Sri Lanka: Rajapaksa’s action replay in UK

By Col R Hariharan

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s key note speech at the Commonwealth Economic Forum organised by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and the City of London today was called off by the organisers “due to pressure of pro-LTTE elements in London” as the Sri Lanka High Commission claimed. 

Though the Scotland Yard was ready to provide assured security, the CBC “decided it was not in their interest to stage the event” according to media reports. However, CBC website merely said: “After careful consideration, the morning sessions of the Forum… will not take place.''

Sri Lanka Perspectives: May 2012

By Col R Hariharan

     Highlighs

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Victory Day speech defends the role and deployment of army in Northern Province and emphasises it would not be withdrawn as Tamil Diaspora and the LTTE remnants abroad were trying to revive armed struggle for Tamil Eelam

Release of former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, from prison after the President granted a remission of his three-year sentence, has introduced a new element in opposition politics.

Miscellaneous: The World Bank is doubling its preferential credit to Sri Lanka to $ 500 million this year. Price of cooking gas, milk and cement which were consumed in retail have been hiked in response to falling rate of Sri Lanka rupee. Seventeen Chinese money launderers were arrested for deportation. The chances of reconciliation process resuming appear dim as the government has ignored the UNP’s plea in parliament to create suitable environment for the Parliamentary Select Committee to take up the issue.

Legacy of General VK Singh

The just completed tenure of General VK Singh as Chief of Army Staff will be remembered as an epoch making one. It was marked by a series of controversies as single handedly he tried to clean up an entrenched corrupt system. I am reproducing an interesting analysis of the legacy Gen VK Singh leaves behind by Lt Gen Harwant Singh, former Deputy Chief of Army Staff, that had appeared in the Hindustan Times (Chandigarh edition) for your reading.                                               

Gen VK Singh's legacy

By  Lt-Gen Harwant Singh ( Retd )
                     
Much has been written in the press and much more discussed on TV channels as to Gen VK Singh’s legacy. Equally there have been controversies and allegations on his conduct, relations with the MoD and with senior officers within the army. It is time to examine the issues in their correct perspective and close this chapter of accusations and counter charges.