A meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe took place yesterday at Temple Trees. During this meeting the President has briefed the Opposition Leader regarding the humanitarian operations conducted by the Security Forces and also regarding the humanitarian assistance sent for the civilian population in the North. Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also participated. Picture by Chandana Perera
Action with a heart Headline Animator
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A meeting between Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe
A meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe took place yesterday at Temple Trees. During this meeting the President has briefed the Opposition Leader regarding the humanitarian operations conducted by the Security Forces and also regarding the humanitarian assistance sent for the civilian population in the North. Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also participated. Picture by Chandana Perera
Food convoys to continue despite rains - UN
Weekly food convoys run by the UN and Government for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North will continue, despite the monsoon rains, UN officials in Colombo said.
The third convoy since the relocation of UN and other international agencies from Wanni, on September 16 was expected to travel on October 24, UN spokesman Gordon Weiss told IRIN.
The agencies relocated following a Government directive. Since October 3, at least 101 UN supply trucks, in addition to Government supplies, have reached the Wanni. The weekly UN convoy carries 750 metric tonnes of supplies.
“The food distribution system, supported by the Government Agents in the Wanni, is working well,” Weiss said, “and indications are that supplies are reaching IDPs even in the remote villages (in the Wanni).”
Heavy rains in the Wanni in the past two weeks have caused delivery problems and heightened the need to provide shelter material for the estimated 230,000 IDPs there, UN and government officials told IRIN.
“The roads used by the food convoys need some repair,” Imalda Sukumar, the Government Agent for the Mullaithivu District, where more than 155,000 people (about 39,000 families) are displaced, told IRIN. “We have received funds to repair the road from the Government and we will start work soon.”
She said that Rs. 30 million had been allocated for the repair work, of which half was to be released immediately. The convoys can no longer use the A9 highway, the best road into the Wanni, but instead must take a north-eastern route from Puliyankulam, about 15km north of the Omanthai crossover point.
“It is not an easy journey, especially when you have 50 heavy vehicles loaded with supplies travelling during the rains,” Weiss told IRIN. The last UN convoy was delayed by more than two hours when two trucks became stuck in deep potholes.
The rains have also raised concerns over shelter for IDPs, Weiss said. According to UN assessments, thousands of families are in temporary shelters on paddy lands, which are prone to flooding.“With rains, there is the need to supply shelter material and we are now looking into transporting them,” Weiss said.
Sukumar told IRIN that despite most IDPs staying in low-lying areas, no significant flooding of IDP sites had been reported.
“There is, however, a health risk. Most of these people are living in the open without proper toilet facilities,” she said. “With the rains there is the threat of water-borne diseases, especially among the children.”
Weiss said cases of diarrhoea had been reported among the IDPs. IRIN(News-Dailynews)
The third convoy since the relocation of UN and other international agencies from Wanni, on September 16 was expected to travel on October 24, UN spokesman Gordon Weiss told IRIN.
The agencies relocated following a Government directive. Since October 3, at least 101 UN supply trucks, in addition to Government supplies, have reached the Wanni. The weekly UN convoy carries 750 metric tonnes of supplies.
“The food distribution system, supported by the Government Agents in the Wanni, is working well,” Weiss said, “and indications are that supplies are reaching IDPs even in the remote villages (in the Wanni).”
Heavy rains in the Wanni in the past two weeks have caused delivery problems and heightened the need to provide shelter material for the estimated 230,000 IDPs there, UN and government officials told IRIN.
“The roads used by the food convoys need some repair,” Imalda Sukumar, the Government Agent for the Mullaithivu District, where more than 155,000 people (about 39,000 families) are displaced, told IRIN. “We have received funds to repair the road from the Government and we will start work soon.”
She said that Rs. 30 million had been allocated for the repair work, of which half was to be released immediately. The convoys can no longer use the A9 highway, the best road into the Wanni, but instead must take a north-eastern route from Puliyankulam, about 15km north of the Omanthai crossover point.
“It is not an easy journey, especially when you have 50 heavy vehicles loaded with supplies travelling during the rains,” Weiss told IRIN. The last UN convoy was delayed by more than two hours when two trucks became stuck in deep potholes.
The rains have also raised concerns over shelter for IDPs, Weiss said. According to UN assessments, thousands of families are in temporary shelters on paddy lands, which are prone to flooding.“With rains, there is the need to supply shelter material and we are now looking into transporting them,” Weiss said.
Sukumar told IRIN that despite most IDPs staying in low-lying areas, no significant flooding of IDP sites had been reported.
“There is, however, a health risk. Most of these people are living in the open without proper toilet facilities,” she said. “With the rains there is the threat of water-borne diseases, especially among the children.”
Weiss said cases of diarrhoea had been reported among the IDPs. IRIN(News-Dailynews)
CPM demands unbiased action on LTTE supporters
CHENNAI: The CPI (M)’s Tamil Nadu unit yesterday demanded “unbiased action” against those supporting banned outfits or supporting armed rebellion for the Sri Lankan Tamil cause.
Referring to the arrest of MDMK leader Vaiko and party’s presidium chairman M Kannappan for allegedly making pro-LTTE speeches, the Party’s state unit secretary, N Varadarajan, said such action should be “unbiased,” in an apparent reference to some Tamil film directors reportedly demanding separate nationhood for Tamil Nadu.
In a statement here, he said demands for a separate Eelam as the permanent solution for the ethnic strife and a separate Tamil Nadu “will do no good for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.” He called for unity among “democratic forces” in the state which favoured a political solution to the problem in Sri Lanka through dialogue.
The party also condemned secessionist demands made by some persons.(News-Dailynews)
Referring to the arrest of MDMK leader Vaiko and party’s presidium chairman M Kannappan for allegedly making pro-LTTE speeches, the Party’s state unit secretary, N Varadarajan, said such action should be “unbiased,” in an apparent reference to some Tamil film directors reportedly demanding separate nationhood for Tamil Nadu.
In a statement here, he said demands for a separate Eelam as the permanent solution for the ethnic strife and a separate Tamil Nadu “will do no good for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.” He called for unity among “democratic forces” in the state which favoured a political solution to the problem in Sri Lanka through dialogue.
The party also condemned secessionist demands made by some persons.(News-Dailynews)
Premasiri Khemadasa passes away
Internationally renowned music maestro Premasiri Khemadasa (71) passed away yesterday at a private hospital in Colombo. ‘Khemadasa Master’ who has left his mark in the local and international music scene during the past five decades was born on January 25, 1937 in Talpitiya, Wadduwa.
He was educated at Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya and St.John’s College, Panadura. He started his musical career with the Radio Ceylon orchestra.
He had the opportunity of providing music to Roddie Kella a film by Sirisena Wimalaweera and the musical contribution he made to Lester James Piries’ Golu Hadawatha was a turning point in cinematic music.
He also composed music for the landmark film Nidhanaya. Later, he contributed to films such as Agnidahaya and Ammavarune.
He was a pioneer of indigenous music at a time when Hindi and Tamil copies flooded the airwaves. He shot to fame with the Manasawila opera. This was followed with several other productions such as Dora Mandalawa and Sonduru Warnadasa.
His symphonies Muhuda and Mage Kale Mavni also left indelible memories among his fans. Agni was also critically acclaimed.
The film “Bambaru Evith” captured the audience with his music for the Song “ Handunagaththoth Oba Ma....”. He embraced the television medium through Jayantha Chandrasiri’s epoch-making creation Dandubasnamanaya.
He has enriched the local theatre, ballet, symphony and the Sinhala film/television industry with his vast repertoire. No two creations of Khemadasa were similar and he evolved a unique identity among world musicians.
While some of his compositions were influenced by Western composers of opera in the end they assumed a totally Sri Lankan aura.
He has conducted shows in many world capitals, taking Sri Lankan music to an international audience.
Funeral arrangements will be notified later.
He was educated at Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya and St.John’s College, Panadura. He started his musical career with the Radio Ceylon orchestra.
He had the opportunity of providing music to Roddie Kella a film by Sirisena Wimalaweera and the musical contribution he made to Lester James Piries’ Golu Hadawatha was a turning point in cinematic music.
He also composed music for the landmark film Nidhanaya. Later, he contributed to films such as Agnidahaya and Ammavarune.
He was a pioneer of indigenous music at a time when Hindi and Tamil copies flooded the airwaves. He shot to fame with the Manasawila opera. This was followed with several other productions such as Dora Mandalawa and Sonduru Warnadasa.
His symphonies Muhuda and Mage Kale Mavni also left indelible memories among his fans. Agni was also critically acclaimed.
The film “Bambaru Evith” captured the audience with his music for the Song “ Handunagaththoth Oba Ma....”. He embraced the television medium through Jayantha Chandrasiri’s epoch-making creation Dandubasnamanaya.
He has enriched the local theatre, ballet, symphony and the Sinhala film/television industry with his vast repertoire. No two creations of Khemadasa were similar and he evolved a unique identity among world musicians.
While some of his compositions were influenced by Western composers of opera in the end they assumed a totally Sri Lankan aura.
He has conducted shows in many world capitals, taking Sri Lankan music to an international audience.
Funeral arrangements will be notified later.
Lanka rejects EU probe for GSP+
Sri Lanka will not be part of a process that comes in the form of an investigation on the extension of the GSP+ facility, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama asserted during his discussions with French Ambassador Michel Lummaux yesterday.
France is the current Chair of the European Union (EU).
Minister Bogollagama reiterated that an investigation to assess Sri Lanka’s compliance on the requisites for extension of this facility would not be accepted and therefore an alternative process should be found.
Bogollagama pointed out that Sri Lanka has conformed to all the requirements and nothing had changed since the commencement of according this facility.
He observed that the noble objective of the GSP+ facility will be negated judging from the communications Sri Lanka has received from the EC, which seem to allude to the establishment of punitive measures.
He stated that examination of conformity on the part of Sri Lanka in the review process should not be judged in the context of extraneous political issues.
The Minister also informed that Sri Lanka looks forward to continuing its engagement with the EU at the highest level.
Ambassador Lummaux confirmed that he understood Sri Lanka’s sentiments against the investigative review process and that France will follow a purely technical analysis on Sri Lanka’s response to the criteria.
He pointed out that the GSP+ facility was formulated as an incentive for sustainable development in developing countries. Therefore France wishes to have Sri Lanka’s application for its extension treated fairly.
The Ambassador also emphasised that France would not take a position of using this review process as a punitive measure, as it would only affect the poorest segment of Sri Lankan society.
He undertook to convey Sri Lanka’s position to his capital.
France is the current Chair of the European Union (EU).
Minister Bogollagama reiterated that an investigation to assess Sri Lanka’s compliance on the requisites for extension of this facility would not be accepted and therefore an alternative process should be found.
Bogollagama pointed out that Sri Lanka has conformed to all the requirements and nothing had changed since the commencement of according this facility.
He observed that the noble objective of the GSP+ facility will be negated judging from the communications Sri Lanka has received from the EC, which seem to allude to the establishment of punitive measures.
He stated that examination of conformity on the part of Sri Lanka in the review process should not be judged in the context of extraneous political issues.
The Minister also informed that Sri Lanka looks forward to continuing its engagement with the EU at the highest level.
Ambassador Lummaux confirmed that he understood Sri Lanka’s sentiments against the investigative review process and that France will follow a purely technical analysis on Sri Lanka’s response to the criteria.
He pointed out that the GSP+ facility was formulated as an incentive for sustainable development in developing countries. Therefore France wishes to have Sri Lanka’s application for its extension treated fairly.
The Ambassador also emphasised that France would not take a position of using this review process as a punitive measure, as it would only affect the poorest segment of Sri Lankan society.
He undertook to convey Sri Lanka’s position to his capital.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
