Eight monks disrobing daily: Speaker

From Daily mirror Online - (S.A.U. De Silva)

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that Buddhist Monks disrobing had become a challenge and that eight monks disrobe each day, thereby affecting the functioning of many temples throughout the country including those in Colombo and the suburbs. 

The Speaker was explaining the present malady facing the Buddha Sasana at a Damma Discussion held recently at the Kandegoda Maha Cheithiya Pirivena Temple in Balapitiya coinciding with an event to hand over credentials to the Senior Professor of the Department of Philosophy at the Human Science Faculty of the Kelaniya University, Ven Kandegoda Wimaladhamma Anunayaka Thera, for the Anunayaka position of the Ambagahapitiya sect of the Amarapura Chapter. 

The ceremony was held under the patronage of the Chairman of the Amarapura Maha Sanga Sabha, Rajakeeya Panditha Ven. Dodampahala Chadrasiri Nayaka Thera. 

The Speaker also said he was sad to note a news item that had appeared in some foreign media outlets about recent events that took place in the country that had brought disgrace to the Sasana. The Nikaya Kathikawatha (convention) was introduced by the government to confer judicial power to the Sanga Sabha on the advice of the Maha Nayaka Theras.

 He said even after 90 years the Kathikawatha could not be amended. However, he said this Bill would not be introduced in Parliament. 

The world has today recognized the importance of Buddhism as a religion and Sri Lanka has the responsibility of spreading the knowledge of the Dhamma to the world. Buddhism has received state recognition in Austria and US President Barack Obama takes a Buddha Statue with him wherever he goes and engages in meditation. This shows that the important role Buddhism plays in the world, the Speaker said.

Wettimuny slams past cricket administrators

From The Daily News - SA'ADI THAWFEEQ
Former Sri Lanka Test cricketer and interim committee chairman Sidath Wettimuny blamed past elected administrators of Sri Lanka Cricket for the national team's poor performances in international cricket today.

Commenting on Sri Lanka's 23-run loss in the Asia Cup match to Bangladesh at Mirpur on Sunday, Wettimuny said, "I have always said that before long we would lose to Bangladesh. I don't blame the players or anybody at the moment but I blame all the past board elected administrations who for the purpose of a vote never did what has to be done by developing the next level of our cricket.

"We have been basking in the glory of our 1996 World Cup win for way too long and it's hitting us now. This is what successive elected boards never realized that we have to revamp our cricket. We have stayed so long it will take a long time to get out of it as well.

"You can't blame the cricketers because this is what they are exposed to - a certain level. How do you know what the next level is," he questioned.

Sri Lanka who had never lost a T20 international to Bangladesh were restricted 124-8 chasing 148 for victory. The defeat was their eighth in 12 T20 Internationals since winning the World T20 title in 2014.

"It was hard to swallow the defeat against Bangladesh. I am surprised that Sri Lanka are a little below par at the moment. I don't know whether the nature of the wicket is bothering our guys or what.

"Our technical skills in my opinion have deteriorated a lot I don't know whether something is wrong in our system," said Wettimuny, a technically accomplished opening batsman who has the honour of scoring his country's maiden Test century - 157 against Pakistan at Faisalabad in 1982.

"You see how crooked the bats are coming down they are all over. You don't have that sense of confidence. When you watch a player and once he gets in you know he is there for the long haul, but there is no assurance from the present players that they can win a match for you," he said.

"You have to watch one of the club matches and ask yourself is this the competition that is required to compete at that level".

"When other countries are playing at the highest level with their IPL's and BPL's etc. we are found wanting.

"Our only hope is Graham Ford (the head coach) who is good, given a little time would be able to put things right".

"He has a tough task to get Sri Lanka out of this mess that's the only way I see it".

Wettimuny said that for years Cricket Boards have been tampering and pandering to club pressures and never allowed a tournament stronger than the existing ones to take place.

"The clubs are pulling it down. They think because we won the World Cup in 1996 playing club cricket it can still remain the same. They don't realize that everything is changing. Indian cricket today is not what it was 10 years ago. They have come a long way," said Wettimuny.

"The bottom line is, don't look at what is happening today this is a problem which has come from a long time.

"It is the culmination of years of poor vision by the elected committees not realising that the game has to go onto another level. You cannot every day depend on club cricket and think because you won the 1996 World Cup that things are the same. What they don't realize is others have gone on ahead whereas we are trying to hold onto the same old thing and wait. You feel sorry for our cricket," he said.

Wettimuny said the defeat at the hands of Bangladesh had to happen for there to be a public outcry where our cricket is heading.

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SB Dissanayake Tipped To Be New UPFA General Secretary

From Asian Mirror

Minister S.B. Dissanayake is tipped to be appointed as the new General Secretary of the United People's Freedom Alliance, informed political sources said.

Born in 1951, Dissanayake entered electoral politics by unsuccessfully contesting from the Hanguranketha Electorate in the 1977 General Election under the Sri Lanka Communist Party ticket. He later joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and entered parliament in 1989.

He served as a Cabinet Minister from 1994 under the presidency of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge and was also appointed SLFP General Secretary. He broke away from the SLFP in 2001 and joined the UNP.

Dissanayake was imprisoned in 2004 for contempt of court. He was released in 2006 by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa government. Dissanayake later joined the SLFP and served as a Cabinet Minister under Rajapaksa.

Dissanayake entered the national government in 2015 following Maithripala Sirisena's victory in the Presidential Election in January 2015.

The UPFA General Secretary position was left vacated by the demise of Prof. Vishwa Warnapala last Saturday.

Senior Police Offier Likely To Be Arrested Over Thajudeen Murder

With input from Asian Mirror

A former senior police officer is to be arrested soon for destroying evidence and suppressing police investigation conducted over death of Wasim Thajudeen after the court confirmed that he was murdered, CID sources said.

Investigations have started against three heads of the Presidential Security Division, a group of soldiers, and a son of an elite family. They are to be arrested if circumstantial evidence corroborates against them.

Former Captain of the Havelock Rugger Team Wasim Thajudeen was found burnt to death in a car near the Shalika Grounds, Narahenpita in 17th May 2012. The police ruled out the incident as an automobile accident. 

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris ordered CID to arrest suspects of the murder on February 25th.