Lankamuslim.com

Retired Gen. Sarath Fonseka, at a media briefing in Colombo today (Nov. 29), formally announced that he would run for president at elections early next year under the ‘Swan’ symbol. Presenting his policies before a packed audience of journalists, Gen. Fonseka said he would differentiate between the good and the bad just like “a swan separates milk from the water.”

The former Army commander, who retired as chief of defence staff last month ago said he would contest the January 26 polls under a newly registered political party.

He said he would keep the promises he was giving today, as he did while leading the Army to defeat the LTTE. Gen. Fonseka reiterated that he would seek a mandate to abolish the executive presidency within six months, establish the constitutional council, implement the 17th amendment and ensure good governance.

“I will win,” he said confidently, adding that he was coming forward to save the country from dictatorship.Speaking further, he acknowledged the political leadership played a key role in the victory against terrorism.

Rejecting claims his son-in-law was involved in underhand dealings in military procurements, Gen. Fonseka said he was not against a war crimes investigation, adding that the charges should be backed by evidence.

The UNP decided to sack Azad Sally from the Executive Committee membership while Party Chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera was appointed as the Kurunegala district Organizer.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe  has sent a letter to Azad sally stating that his services as a member of the UNP Executive Committee is not needed.
Although proposals can be made to the Executive Committee , the members shall adhere to the final decisions arrived at by the membership of the Committee. The letter had further pointed out that no pardon can be granted to Azad Sally who had trespassed on the Committee rules criticizing the Executive Committee over the television channels.
Meanwhile , in another letter , the Opposition leader has appointed Party Chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera as Kurunegala District Organizer because Johnston Fernando had made a request to relieve him of those responsibilities.

UNP

The spirit of unity, symbolized by Hajj should prevail throughout their lives and shared with the faithful of other religions in the larger interest of brotherhood of man, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a Hajj message. Following is the Hajj message of President Mahinda Rajapaksa I am pleased to send this message of greetings on the occasion of the celebration of Eid-ul-Alha, the festival of Hajj by the world Islamic community, including that of Sri Lanka.

This festival which culminates in the Hajj pilgrimage, the embodiment of sacrifice, is the greatest annual event of the Islamic world, with nearly four million Muslims from the world over including around 5,000 from Sri Lanka, gather at the Holy City of Mecca to perform Hajj. Hajj also symbolises the spirit of unity when millions of pilgrims speaking different languages and belonging to different nationalities and cultures proclaim the same mission – divinity, unity and greatness of God.

This spirit of unity should prevail throughout their lives and shared with the faithful of other religions in the larger interest of brotherhood of man. The Muslims of Sri Lanka have made significant contributions to the progress of our country and for the happiness of all our people. Throughout history they have lived in harmony with the other communities in our country, and continue to do so.

With the end to three decades of terrorism, the Muslims of the North and East are now able to live without fear with new opportunities for progress. Due to speedy resettlements in the North, the Muslims there are able to return to their homes to renew life in peace and harmony. The prayers of all Muslims of this day of special religious observances will no doubt be directed towards peace, with dignity for all.

I wish all our Muslims a happy and peaceful Eid Mubarak.

Muslim devotees the world over flock to Mecca, Saudi Arabia every year to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. They have no differences as to their educational and financial background. They flock to perform Hajj. What we need today is also co-operation and co-existence among communities. We suffered greatly for many years due to the disruption of such co-operation and co-existence.

Terrorism raised its head in Sri Lanka because the germ of suspicious had replaced peace, happiness and tranquillity resultantly. The country lost many useful youthful lives. We have now been able to reverse the tide and foster peace in the country.

The greatest challenge before us today is to strengthen the economy of this country devastated by war. The time has now come for us to overcome this challenge by joining hands in unity, leaving aside all differences.

At this moment when Muslims the world over are celebrating Hajj I call upon all Sri Lankan Muslims to join the effort to rebuild our Motherland.

I extend my sincere greetings to Muslim devotees celebrating the first Hajj festival in a reunited and peaceful Sri Lanka after ending terrorism and their Muslim compatriots celebrating this occasion the world over.

I am still saddened to note that nearly 20 years from the day that they were evicted from their homes, many Muslims are still languishing in Internally Displaced Camps

It is my great pleasure to warmly convey my best wishes to all Muslims celebrating Hajj this year – a celebration of great importance in the Islamic world. The ritual of Hajj is celebrated to commemorate the Abrahamic roots and the sacrifices made by Prophet Ibrahim nearly five thousand years ago. The Hajj Pilgrimage epitomises peace, brotherhood and equality among the masses and serves as an example to all peoples of the world.

This year’s Hajj Festival has special significance for all, as it will be the first Hajj Festival celebrated as free Sri Lankan’s after the scourge of terrorism has been removed from our island. I remember a time when devout Hajj Pilgrims in the East were brutally murdered by the eastern terrorist forces. I am especially happy that this year our Muslim brothers in the North and the East will celebrate this most religious festival without any danger or trepidation, due to the actions of our heroic armed forces. We must capitalise on the window of peace that is now available for us so that we can build a lasting peace.

I am still saddened to note that nearly 20 years from the day that they were evicted from their homes, many Muslims are still languishing in Internally Displaced Camps (IDP) in the North and East. I believe that by the next Hajj celebrations all those who are currently displaced would celebrate their faith in a place where they can call home in safety and in peace. I promise to work tirelessly to this end.

I believe that the Muslim faith will play an integral role in healing the wounds of the past and brining together all communities in Sri Lanka.I hope that by the will of Allah the All Mighty the hopes of all Muslim devotees will materialise.

I wish a happy and safe Id-Ul-Adha Festival to all Muslims in Sri Lanka and around the world.

20 years back Muslims in Jaffna lived a satisfactory life in terms of peace of mind ,wealth, they were well-off in running business and were self sufficient , they were 10 % in Jaffna city limits dominating MC -municipal council sometime as mayor and sometime deputy mayor of Jaffna municipality , According to department of Muslim religious and cultural affairs there were 17 mosques in Jaffna but according to prominent Muslim scholar there were 21 mosques, Muslims were 5% in the Northern Province. They were engaged in trade, teaching and skilled trades like tailoring, etc. The Jaffna Muslims were lived four densely populated wards of the Jaffna Municipality. Moor streets, and New moor streets (Bommaively) ,Town mosque street ( here streets are not justa a street but name of densely populated wards) and bhora place were their areas.

Former civil servant and Zahira Principal AMA Azeez, Supreme Court Judge Andul Cader, Appeal Court Judge MM Jameel. Education Director Munsoor etc being some leading lights of the Jaffna Muslims. There were deputy – mayor , Municipal Councillors and Abusalai hajiyar, MMC Basheer , sulthan ,and were mayor , deputy – mayor and acting mayor of Jaffna. after Ethnic Cleansing of Jaffna Muslims in October 1990 They were reduced to begging Total population of Jaffna Muslims were evicted out of northern Sri Lanka when the LTTE widely started ethnic cleansing of Muslims in north and east of Sri Lanka in 1990, killing scores of Muslims, looting their homes, taking over their farmlands and attacking places of worship.more…

By Noor Nizam

The announcement made by Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa that there is no room for a re-merger of the North and East provinces as a political geographical land mass entity and human settlement in Sri Lanka is a reality of contemporary politics in Sri Lanka . The president said this to editors N Vithiyatharan of Sudar Oli and Devaraj of Virakesari at a breakfast meeting with the heads of media institutions on the 25th., of November, in Colombo this week.

Rajapaksa ruled out north-east re-merger and said the merger of the two provinces had been a demand of the LTTE and there was no question of entertaining it now.

The President Rajapaksa was echoing the same political stand he took while attending the special cabinet meeting at Temple Trees on September 1997 that was called by then president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunghe to discuss the devolution of power proposals.more…

Muslim Media Forum strongly condemned the management of Thinakkural Publication (Pvt.) for publishing an article insulting the Sri Lankan Muslims and the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) in the Thinakkural issue of yesterday 24.11.2009 The General Secretary of Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum B.M. Murshideen said   He Farther said that the Forum was to take this matter up with the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka and also invited all five media organisations in sri lanka and the International Federation of Journalists – Australia to release a statement condemning this action.

A webnotice

A 11-year-old girl was gang raped by three persons at a household at Palavy in the Puttalam police area late last night. Police said the suspects had had forcibly broken into the girl’s home around midnight and repeatedly raped the minor after they had gagged and tied up the father and grandmother who were in the house at that time. Neigbours had later surrounded the house on hearing the girl’s screams and apprehended two of the suspects, while the third had fled the area, police said. The suspects were later tied on to trees and kept the entire night and turned over to the police early this morning. The victim’s mother is currently employed over seas.

Puttalam police are conducting further investigations.

sundaytimes

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has discovered that 75 percent of the children below the age of 12 living in Colombo city limits have been infected with the dengue virus and there is a possibility of those with weak immune systems, being vulnerable to the disease, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said. He said it was discovered during a recent study by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry. The dengue fever can spread again with the monsoon rains. Therefore the public should be vigilant. The public and provincial authorities should take steps to destroy mosquito breeding places on a regular basis to prevent another dengue outbreak. According to the spokesman the same study had shown that in 2009 the number of dengue cases increased up to 30,000 and 280 deaths due to the epigenetic changes of the Dengue Genotype 01. The other main factors which contributed to the outbreak were the negligence of the public and haphazard system of solid waste management of the local government bodies. In 2004 the dengue outbreak was limited to main cities but this year it hit all areas including outstations. This condition is very similar to the situation faced by Singapore.

dailynews

By Noor Nizam

Now that there is a presidential election declared, who will win is the question in the minds of the electorate of Sri Lanka , be it the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and or all others who have the right of franchise in Sri Lanka , the right to vote. Respecting the political trend and analysing the build-up of all political/governance issues facing the Nation since the presidential elections of 2005, what ever may come, Mahinda Rajapaksa will win again. Mahinda Rajapaksa has proven himself as a statesman who can withstand and overcome any challenges both nationally and internationally, even in adverse situation and polarize the trust of the people and the Nation. The pity of Sri Lankan politics in the present scenario is just petty selfishness and greed of some of the national politicians, to be dreaming to sit in the chair of President, PM or Executive PM who have now grouped themselves to lead an opposition. They are not the least bothered about the progress and prosperity of the nation at large and the people in general, be they Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burgers or others.More..