The JVP has issued a press release condemning the bomb attack that has been carried out against Sri Lanka Medical council (SLMC).
JVP press release states “It is not difficult to understand the intention of the bomb attack specially, while the struggle against SAITM is moving progressively forward and when Sri Lanka Medical Council has taken a very correct stand in rejecting the SAITM illegal medical degree shop.”

Full text of the press release:

Vehemently condemn bomb attack on Sri Lanka Medical Council!

It has been reported that Sri Lanka Medical council has been subjected to a bomb attack. Firstly, we condemn with abhorrence the cowardly act. It is not difficult to understand the intention of the bomb attack specially, while the struggle against SAITM is moving progressively forward and when Sri Lanka Medical Council has taken a very correct stand in rejecting the SAITM illegal medical degree shop.
The authorities in SAITM, on various occasions, engaged in such underworld acts and the government was very silent regarding such violations. The intention of this latest attack would be to threaten members of the Sri Lanka Medical council. Hence, the incident should not be allowed to be taken lightly.
While demanding the government to hold an impartial investigation regarding the bomb attack on Sri Lanka Medical Council, We emphasize that we would never allow SAITM struggle to be weakened with such cowardly attacks or by attempts to divert the attention elsewhere.

All Ceylon Medical Officers Association states it vehemently condemns the bomb attack on the Sri Lanka Medical council and adds they suspect that the attack would have been planned on the instigation of the government.
In an environment where Sri Lanka Medical Council is fulfilling a decisive task in the struggle against SAITM, the suspicion that the government was behind the attack cannot be ruled out says the General Secretary of All Ceylon Medical Officers’ Association Dr. Jayantha Bandara and adds if the government was not involved in the attack it could demonstrate its non participation in the incident by carrying out investigations and punishing the perpetrators.
Dr. Bandara said there had been several incidents of threatening members of SLMC with bomb attacks assaults and intimidation and even after such cowardly moves the SLMC stood its ground regarding the standard of medical education. He said there is suspicion that the bomb attack had been carried out to sabotage the struggle against SAITM adding that such cowardly acts would never weaken the struggle against SAITM and for free education.
The General Secretary of All Ceylon Medical Officers Association said an intensive investigation should be carried out to find out and reveal those responsible for the bomb attack and without such investigation the government cannot shy away from the responsibility of the attack.

It is reported that a bomb attack had been carried out opposite the Sri Lanka Medical Council office. However, the bomb had not exploded and STF has been deployed to give protection to the SLMC office after the incident.
The bomb disposal unit has arrived to deactivate the bomb.
SLMC is playing a main role in the struggle against the SAITM illegal medical degree selling institute at Malabe. There have been instances when residences of former Chairmen of SLMC and its members were attacked.

The retired President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been given an opportunity to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and have a discussion with him only after an earnest request had been made by Mr. Rajapaksa say Indian officials.
The agenda of Mr. Modi who arrived in Sri Lanka to participate in the International Wesak Day celebrations did not have any time reserved for a meeting with Mr. Rajapaksa. However, an opportunity for a meeting has been given after considering the request put forward by Rajapaksa’s group.
Accordingly, the meeting between Modi and Rajapaksa was held after the dinner hosted in honour of the Indian Premier by President Maithripala Sirisena.
Responding to a question by a journalist the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu had said the meeting was held in a very cordial environment and the retired President had told Indian Premier that he was satisfied with the Indian support to Sri Lanka in the past and the present.
Former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former Minister G.L. Peiris participated in the discussion with the retired President and the Indian side was also represented by National Security Advisor of India Ajith Kumar Devole, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and several others.
Source: BBC Sinhala

A luxury Defender vehicle transporting 198 kilo grams of heroin to Colombo was seized with a suspect by the officers of the Intelligence Division of Chilaw DIG Office today (11th).
The raid was conducted in Muthupanthiya Island in Chilaw today early morning. The arrested suspect is said to be a resident in Colombo.
The stock of heroin had been brought to Muthupanthiya Island using sea routes and had prepared to transport to Colombo. The suspect, the Defender vehicle and heroin have been handed over to Chilaw Police.

He has no objection for the visit to Sri Lanka by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says retired President Mahinda Rajapaka.
Speaking at an event at Ruvanwella yesterday (11th) the retired President said participating in ceremonies participated by the Indian Premier is not an issue for him and he would participate as he too has been invited for them.
However, at the rally held by the Mahinda faction in Galle Face on 1st May its Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa asked all members of Mahinda faction to hoist black flags to oppose Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka.

The Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine of North Central Provincial Council K.H. Nandasena has been removed from his ministerial post.
NPC member Herath Bandara has been sworn in for the vacated ministerial post by the Governor of North Central Province P.B. Dissanayaka.
Meanwhile, Transport and Youth Affairs Minister of the North Central Provincial Council and one time Chief Minister S.M.Ranjith has decided to resign from his ministerial posts.

“The duty and the responsibility of all Sri Lankan Buddhists is to distance themselves from all dissoluteness so that the economic, cultural and moral degeneration could be ended. Also, we wish Sri Lankan Buddhists would, on this Wesak Day, resolve to eliminate all obstructions that have been placed against building an environment that would genuinely help in forming human lives according to Lord Buddha’s teaching and to create such a society,” states a Wesak Day message of the JVP released with the signature of its Leader Anura Dissanayaka.
Full text of the message:
Wesak Poya Day, the day Buddhists all over the world accept as the day in which Lord Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Nirvana took place is important to Buddhists all over the world. This day is commemorated, venerated and honoured by all Buddhists.
Lord Buddha’s teachings that help the society to progress include cooperation, working for reconciliation and righteousness. Undoubtedly, most of the virtuous qualities that exist in the Sri Lankan society have been nurtured by His teachings. Sri Lanka was known as ‘Dharmadweepa during the period these teachings and policies were followed and protected.
However, at present Sri Lanka, despite the day begins and ends with Buddha’s teachings there is no reduction to the number of crimes. Buddhist teaching vividly shows that the number of criminal activities escalate, virtuousness and morality degenerate when the country and the people are economically ruined.
The rulers who fictitiously show they protect Lord Buddha’s teaching but deceive masses by not taking steps to develop the economy so that the standard of life of the masses could be raised which would prevent crime, robbery and immorality . As long as these rulers who lack foresight rule the country Sri Lanka becoming a ‘crime-land’ would not be prevented.
In such a situation the duty and the responsibility of all Sri Lankan Buddhists is to distance themselves from all dissoluteness so that the economic, cultural and moral degeneration could be ended. Also, we wish Sri Lankan Buddhists would, on this Wesak Day, resolve to eliminate all obstructions that have been placed against building an environment that would genuinely help in forming human lives according to Lord Buddha’s teaching and to create such a society.

Trade unions in Petroleum Corporation actively struggle against handing over oil tank farm to Indian Oil Company. Our protest is not on whether they are given to India, China or any other. Our stand is the oil tank farm that, built in 1930s, should be handed over to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the country could earn a good income. In 2003 an MoU was signed to hand over the 99 tanks that are left of the 102 tanks to IOC. A clause in the MoU was that a lease agreement should be signed within 6 months. However, no such agreement was signed and the MoU became null and void. However, IOC used 16 tanks from 2013. How could IOC that did not use other oil tanks for 13 years talk of any interest in these tanks? It is because Ceylon Petroleum Corporation wants to use them. Also, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had to rent out the tanks that belong to Sri Lanka from IOC paying Rs.692 million during the 2005 – 2009 period. During this period IOC has paid only Rs.75 million only for the whole oil tank farm of 99 tanks. There are only four persons in Sri Lanka who have an international knowledge regarding these tanks. A committee that includes one of them has given a report on the oil tank farm. The government should act according to this report. Rajitha can only speak about a decayed tooth – whether it is extracted or filled. Rajitha doesn’t know about oil tanks. Only experts on the subject should be consulted on such a subject.”
This was stated by the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka responding to questions raised by journalists at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP recently.
He further said, “We do not take much notice of what Wimal Weerawansa’s babbling. Once he talked of boycotting Google. He carried out ‘fasts unto death’ twice. He is a distorted character who comes out with different views.
We have our own stand on India. As a political party we have our stand on India regarding its dominant, expansionist political policy and its aggressive economic policy of seizing. However, it is not a reason to abandon political and economic relations with India. The world is getting closer through technology and transportation. As such, no state can isolate itself. However, we, as a party, have always struggled against India’s dominant, expansionist influences. What did these people who say they are fighting against India do during their 10 years of rule? The Northern rail line, which is 265 kilo meters long, was given to an Indian company. When the Department of Railways had estimated $400,000 for a kilo meter, Mahinda Rajapaksa, after one discussion gave the contract to Ircon company in India for $2.2 million a kilo meter. The contract to restore the signal system from Anuradhapura to Kankasanthurai was given to Ircon for $84 million. The contract to upgrade Colombo – Matara Southern rail line was given to Rites company in India for $150 million. The restoration of Duraiappa Stadium in Jaffna, Palaly Airport were given to Indian companies. During Mahinda Rajapaksa regime 2 of the 14 islands in Kalpitiya were sold. One was sold to an Indian company. 4 acres from delightful beach at Neelaweli was given to an Indian company to build a hotel. A land from Slave Island in Colombo was given to India Tata company after chasing the residents away from their homes. The land involving Namal’s ‘Krish’ transaction was given to Indian ‘Krish’ company. Sampoor power house project was given to India. A land of 167500 acres was given to India after naming it as an economic zone. This was when people in Sampoor are in refugee camps unable to go to their lands. Rajapaksa issued a gazette notification preventing any Sri Lankan from entering the land. The area of oil reserves in Mannar Basin were divided into 7 blocks and one was given to Cairn India Ltd. Basil Rajapaksa introduced an act and released the company from all taxes. When Wimal Weerawansa was the Minister of Housing the Mihindupura Housing Project was handed over to CTC Industrial Company in India through a cabinet paper. The middle income housing project, “Mount Clifford – Homagama” was given to an Indian company without calling for tenders.
Now the talk is about ‘Hanuma’ bridge. It was Weerawansa, when he was the Minister of Construction and Housing who first proposed ‘Hanuma’ bridge in a proposal presented to parliament in January, 2011. In his report Weerawansa says Asian highway and inter Asian Railway network would develop trade between South Asian countries and India. He has got gazettes to be issued and cabinet papers presented in this regard. As such, they are pets of India who worked according to the interest of India. They have also given their children to India. Basil Rajapaksa’s children are married to Indians. They were very close to India as long as they were in the government. However, talking about hoisting black flags when Indian Premier Narendra Modi, visits Sri Lanka, is an unprincipled and a dishonest dealing. I challenge Weerawansa to make the statements he makes on stages to Basil and Mahinda. Political scoundrels smear patriotism on them to make various statements. However, we have filed a case against handing over Sampoor power house, launched agitations, opposed giving railway line to Ircon company, wrote to Rajapaksa asking him not to give the fuel reserves to Cairn. Despite all this opposition and agitations all were given to India. After sleeping with India people are asked to hoist black flags. There is a place for the people to hoist black flags. We believe the people will hoist black flags at that place.
We extend our fullest support to all struggles carried out against SAITM illegal medical degree shop. This illegal degree shops should be definitely abolished. The trade union struggle called by the GMOA would be supported by our trade unions. They would decide what action should be taken.
The executive presidency gets power as he or she is elected by a separate election. Then he gets the power from the election which is greater than constitutional power. Our proposal is to elect the Prime Minister from Parliament. Then Prime Minister’s authority is subordinate to Parliament. When powers of the executive presidency are transferred portions could go to the prime minister, the cabinet, the Parliament and lower institutions as well. Our stand is that all executive powers should not go the Prime Minister. The powers of the executive presidency should be dispersed.”
The Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Parliamentarian Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa also participated.