Nuns belonging to the Missionaries of Charity order follow the service to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa (pictured in banner) at her tomb in the Missionaries of Charity house in Kolkata August 26, 2010. Teresa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who died in 1997, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003 at the Vatican. Teresa's birth centenary was marked on Thursday. REUTERSAction with a heart Headline Animator
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Remembering Mother Teresa
Nuns belonging to the Missionaries of Charity order follow the service to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa (pictured in banner) at her tomb in the Missionaries of Charity house in Kolkata August 26, 2010. Teresa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who died in 1997, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003 at the Vatican. Teresa's birth centenary was marked on Thursday. REUTERS
Japan Digest: Hatoyama Backs Kan, Pension Fraud Charge, No to English at Work
Here is a roundup of news from Japanese newspapers, news wires and websites on Wednesday, August 25, 2010. The Wall Street Journal has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
Hatoyama Tells Ozawa He Backs Kan in DPJ Presidential Election: Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told Democratic Party of Japan power broker Ichiro Ozawa on Tuesday night that he will support Prime Minister Naoto Kan in next month’s DPJ leadership election, sources of the ruling party said. Hatoyama’s move to throw his support behind his successor reflects his effort to prevent a serious intra-party division from intensifying ahead of the September 14 election. (Source: Kyodo)
Family of ‘111-Year-Old’ Man Accused of Illegally Receiving Pension: A pension association has filed a criminal complaint against the family of a Tokyo man found dead at his home last month on suspicion of fraudulent receipt of pension payments the man would have been entitled to as a widower, investigative sources said Tuesday. The discovery of the mummified body of Sogen Koto, who may have died as long ago as 1978, drew attention to the fact hundreds of registered elderly people in Japan can’t now be traced. (Source: Kyodo)
Over Half of Japanese Against Making English Official Language at Work: An online survey by the Mainichi Shimbun has revealed that 57% of those aged over 20 think using English as the official language in their companies is not a good idea. But some 55% of respondents believe that Japanese people should be able to speak English as fluently as their native language in the future. (Source: Mainichi)
Families of 42 Korean Forced Laborers Located: Family members of 42 Koreans who had been brought to Japan during the country’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula apparently as forced laborers and later died during World War II have been found, but the identification process for the majority of the remains continues to be onerous. A South Korean government commission said it identified 21 other laborers but could not locate their relatives. (Source: Asahi)(News-Japan Real Time)
Hatoyama Tells Ozawa He Backs Kan in DPJ Presidential Election: Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told Democratic Party of Japan power broker Ichiro Ozawa on Tuesday night that he will support Prime Minister Naoto Kan in next month’s DPJ leadership election, sources of the ruling party said. Hatoyama’s move to throw his support behind his successor reflects his effort to prevent a serious intra-party division from intensifying ahead of the September 14 election. (Source: Kyodo)
Family of ‘111-Year-Old’ Man Accused of Illegally Receiving Pension: A pension association has filed a criminal complaint against the family of a Tokyo man found dead at his home last month on suspicion of fraudulent receipt of pension payments the man would have been entitled to as a widower, investigative sources said Tuesday. The discovery of the mummified body of Sogen Koto, who may have died as long ago as 1978, drew attention to the fact hundreds of registered elderly people in Japan can’t now be traced. (Source: Kyodo)
Over Half of Japanese Against Making English Official Language at Work: An online survey by the Mainichi Shimbun has revealed that 57% of those aged over 20 think using English as the official language in their companies is not a good idea. But some 55% of respondents believe that Japanese people should be able to speak English as fluently as their native language in the future. (Source: Mainichi)
Families of 42 Korean Forced Laborers Located: Family members of 42 Koreans who had been brought to Japan during the country’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula apparently as forced laborers and later died during World War II have been found, but the identification process for the majority of the remains continues to be onerous. A South Korean government commission said it identified 21 other laborers but could not locate their relatives. (Source: Asahi)(News-Japan Real Time)
Saltzman: How to pick the right cellphone in a crowded market
Key questions to ask to get the right phone
Buying a new phone is a lot like ordering a pizza: you think it’s relatively simple until you realize the vast number of choices you must make.
Today’s cellphones—and especially those feature-rich smartphones—can perform many functions beyond just making calls, so deciding which one is for you can be overwhelming. There are multiple shapes and sizes, varying data plans and carrier compatibility concerns.
To make matters more confusing, we’ve never had so many carriers to choose from. Along with the majors (Bell, Rogers and Telus), there are the Big Three’s so-called flanker brands as well as three newcomers: WIND Mobile, Mobilicity and Public Mobile.
Before you give up and keep that flip-phone you’ve had since 2001 (the one with the cracked screen and sticky buttons), here are six questions to make sure you get the right phone for your needs and budget:
• What will I use it for?
Everyone’s priorities are different, so you should buy a phone that addresses your needs. What will you be using your mobile phone for, exactly?
Some might only want an emergency phone to keep in the glove compartment, so don’t require one with all the bells and whistles.
Others might want a phone for emailing and texting, so a comfortable keyboard is a must.
Love surfing the web? A bigger screen is for you. Using it as a real estate agent or insurance adjustor? Be sure to find one with a good camera. Are you a music lover who wants to do away with carrying an iPod? An iPhone, which also synchronizes with your iTunes library, might be best.
The better you can assess what you want to do with your phone, the less likely you’ll experience “buyer’s remorse” for choosing a phone not ideal for your needs.
Do I really need a smartphone?
While smartphones are one of the trendiest consumer electronics products of 2010, they might not be for you. Or yet, anyway.
By definition, a smartphone has an operating system that supports third-party software, such as those downloadable applications (“apps”) that customize the phone.
Smartphones also typically have bigger screens (usually touch) and/or a QWERTY keyboard laid out like a computer keyboard.
And yes, as its name suggests, a smartphone is “smarter” in that it lets you perform a number of tasks: read email; surf the web; access music, photos and videos; play games; snap pictures and shoot video; and navigate the roads via GPS technology.
Keep in mind that a smartphone usually requires a monthly data plan to perform many of those advanced functions.
• What style is best for me?
Because you’re going to be holding this phone quite a bit – for talking, texting or other things – it’s key that you like the way it feels (and looks).
One-piece “candy bar”-style phones don’t open up to reveal a keypad or keyboard, compared to “flip” phones that are clamshell-shaped, a design that’s found more in regular phones than smartphones. Some users like how you can answer or finish the call by simply opening or closing the phone, respectively.
Some phones have a physical QWERTY keyboard—like most BlackBerry smartphones—that are ideal for those who do a lot of typing, be it email, texting or instant messaging (real-time text chats). Touchscreen phones, such as the iPhone, might be less comfortable for those who do a lot of typing as there is no physical keyboard. But they’re better for managing your media, playing games and surfing the web.
Finally, some phones aim to give you the best of both worlds by offering a large screen and a QWERTY keyboard that glides out of the bottom or side of the phone. These are referred to as “slider” phones, but they tend to be a bit thicker as a result.
• Do I like my carrier?
If you like your existing cell carrier, pick a phone it offers – so you don’t get your hopes up about a model that’s not supported. Visit your carrier’s website to see what phones it carries—or better yet, drop into one of its retail locations (or an electronics store) so you can get your hands on it.
If you want a better deal on your existing cellphone plan, call your carrier and tell them you’re thinking of leaving. Because there are new players in the Canadian cellphone space, all the big players are in “customer retention” mode and are usually willing to do what it takes to keep you – within reason.
Remember, if you have other services with the same company – such as landline, high-speed Internet or TV service – you can often get a “bundle” discount on your wireless plan.
If you’ve decided to switch carriers, or if you’re getting your first cellphone, be sure their service works well in your area by talking to neighbours about reception strength. This usually isn’t an issue in major urban areas.
• Where am I using it?
If you’re a world traveler you’ll need to make sure a phone supports international roaming – and yes, always be sure to confirm rates before you get a surprise on your wireless bill.
Perhaps you’re in an industry such as construction, forestry or mining, and need a more rugged phone to withstand the elements?
If it’s something you’ll use a lot while walking around town, you might want it small enough for a shirt pocket, lanyard or clutch purse – a consideration that might not be as important with, say, a phone used in the car.
• What’s my budget?
We’ve saved one of the biggest questions for last: how much?
As you likely know, the cost of the phone itself is usually not an issue – if you commit to a 1-, 2- or 3-year contract with your carrier. The longer you commit, the cheaper the hardware will be. A smartphone, for example, could cost you $150 if you lock in for three years, but might be $700 without a contract.
On that note, those with commitment phobia might opt for a carrier that doesn’t require you to lock into a multiyear plan. Typically, the new entrants and “flanker” brands such as Virgin Mobile and Koodo offer no-contract deals.
Then there are the monthly data costs on top of your voice plan, which is very likely with smartphones. These are the devices that use the carrier’s data network to transmit information, such as email messages, streaming video and music downloads.
So, how do you choose a data plan? If you’re a casual email reader and download the odd song here and there, less data is fine (say, 500MB). “Power users” who rely on these advanced services might opt for a more robust (and thus pricier) plan of a couple of Gigabytes or more.(The Star)
Today’s cellphones—and especially those feature-rich smartphones—can perform many functions beyond just making calls, so deciding which one is for you can be overwhelming. There are multiple shapes and sizes, varying data plans and carrier compatibility concerns.
To make matters more confusing, we’ve never had so many carriers to choose from. Along with the majors (Bell, Rogers and Telus), there are the Big Three’s so-called flanker brands as well as three newcomers: WIND Mobile, Mobilicity and Public Mobile.
Before you give up and keep that flip-phone you’ve had since 2001 (the one with the cracked screen and sticky buttons), here are six questions to make sure you get the right phone for your needs and budget:
• What will I use it for?
Everyone’s priorities are different, so you should buy a phone that addresses your needs. What will you be using your mobile phone for, exactly?
Some might only want an emergency phone to keep in the glove compartment, so don’t require one with all the bells and whistles.
Others might want a phone for emailing and texting, so a comfortable keyboard is a must.
Love surfing the web? A bigger screen is for you. Using it as a real estate agent or insurance adjustor? Be sure to find one with a good camera. Are you a music lover who wants to do away with carrying an iPod? An iPhone, which also synchronizes with your iTunes library, might be best.
The better you can assess what you want to do with your phone, the less likely you’ll experience “buyer’s remorse” for choosing a phone not ideal for your needs.
Do I really need a smartphone?
While smartphones are one of the trendiest consumer electronics products of 2010, they might not be for you. Or yet, anyway.
By definition, a smartphone has an operating system that supports third-party software, such as those downloadable applications (“apps”) that customize the phone.
Smartphones also typically have bigger screens (usually touch) and/or a QWERTY keyboard laid out like a computer keyboard.
And yes, as its name suggests, a smartphone is “smarter” in that it lets you perform a number of tasks: read email; surf the web; access music, photos and videos; play games; snap pictures and shoot video; and navigate the roads via GPS technology.
Keep in mind that a smartphone usually requires a monthly data plan to perform many of those advanced functions.
• What style is best for me?
Because you’re going to be holding this phone quite a bit – for talking, texting or other things – it’s key that you like the way it feels (and looks).
One-piece “candy bar”-style phones don’t open up to reveal a keypad or keyboard, compared to “flip” phones that are clamshell-shaped, a design that’s found more in regular phones than smartphones. Some users like how you can answer or finish the call by simply opening or closing the phone, respectively.
Some phones have a physical QWERTY keyboard—like most BlackBerry smartphones—that are ideal for those who do a lot of typing, be it email, texting or instant messaging (real-time text chats). Touchscreen phones, such as the iPhone, might be less comfortable for those who do a lot of typing as there is no physical keyboard. But they’re better for managing your media, playing games and surfing the web.
Finally, some phones aim to give you the best of both worlds by offering a large screen and a QWERTY keyboard that glides out of the bottom or side of the phone. These are referred to as “slider” phones, but they tend to be a bit thicker as a result.
• Do I like my carrier?
If you like your existing cell carrier, pick a phone it offers – so you don’t get your hopes up about a model that’s not supported. Visit your carrier’s website to see what phones it carries—or better yet, drop into one of its retail locations (or an electronics store) so you can get your hands on it.
If you want a better deal on your existing cellphone plan, call your carrier and tell them you’re thinking of leaving. Because there are new players in the Canadian cellphone space, all the big players are in “customer retention” mode and are usually willing to do what it takes to keep you – within reason.
Remember, if you have other services with the same company – such as landline, high-speed Internet or TV service – you can often get a “bundle” discount on your wireless plan.
If you’ve decided to switch carriers, or if you’re getting your first cellphone, be sure their service works well in your area by talking to neighbours about reception strength. This usually isn’t an issue in major urban areas.
• Where am I using it?
If you’re a world traveler you’ll need to make sure a phone supports international roaming – and yes, always be sure to confirm rates before you get a surprise on your wireless bill.
Perhaps you’re in an industry such as construction, forestry or mining, and need a more rugged phone to withstand the elements?
If it’s something you’ll use a lot while walking around town, you might want it small enough for a shirt pocket, lanyard or clutch purse – a consideration that might not be as important with, say, a phone used in the car.
• What’s my budget?
We’ve saved one of the biggest questions for last: how much?
As you likely know, the cost of the phone itself is usually not an issue – if you commit to a 1-, 2- or 3-year contract with your carrier. The longer you commit, the cheaper the hardware will be. A smartphone, for example, could cost you $150 if you lock in for three years, but might be $700 without a contract.
On that note, those with commitment phobia might opt for a carrier that doesn’t require you to lock into a multiyear plan. Typically, the new entrants and “flanker” brands such as Virgin Mobile and Koodo offer no-contract deals.
Then there are the monthly data costs on top of your voice plan, which is very likely with smartphones. These are the devices that use the carrier’s data network to transmit information, such as email messages, streaming video and music downloads.
So, how do you choose a data plan? If you’re a casual email reader and download the odd song here and there, less data is fine (say, 500MB). “Power users” who rely on these advanced services might opt for a more robust (and thus pricier) plan of a couple of Gigabytes or more.(The Star)
‘Rob Ford’s not leading, David Miller is’ outgoing mayor says
Almost 16 years after the fresh-faced politician walked nervously into his first council meeting, and as the greyer, weathered David Miller prepares to stride out of his last, the mayor is confident of one thing.Most Torontonians, Miller said, stand firmly behind him and his legacy of “massive” investment in city-building projects — in spite of the rise of Rob Ford, an anti-Miller leading the pack to replace him.
“I think the public knows people say all kinds of ridiculous things in campaigns,” Miller said during an interview Wednesday in his City Hall office.
“There's broad support in Toronto for environmental initiatives. There's broad support for initiatives that make sure the people who have the least have a chance, particularly young people. There's broad support for building transit, for Ottawa and Queen's Park investing in this city.”
Miller brings up an Ipsos Reid poll conducted last weekend that found, were he running for a third term, he would win handily.
The poll shows him stealing support from former deputy premier George Smitherman and even, in some suburban areas, from the right-wing penny-pincher Ford.
“If you want to analyze the polls, Rob Ford's not leading, David Miller is. I'm not winning because of angry people,” Miller said.
He quickly adds that he's not analyzing polls and absolutely will not run, despite bubbling rumours that he is reconsidering his December decision to retire from politics.
Nor is Miller endorsing a candidate, although he talks most fondly about Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone — just as he did Dec. 8, 1994, as he rose to speak at his first council meeting, to nominate Pantalone for Metro chair.
“This council, over the next three years, will face some of the most difficult questions in its history,” the Bay Street lawyer turned representative for Toronto-High Park said in his maiden speech. “We cannot be complacent. We cannot adopt the stance of too many politicians — simply protecting their parochial interests.”
Today, Miller calls it a “proud moment I look back on fondly.” But on that cold, sunny afternoon, he didn't have beginner's luck — Pantalone lost to Alan Tonks.
And his warm words for Pantalone now don't seem to be having much effect. The same poll, done for the National Post, Global Television and Newstalk 1010, has Miller's deputy lagging in fourth place as the Oct. 25 election looms into view.
Looking back at his first meeting, Miller recalls a mixture of nerves and pride as he was sworn into office.
“I almost felt like the boy whose team won the soccer game and got a quart of ice-cream,” he said. “I was very excited, very proud and very uncertain. When you run for office you know what you're running for — at least I did — but I wasn't familiar with the institution.”
In fact, he said, it was four months before he realized councillors had their own elevator to get them to the chamber at Metro Hall.
Council meetings back then, he said, were more collegial than today's factional verbal slugfests.
He recalls the late Brian Harrison, a “very conservative” councillor, asking Miller, then a staunch NDPer, for a favour.
“He and I didn't vote together, I think, on any issue except maybe the zoo, and he was very sick and one day in the budget debate he took me aside and said, ‘Can you stick up for the zoo?' And I did.
“There was that kind of collegiality. There was a dinner break and people would have dinner together. At the moment, some members of this council have chosen to be an opposition, and that's not the tradition municipally.”
The issues back then weren't so different. In his first months in office, Miller fought for a bike lane on Colborne Lodge Rd. connecting the Martin Goodman Trail to High Park.
He also recalls his disappointment at being in the minority voting in favour of building an Eglinton subway line, and cites that as one of the reasons he got so angry in March when Premier Dalton McGuinty delayed billions of dollars in Transit City funding.
“It was like living through history all over again,” Miller said. “That's one of the reasons I fought so hard at the time — I knew the premier was letting a historic opportunity slip through his fingers. I'd already seen it 16 years ago and felt it essential to fight to stop it from happening again.”
Miller says his program of spending — on transit, troubled neighbourhoods, social programs and more — has “turned Toronto around.”
When this council meeting ends Thursday, or possibly Friday, Miller says he'll walk out of the chamber with some nostalgia but no regret.
“You run for office to accomplish things and once you have, you move on. I'm quite ready.”(The Star)
Resettled families in Vanni left to suffer in downpour
Rains have been pouring down in Vanni for the last four days with the break of North East Monsoon in Sri Lanka and the resettled families sheltered under makeshift huts without proper roofing are left without any assistance to face the onslaught of the monsoon that will last until the end of December, Non-government Organization (NGO) representatives who visited Vanni said. Promises of constructing houses for the resettled families in Vanni by the Indian government and World Bank are yet to be fulfilled. The metal sheets donated by India for roofing for the resettled civilians in Vanni have been distributed only to a few families and these are barely enough to construct a livable shelter.Majority of the resettled families live under tarpaulin sheets over bare land without cement floor.The war-ravaged families continue to live just as they did under tarpaulin sheets in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) detention camps in Vavuniyaa.Sri Lanka government authorities in Vanni have not assisted them in constructing shelters and the break of infectious diseases will soon claim many lives of the children and elderly, the NGO representatives warned.They added that Sri Lanka government has permitted only a few NGOs to work in Vanni and that arrangements have not been made for them to independently distribute relief measures to the suffering families. Their services are either obstructed or controlled by Sri Lanka government, they said.Meanwhile, the Governor of Northern Province, Major Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri told Monday Vanni Education authorities to close down the schools when they brought the matter of roofless schools functioning under trees.(TamilNet)
Colombo plans to acquire EPC lands in Trincomalee district
Plans are afoot by Sri Lanka government land ministry to aqquire five hundred and twenty five acres of state land that comes under the administration of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) in the Kuchchaveli divisional secretariat division in Trincomalee district for the Tourist development Ministry. These lands are located along the coast of Kuchchave'li division. EPC Chief Minister has been urged by several councilors not to allow the acquisition of these lands by Sri Lanka government in the guise of tourist development. They cited that some years ago several acres of state lands under the EPC located between Kappalthu'rai and Paalampaddaa'ru in Trincomalee district were acquired by Sri Lanka government land ministry.About three hundred and fifty acres of state land in Batticaloa district were taken over in Batticaloa district for tourist development some years back. State lands of the EPC should not be allowed to be taken over by Sri Lanka government, Mr. R.Thurairatnam, one of the EPC councilors representing Batticaloa district said in a memorandum sent to the EPC Chief Minister. (TamilNet)
தமிழர்களின் நிலைவரத்தை ஆராய மாத இறுதியில் இலங்கை செல்வேன்
அதற்கு முன் சிரேஷ்ட அதிகாரி பயணமாவார்; இந்திய பாரளுமன்றில் கிருஷ்ணா அறிவிப்பு
புதுடில்லி: இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களினதும் இடம்பெயர்ந்த மக்களினதும் நிலைவரத்தை நேரில் ஆராய்வதற்காக இந்தமாத இறுதியில் இலங்கைக்கு தான் பயணம் மேற்கொள்ள விருப்பதாகவும் அதற்கு முன்னர் அமைச்சின் சிரேஷ்ட அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கொழும்புக்குச் செல்வாரெனவும் இந்திய வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் எஸ்.எம்.கிருஷ்ணா நேற்று புதன்கிழமை அறிவித்திருக்கிறார்.
இந்திய பாராளுமன்றத்தின் மக்களவையில் (லோகசபா) நேற்று இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களின் புனர்வாழ்வு தொடர்பான கவனயீர்ப்புப் பிரேரணை மீதான விவாதத்துக்குப் பதிலளித்து உரையாற்றுகையிலேயே கிருஷ்ணா இதனைத் தெரிவித்தார்.இந்த விவாதத்தில் கலந்துகொண்டு உரையாற்றிய பல எம்.பி.க்கள் இந்திய உதவியானது இடம்பெயர்ந்த தமிழ் மக்களைச் சென்றடையவில்லை என்று குற்றச்சாட்டு தெரிவித்தனர். இதற்குப் பதிலளித்து உரையாற்றிய இந்திய வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் எஸ்.எம்.கிருஷ்ணா, நிலைவரத்தை காலத்துக்குக் காலம் மதிப்பீடு செய்து தொடர்ந்து கண்காணித்து வருவதாகக் கூறியுள்ளார்.
இந்தியா அனுப்பிய உதவிகளை பயனாளிகள் பெற்றுக்கொள்கின்றனரா என்பது தொடர்பாக சந்தேகங்கள் வெளிப்படுத்தப்பட்டன. உதவிகளை அனுப்புவது தொடர்பாக அகதிகள் விவகாரத்தைக் கையாளும் ஐ.நா.வின் குழுவான சர்வதேச செஞ்சிலுவைக் குழுவில் நாம் அதிகளவுக்குத் தங்கியிருக்கிறோம். காலத்துக்குக் காலம் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் மதிப்பீடுகளின் மூலம் தொடர்ந்து நாம் கண்காணித்து வருகிறோம் என்று கிருஷ்ணா கூறியுள்ளார்.
அதேசமயம் இலங்கைத் தமிழர் எதிர்கொள்ளும் பிரச்சினைகளை ஆராய்வதற்காக இலங்கைக்கு சர்வகட்சி பாராளுமன்றத் தூதுக்குழுவை அனுப்பவேண்டுமென அ.தி.மு.க., இந்திய கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி, இந்திய மார்க்ஸிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி, ம.தி.மு.க. ஆகியவை விடுத்த வலியுறுத்தலை கிருஷ்ணா நிராகரித்துள்ளார்."அதற்கான காலம் கனிந்துள்ளதாக நான் நினைக்கவில்லை%27 என்று அவர் கூறியதாக டி.என்.ஏ.செய்திச் சேவை தெரிவித்தது.
இந்த விவகாரத்தின் போது தி.மு.க., அ.தி.மு.க., கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி, ம.தி.மு.க. உறுப்பினர்கள் பல கேள்விகளை எழுப்பினர்.அவற்றுக்குப் பதிலளித்த கிருஷ்ணா, இலங்கைத் தமிழர்கள் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட தீர்வு காணப்படாமல் நிலுவையாக இருக்கும் சகல பிரச்சினைகளுக்கும் நீதியானதும் நியாயமானதுமான இணக்கப்பாட்டுக்கான பணியை முன்னெடுக்குமாறு புதுடில்லி, கொழும்புக்கு பதியத்தக்கவிதத்தில் அழுத்தமாகத் தெரிவித்திருப்பதாகக் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
விவாதத்தில் பங்கேற்ற சகல எம்.பி.க்களும் இடம்பெயர்ந்த இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களின் நிலைமை தொடர்பாக ஆழ்ந்த கவலைகளைத் தெரிவித்தனர். இந்தியா அனுப்பிய பணம், நிவாரணப் பொருட்கள் உரிய முறையில் செலவிடப்படவில்லை என்றும் எந்தவொரு பதிலளிக்கும் கடப்பாடும் இல்லையெனவும் சுட்டிக்காட்டிய இந்த எம்.பி.க்கள், இது தொடர்பாக அரசாங்கம் என்ன செய்யப் போகிறது என்றும் கேள்வி எழுப்பினர். தி.மு.க. எம்.பி. ரி.ஆர்.பாலு, அ.தி.மு.க. எம்.பி. எம்.தம்பித்துரை ஆகிய இருவரும் இப்பிரச்சினையை எழுப்பிய முக்கியமான உறுப்பினர்களாவர்.
அண்மையில் இலங்கை ஜனாதிபதி மகிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ புதுடில்லிக்கு விஜயம் மேற்கொண்டிருந்த போது இந்தியப் பிரதமர் மன்மோகன் சிங் இந்த விடயத்தை எழுப்பியிருந்ததாகக் குறிப்பிட்ட கிருஷ்ணா, 1987 இல் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட இந்தியாஇலங்கை உடன்படிக்கையின் பிரகாரம் அதிகாரப் பகிர்வு ஏற்பாடுகளை இலங்கை பாராளுமன்றம் மேற்கொண்டதாகவும் அந்த 13 ஆவது திருத்தத்தை மேலும் கட்டியெழுப்புவது தொடர்பான விடயங்களில் தாங்கள் இலங்கையுடன் நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொள்வார்கள் என்றும் விபரித்திருக்கிறார்.
13 ஆவது திருத்த வீச்சுக்குள்ளும் அதற்கு அப்பாலும் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளக்கூடிய இணக்கப்பாடே அமுல்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். அதனடிப்படையிலேயே இலங்கையில் சமாதானமும் குழப்பமின்மையும் நிலைபெற முடியும் என்றும் வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் கிருஷ்ணா கூறியுள்ளார்.அதேசமயம் இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களும் இடம்பெயர்ந்த மக்களும் எதிர்கொள்ளும் நிலைவரத்தை ஆராய்வதற்காக இந்த மாத இறுதியில் தான் இலங்கைக்கு விஜயம் மேற்கொள்ளவிருப்பதாகவும் அதற்கு முன்பாக வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சின் சிரேஷ்ட அதிகாரி இலங்கைக்குச் செல்லவிருப்பதாகவும் கிருஷ்ணா கூறியுள்ளார்.
புதுடில்லி: இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களினதும் இடம்பெயர்ந்த மக்களினதும் நிலைவரத்தை நேரில் ஆராய்வதற்காக இந்தமாத இறுதியில் இலங்கைக்கு தான் பயணம் மேற்கொள்ள விருப்பதாகவும் அதற்கு முன்னர் அமைச்சின் சிரேஷ்ட அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கொழும்புக்குச் செல்வாரெனவும் இந்திய வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் எஸ்.எம்.கிருஷ்ணா நேற்று புதன்கிழமை அறிவித்திருக்கிறார்.
இந்திய பாராளுமன்றத்தின் மக்களவையில் (லோகசபா) நேற்று இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களின் புனர்வாழ்வு தொடர்பான கவனயீர்ப்புப் பிரேரணை மீதான விவாதத்துக்குப் பதிலளித்து உரையாற்றுகையிலேயே கிருஷ்ணா இதனைத் தெரிவித்தார்.இந்த விவாதத்தில் கலந்துகொண்டு உரையாற்றிய பல எம்.பி.க்கள் இந்திய உதவியானது இடம்பெயர்ந்த தமிழ் மக்களைச் சென்றடையவில்லை என்று குற்றச்சாட்டு தெரிவித்தனர். இதற்குப் பதிலளித்து உரையாற்றிய இந்திய வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் எஸ்.எம்.கிருஷ்ணா, நிலைவரத்தை காலத்துக்குக் காலம் மதிப்பீடு செய்து தொடர்ந்து கண்காணித்து வருவதாகக் கூறியுள்ளார்.
இந்தியா அனுப்பிய உதவிகளை பயனாளிகள் பெற்றுக்கொள்கின்றனரா என்பது தொடர்பாக சந்தேகங்கள் வெளிப்படுத்தப்பட்டன. உதவிகளை அனுப்புவது தொடர்பாக அகதிகள் விவகாரத்தைக் கையாளும் ஐ.நா.வின் குழுவான சர்வதேச செஞ்சிலுவைக் குழுவில் நாம் அதிகளவுக்குத் தங்கியிருக்கிறோம். காலத்துக்குக் காலம் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் மதிப்பீடுகளின் மூலம் தொடர்ந்து நாம் கண்காணித்து வருகிறோம் என்று கிருஷ்ணா கூறியுள்ளார்.
அதேசமயம் இலங்கைத் தமிழர் எதிர்கொள்ளும் பிரச்சினைகளை ஆராய்வதற்காக இலங்கைக்கு சர்வகட்சி பாராளுமன்றத் தூதுக்குழுவை அனுப்பவேண்டுமென அ.தி.மு.க., இந்திய கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி, இந்திய மார்க்ஸிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி, ம.தி.மு.க. ஆகியவை விடுத்த வலியுறுத்தலை கிருஷ்ணா நிராகரித்துள்ளார்."அதற்கான காலம் கனிந்துள்ளதாக நான் நினைக்கவில்லை%27 என்று அவர் கூறியதாக டி.என்.ஏ.செய்திச் சேவை தெரிவித்தது.
இந்த விவகாரத்தின் போது தி.மு.க., அ.தி.மு.க., கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி, ம.தி.மு.க. உறுப்பினர்கள் பல கேள்விகளை எழுப்பினர்.அவற்றுக்குப் பதிலளித்த கிருஷ்ணா, இலங்கைத் தமிழர்கள் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட தீர்வு காணப்படாமல் நிலுவையாக இருக்கும் சகல பிரச்சினைகளுக்கும் நீதியானதும் நியாயமானதுமான இணக்கப்பாட்டுக்கான பணியை முன்னெடுக்குமாறு புதுடில்லி, கொழும்புக்கு பதியத்தக்கவிதத்தில் அழுத்தமாகத் தெரிவித்திருப்பதாகக் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
விவாதத்தில் பங்கேற்ற சகல எம்.பி.க்களும் இடம்பெயர்ந்த இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களின் நிலைமை தொடர்பாக ஆழ்ந்த கவலைகளைத் தெரிவித்தனர். இந்தியா அனுப்பிய பணம், நிவாரணப் பொருட்கள் உரிய முறையில் செலவிடப்படவில்லை என்றும் எந்தவொரு பதிலளிக்கும் கடப்பாடும் இல்லையெனவும் சுட்டிக்காட்டிய இந்த எம்.பி.க்கள், இது தொடர்பாக அரசாங்கம் என்ன செய்யப் போகிறது என்றும் கேள்வி எழுப்பினர். தி.மு.க. எம்.பி. ரி.ஆர்.பாலு, அ.தி.மு.க. எம்.பி. எம்.தம்பித்துரை ஆகிய இருவரும் இப்பிரச்சினையை எழுப்பிய முக்கியமான உறுப்பினர்களாவர்.
அண்மையில் இலங்கை ஜனாதிபதி மகிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ புதுடில்லிக்கு விஜயம் மேற்கொண்டிருந்த போது இந்தியப் பிரதமர் மன்மோகன் சிங் இந்த விடயத்தை எழுப்பியிருந்ததாகக் குறிப்பிட்ட கிருஷ்ணா, 1987 இல் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட இந்தியாஇலங்கை உடன்படிக்கையின் பிரகாரம் அதிகாரப் பகிர்வு ஏற்பாடுகளை இலங்கை பாராளுமன்றம் மேற்கொண்டதாகவும் அந்த 13 ஆவது திருத்தத்தை மேலும் கட்டியெழுப்புவது தொடர்பான விடயங்களில் தாங்கள் இலங்கையுடன் நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொள்வார்கள் என்றும் விபரித்திருக்கிறார்.
13 ஆவது திருத்த வீச்சுக்குள்ளும் அதற்கு அப்பாலும் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளக்கூடிய இணக்கப்பாடே அமுல்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். அதனடிப்படையிலேயே இலங்கையில் சமாதானமும் குழப்பமின்மையும் நிலைபெற முடியும் என்றும் வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் கிருஷ்ணா கூறியுள்ளார்.அதேசமயம் இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களும் இடம்பெயர்ந்த மக்களும் எதிர்கொள்ளும் நிலைவரத்தை ஆராய்வதற்காக இந்த மாத இறுதியில் தான் இலங்கைக்கு விஜயம் மேற்கொள்ளவிருப்பதாகவும் அதற்கு முன்பாக வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சின் சிரேஷ்ட அதிகாரி இலங்கைக்குச் செல்லவிருப்பதாகவும் கிருஷ்ணா கூறியுள்ளார்.
கண்டி, ஹாரிஸ்பத்துவ, ருவன்புர ஆகிய பிரதேசங்களுக்கான நீர்விநியோகத்திட்டம் ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷவினால் நேற்று அங்குரார்ப்பணம் செய்து வைக்கப்பட்டது. இந்நிகழ்வில் மத்திய மாகாண ஆளுநர் டிக்கிரி கொப்பேகடுவ, முதலமைச்சர் சரத் ஏக்கநாயக்க, பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் நாமல் ராஜபக்ஷ, லொஹான் ரத்வத்தை, எரிக் பிரியந்த, மாகாண அமைச்சர் எதிரிவீர வீரவர்தன ஆகியோரும் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.(Thinakaran)ஜீ.எஸ்.பி. சலுகையை நீக்கியதால் இலங்கைக்கு எவ்வித பாதிப்பும் இல்லை
ஜீ. எஸ். பி. சலுகையை ஐரோப்பிய யூனியன் மீளப் பெற்றுக்கொண்டமை இலங்கைக்கு எந்த பாதிப்பையும் ஏற்படுத்தவில்லை. ஒரு தொழிற்சாலையாவது மூடப்படவில்லை என்பதுடன் ஒரு தொழிற்சாலை ஊழியராவது வேலையை இழக்கவும் இல்லை என்று பொருளாதார அபிவிருத்தி பிரதி அமைச்சர் லக்ஷ்மன் யாப்பா அபேவர்தன கூறுகிறார்.
தகவல் திணைக்களத்தில் நேற்று நடைபெற்ற ஊடகவியலாளர் மாநாட்டிலேயே பிரதி அமைச்சர் இவ்வாறு கூறினார்.
ஒரு சில தொழிற்சாலைகள் அண்மைக் காலத்தில் மூடப்பட்டன. அதிக சம்பள பிரச்சினை, கடுமையான தொழில் சட்டம், முகாமைத்துவத்தின் பிணக்குகள் காரணமாகவே அவை மூடப்பட்டதேயொழிய ஜீ.எஸ்.பி. சலுகை மீளப்பெறப்பட்டதன் காரணமாக அல்ல என்றும் பிரதி அமைச்சர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
முதலீட்டு சபையின் அங்கீகாரத்தை பெற்றுள்ள ஆடைத் தொழிற்சாலைகளில் தற்போது உள்ள 7400 வேலை வாய்ப்புகள் இதனை உறுதிப்படுத்துவதாகவும் பிரதி அமைச்சர் கூறினார்.
ஜீ.எஸ்.பி. சலுகை மீளப்பெறப்பட்டதன் காரணமாக ஆடைக் கைத்தொழில் துறையில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த சில தொழிற்சாலைகள் மூடப்பட்டதாக கூறப்படுவதை பிரதி அமைச்சர் நிராகரித்தார்.
ஐரோப்பிய யூனியன் விதிக்கும் நிபந்தனைகளுக்கும் அரசாங்கம் இணங்கப்போவதில்லை என்று கூறிய பிரதி அமைச்சர், ஐரோப்பிய யூனியன் விதித்துள்ள நிபந்தனைகள் நாட்டின் நற்பெயருக்கு பங்கம் ஏற்படுத்துவதாக அமைந்துள்ளன என்றும் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
இலங்கையில் தைத்த ஆடைகளில் 70 சதவீதம் அமெரிக்காவுக்கே ஏற்றுமதி செய்யப்படுகிறது. இந்நிலையில் ஜீ. எஸ். பி. சலுகை மீளப்பெறப்பட்டதால் எமது நாடு மட்டுமே பாதிக்கப்படும் என்று கூறுவது சரியல்ல. எமது உற்பத்திகளை வாங்குவோர் அவற்றுக்கான விலைகளை கொடுக்கும்போது அவர்களும் மோசமாக பாதிக்கப்படும் நிலை இருப்பதாகவும் பிரதி அமைச்சர் சுட்டிக்காட்டினார்.
மீளப்பெறப்பட்ட ஜீ.எஸ்.பி. சலுகையை மீண்டும் பெறுவதற்கான பேச்சுவார்த் தைகளை அரசாங்கம் (Thinakaran)
தகவல் திணைக்களத்தில் நேற்று நடைபெற்ற ஊடகவியலாளர் மாநாட்டிலேயே பிரதி அமைச்சர் இவ்வாறு கூறினார்.
ஒரு சில தொழிற்சாலைகள் அண்மைக் காலத்தில் மூடப்பட்டன. அதிக சம்பள பிரச்சினை, கடுமையான தொழில் சட்டம், முகாமைத்துவத்தின் பிணக்குகள் காரணமாகவே அவை மூடப்பட்டதேயொழிய ஜீ.எஸ்.பி. சலுகை மீளப்பெறப்பட்டதன் காரணமாக அல்ல என்றும் பிரதி அமைச்சர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
முதலீட்டு சபையின் அங்கீகாரத்தை பெற்றுள்ள ஆடைத் தொழிற்சாலைகளில் தற்போது உள்ள 7400 வேலை வாய்ப்புகள் இதனை உறுதிப்படுத்துவதாகவும் பிரதி அமைச்சர் கூறினார்.
ஜீ.எஸ்.பி. சலுகை மீளப்பெறப்பட்டதன் காரணமாக ஆடைக் கைத்தொழில் துறையில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த சில தொழிற்சாலைகள் மூடப்பட்டதாக கூறப்படுவதை பிரதி அமைச்சர் நிராகரித்தார்.
ஐரோப்பிய யூனியன் விதிக்கும் நிபந்தனைகளுக்கும் அரசாங்கம் இணங்கப்போவதில்லை என்று கூறிய பிரதி அமைச்சர், ஐரோப்பிய யூனியன் விதித்துள்ள நிபந்தனைகள் நாட்டின் நற்பெயருக்கு பங்கம் ஏற்படுத்துவதாக அமைந்துள்ளன என்றும் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
இலங்கையில் தைத்த ஆடைகளில் 70 சதவீதம் அமெரிக்காவுக்கே ஏற்றுமதி செய்யப்படுகிறது. இந்நிலையில் ஜீ. எஸ். பி. சலுகை மீளப்பெறப்பட்டதால் எமது நாடு மட்டுமே பாதிக்கப்படும் என்று கூறுவது சரியல்ல. எமது உற்பத்திகளை வாங்குவோர் அவற்றுக்கான விலைகளை கொடுக்கும்போது அவர்களும் மோசமாக பாதிக்கப்படும் நிலை இருப்பதாகவும் பிரதி அமைச்சர் சுட்டிக்காட்டினார்.
மீளப்பெறப்பட்ட ஜீ.எஸ்.பி. சலுகையை மீண்டும் பெறுவதற்கான பேச்சுவார்த் தைகளை அரசாங்கம் (Thinakaran)
චීන දෙවැන්නෝද කාටත් නොදෙවෙනි වෙති
වත්මන් යෞවනය ඔලිම්පික් ක්ෂේත්රයට ඔලිම්පික් මට්ටමින්ම සූදානම් කිරීමේ අරමුණින් ජගත් ඔලිම්පික් කමිටුව විසින් අභිනවයෙන් හඳුන්වාදෙන ලද යොවුන් ඔලිම්පික් තරගාවලියේ මංගල පියවර සිංගප්පූරුවේ මරීනා බේ හි පාවෙන වේදිකාවක් මත අද පවත්වන සමාප්ත සමාචාරයේදී සාම්ප්රදායික ඔලිම්පික් පහන නිවා දැමීමෙන් පසු ඔලිම්පික් ඉතිහාසයේ පවත්වන ලද පළමු ඔලිම්පික් තරගාවලිය වශයෙන් ඉතිහාසයට එක්වෙයි.ජාත්යන්තර ඔලිම්පික් කමිටුවට අනුබද්ධිත රටවල් 204 ක සහභාගිත්වයෙන් පුරා දින 12 ක් පවත්වන ලද මෙම ඓතිහාසික අවස්ථාවට ශ්රී ලංකාවෙන්ද ක්රීඩක ක්රීඩිකාවන් 7 දෙනෙක් ඇතුලුව 3600 දෙනෙක් සහභාගි වූහ.මෙවැනි තරගාවලියක් අවසානයේ දක්ෂතම ක්රීඩක ක්රීඩිකාවන් බිහි කළ දේශය කුමක්දැයි තීරණය කිරීම සඳහා රටක් විසින් දිනා ගන්නා ලද රන් පදක්කම් සංඛ්යාව ගණනය කරන ලැබූවද යොවුන් ඔලිම්පික් තරගාවලියකදී එවැන්න කට ප්රමුඛත්වයක් නොදීම විශේෂ සිද්ධියකි. ඒ අනුව ජගත් ඔලිම්පික් කමිටුව හෝ තරග සංවිධායක කමිටුව තරගාවලියේ පදක්කම් සටනක් නිල වශයෙන් ප්රකාශයට පත් කරනු නොලබයි.එහෙත් එම මංගල යොවුන් ඔලිම්පික් තරගාවලියේ වාර්තා අනුව ඊයේ දිනයේ තරග අවසන් වන විට චීනය රන් පදක්කම් 29 ක්, රිදී 16 ක් සහ ලෝකඩ 5ක් වශයෙන් පදක්කම් 50 ක්ද රුසියාව 16-13-10 වශයෙන් 39 ක්ද සහ දකුණු කොරියාව 10-2-4 වශයෙන් 16 ක් දිනා පිළිවෙළින් පළමු දෙවැනි සහ තුන්වන ස්ථානවලට පත්ව සිටියහ.වසර 2008 බෙයිජිං ඔලිම්පික් තරගාවලියේ සමස්ත ශූරතාව දිනා ගන්නා ලද්දේ චීනය විසිනි. මේ අතර ජයග්රහණයට වඩා සහභාගිත්වය උතුම් නම්වූ ඔලිම්පික් සංකල්පය යටතේ එසේ තරග වැදුණු ක්රීඩක ක්රීඩිකාවන් අතුරින් තම රටවල් වලට වැදගත් වූ සිද්ධීන් කිහිපයක්ද වාර්තා කළහ.ඔවුන් අතරින් ජපානයේ තුන්ප්රයාම ක්රීඩිකා 18 හැවිරිදි යුකා සාටෝට ප්රමුඛත්වය හිමිවේ. තරගාවලියේ දෙවැනි දිනය වූ අගෝස්තු 15 වැනිදා ඇය විසින් දිනා ගන්නා ලද තුන් ප්රයාම රන් පදක්කම මංගල යොවුන් ඔලිම්පික් තරගාවලියේ මංගල රන් පදක්කම වශයෙන් ඉතිහාසයට එක්වෙයි.තරග සංවිධායක සිංගප්පූරුවට පළමු පදක්කම (18 දා) දිනා දෙන ලද්දේ කාන්තා ටයික්වොන්දොa කි.ග්රෑම් 65 බර පන්තියේ තරග කළ ඩැරිල් ටෑන්ග් විසිනි. ඩැරිල් මියන්මාරයේ ශිං නයින් ඩූ 6-5 වශයෙන් පරදා අදාළ ලෝකඩ පදක්කම දිනා ගත් අතර සිංගප්පූරුව මෙතෙක් දිනා ඇති ඉහළම පදක්කම රිදී පදක්කම් 2 ක් වේ. එම පදක්කම් දෙක එදින පිරිමි මීටර 50 පසුපස ආර ඉසව්වේ දෙවැනි තැන දිනූ රේන න්ග් සහ 23 වැනිදා ක්රියාත්මක කරන ලද කාන්තා මේස පන්දු ඉසව්වේ දෙවැනි තැන දිනූ ඉසබෙල් ලින් ගෙනි. මෙම තරගාවලියේ තවත් විශේෂයක් වූයේ අදාළ ඉසව්වල පරාජිතයන්ටද අවසන් මහ තරගයක ලීලාවෙන්ම යළි තරගයක් පැවැත්වීමයි. එවැනි අවස්ථාවකදී උපරිම ප්රතිඵල නෙලා ගත් ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ඉඳුනිල් හේරත් මීටර 1000 ඉසව්වේදී සිය උපරිම දක්ෂතාව වන විනාඩි. 2(38(19 තේරීම් තරගයේදී 2(30(83 ලෙසද දෙවනුව පවත්වන ලද පරාජිතයන්ගේ තරගයේදී (බී ෆයිනල්) 2(28(6 වශයෙන් දියුණු කිරීමට සමත්වූ අතර කණ්ඩායම් නායක හේෂාන්න උනම්බෝව මීටර 50 පසුපස ආර තරගයේදී තත්පර 27.70 ක කාලයක් වාර්තා කරමින් ඔහුගේම ශ්රී ලංකා වාර්තාව 27.81 අභිබවා යැමට සමත්විය.විවිධ රටවල ක්රීඩක ක්රීඩිකාවන්ගෙන් සැදුම් ලත් කණ්ඩායම් අතර තරග පැවැත්වීමද ජනප්රියත්වයට පත්විය. එසේ ක්රියාත්මක කරන ලද කඩු හරඹ තරගාවලියේදී ප්රථම ස්ථානය යුරෝපය තෝරා ගන්නා ලද රුසියාව සහ ඉතාලිය මිශ්ර කණ්ඩායමට හිමිවිය.එම සංකල්පය යටතේම ක්රියාත්මක කරන ලද මීටර 1000 සහය දිවීමේ ඉසව් දෙකේදීම ඇමරිකා කණ්ඩායම් ජයග්රහණය කරන ලදී.
මීටර 1000 සහය දිවීමේදී පළමු ක්රීඩකයා මීටර 400 ක්ද දෙවැන්නා 300 ක්ද තුන්වැන්නා 200 ක්ද සහ සිව්වැන්නා 100 ක්ද දිවිය යුතු වේ. එම ඉසව්වේ කාන්තා ශූරතාව විනාඩි 2(05(62 සහ පිරිමි ශූරතාව 1(51(38 කින්ද නිම කරන ලදී. එහි කාන්තා දෙවැනි ස්ථානය අප්රිකාවටද (2(06(19) තුන්වැනි ස්ථානය යුරෝපයටද(2(07(59) හිමි විය. එම පිරිමි දෙවැනි ස්ථානය යුරෝප යටද(1(52(11) සහ තුන්වන ස්ථානය ශාන්තිකර කළාපයටද හිමිවිය.පවත්වන ලද පැසිපන්දු තරගාවලියද නව ආරකින් යුතු විය. එම තරගයක් සඳහා එක් කණ්ඩායමකට තිදෙනක් පමණක් සහභාගි වන අතර තරගය පවත්වනු ලබන්නේ පිටියේ අඩ කොටසකදීය.අදාළ පැසිපන්දු තරගාවලියේ පිරිමි ශූරතාව ක්රොඒෂියාව 13-03 සහ 22-09 වශයෙන් පරාජය කළ සර්බියාවටද ඔස්ටේ්රලියාව 20-09 සහ 33-09 වශයෙන් පරාජය කළ චීනයට හිමිවිය.(Divaina)
මීටර 1000 සහය දිවීමේදී පළමු ක්රීඩකයා මීටර 400 ක්ද දෙවැන්නා 300 ක්ද තුන්වැන්නා 200 ක්ද සහ සිව්වැන්නා 100 ක්ද දිවිය යුතු වේ. එම ඉසව්වේ කාන්තා ශූරතාව විනාඩි 2(05(62 සහ පිරිමි ශූරතාව 1(51(38 කින්ද නිම කරන ලදී. එහි කාන්තා දෙවැනි ස්ථානය අප්රිකාවටද (2(06(19) තුන්වැනි ස්ථානය යුරෝපයටද(2(07(59) හිමි විය. එම පිරිමි දෙවැනි ස්ථානය යුරෝප යටද(1(52(11) සහ තුන්වන ස්ථානය ශාන්තිකර කළාපයටද හිමිවිය.පවත්වන ලද පැසිපන්දු තරගාවලියද නව ආරකින් යුතු විය. එම තරගයක් සඳහා එක් කණ්ඩායමකට තිදෙනක් පමණක් සහභාගි වන අතර තරගය පවත්වනු ලබන්නේ පිටියේ අඩ කොටසකදීය.අදාළ පැසිපන්දු තරගාවලියේ පිරිමි ශූරතාව ක්රොඒෂියාව 13-03 සහ 22-09 වශයෙන් පරාජය කළ සර්බියාවටද ඔස්ටේ්රලියාව 20-09 සහ 33-09 වශයෙන් පරාජය කළ චීනයට හිමිවිය.(Divaina)
ප්රවාහන ඇමැති සෑම බදාදාම දුම්රියෙන් කොළඹට එයි
දුම්රිය සේවයේ ගැටලු පෞද්ගලිකවම නිරීක්ෂණය කර එහි ප්රායෝගික තත්ත්වය සොයා බැලීම සඳහා සෑම බදාදාටම යෙදෙන මහජන දිනයේදී දුම්රියෙන් කොළඹට පැමිණීමට ප්රවාහන ඇමැති කුමාර වෙල්ගම මහතා තීරණය කර තිබේ.ඊයේ (25 දා) ප්රවාහන ඇමැතිවරයා පානදුර සිට කොළඹට දුම්රියෙන් ගමන් කරමින් මහජන ගැටලුවලට විසඳුම් ලබා දුන්නේය.දුම්රිය කාලසටහන්වල ගැටලුවලට මෙන්ම දුම්රිය ප්රමාදයන් නිසා ඇතිවන ගැටලු සම්බන්ධයෙන් නැඟුනු මහජන චෝදනාවලට වහාම පියවර ගන්නා බවට ඇමැතිවරයා දුම්රිය මගීන්ට මෙහිදී පොරොන්දු වී තිබේ.(Divaina)
ජනපති කාදර්ගේ නිවසට ගොස් විශේෂ සාකච්ඡාවක නිරත වෙයි
දළදා පූජෝත්සවය වෙනුවෙන් මහනුවරට පැමිණ සිටින ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ හා අග්රාමාත්ය දි.මු. ජයරත්න යන මහත්වරු පෙරේදා (24 දා) රාත්රි මහනුවර දිස්ත්රික් පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්රී අබ්දුල් කාදර් මහතාගේ ගම්පොල නිවසට පැමිණ විශේෂ සාකච්ඡාවක නිරත වූහ.අනතුරුව කාදර් මන්ත්රීවරයා සමග ඒ මහතාගේ නිවස අසල පල්ලිය වෙත ගිය ජනාධිපතිවරයා හා අගමැතිවරයා රාමලාන් උපවාසය අත්හැරීමට සූදානම්ව සිටි බැතිමතුන්ද මුණගැසී ඔවුන්ට සිය ප්රණාමය පුද කළහ.පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්රී නාමල් රාජපක්ෂ, මධ්යම පළාත් ආණ්ඩුකාර ටිකිරි කොබ්බෑකඩුව, පොලිස්පති මහින්ද බාලසූරිය යන මහත්වරුද මෙම කටයුතු සඳහා සහභාගි වූහ.අබ්දුල් කාදර් මන්ත්රීවරයා රජයට සහය පළ කරමින් කටයුතු කරමින් සිටින මේ අවස්ථාවේ ජනාධිපතිවරයා හා අගමැතිවරයා ඒ මහතාගේ නිවසට පැමිණි පළමු අවස්ථාව මෙය වේ.මෙය ගම්පොළ ප්රදේශයේ දේශපාලන පෙරළියක පෙරනිමිති බව පවසන ප්රදේශවාසීහු දැනට ගම්පොල නගර සභාවේ සිටින එ.ජා.ප. මන්ත්රීවරුන් හතර දෙනකුද මෙම අවස්ථාවට සහභාගි වී සිටීම පිළිබඳව ද කතා බහ කළහ.(Divaina)විධායක ජනපති ක්රමය අහෝසි නොකරනවා නම් ව්යවස්ථා සංශෝධනයට එජාප සහායක් නෑ
නව ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථා සංශෝධන මගින් විධායක ජනාධිපති ක්රමය අහෝසි නොකරනවා නම් ඊට කිසි ලෙසකින්වත් සහයෝගය නොදීමට එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය තීරණය කර ඇත.විධායක ජනාධිපති ක්රමය අහෝසි කිරීම හෝ විධායක බලැති අගමැති ක්රමයක් ඇතිකිරීම සම්බන්ධව ආණ්ඩුව මෙතෙක් සිය ස්ථාවරය පැහැදිලිව ඉදිරිපත් කර නැති බව එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂයේ මහ ලේකම් තිස්ස අත්තනායක මහතා විපක්ෂ නායක කාර්යාලයේදී ඊයේ (25) පැවැති පුවත්පත් සාකච්ඡාවකදී මාධ්යවේදියකු නැගූ ප්රශ්නයකට පිළිතුරු දෙමින් පැවැසීය.මේ අනුව ව්යවස්ථා සංශෝධනය සම්බන්ධව මින් ඉදිරියට ආණ්ඩුව සමඟ සාකච්ඡාවලට සහභාගි වන්නේ එම සංශෝධනය පිළිබඳව ආණ්ඩුවේ ස්ථාවරය ලිතව ලබා ගැනීමෙන් පසුව බව හෙතෙම කීය.මේ සම්බන්ධව ආණ්ඩුවේ ස්ථාවරය සතියක් ඇතුළත ලබාදෙන බවට පසුගියදා ජනාධිපතිවරයා සමඟ පැවැති සාකච්ඡාවේදී එකඟ වූ බව ද අත්තනායක මහතා අනාවරණය කළේය. එසේ ලබාදීමෙන් පසු එජාපය අපේක්ෂා කරන කරුණු කාරණා නොමැති නම් ඒ පිළිබඳව සංශෝධන හා පක්ෂයේ ස්ථාවරය ආණ්ඩුවට දැනුම් දෙන බව ද අත්තනායක මහතා කීය.විධායක ජනාධිපති ක්රමය අහෝසි කරන බවට කතරගමදී පැවැති එ. ජා. ප. මහා සම්මේලනයේදී ඒකමතික තීරණයක් ගත් බවත් ඊට අමතරව හිටපු ජනාධිපති චන්ද්රිකා බණ්ඩාරනායක කුමාරතුංග මහත්මිය 1994 දීත්, ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා 2005 වසරේදීත් ජනතාවට පොරොන්දු වී ඇති බවත් හෙතෙම සිහිපත් කළේය.ජනතාවට ලබාදී තිබෙන මෙම පොරොන්දු ඉටුකර දෙමින්a රටට උචිත ජනතාවාදී ව්යවස්ථා සංශෝධනයක් සැකසීම අරමුණු කර ගෙන ආණ්ඩුව සමඟ එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය සාකච්ඡා කළ බවත් ඒ සාකච්ඡා තවදුරටත් ඉදිරියට ගෙන යනවාද නැද්ද යන්න ආණ්ඩුවේ අවංකත්වය මත තීරණය කරනු ඇති බවත් මහ ලේකම්වරයා අවධාරණය කළේය.ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා සහ එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය අතර මෙතෙක් පැවැති සාකච්ඡාවලදී ස්වාධීන කොමිෂන් සභා ක්රියාවට නැංවීම හා පළාත් පාලන මැතිවරණ ක්රමය සංශෝධනය කිරීම පිළිබඳව දීර්ඝ වශයෙන් අදහස් හුවමාරු කරගෙන තිබෙන බව කීය.ඒ අනුව පළාත් පාලන මැතිවරණ ක්රමය සංශෝධනය කිරීම සම්බන්ධව ලබන සතියේ නියෝජිතයන් අතර පැවැත්වෙන සාකච්ඡාවේදී අවසන් එකඟතාවකට පැමිණිය හැකි බව තිස්ස අත්තනායක මහතා වැඩිදුරටත් අනාවරණය කළේය.(Divaina)
රෝහල්වලට බෙදා හැරීමේදී විෂමතාවක්... රෝහල් වෛද්ය උපකරණ පිළිබඳ සංගණනයක්
දිවයින පුරා පිහිටි රජයේ රෝහල් 1016 අතර වෛද්ය උපකරණ බෙදා හැරීමේදී විෂමතාවක් හටගෙන ඇති බව පෙනී ගොස් තිබීම හේතුවෙන් එම රෝහල් සතු වෛද්ය උපකරණ සම්බන්ධව දීප ව්යාප්ත සංගණනයක් සිදුකිරීමට සෞඛ්ය අමාත්යංශය තීරණය කර ඇත.දිවයිනේ ඇතැම් ප්රධාන රජයේ රෝහල්වල රෝගී සත්කාර සේවා පහසුකම් හා වෛද්ය කාර්ය මණ්ඩල අවශ්ය පමණ සිටියදී ඇතැම් වෛද්ය උපකරණ ප්රමාණවත්ව නොමැති බව පෙනී ගොස් ඇති අතර තවත් සමහර ග්රාමීය හා කුඩා රෝහල්වලට ප්රමාණවත් රෝගී සත්කාර සේවා පහසුකම් හා වෛද්ය කාර්ය මණ්ඩල නොතිබියදීත් වෛද්ය උපකරණ නිකරුණේ ලබාදී ඇති බව සෞඛ්ය අමාත්යංශ ප්රකාශකයෙක් "දිවයින"ට පැවසීය. ඇතැම් ප්රධාන රෝහල්වල ප්රමාණවත් පරිදි වෛද්ය උපකරණ නොතිබීම හේතුවෙන් රෝගීන්ට රෝගී සත්කාර සේවාවන් ලබා ගැනීම සඳහා පොරොත්තු ලේඛනයෙහි සිටීමට සිදුව ඇතැයි ඔහු සඳහන් කළේය.මෙම තත්ත්වය මත පවත්වනු ලබන සංගණනයේදී වෛද්ය උපකරණ බෙදා හැරීමේදී විෂමතාවක් සිදුව ඇති බව තහවුරු වුවහොත් අවශ්ය රෝහල් සඳහා වෛද්ය උපකරණ ප්රමාණවත් පරිදි බෙදා හැරීමට කටයුතු කරන බව එම ප්රකාශකයා කීවේය.දිවයින පුරා රජයේ රෝහල්වල සෞඛ්ය අමාත්යංශයට තොරතුරු ලබා නොදුන් එක්ස් රේ උපකරණ, සීටී ස්කෑන් ඇතුළු වෛද්ය උපකරණ අසූදහසක් පමණ භාවිත වන බවත් එම උපකරණ රාජ්ය හා අන්තර් ජාතික සංවිධාන හරහා පරිත්යාගයන් වශයෙන් එම රෝහල්වලට ලැබී ඇති බවත් හෙතෙම සඳහන් කළේය.වෛද්ය උපකරණ පිළිබඳව පවත්වනු ලබන සංගණනයේදී මෙම උපකරණ සම්බන්ධවද සොයා බැලෙන බව එම ප්රකාශකයා සඳහන් කළේය.(Divaina)
Women among 56 nabbed in Kandy illicit liquor raid
The Kandy Special Excise Unit arrested 56 suspects including eight women who had engaged in the sale of illicit liquor during the Kandy Perahera season.
They also seized a stock of kasippu and other illicit brew worth a street value of nearly Rs 400,000. The suspects had engaged in this illicit business in Kandy, Gampola and Pujapitiya areas in the Kandy District as well as areas in the Wayamba and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. Excise Unit officers also raided a kasippu distillery in Wayamba and seized 800 bottles of kasippu readied for dispatch to Kandy along with some distilling equipment. (Daily News)
They also seized a stock of kasippu and other illicit brew worth a street value of nearly Rs 400,000. The suspects had engaged in this illicit business in Kandy, Gampola and Pujapitiya areas in the Kandy District as well as areas in the Wayamba and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. Excise Unit officers also raided a kasippu distillery in Wayamba and seized 800 bottles of kasippu readied for dispatch to Kandy along with some distilling equipment. (Daily News)
Irida Lanka Editor severely warned
Chief Justice Asoka de Silva yesterday severely warned and discharged the Editor "Irida Lanka" who apologised and expressed regret to court for publishing an article in the newspaper which amounts to contempt of court.
The Chief Justice also warned the editor not to repeat similar articles in the future which bring disrepute to court. The editor undertook to publish a correction in the newspaper and to give it the same prominence given to the article published earlier.
Earlier the Supreme Court directed Attorney General Mohan Pieris PC, who appeared as Amicus, to issue a Rule against the editor of 'Irida Lanka' and charge him for contempt of court in respect of an article published in the newspaper.
The Supreme Court Bench comprised Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunge and Justice K. Sripavan.
Deputy Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam appeared for the Attorney General.
Senior Attorney Saliya Peiris appeared for the editor. (Daily News)
The Chief Justice also warned the editor not to repeat similar articles in the future which bring disrepute to court. The editor undertook to publish a correction in the newspaper and to give it the same prominence given to the article published earlier.
Earlier the Supreme Court directed Attorney General Mohan Pieris PC, who appeared as Amicus, to issue a Rule against the editor of 'Irida Lanka' and charge him for contempt of court in respect of an article published in the newspaper.
The Supreme Court Bench comprised Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunge and Justice K. Sripavan.
Deputy Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam appeared for the Attorney General.
Senior Attorney Saliya Peiris appeared for the editor. (Daily News)
Housemaid case to be reported to Saudi Govt
Steps have been taken by the Government to report the matter to the Saudi Government in respect of the housemaid who had returned from Saudi Arabia with 23 nails inside her body, due to torture by her Saudi employer, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane told the media yesterday.
Minister Abeywardane said the housemaid had never previously worked in the Middle East.
The Job Agency had provided false information through a certificate confirming that she had ten years work experience in the Middle East.
The Sri Lanka Government will report this matter to the Saudi Arabian Government to seek adequate compensation for her, the Minister added.(DailyNews)
Minister Abeywardane said the housemaid had never previously worked in the Middle East.
The Job Agency had provided false information through a certificate confirming that she had ten years work experience in the Middle East.
The Sri Lanka Government will report this matter to the Saudi Arabian Government to seek adequate compensation for her, the Minister added.(DailyNews)
Foreign universities will link world
Interacting with foreign universities and their academics will move Sri Lankan universities into a international status, said Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr Jayantha Navarathne. Sri Lankan universities are conducting less research compared to foreign universities. Private and the State sector should link with international universities to conduct research which can solve domestic problems. The Third International Symposium of the Sabaragamuwa University which will start today, is a platform to reach that target, he said addressing media at the University Grants Commission yesterday.
"Sri Lanka is moving towards a knowledge economy consisting with education, R&D and ICT. There was an outdated education system which is being changed. Our universities are still focusing on learning. To become Asia's knowledge hub we must improve R&D activities. Private companies and Government institutions should get local universities' assistance to conduct research, Navaratne said.
UGC Chairman Prof.Gamini Samaranayake, Sabaragamuwa University Vice Chancellor Prof Mahinda Rupasinghe and Symposium committee members also spoke.
The symposium is titled 'New horizons in Humanities and Sciences towards Sustainable Development' organized for the third successive year will be held from August 26, 27 and 28 at the university.
Around 250 papers will be presented under themes of agriculture, environmental, social science and geography. Several foreign research papers will also be presented.
"Sri Lanka is moving towards a knowledge economy consisting with education, R&D and ICT. There was an outdated education system which is being changed. Our universities are still focusing on learning. To become Asia's knowledge hub we must improve R&D activities. Private companies and Government institutions should get local universities' assistance to conduct research, Navaratne said.
UGC Chairman Prof.Gamini Samaranayake, Sabaragamuwa University Vice Chancellor Prof Mahinda Rupasinghe and Symposium committee members also spoke.
The symposium is titled 'New horizons in Humanities and Sciences towards Sustainable Development' organized for the third successive year will be held from August 26, 27 and 28 at the university.
Around 250 papers will be presented under themes of agriculture, environmental, social science and geography. Several foreign research papers will also be presented.
Successful completion of Esala Maha Perahera Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela according to traditional customs presenting the Sannasa reporting the successful completion of the annual Esala Maha Perahera to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at President’s House, Kandy yesterday. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and Presidential Chief of Staff and Acting Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath were also present. Picture by Sudath Silva(DailyNews)AG advice sought
The advice of the Attorney General has been sought on former LTTE media spokesman Daya Master and translator George Master, the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) told Courts today.Daya Master and George Master are currently out on bail.(Daily mirror)
Phony CID nabbed
Two young men who posed as investigating officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and extorted money from Tamils after threatening and intimidating them were taken into custody by the Bambalapitiya police last evening.
Police Spokesman Prashantha Jayakody said the suspects had threatened the traders with arrest on the charge of supporting the LTTE and had taken away their cash and jewelry. Inquiries revealed that the suspects were residents of Kadawatha and Maradana. (Daily Mirror online)
Police Spokesman Prashantha Jayakody said the suspects had threatened the traders with arrest on the charge of supporting the LTTE and had taken away their cash and jewelry. Inquiries revealed that the suspects were residents of Kadawatha and Maradana. (Daily Mirror online)
Sri Lanka’s experience and its lessons for the world
Address delivered at the china Institute of international Studies, Beijing, on 12th August 2010 by Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs (Prof. Peiris was elected a Distinguished Fellow of The Institute.)
First of all, let me express my warm appreciation of the honour that you have bestowed on me, by inviting me to come here, to the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing and to share some thoughts with you on a subject which is of importance, not only to Sri Lanka, but to many countries, which have had to deal with the problem of terrorism in recent years.
Sri Lanka, at the time we received Independence from the British in 1948, was regarded as a model for economic development in the whole Commonwealth. We were so described as by no less a figure than Li Kwan Yu, the architect of modern Singapore, in his famous autobiography "The Singapore Story : From Third World to First". In that book he says that in the early years, in his public speeches, he used to ask the question, why cannot Singapore develop like Ceylon, as the country was then called?
In the late 40s and the early 50s Ceylon had the highest per capita income in South Asia. We were ahead of Malaya, ahead of Thailand, ahead of Korea and we were just a few dollars behind Japan.
What held us back thereafter was one problem, and that was the problem of terrorism. As a Minister who has been involved in Government since 1994 - that is a long time; 16 years - I am personally aware that, whatever we tried to do during that period, however hard we tried, however pragmatic our policies were, there was a point beyond which we could not succeed, with regard to investment, with regard to trade or tourism because of the violence in the country.
The difference now is that this constraint has been consigned to the past, our country has been able to eradicate terrorism. It might seem to you, and indeed it is, a singular achievement. It is, therefore, worth pausing to reflect for a moment on how this became possible, because the gloomy prophesy that we heard all too often from the international community, was that it was simply not possible to prevail against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the field of battle.
We were told, no doubt with good intentions, by countries which had a whole reservoir of military expertise, that terrorism could not be defeated militarily. The experience of Sri Lanka demonstrates the contrary, so the question is, how was it possible for a small country with very limited resources, with a small army, navy and air force to succeed, where other larger countries with far more substantial resources at their command, failed? What is the explanation of this remarkable phenomenon?
I think there are certain lessons of universal validity which can be learnt from the contemporary Sri Lankan experience. One of the most important lessons is that, if you are to succeed in an endeavour of this kind, the effort has to be made by the country itself. There is no way that you can call in the armies of another country. However well meaning and well disposed that other country may be, it simply does not work on the ground because, directly you have the armies of another country fighting with a terrorist group within your own shores, what inevitably happens is that the population of your country tends to rally round, in support of the terrorist group against a foreign army that is seen as an invading force. Consequently, the first lesson is that, it is your own military that has to be entrusted with the responsibly of overcoming terrorism, of course with assistance from your friends. But it is the army of your own country that has to be in the driving seat.
I think that is the first lesson to be learnt from the Sri Lankan experience; also, I think the explanation of what occurred in Sri Lanka is multi-faceted. There is no single cause that you can attribute to what was accomplished in Sri Lanka. There were many components, many factors which contributed to this overall result. One was, determined and resolute political leadership. Of course you need competence, determination in the armed forces. We have that, and we are justly proud of it. But Sri Lanka had that previously as well. How did it make a difference this time? We always had very competent, very dedicated Generals, but how is it that Generals had failed in the past, on this particular occasion, we were rewarded with success. A substantial part of the answer consists of dynamic political leadership. We had an inspiring political leader in President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was able to unite the whole country and galvanize the nation into firm action against this ruthless terrorist group.
It would also be a mistake to underestimate the role of foreign policy. However competent our army, navy and air force had been and however substantial the resources which the government placed at the disposal of the armed forces to purchase the equipment that is necessary to win the war, nevertheless, we would not have achieved our objective, had we not been able to handle our foreign relations with skill and dexterity. That is exactly what the Government of Sri Lanka was able to do.
For example, at the height of the war, a Parliamentary election was taking place in India. There are 41 members of the Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha, who are elected from Tamil Nadu. Consequently, Tamil Nadu has very considerable influence with the Government at the Centre, in New Delhi. Therefore, at the height of hostilities, the Government of India did have a problem. They must be seen to be adopting very firm action in support of Tamil Nadu. So if the war in Sri Lanka were to proceed unabated, then there would be a sense of disillusionment in Tamil Nadu which would be reflected in the results at the Parliamentary election. Indeed, at that time, the Government of India sent a high-powered delegation to Sri Lanka to have discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and to bring pressure to bear upon him to stop the war, but President Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to handle that situation.
There were other occasions in the past, for example during the time of President J.R. Jayewardene, when the army of Sri Lanka was poised for victory, but the war was aborted, it was brought to a standstill because of the intervention of India. India intervened, and said the war must stop, otherwise India would consider intervening directly. On this occasion, President Rajapaksa was able to avert that outcome. He was able to prevent that from happening by resorting to skilful diplomacy. He engaged in discussions with the Government of India led by Dr. Manmohan Singh and he explained why it was not possible to stop the war and that it was wrong morally for India to exert such pressure, and President Rajapaksa was able to arrive at a practical understanding with the Government of India which was fair to both sides. That is, President Rajapaksa gave the promise that he would refrain from using heavy weaponry, there was a no fire zone that was created in the final stages of the war for the sake of protecting civilian lives, arrangements of this kind were made to the satisfaction of the Indian Government to ensure that they did not exert pressure to bring the war to a total standstill or halt. The conduct of foreign relations, then, became a very important factor in the ultimate result that was achieved.
It is also a fact, Mr. Chairman, that in any war you don’t win all battles, you win some, you lose others. In that situation, it is only natural that over time - and this was a war which spanned the better part of two decades - there would be ups and downs in popular sentiments. President Rajapaksa was able to handle public opinion in such a way as to prevent despair and despondency. People did not lose heart. He was able to manage public opinion within the country, just as he was able to manage the conduct of foreign policy with finesse.
We are now in a position to exploit to the full the natural advantages of the Island which are many, in terms of its geographical location just off the Southern tip of India on the major sea lanes of the world, we have a very fertile soil. Most of all, we have a uniquely high calibre of human resources. No other South Asian country can claim 96% literacy among its population. So we have all these advantages, but as I said, for this long period, we were not able to use those advantages to propel the economy of the country forward because of the problem of terrorism. Now the situation is different.
I had a long and fruitful, a very friendly meeting with the Foreign Minister of China. He agreed with me that today we are at the crossroads. Today Sri Lanka is in a position to make use of the circumstances that have now arisen, to achieve accelerated economic and social development. That is the challenge, and world history indicates that the challenges of peace are sometimes no less daunting than the challenges of war. Today the need of the hour is to utilize the full potential of the country which has been released after two decades of sustained military conflict.
Those of you who are familiar with Sri Lanka - and Mr. Chairman said he had been to our country in 2005 and 2007 – are aware that there was anxiety in the hearts and minds of the people at that time. They were very worried, wondering when would the next bomb go off. If I might mention something on a personal note, I was myself very seriously injured in a bomb blast, in December 1999. That was the final election rally of the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga. A bomb exploded and I still carry shrapnel in my lung, now that was by no means an unusual experience at that time. Many people in public life in Sri Lanka did suffer very grave injuries, and some lost their lives, as a result of the violence that was perpetrated in our country. In fact, at that time typically, if a family had to travel using public transport, it would be very unusual for husband and wife to travel together by bus or by train. The mother would go by bus and the father would go by train because they wanted to make certain that, if one of them was killed, at least there would be one parent living to look after the child.I say this to indicate to you what the mindset of the public was at that time. When the husband went to work in the morning or the child went to school, there was no assurance that they would come home unharmed or indeed alive, in the evening. There was so much uncertainty.
But if you go to Colombo right now, as your Excellency, Madam Yang Xuping, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka would no doubt testify, the situation is very different. When you look at people’s faces, they are smiling, they are happy and there is no tension within them. They are living their lives with a sense of purpose and satisfaction without stress. That is where we are now, and how do you make maximum use of such a situation?
President Rajapaksa has repeatedly emphasized in his public speeches that this is not an occasion for exultation or for rejoicing. Rather, it is a time for renewed commitment to economic development. President Rajapaksa considers it crucial to determine his priorities. There is so much to be done. Where do you begin, and what are the other things that you need to address as
Continued tomorrow
you go along? The answers are very clear. In the minds of the Government of Sri Lanka, the first priority relates to the humanitarian concerns revolving round the large numbers of people who have been displaced from their homes as a result of this sustained conflict. We began with the number, as Your Excellency would be aware, of 297,000, almost 300,000 and now it is down to 34,000. There are very few situations anywhere in the world, where within a short period of one year, so much has been accomplished with regard to the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons.
In the former Yugoslavia, the process in a sense is still going on. In Sri Lanka within one year, we have made very substantial progress in getting to grips with this problem. Of course, other Governments have helped. Your own government, the Government of China, has helped us with demining. You have sent us pre-fabricated housing. All that has been done by the Government of China.
This is one part of it – resettlement, but the Government of Sri Lanka is firmly convinced that this is not a matter of mere physical relocation.
It is our responsibility to ensure that these people are relocated in an environment that is pervaded by economic satisfaction. In other words, people who are relocated must have access to sufficient incomes, so that they can live their lives with dignity and self respect, without being a burden on society and without being angry, bitter, indignant individuals. This means that you have to revive the economy of those parts of the country which have been ravaged by a ferocious conflict. What does that mean? It means that you have to open factories and commercial establishments which would create employment opportunities. Therefore, the Government of Sri Lanka had to work in partnership with the private sector, and some of our leading companies have established branches, factories there, so that thousands of people – some of them, women who have become bread winners in their families, widows of the people killed in the war - have found employment in these factories, and they are now able to resume their lives with a reasonable measure of contentment and welbeing. This is the economic side.
The third prong of our strategy is the political element, you have the humanitarian element and economic element, and no less important than either of these is the political part of the process. This is a lesson that applies equally to many other situations of this kind, that the terrorist groups kill more minority leaders than leaders of the majority community. In Sri Lanka, they annihilated an appreciable segment of the legitimate democratic leadership of the Tamil community.
When I went to the University of Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship to read for my Doctorate, a very close friend of mine, who became a renowned intellectual, particularly in the USA, went off to Harvard University on a Fulbright scholarship to continue his postgraduate studies in Law. He was brutally killed by the LTTE, when he was a member of Parliament and contributing very imaginatively and productively to the peace process. This leaves the Government with a very fundamental problem, because there is a lacuna which has been created by the physical elimination of the elected Tamil leadership.
The problem is, as you address substantive issues connected with the devolution of power or power sharing, whom do you engage with? Who are the legitimate interlocators on the other side, especially at the grassroots level?
President Rajapaksa does not believe for a one moment that a military victory, by itself, will provide us with a durable and lasting solution. I would say a military victory is a necessary condition, but Mr. Chairman, it is by no means a sufficient condition. There must be other requirements to be satisfied. In other words, a military solution has to be supplemented by political initiatives. That means that you must put in place arrangements for redistribution of power, empowerment of minority communities, all of which would require vigorous consultation with minority groups. You have to talk to them. It cannot be a top down solution. You cannot decide unilaterally and impose that decision on all communities in the country. It must emanate spontaneously from all the groups that inhabit the Island. How can you do this adequately, if a substantial part of the leadership of the minority community has been physically wiped out? This is a problem that has to be addressed at the threshold, before you start a substantive process.
This means we have to hold elections. We have now done that. That was not possible all these years, because of the violence that was generated by the terrorist groups. We have now been able to hold elections, starting with the grassroots institutions, the local government authorities. We started in the Eastern Province, and it is a matter for deep satisfaction to the Government of Sri Lanka that a guerrilla, somebody who had taken up arms and been part of the LTTE fighting machine, was elected by the free votes of the Tamil people, and today holds the position of Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. He has made this transformation with the full support of the people he represents. That itself was by no means a trivial achievement, to be able to hold elections in an environment that is not pervaded by duress or intimidation. In other words, we held free and fair elections which have enabled the Tamil community to elect representatives of their choice, to negotiate with the government in power. They can tell the government in power, these are the arrangements that we would like you to put in place in order to bring about a viable solution. These are the different elements of the equation, and what we have done is a combination of all that.
There is another matter which I discussed in some detail with the Foreign Minister of China, and I was very encouraged to note that he was fully in sympathy with the view that I expressed, which was basically this. When you deal with situations of this kind, it is not necessary to re-invent the wheel, other cultures, other countries have had to deal with similar problems. By all means, we should look at successful experiences elsewhere. However, it is not possible mechanically to transplant into your own environment solutions which had worked well elsewhere, because no two situations are identical. You have to adapt successful solutions elsewhere, to suit the combination of circumstances in your own country. There is no size that fits everybody. There is no universal prescription for problems of this kind. We have to recognize that there are many paths, not just one path, to the summit of a mountain. A particular solution that is suitable for your own country, is determined by many factors such as one’s own history and culture, the social and economic institutions in one’s own country, the cultural mindset of people, their practices, customs, beliefs and value systems. The nuances of the local situation are of critical importance in determining the nature of the solution that is suited for one’s own country.
As I speak to you today, I am happy to tell you that, 24 hours ago, a particular institution that was created by the President of Sri Lanka had its first public meeting. I refer to an institution known as the "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission". Since we are talking of global terrorism and the lessons to be learnt from the Sri Lankan experience, I would emphasize this particular element. At the end of such a long and hard fought conflict, it is inevitable, regrettable though it is, that there would be pain and anguish in the hearts and minds of people.
In the post conflict stage, it is vital to move the country rapidly towards reunification and emphasis on a national identity. If you take South Asia, one of the basic policy dilemmas of South Asia is to answer a fundamental question. How do you reconcile ethnic and cultural pluralism with the concept of mature nationhood? This is a problem that not only Sri Lanka but every nation in South Asia has had to consider in earnest. To put it simply, what are the economic and social structures that you need to create in order to enable people speaking different languages, professing different religions, coming from different cultural backgrounds to feel at home, in one country, without any sense of exclusion? That is very important.
The conflict is over and you try to remove the pain in the hearts and minds of people by setting in motion a healing process, a process of rapprochement. Other countries in similar situations have had to experiment with this. One of the best known experiments is that of South Africa, which established the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" with which the name of Nobel Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, is indelibly associated. How do you so arrange matters as to address the root causes of the problem and embark on a sincere and genuine search for pragmatic solutions that would enable you to remove these scars from the hearts and minds of people and to put this painful experience behind them? If you lost your child and your husband, that is an irreparable loss. No sum of money can compensate you, no apology, however sincere can offer you full redress, but how do you create an environment in which it is possible to come to terms with reality, pick up the pieces and get on with life, as well as one could in those very difficult circumstances? That is the Commission that Sri Lanka appointed, the Commission which began its sittings yesterday. Its sittings will not be confined to the capital city of Colombo, but they will be held in parts of the North, in Vavuniya and Killinochchi which were the areas, most seriously affected by the war. This is an initiative that is very much underway in Sri Lanka.
There is another lesson that the international community needs to recognize, and I put this in as compelling a manner as I could. I found the Foreign Minister of China in agreement with what I said on this point. The international community can help, but there should not be judgmental postures. The international community or a section of it is not entitled say, this is the prescription. This is what you must do and we insist you to do this. If you do not do this, we will take away trade concessions from you. We will cut off access for your commodities from the markets of the developed world. Such a policy is, by definition, self-defeating and counterproductive because the brunt of it would be borne not by the government in power but by the most vulnerable sections of the community, the poorest people.
The Government of Sri Lanka firmly believes that there is a significant co-relation between political innovation and economic welbeing. We want to put in place innovative political arrangements. The President of Sri Lanka has already begun negotiations with the leaders of Tamil political parties. He met the leader of Tamil National Alliance on two occasions. We are trying to formulate practical arrangements which will satisfy the minorities. But history demonstrates beyond doubt that , with changes of this kind, you are swimming against the tide, in the sense that people are not accustomed to these changes, and often there is intuitive resistance. They want time to get accustomed to these changes which require a re-orientation of one’s traditional mindset and attitudes. Changes of that kind are very difficult to accomplish in a situation of economic adversity. If people are unhappy, poor and unemployed, then, it is that much more difficult to put in place political innovations of the kind I have described. So there is a link between economic wellbeing and political innovation. That is why the Government of Sri Lanka is putting a sharp focus on the development of infrastructure in all parts of the country.
In my meetings with the Vice Premier of China and the Foreign Minister of China I thanked them very sincerely on behalf of the President of Sri Lanka for everything that the Government of China has done to help us in the development of infrastructure. As I speak you today, within 3 days, water will be let into the port of Hambantota in the Southern part of the country and on the 19th of November, the first ship will call at that Port. It is a matter of great satisfaction both to us and to China, because it is China that made this achievement possible.
What we want to do is to make sure that the fruits of economic development are not confined to a small section of the people, that these benefits will be spread all over the country. The Foreign Minister of China told me that the growth rate of the economy of China is approximately 9%. Sri Lanka is also recording an economic growth rate of about 7.1%, as I speak to you today. This is an achievement under difficult conditions which we had to grapple with in the recent past. However, we do not think that there is room for complacency, because we do not want significant disparities between one part of Sri Lanka and another part of Sri Lanka. That is unacceptable. When you talk of economic progress, it must reflect itself in the quality of life of people up and down the country.
Economic development cannot consist of mere statistics or figures, it must means something to people in an everyday sense, it must make their lives richer, better and more meaningful. Otherwise you have the problem of disenchanted youth in particular, youth who may rebel against society. That is why we are particularly appreciative of the contribution the Government of China has made in assisting us with highways. If you ask me, what is the single factor that can bring the fruits of development to the homes of people. I would say roads, highways. That is what would enable the people to enjoy in a practical sense the of fruits of development. China has played a pioneering role in helping to develop our highways, irrigation systems, schools, hospitals. We want to take industry to the villages. When the water level rises, it takes all boats up automatically.
Therefore, if we want incomes to rise, then we have to take industry to the rural hinterland. In order to do that, we have to add substantially to the national grid. The Government of China is assisting appreciably with regard to power facilities. The Government of China is playing a role with regard to that and we have massive infrastructure development all over the country. That is what we regard as one of the essential features of a successful post conflict policy. These are some of the things we are doing.
I will conclude with a few remarks.
We need to look at the situation of our country and decide what is our potential. At the moment Sri Lanka has two twin advantages. One is a durable and lasting peace. The other is an unprecedented degree of political stability, the government in power enjoying almost two thirds support in Parliament. This is reflected in certain concrete manifestations, mainly the unprecedented number of tourists who are visiting our country. This year we expect the largest number of tourists ever on record in Sri Lanka.
Finally, I think the Sri Lankan experience indicates a need to take a critical look at some of the traditional concepts of the current world order. There has been a great deal of discussion in international law about the responsibility of States. What about the responsibility of non-State actors? Today terrorist groups can be much more powerful than governments, because governments are bound by rules and regulatory systems. Terrorists have no rules to comply with at all. Their will is the law. Therefore, I think the international legal system has to focus much more sharply on the imputation of responsibility to non-State actors. How do you hold them responsible for the harm that they inflict on innocent people? You also have to develop remedies in international law, which enable pre-emptive action within the territory of the threatened State before it is too late. You don’t wait till a terrorist group becomes all powerful. The LTTE of Sri Lanka built itself up over a long time, about a quarter of a century. Don’t forget that although they are defeated in the field of battle, they still have immense resources under their control. They have a very sophisticated communications network. They have ships, they have guns, they control media. You don’t have to wait till all this happens before you take action against them. Nations must have the right of self defence within their own territory when there are reasonable grounds for anticipating a threat from a terrorist group.
You do not have to wait until you have proof to offer that the terrorist group has actually inflicted harm. If they are preparing to inflict harm and the evidence is compelling that they are going to reach their target within a short period of time, then international law must concede to the State in question the right of taking suitable precautions within its own territory before it is too late. These are some of the changes that are required in the international world order if we are to deal with terrorism effectively. Of course, no single country however powerful, can combat terrorism. There must be collective agreements, there must be both regional and global strategies to deal with terrorism. Rules with regard to the boarding of vessels, the safeguarding of the high seas, territorial waters, the exclusive economic zones, all these matters require very careful consideration in the light of Sri Lanka’s recent experience.
In conclusion, I would tell you that Sri Lanka is an example of a country whose development has been set back for a quarter of a century by the phenomenon of terrorism. But happily, that has now been consigned to history. We are in a position to forge ahead and the friendship of nations like China mean a great deal to us. Our own President Mahinda Rajapaksa has visited your country no fewer than three times and is planning to come again, in the near future. That is the manifestation of appreciation and gratitude for a friend who has stood by us through thick and thin a friend who has raised her voice, in support of little Sri Lanka in the Councils of the world. Terrorism cannot be combated in isolation, it has to be done in association with other countries. Sri Lanka has been fortunate, in finding friends who have always stood by us and that is why Mr. Chairman it gives me great pleasure, to accept your invitation to come to your institution and address you. I thank you warmly for the opportunity and I wish you well.(The Island)
First of all, let me express my warm appreciation of the honour that you have bestowed on me, by inviting me to come here, to the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing and to share some thoughts with you on a subject which is of importance, not only to Sri Lanka, but to many countries, which have had to deal with the problem of terrorism in recent years.
Sri Lanka, at the time we received Independence from the British in 1948, was regarded as a model for economic development in the whole Commonwealth. We were so described as by no less a figure than Li Kwan Yu, the architect of modern Singapore, in his famous autobiography "The Singapore Story : From Third World to First". In that book he says that in the early years, in his public speeches, he used to ask the question, why cannot Singapore develop like Ceylon, as the country was then called?
In the late 40s and the early 50s Ceylon had the highest per capita income in South Asia. We were ahead of Malaya, ahead of Thailand, ahead of Korea and we were just a few dollars behind Japan.
What held us back thereafter was one problem, and that was the problem of terrorism. As a Minister who has been involved in Government since 1994 - that is a long time; 16 years - I am personally aware that, whatever we tried to do during that period, however hard we tried, however pragmatic our policies were, there was a point beyond which we could not succeed, with regard to investment, with regard to trade or tourism because of the violence in the country.
The difference now is that this constraint has been consigned to the past, our country has been able to eradicate terrorism. It might seem to you, and indeed it is, a singular achievement. It is, therefore, worth pausing to reflect for a moment on how this became possible, because the gloomy prophesy that we heard all too often from the international community, was that it was simply not possible to prevail against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the field of battle.
We were told, no doubt with good intentions, by countries which had a whole reservoir of military expertise, that terrorism could not be defeated militarily. The experience of Sri Lanka demonstrates the contrary, so the question is, how was it possible for a small country with very limited resources, with a small army, navy and air force to succeed, where other larger countries with far more substantial resources at their command, failed? What is the explanation of this remarkable phenomenon?
I think there are certain lessons of universal validity which can be learnt from the contemporary Sri Lankan experience. One of the most important lessons is that, if you are to succeed in an endeavour of this kind, the effort has to be made by the country itself. There is no way that you can call in the armies of another country. However well meaning and well disposed that other country may be, it simply does not work on the ground because, directly you have the armies of another country fighting with a terrorist group within your own shores, what inevitably happens is that the population of your country tends to rally round, in support of the terrorist group against a foreign army that is seen as an invading force. Consequently, the first lesson is that, it is your own military that has to be entrusted with the responsibly of overcoming terrorism, of course with assistance from your friends. But it is the army of your own country that has to be in the driving seat.
I think that is the first lesson to be learnt from the Sri Lankan experience; also, I think the explanation of what occurred in Sri Lanka is multi-faceted. There is no single cause that you can attribute to what was accomplished in Sri Lanka. There were many components, many factors which contributed to this overall result. One was, determined and resolute political leadership. Of course you need competence, determination in the armed forces. We have that, and we are justly proud of it. But Sri Lanka had that previously as well. How did it make a difference this time? We always had very competent, very dedicated Generals, but how is it that Generals had failed in the past, on this particular occasion, we were rewarded with success. A substantial part of the answer consists of dynamic political leadership. We had an inspiring political leader in President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was able to unite the whole country and galvanize the nation into firm action against this ruthless terrorist group.
It would also be a mistake to underestimate the role of foreign policy. However competent our army, navy and air force had been and however substantial the resources which the government placed at the disposal of the armed forces to purchase the equipment that is necessary to win the war, nevertheless, we would not have achieved our objective, had we not been able to handle our foreign relations with skill and dexterity. That is exactly what the Government of Sri Lanka was able to do.
For example, at the height of the war, a Parliamentary election was taking place in India. There are 41 members of the Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha, who are elected from Tamil Nadu. Consequently, Tamil Nadu has very considerable influence with the Government at the Centre, in New Delhi. Therefore, at the height of hostilities, the Government of India did have a problem. They must be seen to be adopting very firm action in support of Tamil Nadu. So if the war in Sri Lanka were to proceed unabated, then there would be a sense of disillusionment in Tamil Nadu which would be reflected in the results at the Parliamentary election. Indeed, at that time, the Government of India sent a high-powered delegation to Sri Lanka to have discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and to bring pressure to bear upon him to stop the war, but President Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to handle that situation.
There were other occasions in the past, for example during the time of President J.R. Jayewardene, when the army of Sri Lanka was poised for victory, but the war was aborted, it was brought to a standstill because of the intervention of India. India intervened, and said the war must stop, otherwise India would consider intervening directly. On this occasion, President Rajapaksa was able to avert that outcome. He was able to prevent that from happening by resorting to skilful diplomacy. He engaged in discussions with the Government of India led by Dr. Manmohan Singh and he explained why it was not possible to stop the war and that it was wrong morally for India to exert such pressure, and President Rajapaksa was able to arrive at a practical understanding with the Government of India which was fair to both sides. That is, President Rajapaksa gave the promise that he would refrain from using heavy weaponry, there was a no fire zone that was created in the final stages of the war for the sake of protecting civilian lives, arrangements of this kind were made to the satisfaction of the Indian Government to ensure that they did not exert pressure to bring the war to a total standstill or halt. The conduct of foreign relations, then, became a very important factor in the ultimate result that was achieved.
It is also a fact, Mr. Chairman, that in any war you don’t win all battles, you win some, you lose others. In that situation, it is only natural that over time - and this was a war which spanned the better part of two decades - there would be ups and downs in popular sentiments. President Rajapaksa was able to handle public opinion in such a way as to prevent despair and despondency. People did not lose heart. He was able to manage public opinion within the country, just as he was able to manage the conduct of foreign policy with finesse.
We are now in a position to exploit to the full the natural advantages of the Island which are many, in terms of its geographical location just off the Southern tip of India on the major sea lanes of the world, we have a very fertile soil. Most of all, we have a uniquely high calibre of human resources. No other South Asian country can claim 96% literacy among its population. So we have all these advantages, but as I said, for this long period, we were not able to use those advantages to propel the economy of the country forward because of the problem of terrorism. Now the situation is different.
I had a long and fruitful, a very friendly meeting with the Foreign Minister of China. He agreed with me that today we are at the crossroads. Today Sri Lanka is in a position to make use of the circumstances that have now arisen, to achieve accelerated economic and social development. That is the challenge, and world history indicates that the challenges of peace are sometimes no less daunting than the challenges of war. Today the need of the hour is to utilize the full potential of the country which has been released after two decades of sustained military conflict.
Those of you who are familiar with Sri Lanka - and Mr. Chairman said he had been to our country in 2005 and 2007 – are aware that there was anxiety in the hearts and minds of the people at that time. They were very worried, wondering when would the next bomb go off. If I might mention something on a personal note, I was myself very seriously injured in a bomb blast, in December 1999. That was the final election rally of the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga. A bomb exploded and I still carry shrapnel in my lung, now that was by no means an unusual experience at that time. Many people in public life in Sri Lanka did suffer very grave injuries, and some lost their lives, as a result of the violence that was perpetrated in our country. In fact, at that time typically, if a family had to travel using public transport, it would be very unusual for husband and wife to travel together by bus or by train. The mother would go by bus and the father would go by train because they wanted to make certain that, if one of them was killed, at least there would be one parent living to look after the child.I say this to indicate to you what the mindset of the public was at that time. When the husband went to work in the morning or the child went to school, there was no assurance that they would come home unharmed or indeed alive, in the evening. There was so much uncertainty.
But if you go to Colombo right now, as your Excellency, Madam Yang Xuping, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka would no doubt testify, the situation is very different. When you look at people’s faces, they are smiling, they are happy and there is no tension within them. They are living their lives with a sense of purpose and satisfaction without stress. That is where we are now, and how do you make maximum use of such a situation?
President Rajapaksa has repeatedly emphasized in his public speeches that this is not an occasion for exultation or for rejoicing. Rather, it is a time for renewed commitment to economic development. President Rajapaksa considers it crucial to determine his priorities. There is so much to be done. Where do you begin, and what are the other things that you need to address as
Continued tomorrow
you go along? The answers are very clear. In the minds of the Government of Sri Lanka, the first priority relates to the humanitarian concerns revolving round the large numbers of people who have been displaced from their homes as a result of this sustained conflict. We began with the number, as Your Excellency would be aware, of 297,000, almost 300,000 and now it is down to 34,000. There are very few situations anywhere in the world, where within a short period of one year, so much has been accomplished with regard to the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons.
In the former Yugoslavia, the process in a sense is still going on. In Sri Lanka within one year, we have made very substantial progress in getting to grips with this problem. Of course, other Governments have helped. Your own government, the Government of China, has helped us with demining. You have sent us pre-fabricated housing. All that has been done by the Government of China.
This is one part of it – resettlement, but the Government of Sri Lanka is firmly convinced that this is not a matter of mere physical relocation.
It is our responsibility to ensure that these people are relocated in an environment that is pervaded by economic satisfaction. In other words, people who are relocated must have access to sufficient incomes, so that they can live their lives with dignity and self respect, without being a burden on society and without being angry, bitter, indignant individuals. This means that you have to revive the economy of those parts of the country which have been ravaged by a ferocious conflict. What does that mean? It means that you have to open factories and commercial establishments which would create employment opportunities. Therefore, the Government of Sri Lanka had to work in partnership with the private sector, and some of our leading companies have established branches, factories there, so that thousands of people – some of them, women who have become bread winners in their families, widows of the people killed in the war - have found employment in these factories, and they are now able to resume their lives with a reasonable measure of contentment and welbeing. This is the economic side.
The third prong of our strategy is the political element, you have the humanitarian element and economic element, and no less important than either of these is the political part of the process. This is a lesson that applies equally to many other situations of this kind, that the terrorist groups kill more minority leaders than leaders of the majority community. In Sri Lanka, they annihilated an appreciable segment of the legitimate democratic leadership of the Tamil community.
When I went to the University of Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship to read for my Doctorate, a very close friend of mine, who became a renowned intellectual, particularly in the USA, went off to Harvard University on a Fulbright scholarship to continue his postgraduate studies in Law. He was brutally killed by the LTTE, when he was a member of Parliament and contributing very imaginatively and productively to the peace process. This leaves the Government with a very fundamental problem, because there is a lacuna which has been created by the physical elimination of the elected Tamil leadership.
The problem is, as you address substantive issues connected with the devolution of power or power sharing, whom do you engage with? Who are the legitimate interlocators on the other side, especially at the grassroots level?
President Rajapaksa does not believe for a one moment that a military victory, by itself, will provide us with a durable and lasting solution. I would say a military victory is a necessary condition, but Mr. Chairman, it is by no means a sufficient condition. There must be other requirements to be satisfied. In other words, a military solution has to be supplemented by political initiatives. That means that you must put in place arrangements for redistribution of power, empowerment of minority communities, all of which would require vigorous consultation with minority groups. You have to talk to them. It cannot be a top down solution. You cannot decide unilaterally and impose that decision on all communities in the country. It must emanate spontaneously from all the groups that inhabit the Island. How can you do this adequately, if a substantial part of the leadership of the minority community has been physically wiped out? This is a problem that has to be addressed at the threshold, before you start a substantive process.
This means we have to hold elections. We have now done that. That was not possible all these years, because of the violence that was generated by the terrorist groups. We have now been able to hold elections, starting with the grassroots institutions, the local government authorities. We started in the Eastern Province, and it is a matter for deep satisfaction to the Government of Sri Lanka that a guerrilla, somebody who had taken up arms and been part of the LTTE fighting machine, was elected by the free votes of the Tamil people, and today holds the position of Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. He has made this transformation with the full support of the people he represents. That itself was by no means a trivial achievement, to be able to hold elections in an environment that is not pervaded by duress or intimidation. In other words, we held free and fair elections which have enabled the Tamil community to elect representatives of their choice, to negotiate with the government in power. They can tell the government in power, these are the arrangements that we would like you to put in place in order to bring about a viable solution. These are the different elements of the equation, and what we have done is a combination of all that.
There is another matter which I discussed in some detail with the Foreign Minister of China, and I was very encouraged to note that he was fully in sympathy with the view that I expressed, which was basically this. When you deal with situations of this kind, it is not necessary to re-invent the wheel, other cultures, other countries have had to deal with similar problems. By all means, we should look at successful experiences elsewhere. However, it is not possible mechanically to transplant into your own environment solutions which had worked well elsewhere, because no two situations are identical. You have to adapt successful solutions elsewhere, to suit the combination of circumstances in your own country. There is no size that fits everybody. There is no universal prescription for problems of this kind. We have to recognize that there are many paths, not just one path, to the summit of a mountain. A particular solution that is suitable for your own country, is determined by many factors such as one’s own history and culture, the social and economic institutions in one’s own country, the cultural mindset of people, their practices, customs, beliefs and value systems. The nuances of the local situation are of critical importance in determining the nature of the solution that is suited for one’s own country.
As I speak to you today, I am happy to tell you that, 24 hours ago, a particular institution that was created by the President of Sri Lanka had its first public meeting. I refer to an institution known as the "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission". Since we are talking of global terrorism and the lessons to be learnt from the Sri Lankan experience, I would emphasize this particular element. At the end of such a long and hard fought conflict, it is inevitable, regrettable though it is, that there would be pain and anguish in the hearts and minds of people.
In the post conflict stage, it is vital to move the country rapidly towards reunification and emphasis on a national identity. If you take South Asia, one of the basic policy dilemmas of South Asia is to answer a fundamental question. How do you reconcile ethnic and cultural pluralism with the concept of mature nationhood? This is a problem that not only Sri Lanka but every nation in South Asia has had to consider in earnest. To put it simply, what are the economic and social structures that you need to create in order to enable people speaking different languages, professing different religions, coming from different cultural backgrounds to feel at home, in one country, without any sense of exclusion? That is very important.
The conflict is over and you try to remove the pain in the hearts and minds of people by setting in motion a healing process, a process of rapprochement. Other countries in similar situations have had to experiment with this. One of the best known experiments is that of South Africa, which established the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" with which the name of Nobel Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, is indelibly associated. How do you so arrange matters as to address the root causes of the problem and embark on a sincere and genuine search for pragmatic solutions that would enable you to remove these scars from the hearts and minds of people and to put this painful experience behind them? If you lost your child and your husband, that is an irreparable loss. No sum of money can compensate you, no apology, however sincere can offer you full redress, but how do you create an environment in which it is possible to come to terms with reality, pick up the pieces and get on with life, as well as one could in those very difficult circumstances? That is the Commission that Sri Lanka appointed, the Commission which began its sittings yesterday. Its sittings will not be confined to the capital city of Colombo, but they will be held in parts of the North, in Vavuniya and Killinochchi which were the areas, most seriously affected by the war. This is an initiative that is very much underway in Sri Lanka.
There is another lesson that the international community needs to recognize, and I put this in as compelling a manner as I could. I found the Foreign Minister of China in agreement with what I said on this point. The international community can help, but there should not be judgmental postures. The international community or a section of it is not entitled say, this is the prescription. This is what you must do and we insist you to do this. If you do not do this, we will take away trade concessions from you. We will cut off access for your commodities from the markets of the developed world. Such a policy is, by definition, self-defeating and counterproductive because the brunt of it would be borne not by the government in power but by the most vulnerable sections of the community, the poorest people.
The Government of Sri Lanka firmly believes that there is a significant co-relation between political innovation and economic welbeing. We want to put in place innovative political arrangements. The President of Sri Lanka has already begun negotiations with the leaders of Tamil political parties. He met the leader of Tamil National Alliance on two occasions. We are trying to formulate practical arrangements which will satisfy the minorities. But history demonstrates beyond doubt that , with changes of this kind, you are swimming against the tide, in the sense that people are not accustomed to these changes, and often there is intuitive resistance. They want time to get accustomed to these changes which require a re-orientation of one’s traditional mindset and attitudes. Changes of that kind are very difficult to accomplish in a situation of economic adversity. If people are unhappy, poor and unemployed, then, it is that much more difficult to put in place political innovations of the kind I have described. So there is a link between economic wellbeing and political innovation. That is why the Government of Sri Lanka is putting a sharp focus on the development of infrastructure in all parts of the country.
In my meetings with the Vice Premier of China and the Foreign Minister of China I thanked them very sincerely on behalf of the President of Sri Lanka for everything that the Government of China has done to help us in the development of infrastructure. As I speak you today, within 3 days, water will be let into the port of Hambantota in the Southern part of the country and on the 19th of November, the first ship will call at that Port. It is a matter of great satisfaction both to us and to China, because it is China that made this achievement possible.
What we want to do is to make sure that the fruits of economic development are not confined to a small section of the people, that these benefits will be spread all over the country. The Foreign Minister of China told me that the growth rate of the economy of China is approximately 9%. Sri Lanka is also recording an economic growth rate of about 7.1%, as I speak to you today. This is an achievement under difficult conditions which we had to grapple with in the recent past. However, we do not think that there is room for complacency, because we do not want significant disparities between one part of Sri Lanka and another part of Sri Lanka. That is unacceptable. When you talk of economic progress, it must reflect itself in the quality of life of people up and down the country.
Economic development cannot consist of mere statistics or figures, it must means something to people in an everyday sense, it must make their lives richer, better and more meaningful. Otherwise you have the problem of disenchanted youth in particular, youth who may rebel against society. That is why we are particularly appreciative of the contribution the Government of China has made in assisting us with highways. If you ask me, what is the single factor that can bring the fruits of development to the homes of people. I would say roads, highways. That is what would enable the people to enjoy in a practical sense the of fruits of development. China has played a pioneering role in helping to develop our highways, irrigation systems, schools, hospitals. We want to take industry to the villages. When the water level rises, it takes all boats up automatically.
Therefore, if we want incomes to rise, then we have to take industry to the rural hinterland. In order to do that, we have to add substantially to the national grid. The Government of China is assisting appreciably with regard to power facilities. The Government of China is playing a role with regard to that and we have massive infrastructure development all over the country. That is what we regard as one of the essential features of a successful post conflict policy. These are some of the things we are doing.
I will conclude with a few remarks.
We need to look at the situation of our country and decide what is our potential. At the moment Sri Lanka has two twin advantages. One is a durable and lasting peace. The other is an unprecedented degree of political stability, the government in power enjoying almost two thirds support in Parliament. This is reflected in certain concrete manifestations, mainly the unprecedented number of tourists who are visiting our country. This year we expect the largest number of tourists ever on record in Sri Lanka.
Finally, I think the Sri Lankan experience indicates a need to take a critical look at some of the traditional concepts of the current world order. There has been a great deal of discussion in international law about the responsibility of States. What about the responsibility of non-State actors? Today terrorist groups can be much more powerful than governments, because governments are bound by rules and regulatory systems. Terrorists have no rules to comply with at all. Their will is the law. Therefore, I think the international legal system has to focus much more sharply on the imputation of responsibility to non-State actors. How do you hold them responsible for the harm that they inflict on innocent people? You also have to develop remedies in international law, which enable pre-emptive action within the territory of the threatened State before it is too late. You don’t wait till a terrorist group becomes all powerful. The LTTE of Sri Lanka built itself up over a long time, about a quarter of a century. Don’t forget that although they are defeated in the field of battle, they still have immense resources under their control. They have a very sophisticated communications network. They have ships, they have guns, they control media. You don’t have to wait till all this happens before you take action against them. Nations must have the right of self defence within their own territory when there are reasonable grounds for anticipating a threat from a terrorist group.
You do not have to wait until you have proof to offer that the terrorist group has actually inflicted harm. If they are preparing to inflict harm and the evidence is compelling that they are going to reach their target within a short period of time, then international law must concede to the State in question the right of taking suitable precautions within its own territory before it is too late. These are some of the changes that are required in the international world order if we are to deal with terrorism effectively. Of course, no single country however powerful, can combat terrorism. There must be collective agreements, there must be both regional and global strategies to deal with terrorism. Rules with regard to the boarding of vessels, the safeguarding of the high seas, territorial waters, the exclusive economic zones, all these matters require very careful consideration in the light of Sri Lanka’s recent experience.
In conclusion, I would tell you that Sri Lanka is an example of a country whose development has been set back for a quarter of a century by the phenomenon of terrorism. But happily, that has now been consigned to history. We are in a position to forge ahead and the friendship of nations like China mean a great deal to us. Our own President Mahinda Rajapaksa has visited your country no fewer than three times and is planning to come again, in the near future. That is the manifestation of appreciation and gratitude for a friend who has stood by us through thick and thin a friend who has raised her voice, in support of little Sri Lanka in the Councils of the world. Terrorism cannot be combated in isolation, it has to be done in association with other countries. Sri Lanka has been fortunate, in finding friends who have always stood by us and that is why Mr. Chairman it gives me great pleasure, to accept your invitation to come to your institution and address you. I thank you warmly for the opportunity and I wish you well.(The Island)
I am a strong believer of Corporate Nationalism – Champika
Daily Mirror spoke to JHU General Secretary and Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka in order to know the JHU stance on the current issues and his plans for the power sector in Sri Lanka.
Q: There’s a school of thought that believes that the silence of the coalition allies has given rise to corruption by certain individuals in the government. What’s your opinion about this criticism?
There’s corruption at all levels and almost all spheres and one cannot single out politicians.
Firstly there are corruptions in small proportions but unrestrained and found at almost all state institutions such as government offices, courts, schools and even at hospitals. The public take them in their stride and do not make much of a fuss about it probably due to the perception that they cannot get done their job without oiling the palm of this and that public official.
Then you find high level financial irregularities, gratuities, commissions and direct bribes at Provincial Council and Pradeshiya Saba level to obtain contracts, tenders and government projects. Both regional level politicians and officials involve in these underhand dealings that involve millions of public funds.
There’s also corruption at the planning and tender awarding stage of major development projects handled by the government. Among those are the accelerated Mahaweli development scheme, hedging deal and ICSL privatization that run to billions of rupees. For instance there was an enormous, unaccountable quotation of cost at the accelerated Mahaweli programme and some one at some point benefited from it.
Then we have seen the VAT fraud that had entirely done by public officials. The collapse of the Ceylinco financial empire and Sakvithi fraud are examples of the corruption at the private sector.
All these have a direct impact on the people and the national at different degrees.
In the 1990s, international donor agencies such as the IMF, ADB and the World Bank took a policy decision against assisting our state ventures resulting in a dwindling of financial resources of essential utility services like the CEB. It was because these negative developments that we had to go for power cuts, some times for 6 hours. The CEB had to pay huge amounts of funds as consultancy costs at the planning stage as a result.
Right now we have three institutions to keep a tab on corruptions and other irregularities and malpractices, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the Independent Elections Commission and the Judicial Services Commission. We must accept that there is an uneasy delay in the time between the complaint and action which does not auger well for good governance.
There’s room for improvements at these independent institutions and that is something that needs to be done.
The JHU has influenced good governance decisions in our own way though we do not go public about it. Also by practicing accountability and efficiency at our own ministries and converting them to profitable ventures we have set an example to others.
Q: The JHU is an extension of the middle class and elite nationalist movement started with the National Movement Against Terrorism. Some hold that the role of the nationalist movement is a redundant one in a post-war context while the JHU seems to be directing energies towards economic development. How do you explain this deviation?
No. It is not a deviation. We stood against terrorism right throughout and at the same time endeavoured to protect Buddhism, our culture and the heritage. Now that terrorism has been obliterated from the soil of Sri Lanka have to play a different but equally important role. That is to support the economic progress and make sure that it goes with our values and home based policies. This is exactly what we are doing right now.
I am a strong believer of Corporate Nationalism, which is based on the principle that interests of the corporate sector should be those of the nation as well. The economy should reflect the sovereignty, dignity, desires and aspirations of a nation.
It was through the policies of Corporate Nationalism that Lee Kuan Yew took Singapore to greater heights and Malaysia by Mahathir Mohamed. All new nations like South Korea and Iran have overcome their past economic woes following policies of Corporate Nationalism. The concept of corporate nationalism was encompassed even in the 2000 manifesto of Sihala Urumaya, the forerunner of the JHU.
It was the JHU that introduced five hub concept to the Mahinda Chintana policy framework that aims at making Sri Lanka the wonder of Asia with naval, aviation, commercial, energy and knowledge hubs. It suits our culture and is based on professionalism and is tested for Sri Lanka. The concept ensures sustainable development and a green economy and we are well within the parametres of a start up nation.
The annihilation of the LTTE was only one layer of our strategic plan for the national development. The transformation of our nation into a model state through national development forms a more vital part of our agenda. We are capable of realizing this vision and we have displayed it with our performance at the ministries in the past and present to which we gave leadership.
Q: The JHU was the first party to sign an accord with 2005 Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa. Do you think that your demands have been met by the president over the past five years?
The key conditions of the agreement were - defeating terrorism and separatism, achieving hounourable peace and preserving unitary character of our motherland.
We also spelt out the need to introducing a national economy, control drug peddling and crimes, re-establishing the rule of law in the country. I can confidently say that we have been able to achieve all these fundamentals by now. We are extremely happy about this.
Q: There seems to be some attempts by former Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva to reclaim his portfolio. As the only Cabinet minister to castigate the MP after he tied a Samurdhi officer to a tree don’t you think a return of him would erode the people’s faith in democracy?
President Mahinda Rajapaksa took disciplinary action against him and stripped him of his portfolio and suspended party membership. We expect discipline from the top to bottom of the government structure. Not only the politicians but officials and the public must have exercise discipline at all levels.
When you demand discipline from politicians, I do not expect you to dump garbage on the road side or grab state land illegally. To expect collective discipline from all sections of the society we need a cultural and attitudinal change from all.
I have done my part in this regard when I served as the Minister of Environment. I have introduced necessary legislation to protect environment with fines for those who pollute the environment. We are enjoying the dividends of these actions today and no one dumps solid waste haphazardly in the open or roadside like in the past.
As for Mervyn Silva I hope saner counsel will prevail.
Q: Having a strong opposition is a must for democracy as it helps to put the government on the right track. What changes do you suggest to the UNP and the JVP?
It is sad that the UNP still follows a dictatorial path. The Republicans in the US and Conservatives in the UK, the two political parties with liberal policies that the UNP is said to be following have taken pains to preserve national heritage and traditions. They have opposed terrorism.
But the UNP is a far cry from these two political parties which opt for innovation, diverse ideas and progressive policies. The UNP hangs on to neo liberal policies and distanced itself from cultural, religious and traditional values of the masses. It depends on the funding and the ideologies of the NGOs.
The UNP under the current leadership does not have a future as its policies do not meet the thinking of the public.
The JVP on the other hand hangs on to obsolete, archaic ideologies.
I do not know how long it will take for the JVP to realize that Bolshevism and Marxism and leftist revolutions are history. They do not stand a chance in the contemporary global politics. It is because of their own folly that the UNP and the JVP cannot adapt to the requirements of the modern society. Both the UNP and the JVP will not have a future unless they depart from politics of dissent and go for a complete overhaul of policies.
Q: Your party is a strong advocate of the Executive Presidency. What is your party’s stand on the move to give unlimited terms to president?
Only the JHU had a firm and unwavering policy on the executive presidency from the very beginning. We maintained that President should respect the parliament mandate and should not have the power to dissolve it arbitrarily. He is not above the law and answerable to the judiciary. But we have no issue on the number of terms he can contest or hold office.
What we think is that as long as a President commands the trust and confidence of the voter he can continue as the President. We have several recent examples to this effect. The UNP candidate was defeated at the 1994 Presidential election held under the Presidency of late D.B. Wijetunga. The UNP was elected to power in 2001 under Chandrika Kumaratunga. These political events show that the number of terms a President can hold is not an issue.
Q: Many wanted you to continue as Minister of Environment after your achievements as the subject minister. Were you disappointed when you were not allowed to continue the work you initiated?
Some 20 years ago I introduced the first green political movement in this country, ‘Janatha Mithuro’ as I saw what was coming and the need to fight the global catastrophe. Today the entire world is opting for green energy concept as the fossil fuel resources are depleting daily. The growing scarcity of fossil fuel has compelled us to turn to alternative energy. Burning of fossil fuel for power generation has brought us many ills with rising of the sea levels and temperatures, melting down of glaciers, droughts and floods threatening human survival.
So you see, Environment and Power and Energy are two interrelated topics.
While I am quite nostalgic about my days at the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry I know that I need to evolve. The CEB is a vital tool of the national economy. If we can transform it to a profit making venture, the entire nation will benefit.
Q: Nearly three months have passed since you took over the Power and Energy portfolio. What is your impression about the new ministry?
We are facing three crises today - financial, structural and social issues due to negative public attitude. We have identified our problems and their root causes and introduced short term plans to mitigate their negative impact and medium and long term plans are well underway to come out of the crisis.
On the financial front, we cannot control the escalation of fuel prices. But we can control or minimize management, operational and maintenance costs and that is what we are doing right now under three short, medium and long term programmes that run up to next 2 to 3 decades.
Under this strategic plan costly thermal power plants are to be transformed into low cost plants. All nine Independent Power Producers are to be retired in the next five years.
We have plans for renewable energy and the target is to produce at least 1,000 MWs by 2020 using solar, wind, mini hydro and dendro power sources.
To make the CEB more consumer- friendly I have introduced the Call Center concept for consumers to lodge complaints or air their grievances round the clock. The telephone numbers are 1987 – CEB, 1910 – LECO and 1901 – Ministry. Besides, there going to be consumer societies in all provinces with one society for each and every Electrical Engineer Division. In addition the Public Utilities Commission is also looking after the rights of the consumer.The Power and Energy Ministry will complete 4,593 Rural Electricity Projects island wide by 2012 at a cost of Rs. 39 billion as per our plan to provide power to all by that year.The alternative energy resources such as solar power, wind power and mini hydro power sources will be utilized to supply power for the poorest sections of the society and those who are unable to get electricity from the national grid.
Soft loan schemes are in place with the assistance of the Samurdhi Banks for the poor to get electricity connection up to Rs. 30,000 payable in 6 years and to be deducted through the electricity bill. Facilities are also being introduced to pay electricity bills online and through mobile phones. Smart Meters and Wet Meters system will provide further facilities to the consumer and give an opportunity to produce electricity at domestic level using renewable energy and sell excess power to the national grid.
Q: There had been strong criticism about the role of certain engineers and officials on CEB tender boards for long. It is said there’s a mafia operating in tender boards, monopolizing tender procedure and offering the tenders only to their favourites leading to gross corruption. How do you plan to address this issue?
Yes, there are allegations on the issues like finalizing of estimates, offering tenders to favourites and to a selected lot, preparing estimates by tenderer himself etc.
All these alleged malpractices started after the move to outsource the functions of the CEB with the completion of the accelerated Mahaweli programme. However, now we have decided to do away with that plan and the CEB will attend to all its activities and minimize corruption.
To make CEB a more transparent entity an independent review body has been set up at the Moratuwa University. After we got the opinion of this body, we expect to set up a permanent independent body to deal with the CEB activities.
Q: There’s a strong trade union presence in the CEB and you are also known as a no-nonsense minister. Are we to expect fireworks soon?
We have good rapport with the trade unions and decisions are taken after consulting their opinion. A merit based score card system will be introduced shortly to address the issue of transfers, promotions and recruitments sans outside pressure. All employees – top level managers to minor employees - of the CEB will be absorbed into this system to streamline the administrative system. Nobody will complain of favouritism or red tape after the introduction of this system.
Q: You are on record that the consumers have been over burdened due to the deals that previous regimes had entered into with private power generators. Are you planning to review them?
Yes indeed. The eight agreements that have been signed by the CEB with IPPs are highly detrimental to the country, consumer and the CEB. The CEB spends Rs. 90 billion out of its total annual income of Rs. 120 billion to purchase power from PPPs. Rs. 15 billion out of Rs. 90 Billion is paid as Capacity Charges to PPPs whether the CEB purchases power or not. The CEB expects to retire costly thermal power plants and give up purchasing of power from PPPs, thus preventing the payment of Capacity Charges by 2016 and to introduce low cost plants.
Q: The cost of electricity has been attributed to many factors. What do you think about Sri Lanka’s potential in renewable energy?
The high generation cost is a big burden on the CEB. In 1980 it cost only 18 cents to produce a unit of electricity and today its cost Rs. 18. We could have done better without thermal power if past regimes commissioned power projects such as Kerawalapitiya coal power plant, Upper Kotmale and Kukule Ganga hydropower project, or Trincomalee coal power plant on time. The postponements and in some cases total abandoning due to political, religious and social reasons has created a huge gap at the rate of power generation and the demand. Even the public has contributed to this set back due to gullibility and other reasons.
The estimated loss to the CEB in 2010 is Rs. 40 billion. The PUSL is contemplating on introducing cost reflecting bill by next year benefiting low-income groups. A new tariff system will also be in place by next year and a tariff committee is attending to it. .
Sri Lanka has a huge potential to utilize renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power, mini hydropower, dendro power etc. We have a plan to give incentives for those who start alternative / renewable power projects.
Special incentives are on offer for mini hydropower schemes. Plans are also there to produce solar power in bulk and add to the national grid. The use of dendro as a renewable energy source too is to be popularized.
Q: Atomic Energy Authority which was earlier under the Ministry of Science and Technology was offered to you on your appointment as Minister of Power and Energy. Do you have any plans to use nuclear power as a source of energy?
No immediate plans, but a steering committee has been appointed to look into it. All options to make Sri Lanka sustainable in power and energy as well as the development of renewable / alternative energy are on the cards.(Daily mirror)
Q: There’s a school of thought that believes that the silence of the coalition allies has given rise to corruption by certain individuals in the government. What’s your opinion about this criticism?
There’s corruption at all levels and almost all spheres and one cannot single out politicians.
Firstly there are corruptions in small proportions but unrestrained and found at almost all state institutions such as government offices, courts, schools and even at hospitals. The public take them in their stride and do not make much of a fuss about it probably due to the perception that they cannot get done their job without oiling the palm of this and that public official.
Then you find high level financial irregularities, gratuities, commissions and direct bribes at Provincial Council and Pradeshiya Saba level to obtain contracts, tenders and government projects. Both regional level politicians and officials involve in these underhand dealings that involve millions of public funds.
There’s also corruption at the planning and tender awarding stage of major development projects handled by the government. Among those are the accelerated Mahaweli development scheme, hedging deal and ICSL privatization that run to billions of rupees. For instance there was an enormous, unaccountable quotation of cost at the accelerated Mahaweli programme and some one at some point benefited from it.
Then we have seen the VAT fraud that had entirely done by public officials. The collapse of the Ceylinco financial empire and Sakvithi fraud are examples of the corruption at the private sector.
All these have a direct impact on the people and the national at different degrees.
In the 1990s, international donor agencies such as the IMF, ADB and the World Bank took a policy decision against assisting our state ventures resulting in a dwindling of financial resources of essential utility services like the CEB. It was because these negative developments that we had to go for power cuts, some times for 6 hours. The CEB had to pay huge amounts of funds as consultancy costs at the planning stage as a result.
Right now we have three institutions to keep a tab on corruptions and other irregularities and malpractices, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the Independent Elections Commission and the Judicial Services Commission. We must accept that there is an uneasy delay in the time between the complaint and action which does not auger well for good governance.
There’s room for improvements at these independent institutions and that is something that needs to be done.
The JHU has influenced good governance decisions in our own way though we do not go public about it. Also by practicing accountability and efficiency at our own ministries and converting them to profitable ventures we have set an example to others.
Q: The JHU is an extension of the middle class and elite nationalist movement started with the National Movement Against Terrorism. Some hold that the role of the nationalist movement is a redundant one in a post-war context while the JHU seems to be directing energies towards economic development. How do you explain this deviation?
No. It is not a deviation. We stood against terrorism right throughout and at the same time endeavoured to protect Buddhism, our culture and the heritage. Now that terrorism has been obliterated from the soil of Sri Lanka have to play a different but equally important role. That is to support the economic progress and make sure that it goes with our values and home based policies. This is exactly what we are doing right now.
I am a strong believer of Corporate Nationalism, which is based on the principle that interests of the corporate sector should be those of the nation as well. The economy should reflect the sovereignty, dignity, desires and aspirations of a nation.
It was through the policies of Corporate Nationalism that Lee Kuan Yew took Singapore to greater heights and Malaysia by Mahathir Mohamed. All new nations like South Korea and Iran have overcome their past economic woes following policies of Corporate Nationalism. The concept of corporate nationalism was encompassed even in the 2000 manifesto of Sihala Urumaya, the forerunner of the JHU.
It was the JHU that introduced five hub concept to the Mahinda Chintana policy framework that aims at making Sri Lanka the wonder of Asia with naval, aviation, commercial, energy and knowledge hubs. It suits our culture and is based on professionalism and is tested for Sri Lanka. The concept ensures sustainable development and a green economy and we are well within the parametres of a start up nation.
The annihilation of the LTTE was only one layer of our strategic plan for the national development. The transformation of our nation into a model state through national development forms a more vital part of our agenda. We are capable of realizing this vision and we have displayed it with our performance at the ministries in the past and present to which we gave leadership.
Q: The JHU was the first party to sign an accord with 2005 Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa. Do you think that your demands have been met by the president over the past five years?
The key conditions of the agreement were - defeating terrorism and separatism, achieving hounourable peace and preserving unitary character of our motherland.
We also spelt out the need to introducing a national economy, control drug peddling and crimes, re-establishing the rule of law in the country. I can confidently say that we have been able to achieve all these fundamentals by now. We are extremely happy about this.
Q: There seems to be some attempts by former Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva to reclaim his portfolio. As the only Cabinet minister to castigate the MP after he tied a Samurdhi officer to a tree don’t you think a return of him would erode the people’s faith in democracy?
President Mahinda Rajapaksa took disciplinary action against him and stripped him of his portfolio and suspended party membership. We expect discipline from the top to bottom of the government structure. Not only the politicians but officials and the public must have exercise discipline at all levels.
When you demand discipline from politicians, I do not expect you to dump garbage on the road side or grab state land illegally. To expect collective discipline from all sections of the society we need a cultural and attitudinal change from all.
I have done my part in this regard when I served as the Minister of Environment. I have introduced necessary legislation to protect environment with fines for those who pollute the environment. We are enjoying the dividends of these actions today and no one dumps solid waste haphazardly in the open or roadside like in the past.
As for Mervyn Silva I hope saner counsel will prevail.
Q: Having a strong opposition is a must for democracy as it helps to put the government on the right track. What changes do you suggest to the UNP and the JVP?
It is sad that the UNP still follows a dictatorial path. The Republicans in the US and Conservatives in the UK, the two political parties with liberal policies that the UNP is said to be following have taken pains to preserve national heritage and traditions. They have opposed terrorism.
But the UNP is a far cry from these two political parties which opt for innovation, diverse ideas and progressive policies. The UNP hangs on to neo liberal policies and distanced itself from cultural, religious and traditional values of the masses. It depends on the funding and the ideologies of the NGOs.
The UNP under the current leadership does not have a future as its policies do not meet the thinking of the public.
The JVP on the other hand hangs on to obsolete, archaic ideologies.
I do not know how long it will take for the JVP to realize that Bolshevism and Marxism and leftist revolutions are history. They do not stand a chance in the contemporary global politics. It is because of their own folly that the UNP and the JVP cannot adapt to the requirements of the modern society. Both the UNP and the JVP will not have a future unless they depart from politics of dissent and go for a complete overhaul of policies.
Q: Your party is a strong advocate of the Executive Presidency. What is your party’s stand on the move to give unlimited terms to president?
Only the JHU had a firm and unwavering policy on the executive presidency from the very beginning. We maintained that President should respect the parliament mandate and should not have the power to dissolve it arbitrarily. He is not above the law and answerable to the judiciary. But we have no issue on the number of terms he can contest or hold office.
What we think is that as long as a President commands the trust and confidence of the voter he can continue as the President. We have several recent examples to this effect. The UNP candidate was defeated at the 1994 Presidential election held under the Presidency of late D.B. Wijetunga. The UNP was elected to power in 2001 under Chandrika Kumaratunga. These political events show that the number of terms a President can hold is not an issue.
Q: Many wanted you to continue as Minister of Environment after your achievements as the subject minister. Were you disappointed when you were not allowed to continue the work you initiated?
Some 20 years ago I introduced the first green political movement in this country, ‘Janatha Mithuro’ as I saw what was coming and the need to fight the global catastrophe. Today the entire world is opting for green energy concept as the fossil fuel resources are depleting daily. The growing scarcity of fossil fuel has compelled us to turn to alternative energy. Burning of fossil fuel for power generation has brought us many ills with rising of the sea levels and temperatures, melting down of glaciers, droughts and floods threatening human survival.
So you see, Environment and Power and Energy are two interrelated topics.
While I am quite nostalgic about my days at the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry I know that I need to evolve. The CEB is a vital tool of the national economy. If we can transform it to a profit making venture, the entire nation will benefit.
Q: Nearly three months have passed since you took over the Power and Energy portfolio. What is your impression about the new ministry?
We are facing three crises today - financial, structural and social issues due to negative public attitude. We have identified our problems and their root causes and introduced short term plans to mitigate their negative impact and medium and long term plans are well underway to come out of the crisis.
On the financial front, we cannot control the escalation of fuel prices. But we can control or minimize management, operational and maintenance costs and that is what we are doing right now under three short, medium and long term programmes that run up to next 2 to 3 decades.
Under this strategic plan costly thermal power plants are to be transformed into low cost plants. All nine Independent Power Producers are to be retired in the next five years.
We have plans for renewable energy and the target is to produce at least 1,000 MWs by 2020 using solar, wind, mini hydro and dendro power sources.
To make the CEB more consumer- friendly I have introduced the Call Center concept for consumers to lodge complaints or air their grievances round the clock. The telephone numbers are 1987 – CEB, 1910 – LECO and 1901 – Ministry. Besides, there going to be consumer societies in all provinces with one society for each and every Electrical Engineer Division. In addition the Public Utilities Commission is also looking after the rights of the consumer.The Power and Energy Ministry will complete 4,593 Rural Electricity Projects island wide by 2012 at a cost of Rs. 39 billion as per our plan to provide power to all by that year.The alternative energy resources such as solar power, wind power and mini hydro power sources will be utilized to supply power for the poorest sections of the society and those who are unable to get electricity from the national grid.
Soft loan schemes are in place with the assistance of the Samurdhi Banks for the poor to get electricity connection up to Rs. 30,000 payable in 6 years and to be deducted through the electricity bill. Facilities are also being introduced to pay electricity bills online and through mobile phones. Smart Meters and Wet Meters system will provide further facilities to the consumer and give an opportunity to produce electricity at domestic level using renewable energy and sell excess power to the national grid.
Q: There had been strong criticism about the role of certain engineers and officials on CEB tender boards for long. It is said there’s a mafia operating in tender boards, monopolizing tender procedure and offering the tenders only to their favourites leading to gross corruption. How do you plan to address this issue?
Yes, there are allegations on the issues like finalizing of estimates, offering tenders to favourites and to a selected lot, preparing estimates by tenderer himself etc.
All these alleged malpractices started after the move to outsource the functions of the CEB with the completion of the accelerated Mahaweli programme. However, now we have decided to do away with that plan and the CEB will attend to all its activities and minimize corruption.
To make CEB a more transparent entity an independent review body has been set up at the Moratuwa University. After we got the opinion of this body, we expect to set up a permanent independent body to deal with the CEB activities.
Q: There’s a strong trade union presence in the CEB and you are also known as a no-nonsense minister. Are we to expect fireworks soon?
We have good rapport with the trade unions and decisions are taken after consulting their opinion. A merit based score card system will be introduced shortly to address the issue of transfers, promotions and recruitments sans outside pressure. All employees – top level managers to minor employees - of the CEB will be absorbed into this system to streamline the administrative system. Nobody will complain of favouritism or red tape after the introduction of this system.
Q: You are on record that the consumers have been over burdened due to the deals that previous regimes had entered into with private power generators. Are you planning to review them?
Yes indeed. The eight agreements that have been signed by the CEB with IPPs are highly detrimental to the country, consumer and the CEB. The CEB spends Rs. 90 billion out of its total annual income of Rs. 120 billion to purchase power from PPPs. Rs. 15 billion out of Rs. 90 Billion is paid as Capacity Charges to PPPs whether the CEB purchases power or not. The CEB expects to retire costly thermal power plants and give up purchasing of power from PPPs, thus preventing the payment of Capacity Charges by 2016 and to introduce low cost plants.
Q: The cost of electricity has been attributed to many factors. What do you think about Sri Lanka’s potential in renewable energy?
The high generation cost is a big burden on the CEB. In 1980 it cost only 18 cents to produce a unit of electricity and today its cost Rs. 18. We could have done better without thermal power if past regimes commissioned power projects such as Kerawalapitiya coal power plant, Upper Kotmale and Kukule Ganga hydropower project, or Trincomalee coal power plant on time. The postponements and in some cases total abandoning due to political, religious and social reasons has created a huge gap at the rate of power generation and the demand. Even the public has contributed to this set back due to gullibility and other reasons.
The estimated loss to the CEB in 2010 is Rs. 40 billion. The PUSL is contemplating on introducing cost reflecting bill by next year benefiting low-income groups. A new tariff system will also be in place by next year and a tariff committee is attending to it. .
Sri Lanka has a huge potential to utilize renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power, mini hydropower, dendro power etc. We have a plan to give incentives for those who start alternative / renewable power projects.
Special incentives are on offer for mini hydropower schemes. Plans are also there to produce solar power in bulk and add to the national grid. The use of dendro as a renewable energy source too is to be popularized.
Q: Atomic Energy Authority which was earlier under the Ministry of Science and Technology was offered to you on your appointment as Minister of Power and Energy. Do you have any plans to use nuclear power as a source of energy?
No immediate plans, but a steering committee has been appointed to look into it. All options to make Sri Lanka sustainable in power and energy as well as the development of renewable / alternative energy are on the cards.(Daily mirror)
Sri Lanka maid says Saudi boss stuck nails in her
A Sri Lankan maid returned from her job in Saudi Arabia with 24 nails inside her body — the result of torture by the family who employed her, a doctor and government official said Wednesday.
L.G. Ariyawathi's body is riddled with needles and nails, which are scheduled to be removed Friday, a doctor confirmed Wednesday.
Ariyawathi, 49, returned to Sri Lanka on Saturday from Saudi Arabia and was hospitalized the next day with severe pain at a facility about 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from capital, Colombo, according to media reports.
She told a local newspaper that her employers tortured her with the nails as punishment.
"They (employer and his family) did not allow me even to rest. The woman at the house had heated the nails and then the man inserted them into my body," Ariyawathi was quoted as saying in the Lakbima, a newspaper published in local Sinhalese language.
She told the paper that she went to Saudi Arabia in March and was paid only two months' salary, with her employer withholding three months' salary to buy an air ticket to send her home.
Dr. H.K.K. Satharasinghe of Kamburupitiya hospital said X-rays show Ariyawathi has 24 nails and needles in her body. The nails range from 1-2 inches.
Her initial puncture wounds have healed over, the doctor told The Associated Press by telephone. However, she finds difficult to walk because she has two nails in her knee and two in her ankles.
Another needle is in her forehead, and the rest are in hands, he said.
"Her condition is stable, but we are giving antibiotics and painkillers," Satharasinghe said, adding that doctors will begin removing the nails on Friday.
The 24 nails are "inside the body due to torture meted out by her Saudi employer," Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, deputy minister of economic development, said in a statement on a government website.
Abeywardena said the government would "report about this matter to the Saudi Government and provide her adequate compensation."
Kalyana Priya Ramanayake, a spokesman for Sri Lanka's Foreign Employment Bureau, said that Ariyawathi had been too afraid to complain about the abuse to Saudi authorities, fearing that her employers might not let her return home. She also did not report the abuse to Sri Lankan officials, until she was hospitalized.
The bureau is a government agency that oversees the welfare of expatriate workers.
Working as maids or drivers, Sri Lankan workers can earn higher salaries overseas. About 1.5 million Sri Lankans work abroad, nearly 400,000 of them in Saudi Arabia alone.
L.G. Ariyawathi's body is riddled with needles and nails, which are scheduled to be removed Friday, a doctor confirmed Wednesday.
Ariyawathi, 49, returned to Sri Lanka on Saturday from Saudi Arabia and was hospitalized the next day with severe pain at a facility about 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from capital, Colombo, according to media reports.
She told a local newspaper that her employers tortured her with the nails as punishment.
"They (employer and his family) did not allow me even to rest. The woman at the house had heated the nails and then the man inserted them into my body," Ariyawathi was quoted as saying in the Lakbima, a newspaper published in local Sinhalese language.
She told the paper that she went to Saudi Arabia in March and was paid only two months' salary, with her employer withholding three months' salary to buy an air ticket to send her home.
Dr. H.K.K. Satharasinghe of Kamburupitiya hospital said X-rays show Ariyawathi has 24 nails and needles in her body. The nails range from 1-2 inches.
Her initial puncture wounds have healed over, the doctor told The Associated Press by telephone. However, she finds difficult to walk because she has two nails in her knee and two in her ankles.
Another needle is in her forehead, and the rest are in hands, he said.
"Her condition is stable, but we are giving antibiotics and painkillers," Satharasinghe said, adding that doctors will begin removing the nails on Friday.
The 24 nails are "inside the body due to torture meted out by her Saudi employer," Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, deputy minister of economic development, said in a statement on a government website.
Abeywardena said the government would "report about this matter to the Saudi Government and provide her adequate compensation."
Kalyana Priya Ramanayake, a spokesman for Sri Lanka's Foreign Employment Bureau, said that Ariyawathi had been too afraid to complain about the abuse to Saudi authorities, fearing that her employers might not let her return home. She also did not report the abuse to Sri Lankan officials, until she was hospitalized.
The bureau is a government agency that oversees the welfare of expatriate workers.
Working as maids or drivers, Sri Lankan workers can earn higher salaries overseas. About 1.5 million Sri Lankans work abroad, nearly 400,000 of them in Saudi Arabia alone.
Rape case against WikiLeaks founder dropped in Sweden
STOCKHOLM—A Swedish prosecutor said Wednesday she will continue investigating an accusation of molestation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange but formally dismissed another case that was initially labeled a suspected rape.
Assange has denied both allegations.
After reviewing information from an interrogation with the woman who had filed the rape complaint, chief prosecutor Eva Finne said she decided that there were no grounds to suspect Assange of any type of crime in that case.
On Saturday, Finne withdrew an arrest warrant for Assange issued by another prosecutor and said he was no longer suspected of rape. However, she continued investigating the case to see whether there were grounds to suspect the Australian of lesser crimes, including molestation or sexual molestation.
“But I find in my analysis that this is not the case,” Finne said in a statement Wednesday.
In the other case, which involved a different woman, Finne said the “suspicion of molestation remains” and that Assange would be questioned in the investigation.
Molestation covers a wide range of offences under Swedish law, including inappropriate physical contact with another adult, and can result in fines or up to one year in prison.
Assange was in Sweden last week seeking legal protection for WikiLeaks, which angered the Obama administration by publishing thousands of leaked documents about U.S. military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The whistle-blower site is preparing to release a fresh batch of classified U.S. documents from the Afghan war, despite warnings from the Pentagon that they could endanger American soldiers and their Afghan helpers.
Assange’s Swedish lawyer, Leif Silbersky, said his client rejects the “nasty claims” made against him.
“He maintains with emphasis that he hasn’t done anything either morally or legally wrong,” Silbersky told The Associated Press before Wednesday’s decision was announced.
He also said he was “very critical” of how the prosecution had handled the case, including the fact that they publicly named Assange.
Finne told The Associated Press she reversed the arrest warrant because she had access to more information than the on-call prosecutor who issued it.
Finne wouldn’t say what kind of information this was, but said the woman had not withdrawn her complaint.(The Star)
Assange has denied both allegations.
After reviewing information from an interrogation with the woman who had filed the rape complaint, chief prosecutor Eva Finne said she decided that there were no grounds to suspect Assange of any type of crime in that case.
On Saturday, Finne withdrew an arrest warrant for Assange issued by another prosecutor and said he was no longer suspected of rape. However, she continued investigating the case to see whether there were grounds to suspect the Australian of lesser crimes, including molestation or sexual molestation.
“But I find in my analysis that this is not the case,” Finne said in a statement Wednesday.
In the other case, which involved a different woman, Finne said the “suspicion of molestation remains” and that Assange would be questioned in the investigation.
Molestation covers a wide range of offences under Swedish law, including inappropriate physical contact with another adult, and can result in fines or up to one year in prison.
Assange was in Sweden last week seeking legal protection for WikiLeaks, which angered the Obama administration by publishing thousands of leaked documents about U.S. military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The whistle-blower site is preparing to release a fresh batch of classified U.S. documents from the Afghan war, despite warnings from the Pentagon that they could endanger American soldiers and their Afghan helpers.
Assange’s Swedish lawyer, Leif Silbersky, said his client rejects the “nasty claims” made against him.
“He maintains with emphasis that he hasn’t done anything either morally or legally wrong,” Silbersky told The Associated Press before Wednesday’s decision was announced.
He also said he was “very critical” of how the prosecution had handled the case, including the fact that they publicly named Assange.
Finne told The Associated Press she reversed the arrest warrant because she had access to more information than the on-call prosecutor who issued it.
Finne wouldn’t say what kind of information this was, but said the woman had not withdrawn her complaint.(The Star)
In historic move, Canada to list BPA as ‘toxic’
Canada is in the process of a historic move to add bisphenol-A to its list of toxic substances, Environment Canada confirmed Wednesday.
“We expect to conclude the process of having bisphenol-A added to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 in eight to 10 weeks,” department spokesman Henry Lau told the Star on Wednesday.
Canada’s intention was published two years ago in the Canada Gazette.
The chemical used in making plastic has become increasingly controversial since Ottawa promised two years ago it would designate it a toxic substance. Its estrogen-like effects are suspected in creating havoc with hormone levels.
The government did ban the sale of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles that contain bisphenol-A in 2008. But any further action has been challenged fiercely by the chemical industry.
The American Chemistry Council demanded a review of the proposed toxic listing last year, saying otherwise Canada would have “pandered to emotional zealots.”
Declaring BPA toxic would not be “based on the best available data and scientific knowledge,” ACC executive director Steven Hentges said in a letter to Environment Canada.
Minister Jim Prentice rejected the council’s demands for a board of review.
“I am of the view that your notice does not bring forth any new scientific data or information,” he said in a response dated July 27 of this year
Once a notice is published in the Canada Gazette, Prentice told Hentges, there will be more opportunity to comment or object.
Last week, Statistics Canada disclosed that 91 per cent of people tested positive for BPA in their urine, with levels higher for children age 6 to 11 than for adults over 40. The highest concentrations were in children.
The chemical can leach into food from tin-can linings, plastic food covers and water bottles. Used to harden plastic, it is found in hundreds of household items, including CD liners and, most recently, sales receipts.
Canada had been the first country in the world to declare that it intended to label BPA a toxic substance. Even now, the action would have international resonance.
In May, France followed Canada’s lead and approved a ban on manufacturing, importing, exporting and selling baby bottles made with BPA plastics. Several U.S. states have also forbidden the BPA-laced bottles, and U.S. federal agencies are reviewing the chemical’s overall safety.
Denmark has banned the use of BPA in any materials that come in contact with food and beverages. The Swedish government is reviewing such a ban.
Germany has rejected action against BPA after the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment said two studies found the chemical was not hazardous.(The Star)
“We expect to conclude the process of having bisphenol-A added to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 in eight to 10 weeks,” department spokesman Henry Lau told the Star on Wednesday.
Canada’s intention was published two years ago in the Canada Gazette.
The chemical used in making plastic has become increasingly controversial since Ottawa promised two years ago it would designate it a toxic substance. Its estrogen-like effects are suspected in creating havoc with hormone levels.
The government did ban the sale of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles that contain bisphenol-A in 2008. But any further action has been challenged fiercely by the chemical industry.
The American Chemistry Council demanded a review of the proposed toxic listing last year, saying otherwise Canada would have “pandered to emotional zealots.”
Declaring BPA toxic would not be “based on the best available data and scientific knowledge,” ACC executive director Steven Hentges said in a letter to Environment Canada.
Minister Jim Prentice rejected the council’s demands for a board of review.
“I am of the view that your notice does not bring forth any new scientific data or information,” he said in a response dated July 27 of this year
Once a notice is published in the Canada Gazette, Prentice told Hentges, there will be more opportunity to comment or object.
Last week, Statistics Canada disclosed that 91 per cent of people tested positive for BPA in their urine, with levels higher for children age 6 to 11 than for adults over 40. The highest concentrations were in children.
The chemical can leach into food from tin-can linings, plastic food covers and water bottles. Used to harden plastic, it is found in hundreds of household items, including CD liners and, most recently, sales receipts.
Canada had been the first country in the world to declare that it intended to label BPA a toxic substance. Even now, the action would have international resonance.
In May, France followed Canada’s lead and approved a ban on manufacturing, importing, exporting and selling baby bottles made with BPA plastics. Several U.S. states have also forbidden the BPA-laced bottles, and U.S. federal agencies are reviewing the chemical’s overall safety.
Denmark has banned the use of BPA in any materials that come in contact with food and beverages. The Swedish government is reviewing such a ban.
Germany has rejected action against BPA after the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment said two studies found the chemical was not hazardous.(The Star)
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