News Archive for Oct 2013

Tamils say "Thank You" to Stephen Harpen for boycotting the Commonwealth Summit
Asoka Weerasinghe  Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
30 November 2013 Hon. Jason Kenney, MP (Conservative);  Hon. Chris Alexander, MP (Conservative), Hon. Tim Uppal, MP (Conservative),  Paul Calandra, MP (Conservative), Corneliu Chisu, MP (Conservative), Stephen Woodworth, MP (Conservative), Patrick Brown, MP (Conservative), Mark Adler, MP (Conservative),  Wladyslaw Lizon, MP (Conservative), Brad Butt, MP (Conservative),  Harold Albrecht, MP (Conservatives), Parm Gill (Conservative), Stellar Ambler (Conservative),  Devinder Shory, MP (Conservative), Bruce Stanton, MP (Conservative), John Carmichael, MP (Conservative), Costas Managakis , MP (Conservative), Robert Sopuck MP (Conservative), David Anderson, MP (Conservative);     Paul Dewar, MP (New Democratic Party), Rathika... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/13)

‘Madman’ who stood for a righteous cause - Forty sixth Death anniversary of L.H. Mettananda
By Janaka Perera
 He was branded a religious fanatic because of what he stood for.     Friday November 1st marks the 46th Death Anniversary Lokusathu Hewa Mettananda - better known as L.H. Mettananda – the indefatigable fighter for the rights of Sinhala Buddhists.  In the words of veteran journalist the late D.B. Dhanapala “Anybody who dare talk of Buddhist rights in a Buddhist country is bound to be called a fanatic on disturbing the peace and rousing up religious feelings”  (AMONG THOSE PRESENT).  Mettananda’s goal was to liberate the country from those whom he considered aliens in their own land.   They... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/13)

Response to India Must Attend CHOGM in it's Own Interest‏
Ira de Silva Ontario, Canada
The Editor Times of India Delhi, India   Dear Sir:   Mr. Singh is still undecided about whether to attend. In the meantime Tamil Nadu is passing resolutions to boycott and politically backed thugs are on the loose in Tamil Nadu to pressure the Central Government. Security is being increased at Sri Lankan offices in Tamil Nadu because of the many past attacks on them when politicians in Tamil Nadu want to reinforce their antipathy towards Sri Lanka for political clout. What most Indians do not seem to realise is that Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/13)

DR. SINGH COLOMBO BOUND - Indian media
Benefits outweigh Tamil Nadu fallout
Analysts say India will get isolated by non-attendance
Dr. Manmohan Singh the Indian Premier considering that it is in India's strategic interests to maintain good relations with the neighbouring countries, has reportedly taken a decision to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Summit in Colombo following a meeting of the Congress core committee yesterday, according to Indian media reports. Times of India states the committee in some detail has evaluated the pros and cons of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/13)

Stop Wigneswaran promoting separatism
Ranjith Soysa   Media Release - SPUR  (Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc)
Mr. C.V. Wigneswaran the newly elected chief minister of the Northen Province of Sri Lanka has called prabhakaran a liberation fighter and compared   him to Weera Kappeptipola . This is not only a grave insult to Weera Keppetipola but is also a grave insult to the  members of defence services and the general public  who sacrificed life and limb to restore peace and democracy to the whole of Sri Lanka and to all who were oppressed by the terrorism of the LTTE.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/13)

OPEN LETTER TO C.V.VIGNESWARAN DO YOU DESERVE ANY RESPECT?
By Stanley Perera – Melbourne
My Dear Vignesvaran, You have lived all your life in Colombo amongst the Sinhalese brethren.  You received free education from the GoSL the country of birth.  You entered the law college and received free education and rose up to the highest position in the judiciary.  Until you contested to the C.M’s position in the North you were not seen in public places wearing the red pottu and verti.  The two children of yours are married to Sinhalese.  The silk that you wore in the Supreme Court was borrowed from a retired Sinhalese Supreme Court... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/13)

Cattle slaughter is not a Gava Gathana Pinkama - Dear is life to all
‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ seems the challenge posed to Buddhists and an increasing number of indigenous people in different corners of the world as they face new cult type incursions. When a longstanding Muslim Governor of the Western Province in Sri Lanka suddenly issues on a State letterhead carrying at the top of the letterhead the representation of the Buddhist ‘Dharma cakra’ a request for public officials, majority of whom are Buddhist to take part and provide support to a ‘gava gathana pinkama’ (cattle slaughter /sacrifice meritorious act), one begins... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/13)

Life Abroad - Part 51: KNEE JERK ON NHS!
Dr.Tilak Fernando
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (Corinthians 2:9 NKJV) This column has exposed two individual incidents previously of the UK National Health Service's bungling where a Sri Lankan anaesthetist, who worked in the same hospital once, died of clinical misadventure and about another Sri Lankan who suffered a severe headache being prescribed variety of strong drugs by his General Practitioner continuously and rebuffing the patient's claims maintaining that 'there was nothing wrong with his... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/13)

A canceled health plan is a good thing
By Sally Kohn, Special to CNN
Conservatives are expressing shock and outrage that the Obama administration knew that many people in the individual insurance market would not be able to keep their plans once the Affordable Care Act took effect. Such shock is not surprising; overblown outrage is the stock and trade of conservative politics these days.... -Full Story- (edition.cnn.com - 31/10/13)

Incident in Yorkshire: UK TO BE PUT ON NOTICE ON STUDENT MURDER-Steps through diplomatic channels: EA Ministry awaiting report from SL mission in London:
Chaminda Perera
The External Affairs Ministry yesterday called for a comprehensive report on the killing of a Sri Lankan Student in Yorkshire, England. The Ministry has informed the Sri Lankan mission in London to look into every detail with regard to the murder and the steps taken by the British Government to investigate it. According to Public Communication Director of the External Affairs Ministry, Rodney Perera, the Ministry will take further steps through diplomatic channels with regard to the murder based on the report of the Sri Lankan mission in the UK. "We are awaiting the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

“Removal of army camps from Sri Lanka’s north will not be a reality” – President of Sri Lanka
Asada M Erpini
His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka has given the apt response to the TNA separatists and their backers and instigators when he said “demands for removal of army camps from the North made by some elements will never be a reality”, as reported in the media on 29 October. And, His Excellency had selected the most appropriate venue and the setting for making the proclamation – the convocation ceremony of the Sir John Kothalawala Defence University (KDU). It is Sri Lanka’s armed forces that delivered the populace of the island nation, which includes Sinhalas, Moors,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

How to eliminate ill-wills of Sri Lanka
Jay Deshabandu
What Mr. Vignasweren doing is very clear! He is playing a double game.  North provincial council is not just one of the nine provincial councils in Sri Lanka.  From the beginning, it has become a separated council that gives no regard to the constitution.   Supreme Court ruled that police and land powers cannot be granted to the councils. But, the retired judge is demanding the government to violate the Supreme Court making the government in contempt of court.  Shouldn’t Vignaswarn be in contempt of the Supreme Court by instigating the violation?   The Supreme Court should... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

What does reconciliation mean?
By Neville Ladduwahetty   Courtesy Island
Judging from the opinions expressed by commentators, analysts both nationally and internationally, it is evident that Reconciliation has different meanings to different people. To some, Reconciliation is a process of healing while to others it means Truth or Justice, and to yet others it means Nation Building and/or Acknowledgement/Accountability of what happened. While any one or mix of the mentioned interpretations of what Reconciliation means may be applicable to certain particular circumstances, there is no clear understanding of what reconciliation means and therefore what needs to be done to bring about Reconciliation. The only... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

PM Cameron assumes that, 'Sri Lanka is still a British Colony'
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
British PM David Cameron had told Nobel Laureate Aung Sang, that he would have 'very tough questions' to President Rajapakse during the CHOGM. He had also said that, "...I am not happy with their human rights reord... I am not happy with what they have done following the conflict..." Cameron should note that Sri Lanka is no longer a British Colony. And that Sri Lanka as well is not happy with the human records of the UK, USA, Canada and so on. He would ofcourse have been happy if the LTTE rump were allowed to carry on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

Mahaweli Authority Stop Illegally Destroying Elephant Habitat in Welioya Mullaitivu.
 Rahula Gunasekera
Mahaweli Authority in Sri Lanka is illegally clearing forest land in Welioya, Mullaitivu, for a new settlement, exacerbating the human elephant conflict. The land being cleared is rare thick forest in the dry zone and critical elephant habitat in the Anandakulam and Veppamkulam forest reserves. Historically theMahaweli Authority has been the leader in elephant habitat destruction. Now that there is very little forest land left in Sri Lanka, there is a disturbing trend of the Mahaweli Authority raiding nature reserves. We respectfully ask his excelency The President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksha and the Mahaweli Authority... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

Aruna V Abeygoonesekera: Sri Lanka free of terror-s shadow and looking to future
By Aruna V Abeygoonesekera
As Sri Lanka prepares to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) next month, it is unfortunate that critics of Sri Lanka like Amnesty International-s New Zealand executive director Grant Bayldon remain blinded to the significant progress in that country. The decisive defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009 put an end to the era of suicide bombings, assassinations and indiscriminate violence that had terrorised the lives of all Sri Lankans, irrespective of their ethnicity or religion, for nearly 30 years.... -Full Story- (nzherald.co.nz - 30/10/13)

“ඇළුමිනියම් පිලිසැකසුම් පිළිබද න්‍යායික හා ප්‍රායෝගික පුහුණු වැඩසටහන”-"அலுமினியம் சார் உற்பத்திகள் தொடர்பான பயிற்சிநெறி"
"Training Programme on Aluminum Fabrication"
සාම්ප්‍රදායික කර්මාන්ත හා කුඩා ව්‍යවසාය සංවර්ධන අමාත්‍යංශයට අනුබද්ධ ලංකා කාර්මික සංවර්ධන මණ්ඩලීය කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික් කාර්යාලය මගින් කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ ඇළුමිනියම් පිලිසැකසුම් (Aluminum Fabrication) පිළිබද තාක්ෂණය ලබාගැනීමට අපේක්ෂාවෙන් සිටින නවක ව්‍යවසායකයින් හට ඇළුමිනියම් දොර ජනෙල් නිශ්පාදනය ඇතුලු එම ක්ෂේත්‍රයට අදාල විවිධ සවිකිරීම් හා සැකසුම් වර්ග පිළිබඳ න්‍යායික හා ප්‍රායෝගික තාක්ෂණික දෙදින වැඩසටහනක් පැවැත්වීමට කටයුතු සංවිධානය කර ඇත. මෙම වැඩසටහන 2013 දෙසැම්බර් මස 04 හා 05 යන දෙදින ලංකා කාර්මික සංවර්ධන මණ්ඩලයේ කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික් කාර්යාලයේ පුහුණු මධ්‍යස්ථානයේදී පැවැත්වේ. වැඩසටහන සාර්ථකව අවසන් කරන අය සඳහා ලංකා කාර්මික සංවර්ධන මණ්ඩලය මගින් පිලිගත් වටිනා සහතිකයක් පිරිනමනු ලබන අතර පුහුණුවෙන් පසුව... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

Lanka’s first workforce smartcard coming, packs NFC touch hi-tech power
PRESS COMMUNIQUE – MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY & COMMERCE, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 29, 2013 Only $7600+ outlay by the Govt! ‘Great Work!’ – Apparel Sector Pranama Privilege Card will use Mobitel’s closed system NFC ‘Let us celebrate our workforce!’ - Rishad 10,000 apparel workforce to start in mid-November  The first ever smart card for a Sri Lankan workforce is fitted with no less than NFC touch technology-yet another new leap in electronic payments in Sri Lanka. And the state sector outlay for the initiative is a surprisingly minimal of $7600! “I am pleased that our hard... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

AHMADIYYA KHALIFA’S FAR EAST TOURS CONTINUES
By A. Abdul Aziz. Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has travelled to inaugurate the Baitul Muqeet Mosque in Auckland The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad arrived in Auckland, New Zealand late afternoon on 28 October 13 following a successful four week tour of Australia. The Khalifa has travelled to New Zealand to inaugurate the Baitul Muqeet Mosque in Auckland and to deliver the keynote addresses at the 25th Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in New Zealand which begins Friday, 1st November... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/13)

Forbes names Vladimir Putin world-s most influential person
Source:Pravda.Ru
Russian President Vladimir Putin was named the world-s most influential person by Forbes magazine. Putin was ranked ahead of last year-s leader, U.S. President Barack Obama (second place) and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (third place). The list of Forbes includes 72 political, economic and social figures. In addition to Putin, Russia is represented on the list by Rosneft President Igor Sechin (60th place), Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (53rd place) and Russian wealthiest businessman Alisher Usmanov (63rd place). In November 2010, Putin was ranked fourth in the ranking of world-s most influential people of Forbes magazine. In 2011, Putin... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 30/10/13)

Snowden leak: NSA secretly accessed Yahoo, Google data centers to collect information
RT
Despite having front-door access to communications transmitted across the biggest Internet companies on Earth, the National Security Agency has been secretly tapping into the two largest online entities in the world, new leaked documents reveal. Those documents, supplied by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and obtained by the Washington Post, suggest that the US intelligence agency and its British counterpart have compromised data passed through the computers of Google and Yahoo, the two biggest companies in the world with regards to overall Internet traffic, and in turn allowed those country’s governments and likely their allies access to hundreds of... -Full Story- (rt.com - 30/10/13)

“This [paper] war is not winnable.”
C. Wijeyawickrema, LL.B., Ph.D.
“It does not matter if there is or is not an after-world, but It is better not to indulge in acts of sinful nature, because Even if there is no after-world, non-sinful acts do no harm But, if there is an after-world, sinners are sure to suffer in Hell.” Subhasithaya Wigneswaran: A young woman (Sinhala-Tamil Obama) or an old witch (Tamil Separatist)?  Starting with Anura B, Mrs. Chandrika and RanilW, a good percentage of Sri Lankan black-whites believed and propagated the slogan, “this war is not winnable” for a long time, before the song changed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/10/13)

Petrol bomb in Chennai to protest against Sri Lanka event causes no major damage
Asada M Erpini
A group in Chennai, is reported on 29 October, to have thrown petrol bombs at Post Offices, damaging an air conditioner in one place. The police have arrested a person belonging to the "Dravidar Viduthalai Kazahagam" – whatever that group stands for. An air conditioner may be something valuable in Tamil Nadu, but many in other countries may say that such an item is worth peanuts! One can only feel sorry for the people behind the petrol bomb: they are very poor learners. If they were protesting against the Commonwealth Games, they really have not learned... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/10/13)

What and which zone of agreement?
 C. Wijeyawickrema
“If the Tamils’ cry for separatism is given up, the two communities could solve their problems and continue to live in amity and dignity.” M.C. Sansoni, CJ—(Sessional Paper No. 7 of 1980)   “Sinhala people have no other land [place to go].”  Wigenswaran-CM, NP   Where Tamils live (Source map: Tamilnation.org website 1/25/2010 Vessantara-traitor dilemma             Between getting branded as a Tamil traitor (even GG Ponnambalam was once called a Tamil traitor) or a Sinhala Vessantara/Siri Sangabo, Wigneswaran and MahindaR, respectively, could find the zone of agreement that Dayan Jayatilleke is talking about, if both of them... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/10/13)

Eelamist. Leena Manivekaali visits Sri Lanka and completes anti-Sri Lankan propaganda film “ White Van”
By KEERTHI WARNAKULASURIYA
The majority in the country has forgotten that a continuous plan is in operation to disrupt the CHOGM and to take our military leaders before the international criminal courts to take revenge against the defeat of the LTTE. As a link in this treacherous drive an extreme Eeelamist , Leena Manivelkalai visited Sri Lanka recently and directed an anti- government film called White Van. She came to Sri Lanka under the pretext of participating at 41st Ilakaiya Santipuu literary festival by having mentioned to the authorities as a poetess and a writer. Rani Manivelkalai ‘s arrival... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/10/13)

DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA- Tiny wars still don-t work
By Tom Engelhardt
In terms of pure projectable power, there-s never been anything like it. Its military has divided the world - the whole planet - into six "commands." Its fleet, with 11 aircraft carrier battle groups, rules the seas and has done so largely unchallenged for almost seven decades. Its Air Force has ruled the global skies, and despite being almost continuously in action for years, hasn-t faced an enemy plane since 1991 or been seriously challenged anywhere since the early 1970s.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 29/10/13)

Victims of drone strike testify before Congress
RT
The victims of a drone strike alleged to be launched last year by the United States spoke to members of Congress on Tuesday and urged the US government to stop killing civilians with weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles. Rafiq ur Rehman, a primary school teacher from North Waziristan, Pakistan, spoke through an interpreter on Capitol Hill on Tuesday along with his two children, ages nine and 13.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 29/10/13)

In calling cattle slaughter a ‘Gava Gathana Pinkama’ Governor Moulana has deeply hurt Buddhist sensitivities
Shenali Waduge
‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ seems the challenge posed to Buddhists and an increasing number of indigenous people in different corners of the world as they face new cult type incursions. Not only is the new cult enveloping victims among the Muslims but by penetrating the hyped liberal notion of ‘secular multiculturalism’ the demands of Muslims take center stage pushing indigenous cultures not only to the background but ring alarm bells to the possible extinction, annihilation of not only the indigenous culture but the possible conversion of the people of an entire country... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

SHOULD MAMOHAN SINGH WERE TO PARTICIPATE IN CHOGEM; THEN HE SHOULD BID ADIEU TO THE UNIFIED INDIAN NATION!!!
Mahinda Weerasinghe
Curiously enough, that old gambit of Jaffna Tamils Catholics has been rekindled again. Frustrated by their incapability of getting hold the pearl of the Indian Ocean, they have reverted back to plan B. This new plan really is the ancient one, dusted up and presented in a new garb.  It is being exploited as a lever to ply Tamil Nadu out from Indian union. Then they could exploit TN as a battering ram to dash Lankans with! Under the circumstances, what options are open for Mamohan Singh to manure? Let us consider some basic options! 1.)    If... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

Tamil Nadu's Campaign against Sri Lanka Supported by Indian Central Government
Ira de Silva Canada
 Tamil Nadu has unanimously adopted a resolution that India should boycott the CHOGM. It has now been supported by some members of the Central Government as well as the Opposition. According to Ms. Jayalalitha, even "token" representation should "not be allowed". The question is who is going to "not allow". Has the Central Government been replaced by Tamil Nadu? Is Tamil Nadu now governing India and is it the sole representative of India? It would be good if India immediately communicates it's decision to Sri Lanka. If Mr. Singh is not attending it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

WHO IS THIS VIGNESWARAN? DOGS BARK BUT MOON NEVER COMES DOWN
By Stanley Perera – Melbourne
Vigneswaran I knew was from the time he became a Supreme Court Judge.  But the writer does not know anything about Vigneswaran before becoming a judge.  The writer is of the view that Vigneswaran lived in Colombo amongst his Sinhalese brethren all his life bludging the Sri Lankan Government.  Justice Vigneswaran after taking his oath as a Judge of the Supreme Court, made a controversial speech on aspirations of the Tamil people.  Justice Vigneswaran wore the silk burrowed from a retired Sinhalese Supreme Court Judge who happened to be a relation of his.  Until... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

Retired Major General Chandrasiri has better right to be Governor of Northern Province than Retired Judge Vigneswaran to be the Chief Minister.
By Charles.S.Perera
Tamil Terrorists of Sri Lanka were a group    apart, who had not accepted Sri Lanka as their motherland.  They had also not accepted that they belonged to the  larger Community of Sri Lankan people.  They wanted therefore to break away to form  their own Tamil fatherland, exclusively for the Tamils. From about 2001 TNA were the spokesmen for the terrorists, and had no interest in Sri Lanka other than to break it up to realise posthumously  their leader –the terrorist Prabhakaran’s dream of a separate Tamil Eelam State. Even today TNA would go all the way... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

The TNA Are Mere Smalltime Political Representation With A Single Northern District Council Win, Not Heads Of Nations To Decline Attending The CHOGM Summit Which Is Laughable!
Insight By Sunil Kumar
October 27th 2013 It is no blow for the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) summit to be held in Colombo which some myopics seem to believe is troubled~ far from it ~ that Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party the TNA has said it would boycott the event. "Main Tamil Party" in this respect seems indicative of many factions within the Tamil Community and the only Tamil party with a miniscule representation in Parliament which does not really entitle them to the high faluting attitude they seemed to have adopted of late and the arrogance somewhat reminiscent... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

Malala Fever in the Western media: David Milliband trying score some points.
By U.B.Gunasinghe PhD
Few weeks ago American media outlets were very excited by the news that Malala has been nominated for the Noble Peace price and eventually same media outlets were very disappointed that she did not receive the Nobel peace prize.  I was surprised to see David Milliband appeared on one Sunday talk show with some agent from a private firm helping with Malala foundation.  This guy knows where to go for his personal gain.  He may be involved with the foundation.  This is the guy who was helping LTTE who were dragging young girls from schools and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

Sri Lanka assumes leadership of the Colombo Process
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva
The Chairmanship of the Colombo Process was transferred from the Government of Bangladesh to the Government of Sri Lanka during a meeting held at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva on 21 October 2013. The Colombo Process is a Regional Consultative Process on the management of overseas employment and contractual labour for countries of origin in Asia, which was initiated at Ministerial Consultations for Asian Labour Sending Countries held in 2003 in Colombo. The group includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

TN politicians’ call for CHOGM boycott
Ira de Silva Canada
 Tamil Nadu has unanimously adopted a resolution that India should boycott the CHOGM. It has now been supported by some members of the Central Government as well as the Opposition. According to Ms. Jayalalitha, even "token" representation should "not be allowed". The question is who is going to "not allow". Has the Central Government been replaced by Tamil Nadu? Is Tamil Nadu now governing India and is it the sole representative of India? It would be good if India immediately communicates it's decision to Sri Lanka. If Mr. Singh is not attending it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/13)

Who is going to hold the US accountable?
RT
It is unlikely that there will be effective retribution for US global spying, since Washington is the one dictating the terms of the game, Caleb Maupin, from the International Action Centre told RT. The NSA was forced to release a statement on Sunday, denying the latest media reports that suggested President Obama was aware of the intelligence gathering operation against German Chancellor Angela Merkel since at least 2010.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 28/10/13)

US Trojan horse: NSA scandal shows Europe would be better off without Britain
RT
Like the curious incident of the dog that didn’t bark in the nighttime in the classic Sherlock Holmes story Silver Blaze, the most revealing thing about the latest NSA spying revelations which made world headlines last week was the non-barking of the UK. While leading politicians of other European countries and officers of the EU itself were keen to express their concern over the latest revelations of US spying on its allies – the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said that US secret services were ‘out of control’ – British Prime Minister David Cameron has only said... -Full Story- (rt.com - 28/10/13)

Chief Minister Wigneswaran – So you want the Sri Lankan Army in barracks but you have no issues with the army building houses for Tamils?
Shenali D Waduge 
What can we deduce when a former Supreme Court judge now turned Chief Minister of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka in the presence of the Governor of the North delivers a speech and tells the Governor in no uncertain terms that he is not welcome and must go because the Province is ONLY for Tamils? It is nothing but childish for a man in his 70s to behave as he has knowing that being the Chief Minister does not give him ANY mandate to remove or even request to remove the Governor who by status... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

India’s Union Minister of Shipping, living in glass house, should not throw stones at Sri Lanka and its diplomats!
Asada M Erpini
A Union Minister of India has apparently said, as reported in the media on 26 October, that Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India has overstepped his boundaries, when the latter allegedly said, “those who did not participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) would face isolation”. One does not know whether one should laugh or cry as regards the attitude of the Indian Union Minister.  Sri Lanka is bombarded day in and day out with statements, advice, guidelines, pontifications, warnings, threats, etc. from every Tom, Dick and Harry in India, and more specifically in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

Tamil Nadu' Resolution to Not attend the Commonwealth Summit
Ira de Silva London, Canada
The Editor The Hindu Delhi, India Dear Sir: Reference your news report regarding the resolution passed in Tamil Nadu now supported by members of the Congress heading the UPA at the Centre as well as members of the Opposition in Delhi, it seems that anti-Sri Lanka behaviour is the only factor that unites Indian politicians who are generally at each other's throats. Once again, they are critical of Sri Lanka for votes in India. This is the same situation in Canada, the other "high profile" country which is not boycotting but sending a second... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

OPEN LETTER TO VISVANATHAN RUDRAKUMARAN-SRILANKA, TAMILS & TAMIL’S SEPARATIST MENTAL MAKE-UP & BEHAVIOURISM
Kanthar Balanathan
Dear Mr V. Rudrakumaran, SRILANKA, TAMILS & TAMIL’S SEPARATIST MENTAL MAKE-UP & BEHAVIOURISM I have listened to most of your speeches, interviews, and read articles or your narrations, most of which are questionable. You may be an Attorney in USA, however, do you think you are qualified in social sciences, have a wider knowledge in Demography, Human Geography and Political Sciences. Wouldn’t you agree that SJV Chelvanayagam is the racist who launched the ethnic hatred and division in Srilanka for personal reasons, and wouldn’t you agree that subsequently the Tamil politicians used the DC pact and the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

John Key & Co must expose the wolf in sheep's clothing - NZ Herald 24th October
Dr. Chula NA Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson, United Sri Lanka Association NZ,
The Editor, NZ Herald.  Dear Editor,  Amnesty International’s call to expose wolves in sheep’s clothing in relation to  Sri Lanka, for alleged 40,000 civilian casualties in it’s war of liberation from three decades of Tiger terror., is welcome. However who the wolf is the question, given that AI is orchestrating this allegation that   the Tiger Diaspora originated , after having received a grant of $50,000 from their war chest of billions in Jan 2012 in Canada. The other   orchestrator of these numbers, is  Tamil UNHR chief , sitting... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

Tamil Tiger supporters to gather in Ottawa to honour their Hero- Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper
Mahinda Gunasekera, Canada
Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, MP, PC Prime Minister of Canada Right Honorable Prime Minister, Your fans from amongst the Tamil Tiger supporters who earlier funded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), their killing machine, in pursuit of a  racist, mono-ethnic separate state called "Eelam" to be carved out of Sri Lanka's sovereign territory, are gathering in Ottawa on Sunday, October 28, 2013, to cheer and honour their great hero who kept his word which he solemnly gave to the Tamil Tiger rump in Toronto. Congratulations on this great honour being bestowed on you by the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

Sri Lanka assumes leadership of the Colombo Process
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva
The Chairmanship of the Colombo Process was transferred from the Government of Bangladesh to the Government of Sri Lanka during a meeting held at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva on 21 October 2013. The Colombo Process is a Regional Consultative Process on the management of overseas employment and contractual labour for countries of origin in Asia, which was initiated at Ministerial Consultations for Asian Labour Sending Countries held in 2003 in Colombo. The group includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

Obama ‘knew and approved’ NSA spying on Chancellor Merkel – report
RT
President Obama was aware of NSA spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2010, German media have revealed. An NSA spokeswoman later denied the allegations. According to German Bild am Sonntag newspaper, which cited US intelligence sources, National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander briefed Obama on the bugging operation against Merkel in 2010. "Obama did not halt the operation but rather let it continue," an unnamed high-ranking NSA official told the newspaper.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 27/10/13)

Indo-Lanka Accord
G.R.Amarasooriya
  In 1987, India undertook to disarm LTTE terrorist group in Sri Lanka and confer limited power for self-autonomy by establishing Provincial Councils. However, India miserably failed to honor this so-called “peace agreement”. While crushing Jammu-Kashmir separatist groups militarily, India masterminded the political (poly-trickal) gimmick of Indo-Lanka peace agreement to merely satisfy their political allies in Tamil Nadu. Now that the government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has successfully wiped out LTTE, India is again insisting that Sri Lanka implement the PCs acts to the letter. We strongly believe... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

Cystine kidney stones
By, Dr. Nishan Wijesinha (Specialist/Consultant), MIS Services, 107 St. Anthony’s road, Colombo 3.
Cystine kidney stones are due to the results of an excess of Cystine in the urine. Cystine which is considered a non-essential amino acid is the least soluble of all naturally occurring amino acids. As a result Cystine tends to precipitate out of urine and form stones (calculi) in the urinary tract. Small stones are passed in the urine. However, big stones remain in the kidney (nephrolithiasis) impairing the outflow of urine while medium-size stones make their way from the kidney into the ureter... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

‘India should continue supporting Burmese refugees’
By NJ Thakuria
India, which supports hundred thousand refugees from Burma (also known as Myanmar) is urged to review its existing foreign policy for safeguarding the women asylum seekers in the country as ‘they are more vulnerable and are easy target to sexual assault and other forms of exploitations’. A recent report on the plight of women refugees from the Chin province of Burma, who are taking shelter in New Delhi, also appealed to the Indian Union government to continue supporting the asylum seekers. The report titled ‘Doke Kha Bon’, which was launched at Burma Centre Delhi (BCD) office... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/13)

Are Casinos Good or Bad to Sri Lanka? (part 2)
 Herold Leelawardena
There is a lot of new oil money in the African continent. No wonder South Africa has 45 casinos and over 37,000 slots. Those numbers has made South Africa the biggest casino operator in the African continent. What I wanted to emphasize is, SA has been attracting all the high heeled gamblers of neighbouring countries and siphoning most of their corrupt money.  Today, all most all countries in Africa wanted to follow that lead by SA. And over 40 African countries had legalized casinos to date.  Every one of those countries compete with each other to grab each other’s corrupt... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/13)

Chief Minister Wigneswaran says,"Remove Major Gen. Chandrasiri as Governor and withdraw army from the North"
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
At the inaugural session of the Northern Provincial Council, Chief Minister Wignesvaran had called for the removal of Major Gen. Chandrasiri as Governor of the North. He had said, "The people do not want a military official serving as Governor of Northern Province. They want a senior civil servant". He had also said that the army should be confined to the barracks in order to continue the post-war development activities. During the 30 year war, it was the army which saved the people of the North from atrocities committed by the terrorists. The LTTE treated the people in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/13)

German Chancellor Merkel on NSA spy list since 2002 – reports
RT
The German Chancellor-s mobile phone has been on an NSA target list since 2002 and was code-named “GE Chancellor Merkel”, according to Der Spiegel. The paper also reports that President Obama assured Merkel that he did not know her phone was tapped. The monitoring operation was still in force even a few weeks before Obama-s visit to Berlin in June 2013.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 26/10/13)

StopWatchingUs rally against mass surveillance: Live Updates
RT
Thousands are marching on the National Mall in Washington, DC to protest covert NSA surveillance operations on the anniversary of the Patriot Act. The organizers are planning to present Congress with a petition which has acquired over 570,000 signatures. Stop Watching Us is a collective of 100 public advocacy groups, among them the American Civil Liberties Union, Freedom Works, as well as individuals like Chinese artist/activist Ai Weiwei and Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who worked with Edward Snowden to expose many of the NSA’s surveillance procedures. The began at 11:30 am local time on October 26 – the 12th... -Full Story- (rt.com - 26/10/13)

Are Casinos Good or Bad to Sri Lanka? (part 1)
Herold Leelawardena
 "If Sri Lanka is to maintain the present growth, we need to attract investments", so sermonize minister Yapa. I do not know of anyone who would argue against it. James Packer of Crown Investment says he is bringing 400 million dollars to Sri Lanka as a part of the much needed investment. What we cannot understand is; if Packer is paying no tax whatsoever for the next 10 +3 years, pray tell us, how the government intend to earn its share from casinos. We can understand the tax reliefs for the hotel part of the business but... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/13)

Sri Lanka : Most of the 19 ‘Journalists’ killed were LTTE or killed by LTTE
Shenali D Waduge
The Committee for the Protection of Journalists – CPJ has released a list of 19 ‘journalists’ it claims to have been killed since 1992 in Sri Lanka. CPJ includes 39 journalists killed worldwide in 2013 – none reported in Sri Lanka since January 2009. In total 1007 journalists are said to have been killed worldwide since 1992, 595 of this number murdered with impunity, whatever that implies, meanwhile 456 journalists are said to live in exile since 2008. When terrorists do not have an internationally accepted definition and neither do journalists we arrive at a very... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/13)

Tamil Nadu is not India and India is not Tamil Nadu: CM of Tamil Nadu and PM of India should go by that fact
Asada M Erpini
 Media report on 25 October that the Tamil Nadu Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution, “India should totally boycott the meeting in deference to the overwhelming feeling and sentiments of Tamils”. And, who, may I ask, is behind the resolution? It is none other than the Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu, who apparently cannot come out of the fantasy, make-believe world that propelled her into politics, thanks to her links to the biggest celluloid hero of Tamil Nadu.  The resolution reportedly states, “Only a boycott would bring about a genuine change in attitude to the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/13)

They Came, Saw And Conquered Nothing, Returning To Their Respective Domains Empty Handed Yet Mr.David Cameron Wants To Get Tough On The Same Issues Too.
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial
When British Prime Minister David Cameron seeks to have "very tough conversations" with the Sri Lankan Government on human rights issues during next month's Commonwealth Summit in Colombo is seems a curiosity to say the least!   And when  he says he will  also visit the Tamil- dominated war-torn north towards fact finding beyond being a precedent it sounds a bit authoritative unless he observes the necessary protocols, attempts no litigation and conducts himself with the dignity expected of his status as the political leader of the United Kingdom rather than adopt a get tough stance as... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/13)

India’s CHOGM dilemma: “Leave Sri Lanka alone”
Asada M Erpini
 A report in the Indian media dated 25 October, reproduced locally, talks of the Indian PM’s dilemma vis a vis attending the commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in November in Sri Lanka.  In a few places in the report, there is mention of the “human rights issues and the alleged human rights violations by the Sri Lanka government”. One of the key words here is “alleged”: no one can be punished based on allegations. Allegations have to be proved, beyond reasonable doubt, with evidence. The ‘evidence’ that is being bandied about... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/13)

THE ROVING EYE- Will the House of Saud pivot to China?
By Pepe Escobar
The favorite geopolitical sport du jour is to deconstruct the reasons why the House of Saud - that marriage of hyper-absolute monarchy and Wahhabi fanatics - has gone completely bonkers, with the ineffable Bandar Bush in the frontline. They are terrified with the possibility that the 34-year Wall of Mistrust between Washington and Tehran finally tumbles down. They are terrified that those American infidels refused to fight "our" regime change war on Syria. They were horrified by (mild)... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 25/10/13)

THE SAKER-Bandar Bush-s mad, mad world
Atimes
All signs are showing that the otherwise secretive Saudi regime is angry. Very, very angry. Not only did the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia refuse to take a seat at the UN Security Council, [1] but now the Saudi spy chief, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, appears to be threatening a "major shift" in "relations with the United States at its perceived inaction over the Syria war and its overtures to Iran". The Wall Street Journal provides further details:... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 25/10/13)

Irritated EU leaders voice ‘lack of trust’ with US after spying claims
RT
EU leaders say their relations with the US have been undermined by reports of NSA spying on European leaders and ordinary citizens. A partnership with America should be built on respect and trust, they said in a joint statement. The statement was released Friday amid the ongoing summit of top European politicians in Brussels. It said the reports of American surveillance in Europe have raised “deep concerns” among citizens and may harm cooperation with the US as well as cooperation within the EU, particularly in such a “vital” area as counter-terrorism.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 25/10/13)

Stop Watching Us: Snowden supports largest privacy rally scheduled for Saturday in Washington DC
RT
While Americans continue to learn more about the data surveillance program run by the National Security Agency, civil liberties groups are organizing what’s being billed as the largest privacy rally in United States history. The Rally Against Mass Surveillance – run by a coalition of over 100 public advocacy groups known as Stop Watching Us – will take place Saturday, October 26 in Washington, D.C. Thousands are expected to attend the event, where organizers will deliver a petition to Congress signed by more than 500,000 people opposed to the NSA’s policies.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 25/10/13)

Who is the pariah? State or “Paki”? – Part II
H. L. D. Mahindapala
 The acronym NGOs is a misnomer. It does it conform in any way to its intended definition. It is meant to stand for Non-Governmental Organizations. This is far from the truth of what it really is. In all respects – organizational, personnel, political and selected agendas -- these institutions operates as extensions of foreign governments. The foreign governments outsource the dirty part of their foreign policies to these local agents who are bought readily for a fistful of dollars. So how can agencies of foreign governments be non-governmental organizations? The foreign governments find it cheaper... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/13)

Reversing Fifty Six Policies
S. Akurugoda
According to local and foreign media reports, the bill for the establishment of two casino projects, including one backed by Australian gambling mogul James Packer is withdrawn temporarily, after protests from within the ruling coalition's ranks, is expected to be passed when it is eventually introduced because President Mahinda Rajapakse's party has a majority in parliament. As per Australian media,  Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena  denied the bill has been axed, , saying it was being reworked so that the 10-year tax holiday was confined to the hotel operations and not the casino side of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/13)

Life Abroad - Part 50-LANKAN DUPED BRITISH
Dr.Tilak Fernando
Sri Lankans are reputed to be brainy. Mother Lanka has generated a high proportion of outstanding scholars in multiple of professions out of her 20 million children. The intellectual acumen of the Sri Lankan brain has enabled many to excel as global scientists, transnational eminent lawyers, medical surgeons (winning Gold Scalpel Awards), business tycoons, as well as international reprobates! One such Sri Lankan who became globally known as an "international swindler and confidence trickster" was a Tamil known as Michael Marion Emil Anacletus Pierre Saundranayagam (Emil Savundra). Background Hailing from a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/13)

ප්‍රංශයේ එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂ, පැරිස් සංවිධානයේ නිලවරණය සහ මහා සභා රැස්වීම 20-10-2013
ප්‍රංශයේ එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය
ප්‍රංශයේ එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂ, පැරිස් සංවිධානයේ නිලවරණය සහ මහා සභා රැස්වීම 20-10-2013   විදේශගත එක්සත් ජාතික පාක්ෂිකයින් බලමුලු ගැන්වීමේ වැඩසටහනේ පුරෝගාමී මෙහෙවරක යෙදෙන ප්‍රංශයේ එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂ පැරිස් සංවිධානයේ  මහා සභා රැස්වීම සහ නිලවරණය 20-10-2013 දින පැරීසීයේදී පැවැත්විණි.   විවිධ වැඩසටහන් ක්‍රියාත්මක කරමින් පක්ෂයේ වර්ධනයටද, ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුල සිටින පාක්ෂිකයනට සහනයක්ද, ප්‍රංශය තුල විවිධ ක්‍රීඩා හා සංස්කෘතික වැඩසටහන සංවිධානය කරමින් පැරීසිය තුල එක්සත් ජාතික පාක්ෂිකයන්ගේ නොමඳ ප්‍රසාදයට පත්ව ඇති මෙම සමිතියේ එදින මහා සභා රැස්වීමට විශාල පිරිසක් සහභාගී විය.   එදින නිලවරණයේදී මෙහි සභාපති ලෙස නිහාල් අජන්ත කල්දේරා මහතාද, ලේකම් ලෙස සුමිත් විතානගේ මහතාද, භාණ්ඩාගාරික... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/13)

LAST FIG LEAF IS GONE
Editorial  Daily News
Amnesty International may not be the most credible agency that documents so called human rights violations, but there is no reason at all for the organization to come up with trumped up allegations when it concerns the United States of America which along with other Western powers probably accounts for the major part of the organization's funding. So when Amnesty International states that the U.S government drone operation in Pakistan is illegal, and is tantamount to a war crime, that snatches the last fig leaf... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/13)

NSA spied on phones of 35 world leaders
RT
The National Security Agency eavesdropped on hundreds of phone numbers belonging to dozens of world leaders, newly leaked documents supplied by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden reveal. Britain’s Guardian newspaper wrote Thursday that a classified memo provided to them by Mr. Snowden suggests that the NSA encouraged officials within the United States government and intelligence community to share among their colleagues contact information pertaining to international heads of state.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 24/10/13)

Top spying fallout: EU summit promises NSA thunder, data-protection storm
RT
Ahead of the EU summit in Brussels, Germany’s Angel Merkel and France’s Francois Hollande have discussed wiretapping of their communications by America’s NSA. The scandal could push a frustrated EU to change data privacy rules. The EU summit starting Thursday is expected to be hijacked by recent revelations provided by the former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, which infuriated both Berlin and Paris.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 24/10/13)

EU parliament votes to suspend US from financial databank to avoid spying
RT
The European Parliament voted Wednesday for US access to the global financial database held by a Belgian company to be suspended because of concerns that the US is snooping on the database for financial gain rather than just to combat terrorism.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 24/10/13)

-Unacceptable-: Merkel calls Obama over suspicion US monitored her cell phone
RT
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called President Obama over the German government-s suspicions the US could have tapped her mobile phone. Barack Obama assured Merkel that his country is not monitoring her communications. Earlier, the German government spokesman said that Berlin had information the US National Security Agency (NSA) could have been spying on Merkel. This was followed by the country-s Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle summoning the US ambassador to provide more clarity on the matter.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 24/10/13)

CHOGM 2013 cannot ignore Western Christian Colonial Crimes in Africa
Shenali D Waduge
In the absence of Western influenced local press opting not to highlight the injustices to Africa by Western Christian colonial rule, this attempt is to place before readers a part of history kept in the dark so that people realize who the real criminals are. There is no meaning to justice if justice is not equal, without time bars and without omitting history’s real villains. Edem Kodjo, author of 'Africa Tomorrow' describes the condition of the African as "torn away from his past, propelled into a universe fashioned from outside that suppresses his values, and dumbfounded... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/10/13)

Indecision of Indian PM on attending CHOGM
Asada M Erpini
A number of reports have appeared in the Sri Lankan as well as in the Indian media that the Prime Minister of ‘mighty’ India is not yet decided whether or not he should attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in November in Sri Lanka, apparently because of the unfair treatment that the Tamils of Sri Lanka receive today. The gentleman is reportedly taking all factors into consideration before he arrives at a decision. The average Sri Lankan is not a fool. All factors that the Indian PM talks about are... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/10/13)

TNA leader Sampanthan urges India to boycott CHOGM
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
TNA leader Sampanthan, speaking to reporters at Tamil Nadu Head Quarters, had requested the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh to boycott the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting) which is to be held in Sri Lanka in November. He had asked the Indian Govt to seriously consider the views of Tamil Nadu leaders as well with regard to India's participation. The TNA was one time the mouth-piece of the LTTE. Tamil Nadu leaders  from the AIADMK and DMK have asked the Central Govt to boycott the CHOGM. The Congress is at the mercy of Tamil Nadu as they need their support to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/10/13)

SB lambastes Premadasas for ethnic turmoil, UNP crisis
 By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy Island
Had President Ranasinghe Premadasa allowed the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF)-run first North East Provincial Council (NEPC) to function, the Eelam conflict wouldn’t have taken such a destructive course, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake asserted yesterday. He said that President Premadasa had joined forces with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran instead backing the first NE Chief Minister Varatharaja Perumal’s administration. President Premadasa was bent on sabotaging the provincial administration regardless of consequences, the minister said. He was responding to a query on a live political discussion, on the ITN yesterday morning. Perumal... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/10/13)

SPEAKING FREELY Saudi Arabia: The real terror tyrant
By Nauman Sadiq
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say. Please click here if you are interested in contributing. Social selection plays the same role in the social sciences which the natural selection plays in the biological sciences: it selects the traits, norms and values which are most beneficial to the host culture. Seen from this angle, social diversity is a desirable quality for social progress since when diverse customs and value-systems compete with each other, they take the best and reject the worst from each.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 23/10/13)

Communists seek jail terms for those who call for Russia’s breakup
RT
The leader of Russian Communists has said that calls for breakup of the Russian Federation are inspired by the ‘Imperial West’ and should be punished by a jail term. “We, our MPs, must submit a suggestion that even verbal calls for dividing the single and indivisible Russia are punished by prison sentence,” Gennady Zyuganov told the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) plenum that took place over the weekend in suburban Moscow.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 23/10/13)

NSA lies? Agency lacks evidence it thwarted 54 terrorist attacks
RT
Is the United States government’s use of broad surveillance authorities as effective of a counterterrorism tool as its advocates make it out to be? A new report suggests remarks made by high power figures to defend the spy powers are largely exaggerated. Influential members of Congress and the intelligence community alike continue to contend the secretive National Security Agency tactics made public by Edward Snowden earlier this year, with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) — the chairwoman of the Senate’s committee on intelligence — defending those programs as recently as this week in a highly-read USA Today op-ed. As supporters... -Full Story- (rt.com - 23/10/13)

Unacceptable: Merkel calls Obama over suspicion US monitored her cell phone
RT
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called President Obama over the German government-s suspicions the US could have tapped her mobile phone. Barack Obama assured Merkel that his country is not monitoring her communications. Earlier, the German government spokesman said that Berlin had information the US National Security Agency (NSA) could have been spying on Merkel. “We swiftly sent a request to our American partners asking for an immediate and comprehensive clarification,” Steffen Seibert said in a statement, Reuters cites.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 23/10/13)

Well Done Malaysia! In Incarcerating The Sycophants Of The Team Four Documentary. Hopefully Others Will Follow.
Insight By Sunil Kumar
October 23rd 2013  The  adjudicators of the trial of a woman in Malaysia who faces jail for screening a Channel Four film  now infamous albeit purportedly popularised as  having won some awards (from which donor one wonders ? ~ linked to myopia and insensitivity for all the wrong reasons perhaps !) about Sri Lanka needs to be assertive and definitive as well as precedent setting towards discouraging others from broadcasting the exaggerated lies and innuendo this film has portrayed and the damage its has purportedly caused towards the smooth functioning of Sri Lanka as a Sovereign Nation emerging from... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/13)

Sri Lanka: Former Canada's Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's comment
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
21 October 2013 The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Dear Editor: Your news item “Don’t boycott Sri Lanka: Mulroney – Canada can do more at meeting, former prime minister says”, confirmed one thing to me.  That there are sane individuals among the Conservative political community of  Canadian Prime Ministers. Canada sending a down graded delegation to the Commonwealth Summit headed by Deepak Obhrai, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs most definitely has lost the opportunity to engage with Sri Lanka and influence decisions at... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/13)

Sri Lanka Deserves Support - Editorial 21 st October
Dr. Chula NA Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson,United Sri Lanka Assn. Lower Hutt NZ
Dear Editor,  Thank you for your above editorial and the arguments supporting your call, which we appreciate no end.    It is indeed a sad  irony that some  appear to have forgotten that for three decades 20 million Sri Lankans had their most basic Human Right , the right to life threatened, by Tiger Terror and are instead are getting carried away by unsubstantiated allegations HR violations in the last three months of their war of liberation from this terror, originating primarily from the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/13)

Packer packed home empty handed
Ranjith Soysa MELBOURNE
The report that the Casino King Packer was sent home empty handed  defies  all attempts to mislead the whole country by establishing a Casino empire in D R.Wijewardane Mawatha and in Slave Island  under the pretext of building a hotel complex  By following moribund economic strategy of beggar my neighbor policy the Government is attempting  to push Sri Lanka into a bottom less pit where at the end there will be tens of thousands of Sri Lankans looking forward and lazily dependent on the wheel of fortune and the investor leaving the infra structure after collecting... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/13)

US may be guilty of war crimes over drone use – Amnesty Intl
RT
US officials responsible for carrying out drone strikes may have to stand trial for war crimes, says a report by Amnesty International, which lists civilian casualties in the attacks in Pakistan. Human Rights Watch has issued similar report on Yemen. The Amnesty International report is based on the investigation of the nine out of 45 drone strikes reported between January 2012 and August 2013 in North Waziristan, the area where the US drone campaign is most intensive. The research is centered on one particular case – that of 68-year-old Mamana Bibi, who was killed by a US drone last... -Full Story- (rt.com - 22/10/13)

Radical Islamist groups used to stir up ‘foreign-managed conflicts’-Putin:
Courtesy RT
The Russian President has said the country's Muslim leaders together with state authorities must counter the modern tendency of bringing politics into religion and making it radical. “Some political forces are using Islam, or, to be more precise, its radical movements that have never been popular among Russian Muslims, to weaken our state and to create regions with foreign-managed conflicts on Russian territory,” Putin said at the celebration of the 225th anniversary of the Central Spiritual Administration of Russian Muslims – the body responsible for cooperation between Muslims and state officials. “An active and not always positive... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/13)

Decolonizing Sri Lanka’s Sepoy Press
Shenali D Waduge
With only days apart for the Commonwealth Heads of Government to arrive in Sri Lanka for what is being looked forward to as ‘the’ most prestigious event on Sri Lanka’s calendar; what cannot escape attention is the manner that Sri Lanka’s Press has been functioning. No one argues with the role of media as watchdog but the issue is when the watchdog is acting to project a version seen through only one lens – the Western. To be more specific, when the CHOGM comprises 53 former colonized nations, now supposedly free and ‘sovereign’ why is it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/13)

TNA demanded devolution and rights of Tamil people - now they want to restore tombs of dead terrorists.
By Charles.S.Perera
 TNA was making the whole world hear that the Sri Lanka government has denied the Tamil people their rights. But now that they have come to power with a large majority in the Provincial Council election, they seem not to know  what rights to  give to the Tamil people, about which they were concerned  before.  The President of Sri Lanka and his Government during the four years after the elimination of terrorism under whose  iron  boots the poor Tamil people in the north had been suffering, went all out to provide them the facilities  they were denied ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/13)

Sri Lanka: Former Canada's Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's comment
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario .Canada
21 October 2013 The Editor (Letters)     THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Dear Editor: Your news item “Don’t boycott Sri Lanka: Mulroney – Canada can do more at meeting, former prime minister says”, confirmed one thing to me.  That there are sane individuals among the Conservative political community of Prime Ministers,  MPs and Senators. Canada sending a down graded delegation to the Commonwealth Summit headed by Deepak Obhrai, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs most definitely has lost the opportunity to engage with Sri Lanka and influence decisions... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/13)

Most Eagerly Awaited Annual Event Since 2004 - the “11th China Products Exhibition” To Boost Manufacturing And Trading Opportunities For Indian Entrepreneurs
11th Worldex China Expo - PRESS RELEASE
x  Chinese and Hong Kong companies from more than 40 sectors to come to Mumbai with a variety of industrial and consumer products x  Style Hong Kong Pavilion will be an added attraction  Being organized since 2004, the 11th edition of “China Products (Mumbai, India) Exhibition” will take place from 26th – 28th November, 2013 at the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (East), Mumbai, India. The longest running China Exhibition in India and also the definitive international sourcing platform for Indian business enterprises, this unique trade expo showcases more than 40... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/13)

Kathina Pinkama at Das Buddhistische Haus (Berlin Vihara) in Germany
German Dharmaduta Society
Kathina is a Theravada Buddhist Festival which comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat. It is usually held, beginning after the full moon of the eleventh month in the Lunar calendar (usually October). Kathina is a time of giving, for the laity to express gratitude to monks.  Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks. A Kathina Pinkama was held at Das Buddhistische Haus (Berlin Vihara) on Sunday October 20, 2013 and on the preceding day Saturday October 19, a Pirith reciting ceremony was conducted.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/13)

Tamils liberated from their fascist past, at last!
 H. L. D. Mahindapala
Part 1 Sri Lankan politics has been bedeviled by Tamil extremists whose political ambitions far exceed their capacity to achieve them.  The delusional politics of the political mytho-maniacs of the north led them all the way from Vadukoddai to Nandkadal. They have yet to realize that they were defeated, among  other primary factors, by their own arrogance, intransigence and stupidity that impelled them to miss the grand opportunities that came their way with the help of Indian (Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement) and Norwegian (Oslo Accord) interventions. If they grabbed the Oslo Accord, or even Chandrika Kumaratunga’s... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/13)

Has oil-rich Norway got nothing better to use their money except on training Terrorists?
Prof. Hudson McLean
 Has oil-rich Norway got nothing better to use their money except on training Terrorists? Thanks to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka got rid of terrorism of LTTE Tamil Tiger Terrorists after over a 30 year annihilation of innocent citizens. It was a proven fact that Norway, its government and its diplomats in Sri Lanka, spear-headed by Erik Solheim a Minister, supported & helped the Tamil Tiger Terrorists with Training, Funding & Weapons. Has the Norwegian terrorist enterprise turned its energies into supporting Somali terrorists? This is not a Sri Lankan media publication,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/13)

Tamils Living and Registered in Colombo Voted Illegally for TNA at NPC Election
Dilrook Kannangara
TNA election result surprised even the TNA leadership and it was certainly higher in percentage terms than the landmark 1977 election in Jaffna and Vanni districts (when electorate results are added). However, widespread cheating took place at the election. Tamils who are originally from Jaffna but living in Colombo and other areas made the journey to the north a day before the election, voted and came back to Colombo a few days after the election. This was confided to the writer by a number of Tamils hailing from the north but living in Colombo, Gampaha and Kandy... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/13)

Call for merger of the North & East by Chief Minister Wigneswaran
P.A.Samaraweera, Australia
The Chief Minister of the Northern Province Vigneswaran, has called for the merger of the North and the East. The population of the East comprises not only of Tamils but Sinhalese and Muslims as well. According to reports, the Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims living in the East are in equal number. If there is a merger, the Sinhalese and the Muslims in the East would become a minority and would come under the heels of the TNA. Therefore, any move by the TNA to merge the North and the East should be vehemently opposed. Following the Indo-Lanka Accord they were merged by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/13)

Are chairmen of state corporations of a higher breed than ordinary civilians?
T. Veda Manickam Colombo- Courtesy Sunday Times
I had some work to do at the Lanka Cement office which is housed in the State Engineering Corporation building at Ramanayake Mawatha (opposite Bishops College) in Colombo. I proceeded to the 7th floor office and having completed my business took the public lift to the ground floor. It stopped on the 6th floor and a security guard told me to step out. I asked why and the response was “the chairman has to use the lift”. I stepped out and then took another lift. Where in the world does an individual holding... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/13)

Save energy with low fire cooking.
Dr Hector Perera         London
We have to realise that foods have a certain quantity of water in them, may be more water in certain foods than the others. I am sure that anybody can understand energy can be saved with low fire cooking. There are many acceptable reasons why one should cook on low fire. Then only juice in foods such as vegetables and meat come out slowly, ooze out then slowly react with the spices, oils or butter etc. Many people just put fire at full blast and cook then very likely to burn the whole thing because... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/13)

අමරතුංග නියෝජනය කරන බලාධිකාරය
Nalin de Silva
සේවාර්ජිත (සම්මානිත) මහාචාර්ය ඩී එස් සී උපාධිධාරී එන් ඒ ද එස්. අමරතුංග හෙවත් අශෝක අමරතුංග මහතා විසින් පසුගිය සතියේ විදුසර පුවත්පතට නවීන විද්‍යාව බොරුවක් ද යන මැයෙන් ලියන ලද ලිපියට පිළිතුරු දීමට ඉදිරි ලිපි කිහිපය වෙන් කෙරෙනු ඇත. ඒ මහතාගේ ලිපිය මගේ අදහස් අරභයා කරන ලද විවේචනයකි. අමරතුංග මහතා එම ලිපියෙහි මගේ නම සඳහන් නොවන බවත් තොප්පිය හරියන්නේ නම් ඒ දාගත්තාට වරදක් නැති බවත් කීමට ඉඩ ඇත. තොප්පි මෙන් ම අනෙක් අයගේ තොප්පි දමන්නවුන් ද හඳුනාගැනීමට මට හැකි ය. ඒ කුමක් වුවත් මේ වන විට බටහිර විද්‍යාව පට්ටපල් බොරුවක් බව ප්‍රසිද්ධියේ කියන්නේ මා පමණ ය. එසේ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/13)

ශ‍්‍රී ලංකාවේ පළමු විද්‍යා උද්‍යානය සහ නැනෝ තාක්‍ෂණ ‘‘විශිෂ්ටත්වයේ කේන්ද්‍රය’’ හෙට විවෘත කෙරේ.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  තාක්‍ෂණ හා පර්යේෂණ අමාත්‍යංශය
    ආයෝජනය රු. මිලියන 2081.5 ක් සියළු පර්යේෂණ දේශීය විද්‍යාඥයින් මෙහෙයවයි. 2006 වසරේදී නැනෝ තාක්ෂණය පිළිබඳව ශ‍්‍රී ලංකාවේ පර්යේෂණ සහ සංවර්ධන කටයුතු කිරීම සඳහා සැළසුම් සකස් වූ අතර එහි ප‍්‍රතිඵලයක් ලෙස 2008 වසරේදී ශ‍්‍රී ලංකා නිනිති තාක්‍ෂණ ආයතනය (SLINTEC) බිහි විය. 2009 වර්ෂයේ දී ඔවුන් සිය පර්යේෂණ කටයුතු ආරම්භ කර ඇත. මෙම ව්‍යාපෘතිය සඳහා රජය ආයෝජනය කර ඇති මුදල රුපියල් මිලියන 1771.5 කි. (රු. මිලියන එක්දහස් හත්සිය හැත්තෑ එකයි දශම පහකි) පෞද්ගලික අංශයෙන් MAS, බ‍්‍රැන්ඩික්ස්, ඩයලොග්, හේලීස්, ලෝඞ්ස්ටාර් සහ ලංකෙම් ආයතන මෙම ව්‍යාපෘතියට ආයෝජනය කර ඇති මුදල රු. මිලියන 310 කි. තරඟකාරී ලෝක... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/13)

Page 1 of 2-Bonfire of the straw men
By Peter Lee
Per my personal transcript of the October 17 NPR Marketplace, the popular, liberal-leaning US radio business show, an exchange between anchor David Brancaccio and Shanghai correspondent Rob Schmitz took as its point of departure the temerity of a Chinese rating agency, Dagong, in downgrading US debt:... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 20/10/13)

THE ROVING EYE-"Our" weaponized Wahhabi bastards
By Pepe Escobar
Life is good if you-re a member of the Gulf Counter-revolution Club, officially known as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). You can crush the Arab Spring at will. You can hire goons all across dar-al-Islam to advance a sectarian Sunni-Shi-ite divide. You can be deeply implicated in the destruction of Syria. You can treat a significant part of your own population as third-class citizens. Not only you get away with it; you get rewarded with expensive toys. And in one particular case - Saudi Arabia - even with a two-year seat at the UN Security Council.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 20/10/13)

Cutting NHS spending: UK doctors given bonuses for placing patients on ‘death lists’
RT
General practitioners in England have been receiving £50 bonuses for placing patients on controversial ‘death lists’ in order to reduce the number of occupied hospital beds. The move is yet another tactic aimed at cutting NHS costs, UK media reported. Each death which occurs outside an NHS hospital has been calculated to save the health system some £1,000 ($1,600) in England. On average, deaths which occur inside NHS hospitals cost the service around £3,065 (just under $5000), while those elsewhere cost £2,107 (around $3,400).... -Full Story- (rt.com - 20/10/13)

Dayan Jayatillake’s Conduct Reminds Ummagga Jataka and Airplane Hijackers
Dilrook Kannangara
Dayan’s tone is getting more desperate as years pass. His outrageous outbursts are not commensurate with what Sri Lanka has achieved and continues to achieve post-war. Interestingly it has more to do with Indian hegemonic concerns. The more the Indian hegemonic interests are under threat, the more desperate Dayan becomes. Apart from the stench of his bragging, he is up to something nastier that will pit the nation into the dangers of the New Great Game earning enemies than friends. His cunning tactics closely resemble the acts of spies in Buddhist folklore Ummagga Jataka. The only difference... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/13)

Jan Logies Comments On CHOGM - Dompost 7th Oct '13
 Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson, United Sri Lanka Association, Lower Hutt.
Editor, Dom Post.   Dear Editor,   Green MP Jan Logies’s comments on the upcoming CHOGM in Colombo, (Dompost 17/10) would indicate that she is a  victim of the vicious campaign to wrongly discredit Sri Lanka currently rife nationally and internationally. Prominent in this campaign is the film “ No Fire Zone”, doing the same round,  at which screening in Wellington, by Amnesty International , Ms Logie figured prominently. This film is a collection of amateur video footage showing gruesome carnage of war, unattributed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/13)

Packer in talks with Sri Lankan Government over planned casino
Australian billionaire James Packer plans to pump $400 million into a five-star gambling resort in Sri Lanka, cashing in on the country-s tourism potential. The businessman has revealed he is in detailed discussions with the Sri Lankan government and potential joint venture partners to develop the resort, which will have 450 rooms as well as restaurants, retail stores, conference facilities and gambling spaces.... -Full Story- (abc.net.au - 19/10/13)

Taking up the ‘Non-White Man’s Burden’: President Rajapakse should not miss this unique opportunity
Shenali D. Waduge
"White man's burden" was a phrase coined by author Rudyard Kipling in 1899. It referred to the idea that white races in Europe and the United States had a responsibility to educate and Christianize "uncivilized" and "primitive" peoples of the world. ‘Burden’ implied a moral rationale lending it a Christian duty to justify British and American imperialism overseas at a time wherein British sphere of colonial influence spanned the globe. The geographical reach of the British Empire led to the metaphorical statement that ‘the sun never sets on the British Empire’. The underlying notion... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Restoring LTTE cemeteries is high treason: ITAK members aiming to do it need to be punished!
Asada M Erpini
 Media reported on 17 October that the Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabha, controlled by ITAK, has passed a resolution that it wishes to restore the LTTE cemeteries that the armed forces of the legally elected government of the Sovereign Republic of Sri Lanka destroyed during (and after) the campaign that the latter launched to rid the country of the Tamil terrorist curse that plagued the island nation for a near three-decade period. If any individual or group wishes to resurrect the LTTE, or the symbols or monuments in the memory of the blood thirsty gang that killed nearly... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Honourable Indian Prime Minister, please give the CHOGM a miss: true Sri Lankans will not miss you
Asada M Erpini
 The poor Prime Minister of India is in a pathetic dilemma: he is reported to have said that he would take all factors into consideration before he makes a decision to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that is scheduled to be held in Colombo, in Sri Lanka, in November. He is lying: his only concern is the support from Jayalalitha and others of Tamil Nadu to keep his government going.  There are almost 15 million Sri Lankans who would suggest to the Indian PM the obvious course of action open to him: “Please do... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Hard Fact About Amnesty international’s Involvement With LTTE ( With References)
Dr. C.N A Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson, United Sri Lanka Association Wellington NZ
“No Fire Zone” A Collection Of Amateur Video Footage , Unattributed and  Uncorroborated  With Comment From Mainly Unnamed Sources With Distorted Voices And Blurred Faces  Held Together By Assumptions And An Intemperate And Partisan Commentary, Blaming The Human Carnage Seen In Any War To The SL Forces Rather Than The Tamil Tigers Who Are Best Known To Cause Such Carnage With Their Indiscriminate & Suicide Bombing Why Is AI Giving Such Adverse Publicity To Sri Lanka  Selectively ? Is AI Simply Singing For Their Breakfast From Tiger... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Life Abroad _ Part 49 HOLY MATRIMONY........? IS IT.....!
Dr. Tilak Fernando
Open the Marriage Proposal columns and what do we see? Virtually two full pages of matrimonial advertisements! These are paid classified insertions by parents or close relatives seeking assistance to help their loved ones to settle down in matrimony. Even in the 21st century most of the Sri Lankan elders seem to dwell in old stereotype pre-conditioned ideas of their caste, creed, pedigree, religion or wealth! It does not make much of a difference in London either among the Sri Lankan diaspora where this pattern has become contagious. In Sri Lankan tabloids published... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Why I will Never, Ever, Go Back to U.S
Niels Gerson Lohman   Courtesy: huffingtonpost.com
After a year of travelling, I had planned a last, short trip. I was going to take the train from Montreal to New Orleans. The travels I had been undertaking earlier this year had brought me to places that were meant to form the background of my second novel. This trip, however, was for my dad. He, a trumpet player, loved New Orleans and had died a year ago. It felt like the first sensible trip I undertook this year. I had... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Fake Oxford, Cambridge mania
By  PA Niroshan Pathberiya Courtesy The Nation
It is undeniable that everyone with a sense of education would consider it an honor to attend a university like Oxford or Cambridge in England. An opportunity to study at Oxford or Cambridge comes through a challenging as well as costly process.  Fluency in English is a must as well as vigorous academic performance, when it comes to gaining admission.  In simple terms it is “once in a lifetime opportunity”. Nevertheless, a conscious walk along a town , looking at the posters or watch television can make you realize that Oxford and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Seminar - Toxic Natural Elements &Their Possible Implication on Chronic kidney Disease of unknown Origin (CKDU) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
May I bring to your kind attention to the notice of an important seminar on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown origin in Sri Lanka Context to be discussed on this month Thrusday at 5.30 pm at Met Dept (former Bullers rd- Baudhaloka Mw) Auditorium at 5.30 pm-7.30 pm by  Professor Chandre Dharmawardene, Former Professor of Chemistry, University of Ceylon, Vidyodaya Campus, Former VC Vidoydaya Campus, Now Ajunct Professor of Physics at Monreal & Snr Research fellow at NRC Ottawa will speak on        CKDU - A critique of the available evidence and future        directions... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

‘FTA the biggest leap since ‘52 Rubber Rice pact’-Jianhua, China’s powerful int’l trade Minister
PRESS COMMUNIQUE – MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY & COMMERCE, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 17, 2013
·        ‘FTA not only for trade but goes beyond!’– Jianhua ·        Sino-Lanka historic trade up by a massive 306% ·        ‘8000 products open for you through our FTAs!’ - Rishad ·        ‘Lanka a priority country for us!’ – Jianhua The forthcoming China-Sri Lanka FTA is the biggest development in Sino-Lanka cooperation history since the 1952 Rubber-Rice Pact. And China is keen to see the groundwork on this FTA completed by December this year.  “My mission is to start the China-Sri Lanka FTA process. The forthcoming... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Balangoda Bunkum
R Chandrasoma
Two propositions pertaining to matters historical (and anthropological) are widely held to be true by the literati of Sri Lanka. The first is that there existed in our fabled Island a distinctive  human type called 'Balangoda Man' - so named by its ‘discoverer’ – Dr. P E P Deraniyagala. The second is that the Sinhala Race is, for the most part, descended from this ancient and distinctive archetype. Both propositions are false. There is no recognized human sub-species that is unique to Sri Lanka and has the warrent of physio-anthropological authentication. By this I mean the existence... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Ambassador Hangawatte accredited to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation
Embassy of Sri Lanka in France MEDIA RELEASE
Sri Lanka’s envoy to Paris and UNESCO, Ambassador Professor Karunaratne Hangawatte presented Credentials to the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Dr Taleb Rifai at the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid, Spain. Having called on the Secretary General on 14th October 2013, Ambassador Hangwatte acknowledged the role of tourism and stressed the rapid development of this vital sector in Sri Lanka. He welcomed the functions of the UNWTO in promoting various areas of tourism while emphasizing the importance of sustainable development. He stressed that booming economic conditions, the safe environment... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Khalifa of Islam on real Eid of Sacrifice.
By A. Abdul Aziz.
The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, delivered the Eid Sermon from the Baitul Huda Mosque in Sydney, Australia on 16 October 2013 in front of an audience of more than 2,000 people, whilst millions of other people around the world had the opportunity to watch his address live on MTA International.   During his sermon, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad praised the sacrifices of the Prophet Abraham and his family. His Holiness said that true Muslims should learn from their pious examples. He said that the slaughter of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/10/13)

Critics say multilateral disdain led to Commonwealth review
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
 16 October 2013   Editor EMBASSY, Ottawa   Dear Editor:   I am confused.  In your  political essay "Critics say multilateral disdain led to Commonwealth review", you say, "Mr. Harper made the funding announcement on the fringes of a larger declaration that he would not be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting set to take place in Sri Lanka in November."   There was a reason for this decision and he explains, "It is clear that the Sri Lankan government has failed to uphold the Commonwealth's core values, which... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/13)

Sri Lanka’s National Identity, Official Language – National Anthem and the Sinhalese Majority
Shenali D Waduge
Contrary to what is erroneously being promoted the Sinhela race did not descend from banished King Vijaya of India. The discovery of the Balangoda man depicts a rich civilization going back 38000 years. Undoubtedly what distinguishes the Sinhala people is their Sinhala language – both people and language found nowhere else in the world except in Sri Lanka. Thus, they become a distinct community with a unique language, Sinhale culture and literature evolved and developed within Sri Lanka solidified further by Buddhism. It became the source and secret of unity through history which is why these... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/13)

CHOGM 2013: Gomin urges govt. to be ready for media barrage
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy Island
October 17, 2013, 9:28 pm Attorney-at-law Gomin Dayasri yesterday warns the government to be ready to face a massive media onslaught in the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next month. Colombo-based British High Commissioner John Rankin’s address to Foreign Correspondents Association (FCA), at the Taj Hotel, was a sign of the impending attack, Dayasri told The Island yesterday. Dayasri alleged that a statement attributed to HC Rankin, that the Rajapaksa government needed to make concrete progress on human rights, reconciliation and a political settlement was meant to embarrass Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/13)

TNA's decision to rebuild LTTE cemeteries
P.A.Samaraweera
The Chavakachcheri Pradeshi Sabha had passed a resolution calling for the reconstruction of LTTE cemeteries in the Northern Provincial Council area. Now, it appears that other local authorities run by the TNA and the Northern Provincial Council itself may move a similar resolution. Then, the ITAK had decided to commemorate those who died fighting for the LTTE.  ITAK is the dominant party out of the five parties which form the TNA. The other parties are TELO, EPRLF, PLOTE and the TULF. This is not surprising because before the end of the war, TNA  claimed the LTTE to be the sole representative of the Tamil people and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/13)

After an absence of 1,000 years, Buddhism is returning to India as the inspiration for a mass movement for social justice and as a dynamic spiritual practice.
Dharmajiva
The new Buddhists of India have adopted teachings and practices familiar to Buddhist traditions in Asia and the West, but they also see the teachings of the Dharma as a way to transform the oppressive society in which they live. The Buddhist Renaissance in India started in 1956 when Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the leader of the Dalit (formerly “untouchable”) community, formally converted to Buddhism.  Although he died shortly thereafter, the movement he started is continuing to grow throughout India. http://dharmajiva.org/ Today millions of poor people in India see Buddhism as a way to realize the self-respect and dignity... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/13)

‘Now it is impossible to defeat Syria
RT
The situation in Syria showcases the US-Israel failure to pursue their plans on the ground, Lebanese military specialist, law professor, General Amine Hotait told RT. He believes this attempt blocks the use of force in the war-torn state – for good.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 17/10/13)

Buying time: US budget deal postpones financial doomsday
RT
President Obama and Congress have signed off on extending the debt ceiling through to February. The new legislation only temporarily solves the US budget dispute, begging the question if America will ever limit its borrowing. The extension deal will reopen the government after 16 days of partial shutdown and fund spending through January 15 while extending the $16.7 trillion debt ceiling through to February 7. The next major deadline is the December 13 target date for budget negotiations.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 17/10/13)

Playing The Indian Game
Janaka Yagirala
Sri Lanka is a small country compared to India but in the game of geopolitics size doesn't matter as long as you play the game right. It is true that Indian goods are little better than junk, Indian medicine kills rather than cures and Indian machines spend more time in the repair yard than up and running; but we should see India for value like India sees the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a buffer zone to protect the mainland.  In terms of value, brightly shining India is a living laboratory for epidemiology with countless slums, open... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/10/13)

clarification on ‘Land Powers’ and related matters – a comment
by G. H. Peiris  Courtesy Island
The reader of Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka’s ‘Disinformation, Devolution and the Presidency’ (Midweek Review of 2 October 2013) has ample reason to wonder whether the caption refers to the doctor’s own disinformation or to what he has attributed to others. I am not concerned with the mildly amusing autobiographic trivia with which Dr. DJ often finds it necessary to embellish what he has to say on genuinely important issues. My focus here is on his observations on the recent Supreme Court clarification of the limits of the powers over ‘Land’ vested on Provincial Councils... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/10/13)

Manmohan Singh, a Prime Minister propped up by political morons Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha.
By Charles.S.Perera
Manmohan Singh hasn’t the backbone to stand up against Tamilnadu to ask them to get off his back,  and for once take a decision of his own as the Prime Minister of supposed to be a great Democracy in the World. A leader should know how to assert his leadership, if not he is not fit to be a leader.   It applies more so to a political leader who is at the helm of the government such as a Prime Minister.  A Prime Minister should not allow himself to be blackmailed  by a coalition partner  to do... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/13)

Sri Lanka must say NO to animal sacrifice and ban this vile practice forthwith
Shenali D. Waduge
We again visit the topic of animal sacrifice and probably will continue to do so until the moral and ethical dimension of killing animals born no different to man comes to a halt. Christians and Jews must receive plaudits for evaluating the practice of animal sacrifice in the light of modern day ethical thinking and deciding to end the act of ritual slaughter. It remains only for Muslims to decide though we know that despite being aware of the moral and ethical dimension to ritualistic animal slaughter a fraction of Muslims think that agreeing to do... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/13)

Deepening China – Sri Lanka Cooperation: Pathfinder – CPAPD Agree on Action Program
Press Release - the Pathfinder Foundation
Mme. Yan Junqi, who is a senior state leader from China, has just concluded a productive visit to Sri Lanka with her 12 member delegation. Mme. Yan called on H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday. Prof. G L Peiris, Hon Minister for External Affairs and Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President was also present at the meeting. The cordial exchanges at their meeting reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s elevation to Strategic Cooperation Partner status, announced during the President’s recent state visit. China’s generous support for Sri Lanka’s infrastructure development program will now be supported... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/13)

Modern Age Siddharta Gautama - Giving Up Billions and Lead a Life of Monkhood
KenWu Religion and Philosophy
Ajahn Siripanno is a humble Theravada Buddhist monk from Thailand. He was educated in the UK and can speak 8 different languages. He is the one and only son of the second richest man in Malaysia, T. Ananda Krishnan, a low profile successful businessman that has business interest in media, oil and gas, telecommunications, gaming, entertainment and property. Ananda Krishnan is estimated to have a net worth of US$9.6 billions according to Forbes-s 2012 world wealthiest people. He ranks the second richest man in Malaysia while at the number of 89 in the world.... -Full Story- (kenwu.hubpages.com - 15/10/13)

Ahmadiyya Khalifa explains the reality of Initiation (Bai’at) in Ahmadiyya.
by A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.
 (Given below is an excerpt of the Friday Sermons of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivered on 11th October 2013, at Ahmadiyya Center in Melbourne, Australia gave a discourse on the importance of striving to fulfill initiation (Bai’at) in Ahmadiyya. Ahmadiyya Khalifa related that the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad - Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘I was sent to strengthen faith and prove the existence of God to people because... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/13)

What exactly is World Vision upto again in North Sri Lanka?
Shenali D Waduge
When the armed forces sacrificed their lives to give Sri Lanka peace it was expected that the governing establishment would take over the task to ensure incursions and challenges to Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and the rights of the people were not threatened. The Government is well aware that over 3000 NGOs/humanitarian agencies and charity organizations prevailed throughout the conflict for reasons best known by them with little to show of money being spent on the people or the areas they claimed to have developed. Yet, both Buddhists and Hindus found themselves converted and these... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/13)

Senator Segal: accuses Commonwealth's Kamalesh Sharma as stooge of Sri Lanka regime
Asoka Weerasinghe  Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario .Canada
14 October 2013 The Honourable Senator  Hugh Segal (Conservative from Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds of Ontario) Upper Chamber, the House of  Commons  Ottawa Dear Senator Segal: Reporting from Delhi to The Guardian, Robert Booth and Jason Burke, headlined their report saying ‘Commonwealth chief is stooge of Sri Lanka regime – Canadian envoy.  Hugh Segal accuses Kamalesh Sharma of defending regime accused of human rights abuses, intensifying row over summit.” Oops! Senator, did you real say that? By that very statement, did you not know that you undid Canada’s slip and her claws... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/13)

Dilemma of Choice for Northerners: Be Part of India or Tamil Eelam?
Dilrook Kannangara
Fuelled by the fears of the Cold War (1945-1991), India tried to annex the northern part of Sri Lanka in the late 20th century. It was an attempt to safeguard its territory and use an external territory to project power. Indian islands including Andaman, Wheeler and Nicobar islands are heavily used for offensive power projection. These are essentially military bases. In case of a confrontation, it will be these islands that will take the brunt of an enemy attack saving the Indian mainland. The New Great Game has renewed Cold War fears and India... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/13)

Canada's scaled back participation at the CHOGM in Sri Lanka is a mistake
 MEDIA RELEASE Prathap Perera President - On Behalf of the Executive Committee- SRI LANKA UNITED NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
Canada’s lone campaign to overturn the decisions taken by the Commonwealth body granting Sri Lanka the right to host the next CHOGM in November 2013 is both ludicrous and fallacious especially on alleged human rights violations, as Canada too has several ugly skeletons in her own cupboard. It is only allegations that are being leveled against Sri Lanka based on hearsay evidence coming from one side of the conflict which is nothing but a prejudiced source.  Unlike the various rights... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/13)

‘English with a smile’- a reply to Dayan Jayatilleke
C. Wijeyawickrema
"...Who could deny that a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole literature of India and Arabia." Macaulay (1835)                 Macaulay: The Shaping of the Historian by John Clive, Random House, 1973, p.372 Introduction             I met a Buddhist monk is America who was not very fluent in English at that time. One day I asked this monk, “Monk, you got a first class honors degree in Buddhism, you did a Ph.D. in Japan using the Japanese language and in debates in Japanese you defeated even Japanese students and won prizes, you know... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/13)

“Life there was ... before Earth”– Scientists agree with the Buddha
Suwanda H J Sugunasiri,PhD (Toronto)
Note: This is an interdisciplinary attempt by a non scientist to understand the Buddha’s Teaching of the Devolution and Evolution cycle of the universe in the Aganna Sutta of the Digha NIkaya (D 27).While the Sutta has been taken by Western Scholars to be a satire and parody, this writer sees in it a serious exposition on the historical universe,to the extent it can be ascertained on the basis of Western Science.... -Full Story- (lankaweb.com - 14/10/13)

Supreme Court judgment redraws the new political landscape
H. L. D. Mahindapala
In the latest legal battle over the ownership of land three Supreme Court judges – one of whom is a Tamil – delivered a landmark judgment which overturned the previously misinterpreted and misleading  judgments that virtually handed the state lands  to the Provincial Councils. Reading the separate judgments of the three judges it appears that Justice Sripavan had written his judgment first. Chief Justice Mohan Peiris and Justice Eva Wanasundera had read Justice Sripavan’s judgment subsequently and agreed with its findings and then proceeded to add their separate arguments which leads to the same conclusion... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/13)

Alien National Rights to settler communities in Sri Lanka violates Sinhela National Sovereignty
Anura Senevirathna (expat Hela team).
Alien national rights in Sri Lanka are Tamil and Muslim national rights of Tamil Nadu (Tamil country) and of many Muslim countries.  Sri Lanka as the only Indigenous Sinhela Country, ONLY Sinhela National Sovereignty must prevail, whereby  all settler communities  should be INCLUSIVE Sinhela National Citizens and not to be identified as Tamil or Muslim as these are only their private identities and recognized only in the lands of their national origins. In all other host national countries, settler communities do become INCLUSIVE national citizens of every country by becoming naturalized citizens except in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/13)

Killinochchi to host Unity Camp
Media Release-Unity Mission Trust
This October in Killinochchi, 500 student leaders from all over the island will gather; they have been nominated by their respective school to attend the 6th Unity Camp – hosted by Ekamuthu Oray Makal Unity Mission Trust. The camp will be conducted from the 17th to the 20th of October 2013, and will also have over 40 teachers and 60 volunteers (most of who are past campers) in attendance. The Unity Mission Trust has been in existence since May 2009 and is a  registered non-profit trust that is dedicated to fostering unity, integration, healing and reconciliation... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/13)

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ නිෂ්පාදන, අපනයන කර්මාන්තය ශක්තිමත් කිරීමට සහ ආයෝජන අවස්ථා පුළුල් කිරීමට රුසියාවේ සහාය...
The Media Team Ministry of Power & Energy
 ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ නිෂ්පාදන අපනයන කර්මාන්තය ශක්තිමත් කිරීමට සහාය පළ කරන බව රුසියාව අවධාරණය කරයි. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ රුසියානු තානාපති ඇලෙක්සැන්ඩර් කර්චාවා (His Excellency Mr. Alexander Karchava) මහතා 2013.10.10 වන දින සන්ධ්‍යාවේ විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍ය නීතිඥ පවිත්‍රා  වන්නිආරච්චි මැතිනිය හමු වූ අවස්ථාවේදී මේ බව සඳහන් කළේය. මෙම හමුව විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශයේ දී පැවැත්විණි. මෙරට ආයෝජන අවස්ථා පුළුල් කිරීමටද රුසියාව සූදානම් බව තානාපතිවරයා මෙම හමුවේදී කීය. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවත් රුසියාවත් අතර අන් කවරදාටත් වඩා රාජ්‍ය තාන්ත්‍රික සබඳතා ශක්තිමත් වී ඇති බවත්, එය ඉතා සුවිශේෂී තත්වයක් බවත්, රුසියානු තානාපති ඇලෙක්සැන්ඩර් කර්චාවා මහතා සඳහන් කළේය.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/13)

Video: “Dollar Valueless, About To Crash” – World Bank Whistleblower
Has the US Dollar now lost all value and is soon to crash as stated in this Russia Today video interview with World Bank whistleblower Karen Hudes? Is the US government shutdown a ‘temporary ailment’ or a ‘symptom of a grave, and terminal, disease’?... -Full Story- (globalresearchreport.com - 13/10/13)

MR HAPER issues a statement from Indonesia
By James Winter-Dr. James Winter is a professor at the University of Windsor.
Tell me if you find any irony or hypocrisy in this: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced from Indonesia, where he was attending APEC, that he will be unable to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit in Sri Lanka next month, owing to that country’s “unacceptable human rights violations?” Put your hand up if you are aware of Indonesian history? No? Well, have you seen any good documentary films lately, such as, The Act of Killing, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/13)

විග්නේෂ්වරන් දිවුරුම් දෙයි
Nalin de Silva
උතුරු පළාතේ ආණ්ඩුකාරතුමා පසෙකින් සිටිය දී විග්නේෂ්වරන් උතුරු පළාතේ මහ ඇමති ලෙස ජනාධිපතිතුමා ඉදිරියේ දිවුරුම් දුන්නේ ය. අප එය සුළුවෙන් තැකිය යුතු නො වේ. දෙමළ ජාතික සංධානය මුල දී ආණ්ඩුකාරතුමා ඉදිරියේ දිවුරුම් දීම ප්‍රතික්‍ෂෙප කළා පමණක් නොව ආණ්ඩුකාරතුමා ඉවත්කළ යුතු යැයි කියා සිටියේ ය. තවත් වරක් ජනාධිපතිතුමා යාපනයට පැමිණිය යුතු යැයි කීවේ ය. දෙ ජා ස ආණ්ඩුකාරතුමා ඉවත්කළ යුතු බව කියා සිටියේ එතුමා හමුදා නිලධාරියකු ලෙස කටයුතු කළ බව සඳහන් කරමිනි. ව්‍යවස්ථාවට අනුව විග්නේෂ්වරන්ට මහඇමති ලෙස පත්වීම ලබාගත යුතුව තිබුණේ ආණ්ඩුකාරතුමා ගෙනි. අපි ඒ බව දි අයිලන්ඩ් පුවත්පත මගින් පෙන්වා දුන්නෙමු. විග්නේෂ්වරන් එක්කෝ ව්‍යවස්ථාවට අනුව... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/13)

‘Courage is contagious’: Whistleblowing Fantastic Four talk ‘Snowden effect’ on RT
RT
A group of US whistleblowers and activists have met in Moscow to present NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden with the Sam Adams Award for ‘Integrity in Intelligence’. They came to RT’s studio to share their thoughts on global surveillance. After a secret meeting with Snowden, the four whistleblowers – former NSA executive Thomas Andrews Drake, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, former FBI agent Coleen Rowley and Jesselyn Radack of Government Accountability Project – all met in RT’s studio to discuss the perils of doing what right and why Snowden should be lauded as a hero for sending shock waves around... -Full Story- (rt.com - 12/10/13)

Assange: ‘Snowden safe but journalists dealing with him at risk’ (FULL VIDEO)
RT
Assange criticized the US and the White House for abusing its power more than any other administration in history, stressing that President Obama has prosecuted twice as many journalists under the espionage act as all previous US presidents combined since 1917.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 12/10/13)

FIRST VIDEO: Snowden receives Sam Adams Award in Moscow
RT
The first videos of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden have surfaced since he received asylum in Russia. The footage, provided by WikiLeaks, was taken during the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence awards ceremony. The video fragments of a meeting, attended by the former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, former NSA executive Thomas Andrews Drake and former FBI agent Coleen Rowley, Jesselyn Radack of the Government Accountability Project, and Sarah Harrison of WikiLeaks – all whistleblowers in their own respects – were released by WikiLeaks on Friday.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 12/10/13)

What and which zone of agreement?
 C. Wijeyawickrema
“If the Tamils’ cry for separatism is given up, the two communities could solve their problems and continue to live in amity and dignity.” M.C. Sansoni, CJ—(Sessional Paper No. 7 of 1980)   “Sinhala people have no other land [place to go].”  Wigenswaran-CM, NP  Where Tamils live (Source map: Tamilnation.org website 1/25/2010 Vessantara-traitor dilemma             Between getting branded as a Tamil traitor (even GG Ponnambalam was once called a Tamil traitor) or a Sinhala Vessantara/Siri Sangabo, Wigneswaran and MahindaR, respectively, could find the zone of agreement that Dayan Jayatilleke is talking about, if both of them act... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/13)

LIFE ABROAD - Part 48-COCK & BULL
Dr.Tilak Fernando
The English phrase Cock and Bull relates to any fanciful and unbelievable tals or comic yarn. It was associated with travellers who met at two Public Houses during the 18th and early 19th centuries in England. During their overnight stay they concocted and exaggerated fanciful stories which have been finally branded as 'cock and bull stories'. Although there are several versions to the exact locations of the two public houses, it is learnt that the Pub named COCK was situated in Kilburn, North West of London and the BULL existed in High Gate, North London. The following... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/13)

Psychoanalytic reading of Baththalangunduwa
Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge
 Manjula Wediwardene’s Baththalangunduwa is an inaccoutumé novel which gives an astounding experience to the traditional Sinhala readers. This novel discusses maladjusted family relations, paternal deprivation, and nostalgia of a social drifter. Baththalangunduwa has become a juncture in the modern Sinhala literature.   The protagonist of the novel is a young man named Anthony who is a social outcast. He was ostracized and shunned by his peers. He becomes a lonely man who has no specific aim in life. Anthony’s wistfulness was resulted by the paternal deprivation (prolonged separation of the offspring from the father). His... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/13)

THE ROVING EYE-Fear and loathing in House of Saud
By Pepe Escobar
Every sentient being with a functional brain perceives the possibility of ending the 34-year Wall of Mistrust between Washington and Tehran as a win-win situation. Here are some of the benefits: The price of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf would go down; Washington and Tehran could enter a partnership to fight Salafi-jihadis (they already did, by the way, immediately after 9/11) as well as coordinate their policies in Afghanistan to keep the Taliban in check post-2014; Iran and the US share the same interests in Syria; both want no anarchy and no prospect of... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 11/10/13)

Syria extremists financed by private Gulf donors carried out mass killings – HRW
RT
At least 190 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage by Syrian rebels financed by private Gulf donors in an August 4 military offensive in the Latakia governorate, according to a Human Rights Watch report. At least 67 of the victims executed had lived in government-aligned Alawite villages, HRW said in its report, “You Can Still See Their Blood,” released Friday, which saw the events as the first evidence of planned crimes against humanity perpetrated by opposition forces.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 11/10/13)

US Globalized Torture Black Sites
By Stephen Lendman
On October 5, US Delta Force commandos, CIA operatives, and FBI agents abducted Abu Anas al-Liby. Doing so highlights what’s been out-of-control since 9/11. In the 1980s, al-Liby was one of many CIA-recruited mujahideen fighters. They were used against Afghanistan’s Soviet occupiers. Ronald Reagan called them “the moral equivalent of our founding fathers.” He characterized Contra killers the same way. Bin Laden, al-Liby, and many other Al Qaeda fighters were used strategically as both allies and enemies. Most recently, al-Liby was an anti-Gaddafi “freedom fighter.”... -Full Story- (globalresearch.ca - 11/10/13)

CHOGM 2013 – Establish Commission of Inquiry into Trans-Atlantic slavery, genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Britain during colonial rule of former colonies
Shenali D Waduge
Though there has been a number of initiatives in recent times relating to the theory and the practice of reparations for human rights and humanitarian abuses committed in various parts of the world, many of the violations committed of genocidal proportions in Asia, Africa, and North and South America, during colonial times remain unresolved. Reparations for such abuses pose a huge challenge today for people seeking justice domestically and internationally. Criminal accountability is now a reality at both the international and domestic levels. The establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY), the International Criminal... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/10/13)

Wigneswaran presumes TNA victory in North PC elections was due to his presence as the Chief Ministerial Candidate .
By Charles.S.Perera
TNA cannot be boastful of their victory at the North Provincial Council elections.  The Tamil people of the North did not trust the TNA due to their close proximity to the terrorists. But they had no alternative being sentimentally attached to a Tamil political party despite it being one time terrorist connected.  TNA was definitely not a popular party as it was seen from the results of the PC elections. Having Wigneswaran as the Chief Ministerial Candidate gave the TNA a certain respectability and the Tamil people may have gained confidence to vote for the candidates from... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/10/13)

The dilemma of Kashmir-s half-widows
Aljazeera
Decades of conflict have produced many ‘half-widows’ whose husbands have disappeared but are not declared deceased.Decked by thick deodar forests, terraced corn fields, apple orchards and jagged mountains, the hamlet of Dardpora tucked in the northern rim of Indian-administered Kashmir looks idyllic. But scratch a little deeper and the wounds of decades of conflict sweeping across the region open up when its 300-odd widows and ‘half widows’ (women whose husbands have disappeared but not yet been declared deceased) describe the pain of losing their husbands in course of the ongoing rebellion.... -Full Story- (aljazeera.com - 10/10/13)

The human cost of the US shutdown
Aljazeera
As politicians bring the government to a standstill, we ask what the shutdown means for those who voted them into power. Counting the Cost The human cost of the US shutdown As politicians bring the government to a standstill, we ask what the shutdown means for those who voted them into power. Counting the Cost Last Modified: 06 Oct 2013 06:19 Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker Email Article Print Article Share article Send Feedback It was one part politics, one part stonewalling and a large dose of embarrassment for the world’s largest and most powerful economy as... -Full Story- (aljazeera.com - 10/10/13)

Stephen Harper, the violator of human rights of Canada’s First People to boycotts CHOGM in Sri Lanka.
By Charles.S.Perera
 Among  all the Members of the Commonwealth of Nations,  the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper is the worst violator of the Human Rights of  his people.  He is neglecting the rights of the diminishing population of  Canadian First People the original people of Canada confined to their reserves under a most inhuman law  of 1857.  Much has been written on the Canadian indifference to the suffering of this group of its own people whose land was invaded by the ancestors of Stephen Harper.  Stephen Harper has therefore no lesson to give Sri Lanka which treats all... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

Canadian Premier Harper, we will not miss you one bit at CHOGM Sri Lanka
 Shenali D Waduge
Mr. Stephen Harper is sadly mistaken if he thinks by raising hue and cry singling out Sri Lanka while ignoring the criminal past of Canada and the crimes of its revered ‘civilized’ Western countries especially Britain, we in Sri Lanka are concerned. With Canada’s own guilty past of treating its Aboriginal natives it is we who should be questioning Canada and not the other way round!  Canada respect the Aboriginal Natives first!  What would Stephen Harper, champion of human rights have to say about the Gradual Civilization Act passed in Upper Canada in 1857 permanently disenfranchising... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

Canada's Persistent Accusations Against Sri Lanka And Name Calling The Commonwealth Secretary General Will Not Prevent The CHOGM Summit.
Insight By Sunil Kumar
Octoberber 9th 2013  Canada's latest attack on the authority of the Commonwealth Secretary General, attacking him as 'a stooge' for a Sri Lankan regime it accuses of serious human rights abuses as well as the continued persistence over the related issues are unwarranted and very un- Canadian like based on the simplest of rationales that Canada has neither tangible proof towards the accusations nor is there any reason to believe that Canada's stand is not based on the coercions of the glocbal Tamil diaspora and Tamil Tiger sympathetic elements of which there is a large segment present within... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

Colonialism and Reparations - Time to get ready to press claims
by Senaka Weeraratna
" The people of Asia were slaves, because they had not learned how to pronounce the word 'no' " - Winston Churchill (citing Alexander the Great), in a radio address - 10/16/1938 http://www.junkcrunch.com/quotes/political-quotes/the-people-of-asia-were-slaves-because-they-had The following is an extract from the British Hansard of a debate conducted in the House of Lords in 1996 concerning issues of colonialism, slavery and reparations. Though the debate is mainly confined to the situation that prevailed in Black Africa under western colonial domination, the matters discussed also have relevance to claims for reparations and apology arising from colonial... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

Sri Lanka Summit Boycott doesn't Measure Up
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
9 October 2013 The Editor THE EMBASSY, Ottawa. Dear Editor: I was somewhat stymied by your editorial SRI LANKA SUMMIT BOYCOTT DOESN’T MEASURE UP.   While I approve the title the contents of the editorial had many ifs and buts that needed more explanation.  Permit me to explain a few as to what I mean. Prime Minister Harper sending a parliamentary secretary to sit with 53 Commonwealth Heads of Nations is a double whamming and an insult to the integrity of the rest of the Commonwealth Nations.   If his intention was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

PM should rethink policy of disengagement
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
 9 October 2013   The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN   Dear Editor:   Your editorial 'PM should rethink policy of disengagement 'asked, 'How do we really help Sri Lanka turn away from abuses, or indeed lift up the Tamils, if we refuse to engage?"  This is not rocket science.   Firstly, Canada has to be honest with herself.  Secondly, Canada should stop mixing domestic politics to secure ethnic bloc votes with geopolitics.  Thirdly, Canada should stop being so arrogant when dealing with Sri Lankans and don't ever think that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

Ahmadiyya Supreme Head conducts media interviews in Sydney
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.
 During the first week of his second tour of Australia, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Jama’at) and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was interviewed by a journalist representing both the ‘The Standard’ and the ‘Daily Telegraph’ newspapers and another representing the ‘Blacktown Sun’. The interviews were conducted at the Baitul Huda Mosque in Sydney.   During the interview, His Holiness was asked a range of questions including the purpose of his visit to Australia. He said his foremost objective was to meet with the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

ABC TV & RADIO CONDUCTS INTERVIEW WITH HEAD OF AHMADIYYA MUSLIM JAMAAT
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad conveys peaceful teachings of Islam and says that true Muslims can integrate in the West On 4th October 2013, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and Fifth Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV and Radio. During the 25 minute interview, His Holiness was asked a range of questions about Islam and the purpose of his visit to Australia. In response to being asked about the message he was bringing to Australia, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

KHALIFA OF ISLAM DELIVERS CONCLUDING ADDRESS AT AHMADIYYA CONVENTION IN AUSTRALIA
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.
The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and Fifth Khalifa addressed a congregation of more than 4,000 at Sydney's Baitul Huda Mosque on 6th October 2013 as he delivered the concluding address at the 29th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) Australia.  Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the spiritual leader of millions of Ahmadi Muslims worldwide, spoke of ‘Jihad’ in the modern era - saying the circumstances of today’s world did not permit any form of violent Jihad.   Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:  “In this era, with... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/13)

Demystifying the US debt ceiling: 5 things you should know
RT
As the US government is about to hit its so-called debt ceiling of $16.7 trillion on Oct. 17, the frightening prospect of the world’s biggest economy running out of cash is dominating headlines around the globe. So, in an effort to shine some light on what exactly the debt ceiling means to all of us, Business RT spoke to leading Moscow financial expert Chris Weafer, a senior partner at Macro-Advisory.com.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 09/10/13)

Sri Lanka’s External Ministry backs off on taking up issue of dropping of Pali for IAS exams with Government of India
Shenali D. Waduge
Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country whatever schemes are being attempted to overtly and covertly dilute and change this fact. We are well aware of these agendas. Article 9 of the Constitution guarantees foremost place to Buddhism and imposes a mandatory duty on the State not only to protect but also ‘foster’ Buddhism, an obligation confined exclusively only to Buddhism vis a vis all other religions prevalent in Sri Lanka.   Pali (also Pāḷi) is the language of many of the earliest extant Buddhist scriptures as collected in the Pāḷi Canon, or Tipitaka, and it is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/13)

Harper snubs Commonwealth Summit
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G Canada
8 October 2013 The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Dear Editor: Re: ‘Harper snubs Commonwealth summit – PM won’t attend meeting in Sri Lanka over ‘serious violations’ of rights’, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has finally confirmed that he would be boycotting the Commonwealth Summit in Colombo in November.  I don’t think that he had much of a choice having been snubbed by other Commonwealth nations like the UK, Australia and New Zealand who he thought would stand at attention behind him when he tried to be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/13)

President tells Indian External Affairs Minister-LET PARLIAMENT LOOK AT 13 A
Courtesy The Daily News
PSC solution should be in line with what the people want
President commended for holding NPC poll after decades
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Parliament is the best forum to address the issue of implementation of the 13th Amendment, adding that Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) members should engage in dialogue and come up with a solution that is in line with ‘what the people want’. The President expressed this view to Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid when the latter called on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/13)

The Landmark Supreme Court judgement on State Land and Land
RANJITH SOYSA
The recent judgement delivered by the Supreme Court on the subject of State Land and land is a  critically important ruling  pertaining to the important subject of devolution of power under the The 13th Amendment. It conclusively added   a nail in  the coffin of endless discourses, debates , research papers  on the subject of  devolution of land powers to the regions. Sri Lanka with a land area of approximately 25000 sq miles is hardly the place for division based on land. It has varied geographical features interdependent on her land utilization and land development. Her  population  is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/13)

Indian Foreign Minister Khurshid calls on President Rajapaksa
By Janaka Alahapperuma
The Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this morning (08 October). The President and the Indian Minister have had lengthy discussions focused on enhancing bilateral social, economic, political and cultural cooperation between the two nations.  Mr. Khurshid also emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between India and Sri Lanka. The discussion has also focused on the 13th amendment to the constitution at the meeting between Sri Lanka and Mr Khurshid who is on an official visit to the island. The Indian Foreign Minister said he is highly satisfied... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/13)

Human evolution
Dr Hector Perera      London
Human evolution is about the origin of human beings which is the evolutionary process leading up to the appearance of modern humans. When we studied Darwin’s theory of evolution at advanced level, we studied that the humans evolved from monkeys but not in detail. All humans belong to the same species, which has spread from its birthplace in Africa to almost all parts of the world. Its origin in Africa is proved by the fossils which have been found there. They entered Europe somewhat later, between 1.5 million and 1 million years. Species of modern humans populated many parts of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/13)

Beyond Your Pension: What Should Be Done?
The Thirty Fifth Economic Flash
Rising Life Expectancy Life expectancy has reached 74.9 years in Sri Lanka today. This reflects the considerable successes the country has achieved in its social development during the post – independence era. These include the control of Malaria, free education and health, provision of welfare services, and delivery of basic infrastructure services, including transport connectivity, electricity and water and sanitation to a wide cross section of the people. This has, in turn, been reflected in Sri Lanka achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) before the 2015 deadline and its impressive ranking on the UNDP’s... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/13)

Russia slams Netherlands over diplomat-s beating, -deadline for explanation passes-
RT
President Vladimir Putin called on the Netherlands to apologize for the alleged assault and detention of a Russian diplomat in The Hague. He slammed the incident as a “blatant violation” of the Vienna Convention and demanded those responsible be punished. Speaking at the APEC summit in Indonesia, Putin said Russia was waiting for an “official apology” after a formal complaint was lodged with the government of the Netherlands.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 08/10/13)

US moves Marines to Italy as situation in Libya becomes tense
RT
Two hundred United States Marines are being mobilized from a base in Spain to an Italian site neighboring Libya where an Army raid over the weekend resulted in the capture of suspected Al-Qaeda terrorist, Abu Anas al-Libi. CNN reported early Tuesday that a US military official confirmed the repositioning of 200 heavily armed Marines to the naval base at Sigonella, Italy, a Sicilian fort south of Catania that sits on the opposite side of the Mediterranean from Libya.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 08/10/13)

Prabhakaran’s ghost & a phoney war?
Susantha Goonatilake
It was not the much touted diaspora, but local Northern Tamils that voted massively for the TNA. The parallel was not tomachinations of a diasporabut moreto the beginning of a possible“Phoney War”.  The“PhoneyWar”was the early period in World War IIwhen both sides had prepared for war but was not actuallyfighting. It seems that the overwhelming PC win of the TNA which was not hiding much of its LTTE stripes could be the precursor to a future actual war. It could be like Germans after losing World War 1under an emperor was about to wage World War II... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/10/13)

Arayuma, Sri Lankan Premium Organic Coconut Milk Voted Canada’s Favourite Fair Trade Product of 2013
A special award was presented to the company Arayuma on October 3rd 2013 in Toronto for their product “Premium Organic Coconut Milk”, voted “Canada’s Favorite Fairtrade Product for 2013” by a large number of Canadians during Fair Trade Fortnight. The Fair Trade Fortnight is an annual two-week blitz celebrating and promoting all Fair Trade, taking place during May 1st to 15th. Fair Trade Canada presented this award to Chanaka Kurera and Marise May who are the founders of Arayuma.  Chanaka is a Sri Lankan born with proud humble beginnings from Negombo who currently reside in Montreal, Quebec along with his... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/10/13)

America-s greatest enemy is itself
By Ralph A Cossa
Memo to congressional Republicans: Remember Ronald Reagan-s "shining city on a hill"? You just turned the lights off. Memo to President Obama: remember your "pivot" to Asia? Its credibility is fading even faster than congressional approval ratings. While Democrats and Republicans are playing their "inside the beltway" game of chicken and power politics, no one seems to be concerned about the real damage they are doing to America-s image abroad, to our "soft power" - the attractiveness of America-s ideals, values, and political system. We need to stop focusing on who is "winning" -... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 07/10/13)

THE ROVING EYE China: We don-t do shutdowns
By Pepe Escobar
The latest superpower dysfunctional spectacular, aka the US shutdown, has forced President Barack Obama to cancel an entire Asian trip. First the White House announced Obama was shutting down Malaysia and the Philippines - supposed stars of the "pivoting to Asia". Then it was finally confirmed he was also shutting down the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Bali on Tuesday and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and East Asia summit next Thursday in Brunei.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 07/10/13)

The Arab Spring is dead: Egypt’s failed revolution
RT
Andre Vltchek is a novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. On the 6 October 2013, in Cairo, on the 40th anniversary of the Arab-Israeli War, everything that could have gone wrong, did. It was bit like that great short novel by the Columbian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez: ‘Chronicle of a Death Foretold’. Everyone knew that there would be murder, brutal and cold-blooded, and there was candid talk about its inevitability for days and weeks. But nothing was done to prevent it and nobody really intervened... -Full Story- (rt.com - 07/10/13)

ජනතා විමුක්ති පෙරමුණට සිදුවුණේ කුමක්ද?
 චන්ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි
පලාත් සභා මැතිවරණය නිමව ඇත.දිනුවේ කවුද?, පැරදුනේ කවුද? යන සමාජ සමීක්ෂණය නොනිල පදනමකින් රටපුරා විවිධ තලයන්හි සාකච්චා වෙමින් පවතී.මේ සාකච්චා වලදී, සැබෑ ලෙසම කථා කරනුයේ, දේශපාලන පොර පිටියේ අපට දිස්වෙන දේශපාලන පක්ෂ නාම පුවරු සම්බන්ධව මිස, සැබෑ දේශපාලන බල වේගයන් සම්බන්ධව නොවේ. ජයගත්තේ මෙන්න මේ නාම පුවරුව සහිත කණ්ඩායමයි, යනුවෙන් ඡන්ද ප්රතිඵල ප්රකාශයට පත්කෙරේ. දේශපාලන පකෂ යනු කුලී පදනමක් මත එක එකාට කුලියට දෙන වාහන මෙන් වූ මෙවලම් විශේෂිතයක් බවට පත්ව ඇති බව වටහා ගත් විට, සිදුව ඇති දේ සම්බන්ධව අවබෝධ කර ගැනීම වඩාත් පහසුවේ..     මේ මැතිවරණයෙන් පසුව සමාජය තුල, ජනතා විමුක්ති පෙරමුණ, අන්ත පරාජයක්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/10/13)

Real war, phoney war and voter psyche
Susantha Goonatilake- Courtesy The Daily News

It was not the much touted diaspora, but local Northern Tamils that voted massively for the TNA. The parallel was not to machinations of a diaspora but more to the beginning of a possible “Phoney War”. The “Phoney War” was the early period in World War II when both sides had prepared for war but was not actually fighting. It seems that the overwhelming PC win of the TNA which was not hiding much of its LTTE stripes could be the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/10/13)

On good governance: US STATE DEPT. CITES Daily News EDITORIAL
Sri Lanka press is watching us: US not living to own standards: Courtesy The Daily News
The US good governance advice should be packaged and returned to sender, the Sri Lankan Daily News stated in an editorial comment, said US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf in one of her State Dept. press briefings in Washington last week. She said that while United States, and particularly many in Congress, have urged the government in Sri Lanka to ‘more aggressively pursue reconciliation and accountable government, something we care a lot about, the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/10/13)

NO GOVERNMENT NOT ‘GOOD GOVERNANCE’
The Daily News Editorial
It is clear now -- the good governance advocates cannot govern themselves! The United States government was officially shut down this week, and apparently this resulted from a legislative wrangle over universal healthcare, which is of course a basic right in most functioning democracies. Not surprisingly however, the U.S President Barack Obama making a speech on the implications of the shutdown said that U.S troops that are stationed abroad will not be affected by it -- before he added also rather sheepishly that the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/10/13)

For everlasting remembrance – Mr. Joseph Jayamanne, Chartered Mechanical Engineer
By Mario Perera, Kadawata
 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. Today the 6th October is the 26th death anniversary of Mr. Joseph Jayamanne who was the General Manager of Lanka Cement and the principal project manager and constructor of the Kankesanturai Cement Factory. The account of his tragic death is narrated in the book ‘The broken palmyrah’ under the heading: The night of shame. Here... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/10/13)

The moral imperative of quitting the Commonwealth – Gambia leads the way
Shenali D. Waduge
A moral imperative is a principle originating inside a person’s mind that compels that person to act. It is similar to categorical imperative as expounded by German Philosopher Immanuel Kant who took the imperative to be a dictate of pure reason, in its practical aspect. Not following the moral, Kant postulated is self-defeating and thus contrary to reason. It is in this context that we take the announcement by the President of Gambia at the UN General Assembly a few days ago as someone acting on the basis of moral imperatives. "The government has withdrawn its... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/10/13)

Gunfire at anti-Ranil march,at least six injured
Courtesy Island
At least six people were hospitalised after shots were fired in a clash involving rival factions of the United National Party (UNP) over the controversial leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe, police said. The UNP Southern Provincial Council member Maithree Gunaratne had organised what he had hoped would be a mass Pada Yatra, or great walk, from the island’s southernmost point of Dondra to Colombo, a distance of 170 kilometres. Police said about 200 to 300 people were at the launch of the walk, but the numbers dwindled at they reached Matara where the outnumbered anti-Ranil demonstrators came under... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/10/13)

An Acclamation Of The Real Story Behind Sri Lanka's Unprecedented Victory Over Internal Armed Insurrection Based On Which UN's Navi Pillai Should Stop Hounding Sri Lanka?
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial,
October 5th.2013  The UN Human Rights Chief Navinethem Pillay’s assertion that "if certain concerns are not comprehensively addressed, she believes the international community will have a duty to establish its own inquiry mechanisms"is now being made to look insipid and mostly Tamil Diaspora instigated as accurate and unbiased observations are beginning to pour in from many parts of the world towards disclaimng the Pillai rhetoric. It is fast becoming obvious that she has no mandate to make such a claim and in all probabilities needs to be warned off her direction or else face the consequences... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/10/13)

If Indian fishermen did not poach on Sri Lanka’s territorial waters during LTTE terror rule, why now?
Shenali D Waduge
There is something more than fishy about the sudden surge in Indian fishermen poaching on Sri Lankan territorial waters leading to a diplomatic debacle between India and Sri Lanka. Given that the culprits are fishermen and fishing is their livelihood what no one seems to answer is, did the LTTE face similar incursions by Indian fishermen and if so how did India, Tamil Nadu and the LTTE deal with the matter? It is pretty obvious that if Indian fishermen did not intrude into Sri Lankan waters during LTTE defacto rule or if they did it would... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/13)

Copy of the skeleton argument submitted to the Supreme Court in support of the application for leave to proceed at the hearing on 01 October 2013
S.V.A.R.A. Samarasinghe  (Attorney-at-Law)  
 On 1st October 2013, there was a court proceeding at the Supreme Court of the Republic of Sri Lanka to support an application which was also described by media as an application to abolish the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. On this day, the Supreme Court dismissed the application even without granting leave to proceed. As a  result, unfortunately, the legal issues raised have been left unresolved. I was involved in the drafting of this Petition and also represented the client before the Supreme Court. I made the submission providing a comprehensive skeleton argument... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/13)

LIFE ABROAD - Part 47:A MAN OF SPIRIT
Dr. Tilak Fernando
It is very easy to earn a reputation as a ‘pressman’ when your by-line appears in Local tabloids as well as in Sri Lankan English newspapers where you become a ‘buddy’ automatically with everyone within the expatriate community in the UK. This situation helped me in my journalistic hobby where I managed to file news, general features, scoops or even ‘explosive’ category! What I learnt from the London School of journalism was to be objective, constructive and factual on any criticism or praise, and to write in simple language ensuring that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/13)

Series of articles by Rosie DiManno carried in the Star from September 20 – 24, 2013
Mahinda Gunasekera,Toronto, Ontario, Canada
To The Editor, Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario  Dear Editor, Series of articles by Rosie DiManno carried in the Star from September 20 – 24, 2013  I am writing with reference to the series of articles on Sri Lanka written by your correspondent   Ms. Rosie DiManno which were published daily in your newspaper on five consecutive days from September 20 – 24, 2013 inclusive.  While it is a good thing to have situation reports presented by correspondents visiting the country, she appears to have gone there with certain preconceived ideas probably fed to her by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/13)

Exactly how many conflicts has the UN solved to be issuing post-conflict ultimatums?
Shenali D Waduge
Let’s see – where do we start. A group of busy body nations working in cahoots with an outdated and incompetent global body known by all as the UN enjoys coming to the picture during crisis situations but not before the crisis gets out of hand and after crisis situations but not because it has done anything to bring the crisis to a close. Thereafter, they seem to think that they can wave red cards and nations and natives have to bow down in submission. While having no formula whatsoever that had successfully ended conflicts and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/10/13)

SPEAKING FREELY-Lost Cruise fears save Obama on Syria
By Gregory Sinaisky
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say. Please click here if you are interested in contributing. US President Barack Obama-s reversal on the bombing of Syria took the world by surprise. For a long time, he was talking about the use of chemical weapons by Bashar Al-Assad-s regime being "a red line". There was a feeling that Obama-s talk about chemical weapons use in Syria was like a proverbial "Chekhov-s gun" - in a well-written play, if a gun is seen in the first act hanging from... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 03/10/13)

Mahinda Rajapakse – the liberator of Jaffna
H. L. D. Mahindapala
The meaning and the significance of September 21, 2013 – a unique day in the calendar of Jaffna – can be grasped only if it is placed in its proper historical context.  It is a red letter day that goes beyond the rhetoric of Tamil triumphalism. After the defeat of the violent Tamil terrorists in Nandikadal, 21/9/13 is projected as the non-violent electoral victory of the Tamils over the Sinhalese. That is the least important aspect of  21/9/13. Tamils have voted on similar lines before. And no one expected the results of 21/9/13 to be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/13)

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS OF COUNSEL GOMIN DAYASRI IN THE LANDMARK SUPREME COURT CASE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
SC/ Appeal No: 21/13
SC/Spl./LA No: 203/2012 C.A/PHC/Appeal No: 37/2001 HC/CP/Certi/No: 42/97   In the matter of an Application for Special Leave to Appeal against Judgement of Court of Appeal dated 08.08.2012 in Case No: CA (PHC) Appeal 37/2001 and in the High Court (Kandy) of the Central Province Case No: Certi 42/97    The Superintendent, Stafford Estate, Ragala, Halgranaoya. S.C.K. de Alwis, Consultant/ Plantation Expert, Plantation Reform Project, Ministry of Plantation Industries, Colombo 04. The Attorney General, Attorney General's Department, Colombo 12. Respondents-Respondents-Petitioners. Vs. SolaimuthuRasu, Dickson Corner Colony, Stafford... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/13)

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS OF COUNSEL GOMIN DAYASRI IN THE LANDMARK SUPREME COURT CASE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA - PART II
ANALYSIS OF APPENDIX II
Preamble [A].     List 1 and List II pivots around Appendix II on the subject of State Land and Land. Appendix II is an attachment to List 1. In the case of List 1- the words are: “the extent set out in Appendix II” directly bringing in Appendix II; while in List II it is redirected to Appendix II through List 1 - ‘except to the extent specified in item 18 of List 1’- where item 18 in List 1 refers it back to Appendix II in List 1. In any event, List II subject ‘State... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/13)

The unwelcome Sepoy Mission of an Indian External Affairs Minister to Sri Lanka
Shenali D Waduge
 A daily problematic issues faced by Sri Lanka as a result of its hegemonic neighbour India are many and have continued through history. When we thought our heroic forces ended the Indian trained and financed LTTE terrorism and brought peace, we now find ourselves facing far more calamities than LTTE suicide missions and bombs. When we thought developing the North, giving freedom to LTTE-enslaved Tamils would bridge divisions, we find TNA the LTTE proxy manipulated by India thinking that securing Northern Provincial Council victory equates to the right to dictate terms to the country’s President.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/13)

මන්ඩලේ කචල් - නොරොච්චෝලයට කෙල වේ. සාම්පුරය ගොඩ යන ලකුණු
පොදු සේවා සංගමය
ති්‍රකුණාමලයේ සාම්පුර් ගල් අඟරු බලාගාරයේ අවසන් ගිවිසුම ලබන සතියේ අත්සන් කිරීමට යන බවට විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශයේ ලේකම්තුමා මාධ්‍යයට ප්‍රකාශ කොට තිබේ. නොවැම්බර් මස ශී්‍ර ලංකාවේ පැවැත්වෙන පොදු රාජ්‍ය මණ්ඩල සමුළුවට ඉන්දියානු අගමැතිගේ සහභාගිත්වය පිළිබඳ සැක සංකා මතු වී ඇති පසුබිමක, ඉන්දියානු විදේශ ඇමති සල්මන් කුර්ෂිඩ් මහතා ලබන සතියේ ශී්‍ර ලංකාවේ සංචාරය කිරීමත් අතර තුර එකී ගිවිසුම අත්සන් කිරීමට අවස්ථාව යොදා ගන්නා බවත් කියැවේ.    ලංවිම සහ ඉන්දියාවේ එන්.ටී.පී.සී. සමාගම අතර ඇති මුලික ගිවිසුමට ප්‍රකාරව මෙගා වොට් 500  ක ධාරිතාවයකින් යුතු ගල් අගුරු බලාගාරයක් සාම්පූර් හි පිහිටුවනු ඇත. ඒ සඳහා ලංවිම සහ එන්.ටී.පී.සී. සමාගම ඩොලර් මිලියන... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/13)

Did LTTE’s Adele Balasingham inspire Kenyan Mall killer Samantha Lewthwaite?
Shenali D Waduge
What happens when people like Adele Balasingham, Beate Arnestad and Niromi de Soyza glorify terrorism and make martyrs out of female terrorists? People like Samantha Lewthwaite emerges and killings like the Kenyan Mall slaughter resulting in over 100 innocent people being gunned down mercilessly takes place. Public killings have been a hallmark of the LTTE nothing that the ‘international community’ chose to do anything about. Adele Balasingham pioneered and trained female terrorists and turned children into child soldiers but she’s happily living in the UK with no remorse. Should the world continue to allow terrorists to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/10/13)

Group of Fifteen calls for heightened South-South Cooperation at the Annual Meeting of the G-15 Foreign Ministers in New York
The Summit Level Group of Developing Countries -PRESS RELEASE
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of Fifteen who held their 36th annual meeting on the sidelines of the 68th UN General Assembly on Friday (27 September 2013) in New York, renewed their commitment for enhanced engagement and cooperation among themselves, as well as with the relevant Geneva-based institutions in newly emerging areas of cooperation in step with the evolving Post-2015 development agenda. The Group agreed to expand their areas of cooperation to include four new thematic areas - information communication technology, intellectual property, migration for development... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/10/13)

APPRECIATION-Dr Upali Manukulasuriya A FOOT SOLDIER WHO NEVER FORGOT HIS MOTHER COUNTRY
 Don Wijewardana
It is four years since Dr Upali Manukulasuriya passed away in Auckland, New Zealand  but the void he left remains. Manu, as we used to call him affectionately, had a long and distinguished career in medicine, mostly practising as a GP in rural New Zealand.  Born in Ahangama,  Manu studied at Mahinda College, Galle and entered the Peradeniya medical school in 1961. In 1970 he migrated to New Zealand where much of his work was for rural communities where there was a dearth of doctors. He was recognised both by the public and the New Zealand government... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/10/13)

Sergei Lavrov- the most intelligent and experienced diplomat in the world today
After graduating from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1972, Sergey Lavrov started his career at the Soviet Embassy in Sri Lanka (pictured). He learned Sinhalese, the official language of Sri Lanka, and Dhivehi, the official language of the Maldives, at university. In the photo is the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and to the Republic of Maldives. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's name has leapt to the fore recently for his role in steering a way forward for the international community in the Syria crisis. In this photo gallery, we offer some glimpses of a man famed for his meticulous,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/10/13)

Khalifa of Islam on Ahmadiyya in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia
by A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.
 (Given below is an excerpt of the Friday Sermons of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivered on 27th September 2013, at Ta Ha Mosque in Singapore gave a discourse on Ahmadiyyat in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.   Ahmadiyya Khalifa  said: ‘It is with the grace of Allah the Exalted that once again He has enabled me to meet Ahmadis of this region. The situation in Malaysia and Indonesia as regards the Jama’at is such that it is difficult... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/10/13)

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