Prez polls: Lawyer asks EC to reject proxies

Prez polls: Lawyer asks  EC 

to reject proxies

Rejected MPs dominate nominations

By Shamindra Ferdinando The Island  2024/08/15

Attorney-at-Law Dasun Nagasena said that the Election Commission (EC) should reject nominations of proxy candidates for the 2024 presidential poll.

Lawyer Nagasena, who campaigns for Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC of the National Democratic Front (NDF) candidate, said that the EC should prevent inexcusable waste of public funds by proxies joining the fray.

Proxy candidate Siripala Amarasinghe (former JVP MP) in conversation
 with Minister Susil Premjayantha at the inauguration of the 'People's Front'
at a Colombo hotel yesterday(Pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja)

Nagasena said so in response to The Island query soon after the EC announced that 40 probable candidates paid the stipulated cash deposit by noon yesterday (14).

According to the lawyer, regardless of them paying cash deposits, the EC could refuse to accept their nominations. “Of the 40 candidates, the vast majority are either proxies or those who contest for personal benefits,” Nagasena said. The EC is scheduled to accept nominations today (15).

At the last presidential election, held in Nov 2019, 35 candidates contested the election that was won by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Nagasena said unless the EC at least acted now, the number of candidates could be even higher than at the previous election.

According to EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayaka altogether 40 persons, 22 representing recognised political parties, one representing yet to be recognised political party (Ruhunu Janatha Peramuna) and 17 independent candidates paid cash deposits. According to the country’s supreme law, only sitting and former parliamentarians can obtain the services of unrecognized political party or any voter to pay cash deposit for them.

For the first time in presidential election history, a main candidate is contesting as an independent. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe declared his intention to contest as an independent after failing to reach a consensus with the SLPP on a common agenda.

Lawyer Nagasena said that he raised the contentious issue of proxies in the fray with the EC. Asked to explain, Nagasena said that though he only named former Hambantota District parliamentarian K. Ananda Kularatne as being a proxy of President Wickremesinghe, in his letter to the EC, there were many others.

Examination of past presidential election results proved that except the two top candidates, all others had been dismal failures.

The EC said the following paid cash deposit: Ranil Wickremesinghe (Indpendent), Sarath Keerthiratne (Ind.), Oshala Herath (Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna), A.S.P. Liyanage (Sri Lanka Kamkaru Pakshaya), Sajith Premadasa (Samagi Jana Balawegaya), P.W.S.K. Bandaranayake (Jathika Sanwardhana Peramuna), Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe (Jathika Prajathanrawadi Peramuna), K.K. Piyadasa (Ind), Sirithunga Jayasuriya (Eksath Samajawadi Pakshaya), Ajantha de Zoysa (Ruhunu Janatha Peramuna), K. Ananda Kularatne (Ind), Sarath Manamendra (Nawa Sihala Urumaya), Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera (Janasetha Peramuna), Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratne Thera (Ind.), Siripala Amarasinghe (Ind.), K.R. Krishan (Arunalu Janatha Peramuna), Sarath Fonseka (Ind.), Anura Kumara Dissanayake (Jathika Jana Balawegaya), Pani Wijesiriwardena (Samajawadi Samanatha Pakshaya), Anthony Victor Perera (Ind.), A.M. Illiyas (Ind), Marakkarala Manage Premasiri (Ind.), Anura Sydney Jayaratne (Ind.), D.M. Bandaranayake (Ind.), Priyantha Pushpakumara Wickramasinghe (Nawa Sama Samaja Pakshaya), M. Thilakaraja (Ind.), J.D.K. Wickremaratne (Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya), Roshan Ranasinghe (Ind.), Mahinda Dewage (Sri Lankawe Samajawadi Pakshaya), Anoj de Silva (Prajathanrawadi Eksath Janatha Peramuna), P. S. Ariyaneththiram (Ind.), A.M. Infas (Eksath Prajathanrawadi Sandhanaya), Dilith Jayaweera (Communist Party), Nuwan Bopage (Samajawadi Janatha Sansadhaya), Namal Rajapaksha (Samabima Pakshaya), Anuruddha Polgampola (Ind.), Namal Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna), Janaka Ratnayake (Eksath Lanka Podujana Pakshaya), Lalith de Silva (Eksath Jathika Nidahas Peramuna) and Sarath Kumara Gunaratne (Ind.).

Lawyer Nagasena said that each proxy cost the taxpayers as much as Rs 25 mn. It would be the responsibility of the EC to put an end to the nonsense caused by proxies, he said⍐.

Sweden confirms first case of mpox

By Reuters August 15, 2024

STOCKHOLM, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Sweden said on Thursday it had confirmed a first case of mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact.

Earlier on Thursday, the World Health Organization  declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to other countries.

"We have now also during the afternoon had confirmation that we have one case in Sweden of the more grave type of mpox, the one called Clade I," Health and Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed told a news conference.⍐

Sri Lanka's love and hate affair with Canada!

Government of Sri Lanka welcomes Canada’s decision to retain LTTE as a terrorist entity

The Government of Sri Lanka welcomes the decision of the Government of Canada to retain the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) along with the World Tamil Movement (WTM) as terrorist entities.

According to the recent review, Canada maintains that the remnants of the LTTE have an international fundraising and procurement network that still exists. The review of the WTM notes that the group continues to play a facilitating role in the LTTE’s terrorist activities by fundraising on their behalf. This decision taken following a rigorous review process, reaffirms the continued threat posed by these organizations.

The Government of Canada first listed the LTTE as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code on 6 April 2006 and it is a statutory requirement to undertake a review every five years. The latest review process concluded in June 2024.

The continued listing of the LTTE by the Government of Canada is presently the third consecutive ban on the LTTE in recent times, with the extensions on proscription of the LTTE having also taken place in India and the European Union, in addition to the judgement of dismissal by the Proscribed Organisations and Appeal Commission (POAC) in the United Kingdom on the application made for the de-proscription of the LTTE in the UK, this year.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Colombo 15 August 2024

Sri Lanka locks horns with Canada once again over genocide allegations

Daily Mirror 15 August 2024

Colombo, August 15 (Daily Mirror)- Sri Lanka, once again, protested with the Canadian authorities over the plan to construct a ‘Tamil genocide monument’ in the area called Brampton in Canada, Daily Mirror learns.

Sri Lankan Consul General of Sri Lanka in Toronto Thushara Rodrigo has written to Brampton mayor Patrick Brown registering Sri Lanka’s protest.

Sri Lanka has locked horns with Canada on multiple occasions over purported genocide allegations.

The Lankan government , in May, hit out at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for engaging in what is called ‘electoral vote bank politics by making an "outrageous allegation" of "genocide" during the island nation's brutal armed conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that ended in 2009. Trudeau, in a statement, noted that Canada's Parliament unanimously voted to recognise May 18 as 'Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day'.

"We will always advocate for justice and accountability for the crimes committed during the conflict, as well as for the hardships faced by all in Sri Lanka. In 2023, we imposed sanctions against four former Sri Lankan government officials in response to their violations of human rights in the country during the armed conflict," Trudeau said in a statement.

However, his statement runs counter to the Federal policy of Canada, which says allegations against Sri Lanka during the war time do not amount to genocide.

Plantation workers’ wage increase to Rs. 1,700 Gazetted

Plantation workers’ wage increase to Rs. 1,700 Gazetted

August 15, 2024 

Wages Board Chairman H. K. K. A. Jayasundara issued a Gazette notification to increase the daily wage of Plantation workers to Rs.1,700. According to the notification, the daily wage for tea plantation workers will be increased to Rs.1,350,

which should be paid after deducting contributions to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF).

The Gazette further stipulates that an additional payment of Rs.350 should be made as a productivity-based incentive.

It also mentions that the daily wage for rubber plantation workers should be raised to Rs.1,700. The Wages Board Chairman has requested that any objections to these proposals, along with the reasons for such objections, be submitted to him before 12 noon of August 28.

 

WHO Director-General's opening remarks on the upsurge of mpox 2024 – 14 August 2024

14 August 2024

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening,

Mpox has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than a decade, and the number of cases reported each year has increased steadily over that period.

Last year, reported cases increased significantly, and already the number of cases reported so far this year has exceeded last year’s total, with more than 14 000 cases and 524 deaths.

As many of you who tune into our regular press conferences know, WHO has been working on the mpox outbreak in Africa and raising the alarm that this is something that should concern us all.

Last week I announced that I was convening an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to evaluate the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa.

Today, the Emergency Committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.

The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighbouring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying.

In addition to other outbreaks of other clades of mpox in other parts of Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives.

A public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm under international health law.

The Emergency Committee’s advice to me, and that of the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which yesterday declared a public health emergency of regional security, are aligned.

WHO is on the ground, working with the affected countries, and others at risk, through our country and regional offices, as well as with partners including the Africa CDC, NGOs, civil society and more.

For example, we are providing machines to analyze blood samples and confirm cases of mpox;

We’re supporting laboratories to sequence viral samples;

We’re on the ground supporting case investigation and contact tracing, risk communication and community engagement;

We’re training health workers and supporting clinicians to provide appropriate care;

We’re supporting countries to access vaccines and develop the strategies to roll them out;

And much more.

To fund this work, WHO has developed a regional response plan, requiring an initial US$ 15 million.

We have released about US$ 1.5 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies, and we plan to release more in the coming days. We are also appealing to donors to fund the rest of the response plan.

WHO is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries, and leveraging our on-the-ground presence, to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives.

I thank the Emergency Committee for its work and advice, and I would like to give the floor to Professor Dimie Ogoina, the Chair of the Emergency Committee, to summarize the Committee’s considerations.

Professor Ogoina, you have the floor.

Kursk Invasion Plan Developed By Lessons Learned From Failed Counteroffensive: Retired Ukrainian Officer

Kursk Invasion Plan Developed By Lessons Learned From Failed Counteroffensive: Retired Ukrainian Officer

A retired high-ranking officer's thoughts on how Ukraine changed its tactics for the Kursk invasion and the goals of the operation.

The War Zone, Howard Altman, Posted on Aug 14, 2024

The invasion of Kursk, now on its ninth day, is a “carefully planned” operation based in large measure on lessons Ukraine learned from last summer’s failed counteroffensive, a retired high-ranking Ukrainian officer told The War Zone on Tuesday.

“After the unsuccessful counteroffensive operations in 2023, lasting delay of security assistance, and challenges in [the] mobilization [of] new manpower, Ukraine lost the strategic and operational initiatives,” he said, speaking anonymously to discuss operational details. “The Kursk insurgency, with its successful launch and continuation, will help to rebuild higher morale among the Ukrainian troops and hopefully, with additional security assistance from partners, will help to regain these strategic, operational, and tactical initiatives.”

It was not until Monday that Ukraine’s leadership offered any operational details about the invasion, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proclaiming that his troops controlled nearly 400 square miles of territory in Kursk. The reason for the informational blackout was to maintain the element of surprise, the retired officer explained. Still, some units posted their advances on social media, like the one in the video below.

The “secret mode of planning and execution of this operation demonstrates that the Ukrainian side learned well lessons from the unsuccessful counteroffensive operation, specifically the issue of strategic communication.”

One of the big failures of that operation was the combination of a long delay after repeated statements and months of speculation that it was looming. As a result, Russia knew where Ukraine was heading and had plenty of time to add to its fortifications in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and defend against it. 

Another lesson is fully embracing an “asymmetric approach and demonstrating the ability to do it right now,” an issue that “was raised constantly by Western leaders.” 

Unlike last summer’s efforts to cleave Russia’s so-called land bridge to Crimea, this operation was designed with fewer troops and logistical requirements, the retired officer told us.

The idea was to “apply an effect-based approach to planning and conduct operations by exploring the enemy’s vulnerability and capitalize on our own limited resources and capabilities,” he said.

The invasion has four key objectives, the veteran officer analyzed.

The first is to “reduce the combat pressure of Russian troops on Ukraine and disrupt Russia’s offensive operational tempo in eastern and southern Ukraine.” 

The second is to “create more comfortable negotiating conditions when the time will come, based on strength,” he said, adding that Ukraine will “grab land in exchange for Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia.”

The third is to “demonstrate Russia’s strategic and operational vulnerability in the security and defense spheres, including the low-level combat readiness of troops made up of conscript soldiers, huge problems in border security and the ineffective political-military leadership, including Putin’s role in it.”

The fourth objective is to undermine Russia by creating “political and economic instability. The large number of internally displaced people could help regular Russians understand the center of gravity of their problems.”

There are currently upwards of 10,000 Ukrainian troops inside Kursk Oblast, the retired officer said. They are in Russia on a rotational basis, depending on the security situation elsewhere.

“Our troops are on constant move mode to Kursk and back based on specification missions,” he said.

They will stay “as long as possible,” said the retired officer. “It is not treated as a raid. It is a well-planned and coordinated operation.”

Ukraine’s efforts in Belgorod “depend on the success of the Kursk insurgency,” he said. “They will go when it will be easy, and stop when it will be hard.”

Taking the fight inside Russia has achieved more than just holding territory.

“We noted a reduction in the use of glide bombs toward Kharkiv City by almost three to six times,” he said. “Regularly this city suffered 30 to 60 launched glided bombs on a daily basis. Right now, they are launching a maximum of up to 10.”

In addition, Ukrainian intelligence “has intercepted Russian messages to stop the systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and not allow any more deaths to happen,” the retired officer said. Russia, he suggested, is trying to be more accountable for its actions with so many prisoners taken by Ukraine.

However, as Ukraine has committed a large amount of resources in Russia, there are several Ukrainian cities, like Toretsk and Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, in serious danger of being captured.

The invasion of Russia was launched knowing the challenges Ukraine faces in defending its own land, especially in the east, the retired officer said

“It did not change the course of action,” he suggested. “There are a number of fronts and one is the east. My feeling is that our action in Kursk and Belgorod will have to stimulate a new calculus.”

While the invasion may have been launched to relieve Russian pressure in Ukraine, some troops there say they have yet to see those results.

Ukraine has placed a big bet on its invasion of Kursk. Time will tell if it pays off or if this turns out to be an unfortunate waste of resources during a time when Ukrainian forces are stretched very thin. So far, it points to the former⍐.

Abbas meets Putin in Moscow to discuss Middle East crisis

 

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (right) meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the
Novo-Ogaryovo presidential residence in Moscow on August 13, 2024. Photo: VCG

Abbas meets Putin in Moscow to discuss Middle East crisis

By Wang Qi  Published: Aug 13, 2024        

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, discussing the situation in the Middle East and Russia's role in de-escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Analysts said Abbas' visit is to discuss the ongoing Gaza crisis and the intensifying spillovers, especially the conflict between Iran and Israel, while on the other hand, Russia's impact on Hamas may be constructive to strengthen the unity of Palestinian factions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized on Tuesday that Russia remains attentive to developments in Palestine despite the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, media reported.

"Of course, we are watching with great pain and anxiety the humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded in Palestine. For our part, we are doing everything to support the Palestinian people," Putin said in a meeting with Abbas.

Putin reaffirmed Russia's commitment to a peaceful resolution.

"We believe that lasting, stable peace in the region requires full implementation of all United Nations resolutions, particularly for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state," he said.

Moreover, the Russian president added that they have sent tons of cargo of various kinds. 

Abbas expressed appreciation for the longstanding Russian-Palestinian cooperation, saying that his nation has benefited from Russia's support over the decades.

"Due to US pressure, the UN was unable to fulfill its mission of providing a solution or adopting a resolution that would secure the rights of the Palestinian people," said Abbas, Anadolu news agency reported. 

The meeting between Abbas and Putin came amid concerns over the aggravation of the conflict following Israeli's assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran on July 31. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps on Sunday reiterated Iran's determination to retaliate against Israel, while the Israeli side vowed it would attack preemptively before Iran's promised action. 

According to Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has become more complex, as it involves multiple levels of conflicts, not just between Israel and Hamas, but also between the Israel-US camp and Iran-Iranian backed resistance forces. 

Liu said the Abbas' visit to Russia was designed to garner more diplomatic support for Fatah, but the core concern of his visit is likely to be the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Abbas previously said the purpose of Haniyeh's assassination is to "prolong the war and expand its scope," which has a "negative impact on the ongoing negotiations to end the aggression and withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza," Al Jazeera reported. 

On August 5, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with the visiting Secretary of Russia's Security Council Sergei Shoigu in Tehran. During the conversation, the Iranian president said that Iran in no way sought to widen the scope of the conflict and crisis in the West Asia region, but that Israel would definitely receive a response to its "crime and insolent" move.

"If the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, or even triggers a large-scale conflict, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will become more complicated and more difficult to solve," Liu said, noting that Abbas is hoping that Russia could wield its influence on Iran to cool the current situation.

On the other hand, Liu said Abbas may also be seeking Russia's help in boosting unity within different factions in Palestine⍐. 

மலையகம்-சம்பள உயர்வும் நான்கு நிபந்தனைகளும்

தினப்பொறி- மலையகப் பெருந்தோட்ட தொழிலாள மக்களும் வாக்குப் பொறுக்கிகளும்

 

2

யார் கொள்ளையர்கள், வளங்களைக் கொள்ளை அடிக்கின்ற இந்தியரா? விரட்டியடிக்கின்ற இலங்கையரா?