The draft of the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka, which is now circulating among the member nations of the UNHRC, was at the centre of discussion among political circles of the country in the past few days. It became quite apparent that the senior echelons of the government were expecting a much harder resolution from the United States especially with UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillai’s call to establish an international war crimes inquiry for Sri Lanka. They earlier assumed that an ‘international inquiry’ would constitute an integral part of the US resolution, standing in line with UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s recommendations.
The draft resolution however does not directly call for an international investigation. It actually calls upon the government of Sri Lanka to conduct an independent and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law and to implement the recommendations made in the reports of the Office of the High Commissioner.
The resolution calls for an investigation into alleged abuses by both parties to the conflict to be led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Navi Pillai.
It entrusted the Office of the High Commissioner with the task of assessing progress towards accountability and reconciliation, monitoring relevant national processes and investigating alleged violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka. The draft resolution only elicited negative response from those who wanted an international inquiry.
For instance, the Tamil Civil Society Forum, a network of Tamil civil society activists including Bishop of Mannar (retired) Rayappu Joseph, has stated that the draft resolution presented by the US to the 25th session of UNHRC does not call for an international investigation.
Expressing the views of the Forum, K. Guruparan, a lecturer in law at the University of Jaffna, had told the Tamil Guardian that the current draft resolution on Sri Lanka effectively called on the Sri Lankan government to investigate itself.
“The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is merely entrusted with weak oversight responsibilities. What is desperately needed is an international Commission of Inquiry to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law including the alleged crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity,” he had said.
The TNA too is of the same view about the resolution and they are trying hard to make it tougher over the next three weeks with the support of several powerful member nations of the UNHRC. The UNP believes that this US resolution is the last chance for the government to conduct a domestic inquiry and obviate international investigation.
Sino-devotion
Be that as it may, the government has given a strong signal to the US, India and several other nations who are backing the call, by holding lengthy discussions with a Chinese delegation over promoting strong investment ties between Sri Lanka and China. Whilst all the resolution was circulating in Geneva, 23 firms from Zhon-gshan, China were seeking to tie up with Sri Lanka’s private sector, with special focus on light industries such as chemicals, lighting, import and export, manufacturing home appliances, plastic, trade and logistics, electrical equipment, vacuum engineering and technology, etc. discussing possibilities during a recent visit to Sri Lanka by a Chinese delegation.
There is no doubt that China has a serious interest in Sri Lanka where trade and infrastructure is concerned and when we take the global equation for Sri Lanka, they are an important partner who has also proved to be an all weather friend. China is without doubt a world force to reckon with; they are not only the number one trading partner of the USA; a recent news report quoting the Hindustan Times said that China has also emerged as India’s foremost trading partner replacing the UAE, according to the PHD Chamber of Commerce of India. China, which has 8.7 per cent (49.5 billion US Dollars) of India’s total trade, is at first place with the US and the UAE coming second and third respectively.
According to another news report earlier this week, the bilateral trade volume between Sri Lanka and China has recorded 13.27 growth (US$ 3.28 billion) during January to December 2013, making them one of the nation’s leading trade partners. The report also says that a feasibility study is being done by the two governments on the China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. Some of the large scale local projects, which have already seen successful completion, are the Colombo International Container Terminals, the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the A9 road and the Colombo – Katunayake Expressway.
Several other investment projects were signed between Sri Lanka and China last year including the Colombo Harbour City Project by China Communications Construction Company and a real estate development project in Colombo 3 by the AVIC International Group.
Tissa, the cake worshipper
It was just several months ago that Pitiduwe Siridhamma Thera, who now calls himself ‘Siri Samanthrabadra’, publicly claimed that he had achieved enlightenment and he was an ‘arahat’ – which, according to the Buddhist belief, is one of the supreme spiritual heights that a human being can achieve in his lifetime. This statement came under severe criticism from veteran Buddhist scholars and senior monks as such spiritual status do not warrant publicity, media statements and boasting. A group of Bodu Bala Sena monks once beleaguered Siridhamma Thera’s ‘Asapuwa’ and threatened him to refrain from making statements that are detrimental to Buddhism.
Ever since, Siridhamma Thera has never failed to become a newsmaker. In a leaked video that was circulated on internet a few months ago, Siridhamma Thera said he was doing all that in the name of ‘publicity’. He said he triggered a negative publicity campaign against himself in an attempt to get more popularity.
However, this controversial monk’s birthday party took place recently at his ‘asapuwa’ with the participation of several top level politicians and business persons. Among those present were Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapakshe and Soma Edirisinghe, Chairperson of the EAP group. All of them were greeted warmly by the monk and were served with a sumptuous meal. The birthday party had no sign of self-austerity or self-denial preached in Buddhism and everyone was having a great time celebrating the monk’s birthday.
The highlight of the event was cutting the birthday cake and Soma Edirisinghe, Chairperson of EAP Group, was entrusted with the task of cutting the first piece of the cake. While Edirisinghe was cutting the cake, Tissa Attanayake, General Secretary of the United National Party who was standing alongside her, clasped his hands as if he was trying say ‘Saadu Saadu’. It was clear that this was the first time Attanayake attended the birthday party of a monk as he seemed clueless when Edirisinghe was cutting the cake! However, the politicians who attended the birthday party offered various presents to the monk while the latter was sitting on a high chair that was embedded with gems.
While the UNP General Secretary was enjoying sumptuous meals at Pitiduwe Siridhamma Thera’s birthday party, some members of the Leadership Council were making final adjustments to the election manifesto of the party which is scheduled to be launched on March 12. The election manifesto which explains the UNP’s development plans for the Western and Southern provinces was drafted by a special committee headed by Eran Wickremaratne. Before preparing the final draft of the manifesto, the committee consulted every UNP Parliamentarian representing Western and Southern Provinces. The draft was then presented to the Leadership Council of the party headed by Karu Jayasuriya. Actually it was Jayasuriya who initially suggested that the UNP should present an election manifesto targeting Western and Southern provincial council elections. The party deliberately kept the entire process under wraps aiming to launch the manifesto officially with an element of surprise.
Muzammil told off by Leadership Council
The Leadership Council also summoned Colombo Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil and held a special discussion with him regarding the issues he had within the party. Representing the Leadership Council, its Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and Leadership Council member Lakshman Kiriella attended the discussions. Referring to recent media statements issued by the Colombo Mayor, the Leadership Council members said Muzammil should refrain from making remarks that would create disharmony in the party.
They also reminded him of the fact that the party has now arrived at a critical juncture as the Western Provincial Council election is of great importance to the party. Muzammil, who earlier made some fiery remarks about UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake, agreed to the views expressed by the three bigwigs of the United National Party. He said he had already given newspaper interviews and they would appear in weekend newspapers. However, he agreed to refrain from making harsh remarks about Ravi Karunanayake with whom Muzammil was at loggerheads after Muzammil’s wife was denied nomination to contest from the Colombo district.
However, it is still not clear whether Ravi Karunanayake and Muzammil are ready to resort to a ‘forgive and forget’ policy. Muzammil is still of the belief that Karunanayake was instrumental in axing Foroza’s name from the Colombo district final list.
The battle between the UNP and Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana took a new turn this week when the UNP renewed its call to remove the Police Media Spokesman from his position for making statements that are detrimental to opposition political parties. The UNP issued a strongly worded statement against the Police Media spokesman after the latter criticized the party for granting nomination to Royce Fernando, who was arrested in connection with a robbery in Negombo.
This week, the UNP issuing another statement questioned the track record of SSP Ajith Rohana saying he politicized the Walasmulla Police station to a great extent when he was the Officer in Charge of the place in the mid 90s. The UNP pointed out there was a case against Rohana at the Supreme Court for assaulting a person who was in Police custody. “SSP Rohana, at that point, was found guilty of the charge and it is interesting to see as to how he rose to the SSP rank rapidly,” the main opposition party asked.
Prasanna attacked by Susil
When the provincial council election was announced, there were many in the ruling party who had dreams of becoming the next Chief Minister of the Western Province. Among them were former Provincial Council ministers, Parliamentarians and some newcomers to politics who sought short-cuts to higher offices. However, ending months of speculation, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Leader of Gampaha district and one of the most influential members of the government, openly announced that Prasanna Ranatunga would be appointed as the Chief Minister of the Western Province after the March 29th election. That shattered the dreams of many candidates who initially wanted to become the Chief Minister.
At a press conference held by the UPFA last week, the matter resurfaced when a journalist posed a question to UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premjayantha about the next Chief Minister of the Western Province. Minister Premjayantha, in his reply, stated that no decision had been made by the party as to who should become the Chief Minister of the Western province after the election. When Premjayantha made this remark, Prasanna Ranatunga, former Western Province Chief Minister was sitting next to him. After hearing the UPFA General Secretary’s remark, Ranatunga’s face turned red as it was in stark contrast with the assurance given by Basil Rajapaksa. After a few minutes, Premjayantha too realized that Ranatunga was in an inconvenient position. He soon changed his tone in an attempt to control the damage.
“Well, the next chief minister could be anyone. Maybe he’s sitting here today, among us,” Premjayantha said. However, it is crystal clear that despite Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s assurance to Prasanna Ranatunga, two former ministers of the Western Province namely Udaya Prabhath Gammanpila and Upali Kodikara have still not given up their Chief Ministerial hopes. The strategy both of them have resorted to is to get the highest number of preferential votes and position themselves as the ideal candidate for the position.
Harsha’s mobile phone tapped
UNP Parliamentarian and Economist Dr Harsha de Silva never failed to hit headlines in the media in the recent past. Last week, there was a new controversy involving de Silva saying the government was going to arrest him over the remarks he made about the Chinese company who was handling the Colombo port city project. Soon after the controversy gained momentum in the mainstream media, Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana issued a media statement saying there was no such instruction from anyone to arrest the UNP Parliamentarian. Now, Harsha de Silva claims that his mobile phone is being tapped by state intelligence bodies to keep track of his informants and the ones who associate with him.
With this new development, his telephone conversations have become extremely interesting. Immediately after greeting the person who’s at the other end of the telephone conversation, he greets the intelligence officers who, according to him, are listening to the conversation. Similarly, before hanging up the phone, he never fails to say ‘bye’ to those who have tapped his phone. (Courtesy: Sunday Leader)
