Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

The Army intelligence officers attached to Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka`s security have been withdrawn with immediate effect on the orders of Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya. According to a reliable source this order has been made in writing by the Army Commander.
According to reports the Army Commander has made the order to Intelligence chief Amal Karunaratne in writing today. According to these reports the Army Commander has ordered the intelligence chief to transfer the head of the intelligence unit and the eight soldiers attached to Gen. Fonseka`s security to Army Headquarters with immediate effect.

(Lanka-e-News, Nov.06, 8.25PM) After a group of the JHU attacked the good news church at Koswatte, Battaramulla yesterday(5) with stones and petrol bombs causing damage to the place of worship, the JHU Western Province M.P. and former DIG Kotakadeniya had visited the Church today (6) and threatened the chief Incumbent Priest and his assistants in the church with death if they do not close the church.

The Incumbent has complained to the Talangama Police of this incident.

by Saman Indrajith
The JVP yesterday warned Presidential Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that they would not be able to avoid being prosecuted by the United States unless they gave up US citizenship.

Family figures as chief offender in abuse cases

The majority of the country`s abused children have been victimised by family members, relatives or known persons, according to a survey of child abuse cases pending before the High Court.

A total of 1,255 child abuse cases were surveyed, and the crimes included rape (611 cases), grave sexual abuse (494), and cruelty (20).

Of the cases involving family members or relatives, 89 related to a father, 14 to a stepfather, five to a grandfather, and 140 to other relatives. Of the cases involving known persons, 124 related to a boyfriend, 51 to a neighbour, 12 to a teacher, and 295 to other known persons. In 386 cases, the abuse came from a complete stranger.

President Mahinda Rajapakse stated there is no need for international courts and groups to make any attempts at solving Srilankan issues, stated while he attended an event in Colombo.

He said the domestic law is capable of dealing with those issues. Towards this no need of approaching the International courts, was mentioned by him. President stated such statements, as many pressures are processed to take the Sri Lankan war crimes to the International courts. He said when pressures are instigated against the country, all should get together was mentioned by him.

It is learnt that the United States security agencies are have requested General Sarath Fonseke to become a witnesses against Sri Lanka`s Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. This is a very serious matter and the attempt to detain and pressure Sri Lanka`s former Army Commander presently visiting the U.S. in order to frame war crimes charges against the Defence Secretary is clearly a threat to our country`s political sovereignty.

(November 02, Colombo / Washington, Sri Lanka Guardian) `I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion so help me God. ` -- US pledge of citizenship.

It has been revealed that tiger organization has invested money to buy 42% shares from Sri Lanka Telecom through Maxis in Malaysia. Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) has admitted that the investment to buy shares from Telecom was done with the intention of taking the national communication network under the tiger organization.
51.23% shares of Sri Lanka Telecom are with the government. On 1st April, 2008 Maxis bought 42% of the shares of Sri Lanka Telecom spending Rs.320 billion. A head of a telecommunication sector and his brother had mediated in the deal. Maxis had agreed to pay them Rs.1 billion for their mediation. However, when two journalists from a national newspaper joined in that agreement had fallen apart.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said that army officers wearing a uniform have no right whatsoever to engage in political work with any contesting candidates and any such soldier or officer if found will be subjected to disciplinary action and faces discharge from the Army.

We should be partial to the government in power. All governments at the end of their tenure hold elections. Army officer or a soldier wearing a uniform has no right whatsoever to engage in political work with any contesting candidates and any such soldier or officer if found will be subjected to disciplinary action and faces discharge from the Army. Support given by the President and Secretary Defence for the victory of the war directly attributed to its win over terrorism, the Army website quoted the Army Commander as saying.

Sabaragamuwa Provincial Opposition leader Ranjan Ramanayake requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take immediate steps to fly back about 350 Sri Lankans now stranded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as they were undergoing immense hardship without food, clothing and other basic needs.

Ramanayake has, in a letter to the President, stated that he personally investigated complaints received and found that the Lankans, mainly women, were living under a bridge in Sufaya in the suburbs of Jeddah.

Appeal to send the released youth in Canada to Sri Lanka

[ Wednesday, 28 October 2009, 02:24.09 AM GMT +05:30 ]
Sri Lankan officials have appealed, the youth who had been released from the detained Sri Lankan refugees in Vaancover Prison in Canada should be immediately released to Sri lanka.

The Sri Lankan officials inform, the Canadian government had not published any details regarding the 26 years old youth, but he is person whom they are exploring. Sri Lanka argues, during the past period, a youth named Kaarthiban Manickavasagar is hunted by them for smuggling electronic systems to the Liberation tigers, and it the same person is presently released was stated. In this context, Kartheeban Manickavasagar is hunted by the International police sector and should be handed over to Sri lanka was appealed by the Sri lankan officials to Canada, is according to Canadian daily newspaper.

The UN Rapporteur on executions Philip Alston, speaking to reporters at the UN, said that the Sri Lankan government has an issue with credibility and raised doubts over the outcome of a probe on human rights to be carried out by a panel appointed by the government.

In response to a question on self-investigations , he said that military investigations of allegations against their own activities did not enhance credibility. On one allegation, accompanied by a video, that the Sri Lankan military had conducted summary executions, the Sri Lankan Government had declared the video to be a fabrication based on what it called expert advice .

(Lanka-e-News, Oct.27, 2009, 8.10 PM) The Secretary of the GMOA , Dr. Chandana Atappattu told Lanka e news that they have sent a letter to the President today requesting a special Presidential Commission to inquire into the import and distribution of drugs by the Health Ministry. to avert. the possible loss of public confidence in the Health sector owing to use and import of inferior quality drugs.

Dr. Atapattu stated two children died due to rubella vaccines glass pieces were detected in the injectin vials in recent days. This is the result of import of sub standard drugs. There are also five type of drugs distributed among the Hospitals which have been now decided as dangerous and ought to be discarded.

(Lanka-e-News 27.Oct.2009 4.30PM) UNP M.P. Dayasiri Jayasekera speaking to the media today (27) , at the UNP media unit said the controversial vote on account which the Govt. is presenting this year instead of the Budget, is allocating Rs. 2.3 billion towards President Rajapakse`s expenditure. In other words his ,daily expenditure is Rs. 19 million!. This President whose love professedly for the people oozes at every pore over the media and on platforms has become the most vicious parasite on the people, because it is people`s monies which are being channeled to maintain the SL`s President.

Sri Lanka says it will appoint a high-ranking independent committee to probe US claims of human rights abuses during the final phase of its civil war.

The US state department submitted a report last week to Congress, outlining serious violations allegedly committed by Sri Lanka`s army and Tamil rebels.

The United Nations has previously called for an inquiry to determine if war crimes were indeed committed.

In May Sri Lanka defeated Tamil rebels after a bitter 26-year civil war.