Basil asks for stories to be published that Dhanuna is being hidden in the US embassy premises in Colombo
2010-07-01
Minister Basil Rajapaksa has asked Divaina reported Keerthi Warnakulasuriya and a female journalist at Lake House to publish stories saying that General Sarath Fonseka’s son-in-law Dhanuna Thilekaratne is being kept inside the US embassy premises in Colombo.
Meanwhile NFF Leader and Minister Wimal Weerawansa has been assigned the task of creating an impression among the public against such actions.
The Defence Minsitry has decided to assign five more brigades to Mullaitivu simultaneously to the resettlement of IDPs in the district.
The five new brigades are being set up claiming that they are to provide security to the resettled people.
The Defence Ministry officials made these statements when they met the media at the Mullaitivu security headquarters to discuss the current situation in the Mullaitivu District.
Jackson paid Rs. 30 million for the cultural show at the ceremony held to fill water into the Hambantota Port
2010-07-01
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has decided to pay Rs. 30 million to Jackson Anthony after handing his propaganda company, Helanka, the cultural show at the ceremony to be held on August 1 to fill the Hambantota Port with water.
Veteran dancer Channa Wijewardena and several artists had visited the venue a few days back to inspect the grounds where the cultural show is to be held.
President unhappy with India for not objecting to Ban Ki-moon’s panel
2010-07-01
A senior official at the External Affairs Ministry told Lanka News Web that the President was displeased with India for not raising objections against the panel of experts appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to study and make proposals on Sri Lanka.
He said that the President had told the External Affairs Minister that while 29 countries including Russia have objected to the appointment of the panel, neighboring India has remained and that India’s silence was a sign of the country’s approval of the panel.
Bandula’s henchman appointed as head of transport at Lake House
2010-07-01
Lake House Transport Manager Sendanayake, who is allegedly helping the Chairman’s corrupt activities, has been promoted as the head of the transport division at the institution and as the manager of the Lake House provincial office yesterday.
Lake House sources said that the transport manager had been given such a promotion and a massive pay hike since he allegedly supported Lake House Chairman Bandula Padmakumara in his corrupt and irregular dealings.
Asia Foundation provides financial assistance to Jana Sabha concept
2010-07-01
The Asia Foundation it is learnt has provided the necessary financial assistance to Jana Sabha concept, which is one of the proposed constitutional amendments.
Political analysts are now discussing the involvement of the Asia Foundation, which stands for democracy, in this dictatorial amendment.
STOP LABOUR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE APPAREL
SECTOR AND COMPLY WITH ILO STANDARDS TO PROTECT
US GSP
2010-07-01
The US government has accepted a petition
to review the US GSP status enjoyed by Sri Lanka. The American Federation of Labour and
Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) filed the petition. Sri Lanka is now at the brink of
losing both EU and US GSP regimes. The Republic of Maldives lost its US GSP due to such
complaints at the beginning of this millennium.
The TUC wishes to state that the US GSP complaint accepted this week by the US government is
a direct result of poor labour conditions and non-compliance with international labour standards of
the ILO especially by the apparel sector employers and the government of Sri Lanka. It draws
attention to poor enforcement of labour laws in Export Processing Zones and the apparel sector,
restrictions to form union federations consisting of public-private sectors, etc..
A plan to give the coastline between Puttalam and Jaffna to India under the guise of using the area for a wind power project has been revealed. The Power and Energy Minister had made this statement during a visit to the area recently.
The Minister had said that the Kalpitiya area in Puttalam is to be used for a wind power project, but had not stated as to who would carry out the project.
Decision not to grant positions to defeated candidates not applied to All Ceylon Muslim Congress
2010-06-30
Senior officials at the SLFP headquarters told Lanka News Web that the President’s decision not to appoint defeated candidates at the last general election to positions in state institutions has been violated by all other constituent parties in the UPFA, with the exception of the SLFP. The official said that All Ceylon Muslim Congress leader Minister Rishard Bathiudeen had yesterday violated the Presidential directive by making such an appointment.
Samurdhi not approved for the Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts
2010-06-30
A TNA parliamentarian told Lanka News Web that the government when allocating funds for Samurdhi payments had not made provisions to include the Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts in the scheme.
The parliamentarian said that when queried about the matter from Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, he had said that there was no need to allocate monies through Samurdhi for the three districts as funds have already been allocated for those areas through the resettlement programme.
CMC elections
UPFA to filed Omar, UNP to field Musammil
2010-06-30
A senior government minister from the Colombo District told Lanka News Web that the President has already decided to filed Omar Kamil as the UPFA’s main candidate at for the Colombo Municipal Council during the local government elections.
Kamil had previously held the post of Colombo Mayor when he contested under the UNP and won. He currently serves as the Colombo Municipal Commissioner following a Presidential appointment.
A group of students affiliated to the agriculture division of the Peradeniya University had hooted at Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena and Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
The Health Minister had been hooted at by the students when he had participated at the event to open the agriculture equipment and food products sales center within the agriculture division of the University yesterday (29).
JVP trade unions vow to fight for a salary increment
2010-06-30
The JVP affiliated trade unions have decided to fight to win relief and salary increments to the working masses following the government’s announcement that salary increments would only be introduced in the 2011 budget.
JVP politburo member and President of the National Trade Union Center, K.D. Lalkantha called on the public and other trade unions to join the fight saying it is now up to the trade unions to fight to win salary increments for the working masses.
General Fonseka hands application to register new political party
2010-06-30
DNA parliamentarian Retired General Sarath Fonseka today (30) handed over the application to the Elections Commissioner to register a new political party under his leadership.
The new party, the Democratic Party (DP) is to be a constituent party of the DNA, which consists of several political parties including the JVP.
