Monthly Archives: January 2013

The Muslims are the New Tamils

“This frenzy of stupidity….”
Ernst Toller (Wotan Unchained)
Are we, the Sinhala people, so addicted to war, that we cannot do without one? Or are the Rajapaksas trying to manufacture a new threat and a new conflict as camouflage for their dynastic project?
A well organised and financed anti-Muslim campaign has burst into destructive life over the last […]

By Tisaranee Gunasekara | Published on January 27, 2013 at 2:00 pm

The middle-ground is a myth, welcome to Rajapaksa Sri Lanka

“Dreadful symptoms of the coming dissolution….”Thomas Mann (Buddenbrooks)
In a classified cable written on 24th February 2010 (and revealed subsequently by Wikileaks),
the US Ambassador identified Supreme Court Justice Shirani Bandaranayake as a supposed ‘Rajapaksa-loyalist’.
The vicious and illegal impeachment of the same Shirani Bandaranayake, just two and half years later, demonstrates that the Rajapaksas do not tolerate […]

By Tisaranee Gunasekara | Published on January 24, 2013 at 1:11 pm

Ashraf Nagar: The courageous struggle of peasants against the forcible land acquisition in Ampara District

A Statement by Women’s Action Network
Ashraf Nagar’s inhabitants can trace back their history to 1952 when it consisted of the following small villages -Aalim Nagar, Vilankadu, Kasangkeni, Muthiriyadiwattai, Pallak Kadu, Sinna Pallakkadu, Kattu Vattai, Ali Mudakadu and Aalim Chennai. Ashraf Nagar’s name was changed in the year 2006 to Oluvil first division and even though […]

By Women's Action Network | Published on January 20, 2013 at 9:31 am

Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa thrives on foreign criticism

His sacking of Sri Lanka’s chief justice may have prompted new international condemnation, but analysts say President Mahinda Rajapaksa is not merely impervious to foreign criticism — he thrives on it.
Already cold-shouldered by the West after the bloody end to an ethnic conflict, Rajapaksa drew further flak this weekend by sealing the impeachment of Shirani […]

By Amal Jayasinghe | Published on January 17, 2013 at 11:56 pm

From a shameless impeachment to a shameless Chief In-Justice

“Hitler seemed intent, in fact, on delivering these blows completely in the open so as to leave a deep and abiding impression, as if proclaiming from the rooftops his immutable will….”
– Joachim Fest (Plotting Hitler’s Death)
The end was preordained. The quintessentially Rajapaksa-impeachment produced a
quintessentially Rajapaksa Chief In-justice. Mohan Peiris, the trusted acolyte of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, […]

By Tisaranee Gunasekara | Published on January 17, 2013 at 11:44 pm

Are we a worthy people?

“An innocent Ploughman is more worthy than a vicious Prince.” – Benjamin Franklin
We never learn from history that is why we are condemned to relive it
History’s greatest lesson is that we never ever learn from it. That is why, as George Santayana’s famous quote says, we are condemned to relive it. Great Emperors of the past […]

By Vishnuguptha | Published on January 17, 2013 at 9:28 am

Job Title: Chief Justice of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Job Title: Chief Justice of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Qualification : Attorney-at-Law or equivalent ,
Experience: Optional (Flexibility considered)
Age : Less than 65- can be extended under Presidential directive.
Job Description:
1.Sanction all proposed legislation.
2.Dismiss all applications filed against Government and the state friendly media.
3. Must uphold the supremacy of the parliament and its Select Committee at […]

By | Published on January 17, 2013 at 7:40 am

“I am the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and I have been unjustly persecuted and condemned”

I am the 43rd Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. As the Chief Justice, I have an obligation and an unwavering duty towards the judges, lawyers and the citizens at large of my country.
I stand here before you today having been unjustly persecuted, vilified and condemned. The treatment meted out to […]

By | Published on January 16, 2013 at 1:09 am

Supreme Court complex overrun by defence personnel and surrounded by riot squads, CJ refused free speech

Status Report of the Lawyers Collective
ISSUED ON 15th January 2013: 9.00 p.m.

On 14th January, around 7.00 pm the Secretary to the President and DIG Anura Senanyaka required the Registrar of the Supreme Court to pack all belongings of the Chief Justice (Dr. Bandarayaka) and send the same to her official residence. The Registrar had also been told […]

By Lawyers Collective | Published on January 16, 2013 at 1:06 am

Government commences hate campaign against lawyers who opposed impeachment

Status Report of Lawyers Collective
14th January 2013 (9.00 p.m)
The letter of removal of the Chief Justice was received by her on 13th January 2013.
The President has summoned judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court 13th, 14th and 15th January respectively. There is no Constitutional tradition in Sri Lanka authorizing the President […]

By Lawyers Collective | Published on January 15, 2013 at 4:32 am