Wednesday 16th August, 2006 5 Over half of CEB workers over 50 No liquor sales with 1Km of sacred places by Ifham Nizam workers.” More than 7,000, of the nearly 14,500 Meanwhile, the powerful JVP backed strong Ceylon Electricity Board work trade union, the Lanka Viduli Sevaka force, are over 50 years of age and it is Sangamaya (LVSS) says that the CEB Licence holders ordered to high time that new blood was introduced management depends on 5,000 workers to the CEB, instead of depending on man- from the manpower companies. power companies to fill vacancies, CEB The union’s Convenor H.A. Ranjan officials said yesterday. Jayalal yesterday said that quality of Lanka Wurthiya Samithi Ekamuthuwa work at the CEB is decreasing due to the relocate before Dec. 19 Convenor Ananda Nimalarate told The intake of workers from manpower compa- Island yesterday that the present recruit- nies. by Franklin R Satyapalan Commissioner General of Excise encourages a liquor free society. ment rate was not sufficient to steady the At the same time, when the Power and Parakrama Bandara Ekanayake said All “A” grade hotels, restaurants and CEB. Energy Ministry wants to recruit fresh The country’s 3,600 bars, liquor shops, that this regulation would be strictly super markets that had obtained their He said “In fact, there has been no permanent cadres to the CEB, they hotels and restaurants that sell or serve adopted. He also said only 35 liquor permits through the Tourist Board recruitment at all in the recent past. A depend on political appointments. “We liquor should be relocated one kilometer licences have been granted this year and would not be affected by the new regula- Number of workers are taken on contract vehemently oppose such moves,” he away from gazetted sacred places of wor- that, too, only on the recommendation of tion, the Commissioner General said. basis. We would not able to complete our added. ship before December 19, 2006 as per reg- the Tourist Board. Liquor outlets in Anuradhapura, tasks if not for their services. But the rel- Numerous attempts by The Island to ulations that came into effect on August Not a single new licence has been Kataragama,Tissamaharama and evant authorities should bear in mind contact Power and Energy Minister W. D. 3. Failing which their liquor licences issued since the present President Devinuwara would be mostly affected by that CEB is moving along with aging J. Seneviratne were of no avail. would not be renewed. assumed duties because Mr. Rajapakse the new regulation, he said. Registrar applicants upto 65 The maximum age of those applying to cants should be married, residents of the New stamp issued NSB goes ATM become Registrars of births, marriages area where the vacancies exist, should and deaths has been raised to 65 from the own properties in the area, be engaged The National Savings Bank is the latest installed at Nugegoda, Borella, present 60 on the instructions of Public social services, should not have been bank to introduce the Automatic Teller Anuradhapura, Badulla and at the head Administration and Home Affairs charged or convicted in a court of law and Machine (ATM) for easy withdrawal of office. According to Bank sources, 75 Minister Sarath Amunugama. at least should have passed the GCE cash by customers. machines would be installed throughout Other conditions are that the appli- O/level examination. In the first stage, machines were the island before the end of the year. Some parties, NGO’s do not

The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts issued a new postage stamp in the denounce terrorism - Athauda denomination of Rs. 5.00, yesterday to com- by Don Asoka Wijewardena added that President Rajapakse’s patience should not memorate the Centenary of the St. John Under the dubious Ceasefire Agreement signed by be attributed to weakness under no circumstances. Ambulance . the (UNP) with the LTTE, the He said that no successive governments had This stamp has been designed by Mr. LTTE has assassinated a large number of prominent taken pragmatic approach to develop the country and Gamini Abeykoon. personalities, including the late Lakshman massive restructuring programmes such as “Maga The official first day cancellation of this Kadirgamar. Some so-called political parties and Neguma”, Gama Neguma” “Decentralised Budget” stamp took place at the BMICH, Colombo some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have and ADB financial assistance had been a great step with the participation of President, Mahinda not spoken a word let alone denouncing these brutal forward introduced by the UPFA Government and Rajapakse, Minister of Posts and acts of terriorism, said Labour Relations and Foreign added that around six electricity generation plants Telecommunications and Rural Economic Employment Minister Athauda Seneviratne at the would also be constructed to cater to the ever grow- Development, D. M. Jayaratne, Minister of inauguration of a modern road network in ing electricity needs of people. Healthcare Nutrition and Uwawellassa Paspolakanda recently. Seneviratne emphasised that to facilitate skilled Development, , Seneviratne pointed out that although the LTTE job opportunities in foreign countries, a state-of-the- Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion The Hatton National Bank as a humanitarian gesture donated a large quantity of food and util- had been launching sporadic offensives to undermine art teaching hospital in Kalubowila in order to train and Deputy Minister of Posts and ity items to the Muttur displaced new housed in refugee camps in Kantalai and adjoining the morale of the security forces, President Mahinda nursing assistants and nurses interested in seeking Telecommunications, Rohitha areas. Several lorry loads were displatched. In the picture Managing Director of HNB R. Rajapakse had already formulated a consistent policy foreign employment opportunities. “When our fully- Abeygunawardena, and several other invi- framework and he would be taking appropriate action fledged nurses get employed abroad, they will be on Theagarajah is seen receiving a donation from a well wisher to be sent to the displaced. tiees. (Photo D. Banduwardena). in the best interest of the security of the country and par with Western nurses,” Seneviratne stressed.