“The timing of the arrest is troubling given reports that Sarath Fonseka had announced earlier in the day that he was prepared to testify before an international court on war crimes charges against the Sri Lanka government,” Amnesty International said in a statement today.

Full text of the statement:

Arrest of Sri Lankan opposition leader escalates post-election repression

Source: Amnesty International (AI)
Date: 08 Feb 2010

Continue reading "'Timing of Sarath Fonseka arrest troubling'-Amnesty International" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Ex-Army commander Gen.Sarath Fonseka was taken into custody by military personnel from his office around 9.00 pm on Monday February 8th.

A contingent of Military Police personnel surrounded Gen.Fonseka's office & took him into custody along with his media secy Dr.Senaka Silva.

Continue reading "Arrested Gen. Fonseka may face media barred court martial proceedings" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:02 PM | Permalink

Post Presidential Election Realities: A Statement by a group of Bishops

Regardless of how they voted, many Sri Lankans strongly disapproved of three trends during the campaigning. These were:

Continue reading "'Regardless of how they voted, many Sri Lankans strongly disapproved of three trends'" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From The New York Times Multimedia: pictures by Lynsey Addario

Far from Colombo's shimmering seaside skyscrapers, the hollowed-out city of Jaffna seems stuck a generation behind the rest of the country.

Continue reading "In pictures: The peninsula, the cultural heart of Tamil life, seems to be stuck a generation behind the rest of the nation" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Anatomy of an Election - 4

by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha

With regard to the UNP performance over the election, there were two schools of thought that seem at first sight distinct. The first is that it shows the enduring genius of Ranil Wickremesinghe, who managed to turn what would have been certain defeat for himself into a campaign to confirm his control of his party.

Continue reading "Colombo believed that the American President was personally committed to the downfall of President Rajapakse" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by Anura Gunasekara

The Sunday Observer of 31/1/10 carried the headline, "A Bold Reply to those who Betrayed the Country", extracted from a post-election statement attributed to President Rajapaksa, in a reference to those who opposed him at the recent election.

Continue reading "By voting for Sarath Fonseka I along with 4.17 million people have not betrayed the country" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

by Dayan Jayatilleka

The call from Cuba came this morning, Tamara excusing herself for the early hour to say she had very bad news and I thought Fidel was gone, but no, it was Miguel – my long link, as it were, to him, our father who art in Havana.

Continue reading "Memories of Miguel" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

So the cynics were proved right all along in their assessments of Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake’s performance (to put it at the kindest level) as Sri Lanka’s elections chief.

Continue reading "Flip-flops of elections commissioner: From tragedy to farce" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Eight media institutions. have written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the recent attacks on media personnel and related issues.

The letter states: “As someone who has repeatedly expressed commitment to upholding the values of a free media as an essential component of democratic society, we wish to bring to your attention the grave situation that has arisen with regard to media freedom in the country.

Continue reading "Eight Media organizations write to President about Deteriorating media situation" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Ranmali Fernando

Few days before the Presidential elections few foreign journalists who had come to cover the elections lamented that the opposition was working on an exit strategy.

Continue reading "Fonseka did not Sleep with the Tiger but with People who had Slept with the Tigers" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

by Ravinatha Aryasinha

1. No formal decision on “temporary suspension” of GSP+ has been taken by the European Council. They have time till later this month.

Continue reading "No formal decision by EU on temporary suspension of "GSP" yet" »

Posted by transCurrents at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by Nihal Jayawickrama

Seven Judges of the Supreme Court are reported to have conveyed to the President their opinion that his first term of office will extend until 19 November 2010, on which day his second term will commence.

Continue reading "Why the Supreme Court is wrong about the President's first term of office" »

Posted by transCurrents at 04:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

Click for more pictures from the opening event

"It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence...It's nonviolence or nonexistence." - Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968). American clergyman, Human Rights Activist, the leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement and Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Martin Luther King Jr Commemorative Exhibition is currently being held at the National Art Gallery in Colombo. Martin Luther King III is the eldest son and the oldest living child of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and American Human Rights Advocate and Community Activist Martin Luther King III was the Chief Guest at the Commemorative Exhibition. He was welcomed by the U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms.Patricia Butenis.

Continue reading "In Pictures: U.S. Embassy MLK Exhibit, Colombo" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:22 AM | Permalink

Full text of speech by Martin Luther King III, at the opening event of U.S. Embassy MLK Exhibit, Colombo on Feb 6, 2010:

Realizing the Dream, Inc.
Sri Lanka: U.S. Embassy MLK Exhibit
by Martin Luther King III

When the U.S. Embassy invited me to come to Sri Lanka and inaugurate an exhibit commemorating the legacy of my father, I was both honored and humbled. In recent years I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to speak about my father around the world—about who he was, and about how his message of peace and nonviolence is meaningful for people everywhere – regardless of country, culture or faith.

Continue reading ""Nonviolence and love can help play some role in bringing this beautiful island together again"-Martin Luther King III" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

By Dr. S. Narapalasingam

Many important political decisions in Sri Lanka have been influenced by parochial short-term considerations, ignoring the larger and long-term interests of the entire society. Besides moral, spiritual and egalitarian values have also been ignored.

Continue reading "Importance of striking a fair balance in national politics" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

by Rajan Philips

Sri Lankans know their cricket a lot more than their Constitution. Imagine a Test match, where the team batting first scores over 500 runs for the loss of six wickets and the captain declares the innings closed. The second team won’t just give up – they bat spiritedly, avoid the follow-on and score almost as many runs as the first team but get all out.

Continue reading "The squandering of a resounding victory" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

(EU Business) EU nations have decided to suspend Sri Lanka's preferential trade status because of the island's human rights record and will make the formal move later this month, officials said Friday.

Continue reading "EU to suspend Sri Lanka trading privileges over rights" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Sri Lanka government should "promote justice and political reconciliation for all its citizens, and hold dialogue with all parties, including Tamils inside and outside Sri Lanka, on new mechanisms for devolving power," writes The Voice of America, in an editorial published on Sri Lanka's Independence Day on Feb 4, 2010:

Continue reading "Voice of America editorial urges "dialogue with all parties, including Tamils inside and outside Sri Lanka"" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

by Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu

The Presidential election has been concluded. The results have been announced and they are being contested, most probably in the courts as well. The south voted overwhelmingly one way, the north and east overwhelmingly another. President Rajapaksa is prsident again and his massive majority lies massively in the majority community.

Continue reading "Dangerously foolish to disregard what this election and its aftermath have highlighted" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

by Mahinda Rajapaksa

January 26 was an historic day for Sri Lanka. It was the first presidential election for more than 25 years that was unaffected by the terrorism and intimidation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, otherwise known as the Tamil Tigers.

Continue reading "'Our people are free of threats, fear and terrorism. The government will work hard for all of them.'-President Mahinda Rajapaksa" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha

Anatomy of an Election - 3

Amongst the more astonishing features of the election was the association between the UNP and the JVP to promote the candidacy of General Fonseka. Or, rather, this was in itself not astonishing, for clearly both parties would have felt a need to clutch at any straw, even a blockbuster of the caliber of the General, to do better than they had done in other recent elections. This is understandable, given the need to become competitive, if they were to hold onto any substantial support for the future.

Continue reading "Winning of hearts and minds does not seem to have been General Fonseka's strong suit" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

By WSWS Correspondents

Pro-government management, union officials and thugs have extended President Mahinda Rajapakse’s post-election campaign of intimidation and violence into workplaces. Employees have been physically attacked, prevented from entering workplaces and served with suspension notices.

Continue reading "Post-election witch-hunt extends into workplaces" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Meghnad Desai

Was Abraham Lincoln a war criminal? He took the US or at least its northern states to a war with the south, which resulted in the largest loss of lives in that nation’s history. The south was ruined and did not recover economically for at least 50 years.

Continue reading "It may sound callous to say this, but Rajapakse would be regarded as the saviour of his nation" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

By Shanaka Jayasekara

The resounding victory by President Mahinda Rajapaksa placed in perspective the feelings of many Sri Lankans, a sense of gratitude towards a President that had the courage to withstand international pressure and take the battle to the end. A feat that was by all considerations thought to be inconceivable.

Continue reading "President Rajapaksa must expand his diplomatic circle beyond Iran, Libya, Mynamar and Palestine to G8 and G20 countries" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Some very interesting questions were raised by the reader Nalaka at comment #147 made in response to my article “The magic behind the Mahinda Rajapakse victory”.

I forwarded them to two experts at Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in Colombo for their opinion. Both Asanga Welikala and Rohan Edirisinghe were kind enough to respond and I thank them for that. Incidently both were called upon to testify before courts on this issue of the President’s second term . [ click here to read in full ~ in dbsjeyaraj.com]

Posted by transCurrents at 12:46 PM | Permalink

by Adele Barker

On a sandy street on the northern shore of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka, an innocuous building surrounded by mango and palmyra trees houses a rehabilitation center run by a Catholic priest, who in January 2005 just days after the tsunami began to counsel survivors.

Continue reading "Heartbreak in Post-War Jaffna" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

by IRIN News

About a year ago, civil war raged around Vasanthi Kumari's house in northern Sri Lanka. "There was a loud sound and `Appa' [father] went out," Kumari, 21, told IRIN.

Continue reading "War displaced start to pick up the pieces" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by K.Bhadrakumar

The Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory in the election held on Jan 26 becomes a defining moment for regional security. The speed with which western countries endorsed his victory has a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. It comes at the culmination of a barrage of condemnation of the Rajapaksa regime for the past several months. The acquiescence follows the unwarranted interference by the American embassy in Colombo during the peak of the election campaign expressing concern over a free and fair election.

Continue reading "New Delhi must now deal with a vastly Strengthened Rajapakse at the Pinnacle of his Political Career" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

by Ranmali Fernando

Opposition of soup makers and strange bed fellows thought they would win the presidential elections. They dreamt on. Sarath Fonseka who was a good army commander and thereafter went to betray the country thought he would win purely going by the crowds. He did not realize he was Sarah Palin of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan people were enjoying his Sarah Palin moments.

Continue reading "Sarath Fonseka is the Sarah Palin of Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (22)

By Dr.Harindra Vidanage

Cyber politics, internet politics and e-mobilization are all key terms in the lexicon that has evolved around the growing literature of the impact of communication and information revolution on day to day politics and the political process globally.

Continue reading "National Security and National Interest are seen as terms used by Oppressive Mechanisms to Subjugate Dissen" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

By Nalin Swaris

When the now Citizen Sarath Fonseka announced his insurrection against his former Commander in Chief and his immediate superior, patriotic Lankans experienced it as a deeply painful loss, in the first place for Fonseka himself and the country whose territorial integrity he so valiantly fought to restore.

Continue reading "Mahinda must order state TV channels to stop eulogizing him 24 X 7 as “king”" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

by Col. R. Hariharan

Elections always leave their footprints to indicate emerging political and social trends of nations. The just concluded presidential election in Sri Lanka is no exception to this.

Continue reading "Presidential Election has exposed limited reach of UNP and SLFP among Tamils" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

By Deepal Jayasekera

Since Mahinda Rajapakse won a second presidential term in Sri Lanka last week, India’s dilemma over how to pursue its interests in the island has only intensified.

Continue reading "India nervously watches post-election Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The Presidential Elections January 26th, 2010 :The Report of the Election Observations

By Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE)

3 Feb, 2010

1. The Introduction

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), as an Election Monitoring Organization recognized by the Election Commissioner, engaged in election monitoring work from 2nd December 2009 to 31 January 2010.

Continue reading "CaFFE Final Report on the Presidential Elections 2010" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

The computer expert who was involved in presenting the final results in the recently concluded presidential polls has categorically rejected the accusations that the count was rigged using the latest technology.

Continue reading "Rigging the result using computer technology almost impossible in Sri Lanka-Dr. Ruwan Weerasinghe" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

by Surangani Seneviratne

President Mahinda Rajapakse’s victory in the presidential elections on the 26th January 2010 is not only felt in Sri Lanka but through out the world.

Continue reading "As in Iranian elections internet manipulation via SMS, facebook, twitter took place in Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

by Kumar Abeysinghe

Ending over a month-long acrimonious political campaign, the ‘silent majority’ of the country gave their verdict through the ballot on January 26.

Continue reading " What were the reasons for behaviour of ethnic minorities as reflected by ballot?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

by Dushy Ranetunge

The Sri Lankan government has a serious credibility factor in the manner it conducts itself, especially in relation to defence matters, and recent incidents have not helped.

Continue reading "Motor bikes without number plates are ridden by Security Forces Too" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Chakravarthy

Julius Caesar, the great Roman emperor, when asked why he had divorced his wife Pompeia, said he considered his honour and position compromised, since she was indirectly associated with Publius Clodius' trial for sacrilege. He explained that his wife should not only be free from sin but from suspicion.

Continue reading "Like "Caesar’s wife" the 2010 Poll result too should be above sin and suspicion”" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The official government news portal (www.news.lk) carried a news item, datelined January 18, that vice-chancellors of Sri Lankan universities pledged support to the President, with some of them asking the people of this land to vote him into a second term at the forthcoming elections. (This letter is being written on January 20.)

Continue reading "Should our vice-chancellors have pledged support to Mahinda Rajapakse as presidential candidate ?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

by Upul Joseph Fernando

Nobody knew the room number of Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel where Gen. Fonseka was staying on the day of the recent Presidential election in Sri Lanka (SL).

Continue reading "Waterside Traps For Prabha and Fonseka: Nandhikadal lagoon and Beira Lake" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

by Dayan Jayatilleka

Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day this year with the State in a better state than it has been for three decades. The country is a single united territory; unquestionably a single political entity. The borders of the state are coextensive with our natural borders, the sea.

Continue reading "Ranil becoming president in 2017 is like Mikhail Gorbachev and Jimmy Carter doing so in Russsia or USA" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

“Campaign against General Fonseka reflects continuing insecurity within the Rajapaksa camp”, writes Dean Nelson, South Asia Editor, of The Daily Telegraph:

Brigadier Duminda Keppetiwalana, aide to the former Sri Lankan army chief General Fonseka, was arrested over the murder last year of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga.

Continue reading "President Rajapaksa acting like a mad dog putting everyone in detention-Fonseka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By Sarath Kumara

Having won a second term in last week’s election, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse is widening a witch-hunt against political opponents, journalists and critics.

Continue reading "Sri Lankan government widens witch-hunt against opposition" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By W.A. Sunil

One week after the Sri Lankan presidential election, political violence is continuing, mostly against opposition parties and their supporters. The attacks are part of a broader government crackdown against supporters of the defeated opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka, who faces unsubstantiated allegations that he attempted to mount a coup against President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Continue reading "A wave of post-election violence in Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Statement from the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka)

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) condemns the actions of Eelam People Democratic Party (EPDP) thugs on the northern island of Kayts last Thursday, following the January 26 presidential election. Clearly shocked by the low voter turnout and lack of support for President Mahinda Rajapakse, an EPDP gang physically attacked dozens of people—young and old—berating them for not voting, or for voting for opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka or SEP candidate Wije Dias.

Continue reading "Sri Lankan SEP condemns EPDP thuggery on Kayts" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Source: Human Rights Watch

The Sri Lankan government is currently detaining at least 11,000 people, including more than 550 children, in so-called "rehabilitation centers." These individuals, said to be associated with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were among the almost 300,000 displaced persons confined in detention camps in the final months of the armed conflict with the LTTE.

Continue reading "Legal Limbo: The Uncertain Fate of Detained LTTE Suspects in Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

End post election clampdown on dissent

Amnesty International today called on the government of Sri Lanka to immediately end its crackdown on journalists, political activists and human rights defenders after last week’s presidential election.

Continue reading "Amnesty voices for former Sri Lanka military officials held incommunicado by gov." »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

IDPs divided over election outcome

by IRIN News

As the results of Sri Lanka's first post-war presidential election poured in, the mood at Menik Farm, in the main government-run camp for the ethnic Tamil internally displaced (IDPs), in the northern town of Vavuniya, was sober.

Only 6,000 residents of the camp, home to some 118,000 IDPs, sought to register for the 27 January polls.

Continue reading "Poll outcome @ Menik Farm: "We want an opportunity to rebuild our shattered lives"" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

By Jehan Perera

The result of the Presidential election that was held last week has a potential of further dividing the country on both political and ethnic lines unless the spirit of magnanimity prevails.

Continue reading "Opposition campaign against presidential election verdict is likely to grow in strength" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Full Text of Press Release - National Peace Council

Post Election Challenge for Country

President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a second term at the Presidential Election of Janumary 26 with an unexpectedly big majority although this election result has been called into question by the main opposition candidate, General Sarath Fonseka.

Continue reading "‘Campaign of alleged secret agreement that could divide the country led to rousing of communal sentiments’" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Anatomy of an election – II

By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha

Perhaps the saddest aspect of the campaign for General Fonseka was the complete absence of principle evinced by the vast majority of thinking persons who ended up supporting him. I was for instance astonished to find quondam intellectuals such as Dr Saravanamuttu and Jehan Perera pontificating in a manner that suggested they thought General Fonseka a potentially productive President. With regard to the former I was particularly disappointed because he had initially expressed some surprise at the idea of such a common candidate, and claimed that it was all Ranil Wickremesinghe’s fault for being so weak.

Continue reading "The General was much more at home with the JVP than the UNP" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

Full Text of Press Release

The Tamil American Peace Initiative (TAPI), a group of Tamil Americans dedicated to peaceful change in Sri Lanka, called on Sri Lanka's newly reelected President Mahinda Rajapaksa to a forge a new path and create the conditions to repair the deep divide between the people of the island.

Continue reading "Tamil American Peace Initiative Urges the New Government to Represent All Citizens of Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By: Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

The results of the recent presidential elections are being analyzed and interpreted in clinical detail by many commentators from their respective vantage points, experiences and predilections.

Continue reading "Tamils and Sri Lanka: A wake-up call" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

by Veerasingham Anandasangaree

Statement issued by Mr. V, Anandasangaree, President of TULF on the claim of the TNA on the presidential poll:

I humbly appeal to the TNA Members of Parliament in general and to M/s. S.Senathirajah, R.M.Imam, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Vinotharalingam and Suresh Premachandran of the Federal Party, TELO and the EPRLF of the alliance, not to mislead the innocent Tamil speaking people who easily get swayed by sentiments

Continue reading "TNA parliamentarians must not mislead innocent Tamil speaking people" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Editorial by Toronto Star, Feb 1, 2010:

Sri Lanka digs out

In the past 12 months, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa scored both a decisive military victory and an electoral triumph. But he has yet to truly win the peace.

Continue reading "'President Rajapaksa has it in his power to reap a peace dividend'-Toronto Star" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

by Dushy Ranetunge

It's been hilarious reading the “pariah” thoughts of Sinhalese “intellectuals” over the past few weeks in a Sri Lankan newspaper, especially as the term was derogatorily used previously as “Para” demala.

Continue reading "Sinhala "intellectuals" with "pariah" thoughts replace "mau-basa" with "mau-bima" and "kaduwa" with "traitor"" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

by Prof. S.D. Muni

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s electoral gamble has paid off handsomely. By cutting short his first term by two years, he has ensured a six-year second term for himself, a victory with 57.8 per cent votes cast

Continue reading "Political Imperatives of Rajapaksa Victory do not suggest any sympathy for Tamils who were out to defeat him" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha

Iwas deeply saddened to read today an article by Nihal Jayawickrama, former Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, in which he declares that, disregarding time-specific provisions ‘as being limited in application to that first election held in 1982, the remaining provisions lead inexorably to only one conclusion, namely, that the first term of an incumbent President who seeks re-election after completing four years in office ends at the conclusion of that poll and the declaration of the result. That is also the moment in time when his second term commences’.

Continue reading "Constitution provision very clear about when presidents second term begins" »

Posted by transCurrents at 04:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Post election media clamp down in Sri Lanka – Update 03

MFSL note 31 January 2010

* Journalist Eknaligoda missing for a week

31 January 2010 marks one week of disappearance of www.lankaenews.com journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, a father of two children. He went mission on 24 January 2010.On 29th Minister Susil Premjayanth told media that the government has reliable information that this was not a abduction but a staged act.

Continue reading "Media organisations say this is the hour of solidarity , serious situation developing in Colombo" »

Posted by transCurrents at 04:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by The Centre for Policy Alternatives

A series of recent events connected to the presidential election last week give rise to extremely serious concerns about the state of democracy in Sri Lanka today. The campaign period, the election and its aftermath were marred by unprecedented disregard for the Constitution and the law, resulting in not only violence and large-scale abuse of public resources, but also in setting a number of disquieting precedents with regard to the respect for constitutional authority and democratic values.

Continue reading "Protecting Democracy Post-Election: An end to political violence and revenge" »

Posted by transCurrents at 02:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Stuart Cosgrove, a Scottish journalist, broadcaster and television executive voted in a "Tamil referendum', held across the United Kingdom this weekend. He writes that he was able to vote in the 'Tamil referandum' for being a 'qualifying spouse', as he is 'married to a native Tamil speaker from Jaffna.'

As a journalist Cosgrove served on the NME (Media Editor) and The Face during the 1980s, before joining Channel 4 in April 1994, serving for eight years as Controller of Arts and Entertainment and currently as Head of Programmes (Nations and Regions). In Scotland, Cosgrove is probably best known as the co-host of BBC Radio Scotland's popular comedy football phone-in Off The Ball which he presents twice a week with Tam Cowan, and as the co-host of BBC Scotland's Saturday football results show Sportscene Results.

In The Times UK of Jan 31st, Stuart Cosgrove writes about his experiences of voting in the Scottish referendum of 1997 and now in the 'Tamil referendum':

Full text of the article:

Continue reading "A Scottish journalist's experience of voting in Scottish and Tamil referendums" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Permanent People’s Tribunal
Tribunal on Sri Lanka
14-16 January 2010

HOSTED BY
The Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin
The School of Law and Government, Dublin City University
National College of Art and Design, Dublin

ORGANIZED BY
Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka
c/o Churchtown Meeting House
82 Churchtown Road
Dublin 14, Ireland

irishpeaceforum@gmail.com

CONDUCTED BY
Permanent People’s Tribunal
Fondazione Lelio Basso Sezione Internazionale
Via della Dogana Vecchia
5 - 00186 Roma Italia

pptribunal@internazionaleleliobasso.it

Continue reading "Full Text: Verdict of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Dayan Jayatilleke

The (geographic) periphery proved to be (politically) peripheral, while the road to power lay through the paddy fields and the provinces of the Sinhala heartland. Mahinda Rajapakse gave the lie to the notion that the minorities, especially the Tamil minority, held the key to the outcome of the election.

Continue reading "Tamils must become stakeholders and partners of Rajapakse administration and not clients or competitors of Sinhala nationalism" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (22)

by Nihal Jayawickrama

When does the President’s second term commence? Divergent views are now being expressed on this constitutional issue. It is reported that the consultative jurisdiction of the Supreme Court may be invoked on this matter.

Continue reading "When does second term of re-elected President Rajapakse begin?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Milinda Moragoda

I must study politics and war so that my sons may study mathematics and commerce… in order to give their children the right to study painting, poetry and music… -John Adams (2nd President of the United States)

The reelection of President Rajapaksa with a historic mandate accounting for nearly 58% of the total votes cast presents a unique moment for Sri Lanka to capture the many opportunities for economic development which we have missed since Independence.

Continue reading "Need of the hour is a national discussion without rancour" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

by Dushy Ranetunge

It was indeed a stunning victory, as it surprised everyone, including many of those who are in power who displayed great anxiety and frustration in their campaign, expecting a close result.

Continue reading "Rajapakse’s commitment of reconciliation with the Tamil minority remains as empty as his long promised devolution" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

By Ranga Jayasuriya

President Mahinda Rajapaksa belied the projections of many an observer, including this correspondent who guessed that the election would be a close call. Rajapaksa romped home with a massive margin of 1.8 million votes in an election which many including the opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe described as relatively peaceful on the election day.

Continue reading "Those who did not vote for President voted for Greater Liberal Democratic Agenda" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

By R.M.B. Senanayake

I have had first-hand experience as a Presiding Officer, Counting Officer (Assistant Registering Officer) and as Returning Officer in past elections in Vavuniya, Nuwara Eliya, Matara, etc. The procedure then was for the counting centers to be set apart for each electorate.

Continue reading "Election Results Procedure Change Leads to Suspicion" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

An Interview with Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

SLFP (M) Wing Leader and Co-media Spokesperson for General Sarath Fonseka, Mangala Samaraweera charged that software/paper rigging finally changed an approximately 1.5 million vote victory for General Sarath Fonseka into a 1.8 million majority for President Rajapaksa. He said this “is perhaps the first successfully carried out software/paper rigging in the world.”

Continue reading "World's first successful software/paper rigging of election done by govt charges Mangala Samaraweera" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

by Dr.Muttukrishna Sarvananthan Ph.D.

On the morning after the election result was announced I woke up to a stale old day. The winning margin of the election was too big to believe. The hope for believable change has turned into an unbelievable status quo. If it is the destiny of Sri Lanka, I humbly accept that. Now that the Sri Lankan people have chosen the President of the country for the next six years or eight years (depending on the interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court), it is time to strategise a robust post-war economy.

Continue reading "President's mantra of "peace through development" has been resoundingly rejected by all ethnic minorities" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Here on the slopes of hills, facing the dusk and the cannon of time Close to the gardens of broken shadows, We do what prisoners do, And what the jobless do: We cultivate hope”. – Mahmoud Darwish (Under Siege)

So begins the Rajapaksa era, heralded by a massive vote of confidence by the Sinhala majority, a resounding vote of no-confidence by the Tamil and Muslim minorities and armed soldiers surrounding the hotel in which the main contender was temporarily residing.

Continue reading "Rajapakse won election because majority of war euphoria infected Sinhalese wanted to keep the Tamils in their place" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)

By Gus Mathews

The Eleam war has turned full circle as the political machinations of the race for the Sri Lankan Presidency has demonstrated. General (Retired) Sarath Fonseka the ‘hammer of the Tamil tigers’ became the de-facto saviour of the aspirations that the Tamil Diaspora, the remnants of the Tamil tigers, and their proxy the TNA ever wanted in the Presidential election.

Continue reading "What Now for the TNA, the Tamil Diaspora and their Supporters?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The following letter appears in the Letter to the Editor of The New York Times, Jan 31, 2010:

To the Editor: Regarding "The 31 Places to Go in 2010" (Jan. 10): I am surprised you included Sri Lanka as one of the 31 places to visit.

Continue reading "What NYTimes.com did not include in '31 places to visit'" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

by K Venkataramanan

No country's role is more discussed and less understood in Sri Lanka than India's. With the island nation electing Mahinda Rajapaksa as president for a second six-year term, there is bound to be much debate in Colombo on what the result means for India, and whether India "won" or "lost" in the process. Perennial political legend has it that India has specific preferences about who rules in Sri Lanka and that its choice reflects its geo-strategic interests of the moment. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Continue reading "Will India gain with Rajapaksa's win?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

BY Peter Symonds

In the wake of Tuesday’s presidential election in Sri Lanka, Colombo has become a hotbed of rumour and intrigue as the two factions of the ruling elite backing the winner, Mahinda Rajapakse, and the loser, General Sarath Fonseka, manoeuvre and position themselves for open political warfare. Far from putting an end to the campaign brawling, the election has set the stage for deepening instability.

Continue reading "Behind Sri Lanka’s political infighting: US-China rivalry" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By Sarath Kumara

After winning Tuesday’s election, President Mahinda Rajapakse has begun his second term with a widening crackdown on his political opponents. Despite winning by a substantial margin, Rajapakse’s position remains weak amid continuing sharp divisions in ruling circles and widespread popular frustration and resentment over declining living standards.

Continue reading "Sri Lankan government cracks down on opposition" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Anatomy of an Election - 1

By Prof. RAJIVA WIJESINHA

I must confess to feeling some relief on Wednesday morning. Perhaps as a result of living in Colombo, and imbibing its pernicious predilections, I had worried about the result of the Presidential election. True, rational thought suggested one need not feel anxious. This was reinforced even by the details of a poll, commissioned I was told by international interventionists, on behalf of General Fonseka. This claimed he would win by a tiny margin but acknowledged that he would lose almost all districts in the south of the country, save for Colombo and its ilk. Given the unrealistic margins it predicted in those areas one should have felt confident.

Continue reading "Chandrika Kumaratunga was the final nail in Sarath Fonseka's coffin" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Shanie

"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,
"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon",
In the afternoon they came into a land,
In which it seemed always afternoon.
Is there confusion in the little isle?
Let what is broken so remain.
The Gods are hard to reconcile;
‘Tis hard to settle order once again,
There is confusion worse than death,
Trouble on trouble, pain on pain,
Long labour unto aged breath,
Sore task to hearts worn out with many wars
And eyes grown dim with gazing on the pilot-stars.

Continue reading " Disgraceful treatment of Fonseka and his security personnel after election" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

By ROGENE FISHER (The Lede ~ New York Times Blog)

Sri Lanka’s quarter-century-long civil war may have ended, but there is no peace between the two rivals in Tuesday’s presidential contest. Police raided opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka’s campaign headquarters on Friday, seizing computer equipment and arresting 15 members of his staff.

Sri Lankan police Special Task Force commandos blocked a road outside the office retired Gen. Sarath Fonseka during a raid of his office in Colombo. Rafiq Maqbool/Associated Press

Continue reading "Sri Lankan Police Raid Defeated Opposition Candidate’s Office" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:26 PM | Permalink

Jan 30, 2010: The Sri Lankan government should immediately end its post-election harassment of media outlets and ensure protection of journalists from attack, Human Rights Watch said today.

Continue reading "End Harassment, Attacks on Journalists-HRW" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Presidential Stakes 2010 came to an official end when Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake announced the winner in Sri Lanka's sixth Presidential election.

Incumbent Executive President Mahinda Rajapakse registered a stunning victory by polling 6,015,934 votes(57.88%).Former Army commander retired General Sarath Fonseka, his chief challenger got 4,173,185 or 40.15% of the votes.

The other twenty candidates including three who had withdrawn unofficially fared badly. None of them polled a six digit figure and all of them lost their deposits.

While President Rajapakse's winning margin of 1. 842,749 (17.73 %) is indeed impressive the remarkable result has been tarnished somewhat due to charges of intimidatory violence, flagrant abuse and misuse of Government machinery particularly the state-owned media and alleged vote rigging. [click here to read in full~dbsjeyaraj.com]

Posted by transCurrents at 01:10 PM | Permalink

by Col R. Hariharan

This article is a summary of answers to questions put by various national and international print and electronic media on January 27, 2010.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has won a second term as President of Sri Lanka with a handsome margin. Did you expect this victory? Would you take it as peoples’ recognition of his leadership role in the victory against the Tamil Tigers?

Continue reading "Rajapaksa’s Victory & After: Answers to questions put by national and international media" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

By Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha

One of the themes that the common opposition made much of during the election campaign was the need to implement the 17th amendment immediately. In fact many of those without a political agenda also see this as a panacea for all ills.

Continue reading "A principled approach Necessary for constitutional Reform" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

by A Concerned Tamil

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time. - (T. S. Eliot)

Rudyard Kipling said that someone who knows only England doesn’t know England: in order to understand one place and situation, England, one must know other countries, other histories. With this attitude, I draw attention to the Biafran War. The Nigerian Civil War (also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War) began in 1967 when the Igbo of the South-Eastern provinces broke away and proclaimed the Republic of Biafra. It ended three years later (1970) in defeat.

Continue reading "Igbo and Thamizhar: Biafra in Nigeria and Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

There have been a number of confusing media reports after the results of the Presidential Election were announced on 27 January 2010 as to when the second term of Mahinda Rakapakse begins.

Rohan Edrisinha, Head of the Legal and Constitutional Unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) addresses this issue and other key concerns in a short video here:

Continue reading "Video: When does President Rajapakse's second term begin?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

by Chackravarthy

“It has to be stated with much reluctance that the co-operation received from some of the candidates and their supporters in ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election during the two months period of the election campaign was much less than desired. It became necessary to issue directives and guidelines to prevent misuse of State resources and the State media.

A Competent Authority had to be appointed to ensure observation of the guidelines by the media. The lack of positive response shown to the directives and guidelines is regretted. This attitude was the subject of much criticism and amusement of both the civil society and rival parties,” - Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake.

A Competent Authority had to be appointed to ensure observation of the guidelines by the media. The lack of positive response shown to the directives and guidelines is regretted. This attitude was the subject of much criticism and amusement of both the civil society and rival parties,” Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake.

Continue reading "The "Swan" has been Shot along with Truth, Democracy and Conscience" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Subramaniam Sivakumar alias Rajan a top LTTE activist abroad was "arrested" in a South-eastern country & brought to Sri Lanka today (Jan 28).

Continue reading "Activist apprehended due to information given by LTTE sources" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:49 PM | Permalink

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj

The electoral verdict, stunning and conclusive on the whole, has some cracks in parts. As the President of the whole country, Mahinda Rajapaksa must take the initiative and reach out to those sections of the people who have been alienated in terms of ethnicity, class, and the urban-rural divide. [click to read in full ~ in dbsjeyaraj.com ]

Posted by transCurrents at 01:30 PM | Permalink

Sri Lanka is considering taking action against defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, the defence secretary has told the BBC.

Continue reading "Sri Lanka may 'take action' over opposition candidate" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Damien Kingsbury, chair in the school of international and political studies at Deakin University of Australia sees parallels with policies of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe in the new enforced settlements being carried out in the North-Easy by Sri Lanka government.

Wrting in an OPED column in The Age of Jan 29, 2010, the academic says:

"Despite economic growth of 6 per cent last year, Sri Lanka has an external debt that has surpassed its annual economic output, and inflation is running at close to 25 per cent. Nor do the nation's poor look like benefiting from proposed economic policies, although the re-allocation of Tamil lands to landless Sinhalese - a policy similar to that of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe's - will help reinforce the President's support base."

Full text of the OPED, "Has Sri Lanka stumbled on path to democracy?" as follows:

Continue reading "Sri Lanka North-East settlements likened to Robert Mugabe policies" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

from THE ECONOMIST:

Victory for the Tiger-slayer

HAD Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s war-winning leader, lost his island-state’s presidential election on January 26th, it would have been described as a Churchillian defeat.

Continue reading "What the president’s re-election means for his sorely divided country" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Charging widespread irregularities took place in the counting process and 1.4 million of his votes were misappropriated, General Sarath Fonseka is quoted as saying , "I should have been the president. I am the people's president," in an AFP report.

Additionally a report on the United National Party website (UNP.lk) says the common opposition candidate is to "launch street protests in the coming weeks" against the “election fraud”.

Full report on the UNP.lk website as follows:

Continue reading ""I should have been the president. I am the people's president."- Fonseka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

U.S. Embassy Colombo Press Release, Colombo, January 28, 2010:

The United States congratulates Sri Lanka for the first nationwide election in decades and President Rajapaksa on his victory. We look forward to continuing the partnership between our two countries and working with the Government and the people to support a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka.

Continue reading "U.S. Government Statement on the Presidential Election in Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by Mr. KD Knight, Chair of the Commonwealth Expert Team

A generally well-administered election day but shortcomings in the pre-election period and incidences of inter-party violence taint election

Continue reading "Government abuses "substantially affect" the election results-Commonwealth observer" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A VICTORIOUS Mahinda Rajapakse has vowed to put tensions with Western critics behind him and transform his war-ravaged nation into a development and tourism hub after his landslide win in Sri Lanka's first post-conflict presidential poll.

Continue reading "President Rajapakse suggests overwhelming mandate makes war crimes inquiry unnecessary" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Sri Lanka Congratulated for Successful Presidential Election

by Steve Herman

The United States and India are congratulating Sri Lanka for carrying out a successful presidential election this week. But there are also calls from the international community for the South Asian island nation to investigate the opposition's claim of vote-rigging and other election violations.

Continue reading "Opposition allegations of counting process needs more proof" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Full text of press release by the Human Rights Watch

President’s New Term Time for Accountability

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and key international actors should take steps to bring accountability for Sri Lanka's grave human rights violations so that the thousands of victims will not continue to be denied justice during President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term, Human Rights Watch said today.

Continue reading "UN Secretary-General should work for independent international investigation of Sri Lanka's grave human rights violations" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Full Text of Press Release by The United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC):

International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan 27, 2010

The United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) joins the world humanitarian community in remembering and paying tribute to the victims of the Holocaust at the hands of Nazi Germany, honoring survivors and supporting the recognition of this day internationally.

Continue reading "'This year's International Holocaust Remembrance Day is of special significance to Tamils'" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:43 PM | Permalink

by Ralph Michael

Sri Lanka’s presidential election should have been cause for celebration — the first since the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels in May, and the first in peacetime in almost three decades.

Instead, it has descended into such a travesty that South Asia’s oldest democracy — which gained universal suffrage in 1931 and elected the world’s first woman Prime Minister in 1960 — is barely worthy of the title any more.

Continue reading "Abuse of power makes travesty of democracy in Sri Lanka elections" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

From Colombo, the twitter pages of Lydia Polgreen ~ NYTimes.com

Hm, local press being ushered in but foreign kept out, what gives.

Finally managed to get in. Rajapaksa answered questions for a good chunk of time, took call from Indian PM, came back for more.

Continue reading "President Rajapaksa rebuffs question about Fonseka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:13 PM | Permalink

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been declared the winner of Sri Lanka's presidential poll, but the outcome was immediately rejected by his challenger.

Continue reading "Fonseka rejects Sri Lanka election win for Rajapaksa" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

from the twitter pages of Lydia Polgreen in Colombo, The New York Times

Fonseka rejects results. Looks like a standoff

Continue reading "Strange skies over Colombo. What do they portend?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:23 AM | Permalink

The Following is full text of letter sent to Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake, Elections Commissioner by Centre for Monitoring Election Violence CMEV:

27th January 2010

BY HAND, FAX & REGISTERED POST

Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake
Elections Commissioner
Department of Elections
Sarana Mawatha,
Rajagiriya

Dear Mr. Dissanayake,

I wish to bring to your urgent attention the concerns voiced by voters and shared by CMEV with regard to the counting process of votes in the 26 January 2010 Presidential Election and the announcement of the results.

Continue reading "Letter to Commissioner of Elections to urgently address concerns voiced by voters" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

by B. Muralidhar Reddy

The incumbent Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, seeking a second endorsement two years ahead of his first tenure, registered a landslide victory against his chief opponent and the opposition consensus nominee retired General Sarath Fonseka. According to sources in the Election Commission, counting of votes is almost complete and an official announcement could be expected soon.

Continue reading "Rajapaksa registers landslide win in Sri Lanka presidential poll" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Hello Friends

The Presidential Elections held on January 26th 2010 has concluded. Though the results are not yet officially released at the time this is being written “unofficially” it does seem very clear who has won.

This crucial election at a historic juncture invoked and evoked a great deal of interest and controversy. A great many people were concerned observers of the political scene these past few months.

This interest will not wane in the next few days as events rapidly unfold in Sri Lanka. There is much excitement in the air. [ click here to read in full, have your say and/or read comments by other readers ]

Posted by transCurrents at 10:24 PM | Permalink

By Ranga Sirilal and C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's top opposition candidate said troops had surrounded his hotel on Wednesday, after polling in Sri Lanka's first post-war presidential election ended with the revelation that he was not a registered voter.

Continue reading "Sri Lanka presidential challenger says fears arrest" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Montage of Election related Media Reports

By Chakravarthy

Sarath Fonseka or family NOT registered voters in Sri Lanka. Legal experts question his eligibility to run for election.

Fonseka dispels rumors over his vote, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 15:35

Common opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka speaking to Daily Mirror Online a short while ago said that he was fully qualified to contest the Presidential Elections although he could not cast his vote at the elections today.

Continue reading "2010 Presidential Poll: Oh! God! What a Free and Fair election? Part II" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A report by The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV):

Interview with Asanga Welikala, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives over the confusion arising from key presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka not having a vote, and the confusion significantly fueled by State media that he is ineligible to be elected as President as a consequence:

Continue reading "Mp3 Audio: Interview with Asanga Welikala over Sarath Fonseka not having a vote" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Briefing on abysmal turnout in the Northern Province and the govt. failure to address voter rights, by The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV):

26 January 2010: CMEV was informed that approximately 24,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) presently living in government run camps and with host families were also registered on the 2008 electoral register.

Continue reading "Government authorities fail to address voter rights of IDPs and other Northern residents" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Presidential Election 2010: Election Day Media Communiqué No. 4, by The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence CMEV:

CMEV has received the following reports from the field:

Eastern Province

Batticaloa District: Kalkudah Electroate: SLMC supporter Mr. Mohamad Ismail was attacked by a group of UPFA supporters at around 10:55 am about 20m away from the Oddamavadi Central College Polling Station (Polling Centre 69). CMEV spoke to Mr Ismail, who informed CMEV that he had been hit by members of the group, resulting in injuries to his face, left leg and right hand. He was admitted to the Mancholai hospital and is currently receiving treatment. No Police report had been lodged as at 10:55 am.

Continue reading "Provincial-wide update on Election Day violence and law breaking" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Presidential Election 2010: Election Day Media Communiqué No. 3, by The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV):

CMEV received reports of multiple explosions in Nallur, Uduppidy, Manipay, Vaddukottai, Chavakachcheri and Tellipallai. CMEV’s mobile teams were dispatched to a number of locations where the attacks had reportedly taken place. CMEV teams verified damages at the following locations.

Continue reading "Disturbances in Jaffna and identity, transport issues at Manik Farm deter turnout" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Tweet bundle from the twitter pages of The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) and Lydia Polgreen of New York Times in Colombo:

From Lydia Polgreen: Click for updates: http://twitter.com/lpolgreen

Govt spokesman: postal votes and other early indications point to a return of the incumbent. Results 4 – 5 AM.

Govt. spokesman says govt. will challenge Fonseka’s candidacy in court over voter registration.

Continue reading "Low turn out in North-East, Govt. to challenge Fonseka candidacy in court" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:54 AM | Permalink

BY Sergei De Silva -Ranasinghe

For many, the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which brought to a close over two decades of civil war that claimed tens of thousands of lives, marked a welcome end to the darkest and bloodiest era in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history.

Continue reading "Defeat of LTTE has breathed new life into the democratic process for marginalised groups in Tamil politics" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

January 26th 2010 is upon us!

It’s the Day of decision for Sri Lanka as it faces yet another election to either re-elect or elect the most powerful person in the Country.

My thoughts and prayers with all Sri Lankans as they cast their votes in what is perhaps the most crucial, controversial and colourful presidential poll the Country has seen.

I took some time off from the hustle and bustle of daily life to ponder over this election.

We’ve had many flaws in conducting elections in the past. The present one has already demonstrated its deficiencies. The poll is certainly flawed.

Despite these flaws Sri Lanka can be proud of keeping the light of democracy alive. [click here to read in full ~ dbsjeyaraj.com]

Posted by transCurrents at 10:19 PM | Permalink

President Mahinda Rajapaksa answered questions put to him by Rajpal Abeynayake on Tuesday’s elections and a host of related issues, at President’s House in Kandy this week. We publish below the transcripts from that exchange.

(A few questions included were from representatives of other English newspapers.)

Continue reading "I tell Tamils, there is no problem - I too speak Tamil - Mahinda Rajapakse" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

by Nalin Swaris

"It's not the NGOs driving the government’s agenda; it's the US government driving the NGO agenda." - As Julie Mertus

Various interest groups and individuals have become united for one purpose – not so much to make Sarath Fonseka win but to oust Mahinda Rajapakse. Is the scenario being prepared in Sri Lanka for what has come to be known as “a colour revolution”.

First, let us consider the meaning of the term.

Continue reading "Colour Revolution Strategy and Sri Lankan Presidential Election 2010" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay has gained rare access to refugee camps in the north, to take a look at the challenges still faced by the Tamils living there. [January 25, 2010]

Continue reading "Video: Lives of many of the Tamils in Sri Lanka's north remain difficult" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Montage of Election related Media Reports

By Chakravarthy

**The Colombo Magistrates court today refused to grant a search warrant requested by the Criminal Investigations Department to search UNP leader Ranil Wickremesighe’s office and the Biyagama press of Wijeya Newspapers, publishers of Daily Mirror. 25/01/2010

Continue reading "2010 Presidential Poll: Oh! What a Free and Fair election?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga pledged her support to Gen.Sarath Fonseka after a discussion with him at her residence in Horagolla.

Continue reading ""Today we have a tremendous opportunity for change, and work towards lifting our beloved Lanka"" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

National organizer of the SLFP Mahajana Wing Tiran Alles says Basil Rajapaksa personally handed over, at his office, Rs. 180 million to the then LTTE financial controller Emil Kanthan to ensure that the people of the north refrained from voting at the 2005 presidential election.

Continue reading "Mahinda gave Rs. 180 million to the LTTE through Basil, charges Tiran Alles" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

by A.J.M. Muzammil

The outcome of the Presidential election on the 26th of January is going to be very significant. Whatever the outcome, there will be huge implications on the people of Sri Lanka. Both main candidates will certainly have differing styles of governing.

Continue reading "I look forward to a tomorrow that brings about change, a believable change" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)

by Gnana Moonesinghe

All human beings have this burden in life to constantly figure out what’s true, what’s authentic, what’s meaningful, what’s dross, what’s a hallucination, what’s a figment, what’s madness. We all need to figure out what is valuable constantly. As a writer, all I am doing is posing the question in a way that people can see very clearly." - Maxine Hong Kingston

A little more than a week remains for the presidential elections. By then no more brickbats will be left to be aimed by the candidates or at the candidates.

Continue reading "January 26, 2010 : A Decisive Moment In Sri Lanka’s Destiny" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Setting them as oppositions (as contradictory desires that drive the support for the two different candidates) is not entirely convincing

Response to “Liberalism Poses Severe Challenge to Sinhala Nationalism at 2010 Presidential Election” by Kathika study circle

By Buddika Bandara and Prabha Manuratne

It is indeed refreshing to see a political mediation that transcends the immediate political wish to support the “victorious camp,” and insist on discussing the crucial political implications of what SF and MR represent as presidential candidates.

Continue reading "Nationalism and liberalism have coexisted and are not always mutually exclusive" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

General Puts Up a Fight in Sri Lanka’s Election 

by Lydia Polgreen

When President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced late last year that he would move the presidential election up by two years and seek a fresh mandate from Sri Lanka’s war-weary electorate, he seemed like a shoo-in. 

Continue reading "Sri Lanka President’s New Challenge: Fending Off Insurgent Voters" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Space Between Politics and Reality: A Minority View of the Sri Lankan Elections

by Nimmi Gowrinathan

On May 19, 2009 the Government of Sri Lanka announced that it had defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), ending one of the longest civil wars in South Asia.

Continue reading "The voter in the North-East, election politics and promises" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Final Report by the People’s Tribunal on Sri Lanka

Press Release, 24 Jan. 10

The following is preview of the report completed by the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal following their investigation into alleged human rights abuses and war crimes in Sri Lanka.

The findings fall into four broad categories:

Continue reading "Irish PPT wants international investigation into Sri Lankan war crimes, crimes against humanity and human rights violations" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Imag(in)ing 'Home' at The Museum of Anthropology (Vancouver):

Shanaathanan Thamotharampillai, a Tamil artist from Sri Lanka who is currently completing his PhD in art history at Jawaharlal Nerhu University, New Delhi.

Continue reading "Exhibit: Unpacking the complexities and liminality of the Tamil Community" »

Posted by transCurrents at 02:13 PM | Permalink

Excerpts from report by Wayne Hay of AlJazeera:

Continue reading "100,000 Tamils still limbo in camps, families forced to take refuge on the roadside" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

"Lakbima News" editor Rajpal Abeynayake asks President Rajapakse a serious question "What is the message you give Tamil speaking people"?.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa speaks at a final political rally for his presidential campaign in Piliyandala January 23, 2010-Reuters pic.

Continue reading "Mahinda's insolent message to Tamil speaking people" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:48 AM | Permalink

By Chakravarthy

I need not tell the readers that this debatable question that was born after 19th May 2009 has been the centre point of the present presidential election in Sri Lanka.

Continue reading "Who won the war ; the military leadership or the political leadership?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)

Here is the full text of petition filed in courts by Sarath Kongahage against Sarath Fonseka’s presidential candidacy:

Continue reading "Sarath Kongahage’s petition in Courts Seeking Sarath Fonseka's Disqualification as Presidential Candidate" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

By Charles. P. Sarvan

Over and over, one reads of the patriotic soldiers who laid down their lives fighting the Tigers. This mantra is repeated and repetition, as we know, transforms a statement into fact. Over time, it becomes truth, is no longer examined but handed down as axiomatic. This is not to deny that the army displayed courage. This is not to deny that many lost their lives on the battlefield, succumbed to their wounds or live on handicapped in body and / or mind. However, while acknowledging, admiring and applauding courage and patriotic sacrifice, one must remember that often the truth is more complex and less palatable.

Continue reading " Haste to conclude the war had a political motive rather than a military or strategic one" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By Col. R.Hariharan

Both President Rajapaksa and General Fonseka appear to be following the strategy of ‘indirect approach’ in their “electoral war.” Sir Basil Liddell Hart, one of the great military thinkers of 20th century propounded this key military concept as early as 1929. In his famous work The Decisive Wars of History he explained the indirect approach as seeking “a strategic situation so advantageous that if it does not of itself produce the decision, its continuation by battle is guaranteed to do so".

Continue reading "Both Rajapakse and Fonseka Following Strategy of "Indirect Approach" in Electoral War" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

by Socrates

Was it glorious history in the making or the enactment of a comedy, tragedy or farce during the 40-day period between nominations day and elections day with just one day to go for the poll? We would know it all by Wednesday if the exasperated Elections Commissioner, Dayananda Dissanayake goes ahead with the election where a great majority of election laws and regulations have been blatantly violated, particularly by the ruling party. Those who have seen many major election campaigns assess this as the most hysterical of campaigns where quite a lot of heat, sound and fury including some killings resulted but very little sense has been generated.

Continue reading "Fonseka may be unknown devil or angel but he represents change" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Special Media Release on Transfer of HQI Vavuniya Police Station by Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), 23 Jan, 2010:

CMEV learnt that the HQI of the Vavuniya Police Station, Saman Sigera, has been transferred to the welfare division of the Police Head Quarters with immediate effect from 23rd January 2010.

CMEV contacted Saman Sigera on 23rd January at around 05.30 pm who said that he received a fax from the Police Head Quarters, Colombo today at around 11.30 pm instructing him to report to the Welfare Division of the Police Head Quarters with immediate effect. He further stated that no reason has been mentioned for his transfer in the fax.

Continue reading "Transfer of Vavuniya Police official days before the election raises suspicion" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

by Bala Tampoe, General Secretary C.M.U.

President Mahinda Rajapakse is seeking re-election for a second six-year term as Executive President. He has cut short his present term of office in order to do so, without having abolished the Executive Presidency, as he had pledged to do, before the end of his first term.

Continue reading "Working people will have to rely on themselves to face situation after 26th January" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By Dayan Jayatilleka

“And then I knew what to do.
I made a model of you,
A man in black with a Meinkampf look

And a love of the rack and the screw.
And I said I do, I do.” - “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath

If you can’t take my word for it, take that of Eric Hobsbawm, regarded not only as Britain’s greatest living historian but as ‘one of the outstanding historians of our age’ (Independent on Sunday). The Guardian says “Hobsbawm is one of the leading authors of the concepts and language in which all of us now discuss our situation”.

Continue reading "Our choices in the political battle on Jan 26th will tell us who and what we are or have become" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (35)

Prof. A. R. M. Imtiyaz

It is likely that who ever wins the ethnic problem will not be solved.

The voters in the island of Sri Lanka will meet the sixth presidential elections on January 26. Though the island of Sri Lanka is a home to two nations and some minorities, its elections are often carefully directed to absorb the attention of the Sinhalese. This is mainly due to competitive nature of Sri Lanka’s electoral system and the size of the Sinhalese population.

Continue reading "Presidential Elections, The Sinhala Mindset And The Future Of Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 04:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Last year when speculation was rife about former Army commander Sarath Fonseka announcing his candidacy for the Presidential elections this columnist was among those who warned of adverse consequences befalling the Country as a result of this unprecedented move.

Sarath Fonseka posters in Jaffna-pic: indi.ca

Chief among these was the very strong possibility of an escalation in the continuous process of the military being politicised and society being militarised in the Country. I perceived the Fonseka phenomenon as the logical outcome this. [ click to read in full ~ dbsjeyaraj.com]

Posted by transCurrents at 02:40 PM | Permalink

Statement by Centre for Policy Alternatives:

It has been brought to our notice that the website titled SF Balakaya hosted at the URL http://www.sfbalakaya.com currently features a blatantly false story involving Social Indicator (SI), the survey research arm of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA).

Continue reading "Blatantly false and misleading coverage of Centre for Policy Alternatives and Social Indicator on website" »

Posted by transCurrents at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Rajan Philips

As Sri Lankans are anxiously getting ready to cast their votes in Tuesday’s presidential election that is turning more violent than ever before, the voters in Massachusetts have peacefully sent a shockwave through the American political establishment. It is countdown time in Colombo for Mahinda Rajapakse and Sarath Fonseka.

[Sen. Scott Brown, in Boston Jan 20 ~ Gen Sararth Fonseka, on Jan 11, Colombo-pic: Reuters]

Continue reading "Different elections, different locations: Countdown in Colombo and a new Boston Tea Party" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Joint Civil Society Statement on Election Violence

With the race for the presidency getting increasingly close and uncertain, there has been a considerable increase in tension throughout the country.

Continue reading "Total break-down of law and order feared as election day approaches" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

We write this letter on behalf of the Friday Forum, which is an informal gathering of concerned citizens who have voluntarily come together to deliberate and make representations on vital issues of national concern. The Forum includes a considerable number of elder citizens who have served the country with distinction in various capacities.

Continue reading "An Appeal to the Two Key Candidates Contesting the Presidential Elections" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

By Kshama Ranawana

Deeply divided Sri Lankan citizens go to the polls on Jan. 26 to vote in a president in its first major post-war electoral exercise.

Continue reading "Once Considered Walk Over this Election Could Well be Nemesis of Rajapakse" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

By Samanmalee Unanthenna
University of Colombo / University of Heidelberg

When rumours started circulating some months ago of the possibility of Sarath Fonseka being a Presidential candidate, I was horrified. As the rumours at the time linked him to the JVP, I immediately contacted a couple of my JVP friends and berated them soundly for what I believed at that time to be a disastrous decision.

Continue reading "Why I am voting for Sarath Fonseka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (47)

by Atticus

It is said that large sections of the country —-people from different communities, religions, classes, regions, occupations and gender —-are supporting the General at the Presidential elections. Why is this so? Is it that the public mood, at least among the affluent, the educated bourgeoisie and urban workers, is for change in the way the country is run?

Continue reading "Electing the general as president would be a decidedly a risky adventure" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Three days from today(23rd) the nation will be going to the polls to elect the most powerful person in the Country

Ukku Banda Wijekoon

Twenty-Three potential candidates handed in their nominations on December 17th 2009but with the Commissioner of Elections rejecting one there were only twenty-two in the fray.

Of these two dropped out from the race with one-a Buddhist priest-transferring his support to Mahinda Rajapakse and the other-a Muslim parliamentarian-extending his solidarity to Sarath Fonseka.

Of the twenty contestants for the Presidential stakes,Sixteen are contesting from big, huge, medium, small, tiny and miniscule parties. Four are Independents. [click here to read in full ~ dbsjeyaraj.com]

Posted by transCurrents at 01:00 PM | Permalink

The following is full text of media Communiqué No 21, issued by Centre from Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) on Jan 22, 2010:

Western Province

Bomb Attack in Colombo

At approximately 4.50am this morning, an explosive device was thrown at the home of the Secretary and National Organizer of the SLFP Mahajana Wing Mr. Tiran Alles, located at Galpoththa Road, Nawala, resulting in severe damage to his vehicle and house. Mr. Alles and his family were unharmed.

Continue reading "Pre dawn attack causes severe damage to house and vehicle of Secretary, SLFP Mahajana Wing" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Full text of media release:

As Sri Lankan Muslims civil society groups we are deeply concerned by the lack of urgency and recognition of the Northern Muslims’ right to return. Despite the end of the war in May 2009 and on-going efforts to resettle Internally Displaced Persons, the expelled Northern Muslim community is still waiting for the announcement of a program that will facilitate their dignified return to their places of origin, free of further trauma.

Continue reading "35 Muslim Organizations Appeal to Make 2010 The Year of Return of Expelled Northern Muslims" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

by Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV)

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) conducted a field visit to the Jaffna, Killinochchi and Vavuniya districts from 17-19th January 2010 to monitor the situation prior to the 26th January Presidential election. CMEV met with residents of the area including those who had recently returned, internally displaced person (IDPs), civil society groups, agencies and government officials.

Continue reading "Report on election monitors' visit to Jaffna, Kilinochchi & Vavuniya, Jan 17- 19" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters Without Borders)

Flouting a 15 January supreme court ruling, state-owned TV stations Rupavahini and ITN continue to openly favour President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s campaign to win another term in the presidential election to be held on 26 January with a total of 21 candidates taking part.

Continue reading "State media turned into presidential propaganda outlets" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

by Elisa Mala

The seaside enclave of Tompkinsville sits on the north side of Staten Island, but, with a significant population of Sri Lankan immigrants, the neighborhood could easily be half a world away. To sample that nation’s cuisine or just enjoy the area’s grand shoreline vistas, take the subway to South Ferry, hop on the ferry and, at St. George, take the Staten Island Railway one stop. Or opt for the scenic path: a casual 10-minute stroll along Bay Street.

Continue reading "In Pictures: Taste of Sri Lanka New York City" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

by Peter Bouckaert

Despite verbal acrobatics reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984, Sri Lankan officials have been unable to dismiss a shocking mobile phone video from last January purportedly showing Sri Lankan soldiers summarily executing naked and bound captives.

Continue reading "Despite promises to the UN, the Sri Lankan government has yet to investigate the serious crimes of Sri Lanka's civil war" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sri Lanka's presidential election: Between a rock and a hard man

From the print edition of THE ECONOMIST

THE presidential election in Sri Lanka on January 26th should have been a cakewalk for the incumbent. Last May, when his government defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, bringing an end to a bloody 26-year insurgency, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s popularity among the island’s Sinhalese majority knew no bounds.

Continue reading "Both candidates are ignoring what should be their priority: national reconciliation" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sri Lanka's Tamil diaspora-Next year in Jaffna

From the print edition of THE ECONOMIST

IN THE dingy back office of a Sri Lankan grocery shop in Harrow, north-west London, sales assistants pore over a Tamil newspaper, while a customer says he is going home to follow events on the internet. Having watched from afar as the Sri Lankan army crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009, British Tamils are again transfixed by a campaign on the island—this time for an election. On January 26th the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, will seek to capitalise on his military victory at a presidential poll called nearly two years earlier than it need have been.

Continue reading "Tamil émigrés follow the election campaign with jaundiced eyes" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

By Jolly Somasundram

Continue reading "The Two Elections in 2010: End of History for the NE Tamils or, A Fresh Beginning?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)

The following is full text of media Communiqué No 20, issued by Centre from Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) on Jan 20, 2010:

Eastern Province

Hurt and Arson in Ampara

According to NC supporter Mr. Saleem Raniz, at 3.30am this morning, he was assaulted and his motorbike (GQ 9978) was set on fire, by SLMC supporters Attalachchenai Provincial Councilor Mr. Mazoor Sinnalebbei (who arrived in a dark blue vehicle), Mr. A.L. Makkeen, Mr. R. Nawaz and Mr. Nauzath, at Noor Mosque Road, Attalachchenai.

Continue reading "Poll violence in several towns; Fonseka campaigners assaulted in Kilinochchi" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Statement by The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is deeply concerned by the developments this week that suggest the remainder of the election campaign and the presidential election itself would not be conducted according to the legal procedures and limitations established by the Constitution and the law.

Continue reading "Grave concerns for a free and fair presidential election and the rule of law" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A response to Gunadheera

By S.Udhaya

Mr Somapala Gunadheera raised an interesting issue in his piece titled Exclusivity of the Sri Lankan Tamil Psyche dated January 19, as to why the Tamils were "mellow, forgiving, tolerant" in their treatment of the two 'Cup' claimers. I must credit Mr Gunadheera for having asked such a fascinating question.

Continue reading "Rajapakse and Fonseka were treated as respected guests by Tamils in Jaffna" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

By Somapala Gunadheera

Two news items appearing in the Island of Monday, January 11, 2010 took me by surprise. One read, "Members of pro-Eelam organizations hurled slippers at the convoy of Sri Lankan Parliament speaker W J M Lokubandara and tried to attack him when he was visiting the Vaitheeswaran Temple (in India) on Saturday. The police prevented them from nearing the Sri Lankan". And the other entitled, "President takes Jaffna by storm" said, "Thronging crowds were waiting to welcome the president with garlands"

Continue reading "Why do Tamils in India hurl slippers at Lokubandara but Tamils in Sri Lanka garland Rajapakse and Fonseka?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

By Dr.A.C.Visvalingam

In the interests of voters, the media gave valuable exposure to the 14 questions that the Citizens Movement for Good Governance (CIMOGG) was in the process of addressing by direct mail to the 22 Presidential candidates. The letters themselves were sent out on December 26, 2009, followed two days later by a Sinhala translation (except in the case of the sole Tamil candidate).

Continue reading "Only 4 Presidential candidates answer CIMOGG’s 14 questions; Rajapakse,Fonseka,Karunaratne among those who failed to respond" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

It's an open secret that Former UNP national list MP Sarath Kongahage was put up to contest presidential elections by the Rajapakse regime.

Both candidates are SARATH. Their names are similiar. The idea is to confuse voters & cut into potential Fonseka votes.

Continue reading "Presidential contender put in the fray by Rajapakse regime quacks on divided loyalties" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:28 PM | Permalink

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

LTTE leader Prabhakaran's mother Mrs. Parvathy Veluppillai is currently warded at the Oorani hospital in her hometown of Valvettithurai.

Mrs. Veluppillai whose hand is paralysed after suffering a stroke is being looked after by relative & medical doctor Mayilerumperumaal.

Continue reading "Basil Rajapakse allows LTTE leader's mother and mother-in-law to leave the country" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:26 PM | Permalink

by Nalin Swaris

Even you Brutus? Most famous last words in history, due to its inclusion in William Shakespeare’s tragedy ‘Julius Caesar’. Before turning to Shakespeare, a few historical facts about Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BCE- 44 BCE). Julius’ surname became the title of emperors after him. Julius undoubtedly was Rome’s greatest General – a military genius and ambitious politician. In 44 BCE, because of his brilliant victories in war and his great political influence, Caesar became Consul for a fifth time, with Mark Antony as his devoted supporter, Caesar got himself declared ‘dictator for life’.

Continue reading "Fonseka has put aside the General's "Thoppiya" to assail a political Thoppigala" »

Posted by transCurrents at 05:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Govt continues "games"with Sarath Fonseka's son in law Danuna Tillekeratne by getting Police to postpone inquiry after summoning him for one.

Danuna was ordered by Police to present himself before CID on Jan 20th for inquiry into alleged arms deals but then told no inquiry today.

Continue reading "Government plot to harass Sarath Fonseka relatives continue" »

Posted by transCurrents at 03:34 PM | Permalink

by ‘kathika’ study circle

The 2010 Presidential election is a critical juncture in Sri Lankan history. The people have realised this as well, as is seen by the sheer density of discourse that has taken place over the past days and weeks.

Continue reading "Liberalism Poses Severe Challenge to Sinhala Nationalism at 2010 Presidential Election" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

NEGOMBO (UCAN) - Not one person has been held accountable for the murders of 13 clergy and lay rights workers who struggled for justice during more than 25 years of civil war.

Continue reading "Still no justice for fallen martyrs" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Prof. Michael Robers

Gerald H. Peiris: Twilight of the Tigers. Peace Efforts and Power Struggles in Sri Lanka, Delhi, Oxford University Press & Colombo, Vijitha Yapa Publications, PB 297 pages.

Continue reading "Twilight of the Tigers: Peace process also promoted the decline of the Tigers" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The following is full text of media Communiqué No 16, issued by Centre from Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) on Jan 20, 2010:

As of 19th January 2010, CMEV has confirmed a cumulative total of 658 incidents of election related violence of which 295 incidents have been categorized as Major. Of these, 5 incidents are Murders, 5 are Attempted Murders, 78 are Assault, 81 are Threat and Intimidation, 30 are Grievous Hurts, 35 are Hurts, 36 are cases of Misuse of State Resources and 12 are Robberies and 13 are Arsons. The total number of incidents involving the use of firearms is 95. In addition, 363 incidents have been categorized as Minor.

Continue reading "Poll related murder in Matale and attempted murders in Ampara & Hambantota reported" »

Posted by transCurrents at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Prof.Lalith Samarakoon

I am writing this letter give my sincere endorsement to General Sarath Fonseka to be the next President of Sri Lanka.

Continue reading "Why do I support Sarath Fonseka?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)

by Nalin Swaris

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". Whoever said it, Shakespeare or Congreve, its a ‘general’ statement that is unfair to women. General Fonseka feels scorned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. His fury has made all hell boil over and what hell mates have been spewed to support his revolt against the President. All ye that enter tremble.

Continue reading "Hell hath no fury as General Fonseka scorned" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Rajapakse regime gets ready to do anti-opposition propaganda by "fixing" Sarath Fonseka & his son-in-law on charges of alleged corruption

Sarath Fonseka's son in law, Danuna Tillekaratne has been ordered by Police to present himself before the CID on Jan 21st for an inquiry

Continue reading "Rajapakse regime gets ready to derive propaganda mileage by "fixing" Sarath Fonseka & his son-in-law" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:10 PM | Permalink

By Chackravarthy

This is the confusion in the minds of Swan supporters in the city, suburbs and towns, considering the track record of the betel vendor. Use and abuse -respectively, of government machinery, law and order and flouting election laws are rather unprecedented, unlimited under his power.

Continue reading "Will the Swan Swim, Sink or be Shot?" »

Posted by transCurrents at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)

by Vasantha Rajah

Some Sri Lankan leftists naively argue that a Fonseka-victory will lead to a fascist dictatorship. They even dogmatically draw historical parallels from world history to justify their claim and defend their sectarian politics. A sober analysis of Sri Lanka's concrete context, however, tells a different story. Let me explain:

Continue reading "If Mahinda manages to retain power his mafia regime will reach new heights" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

by Amnesty International

A mnesty International calls on all candidates standing in Sri Lanka's Presidential elections on January 26th to end widespread human rights violations and the culture of impunity that continues to plague the country.

Continue reading "Time for a New Start; A Human Rights Agenda for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Candidates-Amnesty International" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

by Karu Jayasuriya

We wish to make this special appeal to all patriotic public servants of our country as we reach this crucial juncture in our country’s destination. We are well aware of the calibre and integrity of our public service. Unfortunately due to the actions of a few politically motivated, corrupt officers the whole public service and the Police Department in particular have been brought in to disrepute. The current election campaign has also strained the public service to its limits with enormous pressure being exerted upon civil servants to support the incumbent in his desperate efforts to remain in power.

Continue reading "An appeal to Members of the Public Service including Police and Armed Services" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following is full text of media Communiqué No 16, issued by Centre from Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) on Jan 18, 2010:

North Western Province

Grenade Attack and Murder in Kurunegala

CMEV has learned that at approximately 7.30pm this evening, Mr. D.M. Suranga Indrajith (27), the diver of Minister of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Mr. Jayaratna Herath, was killed during a grenade attack on the UPFA party office located in Vanduragala, in the vicinity of the home of Minister Herath.

Continue reading "Grenade attack in Kurunegala leaves minister's driver dead" »

Posted by transCurrents at 06:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Kalana Senaratne

The Presidential election of 2010 has brought out some of the most glaring delusions and dilemmas which shape the political stance of the Opposition, and which confront the voter, in particular.

Continue reading ""War Crimes" could be the only Weapon left to Ranil to Bring Fonseka Down" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Boycott Sri Lanka Releases Second Video in Series "No Blood for Panties"; innovative marketing strategy proves popular, effective:

Full Text of Press Release by boycottsrilanka.com:

On the heels of its successful release of the first episode of No Blood For Panties series, Boycott Sri Lanka released its second episode today. No Blood For Panties is part of a campaign to encourage Americans to boycott products made in Sri Lanka to end Sri Lanka's violent discrimination against its Tamil population.

Continue reading ""No Blood for Panties," Boycott Sri Lanka Releases Second Video" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

"There is really no fundamental choice between General Fonseka and Rajapakse because both were instrumental in launching this military offensive against the Tamil community," says Tasha Manoranjan in a report by Shaun Tandon of AFP datelined from Washington on Jan 17, 2010. She added: "I think the day after the election there will no longer be any concern for the Tamil people."

Full report as follows:

Sri Lanka's upcoming election is raising hopes in the United States for better relations after a chilly spell if the island turns the page on a bloody war that brought international opprobrium.

The January 26 election comes months after troops killed the top leadership of the Tamil Tigers, ending their ruthless decades-long separatist campaign but also triggering accusations of human rights abuses.

Continue reading ""Day after the election there will no longer be any concern for the Tamil people"" »

Posted by transCurrents at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Produced by YATV, Colombo on Jan 14, 2010:

A 7.10 minute telecast featuring A9, IDPs seeking shelter along the road and interviews with few Jaffna residents at the market.

The second video features interview with Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu of Centre of Policy Alternatives on Upcoming Election, minority votes and political settlement:

Continue reading "YATV Video: Jaffna via the A9, election and minority votes" »

Posted by transCurrents at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following is full text of media Communiqué No 15, issued by Centre from Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) on Jan 18, 2010:

North Western Province

Murder in Kurunegala

According to Mr. Manjula Bandara (son of Member of Parliament and UNP Organizer for Wariyapola Ms. Amara Piyaseeli), between 12.30am and 1.00am this morning, Mr. Dhammika Herath (also known as Manju) was beaten to death by supporters of Minister of Rural Industries & Self-Employment Promotion S.B. Navinne. Mr. Herath was pronounced dead on arrival at the Wariyapola Hospital, and the body has been sent to the Kurunegala Consultant JMO Dr. H.M.K. Senanayake for the postmortem.

Continue reading "UNP activist beaten to death by supporters of government minister in Kurunegala" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

by R.M.M

Mahinda Rajapakse maybe corrupt but a lot of the hearsay foolish talk here in Colombo is just that.

Three wheeler drivers and even attendants at Apollo claiming Gotabaya bought Apollo when all that happened was that he was made Director once the courts took over Apollo after deeming the Hostile take over bid by Harry J as illegal and gave it back to the government insurance corp.

Continue reading "Short notes on a sojourn in Sri Lanka" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)

An Appeal by a Collective of Tamil Professionals

The vote is a valuable right and we call upon Tamils, Muslims and all minorities to exercise it without doubt or hesitation on the 26th of January. We also warn the people to be alert against impersonation and rigging in localities prone to such practices.

Continue reading "Experiences make regime change the critical question for the minorities" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

by Dr.Muttukrishna Sarvananthan

The 30-year battle against terrorism has turned into a vicious battle for the spoils-of-war in recent times. This post-war phenomenon does not augur well for the people of Sri Lanka. In a strange quirk of history, what took place within the Tigers of the north since February 2004 is now taking place among the Lions of the south since May 2009.

Continue reading "Both Pirapaharan and Rajapakse are propaganda masters and cardboard heroes" »

Posted by transCurrents at 07:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)

"May the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King continue to inspire us and ennoble our world and all who inhabit it" - US President Barack Obama, Speaking on Jan 17, 2010 in marking the Remembrance of the birth anniversary of US Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King.

Dr. Martin Luther King (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)-Not just thousands of people on the Washington Mall but also millions of viewers on televisions watched King deliver his powerful Dream speech-Photo: Loren Javier

Continue reading ""Keep on Moving": In Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King" »

Posted by transCurrents at 09:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The following is full text of media Communiqué No 14, issued by Centre from Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) on Jan 17, 2010:

As of 14th January 2010, CMEV has confirmed a cumulative total of 609 incidents of election related violence of which 271 incidents have been categorized as Major. Of these, 2 incidents of Murder, 5 incidents of Attempted Murders, 73 incidents are of Assault, 77 are of Threat and Intimidation, 27 of Grievous Hurt, 30 incidents of Hurt, 35 cases of the Misuse of State Resources and 11 incidents of Robbery and Arson respectively. The total number of incidents involving the use of firearms is 88. In addition, 338 incidents have been categorized as Minor.

Continue reading "609 incidents of election related violence as of Jan 14" »

Posted by transCurrents at 08:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As campaigning heats up ahead of Sri Lanka's presidential elections, the two main candidates are competing for support from the Tamil community.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the incumbent, and Sarath Fonseka, the former army chief, are both promising the Tamils swift integration into the Sri Lankan society.

Continue reading "AlJazeera Video: Military rule not new for Tamils" »

Posted by transCurrents at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)