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President reassures Muslims
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:41 AM SL Time
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has reassured Muslim ministers that amendments would be made to the P-TOMS agreement to accommodate the needs and aspirations of the community.
At a meeting with Muslim leaders, the President acknowledged that some of the concerns of the community were valid and she would take them up with the LTTE, Wanni Rehabilitation Minister and SLMC breakaway group member Rishard Badiudeen said.
He said the President was taking immediate action and would meet the Muslim leaders again on Friday.
Obtaining signatory status to the P-TOMS agreement along with the government and the LTTE and ensuring more Muslim representatives in the regional councils coming under the P-TOMS are among the demands of the community.
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STF escort for 19 Tigers
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:35 AM SL Time
The police Special Task Force provide an armed escort to 19 LTTE cadres, of the Eastern Province yesterday (28), to return to Batticaloa from the Wanni. The cadres had earlier travelled to the Wanni by SLAF helicopter to meet the LTTE high command.
Among the 19 were the area leaders Ram and Kuileepan who had to delay their crossing to the East due to the Hartal by Muslims in the coastal areas of the Ampara and Batticaloa districts on Monday (27).
Though these LTTE cadres wanted to cross to the East from the Wanni last Sunday (26) through Kanchankudah, the STF and the Security Forces in the East had advised them against doing so due to the unrest among the Muslims who were organizing a Hartal.
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Fighting protests with tact and decisiveness
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:25 AM SL Time
With the JVP and JHU planning mass protests in Colombo against the recent signing of Joint Mechanism aka Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS), the Colombo police are likely to be called to crush demonstrations.
It wouldn`t be an easy task. The presence of hundreds, if not thousands of Buddhist monks representing the two political parties in anti-JM protests would make it extremely difficult for law enforcement officers to break-up protests.
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Politics
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The difference between SB's income and spending was Rs. 28.5 m ' witness
Thursday, 30 June 2005 - 2:49 AM SL Time
Inspector E. K. Don Chandrapala of the Bribery Commission told the High Court on Tuesday that former Cabinet Minister S. B. Dissanayake had spent more that twenty million rupees on the luxurious house he built in Hanguranketa. SB had also purchased a land in Hewaheta, Hanguranketa during that period, he said.
Former Minister S. B. Dissanayake was alleged to have earned money and property worth Rs. 48,332,820 which amount could not be explained by his normal sources of income. The indictment filed by the Bribery Commission against S. B. Dissanayake stated that from March 31 1995 to September 30 2001, being a Minister, he had earned Rs. 22,166,120 in cash and that he had acquired property worth Rs. 26,166,700 which cannot be explained by his ordinary income.
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JVP wants PM to reveal his stance on P-TOMS
Thursday, 30 June 2005 - 2:48 AM SL Time
The JVP wants Premier Mahinda Rajapakse to state his stand on the recently finalised Joint Mechanism or Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS).
The JVP recently signalled that they were ready to forge an alliance with Rajapakse to defeat what the party described as a compiracy to divide the country on ethnic lines.
JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa, in a letter delivered to Temple Trees on Tuesday said, `... no one could remain silent on this treasonable document anymore. Without coming out fearlessly against this treasonable act we can`t move forward,` Weerawansa said while expressing the belief that Rajapakse would reveal what he termed as Rajapakse`s honest opinion.
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Swiss encourage the signing of P-TOMS
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:43 AM SL Time
Switzerland yesterday welcomed the signing of an agreement on a Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) for the effective and equitable reconstruction and development of the tsunami-affected areas in the North and East of Sri Lanka and congratulated President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the LTTE on taking this important and constructive step.
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Editorial News
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The `heartsick` and the heartless
Thursday, 30 June 2005 - 2:44 AM SL Time
Doctors at the Karapitiya Teaching hospital have, according to a news report in our sister publication, the Divaina yesterday, warned that unless the government replenishes their surgical and drug stocks forthwith, they will be compelled to suspend all heart operations. Vital drugs and about forty surgical items are in short supply and repeated requests to the health authorities for replenishment have fallen on deaf ears, doctors have said. Some operations have already been stopped.
This is a grave situation!
It is strange that the Ministry of Health has not heeded the doctors' call and chosen to leave the poor patients on the waiting list for surgery to their fate. Children are the worst affected as the GMOA pointed out recently. There is a plethora of organisations campaigning for children's rights. But none of them have thought it fit to take up cudgels for these unfortunate children's right to life.
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Crucial meeting for Lanka's health
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:44 AM SL Time
Overshadowed by the political turmoil raging around the P-TOMS, the Presidential Election and other issues, an important meeting will be held tomorrow and on Friday to decide on policy measures which could provide relief to millions of people not only now but for generations to come. The meeting has been called by the Health Ministry to discuss the proposed draft for a National Medicinal Drugs Policy. All stake-holders including medical doctors and other health sector personnel, the Peoples Movement for the Rights of Patients and representatives of the drug trade have been invited for this consultation.
The comprehensive NMDP was drafted last February at a similar consultation coordinated by the WHO's regional adviser Chrishantha Weerasuriya, a widely respected personality in the formulation of drug policies and prices. With some compromises a consensus was reached and Professor Weerasuriya handed over the draft NMDP to Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva with Ministry officials giving an assurance that legislation based on this draft would be introduced in parliament soon and policy implemented for the well-being of millions of patients and the welfare of the country.
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Callousness of bovine cops
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:39 AM SL Time
It was six months ago that the worst ever natural disaster struck this country. The killer waves that came barrelling over the Bay of Bengal last December, left a vast trail of devastation. Nearly 40,000 persons perished within minutes. There is hardly anyone who has not lost someone near and dear to him or her. Memories of the dreadful sights of hundreds of people, men, women and children being piled up and buried in mass graves are still fresh in our minds. Tens and thousands of tsunami victims are still languishing in welfare centres or makeshift shelters.
Can anyone be so callous as to make merry on the very beach pummeled by the tsunami while the dead are being remembered six months on' If one thought only vultures could revel in death and agony of others, one thought wrong. There are some humans who are made of baser and coarser stuff than those scavenging animals.
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| Security |
Grab the opportunity EU requests LTTE
Thursday, 30 June 2005 - 2:47 AM SL Time
With the signing of the joint mechanism last Friday the European Union (EU) requests the LTTE to seize this opportunity to embark on a path both democratic and pluralistic, Wouter Wilton Senior official EU Delegation to Sri Lanka said at seminar titled Media Skills Development on Coverage of Disasters yesterday in Colombo. The EU welcomes the agreement between the Government and the LTTE.
He commended President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the Government for taking a positive step towards the Joint Mechanism.
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India`s support for JM conditional
Thursday, 30 June 2005 - 2:41 AM SL Time
The government of India has not fully supported the Joint Mechanism agreement signed by the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, as reported in sections of the media and used by the government authorities`, to justify the signing of the JM with the LTTE New Delhi based Indian government sources told The Island.
In answer to our question whether the JM agreement between the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE had the full backing of India, they said, `We hope that the implementation of the mechanism will strengthen democratic processes and uphold pluralism in the North and the East of Sri Lanka.` They said India wanted the democratic process strengthened in the north east with the inclusion of other stakeholders such as the democratic Tamil parties and the Muslims and pluralism to be upheld in the north and east. They said that India never endorsed the claim of the LTTE that it is the sole representative of Tamils.
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Indisciplined teachers have no excuse ' Chief Minister
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:37 AM SL Time
The Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Maheepala Herath participating in the 60th anniversary of Warakapola Babulhasan Muslim MMV on May 29 said he expected discipline of the highest level from the students and teachers. `Indisciplined teachers can never expect pardon from him,` he said.
The Chief Minister said even though the school came under the administration of the Provincial Council, the PC was not invited for any discussion on this ceremony. `However, the physical and human resources required for the school could be got only from the PC and therefore a close rapport with the PC should me maintained, he said.
As this is the only Tamil medium school in the Kegalle district, he would take steps to provide this school with a fully pledged library and a sports stadium.
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Business / Economy News
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Lanka's Apparel Industry maintains dominant status in Industrial Sector
Thursday, 30 June 2005 - 2:43 AM SL Time
The textile and apparel sector continued to maintain its dominant position in the industrial sector of Sri Lanka, while contributing around 44% of industrial production and 49% of the country's total export earnings with a value of US$2,809 million during 2004. When compared to export earnings of US$2,575 million in 2003, the earnings in 2004 were up 9.1%. Apparel exports during 2004 were US$2,645 million as against US$2,400 million in the previous year, up 10.2%.
The apparel sector which had small beginnings -in the 1979s, had grown since and in the mid-1980s became the leading export industry replacing the traditional tea and rubber industry, and today the most significant and dynamic contributor for the Sri Lankan economy. This sector has over the past two decades grown, and since 1986 has become the number-one foreign exchange earner and largest single employer in the manufacturing industry, providing direct employment opportunities to over 350,000 persons. The ongoing peace process in the country will also provide opportunities for new investments in the industry.
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New CIMA President pledges to add value to business
Thursday, 30 June 2005 - 2:43 AM SL Time
New CIMA President, Lalith Fonseka and Vice President, Aruna Fernando briefing the media. Pic D. Banduwardena
The new President of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Sri Lanka Direction Lalith Fonseka announced the theme and content of the programme to be implemented during his term of presidency, at a media briefing held at the Colombo Hilton on Tuesday.
Since the mission of CIMA is to provide professional accountants in bossiness, members should be equipped with the necessary technical skills and competencies, he said.
The theme for the coming year would therefore be `Adding value to business through technical excellence.` The introduction of CIMA's new generation qualification and the mandatory CPD programme has necessitated the Sri Lanka Division to adopt a technical focus in planing activities for the year.
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Kuwait returnees get final payment
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:44 AM SL Time
Arrangements are being made to effect the final round of payments to the repatriates who returned from Kuwait in 1990 due to the war and deposited their old Kuwait Dinar notes the Central Bank said yesterday.
The commercial banks under the direction of the Central Bank, paid compensation to repatriates on three occasions, at rates Rs. 26.25, Rs. 27.59 and Rs. 184.32 per Kuwaiti Dinar as announced in 1990, 1991 and 2001 respectively.
Repatriates who have proof of the deposits but were unable to receive full payment are now entitled to claim the dues from the Central Bank.
In order to make payment to those who received partial compensation on any of the three occasions, the Central Bank requests that they forward their claims to the Chairman, Kuwaiti Dinar Compensation Committee, Finance Department, 4th Tower - 10th Floor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, No. 30, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 01. The balance payment will be made to eligible claimants, who submit documentary evidence to the Central Bank before 30th June 2005. As this is the final round of payment for old Kuwaiti Dinars, eligible persons are advised to submit their written claims before the due date.
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| Sports News
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Rohan Pradeep denies taking banned substances
Thursday, 30 June 2005 - 2:42 AM SL Time
Controversial sprinter Rohan Pradeep Kumara has denied taking banned substances following the finding of two syringes in the hotel room he stayed in, during the Asian Grand Prix meet in Bangkok recently, Secretary of the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL), Prema Pinnawela told 'The Island' on Wednesday.
Pinnawela said that the Asian Athletics Federation had directed the AA of Sri Lanka to conduct a doping test on the champion athlete and added that Kumara had consented to face a test to prove his innocence.
Rohan Pradeep ran for Sri Lanka at the Bangkok leg of the Asian Grand Prix along with another 400 metres runner Prasanna Ameresekera of Army SC.
Pinnawela also said a detailed report on Rohan Pradeep Kumara's stay in Bangkok will be forwarded shortly to AASL President, Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon who returned to the country on Tuesday.
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Air Force thuggery breaches sports norms
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:38 AM SL Time
Some segments of the Sri Lanka Air Force 'infiltrated' the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday, reminiscent of a tense guerilla warfare movie, to arrest New Youngs' goalkeeper, Damith Dayawansa, while the FA Cup semi-final between Air Force and New Youngs was in progress. This led to bedlam at the stadium and the eventual abandonment of the match.
Armed Air Force personnel were present from the kick-off and additional forces were brought in as the match progressed. Damith Dayawansa has been the custodian of the Wennapuwa-based football club for a long period and had allegedly deserted the Air Force. It is reported that Air Force personnel had visited his home in search of him a few days before the semi-final, and the President of the New Youngs had requested the authorities concerned to permit him to play in the semi-final.
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Murali and Law star for Lancashire
Wednesday, 29 June 2005 - 2:38 AM SL Time
Lancashire`s hopes of progressing in the Twenty20 Cup was given a big boost as they thrashed Leicestershire by eight wickets at Old Trafford.
Muttiah Muralitharan claimed the superb figures of 4-19 as the visitors were held to 146-7, despite skipper HD Ackerman`s unbeaten 79 off 55 balls.
Stuart Law then clubbed an imperious 92 not out off 54 balls, with four sixes, to get the hosts home in the 17th over.
He put on 98 runs for the second wicket with fellow Aussie Brad Hodge (31).
Both players had to pass fitness tests before the match, but they were clearly in fine fettle and Law achieved victory for Lancashire in fine style with a six off Claude Henderson.
Twenty20 Cup, Old Trafford: Scores: Leicestershire 146-7 lost to Lancashire 149-2 by eight wickets
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