'Western countries pressurising Sri Lanka - a clear case of interference'

The Christmas holiday season kept most politicians away from their normal day-to-day public schedules last week. However, with the dawn of 2013 they will swing back to action.

The ongoing festive season did not permit most of the senior hands in the UNP to relax as they anticipated several drastic decisions by party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

'Armed' with a straight six-year term as the party leader, Ranil is determined to discipline party seniors to put the Siri Kotha administration in order. Hence, most of the Reformist Group members are engaged in a hide and seek game.

Those who openly promoted Sajith Premadasa as the party leader are hard to find as Ranil has strengthened his grip. The historic UNP convention that extended party leader's term to six years earlier this month has enabled Ranil to flex his muscles as Sajith and his supporters went on the back foot.

A full-scale disciplinary inquiry is expected to take place on the instructions of the party leader and those who are found guilty would be expelled from the party. Knowing that he is on a bad wicket, Sajith seem to have decided to play safe and protect his deputy leadership post, rather than daydreaming to oust Ranil and become the leader.

Sajith is unlikely to stand any chance unlike in the past and will have to face severe consequences even for the slightest violation of the UNP constitution. It is understood that the party leader has deployed his confidants to keep a close tab on Sajith and to report even the slightest remark he makes against the party leader. Even a slightest offence would see Sajith being removed from the deputy leadership of the party.

Russian Ambassador's remarks

During the first quarter of 2012, a US-led Resolution against Sri Lanka was passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR). Since then, LTTE cohorts and some INGOs have been working hard to exert pressure on Sri Lanka at the next UNHRC Sessions in 2013.

Unfortunately, most of those who make a big hue and cry on human rights do not practise what they preach. While having loads of human rights abuses in their own backyards, these countries point an accusing finger at Sri Lanka to safeguard human rights of terrorists who had been killed in action - when confronting a legitimate army of a sovereign state.

Most of these campaigns have been orchestrated by some of the Western politicians who heavily depend on Tiger cohorts and Tamil Diaspora votes for their political survival.

However, the new Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka last week gave stunning advice to all those who preach on human rights. He declared that Sri Lanka is being criticised for human

rights violations by those who are not in the least perfect in that area themselves.

Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alexander A Karchava said sometimes people point at a speck in the other's eye without knowing a whole lot about the mote in theirs. He said developed countries in the West can suggest ideas to improve the situation in Sri Lanka.

He said pressurising Sri Lanka to implement what they presume to be right is a different thing - it is a clear interference in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs. Karchava said Sri Lanka has made tremendous progress in the field of clearing mines in areas held by terrorists.

He said developed countries, especially in the West, can provide their expertise in a friendly manner. “Forcing other countries to implement what they presume to be right is an interference in the internal affairs of such countries,” the envoy said. The Russian ambassador said countries such as Cambodia have not fully de-mined though the war ended in the mid 70s.

“Sri Lanka has managed to do a lot in three years and their achievement in the field of resettlement is commendable,” he said. Karchava said the two countries have not harnessed the full potential of relations though this year marks the completion of 55 years since the setting up of diplomatic relations.

Sri Lanka-Japan relations

Japan has been one of Sri Lanka' s friendliest countries that has helped us immensely over the years. When some of the leading countries in the world attempted to take revenge from Japan after the Word War II, it was Sri Lanka which stood by Japan and told the world that Japan should be given a chance. Since then, bilateral relations between the two countries have strengthened in every sphere as Japan emerged as Sri Lanka's largest donor country.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week congratulated Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the assumption of office following his landslide victory at the recently concluded Parliamentary election. Highlighting the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Japan, President Rajapaksa expressed his hope that the “bonds of friendship and close cooperation that exist between our two countries will continue to flourish.” The full text of the President’s message:

“It gives me great pleasure to extend to you my sincere and warm congratulations on your assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Japan with a landslide victory in the recently concluded Parliamentary election.

“Excellency, your election to the highest political office is a clear and compelling testimony of the confidence the people of Japan have placed on your leadership. Given your vast and highly impressive tenure in the political theatre, I am certain that your esteemed office would extend the guidance needed to achieve greater prosperity and contentment for the people of Japan.

“It is my hope that the bonds of friendship and close cooperation that exist between our two countries will continue to flourish during your tenure of office as the Prime Minister of Japan.

“Excellency, on this momentous occasion of celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, I look forward to working closely with you to further enhance and strengthen our bilateral ties. “Please accept, Excellency, my best wishes for your good health and success and the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Relief for flood victims

Over 40 people have been killed and thousands of people have been affected due to floods which still continues to threaten normal life in several areas. Hence, politicians in those areas were forced to abandon their holiday plans and attend to the needs of their affected people.

The Economic Development Ministry has launched an accelerated program to provide immediate relief for the people displaced by the torrential rains and floods.

The program launched under the Yali Pibidemu (Re-awakening project) and Devana Praja Sanwardhana livelihood improvement project of the Economic Development Ministry covers 16 districts. They are Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Badulla, Moneragala, Hambantota, Galle, Matara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Matale and Nuwara Eliya.

About 259,889 persons belonging to 70,290 families affected by the floods have been provided disaster relief under the supervision of Re-awakening project Director, Engineer S.K. Liyanage. Project officials of the Economic Development Ministry in the respective districts have been deployed to coordinate relief activities by District Secretary and Disaster Management Centre officials.

The program has been activated under Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa's guidance. In the North and the East, 4,200 community coordinators are engaged in disaster relief work, according to Divisional Secretaries.

Vavuniya District Secretary Bandula Harischandra said Economic Development Ministry officials' assistance was invaluable in mitigating the effects of the disaster, which has claimed 42 lives. Nine people are still missing, he said.

The ministry is providing relief for 24,675 people belonging to 7,276 families in 124 temporary shelters. The ministry is also coordinating to repair and rebuild 6,216 houses destroyed by torrential rains and gales.

Opposition MPs walked out without dissenting

The Opposition party members who sat at the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) sessions had a responsibility to moot their own suggestions rather than walk away from the PSC inquiry, chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that probed the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said last week.

Addressing a press conference organised by the People’s Movement for Justice at the Foundation Institute last week, Minister Yapa said that the Chief Justice, her lawyers and the opposition political parties decided to walk out charging that they had no confidence in the composition of the PSC, and alleging the CJ was verbally abused by government members of the PSC.

But if such things happened they would be reported in the verbatim transcripts in which no such things appear, he said.

“Anyone critical of the PSC proceedings should read the verbatim report presented by the committee as it would answer all criticisms levelled against it. Many who point fingers at the probe have not yet read this report,” he charged.

“I invite everybody to read this verbatim and verify whether CJ was addressed badly by any member of the PSC”, he said, challenging anybody who is interested in knowing what really happened at the PSC sessions to read the transcripts. “All the government members who were appointed by the Speaker to the PSC acted in good faith and were open minded. Nobody had a premeditated agenda or any foregone conclusion against the CJ.”

‘‘As there was an impeachment motion against her, that should be probed by a PSC, this was the only way of inquiring as per our constitution,” the Minister said.

‘‘We wrote the report in a transparent and impartial manner. Though we belong to the government we had no bias against anybody.

As three charges out of five were proven with evidence, and so we finalized the report and handed it over to the Speaker.

Resolution in January first week

The resolution to impeach Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake will be tabled in Parliament within the first week of January, according to Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

“What has been practised previously in the impeachment of any Chief Justice in the country will be followed in the case of incumbent Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake,” Minister Rambukwella said. The minister said this on being asked whether Parliament is set to take up the impeachment resolution on Dr Bandaranayake when it meets on January 8 for the first time in 2013.

The impeachment process will uphold all Parliamentary traditions, he said. The Legislature has the sole power to impeach. The Judiciary has no authority to review its process, the minister said.

Dr Bandaranayake has been found guilty of professional misconduct and financial irregularities by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that probed the impeachment motion.

The Committee after probing five out of 14 of charges levelled against her, found her guilty on three counts and found her innocent on two.

The Chief Justice walked out from the PSC proceedings amid other charges levelled against her. The impeachment motion was signed by 117 legislators.

She walked out of the impeachment process refusing to appear before the members of the PSC, without proving her innocence.

Rambukwella said: “The resolution on the impeachment of the Chief Justice will be debated in Parliament with due respect for the Constitution and Parliamentary Standing Orders.”

The dates for the debate on the impeachment will be arranged in consultation with party leaders.“The order paper has not been announced as yet,” he said.

Asked if there was a division in the government about the Chief Justice’s impeachment that several Leftist coalition partners had submitted a proposal to President Rajapaksa recently requesting him to prorogue Parliament over the situation, Rambukwella said there was no such division in the government over the impeachment process.

Everyone is concerned about preserving Parliament traditions, he pointed out.

The impeachment resolution calls for a vote. It requires a simple majority to be passed to allow the President to remove the Chief Justice from her position.

Top travel agents meet Basil

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) together with Malaysian Airlines organised a Familiarisation Tour for 14 leading Travel Agents from China to promote Sri Lanka as a popular tourist destination.

The Chinese travel agents met Minister Basil Rajapaksa and had discussions on developing Chinese inbound tourism market.

Fourteen leading travel agents including Xiamen Airlines, came on this familiarisation tour, which provided a comprehensive picture on the potential of Sri Lanka as a popular tourist destination the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism, Bhashwara Gunarathna, also participated.

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau specially arranged them to cover the areas of Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, Galle, Hikkaduwa and Colombo. These agents had an opportunity to visit these places which would help them to arrange tours to Chinese visitors.

Sri Lanka Tourism also took steps to arrange a Business Networking Meeting, as a part of this familiarisation tour, with the participation of 35 tour operators of Sri Lanka, who are active in the Chinese tourism market in Colombo.

By the end of November this year, the number of arrivals to Sri Lanka from China amounted to 22,176 an increase of 46 percent compared to last year. For 2013, the target has been set at 60,000 arrivals, which is seemingly accessible with a number of promotional activities executed under the guidance of the Ministry of Economic Development.

Rajaratnam agrees to pay $ 1.5 million

US hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam last week agreed to pay disgorgement of about $1.5 million in a civil lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the USA and to waive his right to appeal the judgement, court papers showed.

Rajaratnam would make the payment, representing the profits obtained by unlawful means, to the SEC within 90 days of the entry of the final judgement in court records, according to a filing.

Rajaratnam, currently serving a 11-year prison term, was convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy in May 2011.

He was accused of running a network of friends and associates who leaked corporate secrets to him for years. Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc director Rajat Gupta, a former chief of consulting firm McKinsey & Co, has also been charged with leaking tips to Rajaratnam. Gupta denies the charges.

Rajaratnam, the founder of Galleon Group, has already paid $63.8 million in criminal penalties, and a judge had earlier ordered him to pay $92.8 million in a civil case brought by the SEC. The case is SEC vs Rajaratnam et al, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 11-07566.

Tony Greg is no more

A character who was equally loved not only by sports fans but by most the Government and Opposition politicians - former England captain and Channel 9 commentator Tony Greig died after being diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 66.

His love for Sri Lanka cricket and its world class players made him even more popular among Sri Lankans across the globe.

Sri Lanka's stunning victory over Australia to win the 1996 World Cup under Arjuna Ranatunga persuaded Tony to become an ardent supporter of Sri Lanka cricket.

Recently Parliamentarian and former Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala organised a Bodhi pooja to bless Tony. Many Sri Lanka cricketers, both present and past, were present in their numbers. Greig played a big role in promoting Sri Lanka cricket and the country as a tourist destination.

Greig first became aware he had a problem during Australia's one-day series against Pakistan in Dubai in August and September. Initially diagnosed with bronchitis in May, the condition lingered and by the time of the ICC World Twenty20 that concluded in Sri Lanka in October, Greig had medical tests that revealed a small lesion at the base of his right lung.

On his return to Australia he had fluid removed from the right lung and testing revealed he had lung cancer. Last month, he spoke to the Channel Nine commentary team, of which he is usually a member, during their coverage of the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane.

Greig was candid about the disease. "It's not good. The truth is I've got lung cancer. Now it's a case of what they can do," Greig said. He had an operation later that month.