Thirty-four media workers killed during present government rule in Sri Lanka

Another 50 scribes in self-exile

(July 23, 2009 - Lanka Polity) Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS), a newly formed expatriate journalists' association says that people of Sri Lanka are deprived of their right to information and media and journalists are forced to practice unprecedented level of self censorship.

JDS points out that thirty-four journalists and media workers have been killed with no recourse to justice since the present United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government came into power in April 2004 . Out of 34 killed three were Sinhala journalists, one Muslim and 30 were from the Tamil community, JDS observes. In addition, 10 journalists and media workers were abducted.

The tense situation in Sri Lanka resulted in more than 50 journalists leaving Sri Lanka fearing persecution: They now live in the following countries:

Austria 01; Australia 03; Canada 03; Denmark 01; France 12; Germany 04; India 05; Malaysia 01; Netherlands 02; Nepal 02; Norway 02; Switzerland 16; UK 10; USA 02.

RECORDED LIST OF KILLINGS OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA WORKERS
APRIL 2004 – MARCH 2009 (Tamil rebels are accused for killings of some of hese journalists - Editor)

2004
1. Aiyathurai A. Nadesan – Journalist / 31 May
2. Kandaswamy Aiyer Balanadaraj – Writer / 16 August
3. Lanka Jayasundera – Photo journalist / 11 December

2005
4. Dharmaratnam Sivaram – Editor / 28 April
5. Kannamuttu Arsakumar – Media worker/ 29 June
6. Relangee Selvarajah – Journalist / 12 August
7. D. Selvaratnam – Media worker/ 29 August
8. Yogakumar Krishnapillai – Media Worker / 30 September
9. L. M. Faleel (Netpittimunai Faleel) – Writer / 02 December
10. K. Navaratnam – Media worker / 22 December

2006
11. Subramaniam Suhirtharajan – Journalist / 24 January
12. S. T. Gananathan – Owner / 01 February
13. Bastian George Sagayathas – Media worker / 03 May
14. Rajaratnam Ranjith Kumar – Media worker / 03 May
15. Sampath Lakmal de Silva – Journalist / 02 July
16. Mariadasan Manojanraj – Media worker / 01 August
17. Pathmanathan Vismananthan – Singer and musician / 02 August
18. Sathasivam Baskaran – Media worker / 15 August
19. Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah – Media owner / 20 August

2007
20. S. Raveendran – Media worker / 12 February
21. Subramaniam Ramachandran – Media personnel / 15 February
22. Chandrabose Suthakar – Journalist / 16 April
23. Selvarasah Rajeevarman – Journalist / 29 April
24. Sahadevan Neelakshan – Journalist / 01 August
25. Anthonypillai Sherin Siththiranjan – Media worker / 05 November
26. Vadivel Nimalarajah – Media worker / 17 November
27. Isaivizhi Chempian (Subhajini) - Media worker / 27 November
28. Suresh Limbiyo - Media worker / 27 November
29. T. Tharmalingam - Media worker / 27 November

2008
30. Paranirupesingham Devakumar – Journalist / 28 May
31. Rasmi Mohamad – Journalist / 06 October

2009
32. Lasanntha Wickrematunga - Editor / 08 January
33. Punniyamurthy Sathyamurthy - Journalist / 12 February
34. Sasi Mathan – Media worker / 06 March

Sri Lanka Minister of Women's Affairs fails to field a single candidate in her district nomination list for Provincial Council election

(July 23, 2009 - Lanka Polity) Sri Lanka Minister of Women's Affairs Sumedha G. Jayasena represents Monaragala district, one of the poorest areas of the island.

The district is in the Uva Province and the election for the Provincial Council is to be held on August 08. Although Mrs. Jayasena, a powerful politician in Monaragala district, is the Minister of Women's Affairs the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) nomination list represents no women.

Interestingly enough, the Minister herself is urging for 33% women's representation in parliament.

However, she has fielded several male relations in the UPFA nomination list.

Not only the UPFA, the opposition United National Party (UNP) that speaks progressively about women's rights and the Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) that accepts equality of women have failed to field any female candidate in their nomination lists.

Land grabbing taking place in cleared areas in northeastern Sri Lanka

(July 22, 2009 - Lanka Polity) A mass scale land encroaching is reported from areas like Welioya (Manalaru), Kokkuthudai, Kokilai etc. in the northeastern terrain of Sri Lanka. Civilian activities were restricted in these areas for a long period of time due to the fighting between the Army and the Tamil Tiger rebels that claimed for a Tamil homeland in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. However, following the Army’s victory over the Tamil Tigers, demining and rapid development is taking place in the area and ambitious and mostly well-to-do Sinhala people in Welioya and Padaviya colonies are reportedly grabbing land.

When we asked about this from the Residential Project Manager of Welioya Mahaweli zone P. G. Dayananda, he rejected that encroaching is taking place. He said that the residents of the area are given permission to cultivate in state land. The residents of Welioya pay Rs. 750 per acre and the other persons pay Rs. 1000 per acre to state as tax. Permission is limited to five acres and only for the coming Maha season, he said. He said that the expected outcome would be paddy harvest worth of Rs. 30 to50 million in the coming season. He emphasized that this permission would not be material for any future claim to land according to the agreement.

However, our observations pointed to the fact that new use of state land has not limited to the system declared by the Mahaweli Authority and encroaching that is taking place is not in full control of the authorities. There are reports that some individuals are grabbing huge lands of the size of ten to twenty acres and even bulldozers are used in clearing jungles. 

(map courtesy of Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority)

Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka: Rohitha to go; Mahinda to come

(July 21, 2009 - Lanka Polity) The Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama is likely to lose the portfolio due to allegations on extravaganzas including excess foreign tours and lavish spending during tours. 

Meanwhile, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights is reportedly vying for the Foreign Ministry and expressed what he planned to do if the post is given to him in an interview with Sri Lanka Guardian. 

However, sources say that Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has the uncompromising support of the Buddhist religious leaders, a fact the President considers seriously.

Sri Lanka signs Letter of Intent for IMF Loan as the foreign reserves are improving

(July 21, 2009 -Lanka Polity) Sri Lanka's foreign currency reserves have risen to more than $1.7 billion from $1.44 billion at the end of May and $1.27 billion by the end of March, the Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said on Monday.

However, although the urgency for the $ 1.9 billion loan is ebbing as the Central Bank governor says, the bank signed a list of promises to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a proposed lending agreement to repay debt and rebuild the island economy.

“We have set out our intentions, which do not differ from the macroeconomic policy thrust that we have been following,” central bank governor said in a telephone interview today to Bloomberg. But he seemed evading divulging the promises.  

Armed forces restructuring underway in Sri Lanka

(July 20, 2009 - Lanka Polity) A new office to be set-up soon at the former JOC (Joint Operations Command)for the newly appointed high power Chief of Defense Staff General Sarath Fonseka.

The new office is to be titled the Office of the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS). It will oversee a massive overhauling of the three armed forces in the coming months. According to media reports the the new Office of the CDS will have a staff of 300 including seven major generals, one rear admiral, and an air vice marshal. The staff include Chief of Staff, a Director General Joint Planning & Defence Development, Director Joint Intelligence, War Assistant to the CDS, War Secretary to CDS, and Director Research & Development.

In the restructuring, the land forces and sea-borne forces will be combined with air superiority. The three armed forces are to be restructured as one force with superficial boundaries between the Army, Navy and Air Force.

According to the CDS Bill published on June 1, the CDS’ duties include a whole gamut of tasks connected with providing strategic direction to the armed forces, development of doctrine for joint employment of the armed forces and facilitating the preparation of strategic plans for the armed forces. He also has responsibilities relating to the co-ordination of intelligence within the three services of armed forces. The CDS will also undertake operational assessments to facilitate planning, coordination, and implementation of joint plans in the three services.

Sri Lanka to drop plan to buy Mig-29

(July 20, 2009 - Lanka Polity) Sri Lanka defense sources say that the attempts to purchase a fleet of Mig-29 aircraft are now permanently put off following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE).

Sri Lanka now moves towards reconciliation and reconstruction and the defense needs are moving from a purely operational perspective to strategic, military sources say.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy has proposed to set up a maritime border patrol with helicopter and UAV operations from the larger bodied off shore patrol craft.