News
Wiggy calls for change of heart among leaders, questions continuing high defence spending
By Saman Indrajith
Thamizh Makkal Thesiya Kootani (TMTK) Jaffna District MP C. V. Wigneswaran, speaking in Parliament, yesterday, demanded to know from the government how and why the defence expenditure of the budgets kept on increasing even though the war was over more than a decade ago.
Participating in the second reading debate on budget 2021, MP Wigneswaran said: “War is over but our Defence expenses are going up. Why? Is the government expecting another war, and if so with whom? The Tamils or the Indians or the Western countries? Whom is our government afraid of? Why are we arranging for war time security needs rather than post-war security needs?
“The Sinhalese are getting ready for war because you suspect the Tamils. Is it not suspicion, fear and hatred that drive you to arm yourself the modern armaments at great cost? As a result have we not swelled up our national debt? A debt prejudicial to you and us!
“Why don’t you think of mending your fences with the Tamil speaking and obtain the goodwill of lakhs and lakhs of Tamils driven away by you and living abroad? What stands between reconciliation and prosperity is your hesitation to take correct decisions.
“If the defence budget is reduced more money could be allocated for debt repayment, thereby ensuring macroeconomic stability. Are you not cutting your nose to spite your face? Are you not procuring armaments, artillery, armour and infantry because you are suspicious of sections of your own citizenry who reacted to your prejudicial discriminatory unilateral activities of the past?
“As Buddhists don’t you realise that you are traversing on a karmic suicidal path? Buddhism says our actions today fashions our life tomorrow. If we think outside the box, so to say, today, and act accordingly our path tomorrow might lead us to prosperity and contentment.
“It was King Ashoka who realised the futility of war, violence and vindictiveness. On that realisation he changed course. The time has come for a change. With a two-thirds majority in Parliament you could bring peace, reconciliation and prosperity or death, damage and destruction. The choice is yours!
“The need of the hour therefore is a change of heart among Sinhalese leaders. A change of heart on your part would bring bout positive results. You must take us into your confidence. Eleven years after the war ended, the war affected northern and eastern provinces lag behind the rest of the country economically. So, it is time you granted self-government to the North and East and allow us and our diaspora to help you and us economically. Let us together move this country towards peace and prosperity.”
Retired SSP Shani Abeysekera, serving the Police Department again, has been appointed to the committee headed by Senior DIG Asanka Karawita, tasked with studying the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report on the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
The other members of the team are DIG, CID, Director, CID and Director Terrorism Investigation Division (TID)
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said that Abeysekera had been one of the law enforcement officers whose conduct raised eyebrows over the years as regards the failure on the part of the CID to thwart the Easter Sunday attacks.
The National Police Commission approved the reappointment of SSP Abeysekera on contractual basis for one year, with effect from 10 Oct., 2024.
Abeysekera backed Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s presidential election campaign as a member of the retired police collective.
The Rite of Translation of the body of Pope Francis took place in the Vatican on Wednesday (23) morning, led by the College of Cardinals gathered in Rome following his death.
Vatican News reported: “Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, began the liturgical rite in the Chapel of the Casa Santa Marta with a brief prayer for the soul of Pope Francis.
In the opening prayer, Cardinal Farrell thanked God for the 12-year ministry of the late Pope.
“As we now leave this home, let us thank the Lord for the countless gifts He bestowed on the Christian people through His servant, Pope Francis,” he prayed. “Let us ask Him, in His mercy and kindness, to grant to the late Pope an eternal home in the kingdom of heaven, and to comfort with the celestial hope the papal family, the Church in Rome, and the faithful throughout the world.”
The College of Cardinals then led the procession of the coffin through the Vatican’s Santa Marta Square, under the Arch of the Bells, and into St. Peter’s Square.
Over 20,000 people had gathered in the square to pay their respects to the late Pope, erupting into subdued but sustained applause as his coffin was carried up the steps and into St. Peter’s Basilica.
The late Pope’s coffin was placed in front of the Altar of the Confession, and the choir chanted the Litany of the Saints in Latin for the repose of his soul.
Cardinal Farrell then led a brief Liturgy of the Word, which included a reading from the Gospel of John (17:24-26) of Jesus’ priestly prayer proclaiming the love of God for Him and for His disciples.
The rite concluded with the chanting of the Salve Regina, a Marian hynm that begins “Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.”
Members of the College of Cardinals then paid their respects to the late Pope Francis, followed by the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Stockholm Kapila Fonseka concurrently accredited to Estonia presented credentials to Estonian President Alar Karis at a ceremony held in Tallinn, Estonia recently.
Sri Lanka and Estonia enjoy cordial bilateral relations for 29 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1996. The two countries held the first round of bilateral consultations in Colombo in 2024.
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