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The Muslims and Eastern Elections

Published on 29/03/2008 in Blogs, parties, people, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments
by Shanie

With the election to the Eastern Provincial Council drawing near, all the parties seem to be wooing the Muslims who form the significantly large A?a??E?ethnicA?a??a?? group throughout the East. In one of the three districts of the East, Ampara, they are clearly the largest single group. Hence the sudden interest in Muslims among the other parties, large and small. The ongoing ethnic conflict affects the Muslims in a very real way. But successive Governments have paid little attention to the concerns of the Muslims and when negotiations take place and agreements are reached, the Muslims have generally been ignored as an interested party. But it is not strange to see the same parties who ignored, and sometimes were hostile, to the concerns of the Muslims, falling over each other to woo the Muslim vote at an election. And so it has been this time as well. Chief Ministerships and other political inducements are being offered; the same offers are being offered to Tamil groups without a twinkling of an eye!

The Muslim leadership since Ashraf has matured and the fez cap no longer turns to the direction in which the political winds blow. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, which Ashraf founded in 1986, initially did not find favour with the conservative Colombo-based Muslim leadership. But today, it undoubtedly represents a wide cross-section of the Muslim community throughout Sri Lanka, as elections over the past decade have shown. After AshrafA?a??a??s untimely death, it is a pity that a group has broken away on the question of leadership of the party. But it is only a question of time before the party re-unites. The present leadership has shown commendable responsibility in carrying forward AshrafA?a??a??s legacy. It is this that has made the party reject political overtures from groups across the political spectrum, that both in the past and now continue to disregard Muslim concerns. These groups seem to show concern for Muslims only at election time.

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The origins of Muslims in Sri Lanka


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Unfortunately, there is no clear historical evidence regarding the origins of the Muslims in Sri Lanka. But the common belief is that the Muslims migrated to Sri Lanka from a variety of Asian regions A?a??a?? from West Asia, South Asia and East Asia. Their ethnic origins are probably a mix of diverse elements, though perhaps a significant majority migrated, like many other Sri Lankans, from neighbouring South India. Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan once claimed in a presentation to the Royal Asiatic Society that the Muslims in Sri Lanka were ethnically Tamils. This caused an uproar among the Muslims. Clearly, Ramanathan made this claim with political considerations. The fact that the Muslims in Sri Lanka speak Tamil is no evidence of their ethnicity. But even though historians are yet uncertain of their ethnic origins, it is clear that the Sri Lankan Muslims today have a distinct and separate identity and must be recognised as such.

This also shows the hollowness of the claims to ethnicity of many groups who form the Sri Lankan community. Perhaps a generation or two ago, all Muslims, including Malays, spoke Tamil as their home language and A M A Azeez was to claim it was their mother tongue. But today, many Muslims, particularly in the Western Province, have been educated in Sinhala and some of the present generation Muslims speak little Tamil. But this is true of the Tamils as well. There are many Tamils who have been educated in Sinhala, have adopted Sinhala names and some even embraced Buddhism. )There was this recent controversy over a Tamil Buddhist girl, educated in Sinhala, who won a Fifth Grade Scholarship place but refused admission to Visakha Vidyalaya presumably because of her ethnicity.) Historians and anthropologists have pointed out that there are many Sinhala and Tamil groups living in different parts of the country, who now claim an ethnic identity which was different from that of their forefathers.

The Sri Lankan Muslims also fall into this category, like many other Sinhala and Tamil groups, who cannot be given a distinct ethnic identity. But they have a distinct identity as a community with particular concerns of their own. That is why they feel disappointed when they are excluded from negotiations to resolve the National Question. Without entering into the controversy over traditional homelands, just as Tamils have traditionally been in occupation of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the Muslims have also been in traditional occupation of the same provinces. For trade and other reasons, both Tamils and Muslims occupy pockets in other Provinces as well; and in recent times after the opening up of irrigation schemes, the Sinhalese occupy pockets in the Northern and Eastern Provinces too. Whilst conceding the need for each group to preserve their identity and to resist attempts to assimilate them by chauvinists with a political agenda, it is necessary for us to acknowledge that Sri Lanka is now a mix with ethnic boundaries getting blurred.

Historic Grievances

The Muslims have traditionally been a pacifist group in Sri Lanka. They were settled in trade, farming and other occupations, did not engage in overt religious proselytisation and did not engage in any organised violence against other communities. On the contrary, they have been the victims of violence over the years. Although we rightly criticise the colonial rulers for the heavy-handedness with which they handled the 1915 disturbances, we must also acknowledge that the Muslims then were the victims of hate and violence. In more recent years, they have been the victims of chauvinists who A?a??E?ethnically cleansedA?a??a?? them from the North. Thousands of them still remain as internally displaced in the Puttalam district. The same chauvinists desecrated the Mosque at Kattankudy and killed hundreds of worshippers in cold blood. Irrigation schemes and the introduction of new colonists from outside particularly in the Ampara district saw acres of land tilled by the Muslims being taken away. This process is being re-asserted in recent times through an extremist group who are part of the present Government.

Agreements were reached in 1958 and again in 1965 between the Tamils and the then Governments to devolve power to the North and East. In both instances, Muslim concerns were not accommodated. Muslim (and other minority) interests have been ignored by successive Governments. Muslims quite rightly feel that unless specific guarantees are in place, even a devolved administration, which naturally will be dominated by Tamils, in the North and East will continue to ignore Muslim interests.

Devolution and the Muslims

Part of the difficulty in devolving power is that the Muslims do not occupy a contiguous area in the North and East. In the East where they share almost equal numbers with the Tamils, the Muslim and Tamil villages almost alternate each other along the coast from Valaichenai to Pottuvil. Under ideal conditions, this is a welcome mix but in the present political context, it presents severe administrative problems. Having a non-contiguous Council for the Muslims may involve insurmountable practical constraints. One way out may be to carve out two contiguous Regional Councils out of the present Eastern Province with one having a Muslim majority and the other, a Tamil majority, with clearly defined safeguards to ensure that minority interests (which will include the Sinhala minority as well) within each Regional Council are protected. But this is thinking into the future when hopefully there will be a political will to ensure peace and justice for all communities living in our country.

For the present, the Muslims along with other Sri Lankans have to grin and bear. The forthcoming provincial election is not going to bring them any solace. But the SLMC is right not to opt out of the election, however farcical it may turn out to be. Undoubtedly for reasons of political expediency, the SLFP has shamelessly entered into an agreement with the TMVP which, despite all the rhetoric, remains an armed militant group that terrorises the civilian population. Using the TMVP for short term political gains will surely lead to longer term problems for the country, as we learnt to our cost by the Premadasa Government arming the LTTE for short term gains.

True liberation for the people of the East (and indeed for the people of the North and the rest of the country) will come about only when true democracy is restored; when our political leadership realises that a resolution of a political problem cannot come about by military or militant action but only by a political will to ensure fair, just and good governance.

source:
http://www.island.lk/2008/03/29/features4.html

Aid groups in Sri Lanka tackle ‘fat cat’ image

Published on 25/03/2008 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, Money Matters, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

Blogged by: Glenda Cooper

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author’s alone.

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International aid workers disembark at a jetty in Trincomalee in August 2006. File photo by REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe
International aid workers disembark at a jetty in Trincomalee in August 2006. File photo by REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe
There is a joke that goes round about aid agencies in Colombo. Try saying the acronym NGO in a Sri Lankan accent; it sounds very much like the word “enjoy” – and that, say many journalists, is the attitude aid workers have taken to their work in the country. Certainly that’s how many Sri Lankan newspapers have portrayed NGOs: as fat cats enjoying their dollar salaries, riding round in big cars and staying in the best hotels. Of course this is not an unfamiliar criticism: It’s one that agencies come across in many different countries. But the attacks on NGOs have been so sustained in Sri Lanka that agencies in Colombo are now coming together to talk about how to deal with this, thinking up imaginative solutions to build bridges with the press and get their message across to the Sri Lankan people. Simon Harris, who has worked as a senior manager and consultant with international NGOs in Sri Lanka for over 15 years, says the local media took a hostile attitude to aid groups fairly early on. “They began to refer to the NGO congestion of humanitarian space that was occurring as a ‘second tsunami’ – that was a catchphrase that was used quite a lot,” he says. “People started to ask what were all these people doing, what were the benefits of having them here? Added to that, Colombo hotels were at 100 percent capacity, restaurants were full of white faces and people started to ask questions.” Was that criticism justified? Ranga Kalansooriya of the Sri Lankan Press Institute says: “The media is no different from the rest of society; it reflects it… There is still an island mentality attacking international institutions.” And Harris believes that while the rapid proliferation of international post-tsunami NGOs undoubtedly complicated the delivery of humanitarian assistance, it also provided a convenient scapegoat for a politically partisan national media to distract domestic public focus from the shortcomings of the governments’ own relief efforts and the break-down of the peace process. But it didn’t help that the hundreds of new international NGOs on the ground required staff – and often lured them with higher salaries from local NGOs, the military and government. And aid agencies didn’t always prove their own best ambassadors. Journalists in Colombo complain about the fact that agencies have offices on Gregory’s Road (one of the smartest roads in Colombo), and as one journalist who works for an international media organisation puts it: “Why are all the aid workers in the Gallery Cafe (one of the best restaurants) at lunchtime?” The familiar white sports utility vehicles came in for particular criticism as a symbol of NGOs’ high living. But as one aid worker in Batticaloa says in exasperation: “Why do NGOs have to travel in these kind of big vehicles? It’s because of the security issues – and the government also impose rules and regulations. NGOs can’t simply use a commuter van to get around in – otherwise they are not immediately identifiable.” While many of the international NGOs worked hard after the tsunami to ensure their efforts in Sri Lanka were recognised back home, and media departments organised trips, footage and photographs to show donors that money was well spent, they did not always focus on explaining themselves so well to the Sri Lankan media, something that some NGOs now privately admit they need to do. The consequences of bad publicity in the Sri Lankan media are not just irritating – they can be dangerous, provoking riots or causing staff to come under attack. In January, after Dutch agency ZOA was accused of providing support to Tamil Tiger rebels (an allegation it strongly denies), an angry mob stormed its office. Then in February this year, diplomats from a dozen countries as well as UN agencies held a media conference to rebut these kind of allegations and warned that international NGOs were willing to quit the country if these kind of “irresponsible” stories persisted. But agencies have also turned to other ways to connect with the Sri Lankan people. Displeased with what the media is doing, they have turned to creating their own media. Television production company YATV (Young Asian Television) has formed partnerships with different agencies such as Norwegian Church Aid, CARE Sri Lanka and Plan International. Concerned that tsunami stories in the press focused on aid efforts that were behind schedule or where things had gone wrong, the U.S. Agency for International Development helped fund a series of programmes that began this March called “Coastal Rising”. It looked for unashamedly upbeat positive stories – what U.S. Ambassador Robert O’ Blake called at its launch “the other side of the story – stories of hope, courage and success”. The series, filmed in different parts of Sri Lanka, was made in Sinhalese, Tamil and English, and as well as TV programmes there were also radio programmes and articles in local newspapers to try to redress the balance. USAID also helped support a trilingual YATV soap-opera style drama, “The East is Calling”. Set in the aftermath of the tsunami, it shows Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims seeking refuge from the wave in a Buddhist temple. The director, Sri Lanka filmmaker Asoka Handagama, said the idea was to plant, deliberately and subtly, “culturally sensitive ideas” into the drama. Plan International produced a video with YATV called “After the Big Wave”, which was specifically designed to explain the science behind the tsunami to the children who had suffered from it. More conventionally, the Sri Lankan Press Complaints Commission has made it clear to NGOs that if they feel stories in the press are unfair they can complain to the independent body, which will then attempt to resolve the dispute. The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, an umbrella group for NGOs, has formed a media working group and earlier in the year an evening was organised in which journalists were invited to meet members of NGOs in an attempt to help both sides understand each other better. But there is still a long way to go. Those who attended that evening said there were lots of NGOs talking over the snacks and soft drinks, but – perhaps predictably – very few journalists turned up.Reuters AlertNet is not responsible for the content of external websites.

source:
http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/30708/2007/04/29-115751-1.htm

Comments on Reuter’s pages:

  1. Florian Westphal says:
    31 May 2007 08:10:31 GMT Thanks very much for the interesting Blog. However, I am bemused by your choice of photo which actually shows the ICRC’s evacuation of some 150 stranded people – including a few aid workers – from Jaffna peninsula which was almost entirely cut off at the time the photo was taken. In what way is the photo connected to the subject of the story?Florian Westphal ICRC
  2. AlertNet moderator says:
    31 May 2007 11:43:53 GMT Thanks for your note, Florian. The picture was not meant to imply a connection between the ICRC’s evacuation of stranded people from Jaffna and the subject of the blog. The intention was simply to show international aid workers in action in Sri Lanka, purely for illustrative purposes.
  3. Yafet says:
    Order sinequan side 31 May 2007 14:35:29 GMT The blog has reminded me of something about NGOs in my own country, Ethiopia. Here many Ethiopians, including me, appreciate being employee of NGOs in general and the international ones in particular. It is not that much tough to guess why. The big salary is the major cause.Regarding the activites being accomplished by NGos here, many have different views. Some comments NGOs are working to meet their respective hidden objectives besides the ones they are stating openly. According to these people, no country has so far achieved sustainable development through NGos. They quote the renowned book, ‘Lords of Poverty’ in supporting their arguments. The other argument these groups put forward as weakness is that NGOs use their fund to employ citizens of the country where that NGO is originated. If the NGO is from Britain, it is inevitable that there will be British employees at higher positions. The NGOs do not care whether they can find local professinals that can do with lower salary what the foreigners do. They solely stick to their ‘principle’ of employing foreigners with huge salary. Moreover, according to their ‘principle’, the vehicles, and other materials should be imported from that country where the NGO is originated. For instance, Save the Children UK should have Lndrovers or other vehicles manufactured in Britain.The same is true for other NGOs. Taking this in to consideration many African countries see NGOs in suspicion.
  4. Sunil Mendis says:
    05 Jun 2007 09:36:01 GMT You quote an aid worker in Batticaloa arguing that they need big SUVs because of a security issue. he goes on to say: ” NGOs can’t simply use a commuter van to get around in – otherwise they are not immediately identifiable.” However, the two local volunteers of the Red Cross who was shot dead in Sri Lanka were travelling by train! Perhaps, public transport is OK for them because they are not foreigners. The two men were picked up by gunmen from the Colombo Fort Railway station on June 1 and found shot dead the day after. Each SUV costs in excess of 20 million rupees in Sri Lanka. you can build 20 rural schools with that cash. or two rural hospitals…
  5. Deepa says:
    Gout celebrex treatment 05 Jun 2007 09:38:45 GMT I am glad that you have tackled a subject that has rankled Sri Lankans for quite a while. May I say that you have only scratched the tip of the iceberg. To refer to just one point in your blog, I take umbrage at what the exasperated aid worker in Batticaloa has to say. Have you seen what these SUVs look like? Huge, flashy road-hoggers which look every inch the US $180,000 to US$ 250,000 that they cost. We are not asking Mr. Exasperated and his ilk to use public transport, but why canA?A?A?a??A?a??t they travel in less ostentatious, cheaper vehicles, with, if they want, the logos of their agencies emblazoned all over to make them easily identifiable? And what security issues is he referring to? Only last week, two Sri Lankan employees of the Red Cross who had to hoof it back home to Batticaloa by train were abducted at the railway station and brutally killed. That brings the number of Sri Lankan aid agency employees murdered in the last 10 mon! ths by unknown killers to 19. How many foreign aid workers have met with the same fate here? Most of the A?A?A?a??A?A?security issuesA?A?A?a??A?A? that foreign workers encounter here are the hostility they engender among the poor when they alight from such grand chariots. And, Ms Cooper, you have forgotten to include ODEL and the city nightclubs among the beneficiaries who receive foreign aid in this sad island of ours.
  6. Sunil Mendis says:
    05 Jun 2007 11:28:39 GMT (CORRECTING earlier post, adding paragraph)You quote an aid worker in Batticaloa arguing that they need big SUVs because of a security issue. he goes on to say: ” NGOs can’t simply use a commuter van to get around in – otherwise they are not immediately identifiable.” However, the two local volunteers of the Red Cross who were shot dead in Sri Lanka were travelling by train! Perhaps, public transport is OK for them because they are not foreigners. The two men were picked up by gunmen from the Colombo Fort Railway station on June 1 and found shot dead the day after. Each SUV costs in excess of 20 million rupees in Sri Lanka. you can build 20 rural schools with that cash, or two rural hospitals. We are not even talking about the huge salaries foreign aid workers are paid. Ofcourse they need huge pay to come and work in a difficult place like Sri Lanka where caviar is duty free and Champagne is a tad too warm. It is clear that most of the NGO s are there to support their own staff.
  7. chamath says:
    08 Jun 2007 10:33:29 GMT Glenda, an excellent article tackling a very difficult issue and the first of its kind I have seen.I think the UN and other leading agencies need to set an example and they are the worst offenders driving around in massive land cruisers that the average person living in Sri Lanka simply cannot relate to. Average incomes in Sri Lanka are $60 per month for rural farmers. Income inequality in my opinion is the hidden problem in Sri Lanka that perpetuates the conflict which makes this article doubly relevant. Most analysts mention human rights issues and a minority fighting for rights and a government not willing to concede when talking about Sri Lanka. The other side to the story is about grinding poverty, cultural subjugation, language barriers, class barriers, traditional culture fighting for its place and perceived threats to Buddhism from western practices and Christianity. You may see from this how NGOs get linked to these problems, and therefore how their lifestyle and policies become a part of the conflict in Sri Lanka.
  8. Magnum says:
    08 Jun 2007 11:52:15 GMT “I also have close connections with Sri Lanka and visited the East Coast many times. I am in close contact with a correspondent based in Arugam Bay since 1977. Dr. Miller embraced the IRCS in January 2005 and offered all his facilities and premises to them – for free. What happened to this relationship? Why is the biggest Red Cross supporter now their biggest and most cynical critic? The same seems to have happened with the Swiss Red Cross – an investigation is on the way here in Swiss. I am informed a home grown, locaL report will soon be published on www.arugam.info And by all accounts the Red Cross will come out very badly indeed.
  9. Thomas says:
    08 Jun 2007 11:52:49 GMT I have seen the deplorable and dishonest way the Red Cross behaved at PottuVille and specially at badly affected Arugam Bay. Ask anyone there and you will earn that this formerly great organization has totally lost the initial respect of local residents. I have contributed my own personal observations to a forthcoming article on a local web site. What is written above is a huge understatement. I feel the public has to beef up the PR against the behaviour of the mighty ENJOY’s and counter their own well paid propaganda. Thomas, Colombo
  10. Sarathchandra says:
    24 Jun 2007 10:31:22 GMT I am glad that Glenda Cooper pointed out what most Sri Lankans (except those who directly work as local staff to NGOs) have come to loathe as the International Disaster Industry. On my visits to my hometown in Sri Lanka I have seen many examples of bogus aid programs by these NGOs. I also found that some NGOs transfer large sums of US dollars back to their home countries via black market foreign currency traders. Now, can someone tell me how aid workers can transfer piles of $70,000 back to their accounts, while having a luxurious holiday. There are many locals too who have jumped on this bandwagon and created their own kind of Tsunami Tourism Enterprises. A number of churches in the USA fly their members out periodically on these tsunami tours. The old ladies who dish out their dollars on Sunday have no clue where they go. NGOs should function ONLY with local staff in countries like Sri Lanka. Most of the foreign staff that! come are much less capable/qualifed than local staff but who cares they are only there for the tour!

psychological first aid

Published on 23/03/2008 in Blogs, Money Matters, people and press coverage. 0 Comments

SRI LANKA: Boosting capacity in “psychological first aid”

NEGOMBO, 23 March 2008 (IRIN) – When school teacher M. Shihama was put in charge of a class of unruly slow learners earlier this year, her heart sank.

“At first, I was reluctant to take them on,” said the social science teacher at Al-Falah high school in Negombo in the western Gampaha District, fearing they were just troublemakers “But then I found that the children were actually miserable because they had been told they weren’t as good as the others.”

Using skills she learnt at a workshop on post-disaster mental health, Shihama coaxed her students, some of whom are still shaken after the 2004 tsunami, to make the most of their talents. She was pleased when colleagues soon began to see changes in the behaviour of her charges.

Shihama is one of almost 7,000 Sri Lankans, among them about 1,000 teachers, who have been trained in “psychological first aid, community and personal mental health and stress management” under a US$5 million post-tsunami psychosocial programme funded by the American Red Cross (ARC).

“They have been trained to be the first responders who can help survivors by contributing to their long-term resilience and their ability to cope with what’s going on,” said Kelly Bauer, the ARC’s information and reporting delegate for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Training for some 8,000

Working with its national counterpart, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), the ARC has about nine months to go before the three-year project winds up in five tsunami-affected districts, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Colombo and Gampaha. Some 8,000 people will have been trained by them and an estimated 250,000 people have benefited, according to Bauer.

“After the tsunami, we had just a handful psychiatrists and psychologists who had to handle the large number of people that needed help in coming to terms with their ordeal,” observed Avindra Jayawardene of the Faculty of Medicine at the Ruhunu University in Galle. “So, any attempt to sensitise individuals in communities to pick up the psychological effects of a disaster can be a good thing.”

Practical benefits

But he pointed out: “They must be linked to a process of actually using what they know – or when the next disaster strikes, they won’t have had the practical experience of dealing with different scenarios and in adapting what they have learnt,” he said.

In the severely tsunami-battered southern districts of Galle and Matara, Nadeeja Abeydheera, the SLRCS’ psychosocial support officer for the south, has seen the training in post-disaster psychological support for community responders pay off during recurrent tsunami alerts in the past two years.

“There is a great sense of participation and involvement in the communities,” she said. “The people we have trained take the lead to evacuate others, take them to safe places, pass on information and keep the community together.”

Neutralizing the victim mentality

Justin Curry, the programme’s regional technical adviser, told IRIN it has great psychological benefits. “It is designed to neutralise the victim mentality.”

The ARC’s psychosocial programme does not deliver traditional psychiatric treatment for mental health problems, Curry told IRIN, but focuses on knitting together communities that have become unravelled after a disaster has struck and equipping them to face future calamities.

“The basic principle underlying the programme is that a disaster not only impacts on individuals, but also pulls communities and support systems apart,” he said.

“We are not so much concerned with the different types of activities that are held, but that people are brought back together by promoting a sense of collective problem solving for a common goal,” said Curry, adding that the ARC first implemented its psychosocial programme after earthquakes hit El Salvador and Gujarat State in western India in 2001.

Promoting feelings of security, unity

Support officers and community facilitators organise a variety of events, cultural shows and festivals to promote feelings of security and unity.

Murals are painted on school walls depicting the five steps of psychological first aid – meet basic needs, listen, accept survivors’ feelings, assist them to move on, and refer for treatment.

At a nursery for pre-schoolers in Negombo, youngsters recently had the unusual opportunity of exchanging their toy guns and swords for more innocuous playthings such as flutes and balls. “We funded this project at the request of the teachers who noticed that the children were unusually aggressive towards each other,” explained Thanaluxmy Robinson, the SLRCS’ psychosocial project coordinator in Gampaha.

“One of our initial challenges was working with a diversity of ethnic and religious groups in all the affected areas,” said Curry. “What affected one group did not necessarily affect another, so the projects had to be tailored for each community.”

cj/bj[END]

A?A? IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.irinnews.org Order parietal scalp Purchase bystolic coupons

The arugambay beach .

Published on 22/03/2008 in accomodation, Blogs, cabanas, guesthouse, hotels, press coverage, restaurants and the bay. 0 Comments

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source:

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Simple Wisdom

Published on 16/03/2008 in Money Matters, people, press coverage, presse-deutsch, services, the bay and wild life. 0 Comments
Liebe Freunde,
Nach langer Zeit mA?A?chte ich wieder mal ein Lebenszeichen und ein Update A?A?ber unsere Projekte in Sri Lanka schicken.
Die letzten 3 Monate habe ich in Sri Lanka und diesmal auch in Indien verbracht und Yoga unterrichtet.
Ich werde mich kA?A?nftig nicht mehr so lange auf der Insel aufhalten und mich mehr auf Yoga-Workshops in A?a??sterreich und Europa konzentrieren. (Workshoptermine siehe www.simple-wisdom.net)
Dank meiner verlA?A?sslichen Mitarbeiter in Sri Lanka und meines neuen A?A?sterreichischen Mitarbeiter Martin Hartl(siehe unten), werden dennoch die Sozial-Projekte bis auf weiteres weiterlaufen.
Die Situation auf Sri Lanka wird zunehmend dramatischer. Der Konflikt wird immer blutiger, die wirtschaftliche Situation bei 25 % Inflation immer schlechter, und die Skepsis gegen auslA?A?ndische Organisationen die auf der Insel sozial aktiv sind immer grA?A?sser.
Folgende Projekte werden derzeit von uns betreut oder sind in Planung:
  • Gerade wird ein Damm fA?A?r die Ureinwohner gebaut (siehe Foto) und ein weiteres Dammprojekt ist im konfliktbelasteten nA?A?rdlichen Zentralland in Planung.
  • An der OstkA?A?ste unterstA?A?tzen wir weiterhin Camps und KriegsflA?A?chtlingsfamilien (siehe den Blogauszug im Pdf-Anhang).
  • Ein WA?A?rterbuch fA?A?r die Veddha-Sprache der Ureinwohner in Sri Lanka ist in der Endphase.
  • Einige small-scale businesses (NA?A?hmaschinen) sind im Entstehen und
  • die Schulbeihilfen von ca. 40 SchA?A?lern/innen und GehA?A?lter fA?A?r Lehrer / KindergA?A?rtnerinnen gehen weiter.
  • Unser Teilzeit-Mitarbeiter Shanil, der gegenwA?A?rtig in Australien studiert, hat in Zusammenarbeit mit einer Sri Lanka UniversitA?A?t ein Konzept fA?A?r erneuerbare Enerigien durch Biogas fA?A?r ein Dorf entwickelt. Auf der seiner Suche nach Patnern werden wir dieses Projekt entsprechend unserer finanziellenA?A?MA?A?glichkeiten unterstA?A?tzen. Mehr Info dazu findet Ihr im Anhang; Shanil kannA?A?auch direkt erreicht werden unter: shanil.samarakoon@gmail.com
Simple Wisdom hat seit letztem Jahr einen neuen Mitarbeiter: Martin Hartl ist fA?A?r ein effektives Handy-Projekt entwickelt bei demA?A?kaputte Handys A?A?ber eine Behinderte-WerkstA?A?tte in A?a??sterreich wieder in Stand gesetzt und A?A?ber e-bay verkauft werden. Der ErlA?A?s daraus wird unseren Projekten zur VerfA?A?gung gestellt.
Martin ist zZ auf einer Projektreise in Sri Lanka und wird nach seiner RA?A?ckkehr einen zusammenfassenden Bericht im Internet verA?A?ffentlichen.
Falls jemand von Euch ausgediehnte oder deffekte Handys zu Hause oder in Eurem Bekanntenkreis A?A?brig hat, kA?A?nnenA?A? wir diese mit wenig Aufwand aber groA?A?en Ertrag in Projektengelder umwandeln.

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12,000+ Problems solved ….

Published on 10/03/2008 in Blogs, Money Matters and press coverage. 0 Comments

More than 12,000 problems solved at Ampara Janatha Sathkara Seva programme

Shirley Wijesinghe

Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Karu Jayasuriya appealed to all political parties to refrain from any undemocratic action such as boycotting the Provincial Council Election and give their fullest support to restore the democratic administration of the Province.

Minister Jayasuriya made this appeal addressing a gathering of the 9th Janatha Sathkara Seva programme held at D.S. Senanayake National School, Is altace the generic or trade name Ampara recently. The 9th Janatha Sathkara Seva programme was represented by 156 Government Departments, Corporations and Non-Government all organisations.

More than 12,000 problems Ditropan price related to the public of Ampara were resolved within two days under the direction of respective officers of the organisations. Continue reading ‘12,000+ Problems solved ….’

Watching out for the Tigers – in Ella

Published on 10/03/2008 in Blogs, people, press coverage and stop over Ideas. 0 Comments

watch out for the tigers..

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Flag of Sri Lanka
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008A?A?A?A?08:43

Entry 53 of 53 | show all | Cost of amaryl print this entry


So, the warning are out there, keep your eyes peeled.. The tigers are on the move.. The Tamil Tigers that is, bombs have killed close to 200 people here in Sri Lanka since the year has begun, and although things have quieted off a little now, trouble has struck all over the country..

It was a little disconcerting on one of my last evening in Hikkaduwa, when the regional authority decided to have a conference in the hotel opposite the dive shop I was working at, road blocks were set up, the AK’s were unpacked and police roamed the street on the lookout for the “evil” tigers..

All very mixed up I feel, why have a security sensitive event in your prime holiday destination, then why make all the local bars shut early so the ministers or officials can party till the sunrises (keeping me awake with the music).
But that is Sri Lanka at its best, short term gain over long term investment.. if something had happen during that conference, that would have been it for a long time, no one would want to visit..

Anyhow, IA?a??a??m out of Hikkaduwa for the time being, I say for the time being, because I have to head back there and pick up my rescue diver cert, passed the test and all the exercises, then the boss managed to run out of paperwork for me to fill out, so IA?a??a??ll have to head back and dot the iA?a??a??s and cross the tA?a??a??s..A?A? Up in the hill country currently and the weather has changed from the heat and humidity of the coast, a fresh chill now filters through the sky, itA?a??a??s the cleanest air that IA?a??a??ve even tasted, itA?a??a??s crisp and sharp, full of goodness..

Yala national park was visited, http://padayatra.org/yala.htm and also the FCO,
A?a??A?as well as coastal areas of Ampara district east of the A25 and A27 roads.A?A? We define the areas around Yala National Park as those east of the A2 and south of the A4.A?A? See the Terrorism and Local Travel sections of this advice for more details.A?a??A?

Eak! But it was worth it, even if we had to start an hour later because the army have to sweep the road for bombs, and by losing that hour in the morning we lost our main chance of spotting a leopard in the wild, although it was that wild out there really, hair raising around in a 4×4 land rover whilst 4 or 5 other vehicles all do the same, itA?a??a??s one hell of a noise that is kicked up.. The animal have to build up a tolerance to it, but only after time..

Breakfast time was a interesting, we stopped at the tourist rest area, which was made up of 3 concrete slabs and a plaque of remembers,A?A? 22 Japanese tourist were killed here when the tsunami struck, around 40 people in total were killed as the wave washed inland 1.5km.

We had a good day, besides the sore arse from bouncing about in the jeep for 6 hours..

Ella is somethingA?A? else though, up in the highest inn, run by an Aussie couple it has been a refreshing break from the usual faceless guesthouses that are on offer, they have turned the place into their home and warmly welcome guest, iggy popA?a??a??s A?a??A?a lust for lifeA?a??A? was bellowing from the hifi as we entered, what a luxury, music A?a??a?? loud music, music from back home.. itA?a??a??s weird how the small things make the difference..

More to follow..

We stayed at the Highest Inn, Ella

source:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jhnhtt/berlin/1204033380.html

Arugambay Seaweed

Published on 09/03/2008 in Blogs, Money Matters, press coverage and wild life. 0 Comments

Government gets tough on …..
By Nadia Fazlulhaq

In the wake of reports that an academic attached to a research institute had allegedly attempted to smuggle samples of endemic plant genes out of the country, Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka has said steps will be taken to plug the loopholes in the law to curb bio-piracy.

He said that under Sri LankaA?a??a??s wildlife laws, it was an offence to export plant or species substances without the prior approval of the Conservator General of Forest.A?a??A?Bio-piracy has been taking place in the country for many years. Since plants are quarantined, those who are involved in bio-piracy take gene extracts in capsules masqueraded as lipsticks or perfumes, though a small quantity of ten millilitres is allowed,A?a??A? Mr. Ranawaka said.

Plants protected for patents

Forest Conservator General Sarath Fernando said permission should be obtained if a researcher wants to extract a gene sample to take abroad for research purposes.A?a??A?The professor who was nabbed recently had obtained no permission to either conduct a research or make a sample. It is a violation of the law,A?a??A? he said adding that an export sample should be inspected by Forest Department officials who would give a no-objection letter to the Customs.

According to Mr. Fernando, a regulation passed in 2002 under the Forest Ordinance says that the export of gene samples should be done with the prior approval of the relevant authorities. The regulations were passed in order to preserve Sri LankaA?a??a??s exclusive patent rights over endemic flora and fauna.

Mr. Fernando said if these samples were sent abroad for research purposes, there should be a clear-cut agreement over intellectual property rights if some medicinal drug was developed using Sri Lankan plants.A Customs official said that taking abroad a rare endemic plant without a permit is an offence.A?a??A?Professors and academic involved in research should know that there is a set of guidelines and procedures to follow when taking these samples abroad,A?a??A? he said.

When asked to give specific details of the recent case, the official say Seaweed collected from Arugambay Purchase lanoxin medication and Kirinda had been taken to labs in Kandy and cultured before gene samples were extracted into a capsule.A?a??A?Plant chromosomes sent abroad are used in the production of medicinal drugs and later patent rights are claimed on plants which are sometimes rare and endemic to Sri Lanka,A?a??A? the official said.

After the professor was nabbed at the airport, Customs official said they raided the labs of the Institute of Fundamental Studies and found about 40 chromosomes or gene samples. The samples had been sent to the Government Analyst, the Customs official said. The IFS is governed by a board whose Chairman is the President of the country. It was established under Parliament Act No.55 in 1981.

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When contacted, IFS Director Keerthi Tennakoon denied the allegation that an IFS professor had tried to smuggle the plant substance.A?a??A?He was taking a sample to US for research. Customs have the right to seize the product,A?a??A? he said.

source:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080309/News/news0019.html

IIGEP’s decision

Published on 09/03/2008 in Blogs, people, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

* Sri Lanka government says IIGEP’s decision hasty
Saturday, March 8, 2008, 6:57 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 08, Colombo: The decision taken by the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) to wrap up their operations at the end of this month is hasty and regrettable, Sri Lankan government said.

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“Sleeping Tigers”

Published on 09/03/2008 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, people, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

Muslim militancy rears its head in theA?A?east

March 9, 2008 by lrrp

While right-thinking Muslim leaders, not succumbing to this pressure, have tried to get the frustrated youth to involve themselves in politics instead, others have made use of them A?a??a?? and continue to do so even today A?a??a?? for crimes. This is an open secret in the east.

In a worrisome development, amid violence and threats in the east, there are confirmed reports that say Muslim extremists are abandoning their previously quiet lifestyle for armed resistance.

Several attempts by a few Muslim leaders in the east to conceal this fact has failed as the extremists, mostly youth, who have been ignored by society, are insistent on carrying arms and fighting for their lost rights.

It is known that the creation of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) itself was in order to prevent Muslim youth from embracing arms. This is a clear indication that the Muslim youth have been longing to embrace militancy, similar to Tamil militancy, with a view to protecting their interests.

The majority of Sri LankaA?a??a??s 1.3 million Muslims live in the east and a section of the community has been overtly exerting pressure on Muslim politicians and leaders to deal with the LTTE militarily.

Open secret
While right-thinking Muslim leaders, not succumbing to this pressure, have tried to get the frustrated youth to involve themselves in politics instead, others have made use of them A?a??a?? and continue to do so even today A?a??a?? for crimes. This is an open secret in the east.

Continue reading ‘“Sleeping Tigers”’

Muslims have never clamoured for regional power

Published on 09/03/2008 in Blogs, Money Matters, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

Only a few are chosen as power players to mould and make political parties from behind the screen in politics. They may not be popular in politics but certainly make others popular through their skills and expertise. One such person who has been active in the Sri Lankan politics is A. M. M. Naushad, son of former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ninthavur M. I. M. Majeed and son – in – law of also former MP for Ampara M. A. Abdul Majeed. He is today the UNPA?a??a??s convener for Eastern Province and Chairman of the Eastern province Political Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the UNPA?a??a??s working committee.

Naushad who was one time a High Command member of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) says if the TMVP was not armed today, the UNP would have participated at tomorrowA?a??a??s election in Batticaloa. Accusing the TMVPA?a??a??s alliance with the government, Naushad told The Nation that the non participation of the UNP at tomorrowA?a??a??s election was to protest against the governmentA?a??a??s efforts to legitimise the TMVP through a working arrangement both parties have arrived at. He also declared that the UNP in the future will not align with smaller parties to contest election, but instead, added, if smaller parties desired to contest with the UNP, they should do so under the UNP symbolBy Wilson Gnanadass
Following are excerpts:
Q: How would you describe the support to the UNP by the Muslims in the East at present?
A: The UNPA?a??a??s support per se in the East among the Muslims is not something that can be quantified from what has happened since 2001. Up to the year 2000, the UNP had Muslim elected representation in Trincomalee and Batticaloa while in Ampara there was a National list MP. Thereafter with the electoral arrangements made with the SLMC, there has been no UNP organisation at electoral level, even though Ali Sahir Moulana and thereafter Myown Mustapha, were nominated on the National list. This has been due to the fact that the SLMC has always aligned with the governing party, and this has basically kept the people with them for want of political patronage. The SLMC will admit that their success at the 2001 and 2004 general elections in the East was as a result of them being able to rope in the UNP vote base.

Q: The UNP on your recommendation is not contesting the local polls scheduled for tomorrow. Why?
A: The assumption that the UNP decided not to contest in Batticaloa on my recommendation is incorrect. I as the Provincial Convener, having assessed the ground situation and the happenings in the district, was of the opinion that a free and fair election cannot be held in the Batticaloa district, with one contesting group being armed and working along with government forces. I am of the opinion that the UNP contesting at Batticaloa would only legitimise an illegal exercise. There was a lot of discussion in the party over this, and the final decision was taken by the party that it should stay out as a protest against the actions of the government.

Q: Had the TMVP contested the election unarmed conditionally, would the UNP have contested the election?
A: If the TMVP sheds its arms and enters the democratic stream of politics I would definitely be spearheading a move to work with them for the benefit of the Tamil speaking people of the area, because the TMVP comprises Tamil youth of the Eastern Province who have an important role to play in deciding our future.

Q: But the people who have been used to vote for the elephant symbol are being deprived. They say the UNP should have contested the election.
A: This decision was not taken just by the hierarchy of the party, but also on the feed back given to the party by the organisers of the district, after having consulted their supporters. In fact during the run up to the nominations, there were many reports of former UNP candidates and prominent supporters being coerced by the TMVP cadres to either contest on their list or stay away. It was a decision based on the sentiments of the people and the position of the party with regard to the activity of another wing of the LTTE in the district.

Q: Would this lead to the erosion of the UNP vote base in the East?
A: The UNP vote bank in the East has been of recent past based on the position the party faces vis a vis the national issues. The UNP is the only party that has a clear position with regard to the rights of the minorities in a negotiated settlement to the national issues. Therefore it cannot be said that decisions taken in the interest of democracy and the rights of people would erode the vote base of the UNP.

Q: What is the UNPA?a??a??s position regarding the governmentA?a??a??s plan to hold Provincial Council elections?
A: The party has just initiated discussions on this issue, and there will be a series of meetings during the course of next week with organisers of the area, after which the Political Affairs Committee of the party would take a decision.

How much atarax for anxiety Q: Do you think a Provincial Council election is necessary at present given the escalation of violence in these areas?
A: Any attempt at giving power to the people in the regions is welcome, provided a level playing field can be assured by the government in power, so that the people of the area can freely make their choice of who should govern them.

Q: The UNP is accused of involving in, A?a??E?patch work politicsA?a??a?? in the East by the SLMC. How do you view this accusation?
A: I am really amused at this accusation if there is any. Because today the SLMC is holding seats in the East only because of the UNP not nominating Muslim candidates of their own, at elections at the request of the SLMC. And in fact, the UNP not contesting the local poll in Batticaloa, is also to the advantage of the SLMC, which the SLMC will be reluctant to concede. This has actually damaged the support of the UNP. The UNP has now realised that patch work agreements with smaller parties does not help in the long run. Hence the decision to reorganise and revitalise its vote base among the minorities in the North and East.

Q: Does it mean that the future elections will be contested by the UNP without aligning with smaller parties?
A: The UNP has taken a decision that it is open to alliances with like thinking parties for an election, or for the formation of the government without surrendering its identity in the regions. This would effectively mean that any like thinking party wanting to align with the UNP would have to contest under the UNPA?a??a??s symbol, without restricting the UNPA?a??a??s need to field its own candidates as well.

Q: But is it possible under the existing electoral system to win an election without aligning with smaller parties?
A: If you go back to 1989, with the emergence of the SLMC in the East with its founder leader at the helm and at the height of its popularity, the UNP still won the Ampara and the Trincomalee districts which formed the backbone of the SLMC support at that time. So alliances with parties with a view to come into power compromising the founding principles of national parties has cost them dearly and lessons learnt are what is now the compelling factor.

Q: Has the UNP identified the needs of the people in the East and if so what are they?
A: Basically the primary need of the people in the East is peace. With peace coming in, mobility, access to their livelihood, investments in infrastructure, and maximising the resources of that area which has remained untapped for the last 30 years, would also come in automatically.

Q: What are the measures taken by the UNP to deliver this to the Muslims?
A: The UNP has very clearly in its election manifesto spelled out how it would address these issues. If you look at the manifesto of the 2005 Presidential election, 2001 and 2004 General elections the development of the East and bringing peace to the area has been given the highest priority. And once the UNP assumes power it will definitely be working on swiftly implementing its plans. But for all this to happen, honorable peace within all communities has to come.

Q: You were one time SLMC High Command Member. How do you see the performance of the SLMC now?
A: My joining the SLMC was a result of the persuasion of the Ampara district Mosque Federation that declared all Muslim political forces in the district should contest under one banner. At a meeting held at the Ranmuthu hotel subsequently, I was the first to get up and declare that I would unconditionally agree to work with the SLMC, which I was doing even at that time as a member of their Constitutional Council in an independent capacity. I was even willing to contest the election if the party requested me to do so. This was a need of the day as we had to make an effort to consolidate the Muslim voice to strengthen the communityA?a??a??s demand for independent participation at the peace process.

But this did not work out. Thereafter having joined the SLMC, I worked to ensure that the party realised the mood of the people and in keeping with reality take up positions that could eventually ensure that the community had its fair share in any negotiated settlement to the ethnic issue. Unfortunately the power politics of the current proportional representation system and the fact that the SLMC had been corrupted by power and absolute power during the 1994 to 2000 period, I realised it was difficult for the party to work towards the basic founding principles of the party. This is why the SLMC, even after having received a majority of the Muslim votes at every election, has not been able to hold on to its representatives who were elected on a mandate which is very dear to the Muslims of the North East. So the end result has been that today the party support if analysed statistically will show a very sharp decline in the North and the East. The latest episode of the SLMC deciding to join the government to save the party and thereafter leaving the government, dividing the party, proves that the party is now drifting, and unable to basically work towards maintaining its vote base among the people of the North East, who have continuously hoped that the party would deliver on its promises.

Q: Does the UNP recognise the SLMC demand for a separate administrative council for the Muslims in the East?
A: The cry for a separate council by the SLMC or for that matter Muslims of the East should be seen as a part of the whole problem because it is more a reactionary call than something that has evolved over time. The Muslims have in the history of the country never clamoured for regional power. This has come about by the non-inclusion of their aspirations by both the majority communities; that is the Sinhalese and the Tamils, though the Tamil leadership has been pointing a finger at the Sinhala majority. They have not turned that finger towards themselves and seen that they were repeating that same behaviour towards their minority, that is the Muslims of the North and East. The very same reasons attributed by them for autonomy is what is echoed by the Muslims. So this cry will not be sustained if an inclusive process evolved, which is just and equitable to all communities. The UNPA?a??a??s position is that we have to build a national identity. And it is on record that should the resolution of the North East conflict be conditional to the merger of the North and East, then the just demand of the Muslims and Sinhalese should also be met.

****

source:
http://www.nation.lk/2008/03/09/inter2.htm

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“No Private Schools”

Published on 09/03/2008 in Blogs, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

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“Selective perception” has failed HRW in presentation of facts

The annual report of the Human Rights Watch 2008 contains a Chapter on Sri Lanka which has failed to distinguish between a democratically elected Government which has reaffirmed its commitment to promote and protect human rights while combating an unprecedented challenge of terrorism, and the LTTE, a fascist terrorist group recently branded as one of the worst of such groups in the world by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the USA.

Despite the Government of Sri Lanka maintaining an open dialogue with the international community and INGOs, including the Human Rights Watch (HRW) regularly, it fails to acknowledge any positive steps taken by Sri Lanka to enhance protection in a situation of emergency. Senior Ministers and high officials from Sri Lanka have had discussions with the Human Rights Watch in New York and Washington in September 2007 where they have amply explained the measures the Government has taken to uphold human rights in an extremely difficult situation of fighting a ruthless terrorist group to rid innocent civilians from the clutches of subjugation of this outfit.

The Human Rights Watch has placed selective focus on some civil and political rights, avoiding entirely any mention of GOSL’s considerable achievements in providing economic, social and cultural rights, including to all citizens in the North and the East.

The Human Rights Watch appears to ignore the fact that since independence the Government has provided a free and comprehensive national education system, including schools, non-formal education institutions, and technical colleges. The salaries of teachers, administrative, clerical and elementary staff are met from state funds.

There are no private schools in operation in Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara and Trincomalee. Schoolchildren in these areas are entirely dependent on Government run schools for their primary and secondary education, which the Government continues to provide. Every single teacher is funded by the Government.

There are an estimated 1848 functioning state funded schools with over 700,000 students in the North and the East. These schools include 411 in Jaffna, 94 Buy biaxin xl in Kilinochchi, 93 in Mannar, 187 in Vavuniya, 102 in Mullativu, 314 in Batticaloa, 388 in Ampara and 259 in Trincomalee. Thus 18.9% of the schools administered by the Ministry of Education are located in the North and the East. The scope of the education service provided by the Government of Sri Lanka is apparent, for instance in the latest report of the UNHCR on Welfare Centres in Jaffna, which indicates that 1251 of 1252 Primary Level children are in school in these centres, and 1434 out of 1716 among secondary school children.

State hospitals and State run health care centres provide a totally free service – both preventative and curative and are funded by the Government. The State meets the recurrent costs of doctors, nurses and minor employees, including salaries, drugs, equipment and the maintenance of hospitals. In the North and the East, there are over 53 Hospital institutions with more than 4427 hospital beds providing free curative healthcare.

The Human Rights Watch does not take into account any of the achievements of the Government in providing numerous welfare and protection programmes for migrant workers, especially women migrant workers including their families. The Human Rights Watch appears to proceed from some abstract “standards which has little relevance to the conditions on the ground in a developing country”. It is unfortunate that the Human Rights Watch continues to use developed country standards, which are used only selectively in the case of developed countries, in criticising developing countries.

Vague accusations proliferate in the report such as “indiscriminate firing” “unnecessarily preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid” etc., which are not borne out by the facts. The rationalisation undertaken by the Government in consultation with INGOs and NGOs seem to have escaped HRW completely.

Sri Lanka’s Security Forces are fully trained to take every precaution against harming civilians. The ICRC has imparted international humanitarian law (IHL) training to Security Forces since over 20 years, such that over 90% of forces are now fully trained in IHL. Since 2006, most deaths have been among combatants (especially Government forces) while most civilian deaths have been caused by LTTE bomb blasts such as on buses at Kebbetigollawa, Nittambuwa, Seenigama and Chettikulam and even in Shopping Complexes at Nugegoda. The LTTE gunned down civilians fleeing the bus bomb in Buttala.

Sufficient information is available on Sri Lanka websites (SCOPP/Commissioner General for Essential Services) regarding provision of essential supplies to North and East. HRW fails to acknowledge that throughout the years of conflict, humanitarian and developmental needs of the civilian population of the North and the East, including in conflict areas, were continuously met by the Government of Sri Lanka together with some assistance from the donor community. The administrative machinery including the free national health, education and infrastructure facilities in conflict areas are continuing to be maintained by the Government despite the fact that the LTTE siphons of such funding for its own illegal purposes.

The Government of Sri Lanka is presently taking all steps to provide the essential services that people need in the uncleared areas. In fact, even today the Government Agents in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, LTTE dominated districts, are actively delivering all essential services. The salaries and pensions and other expenses of these services are fully met by the Government, and the Government also monitors these activities to ensure that the services reach the people as expeditiously as possible. However, given the hazardous ground conditions that prevail in these areas it is necessary for the LTTE to cooperate to ensure that these efforts are made more effective. Already, massive programmes for housing, roads, bridges, electrification, livelihood development, hospitals, and schools have been planned. The completed projects and other projects in progress and in the pipeline are valued at approximately 1,250 Million U.S. Dollars. This is a massive sum, and the investment of such an amount would need stable ground and safe conditions that are essential for the effective realization of the benefits of this vast investment.

HRW analysis of the situation of internally displaced persons (IDP) is therefore, flawed with exaggerated figures quoted and failure to acknowledge the success of GOSL in speedily resettling IDPs in their own homes after evicting the LTTE from the Eastern Province, whilst providing assistance in food and livelihood support etc. Sri Lanka has expended considerable resources over the last many years in caring for IDPs affected by both conflict and tsunami.

Despite repeated Government requests for specific information, HRW has not supplied any ‘credible evidence’ on any complicity by GOSL Security Forces with the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulugal (TMVP), a breakaway group of the LTTE. Accusations are vague and unsubstantiated and tend to reflect the propaganda line of detractors of the Government. Today, the TMVP is making the difficult transition to a political party, having registered with the Commissioner of Elections for the local government elections in the Eastern Province.

Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10 Muslim civilians in Pottuvil

Published on 08/03/2008 in Blogs, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

How much is abilify at costco Sri Lanka: Diovan cheaper alternative Statement of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights on the decision by the IIGEP to wind-up their operations in Sri Lanka

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka – Geneva – Switzerland

07th March 2008

The International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP), is a unique structure hitherto not encountered in any fact finding exercise anywhere in the world and is mandated to function over a period of one year. On 30 November 2007, the IIGEP by its letter addressed to His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, communicated its decision to end its mandate by the end of March 2008. The IIGEP embarked on its work in February 2007 which means that, within 8 to 9 months of the commencement of its mandate, and prior to fulfilling a full year, such a decision to quit was taken.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights regrets the haste with which this decision was taken, especially in the context of the public inquiries that have started and are ongoing in two important investigations, namely: the investigation into the deaths of 17 aid workers belonging to the Action Contre La Faim in Muttur and the killing of 5 youths in Trincomalee. Public inquiries into the slaying of 10 Muslim civilians in Pottuvil are also due to commence shortly.

Continue reading ’10 Muslim civilians in Pottuvil’

MIA at Arugambay

Published on 03/03/2008 in Blogs, people and press coverage. 0 Comments

MIA in Sri Lanka (Part 2 – The finale)

Part 2 – The finale

In my last post I spoke of sea urchins putting at end, or at least a temporary end, to my travels around Sri Lanka. In this post you will discover that this may not have been such a disaster after all.

Originally I had intended to travel to Matra the day after surfing in Mirissa and catch a bus inland to Wellawaya. My aim was to reach my familyA?a??a??s rubber plantation, but as you read in the last post, the sea urchins had other plans. I woke up in my Uncle CharithA?a??a??s bungalow the morning after the SUA (sea urchin attack) to hear that a bus near Wellawaya had been bombed leaving many casualties and fatalities behind. Devastated as I was to be sitting there, nursing my swollen and bandaged feet, I could not help but thank those sea urchins for perhaps sparing me the cruel faith that those on the bus had suffered. For the moment I was benched and could not walk, but I would soon recover and set forth again, and as you will learn, lady luck would smile upon me twice more.

Two weeks after SUA, I was travelling again. This time I was staying with my Uncle Lal in Arugam Bay, a chilled surfing town on the east coast that boasts some of the best surf in Sri Lanka. This however was the off season, which explained why there were no other travellers on the beach or in the town. The other reason for the lack of tourism, may have been the fact that there recently had been LTTE activity in the surrounding districts and that there were soldiers now stationed every 100m on the 40km stretch of the main road into and out of town. Lucky for me, my Uncle was there as engineer working with an NGO to build a bridge and water treatment station (the tours were very informative and enjoyable, I assure you), which meant travelling to and from Aruguam Bay was relatively pain free, for me that is. The locals need to get permits from the police station to drive vehicles in and out the town while all the passengers aboard the buses need to disembark produce ID and have their bags searched. The whole process can take up to 3 hrs to get through the 40km stretch. I managed it in an hour and a bit.

Leaving Aruguam Bay Purchase prazosin hydrochloride I headed west to my familyA?a??a??s rubber plantation just passed Wellawaya, my intended destination before SUA. There I spent a very relaxing week enjoying all that hill country life has to offer. My hosts, and what wonderful hosts they were, were my Uncle Lalith, and his wife Aunty Daritha, their naughty but lovable son Vilhan and of course my other Aunty Bundi. They, like all of my relatives in Sri Lanka, looked after me with greatest love and care.

While on the plantation I indulged in many taxing pursuits such as; going through the hundred year old historical documents connected with Rosebury Estate (the name of the plantation) these incredibly included a death certificate of old Englishman, perhaps former owner, who died of gang green in lunatic asylum, nice! another past time was learning about the running and management of the rubber plantation, from labor management to when and how the trees are tapped; but most favourite of all past times was driving the old Morris Minor Traveller around, cue videoA?a??A?

Unfortunately this video is all I have to show for my travels outside of Colombo as the portable hard drive I was carrying around failed when I returned to Colombo which meant all the photos, which included sporting a hard hat and fashionable fluorescent jacket while stood next to half finished 140m bridge and one where I am giving 3 year old Vilhan a stylish Mohawk hair cut were lost. The slideshow below is of some photos I took when I returned to Colombo. You may be wondering whether I lost everything, well worry not, being the good comp sci geek that I am, I backed everything up before I left Colombo, which was damn lucky. Talking of luck.

Earlier I said that lady luck had smiled twice more on me, well she did, and this is how it happened. When I left Hoodia comprar online Arugam Bay I had intended to travel to Rosebury Estate and then north to the old cities, namely Dumbula, and from there take day trips to the nearby sites. But when I reached Rosebury, I enjoyed myself so much so, that I forgot about heading north to Dumbula. A couple of days later, there was yet another bomb on a bus in Dambula leaving more casualties and fatalities. That is the second time and this is the third. In leaving the hill country I had hoped to take the scenic train that lonely planet lists as one of its highlights. You would think that I would have learnt not to use the public transport by now, but it took yet another bomblast in ColomboA?a??a??s main train station with yet more casualties and fatalities, for me to finally get the message.

When I set out to travel I had always envisaged that I was the master of my own destiny, that I alone decided where and what I did. Sri Lanka taught me that your actions affect those around you and care about you, and whether you like it or not, you have a responsibility to them. I was willing to risk my safety and travel on the trains and buses but my uncle was so worried, he would not allow me to travel alone and insisted that he accompany myself. Looking at his worried wife I realised that I was being selfish and conceded not to travel. I dread to think what might have happened had we taken the train to Colombo.

I did finally leave the plantation and return, hitching a ride with yet another uncle and aunty who had come to visit – I know what your thinking, how many auntys and uncles do I have! well the fact that my mother is one of eight and my father one of ten, should clear things up. When I returned to Colombo, I discovered the shocking news that my grandfather had had a heart attack and was in intensive care. When I spoke to the doctors, they were very clear about the chances my 86 year old grandfather had. It was a difficult time for all. But, I am glad to say that my grandfather, being the stubborn determined man that he is, proved the doctors wrong and was discharged and was back at home 10 days later. In the following days I said goodbye to my grandfather and the rest of the family (all of his children had flown in from around the world, my mother included) and boarded a plane to Bangkok.
source:
http://roshansblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/mia-in-sri-lanka-part-2-the-finale/

Jungle rumble

Published on 02/03/2008 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, press coverage and wild life. 0 Comments

Jungle rumble: The battle goes on

By Wasantha Chandrapala

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The duel between man and beast does not seem to have an end and the situation seems to be worsening by the day. The result is that both man and beast die in the confrontation. While an elephant at Dighawapiya area in Ampara district was killed in early February, on the 26th of last month a wild elephant killed a farmer in Ruhunugama village.

Other villages where the menace is rampant in this district are Kotavehera, Suduwella and Vijithapura where at sundown elephants stray into paddy fields destroying crops and other cultivations. According to Wild Life officials already four elephants have been killed in the two months of this year.

A farmerA?a??a??s bicycle mangled by an angry elephant

Speaking on the issue of negligence on the part of the Wild Life officers, Ven. Anuradhapura Dhammarama Thera of the Ruhunugama temple said that so far three villagers have become victims.A?a??A?When his mother was killed by an elephant, her son had shot the animal dead. Much harm is being done to cultivation by marauding animals who stray into villages at dusk,A?a??A? he said.

The thera lamented that no amount of appeals made to officials has met with any success and added that requests for necessary items be supplied to scare the animals away have not met with success either. He appealed to the President to take some action to counter the menace which has caused villagers to leave their homes and go elsewhere.

A person identified as W. Nimal said animals roam at night in the Buddhangala area and requested officials to have an electrified fence erected to tackle the problem. Dighawapi farmers organisation president S.S. Wijekoon said he wanted officials to have an electrified fence erected.

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A Wild Life official blamed humans for straying into animal territory forcing them to invade villages. He, however, said staff was insufficient to fight the menace. According to him areas where electrified fences were needed have been identified and said chief among them were Buddhangala, Ekgalaoya and Dighawapi.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080302/News/news0020.html

Arugam Bay bridge

Published on 02/03/2008 in Money Matters and press coverage. 0 Comments

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Work on Kallady bridge begins

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by Imantha Caldera

Construction work on the new Kallady Bridge at the Akkaraipattu, Batticaloa-Thricondiyadi Road has commenced. An official of the Ministry of Highways and Road Development said, “the total cost of this project is Rs. 700 million, funded by the Japanese Government.

The project is due to be completed within three years”. The Kallady Bridge has two lanes for vehicles with two additional side lanes for cyclists. The length of the concrete bridge is 290 metres and the width is 14.5 metres. Informed sources said that construction work on bridges at Arugam Bay, Oddamavadi, Erakkakandy, Puduwaikattu, Yanoya and Kinniya has started.

Meanwhile, construction work on bridges in Komari, Kallar and Koddaikallara has been completed.

Sources also said that the bridges will be built shortly in Verugal, Ralkuli, Gangei and Upparu. Currently these areas are linked by ferry services. Difficulties in transportation in those areas are expected to ease with the new bridges.

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/03/02/new15.asp