Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 17 Mar 2015 08:49

ramana wrote:svenkat, I meant that also. We have the boiling the milk ceremony for a new beginning in a new house.
I added rice to my description.

Akbaruddin, MEA spokesman, tweeted its the milk boiling ceremony before entering a new house!!!!

chetak look at the symbolism. Not time for wisecracks.

ramana ji,

How I wish it was only a wisecrack.

The SL tamil aim remains the same. If we do not tread carefully and recognize it for the minefield that it actually is, we may yet regret it. The GOI must do what it can, without overtly or covertly, encouraging separatist tendencies.

The earlier support and training provided to the ltte has led to the sinhala viewing us with deep suspicion. Pushing too strongly will kindle hope on the one side and fuel vehement opposition on the other.

Their constitution does not carry any baggage of "secularism" like ours does. Like many constitutions in europe, it favors the majority. If we do not say anything about the many xtian favoring european constitutions, we are not justified in saying anything about the SL constitution, much less demanding amendments to it. Work with the sinhala without pushing them up against the wall. We need their cooperation and cannot command their obedience.

We need to tread a very fine line here. The chinese are done yet.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 17 Mar 2015 09:09

He is repeating the same thing (a second time) even after the visit. This push back would not have come without the sanction of the SL govt, disregarding the request of the GOI.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister: Navy has right to shoot anyone who intrudes

Colombo, Mar 16

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has again said that his country’s navy has the right to shoot anyone who intrudes into its territorial waters, notwithstanding India’s forthright disapproval.
“The Lankan navy has the right to shoot in any part of the country if anyone enters territorial waters, this is nothing new,” he told NDTV, two days after his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s trip to the island nation.
Ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit, Wickremasinghe had told a Tamil news channel, “If someone tries to break into my house, I can shoot. If he gets killed. Law allows me to do that,” drawing India’s ire.

Wickremasinghe said Modi’s trip to the country was a “successful visit”. The two nations are trying to resolve the fishermen issue, he said.
The main issue, Wickremasinghe said, was bottom trawling and it has to stop. “That has been acknowledged by all sides,” he said.
Modi, during his Sri Lanka visit had discussed the fishermen’s issue – a major irritant in bilateral ties – with President Mithripala Sirisena, and said this complex question involves livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides.
“This complex issue involves livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides. We should handle it from this perspective. At the same time, we need to find a long term solution to this issue,” Modi had said.
India had also conveyed its displeasure over the remarks during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Colombo.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 17 Mar 2015 12:54

Rajapakse sold even Port City airspace to the Chinese!

Flying over Port City a taboo! The Colombo Port City project has run into a fresh snag with Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority pointing out to the government that the air space over the Chinese held area will exclusively be held by China. According to Article 01 and 02 of the Convention on the Civil Aviation which was signed in Chicago in 1944 - to which Sri Lanka is signatory - China will have exclusive rights over the air space above the plot of land of the Colombo Port City, which was given to China on an outright basis. According to the Colombo Port City proposed deal, 108 hectares would be given to the Chinese firm, including 20 hectares on an outright basis and the rest on a 99-year lease. Article 01 of the Chicago Convention says, "the contracting states recognize that every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory." Explaining it further, Article 02 of the Convention states the territory of a state shall be deemed to be the land areas and territorial waters adjacent thereto under the sovereignty, suzerainty, protection or mandate of such state. Both Civil Aviation Act No. 14 of 2010 and Air Navigation Act No. 15 of 1950 were enacted in line with the Chicago Convention of Civil Aviation, making Sri Lanka bound to the terms of the international convention to which 191 countries are signatories. The Civil Aviation Authority's argument has sent shock waves through the new government as to how the previous government had entered into an agreement with China without scrutinizing the convention and the Civil Aviation Act. Sri Lanka's neighbour India earlier raised security concerns over the project as a large portion of cargoes bound for India are transshipped through the Colombo Port. However, diplomatic sources told the Daily News that this air space issue could also be a major concern for India. The Sri Lankan government has already decided to temporarily suspend the Colombo Port City project until the conclusion of ongoing inquiries. Commenting on the matter, several ministers of the present government had already told media that the project might not go ahead if it failed to get through the inquiries conducted by the new government. - See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/flying ... o6r7x.dpuf

PS:With fringe elements in TN being slyly and covertly supported by Eelamists,one cannot rule out smuggling of arms,drugs,etc. from TN across the Palk Straits.Unless the IN/CG/SLN gat their maritime act together ,identifying a genuine fishing vessel from a criminal vessel is going to be v. tough.The Jaffna fishermen and TN fishermen must also get their act together and agree upon the methods of fishing without intruding into the other's territory.

vijaykarthik · Post by **vijaykarthik** » 17 Mar 2015 15:30

svenkat wrote:Trivia:I think its called "paal kaacharuthu"-boiling the milk.In Indian English,i think its called 'house warming"

Got curious on seeing your words because I thought it was a pan-world speak rather than only desi. On more checking, it indeed is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housewarming_party

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 18 Mar 2015 14:32

Just tweeted

@PMOIndia @narendramodi @drtamilisaibjp @PresMaithri

Can #TamilNadu and #SriLanka jointly host #Olympics2024 for sake of Reconciliation!

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 18 Mar 2015 18:34

chetak wrote:Like many constitutions in europe, it favors the majority. If we do not say anything about the many xtian favoring european constitutions, we are not justified in saying anything about the SL constitution, much less demanding amendments to it.

wow... This is the most non-sensical argument that I heard in a while!

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 18 Mar 2015 18:37

Philip wrote: PS:With fringe elements in TN being slyly and covertly supported by Eelamists,one cannot rule out smuggling of arms,drugs,etc. from TN across the Palk Straits.Unless the IN/CG/SLN gat their maritime act together ,identifying a genuine fishing vessel from a criminal vessel is going to be v. tough.The Jaffna fishermen and TN fishermen must also get their act together and agree upon the methods of fishing without intruding into the other's territory.

Couldnt agree more. The coastal TN has become a smuggling hub and we need to curtail it. TN currently has one of the most lawless and ineffective populist administration in all of India, so I don't expect much to happen until a better government comes to power. Other than selling alcohol and distributing profits through populist give-away schemes, there is nothing constructive that is being led by TN government in the past few years.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 19 Mar 2015 00:11

chetak, The D*K parties need to be kicked out of power and mind view changed* to bring true reconciliation. Right now Rajpakse out is only one hand clap.

Philip can elaborate more.

* arrest DMK and its minions for corruption
Absorb AIDMK into BJP.

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 19 Mar 2015 00:31

Jayalalitha seems to be going the Lalu way by trying to run the government from a prison cell -- as without her the rest of the AIADMK will dissolve in infighting. Kanimozhi is being groomed as the DMK head, since Stalin and Azhagiri have been shown up to be duds -- there is no ground support for BJP at this time. AIADMK and DMK have been winning elections by openly bribing voters -- hard cash in hand to the tune of a few 100 to few 1000 Rs for voting for their party. TN politics has dengerated beyond repair, with all major parties left with no leadership, and none forthcoming from Congress or BJP. Anyone's guess as to who will step into this vacuum and take control.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 19 Mar 2015 03:40

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... -to-china/

Moving to deepen its engagement with Colombo and counter Beijing’s influence in the region, New Delhi is hosting a dialogue on vinaya (code of conduct) between high-ranking Theravada monks from Sri Lanka and counterparts of the Nalanda tradition — the first dialogue at this level between the two Buddhist traditions.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 19 Mar 2015 04:27

Is Nalanda tradition Mahayana?

Its about time Thervada and Mahayana reconciled.

Mahayana derisively call Thervada as Hinayana maarga.

India plays Buddhist Card
Written by Sushant Singh | New Delhi |

{Its long overdue that Buddhist schools rreconciled. This should have been facilitated right after Independence, by the great admirer of Emperor Ashoka, J.L.Nehru who did nothing to advance this major step.}

Moving to deepen its engagement with Colombo and counter Beijing’s influence in the region, New Delhi is hosting a dialogue on vinaya (code of conduct) between high-ranking Theravada monks from Sri Lanka and counterparts of the Nalanda tradition — the first dialogue at this level between the two Buddhist traditions.

In another first, the Dalai Lama will be meeting the Sri Lankan monks Thursday and they plan to invite him to their country. A formal invitation is likely to be extended after President Maithripala Sirisena wraps up his first official visit to Beijing later this month.

Later Thursday, the two delegations will meet again over tea at the official residence of Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju. Samdhong Rinpoche, former prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, is also attending the dialogue as a member of the Nalanda delegation.

This engagement comes days after the change of government in Colombo and the visit last week to Sri Lanka by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sri Lankan and Nalanda monks met Tuesday for a dialogue on vinaya. It has been organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), a two-year-old NGO recognised as a “cultural organisation with national presence” by the Indian government.

Jangchup Choeden, who heads the Gaden Shartse monastery, told The Indian Express that the last such interaction had been organised by Emperor Harshavardhana in the 7th century AD.

Banagala Upatissa Thero, president of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka who hosted Modi during his visit to the Mahabodhi temple, said the Dalai Lama has never visited Sri Lanka and they hope to invite him when they meet Thursday.

“I tried to bring the Dalai Lama to Sri Lanka two years ago but it was stalled due to political reasons,” Thero said. He was probably alluding to the Chinese influence over the Rajapaksa government which stalled all attempts for a Dalai Lama visit. Thero is hopeful that the Sirisena government will allow the Dalai Lama to visit as a religious leader, and ignore his role as the leader of the Tibetans.

The Sri Lankan delegation consists of three of its four Maha Nayakas and other high-ranking monks and religious opinion makers. Only the Maha Nayaka of the Asgiriya chapter is missing from the Lankan delegation. {Why?}

Modi had met the Maha Nayakas during his visit to Sri Lanka where he had also offered prayers at the sacred Mahabodhi tree.

Besides Sri Lanka, Theravada Buddhism is also the dominant religion in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos while the Nalanda tradition has a Himalayan perspective, stretching from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh, which includes Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim.

As part of its Buddhist diplomacy, China has created a World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) which meets every year and provides liberal grants to Buddhist groups across the world. By projecting its Buddhist links in the region, India hopes to counter the Chinese sphere of influence through soft-power initiatives.

Shows how much UPA messed up.
And they had that moron do nothing Amartya Sen as Chancellor of Nalanda uty!!!!

I believe China has Sinified Theravada.
Japan has modified Theravada called Shinto.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 19 Mar 2015 05:22

http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.as ... leid=14133

India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka had underlined calls for “equality, justice, peace and dignity” for Tamils on the island.

“The visit expressed India’s strong support for democracy and reform in Sri Lanka,” said Ms Swaraj. “Prime Minister noted in his address to the Parliament that recent elections reflected the collective voice of the nation – the hope for change, reconciliation and unity.”

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Ms Swaraj further added “India stands with Sri Lanka in its efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka.”
“Prime Minister also declared that we believe that the early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process,” she continued.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 19 Mar 2015 05:36

ramana wrote:chetak, The D*K parties need to be kicked out of power and mind view changed* to bring true reconciliation. Right now Rajpakse out is only one hand clap.

Philip can elaborate more.

* arrest DMK and its minions for corruption
Absorb AIDMK into BJP.

Nothing to differentiate the D*K parties in any way. The one is as good or as bad as the other, depending on the current point of view. amma has lost it completely and will not return to the fold. She will be soon forgotten and the party will most likely split.

Why the bjp is so slow on moving on corruption cases all over the country is inexplicable. It will cause them irreparable harm. Best to charge and convict before the next elections.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 19 Mar 2015 06:02

schinnas wrote:
chetak wrote:Like many constitutions in europe, it favors the majority. If we do not say anything about the many xtian favoring european constitutions, we are not justified in saying anything about the SL constitution, much less demanding amendments to it.
wow... This is the most non-sensical argument that I heard in a while!

What gives any country the right to demand constitutional amendments in another democratic country?? No country will accept such nonsense. That nothing has happened so far simply means that the SL govt will never do it, previous agreements notwithstanding.

China will veto any UN sponsored demands for genocide investigations.

Do you want some joker in SL to tell us off on ammendments as crudely as their PM told us that Indian fishermen would be shot if they entered SL territorial waters?? This inviolable maritime boundary is the correct legal position per international law. you may not like it as certainly as TN fishermen will also not like it.

We need their cooperation if we are going to help the SL tamils and we cannot command their obedience simply because we don't have the realistic means to back up any coercive measures.

This govt is not vulnerable to local TN politics as the last one was. The TN parties all seem quieter now, after the visit, that they ever were in the past.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 19 Mar 2015 10:54

The 13th amendment will never see the light of day.Superstition aside,the country is not fir it barring a small minority. Mr.Modi was right when he asked the GOSL to go beyond the 13th. A new structure for devolution,minority rights needs to be framed/passed. It isn't for India to impose its will upon SL at all as much as SL or any other country asks us (as Chetak said) to pass legislation of their choice in our legislature.

The fishermen's issue covers several aspects. Depletion of fish in the Straits/traditional fishing grounds.Reasons for this. Smuggling of drugs,arms,etc. Ban on trawlers. Joint patrolling.IDs for fishing vessels. Proccedures to be adopted by both countries when boats violate boundaries.
We need to establish breeding grounds close to the coastline as is being done in other countries by sinking/scuttling old ships near the coast.This results in the wrecks becoming breeding grounds for fish,marine life,etc. Trawlers must venture into the deep sea .Some types of banned trawl eqpt. should not be used in our EEZ as well.

No one in TN can now accuse the GOI of neglecting the Tamils (of the north) after Mr.M's visit to Jaffna and the projects opened/launched. The only Tamils who might have some grouse are the "Indian" Tamils in the central hills,tea plantation workers,the most docile of Tamils in the island. They constitute around 7% of the electoral vote,a v.significant %,and voted en bloc for Sirisena at the last elections. We (GOI) need to do much more for them in the way of projects,infrastructure,cultural facilities,etc., as much as we are doing for the northern Tamils.

Buddhist monks from India, SL hold dialogue
2015-03-19

Buddhist monks from India and Sri Lanka started a two-day dialogue in New Delhi beginning on Wednesday to discuss their respective spiritual traditions, values.

The monks held detailed discussion on several topics ranging from the numbers of standardized offences in the code of conduct of the ordained Buddhist monk known as 'Bhikkhu' and his lifestyle.

Approximately, 50 monks from the two countries participated in the first day of the dialogue.
"It is really important that India is the most important nation to the Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka also is very important neighbour of India and if we have this kind of engagement that will definitely help us greatly to bring two different nations much closer and have a better respect based on mutual understanding," said abbot of the GadenShartse Monastery, Venerable GasharKhen Rinpoche JangchupChoeden.

The monks also discussed about the parallel body of literature for reference in Buddhism, regular and annual activities of the Buddhist monastic communities were also discussed.

"We need to have closer relation with different countries so Buddhism is the main chain to have that relation with India because this is the greatest gift that India has given to the world," said president of the Mahabodhi Society Sri Lanka, Venerable BanagalaUpathissa Thero.
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is scheduled to attend the meet on its final day.

The event has been organised by the International Buddhist Confederation which is the biggest religious Buddhist confession, based in New Delhi. (ANI)
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/66777/buddhis ... DqMii.dpuf

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 20 Mar 2015 12:58

Philip wrote:The 13th amendment will never see the light of day.Superstition aside,the country is not fir it barring a small minority. Mr.Modi was right when he asked the GOSL to go beyond the 13th. A new structure for devolution,minority rights needs to be framed/passed. It isn't for India to impose its will upon SL at all as much as SL or any other country asks us (as Chetak said) to pass legislation of their choice in our legislature.

The fishermen's issue covers several aspects. Depletion of fish in the Straits/traditional fishing grounds.Reasons for this. Smuggling of drugs,arms,etc. Ban on trawlers. Joint patrolling.IDs for fishing vessels. Proccedures to be adopted by both countries when boats violate boundaries.
We need to establish breeding grounds close to the coastline as is being done in other countries by sinking/scuttling old ships near the coast.This results in the wrecks becoming breeding grounds for fish,marine life,etc. Trawlers must venture into the deep sea .Some types of banned trawl eqpt. should not be used in our EEZ as well.

No one in TN can now accuse the GOI of neglecting the Tamils (of the north) after Mr.M's visit to Jaffna and the projects opened/launched. The only Tamils who might have some grouse are the "Indian" Tamils in the central hills,tea plantation workers,the most docile of Tamils in the island. They constitute around 7% of the electoral vote,a v.significant %,and voted en bloc for Sirisena at the last elections. We (GOI) need to do much more for them in the way of projects,infrastructure,cultural facilities,etc., as much as we are doing for the northern Tamils.

Buddhist monks from India, SL hold dialogue
2015-03-19

Buddhist monks from India and Sri Lanka started a two-day dialogue in New Delhi beginning on Wednesday to discuss their respective spiritual traditions, values.

The monks held detailed discussion on several topics ranging from the numbers of standardized offences in the code of conduct of the ordained Buddhist monk known as 'Bhikkhu' and his lifestyle.

Approximately, 50 monks from the two countries participated in the first day of the dialogue.
"It is really important that India is the most important nation to the Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka also is very important neighbour of India and if we have this kind of engagement that will definitely help us greatly to bring two different nations much closer and have a better respect based on mutual understanding," said abbot of the GadenShartse Monastery, Venerable GasharKhen Rinpoche JangchupChoeden.

The monks also discussed about the parallel body of literature for reference in Buddhism, regular and annual activities of the Buddhist monastic communities were also discussed.

"We need to have closer relation with different countries so Buddhism is the main chain to have that relation with India because this is the greatest gift that India has given to the world," said president of the Mahabodhi Society Sri Lanka, Venerable BanagalaUpathissa Thero.
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is scheduled to attend the meet on its final day.

The event has been organised by the International Buddhist Confederation which is the biggest religious Buddhist confession, based in New Delhi. (ANI)
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/66777/buddhis ... DqMii.dpuf

and yet, (IN SPITE OF SUCH RICH RESOURCES READILY AVAILABLE WITH US) at the rabid amartya sen contaminated nalanda university we seem to have a surfeit of non Buddhist non state actors who are running down the show at a supposedly Buddhist oriented institution of excellence and higher learning!!

Tuan · Post by **Tuan** » 20 Mar 2015 21:01

Sri Lanka as Indian Ocean pivot
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/commen ... 55882.html

New Delhi for long has allowed bilateral relations as the primary vehicle of interaction between India and Sri Lanka — both at political and economic levels. Sri Lankan Tamils and the Indian fishermen had become New Delhi's pivot towards Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, the previous governments also allowed the bilateral issues and domestic opposition to dictate in not building a larger partnership with Sri Lanka.

Today, the rise of the Indian Ocean provides an opportunity for New Delhi to build such a strategic partnership, outside bilateral relations. Geographically the Indian Ocean has become strategic; concepts and issues such as the Indo-Pacific, maritime security and safety of sea lanes of communication, along with new groupings, exercises and dialogues such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, Milan, Indian Ocean Regional Association and the Indian Ocean Dialogue highlight the new reality and potential.

Not just the Indian Ocean, but the entire maritime Asia is an important geography today. US, China, Japan, Australia and the EU — all are extremely interested in the Indian Ocean for economic and security reasons. India has a natural advantage in this region, and with a partnership, should not only aim to exploit the Indian Ocean, but the entire “Maritime Asia”.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 20 Mar 2015 21:53

India-Sri Lanka relations - an analysis:
http://www.slguardian.org/?p=27251

Excerpt:

While India pursues Afghanistan and Myanmar as its gateway to Central Asia and Southeast Asia respectively, and made substantial investments, there has been no similar approach in the South. On the maritime side, Sri Lanka does occupy a crucial position in the Indian Ocean and could become New Delhi’s pivot and gateway.

Elsewhere, in the late 1990s, a few countries came together to establish an “Arctic Council” to discuss issues relating to sustainable development and environmental protection, along with studying climate change, shipping and exploration of oil and gas. Since Modi has renewed India’s approach towards SAARC emphasising on regional cooperation with “all or some” of the countries, and has already established a BBIN network involving Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, similar sub-regional cooperation can be pursued in the Indian Ocean.

With Sri Lanka and Maldives, India can lead a “SIM Council on the Indian Ocean” focusing on similar issues relating to the Arctic Council such as maritime economy, shipping, climate change etc, and leading to sustainable and inclusive development of the Indian Ocean. While we have made enormous leaps in the space research, our investments and outputs on marine research remain primitive.

Narendra Modi during his address in the Sri Lankan Parliament highlighted the importance of the “ocean economy” holding “enormous promise for both” the countries. The Joint Task Force on Ocean Economy is an important measure in this context, but both countries have to move forward and expand substantially. From marine economy to maritime tourism, the Indian Ocean remains absolutely untapped.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 21 Mar 2015 16:04

India & US help in tracing MR's money:
http://colombogazette.com/2015/03/21/in ... obe-on-mr/

India and the United States are assisting Sri Lanka in the investigation to trace huge amounts of money allegedly stashed away in foreign accounts by family members and aides of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Economic Times reported.

Sri Lankan investigators who began an investigation into financial deals sealed by the Rajapaksa government had traced $2 billion in Dubai banks, an official source from Colombo said, according to the Indian media report. Of this, one account of a Rajapaksa family member allegedly has $1.064 billion, other two by two different persons have $500 million each in two separate accounts, the source said.

India along with the US have been approached to assist in the investigation to trace this huge amount. Both New Delhi and Washington are assisting with the probe, an Indian official source added. The Dubai money is estimated to account for 20% of the total amount Lankan authorities allege has been illicitly stashed abroad by the former president and his family. The family, however, has denied any wrongdoings and described the allegations as baseless.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 21 Mar 2015 16:12

The petty nationalism fights:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 644058.cms

COLOMBO: A decision by President Maithripala Sirisena to allow the singing of the Sri Lankan national anthem in Tamil has sparked a row, with the move coming under attack from his own Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP).

"This is nothing but a betrayal. A decision to please just a 2 million (Tamil) population," Sarath Weerasekera, who was a senior commander of Sri Lankan Navy before entering politics, told parliament.

He said that in India, with over 65 million Tamil population, the national anthem is sung only in Hindi.

"It is clear in our Constitution that the national anthem must be sung only in the state language," he said.

Dilan Perera, a former senior minister and the current SLFP spokesman, said: "That is his private view and not that of the SLFP. We believe in the constitutional provision that Tamil version of the anthem is allowed."

The Indian national anthem is written in a highly Sanskritized Bengali, not Hindi.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 21 Mar 2015 16:40

http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/03/tal ... sume/84683

The Ministry of Fisheries says that Indo – Lanka talks on fisheries that were stalled for nearly a year will be held in Chennai, India on March 24 and 25.

The Ministry said that ten representatives from fisheries unions will represent Sri Lanka at the discussions.

Furthermore, six officers representing the ministry and the fisheries department will participate to monitor the discussions.

The representatives of both the countries last met in May 2014. The representatives will leave to Chennai on March 23.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 22 Mar 2015 18:49

http://deshgujarat.com/2015/03/22/naren ... hink-cepa/

In a surprise move, the new Sri Lankan government is bringing back the long-pending CEPA with India to the negotiating table after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “gentle persuasion”, a media report said today.

The Sri Lankan government’s move comes despite President Maithripala Sirisena’s assurance to entrepreneurs at a recent meeting of Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs that he will not go ahead with the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) or any agreement that is detrimental to the domestic industry.

Sirisena had earlier said he deliberately dodged a move to include CEPA on the agenda during his India tour in February, his first foreign visit after taking charge as President.

But Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times quoted highly placed official sources as saying that a high-powered bilateral committee is to be formed to prepare a new draft framework for the purpose.

Sri Lanka despite entering a free trade pact with India was not willing to sign CEPA due to identified disadvantages.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 22 Mar 2015 18:50

http://www.hirunews.lk/106014/54-indian ... s-arrested

As many as 54 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for poaching in island's waters off the coast of Kankesanturai and Talaimannar in the north.

21 fishermen were arrested and five boats were seized at Kankesanturai while the rest of them on another five boats were arrested at Talaimannar last night.

They were being brought to respective fisheries inspection offices for further action.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 22 Mar 2015 18:53

http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asi ... 65863.html

Colombo: A close relative of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing a probe for his alleged involvement in arms dealings with pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine when he was the country's envoy in Russia.

The Ukraine government has lodged a complaint to the Foreign Ministry in Colombo providing details of former ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga's alleged involvement in arms sales to separatist rebels fighting troops in that country, the Sunday Times reported.

"We will conduct a full investigation into this matter," Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera was quoted as saying by the daily.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 23 Mar 2015 07:52

Absolved of charges, Fonseka made the Field Marshal

COLOMBO, March 22, 2015

Absolved of charges, Fonseka made the Field Marshal

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday conferred the highest military rank of Field Marshal on retired army chief and politician Sarath Fonseka.

Speaking at a state ceremony, President Sirisena said he was unjustly treated by the previous government. Mr. Fonseka was sent to prison by the previous Rajapaksa regime for alleged treason.

Following former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s defeat in the January elections, Mr. Sirisena, using his executive powers, cleared Mr. Fonseka of all allegations, including those of treason.

Ensuring justice for Mr. Fonseka was a “responsibility undertaken by the [new] government in our quest for justice for the whole of the army”, local reports quoted President Sirisena as saying.

Mr. Fonseka led the Sri Lankan army to victory over the rebel Tigers in 2009. However, after he fell out with Mr. Rajapaksa over sharing credit for war victory, the general was stripped off his rank and medals. He spent two years in jail and lost the right to contest elections for seven years.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 23 Mar 2015 16:56

History - Dutch East India Company in Sri Lanka -
http://www.slguardian.org/?p=27267

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 23 Mar 2015 20:47

http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 052_1.html

Sri Lanka today took the first step towards handing back military-occupied land in the country's war-ravaged north with President Maithripala Sirisena returning 425 acres to its original Tamil owners.

The President said the government is now implementing a programme to rebuild the religious places in the Eastern and Northern Provinces, devastated by war.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 23 Mar 2015 20:56

The returning of land to tamils is the right thing.

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 23 Mar 2015 23:59

Good to see that some common sense on part of SL leaders and gentle nudging by Modi seems to be bearing some fruits.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 24 Mar 2015 09:28

Pres/Sirisena has appointed former pres.Chandrika to head a special task force under her to resolve minority issues.CBK is the Lankan leader recognised as being the most flexible and desirous of an honourable settlement of ethnic/minority issues.Her track record speaks for itself.had the LTTE not assassinated Neelam Tiruchelvam in particular,perhaps SL would've had a new constitution acceptable to all.It was the intransigence of the LTTE's "fuhrer",Prabhakaran which ultimately saw him and his outfit exterminated almost to the last fighter.

Task Force under CBK to solve minority issues
2015-03-23

President Maitripala Sirisena today said a Special Presidential Task Force (SPTF) had been appointed under the Chair of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga to address the issues of minorities.

The SPTF would go into the matter step by step and would come up with most suitable and pragmatic solutions that would fulfill the aspirations of all communities, the President said.

Addressing a ceremony held at the Valalai at Vakarai East in the Eastern part of the Palaly High Security Zone to distribute lands that had been under the armed forces to their owners, President Sirisena went onto say that the land issue in the North was not a fresh problem but it was further aggravated as it was a fall out of the 30 year separatist war.

A sustainable solution to the all burning problems of the Northern people would be found within his first term of office and the land issue would get the priority of them, the President said.

“If we go through the world history, the land issues have contributed to many a war, rebellion and clash all over the world since the time immemorial. It was a struggle between the land owners and those who do not posses lands.

“Karl Marx has explained very clearly that the root cause to the fight between the land lords and the proletariat was on the ownership of lands. Therefore, we politicians must pay our attention to resolve land issues all the time,” President Sirisena emphasised.

“The war had a devastating effect not only on the North–East but in all other parts of the country including Colombo. As a newly elected government with the blessings and support of all communities, the government was in the process of finding solutions to all pressing problems of the minority communities. It is no doubt that there may be setbacks to this endeavour, but most important was that the government has started to rectify the errors if there were any,” he said.
President Sirisena said he was well aware of the problems faced by people in the North-East as those problems are discussed in Parliament, with armed forces personnel and in Colombo and here in the North.

Therefore, the government had a clear understanding on the issues of the North and East and added that people of all communities and in all parts of the country voted for him at the Presidential election as they had great confidence in him.

“Therefore, I believe that I have been given a mandate to solve your problems and I will give a permanent solution to all your problems before the end of my first term as the Executive President,” President Sirisena stressed.

President Sirisena said he would visit the people at their own homes in future to obtain a firsthand account of their problems and not to address them on big stages like today. The first step to promote reconciliation was to build the sense of brotherhood, mutual understanding and mutual respect among each community.

He said that the government would take steps to reconstruct all places of religious importance belonging to all faiths like Buddhist temples, Hindu Kovils, Mosques and Churches destroyed to the war.

The government was also determined to reconstruct all state buildings such as hospitals, schools and other public establishments as early as possible, he said.

President Sirisena said he felt extremely sorry for the people living in this part of the country when he saw their struggle for life. Their life was much different from those living in Matara, Kandy or Nuwara-Eliya.

“Our heart burns when the children in this part of the country cry in the similar way we feel when we hear a child in the south cries. The biggest problem faced by the people in the North was the availability of drinking water and the government would shortly launch a project aiming at providing safe drinking water to the people in the North,” he said.

“Our objective is to provide a better future and comfortable life to the next generation. Your children must not confront the difficulties you faced. Your children must lead a better and more contended life than you. That is why we are keen to give quick solutions to your most pressing problems like the land issue and drinking a water problem. If the government could resolve those issues as quickly as possible, half of your problems may have addressed,” President Sirisena added.

Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan and Women’s Affairs Deputy Minister Wijayakala Maheswaran also spoke.
Documents to 31 plots of lands in Valalai to re-vest the ownership to their rightful owners were distributed by President Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Minister Swaminathan and Deputy Minister Maheswaran. (Sandun A Jayasekera reporting from Jaffna)

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 24 Mar 2015 17:43

http://www.hirunews.lk/106160/update-qatar-emir-arrives

The Emir of Qatar Tamimi bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago for a short visit. He was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Aviation Services Minister Reginald Cooray. He is to leave the country in the evening, today.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 Mar 2015 01:18

http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 364_1.html

The meeting between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen's associations in Chennai saw much better atmospherics and receptivity compared to the earlier two meetings, a top official said here on Wednesday.

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 26 Mar 2015 20:58

http://colombogazette.com/2015/03/26/ma ... port-city/

Citing a lack of government approvals, Sri Lanka halted the $1.4 billion port city project, straining ties with its biggest investor. China defends the project, saying it is in line with local laws and any cancellation would deter foreign investors.02

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena told Chinese President Xi Jinping that work would resume after problems are “sorted out”, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official told reporters on the sidelines of visit.

“He (Sirisena) stressed that what happened around the port city in Colombo is rather temporary, and he said the problem does not lie with the Chinese side and hopes to continue with the project after things are sorted out,” said Liu Jianchao, assistant minister of foreign affairs.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 27 Mar 2015 15:08

Pres.Sirisena's brother attacked with an axe,condition critical.
http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=police-legal ... tacked-axe

Typical Chinese liars.They're doing everything to armtwist the new GOSL to resume the PC project,which was a private corrupt deal between pvt. Chinese companies and pvt. Lankan cronies of the former regime.not a state-to-state govt. JV at all.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/67511/sl-cont ... -port-city

SL contradicts Chinese claims on Port City
2015-03-27
Deputy External Affairs Minister Ajith P. Perera today dismissed the statement made by his Chinese counterpart yesterday that the Chinese-funded Port city project will resume.

Speaking to media at a press conference a short while ago, Minister Perera rejected the Chinese media reports which quoted the nation’s Assistant Minister of Chinese Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao stating that the Port City project is back on track.

He said it was not even a subject of discussion - either during the meeting between the two Presidents or during President Sirisena's discussions with top officials of the Chinese government.

"No decision has been made on whether the project will be completely halted or continued or concerning the issues that have been highlighted regarding the project. The only mention by President Sirisena with concern to the project was that it’s a temporary issue and that Sri Lanka continues to welcome Chinese investors, which in no way implies that the Sri Lankan government or the President has given the green light for the project to continue," he added. (Lakna Paranamanna)
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/67511/sl-cont ... cVQo6.dpuf

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 27 Mar 2015 15:55

http://www.news.lk/news/business/item/6 ... nguage-lab

The Language Lab in Addalaichenai is one of the nine Language Labs that the Government of India has set up in each of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka. Three Language Labs in Gampaha (Western Province), Bingiriya (North Central Province) and Kandy (Central Province) have already been inaugurated. Other locations where Language Labs have been set up include Badulla (Uva Province), Jaffna (Northern Province), Matara (Southern Province), Polonnaruwa (North Central Province), and Ratnapura (Sabaragamuwa Province).
...
The objective of the project is to help enhance English Language training infrastructure in Sri Lanka; impart training to English language teachers from schools, colleges and universities in Sri Lanka; upgrade their skills; and raise the general level of proficiency in English language of various sections of society.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 27 Mar 2015 16:03

Ugly politics in Sri Lanka:
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2015 ... maraweera/

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 28 Mar 2015 08:33

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_15A/ ... 0698CH.php

Mar 27, Trincomalee: Sri Lanka Navy along with the officials of the High Commission of India, in accordance with naval traditions, ceremonially welcomed four Indian naval ships arrived at the Port of Trincomalee today.

Indian Naval Ships, "TIR", "KESARI", "SUDARSHANI" and Indian Coast Guard Ship "VARUNA" belonging to the first training squadron of the Indian Navy arrived at the port of Trincomalee on 27th March 2015 on a training visit, the Navy said.

The Commanding Officers of the visiting ships paid a courtesy call on the Commander Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Rohana Perera at the ENA Command Headquarters.

"They held cordial discussions on matters of mutual interest and issues specific to the training modules, which are scheduled to be conducted during their stay in Sri Lanka," the Navy said.

The visiting Indian naval and coastguard ships will stay in Sri Lanka until 30th March and a selected group of officers and sailors of the Sri Lanka Navy will be given onboard training by the Indian Navy.

Similarly, the Indian ships' crews will participate in a series of training programs arranged by the Sri Lanka Navy. The combined training modules would not only enhance the knowledge of both navies which have varied experiences in different environments, but also enhance mutual relationship and cooperation.

On completion of the training sessions in the harbor, an exercise has been scheduled to be conducted on 30th March with SLN ships off Trincomalee prior to the departure of the Indian ships.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 28 Mar 2015 17:17

Atul Keshap Named U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Maldives

Washington — Following close on the heels of the appointment of Richard Rahul Verma as the U.S. ambassador to India, another Indian American has been named the country's envoy by President Barack Obama. Atul Keshap, a senior Indian American foreign service official, has been nominated as the U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

"I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to serve our country. They bring their years of experience and expertise to this administration, and I look forward to working with them," Obama said in announcing Keshap's appointment along with Alaina Teplitz as the next ambassador to Nepal.
Deleon - Branding - 300x250 AAHOA-300x250

Currently Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, a position he has held since 2013, Keshap assists Nisha Desai Biswal, the first Indian American to lead the bureau. He has worked closely with Biswal to coordinate U.S. policy toward India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, comprising a diverse and strategic region of almost 1.5 billion people and over $2 trillion in economic output.

With Keshap's appointment, he joins several Indian Americans serving at the top levels of the Obama administration. Another Indian American, Puneet Talwar, Assistant Secretary for Political-Military affairs, serves as a bridge between the State and Defense departments.

Arun Madhavan Kumar, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, is charged with boosting U.S. trade abroad.

Keshap previously served at the State Department as a U.S. senior official for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2012 to 2013.

From 2010 to 2012, he was the director for India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

Prior to that, Keshap was director for United Nations Human Rights in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs from 2008 to 2010, and deputy political counselor at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India from 2005 to 2008.

He served as director for Near Eastern and North African Affairs in the National Security Council from 2003 to 2004, and as special assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs from 2002 to 2003.

Keshap's earlier assignments with the State Department included postings in Morocco and Guinea.

A graduate of the University of Virginia where he received his BA and MA degrees, Keshap studied economics, international relations, diplomacy, and religious studies, as well as French. He has working proficiency in French and speaks conversational Hindi and some Vietnamese.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 28 Mar 2015 18:05

"Indian" invasion of the IOR by Uncle Sam! Big mistake. A "sutha",white man/woman ,gets more respect in former colonies than a "brown sahib". Sending a coloured envoy to a white country on the other hand would receive more attention for fear of being accused of racism!

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 28 Mar 2015 21:24

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/468 ... focus.html

Shift of focus on deep sea marine resources and phasing out “bottom-trawling” at Palk Strait have emerged as keys to resolving the fishing conflict between India and Sri Lanka.

A meeting between representatives of fisher-folks of India and Sri Lanka in Chennai last Tuesday saw both sides agreeing to consider focusing more on deep sea fishing as marine resources depleted in waters between the two nations due to excessive use of mechanized bottom-trawlers.