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. ...............................>>
Corruption In Robes - by Nirmala Kannangara (01.08.2010 - thesundayleader.lk)
Following
the story under the caption “Residents Furious Over Bossy Monk” in the
July 11 issue of The Sunday Leader, more revelations have surfaced as to
how Ven. Pitaduwe Siri Dhamma Thero of the Siri Sadhaham Ashramaya in Bellantara (Dehiwala) continues to harass and disturb the lives of innocent people in and around the temple.
Allegations have been leveled against Pitiduwe Thero for using the names
of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his brothers Gotabaya and Basil
Rajapaksa and their spouses in order to get all his unlawful work done
through state departments and to frighten the neighbourhood into
silence, preventing them from reacting against all his unauthorised
work. ..............................>>
Destruction
encroaches over Kokilai Sanctuary (09.05.2010 - The
Nation, SL)
The Kokilai Sanctuary has always claimed
attention of environmentalists for being one of most valued bird
sanctuaries in the island. Currently, it has drawn substantial media
attention imputable to the unscrupulous destruction it has been
subjected to since last week.
On May 6, 2010 a group of wildlife officers from Trincomalee, led by
Saliya Bandara apprehended two people while they were engaged in cutting
trees in a severely bulldozed land inside the sanctuary. Subsequently,
these villagers were immediately arrested and presented to the
Kebithigollewa High Courts on May 7, 2010 and will be in jail till May
12 until the hearing proceeds. .............................>>
Residents
blamed for Kokilai destruction (05.05.2010 - The
Island, SL)
Environmentalists yesterday blamed the
residents of the Pulmoddai-Kuchaveli Pradeshiya Sabha area for the
destruction of a large section of the Kokilai Bird Sanctuary.
"Most of the people involved in clearance are residents within a
nine-kilometre radius. Some of the Muslim farmers too were involved in
it," a senior resident said.
Following yesterday’s The Island exposure, Environment Minister Anura
Priyadharshana Yapa instructed authorities to act swiftly. .............................>>
Cadmium
deposits cause of kidney
failure in NCP - by Saliya Kumara Gunasekara (02.05.2010 -
LakbimaNews)
Arecent research carried out by Prof. Sarath Bandara
of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya has
revealed that staples such as rice, grains, vegetables and curd produced
in the North Central Province (NCP) contained Cadmium deposits and this
is believed to be the reason for severe renal failure cases among those
living in the NCP.
The reason for the percolation of Cadmium is due to the use of imported
phosphate fertilizer, the research has found.
“Kidney failure is on the increase in the North Central region. Analysts
were of the view that the use of phosphate must be restricted in order
to solve this problem. If people begin to use Eppawala Rock- Phosphate, a
considerable reduction of Cadmium being mixed into the environment can
be avoided” says Prof Sarath Bandara. ...........................>>
Sustainability
‘is impossible if Lanka continues with current energy policies’ - by Ifham Nizam (01.05.2010 - The
Island, SL)
•Renewable and alternate energies are the key •Ranawaka has a crucial role to
play as he did with Environment and Natural Resources
The use of renewable alternate energy sources, such as wind and solar
energy is growing rapidly. These energy sources do not cause air
pollution, health problems or climatic changes. They offer our best
chance to replace fossil fuels and develop a sustainable energy policy.
Needles to say, experts hail President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decision to
appoint Electrical Engineer Patali Champika Ranawaka as the Power and
Energy Minister. One cannot forget the role played by former minister W D
J Seneviratne to put Power and Energy Ministry in the right direction. .................................>>
Rains won’t go away till mid May – Met Dept. (26.04.2010 - The
Island, SL)
The Met Department yesterday said the
prevailing torrential rains would continue until mid - May.
Meteorologist Nandalal Peiris told The Island the sudden change in
weather was due to the onset of the inter-monsoonal season which would
continue until mid May when the South East monsoon was due.
"Now the inter monsoon season is activated and showers and
thundershowers with lightning will be experienced especially during the
afternoons and evenings," he said. Thundershowers would develop in the
Uva, Central, Sabaragamuwa and North Central provinces especially.
Showers may also spread to the other provinces, according to the Met
Department. ............................>>
Earth
Hour marked with success : We are known for our low emission
rates – Ministry Ranawaka (30.03.2010 - The
Island, SL)
On Saturday (27.03.2010), the Ministry of
Environment and Natural Resources observed Earth Hour at 8.00 p.m. under
the patronage of Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali
Champika Ranawaka.
The staff of the Ministry spent the day doing their bit to save the
planet.
Ranawaka congratulated the World Wildlife Fund for initiating Earth Hour
in 2007 with the participations of 2.2 million people based only in
Sydney, Australia.
Today after three years, Earth Hour has become a world famous event
where people around the world joined hands and got together against
greenhouse gas emissions and against overuse of energy. .........................>>
Lanka second among 20 best (27.03.2010 - Daily
News, SL)
Sri Lanka was placed second in the National
Geographic's world's 20 best.
In a list that encompasses some of the most exotic and exclusive getaway
locations including Bali and Manhattan, Sri Lanka takes top ranks.
This follows suit of the recent spate of positive reviews that Sri Lanka
has received from the New York Times, and Daily Candy, to name a few. ............................>>
New geological developments to rock Sri Lanka (21.03.2010 - The
Nation, SL)
With an increased number of earthquakes
occurring in the Indian Ocean and Geological Department observing a
possibility of a new earth plate being created 1,000km south of Sri
Lanka, geologists warn of possible adverse natural disasters occurring
in the country.
Senior Geologist Prof. Kapila Dahanayake of Department of Geology,
University of Peradeniya said, irrespective of the fact that some
continue to argue about the development stage of the earth plate, laymen
should be aware that there is a serious threat of Sri Lanka
experiencing worst kind of earthquakes at any given time. ...........................>>
