Gota tells the army to 'remain vigilant'

The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa instructed the army to remain alert of groups working to "destabilise" the country reported Xinhua. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said , “We know that there are remnants of the LTTE still operating outside Sri Lanka, and there are others even within Sri Lanka who may try to destabilise the peace. It is very important that we remain vigilant about such threats,” “We must ensure that peace and stability continues, enabling us to build a better future for all Sri Lankans.”

Remain 'vigilant' of CEPA and 'Mighty India'

The secretary of the Patriotic National Movement of Sri Lanka (PNM), condemned the resumption of India-Sri Lanka talks on CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) and stressed it should not be signed. Warning that the CEPA agreement would pave the way for "mighty India" to exploit the Sri Lankan market, PNM stressed that 'businessmen and intellectuals' should be "vigilant". The PNM was formed in 2003, out of popular Sinhala nationalist support against the then peace process, and is allied to the National Freedom Front - a party within the ruling coalition. The PNM's initial was...

UNP councillor arrested for obstructing police

The UNP councillor for the Southern Province, Krishantha Pushpakumara was arrested for obstructing police officers in the Akmeemana region. Sri Lankan police have arrested a total of five local government politicians within 24 hours - two on charges of assault, including a health minister that assaulted a doctor.

Inflation continues to rise towards double digits

Sri Lanka's inflation has continued to rise, reaching new heights, as it continues to inch towards double digits, reported the Sunday Times . Inflation reached 9.8% last month reported the paper, with speculation that the rise will continue unless food prices begin to fall. This follows from a Reuters poll of 13 analysts, who suggested an increase to 9.4% was possible and the IMF predicting inflation to rise to 9.5%, a 42-month high. See our earlier post: Inflation at 42-month high in July (30 July 2012)

Health minister assaults doctor

A provincial health minister, Sunil Kithisiri Amaratunga, was arrested on charges of assaulting a community health specialist - Dr Sapumal Danapala, reported the spokesperson of Kandy police force. Doctors in the area have also accused him of verbally threatening the Health Services Director, Dr Shanthi Samarasinghe. Meanwhile, no arrests have been made regarding the attack on the home of the Tamil oncologist in Jaffna, Dr Jeyakumar.

Military helicopters ordered for commercial venture

The Sri Lankan Air Force may use a shipment of 14 helicopters ordered from Russia for commercial purposes, according to cabinet spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella. The Mass Media and Information Minister stated that a feasibility study was currently being conducted over the deal and said , “I do not know when the study would be completed, but I don’t think the SLAF would utilize the entire facility and purchase 14 helicopters.” This is despite earlier reports from last year, stating that, “A corresponding contract for supplying the helicopters will be carried out on account of the Russian...

SL navy sets up two more bases in Vanni

The Sri Lankan navy has established two further naval bases in the northern part of Vanni, reports the Jaffna newspaper Uthayan. The two bases have been built on the site of former LTTE naval bases. The Sri Lankan Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Somathilaka Thisanayaka opened the sites on Wednesday.

India wants to invest in oil, gas and ports

Visiting the island of Sri Lanka, India's Commerce minister, Anand Sharma, said that India hoped to invest in ports, and the exploration of oil and gas. Following India's pledge to establish an economic zone in Trincomalee district , Sharma said, “Also they are wiling to be a major partner in oil and gas exploration. An offer has been given by ONGC Videsh Ltd. Also IOC is keen to develop oil refinery here". His comments come days after Sri Lanka's Petroleum Industries minister denied a deal with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Anyhow, what ever happened to those 50,000 houses ?

Six years since massacre, no closer to justice – Human Rights Watch

Sri Lanka’s failure to seek justice for the slaying of 17 aid workers in Trincomalee indicates the government’s intrinsic unwillingness to prosecute its security forces for atrocities, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said in a report marking the 6th anniversary of the killings. On August 4 2006, 17 Tamil speaking aid workers were executed by gunmen in the Action Contre la Faim (ACF) office compound in Muthur, Trincomalee. There has been neither progress in government inquiries nor any charges for the killings, despite forceful evidence of security force participation. James Ross, legal and...

‘Buddhists Behaving Badly’

Extracts from a report by William McGowan for the Foreign Affairs magazine (Emphasis by TG) See here for full report. In Sri Lanka last September, a Sinhalese mob led by some 100 Buddhist monks demolished a Muslim shrine in the ancient city of Anuradhapura. As the crowd waved Buddhist colors, gold and red, a monk set a green Muslim flag on fire. The monks claimed that the shrine was on land that had been given to the Sinhalese 2,000 years ago -- an allusion to their proprietary right over the entire island nation, as inscribed in ancient religious texts. In April, monks led nearly 2,000 Sinhalese Buddhists in a march against a mosque in Dambulla, a holy city where Sinhalese kings are believed to have taken refuge from southern Indian invaders in a vast network of caves almost two millennia ago. The highly charged -- but largely symbolic -- attack marked a "historic day," a monk who led the assault told the crowd, "a victory for those who love the [Sinhala] race, have Sinhala blood, and are Buddhists." Militant Buddhism there has its roots in an ancient narrative called the Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle), which was composed by monks in the sixth century. According to the Mahavamsa, the Buddha foresaw the demise of Buddhism in India but saw a bright future for it in Sri Lanka. "In Lanka, O Lord of Gods, shall my religion be established and flourish," he said. The Sinhalese take this as a sign that they are the Buddha's chosen people, commanded to "preserve and protect" Buddhism in its most pristine form.

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