8th November 2014

By Arunadale Wijeratne and thyaga srimali bandara “Forgive us for wading in mud over the land where you were buried,” a father says. We may be standing on his child’s grave. The heartbeat of the dead is silenced now, but the heartbeat of the living can be heard louder exposing acutely personal emotions. Those who were killed do not hear the heartbeat of the living. The living people also do not hear the heartbeat of the dead. A wailing mother mutters something They don’t want food, or water. They are weeping for the dead as if to send messages to the dead through the soil under which they are buried. Death is not begged and it is not an offering given to beggars. But, death has become beggars’ […]

Parliamentarians were today advised against sleeping in the House during sittings after the issue came up during a speech made by UNP MP Ajith P. Perera. The UNP MP held up an image appearing in a Sunday newspaper showing Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva sleeping while President Mahinda Rajapaksa was presenting the 2015 budget in Parliament. However Minister John Seneviratne said making such comments in Parliament by pointing at a particular MP is unfair and should not be allowed as MPs tend to fall asleep during sessions, and that is nothing out of the ordinary. The UNP MP then agreed that several MPs fall asleep when important sessions are underway in Parliament and not just one or two MPs. Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakody then noted […]

By Rajiva Wijesinha – This did not mean it was not sincere about reconciliation. Basil I think honestly believed that rapid development of the North would make everyone happy. Certainly he seems to have been surprised when the election results were announced, and winning less than a quarter of the vote clearly upset him, even though the confidence he had expressed previously, that government would do well in several places, may have been bravado. The problem was, he did not consult those whom he thought he was helping, rather like the devoted lady in Trollope who did everything in terms of her passion for Phineas Finn, but never thought of asking him what he might want. Thus, when the Northern Task Force was set up initially, there […]

By Laksiri Fernando – It appears that not only the country, but also the Left parties, particularly the LSSP and the CP led by you, are facing a crisis as a result. This is inevitable. However, the question is how you would come out of this crisis, uniting the parties that you lead, and addressing the issues at hand, not based on short term benefits for the party or for yourselves, but for the best interest of the country and the people. In short, I urge you not to support Mahinda Rajapaksa at the planned forthcoming presidential election for a Third Term. It would be a disaster for the country. I make this appeal as a long term supporter of both your parties, the LSSP […]

By Ananth Palakidnar Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, at a special meeting with Mannar Bishop, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph, has agreed to expedite the resettlement of fisher folk in Mullikulam in the Mannar District. The special meeting between the Mannar Bishop and the Defence Secretary was held at the Defence Secretary’s office in Colombo on Wednesday (5). Bishop Joseph told Ceylon Today, the Naval presence in Mullikulam was not yet removed. and the fisher folk numbering 232 families from the area still live in different locations without proper access to fishing areas. “Since the Defence Secretary is very much aware of the Mullikulam issue I requested him to expedite the process to resettle the fisher folk in their original places and to […]

By S. Buvaneka, Haputale Corr (Left) Some of the relief materials left by Democratic Party members. (Right) Gen Fonseka speaking to landslide victims. Officials of the Disaster Management Centre providing relief to people affected by Koslanda landslide turned down relief material donated by Democratic Party (DP) Leader Retd Gen. Sarath Fonseka and his supporters yesterday.As the authorities did not accept the dry rations and other food items, Gen. Fonseka ordered his supporters to dump them opposite the entrance to the Sri Ganesha Vidyalaya in Koslanda. Gen. Fonseka and his supporters had met the affected people and spoken to them. Some of the victims of landslide were seen conversing with the DP leader. Gen Fonseka’s supporters asked those in charge of handing disaster relief why they […]

BY Ruwan Laknath  Jayakody How can a government, which, despite repeated pleas from the Koslanda landslide victims to be relocated, made years before the tragedy, now suddenly find alternative land to relocate them after the disaster? NSSP Leader Dr. Wickremabahu Karunaratne questioned. “These alternative lands offered are lands owned by the government, which they have not given to plantation companies. The people in these areas have been pleading for alternative lands since 2005. They were constantly left stranded. How come these lands are turning up now? This is unacceptable,” he told Ceylon Today. He added that Land and Land Development Ministry has been withholding substantial areas of land, suitable for building houses in Meeriyabedda and Koslanda itself, on areas which are believed to be not […]

By Laksiri Fernando – It may appear that Mahinda Percy Rajapaksa has preempted Sarath Nanda Silva. But you never know. The latter may appear before the Supreme Court before the verdict on the 10th. An intriguing constitutional situation has arisen in this serendipity (does it mean strange?) Sri Lanka with two bizarre questions being referred to the Supreme Court by the former in his apparent capacity as the incumbent President. They were buddies few moons ago. Two questions are ordered alphabetically (a) and (b). Logically speaking, (b) should have come first which questions whether there is any ‘impediment’ for him “to be elected for a further term of office.” Rationality, however, does not appear to be of any concern for the existing regime. Both questions […]