Monday, July 04, 2005
HSZ and security camps not excluded in P-TOMS agreement : Sobitha Thera
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Jatika Hela Urumaya General Secretary, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera said the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) agreement had not excluded security camps and high security zones in the North and East from its purview as claimed by the statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat.
Ven. Thera pointed out that the P-TOMS agreement, which was presented to Parliament, does not include any regulation excluding security camps and high security zones of the Sri Lankan Army and Navy from the authority of the P-TOMS central committee or regional committees.
According to Ven. Sobitha Thera, the second article of the P-TOMS agreement does not deal with the security establishments in the two provinces.
“The particular article, as claimed by the President, had not differentiated these establishments from the rest of the tsunami struck area thus bringing them under the P-TOMS committees,” he said.
Ven. Thera questioned as to what action the President could take to stop the LTTE establishing LTTE camps around and within the High Security Zones and Defence camps under the pretext of resettlement of tsunami victims.
“The President as the Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of forces cannot act if the LTTE was to build another air strip in the Eastern beach as in Iranamaduwa and Thoppur,” he said adding that she herself had handed over that power to the LTTE through the P-TOMS agreement.
The JHU also questioned as to what action the President would take over the killing of two Army intelligence officers by LTTE last Thursday and challenged her to prove the nation the LTTE’s flexibility as claimed by the President at the donor conference. (DTH)
Jatika Hela Urumaya General Secretary, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera said the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) agreement had not excluded security camps and high security zones in the North and East from its purview as claimed by the statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat.
Ven. Thera pointed out that the P-TOMS agreement, which was presented to Parliament, does not include any regulation excluding security camps and high security zones of the Sri Lankan Army and Navy from the authority of the P-TOMS central committee or regional committees.
According to Ven. Sobitha Thera, the second article of the P-TOMS agreement does not deal with the security establishments in the two provinces.
“The particular article, as claimed by the President, had not differentiated these establishments from the rest of the tsunami struck area thus bringing them under the P-TOMS committees,” he said.
Ven. Thera questioned as to what action the President could take to stop the LTTE establishing LTTE camps around and within the High Security Zones and Defence camps under the pretext of resettlement of tsunami victims.
“The President as the Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of forces cannot act if the LTTE was to build another air strip in the Eastern beach as in Iranamaduwa and Thoppur,” he said adding that she herself had handed over that power to the LTTE through the P-TOMS agreement.
The JHU also questioned as to what action the President would take over the killing of two Army intelligence officers by LTTE last Thursday and challenged her to prove the nation the LTTE’s flexibility as claimed by the President at the donor conference. (DTH)
Sethusamudram project to go ahead amidst heavy protests
By Damitha Hemachandra
Saturday, July 02, 2005
The foundation stone for the Rs. 24 billion Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) linking India’s East and West coast is to be laid today by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh amidst heavy protests from Coastal Action Network (CAN), a collection of NGOs and the Tamil Nadu Government.
CAN, which includes a collection of organisations and individuals varying from environmentalists, marine biologists to fisherman are fighting against the canal at courts while the Tamil Nadu Government had refused to grant mandatory environmental clearance to the project.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jeyaram Jayalalitha too is predicted to boycott the festival despite official invitation conveyed to her and representatives of her party.
Yet a Press Release issued by the Indian government informed that the Premier himself would be launching the SSCP, 145 years after it was first suggested by English Officer A.D. Taylor.
The project is predicted to cause great damage to the marine eco system in Gulf of Mannar, including the National Marine Biological Reserve, which houses 3600 species of plants and animals including number of important species of corals.
The whole area is biologically rich and is rated among the highly productive seas of the world. The coral reefs in the gulf houses nearly 750 fish varieties with nearly 800,000 fishermen from both countries being dependent on these fish resources.
The most far-fetched and the worst prediction had been made by, Tamil Human rights and Environmentalist group, Manitham.
Manitham in its interim report on SSCP had predicted that half of Jaffna peninsula and nearly 85 islands on the Western and North Western coasts of Sri Lanka and half of Rameswaram to go under sea if the Miocene era lime stone reef link between the Jaffna peninsula and Rameswaram is to be broken by dredging.
However Foreign Ministry sources said that the Sri Lankan government had not presented any formal opinion on the matter since the inter-ministerial committee appointed to investigate into the matter is yet to reach a final decision.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
The foundation stone for the Rs. 24 billion Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) linking India’s East and West coast is to be laid today by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh amidst heavy protests from Coastal Action Network (CAN), a collection of NGOs and the Tamil Nadu Government.
CAN, which includes a collection of organisations and individuals varying from environmentalists, marine biologists to fisherman are fighting against the canal at courts while the Tamil Nadu Government had refused to grant mandatory environmental clearance to the project.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jeyaram Jayalalitha too is predicted to boycott the festival despite official invitation conveyed to her and representatives of her party.
Yet a Press Release issued by the Indian government informed that the Premier himself would be launching the SSCP, 145 years after it was first suggested by English Officer A.D. Taylor.
The project is predicted to cause great damage to the marine eco system in Gulf of Mannar, including the National Marine Biological Reserve, which houses 3600 species of plants and animals including number of important species of corals.
The whole area is biologically rich and is rated among the highly productive seas of the world. The coral reefs in the gulf houses nearly 750 fish varieties with nearly 800,000 fishermen from both countries being dependent on these fish resources.
The most far-fetched and the worst prediction had been made by, Tamil Human rights and Environmentalist group, Manitham.
Manitham in its interim report on SSCP had predicted that half of Jaffna peninsula and nearly 85 islands on the Western and North Western coasts of Sri Lanka and half of Rameswaram to go under sea if the Miocene era lime stone reef link between the Jaffna peninsula and Rameswaram is to be broken by dredging.
However Foreign Ministry sources said that the Sri Lankan government had not presented any formal opinion on the matter since the inter-ministerial committee appointed to investigate into the matter is yet to reach a final decision.
President once again deceived the country says Sobitha Thera
By Damitha Hemachandra
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera writing to the four Mahanayaka Theras of the four chapters reminded of their early pledge to issue a ‘ Sangha’ edict if the President was to sign the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) without consulting the public and the Maha Sangha.
Ven. Thera pointed that the President despite her written promise to the four Mahanayaka Theras had not discussed the P-TOMS agreement with them or had not consulted their opinion regarding it.
“The President had not even presented the Mahanayaka Theras with the draft of the P-TOMS agreement,” he said stressing that the President had once again deceived the country, The Parliamentary and the Maha Sangha.
Ven. Sobitha Thera pointed out that the four Mahanayaka Theras had urged him to give up his death fast on the assurance that they themselves would be leading a public campaign if the President failed to keep her pledge.
“Today the President had betrayed the whole country to the LTTE because of international pressure and its aid packet. The time had come for the Mahanayaka Theras to keep their pledge to myself and the nation,” he said.
Meanwhile JHU Leader, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera highlighted the fate of the Sinhala Buddhist settlements and their heritage in the North and East Provinces as well as of all the Navy and Army camps in the coastal belt would have to face after the implementation of the agreement.
“Almost 996 km out of the 1124 long eastern coastal belt was destroyed by the tsunami but only 130 km were under the LTTE regime but thanks to the P-TOMS the LTTE could determine the whole process of reconstruction all along the eastern coastal belt,” he said. Ven. Theras urged for a national leadership, which could recover the country from this state of anarchy and called upon the Mahanayaka Theras to give leadership to the Buddhists.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera writing to the four Mahanayaka Theras of the four chapters reminded of their early pledge to issue a ‘ Sangha’ edict if the President was to sign the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) without consulting the public and the Maha Sangha.
Ven. Thera pointed that the President despite her written promise to the four Mahanayaka Theras had not discussed the P-TOMS agreement with them or had not consulted their opinion regarding it.
“The President had not even presented the Mahanayaka Theras with the draft of the P-TOMS agreement,” he said stressing that the President had once again deceived the country, The Parliamentary and the Maha Sangha.
Ven. Sobitha Thera pointed out that the four Mahanayaka Theras had urged him to give up his death fast on the assurance that they themselves would be leading a public campaign if the President failed to keep her pledge.
“Today the President had betrayed the whole country to the LTTE because of international pressure and its aid packet. The time had come for the Mahanayaka Theras to keep their pledge to myself and the nation,” he said.
Meanwhile JHU Leader, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera highlighted the fate of the Sinhala Buddhist settlements and their heritage in the North and East Provinces as well as of all the Navy and Army camps in the coastal belt would have to face after the implementation of the agreement.
“Almost 996 km out of the 1124 long eastern coastal belt was destroyed by the tsunami but only 130 km were under the LTTE regime but thanks to the P-TOMS the LTTE could determine the whole process of reconstruction all along the eastern coastal belt,” he said. Ven. Theras urged for a national leadership, which could recover the country from this state of anarchy and called upon the Mahanayaka Theras to give leadership to the Buddhists.
JHU to present its own tsunami bill
By Damitha Hemachandra
Thursday, June 30, 2005
The JHU is to present a new bill on Tsunami Fund Management to Parliament with a view to minimise the authority of the P-TOMS committees and threatened to move a no confidence motion if the government tried to block the move.
JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera said yesterday the bill, which is to be presented as a private member’s motion would deal with the management and regulation of funds donated by donor countries and various international organisations to the government.
“The bill would regulate the financial aid and spendings higher than Rs.100,000 and will also allow any citizen to question the financial functions of any NGO in courts,” the Ven. Thera said.
JHU secretary Champaka Ranawaka said the bill would also stop granting funds to the LTTE through various civil society organisations including the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).
Discussions are being held with the opposition parties and Minister of Rehabilitation Sumedha Jayasena to acquire the required support needed for the bill, he said.
Commenting on the proposed legal action against the P-TOMS Ven. Ratana Thera said the JHU was seeking further legal opinion over the latest development of appointing government representatives to the P-TOMS policy making committee. “We have information that a Muslim and a non-LTTE Tamil are to be appointed as government’s two representatives and this move might deprive the Sinhala of any representation in the P-TOMS structure.
Ven. Thera also accused the government of authorising the LTTE to decide on the future of the Sri Lankans living in Southern and Western provinces too by the appointment of a LTTE member to the National Level committee. He said the JHU would take legal action on the issue since the move would violate local and international regulations.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
The JHU is to present a new bill on Tsunami Fund Management to Parliament with a view to minimise the authority of the P-TOMS committees and threatened to move a no confidence motion if the government tried to block the move.
JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera said yesterday the bill, which is to be presented as a private member’s motion would deal with the management and regulation of funds donated by donor countries and various international organisations to the government.
“The bill would regulate the financial aid and spendings higher than Rs.100,000 and will also allow any citizen to question the financial functions of any NGO in courts,” the Ven. Thera said.
JHU secretary Champaka Ranawaka said the bill would also stop granting funds to the LTTE through various civil society organisations including the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).
Discussions are being held with the opposition parties and Minister of Rehabilitation Sumedha Jayasena to acquire the required support needed for the bill, he said.
Commenting on the proposed legal action against the P-TOMS Ven. Ratana Thera said the JHU was seeking further legal opinion over the latest development of appointing government representatives to the P-TOMS policy making committee. “We have information that a Muslim and a non-LTTE Tamil are to be appointed as government’s two representatives and this move might deprive the Sinhala of any representation in the P-TOMS structure.
Ven. Thera also accused the government of authorising the LTTE to decide on the future of the Sri Lankans living in Southern and Western provinces too by the appointment of a LTTE member to the National Level committee. He said the JHU would take legal action on the issue since the move would violate local and international regulations.
Sri Lanka at sea on SSCP inauguration
By Damitha Hemachandra
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
The Indian government is going ahead with the laying of the foundation stone on Saturday to build the controversial Sethusamudram Project while the Sri Lankan Government has yet not made any official protest nor has it been officially informed about India’s decission to go ahead.
Environment Minister, A.H.M.Fowzie said yesterday that the Indian government had agreed to recommence the technical sessions on SSCP but said that it had not informed the Sri Lankan government about plans to commence the project on Saturday nor was he aware of the Sri Lankan government lodging any protest against the project with the Indian government.
A Media Communiqué issued by the Indian government stated that the state owned Dredging Corporation of India would be initiating the dredging work at Point Calimere, 45 km away from Kodikarai while the recently formed Sethusamudram Corp has been designated the nodal agency for the implementation of the project.
Meanwhile Indian Shipping Minister T.R.Baalu said that a draft agreement for the signing of a MOU between the Suez Canal authorities and the Sethusamudram Corp had been accepted by both, and would be signed after receiving cabinet clearance. He had further pointed out that all environment issues were adequately addressed while approving the SSCP.
While accusing that the charges levelled against the project were baseless, Baalu said that the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had taken special care to ensure that the marine wealth, environment and the welfare of the fishermen in the project area were not compromised.
On the contrary, Union of Indian Fisherman Vice President, S.P. Rayappan pledged to stage protests at the inauguration venue on Saturday while Green Peace India too is planning a mass protest and legal action against loss of livelihood to fishermen and damage to environment caused by SSCP.
Dredging of the two channels across the Adam’s Bridge and the shallow of Palk Bank is believed to increase the water flow from Bay of Bengal to the Gulf of Mannar disturbing the inland water balance as well as the eco systems in the Gulf of Mannar.
Environmentalists also warn of severe environment impacts like disturbance to marine life, eco system destruction, increased ocean traffic, coastal erosion and possible climate changes.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
The Indian government is going ahead with the laying of the foundation stone on Saturday to build the controversial Sethusamudram Project while the Sri Lankan Government has yet not made any official protest nor has it been officially informed about India’s decission to go ahead.
Environment Minister, A.H.M.Fowzie said yesterday that the Indian government had agreed to recommence the technical sessions on SSCP but said that it had not informed the Sri Lankan government about plans to commence the project on Saturday nor was he aware of the Sri Lankan government lodging any protest against the project with the Indian government.
A Media Communiqué issued by the Indian government stated that the state owned Dredging Corporation of India would be initiating the dredging work at Point Calimere, 45 km away from Kodikarai while the recently formed Sethusamudram Corp has been designated the nodal agency for the implementation of the project.
Meanwhile Indian Shipping Minister T.R.Baalu said that a draft agreement for the signing of a MOU between the Suez Canal authorities and the Sethusamudram Corp had been accepted by both, and would be signed after receiving cabinet clearance. He had further pointed out that all environment issues were adequately addressed while approving the SSCP.
While accusing that the charges levelled against the project were baseless, Baalu said that the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had taken special care to ensure that the marine wealth, environment and the welfare of the fishermen in the project area were not compromised.
On the contrary, Union of Indian Fisherman Vice President, S.P. Rayappan pledged to stage protests at the inauguration venue on Saturday while Green Peace India too is planning a mass protest and legal action against loss of livelihood to fishermen and damage to environment caused by SSCP.
Dredging of the two channels across the Adam’s Bridge and the shallow of Palk Bank is believed to increase the water flow from Bay of Bengal to the Gulf of Mannar disturbing the inland water balance as well as the eco systems in the Gulf of Mannar.
Environmentalists also warn of severe environment impacts like disturbance to marine life, eco system destruction, increased ocean traffic, coastal erosion and possible climate changes.
JHU threatens to impeach CBK over P-TOMS
By Damitha Hemachandra
Friday, June 24, 2005
The JHU yesterday threatened to bring a no-confidence motion against the government alleging that the President had signed the P-TOMS agreement yesterday or would be signing it today.
JHU leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera, at a Jatika Sangha Sammelanaya conference said discussions were being held with other political parties to impeach the President if she acted in undemocratic methods of signing the P-TOMS agreement without consulting the public, MPs and the Maha Sangha.
“We would cease to accept Chandrika Kumaratunga as the President if she betrays the country through the P-TOMS,” he said urging the President to resign and hold a Presidential Election within a month.
JHU Parliamentary Group Leader, Ven. Aturaliye Rathana Thera pledged to move the masses against the P-TOMS since the President was planning to betray the country ‘for dollars from Japan and the US’.
“The MPs and the Prime Minister are ignorant of the P-TOMS draft and the Cabinet too is ignorant of it,” he said questioning what democracy was there if the President was to sign the agreement while Parliament was debating it.
The Ven. Thera accused the President of attempting to strengthen the LTTE following in the path of Ranil Wickremesinghe and said the time had come for the President to stop the damage.
“When the President came into power there were only 8,000 deaths in the forces. But today it had increased to 15,000 under her leadership as the Commander-in-Chief,” he said.
Ven. Medhananda Thera accused the President of removing Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara from the Eastern Province under pressure from the TNA and the LTTE since he was neutral during the clash over the Trincomalee Buddha statue issue.
JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera presented the JHU’s Five Concepts named ‘Raja Bavathu Dammiko’ or ‘May the ruler be righteous’ - the first of a series of conferences against the President and the P-TOMS.
The Five Concepts pledged to protect the sovereignty of the country, not to enter into any agreements with the LTTE or any separatist terrorist organisation and to amend the present electoral system and also the Executive Presidency.
Friday, June 24, 2005
The JHU yesterday threatened to bring a no-confidence motion against the government alleging that the President had signed the P-TOMS agreement yesterday or would be signing it today.
JHU leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera, at a Jatika Sangha Sammelanaya conference said discussions were being held with other political parties to impeach the President if she acted in undemocratic methods of signing the P-TOMS agreement without consulting the public, MPs and the Maha Sangha.
“We would cease to accept Chandrika Kumaratunga as the President if she betrays the country through the P-TOMS,” he said urging the President to resign and hold a Presidential Election within a month.
JHU Parliamentary Group Leader, Ven. Aturaliye Rathana Thera pledged to move the masses against the P-TOMS since the President was planning to betray the country ‘for dollars from Japan and the US’.
“The MPs and the Prime Minister are ignorant of the P-TOMS draft and the Cabinet too is ignorant of it,” he said questioning what democracy was there if the President was to sign the agreement while Parliament was debating it.
The Ven. Thera accused the President of attempting to strengthen the LTTE following in the path of Ranil Wickremesinghe and said the time had come for the President to stop the damage.
“When the President came into power there were only 8,000 deaths in the forces. But today it had increased to 15,000 under her leadership as the Commander-in-Chief,” he said.
Ven. Medhananda Thera accused the President of removing Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara from the Eastern Province under pressure from the TNA and the LTTE since he was neutral during the clash over the Trincomalee Buddha statue issue.
JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera presented the JHU’s Five Concepts named ‘Raja Bavathu Dammiko’ or ‘May the ruler be righteous’ - the first of a series of conferences against the President and the P-TOMS.
The Five Concepts pledged to protect the sovereignty of the country, not to enter into any agreements with the LTTE or any separatist terrorist organisation and to amend the present electoral system and also the Executive Presidency.
