Did Ranil find the blood-stained shirt in Batalanda?

The impression the public had of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as a politician who believes in democracy was tarnished after he allowed actor turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake to make sweeping statements on capturing power through undemocratic means at the joint protest of the Opposition held opposite the Fort Railway station.

In addition, Ranil had been seen carrying a shirt with stains, fabricating a new story to sling mud at the Government and gain cheap political mileage ahead of the upcoming Provincial Council elections.

What baffles the peace-loving public, who repose faith in democracy, is why Ramanayake has been able to go scot free even without being questioned on the highly controversial statements he made on a military coup. As a parliamentarian, he has a greater responsibility to respect the Constitution and not to seek undemocratic means as short cuts to capture power.

What authority does Ramanayake have to advise the Security Forces? We could understand if Ramanayake had advised to an amateur actor on how to dance around flower bushes with a pretty actress. But we wonder whether he knows anything beyond that.

It is a pity that a person such as Ranil had to tolerate such nonsense and let low-grade politicians to discredit the UNP. If Ramanayake is keen to see UNP coming to power, he must help Ranil to prove it at an election. Sri Lanka is a democratic country and people would never tolerate the nonsense that Ramanayake has suggested.

Moreover, where were people such as Ramanayake when the country was being devastated by the LTTE terrorists? Now that the Security Forces had liberated the country and established peace, Ramanayake is trying to play the role of a celluloid hero in a real life drama to tell what the true sons of our soil should do.

The conduct of the UNP leader too is understandable. Having lost 27 elections in a row under his shaky leadership and let 65 UNP MPs join the Government, Ranil has little or no option but to depend on notorious people who had attempted to exploit local housemaids in the middle east in the guise of helping them.

The UNP leader has descended himself to such a low ebb - finding a shirt which he claims has blood stains, saying it belonged to one of the rioters killed in Weliweriya.

The infamous Batalanda torture house that was maintained during the UNP regime was situated only a few miles away from Weliweriya. Who knows whether that shirt belonged to one of the many youth who had been tortured and killed at Batalanda?

TNA supports terror fronts

It seems that the leaders of former Tiger proxy party - the TNA, have still not given up the LTTE ideology and still live in the fantasy world created by Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Intelligence reports have revealed that TNA leader R. Sambandan and parliamentarian A. Sumanthiran have participated in a program organised by the so-called Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam in (TGTE) Canada in violation of country's Constitution.

Chief of Defence Staff General Jagath Jayasuriya told the media last week that that intelligence reports have confirmed that these parliamentarians have participated in these programs organised by TGTE in Canada. "The parliamentarians who are under oath to protect the country's Constitution, have supported the TGTE which the LTTE rump is facilitating with the dream of setting up Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka," he said.

General Jayasuriya said that the LTTE diaspora in Britain has launched a campaign to petition the British Prime Minister, calling on him not to participate in the forthcoming CHOGM in Colombo. "The activities which are aimed at tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka, are on the increase within the country and overseas on the eve of CHOGM and the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay."

He said four senior professors have left the country to participate in a program organised by the Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam in England, under the guise of carrying out a research study. He said that the Intelligence officials tabled a report in this regard to the Security Council which met last week.

These academics have obtained leave citing that they are participating in a research program from August 12-20. They were professors from the Uva Wellassa and Peradeniya Universities. A Sinhalese academic too had been among them.

General Jayasuriya added that these academics had already flown out of the country, when the intelligence community received the report. He said that coming months are very crucial to the country as a number of important events are to be held in Colombo.

"Many campaigns backed by the LTTE diaspora will take place in the country and overseas during this period with the sole objective of tarnishing the country's image," he said.

PC polls campaign in full swing

The recent conduct of Ranil and Sampanthan are understandable as their parties face a tough time at the forthcoming Provincial Council elections. Sampanthan is trying to use communal slogans and project that Prabhakaran is his godfather, assuming that the TNA could win the hearts of Tamils in the North.

In contrast, Ranil is making every effort to avoid another election defeat under his shaky leadership. The Provincial Council elections in Central and North-Western Province are in full swing and the UNP is making every effort to avoid another humiliating defeat.

The UPFA is engaged in a democratic, transparent and fair election campaign in all five districts of the Northern Province, UPFA General Secretary and Environment Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Addressing a media conference at the SLFP Headquarters, the Minister said the UPFA is dedicated to holding a free and fair poll in all three provinces. "Using vehicles or any other government property for the election campaign is prohibited and the police will take legal action against those who violate election rules irrespective of party or personal status of the person," SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the opposition will face the greatest defeat at the forthcoming Provincial Council election. Minister Aluthgamage said the opposition would not be able to elect at even five members to each Provincial Council.

"The UPFA conducts all election campaigns even in the North with the confidence of winning the Northern Provincial Council. Under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government initiated many development projects in the Northern Province and also provided an opportunity to select their leaders and establish a provincial council in the Northern Province," Minister Premajayantha said.

Minister Sirisena said the UPFA is engaged in a successful election campaign in North Western, Central and Northern Provinces.

"The UPFA's first election rally will be held on September 2 in Kurunegala under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in line with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's 62nd anniversary. The President will address about 15 UPFA election rallies," Minister Sirisena said.

He said the people have a clear vision about government's development process. "with the downfall of the opposition, the government will record another historic victory at the election," the minister said. "A large number of village level members of the UNP and the JVP are rallying round the UPFA, as there is no stable political view and a powerful leader, the UNP's election campaign has become dull.

"Opposition election candidates have become helpless as they cannot compete with other candidates with confidence because of the weakness of their parties." Sirisena said.

"As the Opposition is in a weak position, there is competition among upfa candidates for preferential votes. we request all UPFA candidates to conduct their election campaigns peacefully," he said.

Rooka wants real culprits punished

Popular artiste Rookantha Gunathilake said last week the real culprits who harassed him and his wife Chandralekha Perera were the ones who gave the order.

He said the individual who gave the order is moving freely, while the persons who executed the order were punished.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Gunathilake and Chandralekha Perera said they forgive those who were punished recently for their involvement in the incident of harassing them at their house in Mattegoda in 2000. Gunathilake said as the command came from a powerful and influential person at that time, the subordinates inevitably had to obey it.

However, he said they respect the court verdict and consider that they were meted out justice by court. "The verdict is a consolation for us as certain parties at that time went to the extent of criticising us, stating as it was a preplanned attempt by us to fly to the USA," he said.

Gunathilake said the court verdict came after 13 long years, adding that they hope to remain in Sri Lanka most of their time in the future. However, he said due to parental obligations they have to fly from time to time to the USA as their children are still continuing their education in that country.

Gunathilake said as they want to get rid of the mental burden of this incident, they decided to forgive those who were indicted for being involved in this case.

He said as a devout follower of Jesus, he believes in forgiving, adding that he is not afraid of facing challenges. He said their decision to forgive those who were punished would be officially intimated to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in writing and verbally.

Responding to a question as to whether he seeks punishment for the individual who was responsible for giving the order to execute the crime, Gunathilake said no culprit can escape from nature or divinity. He said up to now this individual has not admitted involvement in this incident.

Commenting on artistes' involvement in politics, he said anybody should have the freedom and independence to engage in political activities adding that their opinions can influence the public due to their close association with the people at large.

Responding to another question, he said if royalty payments are done in a proper manner, local artistes would not undergo financial difficulties they experience now. He said many television channels and radio channels owe them considerable amounts.

Artiste Chandralekha Perera also addressed the media conference.

Maithripala in an all-out battle

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena visited the Medical Research Institute (MRI) last week to inspect the testing process on milk powder samples for Whey protein, a ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said MRI officers conduct tests on milk powder samples to detect if the Whey protein in milk powder contains the bacteria which causes Botulism. Testing has commenced on over 100 milk powder samples from various imported and local milk powder brands. More samples will be collected and sent to the MRI, he said.

The MRI conducts three separate tests on each milk powder sample and each test takes three days. It takes around two weeks to release the report because if one test result is positive more tests should be conducted on the sample.

Minister Maithripala Sirisena ordered the National Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority (CDDRA) officials to take stern action against wholesale drug suppliers violating rules and regulations imposed by the authority, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said the licence of wholesale drug suppliers providing drugs to unregistered private pharmacies will be cancelled and legal action taken against them.

CDDRA officials raided an illegal private pharmacy in Dehiwala and also nabbed the wholesale drug supplier providing drugs to the pharmacy. The pharmacy was also issuing drugs to patients without prescriptions, the spokesman said.

The public could inform CDDRA officials about unregistered private pharmacies. Raids will be conducted and CDDRA officials will take action against errant wholesale drug suppliers, he said. CDDRA Director Dr. Hemantha Beneragama said the CDDRA will strictly follow Minister Sirisena's orders and cancel the licence of all wholesale drug suppliers who provide drugs to unregistered private pharmacies.

Sinister elements work tirelessly

Some frustrated political elements and anti-Sri-Lankan organisations are attempting to snatch opportunities such as the incident at Grandpass to fan the flames of communal and religious unrest in the country ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November, clergymen of the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian faiths comprising the Inter Religious Alliance for National Unity, said at a press conference last week.

It is unbecoming of citizens belonging to any religious faith in the country, to give way to violent clashes as they did in Grandpass, Inter-religious Alliance for National Unity Co-Chair Moulavi Alhaj Hassan Moulavi Moulana said.

He severely criticised the factions that were responsible for the unrest in the Grandpass area last week.

"All factions should take into account the importance of maintaining the peace that dawned after so much of sacrifice," said Moulavi Alhaj Hassan. He said, it is the duty of all communities in the country not to fall prey to the sinister plans of these political elements that are hell bent on fueling any fire to malign the country's good name before the all important Commonwealth Summit. He said, "The people of this country, notwithstanding their differences as Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians, should never forget, how as a country we achieved peace, which everyone enjoys today, after so much hardships and sacrifice."

"We have lost thousands of lives to come to where we are today to strive forward as one nation," he said.

IRANU Co-Chair, Rev Sarath Hettiarachchi said that whoever engages in acts of violence, or creates religious or communal disharmony by way of their actions, commits treachery at this important juncture of the country where national development goes hand in hand with peace and national unity.

Present at this press conference were IRANU president Ven Kamburugamuwe Vajira Nayaka Thera, IRANU Co-Chair Ven. Galagama Dhammaransi Thera and Hindu priest Shiva Kurukkal.

Japanese princess in Sri Lanka

Princess Tsuguko of Takamado, the eldest daughter of Japanese Prince Takamado will arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow on a four-day visit, in response to an invitation extended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa during the their visit to Japan in March this year.

Princess Tsuguko was born on March 8, 1986 to Prince and Princess Takamado and celebrated her coming of age in March 2006.

After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Princess Tsuguko returned to Japan in 2008. In March 2013, she graduated from the School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University and is presently attached to the Japan Committee for UNICEF, but attends ceremonies and functions at the Imperial Palace and other official events.

Her grandfather, Prince Takahito of Mikasa visited Sri Lanka in 1956 and was gifted with a baby elephant by then Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, which was subsequently donated to the TAMA Zoological Park in Tokyo. President Rajapaksa donated two more baby elephants to the same zoological park during his official visit to Japan in March this year in the presence of Princess Tsuguko. Thereafter, the Sri Lankan government invited her to visit Sri Lanka.

Princess Tsuguko will visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and the Sri Mahabhodhi at Anuradhapura. She will also pay a courtesy call on President Rajapaksa at the President's House in Kandy. Princess Tsuguko will also meet the Diyadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa Nilanga Dela and view the Sri Dalada Perehera. She will tour some of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and other sites of historical importance in Sri Lanka, the botanical gardens at Peradeniya and engage in a tour of a National Park to view elephants prior to her departure on August 23.