The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had begun an investigation against the Chief Executive Officer at the secretarial office of the Deyata Kirula National Exhibition 2013 for allegedly cheating and misappropriation an amount of Rs.39 million in contrast to the tender procedure.

Secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology Mr. H.M. Gunasekara had lodged a complaint with the CID regarding this alleged misappropriation valued at Rs.39 million on February 21, 2013. In his complaint to the CID, he had informed that Kanthi Gunawardana the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Deyata Kirula Exibition 2013. The complainant said subsequently Mrs. Kanthi Gunawardana was interdicted from the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Deyata Kirula 2013 over committing frauds while implementing several projects in the Deyata Kirula site in Ampara.

The secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology further alleged that the CEO of the Deyata Kirula Exhibition had acted contrary to the procedure of the Procurement and Technical Evaluation Committee and thereby cheated Rs.39 million while constructing 230 temporary toilets, reading room and canteen in the Deyata Kirula Exhibition site.

The complainant alleged that the contract relating to the construction of temporary toilets    had given to a private company without the approval of Procurement and Technical Evaluation Committee by the CEO of the Deyata Kirula Exhibition and thereby paid an additional payment of Rs.1.7 million to the contractor. He further alleged that the suspect had paid another additional payment amounting to Rs.12 million for the construction of a reading room in the Deyata Kirula Exhibition premises. He further alleged that she had approved another additional payment of Rs.11 million for a contractor to construct a canteen and further paid an additional payment of Rs.255,000 for flower decorations in the site.(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

කොටි සංවිධානයට රටවල් 11 කින් යුද්ධ අවි හා උපාංග ලැබුණ බවට සාක්‍ෂි සහිතව ජාත්‍යන්තර ප්‍රජාව හමුවේ සනාථ කිරීමට රජය තීරණය කර ඇත. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ හමුදාව යුද අපරාධ සිදුකළ බවට පරීක්‍ෂණ අරඹන බවට ඇමරිකානු සහකාර රාජ්‍ය ලේකම් රොබට්‌ බ්ලේක්‌ කළ ප්‍රකාශයට ප්‍රතිචාර දැක්‌වීමට මෙම පියවර ගෙන තිබේ. මුල්ලිවයික්‌කාල් හි කොටි බංකරයක තිබී හමුවූ රහස්‌ ලියවිලි වලින් අවි ආයුධ සැපයුණු රටවල් ගැන හෙළිවී ඇත.

ඇමරිකානු හමුදාවට අයත් එම් 16 වර්ගයේ අවි හා සංඥ උපකරණ පවා කොටි ළඟ තිබී සොයාගත්තා යෑයි ජ්‍යෙෂ්ඨ හමුදා නිලධාරියෙක්‌ පැවැසීය.

මේ හැර නෝර්වේ රටේ නිපැයූ නේරා නමැති චන්ද්‍රිකා පද්ධති හා කොටි ගුවන්යානාවලට අවශ්‍ය උපාංග යුරෝපා රටවල් දෙකකින් ලබාගත් බවට ලිපිලේඛන හමුවුණා යෑයි හෙතෙම තවදුරටත් පළකළේය.

මෙයට අමතරව කොටි නැව් ජාත්‍යන්තර නාවික සංවිධානයේ ලියාපදිංචි කර තිබූ බවද ඊට අදාළ ලේඛන පවා සොයා ගත් බවත් ඔහු කියා සිටියේය.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා හමුදාවට ලබාගැනීමට නොහැකි හමුදා විද්යුත් උපකරණ පවා ඇතැම් රටවල් කොටි සංවිධානයට සපයා තිබේ.

මේ සම්බන්ධව කොටි ජාත්‍යන්තර ආයුධ ප්‍රවාහක කේ. පී. වද සාක්‍ෂි ලෙස ඉදිරිපත් කෙරේ.
(කීර්ති වර්ණකුලසූරිය)

Source: Divaina (Sri Lanka)

The simmering crisis within Sri Lankan Airlines surrounding the lowering of cut off marks to accommodate two extra cadet pilots has resulted in losses running ‘into millions’ of rupees for the country’s national carrier and continued disruption of flights the Daily Mirror learns.

Regular flights have been disrupted and delayed during the past three weeks as a result of pilots and instructors of the airline deciding to ‘work to the roster’.

Sri Lankan Airlines are currently understaffed for pilots and Instructors and therefore each pilot is requested to take up flights which they were not initially scheduled to take up.

Certain long distance flights have been delayed for long hours and flights have been grounded as a result causing heavy losses to the Air Lines and inconveniencing passengers flying the national carrier.

The technical issues arising out of the delays, with additional fuel costs, airway booking slots, and slots for arrival in airports due to the delay have to be borne by Sri Lankan together with accommodation for passengers and other ensuing costs.

It is learnt that the country’s national carrier prior to the recent standoff continued to suffer losses to the tune of “hundreds of millions of dollars”.

There has been no positive outcome following a crucial meeting held on March 15 between the Pilots Guild together with the Flight operations senior management led by Druvi Perera(COO )and Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The most recent issue arose after two additional cadet pilots were recruited after lowering the marks for the simulator test- a mandatory requirement for all pilot recruits- from 70 to 65.

The initial recruits on March 1 were informed that they had passed the simulator aptitude test. On March 3 (Sunday) two additional candidates were informed that they have also been selected and were also informed to be present for the final interview.

It is believed that the two recruits had not achieved the minimum pass mark of 70.

The Airline Pilot Guild of Sri Lanka(ALPGSL) which comprises all pilots flying for the national carrier had called for an emergency meeting after being informed of the recruitment, and later decided to “fly to roster” until the decision to recruit the two additional cadet  pilots who supposedly did not attain the competency level be suspended.

Almost immediately after the decision to recruit the two candidates was taken, the Chief Pilot Training and Standards Captain Patrick Fernando and his Deputy Captain Ranga Amadoru resigned in protest.

Adding a twist to saga on March 6, three days after the cut off marks were lowered, Minister Priyankara Jayarathne in a letter to the CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines, said “I hereby direct you to revise the Cadet Pilot selection cut off mark in order that you facilitate more deserving Sri Lankan nationals to join the airline”.
In the ensuing melee the  flight instructors of Sri Lankan Airlines  who are in charge of training Pilots, in a letter signed by its membership, to the Chief Operating Officer of Sri Lankan Airlines expressed their “ disagreement towards the higher managements’ hastened decision to lower the selection criteria” and later decided to work to the roster.

The Daily Mirror also learns that the batch of nine cadet pilots who were recruited in August 2012 are yet to complete their training as a result of the issue.
Speaking to Daily Mirror President of the Pilots Guild Captain Ruwan Vithanage said that the pilots are in favour of the policy to recruit more Lankan nationals, but it should be in line with the stipulated criteria.

“The lack of proper aptitude and competency among recruits is a huge risk for any airline. We are fully supportive of the government’s efforts to nationalize the career but it should be done with transparency to a set standard which our airline has proudly upheld for over three decades” he said.

The President of the guild went on to state that the Pilots are currently undertaking the duty which is within the ambit of the Flight Operations Senior Management.

Capt. Vithanage speaking further said that the Pilots have continued to be fully supportive of the government’s efforts and have overridden the guilds policy decision to ‘fly by the roster’, during the recent opening of the Maththala Rajapaksa International Airport.

CEO says issue will be resolved soon

We have met the Pilots, and we are having broad-based discussions with them unlike what was reported in the papers. We are looking for solutions to certain problems to give Sri Lankan national pilots more opportunity. There was difference in opinion, and one was that by lowering some cut off marks we were lowering the standards of the cadet training programme.

“There is no such attempt and no interference in the programme. We only looked at having a bigger pool, given the shortage of officers that we experienced. We understand what the pilots say and the requirements of the government as well. The government requires more Lankan nationals serving as pilots in the airlines. I am sure we could resolve the issue soon, but it won’t happen a in a day or two.

However, Mr. Chandrasena declined to comment on the losses suffered by the airline.

“We are planning a media engagement within the next week or two and that will give you the total picture and how we are progressing” he said. (Hafeel Farisz)

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Alistair Burt says the concerns of his government on Sri Lanka’s human rights issue is no secret.

Speaking at the House of Commons last week Burt said that the United Kingdom has a number of concerns about progress in Sri Lanka.
He said this in response to a statement made by British MP Simon Danczuk who had visited Sri Lanka recently to seek justice for the murder of a British national in Tangalle in December 2011.

“It is important to note that we have a long-standing and strong relationship with Sri Lanka. Our close ties are formed through history, educational links and culture, as well as the Sri Lankan community in the United Kingdom, which contributes so much to our rich and diverse culture. We value those links, which we are determined to maintain,” Burt said.

He also spoke on the impeachment of former Chief Justice Shirani Banadaranayake and said it was disappointing that the government denied access to legal experts of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute who planned to visit Sri Lanka to investigate the impeachment.

The British Minister also said that until investigations takes place into some of the incidents reported on the war it will be difficult for the Sri Lankan people to move forward.

“We are clear that all allegations must be investigated, whether committed by the LTTE or Government forces, and that those responsible must be brought to justice.

“We believe that fully addressing and condemning events of the past is crucial to ensuring that justice is done and that Sri Lanka can begin to look forward, not back, but so too are wider measures recommended by Sri Lanka’s own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. In order to ensure that the dividend of peace can be enjoyed by all Sri Lankans, it is vital that the Sri Lankan Government make concrete progress in implementing the recommendations, which include investigation of alleged extra-judicial killings and disappearances and implementation of a mechanism to resolve land disputes impartially,” he said.

At the same time he said it was also important to recognise that the Sri Lankan Government has made some progress.

Speaking on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Sri Lanka, Burt said the United Kingdom has still not made a decision on its attendance at CHOGM but it looks to Sri Lanka to demonstrate the Commonwealth principles of good governance, respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law.

Source: The Sunday Leader(Sri Lanka)

The Departments of Wildlife Conservation and Forests are accused of following an ignorant attitude when part of their lands in the Ampara District is being bulldozed for the Deyata Kirula exhibition.

More than 10 acres in the Buddhangala sanctuary and over four acres of forest lands situated opposite the sanctuary have already been bulldozed to use as a vehicle park for the exhibition. In addition to the environment impact, it has posed a great threat since part of the electric fence at the second mile post on Ampara-Uhana Road has been removed to facilitate Deyata Kirula car park.

Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya who is also the Chairman of Deyata Kirula exhibition committee has come under severe criticism for instructing his officers to clear the forest and sanctuary lands for the car park despite the fact that Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) and Forest Department (FD) were not pleased with the directives initially.

Clearing a sanctuary is a violation of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) No: 22 of 2009.

“Deyata Kirula organising committee has violated section 7 of the FFPO. None of the officials at DWC agree with what the Deyata Kirula organizing committee has done to the sanctuary and especially with the removal of the electric fence. However we had to oblige instructions that come from the top. All of us at DWC are helpless,” a reliable source in the DWC said on conditions of anonymity.
According to him, removing a part of the electric fence that was installed recently would be a great loss to the department.

“The DWC spent Rs.125 million to install the 221km long electric fence recently. Removing part of it for the car park is a great loss. When the removed fence is reinstalled, we will have to bear the cost for the fence and labour charges. The fence would not be stronger as earlier even though it is reinstalled,” he added.

He further noted that the situation could be worse if herds of elephants start to move out of the sanctuary.

Meanwhile, sources further revealed that a road network has been constructed in the Ampara sanctuary for the Deyata Kirula exhibition.

All sanctuaries, national parks under threat

“An alternative road network has been constructed inside the Ampara sanctuary which was declared as a sanctuary in 1954. In addition another road was constructed within the Maduru Oya National Park for the Deyata Kirula. All sanctuaries and national parks have now come under threat from our rulers, not from encroachers,” the sources said.

He further added that it is a pity how the rulers who made laws to protect the environment are violating the same for their benefit.
“Not only has this government violated the FFPO and section 20 of the Forest Ordinance No: 65 of 2009, they have also violated National Environment Act (amended) No: 47 of 1980. Accordingly if any development work is carried out within a 100 metre radius of any sanctuary, an environment impact assessment has to be done. In this instance they have failed to carry out this,” added the sources.

However, environmentalists accuse the DWC and FD for not taking any action against the Deyata Kirula exhibition committee headed by Minister Siyambalapitiya for the destruction that has caused to the forest and the sanctuary.

“When Minister Siyambalapitiya met the wildlife and forest officers in October last year they have objected taking their lands for the car park. But however Minister Siyambalapitiya has said that these lands have to be used for the purpose claiming that Deyata Kirula exhibition is a brainchild of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. That was why both forest and wildlife departments have had to follow a deaf and dumb attitude against the destruction,” said Director Environment Conservation Trust, Sajeewa Chamikara.

With an extent of 1841.3 hectares Buddhangala was declared as a sanctuary on November 1, 1974. Since this is a dry mixed evergreen forest and one of the main elephant corridors in the country, large herds of elephants could be seen in this sanctuary throughout the year. According to Chamikara, the part of the sanctuary that was cleared is a hotspot for elephants and as a result of the removal of the electric fence a great threat has loomed over the lives of the elephants.

“All these years we spoke about the elephant-human conflict where elephants were killed frequently by the villagers. In this instance if the elephants come to the car park since there is no electric fence to drive them away, people that come in numbers for the exhibition will panic. It would not be the villagers that shoot the elephants this time, but the security forces,” said Chamikara.
All attempts to contact Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya for a comment failed. His staff directed this newspaper to the Minister’s media officer Pathum for further details.

Media levelling baseless allegations

However, Pathum refused the claim that wildlife and forest lands have been taken for the car park and added that none of the car parks have been earmarked in the sanctuary or forest land.

“The media is leveling baseless allegations. If you pay a visit to this area you will be able to see that we have not touched the said lands for any purpose. It is the Ampara police that handle all work there and Minister Siyambalapitiya is not accountable for anything although he is the Chairman of the exhibition committee,” Pathum said.

When queried why he rejects the allegation when the Wildlife and Forest Departments have already confirmed this paper that part of their lands has been cleared and bulldozed using backhoes and bulldozers, Pathum said that he has to speak to the officers at the Deyata Kirula site whether the claim is accurate.

“I want to find out more details and will come back to you,” said Pathum.
However he did not return the call.

Meanwhile, Ampara Additional District Secretary, Asanga Abeywardhana said that although wildlife and forestlands have been taken for the car park, the lands have not been bulldozed as claimed by the environmentalists.
“We have not bulldozed the lands. There is no necessity to do so as these lands were bare lands,” said Abeywardhana.

When told that this newspaper has photographs to prove that the lands have been bulldozed, the Additional District Secretary said that the media was referring to the anthills (where snakes live) that have been bulldozed.
“There were lot of anthills and we had to bulldoze all of them,” said Abeywardhana.

When questioned whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) had been done before clearing the lands, he said that there is no necessity to do an EIA as the lands have not been acquired but has taken over temporarily for the vehicle park.

“We have not removed the electric fence as told by you. Only a small strip of land on either side of the Ampara–Uhana road was cleared for the vehicle park. We have not harmed the environment,” said Abeywardhana
Assistant Director DWL Ampara, Lalith Kumara when contacted for a comment on the clearing of the sanctuary land, disconnected the line when he was told that the call was from The Sunday Leader.

All attempts thereafter to contact Kumara failed.

However Director Operations and Acting Director General DWC, W.K. Pathirathna said that his department was not aware of clearing the sanctuary lands.

“I have to find this out from the Assistant Director Ampara. Please call me later for further details,” said Pathirathna.

When contacted for the second time, Pathirathna confirmed the clearing of the wildlife land but added that wildlife officers were able to stop further clearing.

It was the Police

“The police have cleared the land without informing us when the Assistant Director Ampara was out of Ampara. When this was notified he (Assistant Director) has got the bulldozing stopped. It was the police that have bulldozed the land,” said Pathirathna.

However Pathirathna failed to tell what the impact would be as a result of removing part of the electric fence that drove away large numbers of elephants.

“I was not informed about the removal of the electric fence. I have to contact the Assistant Director Wildlife in Ampara to find out the truth. Since we do not know exactly who has cleared our land and brought destruction to the wildlife we cannot take any legal action.

May be it is the police behind this, but the police may have given the contract to a contractor to bring backhoes and bulldozers to the sanctuary. If we found that party we would certainly take legal action against them,” said Pathirathna.
Deputy Conservator Forest (Environment Management) Mahinda Seneviratne said that Forest Department permission was not sought to clear forestlands for the Deyata Kirula car park.

“Earlier, part of our land was cleared for the car park without our knowledge. When this was brought to our notice strict instructions were given to stop clearing our lands. Later the organizing committee requested us another alternative bare land closer to one of our nurseries. Considering the necessity, Forest Department gave its consent to use this strip of land temporarily,” said Seneviratne.(By Nirmala Kannangara)

Source: The Sunday Leader (Sri Lanka)

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today said that certain powerful countries and their allies are blatantly employing double standards when dealing with Sri Lanka.

“Even in international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, we can see that certain powerful countries and their allies are blatantly employing double standards when dealing with Sri Lanka. They have completely ignored our achievements. The LTTE’s terrorism has been eliminated. The senseless killing has stopped. Peace and stability has been achieved,” Rajapaksa said.

He also said that the efforts of the rump of the LTTE and the other parties with vested interests is compounded by the strategic interest that certain states have in Sri Lanka because of its unique geographical position.

Mr. Rajapaksa made this comment addressing an event in Galle this morning.

The full speech>>

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Sixteen tourists from Sri Lanka had a providential escape today as the bus they had been travelling in was reduced to ashes.

According to witnesses, only one tourist, R.M. Somruna (50), who is also the team leader, sustained partial burn injuries.

While the tourists were busy climbing the Kesariya Stupa, the tallest such Buddhist stupa in the world, the bus — parked outside the main entrance to the archaeological site — suddenly caught fire around noon.

Although the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, a rough estimate has put the loss to be worth $1 million as personal belongings like suitcases, bags, passports and visa documents were charred completely.

Kesariya referral hospital medical officer P. Ojha, who is treating Somruna, a police officer in Sri Lanka, claimed that he was out of danger as he had sustained only 10 per cent burn injuries on his head.

The three staff members of the bus are also safe. The tourist bus (registration number UP 65BT 4877) was hired by the group from Gaya and after their pilgrimage to Vaishali, Kesariya and Kushinagar, they were to take a flight from Varanasi on Tuesday, said Kesariya police station house officer Santosh Kumar.

He added that it was first such incident near the stupa site, about 45km southwest from here and 110km northeast from Patna.

The fire was brought under control only after two fire tenders from Chakia and Motipur reached the spot.

SHO Kumar said arrangements for a safe stay of the visitors have been made at the local tourist rest house and a suitable vehicle would also be arranged by early tomorrow morning enabling them to reach Varanasi in time.

Source: Telegraph India

තොරතුරු ලබාගැනීමේ නිදහස යටතේ සපයා ගෙන ඇති සමීක්ෂණ වාර්තාවන්ට අනුව බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයේ අධ්‍යාපන ක්‍ෂේත්‍රයේ ඉහළින්ම සිටින්නේ ශ්‍රී ලාංකික, චීන, ඉන්දියා සහ නයිජීරියා දරු දැරියන් සිටිති කියති. පසුගිය වසරේ උසස් පෙළ විභාගයේ ප්‍රතිඵල නිරීක්ෂණය කිරීමෙන් මෙම වාර්තා සකස් කැර තිබිණි.

මෙම ප්‍රතිඵල වලින් පෙනීගොස් ඇත්තේ උසස් පෙළ විභාගයේදී “ඒ ස්ටාර්” සිට “සී” දක්වා සාමාර්ථයන් පහ බැගින් ලබාගෙන ඇති ඉංග්‍රීසි ජාතික දරුදැරියන්ගේ සංඛ්‍යාව ජාතික සාමානකයට වඩා පහලවැටී ඇති බවයි.

අඩුම ලකුණු ලබාගෙන ඇති ශිෂ්‍ය ශිෂ්‍යාවන් වන්නේ පෘතුග්‍රීසි, පකිස්තාන, යෙමනි සහ කොන්ගෝ ජාතිකයන බවද එම වාර්තාවෙහි දැක්වෙයි.

පොදුවේ ගත්කල බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයේ ජීවත්වන සංක්‍රමණික දරු දැරියන්ගේ අධ්‍යාපන මට්ටම ඉතාමත් ඉහල බවද එම සමීක්ෂණයෙන් පෙනීගොස් ඇත.

ලන්ඩන් නුවර පාසල් සලකා බැලීමේදී බොහෝ ගණනක තම මව් බස ඉංග්‍රීසි නොවන අයගේ ප්‍රතිසතය සියයට 80 පමණ වෙති. විවිධ භාෂාවන් 150කට වඩා කතාකරන සිසු සිසුවියන් එකට ඉගෙන ගන්නා ළදරු සහ ප්‍රාථමික පාසල් බොහෝ ගණනක් ඇති බවද එමගින් පෙන්වා දී ඇත.

ළදරු පසැල්වලසිටම ඉගෙනීමේ කටයුතු සිදුකෙරෙන්නේ ඉංග්‍රීසි මාධ්‍යයෙන් නිසා මෙම දරු දැරියන් සියලුදෙනාම ඉංග්‍රීසි භාෂාව ව්‍යක්තව හැසිරවීමේ හපන්කම ඉක්මනින්ම ග්‍රහණය කර ගැනීමට සමත්වෙති. මේ අය බොහෝවිට ගෙදරදී මව් භාෂාව භාවිත කිරීමටත් ගෙදරින් පිටතදී ඉංග්‍රීසි භාෂව භාවිතා කිරීමටත් හුරුවී සිටීමද සංක්‍රමණික දරු දැරියන් තුල දක්නට ලැබෙන තවත් විශේෂතත්වයකි.

බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයේ ජීවත්වන ආසියාතික දෙමව්පියන් වැඩි දෙනා සැබෑ ලෙසම එංගලන්තයට සංක්‍රමණය වීමේ මුඛ්‍ය පරමාර්ථය ලෙස සලකන්නේ තම දුවා දරුවනට ඒ රටේදී ලබාදිය හැකි උපරිම අධ්‍යාපනයක් ලබාදීමත් ඔවුන් තමනට වඩා දශමයක් හෝ උසස් සාර්ථක ජීවිතයක් ගතකරනු දැකීමත්ය. ශ්‍රී ලාංකික දෙමාපියන්තුල මෙම අභිලාශය ඉතාම තදින් දැකගත හැකිවෙයි. එය ඔවුන් සලකන්නේ ඔවුන්ගෙන් ඉටුවියයුතු අතිශය වැදගත් යුතුකමක් ලෙසටය.වගකීමක් ලෙසටය.

බෙහෝවිට මෙම මානසිකත්වයේ වැදගත්කම ඉංග්‍රීසි ජාතිකයන්ට තේරෙන්නේ නැත.

ආසියාතිකයින් තම දැරි දැරියන්ගේ නිදහස සීමා කරන බවත්, අනවශ්‍ය නීති රීති පනවන බවත් “ලිං මැඩියන්” ලෙසින් තියා ගැනීමට උත්සාහ කරන බවත් නිතර ඇසෙන අවලාදයකි. එසේනමුත් ආසියාතික තරුණ තරුණියන් දිනාගැනීමට සමත්ව ඇති උසස් අධ්‍යාපන ප්‍රතිඑල සලකා බැලීමේදී ගෙදර දොරෙදී ඔවුනට ලබාදී ඇති සංයමයද ඒ සඳහා හේතු පාදක වන්නට ඉඩ ඇතිබවට තර්ක කරන දෙමව්පියන්ද නැතිවා නොවේ.

මතු යම් දිනයක බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයේ අනාගතය පැවරෙන්නේ මෙවන් විද්වතුන් වෙතටය. එදිනට බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයේ සම්ප්‍රදායික හැඩරුව වෙනස්වීමකට පාත්‍රවීමේ අවදානමක් ඇතැයිද මෙවන් වාර්තා කියවන සමහරු මැසිවිලි දොඩවන අවස්ථාද ඇත.

පසුගිය වසරේ ලන්ඩන්නුවර දරුඋපත් පිලිබඳ වාර්තාවේ දැක්වුයේ වැඩිම දරුවන් සංඛ්‍යාවක් ලැබී ඇත්තේ පෝලන්ත දෙමාපියන්ට බවය. දෙවන තැන පකිස්තාන දෙමව්පියන්ටත්, තුන්වන තැන සෝමාලි දෙමව්පියන්ටත්, හතරවන තැන ඉන්දියානු දෙමාපියන්ටත් හිමිවී තිබුණි. ඉංග්‍රීසි ජාතික දරුඋපත් සංඛ්‍යාව වැටෙන්නේ පස්වන තැනටය.

මීට අඩසිය වසකට පෙර කාල වකවානුවේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිට එංගලන්තයට පැමිණි බහුතරයක් වෘත්තිමය සුදුසුකම් ඇති අය වුහ. මේ අතරේ ප්‍රධානම කොටස අයත් වුයේ වෛද්‍ය වෘත්තියටය. සෞඛ්‍යය සේවාවන්හි හෙදි, විකිරණ ශිල්පී හා කායික චිකිත්සා ආදී ක්ෂේත්‍රයන්හි රැකියාවල් සඳහාද බොහෝ දෙනෙක් පැමිණියහ.

ඔවුනට එංගලන්තයේදී සැප පහසු මධ්‍යම පන්තියේ ජීවිතයක් ගතකිරීමේ අවස්තාව හිමිවූ අතර දු දරුවන්හට නිරායාසයෙන්ම හොඳ පෞද්ගලික පාසල්වල ඉගෙනීමේ ඉඩ කඩද ලැබී තිබුණි.

කෙසේ වුවද පසුගිය දශක හතරක පමණ කාලයක සිට විවිධ උපක්‍රම යොදාගෙන වෘත්තිමය සුදුසුකම් නොමැති අයටද එංගලන්තයට සංක්‍රමණය වීමේ අවස්තාව ලැබිණ.

අලුතින් පැමිණි මෙවැන්නන් හට ජීවිතය ගැට ගසා ගැනීම සඳහා ඉමහත් වෙහෙස මහන්සියක් දැරීමට සිදුවිය.

විවධ හේතුන් නිසා මේ බොහෝදෙනා පදිංචිවුයේ ලන්ඩන් නුවර අවටය. ජන ශ්‍රැතියේ කියවෙන “රත්තරං පදික වේදිකාවල් ” ලන්ඩන් නුවර දී මේ කිසිවෙකුට හමුවුයේ නැත.

සුළු රැකියා කරමින් මහන්සියෙන් හරි හම්බකරගනිමින් ජීවත්වූ මෙවැන්නන්ගේද එකම සිහිනය වුයේ තම දු දරුවනට තමන් ගත කරන ජීවිතයට වඩා යන්තමින් හෝ හොඳ ජීවිතයක් ලඟා කර ගැනීම සඳහා අත හිත දීමය. එම අති උත්තම පරමාර්ථය සාක්ෂාත් කරගැනීම සඳහා ඔවුන් දුටු හොඳම ගැලවුම් මග උසස් අධ්‍යාපනයකට දරුවන් යොමු කරවීමයි.

කඩ සාප්‍පුවල, හෝටල් වල අල්පමාත්‍ර වැටුපකට සුළු රැකියාවන් කලද ඔවුන් වැඩිදෙනකුට තම සිහිනය සැබෑකර ගැනීමට හැකිවී තිබේ. මෙය ශ්‍රී ලාංකික සැමදෙනා තුලම උත්පත්තියෙන් පිහිටා ඇති අවංකකම, උට්ඨාන වීර්‍ය, සහ අසීමිත දරු සෙනෙහස කියාපාන කාටත් ආඩම්බරවිය හැකි අගනා ගුණ සමුදායකි.

අර පරෙස්සමෙන් ජීවිත ගෙවමින් තම දරුවන්ගේ අනාගත සුභ සිද්ධිය සඳහා කැපවීම මුල් තැන තබාගන්නා විදෙස්ගත ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින් ඊලඟට හිතන්නේ තමන්ගේ තරමට ගැලපෙන නිවහනක් මිලදී ගැනීම  ගැනය. ඉන්පසුව දෛනික අවශ්‍යතාවයන් සපුරාගත හැකි අන්දමේ වාහනයක් මිලදී ගැනීම ඔවුන්ගේ බලාපොරොත්තුවයි. වෙනත් බොහෝ අයමෙන් තරමට නොගැලපෙන අරුමෝසම් වාහන ගැනීම ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන් අතරේ දක්නට ලැබෙන්නේ මද වශයෙනි.

මේ හැම කෙනාම ගතින් එංගලන්තයේ ජීවත්වුවත් හැම තත්පරයකම සිතින් ජීවත්වන්නේ තම මවු රටේය.

අද ලන්ඩනයේ ඔනෑම පළාතකට ගියහොත් හැම කඩ මන්ඩියකම ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින්ට අයත් කඩ සාප්පු බොහෝ ගණනක් දැකිය හැකිවෙයි. එමෙන්ම ආනයන අපනයන, දුරකථන පණිවිඩ, නීතිඥ, සන්නිවේදන, සන්නිවේදන තාක්ෂණය, ආපනශාලා, සහ වෙනත් විවිධ  ශ්‍රස්ත්‍රයන් හි මහා පරිමානයේ සමාගම් හිමි ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින් බොහෝදෙනෙක් ද බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයේ සිටිති.

මේ අතරින් වැඩි දෙනා පසුගිය 30 වසරක කාලයක් තුල වෘත්තිමය මට්ටමේ සුදුසුකම් නොමැතිව එංගලන්තයට පැමිණි අය වීමද විශේෂත්වයකි.

ලන්ඩනයේ ප්‍රසිද්ධ කෙරෙන සිංහල, දෙමල සහ ඉංග්‍රීසි භාෂාමය පුවත්පත් බොහෝ ගණනක් ඇත. බ්‍රිතාන්‍යය පුරා බෞද්ධ විහාරාරාම සහ හින්දු කෝවිල් විශාල සංඛ්‍යාවක් ඉදිවී ඇති අතර ශ්‍රී ලාංකික ක්‍රිස්තියානි සහ ඉස්ලාම් බැතිමතුන්ගේ පුද පුජාවන් පැවැත්වෙන පල්ලි ද බොහෝ නගරවල ඇත.

ඊයේ පුවත් පතක මැද පිටුවේ පළකර තිබු ශ්‍රී ලාංකික දරුදැරියන් හොඳම විභාග ප්‍රතිඵල ලබාගැනීම පිලිබඳ ප්‍රවෘත්තිය කියවන විට එහි සඳහන්වූ දෑ පිළිබඳව මාසිත් තුලද නිහතමානී ආඩම්බරයක් ජනිතවුයේ නිරායාසයෙන්මය.

එංගලන්තයට මා පැමිණියේ මේ රටට අත්‍යාවශ්‍ය වන අන්දමේ කිසිදු වෘත්තිමය සුදුසුකමක් අතේ තියාගෙන නොවේ.

මෙහි පැමිණ මා මුලින්ම කල රැකියාව වෙළඳ සලක බඩු අඩුක්කිරීමය. ඉන්පසු කලේ අවන් හලක වේටර් කමකි. එතැනින් ධනවත් වෙළඳ සමාගමක අයිතිකරුගේ රියදුරු ලෙස වැඩ කලෙමි. එම රැකියාවෙන් ලද පන්නරය උපයෝගී කර ගනිමින් මගේ සමීප හිතවතෙකුගේ මාර්ගයෙන් තානාපති වරයෙකුගේ පෞද්ගලික රියදුරුකමක් ලබා ගතිමි. මගේ එංගලන්ත ජීවන ගමන ඇදුනේ ඒ පරිද්දෙනි.

හැම රස්සාවක්ම වැදගත් ලෙසත් ඒවායේ යෙදී ඉන්නන් සම තත්වයේ අය ලෙසත් සලකන ඉංග්‍රීසි ජාතිකයන් තුල මෙවන් රැකියාවන්හි යෙදී ඉන්නන් කෙරෙහි අඩු තක්සේරුවක් නොතිබුනත් ඉහල පෙලැන්තියේ ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින් එවැන්නන් කෙරෙහි දක්වන්නේ අමුතු ආකල්පයකි. ඒ හේතුවෙන් මටනම් කිසි අඩුපාඩුවක් සිදුවුයේ නැත.

මා ජන්මයෙන්ම උරුම කරගෙන ආ පර උපකාරය එංගලන්තයට ආ හේතුවෙන් මා සිතින් හලා දැමීමට අසමත් වුවත්, මේ සියලු කාල සීමාවන්තුල මා හරි හම්බකල හැම ශතයක්ම යෙදවූයේ අපගේ දරුවන් දෙදෙනාට හොඳ අධ්‍යාපනයක් ලබාදීම සඳහාය. ඔවුන් ලන්ඩන් නුවර හොඳම පෞද්ගලික පාසල් දෙකකට යැවීමට අපට හැකිවිය.  අද ඔක්ස්ෆර්ඩ් නගරයේ ජීවත්වන අපගේ දියණිය එංගලන්තයේ ඉහලමපෙලේ ළදරු රෝහලක ප්‍රවීණෝපදේශක ළදරු රෝග විශේෂඥවරියකි. අනෙක් දරුවා ලන්ඩනයේ තමාගේම සාර්ථක වෙළඳ ව්‍යාපාරයක හිමිකරුවෙක් සේම මාගෙන් උගත් කැමරාකරණය භාවිතා කරමින් ස්වාධීන නිෂ්පාදන බිහිකරන්නෙකි.

එංගලන්තයට පැමිණීමෙන් අප ලැබූ ජයග්‍රහණය එයයි.

විදේශයන් යනු අපගේ හිතේ හැටියට ජීවත්වියහැකි තැන් නොවේ. අපේම යැයි කිවහැකි දෙයක්, අපේම යැයි කිව හැකි ගතියක් මේ රටවල නොමැත. ඉතින් කොයි කාලාන්තරයක් ජීවත්වුවත් නුහුරු නුපුරුදු ඈත දුරු ප්‍රාන්තයක සාංකාවෙන් කාලය ගෙවන අප සතු මහාර්ඝ සම්පතක් ඇත. ඒ අපගේ දුවා දරුවන්ය. ඔවුන් රජ කරවනවාට වඩා වෙනත් ජයග්‍රහණයක් අපට අවශ්‍යවේද?

එංගලන්තයේ පමණක් නොව ලොව කොයි දීපන්කරයක ජීවත්වුවත් ශ්‍රී ලාංකික දෙමාපියන් තුල ඇත්තේ මේ උත්තම අභිප්‍රායයි.

ඔවුන්ගේ දුවා දරුවන් ලොව ජය කෙහෙළි නංවන්නේ මේ අසාමාන්‍ය ජාන ගුණය නිසාය.(තිස්ස මඩවල)

Source: Lankadeepa (Sri Lanka)

A Sri Lankan Airlines flight was held up at the newly opened Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport yesterday for more than one and half hours due to the bowser that supplies fuel arriving late, Daily Mirror learns.

The Riyadh-bound flight UL 273 took off from the Bandaranaike International Airport  at noon, and landed at Mattala for refueling. Though the captain announced that the flight would be held up for only half an hour, the plane was kept for one and half hours.

According to informed sources, there had been a delay in bringing fuel to the airport. There are no facilities for storing aviation fuel at the airport. Fuel is brought to the airport from the tanks attached to the Hambantota port.

The issue had been raised in Parliament last week. United National Party (UNP) MP Ravi   Karunanayake said in the House that Mattala was the only airport that did not have facilities to store the fuel required by the planes that land there.

Environment Minister Susil Premajayantha said fuel was brought from the tanking facility attached to the Hambantota Port.
“Bowsers are used to supply fuel. Therefore, a problem will not arise,” he said. (KB)

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

The Indian High Commissioner has held meetings with Senior Monks of the Maha Sangha, to address their concerns about the two recent unfortunate incidents involving assaults on Sri Lankan Buddhist monks in the Tamil Nadu state of India.

He underlined that these were isolated incidents and did not reflect the strong people-to-people bonds that had been an integral part of the close historical, cultural and civilisational ties between the two countries. In this context, he recalled that the state government of Tamil Nadu had taken immediate action to identify and prosecute the miscreants responsible for these incidents.

The Government of India, in consultation with the concerned state governments, had taken and will continue to take all possible measures to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of Sri Lankan visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu.

The meeting at India House on March 23, 2013 was attended by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero; Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero; Ven. Kirima Wimalajoti Nayaka Thero; Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero; Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thero; Ven. H. Kondangna Thero; Ven. Galagoda Attha Gnanasara Thero and Mr. Vasantha De Silva, Secretary Mahabodhi Society.

Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, briefed the gathering and expressed appreciation towards the extensive arrangements made by the Tamil Nadu police in recent days, to provide security for Sri Lankan pilgrims.

During another meeting on March 20, 2013, attended by Ven. Prof. Bellanwilla Wimalaratna Anunayake Thero; Ven. Dr. Ittapana Damalankara Anunayake Thero; Ven. Dr. Brahmanawathe Sivalee Thero; Ven. Dr. Akuretiye Nanda Thero; Ven. Dr. Nagoda Amarawansa Thero; and Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero, there was a useful exchange of views on the need to enhance security for Sri Lankan pilgrims and to maintain the centuries-old cultural and civilisational links.

It was agreed that the High Commission would hold consultations with the Ministry of Buddhasasana Affairs on any additional measures required in this regard. The Deputy High Commissioner had accordingly met M. K. B. Dissanayake, Secretary, Buddhasana Affairs, on March m21, to follow up on this suggestion.

The High Commissioner noted that people-to-people contacts constituted one of the fundamental pillars on which the edifice of the bilateral relationship rested.  It was noteworthy that nearly 250,000 Sri Lankan nationals visited India and over 175,000 Indian nationals visited Sri Lanka in 2012. Sri Lanka’s bonds with India, including the state of Tamil Nadu, were historic and went back many centuries.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

The Sri Lankan government is to take action against Indian Television channel NDTV for having telecast photographs showing that the Kebithigollewa explosion in 2006 was planned by the Sri Lankan forces, External Affairs Ministry said.

“The media including the NDTV should check the background of a story before publishing it,” Ministry spokesman Rodney Perera said.

Ministry Secretary Karunatilaka Amunugama said the Sri Lankan High Commission in India had been asked to contact the NDTV and clarify matters since these photos and the attached story could mislead the people.

“We have also sent a video of the real incident to the High Commission to be forwarded to the NDTV,” the spokesman said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
Image courtesy of  Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

The Resolution passed by the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) last Thursday could be described as a soft but dangerous one, Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa said yesterday.

Commenting on the possible consequences of the US-backed resolution adopted at the UNHCR Dr. Mahanamahewa said there was no threat at present from the resolution since a considerable time period was given for the recommendations to be implemented. He said when the text was analysed it was very ‘soft’ as terms such as “urge”, “note”, “welcome” and “request” were used, which implied that they were not a must.

While highlighting a dangerous aspect of the Resolution, the Human Rights Commissioner said the current one had certain added clauses that India tried to put into disuse in 2012.  “A dangerous fact is that it urges Sri Lanka to allow an opportunity to the UN rapporteur to make observations in the following areas – the freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary, the independence of the judges, the independence of the lawyers, abductions, disappearances and women’s rights,” the Commissioner said.

He alleged it was an occasion where the UNHCR had acted contrary to the UN mandate over the sovereignty and equality of countries. “No one can exert pressures against the sovereignty of a country. It is a big threat to the sovereignty of the country. They want to send international monitoring missions here,” Dr. Mahanamahewa said.

When asked whether Sri Lanka should take this matter seriously, Dr. Mahanamahewa said Sri Lanka should give its priority for the National Human Rights action plan rather than this Resolution. He said the Resolution had allowed time up to 2015 and possible consequences could be seen only after that.

He predicted that Sri Lanka could be given a further time period for the implementation of her commitments under the Resolution after 2016 or more resolutions could be passed through the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)  

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

A batch of 95 Tamil women soldiers recruited to the Sri Lanka Army held their passing out parade at the Killinochchi Army Camp grounds under the patronage of Army’s Director of Sports Brig. R. Ratnasingham on March 21.

Speaking on the occasion, Brig. Ratnasingham said women officers were recruited to the Army to establish a good rapport and civil co-ordination between the Tamil community in the North and the Army. The new recruits had completed a four month training at the Bharathipuram Army Training school in Killinochchi.

The women officers expressing their sentiments said that even though they had reservations at the time about joining the Army, they were now happy and proud to have become members of the Armed Forces.

Most of their parents said that eventhough critics including LTTE sympathizers spread false rumours to inconvenience the Army for recruiting Tamil girls, they as parents were happy that their children were afforded to serve the country and nation.

Private R Kajandanee was adjudged the best Sports Woman, while Private R Priya was adjudged the best in parade member and N Subhajani the most outstanding private.

Motor cycles were also distributed among the new recruits. Killinochchi GA Mrs Rupawathie Kethishwaran, parents and relatives of the new recruits were also present.

Source: Daily Mail (Sri Lanka)

Seven amendments proposed by India to the United States-sponsored resolution on human rights in Sri Lanka were rejected by Washington. The US turned down India’s suggestions to the resolution on the Sri Lankan government’s war crimes against its Tamil population following concerns that they would “erode” support for the resolution.

The resolution was passed in Geneva on Thursday with 25 votes, including India’s, in its favour, one more than was mustered by the March 2012 resolution on Sri Lanka.

Thirteen countries voted against the resolution, which urges the Sri Lankan government to “initiate credible and independent action to ensure justice and accountability” for alleged human rights violations and atrocities during the 30-year civil war in the country.

The conflict ended in 2009, after the Sri Lankan Army defeated the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Among the amendments was one regarding inclusion of a line on the “concern” of the international community in the draft, besides a suggestion to make the language a bit stronger.

Sources say India’s Envoy to the UN Dileep Sinha was tasked with taking up the amendments with his US counterpart Eileen Donahoe, following a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Long deliberations followed before the US conveyed to India its reluctance to allow the suggestions over fears that they would jeopardise the vote.

Indians on alert in Sri Lanka

Indian government employees in Sri Lanka have been advised by its mission to be cautious as tensions rise between the two countries.

Over the past few days, the Indian consulate in the northern province of Jaffna has collected contact details of all government employees in the island nation.

Indian diplomats say they are concerned about possible retaliatory attacks on its workers.

India was among 25 countries that voted against Sri Lanka at the UN over war crimes allegedly committed during the civil war that ended in May 2009, Daily Mail reports.

Tamil Nadu boiling and raging with anti-Sri Lanka protests continued on Thursday with the agitations having filtered into more strata of society other than the student community in several districts and towns of Tamil Nadu.

Observance of fasts, picketing, blocking trains, and formation of human chain continued on Thursday even after a U.S.-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka and supported by India was adopted at the at the U.N. Human Rights Council.

A group of students blocked the Korba-bound train near North Coimbatore Junction. Similarly, the Intercity Express was blocked near the SIHS colony by a group of students.

Activists of Hanuman Sena tried to lock the Central Telegraph Office and staged a demonstration.

The police foiled an attempt by a group of 60 students to picket the Air Force office in Red Fields. Three hundred students of the Coimbatore Medical College formed a human chain in Gandhipuram in the evening.

Members of the Coimbatore Bar Association observed a fast in front of the Combined District Sessions court complex.

About 300 members of the women’s wing of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam observed fast at Gandhipuram.

Students tried to enter the telegraph office and BSNL exchange on State Bank Road.

Lawyers practicing in various courts in Pollachi, Mettuppalayam, and Valparai abstained from courts and staged a demonstration. People observed a fast at Thondamuthur and Perur in Coimbatore and at Ayyampalayam in Pollachi.

A fast was observed at Angalakurichi, near Pollachi. Students of Bharathiar University continued with their relay fast on Thursday too.
By and large, the agitations remained peaceful on Thursday, the police said.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that the strong statement issued by India at the UN Council session raising accountability issues at war came both as a surprise and a big disappointment.

He said Sri Lanka had made available all the documents prepared in conjunction with international humanitarian agencies on accountability on various subjects pertaining to the war and that these agencies had cleared Sri Lanka.

“While Sri Lanka understands the domestic compulsions of New Delhi, we were expecting the Indian government to be fair by Sri Lanka as we had substantiated our claims with facts and figures,” he said

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

රුපියල් මිලියන 1970 ක වියදමින් ඉදිකරන ලද මඩකලපුව නව කල්ලඩි පාලම අද (22) පස්‌වරුවේ ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්‍ෂ මහතාගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් ජනතා අයිතියට පත් කිරීමට නියමිත බව වරාය හා මහාමාර්ග ව්‍යාපෘති ඇමැති නිර්මල කොතලාවල මහතා ප්‍රකාශ කළේය.

මංතීරු දෙකකින් සමන්විත නව පාලම දිගින් මීටර් 288.35 ක්‌ ද පළල මීටර් 15 කි. මීටර් 1.5 බැගින් වූ පාපැදි මංතීරු දෙකකින්ද සමන්විත වේ.

පාලම ඉදිකිරීමට වැය කෙරුණු මුදලින් රුපියල් මිලියන 1640 ක්‌ ජපන් ජාත්‍යන්තර සහයෝගිතා අරමුදලින් ද රුපියල් මිලියන 330 ක්‌ දේශීය අරමුදලින් ද වැය කර ඇති බව ව්‍යාපෘති ඇමැති නිර්මල කොතලාවල මහතා සඳහන් කළේය.

ඉංගී්‍රසි පාලන යුගයේ ඉදිකරන ලද දීර්ඝ කාලයක්‌ අබලන්ව පැවැති ඒ 4 මාර්ගයේ පැරැණි කල්ලඩි පාලමට සමාන්තරව නව පාලම ඉදිකර ඇත.(අනුර බාලසූරිය)

Source: Divaina (Sri Lanka)

A 30-year-old man Friday died after setting himself ablaze in Tamil Nadu over Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue, said police as protests continued against the island nation’s government across the state.

Vikram suffered severe burns after he set himself ablaze at an anti-Sri Lanka protest in a suburban area here Thursday night. He was taken to a government hospital, where he died later of his injuries.

He is the second person to immolate himself in the on-going protests. Earlier this month, Mani of Cuddalore district died after he too set himself ablaze, demanding action against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for war crimes committed against the Tamils there.

Protesting activists also demanded referendum among Lankan Tamils for creation of a separate Tamil ‘Eelam’ state.

Lawyers in temple town Madurai and Salem district also staged demonstrations against Sri Lanka.

Source: Indian Express