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. .................................>>
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. ...................................>>
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. ..............................>>
Vibrant policy, immense scope, enticing
and exciting package for investment
– President Mahinda Rajapaksa (04.06.2010 05:10
GMT - info.gov.lk)
“Those of you who are keen to explore,
will find abundant opportunities for investment in Sri Lanka. The scope
is immense : from infrastructure, to agri-business, to manufacturing and
to a range of services. You will also find that our country offers a
rare package of skills, capacity, and a willingness to learn and adapt.
Our policy is vibrant, our package is enticing and exciting, and you
would do well to join us in our forward march. I earnestly invite you to
do so,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Business Forum
organized jointly by the Indian and Sri Lankan Chambers of Commerce in
Colombo today, to coincide with the IIFA Awards Weekend. ..................................>>
CEPA – Is it a disaster ? - by Ben
Silva (02.06.2010 - Email)
I wish to thank Dilrook for
bringing this new threat to the public domain. India is the land of our
ancestors. It is the land where we got our culture, language and belief
systems from and I have respect and affection to India like most Sri
Lankans. However India is a large and powerful country with a growing
population, expected to exceed one billion. Indians do not appear to
have a one child policy like the Chinese do and over population in India
would soon cause massive problems to all its neighbours including Sri
Lanka. There will be tremendous pressure for Indians to expand and Sri
Lanka may be an easy pick. India is now a secular country, just like
China and is rapidly developing in new Technology and Science. In
contrast Sri Lanka is still hanging on to old belief systems, just like
Tibet and Bhutan. ..............................>>
