To protect his good name, President should release Fonseka ...pdfs.island.lk/2010/02/17/p4.pdf ·...
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More News Page Four 4 The Island Wednesday 17th February, 2010 Minister Chamal Rajapaksa unveiling the inauguration plaque on the invitation of Prof. Peiris, who looks on with Namal Rajapaksa and S. Liyanagama, Secretary, Ministry of Export Development. by Cyril Wimalasurendre KANDY - When Plantation Industries Minister D. M. Jayaratne called on the Most Ven. Mahanayake of Malwatte, Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, on Sunday (14), the prelate said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in order to pre- serve his good name, should release the retired Army Commander Sarath Fonseka from custody. If Fonseka was freed, President Rajapaksa would be able to change world opinion regarding the arrest. The prelate said several countries thought the President had kept his political rival in army custody as an act of revenge. “As the Maha Sangha, we express our opin- ion totally inde- pendent of politi- cal interests. We express our views based on public opinion,” the prelate said. “We, as Sangha, rose against the with- drawal of the civil rights of late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike. We convened a massive meeting of the Sangha to protest against the manner in which Mrs. Bandaranaike was treated”, he said. When the Sangha extended the support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the UNPers had blamed them. The Sangha had always chosen the correct path, he said. “People make mistakes. But in some cases, the wrongdoers should be pardoned,” the Maha Nayake Thera said, “the election is now over and it is time to unite and develop the coun- try.” Minister Jayaratne said that he was a founder member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and had remained loyal to the party right throughout. To protect his good name, President should release Fonseka — Mahanayake Work on a hundred-acre agro-export zone at Weeravila, earmarked for the cultivation of vegetables and fruits, was launched recently by Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Water Management Chamal Rajapaksa and President of the ‘Thaarunayata Hetak’ Namal Rajapaksa. The Agro- Export Zone Programme of the Export Development Board (EDB) is directed by the Ministry of Export Development. The Weeravila Zone, where hybrid melon, papaya and bananas are to be grown, is managed by the Tissamaharama Export Products Janatha Ltd. The first phase of the proj- ect will cost Rs. 3.8 million and offers employment opportunities to 500 women selected from 38 Grama Sevaka divisions. After the launching of the project, mango saplings were distributed among the participants and a discussion was held to solve some of the day-to-day problems faced by the farmers. A two-day seminar on Raja Yoga meditation will be held on February 20 and 21 from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. at Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre, 55, Peter’s Lane, Dehiwela. The seminar will be conducted in the English medium. All are invited––registration on or before February 18 (limited to 30 participants). A vegetarian lunch and refreshments will be provided. Raja Yoga meditation is a form of meditation to build and strengthen the inner resources of the mind. Raja Yoga meditation will help an individual to develop peace of mind, a healthy life, concentration and clarity of the intellect and attain- ments of spiritual powers which will usher in a happy life. Being a practical way of bringing peace into our day-to-day activities, Raja Yoga can be practised regard- less of anyone’s physical health, edu- cation, social status, religion or age. Illustration, music and guided medi- tation will help the participants to progress at optimum rate. All the programmes of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre are free of charge. For further details please contact 011-2717572. by Bingiriya Corr. Ministry of Livestock Development has made arrangements to set up fresh milk sales centres in 28 schools in the Kurunegala District during this year. Subsidised milk will be available at these centres. Deputy Director of Education Bingiriya W. M. Balasooriya, told The Island that 43,000 students in the Kurunegala district would benefit from this project. Balasooriya told a meet- ing of school principals recently at Bingiriya MMV that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had instructed the Ministry of Education to continue the programme of supplying free mid-day meals to primary students of remote schools. The gov- ernment spent 120 million rupees annually for this purpose. He pointed out that can- teens in many schools were reported to be selling food items unfit for human con- sumption to students and the Ministry of Education had already instructed prin- cipals to be vigilant. Public Health Inspectors of the NWP Health Department had been instructed to conduct regu- lar checks on school can- teens and ensure the quali- ty of food, he said. by Bingiriya Corr. The Ayurvedic Department of the NWP will set up 65 Community Health Centres in the Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts. Special focus of the project will on the senior citizens’ mental and physical health conditions. In addition to medical treatment, senior citizens who spend their lives at registered elders’ homes in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts will be provided with facilities to observe ‘sil’ and to have meditation sessions. Dr. H. M. Herathbanda, the President of Bingiriya Ayurvedic Physicians’ Association said that the government had allocated 12.2 mil- lion rupees for this purpose. by J. Antony, Ratnapura Corr. Hemmathagama Muslim Al Azar Navodya Vidyalaya will get an auditori- um and a fully-fledged science laborato- ry. The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council has released Rs. 1.7 million for this purpose. The number of children attending the school is over 1,400. It comes under the Mawanella Zonal Educational office. The work on the auditorium and Science lab is nearing completion. Principal M. A. M. Nisthar said the school had attained considerable devel- opment during the past few years. But last year 20 children had passed the Grade Five Scholarship examination. Over 76% candidates had passed the GCE (O/L) examination and 89% of candidates had got through the GCE (A/L) examination and three students had succeeded in getting admission to the University last year to study medi- cine. The principal said he had initiated a scheme to give scholarships to bright children coming from very poor fami- lies to further their studies at the Behror Campus in Rajasthan, India. Already six students had been sent to there to follow Information Technology and Journalism, he said. Weeravila Agro-Export Zone work expedited Seminar on Raja Yoga Meditation Subsidised fresh milk available in schools New auditorium and science. lab for Al Azar Navodya Vidyalaya Ven. Mahanayake Prisoners demand bail NWP to get 65 Ayurveda community health centres by Nimal Palihawadane, Akuressa Corr. It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who had put an end to large scale vote rigging by making it mandatory to estab- lish one’s identity to vote, Minister of Transport, Dallas Alahapperuma said counter- ing the Opposition’s allegation that the President had secured a second term through a com- puter fraud. The Minister said that a propos- al to make identity cards com- pulsory for voting had been there for thirty years but no government had wanted to implement it fearing that its interests would be jeopar- dised. President Rajapaksa had put democracy before par- tisan political interests and implemented that proposal, he said. The Minister said, “Therefore, why should the President resort to a computer frauds to win an election? It is unfortunate that some sinister political elements are trying to tarnish the image of the President, unable to bear the humiliating electoral loss. President stopped voting malpractices by making NIC compulsory to vote by Cyril Wimalasurendre KANDY – The Deputy Mayor of Kandy K. L. Suminda Wickremasinghe (UNP), on Tuesday (15), assumed duties as acting Mayor replacing Mayor L. B. Aluwihare, who was suspended by the Chief Minister of the Central Province. Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake suspended Mayor Aluwihare by a Gazette notification pend- ing investigation into alle- gations against him. Ekanayake appointed retired Judicial Officer N. Mahendran to inquire into allegations and sub- mit a report within three months. Meanwhile, Aluwihare plans to submit a writ application to the Court of Appeal against the sus- pension. Commencing official duties as Mayor, Suminda Wickremasinghe had a meeting with officials of the Municipal Council and Municipal Commissioner Chandana Tennakoon on Tuesday morning. Later in the afternoon, Wickremasinghe was received by the public at Dalada Veediya and the Market square. Dy Mayor assumes duties as Kandy Mayor The Chinese government donated over Rs. 585 million worth of machinery including 10 Bulldozes, 07 Graders, 10 Backhoe Loaders, 05 wheel loaders and 02 vibrator rollers to the Sri Lankan government for the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ programme. Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiuping in Sri Lanka hands over the keys of the vehicles to Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake. by Asanka Sahabandu Fifteen remand prisoners at the Welikada Prison staged a hunger strike on Monday (15) on the roof of ‘L’ block demanding they be grant- ed bail. Commissioner of Prisons (Civil Administration), Kenneth Fernando told The Island that the protesters had been remanded for drug relat- ed crimes. The Prison authorities managed to bring the situation under control after a few hours. The prisoners abandoned their protest. by J. Antony There was tension on the Chesterford estate, Gonagaldeniya, in the Ruwanwella electorate following an attack on a youth by four per- sons from a nearby village. The youth sustained a head injury and was rushed to hospital. He was later discharged. The attack triggered a strike and many families fled the estate fearing violent clashes. The police stepped in to restor normalcy. Two suspects were arrested and others were abscond- ing. The youth was assaulted for taking part in a procession organ- ised by a section of villagers fol- lowing the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A peace mission headed by Ven. Madampagame Assaji Thera visited the estate to settle the dis- pute. They met the Manager of the estate W. M. R. H. Ranasinghe and the workers. It was decided to hold a meeting later with the par- ticipation of the workers, vil- lagers, the village priest, the police and the District Secretary of Kegalle to prevent defuse ten- sion. Estate youth attacked for celebrating President’s victory The 62nd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Cancer Society will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 5.00 p.m. at 37/25, Bullers Lane, Colombo 07. Attorney General Mohan Pieris will grace the occasion as Chief Guest. Several other dis- tinguished guests will be present. Cancer society AGM Dallas
Transcript of To protect his good name, President should release Fonseka ...pdfs.island.lk/2010/02/17/p4.pdf ·...
More News Page Four4 The IslandWednesday 17th February, 2010
Minister Chamal Rajapaksa unveiling the inauguration plaque on the invitation of Prof. Peiris, who lookson with Namal Rajapaksa and S. Liyanagama, Secretary, Ministry of Export Development.
by Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY - When PlantationIndustries Minister D. M. Jayaratnecalled on the Most Ven. Mahanayakeof Malwatte, Tibbatuwawe SriSiddhartha Sumangala Thera, onSunday (14), the prelate said PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa, in order to pre-serve his good name, should releasethe retired Army Commander SarathFonseka from custody.
If Fonseka was freed, PresidentRajapaksa would be able to changeworld opinion regarding the arrest.The prelate said several countriesthought the President had kept hispolitical rival in army custody as an
act of revenge.“As the Maha
Sangha, weexpress our opin-ion totally inde-pendent of politi-cal interests. Weexpress our viewsbased on publicopinion,” theprelate said.
“We, asSangha, roseagainst the with-drawal of the civil
rights of late Mrs. SirimavoBandaranaike. We convened a massivemeeting of the Sangha to protest
against the manner in which Mrs.Bandaranaike was treated”, he said.
When the Sangha extended thesupport to President MahindaRajapaksa, the UNPers had blamedthem. The Sangha had always chosenthe correct path, he said.
“People make mistakes. But insome cases, the wrongdoers should bepardoned,” the Maha Nayake Therasaid, “the election is now over and itis time to unite and develop the coun-try.”
Minister Jayaratne said that hewas a founder member of the SriLanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and hadremained loyal to the party rightthroughout.
To protect his goodname, President shouldrelease Fonseka — Mahanayake
Work on a hundred-acre agro-exportzone at Weeravila, earmarked for thecultivation of vegetables and fruits, waslaunched recently by Minister ofExport Development and InternationalTrade Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister ofPorts, Civil Aviation and Water
Management Chamal Rajapaksa andPresident of the ‘Thaarunayata Hetak’Namal Rajapaksa.
The Agro- Export Zone Programmeof the Export Development Board (EDB)is directed by the Ministry of ExportDevelopment.
The Weeravila Zone, where hybridmelon, papaya and bananas are to begrown, is managed by theTissamaharama Export ProductsJanatha Ltd. The first phase of the proj-ect will cost Rs. 3.8 million and offersemployment opportunities to 500
women selected from 38 Grama Sevakadivisions.
After the launching of the project,mango saplings were distributed amongthe participants and a discussion washeld to solve some of the day-to-dayproblems faced by the farmers.
A two-day seminar on Raja Yogameditation will be held on February20 and 21 from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.at Brahma Kumaris Raja YogaCentre, 55, Peter’s Lane, Dehiwela.
The seminar will be conducted inthe English medium.
All are invited––registration onor before February 18 (limited to 30participants). A vegetarian lunchand refreshments will be provided.
Raja Yoga meditation is a form ofmeditation to build and strengthenthe inner resources of the mind.Raja Yoga meditation will help anindividual to develop peace of mind,a healthy life, concentration andclarity of the intellect and attain-ments of spiritual powers which willusher in a happy life.
Being a practical way of bringingpeace into our day-to-day activities,Raja Yoga can be practised regard-less of anyone’s physical health, edu-cation, social status, religion or age.Illustration, music and guided medi-tation will help the participants toprogress at optimum rate.
All the programmes of BrahmaKumaris Raja Yoga Centre are free ofcharge. For further details pleasecontact 011-2717572.
by Bingiriya Corr.
Ministry of LivestockDevelopment has madearrangements to set upfresh milk sales centres in28 schools in theKurunegala District duringthis year. Subsidised milkwill be available at thesecentres.
Deputy Director ofEducation Bingiriya W. M.Balasooriya, told The Islandthat 43,000 students in theKurunegala district wouldbenefit from this project.
Balasooriya told a meet-ing of school principalsrecently at Bingiriya MMVthat President MahindaRajapaksa had instructedthe Ministry of Educationto continue the programmeof supplying free mid-daymeals to primary studentsof remote schools. The gov-ernment spent 120 millionrupees annually for thispurpose.
He pointed out that can-teens in many schools werereported to be selling fooditems unfit for human con-sumption to students andthe Ministry of Educationhad already instructed prin-cipals to be vigilant.
Public Health Inspectorsof the NWP HealthDepartment had beeninstructed to conduct regu-lar checks on school can-teens and ensure the quali-ty of food, he said.
by Bingiriya Corr.
The Ayurvedic Department of theNWP will set up 65 CommunityHealth Centres in the Kurunegalaand Puttalam Districts.
Special focus of the project willon the senior citizens’ mental andphysical health conditions.
In addition to medical treatment,senior citizens who spend their livesat registered elders’ homes in theKurunegala and Puttalam districtswill be provided with facilities toobserve ‘sil’ and to have meditationsessions.
Dr. H. M. Herathbanda, thePresident of Bingiriya AyurvedicPhysicians’ Association said that thegovernment had allocated 12.2 mil-lion rupees for this purpose.
by J. Antony, Ratnapura Corr.
Hemmathagama Muslim Al AzarNavodya Vidyalaya will get an auditori-um and a fully-fledged science laborato-ry. The Sabaragamuwa ProvincialCouncil has released Rs. 1.7 million forthis purpose.
The number of children attendingthe school is over 1,400. It comes underthe Mawanella Zonal Educationaloffice. The work on the auditorium andScience lab is nearing completion.
Principal M. A. M. Nisthar said theschool had attained considerable devel-opment during the past few years. Butlast year 20 children had passed theGrade Five Scholarship examination.Over 76% candidates had passed theGCE (O/L) examination and 89% ofcandidates had got through the GCE(A/L) examination and three studentshad succeeded in getting admission tothe University last year to study medi-cine.
The principal said he had initiated ascheme to give scholarships to brightchildren coming from very poor fami-lies to further their studies at theBehror Campus in Rajasthan, India.Already six students had been sent tothere to follow Information Technologyand Journalism, he said.
Weeravila Agro-Export Zone work expedited Seminar onRaja YogaMeditation
Subsidised freshmilk available inschools
New auditorium andscience. lab for Al AzarNavodya Vidyalaya
Ven. Mahanayake
Prisonersdemand bail
NWP to get 65Ayurvedacommunityhealth centres
by Nimal Palihawadane,Akuressa Corr.
It was President MahindaRajapaksa who had put an endto large scale vote rigging bymaking it mandatory to estab-lish one’s identity to vote,Minister of Transport, DallasAlahapperuma said counter-
ing theOpposition’sallegation thatthe Presidenthad secured asecond termthrough a com-puter fraud.
TheMinister saidthat a propos-
al to make identity cards com-pulsory for voting had beenthere for thirty years but nogovernment had wanted toimplement it fearing that itsinterests would be jeopar-dised. President Rajapaksahad put democracy before par-tisan political interests andimplemented that proposal, he
said.The Minister said,
“Therefore, why should thePresident resort to a computerfrauds to win an election? It isunfortunate that some sinisterpolitical elements are tryingto tarnish the image of thePresident, unable to bear thehumiliating electoral loss.
President stopped voting malpracticesby making NIC compulsory to vote
by CyrilWimalasurendre
KANDY – The DeputyMayor of Kandy K. L.Suminda Wickremasinghe(UNP), on Tuesday (15),assumed duties as actingMayor replacing Mayor L.B. Aluwihare, who wassuspended by the ChiefMinister of the CentralProvince.
Chief Minister SarathEkanayake suspendedMayor Aluwihare by aGazette notification pend-ing investigation into alle-gations against him.
Ekanayake appointedretired Judicial Officer N.Mahendran to inquire
into allegations and sub-mit a report within threemonths.
Meanwhile, Aluwihareplans to submit a writapplication to the Court ofAppeal against the sus-pension.
Commencing officialduties as Mayor, SumindaWickremasinghe had ameeting with officials ofthe Municipal Council andMunicipal CommissionerChandana Tennakoon onTuesday morning.
Later in the afternoon,Wickremasinghe wasreceived by the public atDalada Veediya and theMarket square.
Dy Mayor assumesduties as Kandy Mayor
The Chinese government donated over Rs. 585 million worth of machinery including 10Bulldozes, 07 Graders, 10 Backhoe Loaders, 05 wheel loaders and 02 vibrator rollers to the SriLankan government for the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ programme. Chinese Ambassador YangXiuping in Sri Lanka hands over the keys of the vehicles to Prime Minister RatnasiriWickramanayake.
by Asanka Sahabandu
Fifteen remand prisoners at theWelikada Prison staged a hungerstrike on Monday (15) on the roof of‘L’ block demanding they be grant-ed bail.
Commissioner of Prisons (CivilAdministration), Kenneth Fernandotold The Island that the protestershad been remanded for drug relat-ed crimes.
The Prison authorities managedto bring the situation under controlafter a few hours. The prisonersabandoned their protest.
by J. Antony
There was tension on theChesterford estate,Gonagaldeniya, in theRuwanwella electorate followingan attack on a youth by four per-sons from a nearby village.
The youth sustained a headinjury and was rushed to hospital.He was later discharged.
The attack triggered a strikeand many families fled the estatefearing violent clashes.
The police stepped in to restornormalcy. Two suspects werearrested and others were abscond-ing.
The youth was assaulted fortaking part in a procession organ-ised by a section of villagers fol-lowing the victory of PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa.
A peace mission headed byVen. Madampagame Assaji Theravisited the estate to settle the dis-pute.
They met the Manager of theestate W. M. R. H. Ranasinghe andthe workers. It was decided tohold a meeting later with the par-ticipation of the workers, vil-lagers, the village priest, thepolice and the District Secretaryof Kegalle to prevent defuse ten-sion.
Estate youth attackedfor celebratingPresident’s victory The 62nd
Annual GeneralMeeting of the SriLanka CancerSociety will beheld on Thursday,February 25,2010 at 5.00 p.m.at 37/25, BullersLane, Colombo07.
AttorneyGeneral MohanPieris will gracethe occasion asChief Guest.Several other dis-tinguished guestswill be present.
CancersocietyAGM
Dallas
