TNA's double standards in glorifying Prabha

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) seems to be playing a double game once again as it made direct and indirect attempts to mark the birth anniversary of the most ruthless terrorist leader ever in world history - Veluppillai Prabhakaran. TNA parliamentarian S. Sritharan in a prepared statement to Parliament on Tuesday, attempted to glorify Prabhakaran. In his controversial speech on Prabhakaran's birth anniversary, Sritharan justified the cause fostered by the LTTE terrorists and identified their terror acts as a freedom struggle.

He stressed the need to commemorate the slain LTTE leaders and cadres on what he called 'Mahaveer' day. Sritharan did all this while taking cover under parliamentary privilege and his controversial speech was condemned by Government and the Opposition benches.

Days after Sritharan's attempt to breach the Sixth Amendment, the TNA told a different story on Sritharan's attempt to glorify Prabhakaran. TNA leader R. Sampanthan has said that what Sritharan had expressed was certainly not the position of their party. Sampanthan stated that the TNA's stand had been clearly outlined in the party's election manifesto to the Northern Provincial Council election.

Sampanthan made a futile attempt to say that Sritharan "would have been moved by the fact that November 26 was Prabhakaran's birthday" and that the MP would have been emotional.

While confirming that the TNA had not campaigned in the elections "on such a line" and even if Sritharan had wanted to campaign for elections on such lines, the TNA would not have allowed him to do so.

Now that Sampanthan has said that Sritharan's controversial speech in Parliament, "clearly does not reflect the TNA's position" and that the party is against it, it is time for the TNA to demonstrate its honesty and sincerity by conducting a disciplinary inquiry against the MP.

Contrary to Sampanthan's statement, the TNA leaders of the newly-elected Northern Provincial Council were seen attempting to mark Prabhakaran's birthday with a tree planting campaign under Chief Minister C.V. Wigneshwaran.

Australia extends LTTE ban

While the extremists in the TNA made a disgraceful attempt to resurrect Prabhakaran, the Australian Government extended its ban on the LTTE for a further period of three years. Coincidently, the ban was extended on the same day on which the LTTE terrorist leader's birth anniversary fell.

The announcement was made by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who said that the threat of terrorism in Australia is "real and enduring." Australia decided to maintain the LTTE as a proscribed organisation after the federal government updated its listing of terror groups and their financiers last week. It also proscribed Al Sahab and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) as terrorist organisations.

"The Australian government remains determined to combat and prevent terrorism in all its forms," said Bishop. She added that the ban has been extended to prevent fund raising by Tamil Tigers for terrorist activities in Australia in compliance with the United Nations Security Council convention.

Australia, which is home to a large Tamil community, debated the banning of the Tigers over many years. During his visit to Australia last June, External Affairs Minister G. L. Pieris urged Brendan O'Connor, the Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, to extend the ban.

Last year, India extended its ban on the LTTE for a further two years saying that the organisation continues to adopt a "strong anti-India posture and poses a grave threat to the security of Indian nationals.

Nonis exposes Cameron's ulterior motives

Sri Lanka High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Chris Nonis said last week that British Prime Minister David Cameron had probably highlighted alleged human right violations in Sri Lanka in anticipation of the British elections in 2015. "Why did he raise these issues on a public platform? because he has domestic political considerations as he is in a coalition government and elections are due in 2015. There is also a significant diaspora in Britain," Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Dr. Chris Nonis said in an interview with BBC World News - Global on Thursday.

Dr. Nonis has earlier blamed criticism of his country's human rights record on a "proxy propaganda war" being carried out by those who funded the nation's "terrorist conflict."

Speaking to CNN's Fred Pleitgen for the "Amanpour" show on the eve of CHOGM 2013 earlier this month, Dr. Nonis said he was unsurprised by the criticism. "One has to understand that there's a tremendous influence from those who funded the terrorist conflict who are now carrying out, really, a proxy propaganda war. What we realise is that over the years -- as people realise the wonderful reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction program that we are carrying out in Sri Lanka".

Dr. Nonis had previously blasted an Amnesty International report which he dubbed as a "fascinating piece of fiction" based on third party news reports and websites. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today program earlier this year, "I'm sorry to say that as usual, Amnesty International has carried out its usual propaganda exercise of misinformation and hearsay. We are a sovereign country just as Britain is... after we achieved peace in the country, we have a wonderful opportunity to reconcile. We have absolutely nothing to hide."

Death of Tiran's father

Educationist and founder principal of D.S Senanayake College R.I. T. Alles passed away on Thursday night at a private hospital in Colombo at the age of 81 following a brief illness. Father of parliamentarian Tiran Alles and Dr. Harsha Alles of Gateway International College, 'RIT' served as the State Secretary for Ministry of Education from 1989 to 1993 and was the Chairman of the Gateway Group until his death.

Politicians from the Government and the Opposition visited the funeral house to express their condolences to Tiran, one-time ardent supporter of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Fonny gives evidence

Former Army Commander turned politician Sarath Fonseka, giving evidence in the attempted assassination on him by a suicide bomber on September 2006 at the Army Headquarters in Colombo, last week recalled the harrowing ordeal which left him critically injured.

He said for about five minutes after the bomb blast he remained clutching the vehicle door. He said after the blast he got out of the vehicle and remained near the wreckage of the car holding on to the door. Thereafter an army officer came and took him to the accident service in an ambulance.

Fonseka made this assertion giving evidence which was led by State Counsel Thusitha Mudalige before Colombo High Court Judge Kumudini Wickramasinghe.

Witness Fonseka also said that on the day of the incident he was in his office at the Army headquarters.

Around 1.00 pm he left the headquarters with an army escort and saw a woman in a yellow and blue shalwar among the crowd near the entrance. When the car was about two metres from the woman a fire flared up from the side of the woman and Fonseka saw his driver falling on to the steering wheel of the car while the two guards on his sides also fell down.

Fonseka said he came out from the wreckage of the car and stood by the car holding the door. After the lapse of about five minutes an army officer came there and took him to hospital.

He said he was conscious until the dressings were put on his wounds. Thereafter he became unconscious. Later he regained consciousness and realized that he was in the ICU of the National Hospital

Kiriella blames sinister elements

Kandy District parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella last week rejected claims that the UNP Leadership Council, headed by Karu Jayasuriya, had no powers vested in it. While rejecting allegations on a powerless Leadership Council, which certain party supporters described as a toothless tiger, said some elements were attempting to shatter the new unity that's emerging within the party.

"There were various media reports that the Leadership Council had no powers. But I must point out that the Leadership Council has more powers than needed," Kiriella was quoted as saying.

"Among them are powers to appoint electoral organizers, give nominations and handle disciplinary matters. Appointing members to the Working Committee will also come within the purview of the leadership council Chairman and the National leader. Some have wanted to rupture the new unity which is rising within the party. Everyone has realized that the UNP can win by getting together. For instance, there were two Bhikkhu unions of the UNP but they are discussing to join hands and work in harmony," he said.

Kiriella told a news conference in Colombo, that 19 powers vested in the party leader would be transferred to the leadership council at the upcoming party convention. "It is also to be included in the party constitution at the next party convention, he said.

Harin suspects foul play

UNP Badulla District parliamentarian Harin Fernando appears to be finding some foul play in the incident that a mapila (Barnes cat snake) which was found inside the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's office in the Parliamentary Complex on the day which President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented the Budget for 2014. Harin says the reptile "may have been dumped there by someone" intending to harm the UNP leader.

Fernando told Parliament last week that sabotage was possible because a snake could not have got into the office without outside help. "Can a snake use a lift?" he asked government members, who were heckling him.

"If a snake can come up in the lift it may have been an extraordinary species of snakes," he added.

Fernando demanded a proper investigation be carried out so as to rule out sabotage. He said there was room to believe that someone either a government or opposition member could have brought the snake in to the complex.

Deputy Minister W.B. Ekanayake in his response said the snake must have been dumped by a UNP parliamentarian. "A UNP parliamentarian may have been behind this because the party is full of snakes," he said in lighter vein

Mahindananda in Switzerland

Sri Lanka last week agreed to revise its sports law which is in force since 1973 to make it compatible with basic principles which govern the Olympic Movement. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in a statement from its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland that this would be done having due regard to the autonomy, jurisdiction and responsibilities of each entity.

The new IOC ruling will indefinitely postpone next month's elections to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka at which two incumbent Vice Presidents - Minister Dilan Perera and leading business personality and son-in-law of Minister Sarath Amunugama were to contest for the post of Presidency to succeed Hemasiri Fernando, Secretary to the Ministry of Posts and former Secretary to the Prime Minister.

The IOC declared that the incumbent Ex-Co could remain in office until the NOC elections will be held after amending the National Sports Law and conducting elections of National Sports Associations under their new constitutions.

Last week's meeting at the IOC headquarters was initiated to resolve a long-standing issue arising from the sports law (in force since 1973) and specific government regulations applicable to sports organisations in Sri Lanka (mainly the national sports federations and the NOC). The Sports Ministry delegation was headed by Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage while NOC Secretary General Maxwell de Silva headed the local NOC delegation.

All participants acknowledged the positive approach and goodwill expressed by the Sports Minister to address this matter openly and to resolve a situation whose origin go back to the 1970s. The meeting served essentially to find a common understanding and establish the necessary conditions to allow national sports organisations in Sri Lanka to comply with the laws of the land and basic principles in particular that of autonomy) and requirements of the international sports organisations to which they are affiliated.

When Kennedy urged to save Sirimavo

A secret White House memo sent to President John F. Kennedy, now declassified, stated relations with Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) had turned from 'bad to worse' and urged the US leader to find a friendly resolution to save Srimavo Bandaranaike's government from 'left wing' pressure in 1963, four months before the President's assassination.

During the early 1960s former US President John F. Kennedy and Prime Minister exchanged Sirimavo telegraphs on a range issues from US nuclear testing in the Pacific, nationalising of oil companies in Ceylon to the Buddhist crisis in South Vietnam.

"Our relations with Ceylon have gone from bad to worse since we had to suspend aid last February under the Hickenlooper Amendment," R.W. Komer, White House National Security Council (NSC) wrote to President JFK in a secret memo in July 1963 prior to the latter's meeting between to Ceylon Ambassador Merenna Francis de Silva Jayaratne to discuss the Buddhist Crisis in South Vietnam.

The amendment, aimed at Cuba cut funding to any government expropriating US property, Ceylon had nationalised the petroleum industry under the government of Srimavo Bandaranaike. Komer described the Ceylon ambassador as more "West friendly" than his government.

"Left wing in Ceylon used this as a stick to force Bandaranaike in a even more extremist direction and now oil companies are likely to be squeezed out entirely. While we can't retreat from our position, a few kind words from you about our desire to reach amicable resolution may stiffen Bandaranaike's spine," he added. Komer told President Kennedy to review State Department briefings, "on how you may handle this hot potato." The shooting deaths of nine persons and the self-immolation of a Buddhist monk protesting the religious discrimination by the South Vietnam government was laid out in a letter by then Prime Minister Bandaranike to President Kennedy. Bandaranike personally described Kennedy as a "champion of freedom" who could save the Buddhists of South Vietnam.

Speaker willing to sell paddy at Rs. 37 per kg

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa told Parliament on Thursday that he too is willing to sell paddy to the Board if it is bought at Rs. 37 a kilogram.. His remarks came after Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando told Parliament that there was no need for a price formula for paddy as the government had given a guaranteed price of Rs. 35 per kilo of

Samba rice and Rs. 32 per kilo of Nadu rice.

Minister Fernando said this in reply to a question by Hambantota district UNP MP Sajith Premadasa. Sajith alleged that though the Government says it buys paddy from farmers paying Rs. 30-35 a kilo, private buyers purchase paddy at Rs. 26-27 and that was the current market price.

Johnston said this was false and paddy was sold between Rs. 34-37. The Government purchases paddy and stores them without releasing them to the market as there is a surplus in the market. He claimed that the Gwovernment buys paddy for a certified price of Rs. 30-35 to protect local farmers and maintains a controlling price of Rs. 60-70 for rice to protect the consumers.

Meanwhile, the vote on the Budget 2014 second reading was passed with a majority of 99 votes in Parliament on Friday night. A total of 154 MPs voted in favour of the Budget 2014, while 55 voted against. The United National Party, the Tamil National Alliance and Democratic National Alliance opposed the Budget.