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With prices of essential items
soaring beyond the common man's
reach, even the vendors have felt
the pinch as they now sell
vegetables in 250g lots unlike
earlier. Picture shows a vegetable
vendor looking pensive in his stall
as people pass by without purchasing
any vegetables even after he had
displayed the price of 250g. The
inflation rate was recorded at 28.2%
in June, which was an increase of 2%
compared to May --
Photo by Asoka Fernando |
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JVP sets three conditions to call off strike
Reduce number of ministers to 30
Implement the 17th Amendment
Postpone provincial polls before July 10
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
JVP Parliamentarian and trade union wing
leader, K.D. Lalkantha in a letter sent to
President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday set
out three demands that include the full
implementation of the 17th Amendment for
immediate implementation by the government
in order to reconsider the strike planned
for July 10.
The demands, Lalkantha has said were in
response to the charge levelled against the
JVP affiliated National Trade Union Centre (NTUC)
that the strike was organised to hamper the
government's war effort.
The demands outlined by Lalkantha are the
reduction of the large number of ministerial
portfolios to 30, reduce the number of
advisors to 30 as well, cancel the holding
of early provincial council elections that
cost an unnecessary Rs. 400 million and hold
the elections at the due time and the
implementation of the 17th Amendment to
ensure democracy in the country.
"If the government implements these
conditions before July 10 to show its good
faith, the NTUC is willing to reconsider the
request made by you and the government not
to go ahead with the strike," Lalkantha has
said in the letter.
Lalkantha has also reminded Rajapakse in the
letter that all the conditions mentioned by
the NTUC were those that could be
implemented overnight if the President so
wished.
The letter has further highlighted the fact
that the people were against the wastage of
public funds by the government, especially
the holding of two elections prematurely
costing the government over Rs. 400 million.
"Your government is engaged in wasting
public funds through endeavours like Mihin
Air, protecting the wrong doers identified
in the COPE report and many other activities
that have pushed the country further into an
abyss," Lalkantha has said.
He has added, "The people are not pleased
with the fact that you, who have been in
government for almost three years have not
yet set a good example to the people."
The NTUC called for an island wide strike on
July 10 based on three demands.
The demands are the increase of the salaries
of public and private sector workers by a
minimum of Rs. 5,000 and the estate sector
workers salaries increased to Rs. 500 per
day, payment of the promised Rs. 2.50 for
each increasing point in the cost of living
index and the reduction of train fares that
have been increased by over 100%.
President directs
ministers to stick to one portfolio
Several government ministers are up in arms
following a request by President Mahinda
Rajapakse for those holding more than one
portfolio to resign and retain only one
post.
The President's decision was communicated to
several ministers and deputy ministers in
writing last week by President's Secretary
Lalith Weeratunga.
The Sunday Leader learns a dispute has
arisen due to only some ministers and
deputies being asked to shed their
portfolios while others have been allowed to
retain theirs.
It is learned Coconut Development and Nation
Building Minister Salinda Dissanayake had
resigned from the Coconut Development
portfolio following the President's
directive but several others had not agreed
to do so because of the selective basis on
which the demand was made.
Informed sources said while Ministers
Mahinda Wijesekera , Dilan Perera and
Salinda Dissanayake were for example asked
to retain only one portfolio and resign from
the rest, others like Aviation and Ports
Minister Chamal Rajapakse and Export
Development and International Trade Minister
G.L. Peiris had not been directed to do so.
The sources said it is unlikely most
ministers called upon to shed their
portfolios will do so until the principle is
applied uniformly.
"The President of course can remove any
minister and those removed can take their
own political decisions," one top source
said.
Wanni facing starvation
after Omanthai closure
The continuous closure of the vital Omanthai
entry/exit point was pushing the
humanitarian situation in the Wanni to
breaking point with essential supplies to at
least 200,000 civilians held back,
government officials in the Wanni warned.
The ICRC which pulled out of Omanthai on
July1 after a heavy exchange of artillery
and aerial fire near the northern end of the
cross-over point said that officials would
only return to the point after security
guarantees were obtained from both parties.
"Omanthai remains closed, and as soon as we
have security assurance from the authorities
it will reopen. The safety of the civilians
using the cross over point and the ICRC
officials is of concern to us," ICRC
Spokesperson Sarasi Wijeratne told The
Sunday Leader.
Nagalingam Vedanayagam, the government agent
in Kilinochchi said that supplies to
civilians would only last for two weeks and
prices would sky rocket even before that if
the closure continued.
Dr. T. Sathyamoorthi, Director, Kilinochchi
Hospital said that drugs were only available
for a month and new supplies were waiting at
Omanthai to be delivered to Kilinochchi.
He also said that patients needing urgent
medical assistance were allowed to go to
Vavuniya on special permission.
According to statistics at the Divisional
Secretariat there were 195,000 persons in
Kilinochchi and 220,000 in Mullaithivu by
January 2008. However humanitarian agencies
said that the figure could be lower now with
several thousands having fled the Wanni.
The government military and the Tigers both
said that they had given security guarantees
to the ICRC over Omanthai last week.
LTTE Media Coordinator Daya Master said that
the Tigers had already assured their
cooperation to ensure the security of the
ICRC in writing.
Daya Master stated that the assurance was
given the following day Omanthai point was
closed, and that the letter was handed over
by Thiagaraja alias Pavarasan, Coordinator,
Secretariat of UN Agencies and Non
Governmental Organisations.
Military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya
Nanayakkara said that the military would
ensure the safety of the ICRC working at the
entry exit point.
He stated the ICRC did not face any problems
due to the military, but only because of the
LTTE.
"We do not know whether the ICRC has got
back to the military on its position, as the
ICRC liaises with the commander in the
area."
Karuna assumes TMVP
leadership
By Arthur Wamanan
Karuna Amman has reassumed the leadership of
the TMVP soon after his return from Britain,
though his functions remain unclear, the
TMVP said last week.
TMVP Spokesperson Azath Moulana told The
Sunday Leader that Karuna would remain the
leader of the party, while Pillayan would be
his deputy.
He stated that the functions of Karuna
following his return to the country would be
decided at the politburo meeting to be held
this week.
"He will continue to be our leader. There is
no question about that. However, the
functions of Karuna Amman and the functions
of other members following his return would
be decided at our politburo meeting this
week," he said.
More than 80,000 families
live as IDPs in temporary shelters
By Shezna Shums
More than 80,000 persons continue to live as
IDPs in camps after the recent rains
destroyed their homes. They are yet to
rebuild their homes.
According to the Disaster Management Centre
there are still around 28,299 affected
families consisting of 82,988 persons.
The displaced persons are from the districts
of Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Ratnapura,
Colombo, Galle
and Kegalle.
In these districts there are 178 affected
divisions where persons whose homes have
either been damaged or destroyed following
the heavy rains. The statistics show that
there are 109 partially damaged houses with
a total of 19 houses fully damaged.
There are 14 IDP camps still in operation
that provide shelter to the people who are
unable to return to their homes. These camps
are also places where the displaced persons
are given food and water, which is provided
by the Divisional and District Secretaries.
There are 620 persons still living in these
temporary shelters and they include 60
families. The government is providing
financial assistance to persons to
reconstruct their homes. However many
continue to remain in the camps until they
feel they can re-start their lives.
Even though 620 persons are listed as
living in temporary shelters, many families
have opted to temporarily live with their
extended families and friends until they can
rebuild their new homes.
SLMC to say no to SB
today
The SLMC high command is expected today to
turn down a request by the UNP to nominate
party national organiser S.B. Dissanayake to
Parliament on the national list.
The SLMC which contested in alliance with
the UNP at the 2004 general election has one
national list slot available on the UNP list
following the resignation of Basheer Segu
Dawood to contest the Eastern Provincial
Council election.
Another national list slot rendered vacant
on the SLMC list following the resignation
of General Secretary Hasan Ali is to be
filled by party leader Rauf Hakeem.
The Sunday Leader learns UNP Leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe had requested the SLMC to
agree to the nomination of Dissanayake to
Parliament on the national list seat that
was allocated to Segu Dawood. It is learned
Wickremesinghe had also sent a UNP
delegation to make representations to the
SLMC on behalf of Dissanayake. The Sunday
Leader learns Segu Dawood and Hasan Ali
resigned their Parliamentary seats to
contest the provincial council election on
an assurance given by the UNP leader to
Hakeem that the two national list seats will
be kept open for SLMC nominees.
A top SLMC source said the party High
Command is to meet at 10 a.m. today to take
a decision on the UNP request but that an
overwhelming number were opposed to
conceding the national list slot to the UNP
irrespective of the person for whom it is
sought.
"The SLMC sacrificed its portfolios and
positions and joined the Opposition during
the budget on a matter of principle and we
went further at the provincial council
election and our leader, General Secretary
and Chairman resigned from Parliament to
contest the election to further those
principles and it is shocking the UNP can
now ask to even consider sacrificing the
national list seat too," a top SLMC source
said.
The source added there will be a rebellion
against the SLMC leader if he concedes the
seat to the UNP and added if the UNP does
not honour its commitment and appoint a SLMC
nominee to the national list vacancy, there
can never be a future alliance between the
two parties since there will be a total
breakdown of trust.
News 1st wins CNN
International Award
News 1st, which operates news in three
languages across seven channels received an
award for the Best Feature Report at the CNN
World Report Awards, 2008. This is the
second international award won by News 1st,
the first being the Silver Medal won by
Minelle Fernandez at the UN Millennium
Awards.
The story, which was titled "Coexistence of
children of different ethnicities in Sri
Lanka," aired on CNN World Report, is one
among many News 1st features that often make
it to the CNN international broadcast.
The feature story produced by News 1st's
Shameer Rasooldeen clinched the award in a
packed field of international broadcasters
including some of the world's largest media
companies such as CCTV of China and RBC of
Russia. "I am very proud to have been able
to be a part of winning this award. The News
1st team supported me a lot. I must mention
Chavika and Namal who assisted me in the
production," noted Rasooldeen, the young
News 1st manager responsible for the feature
story.
Channel Head, News 1st, MTV/MBC, Chevaan
Daniel who underlined that these successes
were the direct result of the inspiring,
relentless leadership of the Chairman Raja
Mahendran also stated that this was an award
for all of Sri Lanka, as News 1st was a
proudly Sri Lankan brand, which had achieved
international recognition.
The CNN World Report Awards also saw
channels from Switzerland, Egypt and Israel
win awards in other categories.
Public security in
Trincomalee has deteriorated - CHA
Public security has deteriorated during the
month of June despite security personnel
being deployed on several roads and lanes in
Trincomalee, the Consortium of Humanitarian
Agencies (CHA) last week said.
The issue was brought up during a meeting
between Secretary General of the Secretariat
for the Coordination of the Peace Process (SCOPP)
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha and INGOs and UN
agencies on June 27.
The meeting was chaired by Trincomalee
government agent Maj. Gen. T.T.R. de Silva.
"Prof. Wijesinha noted the concerns and the
police were asked to report on the cases.
Some had not been reported formally, but the
police would look into what was brought to
their notice. He urged the development of
civil society groupings in communities that
would strengthen local protection, and the
conveyance of information to the authorities
to reduce threats of all sorts," it said.
The issues faced by the fishermen were also
taken up at the meeting.
Many fishing families, especially in Muttur
had been affected due to the restrictions
placed on the timings for fishing. The
fishermen said that the day time fishing,
which is permitted for restricted hours does
not give them a good catch, particularly for
small boats and drag nets that could not
take advantage of the concession to stay out
all night.
The restrictions were imposed on May 10 and
later relaxed on May 26. However, the
fishermen are allowed to fish from 6 a.m. to
6 p.m.
They had requested that night-time fishing
be allowed especially for small boats.
"Professor Wijesinha noted that the security
forces were constantly adjusting times to
benefit fishermen, unlike in previous high
security situations. However restrictions
had to be imposed when there were security
threats, as when, after liberalisation of
hours, the attack on a ship at the Ashraff
Jetty made clear the continuing threats."
Trishaw drivers irked
over increased BTT
By Risidra Mendis
The All Island Three Wheeler Drivers'
Welfare Association (AITWDWA) has voiced its
concern over a government decision to
increase the Business Turnover Tax (BTT)
from 1% to 5% in the Western Province.
The increase of BTT in the Western Province
would mean an increase of 4% for vehicles,
gold jewellery, costume jewellery,
furniture, alcohol and cigarettes.
The AITWDWA claims that the government's
decision to increase the BTT is a clear
indication that they want to completely
destroy the three wheeler industry.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader President
AITWDWA Lalith Dharmasekera said the
government takes decisions with the
intention of destroying the three wheeler
industry in the country.
"The government first banned the use of two
stroke trishaws. The excuse they gave was
that two stroke trishaws contributed to air
pollution. Government officials asked
trishaw drivers who had two stroke trishaws
to convert them to four stroke trishaws.
Trishaw drivers have to pay around Rs.
40,000 to convert a two stroke engine into
four stoke," Dharmasekera said.
He added that government officials are
conveniently ignoring the fact that trishaws
are a popular mode of transport especially
for the middle class who cannot afford to
pay high taxi fares and travel in
air-conditioned taxis.
"The AITWDWA is urging the government to
address the issues faced by trishaw drivers
and find a solution to their problems. If
the government fails to address the issues
faced by trishaw drivers we will be
compelled to protest against the
government," Dharmasekera said.
Consumer affairs
minister appraised of poultry farmers'
problems
By Shezna Shums
The All Island Poultry Association (AIPA) is
hoping to revive the collapsed poultry
industry as the surging cost of production
saw farmers ceasing their poultry
operations.
Last week, Chairman, AIPA, Dr.
D.D.Wanasinghe held discussions with the
Consumer Affairs Minister regarding the
problems faced by poultry farmers and the
steps that should be taken to revive the
industry.
AIPA was asking that the price of a kilo of
chicken to be fixed at Rs. 350 from the last
year's price of Rs. 280 per kilo. However
considering the minister's request not to
increase the price due to the economic
situation in the country, AIPA decided to
sell a kilo of chicken at Rs. 320.
"Even with this price we will only be
earning a marginal profit and be able to
revive the poultry industry to some extent.
Chairman AIPA explained that if they are
allowed to sell a kilo of chicken at Rs.
350, they would be able to stabilise and
revive the poultry industry and also be able
to restart some of the livelihoods of
small-scale poultry farmers.
It was pointed out that from last year the
cost of production had increased by 59.5
percent. "We are looking at a proportional
increase in the selling price of chicken,"
said the Chairman.
Usually there is a 10 percent increase in
the poultry industry. But since 2007 this
expansion has stopped and there has been a
sharp decline.
"Many small scale farmers have ceased
operations, while the large poultry farming
organisations have reduced their operations
by 40 percent. Instead of closing down, the
organisations reduced their operations to
prevent losing their establishments,"
explained the Chairman.
Maize consists of 80 percent of the feed
needed for the poultry industry, but this
feed is sold with a 20% cess.
"If the cess is reduced the industry will
benefit," said the Chairman. The Chairman
AIPA, however, was told to make a written
request to the minister in this regard.
The Chairman added that if the cess was
reduced the poultry industry would guarantee
that they would buy the entire maize
production in the country.
At the moment the country produces about
65,000 to 70,000 metric tonnes of maize per
year. But the poultry industry alone needs
at least 200,000 metric tonnes of maize
annually.
A survey of the poultry industry has shown
that there were about 85,000 poultry
farmers, and another 100,000 input suppliers
such as the drivers used for transportation,
sales people and others indirectly involved.
The Chairman said that there are about one
million people including family members who
were dependant on the poultry industry and
added that they would be affected if
measures were not taken to revive this
industry.
Regional charter on climate change
By Risidra Mendis
Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka has
proposed the adoption of a SAARC Regional
Charter on Climate Change as a means of
addressing climate change and its impact on
the country.
The Minister made this statement when he
attended the SAARC Ministerial meeting held
in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 3.
Participants at the SAARC ministerial
meeting addressed issues related to climate
change and the need to take precautionary
measures.
As a part of the charter on climate change
the Minister says the country has already
established a Sustainable Energy Authority.
"It is common knowledge that GHG emissions
from fossil fuel burning has contributed to
the global warming and related climate
change impacts. We should promote renewable
energy sources such as wind power, solar
power and biomass energy in order to set an
example to the rest of the world on how to
promote such practices," Ranawaka said.
According to Ranawaka the government has
already agreed that 10% of the power
generated should come from renewable sources
by 2010.
"The ministry has declared gliricidia as a
plantation crop to promote dendro power and
to promote community forestry.
Implementation of climate friendly
programmes such as the Vehicle Emission
Testing Programme, the Pilisaru Waste
Management Programme and the Eco Villages
Programme will have a direct impact on
climate change," Ranawaka explained.
Left
Front supports July 10 strike
The Left
Front (LF) has extended its support to the July 10 strike and has called
on the working masses to extend its fullest cooperation to the strike.
In a statement, the Front has also said that if the
government did not grant the demands of the working people, the trade
union sector should form an alliance through a convention and launch a
massive, continuous strike to win the demands.
The LF has also condemned the President’s proposal to grant a Rs. 625
salary increase to the public sector workers as an action that demeaned
the workers.
Trying
to suppress the people
Ranil
says Govt. unable to solve problems
Opposition and
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that the government unable
to solve the issues faced by the people was involved in a suppression
campaign and vowed not to allow the government to continue with it.
Wickremesinghe, addressing a gathering of the United
Artists Forum at Sirikotha said that action should be taken if the
government was using its powers to suppress the people, destroy the
democratic rights of the people, destroy media freedom, rig polls and not
implement the 17th amendment.
He said that when the UNF gained power in 2001, the
country was faced with many crises.
“The economy had fallen and the country was facing
a war. My first act was to bring peace to the country and build the
economy. There was no way to tend to any other issue without first solving
the economic crisis,” he said.
He also said that the difference between him and
President Mahinda Rajapakse was that Rajapakse for two years listened to
everyone’s problems without providing any solutions.
“There
is no point in listening to the problems faced by the people if you cannot
solve them,” he said.
“People are starving… They are living in fear,
they cannot move about freely,” he said.
He also said that at a time when people’s
supremacy was under threat, everyone should fight to safeguard it. “We
have to get together with the people directly and take to the streets to
protect people’s supremacy,” he said.
“We are going to launch a massive island wide
programme to gather the people and prepare to take to the streets,”
Wickremesinghe said.
Wickremesinghe said that in this backdrop, the UNP has decided to extend
its fullest support to ensure the success of the July 10 strike. He also
said that the UNP’s pledge to gather the people would commence on July 9
from Colombo Central.
All CEB unions will join strike says LVSS
The JVP affiliated Lanka Viduli Sevaka
Sangamaya (LVSS) last week said all CEB
trade unions would join the general strike
on July 10, but added it could not comment
on the possibility of a total blackout.
LVSS Convener, Ranjan Jayalal told The
Sunday Leader that he could not comment on a
total blackout on the day, as the LVSS was
still awaiting a positive response from the
government.
"I cannot comment on the issue right now. We
cannot cut the power and go to the streets.
We cannot do so. But, it will be very
difficult if all of us come to the road.
Only a few hundred engineers will be working
islandwide," he said.
Jayalal added that leaders of a few
independent trade unions would not take part
in the strike due to their connections to
the ruling party. "But the members will join
the strike," he said.
He also said that civilians would face
difficulties when there were problems with
electricity, as the regional offices would
be closed and would only reopen the
following day.
"These kinds of problems are there. We are
still working on how to manage these issues.
But, we will definitely go through with the
strike."
Meanwhile the All Ceylon Transport Services'
Union (ACTSU) said that it requested the
private bus owners to provide full
cooperation to the general strike.
"We still haven't received any feedback to
the request. But there is time," ACTSU
Secretary, Sepala Liyanage told The Sunday
Leader.
Five million reward for information on
attackers
The Newspaper Publishers of Sri Lanka in a
letter to President, Mahinda Rajapakse last
Wednesday have expressed their concern over
theattack on a journalist in Colombo on June
30.
The Newspaper Publishers have also attached
a copy of a letter sent by the Sri Lanka
Press Institute (SLPI) to the IGP on the
same matter to the President.
The publishers in their letter to the
President have said that they welcome a
statement made by him that 'there is a
conspiracy to attack journalists and to make
the government uneasy.' "We hope this would
lead to the speedy conclusion of the
investigation and the establishing of the
identity of those responsible. This we
believe would be in the interests of freedom
of expression and good governance."
The SLPI and the Newspaper Publishers has
also offered a reward of Rs. 5 million for
information leading to the apprehension and
prosecutionof the assailants of Acting
Manager - Advocacy, Sri Lanka Press
Institute and Course Coordinator of the Sri
Lanka College of Journalism, Namal Perera,
Perera along with Political Officer of the
British High Commission, Mahendra Ratnaweera
were assaulted on Kirulapone Mawatha,
Polhengoda, while they were returning home.
"The media institutions are deeply concerned
about the safety and security of
journalists, media workers and their
families, as the frequency of attacks on
journalists has been increasing over the
last few months," the statement said.
The attack on Perera comeshardly a month
after the assault on visiting lecturer at
the Sri Lanka College of Journalism (SLCJ)
Keith Noyahr who was abducted and
subsequently assaulted on May 22.
The SLPI and the Newspaper Society has
established a scheme with Reporters Sans
Frontiers (RSF)who will receive the
information on this attack. All such
communications will be received in utmost
confidence, and the identities of informants
will be protected at all costs. Every
informant will be identified only by a code
to ensure secrecy of his or her identity.
Upon contacting RSF by hotline, telephone,
fax, or e- mail the informant will be
requested to identify him or herself only
with a special code so that no person will
be identified.
Once the information provided is verified
and authenticated, and this information
leads to the apprehension and prosecution of
the assailants, the informant could contact
RSF and provide his or her code number and
claim the reward.
The newspaper publishers include Wijeya
Newspapers, Upali Newspapers, Express
Newspapers, Sumathi Newspapers, Leader
Publications, New Uthayan Publications and
Thinakkural Publications, along with the Sri
Lanka Press Institute.
The contact details of RSF are 0033 147 777
414 or email HelpPress
SriLanka @gmail.com.
Deputy Speaker resigns
Following the resignation of Deputy Speaker
Geetanjana Gunewardene, the House will
suspend all scheduled business on July 8 to
appoint a new deputy speaker. The Standing
Orders require that the appointment of a
Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman
of Committees to precede all other business.
Gunewardene tendered his letter of
resignation last Thursday, which was
accepted by President Mahinda Rajapakse on
Friday. Parliament was duly informed of the
resignation on Friday. However, Gunawardene
when asked about the reasons for resignation
refrained from going into details but said
that he tendered his resignation, which was
accepted..
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