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Anti-terrorism Bill will be changedThe highly controversial Antiterrorism Bill is subject to amendments and changes in Parliament and as such no one should have any fear or feeling of threat from the proposed Bill, Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. The government is aware of concerns raised by the global and local community on certain provisions contained in the draft of the Anti-terrorism Bill and the Government is ready to alleviate them by discussion, compromise and flexibility, he added. Addressing a news conference at the Information Department auditorium, Minister Rajapakshe said the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) passed in 1979 under President J.R. Jayewardene’s rule as a temporary measure to counter the emerging separatist insurgency. The PTA has been misused and exploited by successive Governments since then for their personal and political...Read More...
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WhatsApp adds option to use the same account on multiple phonesWhatsApp users are no longer restricted to using their account on just a single phone. Today, the Meta-owned messaging service is announcing that its multi-device feature — which previously allowed you to access and send messages from additional Android tablets, browsers, or computers alongside your primary phone — is expanding to support additional smartphones. “One WhatsApp account, now across multiple phones” is how the service describes the feature, which it says is rolling out to everyone in the coming weeks.Read More...
Setting up a secondary phone to use with your WhatsApp account happens after doing a fresh install of the app. Except, rather than entering your phone number during setup and logging in as usual, you instead tap a new “link to existing account” option. This will generate a QR... -
CBK commends Dr. Shafi’s noble gesture of donating past salary to buy essential medicineFalsely accused by racist elements for alleged illegal sterilisation, Kurunegala Teaching Hospital doctor says racism will not take country or organisation forward except make poor people suffer more; calls on all to make Sri Lanka racism-free Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has commended Dr. Mohamed Shafi Shihabdeen over his gesture of donating the past salaries amounting to Rs. 2.6 million during his suspension and imprisonment on false charges to buy essential medicines. Chandrika Bandaranaike KumaratungaRead More...
Dr. Mohamed Shafi Shihabdeen
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Dr. Shafi donates arrears of his salary to purchase medicines for hospitalsDr. Shihabdeen Mohamed Shafi, the doctor at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital has decided to donate arrears of his salary amounting over Rs. 2.67 million for the purchase of essential medicines for hospitals.
Dr. Shafi who was on compulsory leave on charges of performing infertility surgery, has received a cheque of over Rs. 2.67 million salary arrears from the Health Ministry last week.
The salary arrears include the basic salary, interim allowance, cost of living, and allowance in lieu of pension for the period of compulsory leave imposed on Dr. Sihabdeen.
Dr. Shafi who was employed at the Kurunegala teaching hospital was arrested on May 25th, 2019, on charges of performing infertility surgery.
On July 25, 2019, the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court ordered that the doctor be released on bail.Govt. used Sinhala-Buddhist shield to its maximum benefit Ven. Galkande Dhammananda TheraThis Govt. nurtured thug-like monks promoted them and deployed them in various places Certain monks have severe psychological wounds If society isn’t healed cases of domestic violence, harassment and child abuse will be on the rise Reconciliation was about having workshops, providing a report and earning dollars Accountability has not been included in the Constitution or the Judicial system Terrorism sprouts in a country that has no justice Ven. Galkande Dhammananda Thera who currently heads the Walpola Rahula Institute for Buddhist Studies has been addressing issues related to social justice and harmony while promoting an inclusive and plural society. Having gathered a wealth of experience during the height of war for instance and having encountered various incidents during his lifetime, Ven. Dhammananda Thera has...Read More...Health ministry to pay back-wages for Dr. Shafi before July 10The Ministry of Health today gave an undertaking before the Court of Appeal that the salary and allowances payable to Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen will be paid before July 10 this year. The Ministry of Health gave this undertaking pursuant to a writ petition filed by Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen, who was at the centre of the controversy surrounding the alleged sterilisation of female patients. The Director General of Establishment at the Ministry of Public Services had earlier informed the Court that the basic salary, interim allowance, cost of living and allowance in lieu of pension could be paid to Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen, for the compulsory leave period. Meanwhile, the petitioner expressed willingness to attend the preliminary inquiry before Director of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Dr. Chandana Kendangamuwa. Taking into consideration the facts,...Read More...Sri Lanka court orders release of lawyer held for two yearsA Sri Lankan court has ordered the release on bail of a lawyer arrested over his alleged links to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings and held for nearly two years on charges rights groups say lacked credible evidence. Hejaaz Hizbullah was arrested in April 2020 and accused of being linked to the attacks on churches and hotels that left 279 people dead. But after prosecutors failed to provide evidence of his involvement in the attacks, blamed on a local group, he was instead Read More...Hejaaz Hizbullah leaves from remand custodyAttorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah today left from remand custody after fulfilling his bail conditions before Puttlalam High Court.Read More...
He was incarcerated for 22 months for allegedly committing offences come under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.Last Monday (07), the Court of Appeal ordered to release Hizbullah on bail pursuant to a revision application filed on behalf him.Hizbullah was ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs.100,000 with two sureties of Rs.500,000 by Puttlalam High Court Judge Kumari Abeyratne. He was further ordered to report to the DIG office of Puttalam Police Division every second and fourth Sunday of every month.An indictment under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act has now been served on Hejaaz Hizbullah. According to the indictment, Hizbullah...හිජාස් ගෙදර යයිRead More...
(නිමන්ති රණසිංහ සහ හිරාන් ප්රියංකර ජයසිංහ) ත්රස්තවාදය වැළැක්වීමේ පනත සහ සිවිල් හා දේශපාලන අයිතීන් පිළිබද ජාත්යන්තර සම්මුති පනත ප්රකාරව චෝදනා ලැබ වසර දෙකකට ආසන්න කාලයක් රක්ෂිත බන්ධනාගාර ගත කර සිටි නිතීඥ හිජාස් හිස්බුල්ලා මහතා අභියාචනාධිකරණ නියෝගය ප්රකාරව ඇප මත මුදාහැරීමට පුත්තලම මහාධිකරණය අද (09)...Court of Appeal grants bail on Hejaaz HizbullahThe Court of Appeal today ordered to release Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah on bail after nearly two years in detention and remand custody. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal directed the Puttalam High Court to release Hejaaz Hizbullah on bail with suitable bail conditions. The Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Menaka Wijesundera and Justice Neil Iddawala made this order taking into consideration a revision application filed on behalf of Hejaaz Hizbullah. The Attorney General did not raise objections to release Hizbullah on bail. On January 28, an application made by the defence requesting to release Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah on bail was rejected by Puttalam High Court. The High Court Judge Kumari Abeyrathne refused to grant bail citing that she has no jurisdiction to grant bail under the Prevention of Terrorism...Read More...- 1
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Friday, 01 July 2016 14:49
www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/remembering-aluthgama-riots-a-blemish-on-the-nation-sasana-sinhala-people/By Mass L. Usuf –
An eye witness recounts, “I witnessed what happened. After the procession when the rioting began I called the police stations that administer the areas. When I called the Matugama police station, they told me that the OIC was not in. The Welipanna police told me that they had only one vehicle and didn’t have personnel. Other police stations were silent. When all this happened the police were made to act deaf and blind. The Police have consistently acted deaf and blind to the actions of Gnanasara Thera leading up to this violence” – UNP MP Palitha Thewarapperuma.
The precursor to the pogrom of June 15 and 16 of 2014, was the spewing of hate filled anti-muslim language by the so called disciples of the Buddha. The demagogic ranting arousing Sinhalese chauvinism, buddhistic fervour and racist nationalism from the robed monk was the perfect cocktail of adrenalin to the listening Sinhala audience. People both from the area and those mobilised from far away places were present.
The next two days bore testimony to the carnage perpetrated by these thug monks cruelly supported by the misled Sinhalese people who unfortunately, pay blind obeisance to these elements masquerading in the saffron robes. If the doctrine of Karma has any true sense in the consciousness of these criminals, then they need to fear the inescapable repercussion they will have to face. The immutable Law of Karma will be looking at the lies uttered, the provocative speech, the wrong intention, the wrong speech, the incitement for evil conduct, the destruction of property and the killing and injuring of innocent people.
Attorney at Law Shiraz Noordeen and his team of lawyers
Monks Consummate In Virtue
To reflect on Buddha’s discourse with King Ajatusattu where the Buddha explained how a monk is consummate in virtue is profoundly educative, in this instance. Some relevant excerpts of this long discourse read as follows:
“Abandoning the taking of life, he abstains from the taking of life. He dwells scrupulous, merciful, compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. This is part of his virtue”.
“Abandoning false speech, he abstains from false speech. He speaks the truth, holds to the truth, is firm, reliable, no deceiver of the world. This, too, is part of his virtue”.
“Abandoning divisive speech he abstains from divisive speech. …… Thus reconciling those who have broken apart or cementing those who are united, he loves concord, delights in concord, enjoys concord, speaks things that create concord. This, too, is part of his virtue.
“Abandoning abusive speech, he abstains from abusive speech. He speaks words that are soothing to the ear, that are affectionate, that go to the heart, that are polite, appealing and pleasing to people at large. This, too, is part of his virtue”. (Samaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Contemplative Life translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu).
This holy discourse was misinterpreted by these holy thugs with the following substitutions :
The abandoning of taking of life; Substituted with killing, maiming and injuring.
The abandoning of false speech; Substituted with the utterance of blatant lies, distortion and misinformation.
The abandoning of deception; Substituted with misleading people by gross deception.
The abandoning of divisive speech; Substituted with hatred and venomous speech dividing racial communities.
The abandoning of abusive speech; Substituted with boorish, uncouth and abusive speech.
Substituting reconciliation and unity with division and disunity.
The abandoning of false speech; Substituted with the utterance of blatant lies, distortion and misinformation.
The abandoning of deception; Substituted with misleading people by gross deception.
The abandoning of divisive speech; Substituted with hatred and venomous speech dividing racial communities.
The abandoning of abusive speech; Substituted with boorish, uncouth and abusive speech.
Substituting reconciliation and unity with division and disunity.
The buddhistic virtues of mercy and compassion to these miscreants meant malevolence and vengeance. All perpetrated by taking unscrupulous advantage of the robe they don and in the name of Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism.
The Dumb Media
The acts of violence were perpetrated under the very nose of the Police and the STF who knew very well that they had no authority to interfere. Fearing reprisals from the then government, many were reluctant spectators of this violence. Even the Mahanayakes were surprisingly silent at the himsa (violence) perpetrated by those who profess ahimsa (Non-violence).
On the day of the pogrom in Aluthgama the media that makes so much noise today were like tamed pets. A highly placed official had informed editors of news and print media in Sri Lanka to desist from reporting the ground situation prevailing in Aluthgama. Colombo Telegraph was brave enough to at least report to the public the issuance of such a suppression of information order by the government (CT, 15.06.2014). The gymnastics that the media does today was never seen during that period. The right to information and freedom of media is limited in their minds to a set agenda even in today’s environment, barring a few media institutions.
The days following the riots, quoting unnamed police sources BBC Sinhala service reported that Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) V. Indran, who had refused to release the 13 suspects arrested over the Aluthgama clash, is facing serious threats to his life.
Shame Upon Us
Since the end of the war in 2009, the prevailing triumphalist ego made these Sinhala Buddhist nationalist forces to look down upon the other minority communities with disdain. To the extent that they did not even hesitate to trample upon the religious liberties of the minorities. The continuing harassment by these thugs by physical attacks on persons both Muslims and Christians, destruction of property of Mosques and Churches, threats and intimidation, hate campaigns and unfounded false propaganda against the religions of Christianity and Islam all went on unchecked.
Sri Lanka as a nation claiming to be the guardians of Theravada Buddhism was put to shame internationally after the Aluthgama incident. The riots slung mud on the stature of the respectable monks of the Sasana. They embarrassed a whole host of the decent, honourable and kind hearted Sinhalese people. They provided fodder to those waiting to pin down Sri Lanka in the international fora. So much for their parochial idealism!
Karmic Revenge
There is, however, a positive side to this narrative. From the minorities point of view Aluthgama was the Achilles heel of the Rajapaksa regime. Aluthgama was a sort of culmination of a spate of unabated attacks on Muslim places of religious worship and Muslim businesses.
Karma takes sweet revenge. Aluthgama also greatly contributed to get rid of a regime that was marching towards a dictatorship inebriated with power. Thus it was the good riddance to bad rubbish. Today, there is a sigh of relief with the Rule of Law gradually establishing itself. Cases have been filed against the accused monks for their actions with impunity. Cases filed against other violators of the law.
The case filed in the Supreme Court against the OIC Aluthgama on the torture and illegal arrest of a Muslim youth in the aftermath of the riots, was concluded yesterday (14.06.2016). The crime was that he had allegedly uttered the word ‘abasaranai’ to a lady. The OIC tendered an unconditional apology before Chief Justice Sripavan to the Petitioner Mohamed Asmi.
Unrelated to Aluthgama but related to the spate of violence and hate campaign was another case heard today (15.06.2016) at the Colombo Magistrate Court. Charges had been filed by the Police under Section 410 and 291 of Penal Code against five accused for causing damage to the Borella Jumma Masjid. The accused had tendered an unconditional apology and were ordered to pay compensation. Mr. Shiraz Noordeen appearing for the Trustees of the Borella Masjid said that Islam is a religion of peace and in view of the need for coexistence and as a goodwill gesture towards the other communities and religions, they agreed to the settlement.
This would not have been possible under the pseudo ‘Dutugemunu’s’ regime.
So, is this all? Is everything hunky dory now. The reply is a reverberating, “No”. There is a long way to go to cleanse the minds of the bureaucracy, the Police, the racist elements, the violent prone monks. The two recent mosque incidents in Kandy and in Bhatiya Road, Dehiwala are classic examples that this has as yet not become the so called Wonder of Asia.
If we do not understand what is coexistence, equality before the law, the rule of law, religious liberty, respecting the space of the other and tolerance we are in for certain disaster as a nation. No racism, no Sinhala buddhist nationalism, no chauvinistic rhetoric will be of any help to this beautiful island of ours. Shake off the dust and learn to live together folks. The call includes those in robes too.
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