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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

BORDERS MIA

BORDERS MIA




MIA's Borders: artist braves boats and barbed wire in video crusade for refugees
Rap artist releases self-directed video for new track Borders that follows refugees on hazardous journey to Europe, as lyrics chastise governments’ failure to act

Harriet Gibsone
Friday 27 November 2015 14.28 GMT Last modified on Wednesday 9 December 2015 14.25 GMT

Most artists would be incapable of approaching a subject as serious as the refugee crisis in song. Not MIA, however, whose new album is on course to politicise pop once again. “The world I talked about 10 years ago is still the same,” she recently posted on Twitter. “That’s why it’s hard for me to say it again on a new LP.”



Today, the British artist of Sri Lankan descent premiered Borders, a track that proves she remains unique in her ability to implement ideas about pop culture and important global topics. With it comes a self-directed video, which makes a compelling statement on the continuing migration crisis, chastising the response of European politicians and lamenting the arrival of border fences to keep out migrants. The video mimics the hazardous journeys faced by migrants, showing a flotilla of boats laden with refugees. Other scenes show individuals scaling massive fences topped with barbed wire, a reference to the series of securitised border fences erected by number of countries to keep out refugees.

The track, which sonically fuses eastern and western styles, questions the fabric of modern society – politics, identities, privilege, “being bae”, “breaking the internet” and smartphones – before reducing the world down to its essentials: your values, your beliefs, your families, your power.

Borders is the first track we’ve heard from new album Matahdatah since Swords back in July. According to a statement from her label, both songs and videos are part of “a truly global and characteristically DIY MIA project. The two pieces will ultimately come together in a larger body of work that explores the concept of Borders, an element of which will be a full-length album and film experience entitled Matahdatah.”


Her fifth record will be released on Interscope Records. Until then, you can watch the video below.
The Guardian

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

பாணின் விலை அதிகரிப்பு


பாணின் விலை அதிகரிப்பு
12-01-2016 08:52 PM

450 கிராம் பாணின் விலை, ஒரு ரூபாயால் நாளை நள்ளிரவு முதல் அதிகரிக்கப்படவுள்ளதாக பேக்கரி உரிமையாளர் சங்கம் அறிவித்துள்ளது. 

இதன்படி, தற்போது, 450 கிராம் பாணின் விலையானது 54 ரூபாயாக இருக்கையில், நாளை நள்ளிரவு முதல் அதிகரிக்கப்படவுள்ள ஒரு ரூபாயுடன் சேர்த்து, 450 கிராம் பாணின் புதிய விலை, 55 ரூபாயாக அமையவுள்ளது. 

`உலகமய` அரசின் உள்ளூர் ஆட்சி!

அன்றும் இன்றும் அந்நிய மயமே ஆட்சி நலம்!




Sri Lankan police fire on protesting free trade zone workers
By W.A. Sunil and Ruwan Liyanage
1 June 2011

On Monday, thou sands of police officers launched a violent attack on free trade zone (FTZ) workers in Katunayake who were protesting against the Sri Lankan government’s private sector pension bill. During the resulting clashes, police twice opened fire with live ammunition. Altogether, more than 200 workers were injured and about 100 arrested.

After the confrontation, which included the mobilisation of thousands of troops, the government shut down the FTZ for two days. Thousands of police and security personnel have been stationed in the area, which is close to the capital, Colombo. All vehicles are being checked and any FTZ workers who live outside the zone are being prevented from entering.

This is the second police crackdown against FTZ workers in months. In February, the police attacked striking workers at the Hong Kong-owned Bratex factory, an undergarment producer in Katunayake, and arrested several workers on trumped-up charges.

Monday’s protest was held in direct defiance of the Free Trade Zone and General Services Workers Union (FTZGSWU), which had called on workers not to stage any industrial action. The demonstration was a continuation of the struggle initiated by the FTZ workers on May 24 against the pension bill, which will effectively cut wages and require at least 10 years of continuous employment to qualify for a monthly pension amounting to just 15 percent of a wage.

Workers in zone No.1 of Katunayake FTZ, which has three zones, began the walkout. By about 9.30 a.m. thousands of workers had joined the demonstration, which was peaceful until the police intervened.

Between 11.30 a.m. and noon, according to workers, police entered zone No.1 through the main gate and began to attack the protesters with batons and tear gas. When workers retreated into factories for their safety, the police forcibly entered the premises and continued the assault. Angry protesters retaliated with whatever they could find. The police then fired live ammunition at workers, injuring a number of them, one critically.

After hearing about the police attack, at around 3.00 p.m. thousands of workers from zones No.2 and 3 joined the protest, condemning the police action and demanding the release of their arrested colleagues. By this stage, about 40,000 workers, mostly young females, were involved. They flooded onto the main road running through the FTZ, demonstrating and chanting slogans against the government.

With the police unable to control the large crowd, the government deployed police special task force (STF) officers and hundreds of soldiers. Army officers asked for a return to work, but the workers demanded the release of all those arrested. When the police refused to do so, outraged workers attacked the police station with stones.

Some 15 police personnel, including high ranking officers, were reportedly injured, and several police vehicles damaged. Police again opened fire on about 500 workers who stormed the station, wounding at least eight.

Inspector General of Police, Mahinda Balasuriya, claimed that the protesting workers had tried to grab arms from the police station—an allegation that protesters denied. Balasuriya defended opening fire on the demonstrators. “When a large crowd stormed in, police fired in the air and then later fired at them to control the gathering,” he declared at a press conference.

Speaking to the WSWS, one worker said some of those arrested could not walk because of severe injuries. Their clothes had been drenched in blood. “The police dragged captured workers along the ground, while beating and kicking them,” an eyewitness said.

Local residents and FTZ workers at Biyagama, closer to Colombo, and Koggala in south also condemned the police attack

Sri Lanka police brutality emerge on Sirisena anniversary

ENB Poster 12-01-16
Sri Lanka police brutality emerge on Sirisena anniversary
By Our Police Correspondent
Jan 10, 2016 12:29 PM GMT+0530 | 1 Comment(s)
USE OF FORCE:  File photo of Sri Lanka's riot police
ECONOMYNEXT - Barely a month after Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission censured the police for brutally assaulting university students, investigators have found another horrific excess that killed one man and wounded many, including children and pregnant women.

As President Maithripala Sirisena marked his first year in office on Saturday, senior investigators found that the Embilipitiya police led by an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) had gone on the rampage seriously undermining his good governance credentials.

A senior investigator said they discovered that the ASP and his men not only carried out the illegal action, but also tampered with evidence and altered official records to mislead senior officials and the judiciary.

Criminal investigators had two versions, one from the police – 21 of whom have been transferred out of the Embilipitiya police pending investigations into the January 4 incident, and the other from the victims.

Police initially maintained that they were responding to a 119 emergency call complaining of loud speakers being used at a party and causing disturbance to neighbours. Four police on mobile patrol had given conflicting statements to investigators on how they were beaten by party goers.

The police had also fired an automatic rifle, a fact that had been suppressed from the highest level in the police department, an investigator who asked not to be named said.

Police had said they summoned reinforcements and in the ensuing clash a man fell to his death from the third floor.

"We have found that policemen did not face any danger at any stage of the incident, but the only explanation is that an officer used excessive force to attack unarmed people as collective punishment," he said.

Party goers say that four policemen on mobile patrol had demanded alcohol and when it was refused there had been fisticuffs resulting in the subsequent carnage.

Investigations showed that the 119 call was not about the level of sound, but it had been made when more than a dozen police in civilian clothes armed with sticks and poles barged into the party and went on the rampage smashing everything within reach.

Witnesses told investigators that even an ASP had been carrying a stick and was seen beating women and children.

There was blood splattered on the walls of the banquet hall. It is at this stage a man is either pushed or falls from the third floor while trying to escape the marauding police.

Security has been stepped up in Embilipitiya Sunday ahead of the funeral of the Sumith Jayawardana, 29 who was a father of one. His pregnant wife was among those assaulted by police. The inquest into the death is due to take place on Monday.

The Human Rights Commission which last month ruled that police had violated not only local laws but also the UN Human Rights Charter (This ruling was given after police Senior Superintendent Ajith Rohana erroneously attempted to take cover of the UN  charter to justify attacking students).

The police has reportedly appealed the HRC decision which awarded damages to the victims and ordered the IGP to take disciplinary action against the police culprits.

The commission has now uncovered shocking details of other police brutality in Embilipitiya in recent  times while investigating the latest case of abuse.

“The Embilipitiya incident is a good example of how the mind-set of the police is yet to change although a new administration that promised good governance is in power,” a human rights official said. 
(COLOMBO, January 10, 2016)

=======================================================================================
Police brutality in Sri Lanka

January 8 2016
29 வயது சுமித் பிரசன்னாவின் பொலிஸ் படுகொலையை எதிர்த்து   எம்பிலிப்பிட்டி மக்கள் போராட்டம்



Oct 2015

HNDA Student Protest 




June 2011*
Katunayaka Free Trade Garament Factory workers  brutally Attacked by SL Police




June 2008
A protest demonstration held by Inter University Bhikku Front to demand the government to solve their issues was attacked by police using tear gas and water cannons. Later the Buddhist Bhikkus were baton charged and some of them were dragged into police vehicles. 11 Buddhist Bhikkus have been arrested by the police after dispersing the peaceful demonstration by the Bhikkus.




Ratnapura




===============================
*Katunayaka Free Trade Garament Factory workers  brutally Attacked by SL Police

Sri Lankan police fire on protesting free trade zone workers
By W.A. Sunil and Ruwan Liyanage 
1 June 2011
On Monday, thou sands of police officers launched a violent attack on free trade zone (FTZ) workers in Katunayake who were protesting against the Sri Lankan government’s private sector pension bill. During the resulting clashes, police twice opened fire with live ammunition. Altogether, more than 200 workers were injured and about 100 arrested.

After the confrontation, which included the mobilisation of thousands of troops, the government shut down the FTZ for two days. Thousands of police and security personnel have been stationed in the area, which is close to the capital, Colombo. All vehicles are being checked and any FTZ workers who live outside the zone are being prevented from entering.

This is the second police crackdown against FTZ workers in months. In February, the police attacked striking workers at the Hong Kong-owned Bratex factory, an undergarment producer in Katunayake, and arrested several workers on trumped-up charges.

Monday’s protest was held in direct defiance of the Free Trade Zone and General Services Workers Union (FTZGSWU), which had called on workers not to stage any industrial action. The demonstration was a continuation of the struggle initiated by the FTZ workers on May 24 against the pension bill, which will effectively cut wages and require at least 10 years of continuous employment to qualify for a monthly pension amounting to just 15 percent of a wage.

Workers in zone No.1 of Katunayake FTZ, which has three zones, began the walkout. By about 9.30 a.m. thousands of workers had joined the demonstration, which was peaceful until the police intervened.

Between 11.30 a.m. and noon, according to workers, police entered zone No.1 through the main gate and began to attack the protesters with batons and tear gas. When workers retreated into factories for their safety, the police forcibly entered the 

premises and continued the assault. Angry protesters retaliated with whatever they could find. The police then fired live ammunition at workers, injuring a number of them, one critically.

After hearing about the police attack, at around 3.00 p.m. thousands of workers from zones No.2 and 3 joined the protest, condemning the police action and demanding the release of their arrested colleagues. By this stage, about 40,000 workers, mostly young females, were involved. They flooded onto the main road running through the FTZ, demonstrating and chanting slogans against the government.

With the police unable to control the large crowd, the government deployed police special task force (STF) officers and hundreds of soldiers. Army officers asked for a return to work, but the workers demanded the release of all those arrested. When the police refused to do so, outraged workers attacked the police station with stones.

Some 15 police personnel, including high ranking officers, were reportedly injured, and several police vehicles damaged. Police again opened fire on about 500 workers who stormed the station, wounding at least eight.

Inspector General of Police, Mahinda Balasuriya, claimed that the protesting workers had tried to grab arms from the police station—an allegation that protesters denied. Balasuriya defended opening fire on the demonstrators. “When a large crowd stormed in, police fired in the air and then later fired at them to control the gathering,” he declared at a press conference........

Local residents and FTZ workers at Biyagama, closer to Colombo, and Koggala in south also condemned the police attack.

I will not govern the country without advice & guidance of Maha Sanga – President



I will not govern the country without advice & guidance of Maha Sanga – President

President Maithripala Sirisena says he would not govern the country without the advice and guidance of the Maha Sanga.

He said a group of extremists are creating conspiracies stating that the government is going to deprive the place of the Buddhism through the new amendments to the constitution. He requested everyone not to contribute that fundamental sin which divides the country, nation as well as Maha Sanga.

The President made these remarks at the ceremony held today (Jan. 10) at the Sri Bodhiraja Temple, Colombo Fort to offer the Chief Sanganayaka position of the Colombo to the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Bodhiraja Temple, Colombo Fort, Karmavagacharya of the Asgiri Sector of Shyamopali Maha Nikaya Nikula Dharmakeerthi Ven. Sri Seelarathana Pannasarabhidana Nayaka Thero.

The President emphasized that the new constitution never includes any clause to harm the place of Buddhism or the unity of the country. “The people who make such statements are doing so not because of their patriotism or the responsive feeling for the Buddha Shasana, but because of their ambition to reach their political goals”, the President said.

“I am bound to protect the Buddha Shasana according to my pledge given to the people when I undertook the leadership of this country on January 08, 2015. I also am bound to protect it as a real Buddhist who was born and brought with the influence of the temple in the village. I will be committed to build a fair society for justice by safeguarding not only the Buddhism, but also all religions of this country”, President Sirisena said.

The President presented the vijinipatha (the fan) to Ven. Sri Seelarathana Pannasarabhidana Thero at this occasion.

The President also was presented the book ‘Pannasarabhinandana’ in this ceremony.

Sampanthan insists no demand for a separate state

Sampanthan insists no demand for a separate state
By admin on January 12, 2016 -

Opposition leader and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan today insisted that there is no more a demand for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.

Speaking in Parliament today the TNA leader said that the Tamils have, during the recent elections, backed a political solution within the framework of a united and undivided and indivisible Sri Lanka.

He said the Tamils hope the new Constitution which has been proposed, will resolve the National issue.

Sampanthan said that the demand for a separate state resulted in a war which pushed the country backwards.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

கழகக் கை நூல்: காலனியாதிக்கமும் காலநிலைப் பேரிடர்களும்


நூல் அறிமுகம்

தமிழக வெள்ளப் பேரிடர் தொடர்பாக கழகம், `வெள்ளம் வரட்சியினால் ஏற்படும் பேரிடர்கள் அற்ற புதிய உலகம் படைக்க ஏகாதிபத்தியத்தையும்,காலனியாதிக்கத்தையும் எதிர்த்துப் போராடுவோம்` என்று முழங்கி ஒரு கை நூலை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

இக் கை நூல் தமிழக கால நிலைப் பேரிடர்களை, சர்வதேசப் பரிமாணத்திலும்,குறிப்பாக ஏகாதிபத்திய காலனியாதிக்க அரசியல் சமூக வரலாற்றுப் பின் புலத்திலும் எடுத்து விளக்கி, அதன் பகுதியாக உள்நாட்டு நிலைமைகளை ஆராய்கின்றது.

இவ் ஆய்விலிருந்து  யுத்ததந்திர செயல்தந்திர மற்றும் உடனடிக் கடமைகளை வகுத்தளிக்கின்றது. 

பூமிக் கிரக  வெப்ப உயர்வுப் பிரச்சனைக்கும், காலனியாதிக்க போர்கள் ஏற்படுத்திய இயற்கைக்  கட்டுமான அழிவுக்கும் இடையில்  ஒரு தர்க்க ரீதியான இணைப்பைக் காட்டுகின்றது.

இக் கை நூலை மேற்காணும் படத்தில் அழுத்தி கண்டறிந்து படிக்கலாம்.

படியுங்கள்! பரப்புங்கள்! நிதி ஆதாரம் வழங்குங்கள்!

Friday, January 08, 2016

Sri Lanka's 2015 budget deficit hits 7.2 pct of GDP


Sri Lanka's 2015 budget deficit hits 7.2 pct of GDP
Jan 08, 2016 17:52 PM

COLOMBO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's budget deficit overshot to 7.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, against a revised target of 6.0 percent, swelled by unexpected payments for contractors, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

The minister had revised the 2015 target to 6 percent of GDP on Nov. 20 from the original 4.4 percent, due to unexpected spending and a revenue fall.

But on Friday, Karunanayake told Reuters "Last year's budget deficit was 7.2 percent."

The new figure puts the deficit much higher than the 5.5-6.0 percent the International Monetary Fund had estimated it would be.

The accountant-turned-politician said the government had to spend heavily on contractual payments for infrastructure projects started by the previous government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was defeated in polls in January 2015.

Also, the new government implemented some populist policies.

"We ensured that all that was to be paid was put in the last year's budget," the minister said. "Why should we put it in this year?"

For 2016, Sri Lanka aims for a budget deficit of 5.9 percent of GDP.

The IMF has warned Sri Lanka not to have loose monetary and fiscal policies, and urged structural reforms to safeguard economic stability.

Amid heavy borrowing to cover the budget deficit, Sri Lanka's rupee has hovered around record lows since the central bank floated it on Sept. 4. It has fallen around 6.6 percent since then.

Karunanayake said the floating rupee has not helped boost exports.

"To be very frank, an approach will be looked at. We will control (the rupee)," the finance minister said when asked the steps government is contemplating to ease pressure on the rupee.

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PRESSURE

A decline in foreign reserves may limit the government's attempt to defend the rupee, analysts say. Sri Lanka has already decided to seek an IMF loan to support its balance-of-payments.

Sri Lanka last year borrowed $1.5 billion from an Indian currency swap, $2.15 billion through two 10-year sovereign bonds and more than $1.7 billion from development bonds to repay foreign loans while defending the currency.

Karunanayake admitted that the balance of payments will face pressure if there is a reduction in worker remittances, which totalled more than $7 billion in 2014.

He said the government is looking to get $3 billion-$4 billion in deposits from foreigners to help "overcome" balance of payments problems.

Sri Lanka's domestic banks have already received around $1.5 billion through such deposits, he said.

Sri Lanka ahead of others in good governance - PM

Sri Lanka ahead of others in good governance - PM
January 8, 2016  05:11 pm

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that a country which was sidelined by the international community and one the wolrd had no expectations from, has today come forward within just one year.

He was addressing the main national ceremony to mark the one year completion of the democratic governance, established under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena, held at the BMICH in Colombo today (Jan 8).

Wickremesinghe said that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who recently visited the island, told him that Sri Lanka is very lucky because the two major political parties were able to unite and form a government.

He told me that if it continues this way for several more years, Sri Lanka will be the leader in the region, the PM said.

“We ahead of others in good governance,” he said.

He stated that the January 8 revolution was the result of the entire country uniting irrespective of religions, race or politics.

The PM stated that a person told him one day that “this is not a revolution, it’s a miracle.”

“Within one year, a country which was sidelined and had no expectations from the world has today come forward. Everyone including the President made large sacrifices,” he said.

We can be immensely pleased with what we have achieved within this one year, he said, while thanking President Maithripala Sirisena for coming forward and giving leadership to the change.

Within this one year all the political processes have been commenced and that the laws which need approval from Parliament have already been prepared, Wickremesinghe stated.

He stated that Parliament will convene tomorrow (9) to prepare a constitution for the creation of a Constitutional Assembly and that good governance will be confirmed from there onwards.

He stated that there are those who oppose the proposal being brought tomorrow as well as those who agree with it. “I think it is an attitude difference.”

Tomorrow we have to decide whether we change our attitude to go forward in the path of good governance or whether we continue to remain stuck in the same old politics which was rejected by the public, he said.

“We who have come this far will not give up the fight.” 

Happiest day of my life: President on day he quit govt

Happiest day of my life: President on day he quit govt
January 8, 2016  05:43 pm



President Maithripala Sirisena says that the day he quit the previous government and gave up his ministerial portfolio to contest the presidential election as the common opposition candidate, was the happiest day of his life.

The President made these remarks at the national ceremony to mark the one year completion of the democratic governance, held today (Jan. 08) at the BMICH.

“I accepted the most dangerous challenge and risk on November 21, 2014 when I left the then government after working for 13 continuous years as the General Secretary of the party, 26 years in parliament and 48 years in the SLFP.”

“If someone asks me on what day was I the happiest, I will say that the happiest day of my life was the day I gave up all my positions and left the government,” he said.

“The happiness of giving up power and being free of responsibilities.”

President Sirisena says after a completion of a year as the servant of the people, the agenda for the next five years will be the building of the motherland to a great nation in the world.

“Some people ask me what will be my place after the completion of my tenure as President when I agreed to abolish the powers of the Executive Presidency. My answer to them as well as for those who are not asking the same question from me, is I don’t think about my place in five more years, but think about the place of this country over the period of five years”, he said.

“The people brought us to power, expecting the social democratization of our country. Also , they expect a good economic management in good governance by ending the corruption, fraud and irregularity in this country”, the president said.

In the task of building the modern Sri Lankan state it is essential to bring about the national reconciliation and the unity among the communities in this country by leaving off the mistrust and suspicion among them, he said.

When we talk about constitutional changes some sections of the society says we are attempting to divide this country, he added.

Some say we are trying to destroy the place given to Buddhism in this country and some say we are focusing to endanger the national security of the country by weakening our security forces on foreign advices the President said that adding perhaps our achievements may not be felt or seen or understand, but those are the essential ingredients of transformation towards the righteous society.

President Maithripala Sirisena granted a presidential pardon to a former LTTE cadre, convicted on charges of attempting to assassinate him in 2006 at the event.

The convict was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by the Polonnaruwa High Court on July 3, 2015 and it was upheld by the Supreme Court.

The launch of the book titled “One Nation Great Power” took place parallel to this event.

The keynote address of this ceremony delivered by former Governor and Ambassador Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who is the grandson of Mahathma Gandhi.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative  Subinay Nandy also addressed the event.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Opposition Leader  R. Sambandan, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Ministers, MPs, politicians, artiste and many others participated in the event.

A budget replete with optimism-The Island

ENB Budget series: ஏற்றுமதிப் பொருளாதாரம் என்கிற வேற்று மதி!  _____________________________ President Dissanayake is hopeful that a 5% econo...