2 Thursday 26th May, 2011 The Island Home News Student appeals Don’t isolate internationally, against resignation of Dons By Chitra Weerarathne Karu J. tells government A final year political science student has complained to the Court of Appeal against the decision of University he UNP’s Co-Deputy leader Karu enjoy democratic rights and initiate posi- out the danger that as a nation we are Departmental heads to resign. Jayasuriya yesterday called on the tive action to protect human rights. being isolated by the international com- The petitioner, R. M. R. D. Ratnayake, Tgovernment not to isolate Sri Lanka “Emergency laws which were in force munity and the possibility of peoples a student at the University of Sri internationally by its short sighted poli- up to 2001 were lifted by the United Front uprising for democracy as being happen- Jayawardenapura, said those dons were cies, because in the final analysis it was Government which came into power in ing in countries such as Egypt and Lybia. under a public legal duty, under the provi- the people who would suffer and not indi- that year. The government which came As such we are unable to be happy as a sions of the Universities Act, enforceable vidual political parties. into power subsequently introduced the country and a nation, the way things are by Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition “It is important to open the eyes of the emergency regulations and continued taking place in our country. by the Court of Appeal. government to the bitter truth of the dan- without a break. This position remained In our belief, it is important to open the He claimed that the continuation of ger of being subjected to unpleasant reper- even after the war victory. The govern- eyes of the government to the bitter truth the education of students should be cussions aimed at our country from the ment could have taken positive steps to of the danger of being subjected to ensured by quashing the decision of the international community,rather than remove emergency laws and Prevention of unpleasant repercussions aimed at our Department Heads to resign. arousing people under the cover of differ- Terrorism Act. country from the international communi- The petition requested the Court to ent political shades. The International Community voiced ty,rather than arousing people under the restrain the University and the Vice We, firmly believe their objection to the government for con- cover of different political shades. Chancellor from accepting those letters of CLASSIFIED that in the final tinuing with the emergency regulations As predicted by us, the international resignation, until the current academic analysis, it is the even after the war victory. In the face of community,including our neighbouring year was completed. ADVERTISEMENT country and the these objections the government continued India is pressurizing the government to people that will with the regulations which were intro- take action to protect democracy, to lift the face the repercus- duced to suppress trade union activities emergency and Prevention of Terrorism sions and not indi- and public protests, whilst informing Act and to provide equal opportunities to Cut-off marks... vidual political the rest of the world that they are tak- all communities through a political solu- From page 1 parties”, he said. ing action to relax emergency regu- tion to the ethnic issue. Jayasuriya said lations. The government is utilizing Yet the government is playing a game, Prof. Samaranayake said that the UGC that the Mahinda these regulations even at present instead of ensuring the right to informa- advised all universities to enroll the new Rajapaksa regime to suppress the individuals who tion and protecting the freedom of the batch in October. Normally,universities do which came to express their views against the press, the government is introducing laws not enroll new batches in the same month power after the government. to curtail it. Eight Media Organizations, and it has led to several difficulties when war victory had Amidst all of these the govern- including Sri Lanka Press Association and filling vacancies. many opportuni- ment initiated action to introduce Sri Lanka Editors’ Guild have already He said that normally,most of universi- ties to rehabilitate the 18th amendment which strength- expressed their objection to the attempt by ties in the world admit the new batch in the image of the ened the executive powers of the the government to re-empower the Press October. country and the President directly and indirectly, whilst Council with powers to punish and nation. It could repealing the 17th amendment which was imprison the media personnel. have removed cer- introduced with the intention of establish- immoral activities and not through a dem- When we submitted the draft bill for Petition against... tain laws and regu- ing good governance in the country. The ocratic election. right of information in Parliament, the From page 1 lations which were government said that they have a majority The government which preached about government managed to withdraw the bill, Research Institute of the Ministry of introduced to close to two thirds, given by the masses, noble human qualities such as loving kind- adopting a political gimmick. We wish to Agriculture. defeat terrorism whilst introducing the 18th amendment. ness and compassion during the Vesak ask this government, when are they going The petitioner has said that his second militarily, in order In fact the government made use of the week, does not apply the same noble quali- to face reality by ending action they have daughter gained admission to university to primarily create majority they obtained by marketing the ties to General , the former taken to bury democracy? When are they and she has been asked to undergo leader- an environment war victory and abusing the power to take Commander of the Army who provided going to stop introducing laws to grab the ship training. Both he and his daughter where people the country towards anti-democratic activ- the biggest contribution to eradicate ter- rights of the citizens, and human rights had perused the details of the project and belonging to all ities and a dictatorship. They cannot hide rorism from this country. We are sad- and the cover they take in the face of the are of the view that it was a good and sections of society the fact that the government obtained a dened that the government is taking action opposition locally and internationally worthwhile training programme, he has can lead their lives two third majority by influ encing public even at present to avenge him. against the above activities”, Jayasuriya said. as true citizens, to opinion by means of unlawful and This background has led us to point queried. The petitioner has requested the Supreme Court to reject the petition against the programme and allow the Ministry of Higher Education and the Healthcare Minister Maithripala Three University Grants Commission to go on Sirisena, at the recently concluded 64th with the training programme. WHO summit in wheelers Geneva, with Sri SL cricket... From page 1 Lanka’s without Intelligence sources told The Island Ambassador in lights that the campaign against the national Geneva Shenuka cricket team was part of the LTTE’s strat- Seneviratne, H. A. JAYASINGHE egy to undermine the post-war recovery Deputy Director – MATUGAMA process. Sources alleged that the LTTE General of Health rump had been trying to cripple the Sri Some three wheelers Services Dr. Lankan garment trade in EU countries. Wimal Jayantha, run along the roads in Sri Lankan HC in the UK had, The Dr. Palith the Meegahatenna Island learns, discussed the issue with Abeykoon and Pelawatta areas without relevant authorities to ensure an incident First Secretary at loghts at night. This puts free Test series. the Sri Lankan the lives of pedestrians mission Manori in danger and they Allikaarchchi. request the authorities to Health Ministry... be vigilant and prosecute From page 1 the errant drivers. OPD and in-patients suffering from kidney diseases, heart problems and can- cer had difficulties in obtaining life-sav- ing drugs, the Health Ministry sources said. TNA disappointed again as govt. When The Island contacted former MSD Director for comment, he dismissed the Health Ministry’s allegation. He said puts off response to its proposals the MSD was not responsible for import- ing or changing drug orders approved by BY FRANKLIN R. SATYAPALAN Sinhala saying, ”It has been a case of had been requested to keep confidential. the tender board. It was mainly responsi- Balagiri Dosaya Adha Nevai Heta (a con- The TNA delegation is led by MP R. ble for distributing drugs to regional drug The (TNA) tinuing case of postponement, not today, Sampanthan and comprises MP’s Mavai stores and hospitals. The MSD had left the sixth round of Bi-partisan talks, but tomorrow). Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran, authority only to purchase drugs up to Rs. Asked about the recent statements, M. A. Sumanthiran and Presidents with the government yesterday, disap- 5 mn and the State Pharmaceuticals made by Presidential advisor on Counsel Kanag Iswaran. pointed as the latter had once again not Corporation (SPC) had authority to pur- International Affairs and With the resignation of the former responded to its draft on devolution, chase drugs from Rs. 5 to Rs. 25 million. TNA sources said. Parliamentarian Sajin de Vaas Prime Minister Ratnasiri Dr. Weerabandara said TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Gunawardena, who is a member of the Wickremanayake from the Committee, that the MSD had no power Sumanthiran said: government committee, to the Tamil Parliamentarian Prof. Rajiv Wijesinghe to cancel or reduce drug At every meeting we have been wait- Media earlier this month, that the gov- had been appointed as replacement. The ing for the government to announce it ernment had given serious thought to other members are Leader of House orders placed by the SPC response to the draft we had forwarded. setting up a second chamber, recruiting Minister , and it was SPC, under the But, each time we are told that the 10,000 Tamil policemen and devolving Minister of External Affairs Prof G.L. direct purview of Secretary response would be announced at the next land as well as Police powers under the Pieris and Galle District MP Sajin De to the Health Ministry, meeting. 13th Amendment, which was reported in Vaas, Gunawardena as the secretary. which had the power to A TNA Parliamentarian who wished Tamil national dailies on May 10, The 7th round is scheduled to take cancel or reduce drug to remain anonymous said that if one Sumanthiran said that he did not wish to place at the Presidential Secretariat on orders. When he was the were to use a popular but common comment as this was a matter both sides June 23. MSD Director, he had Maithripala adhered to all tender proce- dures and the MSD Act and made every effort to ensure that drugs were distributed efficiently. Rs 100 mn Supplementary estimate for He said that some high officials in the Health Ministry were not on good terms farmers’ pension premium passed with him and therefore they were on a vil- ification campaign against him. Parliament on Wednesday approved a farmers for the first quarter of this year. sions for the farmers. supplementary estimate submitted by The supplementary estimate was sub- Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne sub- government seeking an additional sum of mitted by the Ministry of Finance on mitted the estimate and the House gave Rs. 100 million for the Ministry of behalf of the Agriculture and Agrarian its approval. (SI) DEATH Finance to pay pension premiums of Insurance Board which pays the pen- KALDERA – RUBY. Beloved wife of late Dharmadasa Caldera, mother of Kelum Unions warn... From page 1 (S.L.P.A., Pilot Station) and Venuka Trade Union Alliance (TUA) spokesperson had deployed anti-riot squads union movement on May 31 at the JRJ Centre to (Switzerland), mother-in-law of Menaka Saman Ratnapriya said that they had launched two against protesting workers and the spearhead a protest campaign against the proposed (S.L.P.A., Mahapola Training Centre) and major protests on Tuesday to pressure the govern- police had pounced on the protest- PSP Bill. Sources said that Moneragala District MP Nihal (Switzerland), expired. Cremation ment to reverse its decision. According to him, 26 ers as they were about to leave would function as the at Madampitiya Cemetery at 3.30 p.m. on trade unions had joined the demonstration opposite following the conclusion of their Chairman of the steering committee responsible for Thursday 27th May. No. 15, Sri the Fort Railway Station, whereas the garment successful protest. the campaign. Premadasa’s move was likely to Pagnananda Mawatha, Colombo 15. workers disrupted traffic at the entrance to the The JVP accused the govern- antagonise UNP leader , who Bandaranaike International Airport on the Colombo- ment of seeking to gain control of has already launched a campaign against the con- Negombo Road. Ratnapriya alleged that the police EPF and ETF funds at the behest troversial pension Bill. Lal Kantha had attacked the protesters and arrested about 15 of the International Monetary Fund. Sources said that the UNP and the JVP were people around 5.00 p.m. Meanwhile, the faction of the likely to join hands to challenge the government The JVP politburo alleged that the government UNP said that they would inaugurate a new trade over the PSP Bill.