Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 20 Sep 2010 00:17

Please avoid discussion of religion on the forum. There are places on the Internet where this would be appropriate. The BR Forum is not.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 20 Sep 2010 15:49

Thusitha,the trouble with the Chinese is that they bring over thousands of their workers and employ few locals if at all unlike mos foreign companies.What India appears to want from Sri Lanka is that it does into become a base for anti-Indian activities of a foriegn power inimical to India.During the Cold War it was the alleged plan of a US base at Trinco that alarmed India.Right now it is the thought of a permanent Chinese presence in the island where only a year ago the LTTE was active affecting events in S.India as well.Secondly,unlike most foreign firms,heir activities are fundamentally commercial,but the Chinese hav strategic interests in every project of their overseas using the opportunity for clandestine espionage and military intel. activities.See what the Germans found out in an oofficial record,where they have lost over 1 billion euros to Chinese "employees" and visitors to Germany who stole commercial secrets.Some "worked" just for a few days only!

naren · Post by **naren** » 25 Sep 2010 12:38

Stan_Savljevic wrote:Religious wars are common things in South India and associated territories which go as different countries of the region today. More so in what is now Tamil Nadu. The old Sangam Tamil literature has a huge repository of work on Jainism, Buddhism, along with the body of work that gets attached specifically to Hinduism today. In fact, all of the five great epics of Tamil literature are in some sense related to Jainism or Buddhism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Five_G ... Literature). The fact that there is no predominant theme of Buddhism or Jainism in India is a consequence of the Bhakti movement, which resulted in huge philosophical debates between Vaishnavism and Shavism on the one hand, and Buddhism and Jainism on the other. Due to certain historical factors, Buddhism and Jainism got "driven out" of South India, barring a few exceptions. This was not uniform across the associated territories however. South East Asia and Sri Lanka (in particular) still had dominant themes of Buddhism, which in the case of South East Asia gave way to Islam in the 14th-15th century CE.

Stan ji,

I hope you'd elaborate more on this, may be in South India thread in GDF or in any other appropriate thread. I used to think that it was Adi Shankara's intellectualism alone which gradually led to the disappearance of Buddhism/Jainism.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 28 Sep 2010 02:52

naren wrote: Stan, I hope you'd elaborate more on this, may be in South India thread in GDF or in any other appropriate thread. I used to think that it was Adi Shankara's intellectualism alone which gradually led to the disappearance of Buddhism/Jainism.

Boss, you may be right. The last embers of what remained of Buddhism and Jainism in Tamland might have been beaten back by Ramanujacharya, but the primary role should probably be attributed to Shankaracharya.
http://www.sangam.org/2009/06/Tamil_Bud ... p?uid=3581

PS: I really know very little on this aspect, hopefully I can learn some stuff and get back to you.

PPS: Gerard, that was the last post on this. Thanks.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 28 Sep 2010 11:59

The whole of South India is littered with Buddhist monuments and archaeological remains,still much uncovered.Buddhism spread right across India and from it into South-East Asia and the far East.Uncovering the same,espoecially in TN,in a JV could be an excellent way of getting TN and SL understand each other better,apart from doing the same in SL exploring the uncharted Hindu legacy existing there.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 28 Sep 2010 22:35

^ Many of the Buddhist & Jain structures are converted to some other purpose including for the Hindu religious work. This was due to their abandonement as their religious activities receded & moved over to various parts of India, Srilanka & other countries.

Religion can't rise suddenly to prominence only on their ideological values alone. It needs patron to care, nourish & give enough inducement for its spread. The most powerful patron who can do that is the King or Empire himself of the State/Kingdom/region. Wherever a religion can find a good patron it flourished automatically in that region & period.

Though we know throu' our textbooks Ashoka's good deeds, the little known information which was not emphasized forcefully is that Ashoka also acted as 'Constantine' of Buddhism.

Wiki wrote:One of the more enduring legacies of Ashoka Maurya was the model that he provided for the relationship between Buddhism and the state. Throughout Theravada Southeastern Asia, the model of ruler ship embodied by Ashoka replaced the notion of divine kingship that had previously dominated (in the Angkor kingdom, for instance). Under this model of 'Buddhist kingship', the king sought to legitimize his rule not through descent from a divine source, but by supporting and earning the approval of the Buddhist sangha. Following Ashoka's example, kings established monasteries, funded the construction of stupas, and supported the ordination of monks in their kingdom. Many rulers also took an active role in resolving disputes over the status and regulation of the sangha, as Ashoka had in calling a conclave to settle a number of contentious issues during his reign. This development ultimately lead to a close association in many Southeast Asian countries between the monarchy and the religious hierarchy, an association that can still be seen today in the state-supported Buddhism of Thailand and the traditional role of the Thai king as both a religious and secular leader. Ashoka also said that all his courtiers were true to their self and governed the people in a moral manner.

There is no proof to tell that the spread of Buddhism by Ashoka is only throu' peaceful means without any coercion, appeasement or throu' his influence. Though he adopted his state rule based on Buddhist principle like non-violence I don't remember Ashoka lost any territories after his conversion to Buddhism. Question can be raised how he protected his kingdom which fell within 50 yrs of his period. With such a strong empire behind him, which king could oppose the one & only Samrat, if he insisted in sending Buddhist monks to their countries to spread Buddhism & carry out their religious activities with enough contribution for constructing religious structures?

Just like Ashoka, his grandson gave a royal patronage to Jainism. He built more than thousand Jain temples in India and resurrected Jainism in India just like his grandfather.

Though the spread of Buddhism was initiated by Ashoka in South Indian kingdoms, it was only during the period of Kalabhras in South India in 3rd AD, Buddhism attained prominence again due to state patronage. Their Kings are Buddhist. Whereas Pallavas who defeated Kalabhras are predominantly Vaishnavites & Jains.. Later they adopted to Shaivism. So when they fought for their prominence, the war also got a religious tone. With the rise of Cholas even Vaishnavism couldn't hold fort. The article linked by Stan put this question.

Now, let us ask why is Sri Lanka`s Past Hidden from its Own People??? Why does the Sinhalese believe that the Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka belong only to them (Sinhala heritage) and not to the Tamils??? Why are the Sinhalese ignorant about the early Tamil Buddhists of Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu??? Why do the Sinhalese think, in Sri Lanka if you are a Buddhist then you should be a Sinhalese and if you are a Hindu then you should be a Tamil???

Why Tamils were not considered as Buddhist by Sinhalese monks. Apart from the racism angle, Srilanka was always under South India rule in one way or other from time immemorial. Mostly it was Cholas and other times Pandyas. Cholas are in & out complete Shaivites except one or two aberrations . So it comes natural to see Tamils as Shaivites rather than Buddhist, apart from brief period in the history where Buddhism hold predominance in South India.

If any religious figure can be credited in routing out of Buddhism and Jainism from South India, it must be the Saints Appar & Sambandar widely known as Naayanmars. They came much before AdiSankara & Sri Ramanuja.

From literary evidence, it can be established that Chola dynasty existed in the period of Lord Ram, i mean even at the time of Ramayana.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 28 Sep 2010 22:36

Am going to move the posts that relate to history to t he South India history thread....

ramana

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 01 Oct 2010 03:35

Seeking the truth in Sri Lanka
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/f ... 047814.stm

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 02 Oct 2010 05:42

Am going to move the posts that relate to history to t he South India history thread....
ramana

This is Interesting stuff. Not many Sri Lankans would not know about these. It would be great if you leave it in SL forum as well.

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 03 Oct 2010 20:49

Sri Lankan war-hero spending nights on cement floor in jail http://www.zeenews.com/news659329.html

Colombo: Sri Lanka's war-hero Sarath Fonseka, who once commanded his troops against the LTTE, has been lodged in a solitary cell where he sleeps on a mat on the cement floor, attired in ill-fitting prison clothes.

Jailed on corruption charges, Fonseka, who was transferred from his detention centre on Thursday after President Mahinda Rajapaksa put his seal on his sentence, has been taken in as a regular prisoner.

"Fonseka, now Prisoner No: 0/22032, changed from a national dress into an ill-fitting jumper, the regular attire for convicts and slept the night on a mat on the cement floor. He had only one pillow," the Sunday Times newspaper said.

The 59-year-old former war hero whose sentence recommended by a court martial was confirmed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan armed forces was moved from detention at the Naval Headquarters to Welikada prison here.

On September 17, the second court martial against Fonseka, the leader of the opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA), found him guilty of all four counts in a case related to the procurement of weapons by the army in violation of the tender procedures and recommended that he be jailed for up to three years.

According to a report though the Court Martial sentenced Fonseka to a rigorous jail term upto three years, the Sri Lankan President commuted it to 30-months.

Fonseka, who successfully led the Sri Lankan military in the war against the LTTE which ended in May last year, was charged with favouring a company headed by his son-in-law, who is also an accused in a separate case filed in the high court on the same charges.

"It was close upon midnight Thursday when former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was escorted into an isolated cell in Ward "S" at the high security Welikada Prison," says the Sunday Times.

It says he was woken up at 5 am on Friday, like all other inmates in the block and though his cell had a toilet he complained the flush was not working.

"He had to walk to a water tank outside the ward. There, he had to use a bucket to draw water to wash or bathe.

Later, with a metal jug on one hand and a metal plate on the other, he stood in the queue with other convicts to be served breakfast. "It was rice and Pol Sambol. As a prelude to Prison officials assigning him his daily chores, a doctor examined him. Tailors at the prison also took his correct measurements to provide him more jumpers to suit his size," says the newspaper.

"For lunch on Friday, he joined the queue again with the metal cup and plate.

"Lunch was rice, a watery cucumber curry, dhal, a vegetable Mellun (dry curry or condiment made of minced leaves or fruit and scraped coconut) with a small piece of fish and gravy. Immediately thereafter, he was back in his cell until 2 pm.

"After a short break outside with more chores, he returned to the cell at 7 pm. The lights go out at that time and he would have to sleep in the darkness until dawn next morning.

"That will now be the daily routine for Fonseka, the former Commander of the Army, who led troops for the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas in May last year," it said.

The verdict came a few weeks after Fonseka was stripped of all his ranks and pension by the first court martial that convicted him of the charge of dabbling in politics while in uniform.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 03 Oct 2010 22:00

Mrs. Kantha, the wife of the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, should make a cake and send it to Mr Fonseka in prison on December 18th, on his Birthday. Let some local Colombo newspaper print the news.

That would give Rajapaksa some food for thought, whether it is sensible to flirt with the Chinese.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 03 Oct 2010 23:32

Been reading a book on LTTE and its demise - it is by a journalist who has followed the entire conflict. The book is called "THE TIGER VANQUISHED: LTTE’s Story" by M R NARAYAN SWAMY.

It is a goldmine of information about what went wrong for LTTE. The biggest reason for demise of LTTE was Indian decision to go against the LTTE and continued ban on them post RG murder. The author clearly says the many top LTTE leaders beleived that this was the biggest strategic blunder committed by LTTE. Many a time LTTE tried to molly-coddle with India - but GOI never warmed up to the moves.

Another big piece of information - it was RAW which was tasked to handle the LTTE issue and MEA was bought in on need basis. The final version of Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) was drafted by India after RAW saw the drafts by both LTTE and GoSL. No one, exept very few at top most leve in GOI and GoSL, and no one in LTTE, were aware of RAW involvement. This change in GOI attitude happened post BJP victory in 1999 - and Congress picked the strings from there.

And it was IB which broke the back of LTTE in Tamil Nadu - they were responsible for more than 80% of the arrests and seizures in TN. The TN Police Q Branch was similary effective against the LTTE.

I'm yet to complete the book but the verdict is clear - it was Indian decision to go against LTTE and GOI favoring MR as PM that turned the tide against the LTTE. GOI held off any Western, especially EU and Japan, pressure on GoSL.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 08 Oct 2010 01:31

X-Posting from India - The Indian Ocean Civilization & IOR Thread

Published on Oct 05, 2010
By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)
Krishna likely to open strategic Jaffna, Hambantota consulates in Oct end: ANI

New Delhi, Oct. 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is likely to inaugurate two Indian consulates in Hambantota and Jaffna during his four-day visit to Sri Lanka in the last week of October.

The opening of the consulate office in Hambantota is significant in the wake of the Chinese having already established a strategic presence there through the construction of a harbour. The proposed Indian consulate will cover activities in the districts of Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Moneragala.

India has maintained that the Chinese-aided Hambantota project, which opens in November, does not pose any security threat. However, there are concerns in New Delhi over the rising Chinese influence in Sri Lanka.

India has only one consulate in Kandy and the opening of consulates in Jaffna and Hambantotta is an attempt to reach out and spread its sphere of influence to counterweigh China, according to analysts.

Sections of India's strategic community believes Hambantota is part of a Chinese policy to throw a "string of pearls" geographical circle of influence around India and is aimed at counterbalancing and undermining India's natural influence in Sri Lanka.

The port project, which will give alternate access to Chinese goods through the Indian Ocean, was earlier offered to India according to Lankan officials.

China is also developing port facilities in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan, and has plans for constructing railway projects in Nepal.

China is pumping nearly six billion dollars in the form of grants and funding of projects in Sri Lanka.

To check Beijing's rising influence, New Delhi has also accelerated its aid programme and has offered concessionary credit facilities amounting to about 800 million dollars for the railway projects in Sri Lanka.

The proposed consulate in Jaffna will cover the five districts of the war-ravaged northern province - Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaithivu, Vavuniya and Mannar.

The consulate will help rehabilitate and streamline the humanitarian assistance to the displaced Tamils.

India had pledged to build 50,000 houses in the northern and eastern provinces, the Jaffna Cultural Center, the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and the Duraiappah Stadium.

During his expected visit, Krishna will reportedly review progress of Indian-aided projects and is likely to reassure New Delhi's commitment to rebuilding infrastructure in the war-ravaged nation.

He is also expected to call on Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 08 Oct 2010 10:20

rohitvats wrote:Been reading a book on LTTE and its demise - it is by a journalist who has followed the entire conflict. The book is called "THE TIGER VANQUISHED: LTTE’s Story" by M R NARAYAN SWAMY.

Good suggestion. Placed and order for the book

. Guess it makes an interesting reading.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 08 Oct 2010 10:27

Sachin wrote:
rohitvats wrote:Been reading a book on LTTE and its demise - it is by a journalist who has followed the entire conflict. The book is called "THE TIGER VANQUISHED: LTTE’s Story" by M R NARAYAN SWAMY.
Good suggestion. Placed and order for the book . Guess it makes an interesting reading.

Sachin, it is actually a collection of articles which this gentleman wrote for various newspapers during all these years.

He does have a very big prologue which is synthesis of his writings with the benefit of hindsight. Plus interview with some LTTE guerillas. Light and fast read....gives you leg up on the issue.

One interesting tid-bit for mango abduls - LTTE actually tried to pull USA into the equation towards the fag end and wanted it to 'ask' LTTE to surrender.

.....there was a Obama comment on the Elam War and LTTE quickly endorsed his request for 'cessation' of hostilities....but MR would have nothing of it. And it was India which stood between GoSL and international diplomatic pressure....rest, as they say, is truly history.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 12 Oct 2010 16:46

HRH Prince Edward will be joined at the closing ceremony of the CWG by none other than his exalted majesty,King-Emperor of the IOR in general and Sri Lanka in particular,the reincarnation of King Dutugemunu,the Maha-Raja of the Pakse clan! India is pulling out all stops in wooing his exalted majesty,conqueror of the murderous LTTE fuhrer and assassin of our late lamented Rajiv Gandhi.This signal honour given to the Lankan leader is also India cocking-a-snoop at those western nations who are grinding and gnashing their teeth at the extermination of their favourite wild animals of the island.It is also a gesture to the Lankan hero and Lankan people of the highest honour that India reserves for them and their exaltyed President.Therefore the Lankans need not look eastward to the Middle Kingdom for their wants and security.

Good work MEA! Knowing the Pakse clan and Lankans in general,it will go down very well both with him and his people!

Sri Lanka leader to be guest at close of Commonwealth GamesMahinda Rajapaksa to join Prince Edward at ceremony despite allegations of human rights abuses by Colombo government

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oc ... alth-games

India's invitation is part of a charm offensive aimed at countering diplomatic inroads made by China in Sri Lanka in recent years. The two Asian powers are both investing much effort in wooing Rajapaksa, who remains popular with the Sinhalese majority in the island state, with economic aid packages, technical help with infrastructure projects and other initiatives.

PS:Poor David Milli-Bond.Licking his wounds after losing to his brother the leadership of the Labour Party and now seeing the native Lankan whom he tried to armtwist into letting the LTTE's Fuhrer escape,being the Guest of Honour at the CWG closing ceremony,sitting right next to HRH Prince Edward-how the wheel of fate has turned! Well at least he should consider himself lucky not suffering the tragic fate of ex-Gen. the Fons,sleeping on a cement floor and eating only pol sambol and mellun along with his rice each day!

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 19 Oct 2010 10:19

The anti-Lankan forces in the UK aim to make it difficult for the visit of Prof.Peiris ("Donald Duck" to his critics).While Donald vsits Blighty,the Eelamists are doign everything possible to tar his reputation and that of his govt.Having been totally defeated in the Eelam War,with Fuhrer Prabhakaran and his entire top brass wiped out,chief arms procurer KP,in Lankan govt. custody and spilling the beans,the Eelamists are desperate to keep orale high and continue the struggle.Every opportunity too hit at the Lankan govt. of the day is being utilised,as was Vaiko's orchestrated demo against the Lankan Pres/'s visit to the CWG closing ceremony.Britain still remains the main bastion of the Eelam movement,along with Canada,in sync with fellow travellers like vaiko and C0. in Tamil Nadu,from where plots are still being hatched.The GOI needs to be exceptionally vigilant as TN is still the springboard from where a new attempt to resurrect the armed struggle in the island in the future may be attempted.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... visit.html

New Sri Lankan civil war photos threaten to overshadow Britain visit
The campaign for a war-crimes tribunal to investigate alleged atrocities in the Sri Lankan civil war has intensified following the release of photographs which appeared to show a massacre of Tamils.

By Dean Nelson, South Asia Editor
Published: 6:10PM BST 18 Oct 2010

Internally displaced Sri Lankan people wait behind barbed wire at Menik Farm refugee camp in Cheddikulam Photo: AFP/GETTY The photographs, which showed blood stained bodies of young men and women who had been blindfolded and had their hands tied behind their backs, were released by the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), a group which includes former supporters of the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Their release was timed to coincide with the visit of Professor G.L Peiris, the Sri Lankan foreign minister, who will meet William Hague on Wednesday. A foreign office spokesman said Mr Hague will reiterate Britain's demand for a "credible and transparent investigation" into alleged war crimes. The United Nations estimates between 8,000 and 10,000 civilians died between January and May 2009 and claims the Sri Lankan army shelled a civilian 'no-fire zone'.

Tamil Tiger supporters to bring war crimes case against Sri Lanka
Tamil Tigers herald new 'government in exile? in continued fight for homeland in Sri Lanka

The GTF said these latest photographs had been passed to them by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elaam (LTTE) intelligence official who said he'd acquired them from within the Sri Lankan Army.

A group spokesman said the pictures had not been verified but raised serious questions which only an independent investigation could address. He said some of the photographs of Sri Lankan Army officers inspecting rows of dead bodies suggested the pictures may have been taken as 'souvenirs'.

One showed a semi-naked young woman lying, apparently dead, with blood trickling from her nose. She is surrounded by dead bodies of other young men, some naked, and all blindfolded and bound.

Father S.J Emmanuel of the Global Tamil Forum, said the pictures showed a "blatant disregard for humanity" and while he did not know if they were authentic, the possibility that they might be highlighted the need for a UN war crimes investigation.

"If Government of Sri Lanka has nothing to hide, why wouldn't they at least now admit to allowing the UN to investigate?" he said.

The Sri Lankan government said the photographs had been released to discredit it during Prof Peiris’s visit to London by a pro-LTTE group which admitted it could not verify them.

The defeat of the LTTE had given Tamils new freedoms while a 'Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’ “will consider matters relating to international humanitarian law, reconciliation and governance.”

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We have consistently called for a credible, independent and transparent investigation into allegations of violations of human rights and humanitarian law. These allegations will haunt the country for many years to come, and will hinder much needed reconciliation between the communities, unless there is an honest process of accountability for the past."

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 19 Oct 2010 20:43

A great leap towards tyrannical rule in Sri Lanka

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 010_pg20_9

The present Indian government behaves like Chinese red army in supporting all tyrannical rules around her.

New Sri Lankan civil war photos threaten to overshadow Britain visit
The campaign for a war-crimes tribunal to investigate alleged atrocities in the Sri Lankan civil war has intensified following the release of photographs which appeared to show a massacre of Tamils.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... visit.html

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 20 Oct 2010 07:44

A Hambantota Indian consulate to monitor China’s string of pearls

India cozies up to Sri Lankan strongman

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 21 Oct 2010 20:21

These jokers are still at it trying to please their foreign masters!!

http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu ... 16756.html

US didn’t oppose Eelam: Vaiko

Express News Service
First Published : 21 Oct 2010 03:24:50 AM IST
Last Updated : 21 Oct 2010 09:36:03 AM IST

UDHAGAMANDALAM: MDMK general secretary Vaiko and World Tamils Forum president P Nedumaran appeared before the Tribunal set up to hear the case related to Unlawful Activities Prevention Act on whether to continue with ban on LTTE outfit.

While Nedumaran was represented by his lawyer Chandrasekaran, Vaiko argued by himself before Justice Vikramajit Sen, Judge of Delhi High Court who was designated to hear the case on extension of ban on LTTE outfit.

The first sitting of the tribunal took place in Delhi, followed by a sitting in Chennai and then in Udhagamandalam.

In his cross-examination, Vaiko argued there was no opposition from the US government when Tamil Eelam government was formed in Philadelphia by those who crossed frontiers despite LTTE was banned in the US and Europe.

P K Mishra, director, Internal Security, Home Affairs in his argument, said the pro-LTTE attitude after 2008 was not only against the sovereignty of the nation but also a threat to internal security.

Speaking to media after deposing before the tribunal, Vaiko was optimistic of a favourable ruling since there was a general perception that the ban on LTTE shouldn’t continue. He expressed hope of a fruitful result during the next sitting in Chennai on October 28.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 21 Oct 2010 20:39

Lankan Tamil massacre images emerge
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Lankan-Ta ... 15512.aspx

Sri Lanka Tamil party to give evidence before the LLRC
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10B/ ... 6932JR.php

Abuse of Power by Presidents of Sri Lanka
Posted on September 24th, 2010
By Garvin Karunaratne, Ph.D.(Michigan State University) Former Government Agent, Matara District
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010 ... sri-lanka/

How government is sitting as a judge and then also accusing those people who give evidence for their case!!

Rights groups displayed most unattractive attitude
Minister Peiris
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20101020_05

Sri Lanka Rejects War Crime Photos Released by Tamil Group
Wed, 20 October 2010 06:24
http://news.nidahasa.com/news.php?go=fu ... ewsid=1105

India cozies up to Sri Lankan strongman
By Sudha Ramachandran
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LJ20Df02.html

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 25 Oct 2010 17:26

Fire at Chinese built power plant at Kalpitiya.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/new ... plant.html

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 26 Oct 2010 22:09

Parallel Governments: Living between terror and counter terror in northern Lanka (1982-2009)
http://www.groundviews.org/2010/10/26/p ... #more-4401

For Srilankan North Tamils there is no difference between LTTE rule and Srilankan Government rule both are the same in illtreating them in a inhuman ways.

Sri Lanka slips towards dictatorship
http://www.thecommentfactory.com/sri-la ... ship-3718/

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 28 Oct 2010 03:57

Sri Lankan Army's sex abuse on a peace keeping mission
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib3LJz6a0Fk

In 2009 108 Srilankan soldiers out of 950 were sent home from Haiti because they abused women there.

Remembering the tortured and the disappeared
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/1 ... isappeared

LTTE was coined as a terror group because they eliminated all those who were Tamil leaders and spokespersons including Amirthalingham and other tamil groups. Sri lankan government also eliminates all those Sinhalese who speak against their government through their own indirect army. There is no difference between these two.

Sri Lanka Abuse Photos - Militray Officers Identified
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/10 ... itray.html

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 06 Nov 2010 13:31

Media reports .Rajapakse cancels UK trip for fear of arrest due to potential LTTE disapora in the UK filing cases for his arrest for "war crimes".

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 13 Nov 2010 19:33

New photos allege Sri Lanka war abuse, govt denies
http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/new-p ... nies-65847

Colombo is limiting democracy and open debate by tightening its control on media and aid workers, rights group Human Rights Watch said on Thursday.
http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice ... il-society

Video: Photos allege S Lanka war massacre
YouTube Al Jazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b11Vvb4u ... r_embedded

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 13 Nov 2010 21:57

Tribunal upholds extension of ban on LTTE

Observing that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) still remains a threat to the country's security, Justice Vikramajit Sen of the Delhi High Court, constituting the one-man Tribunal, on Friday upheld the May 14, 2010 notification of the Centre extending the ban on the outfit for two years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 14 Nov 2010 00:56

Since the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009, China has quietly supported the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, fostering a Sri Lankan government that emulates the most autocratic aspects of the PRC.

The price of ignoring Rajapaksa
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/The-p ... ksa/706912

At Hambantota, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, the Chinese seem to be building the oil-age equivalent of a coaling station for their ships. At the Bangladeshi port of Chittagong on the Bay of Bengal, Chinese companies have been active in developing the container port facility, where China might also be seeking naval access.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/op ... 5952487003

Indian strategists are either not able to see or not wanting to see realities of Srilankan game (chinese String of Pearls). What India needs to do while helping Srilanka, India needs to create a fear in Srilanka if they are not falling into line with Indian ways and if Srilanka becomes a place for Chinese games against India, India should be prepared to create a counter state within Srilanka to counter not only Chinese but any threat from their land. The congress is not getting ready for the protection of india, as for China it is easy to position themselves against India from being present in Srilanka.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 27 Nov 2010 00:18

Chinese-built port in Sri Lanka fuels Indian fears Beijing is encircling them

Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka is latest in string of deepwater ports built with Chinese aid along Indian ocean coast
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/no ... ndia-china

Only when CHinese throw a bomb on Bangalore from this fort the failed former chief minister and the present foreign minister would understand.

India Moves To Counter Chinese Influence In Sri Lanka

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles ... z16PxAb0gN

Kukreja · Post by **Kukreja** » 27 Nov 2010 00:47

joshvajohn wrote:Chinese-built port in Sri Lanka fuels Indian fears Beijing is encircling them

Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka is latest in string of deepwater ports built with Chinese aid along Indian ocean coast
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/no ... ndia-china

read this recently on Hambantota. if accurate (and if india helps), it may ease some of the angst on BRF about the mythical string of pearls
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpap ... r4192.html

Ever since the epithet ‘string of pearls’ gained currency, there have been some concerns among strategic analysts and commentators about China’s help and assistance in the construction of the Hambantota port and the associated complex. Hambontota is in the constituency of President Rajpaksa. The entire project is to be built in four phases over fifteen years; and would include oil and gas terminals, berths and port facilities. There were earlier reports that Indian companies had been lukewarm about participation in the first phase of the project. However, there is a recent report that Sri Lanka would like India to participate in the second phase

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 27 Nov 2010 04:56

China’s ‘String of Pearls

India’s largest and most potent neighbour, through its ‘String of Pearls’ strategy, wants to raise its geopolitical influence in the region by developing ports and airstrips.

Beijing has by and large been achieved this and is in a dominant position as it has already developed Hambantota and Gwadar ports in Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively.

Further on the cards, is a plan to develop a deep sea port for Bangladesh at Sonadia island and also

establish a direct rail link between Dhaka and Kunmin, the capital of China’s Yunnan province.

This apart, Beijing’s interest in the region can be attributed to the fact that the Malacca Straits (where the Indian Ocean joins the Pacific Ocean) is the key to China’s energy supplies. The Malacca Straits serve as the channel for 80 per cent of China’s imported oil.

http://expressbuzz.com/magazine/the-fin ... 24701.html

Some would say not worry about this even after Arunachel pradesh is being taken over! China has a policy of creating fear in other by using force which they ask their supported governments to do also. See what North Korea is doing with South Korea? See what Pakistan does with India! See What Srilankan president does with Tamils in the north! Use power, Kill masses and then talk so that the fear in the opponent helps the encroaching power. All the talks supported by the Chinese wanted to have at the point of Gun. Give me any other example. This is why peace can be achieved only by counter balance of power and use the same fear tactics in the opponent camp to balance theirs. Otherwise without preparedness the stories of 1960s will be repeated - a simple run through - Marxians ready to welcome. China also wanted to argue that these are for economic purposes. But the control of these ports will be with Chinese red army. String of pearl is real and India has to counter it. If Foreign ministry wants to say this is not true for some apeasing reasons then the present governance is leading India to fail in the case of a threat at neighbourhood. Once surounded it is impossible to resist anymore! Because this policy is pushing India closer to US and even to Russians and making India powerful now Chinese are trying to slow down this a bit. Even the Srilankans are a bid scared of going back to their conflicts if they went against Indian interest and so they do want India not to see this as part of strings of pearl policy.

The first noted that "there was a certain inevitability to the China-India question coming up during Dr Singh’s visit" to the Far East countries. In India, for instance, a certain amount of credence is given to the "string of pearls" theory and any move by China is seen to be made with the intention to encircle and contain India. Again, said the paper, "irritants in the (Sino-Indian) relationship remain" and "New Delhi has not been pleased with Beijing’s hardened stance on Kashmir" but it demanded that "the larger picture must not be forgotten".

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/module ... 72&page=42

Nowhere has China been more assertive than in South Asia. In a strategy it calls the “string of pearls,” China is building ports and infrastructure in Bangladesh and Pakistan; digging up minerals in Pakistan and Afghanistan; and refining hydropower in Nepal and Afghanistan. According to the International Monetary Fund, China’s trade with India’s neighbours totalled $16 billion in 2008, growing at 14 percent annually. India’s regional trade was barely holding steady at $11 billion, yet China’s success in the Subcontinent reflects India’s own foreign policy blunders.

http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=62395

The Chinese military's so-called string-of-pearls strategy for the Indian Ocean features the construction of a large port and listening post at the Pakistani port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, where the Chinese could monitor ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. There could be another Chinese-used port in Pakistan, at Pasni, about 120km east of Gwadar and joined to it by a new highway.

At Hambantota, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, the Chinese seem to be building the oil-age equivalent of a coaling station for their ships. At the Bangladeshi port of Chittagong on the Bay of Bengal, Chinese companies have been active in developing the container port facility, where China might also be seeking naval access.

In Burma, where the Chinese have given billions of dollars in military assistance to the ruling junta, Beijing is building and upgrading commercial and naval bases; constructing road, waterway and pipeline links from the Bay of Bengal to China's Yunnan province; and operating surveillance facilities on the Coco Islands deep in the Bay of Bengal. A number of these ports are closer to cities in central and western China than those cities are to Beijing and Shanghai.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/op ... 5952487003

Chinese-built port in Sri Lanka fuels Indian fears Beijing is encircling them

Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka is latest in string of deepwater ports built with Chinese aid along Indian ocean coast
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/no ... ndia-china

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 27 Nov 2010 15:51

India extends $416.39 mn as Line of Credit for Sri Lankan projects http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article915291.ece

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 29 Nov 2010 09:37

Lanka tightens grip on foreign aid workers
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/a ... rent_id=24

The government asks all international and domestic aid agencies working in Sri Lanka to obtain approval from the defence ministry

The government information department said there were 250 international and some 1,000 domestic aid agencies working in Sri Lanka, which would now have to obtain approval from the defence ministry following a change in the law.

lanka woke up to the threat posed by these shakunis, when will the central govt wake up and take a closer look the activities of the spy ngos.

will it act before color revolutionaries make their move to grab power at the centre

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 30 Nov 2010 13:14

In criticising the Chinese,one cannot fault them for their generosity to Lankans.They have gifted several high-profile projects of a lasting visible nature to the populace like the BMICH Intl.Cof.complex,the Bandaranaike Musuem,Supreme Court,Cultural Centre (being built in Cbo.) and Hambantota Port with Chinese loans/aid,BNorocholai Powr project,etc.In comparison,what has India built? Gifts of buses,trucks,rail lines,etc. do not have the high profile status of the Chinese gifts.Our diplomutts have had little vision.I do know of one signal failure of India to capitalise on a Lankan opportunity.

A veteran diplomat once told me that the "Delhi's view of Lanka was out of touch with reality".It is why we continue to pander to northern Tamils who betrayed us (Rajiv's assassination by the LTTE),the same species who treat Indian Tamils in the plantation like coolies and treat the Eastern Tamils as "second-class".In addition,the myopia of the MEA also forget that 70%+ of the country's population is predominantly Sinhalese and we have done nothing for them of lasting signifance.We've had huge opportunites to do so,but strangley seem to be lacking in ideas.De-mining,tsunami relief,restoring rail,road and port facilities are very noble gestures,but do not do very much in the south of the island,forgetting that the entire Lankan population have their roots-religious and social originally from India.

We now have a huge Paki delegation led by the Zardar in town and wanting "barter" terms for trade! The MEA should assist Indian investment in Lanka sizing up opportunities so that both nations benefit and the island does not become a base for external anti-Indian activity.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 02 Dec 2010 00:07

Kalaigner, Mukerjee and Sonia are responsible for the situation in Srilanka!

The United Nations tells Channel 4 News new footage of the alleged massacre of Tamil prisoners in Sri Lanka "deserves more investigation", as Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse visits London.

The new video seems to show the same incident but rather than stopping after the execution of a second bound man, it continues and the camera pans left to reveal the naked and dead bodies of at least seven women, with accompanying dialogue from onlookers who make lewd and callous comments which seems to strongly suggest that sexual assaults have taken place before the death of the women.

http://www.channel4.com/news/un-sri-lan ... estigation

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 02 Dec 2010 12:02

Poor Pakse-Raja! Anney-Pao! Oxford Union has cancelled his visit,because of demos from Eelamists protesting aganst his alleged "war crimes".Frankly,I don't know why he is wasting his time trying to attend such events.He should stick to his official agenda and move on,denying the Eelamists the opportunity of creating a scene.Being a humble son of the southern soil of Lanka,there is no need for him to prance at Oxford of Poxford.It would've been understandable if the "Walauwe" (manor house) families of the Bandaranaike's,Senanayake's or Wickremasinghe's did so,as so many of them studied in Oxford,Cambridge,etc.

We now have the audacity of PM of the Eelam govt. in exile,the LTTE's lawyer ,wanting a press-gang of Tamilians from tamilnadu to vcarry on the Eelam struggle! This man should be extradited by India for suggesting such a move.It is tantamount to planning terrorist activities as the LTTE is banned in India as a terrorist entity.This is why the ban should remain in place.These defeated Eelamist scum want nothing better but to "shoot" from Tamilnadu's shoulder into Lanka.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... otest.html

Oxford Union cancels Sri Lankan president's talk as Tamil groups protest
The Oxford Union has cancelled a talk by Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa citing security concerns over planned protests by Tamil groups who are trying to have him arrested for war crimes.

By Dean Nelson in New Delhi and Laura Roberts 01 Dec 2010

Mr Rajapaksa had been due to address the Oxford Union on Thursday night, but protests were expected following the release of a video that purports to show a Tamil Tiger leader under interrogation by army officers despite government claims he was killed in combat.

Pro-Tamil supporters from across the country including students were intending to protest outside the Union and will now gather outside the London hotel where Mr Rajapaksa is staying on Thursday.

“It is no surprise the event has been cancelled given the release of the video. There is some relief that Rajapaksa won’t just be allowed to walk around with impunity,” said James Martin, 33, a student at SOAS.

“The new video that has emerged is devastating and its sad to see the response of the Sri Lankan government. There needs to be an independent investigation.”

In a statement, the Oxford Union said: "Due to security concerns surrounding Mr. Rajapaksa's visit which have recently been brought to our attention by the police, the Union has regretfully found that the talk is no longer practicable and has had to cancel his address."

In the video, which has been seen by The Daily Telegraph, a prisoner who identifies himself as Col Ramesh, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's leader in eastern Sri Lanka, is shown being interviewed by a series of men in army uniform. Colombo has said Col Ramesh was killed at the end of the country's three-decade civil war.

The London-based Global Tamil Forum last night claimed the video confirmed that he had surrendered in the last days of the war and appeared to have been later killed in breach of the Geneva Covention.

A government spokesman said he could not comment on the video or the Global Tamil Forum's claims, but reiterated his government's claim that Col Ramesh had been killed in fighting.

The Ministry of Defence had confirmed Col Ramesh's body had been discovered along with two other Tamil Tiger leaders on May 17 last year.

But according to a spokesman for the Global Tamil Forum, Col Ramesh had surrendered to Sri Lankan forces at a camp for civilians displaced by the fighting along with his niece on that day. They had since been told by their sources in the Sri Lankan military that he was later killed.

"This is a breach of the Geneva Convention. Someone had surrendered and they have killed him while he was in custody," claimed the spokesman.

Mr Rajapaksa expressed regret after the Oxford Union cancelled the scheduled speech by him amid security concerns, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I am very sorry this has had to be canceled, but I will continue to seek venues in Britain and elsewhere where I can talk about my future vision for Sri Lanka,” the president’s office quoted him as saying.

Sri Lanka’s minority Tamil community in London had planned a demonstration to coincide with Thursday’s event. They also staged a protest when Rajapakse arrived in London on Tuesday.

“This (cancellation) is a decision that has been made unilaterally by the Oxford Union, reportedly as a result of pressure applied by pro-LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) activists,” Weeratunga said.

Mr Rajapaksa had been due to appear at the Oxford Union before his recent inauguration for a second term but the visit was postponed on fears that he could be arrested under British laws allowing arrest warrants to be issue for human rights abuse. The government subsequently gave assurances that he would be treated as a head of state and immune to arrest, allowing the visit to go ahead.

The Ministry of Justice on Wednesday published an amendment to a law that puts visiting officials at risk of arrest for alleged war crimes.

The bill, which will be debated in parliament in the coming weeks, proposed that any arrest warrant for war crimes under universal jurisdiction provisions must be approved by the government’s chief prosecutor.

Calls for a war crimes inquiry intensified yesterday following President Rajapaksa's arrival in Britain as up to 50 MPs signed a letter to David Cameron, the prime minister, calling for a war crimes inquiry.

William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, has demanded a transparent investigation into war crime allegations against the Sri Lankan government.

Up to 10,000 civilians were killed in the last months of the war.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 02 Dec 2010 12:17

A question to the law experts, is the geneva convention and the protection granted by it to lawful combatents representing a national force applicable to the members of a desigenated terrorist organisation?

The unarmed civillians are a seperate matter.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 02 Dec 2010 14:55

To prevent another "Pinochet" pincer movement by enemies of a state guest,Britain is going to bring in legislation which will make it mnandatory for govt. approval before such cases are filed in the courts,to avoid embarrassment whenever a foreign VVIP comes-a-visiting.

Whatever the legal position,if non-Geneva convention paramilitaries and terrorist organisations wage war against a signatory state,there should be some remedial measures for such signatory states to be protected from vested interest filing cases as is being tried by the Eelamists/neo-LTTE terror interests.As for civilians,just look at Af-Pak.Neither the US nor their Paki partners are bothered at all about "collateral damage",from the Wikileak exposes,even though their might be condemnation from the gallery.!

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 02 Dec 2010 14:57

Thinking aloud.. What ever happened to Shri. K.P (Kumaran Padmanathan) et.al? I know about his "pickup" from a South Eastern country, but then what else?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 02 Dec 2010 18:30

Last heard singing like a canary in Colombo as state guest!