| (27.07.2010)
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Lanka to oppose Ban
(27.07.2010 20:43 SLT - Daily
Mirror Online, SL)
The Sri Lankan government is to oppose the re-election of Ban Ki
Moon as the UN Secretary General and will also seek the support
of several other countries for this move, a senior government
minister told Daily Mirror online on the condition of anonymity.
The cabinet minister said that Sri Lanka will seek the support
of countries such as India, Russia, Brazil, China and other
developing countries and will launch campaigns in these
countries soon, to oppose the re-appointment of Ban Ki Moon to
the post of UN Secretary General.
“Sri Lanka will not vote him in after his latest decision to
appoint his expert panel. Sri Lanka will also discourage other
countries in the region from voting for him,” the cabinet
minister said.
“The government will begin the campaigns soon after discussions
with the respective governments,” the minister added.
The term of Ban Ki Moon as the UN Secretary General will expire
on December 31, 2011 and he is eligible for re-appointment into
a second term.
Ban Ki Moon has been in troubled waters with the Sri Lankan
government especially after his decision to appoint an expert
panel to advise him on accountability issues relating to Sri
Lanka.
Despite repeated calls from the Sri Lankan government stating
that such a panel was ‘unwarranted’ and ‘uncalled’ for Ban Ki
Moon has maintained that his panel will remain and will submit a
report to him within a period of four months.
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Lankans arrested in US
(27.07.2010 23:15 SLT - Daily
Mirror Online, SL)
Palm Beach police in the US turned over six men from Sri Lanka
to the U.S. Border Patrol today after noticing them walking down
the street in wet pants, police said.
According to spokesman Sgt. Curtis Krauel, a patrol officer
noticed the men at 6:40 a.m. (Tuesday) heading south at County
Road near Seminole Avenue.
All six were between the ages of 20 and 40. They all appeared to
be good health, police said.
Their pant legs were wet up to their knees, leading police to
believe they had been dropped off by a boat, though no boat was
found.
They had Sri Lankan currency and U.S. cash on them, and
indicated they did not speak English, according to police. They
were not carrying any bags but they did have cell phones. Police
also said the men did not provide information about themselves
to investigators. (Palm Beach Daily News)
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Government appoints a Committee to
look into US allegations on Labour Right Violations
(27.07.2010 - news.lk)
Sri Lanka government has appointed a committee to look in to
allegations of labour rights violation in Sri Lanka which are
threatening GSP trade concessions to the United States.
The US government is to hold a public hearing next month on
labour rights issues in Sri Lanka as it reviews extending GSP
trade concessions to Sri Lanka. The country exported goods
amounting to US$ 116 million to the US under this scheme.
The US GSP scheme is reviewed each year and countries eligible
for preferential treatment are expected to meet several
standards which include the extent to which the country has
taken or is taking steps to afford workers in the country
internationally recognized worker rights including the right of
association; the right to organize and bargain collectively; a
prohibition on compulsory labour; a minimum age for the
employment of children; a prohibition on the worst forms of
child labour; and acceptable conditions of work with respect to
minimum wages, hours of work and occupational safety and health.
The committee appointed by the government is headed by the
Secretary to the Ministry of Labour Mr. Mahinda Madihahewa, and
the other members will include officials from the ministry of
External Affairs and ministry of Industries and Commerce. The
Committee is also to consult the ministries of defence,
education, ports and aviation and prepare the government’s reply
to allegations of labour rights violence.
AFL-CIO is reported to be asking the US government to remove Sri
Lanka from its list of eligible GSP beneficiaries.
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Permission to generate energy
domestically
(27.07.2010 - itnnews.lk)
The Ministry of Power and Energy has introduced a new strategy
for domestic consumers to produce their own power requirements.
Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the Ministry has
decided to permit the generation of power within households from
today with alternative sources such as wind or solar. Its pilot
project will be launched today.
Consumers will have the option of producing energy more than
they require. Excess power could be sold to the Electricity
Board.
The Minister said that if less power is generated by the
consumer, they could purchase the balance from the Electricity
Board.
Accordingly households will have the opportunity of generating
energy with the help of turbines where wind is rife. Solar cells
will be issued to areas where solar power can be produced.
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Cops rape ex soldier
(27.07.2010 16:30 SLT - Daily
Mirror Online, SL)
A senior police team has been appointed to investigate a
complaint by a woman army deserter who alleged that she had been
raped by three police officers including an Inspector from the
Buttala Police Station when she went to lodge a complaint
against her lover.
Uva Province DIG, H.N.G. Ambanwela has appointed an
investigation team under an ASP to hold a formal inquiry into
the alleged incident. The woman soldier attached to the Gajaba
Regiment is a resident of Udugama in Galle.
It is alleged that she had been in love with a young man from
Buttala and had been living with him at his relative’s house
after she deserted the army.
In June this year, her lover insisted she undergo an abortion
after she told him she was pregnant but as she refused, it led
to a dispute between the couple.
The ex solider visited the Buttala Police to lodge a complaint
and at the inquiry the couple came to a settlement that they
would get married.
However, her lover and his parents chased her away at the dead
of night from the house and she had once again visited the
Buttala police seeking legal remedy.
It is alleged that instead of helping her, three police officers
on duty had raped her and produced her after two days later
before Wellawaya Magistrate for deserting the army.
She was later handed over to the Military Police who recorded
her complaint against Buttala police.
The victim was admitted to Diyathalawa hospital and was later
transferred to the Badulla Hospital.
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Prison land for sale
(27.07.2010 16:26 SLT - Daily
Mirror Online, SL)
The Welikada Prison property will be up for sale once the
Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry re-locates the prison
to a new location, Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms Minister
D.E.W. Gunasekara said.
Sri Lanka’s prison system will go through a series of changes
including the re-location of almost all the major prisons
including the Welikada, Bogambara and Jaffna prisons and the
Borella Magazine remand prison over the next two years at a cost
of over Rs. 10 billion, Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara added.
The land on which the Welikada Prison complex is situated is one
of the largest single plots of land in the city. The
Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry expects to raise
funds for prison re-location programme by selling this land and
the offer will be open to the private sector too.
The modalities of the transaction will be worked out by the
government shortly. Minister Gunasekara pointed out that
Welikada prison premises covers a highly valuable prime land of
40 acres in the city that can be utilized for commercial
purposes.
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University staff threaten strike
action
(27.07.2010 05:33 PM SLT - Ada
Derana)
The university academic staff has given an ultimatum till August
10 for the government to implement a wage hike for them. They
have warned that if no action is taken over the issue, they
would withdraw from their administrative duties.
Though a salary increase was promised them by the government as
far back as January 31, 2008 it has not been implemented, the
university staff union told the media during a briefing this
morning at the Colombo University.
While pointing out that the salaries of the university academic
staff should be increased by 25 to 50 per cent, the union said
if no steps are taken by the government to implement such a
hike, the staff would pull out from their duties.
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New UK visa application centre
opens in Colombo
(27.07.2010 16:27 SLT - Times
Online, SL)
A new visa application centre was opened for UK visa customers
in Sri Lanka today at Union Place, Colombo.
The new centre was declared open by British Deputy High
Commissioner Mark Gooding. UK Border Agency Operations Manager
(South India and Sri Lanka) Linda Smith and VFS Global Head of
Operations (South Asia) were also present at the occassion.
The new visa application centre is located at Level 5, Access
Towers, Union Place, replacing the centre formerly located down
Duplication Road.
A seperate lounge with personalised service and SMS alerts are
some of the highlights of the new centre.
Deputy High Commissioner Gooding, speaking at the event, said
the new centre is dedicated to provide customers with an
efficient and enhanced service.
"I am delighted to be able to open this application centre.
These new improved facilities, including for the first time, a
premium lounge, are testament to the importance we attach to our
UK visa operation here. It also shows the commitment of the UK
Border Agency and its commercial partner VFS Global to providing
UK visa customers in Sri Lanka and the Maldives with an
efficient and enhanced [or smooth] customer service," he said.
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Jaffna Fort to be made tourist
attraction
(27.07.2010 16:26 SLT - Times
Online, SL)
The Jaffna Fort is to be converted to be renovated and turned to
a tourist attraction under a programme launched by the National
Heritage and Cultural Affairs Ministry with funds from
Netherlands.
The cost of the project is Rs.104.5 million.
The Ministry expects to launch this construction program under
the guidelines of history experts, the government’s PRIU website
said.
The armoires and barracks used by soldiers hundreds of years ago
together with tunnels situated in the Jaffna Fort which had been
destroyed by the terrorists would also be reconstructed, PRIU
said.
The programme will also renovate the Queen’s House and the Roman
Catholic Church damaged by terrorist activities. A canal which
was used for the inner security of the Fort will also be
reconstructed.
Monuments inside and outside the Fort will be preserved and
conserved under this program. It is also planned to remove mud
and landmines from the ancient canal.
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Progress in repayment to Golden
Key depositors
(27.07.2010 09:50 SLT -
info.gov.lk)
The Committee of Chartered Accountants has now completed the
Phase 1 of the repayment of the security deposit of the Golden
Key Credit Card Company Limited.
Accordingly, all eligible security deposit holders have been
paid on the basis of either 75 % of the security deposit
balances as at 31.12.2008 or Rs. 100,000 whichever is lower
after verification by the auditors. As at 14.07.2010, a sum of
Rs. 772.93 million has been paid to 7,838 security deposit
holders.
The Committee has also sent letters to security deposit holders
who have not provided details relating to their security
deposits requesting them to submit those details to the Chief
Operating Officer, Secretariat to the Committee of Chartered
Accountants, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Tower 1, Level 7, No.30,
Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1 without further delay.
The Committee with the approval of the Supreme Court has already
advertised to dispose of certain assets belonging to the Golden
Key Credit Card Company Ltd. and related companies after
obtaining the valuation of such assets from the Chief Government
Valuer.
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Hartal in Vavuniya
(27.07.2010 10:57 SLT - Daily
Mirror Online, SL)
Traders staged a hartal in Vavuniya this morning against the
alleged inaction of the police to conduct an inquiry into the
abduction and later release of a businessman in the area for a
Rs. 600,000 ransom.
The Vavuniya traders closed shop during the four hour hartal
demanding the police to probe the abduction and arrest those
responsible.
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Refugee ship could be boarded by
U.S. or Canada
(26.07.2010 - thestar.com)
VANCOUVER : A cargo
ship allegedly carrying more than 200 Tamil refugees is being
monitored by U.S. and Canadian officials as it makes its way to
the British Columbia coastline after being turned away by Thai
and Australian authorities.
An intelligence source have told the Toronto Star that there is
a potential for Canadian or American coast guards to board the
vessel before it reaches Canadian waters as a way of deterring
the vessel from landing.
So far, no one in the Tamil communities in Canada have made
contact with any of the migrants supposedly on the vessel,
according to Gary Anandasangaree, one of the lawyers
representing some of the Tamil migrants who arrived in Victoria
by another ship last October.
“The question now is what is going to be the response from the
Canadian government and will they request interception before it
reaches Canadian waters?” said Anandasangaree.
“From a post-arrival point of view, we’ve had some recent
experience and we’ll do what we can to assist the folks. Our
bigger concern right now is ensuring those who are on their way
are safe and to ensure there’s no interception along the way.”
David Poopalapillai, national spokesperson for the Canadian
Tamil Congress, said Monday that lawyers and aid workers are on
standby in the west or prepared to leave for the coast if the
vessel arrives in Canada.
“We are very worried these people are putting their lives at
risk. We fully understand why they are taking this enormous risk
to reach our country’s shores,” he said.
Poopalapillai said the congress is urging the Canadian
government to help end the persecution of Tamils still living in
Sri Lanka.
“We don’t want people to endanger their lives in this fashion
and the only way to stop this is for the international community
to work to stop the persecution in Sri Lanka. Otherwise this
will be an ongoing thing.”
The MV Sun Sea had been spotted in the Bay of Thailand in April
and was seen a month later heading toward Australia. It has most
recently been spotted leaving the southeast Asian waters,
according to Lisa Monette, spokesperson for the department of
foreign affairs.
Monette said the Canadian government is following up reports the
vessel is potentially heading to Canada.
“The government of Canada’s strategic approach with respect to
migrant vessels includes efforts abroad that involve stopping
illegal migrant-smuggling ships that are destined for Canada at
their points of departure,” she said in a statement.
According to a report from the Sri Lanka Observer, the MV Sun
Sea was earlier known as the Harin Panich and was used to
smuggle arms, ammunition and explosives from Korea to Sri Lanka
during the 26-year-long civil war between the ethnic minority
Tamils and the Sri Lankan government.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Sondra Kneen, speaking Monday
from the Pacific-area headquarters in Alameda, Calif., that few
details can be released and officials can say nothing about
where the vessel is and what direction it’s taking.
Kneen said she cannot release information about whether the
vessel has been boarded by Coast Guard authorities at this
point.
Until the vessel arrives in territorial waters, it has the
freedom to travel in international waters, according to
immigration lawyer Narindar Kang, a former immigration judge at
the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
“When people have a well-founded fear of persecution,
international law requires they be assessed for their claim and
be granted refuge,” said Kang.
Last October, the Ocean Lady was spotted and escorted by
Canadian Coast Guards to a harbour in Victoria, where 76
migrants claiming to be Tamil refugees disembarked and were
detained.
Claims filed by those aboard the Ocean Lady are still being
heard and nearly all of them are no longer in detention but
living in Toronto while waiting for their refugee claims to be
processed.
In 1999, cargo ships carrying more than 600 Chinese migrants
arrived on the north coast of British Columbia and claimed
refugee status. Only two dozen of those claims were granted and
nearly half of the migrants who arrived were deported back to
China.
- by Petti Fong Western Bureau
******************
University lecturers on token
strike today (27.07.2010)
(27.07.2010 07:28 SLT - Times
Online, SL)
University lecturers will stage a token strike today in support
of a series of demands, which include a salary hike.
Lecturers union spokesman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga said they had
held several discussions with government authorities regarding
their demands but these talks had yielded no results.
"The government gave us promises and gave us hope in a bid to
prevent a brain drain. But none of these promises has been
fulfilled. We now realise that the government has no intention
to fulfill the promises it gave us," the professor said.
He warned that they would decide on a further course of action
if the government failed to heed their message in their toke
strike today.
He said lecturers from all universities in the country would
participate in the token strike.
*********************
Man succumbs to injuries
(27.07.2010 07:08 SLT - Daily
Mirror Online, SL)
The UNP supporter who set himself on fire last evening outside
the UNP Sirikotha headquarters died early this morning after
suffering serious burn injuries, sources at the National
hospital said.
UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya had said yesterday that the
victim was a UNP supporter and had been ‘disgusted’ over the
‘disunity’ of the UNP and had stressed the need of unity within
the party.
+++++++++++++++
Man who set himself ablaze
succumbs to injuries
(27.07.2010 07:30 SLT - Ada
Derana)
The man who set himself on fire last evening outside the UNP
Sirikotha headquarters succumbed to his injuries early this
morning, sources at the National hospital said.
Yesterday at the 360 interview with Derana TV UNP MP Lakshman
Seneviratne stated that it was UNP party members themselves who
are to blame as they have provoked the innocent man to commit
such an act.
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India to send special envoy to
Lanka
(27.07.2010 03:44 AM IST -
expressbuzz.com)
CHENNAI / Express News Service
: Accepting the suggestion of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to send a senior
official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to visit
Sri Lanka.
A couple of weeks ago, the CM suggested that the Centre send a
special envoy to Lanka to assess the ground reality and the
rehabilitation work for the internally displaced Tamils there.
Replying to the letter of the CM dated July 17, the PM said “as
a measure of our continuing interest and the importance that we
attach to this issue, I am sending a senior official from the
Ministry of External Affairs to visit Sri Lanka and to consult
with our High Commissioner and the local authorities.’’ The
official would visit the northern and eastern provinces to
measure progress in these areas, he said.
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