The Worst

Minister Rauf Hakeem was almost prevented from attending an event in Akkaraipattu today when certain elements tried to create a roadblock with burning tyres on the roads. Police were deployed as the situation was becoming serious. Rauf Hakeem is the leader of the SLMC and a Minister of Parliament. As a Muslim leader, he has been instrumental in securing many rights for Muslims in the past years. His active participation in Sri Lankan politics has ensured that the minority Muslim population are not denied their rights in a otherwise very volatile environment. Unfortunately, riots have had a home in Akkaraipattu in the recent past; and certain elements have developed an animosity towards Rauf Hakeem due to his success in securing the rights of the Muslims. It was prudent to control the situation before any large scale demonstrations or protests took place which could have easily become out of hand.

The Best

The European Union is coming under pressure from retailers in the UK to not take away the GSP plus scheme for Sri Lanka. The EU has been debating whether to remove the GSP plus privileges for Sri Lanka due to the recent alleged human rights violations by the government over the minority Tamils during the last stages of the LTTE war. UK shops are now warning that relegation of the GSP privilege to Sri Lanka will increase consumer prices in the UK making sales even more difficult in a market that is already in deep recession. This is good news for Sri Lanka as the GSP plus scheme has been instrumental to key developments in the country. The continuation of the scheme will ensure that Sri Lanka will continue to see growth which will be even more marked due to the end of the war.

The Worst

Our Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake apparently had an embarrassing incident at Japan's Narita Airport. On arrival, instead of being treated as a VIP, he was fingerprinted before being cleard by Japanese authorities. Needless to say that this is a humiliation any country would not suffer. On any other occasion, I would vehemently protest such actions by the Japanese. However, it appears that Mr. Prime Minister was on a private visit to Japan and may not have informed the Japanese of his arrival...or the local authorities for that matter. In any case, foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama has recalled the Sri Lankan ambassador to Japan Mr.Jayantha Palipane back to Sri Lanka. It is difficult to decide whether this was a snub by Japan or an honest mistake due to the fact that they had no clue who Ratnasiri Wickramanayake was as he hadn't informed the relevant Japanese authorities clearly. Recalling the Japanese ambassador seems a little extreme considering that Japan has been Sri Lanka's friend in the recent past. We'll be keeping an eye on how this story develops...

The Best

It looks like the LTTE were involved in some serious brainwashing of schoolchildren during their rule of the Eastern Province. Sources have found out that many schools had been renamed to that of LTTE cadres who lost their lives in the war. Statues and other remembrances were also found within the schools. If the names of schools were changed, who knows what was taught at the schools under the pretext of education or history. Schools should be a place of education, and should remain so even during conflicts. The authorities have now ordered the names to be changed back to their original names and all statues and remembrances to be removed. Slowly but surely, normalcy is returning to North and East. These areas are finally being opened up to all, and people are finally living normal lives.

The Worst

Asoka De Silva is the new Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. Chief Justices in Sri Lanka, have historically been the puppets of the heads of state. The loyalty is established through bribes, gifts, and other means of coercion which allows the government to always get what it wants from the justice system. The current Chief Justice was chosen by the President which makes this process even easier. I believe that the judicial system of a country should be independent in practice as well as theory if the country is to make any advancement in maintaining law and order. The current appointment is less than ideal by a big margin and leaving many people in Sri Lanka questioning the motives of the President and the Government.

The Best

The president of the Janata Party in India, Mr. Subramanian Swamy has said that he has evidence that the LTTE paid off various politicians in Tamil Nadu to facilitate their nefarious activities. He is contemplating taking the evidence to Indian courts with the purpose of bringing these politicians to justice. It is no secret that the LTTE have been paying off Indian politicians in Tamil Nadu since the inception of the war. However, this is the first time, that evidence of such payments has come to light. If Mr. Swamy is able to use this evidence, to bring these politicians to justice, India will benefit more than Sri Lanka in ridding their system of corrupt politicians.

The Worst

The Police in Sri Lanka have been coming under increasing criticism due to the recent Angulana incident as well various other incidents around the country. In order to quell public fears, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jayantha Wickramaratna held a press conference today detailing his efforts in flushing out certain 'corrupt elements'in the Police force. He also said that action has been taken against as many as 168 Policemen for breaking laws. My opinion is that severe punishments should be given to these officers in an effort to set an example to the rest of the Police force that any law breaking will be dealt with harshly. Even though it is a calamity that 168 officers were found guilty, we can take heart in the fact that the IGP is doing something about this.

The Best

"Faji" is the name of a well known gangster in Colombo. Today, Police report that they have killed him in a shootout in Maligawatte. Gangs are a big problem in Colombo; with gangsters controlling many areas of the City. Although the problem is not that same as it was in New York in the 1920's, the situation is serious enough that these thugs have enough power to do what they want in their little niches of the city. Police are constantly in battle with such elements, and it is heartening to note that they have achieved a victory today. Every victory in the area of gangs is a victory for democracy in Sri Lanka and should be celebrated as such.

The Worst

Today, the Sri Lankan cabinet decided to open an Embassy in Eritrea. First of all, most people don't know that there exists a country called Eritrea. Secondly, why spend money on opening embassies in non-existent countries when they can spend that money to feed the poor in Sri Lanka. As far as I know, there are no major trade ties with Eritrea, nor are there any political benefits. We can hope that Eritrea will benefit Sri Lanka is some form other than just providing land to build an embassy.

The Best

Channel 4 of British TV has had the gall to air a video showing an alleged Sri Lankan soldier killing an unarmed man in the North in January this year. With the west doing their best to save the LTTE when they were down, such an video is hypocrisy in it's purest form. It is therefore most apropos that the government responded by lodging a protest with the UK. The UK is in deep recession and does not have too many friends in the east. Isolating themselves further is bordering on self-euthanasia.

The Worst

Mihin Lanka, the ill-fated budget airline of President Mahinda Rajapakse is now reported to be running at a monthly loss of Rs 1.8 million. It's losses as of today amount to Rs 3 billion. It is a shame that the government keeps spending the tax payers money on a veutre that has failed before, and is continuing to fail again. SOme say that nefarious reasons to swindle money in collusion with bad management have led to the loss of this company. If the public monies are going into someone elses pocket, we demand that the person be brought to justice. Ironically, if the people involved are in the highest offices of the country, justice is merely a word to be printed until that person leaves office. Oh well...that's the way the wheel turns in Ol Lanka.

The Best

Ironically, the best news also comes from the aviation industry. Air Asia, the world's largest budget airline has decided to set up its regional base in Sri Lanka. Air Asia has announced that it intends to use the base for flights to Europe and South Asia. In additional to the direct revenue due to employment and tourism; the indirect benefits by the exposure of Sri Lanka to visitors as well as the influence of foreigners on Sri Lankans will help the development process tremendously.

The Worst

SSP Vaas Gunewardene of the CCD, his son Ravindu, and 9 other police officers were arrested in the assault of SLIIT student Nipuna Ramanayake today. Apparently, Ravindu was a junior at SLIIT. It seems that some sort of brawl had happened after exams, and the kid decides to get his father's Police buddies to help beat the crap out of Nipuna. Nipuna is related to a minister, and that's where the s*** really hit the ceiling. Now, mister SSP and son along with his 9 buddies are really in trouble.

It really is a power struggle of who has the most influence; the SSP or the minister. Looks like this time, the minister prevails.

The Best

The Department of Census and Statistics will carry out the first island wide census in 30 years. The census will be for the year 2011. With the entire country under government control, the census will be the first one to include the whole country with accurate numbers from the north and east finally making it to the board. The current population is estimated to be around 20 million. For those interested, the breakdown of the percentages of the different races in Sri Lanka are as follows:

Sinhalese = 74%
Tamils = 14%
Moors (muslims) = 7%
Others = 5%

The Worst

Two bodies were fished out of the canal at Baudhaloka Mawatha today. Apparently they were working at a house in the neighbourhood. Police are carrying out investigations at the moment. I have no doubt that they will catch the criminals responsible. The Police in Sri Lanka do an exceptional job when the job is not politically related. When a politician is behind a crime, the investigations often lead to to dead ends...and only reason this happens is because the politician has something to say about it. We can only hope that the situation will change now that the country has a new beginning. I think that it can be safely said that all Sri Lankans are optimistic about such changes.

The Best

Sri Lankan Police have arrested 2 Americans in connection with financial fraud in America. Escaping from officials in America, these two "financiers" fled to switzerland where the US officials lost track of them. Both governments are currently in deliberation as to whether they are to be extradited to the US or tried in Sri Lanka. Either way, it looks like justice has caught up to these individuals giving the rest of the Earth's population lots to cheer about. Quite frankly, I detest financial manipulations and extortions of this kind and think that all the banks should "arrested" as well. They are as guilty as the Morgans in swindling innocent people of their hard earned money.

The Worst

Police snatched a van containing 20 claymore mines in Mannar today. Claymore mines were the deadliest of bombs used by the LTTE on civilians during their reign of terror. To find 20 in one van makes me go...HOLY SONOFA*****. 1 mine would blow a crater the size of a small house; twenty would probably be mini-nuclear. I have only one question....who in their goddamn mind would even volunteer to carry 20 mines on a bumpy road with manic drivers whizzing past at ludicrous speeds. I'd like to meet that guy, and lobotomize him before he decides to launch 20 nuclear missiles just for the heck of it.

The Best

British lawmakers have cautioned that Britain is becoming a popular place for wanted men seeking refuge. Criminals, exiles and other notorious characters have been turning to the UK recently in order to escape punishment in their own countries. At last people who think they can escape justice in Britain will find jolly old England to be not so jolly anymore. Hopefully, all the criminals will be sent back to their home countries for the proper course of justice to take place.

The Worst

It looks like there are still some elements loyal to the now almost non-existent LTTE. 6 boats filled with explosives were recovered in the Vellamullivaikal and Puthukudiirripu areas by police in the north yesterday. It baffles me as to the purpose of such material since there's nothing left to fight for. Sometimes the best approach to a situation is to realize a reality and let people live normal lives. Even if the material was used in an attack, it will not carry any message except that "we like to blow things up". Such a message will convince the government that the only way that they can deal with this is to annihilate anyone with any suspicion of LTTE connection; and that will mean that all of us will have to watch our backs everywhere we go.

The Best

Looks like the government has caught Kumaran Pathmanathan. Admittedly, that doesn't bode well for him; but as the last known leader of the LTTE, it definitely bodes well for the future of the development of Sri Lanka. Although he did say that the LTTE was to become a political organization, it would be difficult for such a person forgive and forget the destruction of an organization that he helped to build from scratch. That such a person is now in custody, puts many Sri Lankan's minds at ease ensuring that the resurgence of the military tactics of the LTTE would never re-emerge from the ashes.

The Worst

The visa of a Canadian citizen has not been extended to stay in Sri Lanka. He was the principal of a school in Colombo and due to being unable to extend his visa, will have to return to Canada by the end of the week. This may have occurred due to the paranoid nature of some of the officials in the government toward western nations. Although, there may be a genuine legitimate reason for the rejection. We will know more in the subsequent days as more details are revealed.

The Best

The have been many abductions in Sri Lanka in the recent past. Dissenters of the government musteriously disappeared and no investigations took place. Today, someone from the Disaster Management Center was "taken into custody" by police. Although witnesses say that he was abducted by some people in a white van. It is ironic that after being abducted he magically re-appears under police custody; which in effect proves the rumours that the police were involved in the abductions taking place in the past. Now that the incident has happened in one of the government's own ministries, they are crying foul! This story is the definition of irony.

The Worst

The remnants of the LTTE want to create a "transnational government" of their fictitious "Ealam" in April 2010. I have only one thing to say to the LTTE and that is "LOL! LMAO! ROFLMAO!". For an organization that is literally over, it's hilarious that they are still trying to "do stuff". I don't know why I even bother to write about the LTTE that is now the past of Sri Lanka; but I guess it is of interest to the general public to occasionally note their insignificant scurryings in the world arena. Not that whatever they do will matter to Sri Lanka. I suppose, if anything, this news would make good table conversation over dinner.

The Best

At long last, the Jaffna-Colombo intercity bus service commenced yesterday. 175 passengers boarded 4 buses from Jaffna to Medawachchiya in the reopening of the crucial bus service that may bridge the North and the South. The service is a major stepping stone in the development and progress of the long neglected Northern territories. In time, the rehabilitation of the railways and major highways will further boost the development process and improve the lives of everyone in the country.

The Worst

It looks like professional athlete Waruna Ranga Kumara Wimalawansa has been involved in more than just running around the track. Today, he pleaded guilty to charges of human smuggling and has received a 2 year jail term with a Rs.200,000 fine. Considering that professional athletes get paid like billyoh and treated like kings in Sri Lanka, I am baffled as to why this dude had to go about smuggling humans around. Did he think that just because he can run real fast on the track that outrunning the law was going to be a piece of cake? When they caught him, he must have been like "How'd you catch me? I was running my fastest"

The Best

More money! Yay! Indian external affairs minister, S.M Krishna told the Indian Parliament today that India would give more than the Rs.5 billion for the aid of the displaced people from the North. I didn't know we were getting Rs.5 billion in the first place. That's an awful lot of money; and today they pledge more? That's what is called "fully awesome". Truly it is the time for celebration in 'Ol Lanka'. If this sort of news does not stop soon, the next generation of Lankans will have permanent smiles on their faces, purely due to genetic factors!

A Good Day

The Worst

Well...governmentwise, things seem to be pretty quiet today. Although 2 people went and got themselves shot in the head in Rattanapitiya, Delkanda. I can assume that they were up to no good in the first place and received the penalty for dealing in nefarious activities. Drugs, illicit alchohol and other vices are still prevalent in some areas. I guess the Police need to enforce the laws more strictly in order to curb these menaces. Hopefully, with no more war to occupy their time, they will start to take the general daily crimes more seriously. Seriously, who can blame them for not caring, they've had to deal with CIA type undercover terrorist type work for the past 26 years. It's like the biggest anti-climax of the century. If I was the Police, I would be disillusioned too!

The Best

Ironically, there is plenty of good news in Sri Lanka today. The stock market did very well, with many investors at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) making profits in the market. I won't go into details; but the gist of it is that all those stock thingies are looking good today.

Ram Gopal Varma, a pretty top notch Indian director is going to shoot his new movie 'Agyaat' in Sri Lanka because he feels that Sri Lanka is an awesome place to work. I feel you brother! Respect!

In another pioneering move, Sri Lanka is re-inventing tourism by launching a thing called 'Religious Tourism'. This will include tours to the Esala Perahara in Kandy, the Kataragama Festival and the Nallur–Kandaswami Festival in Jaffna. This is the first of it's kind in the world, and promises to boost the already booming tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

So lots of good news today, while nothing major in the 'The Worst' category. Today has been a good day; and because good days have been so very rare I say we celebrate it by declaring 30th July as 'National Good Day Holiday' and celebrate it every year!

Human Rights Watch and the Sigiriya

The Worst

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for the release of the 280,000 civilians still in the detention camps in the north. The government has yet to release the "displaced people" due to the war from these camps. I agree with the fact that these people have been in these camps too long. They should be allowed to restart their lives by sending them back to their homes in the north. Although the government has legitimate reason to detain them in the search for LTTE remnants amongst these people, they have to expedite measures to flush them out and release the innocent to their homes as soon as possible. It is possible though that certain nationalist elements within the government are preventing the weeding out process; but proof of that has yet to emerge. In the meantime, the government must do it's best to win the trust of the tamil people and allow them to go to their homes.

The Best

The Sigiriya museum has been voted the most attractive in south asia by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). I've always though that the Sigiriya rock was awesome; and today I know it! The JICA know what they are talking about. Sigiriya is a lion face shaped palace made completely out of stone and it's engineering and design are true marvels of history. For more information on sigiriya, see the links below.

Sigiriya - Wikipedia
Sigiriya - Pictures

The TRC and Tamashas

The Worst

I decided to start with the worst because I like giving bad news first.

What's with the Telecom Regulatory Commission TRC and civil liberties? It seems that they can never suppress enough. Today they announced that mobile phones in private schools will be banned and they hope to erect phone booths within the schools as an alternative. Firstly, they have no right to enforce such rules on private schools. (or maybe they do...I don't know...but still...). There are pros and cons to having a mobile phone at school, and some may argue that the cons overcome the pros significantly enough to advocate such a rule. However, I feel that private schools should be given the right to decide on these rules. To have the government declare it as law is a blatant encroachment of the liberties of the school and people.

The Best

We got free money! The International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave us $2.6 billion dollars! YAY! We are going to have the biggest Tamasha in the history of the world. Did somebody say "How about paying it back?". I say, who cares! If the Americans can borrow and spend, so can we. So let's go celebrate!

27/07/09

The Best

YES! Finally, a sign of progress and development in Sri Lanka. Ice Age 3 has been released in Liberty Cinema on the same week as the world premier. The last time any film was released on the same week as the world premier at any theatre in Sri Lanka was....never! Liberty Cinema in Kollupitiya has finally broken the curse by screening Ice Age 3 in line with world release dates. Is this a sign of progression into a developed nation? I think so...even though a small victory it may be. So everyone repeat after the great David Hasselhoff "Hooga Chakka, Hooga Chakka, Hooga Hooga Hooga Chakka"

David Hasselhoff is Awesome

The Worst

The Telecom Regulatory Commission (TRC) in Sri Lanka has instructed Internet Service Providers (ISP's) to filter and/or block pornographic and other obscene websites. I don't know if this is the worst for today, but I feel that censorship has no place on the internet even if the intention is good. I suspect that the primary concern by the government is the influence of such websites on our children. Sri Lanka has always been a social minded state. The emphasis on good education, health and welfare has always been of the highest priority since colonial times. However, I say that the onus of protecting our children belong to the parents or guardians. Protection is required, but one must be careful not to encroach on the liberties of the people in the name of protection. Parents have countless methods for protecting their kids from damaging websites. Getting ISP's to block all websites (which they perceive to be damaging) from all people is gross censorship; and I hope the TRC will reconsider it's decision and allow the people to have their liberties.

Ferries and Immigrants

The Best

There used to be a ferry service for travel between India and Sri Lanka in the years before the war. The service stopped (legally anyway) when the war started in the North. Now that the war is over, the government has decided to start the ferry service once more. The service will run from Colombo to Cochin as announced by the Transport Minister Dallus Alahaperuma yesterday. It looks like things are returning back to the glory days of Sri Lanka; where the beaches were good, the tea awesome and the girls knockout gorgeous!

The Worst

It has only been a few months since the end of the war, and the consequences of the war will take years to heal. The economy which took the worst battering second to the human cost showed it's ugly head in the actions of a few Sri Lankans in Indonesia today. Police arrested 19 Sri Lankans in Bengkulu Sumatra after they ran away from a UNHCR facility. Trying to find a better life, they sought to find refuge in Indonesia to live and settle down. Such actions only emphasize the need for the economy to improve as fast as possible so that locals will never want to live in a land that is not Sri Lanka. The war is ended and the greatest obstacle to development is vanquished. Godspeed Sri Lankan government! The development of the pearl of the Indian ocean can now begin!