights of individuals and recreate bonds of trust Africa, said the Government accepted to address between citizens and state, principally through re- justice and accountability in post war Sri Lanka and spect for the rule of law.” appears, instead, to be retrogressing by seeking Out of experiences in the world, the UN Cabinet approval for a truth and reconciliation Secretary General in his report of 2004, spells out mechanism alone. transitional justice as the full range of processes She added that was a misrepresentation of and mechanisms associated with a society‟s at- the South African process; but in any event each tempts to come to terms with a legacy of large TRC is unique and aimed to fit specific contexts. scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, The South African TRC model she added embraced (Continued on page 19) 18

(Continued from page 18) Contrary to what the Prime Minister is say- ing, reconciliation, in overcoming divisions and serve justice and achieve reconciliation. It consists building trust, cannot be understood as a call for of judicial and non-judicial processes and mecha- impunity or disregard of victims‟ rights, she added. nisms, including truth seeking initiatives, prosecu- “If Sri Lanka intends to establish a TRC, tions, and reparations programmed, institutional then it is important that the rulers follow what Presi- reforms and amnesty provisions. dent Nelson Mandela did when he set up a TRC: “Contrary to what the Prime Minister said, comprehensive national consultations, broad based South Africans did not stop filing cases arising from participation of civil society, protection of witnesses, the conflict. In fact, just this past month, the family independence of the commissioners exclusive of any of the late Ahmed Timol, who died in Police deten- political interference, she advised the nation that is tion, officially from suicide, charged a security po- struggling to formulate a process that is very much liceman for his murder, after evidence, (That had in need,” she said. not been brought forth at the TRC), was disclosed at By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan a recent judicial inquest. - Ceylon Today—24/02/2019

Expert opinion on Mannar mass grave clears Sri Lanka of war crime

A German interest group said that Scientific evi- before being killed, it said. dence based on the findings of Beta Analytic Insti- The interest shown in the Mannar mass tute of Florida, USA, had determined that the sam- grave site by some countries pushing for full imple- ples of skeletal remains sent from the Mannar mass mentation of the Geneva Resolution, co-sponsored grave site for carbon dating, goes back to a period by Sri Lanka in October, 2015, strengthened the between 1499 and 1719 AD, and it was a happy campaign directed against the Sri Lanka Army finding for many but not for those trying to pin Sri (SLA). A section of the Catholic clergy also toed the Lanka on war crime charges. line that the SLA was to be blamed, the statement The statement said experts on the process further noted. of carbon dating have now expressed an opinion, The damage done to Sri Lanka as a result of which has come as a big relief to many. But, not the international exposure was considerable, partic- everybody is happy about the findings of the ex- ularly with some Heads of Missions in Sri Lanka, perts as, perhaps, an opportunity was lost to shout spearheaded by the German envoy, visiting the themselves hoarse about alleged “war crimes”, the mass grave site, it said. German Interest Group in Sri Lanka, said in a state- Not only in many Western countries, but ment. also in Asia and Australia, the print and electronic “It may be recalled that a section of the lo- media exposure led to speculation that Sri Lanka cal and foreign media spearheaded a high-profile was again involved in atrocities on a genocidal campaign on the Mannar mass grave site. Some scale, Mr. Doering said. Colombo-based diplomats also supported the pro- Whenever or wherever a head of a foreign ject, the Group‟s spokesman Dr. Dietmar Doering mission, particularly from a leading European or said. Western country is actively involved, the media pro- The German Ambassador in Colombo, Joern vides coverage. As a result, the damage caused to Rohde was one of the first diplomats to inspect the the image of a country, particularly on a matter of site on November 27, 2018. He was accompanied by this nature, is enormous, the statement continued. a big group of foreign and local journalists. The Ger- The expert opinion on the Mannar mass man Ambassador‟s visit was followed by a British grave has cleared Sri Lanka of a crime, which had team on December 11, 2018, the statement re- happened during a time period when Western colo- counted. nial parties had a say in this country, it said. The British visit took place close on the Sadly, neither the German nor British en- heels of the discovery of two pieces of human bones voys have so far acknowledged that the Mannar bound by a cable on Dec 7, 2018. The recovery mass grave had nothing to do with Sri Lanka‟s re- prompted some „experts‟, as well as those engaged cent history, the statement noted. in excavating the mass grave, to speculate whether -Daily Mirror - 18/03/2019 some of the people buried there had been tortured

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UN rights chief warns Sri Lanka of fresh conflict

GENEVA, AFP: The UN human rights chief yester- Delays were partly due to a power struggle day warned Sri Lanka it could slip back to conflict between President Maithripala Sirisena and his es- unless it addressed the “worst crimes” during the tranged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe late final stages of its ethnic war. last year, she said. Michelle Bachelet told the Human Rights Sirisena sacked the Government and called Council that Sri Lanka was yet to set up the special a snap election, but the Supreme Court restored judicial mechanism as promised four years ago to the status quo after ruling that the President had try war criminals. violated the Constitution. Sri Lankan Government troops have been Sirisena and Wickremesinghe are also at accused of killing at least 40,000 ethnic Tamil civil- odds over ensuring accountability. ians in the final months of the island‟s 37-year Earlier this month, Sirisena said he wanted guerrilla war that ended in May 2009. the Rights Council to drop the demand to prosecute Colombo had agreed to ensure an account- war criminals, but later retracted and agreed to the ability mechanism by March, but Sri Lankan author- Government‟s call to buy more time. ities have said they want another two years to de- “A contributing factor to delays appears to liver. be a lack of common vision among the country‟s The Council is expected to decide on grant- highest leadership,” Bachelet said. ing an extension, but Bachelet said Sri Lanka‟s fail- “Deadlock on these important issues is an ure to address emblematic cases had led to a lack additional – and avoidable – problem, with damag- of confidence. ing impact currently on victims from all ethnic and “Continuing impunity risks fuelling commu- religious groups and on society as a whole,” she nal or interethnic violence, and instability,” she said. said. “Resolving these cases, and bringing the per- A UNHRC resolution in October 2015 grant- petrators of past crimes to justice, is necessary to ed Sri Lanka 18 months to establish a credible in- restore the confidence of victims from all communi- vestigation. The two-year extension to that expires ties.” She noted a “lack of progress in setting up a this month and there have been no tangible results. special judicial mechanism to deal with the worst crimes committed during the 2009 conflict”. -Sunday Island - 24/03/2019

To implement strategy for transitional process UNHRC Chief calls for fixed timeline

Rights Michelle Bachelet presenting her report to Sri Lanka and has given due consideration to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Promoting comments received, further to our routine proce- reconciliation, accountability and human rights in dures. Sri Lanka yesterday called on the government (Sri My report acknowledges the Government‟s Lanka) to implement a detailed and comprehensive open dialogue and sustained cooperation with my strategy for the trans Office. Working closely with the UN Resident Coor- itional process with a fixed timeline. dinator and her Senior Human Rights Advisor, we “Legislation on the establishment of an in- have continued to provide technical support, includ- dependent Truth and Reconciliation Commission ing through the UN Peace-building Fund, for Sri could be an important next step,” she said in her Lanka to implement this Council‟s resolutions 30/1 report. and 34/1. I welcome the operationalization of the Of- The full statement as follows; fice on Missing Persons (OMP), following initial de- “I welcome this opportunity to discuss the lays. The OMP plans to undertake the complex task human rights situation in Sri Lanka, and to present of tracing the whereabouts of victims in a sensitive, my report pursuant to Human Rights Council reso- thorough and objective manner, addressing the dif- lutions 30/1 and 34/1. The Office has sent an ad- ficult situation of the victims‟ families. I commend vanced version of the report to the Government of (Continued on page 21)

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(Continued from page 20) cial judicial mechanism to deal with the worst crimes committed during the 2009 conflict. Contin- the establishment of the Office for Reparations, and uing impunity risks fuelling communal or inter- look forward to the swift appointment of its Com- ethnic violence, and instability. Resolving these cas- missioners. My Office encourages the Government es, and bringing the perpetrators of past crimes to to enable these two institutions to function effec- justice, is necessary to restore the confidence of tively and independently, and to link them to a victims from all communities. Replacement of the broader approach aimed at justice, real accounta- Prevention of Terrorism Act, has been on the Gov- bility and truth-seeking. ernment‟s agenda for four years. I encourage the Regarding the land occupied by the military completion of this process, with measures to in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, some pro- strengthen the draft law‟s safeguards and oversight gress has been noted, and further steps should be elements, and to tighten the definition of terrorist taken to complete this crucial process. acts, which is currently too broad. I note with con- The steps I have just indicated are elements of Sri cern that individuals continue to be held under the Lanka‟s commitment to broad institutional and re- PTA. I am also troubled about continuing allega- form measures made four years ago, in the context tions of torture and other human rights violations of implementing Human Rights Council resolution by security forces, including sexual violence. Effec- 30/1. tive, transparent and independent investigations by However, implementation of resolution 30/1 the Government, as well as measures to prevent needs to be more consistent, comprehensive and and end such practices, including through full im- accelerated. A contributing factor to delays appears plementation of the 2016 recommendations of the to be a lack of common vision among the country‟s Committee Against Torture, would be posi- highest leadership. Deadlock on these important tive. Another step in the right direction would be issues is an additional – and avoidable – problem, an end to the surveillance of human rights defend- with damaging impact currently on victims from all ers, reprisals against them, as well as against vic- ethnic and religious groups and on society as a tims. I am deeply concerned about the calls to rein- whole. state the application of the death penalty after I appreciate the complexity of transitional more than 40 years of moratorium. processes. The events leading to the declaration of My Office highlights the critical role of Sri a state of emergency in March last year, and the Lanka‟s independent commissions, particularly the constitutional crisis in October, created a political National Human Rights Commission. Respect for environment not conducive to the implementation their independence and implementation of the of reform measures. Commissions‟ recommendations are needed to en- Today, my Office encourages the Govern- trench the rule of law in Sri Lanka. Appropriate co- ment to implement a detailed and comprehensive operation with the Human Rights Commission is strategy for the transitional process with a fixed also essential for the participation of Sri Lankan timeline. Legislation on the establishment of an in- personnel in United Nations peacekeeping opera- dependent Truth and Reconciliation Commission tions. could be an important next step. This Council continues to have an essential As a former Minister of Defence who has role in accompanying the Government and people worked in the context of a transition, I can highlight of Sri Lanka in their journey towards realizing the the importance of security sector reform as part of dignity, and rights of all members of society, irre- a transitional justice process. These reforms should spective of their sex, ethnic origin or belief. include a vetting process to remove officers with In closing, I emphasise that in co- questionable human rights records. The recent ap- sponsoring resolutions 30/1 and 34/1, the Govern- pointment to a senior position in the Sri Lankan ment recognized the need to address the past in Army of Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva implicated in order to build a future securely grounded in ac- alleged serious violations of international humani- countability, respect for human rights and the rule tarian and human rights law, is a worrying develop- of law. For victims and for society, this need contin- ment. ues. There is an opportunity, now, to leave behind There has been minimal progress on ac- a past of violence and human rights violations, countability. My report details the steps taken over through bold determination and leadership at all a lengthy period to address several emblematic levels of Government.” cases, and the lack of progress in setting up a spe- -Daily Mirror - 21/03/2019

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Excerpts from an article by Gayathri Gunasekara The sad plight of migrant domestic workers

Sri Lankan migrant domestic workers still face Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment , Madawa 'abuse and fraud' in Middle Eastern countries and Deshapriya said housemaids who found refuge in steps should be taken to prevent the exploitation embassies have described being ill, overworked, not and abuse of domestic workers in the Middle East. been paid for months, facing sexual harassment, The true picture is that these domestic workers go facing verbal abuse and physical torture. abroad searching for greener pastures but end up in However, according to Deshapriya there are deadly traps. However, the issue of domestic work- a few domestic workers who lodge false complaints ers and middlemen conning sponsors for commis- to embezzle money from employers. “These house- sion is the order of the day and is widespread. maids sign the contracts with the sponsor through the agency, claim the commission and migrate Refuge in embassies abroad to work under the sponsor, however after a The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment certain period of time they lodge false complaints (SLBFE) stated that there are more than 350 Sri and return to Sri Lanka. Then they migrate to an- Lankan housemaids who found refuge in Sri Lankan other country through another agency. This hap- embassy premises and safe houses. The Bureau pens over and over again. Sometimes sub agents plans to bring these migrant domestic workers back help them to cheat sponsors,” Deshapriya said. to the country. Deputy General Manager of Planning, Sri -Ceylon Today - 30/12/2018

Eight deaths, 100 accidents a day: Questions over road safety measures

On an average eight people died motorcyclists, 856 pedestrians, Road Safety said new regulations in one hundred accidents every 218 drivers and 399 passengers. aimed at minimising road acci- day on Sri Lanka‟s roads this The total number of acci- dents would be introduced next year also just as last year, show- dents – fatal and non-fatal – for year. ing no improvement with regard the first 11 months of the year Menawhile, SP Gunasek- to road safety measures. was 32,560, according to the era said more Police officers had Police statistics shows statistics. been deployed to crack down on 2,835 people died in 2,710 fatal “Negligence and drunk- drunk driving during the festive accidents reported from January driving are the main causes for season. 1 to November 30. The accidents fatal accidents,” Police Media -The Sunday Times - left 7,686 persons with severe Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara 30/12/2018 injuries and 11,325 with minor said. injuries. The dead include 935 The National council for

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors”.

-Plato-

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Excerpts from an article by Risidra Mendis leagues will gather at Wickrematunge‟s grave- Remembering Lasantha...10 side this coming Tuesday (9) to pay their re- spects, his ex-wife Raine Wickrematunge and years since death, his killers still daughter Ahimsa Wickrematunge expressed remain free their views on the assassination and the death anniversary to Ceylon Today. “In 2009, at the Lasantha Wickrematunge, founder and time Lasantha was murdered, there was almost editor-in chief of the was no hope that the perpetrators would be caught assassinated in broad daylight by two men on and subjected to due process. Ten years down motorcycles in the midst of heavy traffic on 8 the road, the case still remains unsolved! Even January 2009, while he was driving to office. though I had doubts that Lasantha‟s murder But, as the 10th death anniversary of the slain would be solved, this is still demoralising. editor-in-chief draws near, there‟s been little It is a clear indication of wheels within progress in the ongoing case against his assas- wheels which operate, when powerful personali- sins and the killers still roam free. ties are being investigated for crimes. While family, friends and former col- -Ceylon Today - 06/01/2019

Excerpts from an article by Namini Wijedasa Mass graves: The dead tell a tragic tale of delays and disputes

Within a sprawling plot of bare land near the why Sri Lanka needs a permanent mechanism to beach at Kurukkalmadam in Batticaloa is a mass tackle mass graves, their exhumation and related grave that has not been excavated. investigations. There isn‟t one. And not a single The bodies buried there are from 1990, ac- body found in any of these graves has been identi- cording to the Muslim residents of the area. The fied in the recent past. deceased are members of their community, more Not even from Matale, where the dead are than 150, some insist, massacred by the LTTE that said to be Sinhala victims. There were glaring short- year. They can point out the precise location of the comings in that investigation, too, such as lack of site. In 2014, the Kaluwanchikudy courts ordered an independent supervision when bones were collected exhumation after 66 relatives of the dead wanted and sent for carbon dating. This led to allegations of the skeletons to give them a proper burial. But it sample switching. The process has stalled. And eve- never took place. Like the families of other Sinha- rything has now been brushed under the proverbial lese and Tamil missing persons, these Muslims have carpet. gone from pillar to post pleading for closure. -The Sunday Times –06/01/2019 The Kurukkalmadam example is just one instance of

Excerpts from an article by Piyumi Fonseka about a happening inside Angunakolapelessa „super prison‟. The footage revealed how unarmed prison- Behind the bars of Angunakola- ers had been assaulted by prison officials using ba- pelessa Super Prison tons. Not only were the inmates beaten, they While we are fed with stories about rehabilitation were also made to crawl on their knees with their and prisoners paying their debt to society over hands held high above their heads. In the video, crimes they committed, inmates are being subjected inmates were seen running out of their ward with to crimes against humanity on a daily basis inside pillows, bed sheets and mats. Around 30 prison offi- the prisons. cials along with a person in civvies, who was later Angunakolapelessa Prison was established identified as the Prison Superintendent, were taking to provide remand prisoners and also convicted the inmates out of the ward and assaulting them. prisoners with facilities that meet international The video clip consists of footages from two camera standards. But what happened instead was one of fitted at different angles in the morning and after- Sri Lanka‟s prisons making international headlines noon of the same day. The assault occurred in No- last week. This was after a leaked sensational CCTV vember last year. video footage, recorded on November 22, 2018, -Daily Mirror - 22/01/2019

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‘Prisoners are human beings’ to Protect Prisoners‟ Rights told a news conference that trouble began when the prison authorities had “It is said that no one truly knows a nation mercilessly beaten up a group of prisoners, who until one has been inside its jails. A nation should launched a protest against the conduct of the Prison not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, Superintendent and the constant searches carried but its lowest ones,” - Nelson Mandela out by STF personnel, whom the protesters claimed When a suspect is taken into custody by a even strip-searched their relatives who visited law enforcement officer or a law enforcement agen- them. cy, the suspect‟s safety and security are guaranteed The committee released several video clips from under the law of the country. But often, this is not CCTV camera footage showing the prison authori- the case. We have come across several reports of ties and the police attacking the prisoners who were suspects in custody being unmercifully beaten with on their knees with their hands raised over their some even losing their lives. The resultant backlash heads. by the suspect‟s relatives and the villagers has It was to prevent such appalling incidents compelled the authorities to transfer or interdict the that the UN General Assembly adopted its landmark police personnel allegedly involved in the attack till resolution 70/75 titled, “United Nations Standard the investigations are over. Often, in the course of Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the time, the matter is forgotten or swept under the Mandela Rules) on December 17, 2015 to honour carpet and we are back to square one with little or the legacy of former South African President Nelson no action known to be taken. Mandela, who spent 27 years in prisons in the The latest case in point was the brutal at- course of his struggle for democracy and the pro- tack unleashed on the remand inmates on Novem- motion of a culture of peace and justice. ber 22 last year at the Angunakolapelessa Prison, which has been described by the authorities as a -Daily Mirror - 31/01/2019 „super prison‟ built at an estimated cost of Rs.4,996 million on a land extent of 56 acres. The Committee

Tea stories which make us depressed

The breathtaking sceneries at tea estates would not be complete without the pluckers who know the art of choosing which two leaves and the bud should go into their baskets. These pluckers have for generations smiled for photographs, appeared in television commercials and given the inspiration to writers and poets to come out with creative pieces of writing. But what we see and hear about them isn‟t anywhere close to the real lives they are forced to live in tiny ramshackle rooms, called „line rooms‟. These pluckers also have survived miraculously on the pittance paid to them as their salary when others doing a little better than them have moved to using smart phones, full option vehicles and houses of their own. Newspapers these days quite unusually have put the plight of the tea plucker under the spotlight. A humble demand of Rs 1000 a day as their wage hasn‟t been met favourably by their paymasters. These workers have been promised a revised daily wage of Rs 700, made possible as a result of an agreement reached between the Estate Workers‟ Union and Estate Employers‟ Federation. It seems that the workers‟ union that carries the voice of the workers to the authorities have let them down, because the workers main- tain that they would not settle for anything less than what they demand. These humble tea pluckers have been manipulated for years with the politicians and union reps often promoting their cause in the open, but benefiting from this whole exercise. Otherwise how could the two par- ties strike a deal that the workers don‟t seem to fancy? As the agitation campaigns by the estate workers continue the rest of the island will have the time and the frame of mind to sip their tea and munch their biscuits. News seekers picking up bits and pieces from conversations have heard people share a common view that “the tea pluckers‟ problem is not our prob- lem”. -Editorial 24 -Daily Mirror - 01/02/2019

Excerpts from an article by Sulochana Ramiah Mohan nally from Tamil Nadu; he is consid- ered the godfather of plantation work- A NATIONAL SHAME! ers and created that niche as a trade Tea industry workers and their plight unionist. He was also considered as one of the shrewdest political leaders It could be said that the 200 and more years of to ever come amidst political stalwarts of the servitude suffered by the estate workers are as country. In the initial stage, he made few blun- bad as the 30-year war that all Sri Lankans suf- ders with regard to labourers, but later fought fered from. , a brand name that en- to rectify them. tertains the whole world with a smile under the He was a kingmaker because of his Cey- slogan „Ceylon Tea: The trade that made the lon Workers Congress (CWC), one of the biggest nation‟, but under the surface, there is human trade unions in the country. It is said that he misery behind each cup of tea; the very tea we made the British happy when he struck a deal take pride in. with them to import „labourers‟ from Tamil Na- Beneath the beauty of scenic hills and du. The labourers were brought in when the the valleys, rivers and dams and lush green tea Sinhalese living around the hill stations found it bushes and fragrance of flowers filling the air in a hard job to climb mountains and rejected la- the chilly climate, there are dry, weak, and dirty bouring for the White man in general. hands plucking a „bud and two leaves‟, with no way of solving their domestic and occupation‟s Impoverished South Indians came here and plight for almost two centuries - once suffered were kept under a scheme, sort of a memoran- in the hands of the British and still persisting in dum of understanding that later turned to what the present day. is called the „collective agreement‟-that they Despite such setbacks, the tea industry would only labour for and obey the Whites. continues to grow with its aged old brand con- Eventually the diligent labourers won the hearts quering the world market-connecting Sri Lanka of the Whites when „others‟ were going about globally in the 21st Century. rejecting British rule. Brief history of Tamil Nadu labourers -Ceylon Today - 10/02/2019 Soumyamoorthy Thondaman senior was origi-

Last week Ceylon Today highlighted the Spraying pesticides and weedicide plight of plantation workers in the estates The unhygienic way of spraying weedicide, ti- around Hatton. This week we focus on women tled Basta, is in practice, many noted. This is tea pluckers and weedicide spraying men, to sprayed to dry weeds and grass around the tea discuss their health issues and various other bushes. However, it does not kill insects. For unattended issues, which they had been notify- insects, there is another kind of chemical ing their bosses a number of times. Ceylon To- sprayed, they noted. day also learns that some of the workers, who Some of those who are employed as spoke to this paper, had been summoned for sprayers continue to go to the mountains with- inquiries. They had been urged to give reports out wearing safety gear such as masks, boots, on what they had discussed with the journalist jackets or gloves. and who had invited Ceylon Today to the said “We are the persons working with strong estate. chemicals. We don‟t have a place to wash or The World Bank, last year, pointed out clean ourselves after returning from the moun- that the children in the estate sector of Sri tains, some of them said. Lanka were rated to be highly malnourished The pesticides are kept open and we compared to the other regions. have to mix them with water. They show us the According to Estate Medical Officer, gloves and uniforms but they take them away “Women don‟t take care of their health but want once the auditors leave. to work and earn to feed their families. This has We saw them leave barefooted and led to them being under-nourished most of the many of them have been working in this field time. Even children are under-nourished and as for nearly 11 years. He complains of eye burn a medical officer I am trying my best to give and poor eyesight while his eyes are turning them the attention.” (Continued on page 26)

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(Continued from page 25) neat and tidy,” he said. yellowish despite being below 40 years of age. “The chemical itches and the fingers go “They give us the safety gear only when dry, sometimes they burn when you go to the auditors come and then take it back to the sleep. There were a couple of spray cans that office, to keep it and give it to us again. This were broken without handles but tied with happens when the audit report is being readied wires. They were carrying those to the moun- and auditors visit the area for inspection. tains. These are not replaced and if we buy “The boots, gloves, coats, jacket soaps and tubs them, it is deducted from our wages,” some to fill water to wash, are shown to them.” noted. “A powerful chemical is used to dry the “We have to do six hours of spraying grass around the tea bush. We hear that when and four persons must complete one hectare. If the ISO certification is taken up, they tend to we don‟t, all of us get half a day‟s wage.” give all the stuff back to show that their work is -Ceylon Today -17/02/2019

Concerns over social issues in the SP plantation community

The Indian origin plantation workers left give a just wage in due time and in due proportion their kith and kin in Southern India and migrated to to the work done. (Compendium of the Social Doc- Sri Lanka almost 200 years ago. trine of the Church, No. 302) Since then they have contributed towards “You shall not defraud or rob your neigh- the development of the plantation industries in par- bour. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of ticular and Sri Lankan Nation at large. This margin- your day labourer.” (Lev. 19:13) alized and underprivileged community lags behind in I, as a religious leader from the Southern all the aspects of life. They are increasingly becom- Province, wish to voice my concern over the prevail- ing vulnerable to the cost of living rising at an ing social issues of this vulnerable community. alarming rate in the past years. I call upon all those in the decision making In the above scenario, all right-thinking per- and in responsible positions to hear the cry of this sons of our motherland should understand the plight community so that their legitimate demands are this community is undergoing with their hand to looked into and met while at the same time, the mouth existence in the plantations. industries in the Plantations are promoted and pro- The cry for a just wage for the fruit of their tected. labour is heard very loud in every corner of the Na- We, as the citizens of this country and as tion these days. Christians have a moral right to stand by this just The worker‟s labour is what allows him to demand of these innocent/vulnerable people and be „gain access to the goods of the earth.‟ the voice of the voiceless. It is what allows him “the means to cultivate I hope and pray that the efforts the Mem- worthily his own material, social, cultural, and spir- bers of Trade Unions and the Regional Plantation itual life and that of his dependents.‟ Companies and all other stakeholders presently con- “Failure to pay him a just wage shuts him sidering/discussing are sincere and realistic and out of this endeavour. It is for this reason that mere thereby bring about a just solution to the long- agreement between labourer and employer is not an awaited wage increase and other social problems of assurance of a just wage.” our plantation workers. There is a rich Biblical Tradition which un- May God bless them all. derlies the Church‟s insistence that it is a grave in- Rev.Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe justice to refuse to pay a just wage or to refuse to -Daily Mirror - 29/01/2019

How can one find God?

“Sit perfectly still and dive into yourself, trying to find out who you are. To find your SELF means to find God, and to find God means to find your SELF”.

-Shri Anandamayee –January 1961

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Excerpts from an article by Leon Berenger in Rathgama MURDER IN THE FOREST RESERVE

The mourning at two homes, in this iso- than one occasion they even opted to play the lated village of Rathanaudagama, in downtown entire issue down, the relatives claimed. Rathgama, started yesterday after the burnt Investigations have so far revealed that remains of two young businessmen were dis- the two men were initially taken to an aban- covered deep inside a forest reserve at Walas- doned house in Akmeemana, in the Galle Divi- mulla, one day short of a month after they were sion and one person had died during harsh in- handcuffed and taken away by a Police team terrogation. from the Matara Division. In apparent panic the suspects had later Kosma Rasin Chintaka, 31, a fish trader opted to silence the other businessman fearing in Rathgama and his childhood mate Manju that he would leak the matter and therefore he Asela 33, a meat shop owner, were taken at too was killed. gun point, as they chatted on a verandah. They Thereafter, their limp bodies were trans- were later bundled into a van and taken away ported to a dense forest reserve in Walasmulla by a group of eight Policemen armed to the some 73 kilometres away from where the killing teeth with semi-automatic assault rifles. took place. The incident took place at approximately The bodies were later dumped into a 10.05 a.m. on 23 January and thereafter their dried up stream deep inside the forest and later whereabouts remained unknown, despite frantic burnt to ashes and the suspects stayed around and desperate searches by relatives and friends for some three hours to make sure the job was and several visits to various Police stations and properly done and that there would be traces of divisions. evidences. For some two weeks after the business- The motive for the arrest of the men men disappeared, the regional local Police remains unclear, although there are several al- failed to come up with any information that legations doing the rounds in the village and could lead to the missing men and on more elsewhere. -Ceylon Today - 24/02/2019

Excerpts from an article by Leon Berenger Explosive find at Wanathawilluwa Foreign terror groups, extremism under probe

Police probing the massive explosive find at a “We are looking at several aspects and location in Wanathawilluwa, Puttalam earlier these include foreign terrorist links, the origin this week are looking at several aspects includ- of the explosives, the true intent, and whether ing foreign terror links that are tied up with ex- the suspects currently in custody belong to any tremist organisations both in the country and extreme group religious, political or whatever. overseas, a high ranking official on the investi- Beyond that it is too early to come to any final gation team said yesterday. conclusions since the investigations are at the “This is a very deep and sensitive inves- preliminary stages,” he said. tigation and it would take a considerable period However, he also did not rule out further of time before we establish the true motive for arrests as the investigations into the matter the intent of the explosives,” the official said. continue adding that the cooperation of foreign He added that this is the single largest law enforcement agencies may also be sought explosive find since the end of the Tamil sepa- later on. ratist insurgency and therefore it is being treat- -Ceylon Today - 20/01/2019 ed with the highest priority at all levels.

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STAFF INFORMATION

Chairman Jeevan Thiagarajah

Board of Directors Michelle Gunaratne Leela Isaac Tahirih Q Ayn H.G.Dharmadasa

Legal Unit 0112559572 [email protected] Senior Coordinator K Premaseeli

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