Kandy Sangha MR’s re-election as President
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8 10 More Blunders `Vol. 29 No. 81 Wednesday 17th February, 2010, 36 Pages Rs. 20 Registered in Sri Lanka as a Newspaper – Late City Edition 16 South Africa at Twenty by Chitra Weerarathne G eneral (retd) Sarath Fonseka yesterday filed a petition in the Supreme Court, requesting that the re- election of Mahinda Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka at the Jan. 26 polls be declared void. The petition requested the Court to declare the return of Mahinda Rajapaksa as undue and to declare Sarath Fonseka the duly elected President of Sri Lanka. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was named the first and Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake the 22nd in a list of 26 respondents (See page 6 for full list and text of the petition) cited in Fonseka’s peti- tion. The petition also requested the Court to order a scrutiny of all the ballots cast at the poll to be carried out by the Commissioner of Election and his officials in the presence of the petitioner and the other can- didates at the poll or their repre- sentatives. The petition said that due to a violation of election laws and corrupt practices committed by the first respondent, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the majority of elec- tors had been prevented from electing the candidate of their choice, namely Fonseka, and/or the result may have been affected by acts of intimidation, violation of laws and the commission of corrupt practices. The alleged acts of miscon- duct committed by Rajapaksa, include, general intimidation of electors from December, 2009 to January 2010, treating of persons to food and drinks between the period November 11, 2009 to January 26, 2010, at Temple Trees, at the Kandy President’s House and the Anuradhapura President’s House. Acts of Bribery during the period November 23, 2009 to January 26, 2010, use of State Resources, making of false statements, regarding the personal character of Fonseka, and non-compliance with the presidential election laws. The petition said Rajapaksa was guilty of corrupt practice of treating, under section 77, read together with section (1)(c) of the Presidential Election Act. Rajapaksa was guilty of corrupt practice of Bribery under sec- tion 79 read together with sec- tion (1)(c) of the Presidential Election Act. Rajapaksa was guilty of making false state- ments under section 80(1)(c), read together with (1)(c) of the Presidential Election Act. Rajapaksa was guilty of miscon- duct under various other circum- stances, stated in Section (1)(a) of the Presidential Election Act. Therefore declared result should be voided. The petition cited as false statements, announcements made by Sarath Kongahage, Razik Zarook, Kalinga Indratissa, Hudson Samarasinghe and Wimal Weerawansa, that the petitioner was not qualified to be elected as the President of Sri Lanka and that if was elected he would be disqualified. Those false statements were broadcast without a break until the close of poll at 4 p.m. by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, SLBC, Lakhanda and other Television Networks. Fonseka petitions SC against MR’s re-election as President The UNP and JVP yesterday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the results of the recently conducted Presidential election. Somawasa Amarasinghe, leader of the JVP addresses the media outside the Supreme Court after filing the petition. With him were UNP stalwarts, John Amaratunga, Ravi Karunanayake and JVP ex-MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake (Photo-Sujatha Jayarathne) Allegations of computer fraud dropped Police headquarters said that secu- rity provided to all Members of Parliament (MP) had been withdrawn with effect from Tuesday on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya. A senior police official said that the decision was taken following the recent dissolution of Parliament. The official said that security contingents assigned to Ministers, Non-Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers would remain. The Opposition accused the gov- ernment of undermining security of former MPs. Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena said that this was a move by the government to intimidate oppo- sition candidates contesting the forth- coming General Elections. (See page 3 for connected story) MPs lose bodyguards by Ifham Nizam The Cabinet is expected take up today the 35 MW Broadlands Hydro Power Project. A delay in its imple- mentation causes a staggering month- ly loss of Rs 200 million due to a dis- pute among senior officials. The Island reliably learns that a senior official of the Power and Energy Ministry is determined to offer the project to a bidder whose quotation is USD 30 million higher than that of the Technical Evaluation Committee recommended bidder’s. Five Firms forwarded bids, four of them were Chinese companies while the other was an Iranian firm. Cabinet to take up Broadlands project A holy mass was offered yesterday at the Carmel Convent Mattakuliya in memory of the founder of Upali Group of companies the late Upali Wjewardene. The mass was conducted by Rev. Fr. Chrishanth Jayalath. Directors, Senior Managers and a Group employees participated. (Photo-Kamal Bogoda) by Don Asoka Wijewardena A large number of bus commuters including students travelling from Gampaha, Nittabuwa, Kadawatha and Welivariya to Colombo were inconve- nienced yesterday morning (16) as private bus crew struck work on routes No 200,180, 514 and 138 due to an attack by long dis- tance bus crew on their colleagues. Bus owners said the strike would be called of once the police arrested the culprits. The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association would inform President Mahinda Rajapaksa of the high handed activities of two politicians, protesting bus crews said. A politician had instigated long-dis- tance bus operators to attack short-dis- tance buses and he had instructed the police not to take action, the Bus Owners’ Association alleged. Passengers stranded as busmen strike by Jayantha de Silva Colombo Chief Magistrate Janaki Rajaratne on Monday allowed an applica- tion by the Colombo Crimes Division and ordered several TV channels to hand over compact discs containing the video footage of the recent incidents at Hultsdorp involving supporters of Gen.(Retd) Sarath Fonseka and a faction opposed to him. The Magistrate ordered Sirasa, Swarnavahini, Rupavahini and the Derana Channels to hand over the compact discs depicting the stone throwing incident. Attack on Sarath Fonseka supporters at Hulftsdorp TV channels ordered to give police video footage Presidential election petition Inside The petition did not make any reference to the Opposition’s main allegation in the wake of the Jan. 26 polls that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had won a second term through a computer fraud, a claim vehemently denied by Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake. The UNP, JVP and the SLFP (M Wing) alleged that the election staff had collaborated with the government to perpetrate an unprecedented computer fraud to deny Opposition candidate General (retd) Sarath Fonseka victory at the January 26 polls. JVP leader dubbed the alleged computer fraud, ‘computer jil- maat’. The non-inclusion of this much publicised allegation has raised many an eye brow in political and diplomatic circles. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 by Cyril Wimalasurendre KANDY – The four Mahanayaka theros yesterday decided to put off a special meeting of the Maha Sangha scheduled for Thursday (Feb 18) at the Mahamaluwa opposite the Sri Dalada Maligawa to discuss the situation in the country in the aftermath of the recently concluded presidential polls. The Maha Nayaka Theros, who had convened the meeting recently follow- ing representations made by the joint Opposition issued notice of cancella- tion on Tuesday afternoon. Kandy Sangha powwow put off by Norman Palihawadana Southern Provincial Councillor Nishantha Muthuhettigama and Galle District UPFA candidate, who had a running battle with actress Anarkali Akarsha in the run-up to last year’s elections to the SPC, yes- terday said that he would not clash with veteran film star Geetha Kumarasinghe over manape in the Galle District. Mutuhettigama won’t fight Geetha Nishantha Geetha Continued on page 2 Pay hike for workers Meals at Temple Trees Abuse of State media Army top brass on TV False claim on polls day Violence, intimidation Discarded ballot papers TNA-SF secret pact Abuse of state property Counting without agents Allegations at a glance Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Kumaritashvili’s body flown home from Winter Olympics Navy headquarters said that a Lt. Commander, who was on holiday had drowned in the Nachchaduwa wewa in Anuradapura. Sources said that the Navy officer had gone there with an actor and a for- mer MP monk.. Lt. Commander drowns
Transcript of Kandy Sangha MR’s re-election as President
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MoreBlunders
`Vol. 29 No. 81 Wednesday 17th February, 2010, 36 Pages Rs. 20 Registered in Sri Lanka as a Newspaper – Late City Edition
16
South Africaat Twenty
by Chitra Weerarathne
General (retd) SarathFonseka yesterday filed apetition in the Supreme
Court, requesting that the re-election of Mahinda Rajapaksaas President of Sri Lanka at theJan. 26 polls be declared void.
The petition requested theCourt to declare the return ofMahinda Rajapaksa as undueand to declare Sarath Fonsekathe duly elected President of SriLanka.
President Mahinda Rajapaksawas named the first andElections CommissionerDayananda Dissanayake the 22ndin a list of 26 respondents (Seepage 6 for full list and text of thepetition) cited in Fonseka’s peti-tion.
The petition also requestedthe Court to order a scrutiny ofall the ballots cast at the poll tobe carried out by theCommissioner of Election andhis officials in the presence ofthe petitioner and the other can-didates at the poll or their repre-sentatives.
The petition said that due to aviolation of election laws andcorrupt practices committed bythe first respondent, MahindaRajapaksa, the majority of elec-tors had been prevented fromelecting the candidate of theirchoice, namely Fonseka, and/orthe result may have been affectedby acts of intimidation, violationof laws and the commission ofcorrupt practices.
The alleged acts of miscon-duct committed by Rajapaksa,include, general intimidation ofelectors from December, 2009 toJanuary 2010, treating of personsto food and drinks between theperiod November 11, 2009 toJanuary 26, 2010, at TempleTrees, at the Kandy President’sHouse and the AnuradhapuraPresident’s House. Acts of
Bribery during the periodNovember 23, 2009 to January 26,2010, use of State Resources,making of false statements,
regarding the personal characterof Fonseka, and non-compliancewith the presidential electionlaws.
The petition said Rajapaksawas guilty of corrupt practice oftreating, under section 77, readtogether with section (1)(c) of the
Presidential Election Act.Rajapaksa was guilty of corruptpractice of Bribery under sec-tion 79 read together with sec-tion (1)(c) of the PresidentialElection Act. Rajapaksa wasguilty of making false state-ments under section 80(1)(c),read together with (1)(c) of thePresidential Election Act.Rajapaksa was guilty of miscon-duct under various other circum-stances, stated in Section (1)(a) ofthe Presidential Election Act.Therefore declared result shouldbe voided.
The petition cited as falsestatements, announcementsmade by Sarath Kongahage,Razik Zarook, KalingaIndratissa, HudsonSamarasinghe and WimalWeerawansa, that the petitionerwas not qualified to be elected asthe President of Sri Lanka andthat if was elected he would bedisqualified.
Those false statements werebroadcast without a break untilthe close of poll at 4 p.m. by SriLanka Rupavahini Corporation,SLBC, Lakhanda and otherTelevision Networks.
Fonseka petitions SC againstMR’s re-election as President
The UNP and JVP yesterday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the results of therecently conducted Presidential election. Somawasa Amarasinghe, leader of the JVP addresses themedia outside the Supreme Court after filing the petition. With him were UNP stalwarts, JohnAmaratunga, Ravi Karunanayake and JVP ex-MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake
(Photo-Sujatha Jayarathne)
Allegations of computer fraud dropped
Police headquarters said that secu-rity provided to all Members ofParliament (MP) had been withdrawnwith effect from Tuesday on theinstructions of the Inspector Generalof Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya.
A senior police official said thatthe decision was taken following therecent dissolution of Parliament. Theofficial said that security contingentsassigned to Ministers, Non-CabinetMinisters and Deputy Ministerswould remain.
The Opposition accused the gov-ernment of undermining security offormer MPs. Dr. JayalathJayawardena said that this was a moveby the government to intimidate oppo-sition candidates contesting the forth-coming General Elections.
(See page 3 for connected story)
MPs lose bodyguards
by Ifham Nizam
The Cabinet is expected take uptoday the 35 MW Broadlands HydroPower Project. A delay in its imple-mentation causes a staggering month-ly loss of Rs 200 million due to a dis-pute among senior officials.
The Island reliably learns that asenior official of the Power andEnergy Ministry is determined tooffer the project to a bidder whosequotation is USD 30 million higherthan that of the Technical EvaluationCommittee recommended bidder’s.
Five Firms forwarded bids, four ofthem were Chinese companies whilethe other was an Iranian firm.
Cabinet to take upBroadlands project
A holy mass was offered yesterday at the Carmel Convent Mattakuliya in memoryof the founder of Upali Group of companies the late Upali Wjewardene. The masswas conducted by Rev. Fr. Chrishanth Jayalath. Directors, Senior Managers and aGroup employees participated. (Photo-Kamal Bogoda)
by Don Asoka Wijewardena
A large number of bus commutersincluding students travelling fromGampaha, Nittabuwa, Kadawatha andWelivariya to Colombo were inconve-nienced yesterday morning (16) as privatebus crew struck work on routes No 200,180,514 and 138 due to an attack by long dis-tance bus crew on their colleagues. Busowners said the strike would be called ofonce the police arrested the culprits.
The Lanka Private Bus OwnersAssociation would inform PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa of the high handedactivities of two politicians, protesting buscrews said.
A politician had instigated long-dis-tance bus operators to attack short-dis-tance buses and he had instructed thepolice not to take action, the Bus Owners’Association alleged.
Passengersstranded as busmen strikeby Jayantha de Silva
Colombo Chief Magistrate JanakiRajaratne on Monday allowed an applica-tion by the Colombo Crimes Division andordered several TV channels to hand overcompact discs containing the videofootage of the recent incidents at
Hultsdorp involving supporters ofGen.(Retd) Sarath Fonseka and a factionopposed to him.
The Magistrate ordered Sirasa,Swarnavahini, Rupavahini and the DeranaChannels to hand over the compact discsdepicting the stone throwing incident.
Attack on Sarath Fonseka supporters at Hulftsdorp
TV channels ordered to give police video footage
Presidential election petition
Inside
The petition did not makeany reference to theOpposition’s main allegation inthe wake of the Jan. 26 pollsthat President MahindaRajapaksa had won a secondterm through a computer fraud,a claim vehemently denied byElections CommissionerDayananda Dissanayake. TheUNP, JVP and the SLFP (M
Wing) alleged that the election
staff had collaborated with thegovernment to perpetrate anunprecedented computer fraudto deny Opposition candidateGeneral (retd) Sarath Fonsekavictory at the January 26 polls.JVP leader dubbed the allegedcomputer fraud, ‘computer jil-maat’. The non-inclusion of thismuch publicised allegation hasraised many an eye brow inpolitical and diplomatic circles.
Continued on page 2
Continued on page 2
Continued on page 2
by Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY – The four Mahanayakatheros yesterday decided to put off aspecial meeting of the Maha Sanghascheduled for Thursday (Feb 18) at theMahamaluwa opposite the Sri DaladaMaligawa to discuss the situation in thecountry in the aftermath of the recentlyconcluded presidential polls.
The Maha Nayaka Theros, who hadconvened the meeting recently follow-ing representations made by the jointOpposition issued notice of cancella-tion on Tuesday afternoon.
Kandy Sanghapowwowput off
by Norman Palihawadana Southern Provincial Councillor
Nishantha Muthuhettigama andGalle District UPFA candidate, whohad a running battle with actressAnarkali Akarsha in the run-up tolast year’s elections to the SPC, yes-terday said that he would not clashwith veteran film star GeethaKumarasinghe over manape in theGalle District.
Mutuhettigamawon’t fightGeetha
Nishantha Geetha
Continued on page 2
Pay hike for workersMeals at Temple TreesAbuse of State mediaArmy top brass on TV
False claim on polls dayViolence, intimidation
Discarded ballot papersTNA-SF secret pactAbuse of state property
Counting without agents
Allegations at a glance
Continued on page 2
Continued on page 2
Kumaritashvili’s bodyflown home fromWinter Olympics
Navy headquarters said that a Lt.Commander, who was on holiday haddrowned in the Nachchaduwa wewa inAnuradapura.
Sources said that the Navy officerhad gone there with an actor and a for-mer MP monk..
Lt. Commander drowns
