Mihin re-born on President’s order

Mihin Lanka is expected to operate once again with an infusion of US dollars 400 million. The resurrection is to save President Mahinda Rajapaksa any embarrassment, as the budget airline was his idea, a top government source said.President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to appoint Maga Naguma Company Chairman Jaliya Kulasekara as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mihin Lanka, political sources said.The President had called Kulasekara and asked him to takeover as the CEO, as Sajin Vaas Gunawardana had been a miserable failure and could not keep Mihin flying.The President had asked Kulasekara to provide US $ 200 million and had said that he would find another US$ 200 million to revive the airline which does not fly anymore. Kulasekara, it is reliably learnt, had flown to Dubai with a team of officials to look into the possibility of hiring three aircraft as an initial measure to get the airline up and running, sources said.Meanwhile, President Raj-apaksa had requested Kula-sekara to pick airline professionals to the Director Board, and had said that the earlier board was incompetent because it was comprised of rank amateurs in the airline business .. They had only been enjoying the perks and had made no contribution whatsoever towards the airline, he had said.It is reliably understood that Kulasekara had requested the President that that he would undertake the post only on condition that there is no political interference from any quarter, so that he could make Mihin a profitable venture on the lines of the Maga Naguma Company. When Mihin Lanka collapsed , it recorded losses of over Rs.3 billion and owed Rs.850 million to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation for fuel supplies.Companies that leased flights to Mihin Lanka had also recalled all the flights as Mihin Lanka had failed to settle payments.

Mahanayake Theras laud Govt’s moves to eradicate terrorism

The Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Most Ven Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera and the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter the Most.Ven Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera yesterday lauded the Government’s efforts to eradicate terrorism and bring peace to the country.
The Mahanayake Theras made these comments when President Mahinda Rajapaksa called on them and received their blessings at the Asgiriya and Malwatu Viharayas in Kandy yesterday.
Most Ven Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera said certain elements were making a futile attempt to achieve narrow and petty political gains by instigating university students while the Forces were making tremendous progress in eradicating terrorism.
The prelate said certain elements with vested interests were striving to create problems and cripple the Government’s endeavour to bring peace to the country by inciting students. “These elements cannot bear when the Government is making progress,” he said.
“They are trying to create rifts among the Sangha. What they want is to cripple the country’s stability and achieve their petty political objectives.
Students should identify these elements and evade them. Parents should find out what their children are doing in the university and no one should be allowed take them for a ride.
The Opposition should not oppose for the sake of opposing. They should get away from this habit of opposing everything what the Government is doing”.
The Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Most.Ven Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera said the Government succeeded in organising the SAARC Summit despite baseless allegations by certain unscrupulous elements.
The country achieved a great victory by hosting the SAARC Summit and people irrespective of their political affiliations should laud the Government’s efforts, the Thera said. President Rajapaksa told the Mahanayake Theras that certain elements in the south were supporting the terrorists by being behind the students’ protest campaigns.
“I am facing a great threat from terrorists and a terrorist in the guise of protesting students could wreak havoc. Police observed utmost restraint when the students were trying to enter Temple Trees.
When other available means failed, we had to employ force to disperse the students trying to enter Temple Trees. All students violently tried to enter Temple Trees even after five of their representatives were informed that they could have discussions with me. They tried to enter Temple Trees putting my security at stake”.
Elements inciting students to violence and protest have ample opportunities to have their agendas realised. Saving the country from the terrorists should be top on our agenda,” he said.
The President Rajapaksa also called on the Chief Incumbent of the Getambe Rajapavanoramaya Ven Keppetiyagoda Siri Wimala Thera.
The Thera said the President treaded a thorny path to ascend to the top rung of the country and he has patience, fortitude and perseverance to free the country from all woes.
President Rajapaksa also donated three pairs of elephant tusks to the Getambe Rajapavanoramaya yesterday. Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka was also present.

Northern Sri Lanka kills 22 rebels

Air force jets pounded Tamil Tiger fortifications in northern Sri Lanka on Saturday, destroying a rebel bunker line as fighting intensified in the country's civil war, the military said.
Heavy battles Friday across the front lines surrounding the dwindling area controlled by the rebels killed 22 guerrilla fighters, the military said in a statement today.