I am a strong believer of Corporate Nationalism – Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka (26.08.2010 - dailymirror.lk)
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. ...............................>>
Peace and stability enable further assistance from China - Chinese Vice-Premier (13.08.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Colombo :
China welcomes the current situation in Sri Lanka, characterized by
durable peace and stability, and looks forward to intensifying its
initiatives to offer Sri Lanka every assistance in developing its
economy and strengthening its infrastructure, Mr. Li Keqiang,
Vice-Premier of China, told Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External
Affairs, in Beijing.
Vice-Premier Li Keqiang recalled the warm and mutual understanding
pervading the relationship between the two countries during the last 53
years, and appreciated in particular Sri Lanka’s consistent advocacy of
the “One-China Policy” and its strong endorsement of China’s stand on
Taiwan and Tibet. .................................>>
Hambantota International Harbour - A Dream Come True - by Dr.T. Jayasinghe - Palestine (06.08.2010 - Asian Tribune)
At
a time when news about disasters all around take priority over
development news, the appeal of that indefatigable young engineer Dr.
Priyath Bandu Wickrema, Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority calling
the people of Sri Lanka to visit Hambantota harbor site and see the
brown virgin earth getting covered with sea water brought tears to my
eyes.
Being one associated with this project at its initial stage I can now
recall with much satisfaction the role I played as the convener of the
first Task Force for the construction of Hambantota harbor on the
instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who at that time while being
the Minister of Fisheries was also the Minister in charge of Sri Lanka
Ports Authority.
The first meeting was a fairly large gathering of engineers and
administrators from Sri Lanka Ports Authority, academics from
Universities specially from Moratuwa, politicians, researchers and
others who advocated the idea of a harbor at Hambantota. President in
his first address gave the assurance that this harbor would be built
notwithstanding any obstacle. .................................>>
Chinese
nationals in Sri Lanka’s southern port are ‘convicts’ forced
into labour by Beijing - Japan
Times - by Joseph Thavaraja (05.07.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Colombo : Many of the Chinese nationals working
in Sri Lanka’s southern Hambanthota port project are Chinese convicts
directly from its prisons, according to Japan Times. The reason is the
prisons overcrowding dilemma that China is facing now, according to JT.
Most of the ‘convicts’ in Chinese prisons are forced into the jails
simply due to the fact that they challenged various Chinese policies and
practices by staying outspoken.
As part of its ‘strategy’ to overcome the 1.5 million massive prison
populations problem, China is now 'exporting' its convicts as laborers
at Chinese-run projects especially in the developing world, JT added. ..................................>>
Speech delivered by President Rajapaksa to the Sri Lanka-Ukraine Business Forum (01.07.2010 -
news.lk)
Let me at the outset thank your Excellency
President Yanukovich for your words of introduction. I am pleased to
speak a few words on this occasion which convenes the Ukraine –Sri Lanka
Business Forum. In my view this Forum is one of special significance to
the relations between Sri Lanka and Ukraine, as its objective is to
widen the scope of our bilateral relations beyond official contacts
between our two governments, and to stimulate direct interaction between
the private sector and the business communities through the promotion
of economic and trade cooperation. ...................................>>
Asgiri-Malwatte Prelates Laud Army’s Role in Development (26.06.2010 19:38
SLT - army.lk)
LIEUTENANT GENERAL Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the
Army, on the eve of Poson Festival paid homage to the sacred Tooth Relic
at Kandy and called on both Maha Nayake (prelates) of Asgiriya and
Malwatte chapters with the intention of enlightening the prelates on the
Army’s role in development projects and receiving their blessings.
During the first leg of his tour in Kandy, Lieutenant General Jagath
Jayasuriya visited the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth) on Friday (25)
and offered his respect to the sacred place before he sat with the
Diyawadana Nilame (Chieftain) at his office inside the temple chambers
for a discussion. ................................>>
Sri
Lanka has lesson to world
on defeating terror – President Rajapaksa (18.06.2010 10:00
SLT - info.gov.lk)
We are aware that some countries being
battered by terrorism have taken strength from the victories won by Sri
Lanka over terrorism. It is time for the countries facing attacks from
terrorism to look back and see where they had gone wrong, whereas Sri
Lanka has succeeded, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his address to
the Nation on the Victory Day celebrations at Galle Face, Colombo
today.
It is a grave error of judgment to think that while being opposed to
terrorism targeting you, to believe that terrorism that is no threat to
you is good…The world has so far trod on this wrong path. Terrorism
remains unvanquished because of this incorrect thinking. The countries
that show sympathy towards terrorism and separatism will be the victims
of terrorism. This is the lesson of history, President Rajapaksa further
said. ..............................>>
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao’s briefing on President Rajapaksa visit - from R. Vasudevan - Reporting from New
Delhi (10.06.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
New Delhi :
India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao made the following points at a
Media Briefing on the State Visit of the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda
Rajapaksa, on Wednesday.
1. The President of Sri Lanka H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa is currently in
India on a State Visit. He is accompanied by Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa
and a high-level delegation, including three Cabinet Ministers.
2. This morning, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati
Bhavan. External Affairs Minister and the Finance Minister called on
him. The Leader of Opposition and the Chairperson of the UPA are also
calling on him. A delegation of MPs from Tamil Nadu is also meeting him
in the afternoon. .................................>>
Annual Report and Accounts of the
Sri-Lanka savings Bank-2008
The Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by president
Mahinda Rajapasaka as the Minister of Finance and Planning to table in
Parliament, the Annual Report and accounts showing details of the
performance and accounts of Sri-Lanka savings Bank for the year ended on
31st December, 2008.
In relation to the Pre-tax profit of Rs18.8 million earned during the
year 2007, the bank has earned a sum of Rs.149.8 million during the year
2008.
.................................>>
Full
potential of bilateral relations can be realized with end to
terrorism - President of India (10.06.2010 -
news.lk)
With the cessation of hostilities in northern Sri
Lanka, India and Sri Lanka have an opportunity to realize the full
potential of their bilateral relations. I am heartened to note that,
during this visit,we are committing ourselves to substantially enhance
the range and depth of our bilateral engagement, declared Madam Pratibha
Patil, the President of India, addressing the Banquet in honour of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa held in New Delhi yesterday [09 June].
India and Sri Lanka can show the way forward to the region and to the
world as a model of mutually beneficial cooperation, President Patil
emphasized. ..............................>>
