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Assistant Secretary

Mr. Naresh

Nagarajah

Chairman Ground

Services Mr. Wasantha

Perera

Security Chairman

Mr. Chinthaka

Wickramasinghe

Chairman Stewarding

Mr. Konesh

Govindaraja

Chairman Trade

Mr. Prabath

Warusavithana

Marketing Chairman

Mr. Kivan

Fernando

Chairman Souvenir

Mr. Kapila

Mallikarachchige

Charity Chairman

Dr. Shaukat

Mamujee

Vice president

Mr. Ravi

Ravindran

Cricket Chairman

Mr. Flavian

Aponso

Brand Ambassador

Mr. Upul

Ekanayake

Web coordinator

Mr. Praneeth

Hettiarachchi

Print Media

coordinator Mr. Thushan

Gunarathna

Electronic Media

coordinator Mr. Gaz

Hameed

Revenue protection

coordinators Mr. Fazal

Alavi

Revenue protection

coordinators Mr. Siano

Perera

Event coordinator

Mr. Methsiri

Wijerathne

Treasury Advisors

Dr. Ananda

Thevathasan

Treasury Advisors

Mr. N Wimalendran

Treasury Advisors

Mr. Wickrama

De S Waidyanatha

Disciplinary Committee

Dr. Sirinimal

Fernando

Disciplinary Committee

Mr Jazal

Marzook

Assistant Treasurer

Mr. Asela

Wijewickrama

President FoC 2016

Mr Shiran Almeida

Secretary FoC 2016

Mr. Krishan Bulathsinghala

Treasurer FoC 2016

Mr. Shanaka Rodrigo

‘It’s the poor who pay taxes’

ISSUE 1263NEWSLANKA 18 FEBRUARY - 2016PAGE 02

(ft.lk) Around 8000 scouts along with their ScoutMasters from all the districts of Sri Lanka willparticipate at the Jamboree to be held in Jaffnafrom 20-26 February at Municipal Grounds andadjoining areas.This is the first time a National Jamboree is beingheld in Northern Province and also coincides with100 years of scouting in Jaffna. TheTheme of the Jamboree is“Friendship & Understanding”.Around 200 Foreign scouts andleaders are expected from a fewcountries. Already Nepal, India,Malaysia and Bangladesh haveconfirmed their participation.Maldives is yet to confirm.The campers will be divided in to 4Sub Camps named Pidurutalagala,Namunukula, Rakwana andSamanala. The Sub campAdministration Team will administer the SubCamps which will be headed by a sub camp Chiefwith a Deputy and Assistant.Campers are expected to arrive on 20 FebruarySaturday at 8.00 a.m. Activities will commencewith the Soft Opening on 21 February at 8.30 a.m.Around 25 activities of Adventure, Skills, Culture,Environment, Archaeology, Traditional Games,Health and sustainable Energy will conductedbetween 9.00 a.m – 5.00 p.m each day.Activity Awards will be given to the scouts who

complete the minimum number of activitiesrequired. An activity book will be given to allregistered scouts to record the activities done.The Jamboree will be ceremonially declared openby President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday 22February at 4.00 p.m. at the Jaffna Central CollegeGrounds. The Opening also coincides with Baden

Powell Day.Daily Cultural and MusicalPresentations will take place from7.00 p.m. and the International Nightwill be on 22nd February 2016. JaffnaCentenary Day will be held on 23rdFebruary with activities planned forthe whole day culminating in theevening with a Cultural Presentation.The Army Beat Group will be inattendance on 21 February and theNavy Beat Group on 22 February.The Closing Ceremony will be on

Friday 25 February at 4.00 followed by the ArenaDisplay Depicting the history of scouting in SriLanka followed by a musical presentation by theAir Force.Campers will leave on 26 February after obtainingclearance certificates.The Jamboree Chief is the Chief CommissionerProf. Nimal De Silva and the Joint OrganisingCommissioners are M. F. S. Muheed and DamianSilva . There are 12 organising teams assignedwith various subjects.

(sundaytimes.lk) A report by the workers’rights group Labour Behind the Labelsaid workers from three factories in SriLanka, three in India and two inBangladesh were all being paid wellbelow the amount required for a decentstandard of living, according to theGuardian.

In Sri Lanka, basic pay averaged 13,500Sri Lankan rupees a month (£64), butcampaigners say they need as much as33,000 (£158).It comes six years after M&S promised tosupport the payment of a living wage inthose countries, under its Plan Aenvironmental and social policy.

An M&S spokesperson told thenewspaper: “We are committed to furtherimproving working conditions in ourclothing supply chain and our work since2010 has made a significant difference.For example, average wages at oursupplier factories in Bangladesh are now60% above the current minimum wage.

9TH National Scout Jamboree preparations

well under way

Marks & Spencer accused of failing to pay clothing factory

workers in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India a “living wage”

(sundaytimes.lk) A Sri Lankan 'witch doctor' hasgone public allegedly claiming he deployed blackmagic to win the presidency for MaldivianPresident Abdulla Yameen, the Telegraphreported.Ayela Wickramasinghe told The Telegraph that hesabotaged Mr Yameen's political foes throughrituals conducted after burying items such as eggsand coconuts in significant locations around thecapital Male, including the main cemetery."We invited the devil to destroy the political powerof Mr Yameen's opponents and to win others to hisside," he said. "Look at the result. That's the proof.Look at how voting changed."After the first round of voting in elections in 2013,Mr Yameen was trailing heavily to MohamedNasheed, the ousted and later jailed ex-presidentwho is now receiving medical treatment in Britain.But on the second ballot, Mr Yameen emerged asan implausible victor after the third-placecandidate surprisingly threw his weight behindhim. Mr Nasheed's supporters blamed behind-the-

scenes shenanigans, but Mr Wickramasinghe hasnow provided an alternative explanation."I analysed the situation spiritually and politically,"he said. "I identified the weak points of theopposition and I focussed on those.""I used my mantra-based spirituality andperformed certain acts. In the Maldives, they call itblack magic."The allegation that the leader of a conservativeIslamic regime consulted a foreign sorcerer whodraws on Buddhist and Hindu spirituality has onlyheightened political intrigue in the country.The country has come under fire for its treatmentof political opponents, most notably Mr Nasheed,who became the country's first democraticallyelected president but was later forced from officeand jailed last year on controversial terrorismcharges.Amal Clooney, the British human rights lawyer andwife of the actor George Clooney, is part of theinternational legal team that has represented MrNasheed and called for sanctions. He was recently

released from jail totravel to Britain formedical treatment, butis supposed to returnto the Maldives tocomplete his 13-yearjail term.

Lankan 'witch doctor' alleges he used black

magic to bring Maldivian president to power

ISSUE 1263 NEWSLANKA 18 FEBRUARY - 2016 PAGE 03


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( ) The International Committee of theRed Cross (ICRC) has decided to work with theSri Lankan government in assisting the families ofthose reported missing during the nearly three-decade long separatist conflict in the country,foreign ministry said.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting withthe the ICRC delegation in Colombo anddiscussed the pressing issue of nearly 20,000complaints of missing individual cases thegovernment has received since 2013.

The ministry outlined the various steps taken bythe government so far to deal with issues relatingto the missing, including the plan to issueCertificates of Absence which will allow therelatives to proceed with legal procedures. Thegovernment had also allowed the visit of theWorking Group on Enforced and InvoluntaryDisappearances (WGEID) and signed theInternational Convention for the Protection of AllPersons from Enforced Disappearances, thestatement said.

dailymirror.lk

Disna Mudalige

(dailynews.lk) A number of requests havebeen received asking to facilitate thevideo conference technology for SriLankans living overseas to submit theirproposals on the making of the newConstitution, Public RepresentationsCommittee on Constitutional Reformschairman Lal Wijenaike said."This request has been informed to thePrime Minister's Office," he saidaddressing a press conference atVisumpaya, Colombo yesterday.Wijenaike said if necessary facilities areprovided, the Committee was willing tolisten to the views of Sri Lankans livingabroad.He said the Committee has so farreceived over 2,000 submissions fromthe public on Constitutional reforms andgovernance issues."We have completed public sittings in 13out of 25 districts and collected over1,170 oral submissions. In addition, wehave received 462 email submissions,350 written submissions, 92 faxmessages, 37 submissions from social

media and 46 telephone calls," Wijenaikesaid. The chairman said all forms ofwritten submissions and telephone callsare accepted until March 10.He said the Committee has decided tohold a secondround of publicsittings in Colombofrom March 3-5due to anoverwhelmingresponse from thepublic.He said it wouldconsider holdinganother round ofpublic sittings inseveral other selected districts as well.Wijenaike said the Committee hopes tomeet with the associations ofprofessionals, constitutional experts,political leaders, intellectuals, religiousleaders and civil society members inMarch. The final report is to be submittedby the end of April with therecommendations of the Committee tothe Constitutional Drafting Cabinet Sub-Committee. "We have received a range

of suggestions from people belonging tovarious strata of society. Ordinary peopleincluding farmers, labourers, studentsand fishermen etc were also amongthem," he said. Themiya Hurulle invited

the public to forward theirproposals via websitewww.yourconstitution.lk, addingthat the social media links of theCommittee are also provided init.He said the staff of thecommittee hopes to engage in awider discussion with socialmedia users in the near future."We have also observednumerous paper articles on the

subject by various individuals in the formof 'Letters to the Editor' and we hope toincorporate these views as well," headded. Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi saidamong the proposals extended so far, theneed for an independent commission formedia, empowering of Human RightsCommission, women issues,reconciliation and the weaknesses in thepublic service have been emphasised.

Lankans abroad request for video conferencing

to submit proposals

Missing persons;SL to work with Red Cross

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa

(island.lk) Foreign Employment Minister ThalathaAthukorala has ordered that all Lankan migrantworkers who have taken refugee in safe housesbe brought back home immediately.The minister issued this order after thegovernment had brought down over 100 strandedmigrant workers from Kuwait on Saturday.The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment(SLBFE) yesterday said the decision to bringback all migrant workers subjected to harassmentin Kuwait had been taken following theintervention of Minister Athukorala.A group of 104 migrant workers including eightmen subjected to harassment in Kuwait returnedon Saturday morning.According to the SLBFE some of the migrantworkers had been unable to get the assignedemployment while some others had facedharassment including physical abuse. Some ofthem had overstayed their visas.The group comprising residents of Anuradhapura,Galle, Kandy, Trincomalee, Batticaloa,

Kurunegala and Polonnaruwa, had been in the‘Suraksha’ home belonging to the SLBFE which isat the Sri Lankan mission in Kuwait.Early this month, four Sri Lankan men and 111 SriLankan women who were allegedly harassed bytheir employers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwaitreturned to the country.

( ) Google's balloon-powered high-speed Internet serviceknown as "Project Loon" began itsfirst tests in Sri Lanka Mondayahead of a planned joint venturewith Colombo, the country's top ITofficial said. One of three balloonsthat will be used in the trials enteredSri Lankan airspace Monday, theInformation and CommunicationTechnology Agency chiefMuhunthan Canagey said."The first balloon entered ourairspace this morning. It waslaunched from South America."Canagey told AFP. "It is currentlyover southern Sri Lanka." He said aGoogle team was expected later thisweek to test flight controls, spectrumefficiency and other technical matters. Thegovernment announced earlier this month it wouldtake a 25 percent stake in a joint venture withGoogle to deliver a high-speed Internet servicepowered by helium-filled balloons. Sri Lanka is notinvesting any capital, but will take the stake inreturn for allocating spectrum for the project. Afurther 10 percent of the joint venture would beoffered to existing telephone service providers onthe island.It promises to extend coverage and cheaper ratesfor data services. Service providers will be able toaccess higher speeds and improve the quality oftheir existing service once the balloon project is up

and running. The balloons, once in thestratosphere, will be twice as high as commercialairliners and barely visible to the naked eye. Theballoons will have a lifespan of about 180 days,but can be recycled, according to Sri Lankanofficials involved in the venture.Official figures show there are 3.3 million mobileInternet connections and 630,000 fixed lineInternet subscribers among Sri Lanka's more than20 million population. Sri Lanka became the firstcountry in South Asia to introduce mobile phonesin 1989 and the first to roll out a 3G network in2004. It was also the first in the region to unveil a4G network two years ago. (Source: Daily mail)

dailymirror.lk

Missing Persons

Commission’s mandate

extendedThe mandate of thePresidential Commissionto Investigate intoComplaints RegardingMissing Persons headedby former High CourtJudge Maxwell Paranagama had been extendedby three more months with affect from Monday, theCommission said.(news.lk)

Google "Project Loon" balloon enters SL

for Internet tests

All Lankan migrant workers in safe houses

to be brought home

(adaderana.lk) Secret interviews with asylumseekers being held in Indonesia appear to confirmallegations that people smugglers were paid toturn back while trying to reach Australia.The claims first surfaced in an AmnestyInternational report last year involving a boatbelieved to be heading to New Zealand.Two young Sri Lankan parents, who risked adangerous high seas journey to escape conflict,say the Australian Navy gave them amessage while allegedly paying off thepeople smugglers to turn back. ParentKandiah Kayuran said the message was,“don’t come back this way, go and die”and he said, “were left like that”.British journalist Phil Miller secretlyinterviewed the couple and others beingheld at an Indonesian detention centre inKupang City, West Timor. AdvertisementMost of them have applied for asylum and

are hoping for a new life in New Zealand, but theprocess could take years.“This boat hit a reef off an island off Indonesia andsank. Fortunately they were rescued by localIndonesian fishermen,” Mr Miller said. Mr Millersays conditions at the West Timor camp aredismal and there are half a dozen childrenincluding Mr Kayuran’s six-week-old girl there. (TVNZ) -Agencies

‘Don’t come back’ Aust navy tells Sri Lankan

asylum seekers?

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

(sundayobserver.lk) The locally improvised brush-mower, which is used commonly in the lowlands ofthe dry zone for clearing large areas of shrublands, is posing a grave threat to star tortoises.This was revealed during a recent survey on startortoises (Geochelone elegans) population inAndigama, Anamaduwa by Anslem de Silva, anexpert conservationist on reptiles.According to deSilva, nearly 25 chopped carcases of star tortoiseswere discovered by the team. "This area is a hotspot for star tortoise and these lowlands arebecoming more used for development activities,"he said.

Anslem de Silvacurrently serves asthe the RegionalChairman, SouthAsia and IranCrocodile SpecialistGroup IUCN/SSCand as a memberIUCN/SSC Tortoiseand Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.The new locally improvised brush-mower is fixedto a tractor and is used for clearing large shrublands as it easily chops even small trees. Manyvillagers informed the survey team, using the

brush-mower isefficient andeconomical and isbecoming popular."We assume that thisnew threat, will be aconsiderable threat to'Geochelone elegans'in the near future," headded.Already the startortoise was facing a

(Contd: on P8)

Grave threat to star tortoises

Crime CornerFour monks surrender

to Homagama Police

Welgama granted bail

Basil Rajapaksa files

FR Petition seeking

prevention of arrest

(dailynews.lk)Sinhala RavayaOrganisationChairman Ven.AkmeemanaDayarathana Theraand Convener ofRavana Balaya Iththe Kande Saddhatissa Theraand two other Buddhist monks surrendered to theHomagama Police this afternoon. The monkssurrendered in connection with protesting at theHomagama Court premises on 27 January, overthe remand of Bodu Bala Sena GeneralSecretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe GnanasaraThera.

(dailymirror.lk) FormerTransport Minister andUPFA MP KumaraWelgama was granted bailby the Colombo ChiefMagistrate today overillegally paying Rs.3.2 million to the former ViceChairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board(SLTB).He was released on a cash bail of Rs 25,000 andtwo sureties of Rs. 1 million by Magistrate GihanPilapitiya.The Magistrate didn’t sign the charge sheetagainst the MP today due to the preliminaryobjection raised by the Defence Counsel.Magistrate Pilapitiya said he would considersigning of the charge sheet after observing theappointment letter of the former SLTB ViceChairman. The case was fixed for March 24.(Shehan Chamika Silva)

Former Economic DevelopmentMinister Basil Rajapaksa filed aFundamental Rights petition,requesting an order against hisarrest by the police FinancialCrimes Investigations Division.Through his petition, Rajapaksainforms that B reports have beenfiled on investigations by the

FCID in Gampaha, Pugoda, Matara andKaduwela Magistrate Courts and there was anattempt to arrest him under the MoneyLaundering Act.However, the B reports have been filedmisrepresenting the facts, Rajapaksa states.The IGP, DIF of FCID, Anti-corruption CommitteeDirector Ananda Wijepala, the Attorney Generalare among the respondents named in the case.

Golden Key:

Sicille Kotelawala to be

produced in Court

on Feb.23(dailymirror.lk) ColomboHigh Court Judge ManilalWaidyatilleka todaydirected the prison officialsto produce SicilleKotelawala in Court onFebruary 23 in connectionwith the alleged swindling of Rs.7.2 billionbelonging to the Golden Key Company depositors.Ms. Kotelawala is the sixth suspect in the fraudcase and charged on 91 counts. (Shehan ChamikaSilva)


Colombo Fort Magistrate refuses to

withdraw arrest warrant on Emil Kanthan

linked to alleged 'MR-LTTE deal'

AG directs to arrest

Uduwe Thera

Gnansara Thera

re-remanded

One witness shot

dead, another injured

near Balapitiya Court

Former Embilipitiya

ASP re-remanded

(dailymirror.lk) TheAttorney General hasdirected to arrest Ven.Uduwe DhammalokaThera and producedbefore the Court forillegally keeping a babyelephant at the Alan Mathiniyaramaya Temple,Polhengoda, the Criminal InvestigationDepartment (CID has informed Colombo ChiefMagistrate Nishantha Peiris. The CID had alsoinformed that the AG had directed them to recorda statement from the Uduwe Thera before thearrest of the Thera. The CID had told the Courtthey have enough evidence to file a case againstVen. Uduwe Thera under the Fauna and FloraProtection Ordinance. In January, 2015, a twoand half year-old elephant calf had been foundinside the Alan MathiniyaramayaTemple.(Manopriya Gunasekera)

(dailynews.lk) Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasarawas re-remanded till February 23 by theHomagama Magistrate today(16), for allegedlythreatening Sandhya Eknaligoda, the wife ofmissing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.Ven. Galagodaatte Gnansara Thera was arrestedby the Homagama police, and was remanded onthe orders of the Homagama Magistrate tillFebruary 9 on January 26.Meanwhile, a tense situation prevailed outside thecourt premises following the court order. A groupof monks and laymen were reported to havecarried out a protest against the arresting of themonk and remanding.Homagama Magistrate on January 25 ordered thepolice to arrest and produce Galagoda aththeGnanasara Thera, before court. The Magistrateissued the order against the Thera on threecharges, including obstruction of courtproceedings. Ven. Gnanasara was alleged ofdefaming the court by blaming SandhyaEkneligoda,wife of late journalist PrageethEkneligoda.

(ceylontoday.lk) An individual was killed whilst asecond was critically injured when anunidentified motorcyclist shot at them nearBalapitiya Magistrate's Court a short while ago,Police Media Unit said. The victims were totestify in a case heard in Balapitiya Magistrate'sCourt, Police Media Unit further added.Police are conducting further investigations inorder to arrest the perpetrator.

(dailynews.lk) Former Embilipitiya ASP DWCDharmaratna who was arrested over the deathof a youth in Embilipitiya was remanded untilMarch 02, on the orders of the EmbilipitiyaAdditional Magistrate Prasanna Fernando.The former ASP was arrested by the CriminalInvestigations Department (CID) on February 02in connection with the death of a youth inEmbilipitiya. The former ASP was summoned bythe CID to record a statement the same morningand was arrested thereafter.Warrants were issued by the EmbilipitiyaAdditional Magistrate on January 27 on severalsuspects including the the former EmbilipitiyaASP and the Headquarters Inspector (HQI),S.R.J. Dias, in connection with the incident.The investigation into the incident was handedover to the CID on January 22.

(asianmirror.lk) Kegalle police’s ‘fairy tale’ onKumar Gunaratnam’s arrest came undonetoday at the Kegalle Magistrate’s Court, FrontLine Socialist Party Propaganda SecretaryPubudu Jayagoda said.The Kegalle police gave evidence today overthe arrest of Gunaratnam on November 4,2015. The police claimed that they had notknown Gunaratnam’s house and had reachedthere only on a tip off. Since the front door ofthe house was closed, the police surroundedthe house and found Gunaratnam.However, the police claimed that they had notknown the identity of the individual at thetime. He was arrested since he could notprovide legal identification, the police said.At this juncture, Gunaratnam’s lawyersquestioned the police and asked them toexplain the legal grounds on which he wasarrested for not providing an ID. Under SriLankan law, an individual cannot be arrestedfor not having a valid ID, the lawyers pointedout.Police said that once Gunaratnam’s identitywas revealed, a statement was recorded andhe was produced before the courts, accordingto directions given by the IGP, on a requestmade from the IGP by the Immigration andEmigration Controller.The lawyers then inquired as to when thedirective was received by Kegalle Police. Inreply, police said that the direction wasreceived in February 2015. It was recorded ina record book in the police, they also said.The Magistrate ordered the police to producethe record book at the next hearing on

February 23 and remanded Gunaratnamfurther.However, FLSP Propaganda SecretaryJayagoda refused the ‘fairy tale’ on the recordbook and letter and said that the letter wasfaxed to Kegalle Police only on the afternoonof November 4, following Gunaratnam’s arrest.“We are also waiting to see the record book”he said.Kumar Gunaratnam was arrested onNovember 4, 2015, on alleged immigrationand emigration law violations.

(asianmirror.lk) Colombo Fort Magistrate Courtrefused to withdraw the arrest warrant on theformer high level LTTE operative Emil Kanthan.The warrant and the red notice on him wasremoved earlier this month by the Special HighCourt in Colombo, on a request made by hislawyers.lawyer appearing for Emil Kanthan hadassured the High Court that his client willproduce himself before the court in the nearfuture. However, the Colombo Magistrate Courttoday refused to withdraw the warrant since hehad not surrendered to court.It is alleged that former President MahindaRajapaksa brokered a deal with the LTTEthrough Emil Kanthan in 2005 during thePresidential Election. During this election, theLTTE ordered Tamil people in North and East

to boycott the election, and a vast majority ofthe Tamils in these provinces did not turn out tovote.

Police 'Fairy Tales' Exposed

In Court, FLSP Says

Gunaratnam brought to court

Emil Kanthan (3rd from left)

(dailymirror.lk) The Colombo Crimes Divisiontoday released sketches of two suspectsconnected to the murder of Sunday LeaderEditor Lasantha Wickrematunge. Police saidone suspect was about 35-years old, 5’8 with

wide brown eyes and a stocky build.The second suspect was about 40-years old,5’10 with a dark complexion. Police said thesketches were drawn by the sketch artistbased on descriptions given by witnesses at

the crime scene. Informationon the suspects could begiven to 0718591753,0718591770 and0773291500.Mr. Wickrematunge was shotin the head at Atthidiya inDehiwala on January 08,2009, by two gunmen on amotorbike.

Police release sketches of Lasantha’s assassins


(adaderana.lk) President Maithripala Sirisenaarrived in Berlin last evening starting his four daystate visit to Germany. Amongst the Sri Lankandelegation were Foreign Minister MangalaSamaraweera, Finance Minister RaviKarunanayake, Skills Development and VocationalTraining Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe,International Trade Minister MalikSamarawickrama and Primary Industries MinisterDaya GamageThe President will begin his first official duty thismorning by going to the Foundation Memorial tothe Murdered Jews of Europe where he isscheduled to be welcome by the representatives ofthe foundation. Thereafter the President isscheduled to visit a Castle.Meanwhile in the evening the President isscheduled to hold discussions with the formerHamburg Economic Senator Ian Karan while theSri Lankan ministers are also scheduled toparticipate at this discussion.One of the most important events in the president’sschedule is the Sri Lanka-German economicforum. A business delegation of over 35 includingchairmen and CEOs of Sri Lanka’s leading

companies representing sectors such as tourism,leisure, automobile, food processing, machinery,travel and construction will also arrive in Berlinbefore 18 February.The chairman of Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment(BoI) Upul Jayasuriya,Chairperson of theExport DevelopmentBoard Indira Malwatte,Chairman of theTourism PromotionsBureau Chairman,Rohantha Athukoralaand Director General ofthe Tea Board AnuraSiriwardena are alsoamong the businessdelegation from SriLanka.Speaking to AdaDerana, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to GermanyKarunathilake Amunugama added that the Germangovernment has pledged support to develop sportsin Sri Lanka, mainly offering scholarships tosportsmen and women.

Meanwhile German educational institutions havealready offered Sri Lankan students scholarships inthe areas of education and cultural sectors.In the tourism sector German tourist arrivals to theisland nation have increased by 20 percent in 2015

compared to previousyears.The Germangovernment haschanged its previouspolicy towards SriLanka after the electionof PresidentMaithripala Sirisenaand his new approachin the reconciliationprocess, theAmbassador added.The Germangovernment is very

happy with the new political landscape and now itwill help to uplift and embrace the economiclandscape by assisting Sri Lanka to boost itseconomy.The overwhelming response from the German

business leaders signifies the change of attitude ofGermany ever since the election of the newpresident and Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe’s government in Sri Lanka.Meanwhile the German government will assist toenhance the German technical institute in SriLanka which has produced thousands of technicalexperts in Verizon’s engineering and automobilesector.Germany will assist to establish a similar institutein Kilinochchi to provide opportunities for hundredsof youth in the region.The Sri Lankan Ambassador added that agovernment delegation headed by the MinisterMahinda Samarasinghe will negotiate with theGerman government to establish more similartechnical institutions in other parts of the country.One must not forget that the German governmentplays a pivotal role in the EU Parliament and itsassistance would certainly help Sri Lanka to onceagain mark its economic presence in Europe.Germany has proved this by acting positively bypassing a resolution in the EU Parliament backingSri Lanka to gain the GSP plus.Shehan Baranage Reporting from Berlin

Story and pics by Nilan Maligaspe

(sundaytimes.lk) The Lighthouse Clock Tower atChatham Street in Colombo Fort, designed byLady Steinberg Ward, was declared open onMarch 25, 1857 by the then Governor of Ceylon,Sir Henry George Ward.The monument has been a major tourist attraction,but today is in a bad state of neglect and decay.The plaque affixed to the monument declares it isthe only lighthouse clock tower in the world.The clock was manufactured in 1814 andfunctioned as a lighthouse up to 1952It is also an important landmark as it is thecentre from which the distance of the roadnetwork throughout Sri Lanka is measured.The lighthouse is supposedly being ‘conserved’and ‘maintained’ by the Central Bank of SriLanka.But, today access to the top of the tower is nolonger possible to locals or foreign tourists whoare are told that it is too dangerous to climb thewinding staircase as it is falling to pieces.Three-wheel driver, Nihal Arunasiri in Fort saidthere are many tourist who come to visit thislandmark as many of the tourist guide booksmake reference to the tower.Unfortunately when they see the dilapidatedcondition of the building they turn away indisbelief and dismay.

Colombo's derelict Lighthouse Clock Tower

Colombo's Lighthouse Clock Tower beautiful

on the outside but rotting and decaying inside

Germany impressed by change in political landscape in Sri Lanka

(ft.lk) The Government has announced plans touse the canal network in Colombo fortransportation as a measure to ease the trafficcongestion in the capital city and also to promotetourism.Minister of Megapolis and Western Development

Patali Champika Ranawaka has proposed toimplement a project for introduction oftransportation scheme over canals in Colombo.The 43-km long Colombo Canal Network ismaintained by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamationand Development Corporation.

It has been identified that utilising thiscanal network which has not beenused for many years for transportationof passengers and goods would resultin minimising traffic congestion andpromotion of tourism industry.Minister Ranawaka’s proposal, whichhas received Cabinet approval, plansto introduce water-based recreationalactivities using boats, and introductionof commercial activities such asfloating markets along canals by theLand Reclamation and DevelopmentCorporation.

HelpAge turns 30(sundayobserver.lk) The 30th anniversary of HelpAgeSri Lanka (HASL) was celebrated with a multi-religious program and a felicitation ceremony forlong-standing employees recently. HelpAge Hospitalat Wellawatte performs around 20 free cataractsurgical procedures daily and over 25,000 eldershave benefitted by its health program since itsinception. Here, Chairman, HelpAge Sri Lanka, Tilakde Zoysa presents a memento to one of the senioremployees, Executive Director, SamanthaLiyanawaduge.

(sundaytimes.lk) Dr. Pradeepa K. Siriwardena,an old girl of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, wasinducted as the President of the 25th year of theCollege of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka onJanuary 23.

Professor Rohan W. Jayasekera (Former Deanof the Faculty of Medicine and Founder Directorof the Human Genetics Unit University ofColombo) was the Chief Guest.In her speech, Dr. Siriwardena outlined the the

theme of her Presidency, which is“Excellence in promoting sustainable eyecare”.In line with this theme, the newly inductedPresident also launched an initiative to aidlow income patients requiring cataract eyesurgery: The Cataract Surgery Fund of theCollege of Ophthalmologists.

Star Tortoisesfrom P4

major threat being smuggled to various partsof the world through the black market.Getting chopped by the bush-mowers willfurther push them to an endangered level ifproper action is not taken by wildlifeauthorities, de Silva said.Geochelone elegans is found in threediscrete portions in the Indian subcontinentand Sri Lanka. One in western India closerto Pakistan and the second is insoutheastern India and the third is in SriLanka. No subspecies are recognised,although there are regional variations incolour and morphology. Sri Lankan tortoisesare observed with more contrasting shellpatterns with broader yellow markings andthey tend to reach larger sizes than southernIndian tortoises.

Govt. to use transportation along Colombo

Canal Network to ease traffic congestion,

promote tourism

College of Ophthalmologists inducts

new president

(ft.lk) The latest nationwide survey conducted byresearch firm TNS Lanka, for business magazineLMD, reveals that the public is dead set againstnepotism. Outraged Sri Lankans have sharplycriticised certain questionable appointments madeby the National Unity Government.A whopping 79% of respondents feel thatnepotism is an inalienable part of Sri Lankanculture, with only 15% disagreeing with this view.An even greater number (87%) say that nepotismwas rife during the previous regime.Commonly-held opinion also has it that mostpeople received government jobs during theprevious regime because of their politicalconnections. In fact, only 8% disagree with thisnotion, LMD reports.According to the poll findings, nepotism continuesto be par for the course under the current regime –a notable 60% of those polled say so, while 21%disagree and 19% are not entirely sure. On thecontrary, a small majority (55%) of respondents

feel that steps are being taken to addressnepotism, while 26% say the status quo remainsand there’s uncertainty among 19% of the samplepopulation.“The media has begun to use its powers to exposeinstances of nepotism, which has been noted by71% of those polled,” a spokesperson for LMDnotes.Providing opportunities to newcomers, electingcompetent and capable individuals, and educatingpeople before their entry into politics are amongthe slew of solutions to counter nepotism in thiscountry, the pollsters were told.The latest edition of the pioneering businessmagazine has been released to leadingsupermarkets and bookstores in Colombo and theoutstations. Its Cover Story features the 2016STING Corporate Accountability Index, aptlycaptioned ‘Corporate Yahapalanaya’ (for the fullstory, log on to www.LMD.lk).

Sri Lankans reject nepotism: LMD/TNS poll


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(sundayobserver.lk) The first-ever kidneytransplant operation at the PolonnaruwaGeneral Hospital was a success, transplantsurgeon Dr Joel Arudchelvam who led theoperating team told the Sunday Observer onFriday.He said the donor and the patient could gohome in a few days, unless the patientdevelops complications.The patient, 35-year-old H.A. LakshmanSamankumara of the UnagalawekeraSettlement Scheme was suffering from ChronicKidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu).The donor was his 58-year-old mother. "CKDuis common in the North Central Province(NCP).Many of our patients who were in an advancedstage of the disease, needed dialysis. Up tonow 49 transplant operations have beenperformed in the NCP. I performed 17 of theseoperations at the Anuradhapura GeneralHospital last year and one this year."He said since this was the first kidneytransplant surgery at the Polonnaruwa GeneralHospital, there were a few obstacles that had tobe overcome. Despite these initial hiccups the

operation itself was a success and went offsmoothly."- CA

The team of doctors included Dr. Joel

Arudchelvam, Consultant Vascular and

Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Rajeewa Dassanayake,

Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. Haritha Mahesh

Dharmakeerthi, Consultant Anaesthetist and Dr.

Rasitha Wijewantha, Consultant Anaesthetist and

Dr. Keerthi Weerawardhana, Consultant Surgeon.

First kidney transplant ignites hope

for patients at Polonnaruwa(adaderana.lk) Riot police used tear gas todisperse a demonstration by the unemployedgraduates’ associations near Lotus Road inColombo, a short while ago.The protest march, demanding that thegovernment fill the vacancies in the public sectorwith unemployed graduates, commenced from theTechnical College Junction and they werescheduled to handover a letter to the Prime

Minister’s Office.The Combined Union of Unemployed Graduatescharges that the government has failed to fulfill itspromise of providing jobs to unemployedgraduates.Meanwhile it has been reported that twojournalists who were covering the protest werewounded and hospitalised as a result of the teargas attack.

Police fire tear gas at protesting

unemployed graduates

(colombogazette.com) Shanty dwellers in theThotalanga area blocked traffic and staged aprotest after their homes were demolished onthe directions of the Urban DevelopmentAuthority.The residents earlier confronted the police whenthey were cleared from their homes as theshanties were about to be razed to the ground.

The shanties were removed on the basis thatthey were illegal constructions are that theowners were given time to move out.However the owners defied the order andobstructed the attempt to demolish the shantiesand later they blocked traffic in the area.(Colombo Gazette)

SAG 2016 Concludes:

Sri Lanka In Second Place

(asianmirror.lk) The 2016SA Games concluded inGuwahati, India.The host nation led themedal table with 308medals including 188 gold,90 silver and 30 bronze.Meanwhile, Sri Lankacame second with 25 gold,

63 silver and 98 bronze,bringing the total to 186.This is the largest numberof total medals won by SriLanka in one edition ofSAG.Pakistan came third with12 golds, 37 silver and 57bronze medals.

(ft.lk) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe saysthe main objective of establishing SectoralOversight Committees is to empower theparliament by transforming the entire legislatureinto a government.Addressing a workshop held in the parliamentcomplex on Monday to enlighten the Members ofParliament on Sectoral Oversight Committees,the Premier explained that the cabinet ofministers as well as other members of theparliament will be given the power to takedecisions on the problems faced by the country.The three-day workshop from 15 to 17 Februaryis held under the patronage of the Speaker KaruJayasuriya with the participation of a delegationof UK parliamentarians led by Labour Party MPFiona McTaggart.Delivering the keynote address on the openingday of the workshop, Prime Minister

Wickremesinghe said these committees shouldhave the power to summon chief ministers andprovincial ministers before them. He also pointedout the need of opening them for the generalpublic.He said a stable and strong Parliament wouldhelp to accelerate the ongoing development drivein many spheres and also would be a catalyst inuniting differing sections in society on political,religious, and ethnic grounds.The overview of parliamentary reforms,aspirations for the Committee System within thecurrent Parliament, overview of the establishedpowers of Sectorial Oversight Committees andCommittee on Public Finance, the role that theUK Parliament can play in supporting thesereforms and the overview of the UK CommitteeSystem are on the agenda for the first day.Sri Lanka’s Parliament in December last year

resolved to suspend Standing Orders that setguidelines for consultative committees whichoversee the ministries of the government andinstead approved establishing Sectoral OversightCommittees and Committee on Public Finance.These committees will be chaired only by theparliamentarians.Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who addressed thegathering said the main objective of establishingSectoral Oversight Committees is to obtain theopposition support for the country’sadministration. Such committees will help toshare the powers between the government andthe opposition. The speaker was of the view thatthe initiative will further strengthen democracy.Opposition leader R. Sampanthan, leader of thehouse Minister Lakshman Kiriella and number ofparliamentarians were present on the occasion.

Objective of Sectoral Oversight Committees

is to empower Parliament: PM

Shanty dwellers block traffic

after losing homes


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(ft.lk) Former Minister Reginald Cooray wassworn in as the Governor of the NorthernProvince before President Maithripala Sirisenaon Sunday (14) at the President’s officialresidence.His appointment will be effective from 16February.Cooray was a former Chief Minister of theWestern Province and a former Parliamentarianand a Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the SriLanka Freedom Party.

By Jayasuriya Udukumbura and

Chaminda Silva

(island.lk) Grassroots level politicians of the JointOpposition yesterday called upon PresidentSirisena to hand over SLFP leadership to formerPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa. The decision hadbeen taken at a meeting of the SLFP localgovernment members in Negombo with formerPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa presiding, formerWestern Province Chief Minister, UFPA GampahaDistrict MP Prasanna Ranatunga told The Islandlast night.Ranatunga said that out of 1,437 SLFP membersin the local government bodies, 1,401 hadattended the meeting and made three unanimousdecisions.They had resolved to demand that an SLFP-ledgovernment be formed and a senior member ofthe SLFP be appointed Prime Minster. Another

resolution passed at the meetingwas to ask the party to withdrawdisciplinary charges against theSLFP members supportive of theJoint Opposition, Ranatunga said.MP Ranatunga said: "All localgovernment members of theSLFP have demanded that theparty leadership be handed overto the former President immediately. There will beno break-up of the SLFP if the incumbentPresident agreed to do so. The local governmentmembers insist that a new party be foundedunless their demands were granted. We haveenough time for an election campaign. People willcertainly rally around us to defeat the UNP ifformer President Rajapaksa is appointed the SLFPleader."

Out of 1,437 SLFP LG councillors, 1,401 demand

MR be made party leader

By JA Jayakody, Manapitiya Corr

(island.lk) President Maithripala Sirisena said onSaturday that his government had saved formerPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa from the the electricchair and the people had assisted him in the taskby electing him President the previous year.Addressing a public gathering aftercommissioning a drinking water project atWelikanda President Sirisena said that hisimmediate predecessor had been publiclylamenting that he was to be taken before awar crimes court and executed on anelectric chair. The people who voted for mehave prevented that." The President saidthat UN High Commissioner for HumanRights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein during thelatter’s recent visit to the country had beenpleased with the progress the incumbentgovernment had made within one year. "TheHuman Rights Commissioner travelled all over thecountry and during his meeting with he told me that

Sri Lanka was one of the most beautiful countriesin the world and it should not suffer conflicts. Hecongratulated me on the victories we achievedduring one year. He was highly impressed by thereconciliation process we have launched. He saidthat he would obtain the support of international

community to help develop this country.""The former President has said that ouragreement with UN High Commissioner forHuman Rights is similar to the KandyanConvention. I do not know whether he hasread the 1815 agreement or not. "He wasshouting that the international communitywas trying to haul him up before a warcrimes tribunal and have him executed onthe electric chair. He asked people not tovote for me so that they could save him

from being executed. Actually, it is my governmentthat has saved him from the electric chair and theinternational war crimes courts. People by votingus in helped us to save him."

President says he saved MR from electric chair

( ) The National Freedom Front (NFF)said today media freedom was under siege broughtabout by the several threats being made by thecurrent government. Parliamentarian JayanthaSamaweera told a media conference that PrimeMinister Ranil Wickremesinghe had made strongstatements against the media.“When this government assumed office it claimedthat it will assure media freedom, but what’shappening now is quite different. It has accusedjournalists and reporters in public and describedthem in demeaning terms.When we consider Sanka Amarajith’s case it is

clear that thisgovernment is againmoving towardswhat happened toRichard De Zoysa.Why is PresidentMaithripala Sirisenaremaining silent inthe midst of these controversies,” he said. Mr.Samaraweera claimed that the Task Force forReconciliation (TFR) set up by the Prime Ministerwas bound to lead the country towards the divisionof the country. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)

dailymirror.lk

Media freedom under siege: NFF

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) hasquestioned the policy of the proposed new politicalparty to be formed by members of the jointopposition.Minister of Special Assignments SarathAmunugama said that thoselooking at forming the newpolitical party are those whocannot survive without thesupport of the Sri Lanka FreedomParty.He said that people like WimalWeerawansa, DineshGunawardena and UdayaGammanpila are the ones whowant to create a split in the SLFP to form a newparty and ensure they have a future in politics.“They know if they don’t split the SLFP and givepower to Mahinda Rajapaksa their political futurewill be dark,” he said.Amunugama said that as far as he knows not a

single SLFP member has informed the party thathe or she will be resigning to join a new politicalparty.“We have heard some want to leave but no onehas told us directly that they are leaving the party,”

he said.He also said that it is still not clearwhat the policy of the new partywill be and if it will be anydifferent from that of the SLFP.The Minister also said thatinvestigations into 33 members ofthe former Government havebeen completed and cases will befiled against them soon.

He said the investigations are related to allegedfraud and those accused of fraud are attempting tomislead the public by saying they are to bearrested for working with the opposition. (ColomboGazette)

Reginald Cooray takes oaths as new governor

of Northern Province

Policy of proposed new political party

questioned by SLFP

(sundaytimes.lk) Indian fishermen are "plundering"Sri Lanka's natural fishing resources and violatingits sovereignty by poaching into the country'swaters, the Marxist JVP has alleged.JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said thecontinuous poaching by Indian fishermen was aviolation of Sri Lanka's sovereignty. "When wespeak of sovereignty we only speak about the land.Our seas are being violated and our fishingresources are being plundered day in and day outby Indian fishermen," Dissanayake said during anaddress to a fisheries conference in the southernDondra village yesterday. He claimed poaching byIndian fishermen have now gone up to the extentthat only three days of fishing was available to SriLankans, while Indians indulge in illegal fishing rest

of the week.Not only Sri Lankan fishermen are being deniedtheir livelihoods, Indian fishermen were plunderinga natural resource belonging to Sri Lanka,Dissanayake said. Dissanayake's comments cameas trade unions and professionals have stepped uptheir opposition to the proposed Indo-LankaEconomic and Technical Cooperation Agreement(ETCA).There were street demonstrations last weekagainst the proposed pact, which the governmentsays will replace the Comprehensive EconomicPartnership Agreement. The government says thepact is yet to be formalised and it will only be doneafter proper consultations. (PTI)

Indian fishermen 'plundering' Lanka's fishing

resources says JVP leader

Sajith helps family living in public cemetery(ft.lk) Minister of Housing SajithPremadasa handed over Rs. 200,000to construct a house under the NHDASevena Aid to fund a poor family, on 10February at Sethsripaya.The media highlighted this familyfacing great hardships without theirown house or land. They are living in apublic cemetery area hut in Viyanvila,GampahaThe minister called this family onWednesday and gave instructions tothe National Housing DevelopmentAuthority Gampaha District Manager toexpedite the construction of the housefor this family before the Sinhala TamilNew Year.

Text and pic by Ashraff

President visits Holocaust Memorial

& Jewish Museum

(ft.lk) President Maithripala

Sirisena who arrived in

Berlin yesterday visited the

Holocaust Memorial and

the Jewish museum. It

holds the names of

approximately 3 million

Jewish holocaust victims.

Ministers Ravi

Karunanayake, Daya

Gamage, Malik

Samarawickrama and

Mahinda Samarasinge also

joined the President in this

visit - Pic by Sudath Silva

SLFP to take

disciplinary action

against errant party

members(ft.lk) In a decision likely to deepen divisionswithin the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP),its leaders yesterday rejected a request for itsmembers to be part of the Joint Oppositionand will take disciplinary action against thoseacting against the party leadership.The SLFP Central Committee also decided itwould launch inquiries against nine localgovernment bodies that had failed to explaintheir actions to the party leadership.As many as 51 Members of Parliament hadrequested to function as a separateOpposition within the House this week, butthe demand was rejected by Speaker KaruJayasuriya.The members of the SLFP still largely loyal toformer President Mahinda Rajapaksa arelikely to face tough challenges ahead as theydecide whether they remain within the party.The move is also seen as an effort byPresident Maithripala Sirisena to tighten hishold on the party ahead of Local Governmentelections and measures to form a newpolitical party by the Rajapaksas.


by Manjula Fernando

(sundayobserver.lk) Sir Desmond de Silva,Queen’s Counsel of the United Kingdom, is aneminent British jurist who later had a career ininternational legal activism, serving on variousinternational bodies dealing with critical judicial andlegal issues pertaining to international crisissituations and country hot spots. He has beenpreviously picked by the UN to produce a report oninternational law violations and was ChiefProsecutor of a UN-sponsored internationalcriminal tribunal. His e-mail based interview withthe Sunday Observer last week was his first afterthe Paranagama Report was published. In it, heresponds to the allegations against him and theimplications of the Paranagama CommissionReport in the light of subsequent developments,especially in the aftermath of the UN HumanRights Council resolution in Sri Lanka.

A:The Darusman Report alleged that up to 40,000civilians had been killed in the final months of thewar. This was, in numerical terms, a genocidalfigure. The Paranagama Report destroyed the‘myth’ of the 40,000 civilians killed in the finalmonths and went onto further destroy theallegation of genocide against the government ofSri Lanka. The Report even referred to a Judgmentof a Dutch Domestic Court which absolved the SriLankan government from being characterized as a“racist regime” and went on to deal with theprinciples that immerged in the International Courtof Justice in the case of Croatia vs Serbiaasrecently as 2015. The application of the principlesthat emerged from that case could in no waysatisfy the pro-LTTE accusations of genocide. Thiswas a vital contribution to the whole debate andserved to put the record straight.You would havenoticed that the most recent OISL (UNHRC)Report made no mention of the 40,000 figure thatthe Darusman Report had so unjustifiablypublished to the world.

A: A determined effort was made to get PresidentSirisena to rescind my appointment as chairman ofthe Advisory Council. The basis upon which thiswas done was an allegation made to myprofessional body – the Bar Standards Board inEngland – that I was acting with professionalimpropriety, in that there was a conflict of interest.The Petition against mewas sent to the President

some ten days before the ParanagamaCommission Report was due to be delivered to thePresident. This allegation against me was basedon an ignorance of the law and was an attempt todisrupt the work of the Commission. Because I hadno time to be side-tracked in answering stupidallegations, I maintained my silence until now. Lastyear, the Bar Standards Board, having gone intothe details of the allegations, not only threw themout, but the case officer for the Bar StandardsBoard described it as a “politicized complaint”against me.

A:The Paranagama Report specifiedonly one ‘Proposed Mechanism’. Thatis to be found in paragraph 625 of theParanagama Report. It recommends atotally Sri Lankan mechanism and is,thus, wholly consistent with whatPresident Sirisena said to the BBC,namely, that it would be a localmechanism with no foreign judgessitting in judgment over the citizens ofthis country. Therefore, a properanalysis demonstrates that there is aunity of view between the Paranagamarecommendation and the expressed views ofPresident Sirisena.

A: As Judge Maxwell Paranagama has pointed outyet again, the Gambian formula was never therecommended mechanism. In the course of doinga Report of this kind, we had to deal withinternational customary law. Internationalcustomary law deals with what other countrieshave done in post conflict situations. Of course, wedealt with the Gambia and indeed many otherplaces. But there was only one proposedmechanism set out in the Paranagama Report atparagraph 625. How on earth anyone could thinkwe were recommending the Gambian model istotally incomprehensible to me. The Gambianmodel never involved a Truth and ReconciliationCommission, whereas, the Paranagama Reportrecommendedin its “Proposed Mechanism”a Truthand Reconciliation Commission plus a new WarCrimes Division of the High Court.

A: Of course, it is entirely up to the government,what mechanism is thought appropriate. Amechanism based on what the ParanagamaReport set out in paragraphs 625 and 626, withpossible adaptations to meet current needs, maybe a possible solution. This would include a Truthand Reconciliation Commission complemented bya Compassionate Committee. The CompassionateCommittee consisting of eminent religiouspersonages could be brought into being torecognize the need of those who, from whicheverside of the conflict, have made admission of wrongdoing in relation to possible war crimes and whoseek to make amends for such crimes by beingtruthful and contrite. These persons may, therefore,

need spiritual solace andunderstanding in coming to terms withtheir wrong doing. The ParanagamaCommission makes provision forcriminal trials where, for example, it isclear to the Truth and ReconciliationCommission that the particularindividual is not telling the truth. As inthe case of the South African Truth andReconciliation Commission, theParanagama Report hasrecommended amnesties for thosewho tell the truth. An amnesty will be a

bar to any further civil or criminal proceedings inSri Lanka.

A: On the contrary, the Paranagama Reportfeatured prominently in a decision made by theJoint Opposition in a press release published onFebruary 8, 2016 in which they expressed theiropposition to the Report on the basis thatParanagama had recommended a foreign judgesolution as the judicial mechanism. As I havealready said, that was not the recommendation ofthe Paranagama Commission.

A: When a State signs upto the UN Charter itsurrenders a part of itssovereignty in that, it

agrees to be bound by Security CouncilResolutions under Chapter VII. Thus, the non-intervention in the internal affairs of States is nolonger an absolute rule, especially, with theemergence of conventional norms regarding civilrights, and, more generally, human rights since theend of Second World War. Unfortunately, there isan outdated view by some that the internationalcommunity cannot look over the fence to see whatis going on in a particular country. If that were true,why then, the international community would haveno power to condemn the demolition of the statuesof the Buddha in Afghanistan by the Taliban in2001, the current slavery being imposed uponunfortunate people in the Middle East by ISIS and,the constant beheadings by the same group.

A: The visit by Prince Zeid is clearly an importantstep in Sri Lanka’s re-engagement with theinternational community. He was appointed UNHigh Commissioner for Human Rights by theSecretary General of the UN, following theapproval of the General Assembly. From my ownknowledge of him, he is a decent and impressiveman. There are clearly some outstanding issuesover which the government needs to satisfy theinternational community. I am quite sure that withgoodwill on all sides and by the elimination ofunrealistic expectations, practical solutions can befound so as to ensure that all the communities inSri Lanka can benefit from the very hard wonpeace. What the international community mustremember is that sometimes justice has got to besacrificed for peace where it is clear that holdingtrials will impede peace. At the end of the SecondWorld War Emperor Hirohito of Japan was notprosecuted for war crimes, although others were,because it was important not to estrange theJapanese people and impede reconciliation. Inrecent times in the UK, in order to bring peace toNorthern Ireland, the government issued over 180amnesties. This is not to say that there shouldnever be prosecutions for violations of internationalhumanitarian law.

Q: What impact did the Paranagama Report

have on the allegations made against Sri Lanka

by the Darusman Report?

Q: A complaint was made against you that

there is a conflict of interest in your acting as

the Chairman of the International Advisory

Council advising the Paranagama Commission.

In this light, the President was called on to

rescind your appointment. Can you tell us the

outcome of the allegation against you and do

you believe it was a politically inspired attempt

to suppress the Paranagama Report?

Q: On the important issue of accountability

how do the recommendations of the

Paranagama Report fit in with the position

taken up by the President in his recent

comments to the BBC?

Q: How do the recommendations of the

Paranagama Report square with the

observations of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

on the 23 October 2015 in Parliament when he

said that “the Paranagama Commission

...prescribes the Gambian formula, where all

the judges and prosecutors were foreigners”?

Q:As a prominent international lawyer who was

personally appointed by the Secretary General

of the UN to be the Chief Prosecutor of a UN

sponsored international war crimes court, what

steps, do you think, the Government should

take to meet the demands of Geneva?

Q: It seems that the Paranagama Commission

report received little or no recognition during

UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s recent

visit to Sri Lanka. Your comments?

Q: In the aftermath of the UN HR High

Commissioner’s visit,

there are allegations that

Prince Zeid has been

violating article 7 of UN

Charter, which says the

UN cannot interfere in

internal matters of a

country. There are

others who refute this

claim. Do you think his

visit or his comments

amounts to

interference?

Q: Do you think that the Zeid visit is beneficial

to Sri Lanka?

Paranagama probe mechanism a possible solution : Says Desmond De Silva

(sundaytimes.lk) A portrait of former President D.B.Wijetunga was

ceremonially unveiled by President Maithripala Sirisena at the

Parliament Complex this week.

(colombogazette.com) Formerarmy commander, Field MarshalSarath Fonseka is likely to get acabinet Minister post in thecohabitation Government nextweek.Sources told the Colombo

Gazette that Fonseka isexpected to be appointedMinister of Megapolis of theNorth Central, Central and UvaProvinces.Fonseka recently took oaths as amember of Parliament under the

United National Party (UNP)National List.His party, the Democratic Party,had recently signed anagreement to work with the UNP.(Colombo Gazette)

Fonseka likely to get cabinet Minister post next week

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(ft.lk) The nation’s catalyst in tourism prior to itscelebration of 50 years of operations launched aspecial logo which encapsulates every aspect SriLanka as a tourism destination has to offer.The national celebrations of the 50th Anniversaryof Sri Lanka Tourism will be held on 27 May at themain hall of BMICH, together with all fourinstitutions consisting in Sri Lanka Tourism namely,Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority(SLTDA), Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau(SLTPB), Sri Lanka Institution of Tourism andHospitality management (SLITHM) and Sri LankaConvention Bureau (SLCM).A commemorative stamp, volume which includesthe history of the Sri Lankan tourism industry’sjourney and video film on the 50 year history willbe launched at the national ceremony. The eventwill be followed by anational exhibition. Thisexhibition will showcaseall the milestones and isopen from 27 to 29 May.There would beexhibitions taking placeparallel in the samepremises which wouldinclude the Sri Lankanhand craft industry,cultural heritagepresented by the culturalfund, gem and jewelleryand zoological and botanical gardens.“The main highlight of the golden jubileecelebrations is to get public involvement. So wewill have island wide essay, art and photographycompetitions for school children and the generalpublic. The photographs that are captured will be

used for our promotional campaigns as well,” saidSLTDA Director General Malraj Kiriella.Moreover speaking at the event TourismDevelopment and Christian Affairs Minister John

Amaratunga was elatedabout the final outcomeof the logo. “The logodepicts everything SriLanka has to offer intourism. One of the majorcomplaints we had fromtourists was the lack ofevents in the country. Soin 2016 we are veryfocused on sports tourismspecifically water sportsas it’s a growing trendand we are talking about

having an international tour operator’s conventionwithin this year,” he added.Additionally SLTDA Secretary JanakaSugathadasa emphasised, “We have organisedwith the cooperation a series of activities. Thepurpose of these activities is to get not only theinvolvement of all the stakeholders but also to

galvanize the occasion andrefocus the tourism industry andimprovement of the livingstandards of people in thecountry.”Accounting only 18,969 touristarrivals in the year of its inception1966, the Sri Lankan tourismindustry has progresseddramatically over five decades toreceive an all time high of 1.8million annual tourist arrivals at theend of year 2015. The income in1966 was only $ 1.3 million whichwas increased up to a total of $ 2.9billion by the end of 2015surpassing the target of $ 2.5billion.

Launch of special logo by Tourism Development and Christian

Affairs Minister John Amaratunga. Sri Lanka tourism Chairman

Paddy Withana is also present - Pix by Lasanatha Kumara

(ft.lk) Sri Lankan Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe on Friday made it clear that hisgovernment was not averse to internationalparticipation in investigating the alleged warcrimes in his country, but said “final judgment willbe made by the internaljudicial system.”Wickremesinghe who was inGuruvayur to offer prayers atthe famous Sree KrishnaTemple made theseobservations while talking toreporters.He said representatives ofthe neighbouring countrieslike India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistanas well as that of the US and human rightsorganisations can participate in the discussionson the war crimes in Sri Lanka.He said Sri Lanka wanted to ensure that thoseresponsible to the death of the civilians whetherthey were military personnel or the organisationslike the LTTE, adding, a UN investigation hadearlier said it was possible up to 40,000 peoplehad been killed in the final five months alone.

“It was not clear how many of them were killedby the (Lankan) army or whether the LTTE hadmoved the people to the war zones which led tothe death of some of them. We may not have thefull expertise to identify the exact factors that led

to those casualties. Sointernational participation iswelcome for determiningsuch causes,” the Sri Lankanprime minister said.“But the right to make thefinal judgment who wasresponsible for the deathsand on the nature ofpunishment should rest with

the judicial system of Sri Lanka. The judicialsystem in Sri Lanka was in shambles earlier, butnow it is returning to normal. The sovereignty ofeach country must be respected in such issues,”he added.Replying to questions, he said civil war-ravagedeconomy of Sri Lanka is limping back to normal.But the economic crisis being faced by severalcountries in the backdrop of the falling oilprocess is affecting Sri Lanka as well.

Wickremesinghe was accompanied by hiswife Maitree Wickremasinghe. They alsooffered prayers at the neighbouringMammiyur temple as well.

Sri Lanka tourism rolls out logo

commemorating golden jubilee

(ft.lk) Geneva: The UN Special Rapporteur onTruth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees ofNon-Recurrence, Pablo de Greiff, who visited SriLanka last month for a second time, said SriLanka should not rush to comply with thecommitments that the country has made for thesake of demonstrating compliance.In his report released Wedn-esday following hisvisit to the country from 26 January to 1 February,the Special Rapporteur said the SriLanka has embarked on anambitious process that should not beprepared, let alone implemented, inhaste.The Special Rapporteur said it isgratifying to see a Task Force hasbeen established in order to designand implement a nationalconsultation on issues having to dowith truth, justice, reparation, andguarantees of non-recurrence, whichare matters of legal obligation, and which werethe object of commitments voluntarily undertakenby Sri Lanka when it co-sponsored a resolutionon this topic at the Human Rights Council inGeneva in September 2015. He said the time linethat the task force on consultation has receivedsuggests that there may be some unrealisticexpectations about what is involved in settlingcomplex issues in a difficult environment, in whichprograms on novel areas is being considered forthe first time.“There is no country that can accomplish all of

this in a short period of time. Those that arefamiliar with transitional processes in differentparts of the world understand the challenges anddo not expect Sri Lanka to adopt measuressimply for the sake of demonstrating compliancewith commitments that the country has made,” hesaid.However, de Greiff pointed out that theGovernment can pay immediate attention to

certain issues on which it cancertainly act without delay.For example, the government canact on the issue of the missing, onthe prompt adoption of victimassistance programs includingpsycho-social support, the lingeringissue of land occupied by the armedforces, among others.What is expected of the Governmentis to “engage in credible processesleading to the establishment of

strong institutions capable of delivering in asustainable way robust results over time in theareas of truth, justice, reparation, and guaranteesof non-recurrence, the Special Rapporteur said.The Special Rapporteur reaffirmed his convictionthat this is a historic opportunity for Sri Lanka toaddress past issues that nevertheless imposesignificant burdens on the present and the future.Addressing them correctly, while challenging, willalso open crucial opportunities for the membersof all communities, he noted.

Pablo de Greiff

UN Special Rapporteur says Sri Lanka should

not rush in meeting commitments made to UN

President To Be

Given Report On

North Land Issue(thesundayleader.lk) President MaithripalaSirisena is expected to be given a report thisweek on the civilian land and property beingoccupied by the military.State Minister of Resettlement andRehabilitation M. L. A. M. Hizbulla said thatsteps are being taken to resettle theremaining war affected families soon. He saidthat once President Sirisena studies thereport on the land occupied by the military inthe North, final decision on the resettlementwill be taken. The State Minister said that thePresident is expected to take the finaldecision by the end of this month.He said a special committee was appointedrecently as part of moves to expedite theprocess to resettle the war affected families.The committee had visited the North and hadtalks with all the relevant officials on the landissue. (ER)

SL not averse to intl. participation

in accountability mechanisms: PM

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

(dailynews.lk) Answering criticism leveledagainst the "Sinha Le" as a chauvinisticorganisation that stands to fan the flames ofcommunalism, President of Sinha Le, Ven.Jamburewela Chandrarathana Thera saidrecently that they were no different from anyHindu or Christian organization in the countrythat stands to serve and care for its kind."Just as much as the Christian or Hindu clergyare committed to serve and care for the poor intheir communities, so are we to our community,the Sinhalese Buddhist people in this country,"explained Chandraratna Thera speaking to theDaily News. Asked why they named theirorganisation "Sinha Le", and why theyhighlighted the part "Le" in red that symbolises"blood", the thera said: "Suppose that we calledit Ravana Blaya or Dutugemunu Balaya, whatdo these names correspond to ? They all standto epitomize the Sinhalese Buddhist public. Wetook the common factor, hence themanifestation of the name Sinha Le.""If anybody felt communalism had and hadthought that we are here to mobilise people'sblood for a political campaign of an individualor some political faction or party, they hadfigured it all wrong," the thera said."We moved to form this organisation becauseour governments for many decades did not domuch to serve and care for the SinhaleseBuddhist public, despite clauses in theConstitution that, 'The Republic of Sri Lanka

shall give to Buddhism the foremost place andaccordingly it shall be the duty of the State toprotect and foster Buddhism'," he pointed out."Please do not be alarmed against us over ourname, but try to understand our movementthrough our actions," he appealed."We can be forceful as an organisation when itcomes to protecting the culture of our people,but we are not hardliners," he stressed.Responding to allegations of their havingconnections with former President MahindaRajapaksa and supporting him politically, thethera said, " this is speculative thought. NeitherMahinda Rajapaksa nor President MaithripalaSirisena, or Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe had any part in our activities.""Nevertheless, there were some politicalelements that expressed their interest tosupport us. In fact they proposed us to be ontheir side, but we refused their offers," heexplained. When asked how could they havefunds to run organization, the thera said, alarge number of migrant workers in the MiddleEast assist them with funds. "They are a hardworking community in the Middle East. Theiraim is to protect the country's culture and helpthe poor among the Buddhists living invillages," he said.Asked if that was the case why did they holdtheir first press conference at a hotel inColombo, and not in a temple, Ven.Chandrarathana thera said: "it was a decisionof our lay members." he said.

Sinha Le forceful, but by no means fanatic


(adaderana.lk) Our major concern was the lack oftransparency with the way infrastructure projectswere originally awarded to the Chinese, DeputyMinister Foreign Affairs Harsha Desilva said in aninterview. Speaking to Finance Asia he added thatwhere we could, we were able re-negotiate andrestructure the contracts to bring the overall costsdown.Full interview with Finance Asia;Q: Sri Lanka has undergone some fairly seismicchanges over the past year. What would you saytops the list?A: Our major achievement was re-integrating withthe rest of the world. We’re now seen as a crediblenation again. Up until that point, we’d beenclassified with a group of pariah countries andconstantly pulled up in front of the UN HumanRights Council because of the way the civil warended in 2009.

But the election of Maithripala Sirisena asPresident and Ranil Wickremesinghe as primeminister in January last year started to change allthat. We’ve been able to repair our relationshipwith the West and continue our friendships withIndia and China.We’ve come a long way in the space of a year.Right now, we’re in the process of drafting a newconstitution. This is being structured toachieve reconciliation with the Tamilminority in the North so all the differentpeoples who live in Sri Lanka can do soin harmony.

The past year has given us space to re-evaluate all the outstanding contracts and byand large many of the issues have beenresolved to the benefit of both China and SriLanka. The biggest project, which gotsuspended, was the $1.4 billion Port Citydevelopment in Colombo.This was being financed with Chinese money.The government ordered an environmentalimpact assessment and after that was released,there were a number of public discussions,which led to a raft of revisions. It now looks likethe project will go ahead with an announcementexpected shortly, possibly before the beginningof March.Our discussions with the Chinese concerningthe various infrastructure projects have enabledus to cement the relationship between our twocountries. Where we could, we were able re-negotiate and restructure the contracts to bringthe overall costs down.

Our major concern was the lack of transparencywith the way they were originally awarded.

No not all of them. There are still some concerns.The Northern Expressway project from Colombohas not been re-started, for example. This is a veryimportant project because the expressway will form

a backbone up the country fromColombo to Jaffna in the northwith an extension to Kandy, oursecond largest city.When we were in oppositionwe’d been led to believe it wasall set for implementation. Butthat was not the case at all andthere are multiple issues, whichremain to be sorted out.

The government announced this project would re-start in January. It was already about three-quarters complete and now there is only one final96-kilometre stretch left to finish.The big challenge we have in the Hambantota areais what to do with the white elephants which werebuilt there. We spent $1.3 billion on a port and$220 million on an airport that no one uses.

No, that’s not the case. The ports minister is goingto call for fresh proposals to find new tenants forthe port at the very least. That is a viable project.

The overriding objective is to make sure the newconstitution is written. It’s essential because it willbind all the different ethnic groups together andbuild a national identity we can all be proud of.When we do that Sri Lanka will become a placethat investors want to come to and it will help us tomeet our development objectives.

Yes that’s a challenge we’ll need to meet. But byputting a new constitution in place we will do muchto address issues relating to corruption andgovernance that have held back investment in thepast.Under the previous government exports fell heavilyas a percentage of GDP from about 35% to 15%.At the same time our commercial debt grewrapidly.Before Rajapaksa’s time in office, Sri Lanka wasfunded through soft loans and concessionaryloans. But that changed and he took on short-terms loans and built investment projects like theones I mentioned in Hambantota, which do notgenerate the revenues needed to service theloans.

Yes they are correct. At 12% of GDP our taxrevenues are among the lowest in the world. Thatis a structural problem that needs to change.

I have every confidence in the government. Ourprime minister has come up with a very detailedmedium-term strategy for the country. He has veryclearly articulated the steps Sri Lanka needs totake to become a global player and position itselfat the heart of the Indian Ocean by turning itselfinto a logistics hub etc.

One of the coalition government’s

first big steps was suspending more

than 30 projects initiated by the

previous government on the grounds

they were not won through open

tenders and huge bribes were paid to

the family of [former president]

Mahinda Rajapaksa. Many of these

contracts were with Chinese firms.

Did this harm Sri Lanka’s relationship with

China and how successful have you been in

trying to restructure them?

So have all the stalled projects been re-

started?

What about the Southern

Expressway from Colombo to

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s

hometown of Hambantota on

the other side of the country?

I thought the port was being used and that a

Chinese company might put in a ship repair

yard there?

What are the government’s main objectives for

2016?

Isn’t there a danger that by focusing so heavily

on constitutional change the government will

not give the economy the priority it needs?

Economists frequently say Sri Lanka needs to

do more to improve tax collection to manage

its budget deficit. What’s your view?

The other criticism leveled at the government

concerns a lack of focus. While the government

has been widely praised for its desire to listen

and take on board many different opinions,

some commentators worry that it will not be

able to formulate or execute a coherent

strategy.

If you look at what we’ve done in 2015 then you’llsee we have delivered already. When the twocoalition parties came together everyone was verysurprised and skeptical. They thought we’d neverbe able to work together or make it last,

(Contd: on P16)

Lack of transparency in Chinese contracts were the concern – Harsha

(ceylontoday.lk) The Book titled "The history of SLAFDiyatalawa and the Regiment" written by Air ViceMarshal A.B. Soza (Retd) and Wing CommanderS.R. Ratnapala (Retd) was presented to the Chief ofDefence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatillekeat the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff on 11February 2016.

A book on history of SLAF

Diyatalawa presented to CDF

(ft.lk) The UK’s Financial Times recentlyidentified leading Sri Lankan leisuregroup Uga Escapes as a formidablehome grown player which, by rapidlyadding to its portfolio of luxury boutiqueproperties, is looking to challenge thehost of foreign hotel chains that havetraditionally dominated the industry.The world’s premier business dailynewspaper made these observations inan article which also reviews UgaEscapes’ newest hotel, Chena Huts inYala, and its first, Ulagalla inAnuradhapura.“Recent years have seen the luxury hotelmarket in Asia and beyond increasinglydominated by fast-growing internationalchains (the likes of Aman, Banyan Tree,Six Senses and so on). So it is intriguingto find in Sri Lanka a home grown playeraspiring to rival those groups in thehighest league of the hospitalityindustry,” the Financial Times states.The newspaper also spoke to UgaEscapes Managing Director PriyanjithWeerasooria, who commented on thegroup’s origins as a subsidiary of theFinco Group. He revealed that Ulagallawas opened in Anuradhapura in 2010, inthe immediate aftermath of the war,

because “this was a part of the countrythat needed investment and jobs, andwe’ve always been a company that builtbusinesses from the ground up.”The Financial Times also briefly outlinedthe future aspirations of Uga Escapes,opining that “despite having opened fivehotels in as many years, expansion isvery much ongoing and, within twoyears, Weerasooria hopes Uga will beable to offer what he calls a ‘round trip’of the island.”“Next up is likely to be a hotel ‘up in thehills in the tea country’, inland fromColombo and within sight of the sacredmountain known asAdam’s Peak, site of theSri Pada or sacredfootprint, where Buddha issaid to have trodden. Andin the far south of theisland, a historic landmarkripe for conversion withinthe Galle Fort is also underconsideration. There arewhisperings, too, ofgrander ambitions – notjust competing against theinternational chains athome, but expanding

overseas. Certainly if he and his teamcan continue to create hotels as pleasingas these two, I shall hope to visit all ofthem.”The hotels operated by Uga Escapes areUlagalla in Anuradhapura, Uga Bay inPassikudah, which was recently selectedby reputed travel website TripAdvisor asSri Lanka’s top hotel, Jungle Beach inKuchchaveli, positioned in the top 10 ofthe same TripAdvisor list, Residence inColombo and Chena Huts in Yala, whichopened in December 2015. For moreinformation on all these properties, visitwww.ugaescapes.com.

Chena Huts- Master BedroomPrivate pool at Ulagalla Villas

UgaBay-Beach-Midday

Financial Times in UK highlights Uga Escapes’ growing influence

(ft.lk) Brussels: The European Union ForeignAffairs Council Monday said that it will closelyfollow Sri Lanka’s efforts in addressing humanrights issues.The Foreign Affairs Council which met inBrussels Monday reaffirmed its strongcommitment to the United Nations bodiestasked with the promotion and protection ofhuman rights.The Council said the EU will follow closely SriLanka’s efforts in addressing human rights

issues and in establishing a credible processof transitional justice, accountability, andreconciliation.The Council said the EU will again activelyengage with the Human Rights Council andGeneral Assembly Third Committee to defendand promote the universality, indivisibility, andinterdependence of human rights, and willcontinue to draw the attention of these fora tohuman rights violations and abuses worldwide.

(ft.lk) Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera is tovisit the US next week where he will brief USofficials on the progress made in the reconciliationprocess.Samaraweera will attend a discussion at the USInstitute of Peace on 25 February, co-sponsoredby the Heritage Foundation, on how initiatives toadvance reconciliation, post-conflict developmentand stronger democratic institutions areprogressing.Samaraweera told the U.N. Human Rights Councilin September 2015 that the Government fully

recognises that “the process of reconciliationinvolves addressing the broad areas of truth-seeking, justice, reparations and non-recurrence.”The Foreign Minister will offer an update on theprogress towards sustainable peace in Sri Lanka,including plans for economic development. Theremarks will be followed by a moderateddiscussion and a question-and-answer period withthe audience.US Assistant Secretary of State for South andCentral Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will also attendthe event. (Colombo Gazette)

Mangala to brief US on progress towards

sustainable peace

EU to closely follow Sri Lanka’s efforts

in addressing human rights issues


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Harshafrom P15

but we have forged a national consensus. That’sa remarkable achievement in itself.On the economic front, it will take some time toturn things round. These changes don’t happen

overnight, but we are moving in the right directionnow. There are multiple external challenges todeal with including the state of the globaleconomy, which we cannot control.But are very clear about the issues we need toaddress internally and committed to achievingthem, Finance Asia reports.-Agencies

Nine weekly flights to Europe’s main gatewayLondon intactThrice weekly flights to Italian capitalsuspended from MayRetains 4 flights to Paris, Frankfurt gets oneextraBiggest expansion to Middle East; Riyadhdaily, Jeddah to get extra serviceNational carrier says re-alignment of servicesnecessaryCompletes induction of seven new A330s tofleet(ft.lk) SriLankan Airlines yesterday announcedsuspension of thrice weekly flights to Rome butcontrary to fears has not altered services to otherdestinations in Europe.Previously the travel and tourism industry hadconcerns over the national carrier scaling downflights to Paris and Frankfurt. The current nineflights per week to London will continue and fourflights to Paris were retained whilst Frankfurt willget an additional service. The Middle East is set toreceive significant capacity enhancement as well.SriLankan in a statement said this year promisesto be an interesting one for world aviation. Fuelprices are near historic lows and global demandremains strong.“SriLankan Airlines, similar to international carriersworld over, has had to respond to this highly

competitive market environment by re-evaluatingits current operations and re-deploying capacity tomore sustainable routes and destinations,” it said.Accordingly, London will remain SriLankan’s maingateway to Europe. Currently, SriLankan is theonly airline to operate non-stop flights betweenLondon and Colombo. The Airline will continue toprovide its passengers the best of flyingexperiences onboard the fleet of itsstate-of-the-artA330-300 aircraft,deployed on thisroute. While Parisoperations willcontinue with fourweekly frequencies,a fifth Frankfurtfrequency will beadded from July2016, which will continue during summer 2016.In order to increase capacity on more commerciallyviable routes, SriLankan will discontinueoperations to Rome from 1 May. Nevertheless, withits strong network of codeshare partners,SriLankan will continue to provide onwardconnectivity to many European and NorthAmerican destinations.Making a significant capacity increase to the

Middle East, SriLankan will start operating dailyflights to Riyadh and six flights a week to Jeddah.The national carrier currently serves seven keyhubs in the Middle East, i.e., Abu Dhabi, Dubai,Doha, Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuwait witha total of 42 flights a week.India has remained the number one tourismgenerating market for Sri Lanka in the years 2013,

2014 and 2015while China hasclimbed up from itsthird slot to numbertwo position in2015.The Far East willremain an importantmarket forSriLankan wherethe Airline willcontinue to explore

its potential for expansion. The National Carrierrecently introduced thrice weekly non-stop flightsfrom Guangzhou to Colombo, becoming the firstairline to operate direct flights between the twodestinations. SriLankan currently flies to Beijing,Shanghai, Canton and Kunming with a total of 18weekly flights and three flights a week to HongKong. The Airline also flies nineteen times a weekto Singapore, and twice daily to Kuala Lumpur and

Bangkok.With its strong presence inthe Indian Sub-continentand Maldives SriLankanAirlines currently operatesa total of 88 flights a weekto seven Indiandestinations and 26 flightsto Male.As a oneworld memberrepresenting the SouthAsia region, SriLankan is also a part of the specialfare program, “South Asian Sub-Continent pass,”which covers SriLankan’s entire network of Indiaand Male. This allows travellers to explore thediversity and vibrancy of the Indian Sub-continent.Further facilitating travel movements in the region,SriLankan with its mutual codeshare operationswith the Sister Carrier, Mihin Lanka providesconnections to Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Kolkata,Madurai, Lahore, Dhaka, Jakarta, Bahrain, Muscatand Seychelles.While aiming at a sustainable operational networkto achieve profitability, SriLankan will continue tomake timely service and product enhancements toprovide its passengers a seamless travelexperience, enriched with inherent Sri Lankanwarmth and hospitality.

SriLankan drops Rome but ups viable services

Chairman Ajith Dias (Left) CEO Captain Suren Ratwatte (Right)

(sundaytimes.lk) Jayantha ChandrasiriJayasuriya, P.C. was appointed SriLanka’s 29th Attorney General byPresident Maithripala Sirisena.He was admitted and enrolled as anAttorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court ofSri Lanka in September 1982 and counts33 years of service in the AG’s Dept,having joined the same year as a StateCounsel. He was promoted Senior StateCounsel in 1996, Deputy Solicitor Generalin 2004, Additional Solicitor General in

2011 and Senior Additional SolicitorGeneral in 2014. He was appointed asPresident’s Counsel in March 2012.During his long career at the Dept, Mr.Jayasuriya functioned as the head of theCriminal Division of the AG’s Departmentand appeared in several important andsensational cases including the “SandeepLakshan Murder Trial”- murder of an 8-year-old boy, “Angulana Double MurderTrial”, “Royal Park Murder Trial” and“Anuruddha Ratwatte Bribery Case”.

Jayantha Jayasuriya

Jayantha Jayasuriya P.C. 29th Attorney

General of Sri Lanka

By Chandani Kirinde

(sundaytimes.lk) Central Bank imposes tough newregulations; stricter checks on politically exposedpersonsThe Central Bank has tightened regulations tomonitor inward remittances exceeding Rs. 200,000– with Sri Lankans being required to provide totheir receiving banks the source of their funds.This comes in terms of new Customer DueDiligence (CDD) Rules gazetted by the FinancialIntelligence Unit of the Central Bank.The move runs counter to a claim by FinanceMinister Ravi Karunanyaka in October last yearwhere he offered amnesty to Sri Lankans holdingsecret numbered accounts in Swiss banks. Heinvited them to bring back their money under a ‘noquestions asked’ policy.“There are about 10 to 15 billion US dollars heldoutside the country. We are inviting Sri Lankanexpatriates to bring their money and we can offer aconsiderable interest rate,” the Minister said.The new regulations are aimed at identifyingmoney laundering or terrorism funding activity.Thus it will be illegal for banks and financecompanies to open anonymous accounts, or one

under a false name. They are also prohibited fromopening numbered accounts.The regulations place more restrictions on financialinstitutions when doing business with thoseidentified as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).In such cases the institutions are required tosubject them to greater scrutiny particularly theirsources of funds and wealth or beneficialownership of funds and wealth as well as conductenhanced ongoing monitoring in business dealingswith PEPS. A PEP has been defined as anindividual who is entrusted with prominent publicfunctions either domestically or by a foreigncountry, or in an international organisation andincludes a Head of a State or a Government, apolitician, a senior government officer, judicialofficer or military officer, a senior executive of aState owned Corporation, Government orautonomous body but does not include middle rankor junior rank individuals.The regulations state that the CDD will also applyto occasional customers, one-off customers, walk-in customers and third party customers in respectof transactions exceeding Rs. 200,000 or itsequivalent in any foreign currency. It will also apply

to those who wish topurchase remittanceinstruments such aspay orders and draftsexceeding Rs.200,000 or itsequivalent in anyforeign currency.The new rules havebeen made under theFinancial TransactionsReporting Act of 2006and apply to everyinstitution whichengages in financebusiness.The CentralBank comes under thepurview of the Ministryof National Policiesand Economic Affairsheaded by PrimeMinister RanilWickremesinghe.

Disclose source, if you receive

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World BankCONT FROM P1

... inflating public expenditure. The populistpolicies of the previous Government have createdadditional pressure on pensions and otherretirement benefits.“Increased employment in the public sector hascreated a massive bureaucracy and administrativeroad blocks, which we are working to reduce.Ministries and other Government bodies havebeen given two weeks to change and provideservices to the public. The only thing that hashappened is the rich have become richer while thepoor pay taxes,” he said.Taxation has deteriorated to 20% of the poorsupporting 80% of the public, the Prime Ministerpointing out insisting it was an untenable situation.He also reiterated gains to be made by increasingfreehold land titles by handing out State-ownedland to farmers, as previously proposed by theGovernment.

Despite significant economic gains over the pastfew years, 40% of Sri Lanka’s population lives onless than Rs. 225 a day with growing inequalityand higher numbers of poor living in urban areas,a World Bank report said yesterday. Sri Lanka hasmade encouraging progress in reducing poverty tobelow 7% of the population, but pockets of severepoverty remain, especially in the north and eastregions of the country. The effectiveness ofpoverty alleviation programmes launched over thepast few years are also questionable withmeasures not lifting people out of poverty, thereport noted.It also pointed out that a large number of nearpoor, that is people who are just above the povertyline but can very easily fall below it, show thevulnerable situation of many people. Getting jobsto these low qualified members of society will be amajor challenge before the Government. Futureprosperity will depend on addressing chronicrevenue shortfalls and fostering a morecompetitive and inclusive economy, the newresearch findings announced by the World BankGroup went on to say. The Sri Lanka PovertyAssessment has found that the fall in povertystems mostly from increasing labour incomes asthe economy has shifted from less productiveagriculture towards the industry and servicesectors, more urbanisation, and rising domesticdemand. But the top growth sectors such asconstruction, high commodity prices and transportthat fuelled post-war growth is unsustainable anddoes not foster exports, petering out over the lasttwo years. The World Bank Group carried out aSystematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) to identify

the key constraints to sustaining progress inending poverty and boosting shared prosperity.The SCD highlights that Sri Lanka has one of thelowest tax-to-GDP rates in the world, undercuttingthe Government’s ability to invest in education,health, and other services.Meanwhile, generating growth and jobs areconstrained by protectionist policies, low foreigndirect investment, a deficit of skills needed for amiddle income country, and an unduly large publicsector.“Addressing these issues will be critical forbringing all Sri Lankans out of poverty andensuring a prosperous future shared by all,” thereport added.The research finds that while poverty hasdecreased, progress is uneven across location,gender, and ethnicity. Women’s participation in thelabour market has remained low for a middleincome country and static for decades, some datacollected by the Census and Statistics Departmentshows the discrepancy could be fuelled by a largewage gap. Coupled with social spending that isvery low for a middle income country, inequalityhas increased. “This new research provides animportant platform of evidence and analysis tostrengthen our partnership with the government tohelp design policies aimed at improving jobopportunities for the poor and other disadvantagedsegments of the population, while promotingsustainable growth,” said World Bank CountryDirector Françoise Clottes.“The findings of the reports also reinforce the needto further measures aimed at improving theGovernment’s effectiveness, transparency,accountability and establishing strong institutionsso all Sri Lankans can take part in the country’sincreasing prosperity.”The SCD explores the dynamics of how SriLanka’s private sector is evolving, noting thevariation in the balance between public and privatesector participation in the economy over the pastdecades. It highlights the continuing high levels ofinformality, which tends to dampen productivity,access to credit, and generation of good jobs.“The findings re-emphasise the large role that theprivate sector can play in driving sustainablegrowth and the need for policies that can unleashthe potential of Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurs,” saidIFC Sri Lanka Country Manager Amena Arif.The Group’s activities are guided by a CountryPartnership Framework (CPF) which is agreedupon with the Government of Sri Lanka; the nextCPF which will shape the collaboration for the nextfive years is currently being finalised. The WorldBank’s portfolio consists of $1.4 billion in financingcommitments and IFC has a portfolio of privatesector financing commitments of over $230 million.

40% of Sri Lankans live on less than Rs. 225per day


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Santhi Rajakaruna is from Galle, Sri Lanka andpresently lives in Birmingham UK. She is themother of Francia Evanjelin Elchmanar, whowon Miss Elegance and 2nd Runner up of MissJunior Teen Great Britain 2016.Santhi is proud to be a Conservatives candidatefor the upcoming local elections for BirminghamCity Council on May 5th. The selectioncommittee has chosen Santhi out of manyapplicants for Balsall Heath and SparkbrookArea in Birmingham in respect of her wide rangeof experience and hard work.She says "If I am elected as a Councillor, Ipromise I would contribute my selfless service toour communities. And also my dear Asiancommunity friends it's a moment we all shouldwork together and make it happen".

Of course if this happens it's also a proudmoment for Sri Lanka and Asia. So,Santhi needs all your support!Santhi also added "I will do as much inmy power, so we can develop thecommunity as a whole"Another important thing is that Santhi'sgreatest wish is to build up a proper andspacious Buddhist temple in Birminghamtogether with her daughter Evanjelin inthe future.In the past years, Santhi has done manyactivities with Balsall Heath Forum as anExecutive member.From 2002 she has been supportingenvironment, education, helping elderlyand the youth, as well as removing

graffiti with the help of the Residents.From 2004 to 2006, the Residents ofBalsall Heath have chosen her aschairwoman for the Seven Street ResidentsAssociation. During this period she hadorganized the local youth to form a footballteam. She provided English educationopportunity for non-native Englishspeaking women.Later she started herown communityforum, RuncornNeighbourhoodForum, where shehad been able toshow residents ofBalsall heath how totake care of thestreets and cleaningthe area. Alsolaunching streetflower basket projectand holdingmeetings for theresidents for theirvarious problems.She has helped inmany ways with cases of domestic violenceand worked closely together with the police.She says "My team and I are still supporting

people at the Runcorn Neighbourhood Forumwithout any funding what so ever".Last but not least, she has personally takenresponsibility for significantly reducing crimes,improving the community environments andyouth/elderly and supporting the communities

within the Balsall heath, Sparkbrook andSparkhill area.Santhi has good experience in communitydevelopment and is passionate aboutsupporting and improving communities asa whole; tenacious in the pursuit of goalsby working with Council officers andbusiness leaders to achieve objectives.She has lead teams of many volunteersand employees during the past.Positions Santhi has held are:• 2002 - Started Sri Lankan CommunityFoundation• 2003 - Balsall Heath Forum ExecutiveMember• 2004 - Director Seven street ResidentsGroup • 2005 - Director RuncornNeighbourhood Forum• 2006 - City Council Street ChampionCoordinator • 2009 - Volunteer, FireBrigade West Midlands

• 2013 - present Founder & Director Asian UnionForum UK• 2014 - present Ayurveda & Aroma Therapist

• 2014 - present Interpreter and Translator atNHS

Santhi has received the following awards:• 2003 Birmingham City Council EnvironmentalAward• 2004 Peace Ambassador for Women'sFederation for World Peace• 2005 Birmingham City Council EnvironmentalAwards• 2006 Community Award for Selfless Service tothe Community from Prime minister, Rt HonDavid Cameron MPAbove is a brief introduction of SanthiRajakaruna. Santhi says "I am happy to continuemy selflessservice as being aCity Councillor inthe near future. Ihope you will electme as yourcouncillor on the5th of Mayelection".Let's it happenand work togetherwith Santhi!" Allthe very best andgood luck Santhi!

Santhi Rajakaruna, Prospective Councillor for Birmingham City Council

Santhi with her 1st leaflet.

Santhi & her team.

Santhi & her daughter Evanjelin

(Miss Elegance Junior Teen

Great Britain 2016)

By Rasika Silva

The Sri Lankan communities in the UK, andaround the world, have become disheartened bythe current political instability taking place in theircountry of origin. After a 30-year war betweengovernment forces and the separatist group, theLTTE terrorists, the country had finally becomeliberated from the clutches of the terrorist group,but any chances of peace had become short-lived, as old memories began to reform again.A number of key issues have arisen, afterproposed plans put forward by the government,which have become apparent to members of theSri Lankan community. Such proposals include

the establishment of hybrid courts inclusive offoreign judges to prosecute soldiers from the war.The need for such action is absurd consideringthe many lives of armed forces men lost duringthe war, totalling in at around 33,000, including20,000 left disabled since the wars end.Another issue concerning expatriates is the planto split Sri Lanka into different federal states, orthe handing over of land, fiscal powers and policeto provincial councils, which would undermine thecountry's already secure state.An avenue that would open itself to more dangeris the proposed plans to sign the CEPA/ETCAagreement with India. The building of a bridgeand tunnel between India and Sri Lanka was also

something that had come to the attention of thedefiant expatriates, primarily because it wouldgive undue attention and invitation to poorerIndian communities looking to come and settle onSri Lanka's small nation, including Indian Tamilswith a desire to cause havoc.The recent recording of a national anthem inTamil has also caused outrage amongst theSinhalese majority, which goes against it's veryprinciples of 'One Nation, One Country, OneNational Anthem', which has been the case forcenturies and is also a staple of any countryaround the world.This was the reason behind the demonstrationand protest organised by the Sri Lankan

Solidarity Movement, held on Friday 12thFebruary outside the Sri Lankan HighCommission in Lancaster Gate, London. A hugecrowd of expatriates from their motherland cameto show their support for the cause and defianceof the governments proposed plans. More than20 organisations participated according to theorganisers and showed their support on the dayfor this most pressing issue. After a day of protestand shared belief, a petition was finally given tothe Sri Lankan High Commissioner thatafternoon.We hope that immediate action will be taken inthis regard, with steps following proceedingsoutlined on the petition.

Demonstration at the Sri Lanka High Commission by Sri Lankan Solidarity Movement


The annual general meeting ofKingswood College Kandy was held on09 January 2016 at Gana Restaurant,Harrow, London. The meeting waschaired by the outgoing secretary MrChinthaka Deegau Wickramasinghe.The meeting proceeded in accordancewith the agenda considering the minutesof the AGM of 2014/2015, followed bySecretary's report, Treasurer's reportand events of the past year, highlighted,successful achievement's in Rugbytournament and actively participate inFestival Of Cricket in UK.Members elected their new committeefor 2016. Mr Vipula Gamage was

elected president, Mr Dayan DinushaWickramaratne elected secretary and MrMohammed Ansar elected treasurer.Incoming president for 2015-2016, MrVipula Gamage thanked outgoingcommittee for all the hard work doneduring a very successful year. Hewelcomed the new members to thecommittee and expressed a wish thateveryone participating enthusiastically inall the planned events specially tocelebrate Kingswood College's 125thanniversary. The meeting was followedby a sumptuous dinner enjoyed by allpresent.Website www.kingswood-obu.co.uk

Kingswood College Kandy Old Boy's Union UK Branch AGM & Get together

(dailynews.lk) The ‘Mayans in Colombo’ this yearembarked on something different and relativelyunfamiliar to them – A Literary and Cultural Fair:‘Agayamu Windinemu Apeyma Nimawum’!It was to offer an interesting change to the usualSaturday routine of the people living in and aroundColombo by way ofrekindling aninterest in cultureand literature aswell as to uplift theimage of theirschool MahamayaGirls’ College,Kandy, as aresponsibleinstitution in theportals of literatureand the arts.The initial idea oforganizing a literaryfair was the brainchild of the Mahamaya ColomboPPA’s Founder President, Mrs Githa Gunetilleke

after she had attended the ‘Annasi & KadalagotuLit Fest’ better known as A&K, last year. ‘MCF’ or‘Mahamaya Cultural Fair’ was the name coined byCapt Elmo Jayawardena, the founder of A&K. Itwas he who generously and very willingly wrote apreamble and introduced the event to the public

after few members of Mahamaya’s Colombo PPAmet him to invite him as a panelist and to get sometips, advice and input on practicalities of running

such an event.MCF ultimately saw light on January 30 aftermonths of planning, arguing, stressing,coordinating and working back stage by theorganising committee. At the venue, ClubHouse of Havelock City in Colombo 6, therewas an unexpected crowd!As Mahamaya Girls’ College Kandy PastPupils Association (Colombo Branch), wasunknown in the literary circles, the organisershadn’t expected the crowd that walked in – inaddition to the tickets that were sold prior tothe event, more than 250 tickets were sold atthe gate! Not that it was unmanageable, butdefinitely beyond expectations where theyalmost ran out of chairs and food!There were many who had come for variedreasons – an interest in culture, history andliterature; to know what this ‘Cultural Fair’was; to see and hear their favourite lecturers;to see Koluu’s cookery demonstration; to bringchildren for Aunty Sybil’s story and drawingtime; to support their Alma Mater; toencourage another Kandy school; out ofcuriosity! Whatever the reason or reasonswere, the organisers are grateful to all thosewho attended and made the fair vibrant andsincerely hope none went away disappointed.

Opening session began ontime at 10 am with the soundsof Anda Bera drummer’s“Asaw, asaw!” and the playingof raban which alertedeveryone to Charuni

Nanayakkara’s,(President,PPAColomboBranch)welcome andrequest togatheraround thekiribath table while a ‘HitiwanaKavi kaaraya’ came up withspontaneous verses! All thatadded a (beautiful) festive touchto the start and created

excitement.The sessions began with Dr Hemamala Ratwattetalking about the objectives of MCF in relation tothe vision of the founders of the School and theneed to re-kindle an interest in the traditional as

well as modern creations by Sri Lankans. A varietyof topics were discussed by resource persons fromdifferent circles; Prof J B Disanayake andAttanayake M Herath speaking on SinhalaLanguage; Lal Medawattegedera speaking onEnglish Literature and Books; Kamala Wijeratne,Dr Janaki Jayawardena and Deepthi Horagodafocusing on the Kandyan era, its people, politics,customs and traditions; Padma Edirisinghe, IndraniMeegama and Kamalika Pieris on history, people

(Contd: on P23)

MCF THE INSIDER’S STORY!


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The Sri Lankan government have recognised thatChronic Kidney Disease has been on the rise andpeople diagnosed is at its highest peak. HisExcellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of SriLanka, assigned the Presidential Task Force todivert its attention urgently and to deal with thecrisis and it is with honour that the PresidentialTask Force appointed Reality UK to raise fundsand to assist them raise awareness of the disease.Reality UK held their sixth 31st Night CharityDance at the Sattavis Patidar Centre in Wembleyand were blessed with the attendance of NeilWarnakulasuriya and Nelson Waas together withthe full Sunflowers band who had flown all the wayfrom Sri Lanka to honour the event. We are trulythankful to the Sunflowers who despite having abusy and tight schedule themselves, did notdisappoint their fans in London and made it a nightto remember.The charity's Patron Ven. Akurala Samitha gave aheart touching speech regarding the rise ofChronic Kidney Disease in Sri Lanka and wishedall attendees to enjoy the event and for a

prosperous new year. The President of the charity,Lukith Cooray, gave a warm welcome speech andthanked everyone for coming and supporting agood cause.Mr Asela Iddawela, the Presidential Task ForceProject Director graciously attended the event withhis family. Mr Iddawela and his family had alsoflown all the way from Sri Lanka to honour theevent and provided an excellent video article andliterature to raise awareness of the Project in SriLanka.Sunflowers brought everyone to the dance floorand kept them dancing the whole night with theirrepertoire of scintillating music. There was a dancecompetition for Children, King and Queen of theNight together with an Auction and Raffle PriceDraw. Guests enjoyed a Sri Lankan cuisineexquisitely prepared by Golden Platter the officialcaters. It was not until the early hours of thefollowing day when the event was brought to aclose with the Sri Lankan National Anthem and allsatisfied guests reluctantly started heading home.

New Year's Eve Fundraising Charity Dance with SunflowersIn aid of the Presidential Task Force project for Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in Sri Lanka

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PRANEETH HETTIARACHCHI - praneeth.co.uk


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Council of Sri Lankan Muslim Organizations(COSMOS-UK) and Sri Lanka Muslim CulturalCentre (SLMCC- Harrow) , jointly organized aspecial meeting and a prayer gathering inSLMCC Harrow, on Sunday 7th February from 4-7 pm , to mark the 68th Anniversary of SriLankan Independence, witha significant gathering inattendance. Theyorganized a similar event in2003 too. Manydistinguished guestsgraced this occasion,including HE SugeeshwaraGunaratna, the acting HighCommissioner for SL in UK,His Worshipful CouncillorSuresh Krishna, the Mayorof Harrow , Ven. HanduPelpola Mahinda thero of the Kingsbury Temple,and local Members of Parliament for Harrow.Many high officials of the SL High Commissionwere also present.The proceedings commenced with the recitationfrom the Holy Quran by Br. Aadhil Rizvi. Decked

with Sri Lankan flags , the venue lookedglamorous for this special occasion, while theaudience rose up to sing the National Anthemat the start, with much emotion. COSMOS ChairRizwan Wahab welcomed the special inviteesand all those who came to honour this event of

much importance tothe Sri LankanDiaspora belongingto all nationalitiesSinhala, Tamil andMuslims, with specialmention about thesignificance of thisevent. JunaideenMubarak ,Chair ofSLMCC too spoke atthe outset explainingthe role played by

SLMCC to host events of this nature.HE Gunaratna who spoke at this event ,commended the efforts made byCOSMOS/SLMCC to commemorate this nationalevent which relates to their motherland and alsoreferred to the pivotal role played by the Muslim

leaders of that time supporting theindependence Motion, when the Britishinsisted that three fourth of the populationshould be there to gain Independence .Healso appreciated the role played by theDiaspora based in UK in the developmentprocess of Sri Lanka. He said that HisWorshipful the Mayor of Harrow SureshKrishna , who spoke next was incidentallyone of the few other Sri Lankan born Mayorsin Harrow. (There were other previous SriLankan Mayors in Harrow ; Nizam Ismail whohailed from Galle in South Sri Lanka was alsoone of the previous mayors, who graced thisoccasion). He expressed appreciation for the

useful role played by the SL Muslim communityboth in UK and back in Sri Lanka. Ven . Therofrom the Kingsbury Temple too made a shortspeechcongratulatingthe organisersfor arrangingthis colourfulnational event.LukmanHarees, asenior memberof COSMOS,who is a writerand an author,made a specialpresentation atthis event on 'NationalReconciliation:a prerequisitefor nationalLessons fromtheIndependenceStruggle in SL'.He touchedupon thepivotalcontributionsmade by theearly Muslimleaders whowent beyondtheircommunityinterests to ensure that Ceylon becomesindependent before sorting out their communityrelated issues. He analysed how a country whichhas all the hallmarks of progress at the time of

independence,ultimately failed inthat respect dueto majoritarianState policies andthe politicalexpediency of thepolitical leadershipfrom the time ofIndependence. Hestressed the needto build upon thepositive politicalchanges whichcame about in2015 to create a

strong multi-ethnic, multi-lingual Sri Lanka.Solicitor Anas Eliyas, who was involved closelywith the organization of this event, gave an

enlightening speech in Sinhala touching upon hisexperiences in Law College in building intercommunal amity . Both Harrow MPS (East andWest) in attendance spoke of the need forintegration in pluralistic societies like Sri Lankaand UK and spoke highly of the role played bySLMCC. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow Eastparticularly said that the first duty of anygovernment is to protect its borders and thesecond duty is to protect the minorities livingwithin them and it was heartening to see SriLanka developing into a nation respecting its'international obligations in human rights .Asheikh Anas of the Harrow Mosque led theaudience in prayer for peace and progress of SriLanka, while Azahim Mohamed ,Vice Chair ofCOSMOS proposed the vote of thanks . Theevent culminated with refreshments and in theview of the audience , the evening was wellspent and useful.

A few of Sri Lanka Leukaemia Foundation(UK)committee members who happen to be holidayingin Sri Lanka was invited to view the nearcompletion of the firstphase of the RAZAVIMEDICALCOMPLEX inNational CancerInstituteMaharagama . Themanagementof the MaharagamaCancer Institute arehoping that theopening ceremony ofthe new complex tobe in May 2016.Also the SLLF(UK)committee membersmet Dr. M.Y.K.Wilfred the Directorof MaharagamaCancer Institute andrepresentatives ofthe private donorAhmed Tea London,who with thepartnership ofMinistry of Healthhave envisaged the construction of a sevenstorey state of art medical complex that wouldprovide treatment for* 350+ adult oncology patients* Fully equipped 5 operating theaters

* Bone-marrow extraction & Transplant unit* Medical and surgical intensive care units* Day chemo therapy unit

* Neutropenic unit* Laundry and sterilization unit* In-door and out- doorpharmaciesThe ministry of Health has initiated theprocess of mechanism for the secondphaseof Razavi Medical complex named''SUWAPEKSHA'', and whilst Ahmed TeaLondonhas generously committed again toadminister and manage the project withall relatedconsultancy and professional fees. Withcompletion of ''SUWAPEKSHA'' therewill bea complete National CancerInstitute , with highest standards in the region mainly aimedat pediatric requirements ofNational Cancer Institute.Sri Lanka LeukaemiaFoundation (UK) have pledgedto support in whatevermeaningfulway towards the betterment and

uplifting of our National health sector inour nation.All this can be achieved withcontributions from our well wishes.Also the visit by members of SLLF(UK)

gave an opportunity to check andview the supply of a ToshibaTransducer which was donated inNovember 2015 and variousother funded projects by theAssociation.

'

John KernEvents CoordinatorSri Lanka LeukaemiaFoundation(uk)Email:[email protected]: +004407958562046

'Individually we are one drop,together we are an Ocean''

'' Help us to help them''

THE FIRST PHASE OF RAZAVI MEDICAL COMPLEX

IN NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE MAHARAGAMA

The Razavi medical complex

in Maharagama Cancer institute

(Left to Right) Dr.Nishan Siriwardena (Mahargama Cancer Hospital

health informative) Surangani Amaratunge (SLLF UK Liaison officer in

Sri Lanka), Jeeva Disanayake(SLLF(UK) Asst. Secretary Asoka

Disanayake (SLLF UK) Hon.Secretary, John Kern (SLLF UK) Events

coordinator & Dr .M.Y.K Wilfred (Director of Maharagama Cancer

Institute)

Sri Lanka Leukaemia Foundation(UK) Committee members with Ahmad Tea representative

Sunali Perera in far right and Upendia Randeniya (Architect of Razavi Medical complex)

Supply of Transducer by Sri Lanka

Leukaemia Foundation (UK) in Nov. 2015

SRI LANKAN MUSLIM DIASPORA IN UK CELEBRATES 68TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY


A large group of children from the Dhamma Schoolaccompanied by their parents and several families visited thetemple to commemorate the 68th Sri Lankan NationalIndependence day celebration. Rev. Sooriyawewa Kusala Therabegan the celebration by conducting the Five Precepts.

Children and adults sung, Bhati Geeta and the NationalAnthum. Twelve year old Dhamma school Child KavishaWidyarathna delivered a short speech based on the history andthe significance of being a sovereign nation for all Sri Lankans.Ven. Sooriyawewa Kusala Thero., Dr. Himantha Cooray, and

Mr. Haris Kodagoda were the other speakers. The celebrationsended with the evening Buddha Pooja, chanting of the SethPirith. The Maha Sangha blessed for a peaceful, prosperousand a united Sri Lanka.

Letchworth Buddhist Temple Celebrated The 68th National Independence Day

On Saturday 6th February 2016

(dailymirror.lk) World history finds itsgreatness and attraction through the servicesrendered by philanthropists. A personwhoever he is, achieves greatness throughideologies borne in his mind and to the extentof effectiveness and favourableconsequences resulting there from.If there was any person who was capable ofuplifting the Sinhala Buddhists who werehelpless due to colonial rule, although theirforefathers enjoyed sublime virtues enrichedwith the advent of Arahath Mahinda. Hisachievement in re-establishing a golden era inthis country makes really great and sublime.February 17 marks the 109 death anniversaryof Col. Henry Steel Olcott who was able tocreate history through his revival of Buddhismin Sri Lanka. He clamoured and awakened anation that was fast asleep without any vigourto rise up.He was the pioneer who agitated to give dueplace to Buddhism and the reformer whocompelled the colonial government thatexisted at that time to declare the Wesak FullMoon Day, a public holiday. He was thearchitect who designed the six colouredBuddhist flag that has gained universalrecognition.

American government appreciated his braveryand sharp wisdom, appointed himcommissioner to investigate and report oncorruption in the American army. Heperformed this task very well. For some timehe practised as a lawyer. Although he was aChristian by birth, came across a copy of thePanadura controversy by Rev. MigettuwaththeGunananda Thera, in Ceylon. Through hisclose association with, intellectuals such asVen. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala, Ven.Migettuwatta Gunananda Thera and Ven.Waskaduwe Sri Subuthi Thera. Clonal Olcottrealized the sad plight of the SinhalaBuddhists at that time. Considering the gravityof this, he thought of the need to unite andcreate a formidable work force to act fast.When we remember the fact that greatschools of learning such as Ananda, Nalandaand Dharmaraja produced national leadersand also when we remember that colleges forgirls like Musaeus and Visakha producedheroic mothers for the court? try, we canimagine that they get the blessings and grace

of Col. Olcott who may be at a higher place inthe,, universe.

Cól. Olcott made every endeavour to awakenthe Buddhist and to impress English rulers toprove that Sinhalese are a great race.Although he belonged to a different faith, heembraced Buddhism and Sinhala people.Every Sinhalese in the past, present andfuture is indebted to him. Finally at a time hewas able to see that his efforts have becomefruitful, he became very happy and expressedhis sentiments before chief priest Rev.Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala whom Col. Olcottconsidered as teacher. “Seeds have beensown. These have grown and become largetrees, My dear Rev. Sir, no force on this earthor above can stop its growth and fruition in thefuture. S.P. Weerasekara

" He was the architect who designed

the six coloured Buddhist flag that

has gained universal recognition." "Cól. Olcott made every endeavour to

awaken the Buddhist and to impress

English rulers to prove that Sinhalese

are a great race. Although he

belonged to a different faith, he

embraced Buddhism and Sinhala

people. Every Sinhalese in the past,

present and future is indebted to him"

MCFfrom P19

who created history and historical background ingeneral; Timran Keerthi, Dr VivimarieVanderPoorten, Ramya Jirasinghe and SachithraMahendra on their own award winning creativewriting; Lucian Bulathsinhala adding his valuablecomments on Lyrics and Media Ethics; Dr AsanthaAttanayaka Barborich on her novel translationsand Prof Sunanda Mahendra chairing a veryinteresting and unusual ‘kavi maduwa’ by

undergraduates of the University of Colombo.Students of Mahamaya came all the way fromKandy, escorted by their Vice Principal and pastpupil, Visaka Herath, to make their appearance atthe fair by acting two episodes of Hath Panadrama from the book by Kumaratunga Munidasa.MCF was also able to give the opportunity to littleknown creative writers such as Lalitha Wirasinghe,past pupil and former Librarian of the BritishCouncil in Kandy, who read some of her extremelythought provoking English poems. The day’sprogramme ended with Dr Asantha Attanayaka

Barborich reading her Sinhala poem SaddanthaPremaya on elephants followed by the beautifuldancing of the Gajaga Wannama by seniorstudents of Mahamaya. That gave a colourful anda dramatic end to the event!At the end of each session the resource personswere given a token of appreciation - a traditional‘kevili pettiya’ - a reed box filled with sweetmeatsmade by the Mahamaya Colombo PPA members -and a book to read. The recipients are still awed bythat!The organisers are grateful for the support of

many: the two main sponsors M D Gunasena & Co(Pvt) Ltd and Sampath Bank PLC for their faith inthe event; the media sponsor Ran-One FM forfrequently airing their message; Godage Bookshopfor the valuable gifts; Suramya, past pupil ofMahamaya, for her artistic, ethnic and naturaldecorations; and for all the holders of stalls rangingfrom books, lace items, handmade jewellery,palmyrah products, organic food and rasa keviliwhich added value to the day’s event.- MCF Organizing Committee

Pictures by Siripala Halwala

A great name in Buddhist history - Col. Henry Steel Olcott

( ) Stella Young, the Australiancomedian, journalist and disability advocate oncesaid, “The thing about disability is that you adapt,you do what works for you.”Yet at times there are so many difficulties in theform of the lack of financial support, marital failure,lack of a good educational backing, apart frombeing disabled, that the situation becomes sodesperate, that adapting is no longer an optionwithout external support. Dilini Sewandilka andNisansala Sajini, 26 and 24 respectively, aredisabled sisters living in Galewela, Anuradhapura.They find it almost impossible tolift themselves up once they havesat on a chair or on the floor.The mother lifted her up and wesaw the excruciating pain andfatigue Nisansala underwent inthe process, which is to most ofus a simple task. The two sisterscannot raise their arms and theywalk very slowly.Each step requires a lot of effort. “When I try tostand up, I feel as if there’s a knot in mybackbone, as if it is stuck,” said Dilini trying tostand up holding onto the wall for support. “It waswhen we turned 16 that symptoms showed up.The doctor said that this is a result of myopathy,”said Nisansala. Myopathy is a muscle disease thatattacks the proximal muscles of the body, namelythe limbs and upper arms. The disease can beidentified when one cannot lift their arms abovetheir shoulders.Treatment for myopathies depends on the cause.However, the cause of their myopathy isunidentifiable. The sad truth is curing the diseaseis almost impossible when considering cases ofcongenital myopathy and what makes mattersworse is even treatment is only possible when thecause of the myopathy is identified.“The doctor administered some medicine whichmade us grow fatter. As a result we fell down morefrequently. Then the doctor asked us to stop takingthe medicine and advised us to take vitamins.All the medicines and vitamins are pointless. Ourcondition isn’t improving,” said Nisansala. BothNisansala and Dilini could not continue theireducation after their O/L studies because of thesickness. “The disease became an obstacle to ourstudies as well. When the disease first crept in, wehad trouble with getting up from the desk. But,later it became much worse where even gettinginto the bus to go to school became animpossibility. We had no choice but to quit school.” said Dilini.

At 19, Nisansala was married off to a proposedprospect who was a coolie. “I stayed in myhusband’s house for a year. He knew about mysickness before marriage. But later they weren’thappy, berated me for my disability and sent meback to my mother’s house,” said Nisansala. Sheand her husband are presently separated andwould be legally divorced by the end of thismonth. Dilini’s situation is more tragic. “ I gotmarried when I was 21…no..24. My husband usedto get drunk and beat me.He was often in a bad mood. When I complained

to my mother-in-law about the abuse,she used to scold saying that Icouldn’t walk or do anything and thather son doesn’t benefit from me at all.She also said that her son should bemarried to someone else. I was sentback home,” she explained in tears.After the separation the sisters weretaken to the Kandy General Hospital

for treatment by a specialist, where Dilini wasfound out to be 5 months pregnant. “The fatherdidn’t even come to give our son his name.” saidDilini.Dilini’s son who is 3 years old is looked after byher mother. “His father has turned a blind eyetowards not only me, but our child as well. Nofinancial aid has ever been given by him to lookafter our son. It is my mother who has kept thisfamily together.” Neither of the husbands help the sisters. Theydepend on their mother and step-father, who workas coolies. Dilinireceives a monthlyallowance from thetemple which is of Rs.350/=. They aregrateful for the money,but Rs. 350/= is notsufficient to meet theneeds of the family.Further, the family ispart of the Samurdhipoverty alleviationprogramme wherethey receive Samurdhibenefits every month.However, to receivemoney they need ajob, and a job will onlyworsen their condition.Their sickness hasmade them confinethemselves to the

house. After Dilini left school she started workingat a hostel, “The people at the hostel knew aboutmy condition and they were very kind to me. But,my legs began to gradually stiffen. Soon mycondition worsened to the point that I had toresign from the job.” When asked about future expectations theirmother, W.N. Leelawathi said, “It would be a greatrelief and a huge satisfaction to see that mychildren have a proper house to live in before Idie.” The expectations of the two sisters were noless different. “Our expectations? We need ahouse. Our greatest hope is to get cured though itseems that it is almost impossible. We would alsolike to get efficient wheelchairs so that we could atleast do the basic daily tasks.”They are two sisters, with a few dreams: a cure, ahouse and wheelchairs. We can make theirdreams a reality by giving them financialassistance. “We rise by lifting others” this wasstated by Robert Ingersoll,. Though, they are afamily who are fighting an illness, grappling withpoverty and have problems with their maritalrelations they have not lost hope for a brighterfuture. Hence, external support is anindispensable need for the very survival of thisfamily.Generous donors could ease the family’simpoverishment by sending their mite to AccountNo. 144-2-001-9-0042365 at the People’s bankbranch at Hettipola under the name W.M.P.G.Leelawathi.

dailymirror.lk


APONSO - PRIYANTHA. - 184/1, Uyana Road,

Lunawa, Moratuwa

ASEERVATHAM - CONSY. - No. 459, Old

Road, Kottawa, Pannipitiya

DE SILVA - AKILA RANDULA BANDARA -

No.157, Waduramulla Watta, Waduramulla,

Panadura

DE SILVA - DUSHANTHA (SHANTHA) - USA.

53, Park Road, Ratmalana.

DE SILVA - INDIRA.

DE SILVA - TITUS - 112/10, Gonagampola

Road, Pilapitiya, Kelaniya.

DE ZILWA - THERESE ZISKA.

EPHRAUMS - THERESE GAYNOR (nee

MENON) - 73/13, Lake Crescent, Kawdana,

Attidiya.

FERNANDO MARCELINE - No. 87, St.

Benedict's Mawatha, Kotahena, Colombo 13

FERNANDOPULLE - L.N. ROHAN - No. 22/1A,

St. Anne's Lane, Katukurunda, Moratuwa

HETTIARACHCHI - ANURADHA RANJAN

NANDA

JAYAKODY - A.M. - No. 313/1A, Daham Pasal

Mawatha, Piliyandala

JAYAKODY - GLADYS MANEL. - 165/1,

Jayatillake Gardens, Waragoda, Kelaniya.

JAYASENA - MEVANSIRI - 185/21, Havelock

Road, Colombo 5

KHAN - DILWAR. - 125/4, Subadrarama Road,

Nugegoda (opposite Gangodawila Courts)

MENDIS - WALTER FREDRICK LEWELYN

(LYN)

MENDIS N.H.M. -No. 51, D.M. Colombage

Mawatha, Kirulapone, Colombo 5.

MEVANSIRI JAYASENA - 185/21, Havelock

Road, Colombo 5

MUNAWEERA - BRIAN.

NADARASA - RAJAYOGESWARY

PEIRIS - NIHAL - 101, St. Anthony Road,

Kadalana, Moratuwa.

PERERA - PATIENCE

PERERA - PETER of 127/2, Center Rd.

Mattakkuliya

RANASINGHE - PADMA ELAPATA. - 15,

Veediya Bandara Patumage, Anniwatte,

Kandy.

RATHNAYAKA - LAURA

RAVINDRANATHA - K.G.D. - 30/5, Polhena

Road, Yakkala

REV. SR. MARIA SADHANI A.C. (nee

Muhandiramge Dona Beatrice Priyanwada

Wickrema Suriya) - Carmel Convent, 88,

Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Colombo 10).

RODRIGO - ROHAN.

SENEVIRATNE - LIONEL

SILVA - W. TITUS

SUNDARAMOORTHY RUDRAKUMARAN

(BABU).

UDALAMATTHA GAMAGE JINADASA 445/C,

Wackwella Road, Galle.

WELIVITA - WILSON EDWARD. - No. 47,

Melder Place, Nugegoda.

WELLAPPILI - MRS RUPA.

WERAGAMA - Eng. LAKSHMAN -

Thotagamuwa Estate, Palapathwela, Matale.

WIJEWARDENE REX - 19/6, Haramanis Lane,

Attidiya, Dehiwala.

EDITED BY REGGIE FERNANDO JP

LONDON CORRESPONDENT - LAKE HOUSE (ANCL)

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Dark clouds that overshadow two myopathic sisters

Gemini(the Twins) 21st May - 20th June

Cancer(the Crab) 21st June - 20th July

Leo(the Lion) 21st July - 19th / 22nd Aug

Virgo(the Virgin) 20th / 23rd Aug - 22nd Sept

Libra(the Scale) 23rd Sept - 22nd Oct

Scorpio(the Scorpion) 23rd Oct - 21st Nov

Sagittarius(the Archer) 22nd Nov - 20th Dec

Capricorn(the Goat) 21st Dec - 20th Jan

Aquarius(the Water Carrier) 21st Jan -19th Feb

Pisces(the Fishes) 20th Feb - 20th March

Aries(the Ram) 21st March-20th April

Taurus(the Bull) 21st April - 20th May

Gemini(the Twins) 21st May - 20th June

Cancer(the Crab) 21st June - 20th July

Leo(the Lion) 21st July - 19th / 22nd Aug

Virgo(the Virgin) 20th / 23rd Aug - 22nd Sept

Libra(the Scale) 23rd Sept - 22nd Oct

Scorpio(the Scorpion) 23rd Oct - 21st Nov

Sagittarius(the Archer) 22nd Nov - 20th Dec

Capricorn(the Goat) 21st Dec - 20th Jan

Aquarius(the Water Carrier) 21st Jan -19th Feb

Pisces(the Fishes) 20th Feb - 20th March

Aries(the Ram) 21st March-20th April

Taurus(the Bull) 21st April - 20th May

Don't count on others to cover up for your shortcomings.Family members may feel anxious if you make promises youdon't deliver. An older loved one may be having problems.Your interest in religion and philosophy may lead you tospecific destinations. Your lucky day Thursday.

Take care of any paperwork concerning institutional orgovernmental agencies. Your boss won't be too thrilled if youleave things unfinished. Don't make promises. Your need touse emotional blackmail will only cause more conflict.Your lucky day Sunday.

If you're looking to do something worthwhile, considervolunteer work. This is probably causing upset and confusionon the home front. You can make professional changes anddirect your energy into making all the right moves. Go afteryour goals. Your lucky day Wednesday.

Those you live with may be experiencing problems.Sudden changes could result in estrangement's. Escapisttendencies may lead to overindulgence. You can offer yourhelp to others but back off if they appear to be offended byyour persistence. Your lucky day Tuesday.

You don't owe anyone an explanation. Do your own thing,you need time to yourself. Travel and social activity willbring about interesting talks, not to mention contacts. Youmay find that your mate is well aware of the circumstances.Do something special for them. Your lucky day Friday.

Don't divulge secret information. Accept the inevitable, andopportunities for advancement will follow. Don't be afraid to saywhat's on your mind. Do not get involved in joint financialventures. Your lucky day Saturday.

Plan some family outings. You may be uncertain about someof your coworkers and your boss. Don't let criticism upsetyou. Hassles will delay your plans. Invest wisely. Yourpersonal life could have you tied up in knots.Your lucky day Tuesday.

Be courteous if you wish to avoid major delays. Your highenergy will enable you to take the role of leader in groupfunctions. Your outgoing charm and obvious talent will beadmired. You can enhance your cash flow if you pick upadditional skills. Your lucky day Tuesday.

You may find that romance will unfold through businessconnections. Don't cause a scene, but when you get home letyour partner know how you feel and why. Get promises in writingor you will be disappointed. Your lover will be annoyed with yourparticipation. Your lucky day Wednesday.

Travel will enhance romance and adventure. This is a greatday for a trip. Don't lend or borrow. You'll be tempted to spendextravagantly this week.Your lucky day Tuesday.

You need to reevaluate your situation. Try to keep your cool;you may be a tad frazzled by all the rushing around. You'llbe able to discuss your ambitions with your mate. Romanceand social activity will be a promising combination.Your lucky day Friday.

Self-deception is likely. You may jump from the fryingpan into the fire if you make a move this week. Try not tohurt your partner's feelings. You have two choices;Get out on your own, or bend to your mate's whims.Your lucky day Friday.


Under-19 Cricket

By Reemus Fernando

(island.lk) Put to bat, S. Thomas’ posted 342runs as Rashmika Opatha (53) and DilendraGunathilake (69) scored half centuries to join fiveother batsmen who topped 20 runs mark on dayone of the Inter School Under-19 pre-quarter-final match against De Mazenod at MountLavinia on Monday. Match stopped early due tobad weather.Scores:S. Thomas’ 342 all out in 74.1 overs(Yohan Mendis 22, RavinduKodituwakku 31, Rashmika Opatha 53,Dilendra Gunathilake 69, SachithaJayathilake 40, Romesh Nallaperuma30, Ravindu Thilakaratne 24; SangeethDeshan 4/65, Akash Senarathne 2/89,Rukshan Fernando 3/93)St. Aloysius’ 197, Royal 62/2Spinner Lasith Embuldeniya took three wicketsand Helitha Vithanage and Himesh Ramanayaketook two wickets each as Royal restricted St.Aloysius’ to 197 runs on day one of the prequarter final clash at Reid Avenue on Monday.Royal were 62 for two wickets when the matchwas stopped for bad weather.

Scores:St. Aloysius’ 197 all out in 53.4 overs (NilukshaDulmina 63n.o., Harin Buddhila 30, PrabodhaGuruge 21, Sajith Sankalpa 21; LasithEmbuldeniya 3/68, Helitha Vithanage 2/26,Himesh Ramanayake 2/29)Royal 62 for 2 in 17 overs (Ronuka Jayawardena25rtd, Geeshath Panditharatne 19n.o.)Mishane hammers unbeaten 150Mishane Silva scored an unbeaten 150 runs (in154 balls) inclusive of 13 fours and nine sixes as

St. Sebastian’s reached 280 for eightwickets against St. Benedict’s beforetheir match was hampered by badweather at Kotahena on Monday.Scores:St. Sebastian’s 280 for 8 in 68.1 overs(Avishka Fernando 33, Mishane Silva150n.o.; Poorna Charuka 2/54, Supun

Lakmal 2/16, Geethal Fernando 2/68)Sanjula takes six wicketsSpinner Ivanka Sanjula took six wickets forIsipatana to dominate their match againstBandaranaike at the BRC ground on Monday.Scores:Bandaranaike 188 all out in 53.1 overs (HachithaThimal 31, Wageesha Wanniarachchi 39, DilharaPolgampola 34; Ivanka Sanjula 6/39, Lahiru

Dilshan 3/63)Isipatana 91 for 3 in 24 overs (Kalana Perera 37,Heshan Fernando 32)Suhanga, Thinura score half centuriesSuhanga Wijewardhana and ThinuraHettiarachchi scored half centuries as Nalandaposted 202 for eight wickets before bad weatherhampered day one of their match againstMaliyadeva at Kurunegala on Monday.Scores:Nalanda 202 for 8 in 45.5 overs (ThinuraHettiarachchi 66, Nimnaka Ratnayake 29, KasunSandaruwan 25, Suhanga Wijewardhana 51;Vishwa Dissanayake 3/20, Kaveen Bandara2/57, Dinanjaya Premaratne 2/14)Moratu Vid. 248, Revata 81/7Revata College were struggling at 81 for sevenwickets in reply to Moratu Vidyalaya’s 248 runsbefore their match was hampered by badweather at Moratuwa on Monday.Scores:Moratu Vid 248 all out in 58.2 overs (ShanukaMadushan 70, Madushan Dilakshana 50n.o.;Mohomed Ishrath 4/58, Viraj de Soysa 2/30,Ashan Chathuranga 2/41)Revata 81 for 7 in 21 overs (Mohamed Ishrath42n.o.; Sarindu Jayakody 4/20, Deshan Perera2/18)

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports

Correspondent

(dailynews.lk) Peradeniya University put up a fineperformance to defeat Kandy Young Mens ChristiAssociation's ladies team in the finals of thewomen's inter club five a side basketballchampionship organised by Gateway College andplayed at the Gateway Bsketball courts, Kandy. Athalf time the undergrads led 4-1.

Individual awardsMost Defensive player Rukshal Pathirana (YMCA)Most Offensive player Nadeeshani Kodituwakku(Peradeniya University)Most Valuable Player: Maheshika Jayatunga Capt.(Peradeniya University)Asoka Herath - Principal Gateway College was theChief Guest and he distributed the awards.

(sundaytimes.lk) Former Sri Lanka, CH and FC¸CR and FC and Zahira College rugby player M.R.Saldin has been diagnosed with a chronic cancer.Doctors have advised an immediate kidneytransplant as his condition is identified as life-threatening.Saldin, presently attached with Royal College asits junior rugby coach, played for the Zahira FirstXV team for many years before ending his schoolcareer in 1998.He joined the Old Zahira Sports Club in 1999 andswitched to Navy Sports Club the same year.Following season he joined CR and FC andrejoined Navy SC in 2000.From 2002 to 2006 he was a major contributor forCH and FC.He was a member of the Sri Lanka Rugby teamduring 2000 and 2004.He also played football for Zahira.After calling it quits to his short yet glittering

playing career, Saldin focused on taking upcoaching.He obtained the IRB Level 2 Rugby Coach statusand completed the IRB Coaching Sevens Level 1while coaching the Zahira senior team in 2007 and2008.He took charge of the Zahira junior teams in 2012and 2013 before joining Royal.According to Saldin’s close friends and relatives,both his kidneys have been confirmed as effected.He is in need of a ‘O Positive’ kidney as themedical team, family and friends eagerly await adonor, who could come forward to cure Saldinfrom his plight.Presently his former team mates at school havelaunched a fund raising campaign to assist Saldin.Intended donors and contributors could contactSaldin’s family members on 0777512040 or0777559577.

Thomians amass 342 runs in search of quarter-final place

Royal junior coach Saldin needs help

(dailynews.lk) India women beat Sri Lankawomen by 107 runs in the first One DayInternational of the ICC Women's Championshipworked off at Ranchi, India.Batting first India women piled up 245/6 in theiralloted 50 overs with useful contributions by SMandhana (55 runs), H Kaur (50 runs) and MRaj (49 runs). Non of the Sri Lankan bowlers putup resistance and Indian women battedcomfortably to reach this target. H.A.S.D.Siriwardene (2/31) and K.D.U. Prabodhani (2/38)bowled well for Sri Lanka.Chasing a challenging target, P.M. Weerakkody

fought a solitary fight by scoring 69 runs. Allothers in the batting department did notimpressed. Sri Lanka were skittled out for 138 in45.2 overs.India 245/6 in 50 overs - S Mandhana 55, HKaur 50,M Raj 49, J Goswami 20, H.A.S.D. Siriwardene2/31, K.D.U. Prabodhani 2/38, K.A.D.A.Kanchana 1/37, N.N.D. de Silva 1/27Sri Lanka 138 in 45.2 overs - P.M. Weerakkody69, O.U. Ranasinghe 18, Poonam Yadav 4/22,R.S. Gayakwad 2/31, D.B. Sharma 2/20, SPandey 1/23

India beat SL at ICC Women’s Championship

(sundaytimes.lk) Powered by two tries fromSanjula Roshan, Science College Mt. Laviniabeat Trinity College by 17-5 in the final of theCup segment to win the Schools Under-18Division I Rugby Sevens Championship at theRoyal College Sports Complex on Sunday (14).Science scored from three tries and aconversion while leading the halftime by 12-0.Trinity scored from a solitary unconverted try.For the winners Sanjula Roshan scored thefirst followed by one from AshanMadumadhawa to take a 12-0 lead.Roshan scored his second try after the change

of ends.For Trinity Warren Weerakoon scored thesolitary try in the second half.In the semi-finals, Science beat Wesley by astaggering margin of 41-0 while Trinityoutplayed hometown rivals Kingswood by 24-0.Isipathana College beat Royal College 12-7 towin the Plate championship as DharmarajaCollege Kandy went on to win the Bowl titleafter beating C.W.W. Kannangara MV by 24-0.Zahira College Colombo won the Shieldchampionship after beating Maliyadeva CollegeKurunegala by 28-14.

Science beat Trinity to win Schools Sevens title

Peradeniya University - cager champions


Accommodation Available

Accommodation

Attractive lady

Aunt seek

Available for Holiday

Battaramulla Land

Cook wanted.

Double Room

Drivers Wanted

Four bedroomed

Full time/ daytime

Gardener

GB parents

G

Roman Catholic

Seeking a professional

Sinhala Catholic

Sinhalese Buddhist

Uncle seeks

We are seeking

E10 6HL,Leytonstone, London. I'm a professional workingin the city and looking for someone to share thespacious and very cosy 2 bedroom flat I'mcurrently renting. Available from 1st April. 10minutes walk to Central Line tube station. Totalcost (rent plus all bills, including internet) £600.Call Nishantha 07958614163

49 5ft 2 well spoken withoutchildren seeks a good looking professional gentEnglish or Asian age 49 to 57 only 07974267678Elizabeth

well mannered, pretty, professionalpartner for her nephew who is 26 years, govi,Buddhist, professionally qualified and is workingas an executive officer in a reputed commercialestablishment in Sri Lanka. Reply with details [email protected]

- for sale. 22.5 perch clearedbuilding block. 1/2km from junction, 1/2km fromparliamentary complex. Walls surrounding theland. Good residential area. Rs 1.9 million perperch. Price negotiable. Owners residing abroad.Interested buyers please email for [email protected]

[email protected]

Preferably somebody who canvisit us once a week and cook 8-10 Sri Lankancurries. Location Potters Bar. Please contact on07900487522

to Rent near Sudbury Hillunderground station. Spacious lounge and largekitchen diner for £100 p.w, including bills. Femaleonly to share flat with an elderly lady. Pleasecontact by E-mail giving your name telephonenumber and any other brief details.

[email protected]

detached two storey house3,600 sq ft on 17.5 perches in prestigiousEden Gardens development, Hokandara. Twobedrooms with en suite facilities. Airconditioning mosquito netting throughout.Double garage. Separate quarters fordomestic. Beautiful, well tended andmanageable garden. 24-security, sportscomplex.35 m ono. [email protected]

/ live in, carer wanted forailing elderly lady, Manchester area. Salarynegotiable. Please E mail: [email protected]

For some garden clearing andgeneral outside tidy up, on a regular basis.Near Merton. Pls call 0790 6919 998.

in the UK seek a professionalpartner for their pretty graduate professionaldaughter with Buddhist values 29 yrs., 5' 2'';employed as a senior analyst in London.Owns/inherits substantial assets. Please replywith horoscope to:[email protected]

parents are looking for adaughter (Buddhists, Christians) for theiracademically / professionally qualified (MSC,BSc) son who is living and working in UK. Born1978, height 5' 10”. He is working in reputedtelecommunication company as senior engineer.Please reply with photos for more details [email protected]

marriage partner for mydaughter. 30 years old and studied at MuseausCollege, Colombo. Graduated University of NewDelhi. Completed her MBA in International Tradeand Logistics at Post Graduate Institute ofMarketing, Colombo. She is kind, attractive, 5' 7"tall and a strong Buddhist. Email:[email protected]

mother living in the UK seekskind hearted, good mannered, professionalpartner for her 39 yrs old Civil Servant daughter.She is attractive young looking with an outgoingpersonality. Please reply with full details with telno. Caste/Religion [email protected]

parents looking for aneducated girl for their doctor son 5' 10'', 27yrs,training to be a surgeon. E-mail:[email protected]

- well mannered, kind hearted,partner for his nephew who is 25 years, govi,Buddhist, completed BA and MBA in London andcurrently living in UK. Email:[email protected]

a mature House keeper / houseworker part time in South west London area St.Margaret's Village, Marble Hill, Twickenham. 3mornings per week or 3 afternoons per week. AGood rate will be paid per week for the rightcandidate. Please call 07976555111

in Mount Lavinia. Short term

accommodation for tourist / expatriates

available. Double, family room and 4 and 8

dorms for singles in Temple Road, 200 meters

form Galle Road. Tel 0094 112710370, London

Enquiries 020 8903 0708. E-mail:

[email protected];

www.hitchhikebackpackers.com

Lettings in Dehiwala

with easy transport access a spacious cool

self-catering apartment to sleep 6 to 8. 3 AC

and Ceiling fanned double bedrooms 2

bathrooms with hot and cold water, £25 per

night for whole apartment. £10 per night for

individual room. Contact 0094777285865 or

[email protected]

contact for more details.

Tel 07835343114

British GP

Catholic Parents

Christian parents

in Colombo for 2 weeks offering adviceon general practice training and help with revisionservices for General Practice UK Examinations.British trained family physician, pioneer of onlinecase examination for the final exam and willing toadvise candidates whilst in Sri Lanka.www.csacases.com. Please contact Dr [email protected]

(SL & UK) seek a professionalpartner to be introduce to our Daughter age 31,fair, pretty, 5'6" tall, and working as an Asst.Accountant. Please reply with details andpreferably with a photograph [email protected]

with good family backgroundseeking an educated beautiful bride for their sonborn in 1981, 5'5" completed BA and MBA inLondon and currently living and working in UK.Email:

ovi Buddhist

House to sell

House for Sale

House for sale

I'm looking

Large Room

Madampe (Chilaw)

Nanny needed

Nugegoda; house

Professional Sister's

parents seek a partner for their30 years beautiful academically highly qualifiedonly daughter. Presently working at MasHolding- Sri Lanka in a managerial position.Please contact on 0094722167992. Email:[email protected]

in Dehiwala, Kawdana Broadway(3,500 sf 8.9p) 6 rooms (three en-suitebathrooms + 1 bathroom), kitchen, separatepantry, separate servant quarters, Garage - twoparking spaces, living and dining. Furnitureavailable to sell.Tel: 0044(0)7861430211.Email: [email protected]

- in millennium city, Athurugiriya.4 bed rooms (2 rooms with a/c) 1 office room /shrine room, 2 sitting rooms, large kitchen withimported pantry cupboards, 3 bath rooms.12million or nearest offer. Tel. 0094 112772139.01737 357214

. Moratuwa near Rawatawattejunction. 3bed house on 14 perches with allfacilities. 7 perches on side to build anotherhouse, close to leading schools and sought afterresidential area. Valuation report available.Selling for land value. Urgent sale Rs 7lakhs/perch (£49,000) ono. Tel: 0208 863 2900

for a live in kind lady to look aftermy 7 year old son. Please urgently contact07713857453

to Let. Ilford off Ilford lane,£110pw. Clean quiet family house, call:07738823804 E-mail:[email protected]

33 acres coconut estate forsale, including tiled owner`s bungalow with 2 air-condition bedrooms. Watcher`s quartersseparate. Available for sale either full area or apart. Adjoining Coconut Research Institute`splant nursery. Contact via email. No brokers. E-Mail: [email protected]

- We are looking for a full timenanny to look after a 16 months old little girl,week days 11am-7pm. Due to the locationsomebody from South London preferred. Pleasecall 075 0755 5322.

for sale on 19 perches land,surrounded by 4 walls, centrally located in ahighly residential area. There is easy access tosuper market, Nugegoda junction, Nawala road,Polhengoda, Narehenpitiya and schools. Pleasecontact 07775508394 or 0094777880573.

in UK seek a Malepartner for their 42 year old 5"8 tall fairhandsome brother live in U.K. Please reply withfamily details and contact number to my e-mail:[email protected]

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LONDON BUDDHIST VIHARA

Teacher: Richard Jones

Time: 7.00 to 9.00pm.

SELECTED DISCOURSES

OF THE BUDDHA28 Jan & 4 February-

11 February

18 & 25 February-

3 March -

10 March-

17 March-

Sigalovada Sutta TheLayman's Code of Ethics: domestic and social relations,the network of personal relationships.

Mangala Sutta The causes of"blessings", which make for a well-adjusted individual anda happy society.

Satipatthana Sutta The FourFoundations of Mindfulness which form the heart ofBuddhist meditation.

Agganna Sutta An explanation of beginningof the earth, and the birth of social order and its structure,including the castes.

The Dhammapada A well-loved collectionof stanzas comprising many gems of Buddhist wisdom.

Maha-hatthipadopama Sutta Anexplanation of the four noble truths, showing how all theaggregates areinterrelated and how all four noble truths are related tothe aggregates.

-

Location: London Buddhist Vihara.

How to join: Enrol at the class on the first day ofattendance

Fees: No charge, donations are welcome.London Buddhist Vihara, The Avenue, Chiswick,

London W4 1UD.Phone: 020 8995 9493 Nearest tube: Turnham

Green

No1 Oxford Road, Edmonton, London. N9 0LY.

Tel 02088037194

CELEBRATION OF

THE 12TH ANNIVERSARY

Date: - 20 February 2016

Date: - 21 February 2016

OF SAMADHI MEDITATION CENTRE

PROGRAM

18.30 Bodi Pooja by Bhante P. Rahanasiri

visiting monk of Samadhi meditation centre

19.00 Dhamma talks by Bhante T. Bhandula

resident monk of London Buddhisat Vihara

11.15 Offering the Buddha Puja by

Banthe P. Rathanasiri

11.30 Offering Dhana to community of

“ Maha Sanga”

12.30 Dhamma talks by Bhante A. Samitha

Head Monk of Letchworth Buddhist Vihara

ALL ARE WELCOME


( ) Sri LankaNavy suspended four NavySports Club players forwearing wrist bands thatsaid "YOO7" to showsolidarity with former NavySC captain YoshithaRajapaksa, who has beenremanded over allegationsof fraud. Navy SpokesmanAkram Alavi said the fourplayers were suspendedpending furtherinvestigations. Navy SCbeat Army SC 32-30 in athrilling Dialog Rugbyleague encounter atDiyagama. (DarshanaSanjeewa)

dailymirror.lk

Navy suspends Yoshitha supporters over 'YOO7'

(island.lk) Havelock Sports Club registereda hugely important win over Police SportsClub in their second round match of theinter club league rugby tournament whenthey beat the latter 27 (3 tries, 3conversions, 2 penalties) to 24 (3 tries, 3conversions, 1 penalty) at Police Park onSaturday.Prop forward Dushmantha Priyadarshana,hooker Prasath Madushan and numbereight Lasindu Ishan crossed try line for thewinners while full back Rimzie Jamaldeenmade three conversions and two penalties.Police had a clear chance of winning thematch until they conceded a try late in thesecond half. For the Policemen it wasnumber eight Radeesha Senaviratne whoscored twice while captain and second rowChanaka Udara also chipped in with a try. Full back Riza Mubarak made three conversions for

them. (JK)

Inter-club Rugby encounter between Havies and Police

which the former won 27-24.

(island.lk) Isipathana College booked their placesin the Cup Quarter-final of the Under-18 SevensAll Island Rugby Tournament with two thumpingwins at Royal Complex in Reid Avenue, Colomboon Saturday. The team from the Havelock Parkdefeated Ehaliyagoda Central 22-0 and CareyCollege 36-0 in the group stage matches. ManikaRuberu’s side will play the defending champions

Science College in the quarter-final.In the second quarter-final, Wesley College will gohead to head against St. Peter’s College whileRoyal College will take on archrivals TrinityCollege in the third quarter-final.Thurstan in the fourth quarter-final will faceKingswood College, Kandy. (JK)

(colombogazette.com) In his first three overs,bowled at the start of the match, R Ashwin bowledIndia to their first bilateral T20I series win at home.India bowled Sri Lanka out for their lowest total,82, to retain their No. 1 ranking, which was on theline in the series decider. Ashwin’s 4 for 8 was thebest figures for an Indian in T20Is, beating his own4 for 11.Ashwin’s immediate impact was crucial becausethe pitch turned square, and India might haveunwittingly given Sri Lankathe second use of such atrack. You couldn’t havefaulted MS Dhoni, though:the pitch looked white, hadzero moisture, and no bigcracks. Given the dewexpected later in the day, itseemed a prudent decisionto ask Sri Lanka to batbecause the pitch didn’t looklike it would help spinanyway.Just like in Pune whereIndia were left thinking theywould have been in thegame had they scored 130or so as opposed to the 101all out, Sri Lanka could have given India a fightwith a half-decent total because the ball turnedsquare even for Ravindra Jadeja and SureshRaina. Ashwin left them in no position to get afighting total, though.Ashwin, given the new ball, was happy to give it arip and some flight, mixing in the seam-up deliverythat swings away from the right-hand batsmen. SriLanka, though, came out with a plan to try to hitAshwin out of the attack. Tillakaratne Dilshanfaced the second ball of the match, got a single,and immediately signaled to his partner, NiroshanDickwella that the ball was turning already. It didn’thave any impact on Dickwella, who left his creaseearly and walked past an offbreak that Ashwinbowled deliberately short.In the same over, Dilshan was done in by a sharpoffbreak from round the wicket, turning enough tobeat the inside edge and hit his pad inside the line,but not turning too much to be given out lbw. If

Dickwella played a headless shot, Dilshan’s waspurely a bowler’s wicket: beaten on the forwarddefensive by the dip and the turn. Captain DineshChandimal looked to counterattack, hit two foursoff Ashish Nehra, but skied Ashwin in his secondover. In his third over, Ashwin enjoyed some luckas debutant Asela Gunaratne was given outcaught at leg slip off his pad. Ashwin had nowreduced Sri Lanka to 20 for 4 in the fifth over. In aformat not as versatile as the traditional ones, the

damage had already been done.The problem with the rest of SriLanka innings was twofold: theball was turning, and thebatsmen kept trying the big hitsas opposed to looking for apartnership. This was quitesimilar to what happened withIndia even as the ball seamed inPune. Milinda Siriwardana facedonly two balls even though hespent three overs in the middle.The first one he pulled JaspritBumrah for four, but when hetried the pull second ball hechose a Nehra delivery that wasnot short enough and alsoskidded through to bowl him.

Only a high full toss from Yuvraj that went for six,and the free hit that was given repeat treatment byDasun Shanaka gave Sri Lanka’s innings somemomentum. Ashwin came awfully close toregistering the first international five-for for India,but Jadeja and Raina kept the pressure up and thewickets kept falling. Jadeja’s brilliance showed inthe field too, with a delicate back-hand flick to runSeekkuge Prasanna out and catch Thisara Pererain the deep.Under hardly any pressure, India walked away totheir target with 37 balls remaining even thoughthe turning pitch made stroke-play difficult. ShikharDhawan again displayed his improved leg-sideplay in his run-a-ball 46 whereas question marksover Ajinkya Rahane’s hitting ability on slowersurfaces remained as he mis-hit a few attemptedbig hits in his unbeaten 24 off 22. (Courtesy ESPNCricinfo)

Pathana march into quarters

India thrash SL by nine wickets to seal series

Havies in thrilling win

By Revata S. Silva

(island.lk) One of the finest school teachers of thepre independence era Ceylon and a leading figurein the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association and theHousewives’ Association of Sri Lanka, Ms PadminiAmarasinghe nee Abeysekera celebrates her 92ndbirthday today. She is the elder sister and the onlyremaining sibling of Sri Lanka’s outstanding cricketcheerleader Percy Abeysekera.Born on the 16th of February 1924 at Welithara,Balapitiya as the second child in a family of five,Padimini studied at SacredHeart Convent andSouthland’s College, Galle.Her father, Walimuni SimonMendis Abeyasekara was oneof the most respected schoolprincipals of the time. Hermother Dolly Margaret DeZoysa Siriwardena too was aschool headmistress.Padmini began her career asan English language schoolteacher at VidyalokaVidyalaya, Galle in 1944 andlater taught in many schools inSri Lanka, including KaleganaGovt. School - Galle,Maliyadeva College -Kurunegala, Revata Vidyalaya- Balapitiya, NildandahinnaMaha Vidyalaya - NuwaraEliya, Yatawatta MV - Matale,Thissa Central College -Kalutara and finally, D. S.Senanayake College -Colombo. She retired afterserving for 30 years.She was at the CeylonTeachers’ Training School inColombo from 1948-49 as oneof the very few Sinhalatrainees there that time, under Principal Holsinger.Uma Somasundaram, now residing in Australia,was her contemporary there.She was married to Sandrasagara Amarasinghe,another well-known school Principal from south.Her six years at DS coincided with the formativeyears of the well-known school under its founderPrincipal and renowned educationist, the late R. I.T. Alles.Her students at DS included Prof. Aloka Pathirana,Alan Ludowyke, Dr. Harsha Alles, Mohideen

Cader, Imran Hassen, Jafar Sattar, HussainJayah, Hilmy Sathar, Ramzi Raheem, JohannAsirvadem and former Sri Lanka cricket CaptainAravinda de Silva.After retirement, she dedicated her time to the GirlGuides Association as its Kalutara DistrictCommissioner, from 1983-90. Her role inlaunching and establishing the Association’sactivities in schools such as Tissa Central, Balikaand Holy Family Convent, Kalutara is rememberedwith much respect.

She was also the founderPresident of the KalutaraDistrict Housewives’Association under Ina de Silva,the then All-island President ofthe Association.Padmini’s younger sisterSrimathie Mallika too was atrained English teacher anddied at the age of 69, about 16years ago.For 15 years after retirement,Padmini worked as a teacherof the renowned Institute forWestern Music & Speech(IWMS), Kalutara branch andguided hundreds of childrenfor achieving great heights inEnglish speech.She is an exemplary schoolteacher who still derivesimmense respect from herstudents now holding greatresponsibilities asprofessionals in various fields,both in Sri Lanka and abroad.After retirement she donatedone lakh of rupees for each ofher grand children (there were16 of them) and, in Percy’sname, she donated Rs. One

lakh each to Tissa Central and Revata for theirsport and development activities.Her message for all her pupils were so simple. ‘Begood. Observe the five precepts of Buddhism. I’vedone so. It’s not so difficult’, she said.The following lines were extracted from amemento her former DS students had presentedto her at one of her previous birthdays:"You have influenced and impacted our lives,In so many wonderful ways,We hope we have grown to be,All that you have expected of us."

Percy’s sister Padmini celebrates 92nd birthday

Wadduwa Central-Under

19 girls Elle ChampionsH.L. Sunil Shantha - Kalutara Central

(dailynews.lk) Wadduwa Central College in thePanadura Educational division emergedchampions and Sri Sumangala Girls College,Panadura became the Runner up in Girls Under 19Elle Tournament organized by the PanaduraDivisional Education Officer's Sports Unit and heldat the Wadduwa Central College Playground lastFriday.Here are the final results of girls sporting eventsheld under the Panadura Divisional sportscompetitions organized by the sports until ofPanadura DivisionalEducation office,recently.VolleyballUnder 15 ChampionsPanadura SriSumangala GirlsSchoolRunnerup: AgamethiBalika MV Panadura.U-17 Champions:Panadura AgamethiBalika MV, (Panadura)Runnerup: SriSumangala GirlsSchool, PanaduraU-19 Champions:Agamethi Balika MV.Runnerup: SriSumangala GirlsSchool Panadura.

Sri Sumangala under

19 boys Elle

Champions(dailynews.lk) Sri Sumangala Boys College,Panadura, emerged champions and RoyalCollege, Panadura emerged Runner-up in theBoys under 19 Elle Tournaments organized bythe Sports Unit of Panadura Divisional EducationOffice, under the instructions of Sports EducationUnit of Western Province Education Department,and held at the Wadduwa Central CollegePlayground recently.


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NOTICE OF SPECIAL

GENERAL MEETING

SUNDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2016

THAMES MEDITATION SOCIETY

A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE THAMES

MEDITATION SOCIETY (REGISTERED CHARITY

NO.289655) WILL BE HELD ON

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SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY BY NO LATER THAN

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TO ELECT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND

THE GENERAL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR

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Under-19 Cricket

By Reemus Fernando

(island.lk) A century by Hashan Wanasekara anda collective effort in the bowling departmenthelped St. Peter’s pull off an exciting four wicketsvictory with just three balls to spare against St.Benedict’s at Bambalapitiya on Saturday.Scores:St. Benedict’s 135 all out in 53.1 overs (VittorioRoberto 35, Supun Lakmal 26, ChaminduWijesinghe 24; Taneesha Weerakoon 3/19,Ravindu Silva 2/29, Manelka de Silva 2/19) and186 all out in 72.3 overs (Thulina Dilshan 71,Vittorio Roberto 22, Chamindu Wijesinghe 34;

Vinu Mohotty 3/57, Taneesha Weerakoon 2/45,Sadish Pathiranage 3/49)St. Peter’s (163 for 6 o/n) 246 for 9 decl. in 53overs (Hashan Wanasekara 100, Anishka Perera39, Manelka de Silva 23, Vinu Mohotty 30;Geethal Fernando 4/62, Thulina Dilshan 2/54)and 79 for 6 in 9.3 overs (Manelka de Silva 18,Vinu Mohotty 15 n.o., Hashan Wanasekara 14;Poorna Charuka 5/26)Joes win Vaas-Murali TrophySt. Joseph’s chased down a target of 66 runs forthe loss of two wickets with eight balls to spare towin the Vaas-Murali Trophy match against St.Anthony’s Katugastota at Darley Road on

Saturday.Scores:St. Anthony’s 138 allout in 49.2 overs(Kanishka Ukgalpaya32, LakjeewaWjebandara 24,Mohamed Aflar 20;Harin Cooray 4/15,Malshan Rodrigo 3/27)and 160 all out in 80.4overs (KanishkaUggalpaya 41,Lakjeeva Wijebandara22, TheekshanaGunasinghe 44;Ruchira Ekanayake2/34, CharukaUlladupitiya 3/39,Hareen Cooray 4/46)St. Joseph’s (169 for 6o/n) 233 all out in 53.3

overs (Kevin Corteling 29, Nipun Sumanasinghe36, Neran Gunathilaka 20, Shevon Fonseka 37,Malshan Rodrigo 44, Charuka Ulladupitiya 25;Sandaruwan Dharmaratne 6/88, KavinduYapabandara 2/46) and 66 for 2 in 6.4 overs(Sandaruwan Rodrigo 30, Shevon Fonseka 21)Mahinda defy NalandaGihan Danushka and Vinura Dulsara made vitalcontributions in the second innings as Mahindaforced a draw to their match against Nalanda atCampbell Place onSaturday.Scores:Nalanda (405 for 9o/n) decl. in 94.2overs (DasunSeneviratne 39,Kasun Sandaruwan175, NimnakaRatnayake 68, Kavindu Bandara 33, DilanSuraweera 54 n.o.; Pasindu Dilshan 3/124,Ashen Kandamby 4/100)Mahinda 130 all out in 61.2 overs (RavinduMenaka 33, Vinura Dulsara 25; Kavindu Bandara5/48, Asel Kulathunga 3/12) and 105 for 4 in 38overs (Gihan Danushka 37 n.o., Vinura Dulsara28 n.o.; Kavindu Bandara 2/12)Royal-Wesley ends in drawSpinner Lasith Embuldeniya bagged eightwickets, Geeshath Panditharatne followed up hiscentury with a knock of 67 runs for Royal whileThilina Perera (85) and Zeneth Wickramanayakeexcelled for Wesley in the Sir Frank GunesekeraShield traditional cricket encounter ended in adraw at Campbell Park on Saturday.Scores:

Royal 279 for 8 decl. in 61.5 overs (GeeshathPanditharatne 112, Tiran Danapala 57, MalithKariyawasam 37, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 30;Yomesh Ranasinghe 3/88, Andrew Parais 3/64)and 173 for 6 decl. 29 overs (GeeshathPanditharathna 67, Tiran Danapala 48, RonukaJayawardena 20, Naveen Vidanapathirana 20;Yomesh Ranasingha 3/39)Wesley (83 for 6 o/n) 240 all out in 69.1 overs(Helitha Bambarenda 67, ChamodAthulathmudali 34, Movin Subasinghe 42; LasithEmbuldeniya 5/79, Helitha Vithanage 2/08) and192 for 7 in 29 overs (Thilina Perera 85, ZenethWickramanayake 47; Himesh Ramanayake 3/38,Lasith Embuldeniya 3/91)A draw at MoratuwaThe match between St. Sebastian’s andIsipatana ended in a draw at Moratuwa onSaturday.Scores:St. Sebastian’s 169 all out in 56.4 overs (DamienDebiser 50 n.o., Tharusha Fernando 43, PraveenPerera 22; Lahiru Dilshan 4/41, NeranjanWanniarachchi 2/33, Pramdo Maduwantha 2/39)and 256 all out in 66.2 overs (SandaruwanFernando 60, Sachintha Silva 51, NimeshBandara 43, Nuwanindu Fernando 37, PraveenPerera 29; Madushika Sandaruwan 4/88,Pramod Maduwantha 3/63, NeranjanWanniarachchi 2/28)Isipatana (110 for 5 o/n) 203 for 8 decl in 62overs (Sanjula Abeywickrame 64, DilsaraShaminda 60, Ayana Siriwardhane 38; SachinthaSilva 3/47, Nimesh Bandara 2/38, PraveenJayawickram3 2/65).

(lk.wisdenasia.com) It is quite ironic that MahelaJayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are scoringruns for fun in Twenty20 leagues across the worldwhile young Sri Lankan batsmen are struggling tocope with their retirement from international cricket.The numbers say it all. Since Jayawardene andSangakkara bowed out of T20 International cricketafter Sri Lanka won the World T20 title in 2014, theislanders have lost seven of 10 matches played inthe format. The results are similar in One-DayInternationals too – they have lost two of theirthree series since the retirement of the two formercaptains after the World Cup last year.The last few weeks in particular have been

interesting. Or depressing, if you’re a Sri Lankanfan. Jayawardene has made four half-centuriesand one century across the Big Bash League andthe Masters Champions League, while Sangakkarahit four consecutive half-centuries in the MCLbefore shifting to the Pakistan Super League.All this, while the highest score by a Sri Lankan inthe three-match T20I series against India was just35.It is no secret that Sri Lanka are struggling tohandle the transition, especially in the battingdepartment. It has been worsened by the injury toAngelo Mathews. A lot depended on TillakaratneDilshan, but the experienced opener fell in the first

over of both matches he played in,managing only one run in two inningscombined.Sri Lanka needed someone from NiroshanDickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, MilindaSiriwardana and Dasun Shanaka to stepup, but no one did. Only Dinesh Chandimaland Chamara Kapugedera showed asemblance of fight while the restsurrendered meekly.The most notable aspect of their batting hasbeen that not a single batsman has shownthe willingness to fight it out when the goinggot tough, as was evident in the third gamewhere they were shot out for their lowestT20I score of 82.“We’ve got an inexperienced team. Whenwe lost wickets, they (young batsmen)didn’t know how to stay there and get some

more runs. We struggled with that,” assessedChandimal, standing in as captain for theinjured Lasith Malinga, after theVisakhapatnam T20I.But while the batting has evidently struggled,some of the younger bowlers showed promise.Kasun Rajitha and Shanaka engineered amemorable win in the first match in Pune, whileDushmantha Chameera has impressed withhis pace and subtle variations.The attack will look much better as and whenMalinga and Mathews return – something theydesperately need at this stage.“When Angelo and Malinga come back, therewill be more experience within the group,”Graham Ford, the coach, told Wisden India lastweek. “For now, it is a different feel. We’veplayed some exciting cricket with this younggroup but there will be days where theinexperience might cost us.“This is the start of a rebuilding phase. It’s a bigchallenge for Sri Lankan cricket right now. We wantto get back to where Sri Lanka was. Everybody isaware that there’s a lot of talent in the island. It’sup to everyone involved to rebuild the national sideto where it was. The plan is more of a long-termone. We have to identify who the real talentedplayers are and work with them. That might take alittle bit of time. It’s not just T20. We have toidentify talent for the longer formats as well. It’s along process ahead for us. Nobody can say howlong it will take.”As Ford says, it’s not easy to predict when Sri

Lanka will be a big force again. But given that theAsia Cup and the World T20 are not too far away,the defending champions of both tournaments areclearly running out of time.“When we left Sri Lanka, we told ourselves thatthis little tour would be an indicator as to how farback we are, or how far we have to go,” Ford hadsaid.The little tour has clearly shown that Sri Lankahave a long way to go. A long-term solution for SriLanka’s woes will take a lot of hard work; the onlyquick fix seems to be the return of Mathews andMalinga.

The attack will look much better as and when Malinga

and Mathews return. © AFP

Since Jayawardene and Sangakkara bowed out of

T20 International cricket, Sri Lanka have lost seven

of 10 matches played in the format. © Getty Images

Sri Lanka in race to plug gaping holes

Petes in thrilling four wickets win

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