`தேசிய தீத் திருநாள்`

National Deepavali Festival 2016 was held under patronage of President & Prime Minister

PMD News (G)  Friday October 28th, 2016

The National Deepavali Festival 2016 was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Temple Trees, today ( Friday October 28th, 2016 ) .

The Hindus world over celebrate the Deepavali festival tomorrow and the President along with the Prime Minister wished all the Hindus in Sri Lanka and around the world a joyful
Deepavali celebration that illuminates the hearts with devotion.

The National Deepavali Festival held at the Temple Tress giving priority to the religious observances.

The Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan, Minister D.M. Swaminathan, State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran and a large number of distinguished guests were present at the event.

Jaffna Shooting Is A Chilling Indication Of The Militarized Regimen

University Teachers Say Jaffna Shooting Is A Chilling Indication Of The Militarized Regimen Of Governance

October 28, 2016 |  Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES |  Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH


While expressing their shock over the killing of two university students by the police last week in Jaffna, university teachers have underscored that the police cannot ‘arbitrarily’ assume powers of authority that go beyond their function.

killing-of-two-jaffna-university-undergraduates-in-jaffna-kokuvilIn a statement issued, the teachers said, “We as University teachers are shocked at the wanton killing of two university students by the Police in Jaffna last week. While condemning the act in no uncertain terms, we are also perplexed by the fact that members of the police, who have been endowed with the task of maintaining peace and look to the safety of the people, could arbitrarily assume powers of authority that go far beyond their function. Obviously, something is very wrong with how we in this society understand governance and power.”

“The post war period has offered them some space to reevaluate the texture of life, governance, politics, authoritarianism, and most emphatically, the oppressive nature of the politics of the gun and violence. With the election in 2015, relatively greater democratic spaces were created where discussion, debate and dissent could thrive. However, the situation on the ground is far from rosy.

There is little evidence of improvement in people’s lives, and aggressive neo liberal economic policies pushed through in the name of development and reconciliation are a matter of grave concern; there is no policy on resettlement and rehabilitation and the marginalized people are in a perpetual state of destitution; arbitrary arrests and disappearances are still not uncommon and the experience of the people demonstrates that the post war period is still entrenched in violence and the questionable conduct of those in governance and the armed forces. The killing of two young men on a motorbike, for no apparent reason other than that they were speeding, is a chilling indication of the militarized regimen of governance that we continue to be a part of. One can only think of, in sadness, how much the families would have hoped for their children, and would have welcomed the advent of a war-free climate for their young sons to study in,” the statement said.

The statement has been signed by; Liyanage Amarakeerthi Univ. of Peradeniya, Harini Amarasuriya Open University of Sri Lanka, C.S.de Silva Open University of Sri Lanka, Nirmal Dewasiri Univ. of Colombo, Krishantha Fedricks Univ. of Colombo, Camena Guneratne Open University of Sri Lanka, Ranil D. Guneratne Univ. of Colombo, Shahul Hameed Hasbullah  Univ. of Peradeniya, Mihiri Jansz Open University of Sri Lanka, Prabhath Jayasinghe Univ. of Colombo, Pradeep Jeganathan Shivnadar University, India, Nandaka Maduranga Kalugampitiya Univ. of Peradeniya, Danesh Karunanayake Univ. of Peradeniya, Kumudu Kusum Kumara Univ. of Colombo, Shamala Kumar Univ. of Peradeniya, Kaushalya Kumarasinghe Open University of Sri Lanka, D. H. S. Maithripala Univ. of Peradeniya, Prabha Manuratne University of Kelaniya, Madhava Meegaskumbura Univ. of Peradeniya, K P Nishantha Open University of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Parakrama Univ. of Peradeniya, Nicola Perera Univ. of Colombo, Ramindu Perera Open University of Sri Lanka, Vihanga Perera Univ. of Jaywardenepura, Aboobacker Rameez South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Harshana Rambukwelle Open University of Sri Lanka, Rohana Ratnayake Open University of Sri Lanka, Athulasiri Samarakoon Open University of Sri Lanka, Dinesha Samararatne Univ. of Colombo, Janaha Selvaras Open University of Sri Lanka, Sivamohan Sumathy Univ. of Peradeniya, Esther Surenthiraraj  Univ. of Colombo, Jayadeva Uyangoda Univ. of Colombo, Amali Wedagedara Univ. of Hawaii, USA, Ruvan Weerasinghe Univ. of Colomboand Dileepa Witharana Open University of Sri Lanka.

The teachers recalled with sadness the numerous other instances in which violence had destroyed or maimed the lives of university students throughout Sri Lanka’s post-independence history. “We stand in solidarity with those who grieve these lives, and today we stand in solidarity with the family members grieving the lives of Wijayakumar Sulakshan of Kandarodai, Jaffna and Nadarasa Gajan of Kilinochchi,” the statement said.

“The spaces for democratic action have to expand and it is incumbent upon the authorities to assure all of us that life in the streets, in our workplaces, homes is violence-free. We demand that the President, the Prime Minister and all others in positions of authority undertake this assurance without fail.

As a step toward this, we unequivocally demand that:

1) An inquiry into the killings

 is expedited and all state forces brought under democratic forms of governance. As an initial step towards the latter, a process of demilitarization in the north and the east carried out speedily and effectively. Such a process should fall within a broader process of demilitarization in the rest of the country and include the dismantling of all surveillance teams that had sprung up during the war, such as TID and other agencies.

2) Repeal the PTA

and prevent all other forms of undemocratic legal measures that might replace it.
Finally, it should review and take steps to make the police accountable to the public for acts of violence and revoke the decision to arm the police.
While such a process would clearly not address the economic and social effects of years of war and
violence, it would give families and communities space to work towards a better future,” the statement said.

ஆயுதம் களைந்த ஒபாமாவே மாணவர் படுகொலைக்கு பதில் சொல்!

 

 

 

 

 

காவிரி கழக இரயில் மறியல் வீடியோ

கழக சென்னை இரயில் மறியல் போராட்டம் வெல்க!

 

இன்று பிற்பகல் 4.00 மணி

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

யாழில் சிங்களப் பொலிஸ் சுட்டு இரு ஈழ மாணவர் படுகொலை!

 

யாழ் - கொக்குவில் குளப்பிட்டி சந்திக்கருகாமையில் நேற்று இரவு இரு மாணவர்கள் உயிரிழந்த சம்பவம் துப்பாக்கி சூட்டினாலேயே இடம் பெற்றுள்ளதாக தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

யாழ் - கொக்குவில் குளப்பிட்டி சந்திக்கருகாமையில் நேற்று இரவு இரு மாணவர்கள் உயிரிழந்த சம்பவம் துப்பாக்கி சூட்டினாலேயே இடம்பெற்றுள்ளதாக தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. யாழ்.
பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் கலைப்பீடத்தில் 3 ஆம் வருடத்தில் கல்வி கற்றுவரும் மாணவர்களான  கந்தரோடை பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த விஜயகுமார் சுலக்ஷ்ன்,  (24)இ 155 ஆம் கட்டை கிளி நொச்சிப் பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த நடராசா கஜன் ( 23 ) மாணவனும் மோட்டார் சைக்கிளில் சென்ற நிலையில் உயிரிழந்திருந்தனர்.

யாழ்.போதனா வைத்தியசாலையில் சடலங்கள் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன. பொலிஸாரின் முதற்கட்ட விசாரணையில் மோட்டார் சைக்கிள் வேககட்டுப்பாட்டை இழந்து மதிலுடன் மோதியதாலேயே இந்த உயிரிழப்பு  இடம்பெற்றதாக தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.

இந்தநிலையில் இன்றுமாலை யாழ்.போதனா வைத்தியசாலையில பிரேதப்பரிசோதனை இடம்பெற்ற சந்தர்ப்பத்தில் பெருமளவில் பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்கள் ஒன்று கூடியதால் பதற்றமான சூழல்
நிலவியது.வைத்தியசாலைக்கு நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் மாவை. சேனாதிராசா,கஜேந்திரகுமார் பொன்னம்பலம் ஆகியோர் சென்று மாணவர்களுடன் கலந்துரையாடி இருந்தனர்.

குறித்த மாணவர்களின்; பிரேத பரிசோதனை அறிக்கையின்படி மோட்டார் சைக்கிளை ஓட்டிய மாணவன் மீது துப்பாக்கிச் சூடு மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளதுடன் மற்றய மாணவன் விபத்தில் உயிரிழந்துள்ளதாக தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.

இந்த நிலையில் மாலை 5 மணியளவில் பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்கள் நான்கு பேரையும் உயிரிழந்த மாணவர்களின் பெற்றோர்களையும் பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர் ஒன்றியப் பிரதிநிதிகள் இருவரையும் அழைத்த யாழ். பிரதான நீதிமன்ற நீதவான் எஸ். சதீஸ்கரன் பிரேத பரிசோதனையின் போது ஒருவரின் உடலில் துப்பாக்கிச் சூட்டுக் காயங்கள் இருப்பதாக தெரிவித்ததுடன் இது ஒரு கொலை என கூறியுள்ளார்.

அத்துடன் இந்த கொலை தொடர்பில் புலன்விசாரணைகளுக்கு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளதாகவும் தெரிவித்த நீதவான் மாணவர்களை அமைதியாக இருக்குமாறு கேட்டுக்கொண்டுள்ளார். ஆத்திரப்பட்டு செயற்பட்டால் குழப்பம் விளைவிக்க தருணம் பார்த்துக்கொண்டிருக்கம் தரப்பு க்கள் இதனை தமது சுயலாபங்களுக்கு பயன்படுத்திக்கொள்வர் என்றும் நீதவான் மாணவர்களுக்கு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.


இதனையடுத்து யாழ்.போதனா வைத்தியசாலைக்கு வந்த நீதிபதி மற்றும் யாழ்.போதனா வைத்தியசாலை சட்ட வைத்திய அதிகாரி மயூரன் ஆகியோர் உயிரிழந்த மாணவர்களின் உடலை
பார்வையிட்டனர்.அத்துடன் மாணவர்களின் சடலங்கள் உறவினர்களிடம் ஒப்படை ப்பதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகளும் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளன.

இந்த நிலையில் குறித்த கொலை தொடர்பில் விசாரணை செய்வதற்காக விசேட குற்றப் புலனாய்வுப் பிரிவு பொலிஸ் குழுவொன்று யாழ்ப்பாணத்திற்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக  அரசாங்கத்தின் தகவல் திணைக்களம் விடுத்துள்ள அறிக்கையில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அத்துடன் இந்த சம்பவம் தொடர்பில் பொலிஸ் உத்தியோகத்தர்கள் ஐவர் கைதுசெய்யப்பட்டு அவர்களின் சேவையும் உடனடியாக அமுலுக்கு வரும் வகையில் நிறுத்தி வைக்க ப்பட்டுள்ளதாக அரச தகவல் திணைக்களம் விடுத்துள்ள அறிக்கையில் மேலும் தெரிவிக்கப்ப ட்டுள்ளது.

இதேவேளை யாழ். நகர பிரதான பொலிஸ் நிலையத்தைச் சூழ பாதுகாப்பும் பன்மடங்கால் அதிகரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.  கலகத் தடுப்புப் பொலிஸாரும் வரவழைக்கப்பட்டுஇ யாழ். பொலிஸ் நிலையத்தைச் சுற்றி நிறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

Belgium's Vote Is Proof Small Acts Of Bravery Can Halt CETA

Belgium's Vote Is Proof Small Acts Of Bravery Can Halt CETA

Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel speaks during his state-of-the-union address at the Belgian Parliament. (Photo: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir)

A small part of Belgium -- itself a small country -- voted late last week to say that it cannot support the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the
European Union.

 I couldn't be happier, or more impressed by this beleaguered region standing up to the economic and political forces behind CETA.

Last Friday, the Parliament of Wallonia, a French-speaking area in the bilingual country, voted to prevent Belgium from signing onto the deal. This is significant, because under the
Belgian constitution, every regional parliament in the country must agree to any such deal.

Some have described this particular feature of Belgium's constitution as "byzantine" for its ability to block such national or international deals. Keep in mind that Wallonia is one of those regions of Europe that has been regularly overrun by foreign powers over the centuries. The constitutional veto is no doubt a reflection of outside threats, whether military or economic.

Here's why it matters: without Wallonia's support, Belgium cannot ratify the deal. Without Belgium's support, CETA cannot go ahead.


In an attempt to counteract the feat of a tiny but mighty region, other CETA countries are sending trade envoys to Wallonia to boost support the deal. Canada is sending Pierre Pettigrew, our trade minister back when the World Trade Organization talks collapsed in Seattle.

On the face of it, Canada couldn't be more different from Belgium -- or Wallonia, for that matter. We are very big geographically, they are small. We are a relatively young country, the Belgian nation dates back centuries.

But we also have much in common -- and not just because so many Canadians fought and died in Walloon fields and towns during two world wars. Both Canada and Wallonia are home to industrial towns that have seen factories go silent, devastating their communities.

On CETA in particular, the concerns in Wallonia would be familiar to anyone in Canada who is also worried about the deal. As Socialist MP Olgo Zrihen said, "We say yes to trade with Canada. No to the text as it is currently written."

Here in Canada, Unifor has been saying much the same thing about both CETA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Like other progressive groups in this country, we recognize that Canada is a trading nation, and we support international trade, but only when trade is fair.

What we cannot support is any trade deal that does not serve the needs of working people or one that restricts our right to pass laws in the interest of the people.

Like the people of Wallonia, Canadians are increasingly concerned about the powers given to corporations under Investor State Disputes Settlement (ISDS) systems. Hélène Ryckmans,
an MP for Wallonia's environmental Ecolo Party, said the ISDS system could force the region to pay compensation to corporations if local regulations hurt their profits - even if those regulations are in the public interest.

 Here in Canada, we have similar concerns. Canada is already the most sued nation in the world under ISDS systems, thanks to similar provisions in NAFTA. It makes no sense for Canada to sign any deal, such as CETA or the TPP, that would see us sued even more.

The vote in Wallonia isn't about people or local politicians not understanding the deal. It's about out-of-touch politicians bending to a corporate agenda and the drive of capitalism rather than putting the needs of people first. This is the time for governments to stand boldly and with courage and conviction to push a new model of fair trade - one in which the needs and the future of communities are put first.

“We should take inspiration from them, and redouble our efforts to push back against CETA.

There is an opportunity here to do the right thing. The question is whether politicians have the will to stand up to restore and define the kind of communities that we want, ones where we are not made subservient to the profit needs of corporations.

Asked by reporters if such a small region should really have final say over such a big deal, the people of Wallonia just shrugged. What we are seeing in Wallonia are ordinary people from a forgotten industrial and farming region saying enough is enough.

This isn't the ugly face of Brexit. This is the people saying they know a better life is possible, and I applaud their efforts for taking action to stand up for the principle of fairness. They saw a better world when factories in their communities hummed with activity and provided good jobs. They believe in trade, knowing that the factories in Wallonia once sent products across Europe and around the world, but they don't believe in handing over all their rights to corporations just to get it.

It takes great bravery, in the face of stark economic troubles, to stand up to whatever faint hope a trade deal might offer, but that's what the people of Wallonia are doing. We should
take inspiration from them, and redouble our efforts to push back against CETA.

To the people of Wallonia, Unifor stands with you.

Daily Express- EU-Canada trade deal falls apart

EU-Canada trade deal falls apart after veto from ONE REGIONAL government

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has suffered a humiliating set-back in its attempts to secure the CETA trade deal with Canada after a regional Belgian parliament overruled the entire 28-
country bloc.

By Joey Millar
PUBLISHED:  09:14, Fri, Oct 14, 2016    | UPDATED: 10:26, Fri, Oct 14, 2016 
 
Brussels is fuming after the Federation of Wallonia-Brussels, a parliament for Belgium’s French-speakers, voted last night to reject the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
(CETA).

The brutal shutdown highlights the fragility of the EU’s ability to boost world trade.

Christoph Leitl of the business alliance Global Chamber Platform said: “It’s crazy. If we allow a regional parliament to block a trade deal that will benefit the whole EU, where does this
lead us to?”

Signatures from all 28 EU states were required ahead of this month’s EU-Canada summit for the deal to go ahead.

However, under Belgium’s unusual system, lawmakers had to gain the approval from all five of its regional governments - including Wallonia-Brussels, which rejected CETA over concerns about public services and agriculture.

This block has met a furious response from both Canada and the European Commission, who are now scrambling to regain authority.

The blocked deal may set warning bells ringing for Theresa May who is hoping to secure a similar deal.

If Unitary State compromised, country’s disintegration inevitable: Vasu

If Unitary State compromised, country’s disintegration inevitable: Vasu
2016-10-18      
In what appeared to be a major policy shift, Democratic Left Front stalwart joint opposition MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who once stood for self-determination, said the leftist allies
had decided to advocate a Unitary State with the Provincial Council as the unit of devolution. He said it was a stance taken after he moved from the Nawa Sama Samaja Party (NSSP).
Excerpts of the interview are as follows:

Q  How do you assess the unfolding political situation?

Basically, the government is in a bad wicket in respect of fiscal situation, foreign reserves and debt servicing. Therefore, the opposition has been strengthened. Particularly, the joint
opposition (JO) has an advantage in the political arena at the moment. The JVP has a role to play. It is presently critical of the government. When it comes to a decisive moment, yet
the JVP stands more opposed to the joint opposition than to the government according to their own reasoning. As a result, the government has a political cushioning from the JVP.

Q  You referred to debt serving as an area in which the government is struggling. The government leaders repeatedly say the debt burden is what it inherited from the previous
government which you represented. What are your thoughts?

Whatever the reason might be, they are faced with heavy borrowings. Debt has increased by many folds over the last two years for whatever reason. I do not want to go into detail. The
crux of the matter is that the government has to face a serious debt servicing problem. How do they face it? They have to find concessionary funds from the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) or the World Bank. The IMF has agreed to provide monetary assistance. It is conditional. The government has to reduce the fiscal deficit. It means the government has to
cut spending or increase revenue. Tax reforms are called for. It means tax net has to be widened. A large number of people who are not paying taxes should be brought within the net.
Instead of doing it, what is happening is taxing the already-burdened. Individuals as well as organistions that already pay taxes are targeted. They are within the target area of the
government to increase revenue.

 In the meantime, the tax threshold has been expanded. The government faces the task of increasing its revenue. Then, it has to pass a major burden on to the people in order to
collect revenue. That is the condition of the IMF. Here, the IMF targets a large number of black money holders. They have to be brought within the ambit. In contrast, people are
burdened by increasing indirect taxes and fees, special commodity levies and so forth. All these mean a cumulative burden on people in a serious way. I cannot even imagine to what
height cost of living will rise in this context later.

Q  In your view, what is the reason for the present crisis?

Simply, the global economy has a gloomy outlook. It does not show any sign of recovery in the US economy as expected. European economic growth is sluggish. The Japanese
economy is even worse. Therefore, the global economic downturn has affected the entire world. Primary commodities have become reduced to a level which is incredible. Commodity-
exporting countries are now reeling. Brazil is facing a serious crisis in this respect, for example. It has affected our tea, rubber and other agricultural produce. The area in which the
government has some hope is the attraction of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). As we know, it is not flowing in abundance. Therefore, our reserves are in bad shape. On the other
hand, our economic activities have failed. If there is any growth in our economy, it is due to consumer demand.

 Interest rates are increasing. With that, there will be difficulty for people. Credit availability will be expensive. They have to increase the interest rates in order to bring consumption down. Then, there will be no other factor to stimulate growth. Anyway, consumer-driven economic growth can be a strain on the reserves. The government has a difficult choice. On the one hand, it has to control consumption, and on the other, there is no alternative way in which economic growth takes place. In this very difficult situation, the government has only one option. That is to extract more from people. That is the only way; unless they get some special favours from any of the countries. I do not think any country is in a state to give that kind of financial assistance. Or else, it has to happen in the form of military aid. May be, there is thought given to joint patrolling of sea lanes of the Indian ocean together with the United States. This combination will ultimately give Americans the base to come in to berth in Trincomalee as part of operations to protect the sea lanes with the Sri Lanka Navy. That strategy is to give high leverage. Then, money will come in the form of military aid. I do not know if that will go well with India. Indians are not happy with Americans directly handling Sri Lanka in the way they engage the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Northern Provincial Council. It will make way for a greater autonomy to the North. India will not be happy with it.

Q  Then, how does the JO stand up to the situation?

The joint opposition will take advantage of the situation. What we should do is to dislodge the government at the earliest possible. How it could happen is by the contradictions going
to a point of collapse. It could soon happen with the increased loss of legitimacy for the government. That will be when the local government elections will bring out results. If it is a serious defeat to the government, it will happen.

"The government has a difficult choice. On the one hand, it has to control consumption, and on the other, there is no alternative way for economic growth "


Q  How challenging is it for you to unseat the government in that manner?

When the government loses legitimacy with a serious defeat at the hands of the joint opposition, from that point onwards, the government will find confrontations with people in respect of their demands. For example, air traffic controllers took a confrontational line. Then, the minister responsible talked to them. Subsequently, non-academics took a similar stance, and the government conceded. Likewise, after defeat and loss of legitimacy, it will happen. When the government goes for the Private Public Partnership model for reforming the State sector, workers will revolt. Workers will not be able to accept the model which gives more leverage to the private sector.

Q  How certain are you of winning the election because central rule of the country is in the other side?

We can win the elections. How convincingly we can win is not clear yet. We are winning anyway. The cooperative society elections are coming in.

Q  How representative are such cooperative societies in terms of general public opinion?

It throws some light on the mood of people. It is some form of gauge. Social media indicate anti-government tendencies.

Q  How do you progress in the direction of forming a political entity for the JO?

We will form an alliance for registration and take a symbol to contest the election.

Q  How far have you made progress?

It is all set now. All needs are met in order to register the alliance. As for Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members, I am asking them to fight to regain control of the party rather than
forming a new one.

Q  As long as the President is the SLFP leader, will it be difficult for them to get hold of the party?

Legally, we cannot get it. But, when the combination of the UNP and SLFP section with the President is convincingly defeated, the mass response will hold sway. It will determine who
owns the SLFP politically.

Q  What is the position of the TNA’s demand for power-sharing arrangements?

The joint opposition thinks the arrangement with the TNA will undermine the unitary character of the State, paving the way for separatist tendencies to arise.

Q  It means you stand for the unitary character of the Constitution?

Yes, I do.

"The Sinhalese have to concede the rights of Tamil people for governance through the local bodies and provincial councils by devolving power. Actually, it is by progressively devolving
power with mutual confidence"

Q  Is that a stand taken later by you as a leftist politician?

Yes, it is a stand taken later. I moved out from the Nawa Sama Samaja Party (NSSP). We were for the right to self-determination when in NSSP. We did not care about the Unitary State. A Federal State was acceptable to us. After we left the NSSP, we discussed the national question and ultimately how we could unite the country. The Sinhalese have to concede the rights of Tamil people for governance through the local bodies and provincial councils by devolving power. Actually, it is by progressively devolving power with mutual confidence and understanding within a unitary framework. That is the maximum you can expect from the Sinhalese. On the other hand, no unity will come without the consent of Tamil people. Therefore, this mutuality has to be found between Tamil people’s rights and the sense of insecurity of Sinhalese. Sense of insecurity has to be met and laid to rest at the end. Tamil people have to be won around by the Sinhalese and vice versa. This is the meeting ground we see in the provincial councils within a unitary framework. If the Unitary State is
abandoned, disintegration of the country will be inevitable.

Q  Some powers have already been devolved to the Provincial Councils. Do you advocate more?

The Provincial Councils within a unitary framework are the basis. What is to be given and taken is a process. We will arrive at unity in the process.

Q  How do you see eye-to-eye on this?

The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) is with us. The Communist Party is divided. Some want to support the government to carry out Constitutional reforms. We say the government
must be defeated on all accounts. The Constitutional reforms are sought as part of arrangements with the TNA. It will undermine the unitary character.

Source:

http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/If-Unitary-State-compromised-country-s-disintegration-inevitable-Vasu-117596.html

TTIP, CETA முறியடிப்போம்!

 

 

 

 

 

May to visit India in push to develop trade links after Brexit

File Photo May Modi

Theresa May to visit India in push to develop trade links after Brexit
By Press Association
Published: 02:44, 16 October 2016  | Updated: 02:44, 16 October 2016 

Prime Minister Theresa May will visit India next month in her first international trade mission to begin the process of capitalising on new economic opportunities presented by Brexit.
In a sign of India's importance to the Government as it seeks new global trading relationships while leaving the European Union, the visit is Mrs May's first bilateral trip outside Europe as PM.
She will meet prime minister Narendra Modi for talks and introduce British small and medium sized firms from every region of the country, alongside more established players, to the "key" Indian market.

A number of commercial deals are expected to be signed during the trip to help create UK jobs and demonstrate "market confidence in the strength of the British economy" after the Brexit vote, Downing Street said.

In a move to build links in the region Mrs May and Mr Modi will inaugurate the India-UK Tech summit, South Asia's largest technology conference, in New Delhi before a visit to another city.

Ahead of the trip, Mrs May said: "As we leave the European Union we have the chance to forge a new global role for the UK - to look beyond our continent and towards the economic and diplomatic opportunities in the wider world.

"I am determined to capitalise on those opportunities, and as we embark on the trade mission to India we will send the message that the UK will be the most passionate, most consistent, and most convincing advocate for free trade."

Mrs May will be joined by UK firms such as GeoLang, a Cardiff cyber security business, Torftech, a creative energy business based in the south east, and Telensa, which operates in Cambridge and focuses on smart city solutions.

"In the past the focus of trade delegations has been big businesses, but I want to take a new approach that recognises the full range of British business," the PM said.

"So this time we will be focussing on small and medium sized businesses - and, importantly, the delegation will include representation from every region of the UK."

There are approximately 1.5 million people of Indian origin in the UK and the country is Britain's second largest international job creator - with 7,105 new roles created last year through 140 projects.Indian companies currently employ more than 100,000 people in the UK, and investments in recent years include £97 million from JLR to create 3,820 jobs, and £84 million from Tata Motors, producing 1,825 jobs.

Mrs May said: "I want to create an economy that truly works for everyone - and this new approach to international trade missions will help achieve just that.

"The relationships between our two countries are strong, and the Indian diaspora plays a vital role in our national life.

"In my talks with prime minister Modi I want to build on our relationship for the benefit of both our countries, generating jobs and wealth and maintaining cooperation on defence and security."

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox will join the visit and attend the Joint Economic and Trade Committee, where British and Indian business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs will discuss how to take the ties between the two countries "to the next level".

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-3840167/Theresa-May-visit-India-push-develop-trade-links-Brexit.html#ixzz4NQ4u4VkZ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Sri Lanka In US – Tel Aviv – New Delhi Axis

Sri Lanka In US – Tel Aviv – New Delhi Axis
October 18, 2016 | Colombo Telegraph,
By Latheef Farook



Latheef Farook

Sri Lanka’s abstention from voting on UNESCO resolution on Israeli atrocities on Masjid Al Aqsa: Insults island’s Muslims and Muslims worldwide


On Thursday 13 October 2016 Sri Lanka, once a strong defender of brutalised Palestinian rights, abstained from voting on UNESCO resolution which deprecated Israeli violations in and around the al-Haram al-Sharif, Masjid Al Aqsa, compound in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds.
This shocking U Turn in the island’s once proud and respected neutral foreign policy, insults the island’s Muslims and around 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide who always stood by the island especially during times of adversity though successive governments and the mainstream media failed to recognise or appreciate.

Israeli-violations-in-and-around-the-al-haram-al-sharif-masjid-al-aqsa-compound-in-the-occupied-old-city-of-jerusalem-al-qudsSri Lanka’s abstention in favour of Israeli atrocities demonstrated the bankruptcy of the crisis ridden Yahapalanaya government’s short sighted foreign policy of blindly aligning with US and thereby being indifferent to all US led European Israeli war crimes on Muslims worldwide.

What was further shocking is that in its drive to please US and Israel, the government has dismissed the Muslim community’s unstinted support which played a decisive role in bringing UNP government to power after losing more than two dozen elections.

In its resolution UNESCO, (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has strongly condemned “the escalating Israeli aggression, its illegal measures and called on “Israel, the occupying power, to respect the historic status quo and to immediately stop these measures.”
The resolution also criticized the “continuous storming of Haram al-Sharif by the Israeli right-wing extremists and uniformed forces. “The resolution ignored Jewish ties to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, used only Muslim names for the Jerusalem Old City holy sites and was harshly critical of Israel for what it termed “provocative abuses that violate the sanctity and integrity” of the area.
The resolution starts by affirming the “importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions,” but then goes on to accuse Israel — which it consistently calls “the occupying power” — of a long list of wrongdoings. The text “firmly deplores the continuous storming” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram AL Sharif — Muslim names for the Temple Mount compound and the mosque located there — “by Israeli right-wing extremists and uniformed forces.”
It also decries Israeli works in the Western Wall Plaza, which it terms the al-Burak plaza after the Muslim name for the site.

Masjid Al Aqsa

Masjid Al Aqsa remains the third holiest place in Islam after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina. Thus is it is dear to the hearts of every Muslim in the world. Ever since Israel occupied Jerusalem in June 1967 war of aggression Israel has unleashed unprecedented violence against Palestinian worshippers to Al Aqsa.

According to Ma’am News Agency “Palestinians come under routine fierce attacks as they attempt with their bare hands, sticks and stones to prevent repeated violent assaults by Israeli occupation forces into Jerusalem’s  mosque compound. The violence comes as Israeli-backed Jewish extremist groups bent on destroying Al Aqsa mosque, and construct a Jewish “Third Temple” in its place.
Israeli forces injuring worshippers by firing stun grenades, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated steel bullets remain a daily occurrence. The Jerusalem Municipality and government ministries directly fund and support these extremists showing the official support to this hooliganism.

One tactic Israel has used more frequently to facilitate the incursions is to issue banning orders against Palestinian volunteers whose goal is to maintain a constant presence at the compound.
 The next step many fear could be a physical partition of the compound between Jews and Muslims, following the model Israel imposed on the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron after the 1994 massacre by an American-born Jewish settler who killed 29 Palestinian men and boys who were performing Ramadan prayers.

The UNESCO resolution is to uphold justice and condemn the lawlessness and atrocities of the Israeli occupation forces.

Under such circumstance abstaining from voting for this resolution means the Sri Lankan government has dismissed justice and discarded the just cause of Palestinians and Muslims worldwide in its drive to support Israeli lawlessness and barbarity. The irony is that Israel is an entity established in violation of all moral, legal and ethical principles cherished by humanity throughout the ages has committed more than 60 massacres of Palestinians.

Sri Lanka’s abstention is not something unexpected in view of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s pro-western mind-set. In fact he was one of the few prime ministers in the world who refused to condemn America’s illegal invasion and destruction of oil rich Iraq in 2003 and the massacre of more than a million and half innocent Iraqi.

It was said by many that when UNP Muslim parliamentarians tried to condemn the American invasion of Iraq Mr Wickremasinghe had asked them to do so after leaving the government.
 In the 1960s and 1970s Sri Lankan voice was highly respected in all third world forums for its support to oppressed people worldwide in their struggle for freedom. Under the circumstance the need of the hour is to reestablish the image of Sri. This cannot be achieved by rolling red carpet to war criminals.

For more than six decades Israelis tried many time to sneak into the island but were expelled time and again by successive Sri Lankan government.

It was defeated President Mahinda Rajapaksa, so called champion of Palestinians rights, opened the door for Zionist presence here. Zionists grabbed the opportunity. They got President Mahinda Rajapaksa, then Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and a parliamentary delegation led by then Leader of the House Nimal Sripala De Silva to visit Israel. Since then several ministers and top officials visited Israel. Certainly a great achievement for Israel.

This policy continues with greater intensity today. Since assuming office the UNP led government has opened the island to Zionist Jews whose global agenda is to destroy and eliminate Islam and Muslims worldwide. Under such circumstance they are not here to help Sri Lanka in any way but to implement their designs which would turn the country into a killing field.

They are so successful that they got even President Maithripala Sirisena to visit the holocaust museum in Germany- exploited by Zionist Jews as a weapon to win sympathy to establish their racist state of Israel in Palestine with US-European support. Perhaps President Sirisena was not aware of the seriousness and the implications of this visit.

The present international political scenario is for US, Britain and Europe to destroy the Middle East, under the guise of fighting war on terrorism, to create Greater Israel. The RSS government in India whose declared agenda is to eliminate Islam and Muslims from India has joined US-European-Israeli – Axis.

Indications are that Sri Lanka is also being absorbed into this Axis.

However despite Sri Lanka throwing its weight behind this AXIS the island was not flooded with foreign investment. Instead continues to depend on remittance mainly from Sri Lankan expatriates from the Gulf state without which the economy may even collapse.

காவிரி- கழக ரயில் மறியப் போராட்டம்

 

 

 

காவிரியில் தமிழகத்தின் உரிமையை நிலை நாட்ட கழகம் தொடர்ந்து போராடிவருகின்றது. மன்மோகன் ஆட்சிக் காலத்தில்  `முல்லைப் பெரியாற்றில் தமிழகத்தின் உரிமையைப் பாதுகாப்போம்`! என்கிற நூலை வெளியிட்டது. இந்நூலானது காவிரி நதி நீர்ப் பிரச்சனையை இயங்கியல் பொருள்முதல்வாத மார்க்சிய நோக்கு நிலையில் ஆய்வு செய்த நூலாகும்.

 

இந்நூல் பின்வரும் கேள்விகளை எழுப்பி;

``முல்லைப் பெரியாற்று நீரைப் பகிர்ந்து கொள்வது தொடர்பாக கடந்த முப்பது ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேலாக, தமிழகத்திற்கும் கேரளத்திற்கும் இடையில் சிக்கல் நீடித்து வருகிறது. இவ்வாறு சிக்கல் நிலவுவதற்கான காரணம் என்ன? ஆங்கிலேயே ஏகாதிபத்தியவாதிகளால் இந்த அணை எவ்வாறு கட்டப்பட்டது? முல்லை பெரியாறு அணைக்கான ஒப்பந்தம் தமிழர்களின் நலன்களுக்காக போடப்பட்டதா அல்லது காலனிய ஏகாதிபத்தியவாதிகளின் சுரண்டல் நலன்களுக்காக போடப்பட்டதா? இந்த ஆறு இரண்டு தேசிய இனங்களுக்கு சொந்தமானதா அல்லது ஒரே இனத்திற்கு சொந்தமானதா? ஆற்றில் தமிழகத்தின் உரிமையை எவ்வாறு பாதுகாப்பது? நீர்ப் பற்றாக்குறை மாநிலமான தமிழகத்திற்கு நீர் மிகையாக உள்ள கேரளாவிலிருந்து நீரை பெறுவதற்கான சிக்கலுக்கு எவ்வாறு தீர்வுகாண்பது? மேற்கண்ட அனைத்துப் பிரச்சினைகளுக்கும் விடைகாண முல்லைப் பெரியாறு அணை கட்டப்பட்ட வரலாற்றையும், ஆங்கிலேய ஏகாதிபத்தியவாதிகளால் போடப்பட்ட ஒப்பந்தத்தின் தன்மை பற்றியும், தற்போது ஏற்பட்டிருக்கும் சிக்கல்களுக்கு தீர்வு காண்பது குறித்தும் பரிசீலனை செய்வோம்!`` இந்த முழுவிரிவான பரிசீலணையை கீழ்க்கண்ட நூலில் வாசகர்கள் கற்றறியலாம்.

 

`முல்லைப் பெரியாற்றில் தமிழகத்தின் உரிமையைப் பாதுகாப்போம்` நூலில் இருந்து 

 

உச்ச நீதிமன்ற தீர்ப்பையேற்று மேலாண்மை ஆணையம் அமைப்பதையும்,மேலதிக நீர் வழங்குவதையும் கர்நாடக அரசு மறுத்த சூழலில் மீண்டும் பிரச்சனை தோன்றியது.

 

இச் சூழலை ஒட்டி கழகம் பின் வரும் முழகக்கங்களை முன் வைத்து அரசியல் பிரச்சாரம் செய்தது.

 

 

 

என முழங்கி சுவரொட்டி இயக்கம் நடத்தியது. இதன் தொடர்ச்சியாக 25-10-2016 செவ்வாய் மாலை 4.00 மணியளவில் சென்னை மத்திய (சென்ரல்) இரயில் நிலையத்தில் இரயில் மறிப்புப் போராட்டத்துக்கு  அறைகூவல் விடுத்துள்ளது

 

 

 

 

 கழக காவேரி, சென்னை ரயில் மறியல் போராட்டம் வெல்க!

 

Kashmir uprising completes 100 days

16-10-2016
Kashmir uprising completes 100 days
===========
Kashmir uprising enters 100th day today

Srinagar, October 16 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the ongoing intifada marked by cold-blooded killings, crippling injuries, curfew and restrictions completed 100 days, today, while anti-India protest rallies and shutdown continue across the territory.

The uprising that was triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by Indian forces on July 8 has left 110 people dead and several thousand injured, so far. More than 800 people sustained pellet injuries in their eyes with majority of them on the verge of losing eyesight partially or fully.

The Valley is also witnessing continued shutdown for the past 100 days. The authorities imposed curfew and restrictions for most of the period during these days. Mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended across the Kashmir Valley.

Meanwhile, protests and clashes broke out in various parts of the Valley including Srinagar, Shopian, Baramulla, Pulwama and Islamabad districts. The men in uniform barged into houses, damaged properties worth millions, vandalized household goods and subjected the inmates to brute torture in many areas.

All social and religious organisations like Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat-i-Ahle Hadees, Tehreek-e-Sawtul Awliya, Karwaan-i-Islami, Ummat-i-Islami, Anjuman-i-Tableeghul Islam and others launched a door-to-door campaign to raise funds for the support of curfew-hit transporters in the territory. Call for the drive was given by the joint Hurriyet leadership.

Protesters took to the streets after Zuhr prayers at Eidgah in Baramulla, today, and waved flags of Pakistan. They chanted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.

The post-Ashura procession attended by thousands of people in Sankoo near Kargil turned into an anti-India protest demonstration. The participants raised slogans against the recent killings of Muslims in the Kashmir valley.

Around 100 houses were destroyed when they caught fire under mysterious circumstances in Kishtwar area of Jammu region.

A special police officer was stoned to death by two Hindu men in a remote village of Kathua district in Jammu region.

Kashmir uprising completes 100 days

ABID BASHIR
Srinagar, Publish Date: Oct 16 2016 11:17PM | Updated Date: Oct 16 2016 11:17PM GK

Fresh clashes erupted in some Kashmir areas on Sunday as the anti-India uprising completed 100 days which were marked by civilian killings, blinding of children and youth due to pellets, and massive repression on people by forces. At least 94 people have been killed and more than 15,000 injured in action by forces during this period, and at least 780 people were hit by pellets in eyes and a vast majority of them are on the verge of losing their vision, partially of fully. Even on the 100th day of the uprising on Sunday, reports of clashes and pro-freedom protests poured in from various areas, including Srinagar, even as police continued with the arrest youth and said 62 more were arrested on charges of “disrupting normal life” in the past 24 hours.

‘LONGEST SHUDOWN’

Kashmir has registered longest-ever continuous shutdown of 100 days on the call of joint resistance leadership including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. Majority of historians and authors have agreed that the region has never seen a continuous shutdown for over three months. Noted poet and social activist, Zareef Ahmed Zareef, said this is for the first time in Kashmir’s history that people have themselves observed strike for 100 days.

SEPARATISTS CAGED

Police sources said over 150 separatist leaders/activists have been detained or arrested so far in the past more than three months. While Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani continues to remain under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence, Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Miwaiz Umar Farooq is languishing in sub-jail at Chesmashahi, while JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik has been lodged in Central Jail Srinagar. He was first lodged in police station Kothibagh on July 8, and then taken to Central Jail Srinagar where from he was shifted to police station Humhama. He was recently shifted back to Central Jail.

NO PRAYERS AT JAMIA MASJID FOR 14 WEEKS

The J&K government disallowed congregational Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid continuously for the past 14 weeks.

‘DEADLIEST DAY’

According to figures available with Greater Kashmir, at least 12 protestors died on July 9, the day after the killing of Burhan Wani in southern Kokernag village.

PELLETS KILL 14, BLIND HUNDREDS

The use of pellet guns proved lethal in Kashmir as at least 14 youth including two teenagers died of pellets in the past three months.

SITUATION ON SUNDAY

While markets across Kashmir, including Srinagar, opened after 5 pm on the relaxation call given by the joint resistance leadership, massive clashes broke out at Sonwar area in Srinagar after youth and women blocked the main road to stage a protest against the detention of a local Imam, Hafiz Riyaz Ahmed. The road witnessed massive traffic jam for nearly an hour after police resorted to heavy teargas shelling to disperse the protestors. Two people including a woman sustained injury in the police action. Locals said the Imam was called to police station Ram Munshibagh and later detained “without any reason.”

“The situation in the area had been relatively peaceful, but the unjustified actions by police, like the Imam’s detention, trigger protests in the area,” a group of protestors said. Earlier, locals said, two youth including a 12-year-old boy were detained by the police. Reports from north Kashmir’s Baramulla said clashes broke out this afternoon in old town Baramulla after police foiled a pro-freedom protest march in the area. According to reports, joint afternoon prayers were offered in Jamia Masjid. Soon after the conclusion of the prayers, a pro-freedom protest march was taken out but police from across the river Jhelum lobbed scores of teargas shells towards the protesters, triggering clashes which continued till evening. Meanwhile, the residents of Bunglowbagh, in old town alleged that police after entering the area resorted to ransacking of some residential houses. They said some persons suffered injuries during the police action. Reports from Sopore said people staged protests at Batpora and Sher Colony against the alleged vandalism by forces. Reports said pro-freedom protests were held in Ruhumoo. Locals of Kakapora, Pulwama alleged that forces ransacked houses there, triggering massive protests and clashes.

Reports from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district said at Gowharpora Chowk, clashes broke out after youth threw stones at forces’ vehicles. Forces fired tear-smoke shells to disperse the protestors. Meanwhile, reports said forces conducted nocturnal raids at Huproo, Batpora in Chadoora village, last night, where they allegedly beat up a few inmates too.

POLICE VERSION

According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, situation across Kashmir remained normal and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. “During the day normal life was observed across the valley as normal flow of vehicular traffic including the public transport was seen on the city roads as also in the main towns and inter-district roads of the valley,” it said.  “Sunday market in Srinagar witnessed a huge rush of shoppers as people from different parts of the city and elsewhere thronged it to purchase different articles.”

The statement said in its sustained action to “curb the activities of miscreants”, police arrested 62 such individuals “involved in disrupting the public order in different parts of the valley during past 24 hours.”

(With inputs Altaf Baba, Khalid Gul, Gulam Muhammad, M A Dar)
==========
Shutdown continues in Kashmir as uprising completes 100 days 09:41 pm UTC 16 Oct, 2016

Over 90 killed, thousands injured, arrested; hundreds blinded
Kashmir Press Service   Kashmir Age

Srinagar: The ongoing unrest in Kashmir, triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter with forces, today completed 100 days even as the Valley remained curfew-free in view of the improvement in the situation.

 The unrest, which began a day after Wani was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8, has left 98 people dead including two cops and several thousand injured.

 The Valley has witnessed continuous shutdown for the past 100 days with periodic relaxation as announced by the separatists who are spearheading the current agitation.

 Reports say, that in last 100 days more than 15,000 were injured. Of the 4500 who received pellet injuries, the statement said 1000 received eye injuries. It put detentions at eight thousand of whom 450 were booked under Public Safety Act.

 The strike has crippled normal life in the Valley as shops, business establishments and petrol pumps have remained closed except for the relaxation period.

The shutdown has affected the education of the children as schools, colleges and other educational institutions have been shut in the Valley.

 Authorities also imposed curfew and restrictions on most of these 100 days, throwing normal life out of gear in the Valley.

 However, there was no curfew anywhere in Kashmir today, a police official said, adding restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPc were in force throughout the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

 He said there was improvement in the situation with each passing day as more people were defying the Hurriyat-sponsored strike and coming out to carry their day-to-day activities.

 There is increased movement of public transport, except buses, on the days when there are no restrictions.

 Some shops also opened in some areas in the civil lines and outskirts of the city, the official said.

 He said forces have been deployed in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.

 The authorities had on Friday night restored outgoing call facility on prepaid mobile phone connections after three months in view of the improving situation.

 However, mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended across Kashmir.

 The situation across the Kashmir valley remained normal and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, police said.

“During the day normal life was observed across the valley as normal flow of vehicular traffic including the public transport was seen on the city roads as also in the main towns and inter-district roads of the valley,” it said.

 According to the statement, Sunday market in Srinagar witnessed a huge rush of shoppers as people from different parts of the city and elsewhere thronged it to purchase different articles.

 The statement said that in its “sustained action to curb the activities of miscreants, police arrested 62 such individual involved in disrupting the public order in different parts of the valley during past 24 hours.”

Meanwhile, police on Sunday detained an Imam of a mosque from Srinagar’s Sonawar area.
 Locals said that Riyaz Ahmed, who hails from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, has been leading prayers at the masjid from past many years.

 They said that a police party asked Ahmad to present himself at Ram Munshi Bagh police station in the afternoon. “He was detained there without any reason,” they said.

“He led Zuhr prayers at the masjid after which he told us that police has called him to Ram Munshibagh police station. We thought he will be back soon but we came to know that he has been detained,” said a group of locals.

 They threatened to block the Srinagar-Jammu highway if the Imam was not released before Magrib (evening) prayers.

 A group of youth appeared on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway near Lawaypora area of Srinagar today and smashed dozens of vehicles “for defying strike call of separatists”.

The Youth with masked faces threw stones on vehicles and damaged many of them near Ziarat Syed Ahmad Shah Kirmani (RA), at Lawaypora.

 They also smashed window panes of the vehicles plying on the highway.

 Pertinently, private transport has started moving on roads after many days despite the strike calls of separatists.

 The crackdown also witnessed a ban on the newspapers, mobile internet has been snapped along with partial communication blockade and the approximate business losses have been estimated at more than Rs 10,000 crore.
 

ஈழத்தில் ஒரு கவியரங்கு

 

Sirisena displeasure and disgust at the dragging of the former defence secretary

President hits out
2016-10-12 23:15:13

 President Maithripala Sirisena expressed his extreme displeasure and disgust today at the dragging to court of the former defence secretary and three former commanders of the Navy, in a case filed by the Bribery Commission.

He said lawyers who appeared in the case had alleged that he was behind these actions. He said he did not know about them until later.

“I knew only that morning that there was such a case,” he said.

“There are objectives and a policy in establishing independent commissions. Those who are in these commissions should know their subject areas. Those who are not aware of national security, military administration and management are taking various wrong decisions without thinking,” he said.

President Sirisena said the top officials of the respective institutions had a right and a responsibility to inform him and the Defence Minister of these matters.

“Some people may say that it should not be so as these are independent commissions. Even though commissioners were appointed by the constitutional council, it is I, the President, who appoint the Chairman and the Director General of these commissions,” he said.

He expressed these views at a function, “Sathviru Urumaya” held at the Foundation Institute to hand over the deeds of houses and lands to military officers.

He said if there was an issue with regard to the Defence Ministry and Avant Garde, there were a procedure and methodology to investigate it.

He said some people, including former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, took political advantage when they were taken to court.

“I was not elected President to intervene in judicial matters or influence independent commissions or pressure the Attorney General to release rapists. I was elected to carry out political reforms and uphold democracy, judicial independence and law and order. I will not surrender to anyone when meeting my responsibilities. I will not act to weaken the security forces nor allow others to do so,” he said.

Commenting on the remanding of some army intelligence officers in the Ekneligoda case, he said he had advised the relevant officials to take action against them if they had done wrong, grant them bail and hear the case -- or release them if they were not guilty.

“I did not talk about these matters in public earlier, but I have to do so now and take action,” he said.
He said that he had raised the matter at a special meeting with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet and pointed out that he would have to take action if the CID, FCID and Bribery Commission were acting according to some political agenda.

“These institutions cannot function according to a political agenda. The law should be the same for everyone. People allege that I was behind these things. I do not want to remand or imprison  anyone. I want to tell you this today, if not I will be blamed,” he said.

He said his government had been able to mitigate the allegations of human rights violations and settle proposals for hybrid courts and international judges.

He said that, despite this, some were accusing him of betraying and weakening the security forces and destroying the country for his political advantage.

“Anyone can come and discuss these matters with me, “he said.

(Ajith Siriwardana)

`சிவசேனை` பின்னோக்கிச் சாய்த்தல்!

சச்சிதானந்தனின் அருள்பாலிப்பில் இலங்கை இந்துக்களுக்கு சிவ சேனை உதயம்!

அரோகரா! உடை தேங்காய்! உருளு பிரதட்டை!``எழுக தமிழ்`` !

மறவன்புலவு க.சச்சிதானந்தன்:
தமிழ் ஊடகங்கள் அளித்தருளிய அறிமுகம்

 

``மறவன்புலவு க.சச்சிதானந்தன் பல்துறை வித்தகர். பதிப்புத் துறையிலும் சைவத் திருமுறைகளிலும் ஆழ்ந்து தோய்ந்தவர். அதே நேரம், கடலியல் துறையில் பழுத்த அனுபவம் வாய்ந்த வல்லுநர். கொழும்பு கடற்றொழில் ஆராய்ச்சி நிலையத்தின்

 

ஆய்வு அலுவலராக 11 ஆண்டுகள் பணியாற்றியவர். யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக் கழகத்தில் 2 ஆண்டுகள் பேராசிரியர் பணியாற்றியவர். 23 நாடுகளில் ஐ.நா. உணவு வேளாண் நிறுவன ஆலோசகராகச் சுமார் 7 ஆண்டுகள் பணியாற்றியவர். கருவாடுகளைக் காயவைத்தல் தொடர்பாகப் புதிய முறைகளை உருவாக்கியவர். சேதுக் கால்வாய்த் திட்டம் தொடர்பான புரிதலைப் பல நிலைகளில் உருவாக்க முனைந்தவர். கூர்மையான நோக்கும் அறிவியல்பூர்வமான அணுகுமுறையும் கொண்டவர்.``

-----------
தங்கள் அறிமுகத்துக்கு நன்றி, ஆனால் சவுக்கடிக்கு தயாராகுங்கள்

 

 

 

 

 

  



US weighs response to attack on Navy ships by Yemen rebels

US weighs response to attack on Navy ships by Yemen rebels

Published October 11, 2016  Associated Press

WASHINGTON –  The U.S. is weighing what military response it should take against Yemen-based Houthi rebels, who U.S. officials say launched two missiles at American warships in the Red Sea on Sunday, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. is still investigating the unprecedented incident, including the exact location of the missile launches. Asked if the U.S. was developing targets for a possible retaliatory strike, he said he could not confirm that.

"Those things are things that we're looking at," Davis told Pentagon reporters. "We want very much to get to the bottom of what happened. We're going to find out who did this and we'll take action accordingly."

He added that "we will make sure that anybody who interferes with freedom of navigation or anybody who puts U.S. Navy ships at risk understands that they do so at their own peril."

U.S. officials believe Iranian-backed Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, launched variants of the so-called Silkworm missile at the USS Mason and the USS Ponce. Both missiles fell harmlessly into the water. The Silkworm is a type of coastal defense cruise missile that Iran has been known to use.

Davis said the missiles were fired from Houthi-held territory on the Yemen coast.

This was the first time that U.S. ships were targeted by a missile launch from Yemen. Last week, an Emirati-leased Swift boat came under rocket fire near the same area and sustained serious damage. The United Arab Emirates described the vessel as carrying humanitarian aid and having a crew of civilians, while the Houthis called the boat a warship.

Davis said the commander of the USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyer, believed the initial missile was a threat to his ship or to the USS Ponce, an amphibious warship accompanying the USS Mason. The USS Mason took defensive action against the first missile, but Davis would not say exactly what countermeasure or weapon was used.

It wasn't clear if the ship's defensive attack took down the missile or if it simply fell into the water. The second missile fell into the water before any countermeasures were used.

Davis said the USS Mason didn't launch a counteroffensive against the Houthis, but he would not go into a detailed explanation, saying that military rules of engagement are classified. The U.S., however, requires significant analysis before launching strikes on a location where there could be innocent civilians.

The Houthi-controlled SABA news agency of Yemen quoted an anonymous army official denying its forces fired on the USS Mason, without elaborating.

The missile attacks came on the heels of two other attacks against Saudi sites. A ballistic missile fired from Yemen apparently targeted a Saudi air base near the Muslim holy city of Mecca, the deepest strike yet into the kingdom by Shiite rebels and their allies. The rebels fired another two missiles into the Saudi Jizan region along the border on Monday, wounding two foreigners who worked there, the local civil defense said in a statement.

The Houthis and their allies have offered no reason for the launches, though they came after a Saudi-led airstrike targeting a funeral in Yemen's capital killed more than 140 people and wounded 525 on Saturday.

 The deliberations about how to retaliate to the missile launches come as the U.S. considers withdrawing its support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis following Saturday's airstrike on the funeral and other troubling incidents of civilian casualties as a result of the Saudi bombing campaign.

Human rights groups have expressed outrage over the deaths and accused the U.S. of complicity, leading the White House to say it was conducting a "review" to ensure U.S. cooperation with longtime partner Saudi Arabia is in line with "U.S. principles, values and interests."

Read in full: Theresa May's Conservative conference speech

Read in full: Theresa May's Conservative conference speech on Brexit
Written by: Josh May Posted On: 2nd October 2016

Read the full transcript of Theresa May's speech on 'Britain after Brexit: A Vision of a Global Britain' to the Conservative conference. 

======================================

81 days ago, I stood in front of Ten Downing Street for the first time as Prime Minister, and I made a promise to the country.

I said that the Government I lead will be driven not by the interests of a privileged few, but by the interests of ordinary, working-class families.  People who have a job, but don’t always have job security.  People who own their own home, but worry about paying the mortgage.  People who can just about manage, but worry about the cost of living and getting their kids into a good school. And this week, we’re going to show the country that we mean business. 

 Britain is going to leave the European Union But first, today, we’re going to talk about Global Britain, our ambitious vision for Britain after Brexit.  Because 100 days ago, that is what the country voted for.  We’re going to talk about Britain in which we are close friends, allies and trading partners with our European neighbours.  But a Britain in which we pass our own laws and govern ourselves.  In which we look beyond our continent and to the opportunities in the wider world.  In which we win trade agreements with old friends and new partners.  In which Britain is always the most passionate, most consistent, most convincing advocate for free trade.  In which we play our full part in promoting peace and prosperity around the world.  And in which we – with our brilliant armed forces and intelligence services – protect our national interests, our national security, and the security of our allies. 

So today we’re going to be hearing from David Davis, Priti Patel and Boris Johnson as we start to explain our plan for Brexit.  And the country will see that the Conservative Party is united in our determination to deliver that plan.

Because even now, some politicians – democratically-elected politicians – say that the referendum isn’t valid, that we need to have a second vote.

Others say they don’t like the result, and they’ll challenge any attempt to leave the European Union through the courts.

But come on.  The referendum result was clear.  It was legitimate.  It was the biggest vote for change this country has ever known.  Brexit means Brexit – and we’re going to make a success of it.

Now of course, we wouldn’t have had a referendum at all had it not been for the Conservative Party – and had it not been for David Cameron.  And I want to take a moment to pay tribute to David.

I served in his Shadow Cabinet for nearly five years, and in his Cabinet for six more.  I saw first-hand his commitment to public service, to social justice, and his deep love for our country.  He led the rescue mission that brought confidence back to the British economy.  He made sure that people on the lowest wages paid no income tax at all.  And he won the right for two people who love one another – regardless of their sexuality – to marry.  He has a legacy of which he – and our whole Party – can be proud.  And to those who claim he was mistaken in calling the referendum, we know there is no finer accolade than to say David Cameron put his trust in the British people.

And trust the people we will.  Because Britain is going to leave the European Union. 

Now I know there is a lot of speculation about what that is going to mean, about the nature of our relationship with Europe in future, and about the terms on which British and European businesses will trade with one another.  I understand that.  And we will give clarity – as we did with farm payments and university funding – whenever possible and as quickly as possible.

But we will not be able to give a running commentary or a blow-by-blow account of the negotiations.  Because we all know that isn’t how they work.  But history is littered with negotiations that failed when the interlocutors predicted the outcome in detail and in advance. 

Every stray word and every hyped up media report is going to make it harder for us to get the right deal for Britain.  So we have to stay patient.  But when there are things to say – as there are today – we will keep the public informed and up to date.

So I want to use today to tell you more about the Government’s plan for Brexit, and in particular I want to tell you about three important things.  The timing, the process – and the Government’s vision for Britain after Brexit.

 The timing for triggering Article Fifty

First, everything we do as we leave the EU will be consistent with the law and our treaty obligations, and we must give as much certainty as possible to employers and investors.  That means there can be no sudden and unilateral withdrawal: we must leave in the way agreed in law by Britain and other member states, and that means invoking Article Fifty of the Lisbon Treaty.

There was a good reason why I said – immediately after the referendum – that we should not invoke Article Fifty before the end of this year.  That decision means we have the time to develop our negotiating strategy and avoid setting the clock ticking until our objectives are clear and agreed.  And it has also meant that we have given some certainty to businesses and investors.  Consumer confidence has remained steady.  Foreign investment in Britain has continued.  Employment is at a record high, and wages are on the up.  There is still some uncertainty, but the sky has not fallen in, as some predicted it would: our economy remains strong.

So it was right to wait before triggering Article Fifty.  But it is also right that we should not let things drag on too long.  Having voted to leave, I know that the public will soon expect to see, on the horizon, the point at which Britain does formally leave the European Union.  So let me be absolutely clear.  There will be no unnecessary delays in invoking Article Fifty.  

We will invoke it when we are ready.  And we will be ready soon.  We will invoke Article Fifty no later than the end of March next year.

 The process for triggering Article Fifty

Now I want to tell you a little more about the process for triggering Article Fifty.

The first thing to say is that it is not up to the House of Commons to invoke Article Fifty, and it is not up to the House of Lords.  It is up to the Government to trigger Article Fifty and the Government alone. 

When it legislated to establish the referendum, Parliament put the decision to leave or remain inside the EU in the hands of the people.  And the people gave their answer with emphatic clarity.  So now it is up to the Government not to question, quibble or backslide on what we have been instructed to do, but to get on with the job. 

Because those people who argue that Article Fifty can only be triggered after agreement in both Houses of Parliament are not standing up for democracy, they’re trying to subvert it.  

They’re not trying to get Brexit right, they’re trying to kill it by delaying it.  They are insulting the intelligence of the British people.  That is why, next week, I can tell you that the Attorney General himself, Jeremy Wright, will act for the Government and resist them in the courts.

Likewise, the negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union are the responsibility of the Government and nobody else.  I have already said that we will consult and work with the devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, because we want Brexit to work in the interests of the whole country.  And we will do the same with business and municipal leaders across the land.  

But the job of negotiating our new relationship is the job of the Government.  Because we voted in the referendum as one United Kingdom, we will negotiate as one United Kingdom, and we will leave the European Union as one United Kingdom.  There is no opt-out from Brexit.  And I will never allow divisive nationalists to undermine the precious Union between the four nations of our United Kingdom.

The final thing I want to say about the process of withdrawal is the most important.  And that is that we will soon put before Parliament a Great Repeal Bill, which will remove from the statute book – once and for all – the European Communities Act.

This historic Bill – which will be included in the next Queen’s Speech – will mean that the 1972 Act, the legislation that gives direct effect to all EU law in Britain, will no longer apply from the date upon which we formally leave the European Union.  And its effect will be clear.  Our laws will be made not in Brussels but in Westminster.  The judges interpreting those laws will sit not in Luxembourg but in courts in this country.  The authority of EU law in Britain will end. 

As we repeal the European Communities Act, we will convert the ‘acquis’ – that is, the body of existing EU law – into British law.  When the Great Repeal Bill is given Royal Assent, Parliament will be free – subject to international agreements and treaties with other countries and the EU on matters such as trade – to amend, repeal and improve any law it chooses.  

But by converting the acquis into British law, we will give businesses and workers maximum certainty as we leave the European Union.  The same rules and laws will apply to them after Brexit as they did before.  Any changes in the law will have to be subject to full scrutiny and proper Parliamentary debate.  And let me be absolutely clear: existing workers’ legal rights will continue to be guaranteed in law – and they will be guaranteed as long as I am Prime Minister. 

And in fact, as we announced yesterday, under this Government, we’re going see workers’ rights not eroded, and not just protected, but enhanced under this Government.  Because the Conservative Party is the true workers’ party, the only party dedicated to making Britain a country that works, not just for the privileged few, but for every single one of us.

Our vision for Britain after Brexit

So that is what I want to say about the process.  But I want to talk to you about the Government’s vision of Britain after Brexit, our vision of a truly Global Britain.  And I want to start with our vision for the future relationship we will have with the European Union. 

Because, in this respect, I believe there is a lot of muddled thinking and several arguments about the future that need to be laid to rest.  For example, there is no such thing as a choice between “soft Brexit” and “hard Brexit”.  This line of argument – in which “soft Brexit” amounts to some form of continued EU membership and “hard Brexit” is a conscious decision to reject trade with Europe – is simply a false dichotomy.  And it is one that is too often propagated by people who, I am afraid to say, have still not accepted the result of the referendum.

Because the truth is that too many people are letting their thinking about our future relationship with the EU be defined by the way the relationship has worked in the past.  That is understandable.  We have been members of the EU for more than forty years.  We have just been through a renegotiation, during which we remained members of the EU and the Government sought to keep us members of the EU. 

But what we are now talking about is very different.  Whether people like it or not, the country voted to leave the EU.  And that means we are going to leave the EU.  We are going to be a fully-independent, sovereign country, a country that is no longer part of a political union with supranational institutions that can override national parliaments and courts.  And that means we are going, once more, to have the freedom to make our own decisions on a whole host of different matters, from how we label our food to the way in which we choose to control immigration.

So the process we are about to begin is not about negotiating all of our sovereignty away again.  It is not going to be about any of those matters over which the country has just voted to regain control.  It is not, therefore, a negotiation to establish a relationship anything like the one we have had for the last forty years or more.  So it is not going to a “Norway model”.  It’s not going to be a “Switzerland model”.  It is going to be an agreement between an independent, sovereign United Kingdom and the European Union. 

I know some people ask about the “trade-off” between controlling immigration and trading with Europe.  But that is the wrong way of looking at things.  We have voted to leave the European Union and become a fully-independent, sovereign country.  We will do what independent, sovereign countries do.  We will decide for ourselves how we control immigration.  

And we will be free to pass our own laws. 

But we will seek the best deal possible as we negotiate a new agreement with the European Union.  I want that deal to reflect the kind of mature, cooperative relationship that close friends and allies enjoy.  I want it to include cooperation on law enforcement and counter-terrorism work.  I want it to involve free trade, in goods and services.  I want it to give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the Single Market – and let European businesses do the same here.  But let me be clear.  We are not leaving the European Union only to give up control of immigration again.  And we are not leaving only to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

As ever with international talks, it will be a negotiation, it will require some give and take, and while there will always be pressure to give a running commentary on the state of the talks, it will not be in our best interests as a country to do that.  But make no mistake: this is going to be a deal that works for Britain.

 Global Britain is in sight

But Brexit should not just prompt us to think about our new relationship with the European Union.  It should make us think about our role in the wider world.  It should make us think of Global Britain, a country with the self-confidence and the freedom to look beyond the continent of Europe and to the economic and diplomatic opportunities of the wider world.  Because we know that the referendum was not a vote to turn in ourselves, to cut ourselves off from the world.  It was a vote for Britain to stand tall, to believe in ourselves, to forge an ambitious and optimistic new role in the world.

And there is already abundant evidence that we will be able to do just that.  Important foreign businesses – like Siemens and Apple – have committed to long-term investments in this country.  With the Japanese purchase of ARM for £24 billion, we have seen the biggest-ever Asian investment in Britain.  Countries including Canada, China, India, Mexico, Singapore and South Korea have already told us they would welcome talks on future free trade agreements.  And we have already agreed to start scoping discussions on trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.

A truly Global Britain is possible, and it is in sight.  And it should be no surprise that it is.  Because we are the fifth biggest economy in the world.  Since 2010 we have grown faster than any economy in the G7.  And we attract a fifth of all foreign investment in the EU.  We are the biggest foreign investor in the United States.  We have more Nobel Laureates than any country outside America.  We have the best intelligence services in the world, a military that can project its power around the globe, and friendships, partnerships and alliances in every continent.  We have the greatest soft power in the world, we sit in exactly the right time zone for global trade, and our language is the language of the world. 

We don’t need – as I sometimes hear people say – to “punch above our weight”.  Because our weight is substantial enough already.  So let’s ignore the pessimists, let’s have the confidence in ourselves to go out into the world, securing trade deals, winning contracts, generating wealth and creating jobs.  And let’s get behind the team of ministers – David Davis, Liam Fox, Priti Patel and Boris Johnson – who are working on our plan for Brexit, who know we’re going to make a success of it and who will make a reality of Global Britain.

So let’s have a great week here in Birmingham this conference.  Let’s get this plan for Brexit right.  Let’s show the country we mean business.  And let’s keep working to make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for everyone in this great country.


https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/news/79517/read-full-theresa-mays-conservative