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It is back to business for Ranil Wickramasinghe
Ranil Wickramesinghe, 65, finds himself leading a Sri Lankan ministry under an Executive President again. This is his third stint as Prime Minister, having served earlier in 1993-94 and 2001-04. As he was sworn in on Friday evening, Mr. Wickramasinghe must be ruing the fact that he has been unable to reach the country’s highest office despite being the leader of the principal opposition party for many years. For the second successive presidential election, his right-wing United National Party was forced to support a candidate from outside its own ranks. In 2010, it was retired army general Sarath Fonseka and this time it was Maithripala Sirisena of the rival Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
Mr. Wickramasinghe has survived as his party chief despite his leadership being questioned or doubted on many occasions. He lost two successive presidential elections to Chandrika Kumaratunga (1999) and Mahinda Rajapaksa (2005) and the parliamentary elections in 2000 and 2004. However, in an intervening phase when the country appeared to have grown weary of the war, he won a crucial parliamentary election on a platform of peace and development in December 2001. He worked out a Norway-brokered ceasefire agreement in February 2002 with the LTTE on what was seen by Sinhala hardliners as being too liberal, but it won Mr. Wickramasinghe great goodwill in the international community.
This truce lasted on the field for over four years and on paper for six until persistent ceasefire violations broke out into all-out war under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was sacked by President Chandrika Kumaratunga for allegedly giving too much leeway to the LTTE, after his regime had held six rounds of peace talks across the globe.
Mr. Wickramasinghe could have won the 2005 presidential election, had the LTTE not called for a Tamil boycott, a factor that may have propelled Mr. Rajapaksa to the highest office and, ultimately, spelt doom for the Tigers four years later. The reason for the rebels working to defeat him was his achievement in putting together a security net for the peace process comprising key members of the international community including the United States, the European Union and India, an arrangement that the LTTE thought was a move to coerce it into giving up its separatist demand.
Seen as a leader close to India, Mr. Wickramasinghe’s presence in the government — also as the leader of the party which delivered a good amount of southern votes for Mr. Sirisena — will be a welcome sight for India, which is worried about the Chinese presence in Sri Lanka. Also, the business-friendly UNP leader is a strong proponent of closer trade ties with India. His role in putting together a common opposition alliance and engineering Mr. Rajapaksa’s defeat may raise his stature domestically too, and end the commonly held view that he loses more often than he wins.
It is back to business for Ranil Wickramasinghe - The Hindu
Sri Lanka to investigate 'Rajapaksa coup plot'
Although there were worries about violence before and after Mr Rajapaksa's defeat, in the event the transition of power was peaceful.
The new government of Sri Lanka has said that it will investigate what it says was a coup attempt by defeated President Mahinda Rajapaksa after he lost elections on Friday.
"People think it was a peaceful transition. It was anything but," leading presidential aide Mangala Samaraweera told a press conference.
Mr Rajapaksa's spokesman has said that the allegations are baseless.
The deposed president endured a shock defeat to Maithripala Sirisena.
Mr Sirisena was the main opposition candidate who only two months ago was a minister in the government of the ousted president.
In an address to the nation on Sunday, the new president called for a government of national unity to carry out political and economic reforms he advocated during his election campaign.
Mr Rajapaksa, who had been South Asia's longest-serving leader before losing last Thursday's elections, had initially been widely praised for conceding defeat to Mr Sirisena before the final results were announced.
Among those who gave him credit for overseeing a smooth transition of power was US Secretary of State John Kerry.
'Very vocal'
But Mr Samaraweera told reporters on Sunday that Mr Rajapaksa had in fact attempted to persuade army and police chiefs to help him stay in power - if necessary with the use of force.
BBC News - Sri Lanka to investigate 'Rajapaksa coup plot'
@Saradiel @Gibbs your thoughts?
Ranil Wickramesinghe, 65, finds himself leading a Sri Lankan ministry under an Executive President again. This is his third stint as Prime Minister, having served earlier in 1993-94 and 2001-04. As he was sworn in on Friday evening, Mr. Wickramasinghe must be ruing the fact that he has been unable to reach the country’s highest office despite being the leader of the principal opposition party for many years. For the second successive presidential election, his right-wing United National Party was forced to support a candidate from outside its own ranks. In 2010, it was retired army general Sarath Fonseka and this time it was Maithripala Sirisena of the rival Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
Mr. Wickramasinghe has survived as his party chief despite his leadership being questioned or doubted on many occasions. He lost two successive presidential elections to Chandrika Kumaratunga (1999) and Mahinda Rajapaksa (2005) and the parliamentary elections in 2000 and 2004. However, in an intervening phase when the country appeared to have grown weary of the war, he won a crucial parliamentary election on a platform of peace and development in December 2001. He worked out a Norway-brokered ceasefire agreement in February 2002 with the LTTE on what was seen by Sinhala hardliners as being too liberal, but it won Mr. Wickramasinghe great goodwill in the international community.
This truce lasted on the field for over four years and on paper for six until persistent ceasefire violations broke out into all-out war under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was sacked by President Chandrika Kumaratunga for allegedly giving too much leeway to the LTTE, after his regime had held six rounds of peace talks across the globe.
Mr. Wickramasinghe could have won the 2005 presidential election, had the LTTE not called for a Tamil boycott, a factor that may have propelled Mr. Rajapaksa to the highest office and, ultimately, spelt doom for the Tigers four years later. The reason for the rebels working to defeat him was his achievement in putting together a security net for the peace process comprising key members of the international community including the United States, the European Union and India, an arrangement that the LTTE thought was a move to coerce it into giving up its separatist demand.
Seen as a leader close to India, Mr. Wickramasinghe’s presence in the government — also as the leader of the party which delivered a good amount of southern votes for Mr. Sirisena — will be a welcome sight for India, which is worried about the Chinese presence in Sri Lanka. Also, the business-friendly UNP leader is a strong proponent of closer trade ties with India. His role in putting together a common opposition alliance and engineering Mr. Rajapaksa’s defeat may raise his stature domestically too, and end the commonly held view that he loses more often than he wins.
It is back to business for Ranil Wickramasinghe - The Hindu
Sri Lanka to investigate 'Rajapaksa coup plot'
Although there were worries about violence before and after Mr Rajapaksa's defeat, in the event the transition of power was peaceful.
The new government of Sri Lanka has said that it will investigate what it says was a coup attempt by defeated President Mahinda Rajapaksa after he lost elections on Friday.
"People think it was a peaceful transition. It was anything but," leading presidential aide Mangala Samaraweera told a press conference.
Mr Rajapaksa's spokesman has said that the allegations are baseless.
The deposed president endured a shock defeat to Maithripala Sirisena.
Mr Sirisena was the main opposition candidate who only two months ago was a minister in the government of the ousted president.
In an address to the nation on Sunday, the new president called for a government of national unity to carry out political and economic reforms he advocated during his election campaign.
Mr Rajapaksa, who had been South Asia's longest-serving leader before losing last Thursday's elections, had initially been widely praised for conceding defeat to Mr Sirisena before the final results were announced.
Among those who gave him credit for overseeing a smooth transition of power was US Secretary of State John Kerry.
'Very vocal'
But Mr Samaraweera told reporters on Sunday that Mr Rajapaksa had in fact attempted to persuade army and police chiefs to help him stay in power - if necessary with the use of force.
BBC News - Sri Lanka to investigate 'Rajapaksa coup plot'
@Saradiel @Gibbs your thoughts?
Turingsage
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Rajapakse was a dictator and the a coup was his only hope of hanging onto power by illegal means and against the wishes of Lankans. He had already changed the constitution to allow himself indefinate number of terms as president and all powers to be retained by the president. These unconstitutional changes he made to the constitution and the people have rebelled.
Gibbs
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The truth seems to be coming out.. If it was not MR i'm sure Gota must have been planning something
HeinzG
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Yeah right.
Gibbs
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What a difference.. From a thug Sajin Vass with the only qualification being related to the Rajapaksa's to this.. @HeinzG 
Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala Becomes The Senior Advisor On Foreign Relations To President • Sri Lanka Brief
Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala Becomes The Senior Advisor On Foreign Relations To President
Top diplomat Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala has resigned from the Cargills (Ceylon) Plc Board to take up the position of Senior Advisor on Foreign Relations to President Maithripala Sirisena with effect from 12 January, reports Daily FT;
Dhanapala is a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs (1998-2003) and a former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the USA (1995-1997) and to the UN Office in Geneva (1984-1987). He was Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) from 1987-1992.
As a Sri Lankan diplomat, Dhanapala served in London, Beijing, Washington D.C., New Delhi and Geneva and represented Sri Lanka at many international conferences, chairing several of them.
He is currently the President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs; a member of the Governing Board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and several other advisory boards of international bodies.
FT
Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala Becomes The Senior Advisor On Foreign Relations To President • Sri Lanka Brief
Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala Becomes The Senior Advisor On Foreign Relations To President
Top diplomat Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala has resigned from the Cargills (Ceylon) Plc Board to take up the position of Senior Advisor on Foreign Relations to President Maithripala Sirisena with effect from 12 January, reports Daily FT;
Dhanapala is a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs (1998-2003) and a former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the USA (1995-1997) and to the UN Office in Geneva (1984-1987). He was Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) from 1987-1992.
As a Sri Lankan diplomat, Dhanapala served in London, Beijing, Washington D.C., New Delhi and Geneva and represented Sri Lanka at many international conferences, chairing several of them.
He is currently the President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs; a member of the Governing Board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and several other advisory boards of international bodies.
FT
HeinzG
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What a difference.. From a thug Sajin Vass with the only qualification being related to the Rajapaksa's to this.. @HeinzG
Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala Becomes The Senior Advisor On Foreign Relations To President • Sri Lanka Brief
Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala Becomes The Senior Advisor On Foreign Relations To President
Top diplomat Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala has resigned from the Cargills (Ceylon) Plc Board to take up the position of Senior Advisor on Foreign Relations to President Maithripala Sirisena with effect from 12 January, reports Daily FT;
Dhanapala is a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs (1998-2003) and a former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the USA (1995-1997) and to the UN Office in Geneva (1984-1987). He was Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) from 1987-1992.
As a Sri Lankan diplomat, Dhanapala served in London, Beijing, Washington D.C., New Delhi and Geneva and represented Sri Lanka at many international conferences, chairing several of them.
He is currently the President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs; a member of the Governing Board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and several other advisory boards of international bodies.
FT
Yeah I see a wind of change. If it is for the betterment of the country I'm with it. I still have some doubts though. Only time will sort it out.
samv
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What a laugh Jayantha Dhanapala becomes an advisor on foreign relations to the soon to be defunct President while Mangala Samaraweera becomes the actual foreign minister.
Fail, just like appointing Ravi Karunanayake as minister for finance.
Ranil Wickremasinghe's cronies are being given plum positions in the new government - what a surprise.
Fail, just like appointing Ravi Karunanayake as minister for finance.
Ranil Wickremasinghe's cronies are being given plum positions in the new government - what a surprise.
Gibbs
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Economist was not a publication i did not much credence to given it's open bias towards separatists during and after the civil war.. But this article seems to have some ground realities .. @HeinzG , @Azizam , @Saradiel , @ShreddeR
Sri Lanka’s election: Ask Siri | The Economist
MANY Sri Lankans are still gobsmacked by an election on January 8th that ended nine years of presidential rule by Mahinda Rajapaksa, a strongman appearing to settle in for the long term. Replacing him is Maithripala Sirisena (pictured), until recently the health minister, who won 51.3% of the votes on a record turnout of 81.5%. Mr Sirisena was backed by Sinhalese unhappy about inflation, corruption and the Rajapaksa dynasty, as well as by minority Tamils, Muslims and Christians worried by repression since the end of the civil war or by the weak rule of law.
Mr Rajapaksa conceded defeat early on January 9th. Some in Mr Sirisena’s camp claim that was an act, and that Mr Rajapaksa first explored whether the attorney-general, chief justice and heads of the army and police would agree to cancel the election—in effect, a coup attempt. Mr Rajapaksa denies it, saying that he had “always bowed down to the people’s verdict”.
An early priority for Mr Sirisena is fulfilling his promise of constitutional change within 100 days. He wants to tame a presidency that Mr Rajapaksa made nearly paramount, especially after a constitutional amendment in 2010 that did away with presidential term limits and with independent commissions to appoint bureaucrats, judges, police and electoral officers. Reversing the amendment would empower Parliament and the prime minister.
Habits of sycophancy will widen support for the new rulers. The state-run press, especially, toadied up to Mr Rajapaksa and is already fawning upon Mr Sirisena. Parliamentarians fiercely loyal to the old government now flock unashamedly to the new. One defector this week breezily dismissed his former boss as a mere “dead body in the house”.
Meanwhile, the victorious coalition could come under strain. On January 15th Mr Rajapaksa was poised to lose control of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, but he can yet sow division. He never seriously sought national reconciliation after ending the 26-year civil war in 2009, though he rebuilt much of the Tamil-dominated north. Since his defeat he has tried stirring nationalist sentiment, blaming his defeat on Muslim and “Eelam” (ie, secessionist Tamil) voters; his implication is that the majority Sinhalese were betrayed. An observer in Colombo worries that such talk could provoke “very ugly” hostility towards minorities.
Parliamentary elections are likely in April or May. Ahead of those, the new government must judge how much to concede to Tamil allies without alienating Sinhalese. Tamils blame Mr Rajapaksa for the deaths of perhaps 40,000 northerners late in the war. Now they expect Mr Sirisena to let civilians evicted by the army return to their land. They also want sympathetic figures put in key posts in the north, and an end to surveillance and intimidation.
No war-crimes trials are looming. During the campaign, Mr Sirisena said he would not order the prosecution of Mr Rajapaksa, aware how unpopular that would be among the Sinhalese and the army. And his own spell at the war’s end as (a largely toothless) defence minister may add to his reluctance. In any case, most Tamils inside Sri Lanka see reconciliation as more important than trials. (A large Tamil diaspora is more strident.)
Still, a rigorous inquiry into events at the end of the war would be valuable. From afar, the UN is already conducting one and will now seek the access to the country it has been denied. Sri Lanka could improve on its own “Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission”, which whitewashed the war crimes. Someone should probe persistent rumours about mass graves under army-controlled land in the north.
Amid the political drama, Pope Francis arrived on January 13th. Christians make up only 7.4% of the population, yet he drew large crowds, telling Sri Lankans that confronting wartime atrocities would help reconciliation. In Colombo, the capital, he called for the “pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity”. The idea of a South African-style truth and reconciliation commission could be resurrected.
Other foreigners wonder whether foreign policy will be redirected. Sri Lanka’s diplomatic and economic ties to China are deep: in September President Xi Jinping visited and promised many development projects, adding to an estimated $6 billion or more in loans already dispensed. India dislikes the chumminess, all the more furiously after spotting a Chinese navy submarine twice visiting Colombo. If Mr Sirisena now signalled warmer ties with India, that would also please Western powers wary of China’s regional influence. On several fronts, Sri Lanka’s new rulers have much to change.
Sri Lanka’s election: Ask Siri | The Economist
MANY Sri Lankans are still gobsmacked by an election on January 8th that ended nine years of presidential rule by Mahinda Rajapaksa, a strongman appearing to settle in for the long term. Replacing him is Maithripala Sirisena (pictured), until recently the health minister, who won 51.3% of the votes on a record turnout of 81.5%. Mr Sirisena was backed by Sinhalese unhappy about inflation, corruption and the Rajapaksa dynasty, as well as by minority Tamils, Muslims and Christians worried by repression since the end of the civil war or by the weak rule of law.
Mr Rajapaksa conceded defeat early on January 9th. Some in Mr Sirisena’s camp claim that was an act, and that Mr Rajapaksa first explored whether the attorney-general, chief justice and heads of the army and police would agree to cancel the election—in effect, a coup attempt. Mr Rajapaksa denies it, saying that he had “always bowed down to the people’s verdict”.
- Coup talk may explain Mr Sirisena’s hasty swearing-in on January 9th and his appointment, minutes later, of Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister. Mr Wickremesinghe has twice held that post before. A behind-the-scenes operator, he may prove stronger than the president. The smallish cabinet they formed on January 12th is likely to expand as former supporters of Mr Rajapaksa defect.
An early priority for Mr Sirisena is fulfilling his promise of constitutional change within 100 days. He wants to tame a presidency that Mr Rajapaksa made nearly paramount, especially after a constitutional amendment in 2010 that did away with presidential term limits and with independent commissions to appoint bureaucrats, judges, police and electoral officers. Reversing the amendment would empower Parliament and the prime minister.
Habits of sycophancy will widen support for the new rulers. The state-run press, especially, toadied up to Mr Rajapaksa and is already fawning upon Mr Sirisena. Parliamentarians fiercely loyal to the old government now flock unashamedly to the new. One defector this week breezily dismissed his former boss as a mere “dead body in the house”.
- Yet much remains in flux. Until the dust settles, it is not obvious whether constitutional reform can follow; nor whether the chief justice, ultraloyal to Mr Rajapaksa, can be replaced with someone better. Both, in theory, require support from two-thirds of Parliament. Just possibly the chamber could reconvene as a constitutional assembly, as happened in 1972, allowing some reforms to be pushed through with only a simple majority.
Meanwhile, the victorious coalition could come under strain. On January 15th Mr Rajapaksa was poised to lose control of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, but he can yet sow division. He never seriously sought national reconciliation after ending the 26-year civil war in 2009, though he rebuilt much of the Tamil-dominated north. Since his defeat he has tried stirring nationalist sentiment, blaming his defeat on Muslim and “Eelam” (ie, secessionist Tamil) voters; his implication is that the majority Sinhalese were betrayed. An observer in Colombo worries that such talk could provoke “very ugly” hostility towards minorities.
Parliamentary elections are likely in April or May. Ahead of those, the new government must judge how much to concede to Tamil allies without alienating Sinhalese. Tamils blame Mr Rajapaksa for the deaths of perhaps 40,000 northerners late in the war. Now they expect Mr Sirisena to let civilians evicted by the army return to their land. They also want sympathetic figures put in key posts in the north, and an end to surveillance and intimidation.
No war-crimes trials are looming. During the campaign, Mr Sirisena said he would not order the prosecution of Mr Rajapaksa, aware how unpopular that would be among the Sinhalese and the army. And his own spell at the war’s end as (a largely toothless) defence minister may add to his reluctance. In any case, most Tamils inside Sri Lanka see reconciliation as more important than trials. (A large Tamil diaspora is more strident.)
Still, a rigorous inquiry into events at the end of the war would be valuable. From afar, the UN is already conducting one and will now seek the access to the country it has been denied. Sri Lanka could improve on its own “Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission”, which whitewashed the war crimes. Someone should probe persistent rumours about mass graves under army-controlled land in the north.
Amid the political drama, Pope Francis arrived on January 13th. Christians make up only 7.4% of the population, yet he drew large crowds, telling Sri Lankans that confronting wartime atrocities would help reconciliation. In Colombo, the capital, he called for the “pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity”. The idea of a South African-style truth and reconciliation commission could be resurrected.
Other foreigners wonder whether foreign policy will be redirected. Sri Lanka’s diplomatic and economic ties to China are deep: in September President Xi Jinping visited and promised many development projects, adding to an estimated $6 billion or more in loans already dispensed. India dislikes the chumminess, all the more furiously after spotting a Chinese navy submarine twice visiting Colombo. If Mr Sirisena now signalled warmer ties with India, that would also please Western powers wary of China’s regional influence. On several fronts, Sri Lanka’s new rulers have much to change.
Gibbs
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Why ousting of Sri Lanka’s president spells bad news for rugby in the country | South China Morning Post
We are lucky in Hong Kong to have a proper organisational structure, unlike some of our rivals where the future of sport depends on the whim of powerful individuals
Alvin Sallayalvin.sallay@scmp.com
It has been a momentous last few days in Sri Lanka, what with a change in regime, the arrival of the Pope and the start of the rugby season.
Bear with me while I explain what all this has to do with Hong Kong rugby.
The Pope, not much – but he does come from Italian stock and was raised in Argentina, two countries who will be at the World Cup this year.
Hong Kong and Sri Lanka both have great ambitions of reaching the tournament, even if they won’t be able to count on the backing of His Holiness should they do so.
The president’s three sons have all represented Sri Lanka – some say thanks to their father’s influence – and their presence boosted interest in the game
If I were to bet who’ll get there first, it would be Hong Kong, as rugby in the city has a solid foundation, a superb administration and a structure which is the envy of Asia (barring Japan).
Last week the island nation I call home went through a huge political shift when incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa lost his grip on power after calling for elections two years before his second tenure was up.
Corruption, nepotism and cronyism were all charges thrown at the Rajapaksa family and his removal from the presidency has brought fresh hope to the nation.
But he did have at least one good point – he was a rugby fan. His three sons have all represented the country – some say thanks to their father’s influence – and their presence boosted interest in the game, especially from corporate backers keen to get in the good books of the ruling family.
Dumped Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Photo: AP
Eldest son Namal was the force behind the Carlton Sevens which for the last couple of years has been paying huge sums of money to attract the world’s best talent – from New Zealander DJ Forbes to Fijian Pio Tuwai – for a two-week carnival of rugby.
The event has boosted the game in Sri Lanka, with many of the clubs going on to hire New Zealanders, South Africans, Fijians to play in the domestic competition.
But the entire organisational structure was fragile. It depended on Namal, also a member of parliament and groomed to take over from his dad.
Now that Pa has been swept out of office amid stories of millions of dollars made from corrupt deals funneled to secret bank accounts in the Seychelles, there are fears that rugby will take a huge hit.
The Pope at the Hong Kong Sevens with some of his lady friends. Photo: SCMP
Will the private sector support it now that they don’t have to pay homage to powerful political figures? Already second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa has turned in his commission from the Navy where he used to be an officer and a rugby player. And there are doubts that third son Rohitha will continue playing for the Army.
Thankfully, this is not the case in Hong Kong. We may have a new chairman and new office-bearers, but the game will go on.
The Hong Kong Sevens will go on no matter who is in the chair. Sadly this might not be the case in Sri Lanka where rugby is controlled by factions leading to ebb and flow, depending on who is in power.
Hong Kong might have its little power struggles, but overall, the independence of the game is guaranteed. Long may that last.
We are lucky in Hong Kong to have a proper organisational structure, unlike some of our rivals where the future of sport depends on the whim of powerful individuals
Alvin Sallayalvin.sallay@scmp.com
It has been a momentous last few days in Sri Lanka, what with a change in regime, the arrival of the Pope and the start of the rugby season.
Bear with me while I explain what all this has to do with Hong Kong rugby.
The Pope, not much – but he does come from Italian stock and was raised in Argentina, two countries who will be at the World Cup this year.
Hong Kong and Sri Lanka both have great ambitions of reaching the tournament, even if they won’t be able to count on the backing of His Holiness should they do so.
The president’s three sons have all represented Sri Lanka – some say thanks to their father’s influence – and their presence boosted interest in the game
If I were to bet who’ll get there first, it would be Hong Kong, as rugby in the city has a solid foundation, a superb administration and a structure which is the envy of Asia (barring Japan).
Last week the island nation I call home went through a huge political shift when incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa lost his grip on power after calling for elections two years before his second tenure was up.
Corruption, nepotism and cronyism were all charges thrown at the Rajapaksa family and his removal from the presidency has brought fresh hope to the nation.
But he did have at least one good point – he was a rugby fan. His three sons have all represented the country – some say thanks to their father’s influence – and their presence boosted interest in the game, especially from corporate backers keen to get in the good books of the ruling family.
Dumped Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Photo: AP
Eldest son Namal was the force behind the Carlton Sevens which for the last couple of years has been paying huge sums of money to attract the world’s best talent – from New Zealander DJ Forbes to Fijian Pio Tuwai – for a two-week carnival of rugby.
The event has boosted the game in Sri Lanka, with many of the clubs going on to hire New Zealanders, South Africans, Fijians to play in the domestic competition.
But the entire organisational structure was fragile. It depended on Namal, also a member of parliament and groomed to take over from his dad.
Now that Pa has been swept out of office amid stories of millions of dollars made from corrupt deals funneled to secret bank accounts in the Seychelles, there are fears that rugby will take a huge hit.
The Pope at the Hong Kong Sevens with some of his lady friends. Photo: SCMP
Will the private sector support it now that they don’t have to pay homage to powerful political figures? Already second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa has turned in his commission from the Navy where he used to be an officer and a rugby player. And there are doubts that third son Rohitha will continue playing for the Army.
Thankfully, this is not the case in Hong Kong. We may have a new chairman and new office-bearers, but the game will go on.
The Hong Kong Sevens will go on no matter who is in the chair. Sadly this might not be the case in Sri Lanka where rugby is controlled by factions leading to ebb and flow, depending on who is in power.
Hong Kong might have its little power struggles, but overall, the independence of the game is guaranteed. Long may that last.
Azizam
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US vows to work with new Sri Lanka leaders
Washington pledged Monday to work with Sri Lanka's newly-elected government to help improve human rights and democracy, voicing hope the election will mark the start of a new chapter in ties.
US Secretary of State John Kerry telephoned President Maithripala Sirisena late Sunday to say the US now hoped to strengthen its ties with the tear-shaped Indian Ocean island.
Veteran leader Mahinda Rajapakse had alienated many foreign leaders by refusing to cooperate with an international probe into alleged wartime abuses during a crackdown on Tamil Tiger rebels
Kerry spoke with Rajapakse just "days ago," he told a press conference, to highlight "the importance of maintaining a peaceful process no matter what".
"So it is good that the people of Sri Lanka have been able to have an election that has been accepted and which has resulted in a peaceful change of power," he told reporters in Gandhinagar, western India.
But the top US diplomat cautioned: "There are still real challenges in Sri Lanka."
"We offered immediately to engage in a dialogue to begin to work at guaranteeing that the problems with respect to human rights, the problems of inclusivity, challenges with respect to governance are going to be addressed."
There was however "hope that we can now forge a different outcome in Sri Lanka. The election hopefully will become a demarcation point for a new moment, a new chapter, a new set of opportunities for the people of Sri Lanka."
Kerry had earlier voiced appreciation for Rajapakse's early concession of election defeat, although a Sirisena aide has since said the former president tried to hold onto power by staging a coup.
Relations between Washington and Colombo soured under Rajapakse after the United States secured a UN-led investigation into the final stages of Sri Lanka's separatist war that ended in May 2009.
US envoy Michele Sison had strongly criticised Sri Lanka's failure to address allegations that up to 40,000 mainly minority Tamil civilians were killed by troops in the final months of the war.
Kerry is in India ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama, who will be guest of honour at the country's January 26 Republic Day celebrations.
US vows to work with new Sri Lanka leaders | Daily Mail Online
This is very sad, Sri Lanka should put more emphasis on sports like Rugby and Football which are played by almost all countries in the world unlike Cricket.
Sri Lanka to Reassess Chinese-Backed Port Project
A week after national elections, Sri Lanka’s new government has started to reassess some flagship projects initiated by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa involving the construction of a Chinese-backed port close to Colombo.
Kabir Hashim, Sri Lanka’s investment-promotion minister, expressed security concerns over the $1.5 billion project, which would allow China Communication Construction Co. Ltd., a government-owned infrastructure builder, to hold land in a high-security zone close to a planned expansion to Colombo’s port.
Under the project, Chinese firms would receive more than 100 hectares of land to cover their investment costs, part on an outright basis and the rest on a 99-year lease.
“The port city project has to be completely looked at,” Mr. Hashim told reporters on Friday. “You cannot have land given on freehold basis to another country in a high security zone.”
Colombo Port City is part of China’s attempt to restore its ancient prestige and historical links along the maritime Silk Road through Southeast and South Asia. China’s PresidentXi Jinping launched the construction work when he visited the island nation last September.
Colombo’s port is the only one in the region that can accommodate deep-draft vessels, including ultra-large container ships, and is in a key position to serve the Indian subcontinent. It is ideally located on the sea route to the Middle East and Eastern Africa.
The port also has strategic value related to the Bay of Bengal. A Chinese attack submarine recently stopped in Colombo, setting off alarm bells in India, which competes with China in the region.
During his nine-year tenure, Mr. Rajapaksa strengthened Sri Lanka’s ties with China, which lent his government billions of dollars to build infrastructure including highways and power plants.
‘The new government is trying to diversify Sri Lanka’s foreign policy to make it more balanced.’
—Nira Wickramasinghe, head of the School of Asian Studies at Leiden University
In the election campaign, now prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe ’s United National Party said some development deals struck by the previous government didn’t follow appropriate tender procedures and weren’t transparent.
“This is a project that changes the country’s shape in the world map,” said Mr. Hashim. “So if you are doing such project there should be transparency and consensus among the people."
“The new government is trying to diversify Sri Lanka’s foreign policy to make it more balanced,” said Nira Wickramasinghe, head of the School of Asian Studies at Leiden University. “Mr. Rajapaksa had put all the country’s eggs in one basket.”
At the same time, the newly elected government has assured China that relations between the two countries won’t change. At a meeting with the Chinese ambassador, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that if the port project complies with local environmental standards, construction will be allowed to go ahead.
“We are going to cooperate with China in the same way we have done,” said C. Mahendran, Sri Lanka’s former ambassador to China and a high-ranking official at the foreign affairs ministry. “There will be no change in our policy towards China.”
In a bid to mark its difference from the previous administration, the new government in Colombo also took aim at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, one of the former president’s pet projects. The $209-million airport, built with Chinese funding, hasn’t turned a profit.
Aviation Minister Faizer Mustapha said on Friday that Sri Lankan Airlines will trim its flights to Mattala from Feb. 9.
“It is an open secret that Mattala Airport is making significant losses. It has not attracted sufficient returns and though some would say more time is required I don’t think Sri Lanka can afford to wait,” Mr. Mustapha said. “We cannot allow Mattala to continue bleeding.”
Sri Lanka to Review Chinese-Backed Port Project - WSJ
Washington pledged Monday to work with Sri Lanka's newly-elected government to help improve human rights and democracy, voicing hope the election will mark the start of a new chapter in ties.
US Secretary of State John Kerry telephoned President Maithripala Sirisena late Sunday to say the US now hoped to strengthen its ties with the tear-shaped Indian Ocean island.
Veteran leader Mahinda Rajapakse had alienated many foreign leaders by refusing to cooperate with an international probe into alleged wartime abuses during a crackdown on Tamil Tiger rebels
Kerry spoke with Rajapakse just "days ago," he told a press conference, to highlight "the importance of maintaining a peaceful process no matter what".
"So it is good that the people of Sri Lanka have been able to have an election that has been accepted and which has resulted in a peaceful change of power," he told reporters in Gandhinagar, western India.
But the top US diplomat cautioned: "There are still real challenges in Sri Lanka."
"We offered immediately to engage in a dialogue to begin to work at guaranteeing that the problems with respect to human rights, the problems of inclusivity, challenges with respect to governance are going to be addressed."
There was however "hope that we can now forge a different outcome in Sri Lanka. The election hopefully will become a demarcation point for a new moment, a new chapter, a new set of opportunities for the people of Sri Lanka."
Kerry had earlier voiced appreciation for Rajapakse's early concession of election defeat, although a Sirisena aide has since said the former president tried to hold onto power by staging a coup.
Relations between Washington and Colombo soured under Rajapakse after the United States secured a UN-led investigation into the final stages of Sri Lanka's separatist war that ended in May 2009.
US envoy Michele Sison had strongly criticised Sri Lanka's failure to address allegations that up to 40,000 mainly minority Tamil civilians were killed by troops in the final months of the war.
Kerry is in India ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama, who will be guest of honour at the country's January 26 Republic Day celebrations.
US vows to work with new Sri Lanka leaders | Daily Mail Online
Why ousting of Sri Lanka’s president spells bad news for rugby in the country | South China Morning Post
We are lucky in Hong Kong to have a proper organisational structure, unlike some of our rivals where the future of sport depends on the whim of powerful individuals
Alvin Sallayalvin.sallay@scmp.com
Sri Lanka in action at the Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: SCMP
It has been a momentous last few days in Sri Lanka, what with a change in regime, the arrival of the Pope and the start of the rugby season.
Bear with me while I explain what all this has to do with Hong Kong rugby.
The Pope, not much – but he does come from Italian stock and was raised in Argentina, two countries who will be at the World Cup this year.
Hong Kong and Sri Lanka both have great ambitions of reaching the tournament, even if they won’t be able to count on the backing of His Holiness should they do so.
The president’s three sons have all represented Sri Lanka – some say thanks to their father’s influence – and their presence boosted interest in the game
If I were to bet who’ll get there first, it would be Hong Kong, as rugby in the city has a solid foundation, a superb administration and a structure which is the envy of Asia (barring Japan).
Last week the island nation I call home went through a huge political shift when incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa lost his grip on power after calling for elections two years before his second tenure was up.
Corruption, nepotism and cronyism were all charges thrown at the Rajapaksa family and his removal from the presidency has brought fresh hope to the nation.
But he did have at least one good point – he was a rugby fan. His three sons have all represented the country – some say thanks to their father’s influence – and their presence boosted interest in the game, especially from corporate backers keen to get in the good books of the ruling family.
Dumped Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Photo: AP
Eldest son Namal was the force behind the Carlton Sevens which for the last couple of years has been paying huge sums of money to attract the world’s best talent – from New Zealander DJ Forbes to Fijian Pio Tuwai – for a two-week carnival of rugby.
The event has boosted the game in Sri Lanka, with many of the clubs going on to hire New Zealanders, South Africans, Fijians to play in the domestic competition.
But the entire organisational structure was fragile. It depended on Namal, also a member of parliament and groomed to take over from his dad.
Now that Pa has been swept out of office amid stories of millions of dollars made from corrupt deals funneled to secret bank accounts in the Seychelles, there are fears that rugby will take a huge hit.
The Pope at the Hong Kong Sevens with some of his lady friends. Photo: SCMP
Will the private sector support it now that they don’t have to pay homage to powerful political figures? Already second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa has turned in his commission from the Navy where he used to be an officer and a rugby player. And there are doubts that third son Rohitha will continue playing for the Army.
Thankfully, this is not the case in Hong Kong. We may have a new chairman and new office-bearers, but the game will go on.
The Hong Kong Sevens will go on no matter who is in the chair. Sadly this might not be the case in Sri Lanka where rugby is controlled by factions leading to ebb and flow, depending on who is in power.
Hong Kong might have its little power struggles, but overall, the independence of the game is guaranteed. Long may that last.
This is very sad, Sri Lanka should put more emphasis on sports like Rugby and Football which are played by almost all countries in the world unlike Cricket.
Sri Lanka to Reassess Chinese-Backed Port Project
A week after national elections, Sri Lanka’s new government has started to reassess some flagship projects initiated by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa involving the construction of a Chinese-backed port close to Colombo.
Kabir Hashim, Sri Lanka’s investment-promotion minister, expressed security concerns over the $1.5 billion project, which would allow China Communication Construction Co. Ltd., a government-owned infrastructure builder, to hold land in a high-security zone close to a planned expansion to Colombo’s port.
Under the project, Chinese firms would receive more than 100 hectares of land to cover their investment costs, part on an outright basis and the rest on a 99-year lease.
“The port city project has to be completely looked at,” Mr. Hashim told reporters on Friday. “You cannot have land given on freehold basis to another country in a high security zone.”
Colombo Port City is part of China’s attempt to restore its ancient prestige and historical links along the maritime Silk Road through Southeast and South Asia. China’s PresidentXi Jinping launched the construction work when he visited the island nation last September.
Colombo’s port is the only one in the region that can accommodate deep-draft vessels, including ultra-large container ships, and is in a key position to serve the Indian subcontinent. It is ideally located on the sea route to the Middle East and Eastern Africa.
The port also has strategic value related to the Bay of Bengal. A Chinese attack submarine recently stopped in Colombo, setting off alarm bells in India, which competes with China in the region.
During his nine-year tenure, Mr. Rajapaksa strengthened Sri Lanka’s ties with China, which lent his government billions of dollars to build infrastructure including highways and power plants.
‘The new government is trying to diversify Sri Lanka’s foreign policy to make it more balanced.’
—Nira Wickramasinghe, head of the School of Asian Studies at Leiden University
In the election campaign, now prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe ’s United National Party said some development deals struck by the previous government didn’t follow appropriate tender procedures and weren’t transparent.
“This is a project that changes the country’s shape in the world map,” said Mr. Hashim. “So if you are doing such project there should be transparency and consensus among the people."
“The new government is trying to diversify Sri Lanka’s foreign policy to make it more balanced,” said Nira Wickramasinghe, head of the School of Asian Studies at Leiden University. “Mr. Rajapaksa had put all the country’s eggs in one basket.”
At the same time, the newly elected government has assured China that relations between the two countries won’t change. At a meeting with the Chinese ambassador, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that if the port project complies with local environmental standards, construction will be allowed to go ahead.
“We are going to cooperate with China in the same way we have done,” said C. Mahendran, Sri Lanka’s former ambassador to China and a high-ranking official at the foreign affairs ministry. “There will be no change in our policy towards China.”
In a bid to mark its difference from the previous administration, the new government in Colombo also took aim at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, one of the former president’s pet projects. The $209-million airport, built with Chinese funding, hasn’t turned a profit.
Aviation Minister Faizer Mustapha said on Friday that Sri Lankan Airlines will trim its flights to Mattala from Feb. 9.
“It is an open secret that Mattala Airport is making significant losses. It has not attracted sufficient returns and though some would say more time is required I don’t think Sri Lanka can afford to wait,” Mr. Mustapha said. “We cannot allow Mattala to continue bleeding.”
Sri Lanka to Review Chinese-Backed Port Project - WSJ
Gibbs
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Rugby is still pretty big there mate.. It was even way before the Rajapaksa's came into the pic.. Club Championship games attract way more crowds than even any Cricket games.. Currently the national team is ranked 4th in Asia in the 15's game and 3rd in Asia in the 7's.. 46th in the world rankings
Just that ex president himself was a huge follower of it being a former player himself and in turn his sons bought in a lot of money to the game via sponsorship due to political influence.. But in turn politicized it.. But i yeah hope with their exit the sponsors do not abandon it.. Cricket is such a minority sport i really dont understand why South Asians are so obsessed about it.. Maybe because it's just that reason that they can compete at the world stage.. Just among 9 nations
So far the new govt seems to be doing the right moves by removing unqualified political appointee's and replacing them with experienced professionals and diplomats.. So far so good except for a few questionable individuals like Ravi Karunanayake the new finance minister has a case against him for fraud
Sri Lanka : Chitranganee Wagiswara new Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka
Wagiswara, who joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1981, was most recently the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Canada. Previously she has served in Rome, France and also as the permanent delegate to UNESCO
Wagiswara, replaces Kshenuka Seneviratne who served under former External Affairs Minister, Professor G.L
Azizam
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The problem with Rugby is that it's largely limited to people from upper class/middle class. It should spread towards rural areas so that the country can find new talents.Rugby is still pretty big there mate.. It was even way before the Rajapaksa's came into the pic.. Club Championship games attract way more crowds than even any Cricket games.. Currently the national team is ranked 4th in Asia in the 15's game and 3rd in Asia in the 7's.. 46th in the world rankings
Just that ex president himself was a huge follower of it being a former player himself and in turn his sons bought in a lot of money to the game via sponsorship due to political influence.. But in turn politicized it.. But i yeah hope with their exit the sponsors do not abandon it.. Cricket is such a minority sport i really dont understand why South Asians are so obsessed about it.. Maybe because it's just that reason that they can compete at the world stage.. Just among 9 nations
So far the new govt seems to be doing the right moves by removing unqualified political appointee's and replacing them with experienced professionals and diplomats.. So far so good except for a few questionable individuals like Ravi Karunanayake the new finance minister has a case against him for fraud
Sri Lanka : Chitranganee Wagiswara new Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka
Jan 16, Colombo: Chitranganee Wagiswara, a career diplomat of Sri Lanka Foreign Service has been appointed as the Foreign Secretary of the new Sri Lankan government.
Wagiswara, who joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1981, was most recently the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Canada. Previously she has served in Rome, France and also as the permanent delegate to UNESCO
Wagiswara, replaces Kshenuka Seneviratne who served under former External Affairs Minister, Professor G.L
haha True. And South Asians think that winning in Cricket makes their country "proud" around the world and expect people from all over the world to know every single one of their cricket idols.
Gibbs
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Seems like Lankan clubs are attracting the creme of top professionals from Pacific islands and Africa.. Looks like some serious money is involved
Sri Lanka rugby is cashing in on Fijian exodus at Dubai Rugby Sevens | The National
Obviously, nobody needs any extra incentive to get excited about the Dubai Sevens weekend.
But if you have a minute to kill and are in front of a tablet, computer or smart phone, type “Pio Tuwai try” into YouTube .
It is the ultimate appetite whetter, with well past 60,000 views already – yet the man who is the subject of said try for Fiji against New Zealand is not even the player who dots it down.
Read more: Fijian legend Waisale Serevi to miss Dubai Rugby Sevens
Tuwai, with all the no-look passes and buccaneering runs, was in a different class in the UAE last year. The Flying Fijian has more flair than the 1970s.
Yet instead of showing off his lavish skills in front of 45,000 people on Pitch 1 at the Sevens and a TV audience stretching to 145 countries this weekend, he is in Sri Lanka playing club rugby.
Fiji have always seen their leading players go abroad to earn fortunes that can be life-changing for their families. But that was always to top-tier nations.
It comes to something when the core of the side who won in Dubai 12 months ago have opted to leave for a country that, at No 48, is 35 places below Fiji in the world rankings.
But no worries, because the well of sevens talent in Fiji is bottomless, right?
“It is bottomless as far as it is the national sport and there are thousands of very good rugby players in Fiji,” said Ben Ryan, the Fiji coach.
“But it is not bottomless in asmuch as, when we identify them, they have very young training ages, and are very young in terms of understanding all the off-field stuff and discipline.
“We have to turn them into international rugby players. It can’t go on like that.”
Since rugby went professional in the mid-1990s, the abbreviated format has always had to gather crumbs from under the rich man’s table.
Even the best have to make do.
New Zealand’s remarkable monopoly on sevens success, for instance, has come about inspite of the fact that the majority of the leading rugby players in the country cannot be considered for selection.
Gordon Tietjens, the coach, has to shop elsewhere. Lucky for New Zealand, then, that he has a remarkable eye for talent.
With Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen and Joe Rokocoko, Tietjens’s record as a king-maker speaks for itself.
But it is unusual when a national sevens squad is almost entirely different from one season to the next.
“A lot of teams mope that they have lost two or three players from their starting side,” Ryan said.
“We have only got two players who won in Dubai last year.
“We have lost so many, including the first time we have ever had a player of the year [Samisoni Viriviri]. It can’t continue, that is for sure.”
To call Sri Lanka a backwater for rugby is inaccurate. The sport has a long and storied heritage there.
Many involved in rugby in the island nation argue it was more popular than cricket, until Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup and Indian cable TV channels became more widely accessible.
“Sri Lanka is steeped in rugby history, but everybody just knows it for cricket,” said Ben Gollings, the leading point-scorer in world series history, who coached there.
“They have quite a lot of financial backing there, and for these Fijian guys, there is the opportunity to go and play some rugby and earn a living out of it.
“That is crucial where they are from. Their national team is huge to them, but also earning a living is up there as well.”
Sri Lanka can lay claim to being one of Asia’s leading rugby nations, after Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.
But they cannot match Fiji’s contribution to the sport on a global scale.
The first genuine icon of rugby sevens, Waisale Serevi, says his compatriots have every right to put their livelihood ahead of national duty.
“We don’t have a lot of sponsors in Fiji and that is why a lot of players have gone to Sri Lanka, where there is not a lot of rugby,” Serevi said.
“Financially, it is much better for them, because it is much quicker and easier for them to get out of Fiji.
“When you are in the national team, you need something quickly to pay the bills and feed the family when you are away.
“I thank the Sri Lanka rugby union for looking after these players.
“I feel for them, because winning the trophy, winning the World Cup, winning the IRB Sevens Series, it is really good and makes people happy.
“But these boys, they go home and need to feed their family. The rugby union have to fix that as soon as they can, so the boys can stay longer in Fiji.”
News: Kenya Sevens star Oscar Ouma latest big name to turn back on Rugby Sevens and head to Sri Lanka for Super League - Ultimate Rugby Sevens - UR7s
Following weeks of speculation where the rugby sevens world has seen a large number Fijian 7s stars leave the Pacific Islands and head to Sri Lanka to play in the Super League it is now the turn of Kenya to lose one of their most influential players to the lure of financial gain in Asia.
Kandy Sports Club's third import touches down today from Kenya. Oscar A. Ouma born March 3, 1989 plays back-row forward for Top Fry Nakuru Rugby Football Club. He is better known in his nickname "Big Wheels" and of course for his exploits on the HSBC World Sevens Series.
Setefano Cakau latest Fijian star to head to Sri Lanka >>>
Oscar Ouma is a powerful loose-forward, punishing in defence, fleeted footed and deceptive in offence. After debuting for the Kenya under 20 team at the 2009 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Nairobi, Ouma really exploded onto the scene at the 2009 National Sevens Circuit, when playing on the wing, he led his club side Nakuru RFC to an overall third place finish. He has since broken into the Kenya Sevens team, playing as a forward and is well known for his winning score against New Zealand in Wellington in 2013.
Whether playing sevens or fifteens, Ouma is a joy to watch and it will be interesting to see what he can offer as he runs out in the Sri Lanka League tournament for Kandy sports Club. He will come in for the Havelock Sports Club game
There has been much discussion on the value of players heading out to Sri Lanka with regards to their rugby development but the finances are hard to turn down for players from Kenya and Fiji alike and it cannot be denied that there are now a number of world class rugby players plying their trade in league.
Who will be the next player to turn their back on the World Series and head out to pastures new? Let us know your thoughts on Oscar Ouma decision to leave Kenya to play in Sri Lanka below....
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