Mahapola cut if not present at the Govt rally

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2014

The government has decided to summon 13,000 university students for an election meeting that is scheduled to be held in Colombo.

According to reports the students have been warned that they would lose the Mahapola Scholarship if they fail to turn up at this election meeting which is held under the guise of a Mahapola Scholarships awarding ceremony.

The authorities have informed the students to participate in this meeting which is scheduled to be held on December 02 clad in white and have also advised them not to bring mobile phones.

Meanwhile a petition has also been signed with the help of students who are loyal to the university authorities urging to announce the 2nd December a holiday, since the university examinations are being held these days.

Expressing his views regarding the matter, the convener of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Najith Indika said,

"At a moment their power has been subjected to challenges, the government has taken the Mahapola Scholarship as a hostage to fulfill its desires in the oncoming presidential election. Now they are trying to hold this election meeting in the guise of awarding Mahapola. 8 months have passed since the enrollment of the new batch but there was no intention of giving them these scholarships. It is clear as to what low level the government has fallen even to secure votes by taking public assets hostage. "

SLMC and MR hold crucial talks

Is BBS the new face of Buddhist revivalism?

The aftermath: Aluthgama two weeks on

November 30, 2014 

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has had crucial talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the party looks to decide who it will support at the Presidential elections next year.

An SLMC delegation led by SLMC leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem met the President and a government delegation which included Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and detailed to them the core issues faced by the Muslim community in Sri Lanka, an SLMC source said.

The SLMC had also noted some concerns with regards to the Eastern Provincial Council and also discussed other political issues at the talks with the President.

SLMC sources said that it was agreed further talks will take place between a Government delegation and the SLMC following which the SLMC High Command will decide the next step.

The SLMC had yesterday said it will take its time to decide who to support at the Presidential elections scheduled for January next year, SLMC sources said.

Earlier, an SLMC meeting was held on Friday night with the participation of SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem and party members where the election was discussed.

Sources said that at that meeting there was a split on who the SLMC should support with some backing President Mahinda Rajapaksa and others common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Hakeem had later said at the meeting that there is no rush to decide who to back at the polls and the opinion of the Muslims in Sri Lanka will first be sought before a final decision is reached. (Colombo Gazette)

BBS Support, A Blessing In Disguise

| by Helasingha Bandara

( November 30, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) All along, people of Sri Lanka knew whose creation Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) was. No one was surprised when Gnanasara announced his support for Mahinda Rajapaksha (MR). Instead of worrying about BBS’ support for MR, those who wish a change were jubilant for the fact that BBS support for MR was a blessing in disguise for the opposing forces.

With due respect, this writer would like to call the leading figure of BBS, Gnanasara Unnehe, instead of Gnanasara Unnanse although the subtle difference in the meaning of the two terms can only be attributed to the practice rather than to linguistics . I must admit that I am a Buddhist by default. I do not worship monks or do not go to temples to worship. Yet I like the serene atmosphere of a temple and grandeur of the buildings. I believe I am a good Buddhist nonetheless, because I have enormous respect for the Buddha and his preaching about how to lead a good life and I lead a reasonably generous, magnanimous and peaceful life without causing any harm to anyone.

As far as Gnanasara Unnehe is concerned, people have qualms about as to whether he is a monk or a layman in a yellow robe. His physical gestures, abusive language and mannerisms are neither of a sage nor of an ascetic but of an ordinary thug. He was alleged to have been penalized in a court of law for drunk driving. He has tried to justify this ‘unmonklike’ behaviour in patriotic terms claiming that he accepted the blame of drunk driving to prevent an important security forces person from falling into trouble. However, he himself had admitted at a TV interview that there are many females interested in him and one even stalked him in the recent past. Judging by his personal behavior and evil traits, it is hard to believe that Unnehe would reject an offer from a good-looking female. Lastly the type of Buddhism that he wants to nurture in Sri Lanka is so violent that it defeats the purpose of the core of Buddhist Principles that are nonviolence and the tolerance of other religions. The Buddha has said those who do not respect religions of others do not respect their own either.

In a recent press conference Unnehe has said that for him the country, the nation and the religion are the most important things in his life in that order. By the country he means an undivided Sri Lanka. I guess this is his sincere desire, and no disagreement with this. However the desire to have an undivided country under the Rajapakshas, at any cost, is questionable. In his opinion if MR is defeated at this election the enemy forces would take him to an international court to try for his misdeeds. He quoted a certain person of Tamil ethnic origin who has said something to that effect at a TV interview. This one person who does not possess any international power has been drawn on as the main conspirator who allegedly has gathered all opposition parties to help his conspiracy.

If there is any international conspiracy to overthrow MR at this Juncture, MR must be the lead role in that conspiracy because he himself alone wanted to hold elections in January 2015. No foreign government, agency, person or a pressure group has pressurised him to do so. Opposing parties within the country have not only opposed the premature election but have even threatened with legal action. Yet MR has decided to go-ahead with the election having received the green light from a Judiciary that he himself has appointed. Instead of ruling happily for two more years he has announced an election. Now he has got all his henchmen to call the emergence of a strong opposition a conspiracy. If he feared that he would be tried at an international court, he would not have declared an election. The claim that he would be tried at an international court is only an election gimmick. Rajapaksha opportunism seems to have backfired and he does not know what to do now other than trying his usual tactics to deceive the public. According to Gnanasara Unnehe the people of Sri Lanka should go on electing MR or one of his family forever for the fear of them being charged with war crimes, despite the bad governance, criminal activities of his close associates, increasing lawlessness in the country and escalating poverty among the poor.

As far as I am concerned, Gnanasara Unnehe’s nation is not Sri Lankan but Singhalese, his religion is not Buddhism but some philosophy that is full of hatred and divisiveness. So I hope that the people will know the difference between the truth and a lie and a good monk and a bad one.

Navin Dissanayake resigns from Ministerial post

November 30, 2014

Minister of Public Management Reforms Navin Dissanayake has tended his resignation letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, last night.

The Minister said that he has decided to resign from his Ministerial portfolio and from all positions he held under the Government. Dissanayake was the chief organizer of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for Nuwara-Eliya district as well.

In his resignation letter, the minister has cited three reasons for his resignation, including the authorities’ failure to allocate enough funds for his Ministry in order to serve the area residents of his represented area and abolish the executive presidency. The Minister had also pointed out that his father and late Minister Gamini Dissanayake and late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali too struggled to abolish the executive presidency in 1990s.

“As a father of two, hereby, I show my gratitude and admire your most onerous service to wipe off the LTTE from our country,” Dissanayake said that he has no conflict of opinions with the President and ‘policy decision’ led for his resignation.

Ballot paper machine at Welisara Navy camp!

 

Sunday, 30 November 2014 

A lathe machine at Welisara Navy Camp has been dismantled and an imported printing machine is being placed there instead, say sources at the camp. This location has been declared out-of-bound for the naval ratings. Coordinator in this task is Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Navy officer and the second son of the president.

The sources that gave the information say that plans have been made to print fake ballot papers using this machine. A two-storey house in front of a well close to the Narahenpita public fair has been given for the use of a special unit being supervised by the Presidential Secretariat to disrupt facebook, twitter and other social media sites.

Activities pertaining to the releasing of the election results are to take place here using Chinese technology. Await further details. We warn that if they do not withdraw immediately from this illegal activity, we will expose the identities of all persons involved in this.

Chinese national bar owner assaulted by 3 Chinese nationals in Thimbirigasyaya

Chinese national bar owner assaulted by 3 Chinese nationals in Thimbirigasyaya

2014-11-30

A Chinese woman was assaulted by 3 Chinese nationals, yesterday (29) at a public bar owned by the victim in Thimbirigasyaya area.

The suspects were arrested by Kollupitiya Police and produced to Magistrate Court, today.

The suspects were granted bail and Kollupitiya Police continues further investigations.

அமெரிக்காவை கதிகலங்க வைத்த இந்தியாவின் அதிர்ச்சிப்  படங்கள்

November 30, 2014

இரண்டு நாடுகளின் எல்லைகளைப் பிரிக்க, கோடுகள் இருக்கும். பகை நாடுகளின் எல்லைகளில் எப்போதுமே பிரச்னைதான். அதனால், எல்லைப் பகுதியில் இரு நாட்டு வீரர்களும் தீவிர கண்காணிப்பில் இருப்பார்கள். சமீபத்தில், விண்வெளிவீரர்கள் பூமியைப் படம் பிடித்து, அமெரிக்காவில் உள்ள நாசா ஆராய்ச்சி நிலையத்துக்கு அனுப்பியுள்ளார்கள்.

புகைப் படங்களைப் பார்த்ததும் விஞ்ஞானிகளுக்கு அவற்றில் பளிச்சென்று நீளமான ஆரஞ்சு நிறக் கோடு ஒன்று தெரிந்தது. அது, ‘என்ன கோடு’ என்று பரிசீலித்துப் பார்த்தபோது, இந்தியா-பாகிஸ்தான் பார்டர் என்று தெரியவந்தது.

இந்தியா – பாகிஸ்தான் நாடுகளின் எல்லையில் பயங்கரவாதிகளின் ஊடுருவல், ஆயுதங்கள், வெடிபொருட்கள் கடத்தல் போன்ற சட்டவிரோதப் பிரச்னைகள், காலம் காலமாக இந்தியாவுக்குப் பெரும் தலைவலியாகவே இருந்துவருகிறது. அதனால், நம் நாட்டு எல்லையைப் பலப்படுத்தவே, மின்விளக்குகள் (floodlights) வரிசையாகப் பொருத்தப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன.

இதனால், பயங்கரவாதிகள் ஊடுருவ முயன்றால், சுலபமாகக் கண்டறிந்து தக்க பதிலடி கொடுக்க முடியும். எல்லையில் அமைந்துள்ள ஃபெட்லைட்டுகளின் வரிசை பஞ்சாப், ராஜஸ்தான், ஜம்மு இன்டர்நேஷனல் பார்டர் மற்றும் குஜராத்துடன் சேர்த்து, சுமார் 1,861 கிலோமீட்டர்கள் வரை உள்ளது.  இதனால், பயங்கரவாதிகள் ஊடுருவ முயன்றால், சுலபமாகக் கண்டறிந்து தக்க பதிலடி கொடுக்க முடியும். எல்லையில் அமைந்துள்ள ஃபெட்லைட்டுகளின் வரிசை பஞ்சாப், ராஜஸ்தான், ஜம்மு இன்டர்நேஷனல் பார்டர் மற்றும் குஜராத்துடன் சேர்த்து, சுமார் 1,861 கிலோமீட்டர்கள் வரை உள்ளது.

  

- See more at: http://www.canadamirror.com/canada/34797.html#sthash.gFxWZJQ2.dpuf

India: Pakistani Agencies Backing Terror Groups

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrives to lay the foundation stone for the Central Forensic Science Laboratory on the outskirts of Gauhati, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. Singh, the second-most powerful... View Full Caption

India's home minister hit out at Pakistan on Saturday, accusing its state agencies of using terror to try to destabilize India, and rejecting Pakistan's assertion that non-state actors are involved in terrorism.

"Pakistan is continuously engaged in destabilizing India, but says non-state actors are behind the acts of terror. I want to ask Pakistan if its Inter-Services Intelligence is also a non-state actor," Rajnath Singh said, referring to Pakistan's national intelligence agency.

Singh, the second-most powerful official in India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was addressing the heads of Indian police, paramilitary and intelligence agencies who were meeting in Guwahati, the main city in the remote northeastern state of Assam.

There was no immediate reaction to Singh's remarks from Pakistan.

India has long accused Pakistan of fomenting conflict by arming and training anti-India militants in the disputed region of Kashmir. Islamabad says it only provides them moral and diplomatic support.

Singh's comments came two days after heavily armed militants fought a fierce gunbattle with Indian soldiers in which at least 10 people, including four militants, were killed. Indian army officials said the rebels were attempting to infiltrate into Indian Kashmir before Himalayan mountain passes shut down with the onset of winter.

Singh said the failure of Islamic militant groups to win over young Muslims in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir was evident this past week when people ignored a call by separatist groups to boycott local elections.

More than a dozen rebels groups have been fighting since 1989 in Indian Kashmir, seeking independence from India or the merger of the region with neighboring Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir since they won independence from Britain in 1947. Kashmir is divided between the two countries, but claimed by both in its entirety.

Khamenei tells Iran armed forces to build up "irrespective" of diplomacy

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks live on television in Tehran June 12, 2009.

BY MEHRDAD BALALI-DUBAI Sun Nov 30, 2014

(Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday the armed forces should increase their combat capability regardless of political considerations, in an apparent allusion to continuing nuclear talks with the West aimed at easing tension in the Middle East.

"Given our vast maritime borders and the enemy's huge investments in this area, our armed forces should continuously improve their (combat) readiness, irrespective of political calculations," Khamenei told a gathering of senior navy officials during a ceremony to mark the "Navy Week" in Iran.

Khamenei, who commands all branches of the armed forces in addition to other key centres of power in the Islamic republic, did not mention any countries by name but he normally uses "enemy" to refer mainly to the United States and Britain -- both of which have intervened in Iran over the past century.

"Peacetime offers great opportunities for our armed forces to ... build up on preemptive capacities," said Khamenei, with state television playing excerpts of his speech.

The United States and its key regional ally Israel have both hinted they might bomb Iran to prevent it developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies any such ambition and insists its atomic programme is designed for civilian projects.

With Khamenei's blessing, Iran's moderate President Hassan Rouhani launched a diplomatic initiative to resolve a 12-year nuclear dispute, hoping to save his country from punishing global sanctions. Tehran and six world powers missed a self-imposed deadline on Nov. 24 for a deal, but gave themselves seven more months to overcome their many differences. [ID:nL6N0TE2T6]

Despite his reserved support for the negotiations, Khamenei, perceived by many as a hardliner, remains distrustful of Western intentions in the region and insists that Iran's defence capability, including its controversial missile programme, must not be part of any broad diplomatic deal.

In tandem with Rouhani's diplomatic overture, generals appointed by Khamenei are maintaining a relentless war rhetoric and unveil on an almost daily basis what they say are new innovations in weaponry.

"The range of (our) missiles covers all of Israel today," the chief of the Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said last week. "That means the fall of the Zionist regime, which will certainly come soon."

However, Admiral Ali Shamakhani, an ally of President Rouhani who serves as a top security official, sought to temper the bellicose language on Sunday.

"Our missile capability, like our nuclear, is inherently peaceful and geared for self defence," the official IRNA news agency quoted his as saying.

(Reporting by Mehrdad Balali; Editing by Crispian Balmer)

Air strikes against IS 'not working' - is it true?

The Syrian regime says two months of US-led strikes have failed to weaken the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Is it right - or are other motives at play?

The US-led coalition has carried out nearly 300 air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants since September, killing nearly 800 IS fighters in Syria in the process.

Coalition air strikes have been central to defending what are seen as strategically important locations, including the Haditha dam in Iraq and the Turkish border settlement of Kobane.
Air Strikes Against is 'Not Working' - Is It True by Thavam Ratna

Crimean Tatars say Russian annexation has brought fear and repression all over again

Abdureshid Dzheparov, 55, father of missing Islam Dzheparov, 19 and an uncle of missing Dzhevdet Islamov, 23 seen at the prayer in a mosque that both missing young men attended. (Dmitry Beliakov/For The Washington Post)

By Michael Birnbaum November 30 at 3:30 AM

BELOGORSK, Crimea — Crimea’s Tatars have bitter memories of the 1944 deportation that tore them from their native peninsula. With Russia again in control, some here say pressure is building once more.
Crimean Tatars Say Russian Annexation Has Brought Fear and Repression All Over Again by Thavam Ratna