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The Island Page Three Friday 23rd January, 2009

! LeisurelandNews ! Financial Review INSIDE: ! World View Ranil about to break Guinness world record Urban Development and ernment. Sacred Area Development “He has another record as - Dinesh Minister Chief Government the one who lost 15 elections Minister Gunawardena: killed. How Whip Dinesh Gunawardena consecutively,” Minister “Your party submits no-faith could we yesterday told Parliament that Gunawardena said. motions but when it is taken debate here UNP leader Ranil Opposition Leader for debate you run away”. while a jour- Wickremesinghe is going to Wickremesinghe got up and Opposition Leader: “The day nalist had break Guinness world record as said: “Do not talk of records. before it was taken for debate been killed on the Opposition leader who sub- The government too can enter the motion was on controversial the same mitted the highest number of record books very soon. It has Hedging Agreement, the one issue?” no faith motions against a gov- killed 15 journalists”. who exposed it to people was JVP conspiring to disrupt relations with

Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena last week declared open the new administrative block of Agriculture Department , Peradeniya, built at friendly nations – Rohitha a cost of Rs 40 million. The Minister unveils the plaque to declare open the building. Others in the picture are Agriculture Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara and Director Foreign Minister gramme organised by the the Sri Indian Foreign Secretary General of the Ministry C.Kudagama. Rohitha Bogollagama yes- USAID. Now they question Lankan gov- arrived on an invitation from terday accused the JVP of why Indian Foreign ernment has the Sri Lankan government. being engaged in a conspira- Secretary Shiv Shanker entered into “During his stay Foreign cy to jeopardize visits by for- Menon and Japanese envoy various Secretary Menon held talks Multiple Text Book system eign dignitaries. Akashi came here. Does this agreements with is Sri Lankan counter- JVP warns of The aim of this conspira- mean that we should seek and pacts part. staggering loss to govt. cy was to disrupt bilateral prior permission from the with other Dr. Palitha Kohona, separatism plot relations between Sri Lanka JVP to allow foreign digni- nations. It Foreign Minister – Susil and her friendly has to Bogollagama, Defence The JVP yesterday warned that there nations, he said. strengthen Secretary Gotabhaya was a danger of the victory gained by the The last UNP regime “Every time a relationships Rajapaksa, Presidential advi- security forces being converted of into introduced a multiple foreign dignitary internationally. All these sor MP Basil Rajapaksa, separatism. text book system which visits this country relationships and connec- Presidential Secretary Lalith JVP parliamentary group leader had cost a staggering Rs the JVP raises a tions are based on the poli- Weeratunga, Governor of the query in the House, cies of the Non-Aligned Central Bank Ajith Nivard Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a spe- 93 million. Most of these as if they visit this Movement,” he said. Cabraal, President Mahinda cial statement in Parliament, demanded books will end up as raw country with ulteri- on Tuesday Answering the question Rajapaksa, Opposition that the government reveal to the nation material in Valachchenai paper mill, or motives. This is as to why the Indian Foreign Leader Ranil what the special Japanese envoy Kosushi Education Minister Susil not a good habit by Saman Indrajith Secretary had visited the Wickremesinghe and leaders Akashi was doing in the country. “Our Premjayantha told Parliament yester- because such acts country, the Minister said of Tamil and Muslim par- troops are achieving very decisive victo- day. could be interpreted as oppo- taries to visit this country?” that he was here to hold talks ties,” he said. sition to these dignitaries”, the Minister asked. on bilateral relationships, “Special Japanese envoy ries against separatist terrorism. Akashi The multiple text book system Bogollagama told “Look at the UNP and and new developments in Akashi has arrived in the is a name associated with the conspiracy (MTBS) was abolished last year but by Parliament. learn from them. They never security related issues in the country to study what to devolve power and that time a total of 1,281,831 books had He was answering ques- raise such issues”, he said. SAARC and regional con- action Japan could take to former ceasefire plot been printed and Rs 93,954,703/39 had tions raised by JVP “The government has a text. restore peace in Sri Lanka that was against the been spent on them, the Minister said. Parliamentary groups leader responsibility to obtain all The relationship between and to hold talks with top interests of Sri Lanka. Answering a Question for Oral Answer Anura Kumara Dissanayake support from our friendly India and Sri Lanka had level Sri Lankan officials. Therefore we have a rea- raised by Matara District JVP MP on the recent visit of the nations against terrorism at reached unprecedented His visit will never hinder Indian Foreign Secretary this critical moment when heights, therefore the leaders or damage the ongoing sonable suspicion about Jinadasa Kitulagoda, the minister said and Japanese special envoy the security forces are of both countries visit each military actions against the purpose of his visit that he was awaiting a report of an Yasushi Akashi. marching forward in the bat- other at any time with or terrorism and the sover- at this particular inquiry by the Auditor General “Last time, it was when a tle against the LTTE,” he without any invitation, the eignty or territorial moment,” he said. Department. Once the report was sub- US delegation visited the said. Minister said in reply to the integrity off Sri Lanka,” Separatism is on its last legs and there mitted legal action would be taken country to attend a pro- “To achieve this objective, question on whether the the Minister said. are many forces that are attempting to against those responsible for the loss. give it a new lease of life, he said. The An excess of books had been printed Separatists have experienced losses after without a set plan. Under the MTBS losses on the battle front and now it there were two to three books had been GMOA threatens strike if Sri J’pura hospital not probed seems that those anti-Sri Lankan forces printed for one subject, Minister by Dilanthi Jayamanne He said the SJGH cardiac surgeons inquiry should be held into how doctors are shifting their focus towards the poli- Premjayantha said. In 2007 it was had held a meeting with cardiac sur- and consultants were appointed and on tics of separatism. decided to abolish the MTBS system The Government Medical Officers’ geons of the National Hospital (NH) to what basis. The recent visit of the Indian Foreign and distribute one of these books for Association warned that it would resort beg for patients on the waiting list. They Unfortunately the Health Secretary – Secretary had been reported on two dif- year 2008. It was decided to distribute to trade union action if an investigation not only begged for patients but we were a Presidential Appointee - has no power ferent ways by Indian media and the the book which had the highest was not carried out into the financial also asked to fund the surgeries. SJGH over the hospitals management. Lankan government. According to the demand and to terminate the use of situation of the Sri holds ninth place amongst the most cor- The spokesman urged the Health rupt organizations according to COPE. Ministry to formulate a policy which Indian media, Foreign Secretary Menon other books. Therefore the books Jayawardenapura General Hospital. The government However no one seems to be responsi- would induce doctors being trained in was here to hold talks with the Lankan which had already been printed were allocated Rs. 680 million in ble for this situation. No action has developed countries to repatriate after government on the national problem. Sri left idling in the book stores. 2007 for the hospital. The been taken against any responsible training. Fining them the amount Lankan government has so far not Asked to name the officers who Hospital also charges its party. incurred by the Sri Lankan government revealed what it really discussed during caused a huge loss to the Government patients – even for a paracetamol The Health Minister on their training is not going to be those talks. by printing such a large number of tablet. has the sole power over enough, Gunasekera said. “On top of all this Japan’s Special books without a set-plan, the Minister Spokesman for the GMOA, Dr. its appointments. Dr. He also said that around 350 doctors Gunasekera urged the would be sent to serve in the North and envoy Akashi arrived in Sri Lanka on answered: “Former Commissioner Upul Gunasekara, addressing a press conference yesterday (22) said a Health Minister to rectify East. “But we have had bad experiences Wednesday. His close association with Generals of Educational committee should be Appointed to some of the “political of serving areas immediately after they the peace process and devolution of Publications.” look into the malpractices of the Sri appointments,” made by are liberated by government troops. power have made us to question what the Stating the course of action that had Jayawardenapura General Hospital him. If action is not Therefore, we have been cautious in purpose of his visit was. He is scheduled been followed with regard to the books (SJGH). Being a tertiary care hospital taken to rectify the situa- deploying doctors in the newly cleared to travel to Trincomalee and Vavuniya the Minister said: “Action was taken to which also trains post graduate doctors, tion the Government areas,” Dr. Gunasekera said. Medical Officers’ The GMOA has urged the govern- during his stay.This too gives credence to send them to Valachchenai Paper it was established in 1983 through an Act Association (GMOA) would not hesitate ment to provide more facilities to the the suspicion that his visit is connected Factory. Some of the books would be of Parliament. “However at present it has turned into a “white elephant.” to write to the Post Graduate Institute of hospitals in Vavuniya so that they would with the national problem,” MP sold at a reduced price at ‘Deyata Hardly any patients get warded at the Medicine stating that the hospital was be able to serve the internally displaced Dissanayake said. Kirula’ exhibitions and some others hospital as standards have dropped not suitable for training post graduate in welfare camps without any fear of ”The House must pay attention to would be issued to school and Daham owing poor administration by the board student as there were under qualified being killed by a para military organiza- these visits by officials of foreign coun- Pasal libraries.” of management. consultants in charge of PG training. An tion, he added. tries. Their history is full of examples of strengthening the hands of separatists. It is the duty of the government to reveal all the facts related to the visits of such Of 2140 elephants dead: 60% were killed – Ranawaka persons. Inability to do so will lead to complications. Therefore, I request the Environment and Natural should be lages and action committees “This dump site known Minister of Foreign Affairs to tell the Resources Minister Patali Champika around 5350, would soon be formed in sev- as Waga inside the forest House the purpose of the Indian Foreign Ranawaka yesterday told Parliament according to eral areas. Wayamba, reserve is very close to Secretary’s visit and whether his arrival that 2140 wild elephants have died since environmental- Norochcholai, the reservoir that sup- here was on an invitation of the Sri 1993 and 60 percent of them have been ists.” Anuradhapura, Badulla, plies water to Colombo. Lankan government or not, whom he had killed. In recent Matara, Kandy, Nuwara Why cannot the Ministry met during his stay and decisions Moving the Fauna and Flora surveys, 1755 Eliya, Ampara, Udawalawe look into this and take Protection (Amendment) Bill for dis- wild elephants and Vavuniya had been ear- action to avoid dumping reached during those discussions. cussion, Minister Ranawaka said: had been count- marked for the implementa- Colombo garbage in out- Similarly, the Foreign Minister must tell “There was a wild elephant census in ed in parks and tion of this programme, he stations?” the House the purpose of Akashi’s visit 1993. The country was divided into reserves and of said. The Minister said that garbage of the and whether he arrived here on an invi- five zones to count the number of them 1130 are JVP Colombo capital never would be dumped in outstations tation of the Sri Lankan government or wild elephants and following figures in Wayamba zone, the minister said. District MP Lakshman and the JVP MP was mistaken and was going not, which leaders and officials he was were the resultant of the census. The Wayamba zone wild elephants Nipunarachchi said that his party by hearsay. Colombo garbage is taken outside going to meet and the purpose of those There were 589 wild elephants in had been a problem and cause for had no opposition to the Bill but only to separate on material basis for recy- Wayamba zone, 683 in Mahaweli human-elephant conflict as the wild there were many other issues that cling process. “If we could dump Colombo meetings,” MP Dissanayake said. Zone, and 30 in the Central Zone, 521 elephants frequently move around the minister should look into. He garbage in outstations how come there are These questions are asked not the in the Southern Zone and 154 in the villages and settlements, he said. said that an area of 100 acres in the garbage mountains in Bloemendhal road, scuttle any relationship or to disturb Eastern Zone. Altogether there were The Ministry had introduced a Gaja Labugama-Kalatuwawa reserve was Bellanwila and Attidiya?” your time but in the interest of the 1977 wild elephants in 1993. The min- Mithuro Programme to assist the reloca- being used to dump garbage collected The Fauna and Flora Protection nation, he further said. imum wild elephant population tion of wild elephants captured in vil- in Colombo and Dehiwela areas. (Amendment)Bill was passed.