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 What a sham! Protesters don’t know why they are protesting

It was touted as a protest by depositors who have lost their money in the financially crippled Ceylinco Group.

A scribe who wanted to interview some of those at the protest in Hulftsdorp on Wednesday walked up to one and asked how much he had deposited with the company. “What deposits. I have made no deposits, but I was told to come for the protest,” was his response.

The situation was similar when hundreds of three-wheeler drivers assembled near the Colombo Town Hall on Friday for another protest in Hulftsdorp.

Many of them were unaware as to why they were protesting saying they had been told to come there by a Government Member of Parliament. They were all displaying placards and posters derogatory of the judiciary.

World Justice Project gives high ranking to Lanka

Whilst the Government is locked in battle with the judiciary over the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, the Washington-based World Justice Project has said Sri Lanka ranks first in South Asia in six of eight categories of the rule of law.

Here is what its report had to say:

“Weaknesses in the areas of security and fundamental rights were also found. Released this week in Washington, D.C., the report ranks countries across eight areas impacting on the rule of law: limits on government power, corruption, security, fundamental rights, open government, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice. The report is the product of interviewing 97,000 members of the general public and more than 2,500 experts in 97 countries.”

“According to the report, “Sri Lanka outperforms its regional peers in all but two dimensions of the rule of law. The country also outpaces most lower-middle income countries in several areas, ranking second in criminal justice, and third in the dimensions of open government, effective regulatory enforcement, and absence of corruption. On the other hand, violence and human rights violations related to the legacy of a protracted civil conflict are serious problems. Other areas of concern are vigilante justice, delays and barriers to access civil justice, and lack of accessibility of official information.”

“Achieving the rule of law is a constant challenge and a work in progress in all countries. The WJP’s Rule of Law Index is not designed to shame or blame, but to provide useful reference points for countries in the same regions, with comparable legal cultures and similar income levels,” said World Justice Project founder William H. Neukom.”

Kahawatte murders: SSP to operate from ground zero

Mounting violence in Kahawatte and its environs prompted the posting of Senior Superintendent Vass Gunawardena to the Ratnapura Police Division.

He only spent one day in the city of gems where his official quarters are located. Thereafter, he moved to a temporary residence in Kahawatte.

Last Wednesday, he was speaking to villagers in Kotakethana where several killings were reported. He said he had asked his officers to find him a house in the area. He would operate from there.

Bacon, corn flakes and golden syrup for MPs

New items have been added to the breakfast menu in Parliament. A Parliamentary Committee dealing with the subject has decided to include bacon, corn flakes, honey and golden syrup for the breakfast menu following a proposal made by a UNP Parliamentarian.

The breakfast at the Parliament canteen is now being served at the rate of Rs.80. It includes hoppers, milk rice (kiribath) and a variety of steamed grains. The rate is to remain unchanged even with the new Western items.

Meanwhile, a proposal to add pork to the lunch menu has been rejected by the committee because Muslim MPs opposed the move.

Star-studded debate on women workers in Middle East

It was a star-studded debate in Parliament when the votes of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion were taken up last Wednesday. Among those who spoke on the merits and demerits of sending women abroad for employment were movie stars turned politicians.

UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayaka who accused the Government of turning a blind eye to the plight of Lankan women workers in the Middle East and UPFA MP Upeksha Swarnamali alias ‘Paba’ argued that 95 per cent of women who return from employment overseas manage to enjoy a higher standard of living upon their return.

Beauty queen turned politician UNP MP Rosy Senanayaka too joined the debate and rebuffed claims by the member on the Opposite side. However, all the celebrity participation in the debate on the votes of his Ministry pleased Minister Dilan Perera who welcomed their participation.

So scared he might lose his portfolio

When President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to Colombo on Tuesday, there was a coterie of ministers and Government officials to receive him.

A notable absentee, however, was Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne. He was on an inspection tour of the Mattala International Airport now under construction.

Jayaratne had telephoned his deputy Sarana Gunawardena a few times and reminded him to ensure a message was given to the President. That was his inability to come and the reason for it.

Gunawardena did the job. He said .”Sir, Priyankara keepa serayak katha kala, Mattala inne kiuwa. Ey bawa mathaka athuwa sirta kiyanna kiuwa. Samaharavita amathikama nathiwei kiyala baya hithunada danne nehe. (Sir, Priyankara called several times asking me to tell you that he is in Mattala. He was perhaps worried that he may lose his portfolio).”

Mervyn’s plucky response to Speaker

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa attended a ceremony last week to declare open a library in commemoration of late UPFA MP Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.  When the Speaker was reminiscing about the former minister, one had asked what the Speaker had to say about Minister Mervyn Silva.

Speaker Rajapaksa said Mervyn’s father had helped a lot for his father’s campaign. At that moment Minister Mervyn Silva politely asked that he be allowed to say a few words.

He said when he was young, one day he went with a group of boys to Rajapaksa’s place. Chamal Rajapaksa asked me to pluck a young coconut (kurumba). I did it.

“Eda kurumba kadapu mang ada amathi kenek. Eda kurumba kadanna kiyapu Chamal hamu ada parlimenthuwe kathanayaka. Sansara gamanaka hati. (The person who plucked the young coconut that day has become a minister today. The person who asked me to pluck a young coconut is the Speaker of Parliament today. See the journey of Sansara).”

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