25 April, 2024

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Brigadier Fernando Had Brought Disrepute And Embarrassment To Sri Lanka And The Army: Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot

Brigadier Priyanka Fernando found Guilty and Convicted by British Courts London: On the 6th December 2019 Brigadier Priyanka Fernando has been found guilty and convicted under
Section 4A (1) and (5) of the Public Order Act 1986 which states:

1) A person is guilty of an offence if, with intent to cause a person harassment, alarm or distress, he – a)uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or b)displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress

5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.

Brigadier Fernando had been charged for committing criminal offences under the British law, by threatening with a throat slashing gesture to the Tamil People who demonstrated waving the Tamil national flag in front of the Sri Lankan Embassy in London on 4th February 2018 which marked the 70th Independence Day of Sri Lanka and 70 years of Genocide of Tamils. Prior to him making this gesture, Brigadier Fernando filmed protestors from outside the embassy before returning inside.

Following this incident, The International Centre for Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide (ICPPG) initiated a high-level diplomatic campaign urging UK Government and the FCO to convict the Sri Lankan Military Attaché. Despite the British Police refusing the arrest Brigadier Fernando, on account of his diplomatic immunity, the ICPPG assisted the victims to seek legal advice and open a private prosecution under the guidance of our legal advisor Geeth Kulasegaram.

Given the Brigadier Fernando choose to ignore the summons issued by the Westminster Magistrates Court, the Court had to hear the trial in his absence and found him found guilty. An Arrest Warrant was also issued. However, the Warrant was later withdrawn following intervention of the FCO who contacted the Court upon the pressure from the Sri Lankan government who claimed that Brigadier Fernando was immune from prosecution. As a result, the case was reopened and listed for a retrial. At the first stage of the hearing, the arguments on diplomatic immunity where were heard by Emma Arbuthnot, Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) and it was decided that Brigadier Fernando is not entitled to claim diplomatic immunity as issuing death threat is not part of his official duties. The evidence was heard on 18th October 2019 and 19th November 2019 and the Judgment was reserved.

On 06th December 2019, the Chief Magistrate Arbuthnot handed down the landmark Judgment in an open hearing at the Westminster Magistrate Court. In which she has stated that the cutthroat gestures were made by Brigadier Fernando whilst uniformed, that Brigadier Fernando has intended to cause alarm with these ‘purposeful gestures’ whilst starting at the protesters.

Arbuthnot also states that Brigadier Fernando’s body language appeared ‘to be arrogant and intimidating’ and that Brigadier Fernando had known that his gestures would cause alarm.

Arbuthnot also stated that alarm was caused to the victims in this case. Accordingly, Brigadier Fernando was found guilty and convicted.

In sentencing the Judge made the following remarks:

“I note the authority held by Brigadier Fernando. He was working as a senior diplomat at the time of his behavior. He had brought disrepute and embarrassment to Sri Lanka and the army bearing in mind the seniority of his position.”

“After these events, the Foreign Minister had had to write to the High Commissioner raising the actions of the Brigadier Fernando. I note that he had been recalled to Sri Lanka, I assumed in disgrace”

Brigadier Fernando is also ordered to pay a total of £4,344.00 in total including a fine of £2,000.00, a Surcharge of £170.00, Compensation of £350.00 for the prosecutors and a cost of £1,824.00

Geeth Kulasegaram who is instrumental in this case, says “In spite of this case being adjourned and delayed multiple times by the Defense in a desperate attempt to force us to drop the case, it has finally come to a conclusion and the ICPPG is proud to have brought justice to the victims in this matter. This also helped in restoring trust in the British Legal system”.

The ICPPG wishes to thank the Prosecutors Majuran Sathananthan, Palliya Guruge Vinoth Priyantha Perera and Gokulakrishnan Narayanasamy and the key witnesses Sabeshraj Sathiyamoorthy and Sockalingam Yogalingam, MP of TGTE for their braveness in bringing this case and their tireless effort in continuing the case to this point.

On behalf of the Tamil Community, the ICPPG also takes this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to the legal team including counsel, Peter Carter QC leading Shanthi Sivakumaran and instructed solicitors Paul Heron and Helen Mowatt of the Public Interest Law Centre for their excellent and dedicated service in achieving this landmark victory.

The ICPPG acknowledges the invaluable contribution of Geeth Kulasegaram for his support and guidance for making this prosecution possible and successful. We also thank all other
lawyers and other activists who continue to support in various ways in taking this further. (by ICPP)

Judgement can be read here

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Latest comments

  • 29
    12

    The brigadier probably thinks/thought that Tamils anywhere in the world can be intimidated, not only as is happening in Sri Lanka, daily.

    • 21
      12

      CT,

      Yes, the. Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist Brigadier Fernando brought disrepute to the army and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,

      What about the saffron clad imbecile Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist “ Monks who are distorting Buddhism and insulting the Buddha, running amok in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, and getting the imbecile populace to prostrate to the imbecile monks?

      Don’t these actions of the imbeciles bring disrepute?

      What about the Rajapaksa Waffen SS actions?

      • 4
        1

        Amarasiri,
        Sinhala monks or Native Sinhalayo did not distort Buddhism. As a matter of fact they saved Buddhism by transcribing Thripitaka from oral and Sinhalese sources into Pali text by a council of monks held at Aluvihara Temple in the 1st century BC.
        It was Brahamins lived in the country where Buddha was born and spread his philosophy who distorted Buddhism by infusing Brahmanist ideas to Buddhism. Brahamins were against Buddha for telling “Najajja Wasalo Hoti, Najajja Hoti Brahmano, Kammana Wasalo Hoti, Kamma Hoti Brahmano” (One becomes a nobleman by his deeds and not by his birth, one becomes an untouchable by his deeds and not by his birth).

      • 2
        2

        NGOs who thrive on $$$$$s have been given the task to humiliate Buddhist Monks in an attempt to break the bond that prevail between Monks and laymen and to destroy Sinhala Buddhist culture that has a history of several thousand years. Some people are envy of Asian cultures which are far superior compared with their own cultures. That is the reason why these guys pay for NGO guys to keep on repeating things like “What about the saffron clad imbecile Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist “ Monks who are distorting Buddhism and insulting the Buddha”. Well, if these guys can make a living by doing this kind of cheap things so be it.

      • 0
        0

        Already there was disrepute to the army. Priyanka only added to it

    • 3
      1

      This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

      For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

    • 0
      0

      The Swiss Embassy local staffer-Garnier Banister Francis- who claimed that she was allegedly abducted by unidentified men, today arrived at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and given a statement on the alleged incident, informed sources said.
      The local staffer arrived at the CID with several diplomatic officials and lawyers in several diplomatic vehicles around 4.30 pm today.
      Sources said that she was directed to the Chief Judicial Medical Officer for a medical report.
      Last week, the Court issued an order preventing her from leaving the country and also ordered CID to record a statement from her on or before December 9.
      Early this week, the Embassy claimed that her health was deteriorating and requested the government to allow the employee and her family to travel in a special ambulance aircraft to a hospital in Switzerland.
      However, the government turned down the request saying she cannot be allowed to leave the country without giving a statement.
      Addressing a special media conference at the Ministry, Minister Gunawardena said the sequence of events in connection with the incident attempted to give a wrong picture of newly-elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.The Swiss Embassy local staffer-Garnier Banister Francis- who claimed that she was allegedly abducted by unidentified men, today arrived at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and given a statement on the alleged incident, informed sources said.
      The local staffer arrived at the CID with several diplomatic officials and lawyers in several diplomatic vehicles around 4.30 pm today.
      Sources said that she was directed to the Chief Judicial Medical Officer for a medical report.
      Last week, the Court issued an order preventing her from leaving the country and also ordered CID to record a statement from her on or before December 9.
      Early this week, the Embassy claimed that her health was deteriorating and requested the government to allow the employee and her family to travel in a special ambulance aircraft to a hospital in Switzerland.

    • 1
      0

      ‘In April 2009 soldiers dug trenches in the no fire zone, they crawled in those trenches and waited. Commandos and Special Forces carried out several deception drills and targeted the weakest section of the LTTE defence from the north and south of the LTTE earth bund. On the morning of April 21, troops rescued over 80,000 civilians, including parents of Prabhakaran and Daya Master. By the following morning, the 58 Division rescued 1,74,564 civilians. The army lost 12 personnel including one officer, while the LTTE lost nearly 400 cadres.’

      Does anybody think the Tamils are grateful?

  • 15
    24

    This is just a civil case brought by LTTE supporters,, Mainly for consumption of LTTE supporters to give more money. I really thought this was case by the Police/British govt.

    So essentially a libel/defamation case, i.e. civil case. No criminal act and enforcement of fine probably cannot be done.
    So basically all just for show. No teeth.

    Much like that Roy Sampanthanam case against Gota in US. Its just a civil case and even IF Roy wins just a a fine.

    Anyway Judge Emma Arbuthnot

    Her husband, James Norwich Arbuthnot, is a Conservative member of the House of Lords. He is intimately connected with the British armed forces and security services, whose criminal operations were exposed by WikiLeaks.

    https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/07/11/assa-j11.html

  • 20
    47

    As a veteran of the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka, let me tell you fellas that neither Brig Fernando nor any other soldier would ever worry about the judgements of a civilian court.

    Civilians including this so-called judge are alive and breathing today because of an army soldier. In that case, who the hell is this judge to pass judgement on a soldier like Brig Fernando.

    Once in a land dispute case in SL I was held in contempt of court. At that point I told the effing judge that I will never respect his decisions or himself. I told him I will never address him as ‘your lordship’ or anything. He even agreed with me in the end.

    Justice system is a mechanism created for the convenience of the upper class. If not why else would someone required to call another human being as “your lordship”? In this day and age. Your lordhsip my rear-end.

    Only foolish Tamils should be required to use these words.

    The only court of law I prefer are the civil courts where I can sue people for monetary benefits. With a good lawyer by your side this is a great strategy to build wealth.

    • 27
      12

      Retarded …. Shameless Perera

      Like you this throat slitting Priyankara is another Walter Mitty Character.
      You should send him to an ENT surgeon to remove Gota’s b***s from his throat if you really want to help him.

      Could Lord Michael Morris, Baron Naseby fix this problem of Priyankara?

      • 5
        2

        SHEMALE PERERA cant be a war veteran, but an another refugee who lives in Toronto, talking high. This ballige putha or the like should have been beheaded by brining them to Galle face green if at all we seek a better future for this country.

        Ballige puthat SHEMALE perera should have learnt, if he is in Canada, he has to respect their law. Likewise, that fernando, cant seek the diplomatic immunity while having behaved betraying the nation. These basics should be clear to them. –

        Now the incident in SL, that SWISS embassy protects their employee who is alleged to have hurt by Rajaapksehs barbarians on the street to the very same manner, Lasa ntha Wikramatunga was stabbed to death by then Rajakshe hidden forces, ais also being criticised by them, while Fernando being given diplomatic impunity be respected why ?

        • 0
          0

          dumb ass, why don’t you follow the latest updates of the swiss story

    • 9
      1

      The good Brigadier would have been scratching his neck. Like Daisy’s bag of Gems.When will we learn.

    • 8
      5

      Why should a Lt hang on as a Ret.lt or otherwise after retirement,

      • 6
        0

        K. Anaga

        Our ‘retired lieutenant’ is a piss head who has no understanding of protocol or etiquette otherwise he would know that only a Captain and above carry their rank in retirement. Perhaps this Retd Lt has the same type of brain cells as the booring Brigadier.

        • 2
          0

          He was making pol sambol in the army.

        • 2
          0

          Spring Koha

          Retarded Shameless Perera is another Walter Mitty character.
          We need a few volunteer Walter Mitty hunters to catch these rats so that they don’t cheat charities and gullible individuals who want to help severely disabled war veterans.

    • 11
      3

      I strongly believe you’re A bull-shit artist. Can you clarify when did you serve in the military also what intake.
      The rank Rtd Lt is only possible either you joined as OTHER RANKER or you never manage to climb the ladder as a young officer due to being a DUD or idiot who had disciplinary issues. Well volunteer is a possibility too.
      Your comments never reflects as a genuine military officer.

    • 5
      0

      Self Proclamations from a COOK or condom that had then been in SRILANKEN air force. This man makes every effort to boast about his so called war veteran, but the ground reality is he is camped in Toronto not allowing him visit the country of his origin again.

      We find it is fair Tamils to seek refuge in there or any other parts of the world, but to sinhalayas… to abuse the chance being offered to world refugees ?

      I have no doubt with the Rajakspakeh being back to power, this country will get isolated in the world again. People should not be that fools, …. if they have some brains. We dont need this country to be ruled by thugs.

    • 1
      0

      Rtd. Lt. R.S.Perera,
      The one and only Field Marshal in Sri Lanka was tried and sentenced earlier by a Military Court to imprisonment for three years.
      All are equal before the law.
      In other countries, anyone sentenced by a military court is dismissed from service and never promoted.

  • 9
    7

    So, the LTTE terrorist organisation’s flag made in Tamilnadu is the national flag of the Tamils in this island? LMAO. Says all we need to know about the British justice system and the hoax of Tamil cause.
     
    BTW, these Tamil demonstrations would have never been allowed had the British justice system functioned as it should be, as these Tamil demonstrations are nothing but provocative violent exhibitions of Tamil fanaticism and genocide propaganda.

    • 11
      2

      Punchi Point
      Punchi Brain
      Punchi willi

      “as these Tamil demonstrations are nothing but provocative violent exhibitions of Tamil fanaticism and genocide propaganda.”

      If so why did the Brigadier go out in civil (incognito) and mingle with the propagandists and got wound up his own bum and get inside the high commission come back in his disgraced uniform and then threaten the propagandists?

      Didn’t he ask for it?

    • 0
      0

      A valuable but Punchi Point.

      Why did they fund terrorists.

      • 1
        2

        Vanguard

        Are you by any chance a White Van Guard?

  • 9
    13

    LTTE supporters started the case, so political from the get go.

    The International Centre for Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide (ICPPG) initiated a high-level diplomatic campaign urging UK Government and the FCO to convict the Sri Lankan Military Attaché. Despite the British Police refusing the arrest Brigadier Fernando, on account of his diplomatic immunity, the ICPPG assisted the victims to seek legal advice and open a private prosecution under the guidance of our legal advisor Geeth Kulasegaram.

    International Centre for Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide, even though a fancy name is a private company, a LTTE front
    https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09146977/officers

    • 3
      4

      None of them are members of the LTTE.

      Don’t spread lies for the consumption of other fools.

      If what the brigadier did was not wrong, tell Gota to do the same.

  • 4
    9

    Just like Orwell predicted in his book “1984”, the West has succumbed to the thought police. Today it’s scratching the neck, tomorrow it will be because you are opposed to gays. The goal is a one-world order, with one currency where everyone is tracked by the government using a chip implanted in them at birth.

    • 8
      4

      Lester

      By the way who is George Orwell?
      Don’t you think it’s only reasonable for Gota to return Modi’s charitable contribution of $550 Million back to him? Modi can use it to build toilets in Hindia.

      “The goal is a one-world order, with one currency where everyone is tracked by the government using a chip implanted in them at birth.”

      By any chance you are referring to this island, where soon you will find One People, One Nation, One Leader, One Language, One Party, One Religion, One Overseas Bank Account, One Family/Clan, …..

  • 13
    8

    Alleluia, I have hit the nail on the head and where it hurts the most – the balls.
    In my previous contribution, I unwittingly analyze the deterioration of quality standards of the Sorry lank an armed forces and the community in general.
    After 1972, the pre-1956 classy members of the refined polished members of the Ceylon armed forces lost the privileges of being at the finest of military learning establishments in the U. K.
    Now a few treks across to a few countries to obtain substandard qualifications which should find it’s rightful place down the cesspit in the nauseous to high heaven cesspit.
    Now they present themselves with the most obnoxious of names and a saddened depth of no class Yakko buggers.
    The present government has tons and tons of these mongrels in there and to me, they are better off dead than alive.
    This downward trend began in 1956 when the multi-faceted petty-minded racists swept into power and since then it has been a continue going down the pall an.
    Unless an 8th miracle occurs there’s no coming back to lost glory being the era of pre-independence.
    Thank the lord that I and my daughter have managed to escape from this sunken bog of a cesspit now well known in the finest of circles as the Swabasha Sorry Lanka.
    In my travels around the island, I have most often come across many a yak bugger and their classless concubines of so-called women, who cannot proficiently converse in this Sakkilli lingo but they are steadfast in their demands for the minorities to converse and learn this only in one country spoken rotten worthless dialect.
    May all the gods bless and protect those poor souls who are forced to live in this bog of a nauseous cesspit.
    Cheers, R. J.

    • 5
      6

      Don’t you shed tears for Sri Lanka Rohan Anthony Johnpillai!
      The Swabasha Sorry Lanka or the bog of a nauseous cesspit and its citizens who speak a rotten worthless dialect will flourish!
      Suggest you cheer the country you live and leave Sri Lanka alone!!

      • 9
        6

        Sunil Abeyratne

        “Suggest you cheer the country you live and leave Sri Lanka alone!!”

        So that clan and cronies could appropriate whatever is left in this island. Are you one of the cronies?
        What is there to cheer about this country?

        • 2
          1

          Hello Native Vedda,
          There are millions of Sri Lankas who are proud of their heritage irrespective of their political affiliations or ethnic backgrounds.
          The language used by Rohan Anthony Johnpillai is derogatory and totally unacceptable. Some of my Tamil speaking friends were taken aback.

          To the Editor,

          While freedom of expression is sacrosanct, calling Sri Lanka a ‘bog of a nauseous cesspit’ in my opinion, should not be acceptable for publication.

          I grant that Rohan Anthony Johnpillai is entitled to his opinion to call one language a ‘rotten worthless dialect’ but not the derogatory references to Sri Lanka.

          • 2
            1

            Sunil Abeyratne

            “There are millions of Sri Lankas who are proud of their heritage irrespective of their political affiliations or ethnic backgrounds.”

            People can be proud of anything, like children Sri Lankies are proud about their imaginary history, heroes, heritage, myth, ……… Can you specifically identify what you are proud about that had happened in this island within the last 100 years?

            Have you ever noticed the language used by Eagle Blind Eye, and his fellow fascists?

            “While freedom of expression is sacrosanct, calling Sri Lanka a ‘bog of a nauseous cesspit’ in my opinion, should not be acceptable for publication.”

            What else do you suggest we call this ‘bog of a nauseous cesspit’ ?

            “I grant that Rohan Anthony Johnpillai is entitled to his opinion to call one language a ‘rotten worthless dialect’ but not the derogatory references to Sri Lanka.”

            If Sri Lanka could elect a mad man from a crooked clan who also committed war and other crimes what would you call the country and its voters?

  • 5
    5

    Maybe he should have shown the salute terrorist Tigers understand: the middle finger .

  • 12
    4

    Emma Arbuthnot claims the brigadier brought disgrace to sri lanka. Perhaps she does not know that most sri lankans dont feel bad about his actions? Quite a few are even praising his behaviour.
    Sri lankans didnt seem too upset when their soldiers got caught twice, running child prostitution rings in haiti while serving in the UK. So you think a mere throat slitting gesture is going to make them feel embarrassed?

  • 7
    6

    Those protesters were waving the flag of a banned terrorist outfit not the tamil national flag.Moreover there were no 70 years of tamil genocide ,in reality more tamil civilians (and also sinhala and muslim civiliand)perished at the hands of that same terrorist outfit whose flag those protesters were waving.Bravo English justice system.your slip is showing

    • 7
      4

      Stop lying the flag is not banned . It is the Eelam Tamil national flag and no one can ban it. The Tiger is the emblem of the Tamil Cholas , one of the greatest Indian dynasties , who conquered and spread Indian culture to the rest of Asia . Especially SE Asia. The LTTE killed around 3300 Sinhalese and Muslim civilians ( as per your government statistics) the Sinhalese , Muslims , the Sri Lankan state and armed forces killed over 300000 Tamil civilians , 145000 in May 2009. So who is the terrorist. No one can accuse the LTTE of rape or looting but the Sri Lankan armed forces are accused of these crimes not only here but overseas too.

      • 1
        0

        Rohan
        “The Tiger is the emblem of the Tamil Cholas”

        Then why have a chola emblem flag in Sri Lanka? keep that in the chola country in india.

        “the Sri Lankan state and armed forces killed over 300000 Tamil civilians “

        Give me evidence, the official UN country figure is about 7000 dead civilians killed by both side, foreign reporters who were in the front line also give the same number so are you tamils plucking these numbers out of your ass?

        “No one can accuse the LTTE of rape or looting “

        Oh yeah, they weren’t involved in massacring whole villages with machetes, they didn’t suicide bomb civilians and neither did they keep thousands of tamils as hostage in the nfz, they are squeaky clean.

        • 1
          0

          Yes so did your so called Lion flag that aggressively holds a sword , threatening violence against the island’s Muslims and Tamils. Where did this so called Sinhalese lion flag originate from. It originated from the Madurai origin Tamil speaking Naickers from South India , who ruled the so called kingdom of Kandy. This is not an authentic Sinhalese flag but originated from the Tamil parts of South India , just like most of you Sinhalese , now beating the anti Indian anti South Indian and anti Tamil drum

  • 7
    5

    The “throat slit” guesture towards bunch of LTTE supporters was totally worth the fine. The irony is what is fined for causing distress is the one throat slit guesture not the act of waving LTTE flags — a banned terrorist organization in the UK.

  • 4
    5

    We need Lord Dennings back from the grave..
    Judge is a political thug.
    Judge Emma Arbuthnot has refused to recuse herself from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s US extradition hearings. This is what “class justice” looks like.
    Arbuthnot should have automatically recused herself on this basis.
    Her husband, James Norwich Arbuthnot, is a Conservative member of the House of Lords. He is intimately connected with the British armed forces and security services, whose criminal operations were exposed by WikiLeaks.
    As a Tory MP, Lord Arbuthnot was between 2005 and 2014 the chair of the Defence Select Committee, the body overseeing the Ministry of Defence and Britain’s armed forces. His watch covered ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the wars for regime change in Libya and Syria.

    The “Guide to Judicial Conduct” explicitly states, “Where a close member of a judge’s family is politically active, the judge needs to bear in mind the possibility that, in some proceedings, that political activity might raise concerns about the judge’s own impartiality and detachment from the political process and should act accordingly.”
    Furthermore, “personal animosity towards a party is also a compelling reason for disqualification.”

    • 6
      3

      watcher

      “We need Lord Dennings back from the grave..”

      Or Desmond de Silva to defend this thug.

      • 2
        1

        Native Vedda

        Will that nice Lord Naseby see if he can pull s few strings and shape up the matter?

      • 2
        0

        Mr. Vedda,
        Brig. Priyanka is asking if he can show the middle finger to demonstrators and pay the same fine? I didn’t agree. Would you?

        • 1
          0

          Tamil lover

          “Brig. Priyanka is asking if he can show the middle finger to demonstrators and pay the same fine?”

          Priyankara can do whatever he wants to, pose his naked bum, pleasure himself in public, …………………… is he willing to face the consequences?

  • 6
    1

    This guy will become a member of parliament , then a minister soon. Remember, the soldier who tried to hit Rajiv Gandhi with rifle butt.

    • 3
      1

      Jey, thank you your reminding us.

      I couldn’t help a chuckle when I saw this comment. Vijitha Rohana like Brigadier Fernando brought honour to the Sri Lankan Army by assaulting a defenceless President Rajiv Gandhi who was inspecting a ‘welcoming’ Guard of Dishonour’. He was convicted by a court martial, however President Premadasa pardoned him for his brave deed. He took to astrology and predicted President Sirisena’s death in 2017. He was arrested when it did not happen. . .only in Sri Lanka!

      • 4
        4

        Spring Koha


        Wijemuni Vijitha Rohana de Silva was a naval rating and now an astrologer.
        Don’t you think Priyankara Fernando too a have great future in astrology, being presidential/court astrologer?

        • 1
          1

          Native Vedda

          The cut-throat brigadier has no future as an astrologer (he cannot see beyond his nose. . .) but in the Sri Lankan army he will get promotion after promotion. A proper head of the army would have sacked the bugger by now.

  • 3
    1

    “…he had brought disrepute and embarrassment to Sri Lanka….”

    UK Judge believed that medieval time action of our busted war hero is an outlier in our society!

    Yahoooo! Our heroes tricked a Judge even in UK!

  • 3
    4

    Whether it’s a disrepute or not for SL, it’s a disrepute for the British to pamper a set of terrorists, the world’s no-1 some time back.

    Does British democracy pave the way for foreign murderers to enjoy wild freedom on its streets?

    • 8
      4

      Real Revolutionist

      “Does British democracy pave the way for foreign murderers to enjoy wild freedom on its streets?”

      At times yes, isn’t it why the UK accepted Priyankara’s diplomatic appointment?

      • 1
        0

        Native Vedda
        “At times yes, isn’t it why the UK accepted Priyankara’s diplomatic appointment?”

        Oh yeah, your child killers from the ltte hiding in uk did nothing wrong right? dogs are more grateful than tamils. The army should have let the ltte massacre those worthless tamils

    • 2
      2

      “Does British democracy pave the way for foreign murderers to enjoy wild freedom on its streets?”

      I don’t know about British democracy, but British banking and politics certainly does. Everyone knows (Crown Prince) Mohammad Bin Salman ordered journalist Khashoggi to be killed and dismembered in the Saudi embassy in Turkey. But Saudi Arabia does so much business with UK, that Bin Salman will never be prosecuted in London. Then there are billionaire Russian oligarchs who committed various financial crimes in Russia. Many of these oligarchs live and own expensive property in London. They are fugitives in Russia, but their money protects them in UK.

  • 3
    0

    The efficiency and reputation of an Army is built on
    discipline, the cornerstone for every thing. The next
    time, a Sri Lanka defence attache may not show
    the sign of a neck being cut and get fined in court.

    He may well lift his sarong. He will get decorated
    and a glorious Foreign Ministry will say he enjoys
    diplomatic immunity and can show his two footballs
    and the kooka pipe.

  • 2
    1

    He was pressurised and acted to give in to intimidation, & go on being to be intimidated. Strong feelings are fine; it’s the overreactions that messed him in front of the world what was the message .

  • 7
    6

    The stupid Brigadier probably never imagined his thoughtless gesture would create such a storm in the proverbial tea cup. This is a gesture of intimidation a school bully or a common street thug would be accustomed to, certainly not expected from a high ranking officer of the armed forces, & definitely not in diplomatic circles. A clear indication that the Brigadier was totally unsuitable for the position. Maybe it’s lack of education or maybe it’s the education system (or school) that didn’t give him the right education but if this is the calibre of people in high places, particularly, those who represent the country internationally, what can we expect from the rest?

    Of course, SL lost international credibility during the reign of MR when yobs, thugs & crooks were appointed to the diplomatic services, not to mention the arrogance of MR as President, so much so, that no one, apart from Liam Fox, a less celebrated Minister in the then Tory govt. (who had the privilege of holidaying in SL at the SL tax payers’ expense), paid a courtesy call on MR when he was visiting the UK last, whilst still as President of SL. Even though MR was on a private visit, a visiting head of state can expect at least a courtesy call from the Foreign Minister but in this case, even the police refused to provide protection to his entourage from protesting LTTE sympathisers. That says a lot about the respect for a former head of the Commonwealth. In this light, the Brigadier’s action just adds to total disrespect of SL internationally.

    The recent fiasco with the Swiss authorities further confirms SL’s standing in the International community. Anyway, who cares for diplomacy & the western world when we are sucking up to the Chinese.

  • 5
    3

    Tony Blair has done much worse things to bring disrepute and embarrassment to UK. His role in Iraq war was really disgusting. Sadly, no action against him. UK preach to the world but do not practice what they preach.

    • 4
      6

      Eagle Blind Eye

      “Tony Blair has done much worse things to bring disrepute and embarrassment to UK. His role in Iraq war was really disgusting. “

      So had the clan, Mahinda, Gota, …. many single handed generals, … .

  • 8
    7

    This is a gross violation of the Vienna Convention.
    Brigadier Priyanka Fernando has enjoyed diplomatic immunity at the time of this incident. Therefore, he was not subjected to host country’s civil or criminal laws during his tenure of office at the Sri Lanka High Commission.
    Instead of charging our diplomat, the British Police should have filed a case against the complainants, who are LTTE supporters, for violating a court/police ban by protesting in the close proximity of the Sri Lanka High Commission.
    Further, the British terrorist supporters should have been charged for displaying a flag of a proscribed terrorist organization and also desecration of Sri Lanka’s National Flag by putting it down and stamping on it on the day Sri Lanka marked her independence from the British colonization.
    The judge’s opinion that Brigadier Fernando has brought disrepute and embarrassment to Sri Lanka and the army is hilarious as it was the British Police and the Judiciary which brought disrepute and embarrassment to the United Kingdom by taking sides of British terrorist supporters who protested against a sovereign country on its Independence Day.
    Moreover, Tamils do not have a National Flag. Under the British law against terrorism, the United Kingdom itself has acknowledged that the tiger flag displayed at this and previous protests against sovereign Sri Lanka as belonging to a proscribed terrorist organization.
    With this judgement the British government has helped British LTTE terrorists to further believe that they are protected under the British legal system.
    As this judgement indicates that Sri Lankan diplomats no longer enjoy immunity in the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka should inform the British High Commissioner in Colombo that British diplomats will also no longer enjoy diplomatic immunity.
    Vienna Convention is all about RECIPROCITY.
    Let’s enjoy our sovereign right to reciprocate their diplomacy.

    • 3
      8

      Champass

      Hope you know what you are talking about.
      Also hope you stop sitting on your brain.
      Read and learn:

      Diplomatic immunity: Rape accused among nine suspected of serious crime
      18 December 2018
      https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46609445.

      • 0
        0

        Machang Keyboard Vedda
        Thank you for your support to expose UK’s double standards of diplomacy!!!!

    • 6
      4

      Champa,
      An ordinary civilian who protested for good dining water was shot dead not in UK, indoor and our motherland. A famous journalist was shot dead in front of a military check point for raised voice against corruption.
      Who violates the Vienna convention? Who violates the law of the country.
      You are talking about diplomat immunity. So you agree that it is true the brigadier made a threat to kill Tamils.

      • 0
        0

        Champa does not know what she has been talking about …

        This is a very good example to see, that raped women, or ones that have been abused by the same people for such a long time, cant see it right….

        Champas behaviours have proved it sofar. ‘-

        Good luck to you Champa..::

      • 0
        1

        ajith
        What do you expect a Military Officer to do when exiled LTTE terrorists and terrorist sympathizers threw his country’s National Flag to the ground and stamped on it on the day of his country’s National Day?

        • 2
          1

          Champa, in UK it is within the right of its citizens to throw another country’s national flag and stamp on it, leave alone burn it. So you can do nothing about it, and if anyone reacts to it by criminal behaviour, he is guilty. The national flag that is being burnt or debased mostly is the flag of USA. Have you ever heard anyone from USA complaining. Problem with Sinhalese is that they were brainwashed about their superiority and are unable to stomach any attack abroad on their pride. In UK laws are applied equally to Sinhalese and Tamils unlike in Sri Lanka where Sinhala criminals who commit atrocities on Tamils are allowed to go free. This is the reason why in UK, no Sinhala racist ever dare to lay his hand on a Tamil.

          • 1
            1

            Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
            If you qualify to be a doctor I am seriously concerned for the patients you treat.

            “The national flag that is being burnt or debased mostly is the flag of USA. Have you ever heard anyone from USA complaining. “

            Yeah they have, have you not seen people getting tackled to the ground and getting beat up, how about we start putting up posters of black july and start chanting on how good fun it was? you guys are going to have a sensible reaction then?

            “Problem with Sinhalese is that they were brainwashed about their superiority and are unable to stomach any attack abroad on their pride. “

            Is that why anytime you guys are confronted with the fact that ltte massacred tamils you people start talking about black july and other historical stuff instead of just accepting that ltte were terrorists? You guys have to much pride and doesn’t matter even if it means supporting a terrorist group, if it’s tamil you people are on that side like mindless sheep.

            “Sinhala criminals who commit atrocities on Tamils are allowed to go free.”

            Oh yeah, the Sinhala criminals who rescued 1000s of tamils from the nfz and the Sinhala criminals who smuggled in food and clothes to people in the north who had every piece of grain stolen by the ltte, those Sinhala criminals should be in jail. I have said this before, dogs are more grateful than tamils.

    • 5
      2

      Champa, why have you not answered my questions about the Rajapaksa love affair with LTTE killers? Every time I ask you this question, you run away from that thread and reappear in another thread. Answer my question!!!!

      • 0
        2

        Tamil from the north
        Try harder!

    • 6
      1

      Champa, millions of wise people cannot turn Sri Lanka into heaven but one idiot like you can turn this place into an absolute hell!

      • 0
        3

        Tamil from the north
        No comment.
        Besides, unsubstantiated allegations are not answered by wise people!

    • 1
      1

      Champa,
      Diplomatic Immunity is subjective.
      Once one behaves in an ‘undiplomatic manner’, that person is no longer a diplomat.

      • 0
        2

        justice
        Read the Vienna Convention. There is no term called “undiplomatic” in diplomacy.

    • 2
      1

      Champawati,

      This is a gross violation of the Vienna Convention.
      Brigadier Priyanka Fernando has enjoyed diplomatic immunity at the time of this incident

      You cannot carry out your Operation Humanitarian Rescue Mission at Lankawe embassy in London Town on Tamils, with Vienna Convention. Please keep it reserved only to Mullivaikkal.

      • 0
        1

        Mallaiyuran
        Of course I can.
        Brigadier Priyanka Fernando was only subjected to Diplomatic Law stipulated in the Vienna Convention.
        Host country’s law is not applicable to diplomats.

        • 0
          0

          “Host country’s law is not applicable to diplomats.”

          Your Honor, Honorable Judge, Madame Champawati, that is only a host Country law of Lankawe, applies to Lankawe Embassy Staffs, outside of Lankawe. So when Host country applies Vienna Convention to decide who is a Diplomat, that law doesn’t apply to Goongadiar. He dodged a 6 months prison term the British judge should have imposed on him. As the goon is not in UK, Judge did not bother about imposing the prison term. Now the other criminal part outstanding to sue him is he didn’t present him to the British Court. So his record will be marked in British embassy in Colombo. When he applies for Visa they will ask him first about that and can refuse Visa, though the verdict was not to deport him from UK or bar from going back to UK.
          For your info, An Indian tourist, famous cinema Director, who when he was trying to fly to Colombo from Palali, he was kidnapped to Trinco Airport and then 4th Floor rituals carried on him there. Then he was carried in a dangerously small military plane to Chennai to deport. Because of the 4th floor rituals, he is at hospital now. Read today’s News, instead of Vienna Convention, that falls into temptation to interpret on your own way.

  • 4
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    This incident which was blown out of prportion by the LTTE supporters is very good
    free properganda for SLPP.

    I am not surprised if SLPP gets the 2/3 majority at the general election.

    • 5
      4

      Wimply Kid

      “I am not surprised if SLPP gets the 2/3 majority at the general election.”

      Then what.
      Do you want Gota to anoint himself the Emperor of this island?
      JR won 140 seats out of 168, 83.33% of the parliamentary seats in 1977 elections. what did he achieve, apart from two riots within 6 year period, exodus, Jaffna Library was burned down, ………………….

      • 2
        3

        Gota the Great is the man of the hour in the face of a LTTE threat that is an existential threat to Peace loving Sri Lankans.

        Although UK hypocrites don’t care the wise Sri Lankans will never ever allow
        Extremism and Terrorism to take root in our beloved motherland.

        ”Vadda” you can wash toilets and kiss the British bums for the rest of your life.

        • 3
          2

          Wimpy Kid

          “Gota the Great is the man of the hour in the face of a LTTE threat that is an existential threat to Peace loving Sri Lankans.”

          On the contrary, it is the saffron brigade, Sinhala/Buddhist fascists, the clan, the thugs, police and members of armed forces ……. and their pseudo intellectuals have been and are the immediate threat to peace in this island.

          Without the LTTE fear the clan and members of security forces cannot keep the people down at the same time earn extra or increase wealth.

          • 1
            1

            Native Vedda
            “On the contrary, it is the saffron brigade, Sinhala/Buddhist fascists, the clan, the thugs, police and members of armed forces ……. and their pseudo intellectuals have been and are the immediate threat to peace in this island”

            How many suicide bombs were set off by the monks? how many was set off by you tamils and muslims?

        • 3
          1

          Wimpy Kid, Extremism and Terrorism to take root in our beloved motherland?

          Really? Look around the Rajapaksas and you will see all sorts of extremists are around them………JVP killers, EPDP Killers and LTTE Killers. They are part of the Rajapaksa party. Even the sole arms procurer for the LTTE KP Pathmanathan is in the Rajapaksa payroll. Hahahaha, you and a few others think everyone is a fool and blind.

          Wimpy Kid, would you care to comment on my statement?

        • 1
          0

          Wimpy Kid

          ”Vadda” you can wash toilets and kiss the British bums for the rest of your life.

          Don’t cry wimpy too much, we will go to Middle East and give your women a hand there too. BTW, Yesterday when the Bamboo Circle Stitch Hoop wearing (on the heads) Gentlemen came there, was that your bosses or their women kissed the buttock?

          You have no idea what a shameless country the Lanakwe has become, after freedom. IMF prediction next year is recession. We will wait and see your ministers running around with the alms pots, like the Bald Heads.

  • 7
    3

    Brigedier Fernando gets the diplomatic immunity. That is the end of story.

  • 2
    3

    Gimmick justice!!!! The prosecution and the verdict are definitely political and it has come just before the 2019-General Election to fool Tamil voters.
    /
    British police has got a lot to answer for letting LTTE terrorists come so close to the war hero brigadier and the Sri Lankan high commission.
    /
    Anyway, every Sri Lankan must appreciate the war hero’s “Act of Difience” in the land of fomer fomer colonialists. The monarchy and the government must acknowledge, apologise and compensate for their colonial era utter barbaric atrocities.

  • 3
    3

    Though banned as a terrorist group, LTTE flags were waved in front of the London court this week thumping British law enforcement & the judiciary in the nose.

    It seems one country’s terrorist group is another country’s vote bank!

  • 2
    0

    It looks like the district court judge has no knowledge on international law.

  • 1
    0

    There are arguments for and against. Knowing how the Law administration works let us hand the matter over to our religion being a Sinhala Buddhist country. Majority will accept the result.
    Withdraw all pending cases and allow the Karmic forces to decide. If the good Brigadier has done something wrong malicious frightening the Karmic forces will take over.

  • 6
    1

    Whilst I think the protestors should have been dealt with the strongest refutal within the laws and dignity of the uniform of the SLA and the HC of SL, I find it strange that the GOSL is trying to defend the said army personnel and prove that his actions were acceptable. What are we trying to teach the younger generation? What are we trying to tell other officers in the army? Is this a good example. Absolutely NOT!!! and it is certainly not in line with the disciplined society that GOTA is talking about making. The SLA is an army for all people and all races in Sri Lanka. Not for one majority race. Only bankrupt would think otherwise.

    This naive officer played into the shrewd protestors hands and he must be told so.

    To the Tamil diaspora who continue to agitate over a lost cause, its better for you and all of us to reconcile our differences as none of us are going to win. Its true GOSL won a war and the LTTE lost the war but none of us have gained the peace and prosperity we both were fighting for in the first place. Our methods were tested for 30 years and we both failed. Lets collectively work towards making Sri Lanka a prosperous and progressive nation. Lets put aside our differences and make SL the great country it can be…….It needs more broadminded thinking and less narrow minded action.

  • 2
    1

    “Arbuthnot also stated that alarm was caused to the victims in this case. Accordingly, Brigadier Fernando was found guilty and convicted.”

    Nice to know that the terrorists can be easily ‘alarmed’. Maybe they can be alarmed into abandoning terrorism.

    We were also very alarmed by , no?

  • 2
    1

    The only military strategy he knows is the slitting of the throats of his “enemies” . Strange that he was not rewarded immediately thereafter. Bensen

    • 1
      0

      Slitting the throat of enemies of the nation and shooting the buggers is their job.
      If they did not do it for us our throats will be slit by the LTTE and ISIS

      Can Pussy cats fight the Tigers?

  • 2
    1

    The UK government should ban unruly mobs supporting the LTTE (which is a banned Terrorist organisation) from disrupring and harasing the legitimate activities of the Sri Lanka High Commission in London.

    • 3
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      Colombo Man
      -.
      What did the LTTE flag waving dimwits do which can be construed as “unruly mobs”?

      • 3
        1

        Given the blood shed and terrorrism that the LTTE flag represents there will be no reconsiliation untill this flag is displayed by foolish Tamils.

        And encouraged by countries like UK.

        Vidio footage could be shown as evidance for the Unruly bahaviour.

        The country needs a military leader as long as these things happen.

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