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News Archive for Feb 2013
Extracts of US Congressman Eni F.H.Faleomavaega’s Statement to US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the PacificYesterday The US Secretary of State of International Organisation Esther Brimmer spoke of another US Resolution to be moved against Sri Lanka, and said, “The Council’s work remains unfinished so long as Sri Lanka continues to fall short in implementing even the recommendations of its own Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission, or in addressing the underlying sources of its longstanding ethnic conflict†But the US State Departments foreign policy against Sri Lanka came to be criticised at the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific on Tuesday (Feb 26). In that the Congressman Eni... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
Ranking Member of US Foreign Affairs Subcommittee questions Blake on Double Standards in US Foreign Policy toward Sri Lanka
Ranking member of US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega on Tuesday (Feb 26) expressed his deep concerns over the double standards applied in the US foreign policy toward Sri Lanka. Speaking at the committee hearing on “The Rebalance to Asia: Why South Asia Matters†, the congressman underscored that US should find a better way forward than using UN resolutions to improve its relationships with a strategically important country such as Sri Lanka . Republican Party congressional representative Steve Chabot from Ohio currently chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
SMOKE, MIRRORS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said it correctly but politely. Navi Pillay the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights sent her advance team, saying they will be preparing the ground for her own visit to the country on a later date. The advance party was given all the facilities, and the necessary documentation. But, there was no sign of Navi Pillay after their departure. There is no sign of Navi Pillay yet, except in Geneva, where she has pulled a bulky report out of her bag - and who made the inputs to it, but... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
US Congressman on Sri Lanka resolution: RETRACT IT
The United States of America should find a better way forward rather than United Nations resolutions to destabilise developing nations such as Sri Lanka while ignoring Human Rights abuses in nations such as Indonesia, ‘where our geological strategic and military interests supersede our Human Rights agenda’, Ranking member of US Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Eni F.H. Faleomavaega said. Speaking at the committee hearing on “The Rebalance to Asia: Why South Asia Matters†yesterday, the congressman called for the withdrawal of the US sponsored resolution against Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
UN Human Rights Council disassociates itself from the screening of ‘No fire Zone’ at the UN in Geneva
 The United Nations Human Rights Council has disassociated itself from the screening of the Channel 4 film “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka†organized by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and FIFDH to be held on Friday (01 March 2013) in Geneva at the UN premises. In response to a protest lodged by Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha last Monday, which was followed up with a meeting on Tuesday, the President of the UN Human Rights Council Ambassador Remigiusz A. Henczel... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
Solution to Halal /Certificate & labels in Sri Lanka
The halal certificate and halal label issue on virtually all packaging of both locally consumerable and export related food items needs to conclude. Objections arose questioning why companies should advocate a new practice of certification method and labeling to suit a minority religion when such was non-existent for centuries. Further, the only non-halal labels are those one or two companies who have yet to obtain the halal certification/label. If virtually all items on retail outlets and supermarket shelves have halal labels – does it not mean that none of these items are actually haram? So there is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
Aussie Courts Show the way to deal with Sharia in Sri Lanka.
Four Islamic men in Sydney were found guilty by the courts for brutally whipping another Muslim man 40 times with an electrical cord as “punishment†under Islamic Sharia law for drinking alcohol. The judge who found the four offenders guilty at Sydney law courts today postponed sentencing for a future date. Halal, Haram, Sharia, Fatwa et al, disseminated from Koran to the Sri Lankan vocabulary in the recent past, gathering momentum by day. The sad irony here is that a section of the unscrupulous Sinhala Buddhist ruling party bigwigs are inadvertently aiding and abetting this... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
SOUTH AFRICA – THE KING OF JUSTICE
Associated Press/The Daily Sun - In this still frame from TV and courtesy of South African Daily Sun newspaper, showing a South African man with his hands tethered to the back of a police vehicle being dragged …more behind as police hold his legs up and the vehicle apparently drives off, east of Johannesburg Tuesday Feb. 26, 2013. The man died of his injuries. In video filmed on a mobile phone, uniformed police are seen trying to subdue the man, then tethering him to the back of a police vehicle which drives off, watched by a large... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
‘The Revival of Buddhism in India ’ – Public Talk by Indian Buddhist monk Ven. Rahula Bodhi
A Public Talk on the topic ‘The Revival of Buddhism in India’ will be delivered by the reputed Indian Buddhist monk Ven. Dr. Bhadant Rahula Bodhi Maha Thera on Friday, March 1 commencing at 4.00 p.m. at the Head Quarters of the Maha Bodhi Society, Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Mawatha, Maradana, Colombo 10. The talk sponsored by the Maha Bodhi Society at the request of the Indo – Sri Lanka Buddhist Network will deal with the historical legacy of two great pioneers of the Buddhist Revival movement in India, namely, Anagarika Dharmapala, the first global Buddhist... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/02/13)
India, a client state doing its due in Geneva?
There was a time when world leaders respected India as the leader of the `non-aligned' nations, with `Bandung' reverberating between the military power blocks. The west's answer was to subvert Pakistan's democracy and convert it to a client-state run by military bosses who answered Washington, and watched over India using Kashmir as the painful harpoon. Western foreign policy since the Regan-Kissinger era functioned by creating disaster in some country, and then profiting from the chaos to set up its own puppets as the strongmen, together with Western companies buying up the local... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
The Stupidity Of It All~ Will Diaspora Pressure On The Legitimacies Of Wiping Out Terrorism Prevail Or Will The World Bow Down To Their Cooked Up Presentations With Blinkered Vision?
February 28th 2013 Perhaps It needs to be shouted out from the mountain tops to a misguided world that the pressure being applied to Sri Lanka at the UNHRC from many quarters and wherever the Ugly Spector of the issue of antagonism against Sri Lanka raises its head are all sourced by the same entity namely the lobby of the World Tamil Diaspora a very powerful and well organized operation that woulg probably get past the security at Fort Knox even figuratively  as such is their capability.  This wretched albeit forceful entity which seems to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe tells Geneva sessions: UNDUE PRESSURE ON ACCOUNTABILITY- SL needs adequate time to resolve deep ?rooted issues
To some, reconciliation in the Sri Lankan context must be based principally on issues of ‘retributive justice and accountability’, Plantations Minister and President’s Special Envoy on Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe said addressing the 22nd UNHRC sessions in Geneva yesterday. “This is just one aspect, but the overall dimensions of the subject are extremely complex and consultations among all stakeholders are necessary to finding lasting solutions acceptable to all. Sri Lanka needs adequate time and space to resolve such deep-rooted and wide-ranging issues. “Undue pressure exerted by external parties on this one aspect is not... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
And who looked after Prabakaran’s parents?
India is getting its media to relay photos of Prabakaran’s dead son and interviewing Callum Macrae producer of the latest documentary tarnishing Sri Lanka’s image but has conveniently forgotten how India’s Central Government refused entry to Prabakaran’s own ailing 79 year old mother (Velupillai Parvathi Pillai) with Indian policemen not even allowing her to alight from the aircraft at 11:30p.m. on 16 April 2010 – how inhuman was this gesture from the Indian Government for an old lady requesting medical attention?  No parent would ever want their child to turn into a murderer or mass killer and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
“Sri Lanka must devolve more powers to Provinces, and by extension to Tamils†says India
The news item, in a Sri Lankan English journal on Wednesday, 27 February, reporting the statements and the opinions of the External Affairs Minister of India as regards Sri Lanka is full of inaccuracies and downright non-sensical pontifications. First and foremost, the Indian Minister is under the mistaken belief – Wake up from your dreams, Sir! – that Sri Lanka is one of the states in the Union of States that constitute India. He sure will be surprised if someone were to tell him that Sri Lanka is an independent, sovereign nation, and that it is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
Why are our children disgracing the country by joining the anti-Sri Lanka lobbies?
It saddens me to see how many of our children who are now grown up men and women holding important posts opt to take the path of ridiculing the nation that they were born in, the nation they grew up and a nation that holds good and bad memories for their parents and loved ones. Having differences of opinion with the government does not necessitate a person to join a chorus of people that are out to destabilize a nation. That is downright immoral and a folly that should cease forthwith.  It saddens me greatly to hear... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
Rajapaksa haters have become Traitors
It is disgusting to read some of the anti Rajapaksa cartoons and mail circulating in the electronic media. Some stupid and ungrateful Sri Lankans are even happy that the US and it's allies are talking about a motion against Sri Lanka at the forth comming security council meeting.Some of my friends from Colombo, mostly Catholics are blaming the Rajapaksas for every evil thing that happens in Sri Lanka.I honostly these people do not care about any thing other than themselves.  The human rights brigades and the NGO's have woken up again.Does any one believe thry really... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
Alleged Murder of 12 Year Old Son of Tamil Tiger Leader
By E-mail 84 Tambrook Drive Agincourt, Ontario M1W 3L9 February 26, 2013   Editor Toronto Star 1 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E6 Dear Editor, Human Rights Watch Report Concerning Alleged Rape In Sri Lanka I wish to refer to the article written by Olivia Ward on the subject published in your newspaper oftoday's edition, and wish to point out that this is one more report released by yet another westernfunded international rights group just prior to the UNHRC sessions due to commence in March 2013... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
Imam Mahdi’s love for the Prophet of Islam (PBUH)
 (Given below is an excerpt of one of the recent Friday Sermons of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivered at ‘Baithul Futhuh’, London, U.K. gave a discourse based on the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad - the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that illustrated the profound, sincere and ardent love and devotion he had for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).  Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad – Ahmadiyya Supreme Head started this Sermon by saying that: In his writings,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
THE KADIRGAMAR INSTITUTE HOSTS SEMINAR ON “SRI LANKA’S OCEAN RESOURCE: OUR HIDDEN GOLD MINEâ€ÂÂÂ
 20th February, 2013, Colombo.  The Seminar “Sri Lanka’s Ocean Resource: Our Hidden Gold Mine†was conducted by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies on the 20thof February 2013 from 2pm to 6 pm at the Kadirgamar Institute. The seminar brought together eminent personalities and scholars in the field of Indian Ocean studies and marine environment. The seminar was attended by diplomatic corps, government officials, foreign dignitaries, representatives of international organizations, academics, students, media and the general public. The two sessions of the seminar were followed by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/02/13)
An appeal to Delegates of Member States of UNO attending UNHuman Rights Council Sessions in Geneva.
Your Excellencies,  I am an aged  man from Sri Lanka. I have seen the beginning of terrorism to its end. Terrorism in Sri Lanka lasted nearly thirty years. During those days the fear of death was  our  proverbial sward of Damocles. We waited in fear until our children returned home from school. We waited in fear until our daughters and sons returned home after work. A father and a Mother from the same family would  not go out of home together for fear of the bombs set by terrorists in buses, trains and market places, so that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
Indo-US Geneva Resolution and Sri Lanka’s strategic options
The UNHRC Resolution against Sri Lanka is nothing about “accountability†“pace of implementation†or any of the gibberish international statements claims to project. If so, despite resolutions against Israel on “accountability†the UNHRC has done nothing against Israel. Instead Israel has broken ties with UNHRC completely. If every nation in the UN has equal status – or rather is supposed to have equal status, what’s all this bullying with regard to Sri Lanka?  That question does not have one single answer for the reasons used are just cover-ups.  India, the US and many other nations joined... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
A REQUEST TO THE RAJAPAKSE GOVERNMENT
The whole credit of ending three decades of terrorism and safeguarding the lives of its people goes to the President Rajapakse and his government without any argument. Without doubt, President Rajapakse is the most courageous leader Sri Lanka ever had after the independence and can treat as the second father of the nation after Hon. D. S. Senanayake. Even after defeating the terrorism successfully by militarily means, the government has a bigger challenge today to overcome the international political pressure exerted by the western leaders who are being bought financially and politically by the remnants of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
The people of Sri Lanka suffered from terrorism for thirty years
The US State Department did not raise one voice against terrorism then . But now USA moves resolutions against Sri Lanka for violation of Human rights of terrorists. The terrorists in Sri Lanka for thirty years carried out massacres , assassinations, used human bombs and one such human suicide bomb was a woman strapped with a bomb in side her clothes which she detonated killing the young Prime Minster of India Rajiv Gandhi in the explosion. They were ruthless and most inhuman.  But these terrorists of Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
Does Christianization necessarily entail a diminution of nationalism?
 This question is asked in the context of a problematic turn of events in our ancient and besieged Island - an island that has courageously fought off over the centuries repeated attempts to oust its indigenous religio-cultural belief-systems and ideology. That the battle is not over yet is proven by the fact that Christianity is a growing presence in our country and that the intellectual leaders of Sri Lanka are largely Christian. This seminal shift has occurred not through conquest but as a natural consequence of the Buddhist majority slipping again into the unfortunate position of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
India commits a terrible folly
By supporting the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at UNHRC, India has missed an opportunity to project itself as a respected regional power. In an extremely myopic manoeuvre aimed at pleasing the world gendarme, India has aborted all chances of rising as a regionally respected power by supporting the US-led resolution to censure Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council for alleged war crimes against civilians in the climax to its prolonged war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009. Though driven by Tamil Nadu’s... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
Keep Sri Lanka Clean, Keep The Indians Out!
 Our politicians are famous for their monumental blunders. Therefore, it is our duty as the people of this country to stop them from happening in the first place. It was reported that the Minister of Agriculture was considering getting Indian farm hands on 3 or 6 month temporary work visas for the harvest season.  India always looks at subjugating its neighbors. For us the LTTE was salvo number one, the 13th Amendment was salvo number two. CEPA was another such plan but it was put on hold due to stiff opposition from the people of Sri Lanka.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
UNHCR Meeting - Is it time to whinge again?
During the past couple of weeks Lanka Web published so many articles complaining about the US, Western governments, The BBC Channel4 and Indian attitude towards Sri Lanka in the coming UNHRC session.This has happened before and it seems all we can do is to complain about it.  The Sri Lankan government was humiliated at the last UNHCR session, especially by the India's betrayal and had months to prepare for this session.But the government, especially the foreign ministry seems to be incompetent to do any thing positive about it .What is the British PR firm hired at an enormous cost... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
Sri Lanka protests Screening of Channel 4 documentary in UN premises in Geneva
The Sri Lanka Permanent Mission in Geneva has made formal protest against the screening of the latest Channel 4 documentary film “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka†organized by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and FIFDH at the Palais de Nations in Geneva on 1st March 2013. In a letter addressed to Ambassador Remigiusz Achilles Henczel, President of the Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ravinatha Aryasinha said “Sri Lanka views this film, as well as the timing of its broadcast as part... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
Social Balance and Population growth control
Population growth in our country did not catch much attention in the eyes of political and educated circles. Sri Lanka grew from two million in 1871 to over twenty million today. Given the size of the land area in the country, the population density is too high to sustain the economic development we see today. The country could go into more difficulties if the population growth is not controlled.  As with the population growth, the conflicts between ethnic groups have already begun to mushroom. We now even have conflicts and violence when erecting places of warship, be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
A Peaceful Compromise on Halal: Charge an Equal National Peace Levy with Every Halal Certificate Payment
Halal industry is estimated to worth $2.5 trillion world-wide. If nutrition or taste is considered, there is no difference between halal foods and other foods. The certificate guarantees halal compliance to locals, tourists, consumers in export markets and others who profess the faith of Islam. Multiple aspects of this issue should be looked at to come to an objective conclusion before it serious dents peaceful coexistence in this country. Religious, economic, political, nutrition and social aspects are vital considerations. A national view must be maintained to assess these factors. A limited tribal approach will not be conducive... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
The Disappearance Of The Disabled LTTEers
Although there has been much spoken about those disabled in the government forces, little has been heard or said about the disabled LTTE cadres that were injured during the war that plagued the country for three decades. While the government troops are said to have over 5000 of its personnel disabled, except for a few that had surrendered to the government forces there has not been any account of what happened to those injured LTTE cadres. Several of the relatives of those LTTE cadres who were injured and rendered... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/02/13)
THE ANNUAL BULLYING GAMES AT THE UNHRC MARCH SESSIONS AGAINST A SMALL ISLAND NATION
The dawn of the hunting season is on line in a few days time. David is once again pitted against the Goliath of superpowers and their cohorts. Sri Lanka cannot expect justice as the stage had been manipulated by the Great Satan and his servile lapdogs. In addition muscle power will also be utilised against those who will attempt to ensure that justice will be seen to be done by us in the threats of withholding financial and related aid. This was successfully achieved in the 2012 sessions. All that we can hope for now is Divine... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/02/13)
Naveen Pillai Out Of Line With Her Responsibilities At The UN And Seen As Someone With Pro -Tamil Diaspora Instigated Bias !
Feb.26th. 2013  If only The UN High Commissioner for Human rRights Navi Pillay paused for a moment to overview her blatantly unfounded allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) in her ongoing barrage of words which is beccoming a nagging menace to the well being and smooth functioning of Sri Lanka today She could be respected as an impartial UN representative worthy of holding her office but sadly this does not seem to be the case!  She seems to have a penchant for making speculative analyses with hardly a semblance of tangible evidence towards... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/02/13)
Human Rights Council commences its 22ndSession - Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to deliver National Statement on Wednesday
Hon. Minister Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries, H.E. the President’s Special Envoy on Human Rights and Leader of the Sri Lanka delegation, who is due to arrive in Geneva on Tuesday, will deliver Sri Lanka’s National Statement during the High Level segment of the Human Rights Council, on Wednesday, 27th February 2013.  The 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council opened today with statements by H.E. Mr. Remigiusz A. Henczel President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, President of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/02/13)
Jayasooriya’s version of Buddha Dhamma Flays Abidhamma for creating confusion
More than 2600 years after the Buddha passed away, a modern-day Sri Lankan atuwacaria (commentator), L. Jayasooriya, has been trying to save Buddha Dhamma from Buddhism contaminated by the seven-volume Abidhamma Pitaka. Because abidhamma originated some 100 to 200 years after the death of the Buddha, scholars have raised doubts about its reliability as a source for documenting Buddha Dhamma. Jayasooriya, a chartered engineer, says that the authors of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/02/13)
When Channel 4 and Callum Macrae distorts the “Truthâ€ÂÂÂ
For people who are so passionate about revealing the truth, getting justice and showcasing to the world how horrible Sri Lanka’s armed forces are would there be any need for “sequelsâ€ÂÂÂ. The best thing would have been to pool everything available against Sri Lanka’s armed forces – mobile phone pictures, videos, eye witnesses and spill the beans – so what is the objective of these sequels every year close to Geneva sessions or some other international event?  When the print and electronic media describes the pictures of Prabakaran’s son as “disturbing†frankly there was nothing disturbing to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/02/13)
Sri Lanka opposes UN screening of film India to vote against Sri Lanka on war crimes in UNHRC-Russia assures support for Lanka Karzai Orders US Special Forces Out of Eastern Afghan Province FOR PRO-LTTE NAVIPILLAI AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT SRI LANKAN WAR ATRICITIES Sri Lanka is unique: it vanquished terrorists militarily and it has TNA What is all this fuss about Halal and Haram? Comparing alleged sexual violence in Sri Lanka and Canada by the Security Forces. Story on Death of Prabakaram's Son - February 19,2013 Karzai orders US Special Forces out of two provinces, citing torture and murder COME WIIL YOU! The next big lie Bracing for UN political onslaught :SL HAS THE RIGHT STUFF Pillay has failed to see true picture : Mudslinging campaign against Sri Lanka: Channel 4, the mouthpiece of LTTE diaspora Terrorist-criminal-political nexus in Tamil Nadu growing – Prof. Rohan Gunaratna Tales which pictures don't tell Well Said Mr Defence Secretary For Exposing The Possible Duplicity Of The Channel 4 Photo Which Probably Should Be Trashed Together With Other Related Items, Not Just The Latest Photo! Human Rights Watch 2013 Sri Lanka: Sexual Violence Canada Overtakes GTF in Anti-Lanka Offensive - February 22,2013 Alleged Murder of 12 Year Old Son of Tamil Tiger Leader America’s Killing Fields- American State Department should think twice before passing resolutions against Sri Lanka. TRUTH ABOUT SRI LANKA BY A US CONGRESSMAN-US is bullying SL: US congressman (As reported by DailyMirror - Dianne Silva) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister demands economic sanctions against Sri Lanka Govt to monitor construction of places of religious worship : Overlooked points Balachandran on Sale ?Another Market Gimmick by Channel 4 The TNA, the Armed Forces and the Tamils in North News Report filed by your Reporter, Raveena Aulakh in Today's Edition of the Toronto Star Reconciliation : A wonderful story Life Abroad – Part 16: The Flutter Under The Palm Gotabhaya points to other hatchet jobs by Channel 4 News Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS) Among the Sri Lankan War Veterans Jayalalithaa's refusal to host Sri Lankan athletes Cameron BLIND TO Kashmir horrors - in plea for more trade with India Did Pirabaharan’s son have any blood in his body when he was shot? The Truth or Lies of Benjamin Dix GK DEPOSITORS ATTACK NAVI PILLAY ON IMPEACHMENT-‘Misled by Tamil diaspora, nonsensical NGOs’ Callum Rae Channel 4: 'No Fire Zone' “Equality for Sri Lanka Tamil people†– India is making progress Threats to the peaceful existence of Buddhists in Sri Lanka-Response to Mr. Hameed Abdul Karim இலஙà¯ÂÂÂகைஅரசà¯ÂÂÂகà¯ÂÂÂக௠உலக à®…à®°à®™à¯ÂÂÂகில௠மிகக௠கடà¯ÂÂÂமையான நெரà¯ÂÂÂகà¯ÂÂÂகடி? HRH PRINCE CHARLES ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF DR CHRIS NONIS OF SRI LANKA AND MUKESH AMBANI OF INDIA TO THE ADVISORY COUNCILS OF THE BRITISH ASIAN TRUST The boy in the Bunker - Faked Photo or real? Er….., Callum Macray (channel-4), Here’s the Original Video: LTTE leader killed his child copying Magda Goebbels Revealed: UK sells arms to Sri Lanka's brutal regime Handed a snack, and then executed: the last hours of the 12-year-old son of a Tamil Tiger It’s all lies and half-truths, says Colombo Is the govt sleeping while the LTTE propaganda machine is having a field day? Cannot vouch for authencity of pictures, says Khurshid USA resolutions against Sri Lanka in Geneva are to satisfy Tamil Terrorist Organisations which contributed to US President’s Election Campaign. Sri Lanka does not believe people of Tamil Nadu are hostile towards Sri Lanka LTTE Killing Fields in Sri Lanka A Price Being Paid By The GOSL For Leniency Towards Tolerating The Admission Of The TNA Into Parliamentary Politics! Minister Deepak Obhrai has difficulty to recognize Sri Lanka curbing world terrorism PIED PIPER DAYAN J IS IN A GARRISON (STATE) of mind Invitation LTTE lobby swamps Geneva Sri Lanka’s complicity in America’s extraordinary rendition Bharatha Lakshman case:Thirteen charged, six discharged Ailing Saudi Regime Desperately Arrests Women and Children for its Throne BOTH LIVE AND ANCIENT FOSSILISED DIATOMS FOUND IN TWO METEORITES THAT CRASH LANDED IN SRI LANKA SAYS CHANDRA WICKRAMASINGHE Boiling uses least energy when compared to other types of cooking. Time to probe the INGOs and NGOs No Reconciliation , but acceptance- No devolution of power, but Sharing of power. IDPS of North Demanding Lands Occupied by Sri Lankan Military Minister Jason Kenney says that Canada acted against its own interest by banning LTTE Falling Garment factories and Failing Local Enterprises: What has to be done. Call by Hindu Makkal Katchi for closure of Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka Sarathchandra's Maname is it that bad? Sakkara Deiyyo and Ratnawalli PAKISTAN- SRI LANKA FIRST JOINT SEMINAR ON POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGES FACED BY NATIONS DURING AND AFTER CONFLICT CONFINED TO BORDERS The Syrian Diary - No politics, only people telling their story UN and UNHRC on a Collision Course; UNHRC Heading for Dissolution as Its Predecessor Halal Certification and allegations of extremist Buddhists and Sinhalas Canada Immigration Minister Kenny Portrays What Many Analysts Say Is A Double Standard About The Tamil Tigers And They Do Not Seem To Be Far Wrong! Tamils and superficial Heritage Month Bill Proposed in Canadian Parliament Obama’s “State of the Drone†THREATS TO HUMANITY Court of Inquiry investigating controversial Channel 4 claims conclude: SHELLING DEATHS DUE TO LTTE SPECIAL FLIGHT FROM USA TO MATTALA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT INAUGURATION IN SRI LANKA Largest since Tunguska: Chelyabinsk meteorite may take second place for size in over a century Russian meteorite blast explained: Fireball explosion, not meteor shower Meteorite hits Russian Urals KILLING OF TAMIL CIVILIANS-THE CANARD UNHRC: Who is reversing the sacrifices of Sri Lanka’s soldiers? Cure for Immune deficiencies and Cancers INDIAN SCIENTIST HAILS THE POLONNARUWA METEORITE AS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE SEARCH FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE The Disastrous Influence of Pope Benedict XVI
Julie Bishop MP and Scott Morrison MP Joint Press Conference ABC News 24 Letter to President Barack Obama to explain why a Resolution against Sri Lanka at UNHR Commission in Geneva will be against his Political philosophy Yet Another Continuing Aggravation To The Smooth Functioning Of Sri Lanka Surfaces In The Form Of UN's Naveen Pillai. Chris Alexander, MP: comments at Thai Pongal celebrations Julie Bishop MP and Scott Morrison MP Joint Press Conference ABC News 24 Challenging the Adult Mind - the missing dimension in Education Looking East at Independence “Sri Lanka will not compromise security while part of LTTE still at large†- Secretary of Defence India’s Geneva Vote on Sri Lanka and Sampur Power Betrayal? Tamil News Network Reports Of Your Meeting in Markham ON SL not to pursue new IMF funding programme Russia emerges as worlds top gold buyer Sri Lanka suspends loan deal with IMF Tamil News Network Report of Meeting with Tamils on January 26,2013 MISUNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH Gun culture fails to pass Buddhist muster A Nuclear Disaster Will Trigger Disintegration of India With zero-record of reconciliation or resettlement, scores of Geneva Violations, US is bringing Resolutions against Sri Lanka Jason Kenney: TNN reports on his round table meeting in Markham Assange to White House staff: ‘Leak drone killing rules’ The Secret Why International Community will lineup against Sri Lanka in Geneva this March as usual. Ambassador Aryasinha calls on Sri Lankans abroad to help moderate negative narratives propagated against Sri Lanka D.C. Ahir: A Legend in Buddhist and Ambedkar Studies Why did Buddhism disappear from South Asia? Part -2 Karunanidhi’s tirade against Sri Lanka President: the man is living in his make believe world of Tamil film script writing No separate identities for ethnic or religious groups in national symbols! President Rajapaksa visits Bodh Gaya, India amid protests UN Charter and Sri Lanka – President’s WORD Candid friends like Alistair Burt make us yearn for enemies Another half hearted law Why do they Single Out Sri Lanka for violation of Human rights ever since it eliminated a ruthless group of terrorists ? Life Abroad – Part 14: DOWN HILL ON ROLLER COASTERS Inclusion of SL in CMAG agenda :C’WEALTH RULES violated – GL Reality Behind Foreign Funded Agencies in India President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Buddha Gaya must result in restoration of a noise free environment around Maha Bodhi Temple SRI LANKA IN 2048 ! The Plan is to Subjugate Muslims-Third Response to Shenali Waduge Buddhism online: A global spiritual force WORLD MUSLIM LEADER SAYS MUSLIM WORLD IS ON THE ‘BRINK OF DESTRUCTION’ Communal and religious extremism: Sri Lankans should be vigilant Parliament is right in rejecting Supreme Court judgment TNA’s anti-Sri Lanka stance continues unabated STOP STEREOTYPING AND BREAKING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE COMMUNITIES Did Muhammad lead numerous wars that were barbaric and bloody? Israel's agreement to recruit Lankan workers Diabetics and the way to be rid off it Respect UN Charter provisions against threats to POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE of member states – President Executive Power to Hon Ministers: Whats Wrong?: My Experience Cooking stoves use a considerable amount of energy perhaps we can save some wasting energy. Ms.Pillai’s IMPLAUSIBLE stand Lanka lambastes impeachment probe Sri Lanka clarifies on visa rejection ICJ backs Sri Lankan Govt and 'Black-coat brahmins' bite the bullet The International Council of Jurists (ICJ) Says recent impeachment of the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka is totally legal, and ‘absolutely in accordance with the prevalent Sri Lankan laws. Sri Lanka inks Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation With Luxemburg Israeli airstrike on Syria, an absolute war crime : George Galloway Islam is not the source of terrorism, but its solution LIFE ABROAD - Part 13: JAW JAW IN ENGLISH! Battle of Stalingrad: Russia marks 70th anniversary of key WWII fight (PHOTOS) Communists want Stalingrad back on Russian map Stalingrad returns to Russia’s map to mark celebrations WISDOM OF OUR ANCESTORS AND THE TRUTH BEHIND OUR HERITAGE- A SRI LANKAN PERSPECTIVE Tamil Nadu Bickerings A Continuing Aggravation To The Smooth Functioning Of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka must use Australia and Israle to influence US, rather than worshiping India and Arabs The hegemonic Christian Culture Meeting in Toronto with Tamils ONLY - January 26,2013 ALL AGAINST TERRORISM Dr. Paul Dahlke championed the cause of Buddhism in Europe Holocaust survivors speak at borough’s Memorial Day commemoration To free the mind from the pain of negative emotions
Berlin - Sri Lanka has warned the United Nations against allowing a British-made documentary about the Asian country's civil war to be shown on the sidelines of a human rights meeting. The island nation's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva says the Channel 4 documentary, titled “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka,†contains a narrative that is “discredited, uncorroborated and unsubstantiated.†http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/sri-lanka-opposes-un-screening-of-film-1.1476715 (LankaWeb - 25/02/13)
India will vote in support of a US-backed resolution against Sri Lanka proposed to be moved before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva next month, Union minister in the Prime Minister's Office ( PMO) V Narayansamy said on Sunday. Talking to reporters, he said that PM Manmohan Singh has promised to support the resolution against Sri Lanka on war crimes and human rights violations at the UNHRC meeting. Narayanasamy said he along with MPs from Tamil Nadu recently called on the Prime Minister and asked him to extend support to the US-sponsored resolution for holding Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/02/13)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered the removal of all U.S. special forces from an eastern province in response to allegations that those forces or their Afghan allies may have committed rights abuses against civilians. Karzais spokesman Aimal Faizi told reporters Sunday that a government investigation of security incidents in Wardak province found that armed men suspected of ties to U.S. Special Forces were engaged in "harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people." He said the Afghan defense ministry has been ordered to ensure that all U.S. Special Forces are out of the province within two weeks.... -Full Story- (voanews.com - 25/02/13)
Although there has been much spoken about those disabled in the government forces, little has been heard or said about the disabled LTTE cadres that were injured during the war that plagued the country for three decades. While the government troops are said to have over 5000 of its personnel disabled, except for a few that had surrendered to the government forces there has not been any account of what happened to those injured LTTE cadres. Several of the relatives... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
 The small island nation of Sri Lanka can point out two of its aspects that no other country can even dream of having.  The large majority in the US never knew where Sri Lanka was on a world map – it was just a speck somewhere in the East, in the vast oceans, like so many South Pacific islands that many of us would find difficult to pin point. Yet, since the annihilation of the armed wing of the LTTE by the Sri Lankan armed forces, every loquacious politician in the US seems to be having... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
Judging by the flow of articles in praise of the peaceful nature of Islam and the peaceful co-existence of Muslims the general inference is that all the issues have been created by the Buddhist “extremistsâ€ÂÂÂ. Having read a few articles I realize the issue is becoming misunderstood because the Muslims are evading answering what the Buddhists are asking and ignoring the comparisons they are giving about Muslim expansionism historically and even currently. Looks like the best mode of defence is to use the media and a whole waiting list of anti-Sinhala Buddhist groups and individuals... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
Human Rights Watch (HRW) had published a `damning report' on the disappearance of some 600 aboriginal women in Canada, as well as over 50 cases of sexual violence against women (along the `tears highway') in the hands of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Previously, the RCMP as well as the local forces had come into much criticism regarding the disappearance of dozens of sex workers in the Vancouver area, with the police simply ignoring the matter. A frequently repeated allegation against the Police in Winnipeg is that they routinely `pick up' aboriginal people... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
The Editor The Hindu New Delhi, India Dear Sir: Your front page story regarding the death of Prabhakaran's son and the allegation that he was shot by the Sri Lankan army typifies India's attitude to Sri Lanka, namely that of an interfering bully who will use any excuse to harrass Sri Lanka. It is clearly meant to provoke anti Sri Lankan sentiments in India and has succeeded particularly in Tamil Nadu, a state that has always supported the LTTE and used Sri Lanka to dictate policy to the central government. Jayalalitha has not missed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
The Afghan government has demanded the withdrawal of all US Special Forces on Sunday from the Wardak and Logar provinces within two weeks, accusing them of “harassing, torturing and murdering innocent civilians.†Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said that President Hamid Karzai had ordered the ministry of defense to kick out the US Special Forces, which he accused of fueling “insecurity and instability†in the volatile provinces, which are close to the capital Kabul.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 24/02/13)
Pillay is not coming because Pillai is cunning. Sajin Vaas Gunawardene, Member of Parliament, has, though in understated fashion, stated one of the most devastating truths about the UN establishment, when he laconically observed that UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay should have come to Sri Lanka, the way she was supposed to, as per mandate. Who or what stood in the way of that visit? Here we have people stating that the Sri Lankan government is less than welcoming to pesky and opinionated people, but when the UN Human Rights Commissioner faces no... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
The unbridled freedom of expression the West is advocating around the world is subject to certain well known restrictions in their home countries - the word ‘conspiracy’ for example, is subtly censored in the West through the labelling of opinions, ideas or observations on certain subjects as ‘conspiracy theories’. At a social level, the ‘conspiracy theory’ label carries pejorative connotations subliminally, arising primarily from the historical association between charges of a global conspiracy and antisemitism in Western Europe. In the US in particular, raising legitimate questions about dubious official narratives and irrational foreign policy decisions... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said Sri Lanka is geared to face the full brunt of UN politics in the coming weeks. “One must not forget that the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a highly politicised body. The Sri Lankan delegation participating in UNHRC review sessions in Geneva, that starts this week, may have to face the music of UN politics in the Council,†he said. Minister de Silva said this in reply when asked on Sri Lanka’s chances of being able to defend itself in case of another... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
The London based Channel 4 TV station is the mouthpiece of the LTTE diaspora. The LTTE rump is said to fund this station heavily to carry out its mudslinging campaign against Sri Lanka. The money raised by the LTTE rump in Britain and Europe is allegedly spent lavishly on such covert operations against Sri Lanka. According to reliable sources, the LTTE pays the Channel 4 TV station almost 300,000 dollars annually for the services rendered. The Editor and presenter of the Channel 4 TV station is Shirani Sabaratnam. She was born at Vaddukoddai in Jaffna. When... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
International counter terrorism expert based in Singapore, Prof. Rohan Gunaratna warns that there is a well concerted campaign in Tamil Nadu, launched by the LTTE, to make Tamil people rise up against Sri Lanka and this is a development that Sri Lanka should be concerned about. In an interview with the Sunday Observer he said, “The terrorist-criminal-political nexus (in Tamil Nadu) is growing....†and went on to caution the Government that the LTTE misinformation and disinformation campaign was sure to spill over from Tamil Nadu to other south Indian States unless the Government took immediate steps... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
As was to be expected under the circumstances, the Sri Lankan Government has promptly dismissed the published pictures of LTTE leader Prabhakaran's 12-year-old son Balachandran, before and after his killing in the North in May 2009, as “lies, half-truths and speculationâ€ÂÂÂ. India, which has a stake in it all, has reacted cautiously. Armed Forces personnel carrying a child to safety during the humanitarian operation New Delhi could not vouch for the authenticity of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
Feb.23rd. 2013  It seems quite in order to request a trashing of rubbish wherever it surfaces as Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary has done relative to the latest Channel 4 portrayal. As Channel 4 continues the rubbish it regularly throws at the international community over cooked up rights violations and attrocities, this one said to have been committed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, the call to trash becomes significant because the basis for this is suspected to be coercion by certain powerful members of the disgruntled Tamil Diaspora who are today the biggest losers without their champions the Tamil Tigers. But what's mind... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
“‘We will teach you a lesson’: Sexual violence against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces†is a 140page report published on 22 February 2013 giving 75 cases of alleged rape and sexual abuse between 2006-2012 in official and secret detention centres throughout Sri Lanka The 140page report gives 3 accounts out of 75 cases through a 6 year period: The first is of a 31year old Tamil woman picked up from her Colombo home by CID officers in November 2011. HRW says that the women had been taken to the 4th floor of CID office denied food/water... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/02/13)
Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka  Dear Sir:  Canada has overtaken other pro-LTTE groups against Sri Lanka as the current Canadian Government is being "guided/dictated to" by the LTTE front organizations in Canada on it's policy on Sri Lanka. It is now the Canadian Government that is pushing the LTTE agenda. The current government's main organizer of the so-called ethnic vote is the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, Mr. Jason Kenney. His main focus, is the Greater Toronto Area, where thirteen parliamentary seats are available to whichever political party... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/02/13)
By E-mail                                                                                       February 23, 2013 Editor Toronto Star Dear Editor, Further to my letter of February 21, 2013, on the subject, I am pleased to send a letter published in the Lankaweb on February 20, 2013 written by a Canadian under his pen name 'Gamvesiya" wherein he has analyzed several features of the related photographs showing the work of hostile elements from the Tamil Tiger Terrorist separatist movement hell... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/02/13)
The Indian Express of the 20 February,2013,  reports of the deep concern of the “benefactors†the Angel of God the USA State Department on whose kindness seems the future of the  Sovereign State of Sri Lanka depends . USA thinks it had some hand with the Almighty God during the creation of the world to give a little place for Sri Lanka at the tail end of the Indian continent. How can we otherwise understand their deep concern which is reported as having been expressed by one of its angels Victoria Nuland who perhaps knows nothing about... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
The United States should not bully a small country like Sri Lanka, considering the difficulties it has had to face during a 30 year conflict, a member of the US House of Representatives who is visiting Sri Lanka, said yesterday. “Why is the United States taking the lead in bullying a small country like Sri Lanka; when Sri Lanka has gone through a terrible conflict? Should we be looking at other countries when our own situation is yet to be cleared, for example even with Vietnam,†Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr., a non-voting delegate to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has still not come out of her make believe and fantasy world of Tamil movies of yester year, when her gyrations with her hero and mentor mesmerised illiterate movie goers who were only looking for an escape from the drudgery of the day to day life in Tamil Nadu and many other states of India. Or else, how can an adult Indian come out with a demand that India should impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka for the alleged killing of 12 year Tamil child by Sri Lankan armed forces... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
The GOSL has issued a fresh circular to monitor the construction of places of religious worship in Sri Lanka. A Committee is to be appointed to monitor such work and a director board of members representing the departments overseeing Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity is to be appointed Let it not go unsaid that it is the GOSL’s disinterest, delayed actions, inactions and totally ignoring the long term repercussions for short term gains and advantages that has led to the present issues surfacing. The present decision is itself questionable. With the Buddhists being a clear 70% majority... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
A death of a child, no doubt is a reason to mourn. The disturbing image of a bullet-ridden body of a boy and the pictures of him, said to have been taken a few hours before he had fallen dead; the latest pictures extracted from the controversial Channel 4 video "No Fire Zone" to be released has caused much pain to many. In this document a picture of a 12-year-old boy with bullet holes in his chest can be seen and the director claims that the boy is Balachandran Prabhakaran, the youngest son of LTTE... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
I thought of responding to the article published in Sunday Leader on 16th Dec 2012 titled “ Plight of resettled IDP’s, striving make ends meetâ€ÂÂÂ. The article has been written by Niranjala Ariyawansa and Chrishanthi Christoper and mentions the “concerns†of the TNA MP’s Sumanthiran and Premachandran. What has been implied by their allegations was that IDP’s in North are not properly looked after, continuous harassment of Tamils by the Army, land mine story is a bluff, presence of “unnecessary†large cantonments of army in the north etc. As an... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
By E-mail                                                                                      84 Tambrook Drive Agincourt, ON M1W 3L9 Tel. (416) 498-0783 February 21, 2013 Editor Toronto Star 1 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M5E 1E6 Dear Editor, News Report filed by your Reporter, Raveena Aulakh in Today's Edition of the Toronto Star Reference has been made to pictures released by UK's Channel 4 TV suggesting that the 12 year old son, of the leader of the Tamil Tiger terrorist... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
The breadwinner of this family was a member of the LTTE and he fought against the Sri Lanka Army in the final battle in 2009 and killed in action. In 2013 some members of the Sri Lanka Army volunteered to build a house for the former militant's remaining family members. We hear a lot of bad stories about the war and atrocities . This is one of the best stories of post war reconciliation. The media should focus on positive stories as this for the people to unite and live in peace. Otherwise the societies would go in to the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
Athula Withanage , MD FRCS, is one of the sons Mother Lanka has produced, but was unable to make use of his services until he retired. He was attached to Withybush Haverfordwest, Hospital in Wales as the Clinical Director/Lead Technician for over 20 years . I met him in London in 2005. Once he and his team managed to put back a dethatched limb successfully of a seven year old boy who was brought to the hospital with his arm in a bucket of ice. Young Athyula Withanage Versatility... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that Sri Lanka wasn’t the only country targeted by the British media outfit Channel-4 News over accountability issues. The Defence Secretary was responding to the planned screening of ‘No Fire Zone’, the third installment of the so-called documentary on ‘Sri Lanka Killing Fields’ series produced by Channel-4 News in the British parliament on Wednesday (27) alleging war crimes, with the focus on the alleged execution of LTTE leader Prabhakaran’s son by the Sri Lankan army. The war veteran pointed out that the much touted screening was taking place at an event organized by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
Prolonged armed conflict in Sri Lanka has created higher rates of mental ailments among the combatants and a significant number of veterans have been diagnosed with complex form of PTSD. The veterans with malignant form of anxiety have a wider range of clinical symptomatology with sever psychosocial impairments. These veterans would fit in to the diagnostic category of DESNOS (Disorders of extreme stress not otherwise specified). or Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) that was described by Dr. Judith Herman in 1992. According to Herman (1992) Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a psychological injury... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had said that Tamil Nadu will not host the 20th Asian Athletics meet because the Central govt had not asked Sri Lanka to skip the event. According to her, the participation of Sri Lankan athletes will hurt peoples sentiments in Tamil Nadu and had referred to the war in Sri Lanka. It is an open secret that Tamil Nadu trained, funded and 'hosted' LTTE terrorists. It was a safe haven for them. She turned a blind eye to the crimes committed by the LTTE in Sri Lanka for three decades. Jayalalithaa who is shedding crocodile tears for Sri Lankan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
With the next sessions of the UN Human Rights Council fast approaching, there is much action by forces targeting Sri Lanka, with a rapid regurgitating of earlier charges against the country, by groups with a clear agenda of anti-Sri Lanka action. Amidst a lot of the old hat of unverified and unsubstantiated charged being leveled against those who defeated the LTTE in 2009, being given new tinsel dressings of authenticity, there are also new areas of attack that have emerged in the past few days. One such diversionary attack was the British media “revelation†about alleged arms... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/02/13)
“The boy in the Bunker – Faked Photo or real?†that appeared in Lankaweb, dated February 20th, 2013, sent in by Gamvaesiya, Canada, had many valid points. The one that was the most profound and which caught the writer’s eye is the first image: there is a picture of a hand, with a finger pointing towards a (purportedly) bullet wound on a child’s chest. Furthermore, when one compares Figure 1 with Figure 2, it is difficult to believe that is the same individual who appears in the two pictures: one has an elongated face while the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/02/13)
Benjamin Dix is the chief protagonist in promoting presumed wrongs committed by the armed forces of Sri Lanka and emerges every time there an international event using documentaries and films meant to devalue Sri Lanka’s military achievement – we have become accustomed to these theatrics just as we are well aware that the lady in charge of human rights impatiently awaits an incident to take place to issue a deregulatory statement against Sri Lanka. Dix spoke in 2012 as guest speaker on “photographic journalism†at the Institute of Art and Ideas,http://iai.tv/video/the-killing-fields and based on this presentation some... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/02/13)
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay should keep her hands off the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, the Golden Key Depositors Association charged, in a letter addressed to Ms Navy Pillay. The Association regretted that she has poked her nose repeatedly into the internal affairs of Sri Lanka for the past two years, the letter stated, adding that depositors had been “victimized in the South Asian region’s highest valued, white-collar criminal fraud.†The letter also said: “Before showing your concern over the impeachment of Sri Lanka’s former Chief... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/02/13)
21 February 2013 Mr. Callum Macrae Director of the video “No Fire Zone†to get at Sri Lanka Channel 4, Westminister, London SW1P 2TX, England Dear Callum: Do you know what?  When I saw the frozen Ottawa River’s quays being cut to help the spring thaw, I told myself, “Ha…Haa… very soon we will be into Channel 4’s silly season with lies and damn lies about Sri Lankaâ€ÂÂÂ. So we have it with your “No Fire Zoneâ€ÂÂÂ, as sure as the Monarch butterflies would land... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/02/13)
The report dated 12 February that appeared in the local media that India ‘is making progress in its engagement with Sri Lanka to ensure "a life of peace, dignity and equality" for the Tamil minority’. And, it is apparently a statement made by the President of India. Most Sri Lankans, 75% of whom belong to the Sinhala majority community, whereas the Tamils that everyone in India seems to be having sleepless nights about total a meagre 4% of the population, according to the latest census, should thank His Excellency for his concern about the citizens of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/02/13)
No nation with a clear majority in terms of race, religion and a history that boasts over 2600 years of civilization held together by Sinhalese Buddhist Kings would need to appeal to the world to understand why they are beginning to feel alienated.  That is the predicament that has befallen the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. The debate with Mr. Hameed Abdul Karim is being pursued to showcase that though Muslims and Sinhalese had been living in peace it has to be acknowledged that it is a new wave of incursions taking place upon the Buddhist space and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/02/13)
ஜெனீவாவில௠நடகà¯ÂÂÂகவà¯ÂÂÂளà¯ÂÂÂள à®ÂÂÂநா மனித உரிமைகள௠கவà¯ÂÂÂனà¯ÂÂÂசில௠கூடà¯ÂÂÂடதொடரைஓடà¯ÂÂÂடி இலஙà¯ÂÂÂகைஅரசà¯ÂÂÂகà¯ÂÂÂக௠எதிரான காய௠நகரà¯ÂÂÂதà¯ÂÂÂதலà¯ÂÂÂகளில௠தமிழர௠தரபà¯ÂÂÂபà¯ÂÂÂகள௠ஈடà¯ÂÂÂபடà¯ÂÂÂடà¯ÂÂÂளà¯ÂÂÂளளன. அதன௠வெளிபà¯ÂÂÂபாடாக ஜெனீவா à®ÂÂÂ.நா மனித உரிமைச௠சபையில௠இமà¯ÂÂÂà®®à¯ÂÂÂறைசிறிலஙà¯ÂÂÂகா தொடரà¯ÂÂÂபில௠à®ÂÂÂழ௠உப மாநாடà¯ÂÂÂகள௠இடமà¯ÂÂÂபெற இரà¯ÂÂÂபà¯ÂÂÂபதாக தெரியவரà¯ÂÂÂகினà¯ÂÂÂறதà¯ÂÂÂ. நாடà¯ÂÂÂகடநà¯ÂÂÂத தமிழீழ அரசாஙà¯ÂÂÂகம௠உடà¯ÂÂÂபட பல தமிழர௠அமைபà¯ÂÂÂபà¯ÂÂÂகளà¯ÂÂÂம௠பல சரà¯ÂÂÂவதேச மனித உரிமைநிறà¯ÂÂÂவனஙà¯ÂÂÂகளà¯ÂÂÂம௠இநà¯ÂÂÂத உபமாநாடà¯ÂÂÂகளைà®ÂÂÂà®±à¯ÂÂÂபாட௠செயà¯ÂÂÂதà¯ÂÂÂளà¯ÂÂÂளதாக தெரிவிகà¯ÂÂÂகபà¯ÂÂÂபடà¯ÂÂÂகினà¯ÂÂÂறதà¯ÂÂÂ. இமà¯ÂÂÂà®®à¯ÂÂÂறையà¯ÂÂÂம௠இலஙà¯ÂÂÂகை தொடரà¯ÂÂÂபில௠அமெரிகà¯ÂÂÂகா இனà¯ÂÂÂனà¯ÂÂÂமொர௠பிரேரணையொனà¯ÂÂÂறினைசமரà¯ÂÂÂபà¯ÂÂÂபிகà¯ÂÂÂகவà¯ÂÂÂளà¯ÂÂÂளதாக தெரிவிகà¯ÂÂÂகபà¯ÂÂÂபடà¯ÂÂÂடà¯ÂÂÂளà¯ÂÂÂளமையானத௠தமிழர௠தரபà¯ÂÂÂபà¯ÂÂÂகளைமேலà¯ÂÂÂம௠உறà¯ÂÂÂசாகபà¯ÂÂÂபடà¯ÂÂÂதà¯ÂÂÂதியà¯ÂÂÂளà¯ÂÂÂளதà¯ÂÂÂ. அதேபோனà¯ÂÂÂற௠கடநà¯ÂÂÂத ஆணà¯ÂÂÂட௠இலஙà¯ÂÂÂகைஅரசà¯ÂÂÂகà¯ÂÂÂக௠எதிராக செயறà¯ÂÂÂபடà¯ÂÂÂடà¯ÂÂÂவரà¯ÂÂÂம௠பà¯ÂÂÂலமà¯ÂÂÂபெயர௠தமிழர௠தரபà¯ÂÂÂபà¯ÂÂÂகளà¯ÂÂÂகà¯ÂÂÂக௠கைகொடà¯ÂÂÂதà¯ÂÂÂத Channel 4 தொலைகாடà¯ÂÂÂசி ஆவண படஙà¯ÂÂÂகள௠போனà¯ÂÂÂற௠இமà¯ÂÂÂà®®à¯ÂÂÂறையà¯ÂÂÂம௠"No Fire Zone" எனபà¯ÂÂÂபடà¯ÂÂÂம௠90 நிமிட திரைபà¯ÂÂÂபடம௠வெளியாகவà¯ÂÂÂளà¯ÂÂÂளதà¯ÂÂÂ. இநà¯ÂÂÂத திரைபà¯ÂÂÂபடம௠அடà¯ÂÂÂதà¯ÂÂÂத மாதம௠ஜெனீவாவில௠நடகà¯ÂÂÂகவà¯ÂÂÂளà¯ÂÂÂள à®ÂÂÂ.நா மனித உரிமைகளà¯ÂÂÂ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/02/13)
HRH the Prince of Wales, President of the British Asian Trust, announced the new appointments to the British Asian Trust’s Advisory Councils, at the 5th anniversary dinner of the Trust, held at Windsor Castle on Monday 11th February.  Mr Mukesh Ambani - Managing Director and Chairman of Reliance Industries, was appointed to head the Trust’s India Advisory Council, and Dr. Chris Nonis, Chairman of the Mackwoods Group and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK was appointed to head the Trust’s Sri Lanka Advisory Council. They join Tom Singh, OBE, founder of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/02/13)
On Sunday, 11 March 2012, Callum Macrae wrote that new footage from the final days of the war in Sri Lanka shows that a child, Prabhakaran's son, had been summarily executed by the armed forces. This was featured in the 2012 Channel-4 TV allegations of war crimes by the Lankan armed forces. (Many such pictures have been assembled by Tamil activist organizations at http://www.warwithoutwitness.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=37:10th-may-2009&Itemid=54)  The picture published one year ago (reproduced in Fig. 1), and the report may be seen in http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sri-lanka-a-child-is-summarily-executed-7555062.html  Almost one year later, in the run-up... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/02/13)
It is ‘UN-Human Rights’ time, and Sri Lanka’s friend from Channel 4 , Mr. Callum Macray, is preparing himself for another fifteen minutes of fame, courtesy the expatriate terrorists from Sri Lanka. Mr. Macray, according to his own Wikipedia description, is an award-winning film maker, writer and journalist currently with Outsider Television, which he had co-founded with Alex Sutherland in 1993. Mr. Macray’s journalistic ‘vision’ of Sri Lanka changed the day that Channel 4 was ordered out of Sri Lanka for fabricating their coverage in favor of the terrorists. Then onwards, any opportunity to launch a media-attack... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/02/13)
- Hitler and Prabakaran had similar endings. - Hitler got his associates to kill their children during the last hours to avoid capture - Capture or surrender were considered shameful by both Hitler and Prabakaran  Magda Goebbels wife of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, out of loyalty towards the cause and to avoid humiliation poisoned six of her children to death. It was eerily similar to the predicament the LTTE leader was in. Although the battle strategies were different, the Sri Lankan army was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/02/13)
My comments: I’m appalled with the headline of this article. It labels the democratically elected Sri Lankan government: ‘A BRUTAL REGIME’. The unforgivable crime the Sri Lankan government committed was the wiping out of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist organization’s terrorism in Sri Lanka. These terrorists killed thousands of innocent civilians; snatched children and used them as solders; used civilians as human-shields, killed Rajiv Gandhi and President Premadasa and wiped out almost all, mainly educated, Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka. This is what Alistair... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/02/13)
Suddenly, the LTTE ‘sleepers’ in the West have become active and started influencing the mainstream media to publish articles, TV documentaries, etc. attacking the Sri Lankan government. The purpose of this is to stop the British government attending the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka and to influence the UN Human rights meetings in Geneva, due to start soon. They are digging out photographs and video clips, mainly taken by the LTTE carders during the conflict, and try to frame the Sri Lankan army for atrocities against the Tamil civilians. Trying to do this they hoodwink the liberal-minded... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/02/13)
The Channel 4 documentary featuring pictures of the alleged coldblooded killing of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabakaran’s 12-year-old son has been dismissed by Sri Lanka as “lies, half truths and numerous forms of speculation.†The documentary titled ‘No War Zone-The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka’ is to be aired in Geneva at the next session of the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in March. The pictures have once again raised questions about the conduct of the Sri Lankan armed forces during the final stages of the operation against Tamil Tigers and dealt another blow to the government’s attempts to... -Full Story- (thehindu.com - 19/02/13)
Today and yesterday in the UK there were damning articles in the Independent newspaper in the UK regarding Sri Lanka one actually with pictures prabhakarans son after being extajudicially killed. I dont know if these are all real or not but it is creating a very dire image of sri lanka. Channel 4 UK meanwhile is readying to show a TV program of the same in the near future and is attacking sri lanka as usual.  The problem is these also get reproduced by all other newspapers worldwide and this is already the case. In addition very... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said he had seen the pictures and the report on the alleged coldblooded killing of LTTE chief V. Prabakaran’s minor son by the Sri Lankan Army but could not vouch for their authenticity. Mr. Khurshid was asked about the government’s response to the op-ed in The Hindu’s Tuesday edition based on a British documentary featuring the pictures of the killing of Prabakaran’s 12-year-old son, Balachandran. Sri Lanka has dismissed the report as “lies, half-truths and numerous forms of speculation†and suggested such reports make a comeback around this time of the... -Full Story- (thehindu.com - 19/02/13)
The terrorist Front Organisations in the USA collected large sums of money estimated at US$300 millions annually, from the expatriate Tamils living in foreign countries. Since the terrorists were eliminated the  bulk of the money collected for terrorism is in the hands of the Tamil Terrorist Front Organisations in USA. These organisations continue to collect these funds. It is with this money that the Tamil Terrorist Front Organisations continue to finance  their campaign against Sri Lanka with the hope of breaking away North and East of Sri Lanka for a Tamil Eelam State either by influencing the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
 More and more we run through the instances of Tamil Nadu politicians rising furiously against Sri Lanka it always appears close to critical political decisions at both local and international levels. This certainly does raise an eyebrow and makes us to wonder whether these are all part of a gameplan to promote the inference that the Tamil Nadu people hate us in Sri Lanka and now we believe this to be just a show. So we are beginning to wonder who actually gains by promoting this ill-will because Tamil Nadu politicians do not have a very good... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
An array of rich nations and the Tamil terrorists operating from beyond Sri Lanka’s shores, who financed the entire military operation against the sovereign nation of Sri Lanka, are all out to denigrate the country at every conceivable opportunity and at every international forum. Any amount of facts will not deter them to accept what really happened – Sri Lanka’s armed forces destroyed a ruthless bunch of terrorists an ushered in peace after 30 long years – and all that these individuals and groups see is the ‘killing of innocent Tamil civilians, genocide of Tamils and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
February 20th 2013 The Tamil National Alliance seems reminiscent of the camel who pleaded with his master to stick its head in the tent during a storm and eventually gained control of its entirety to push out its master. Sounds like the price the Government of Sri Lanka is in the process of paying considering who the TNA really are and none but another pseudo representation of the now defunct and hopefully never to re- emerge Tamil Tigers, the LTTE. Given the common global as well as national cognizance that this group was predominantly supportive of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
18 February 2013 Editor, Embassy, Ottawa Dear Editor: Minister Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his effort to correct Scott Taylor’s article “Too timid on terrorâ€ÂÂÂ, which he feels is simply not an accurate reflection of Canada’s efforts to curb global terrorism, missed a big chunk of the real story. This is silly, as Minister Obhrai knows that Canada has difficulty to accept that Sri Lanka is the only country to eliminate the most ruthless terrorists in the world, the Tamil Tigers,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
After enjoying a lavish two years in the comforts of Paris, crest fallen Dr.Dayan Jayathilake is back in his 13A mood. All his good work at Geneva 2009 has been bungled by those at the Ministry of Foreign affairs, he lamented, with yet another INGO hitman Sanjana Hatthotuwa of west funded GV fame (Interview/YaTv) under the auspices of Pakisothi’s Policy Alternative gobbledygook. In his latest interview with Sanjana he has coined a new terminology to address Sri Lanka to that of a “Garrison Stateâ€ÂÂÂ. Isn’t this a reference to the state of affairs in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
With the guidance of Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, a project to establish Harmony Centres in the North and in all universities and schools have been embarked upon by Mr. Nandana Wijesinghe (Director) of the Office of the Director of Social Development Affairs (Cell 777 806 240), Presidential Secretariat, together with the University Grants Commission, led by Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama (Chairperson) and Prof. Ranjith Senaratne (Vice-Chairperson), and other resource persons. Mr. Nandana Wijesinghe initiated this project and has many years' experience in promoting ethnic harmony among the youth through the Sisu Diriya National Program (National Program for Promoting Ethnic... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
All three pro - LTTE factions have started lobbying ahead of the UNHCR sessions in Geneva in March, international terrorism expert Prof Dr Rohan Gunaratna told the Daily News yesterday. Prof Dr Gunaratna said the three factions are the Tamil Eelam People's Assembly led by Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyawan in Norway, the Global Tamil Forum led by Father S J Emmanuel in London and the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam led by V Rudrakumaran in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
February 19, 2013, 9:24 pm Inquiries into Sri Lanka’s involvement in the US extraordinary rendition programme have revealed that the then US President George W. Bush personally intervened in 2003 to have a wanted foreign al-Qaeda suspect extradited from Sri Lanka to an unknown destination. Highly placed sources told The Island that only the then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, Defence Minister Tilak Marapone,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
The Attorney General yesterday charged 13 suspects, including Colombo district MP Duminda Silva, in connection with the assassination of former Colombo district MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others. When the case was called before Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna de Alwis yesterday, the Attorney General assisted by the CID filed charges against the 13 suspects. Six other suspects remanded in connection with the murder of Premachandra were discharged from the proceedings. President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya yesterday submitted to court that his client MP Duminda Silva will be produced on the next court date.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
Sunday 10 February 2013, CNN and other news agencies reported that Saudi authorities arrested tens of women and five children after a protest occurred in Riyadh and Buraida. The women were demanding the release of relatives held as political prisoners for years without access to lawyers or trial, their charges were criticizing or opposing the Saudi regime. The arrest of women and children is a disgraceful act in which the regime attempts to silence any opposing voice against his authoritarian rule and for his tight grip on authority. According to Amnesty International, 28 women and children were... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/02/13)
In several research papers submitted Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe and his team have revealed along with fossilised ancient diatoms as reported earlier several living diatoms or algae were also discovered in the sterile inside of a meteorite that fell in the village called Rakkinda near Mahiyangana in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka. The scientists added that the blue rain and black rain collected in Vavuniya and Meegahapitiya near Mahiyangana had similar structures of diatoms of the same colour present in the live diatoms found in the Rakkinda meteorite. Wickramasinghe provided this correspondent with all scanned... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/02/13)
There are a few ways of cooking such as baking, roasting, broiling and grilling, frying, boiling, simmering, and steaming. Baking is a food method of cooking food by using prolonged dry heat acting by convection, rather than by thermal radiation, normally in an oven, the most common baked item is bread but many other types of foods are baked. Heat is gradually transferred "from the surface of cakes, cookies and breads to their centre. As heat travels through it transforms batters and dough into baked goods with a firm dry crust and a softer centre".... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/02/13)
At a recent meeting the Australian Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, delivered a blunt message to his diplomats : "We are running a foreign policy for a nation-state; not for a non-governmental organisation." (The Australian --7/2/2013, p.12.) This is an out-and-out rejection of I/NGOs as overseers or interventionists in the domestic affairs of nations. This is a truism that neither nation-states, nor nation builders recovering from devastating wars can ignore. This also questions the validity of I/NGOs to pass judgments -- most of which are selective, ill-informed and partisan -- on the internal affairs of nations. Their... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
Reconciliation is defined as:  to  re establish cordial relation ship. And acceptance is defined as: the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true. Hence to talk about reconciliation as re establishing cordial relations is not what is required after 30 years of terrorism. The pre-existing relation between the Tamils and the Sinhala had not been cordial because it was that which had gone sour for the Tamil youths to consent to India  to accept terrorism India proposed to setup a Tamil Homeland. But now with the dawn of a new era of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
The media reported on 16 February that thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are on a hunger strike in Jaffna demanding that they be given the land that the military occupies. The clamour should be dismissed outright. The armed forces of Sri Lanka are there to ensure the security of the country as directed by the Minister of Defence. The men and women in uniform will be stationed in any part of the country in whatever strengths that the defence establishment considers necessary. The LTTE – the concept of kotiyas was almost considered somewhat of joke... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
15 January 2013 Hon. Jason Kenney, PC., MP, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration & Multiculturalism House of Commons, Ottawa Dear Jason: I recall Martin Luther King Jr., saying: “We shall have to repent in this generation not so much for the evil deeds of the wicked people but for the appalling silence of the good people.â€Â I consider myself as one “of the good people†guarding a Mother, my Mother Lanka from the baseball bat bludgeoning Canadian parliamentarians, Conservatives, Liberals and NDP alike, and as such I... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
It is a fact that many garment factories are closing today. This is attributed to the denial of the GSP Plus concessions. A number of foreign investors had even taken local bank loans and have bolted taking profits away. - It was a decade ago that Kabool of Pakistan vanished overnight with unpaid bank loans, unpaid EPF contributions and unpaid salaries. It is sad that we do not have the ability to learn from earlier mistakes. In a case personally known to me an entrepreneur exporting pottery and coir items has gone bust, has had to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
NIE reports, as quoted by the local media on 15 February, that a Tamil Nadu group, going by the name Hindu Makkal Katchi, has petitioned the Madras High Court for the closure of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka. For once, the large majority of peace-loving Sri Lankans have got something on which they can agree with the noise makers in Tamil Nadu and a demand that they would wholeheartedly support. India was never a friend of Sri Lanka, except in the bygone days of Emperor Asoka and those of his ilk many moons ago.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra's Maname - its literary worth as a play has been reduced to smitherings by Hemanta Warnakulasuriya in his two articles in the Island. (5/12/12 &26/11/12) He has said that Maname is a barbarous play that is of no value. He even says that It is vulgar. He has even gone to the extent of asking as to whether there is a single good line in Maname. In his words , Maname "consists merely of shallow platitudes turned into doggerel verse. He even says that there is extreme crudity of characters. He opines that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
Sunday, 10 February 2013 00:00 Ancient carving in Sri Lanka `Clinical dissection’ of public awareness of language  Sakkara deiyyo was a god king particularly sensitive to the iniquities of asinine individual on the Earth. His throne, made of precious stone (Sailasana) heated up whenever things turned sour. But Lanka became really foul. Sakraya couldn’t handle it. The Inter-celestial Monetary Fund (IMF) demanded the privatization of Sakraya’s office, opening the heavens to free markets and removing all `handouts’ to the poor. The Sailasana, lacking even a thermostat... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
16 February, 2013, Colombo: Pakistan-Sri Lanka first Joint seminar on “Political and Diplomatic Challenges Faced by Nations During and After Conflict Confined to Borders†was co-hosted by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies with the High Commission for Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sri Lanka on the 11thof February 2013 from 9.30am to 4.30pm at the Kadirgamar Institute. The seminar brought together eminent personalities from both countries to deliberate on the ramifications of conflicts on nations. The seminar was attended by diplomatic corps, government officials, foreign dignitaries, representatives of international organizations, academics,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/02/13)
This exclusive documentary by Russian TV station, Rossiya 24, is a “must watch†as it gives a very good insight on the events that have been taking place in Syria since 2011. It shows how both the Syrian Army and the Syria people are defending their country Syria from the unimaginable crimes committed by extremist terrorists who operate with massive international media, military, intelligence, and financial support, a situation that no one would ever want to be in.... -Full Story- (silviacattori.net - 16/02/13)
United Nations and the United Nations Human Rights Commission are on a collision course. The UN Charter on members has been violated by the UNHRC while it selectively targets certain member states. This must lead to the dissolution of the UNHRC as it happened in 2006. In 2006, the UN General Assembly found that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), the predecessor of the UNHRC, has been discriminatory towards some states. It resulted in the dissolution of the UNCHR and the formation of the UNHRC. Unfortunately the UNHRC has committed the same... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/02/13)
Many groups and individuals have expressed their views on the Halal Certification issue, which as pointed out my some, correctly or incorrectly, would lead to unwanted divisions. Two ministers of the government, as reported in the media on 14 February, had given their views or indicated the proposed actions with regard to Halal Certification. If one looks at the Sinhala ethnic group or those that profess Buddhism as their religion, the large majority is docile, laissez-faire and peace-loving. Most of the Sinhala people have been ready to accommodate foreigners – people of other faiths and ethnicities... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/02/13)
While it has been long suspected that the Canadian Authorities at times showed sympathies to the Tamil Tiger Organization in the past where Prime Ministers and Cabinet Ministers supped and danced with LTTE fronting Organizations while supporting and tolerating some of their charities~ a conclusion drawn by many analysts which does not seem to be far wrong as a double standard, the present Minister of Immigration Mr.Jason Kenny has thrown more light on the issue by recent statements he has made to the media that as part of the ruling Conservatieves in Canada they... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/02/13)
The month of January trains to an auspicious occasion for Tamils by customary practice followed for centuries: The Tamil New Year falls on the first of January (Tamil), the day was used by Tamils to have rice pongal which, is thanks giving day to the “sun godâ€ÂÂÂ. The Para-beliefs associated with the month of January are only superficial. E.g. marriages are conducted in January, and do not exclude other months anyway. There are other months which Hindus celebrate and are noted as holy months. Hindus fast on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/02/13)
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or North Korea remained unshaken by the many warnings and threats issued by the United States and the United Nations about its nuclear tests, as it was about its recent rocket testing and launching a communications satellite space. It went further by grabbing the headlines on February 12, when President Obama made his State of the Union Address to Congress, by announcing its latest successful nuclear test, which is believed to be a smaller bomb, and shows the success of its nuclear programme. Not unexpectedly, the UN Security Council passed a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/02/13)
The Court of Inquiry investigating into the controversial Channel 4 claims, concluded yesterday that the instances of shelling referred to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report were not caused by the Sri Lankan Army. The Court of Inquiry appointed by Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya completed its inquiry concerning the first part of their investigation with regard to the allegations of excessive civilian casualties, as a result of alleged heavy shelling. Army spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya in a press... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/02/13)
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, DC is organizing a special flight to arrive at the new Mattala International Airport during the Inauguration Ceremony on March 18, 2013. We invite all of you to join this group flight and be part of this monumental event in Sri Lanka's aviation history. Travelers departing from the United States can reach Dubai from any of the destinations in which Emirates operates in the USA (Washington DC, New York, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle). They will depart the United States on March... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/02/13)
Friday meteorite which struck Chelyabinsk carried a mass of around 40 tonnes, possibly making it the largest recorded object to hit the Earth since Tunguska. It was around 15 meters across when it entered the atmosphere, according to one expert. It was a very, very, powerful event, astronomer at the University of Ontario, Margaret Campbell-Brown, told Nature.com.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 15/02/13)
Russian scientists are investigating the meteorite explosion in the Urals region, which injured nearly 1200 people on Friday. They explained the nature of the celestial body that the state space agency had failed to track down on time.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 15/02/13)
Around 1200 people have sought medical attention in Chelyabinsk alone because of the disaster, the regions governor Mikhail Yurevich told RIA Novosti. Over 110 of them have been hospitalized and two of them are in heavy condition. Among the injured there are 159 children, Emergency ministry reported. A 52-year-old woman who suffered spinal fracture will be transported to Moscow for treatment.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 15/02/13)
Summary. It is likely that the war crimes accusation of civilian killings will come up during Human Rights Council Meeting in March. It is seen that the pro LTTE website Tamil Net has in its archives a complete record of civilian “killings†during the war. It is noted that the maximum number of civilian deaths reported by the TamilNet from January to May 2009 is 7398. This figure tallies with the figure of 6858 in the special Census of deaths due to non natural causes in the Northern Province during the last stages of the war. The... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/02/13)
A country that remains the ONLY country that has annihilated the scrooge of terrorism should be feeling proud of the achievement and not have to send emissaries to go begging for support against Resolutions. What kind of victory is this to be made to feel sorry for eliminating terrorists? Who is advocating such a policy when it is we who should be taking our success story and proudly revealing to the world how we eliminated a terrorist movement that ruined our country for 3 decades especially when the nations rallying round Resolutions against Sri Lanka are incapable... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/02/13)
By, Dr. Nishan Wijesinha (General Consultant), Mirihana. In my previous article which was “Diabetics and the way to be rid off it†Posted on February 4th, 2013; it explained the need for the local manufacture of “Benfotiamineâ€ÂÂÂ. Here I will explain the need to manufacture locally what is known as “Anthocyaninsâ€ÂÂÂ. Anthocyanins, are a large water-soluble pigment group found in Baobab fruits fibers known as monkey bread. These pigments give brilliant color ranging from scarlet pink to absolute red. They consist of a backbone known as anthocyanidin which is bound to one of three sugars: arabinose, glucose, or galactose. In... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/02/13)
Professor Godfrey Louis Pro Vice Chancellor of the Cochin University of Science and Technology of Kerala, India hailed the discovery of life in the Polonnaruwa meteorite as a major development in the search for extraterrestrial life. Professor Louis is the pioneer scientist who drew the attention of the whole world to the strange phenomenon of the Kerala red rain and in the following email interview with this correspondent flatly rejected the opinion expressed in the state owned press in Sri Lanka that the coloured rain experienced in the island was the result of the spores of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/02/13)
Spare me any more reverential coverage about Pope Benedict XVI and his decision to give up his office. On a personal level, I wish him well. At the age of eighty-five and increasingly infirm, he surely deserves a rest. But as far as his record goes, he can’t leave office a moment too soon. His lengthy tenure at the Vatican, which included more than twenty years as the Catholic Church’s chief theological enforcer before he became Pope, in 2005, has been little short of disastrous. By setting its face against the modern world in general, and... -Full Story- (newyorker.com - 14/02/13)
I’m satisfied that Australia should attend and should encourage other Commonwealth countries to attend. The Sri Lankan government is not perfect but it is making inroads into the challenges facing the country and should be encouraged to continue to do so,†she said during an interview with ABC after leading a delegation to Sri Lanka early this month. “As a result of our visit we are satisfied that the policy positions that we have taken are the correct ones at this time. It was not our job to visit Sri Lanka to take sides between the Sinhalese and the Tamils,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/02/13)
President Barack Obama 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr.President, I congratulate you on your re-election.  I am Sri Lankan by birth. Therefore, your foreign policies affecting Sri Lanka interest me. I entreat you to please bear with me and read through the following matters I am bringing to your attention and pray you for action. Mr.President, your time is precious therefore I will be as brief as possible . It is about Sri Lanka an Island,  slightly larger than the State of West Virginia, with a population  of about 20.4 million with the government of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/02/13)
Feb.14th., 2013 When The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mme. Navi Pillay demands "an independent and credible" international investigation into alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, She seems to be making a mockery of a situation she seems to have no first hand knowledge about nor any tangible evidence to strengthen her claim which seems steeped in bias towards the Tamil Community she belongs to while also quite forgetting her South African roots, a nation which was once a hotbed of racism.She has neither privy nor carte blance simply because of her... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/02/13)
10 February 2013 Chris Alexander, Conservative MP for Ajax-Pickering, Ontario House of Commons, Ottawa Dear Chris: Wow!...Wow!!…Wow!!!...Chris, hold your horses, I am afraid you just crossed the line where angels fear to tread. And I did not know that you were part of the Conservative anti-Sri Lanka bashing Symphony that bashes my Mother Lanka unfairly- the others being Stephen Harper, John Baird, Jason Kenney, Patrick Brown, Paul Calandra, to name a few. But do you know Chris, all you Sri Lanka-Bashing Conservatives cannot hold a note during your... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/02/13)
Thank you Julie for taking the time and the effort to visit Sri Lanka to understand the ground realities.Great to see that the Liberals have got off the& (youtube.com - 13/02/13)
Education as a training in skills useful in adult life is widely accepted as a prime reason for schooling the young. Thus, the study of arithmetic and the aquistion of basic literary abilities among schoolchildren are seen as preparations for the successful accomplishment of duties and tasks that all adults must face. However, there is another - some would say a more important – aspect of education that is ignored in this time-honoured approach. The basic thrust of education - of the young and the old alike - ought to be cognitive training - which is to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/02/13)
The setting, Trincomalee was symbolic. Around 10 years ago, a fisherman had pointed out to me a leveled strip of Sampur where he said the TNA had declared as the future Parliament of Tamil Eelam. It was here in the LTTE’s Pongu Tamil celebration that Catholic priests were pictured provocatively marking out the future boundaries of Tamil Eelam. President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation at the 65th Independence anniversary celebrations held in Trincomalee. Picture by Sudath Silva It was of this same Trincomalee that I had heard in a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/02/13)
The statement by Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary of Defence of Sri Lanka, that the Sri Lankan government will not compromise when it comes to providing security to the nation should send a clear message to all the foreign governments, bogus human rights propaganda purveyors and the LTTE leadership in the affluent West, which keep on demanding demilitarisation of the North or a reduction of the armed forces in the Northern regions of Sri Lanka. As the Defence Secretary had quite rightly pointed out it was only the military wing of the LTTE, which was based in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/02/13)
Let’s put things in perspective. Whatever Resolutions are brought, whoever votes against Sri Lanka, whatever embargoes are imposed, Sri Lanka will continue to rally round its valiant Armed Forces because they remain the only military to eliminate a terrorist movement. No country can diminish this achievement and we stand proud of our military no matter what. No Indian Government is, has ever been or will be bothered to win the popularity contest of the Sri Lankan people. India has analyzed to perfection how the political system in Sri Lanka operates. Thus, what the people of Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/02/13)
Hon. Minister Jason Kenney, P.C. M.P. Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism House of Commons Ottawa, ON Honourable Minister Kenney, I just came across the article in Tamil News Network of your recent meeting with the Tamil groups in Markham Ontario. I was able to see the video in which you are televised saying to them about your disapproval of the Sri Lankan government, after meeting with all the said names who were mentioned by the Tamils to meet. http://www.tamilnewsnetwork.com/2013/02/03/canadian-minister-fails-to-address-genocide-annihilation-of-tamil-territory/ In the article it is said that you met with the Eazham Tamils, which in it self proves their goal... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/02/13)
Since completion of the Stand-by-Arrangement successfully with the IMF in July 2012, the Sri Lankan authorities and the IMF have been engaging in a dialogue on the future relationship between Sri Lanka and the Fund. In the meantime, Sri Lanka has moved to a more market oriented exchange rate determination regime and the country's reserves have increased to a much higher level when compared to the position at the beginning of the Stand-By Arrangement. In fact, Sri Lanka's external reserves have now reached a level of approximately US$ 7 billion, from just over US$ 1 billion... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/02/13)
Over the last decade Russia’s Central Bank acquired 570 metric tonnes of gold. The amount is almost triple the weight of the American Statue of Liberty and makes Russia the world’s biggest buyer of gold. The amount is a qurter more than runner-up China, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Countries like Russia and China use such stockpiles as an economic buffer against another wave of economic crisis or US dollar devaluation, as both remain weary of the US Federal Reserve’s stability and prefer to edge their bets on gold.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 12/02/13)
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday announced it would not to pursue a new funding programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the IMF refused to accept conditions put forward by the government. A statement by Sri Lanka’s central bank said that the Sri Lankan authorities had expressed their interest in a future IMF program only if such program entailed support to finance the budget within the announced fiscal consolidation process by which the government has already committed to bring down the fiscal deficit to 5.8 per cent of the GDP in 2013 and below 5 per cent... -Full Story- (gulftoday.ae - 12/02/13)
Hon. Jason Kenney Minister of Citizenship, Immigration & Multiculturalism Ottawa, Ontario Dear Sir: Further to my correspondence regarding your meeting on January 26th with only the Tamils in Markham, Ontario, my last letter to you was on Feb.4, 2013 for which I have not received a reply to date. I have just read a report on your meeting on the Tamil News Network dated February 3,2013. I had asked if you had a video of that meeting to forward it but now I am sending you the link to the TNN report which has a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/02/13)
Recently a Bangladeshi judicial tribunal sentenced life imprisonment to Abdul Qader Mullah, a leader of Jamat-e-Islami, for his role during the independence war against Pakistan in 1971. According to the media reports, somewhere in 2010, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the process of trying those accused of committing crimes against humanity during the war, under an amended 1973 law. Last month, the tribunal sentenced another member of Jamat-e-Islami Abul Kalam Azad to death in the first war-crimes trial verdict. The hi-ups of Jamat-e-Islami say that all these charges are politically motivated because Jamat-e-Islami... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/02/13)
With the rapid spread of Buddhism in the western United States, boosted by increased immigration from Asia, Americans have begun to apply Buddhist principles to solve their everyday problems. MOORHEAD  With the rapid spread of Buddhism in the western United States, boosted by increased immigration from Asia, Americans have begun to apply Buddhist principles to solve their everyday problems. Although Buddhism has two major sects  Theravada and Mahayana  both agree on the crux of Buddhist philosophy based on the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path and the associated 12-factor... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/02/13)
According to Gorbachev, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster has a lot to do in the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. He revealed this in a book he wrote. Previously his Glasnost program was blamed in most part for the fall. But the veteran explains how people demanded more transparency from the government following the disaster which forced the government to come up with the Glasnost program. Obviously economic woes and inevitable change took over the momentum but the trigger could well be the Chernobyl (in the Republic of Ukraine) disaster in April 1986. It highlighted... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/02/13)
A second resolution is being brought against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions next month because the US remains dissatisfied with the scale of progress and the measured implementation of the LLRC. This is coming from a country that carries out foreign invasions/interventions and does not wait for any UN approval (but gets it anyway) to bomb indiscriminately, violate Geneva conventions, and cares not a penny for the IDPs or refugees the US has displaced and doesn’t appear to receive any deadlines or timelines to address the appalling conditions it has left the countries the US and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/02/13)
6 February 2013 Hon. Jason Kenney, P.C., MP Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism House of Commons, Ottawa Dear Minister: I just finished reading the TNN (Tamil News Network) news item – Canadian minister fails to address genocide, annihilation of Tamil territory. Whoever these Tamils are who operate this TNN starts this news item with two brazen lies. It is obvious that these Tamil reporters were at the ‘Tamil Only’ media Round Table meeting in Markham which was addressed by you. I wasn’t there as I... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/02/13)
Julian Assange addressed US officials on a popular TV channel, urging them to disclose to WikiLeaks the secret instructions on how decisions on eliminating American citizens using drones are being taken. Source confidentiality guaranteed. ÂÂÂÂIn the first appearance in a long time by Julian Assange on a major American TV channel, the founder of WikiLeaks lashed out at the re-elected President Barack Obama and his administration, which gave the go-ahead to elimination of the American citizens abroad using military Unmanned Automatic Vehicles (UAVs).... -Full Story- (rt.com - 10/02/13)
There is violation of human rights, war crimes, unaccounted number of civilian deaths by the Wars against terrorism carried out by the Armed Forces of the USA and the Member States of the International Community. There are tribal was in Africa, armed conflict in the countries of the Middle East where summary killings have taken place. There is violations of the human rights of low caste Indians, the aborigines of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and America. But, the State Department of USA, the UN Human Rights Commission, the Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International or the International Crisis... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/02/13)
Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has called on Sri Lankans living abroad "to contribute towards moderating the negative narratives propagated against Sri Lanka – by clarifying genuine concerns and debunking the falsehoods". The Ambassador made these observations when he addressed the 35th Independence Day celebrations attended by Sri Lankans living in Geneva and surrounding cities, held last week at the ‘ILO Headquarters in Geneva'. The event organized by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva, and attended by around 250 members of the Sri Lankan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/02/13)
Diwan Chand Ahir (28 Feb, 1928 – 12 July, 2012), a great researcher on Buddhism and Dr. Ambedkar who published 72 books, would be always remembered among the academicians and researchers all over the world. His association with Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar left a great impact on him and his works. He has many awards to his credit. The Government of Sri Lanka conferred on him the honour of 'Buddha Sasanajyoti' on 19th January, 2003. On 26th January, 2010, he was awarded 'Samyak Prakashan Sahitya Samman 2010' for his remarkable contribution to literature by Samyak Prakashan,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/02/13)
‘Buddhism tried to create a dynamic society in ancient India. Jainism also contributed its share. As Buddhism spread, iron ploughs and implement were used for development of agriculture. As a result, new areas were cultivated and agricultural productivity increased, apart from developing trade centres and road links. Subsistence-level economy changed to a surplus economy with grain storage facilities, exchange of goods, trade and development of bureaucratic administration. This also created social change – from elans consisting several families to tribes consisting several elans of similar socio-economic conditions. The emphasis of Brahmins, on the other hand, was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/02/13)
 Karunanidhi, the DMK leader, who is long past his sell-by-date as far as having Tamil Nadu under his rule, shows no signs that his Tamil movie scriptwriting skills are on the wane. Or else, how can anyone expect a man living in the real world to make statements of the type that the poor soul is reported to have made in Chennai, as reported in the media on 08 February, in his verbal protests against the proposed visit by the President of Sri Lanka to Bodh Gaya and Tirupati in India? The fantasy world of Tamil... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/02/13)
Separatist group and their supporters are reported to be clamouring for verses in Tamil language to be included in the national anthem of Sri Lanka. It was heartening that a member of the Christian clergy has stated that such an endeavour is a fruitless exercise, especially when we see many non-Buddhists groups seem to be on the war path against the latter describing them as extremist and intolerant. National symbols should stand for and signify unity. When the majority in Sri Lanka – nearly three fourths of the population – comprises the Sinhala ethnic group, there... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/02/13)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India this afternoon on Friday 08 February on a two day private visit for pilgrimage. The President was warmly received at the Gaya International Airport by Chief Minister of Bihar Province, Nitish Kumar and senior state government and police officials. He was accorded a guard of honour by the state police. From the airport, the convoy of the Sri Lankan delegation was driven straight to the Mahabodhi temple which hosts a 1500 year old temple, the most sacred to Buddhists worldwide, where they performed religious... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/02/13)
It was a very clear message of Independence and Sovereignty as a nation, and that Sri Lanka is entitled to all rights based on the principle of sovereign equality of all members of the United Nations. On the 65th anniversary of independence, President Mahinda Rajapaksa saw the need to emphasize these facts to the world in his address to the nation from the port city of Trincomalee. Taking the Freedom Day celebrations to Trincomalee this year was of significance as it emphasized the post-conflict progress made in national unity and the conditions of peace that prevail throughout... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/02/13)
The procession continues. Even before the plane carrying the three-member team of American Deputy Under Secretaries Moore, Zimmermann and Singh had taken off we had another ‘friend’ bearing gifts. This time it was Mr Alistair Burt, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the British Foreign and Commonwealth office. The words of reassurance of the 'long standing relationship' by the three deputies from America were still echoing when Mr Burt reminded Sri Lanka of their 'candid' friendship with us: even though the words came from a lowest ranking of the three tiers of British government ministers,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/02/13)
Srilanka is famous for making half hearted laws, implementing them for a week or two and then dumping them. A law is said to be in effect about the helmets but we still see many  on bikes without helmets, sometimes the little children without helmets as pillion riders or sandwiched between the parents who are with helmets; A law was passed about the seat belts but  many drive without seat belts  and the traffic cops have no alternative but  to let them pass since booking them  will often  cause more traffic jam specially during... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/02/13)
In Sri Lanka we are never allowed,  by the International Community and its lackeys, to say that we have done with a problem  it is now over and go ahead doing more essential things for the Country and the people.   Elimination of Terrorism.  We eliminated four years ago  the canker of terrorism that had been eating in to the flesh of our nation for 30 long years, but the International Community along with its palsied Agencies the Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, Amnesty International and Navi Pillai keep alive the cruel loathsome memories of terrorism, accusing... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/02/13)
The word ‘Diplomacy’ means the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states, with regard to issues of peace-making, trade, war, economics, culture, environment and human rights. International treaties are usually negotiated by diplomats prior to endorsement by national politicians. At a time when the foreign diplomatic corp. consisted of only seven countries, Sri Lanka High Commission in London became the venue for international delegates to meet during some of the major international disputes. Sir Claude Corea, as the Chairman of the Diplomatic Corp, hosted some high level meetings when international diplomats such... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/02/13)
External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris made a strong case against the inclusion of Sri Lanka as an agenda item at the meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) which is scheduled to be held in London in April. The minister said such a course of action is contrary to the decisions taken by the Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Perth, Western Australia in October 2011 regarding the mandate of CMAG and the scope of its functions. External Affairs Minister Prof G L... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/02/13)
The appointment of Syed Asif Ibrahim, an Indian Muslim, as Director Intelligence Bureau (DIB) came as a surprise for many. It is being propagated that New Delhi has finally realized the grievance of the Muslims, who are, indeed, the most deprived and underprivileged community in India. If we recall, after going through recommendations of the Sachar Committee’s report, the Indian Prime Minister had announced a 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities. He advised state governments to give special consideration to minorities while recruiting police personnel and that in the same regard, selection committees should have... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/02/13)
When Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse visits Buddhism’s most sacred and holiest place of worship – Buddha Gaya in India, in a few day’s time he is going not simply as the head of state but also as the leader of an ancient Buddhist country. Sri Lanka holds an unique place in the world, with the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any nation. Buddhism has been the major religion in the island since its official introduction in the 3rd century BC by Arahant Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka of India, and over 70% of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/02/13)
February 04, 1948 dawned a new era for ‘Ceylon’ when it changed from a Dominion rule to an Independent nation. The unique factor during the struggle for independence was the Sri Lankan politicians’ approach in their endeavour not to shed a single drop of blood in a struggle for freedom. This very factor was recorded as an immeasurable service rendered to the country by those patriotic men in restoring the self- respect of a nation, which had been crushed under the foreign boot of the Portuguese, Dutch and the British for over four centuries. Since... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/02/13)
This halaal certificate affair keeps coming up in Shenali Waduge’s every argument, despite the fact that I explained this in my very first response. So I am compelled to repeat myself. The halaal issue popped up when non-Muslim restaurants like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and KFC opened shop here. It was they who approached Jamaithul Ullama for this endorsement so that they could cater to Muslim clients fearing that if they didn’t have this certificate they would lose out on the Muslim consumer. As far as I know only these three establishments ‘hang’ these certificates. I can... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/02/13)
"The Internet gives us many opportunities to promote Buddhist values, understandings and insights on a global scale" - Ven. Pannyavaro Colombo, Sri Lanka -- When the Information Superhighway i.e. Internet, was launched in the mid 1990s Buddhist communities worldwide vigorously took up the challenge. With Buddhism becoming one of the fastest growing religions in the West, they converted Buddhist literature into the electronic format with a great deal of enthusiasm. Today Buddhist websites are proliferating covering almost every known school of Buddhism ranging from Theravada to Mahayana to Tantric. Making known the contribution that Buddhist mental... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/02/13)
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad urges prayers for the Muslim World The World Head and Fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Jama’at), Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has called on all Ahmadi Muslims to pray for the plight of the Muslim world. His Holiness said the majority of the Muslim world was riven with conflict and stood on the brink of disaster. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad made the comments whilst delivering his weekly Friday Sermon at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in South West London on 1 February 2013.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/02/13)
Singapore, 04 February, (Asiantribune.com): The greatest challenge Sri Lanka will face in the next decade is the rise of communal and religious extremism, cautioned Professor Rohan Gunaratna. After 30 years of bloodletting, the idea of promoting narrow ethnic divisions ended in May 2009. If anyone wants to instill racial and religious prejudice, suspicion and hatred and be a future Prabhakaran, the Government should look at that person very seriously, Professor Rohan Gunaratna emphasized. An internationally acclaimed terrorism expert , who heads the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore –... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/02/13)
Now that the sound and fury of the brouhaha about the former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake have subsided it is time look back and assess not only the triumph of the Legislature over the Judiciary but also why the legal pundits who backed the doomed case failed, particularly in cooking up legal fictions to make the guilty look innocent. The first significant outcome to be noted is the inevitability of the clash between the Legislature and the Judiciary. Both were testing each others' nerves for some time. The two major contests -- one with Chief Justice Neville Samarakone... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/02/13)
As reported in the media on 03 February, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader, who is accompanying four of his colleagues, searching for solutions to Sri Lanka’s problems – imaginary or otherwise – wants the United Nations Security Council to take “stern action†against the Sri Lanka government for “delay in implementing the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).  As he does all the time, he continues with his favourite topic of a “political solution to the ethnic issueâ€ÂÂÂ. LLRC is a product of the Sri Lanka government. Matters may not move at the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/02/13)
These days we are witnessing the spread of disturbing information and news which could cause disharmony and disunity among communities, especially between the Sinhala Buddhist and the Muslim Community. These ‘misinformation’ campaigns seem to be targeting the Sri Lankan Muslim community. In this brief writing I wish to clear certain misconceptions contained in these misinformation campaigns. The reference of words “Islamic Extremism†or “Islamic Fundamentalism†appears all over the media including in the local media recently. Fundamentalism according to the Oxford dictionary means a strict adherence to the basic principles of any subject or discipline: free-market fundamentalism.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/02/13)
The Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Mercy, did not prescribe war as a natural state of affairs, and at the same time, war cannot simply be abolished. What any reformer or spiritual leader can do is minimize its brutality. The Messenger of Mercy, at God’s direction, attempted to establish rules of warfare that would make war as humane as possible, to encourage peace and to minimize the priceless cost of human lives. The Prophetic approach to war can be better appreciated by looking at some figures. The Messenger of Mercy was forced to defend himself militarily on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/02/13)
The Population and Immigration Authority of the State of Israel (PIBA) and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), have reached an arrangement for a speedy recruitment of 1500 Sri Lankan agricultural workers for a six month work period in Israel during the first half of 2013. According to an arrangement reached recently, the recruitment of the 1500 Sri Lankan agricultural workers will be carried out in Sri Lanka by the SLBFE through the State owned Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency Ltd. (SLFEA). The recruitment will be carried out in coordination with the Israeli... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/02/13)
Diabetics are a growing pain to human beings which has created disharmony to the human bodies for generations over the years. In the medical profession pharmaceutical companies, one of the main sources of income, is through varied forms of promotions of diabetic suppressive drugs, which are rising in costs as doctors have no other alternate than to write a prescription to subdue the illness. On the other hand "Benfotiamine", which is a synthetic lipid-soluble extracted form of Thiamine, which is (Vitamin B1); and not connected with allithiamin; has been licensed for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/02/13)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa reminded the world of the provisions in the United Nations Charter of calling on all nations to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state in their international relations. President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation at the 65th Independence anniversary celebrations in Trincomalee. Picture by Sudath Silva He said that nothing contained in the present Charter shall authroize the UN to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/02/13)
In my time as a member of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service for eighteen years and as the Commonwealth Fund Advisor to two Commonwealth Countries for four years I have seen power wielding Ministers at work.  This matter has come into prominence due to the powers conferred on the Hon Minister in charge of the implementation of Divineguma and the tasks attached..  I do not see any reason why the Hon Minister in charge of a subject should be fettered so that he cannot function effectively to enable development. It... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/02/13)
You might be surprised to learn that the government department in Canada which tracks energy use, the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), estimates that a cooking stove accounts for 10 percent of an average home's consumption of electricity. Most people don't give the energy used by their cooking stove too much consideration, but 10 percent is a significant portion of your energy bill. Again it is found by research that modern pressure cookers can reduce energy consumption as much as 70%. We cannot have pressure cookers for everything but if we could... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/02/13)
Naveen Pillai having failed in her earlier attempts in the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2012 to humble and humiliate Sri Lanka on its Human Rights record, continues to rake muck in further attempts to save face at her previous failures. United Nations Human Rights Council session in progress Sri Lanka though bravely faced, confronted and responded effectively to all the charges levelled against her. Furthermore, Sri Lanka, in allowing foreign fact finding missions to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/02/13)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka today accused a London-based group of lawyers of undermining Colombo’s sovereignty and said a four-member team probing judicial independence was barred from entering the island. The external affairs ministry said it revoked visas issued to members of the International Bar Association (IBA) because they “misrepresented†the objective of their visit to Sri Lanka. The ministry in a statement said the four-member mission was going to undertake “activity surreptitiously which is of an intrusive nature to the sovereignty of Sri Lankaâ€ÂÂÂ. IBA yesterday expressed “serious concern†over the withdrawal of visas for lawyers from its Human Rights Institute... -Full Story- (thehimalayantimes.com - 03/02/13)
Accusing eminent jurist and former Chief Justice J.S.Verma and a Bar Association delegation of withholding information and misrepresenting facts, Sri Lanka said on Sunday that it blocked the visit of the four-member delegation of the International Bar Association (IBA) because it detected “inaccurate information contained in the visa applications.†Because of this “regrettably, the Government of Sri Lanka was constrained to withdraw visas issued through the ETA system for 3 applicants and the other by a diplomatic mission,†the Ministry added. Former Indian Chief Justice, J.S.Verma, who was to arrive in Colombo late on Friday to head... -Full Story- (thehindu.com - 03/02/13)
The International Council of Jurists had cleared the Sri Lankan govt with regard to the process adopted to impeach Shiranie Bandaranayake. In doing so, the ICJ had said, "...We take this opportunity to assure that the Sri Lankan govt has not committed any wrong in removing Chief Justice Shiranie B, as the removal proceedings were absolutely in accordance with the prevalent Sri Lankan laws... We are sorry to observe that some are decrying the removal, as they are, in fact, not aware of Sri Lankan laws...The govt had not committed any wrong in removing Chief Justice Shiranie B..." Thus the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/02/13)
The International Council of Jurists (ICJ) representing top judges, Chief Justices of several countries and eminent persons in the field of law including a former International Court of Justice Vice President, has written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, saying that the recent impeachment of the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka is totally legal, and ‘absolutely in accordance with the prevalent Sri Lankan laws.’ Dr. Adish C Aggarwala It is a coup de grace that destroys comprehensively, the theories by pseudo-legal experts of the Lawyers’ Collective etc., and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/02/13)
An Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation (DTA) between Sri Lanka and Luxembourg was signed on 31St January in Luxembourg. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxemburg and the Head of Mission to the European Union, H.E Mr. P.M. Amza, signed the Agreement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka while Hon. Luc Frieden, Minister of Finance of Luxemburg signed it on behalf of the Government of Luxembourg. The signing of the DTA took place following the presentation of the Letters of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/02/13)
... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 02/02/13)
IntroductionDuring the last two decades in particular, the concept of "Islamic terror" has been often discussed. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on targets in New York and Washington which caused the death of tens of thousands of innocent civilians, this concept has once again returned to the top of the international agenda. As Muslims, we completely condemn these attacks and offer our condolences to the American people. In this article, we will explain that Islam is by no means the source of this violence and that violence has no place... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/02/13)
The comforting thought in visiting England could be regarded as the absence of any language barrier as most of the Sri Lankans who travel abroad are familiar with the English language. The problems one can experience without being able to speak a foreign language fluently (except English) when travelled to other countries like France, Italy, Germany or even Thailand can be traumatising because people in those countries make it a point to avoid speaking in English, even if they are able to converse, in preference to their own mother tongue. As a student, once I travelled... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/02/13)
The bloodiest and longest standoff of WWII – the Battle of Stalingrad – lasted 200 days and claimed 2 million lives. Russia is marking the 70th anniversary of this epic struggle, which became the turning point leading to overthrow of Nazi Germany. ÂÂÂÂThe anniversary of the Soviet victory in what was the biggest land battle of WWII will be widely celebrated throughout Russia on Saturday. About 1,000 guests have arrived in Volgograd – formerly Stalingrad – to participate in the celebrations, including a military parade, battle reconstructions, fireworks and more. In honor of the celebrations, the city is changing... -Full Story- (rt.com - 02/02/13)
The Russian Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov has demanded that the city of Volgograd is returned to its Soviet name Stalingrad (the city of Joseph Stalin), to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the bloodiest battle in the WWII. “I’m confident that justice will prevail! There are streets, squares, and boulevards named after Stalingrad almost in all the counties in the world. That’s why it’d be fair to return to Volgograd its true name – Stalingrad,†Zyuganov stated at a round-table discussion devoted to the anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad. The southern Russian city of Volgograd – originally called Tsaritsyn... -Full Story- (rt.com - 02/02/13)
Russian lawmakers said the city of Volgograd will regain its wartime name – but only for six days a year. Stalingrad’s first “return†marks the 70th anniversary of Stalingrad Battle victory as Russia remembers the events that turned the tide of WWII. From now on, the southern Russian city will be referred to as “hero-city Stalingrad†during memorial events, local deputies have decided. The name will be used symbolically, and only on the days when historic events related to World War II are observed, the officials said. This effectively means six days of “Stalingrad†a year.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 02/02/13)
 We have for too long ignored and disregarded the wealth of knowledge from our glorious 2500-year-old civilization that we have become mere appendages to a western civilization. We have been mere objects whilst the west took over determining the history of the last 500 years. It is time to reflect as to what we have given up in spite of the great technological achievements of the western civilization. There is nothing for nothing in this world; the technological achievements and the material advancement of a minority have been at the expense of the environment, personal happiness... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
Feb.2nd., 2013 The continued bickerings emanating from Tamil Nadu monotonous at best over an issue that has been prevalent ever since the infamous Tamil Tigers were vanquished by the Government Forces of Sri Lanka is an aggravation that seems deliberately orchestrated to disrupt the smooth functioning of Sri Lanka and nothing more according to many analysts. There is a ring of credibility to this evaluation as it is linked to the activities of the Tamol Tiger(LTTE) sympathetic diaspora whose continued attempts to discredit the GOSL seems a never ending one and despite the stand the Indian Goverbnment... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
India created the killing machine LTTE paid the Kamma with its prime minister getting his hollow head blown off by LTTE. India will continuously use Sri Lanka for its benefits , marginalise her internationally and keep on troubling her to submission. This will not end. The solution will be to manipulate India carefully and tactically hurt her in every aspect , while diplomatic sweet words are exchanged every day. How do we do that ? No matter what we do, India is Sri Lanka’s enemy and shall be treated like the enemy. Hurting India economically in every way... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
Mr. Annesley de Silva writing to the Editor on 25th January 2013 says he read with amusement what I wrote to the Midweek Review on 23rd January on “Defending the constitutionâ€ÂÂÂ. He may be amused writing from Australia when we poor Sinhala Buddhists refer to the multiculturalism practiced in USA, but we who have suffered for more than five hundred years under western Christian modernity have no alternative but to reveal the hypocrisy of western Christian culture. The Anglo Saxon variety of the Judaic Christian culture is the dominant culture not only in USA Australia and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 01:41:59 -0500 Hon. Jason Kenney Minister of Immigration Ottawa, Ontario Dear Sir: I got your e-mail regarding your visit to Colombo but was unable to respond to it immediately. I now have received information that you held a meeting in Toronto with Tamils ONLY regarding your visit and that other Sri Lankans were refused entry to that meeting. It confirms what has been my opinion expressed in many letters to you and other members of Parliament, that Canadian politicians have absolutely no interest or concerns for the people of Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
 In this world of conspiracies, spreading of depression has proved one of the very successful strategies used as the war tactics and its repercussions are more fatal and lethal than those of a nuclear bomb. Now survival is not the fate of the fittest ones but of those who don’t fall a prey to depression and disappointment. Throughout the world, most of the countries have their own well organized and well trained wings in electronic and print media. The men belonging to these wings are simply the soldiers armed with pens and words and basically they... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
“If Buddhism did not exist, it would have to be invented because Buddhism alone provided the teaching which was capable of offering complete consumation to the mental life of human kind,†said Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi quoting Dr. Paul Dahlke in the introduction to his book ‘Buddhism and its place in the mental life of mankind’.  The reason why Buddhism fulfils such an essential role is because in Dahlke’s own words ‘Buddhism is the key to understanding the nature of actuality or reality’ added Bhikkhu Bodhi in a talk delivered at a function dealing with the release, by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
Harrow Council marked the annual Holocaust Memorial Day with a special commemoration ceremony on Wednesday (30th January). People gathered in the Council Chamber to remember those communities which were destroyed during the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. The event was one of an estimated 1,500 activities taking place across the UK where individuals and communities came together to remember the past and consider the part that they can play in challenging hatred and persecution today. The theme of this year’s event was “Communities Together:... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
A month has passed since the dawn of 2013. Although the past, the last year, is not here anymore, memories of the past events and experiences affect and influence your present and future. Can you stop for a moment, slow down your wandering mind and pay attention to yourself? How much of your present happiness and joy or unhappiness and suffering is a result of what has already happened? When you pay close attention to yourself, you will see how happy moments, peaceful and joyful experiences, and positive interactions bring comfort in the moment and will always... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/02/13)
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