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Hardly a day goes by without a protest in the North, but in recent weeks, there has been an uptick in protests with white-clothed individuals who claimed to be social activists or civil society personnel joining them, apparently in a bid to gain political mileage.

When asked about the new phenomenon, locals say they are ‘potential aspirants’ to enter Provincial Councils (PC) even though the dates are yet to be fixed for elections.

Their presence was felt in Mannar this week, when they joined the locals and tried to take the lead in the ongoing protest against the second-phase implementation of windmill power projects.

Carrying mobile phones and giving interviews to YouTubers, they were quite busy while villagers took part in the sit-in protest. When asked about the new trend, one fisherman who came from Thaalvupaadu to take part in the protest said, “I think most of them are going to contest PC polls, and this is a trial run to initiate links with parties and make them familiar in the political scene.”

Above: NPP MP Ilankumaran at the tap-opening ceremony

NPP pledge thrown under the bus—writing on tap waters

The National People’s Power came to power with pledges that its members would not play a central role at the inauguration of public projects or have their names on plaques. But some NPP MPs are not only forgetting these promises but are also making a mockery of themselves and the government.

NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra is seen being garlanded after taking a ride in a 155 route number bus during an event to mark the resumption of the service.

First, there was NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra taking a bus ride on the 155 route from Mattakkuliya to Soysapura when the service was resumed this week after a lapse of some years. The service had been discontinued during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. What became news was not the resumption of the service, but the fanfare with which it was inaugurated, with the MP being garlanded and being hugged by passengers, causing a public spectacle.

Even more ridiculous were the actions of NPP MP K. Ilankumaran, who was photographed opening a water tap in Jaffna. So much for the NPP’s ridicule of previous government members who had gala events when inaugurating government projects.

Major drawback in new police chief’s debut address to rank and file

When newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya held his inaugural virtual (Zoom) meeting with those in the department, many officers were looking forward to using it as an opportunity to air their grievances.

However, during the meeting, the IGP gave a lengthy explanation on what the Government’s programme was for the country and how the police should play its role to meet the Government objectives. He totally forgot to ask the men and women in the department what their issues were.

This left many of the police personnel disappointed, as they were keener to tell their new boss of the shortcomings they face.

‘Clean Sri Lanka’ T-shirt stirs dress-code row in Jaffna MC

The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative kicked off in the Jaffna district on Wednesday, with a delegation including top officials from the Presidential Secretariat arriving by train for the launch. Various projects are being organised under the initiative across the district till August 20.

The National People’s Power’s Jaffna District politicians and supporters were instructed to take part and carry out coordination work in their respective areas. A coloured T-shirt with the ‘Clean Sri Lankan’ brand was also distributed among them.

Kabilan Suntharamoorthy, an academic attached to the University of Jaffna and member of the Jaffna Municipal Council, turned up on Thursday for Council sittings, wearing the T-shirt. The other members brought to the attention of the mayor that Mr. Suntharamoorthy had violated the dress code policy adopted by the council.

Mayor V. Madhivadani informed the academic to raise his issue briefly and instructed members to adhere to the councils’ dress code policy. The member excused himself from the sessions shortly after extending his apologies.

Music makes presidential staff happy

Last Thursday, the Presidential Secretariat staff had a musical show. The singers and musicians were from the staff. Few outsiders attended as ‘resource personnel’.

One Additional Secretary commented, saying, “This is a good way to bust the stress of not doing anything but warming chairs.” The preparations and the event were done during office hours.

President’s Japan visit draws pithy social media comments

The news report that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be undertaking an official visit to Japan next month has led to
some amusing comments on social media.

One such comment asks if the President is going in order to retrieve former Speaker Asoka Ranwala’s PhD certificate. Mr. Ranwala, who was appointed speaker in November last year, resigned soon after it became public that his claim of having obtained a PhD from Japan’s Waseda University was unproven. Upon resignation, he pledged to make public his doctorate, but that hasn’t happened nearly eight months later.

Cardinal’s Trump-like comments on same-sex relations

Colombo’s Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith often wades into controversy, and this week his comments showing his public disapproval of same-sex relations have angered rights groups and those in such relations.

Speaking at a public gathering this week, Cardinal Ranjith claimed that certain international organisations, reportedly backed by political figures, are implementing programmes that enable young people to undergo gender transformation after being certified by psychiatrists, allowing them to marry a person of their own sex.

Addressing a recent event, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith criticised same-sex union

“Those who wish to change their gender can consult psychiatrists, who evaluate them and issue a certificate. This certificate allows them to disassociate from the gender they were born with. This certificate is recognised by the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, the Health Ministry endorses this sex change and apparently gives the green light for a person to obtain a fresh certificate indicating their new gender,” the Cardinal said.

He said those who speak against these trends are accused of violating human rights. “However, promoting lifestyles such as homosexuality will erode the social norms that have been enriched by Buddhist culture in Sri Lanka,” he said, dragging in Buddhists also to his opposition.

His comments have drawn criticism on social media from human rights activists who say such comments are misleading and discriminatory, while others like what he said—very Trump-like.

Judges’ official residences in dire need of repairs

It has been brought to the attention of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) that official residences allocated to members of the judiciary are neglected and are in dire need of repairs and refurbishment.

There have been complaints of broken furniture, blocked gutters and poor maintenance that has also led to mosquito breeding.

The JSC has informed all judicial officers that if timely maintenance work is not undertaken, a large amount of taxpayers’ money will go to waste in repairing these premises.

Now judges have been informed that technical officers attached to the High Court zone of each area will visit their official residences every quarter for inspection, and they have been asked to cooperate so that the necessary repairs can be undertaken on time.

Seized Indian trawlers pose a problem for local fishermen

Moves are underway to dispose of dozens of seized Indian mechanised bottom trawlers anchored in various fisheries jetties in the North after local fishermen complained about a lack of space to anchor their boats.

At Myliddy in Kankesanthurai alone, more than 30 trawlers have been anchored. Seized Indian trawlers have also been anchored in jetties in Mannar, Gurunagar, and Karainagar.

Most of those trawlers were seized after being found engaging in bottom trawling activities and declared as state properties in keeping with Sri Lanka’s laws.

Recently, the Judicial Service Commission also requested details of vessels under judicial custody from courts across the island.

The move for disposal of trawlers came in the wake of an indefinite strike launched by fishermen in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, protesting the continued arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy and demanding the immediate release of those currently imprisoned in Sri Lanka.

The strike comes just 55 days after the end of the annual fishing ban period, during which period the Navy arrested 61 fishermen and seized nine mechanised bottom trawlers.