Wimal’s query Over National Reconciliation Task Force

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament yesterday that he was not aware of an institution by the name of Task Force for National Reconciliation.

He said so in answer to a question by National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa, who demanded to know whether an institution by the name of Task Force for National Reconciliation had been set up with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga appointed as its head.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe: "I am not aware of such an institution.

You said that former President Kumaratunga was the head of that institution. You can give her a call and ask yourself. She was your old friend. Can’t you remember you joined her to form a government sometime back? If you cannot ask her I would ask her on your behalf."

NFF Leader Weerawansa: "I raised a question and expected a responsible answer. This is not a comedy. You tell me that I am a friend of Chandrika Kumaratunga. Our friendship is over. You are the new friend of hers. There were media reports to the effect that Chandrika Kumaratunga was heading such a task force. Are those reports false?

Prime Minister: Chandrika and I have been good friends since childhood. We went to dancing class and learnt dancing together. I have not seen such media reports. My question is whether you are against reconciliation?

NFF Leader Weerawansa: "You are asking questions from me. It is the role of the opposition MPs to ask question and government ministers including you should answer.

Prime Minister: It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who agreed with Ban Ki-moon to set up a war crimes tribunal. You supported him. You all opposed it only when you got cold feet that you, too, would be hauled before that court. That is the true story. You are against our efforts to bring about reconciliation.

NFF Leader Weerawansa: It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who brought about reconciliation by ending the war. His government never agreed with anyone to set up a war crime tribunal.

Prime Minister: President Rajapaksa was planning to set up a war crimes court using military personnel. That plan went away as President Maithripala Sirisena came to power. We are all for reconciliation. You are against it. That is the situation here.

NFF Leader Weerawansa: Yes …yes. Anyone can understand that situation and the nature of reconciliation that you are trying to bring about. We can experience the dividends of so-called peace and reconciliation. Sinhala students in the University of Jaffna are being assaulted and chased away. There is no point in asking questions from a prime minister like you. Nowhere in the world can we find such a pM.

The Sad Story: The girl who lives in a plastic BOWL

Like any other teenager, she is a bright, happy girl who one day dreams of one day opening her own shop.

But after being born with a mystery condition, Rahma Haruna has no limbs and suffers constant pain, as she lives most of her life in a plastic bowl.

The 19-year-old, from Kano, Nigeria, was born a healthy baby but when she turned six months old her growth came to a sudden halt and she stopped hitting key development milestones.

Her mother, Fadi, said: 'From six months when she learnt how to sit that was when it began. She didn’t learn how to crawl.
'She started with a fever and that was it. Then stomach pains. Then her body parts like hands and legs. She cannot use any if the ache strikes.'

Rahma’s family do their best to provide her with a fulfilling life and transport her around the village in a plastic bowl.
Rahma said: 'They help me a lot. How do they? They give me anything I need.'

She is particularly close to her 10-year-old brother Fahad, who dotes on his older sister.

Fahad said: 'I help her in many ways. Bathing her is another thing I do. And taking her out everyday.
“I feel happy whenever I see people helping her. I like taking to our relatives. She feels happy when we visit them.'

The cause of Rahma’s condition is unknown, despite her family working hard to secure a diagnosis.
Rahma’s father, Hussaini, explained: 'I’ve spent 15 years searching for the cure. I farm, go to the market and lots more looking for money to pay for her bills.

“I sold almost everything in my possession. I have spent more than one million naira (£2,600), so far. Only God knows the real amount of what I had spent.'

Doctors have been baffled by Rahma’s condition and some have even put it down to the teenager being struck down by a jinn - a supernatural being in Islam mythology.

Her family hope to get the attention of a charity or medical specialist who can help with the teen’s daily pain.
She recently received some generous gifts after being featured in the local press such as a donation of a wheelchair - and they have already made a big difference.

Swiss authorities indict Tamil Tiger supporters

Switzerland’s Attorney General has indicted 13 people associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), for providing financial support to the organisation via a sophisticated microcredit system.

The 13 accused, who are from Switzerland, Germany and Sri Lanka, have been charged with supporting or being members of a criminal organisation, fraud, false certification and money laundering.

As the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland announced today, the LTTE was acting through a Swiss offshoot known as the World Tamil Coordinating Committee (WTCC).

During the civil war in Sri Lanka, the LTTE’s financial needs increased considerably. According to the Attorney General’s office, LTTE leaders in Switzerland “devised and implemented a systematic and rapid method for obtaining money from the Tamil diaspora in Switzerland”. They reportedly raised around CHF15 million ($15.2 million).

“The LTTE remained an anonymous participant in the process by acting through the WTCC,” pointed out the Attorney General’s office. “The mechanism for providing financial support to the LTTE essentially involved inducing members of the Tamil diaspora in Switzerland, who apparently had no links with each other, to enter into microcredit contracts in their own names but in a fiduciary capacity, and then to pass on the funds to the WTCC.”

A Swiss bank in canton Zurich provided microcredits of up to CHF100,000. In order to obtain the microcredits, two financial intermediaries prepared forged salary statements. Couriers carried cash to Singapore and Dubai. Each month, up to CHF1 million flowed abroad and was used to buy weapons.

“The LTTE’s funding system collapsed in 2009, following the organisation’s military defeat, and the diaspora community stopped making the loan payments,” explained the attorney general’s office.

At the main hearing before the Federal Criminal Court, the attorney general’s office will submit its proposals for the penalties to be imposed on the 13 accused. By filing the indictment, the court will be responsible for providing further information.

Thajudeen Murder Case: CID Questions Rajapaksa PSD officers

The Court was informed today that several officers attached to the Presidential Security Division (PSD) serving under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, were being investigated over the murder of Wasim Thajudeen.

Filing a report before Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris, Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake told Court that Staff Sergeant Udaya Nandana Nagahawatta Arachchi, who was serving in the PSD at the time, had been extensively interrogated by the CID over the incident.

In it's report, the CID submitted to Court that four other officers attached to the PSD were also questioned.       

Meanwhile, the former senior DIG of the Western Province Anura Senanayake and the former Crimes OIC of the Narahenpita Police Sumith Champika Perera, previously arrested over their alleged role in the cover-up of Thajudeen's murder, were ordered further remanded till August 3, by the Colombo Additional Magistrate.

The Additional Magistrate refused to release the suspects on bail, citing he did not have the jurisdiction to grant bail to the suspects, who have been charged under Section 296 of the Penal Code, for conspiring to commit murder.

On July 27, 2015 the CID submitted to Court that the death of Thajudeen was not an accident, but murder.

While delivering the verdict, Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris on February 25 ruled that the death 'appeared' to be murder and ordered the CID immediately arrest all suspects involved in the incident and produce them before Court.

Thajudeen was killed in what was purported to be a road accident in Colombo in May 27, 2012.

Investigations conducted so far have revealed that Thajudeen’s teeth and the bones in the pelvic region were broken, his neck pierced with a sharp instrument and the muscles on his legs cut with broken glass, prior to his death.

Police earlier maintained that Thajudeen lost control of his car while driving to the airport, and had crashed into the wall of the Shalika Grounds at Park Road, Narahenpita. They said his vehicle had exploded within seconds of the crash.

Actor Lal Kularatne before PRECIFAC

Actor Lal Kularatne has been issued summons to appear before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry today.

He was summoned in order to record a statement pertaining to an investigation over allegedly obtaining vehicles on lease, belonging to the State Engineering Corporation.

Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa has also been issued summons to appear before the commission on Tuesday pertaining to discrepancies reported at the State Engineering Corporation.

H.W. Gunasena gets D.V. Upul's ministerial portfolios

President Maitripala Sirisena has today appointed Southern Provincial Councillor H.W. Gunasena has the SPC’s Minister of Fisheries, Livestock, Environment, Electricity and Rural Industries. He replaces Southern Provincial Councillor D.V. Upul who held this portfolio previously.

The apportionment letter was handed over to Gunasena by President Maithripala Sirisena, a short while ago on Wednesday (20), the PMD reported.

Sri Lankan Born Actress To Play Role In Justice League

Sri Lankan born actress Shalini Peiris is set to play the role of a Bio Hazard Suit Soldier in Superhero movie ‘Justice League’, presumably making her the first Sri Lankan born person to play a role in a Superhero movie.

Based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the movie is directed by Zack Snyder and includes a stellar cast of Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, J. K. Simmons, Amber Heard and Willem Dafoe.

The movie will be released in 2017.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Shalini graduated with a Masters in Acting programme from Arts Educational Schools London in 2009. Since graduating, she's worked solidly in professional theatre, with a number of established companies such as the Hampstead Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East and Tamasha.

A keen lover of film and television, she is making inroads into screen work with recent appearances in "The Huntsman: Winter's War".

She also has UK, Sri Lankan and Hong Kong citizenship.
Exclusive Interview with Shalini Peiris
1. Can you give us a brief discussion about your self?
I've been working professionally as an actress for the past 7 years here in London. I'm originally from Kandy and no matter where I am, I'm a proud Lankan girl!

2. Why do you become an actress?

It's something I've loved since I was a child and it's always been a part of me. After university and working for a year, I decided to audition for drama schools here in London and made a deal with myself - if I actually got a place (it's very competitive) at drama school, then that was a sign that this is what I was meant to do.

3. How did you get the opportunity to act this film?
I auditioned for it earlier this year

4. What is the first thing came in to your mind when You came to know about this opportunity?
I really wanted the part and was so so happy when I got the call saying that I had got it!

5. Are you aware of the current hype for comic based films not only in worldwide but also in Sri Lanka it self?

Yes of course!

6. Are you a comic fan? If it is DC or Marvel?

I'm more familiar with Marvel than the DC comics...I am a fan but I'm not in the same league as you guys! Your website and FB page are really impressive!

7. What about the first day in the set?

8. What do you think about Zack Snyder?
9. Have you come across any legendary celebrities at the set?
10. Can you describe about your role in general?
I play one of the soldiers who has special security clearance for a highly classified science lab

10. What do you think about Sri Lankan film industry?

There's so much talent in Sri Lanka...I think we're a very artistic and creative people, it's part of our heritage. Sri Lankan films have had great exposure internationally at film festivals and what's great to see is that producers like Chandran Ratnam are bringing international attention to Sri Lanka as a great filming location (which it is!)

11. If you ask to join a Sri Lankan film, would you accept?
Of course!!

12. What about your future plans?
To continue working hard as an actress and to hopefully be successful at it and to make Sri Lanka proud!

 

Donald Trump Formally Nominated For Presidential candidate

Donald Trump was formally nominated for the presidency by Republican delegates on Tuesday night, a landmark moment in American political history that capped the business mogul’s surprising conquest of the GOP.

Trump formally reached the threshold of 1,237 delegates at 7:12 p.m. Eastern time, with votes cast by delegates from his home state of New York.

But the rest of the evening demonstrated that Trump has seized his party’s nomination — but not yet won the battle for its heart and its ideas. The speakers seemed to largely avoid the policy proposals that brought Trump so much success: building a wall on the southern U.S. border, barring foreign-born Muslims from entering the country, tearing up trade deals and deporting undocumented immigrants en masse.

Some also often avoided mentions of Trump himself. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) spoke at length about his own vision for the country — but rarely mentioned the nominee, who opposes some of Ryan’s signature ideas about reform of spending programs.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was the one speaker who seemed to electrify the convention-hall crowd. He did it by talking not about Trump, but about the presumptive opponent: former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Christie, a former federal prosecutor, ticked off examples of what he said were Clinton’s bad judgments on foreign affairs, and her use of a private email server to handle government business. After each example, Christie turned the audience into an ad hoc jury: “Guilty or not guilty?”

“Guilty!” the audience roared. They repeatedly broke into chants of “Lock her up!”

That has been the emotional high point of a night that was theoretically dedicated to the economy, with the message “Make America Work Again.” Some of the speakers did focus on that theme, including a waterproofing entrepreneur from the Bronx. But many others veered to other topics, including Clinton, again and again.

If Republicans couldn’t agree on what a Trump presidency would be like, they could agree that Clinton’s would be awful. Each speaker sought to find a new way of underlining the danger Clinton posed.

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson used a biblical reference: He noted that Clinton had written about Saul Alinsky, a community organizer for liberal causes. Carson said that Alinsky had used the biblical story of Lucifer as a model, the fallen angel cast out of heaven, with ambitions to rule the world. “the original radical,” Carson said, citing Alinsky’s book, “Rules for Radicals.”

Carson seemed to conclude that Clinton had some sympathy for the devil.

“Somebody who acknowledges Lucifer,” he called Clinton. If the country followed her path, he said, “God will remove himself from us. We will not be blessed, and our nation will go down the tubes.”

Sharon Day, co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, accused former president Bill Clinton – husband of presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton – as a sexual abuser.

“As first lady you viciously attacked the character of women who were victims of sexual abuse . . . at the hands of your husband,” Day said, addressing Clinton.

Later, Day said: “I want to see a woman become president one day and i want my granddaughters to see a woman president . . . but not that woman . . . Hillary Clinton . . . not now…not EVER.”

The theme of the night was supposed to be “Make America Work Again,” and many of the speakers did intermix that economic message, but they also repeatedly took turns at bashing Clinton.

Michael Mukasey – the former attorney general during the George W. Bush Administration – condemned Clinton for her use of a private email server to conduct government business. Clinton’s use of that email led to an FBI inquiry, which ended with FBI Director James Comey declaring her behavior “extremely careless,” because it might have endangered classified material.

“Hillary Clinton is asking the people of this country . . . to make her the first president in history to take the constitutional oath of office, after already having violated it,” Mukasey said, meaning that Clinton had failed to uphold the law as secretary of state. “The message from this convention – to everyone watching this convention . . . No way, Hillary. No way on Earth.” (Courtesy Washington Post)