By Colombo Telegraph –
A group of people who have identified themselves as members of the Ministry of Defense has visited the neighbourhood of the President of the University Teachers Union (FUTA), Dr Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri two days ago and have made inquiries about him and his family which appears to be a clear attempt to intimidate him. Yesterday night an unidentified Jeep without proper licence plate has been seen parked near his residence. Today a complaint has been lodged at the Mahargama Police station regarding this matter. FUTA intends to hold a media meeting tomorrow to notify the press regarding this new development which is of great concern to FUTA. The media meeting will be held tomorrow 22nd June at 10:00 am at the National Library Services Auditorium on Independence Avenue.
Dr.Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri
Dr.Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri is one of the few outspoken intellectuals who criticises Sri Lankan government regarding it’s unlawful activities. Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri is the only university teacher who criticised Secretary to the Ministry of Defence regarding abduction and whitvanning. Speaking about abduction of Prema Kumara Gunarathnam and Dimutu Attigala he said “ the fist accused is the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, there is no Secretary of Defence post in Sri Lanka it’s a lie. He is just another secretary to a Ministry. There are lots of other secretaries like him, the only difference is, he is a sibling of the President, he must be questioned. …..” ( watch 6.20 mins in the video below)
Meanwhile in a letter written to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and N.R. Illangakoon, the Inspector General of Police, Professor Asanga Tilakaratne, President of the AFTU-CU stated: “It has been brought to our notice that a group of men claiming to be from the Ministry of Defence have been behaving suspiciously within the neighbourhood of the secretary of Arts Faculty Teachers’ Associations (FUTA), Dr. Nirmal Ranjith on June 19, 2012. They have questioned neighbours regarding Dr. Dewasiri’s movement’s and details regarding his family. Dr. Dewasiri has lodged a complaint with this regard at the Maharagama Police Station on 21.06.2012. We are deeply concerned about this and request you to immediately launch an investigation into this matter.”
The University Teachers Union has been working to improve the livelihoods of university teachers, notably by campaigning for wage increases and improved working conditions. The Minister of Higher Education, the Hon. S.B. Dissanayake, has publicly opposed these efforts.
Trade unionists and political activists who campaign for wage increases and the improvement of working conditions, are frequently threatened, and even, physically attacked. The forced disappearances of unionists and activists who disagree with government officials are a regular occurrence in Sri Lanka. Indeed, last week, a shooting in a small meeting of the JVP led to the deaths of two people.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TuCjbf1dWc
Vasu / June 22, 2012
Once upon a time the political caste of SL came from civil society, sometimes the party supporters fought each other, sometimes with pots filled with faeces. It is still tolerable comparing to todays situation in SL. We had a similar development like in India, but still less corrupted.
Pakistan had a similar structure like SL today. All the political caste came from military. Eventhough they killed none of the civilians.
In today´s SL we have the worst version of south asian structure. We have cannibals, who rape and eat corpses.
There is no records telling that Pakistani soldiers raped corpses
The worst development in SL is the majority of sinhalese population is behind Mahinda and Gota, also people like Dayan Jayathilake, Vasudeva Nanayakara etc., eventhough such abductions are daily practice.
Who is your enemy today my dear ” Sinhalese Majority”?
LTTE is defeated and plays no role in SL
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James Bond / June 24, 2012
Nirmal Ranjith is a BRAVE SOUL and should be given all support. The University Dons should stand by him, those who voted to give Rajapakse Bros in honourary doctorates should and open their cowardly sycophantic mouths and speak in one voice against the regime. GOta should be white vanned and sent to the Hague for the war crimes. And by the way what is that Tamil disapora doing about getting him to face trail in the US where he has residency and is subject to US jurisdiction?!
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Chinese Charm / June 24, 2012
Bond is right! Dr. Nirmal must be supported at this time. Also, S.B Dissanaiayake who cannot speak two grammatical sentences in the English Language let alone, know what research is all about MUST be forced to RESIGN. The next protest by Dons should be asking for a responsible and educated Higher Education Minister.
S.B tells outright LIES to defend a criminal regime – that is his sole qualification to be Minister of Higher Ed. He was on TV claiming that Kumar sahodaraya and Ms Artygalle had kidnapped themselves when Gota’s goons white vanned them! He was defending Gota the Great Goon whose work he is carrying out by militarizing the universities and making undergrads do military training. SB was appointed Minister of Higher education by mihinda rajapakse who along with his 4 brothers has one questionable paltry degree among themselves. The singularly most under-educated jumbo cabinet in the history of Lanka is running the country and bankrupting it and seeking to destroy the intelligentsia that remains after the brain drain! But now with the drought event he farmers are up in arms so the uneducated rajapakse bros and their jumbo cabinet of goons, fools, clowns, criminals and leftist geriatrics will soon come a cropper!
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Vasu / June 22, 2012
Everybody had a chance. Hosni Mubarak, Muamar Al Gaddhafi or Ben Ali.
Who was more clever?
Hosni ended up with an acute stroke, he could have a life in exile, Muamer a similar
Ben is not allowed to release any political statements, but he lives like a king
What is your preference? You can live like a king, but somewhere else!
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Senguttuvan / June 22, 2012
The Police State mentality is deeply ingrained by many egoistic officials who are satisfied they are well above the laws of the land.
This incident will be noted by the international community and taken up in the right places to establish Sri Lanka still remains a dangerous Police State to live – inspite of all the protestations by the government. From where do Vehicles without numbers come in to the scene and men claiming to be from the Poice/Army coming in civils? It was the norm in the Tamil areas where thousands dissappeared. It has become a habit and now has come to the South – and in this case to Colombo itself. It is a matter of satisfaction there are at least a handful of academics who do not fear to speak of the wrongs done by the State. They must be protected by the people. The once impartial police cannot be entirely blamed. They are made subservient to the dictates of megalomaniacs who have forced them into places once adorned by men of learning, experience, culture and decency.
Senguttuvan
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cardinal sin / June 23, 2012
Best not use the term ‘Whitevanned” as it simplifies a crime which has no respect for a fellow human being.
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surendra / June 23, 2012
Dr Nirmal Devasiri is one of the very few outspoken intellectuals in the country today, who has an inquiring mind and a broad range of knowledge. He is an active defender of human and democratic rights and a vanguard fighter in the defense of academic freedom and the right of education.
The attempt to intimidate and silence him is yet another expression and symptom of a defunct and besieged regime that can only survive through exercising terror over the people, and by dividing and deluding the masses. The recent attack on the JVP meeting and the killing of two persons is yet another expression of open terrorism.
It is time for the people from the North, East, South and Hill Country, to forge their principled unity and build solidarity based on a common program aimed at overcoming this regime and establish a people’s democratic State that will guarantee dignity, democratic freedom, equality, autonomy and security to all nations, nationalities, communities and citizens of Lanka.
THE SCOPE OF OUR VISION SHALL DECIDE THE POWER OF OUR ACTIONS!
HANDS OFF NIRMAL!
Surendra
Secretary
Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist)
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PresiDunce Bean / June 23, 2012
@surendra
Actually what the people of this country need to say to Rajapaksa, his family members and sycophants is…HAND’S OFF SRI LANKA!
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Janaka / June 23, 2012
Fonseka, Chandrika along with all opposition parties could remove the uneducated uncultured rascals at the next election.
Gota sent back to his petrol shed job in LA ?
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Punchinilame / June 23, 2012
You can be rest assured that election WILL be won by the Rajapakses –
it is easy now with Computers! Gaddafi lasted 42 yrs. with Elections,
so why cannot the King and his men, with due IC Observers to boot, as
long as we have 18th Amendment in force?
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PresiDunce Bean / June 24, 2012
@Punchinilame
You are absolutely correct. Sadly most of our 3 brain celled majority cannot comprehend this.
@Janaka
Gota will never ever have to work another day in his life, and neither will any of the other Rajapaksas’. They have made enough money to live out the rest of their lives like kings.
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wijagunsinghe.k / June 23, 2012
Dr Niramala why don’t you seek safe haven out of the island.According your statement and TV interview,seems to be your highest leveal of intelligentsia in our society not safe for you.
And your action of plans and vision, is not suited to living in Sri lanka. In the ongoing instability of your intellecute life need more acadamic orientd and free society.You need live without fear and favour. We suggest you have to leave island for better life you and your family members. There are no defence Secretary in these countries.
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randy mathew / June 24, 2012
This shameless family from Medamulane have no conscience. They are a disgrace to humanity & are not good buddhists.
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lakruwan munidasa / June 24, 2012
The editor. i was at university, nirmal deva promote eelam concept.. we have docuements our students are very angry about him he always said tigers are genius ,now hw talking about nonsense.
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Jim Hardy / June 24, 2012
definitely FUTA chairman Mr Devasiri should be protected, over to JVP or FSP who are capable to provide security unlike other jokers.
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Asanga / June 24, 2012
This is very first thought just after reading/listening his remarks – being away from the country but not fogetting to regularly inform myself about the updates.
All what I question myself repeatedly, every time immediately after reading lanken updates, have without reservation been covered up by his interview – by hitting the nail on the head – This kind of brave lankens should be highly commended.
Among the increasing numbers who would not have enough guts to come forward with their views- perhaps due to the mentioned white van or non mentioned similar devices that have been practised also on day light today. However, the fearless interview has undoubteldy be an eye operner to many in and out of the country. Moreover, he has used the understandable language to awake his listeners/readers when making clear about the threat of the life before us in the country today.
As he reiterates, there are number of factions pro and contra to the ruling coalition do raise the question on the human rights situation in the country under the MR governance. Lankens are a nation with highest literacy rate in the south asian region, do understand things easily if similar professionals would react timely. It is the great duty of professionals in sociology, psychology and other social building areas to fearlessly open up their voices – in an episode where every 4th among the youth is recently revealed to have been dealt with hard drugs. As an Island nation, how drugs entering to the country- not comparable border countries in Europe – if port/aviation authorties are held strickly controlled by the state – is the next most important question comes to my mind. Leaving all aside, One of the crucial points he has clearly indicated is the legitimacy of the secretary of defence in compliance with current constitution. I myself belong to ones who himsef fail to realize the appointment – not having heard comparable status in previous regimes- but though read only from United states of America. But I believe the local professionals in LAW and Order should be very clear about the definition and portfolio. Instead of minister level positions, americans are used to name their counterparts. Instead of minister of foreign affairs, americans are used the term- secretary of states of America.
I wish I could read what Gotabaya has to put constructively as comments to the latter question.
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Panda / June 24, 2012
Where is democracy, free speech, and civil disagreement? It went down the sewer the moment the latest, uneducated, corrupt, group of thugs took over this country, for personal gain.
Today we see kidnapping, murders, threats, white vans, intimidation, corruption, and the spoils of this country going to one family and their stooges.
The brave intellectuals who speak out, unfortunately, will never be appreciated for the effort they make to bring some sanity to this mental asylum, where the inmates rule.
I hope Dr Nirmal and his family will be safe.
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wijagunsinghe.k / June 25, 2012
Dr Nirmala can enjoy freedom of USA will give him safe place to live and his family as well.And he can educated his childern and wife also can find very good job.
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Rubert Vanderkoon / June 25, 2012
Dewasiri’s PhD was about JVP rebellion, not anything useful. Will the US have a job for him? Do they have many petrol stations looking for people there?
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Clement Peris / June 26, 2012
Nirmal’s PhD is on Dutch period of (Sri)Lanka. His thesis has been published by the Dutch government as a book..”Adaptable Pesant”
Clement Peris
Calgary
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Rubert Vanderkoon / June 26, 2012
Thanks Clement, apologies, his PhD thesis was about the farmers during Dutch Rule between 1740-1800 or something along the lines. Can’t believe people still do things like this. Anyway, with that, he might find a job in the US :). Also, he has a Wikipedia page where it says his BSc “Thesis” was about “Charismatic” JVP leader, (the mayhem boss in the South as I call him) Wijeweera. Let’s not glorify publishing a thesis, it’s small matter in the west.
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Clement Peris / June 27, 2012
Laden University had not any hesitation on examining his thesis as a fundamental study on the Dutch period of (sri) Lanka.It is a well accepted praxis,as you know, that most of the eminent universities do the fundamental research in order to build up social theories.Then Nirmal defended his thesis saying that S. Lanka has a popular lineage of pesants who are adapting to the ongoing hegemony irrespective of their common belief.
What I do not understand in your comment is why some people get marvelled on doing fundamental research..After all every PhD thesis/study is more or less on a fundamental study. Like Dr. Wickramabahu Karunarathne on electro magnetic radiation on solar flare, late prof. Osmand Jayarathne on cloud physics, Einstein on Browian motion, which is a stark fundamental of all matter.
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Any person who is in US can find a job irreaspective of the mode of enter to the country. If Niramal could go through US embassy in Colombo ,sure enough he can find a better job in his field of academics than that of Gotabaya or Mahinda Rajapaksha.Besides as far as I know Nirmal is a good mechanic,cook and a mason. Before he became the head of the department or a senior lecturer he served as a bus conductor.
It is an irony that if Mahinda or Gitabaya has to resign from their jobs ,since the lack of knowledge in any field of human knowledge they might have to go through the vocational training as they are not being welcomed by any academic centers as ex-presidents/prime ministers.
Because Gotabaya is a US citizen he may find a job in a gas station as you mentioned.(but what about Mahinda..then?)
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If my memory is correct Dr. Dayan Jayathileka finished his PhD thesis on Fidel Castro at Brisbane University.Again it is not a matter of marvell that people do their studies on people whether they are mayhem or hospitable.It is the academic thesis that defend the idea.
As far as I know it is the thesis that glorify the scholar.
But Nirmal is such a fella never used his doctorate for his glorification.
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Further more it is worth to remind that Gotabaya was awarded with a D.Litt and Mahinda with a PhD.
Mervyn Silva is also a doctor..eh
Thanks for your dialogue.
Clement Peris
Calgary
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