Pallimunai: Another victimized community in Mannar

Pallimunai is another coastal village in Mannar district. They are also have so many pathetic stories of adverse effects of the brutal war which was ended exactly 5 years ago in May, 2009.
However, the peace dividences were not reached the Pallimunai west community as Police were occupied their houses until 2011. When police released the houses around 19 in number, navy occupied the same houses with out handing over them to settle in their houses.
Pallimunai west community expected to take legal action demanding their houses and occuopied land back from Navy. However legal procedure is also not in favour of the community members who lost their own land and houses at Pallimunai.
What would be our future?
We want our land and houses back. We dont want any compensation at all. If the government allow us to return to our homes that is all what we expect from them. We will reoair our damaged houses our own.

Have we Sri Lankan assessed the consequences of the Resolution on SL at UN HR Council at Geneva

There were 3 resolutions on Sri Lanka during the past 3 years of 2012, 2013 and this year. When we closely observe the countries those who supported to the resolution against Sri Lanka, it is clear those are the countries we are having very strong trade relationships in an international trade. At the same time, the countries those voted against the resolutions and supported to Sri Lanka are not having such relationship rather we import from those countries than exports. According to the 2012 and 2013 records, the trade relationships are important with the countries those supported to resolution and voted against the Sri Lankan stand. Those countries who supported to resolution and voted against Sri Lanka have contributed to 80% of the exports and 60% of imports in those two years. However, it is obvious all the other countries contribution in the trade among Sri Lanka are 20% for exports and 40% in imports. The other important factor is to consider is that the trade balance of the international trade with the exports and imports. However, this is really an alarming situation as the trade balance of the international trade in those countries who supported to the resolution is [+] positive as the export income has exceeded the import expenditure. When we consider the trade balance with the countries who supported to the resolution against Sri Lanka in 2014, it is + 3.2 Billion USD and is an important figure in Sri Lankan international trade context. Where as the trade balance among the countries who voted against the resolution and supported to Sri Lankan stand was [-]4.1 Billion USD. However, it is not considered the trade balance between Sri Lanka and India. It is around [-] 2.6 Billion USD in 2013. It is obvious fact that the trade balance is important to a country like Sri Lanka. When we see the information based on the Sri Lanka Customs records it is we, Sri Lankans depend on higher percentage of foreign exchange earnings on trade relationships from the countries who supported to the UN HRC resolution in all three years [Except India during the year 2014]. Is this not an alarming situation? If the Sri Lankan government continue to say, "We don't allow any one to come to the country for any investigation based on the UN HRC resolution adopted." what would be the consequences on trade and foreign exchange earnings from those countries? They contribute higher percentage for the National Economic Growth as the contribution from export earnings to the Gross Domestic Product [GDP] was 16% in 2013. Can we forget all these positive relationships and continue to say we do not cooperate any international investigation process.? This is really consider our politicians before we take such decisions. Trade is one part. But there are many other aspects. Military cooperation, international cooperation on development, education, technology transfers etc. etc. So, this is a crucial stage the whole country come to a consensus how to move forward forgetting the divisions. But, there are basic matters to fulfill by the GOSL as the implementation of the recommendations emerged from the LLRC report is the basis for the cooperation from the opposition parties, civil society and concern other parties including international community. As we failed to implement our own identified recommendations, international community come to interfere internal matters which is a shame as a nation. Source: Verite Research

CGR substitute workers on Hunger Strike

The CGR substitute workers are under hunger strike for the third day demanding permanent their jobs. Interestingly the hunger strike is leading the workers belong to the ruling party trade union. It was reported 3 out of 10 protestors were hospitalized yesterday including the secretary to the union as their physical situation was so critical.
The report said the transportation minister visited the campaign site at Fort station and requested to give up the hunger strike saying he will take the responsibility to get the cabinet approval for the letter prepared by his ministry though the protestors denied tge request and continued the protest further aggressively.
Media reported again the blocking of railway lines by protestors caused to delay 10 railways yesterday and the situation was so tensed.
Now there are more than one thousand workers are awaiting to see what the cabinet decision over their issue as the cabinet meeting to be held today, on Wednesday,

United May day celebrations

The discussoons are going on for a united May day celebrations among Negombo based civil organizations, human rights groups, women groups and media activists.
This would be done with the monthly commemoration of Roshen Chanaka, the killed FTZ worker at the Private Pention bill struggle in 2011.
NAFSO took the initiative to push the idea to bring possible groups together at the stake holder meeting conducted in early April at Negombo. Now the discussions are successfully completed the second round and becoming more clear how to proceed.
All the groups have agreed principaly on the idea and now we need to make final finer arrangements.
We expect Sri Vimukthi women group, Right to Life, FTZ trade unions, Meepura would join the organizing work with NAFSO.

Hambantota: None Free Zone of the Country

On 17th April, 5 UNP MPs had attended a field visit to observe the development of Mattala Rajapakse International air port and Hambantota international harbour. Both are claimed as the major development projects to the country and boasts with high appreciation. However, an organized group seems to lead by Mayor of Hambantota urban council disturbed, harassed and attempted to physically harassed in front of higher police officials within the Air port premises as well as at the harbour.Throwing rotten eggs, tomatoes and many other harrasments were reported in the media disturbing the observatory visit of the opposition MPs. At the same time, Media reported through videos and photographs, that the Hambantota mayor was carrying a pistol in his hand while chasing behind the MPs. In a continuous media campaign organized by state media quoted the mayor saying, "I wanted to save the MPs from the group. I did carry a TOY pistol which was found after searching the hip of some one around me. in fact I am a victim of the good deed I wanted to perform to save the group." We have some questions to raise at this moment: 1. What is the Police did at this type of organized thuggery and gang illegally enter in to Public premises and disturbed the public actions? 2. Why the police did not arrest any of the thugs, including the Mayor who carried a Pistol threatening MPs and others who were attended the visit? 3. The violation of Parliamentary privileges of those MPs is also a concern as the Public representatives they have the right to report to the people about the realities of those so called Mega development projects. 4. What is the responsibility of the judiciary and the followed by legal actions against these type of henious actions of organized thugs. Finally we congratulate the brave UNP MPs who attempted to reveal truth to the public while putting their lives in to danger. These actions of organized thugs again proved "Hambantota as None Free Zone in the Country".

Is this the way Lord Buddha preached to protect Buddhism

Rev. Vatareka Vijitha thero made a public media statement yesterday. He categoricaly stated that those two persons with robe, I dont want to write their names as they are already well known for thuggery, death threat to him and due to fear he, made a statement in front of media.
We would like to ask my fellow Buddhist friends"is this the way Lord Buddha preached to protect Buddhism?"
"Do you Buddhists approve these types of thuggery while wearing robe?"
"What is the high priests in Nikayas say about these henious actions?"
"How long the Sinhala Buddhist enjoy these types of actions of monks wearing the robe and act thugs role?"
"Do you have an idea who, what powers behind those thugs?

Provincial council election

Western and southern provincial council elections held last week gave a messages to both ruling party and opposition. 
President Mahinda made it a point to respond to defeat of Geneva resolution and teach a lesson to international community those who brought resolution on SL.
This time Geneva devil has not worked.  People havent listened to President's  appeal from people. But people were brave enough to say No we do not mislead with your lies.

Message to ruling party is to change their strategies of development and to change the democratic rights violations, space for dissent, stop violation of human rights defenders rights, rule of law and more.
The rate of casting votes was just 50/ 100 and lower. Opposition was not able to bring those voters to the polling station.  This should be changed if the oopiaition really want to make a challenge to the present regime.
When the opposition come together and bring voters to polling station the fall of the regime is obvious.
We are looking forward how the opposition parties take this challenge.