24th April 2016

By Brian Senewiratne – The majority Sinhalese (74% of the population) have been carefully and deliberately shielded from reality by manipulation of the media by Sinhalese politicians, and ethno-religious bigots, especially the Buddhist monks, playing to the chauvinist gallery. The Sinhalese have been fed with myths and legends (masquerading as facts), and downright lies or not told what they should have been told. The realities have never been disclosed as to do so would lead to widespread misgivings about the wisdom of the Sri Lankan government’s policy. This is something that has to be addressed since it is the Sinhalese who elect those to run (or ruin) the country. A separate publication is needed and this must be circulated in the Sinhalese area – something […]

Former Crimes OIC of the Narahenpita police, Sumith Champika Perera has shared vital information over the cover up of former ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen’s murder, including the details of several others who had played a part in concealing the murder. Perera, who was arrested and subsequently remanded on Thursday for concealing the murder, had informed the CID the names of the ‘higher authorities’ from where he received the order to cover up Thajudeen’s murder. Highly placed sources said that, the newly appointed IGP Pujith Jayasundara had been informed about the development, and upon his instructions Perera was arrested, just hours after Jayasundara took over office. Over the next few weeks, more arrests are likely, including those named by the former Crimes OIC, who have been directly involved in […]

Chennai: DMK MP Kanimozhi on Sunday slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, saying the latter has no right to talk on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue as she highlights the same just before the elections.  “She is the one who actually was against the entire Sri Lankan problem. In the 2014 general election, she spoke about this (Sri Lankan issue) and after that during her entire tenure she didn’t talk about it. There is no honesty and integrity about her stand when it comes on the Sri Lankan issue,” Kanimozhi told ANI. “In fact, the issue of releasing the assassins of Rajiv Gandhi was also brought up just before the elections and after the verdict she has kept quiet,” she added. Accusing the AIADMK […]

Minister of Industries and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen has severely condemned the move by the TNA- controlled Northern Provincial Council’s decision to adopt a resolution seeking a federal solution for the country’s minority Tamil community. Minister Bathiudeen added that any politicians representing his All Ceylon People’s Congress did not back the resolution. The observation was made while responding to media personnel at an event held in Vavuniya. The Minister also went on to say that a discussion would be held with the TNA leaders with respect to the proposals of the new resolution within next few days. The NPC adopted the resolution seeking a federal solution to the long-pending issue of political independence for the country’s minority Tamil community. The resolution was presented by Chief Minister C.V. […]

by  Camelia Nathaniel The infamous Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 will be repealed, but will be in force during the transitional period until a new law is brought in to replace it, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said recently. The Defence Secretary made this statement during a press conference held at the Media Centre to announce the amnesty for illegally kept firearms.  Hettiarachchi further stated that as the country is now peaceful, there was no requirement even for politicians to hold weapons as security is provided to them. The Ministry of Defence has declared an amnesty period for the handing over of illegally kept firearms under a special gazette notification No. 1958/06 on 05-03-2016 in accordance with Section 30 of the […]

by Sujeeva Nivunhella in London British Opposition Leader, Jeremy Corbyn said that until Sri Lanka’s Tamils achieve justice and self-determination the “war is not over”. Addressing a meeting organized by ‘Tamils for Labour’ at the committee room in the Houses of Parliament last week, Corbyn said the Labour Party is committed to the cause of the Tamil people. Although it is said that 2016 marks the seventh anniversary of the end of the conflict, it was not the end until Tamils achieve justice, self-expression and self-determination, he said. Corbyn, who is also the Leader of UK’s Labour Party, further noted: “You have to go into the question of the human rights abuses, the camps that were set up, the missing people, the lack of freedom […]

ArcelorMittal Headquarters in Luxembourg City by Rajan Philips Let us call a cage, a cage, and not a steely home in a palmyrah grove! The controversial US$ 1 billion contract with ArcelorMittal to build 65,000 steel houses in the north smacks of all the vices of corrupt global capitalism and none of the virtues of a free market economy. ArcelorMittal is the world’s largest steel producer, the outcome of the 2006 takeover of Arcelor (itself a conglomerate of Spanish, French and Luxembourg companies) by India’s Mittal Steel, and subsequent gobbling up of steel companies in different parts of the world. Why would the world’s largest steel company be interested in building houses in Jaffna? One billion US dollars are not a small amount even for […]