United National Party Colombo District candidate Shiral Lakthileka was questioned by the Terrorism Investigations Department (TID) today on his affiliation with former Army Commander, Retired General Sarath Fonseka during the Presidential election.
Lakthileka told The Sunday Leader that he was questioned on fund disbursements made by General Fonseka during the Presidential election campaign following information received by the General’s coordinating secretary, Senaka Silva, who is currently in CID custody.
He said that the TID questioned him on several issues in order to corroborate information they had already received from Silva.
“They asked me about fund disbursements made for work related to media during the Presidential election campaign. However, I could not respond as I did not know much,” he said.
He explained that although he was initially appointed to the General’s media committee he moved out of it after being appointed as the UNP Kotte organizer.
Lakthileka was asked to be present at the TID at 9.30 a.m. and was interrogated for about two and a half hours.
After recording his statement, Lakthileka was informed by the TID that he would be re-summoned if there were any need for clarification.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has accused the Sri Lankan government for planning to arrest a leading human rights lawyer and a prominent social activist J.C.Weliamuna on fabricated charges. Chrishantha Weliamuna works as the Director of Transparency International in Sri Lanka (TISL), the Sri Lankan chapter of the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.
"The governments allegations against the TISL come in the aftermath of the presidential elections and in the midst of a parliamentary election. In the presidential elections one of the most glaring complaints against the government was its abuse of the state resources for electoral purposes. This is also one of the major grounds for the petition filed by the opposition common candidate against the election results of the last presidential elections.The purpose of the attack on TISL and of the possible arrest its chairperson, J.C. Weliamuna, would be to create adverse impressions on the credibility of the organisations engaged in monitoring elections as well as the findings of these organisations in the last elections" said the AHRC statement.
The full text of the statement follows:
"The Asian Human Rights Commission reliably understands that there is a move to arrest and detain J.C. Weliamuna, the chairperson of Transparency International in Sri Lanka (TISL) on fabricated charges. During the last few weeks there have been several media attempts on the part of the government to make insinuations against the Sri Lankan branch of Transparency International. There were publicised reports about the misuse of funds which TISL has publically claimed as completely fabricated and false. There have also been reports over government media channels about NGOs and INGOs trying to destabilize Sri Lanka and an announcement that the government will carry out an all out campaign against such organisations.
These allegations come in the aftermath of the presidential elections and in the midst of a parliamentary election. In the presidential elections one of the most glaring complaints against the government was its abuse of the state resources for electoral purposes. This is also one of the major grounds for the petition filed by the opposition common candidate against the election results of the last presidential elections. The election monitoring organisations have made strong adverse reports against the government on this score. In the parliamentary elections also, if there is any abuse of government resources similar accusations are likely to arise.
The purpose of the attack on TISL and of the possible arrest its chairperson, J.C. Weliamuna, would be to create adverse impressions on the credibility of the organisations engaged in monitoring elections as well as the findings of these organisations in the last elections.
It is quite possible to make use of national security laws to arrest persons and then engage in heavy propaganda against them while they remain in detention. While TISL may have an impeccable record about their accounts and credibility, these things become relevant only at the final stage of a trial. Meanwhile persons can be kept in detention for long periods and then heavy adverse campaigns can be carried out against them in order to blackmail them for political purposes.
Over a long period the Asian Human Rights Commission has pointed out that Sri Lanka's criminal justice system is in serious crisis and can be manipulated by the authorities to achieve whatever purposes they wish. Even under normal circumstances the fabrication of charges can be achieved easily within Sri Lanka's criminal justice system. In recent times this has also been put to political use and the AHRC has been reporting for quite some time now that the process of arrest, detention and even trial is now being manipulated for political purposes. The cases against J.S. Tissainayagam, Santha Fernando and now the retired general, Sarath Fonseka and many of his associates are glaring examples of the severe abuse of the criminal justice process in order to achieve unscrupulous political purposes.
On the 27th September, 2008 two grenades were thrown at the house of J.C. Weliamuna. One exploded and damaged the building. The other was found inside the property. If it had exploded it could have seriously harmed Mr. Weliamuna and his family. There was a serious outcry locally by the Bar Association and human rights organisations and many international organisations including Transparency International and the International Commission of Jurists. The case was also reported by the International Bar Association. However, there were no serious investigations into the attack and no one was arrested. Recently there was a report by the government when it attempted to create the impression that Mr. Weliamuna threw the grenades to create publicity for himself. These types of counter attacks in order to ridicule the complaints relating to harassment have also become a common feature of government propaganda.
The Asian Human Rights Commission urges the Sri Lankan government to desist in the harassment of Transparency International and to refrain from abusing the criminal justice process by arresting Mr. J.C. Weliamuna or anyone else on fabricated charges. We also call upon the government as well as all members of parliament to intervene in order to stop the arrest and the abuse of the legal process. We also call upon the Inspector General of Police to desist from allowing the abuse of police powers for political purposes. We call upon the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to intervene strongly to prevent the political harassment of civil society organisations and human rights activists. We call upon the Secretary General of the United Nations, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and all human rights agencies and international organisations to intervene seriously to protect the rights of citizens who participate peacefully in political life and to protect human rights activists and defenders."
The Export-Import Bank of India today signed an agreement with the Sri Lankan government to provide credit of USD 67.4 million for upgrading the Island nation's southern rail line.
The agreement was signed by P B Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning, and Export-Import Bank of India Executive Director Prabhakar Dalal in the presence of Ashok K Kantha, the High Commissioner of India in Colombo.
The line of credit will fund the second phase of the upgradation of Southern Railway Line from Colombo to Matara.
India, through the Export-Import Bank of India, had earlier provided a line of credit of USD 100 million under an agreement signed in July 2008.
The implementation of the first phase of the upgradation of the Southern Railway Line is currently on.
The upgradation project includes supply of materials for rail track rehabilitation from Colombo to Matara and execution of work for rail track rehabilitation from Kalutara to Matara which is being implemented by IRCON (I) Ltd.
In addition, the Line of Credit is also being used for supply of 20 sets of Diesel Multiple Units, three units of locomotives, spare parts for the existing M8 class locomotives, supply of plant and machinery for maintenance of existing DMUs and construction of maintenance sheds at Aluthgama, Galle and Colombo by RITES India Ltd.
The upgradation project would allow the trains to travel on the Colombo Matara sector at speeds up to 100 kmph.
Sri Lanka has signed up 290 million US dollars in financing from China's Exim Bank to build an airport in the south of the island and expand railways, the foreign ministry said.
The Exim Bank of China is giving 190 million US dollars for an airport in Mattala, in the southern Hambantota district. China is also giving 100 million US dollar loan to Sri Lanka Railways.
The foreign ministry said loan deals were signed by Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera during a visit to Beijing from March 03 to 05.
Both China and India is financing the re-building of railways in former war zones in Sri Lanka's north.
Jayasundera had also met Exim Bank vice president Zhu Hong Jie and had discussion about the " speeding up the evaluation process for the construction of the A9 highway," the foreign ministry said.
The 'A9' is the main highway that links the northern Jaffna peninsular with the South. The highway is now open to civilian traffic.
China committed 1,200 million US dollars to Sri Lanka in 2009 becoming the largest lender, the finance ministry has said.
By Anusha Ondaatjie - Sri Lanka plans to invite overseas and local companies this month to set up operations in a new $550 million tax-free port zone as the end of the island’s civil war boosts trade and investment.
Companies from Australia, India, China, Russia and Dubai have expressed interest in opening shipbuilding, ship-repair and warehousing facilities at the port in Hambantota, southern Sri Lanka, said Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Wickrama. The zone, partially funded by a $370 million Chinese loan, should be completed by November, he said.
Sri Lanka will also push ahead with a fourth container terminal at the island’s main port in Colombo to take advantage of the island’s proximity to India and to major shipping routes between Asia and Europe. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government is set to spend $1 billion on ports, roads and power plants this year after ending the Tamil Tiger rebels’ 26-year quest for a separate homeland in May.
“With the war over the potential for Sri Lanka is booming,” Wickrama said. And, “we have a gift of location.”
Sri Lanka is situated on the route between the Malacca Straits and the Suez Canal, which links Asia and Europe. The canal was used by an average of 47 ships a day last year. The island is also 31 kilometers (19 miles) southeast of India, the world’s second-fastest-growing major economy.
Second Phase
Sri Lanka is already planning a $600 million second phase for the Hambantota port, which will include a container terminal, Wickrama said. The government is seeking another Chinese loan, he said. Other industries that may use the 1,700 hectare (4,200 acre) first phase include cement, fertilizers and food- processing, Wickrama said.
Ports Authority will also hold discussions this month with China Merchants Holdings (International) Co. and Aitken Spence & Co., which in 2009 submitted the sole bid for the new $450 million Colombo terminal, Wickrama said.
Construction of the 2.5 million-containers-a-year facility, which will expand Colombo’s cargo capacity by 50 percent, is slated to begin in June and finish by the first quarter of 2012, Wickrama said.
The three existing terminals in Colombo, including two run by Ports Authority and one managed by John Keells Holdings Plc, the island’s biggest diversified company, can handle 4.5 million 20-foot containers a year.
The port will likely handle 4 million containers this year, up from 3.7 million in 2009, Wickrama said.
The island will call for bids for a fifth terminal once Colombo reaches 5 million containers a year, he said.
B. Muralidhar Reddy - The summary of evidence over charges against retired General Sarath Fonseka in compliance with provisions of the Army Act was completed and handed over to the Commander of the Army Jagath Jayasuriya.
The Army Commander, in receipt of legal consultations is expected to appoint the Court Martial for trial shortly. Gen. Fonseka was picked up by the military police on the night of February 8 on a number of charges.
Over 200 personnel led by a Major General descended on Gen. Fonseka’s election office while he was discussing the upcoming parliamentary elections with Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Somawansa Amerasinghe, his party parliamentarian Sunil Hadunnetti, and political leaders Rauf Hakeem and Mano Ganesan. Gen. Fonseka argued in vain with the officers that since he was a civilian he could be arrested only by the police and not the military.
It further said the commander turned politician has been granted the privilege of speaking only to his daughters residing in the United States over the mobile phone, following a request made to the authorities. Gen. Fonseka had reportedly commenced a fast unto death demanding access to a phone with international dialling facility to enable him communicate with his daughters.
The main charge against Gen. Fonseka, which he has denied, is that he put together a group of retired officers and soldiers to overthrow the government and assassinate the President. Another allegation is that he indulged in corrupt deals with respect to Army supplies.
Uproar over Fonseka’s detention
The detention of the General had caused uproar within and outside the island nation and the government had been under pressure from several quarters to immediately release him and have a transparent probe into the allegations leveled against him. A senior Minister in the Mahinda Rajapaksa government had recently gone on record that the retired General would be tried in the civil courts as well on charges of violation of Foreign Exchange Control rules and other counts.
Gen. Fonseka has challenged the detention in the Supreme Court, and the case came up for its first hearing on February 23. The Supreme Court refused to entertain the plea for his immediate release.
The retired General is leading an electoral alliance in which the JVP is one of the leading members and is also a contestant for the April 8 general election. It is immediately not known whether the commencement of trail would have any impact on his candidature in the Parliamentary election.
By Ranga Jayasuriya - The investigation into the assassination of the Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga is set to cause ripples in intelligence circles.
Earlier reports indicated that former Director of the Directorate of Military Intelligence Major General Amal Karunasekara who was earlier dispatched to the West African nation of Eritria as Sri Lanka’s envoy had been recalled for questioning over the killing of Wickrematunga.
Now military spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe says that Major General Karunasekara had not been questioned by the police.
The military spokesman, perturbed by reports of alleged involvement of the directorate of military intelligence in the assassination says that the reports are unsubstantiated and do injustice to the military.
“There is no grounds to accuse the military intelligence or the army for the killing. There is no evidence to substantiate those allegations,” he told Lakbimanews. Last week, the Terrorist Investigation Division and the Criminal Investigation Department questioned 17 army personnel, of which 11 were later released. Six army personnel are still being questioned by the TID.
Denied reports
Police Spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody denied reports that police had questioned 60 odd officers and other ranks detailed at the headquarters of the Singha Regiment, Ambepussa over the killing of Wickrematunga.
The investigations took a new turn after investigators traced the owner of the national identity card which had been used to purchase the sim card allegedly used by the assassins.
Lasantha Wickrematunga was killed on January 8, last year while he was driving to work.
The owner of the NIC was a Tamil garage owner in Hatton. The garage owner had told investigators that a soldier attached to a military intelligence unit whom he befriended in a local liquor bar had demanded to see his NIC. The man had later discovered that his NIC was missing. This NIC has been used to purchase five sim cards which had been used by the alleged killers of Wickrematunga.
Lasantha Wickrematunga was shot dead by assassins who came in two Pulsar motorbikes. He was shot with a weapon fitted with a silencer in order to reduce the sound. Police alleged two members of the hit squad had followed the trail of the deceased editor in the morning of that fateful day.
Meanwhile, former Commander of the Army and the Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka would stand a court martial, expected to be announced this week The Commander of the Army, Lt General Jagath Jayasuriya, as the authority convening the court martial will appoint a three member panel of judges for the court martial. According to the Army Act, which spells out provisions for the court martial, the president of the court martial should not be the authority which convenes the court martial- in this instance the Commander of Army- or an officer below the rank of the accused officer.
However, provided that the authority which convenes the court martial certifies that a senior officer is unavailable, an officer junior in rank to the accused could be appointed to the court martial. Therefore, military sources say, Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilake and two senior military officials representing the army and navy would be appointed to the court martial. According to the provisions of the army act, a court martial shall have 3- 5 judges.
By the end of last week, 31 witnesses have given evidence before Army Chief of Staff Major General Daya Ratnayake, who is recording evidence. Twenty one witnesses were military officials. In addition, electronic evidence in the form of video cassettes and taped telephone conservations etc has been produced to Major General Ratnayake, who is expected to submit a report on the summary of evidence to the Commander of the Army, Lt General Jagath Jayasuriya, who would pass it onto the judge advocate of the army for legal advice.
Prima facie case
Lt Gen Jayasuriya would appoint the court martial after the judge advocate decides that there is a prima facie case against the former Commander of Army, Gen Fonseka. Gen Fonseka, once the hero of military victory against the LTTE is now languishing in the custody of the military police. Last week, he wrote a letter to opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, urging him to form a broad national front to contest elections.
“...All forces which value democracy should rally together to face anti democratic forces which beset this country. The best strategy is to proceed with the united front agreed upon by all parties during the recent presidential election. Unless the parties promote unity among each other, it would be difficult to face future challenges. Democracy cannot be achieved by isolated action. Therefore, all who value democracy should unite together. It should be done not to protect me, but to rescue the people and the country from impending danger. Therefore needless to say that you as the leader of the opposition have a unique role in this monumental task,” Gen Fonseka said in the letter to the opposition leader.
Sri Lanka's detained opposition leader has begun a hunger strike after being barred from using a telephone, his party said Sunday.
Sarath Fonseka, the former army chief, was arrested a month ago after he lost a January presidential election to incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Officials have said he will face a court martial for various alleged offenses from before he gave up his army command last year, including conspiracy to overthrow the government and receiving kickbacks on arms deals.
He is detained in a naval complex in Colombo. Only his wife, lawyer and doctors are allowed to visit him.
Fonseka's office said in a statement Sunday that a court had permitted him to use phones brought by his wife.
But during her last visit Saturday, the army told her that the right to use phones had been withdrawn, the statement said. Fonseka has started fasting until he is given access to phones again, it said.
Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Prasad Samarasinghe said the right to use a phone was a concession allowed by army commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya, not by a court.
Fonseka and Rajapaksa were hailed as heroes by most Sri Lankans for their role last year in defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels, ending a 25-year separatist war, but the two leaders subsequently fell out.
Fonseka's supporters claim his arrest was revenge for daring to challenge Rajapaksa in the election.
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