4 Thursday 31sh March, 2011 The Island Home News

COIMBATORE: Just one-and-a-half years ago, a against Congress leaders including home minis- the last parliamentary elections, the AIADMK pro-Tiger roar echoed on poll platforms across ter P Chidambaram in the last parliamentary and DMK raised the Eelam issue for the sake of the state as the war in and the plight of elections and backed the AIADMK appear to have votes, “but they had no genuine love for Tamils”, Tamil minorities dominated the agenda for the quietly retired to their political caverns. Barring he charges. Lok Sabha polls, Times of says in an online actor-director Seeman, who is aggressively cam- A -based lawyer Rajiv Gandhi who report dated Mar. 30. paigning against Congress in 63 constituencies, polled over 4,000 votes in Sivaganga constituency Even AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, avowedly most prominent LTTE supporters have chosen to where Chidambaram scraped through by a wafer- anti-LTTE in her stand, made a distinction and watch the show from the sidelines. thin margin, is not contesting this time. He is just focused on the government’s inability to protect In an election fought over inflation, freebies campaigning against the Congress along with Tamil refugees. But then in politics, 18 months is and scams, the Eelam Tamil issue is clearly not Seeman. But he too rues that leading political parties have “forgotten’ the Eelam issue. Even the most fierce LTTE supporters have been low on volume. For instance, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader, K Ramakrishnan, Pro-Tiger roar who was detained under National Security Act for an alleged attack on an army convoy on the Minister Devananda with Norwegian Ambassador Hilde eve of the 2009 parliamentary elections, is “boy- Haraldstad cotting’ the polls. And so have his belligerent party youth. “We have decided to boycott the elec- loses its voice tions. We are not backing any party now. For, the Douglas lashes out at AIADMK too may join the Congress after the polls. She has already announced that she is will- a long time. seen as a vote-grabber, although the poll mani- ing to align with the Congress,” he says. TNA during meet with The loudest pro-Tiger voice of , festos of both DMK and AIADMK still pledge During the last parliamentary polls, the Eelam Vaiko is off the electoral platform. And the “continued” support for . Says conflict was headed for a tragic climax and Norwegian Ambassador AIADMK, routed in three successive polls, actor Seeman, who is campaigning against defeating the Congress was crucial to save the Sri appears to have realized that in peace-loving Congress in Rameswaram, “In an election which Lankan Tamils, say LTTE supporters. “Now, the Traditional Industries and done a tremendous amount of Small Enterprise Development work since the conclusion of Tamil Nadu, the Lanka factor cannot win polls. is held to determine the destiny of Tamils, it is a Eelam Tamils seem fatigued and resigned to their Minister Douglas Devananda war. But why have pro-Tiger guns fallen silent? The tragic irony that none of the political parties are fate,” admits Ramakrishnan. And the pro-LTTE on Tuesday (29) briefed The EPDP leader urged the pro-LTTE fringe groups which fielded candidates talking about the sufferings of Eelam Tamils.” In roar has descended into a feeble whine. Norwegian Ambassador Ms Norwegian Ambassador to pro- Hilde Haraldstad on the cur- vide assistance for the ongoing rent efforts to improve the State-run projects in the livelihood of the war dis- Northern and Eastern placed. Minister Devananda Provinces. said that contrary to accusa- The District MP said Minister pledges to introduce Warning tions by the TNA, targeting the those enjoying the new post- government and his party, the war freedom had ignored the Signal System to prevent fishermen straying EPDP, the government had TNA campaign.

Fisheries and Aquatic nalists of several media organiza- India, Pakistan... From page 1 Resources Development Minister tions had been using their pens to Gilani said Wednesday he The prime ministers’ meet- said that a highlight the development hoped his visit would improve ing was expected to give both state-of-the-art ‘Fish Finder aspects of the Fisheries relations and looked forward to men a chance to speak candidly watching an exciting match. on a range of tense issues with- Warning Signal System’ would be Ministry’s activities while pin- He urged citizens in the two out the pressure of public introduced soon for the benefit of pointing omissions and commis- countries to enjoy the perform- expectations, as all eyes across Sri Lankan fishermen. It would sions of the actions committed. ances of both teams - an South Asia were focused on make them aware of their posi- Constructive criticism was piv- attempt to mitigate the Wednesday’s cricket clash. inevitable disappointment one Midway through the match, tion in the sea and prevent them otal in improving any type of side will feel in losing the Singh and Gilani moved away from operating outside the Sri work and journalists would be match. from the stands for a dinner Lankan sea boundaries, he said. invited to pinpoint any lapses. “I am going there to show hosted by Singh in honor of his Minister Senaratne was speak- Minister Senaratne added that solidarity with our team, with Pakistani counterpart. The two their team and to promote leaders were also scheduled to ing at the Shramabhimani newspapers had been able to dis- cricket,” Gilani told reporters hold brief talks at the dinner on Dheewara Pranama special seminate knowledge on break- at a military base outside the sidelines of the match in awards presentation ceremony to throughs achieved by the Islamabad before flying to India Mohali, in the border state of 11 selected journalists from dif- Fisheries Ministry and they were along with a 20-member delega- Punjab. tion that included many senior It is Gilani’s first visit to ferent media organizations, at also able to dispel fallacies ministers. India as prime minister, and BMICH on March 29. believed by some gullible people. Singh wrote in an earlier let- echoes a similar effort at “crick- Sri Lankan fishermen would Responsible journalism was ter to Gilani that “We are all et diplomacy” in 2005 when be trained to adopt a proper sys- essential to the health of a demo- looking forward to a great game Gen. Pervez Musharraf, then of cricket that will be a victory president, joined Singh for a tem of deep sea fishing to enable cratic society as the principal for sport.” match in New Delhi. them to exploit the teeming fish The Shramabhimani Dheewara Pranama Special Felicitation Award aim of journalism, as a mass resources 12 nautical miles off Ceremony for 11 journalists was held at BMICH on March 29. Fisheries communicator and educator, was the shore. and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne pres- to keep people well informed on India set... From page 1 Senaratne said that registered ents the Award and a certificate to The Island journalist Don Asoka all matters which would affect Pakistan chasing their tar- bowled out for 231 in 49.5 Sri Lankan fishermen would Wijewardena while Ministry’s Media Secretary N.Rajapaksa looks on. their interests and those they had get were 3 for 103 at one stage, overs. have a better future as his (Pic. by Kamal Bogoda) to take decisions on. but lost wickets at regular (See full scoreboard and intervals. Pakistan were match report on page 16) Ministry was doing everything For and on behalf of the Sri possible to upgrade their opera- look after them and establish a light course, the government had Lankan government he was tional skills and standard of liv- viable fisheries industry in the taken steps to arrest them and grateful to journalists who had Maddumma ... From page 1 ing. The fishermen were taking country. Although some fisher- several fishermen had been pros- been making every effort to MP Maddumabandara told Madduma Bandara for the post risks in going to sea and it was men had used prohibited meth- ecuted. upgrade the Sri Lankan Fisheries The Island that he had the back- of National Organiser recently, the duty of the government to ods such as catgut strands and He pointed out that a few jour- Industry. ing of the party’s rank and file but UNP Leader Ranil as well as a large number of Wickremasinghe said that there UNP Parliamentarians. were other contenders and the It was former MP Imtiaz matter had to be sorted out ami- Bakeer Markar who proposed cably. An educational teledrama on the after its five constituent Japanese implemented the method in their everyone has a vague idea what it importance of implementing the words seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu businesses and reaped its benefits, deals with and how it works; but Wattala UC... From page 1 famous Japanese 5S methodology and shitsuke that, roughly translat- will testify otherwise. not many seem to be too interested there had been irregulariti- 2000 vote majorities.Such a of organization in schools, homes ed, mean sorting, straightening, The methodology, he says, was in implementing it in the real ties. If Mr. Dissanayake had trend has never been experi- as well as private and public corpo- sweeping, standardizing and sus- formally introduced to Sri Lanka world – at least in this country – meant what he said, the polls in enced before,he said. rations, written and directed by taining, respectively. by Dr. Taiki mostly due to the irrational mis- the affected areas should have The government blatantly been nullified.” founder Chairman of Teleview Akimoto following conception that it’s a waste of time abused State resources, State “Mr. Dissanayake was a mere power and State media to obtain Lanka (PVT) Ltd. Sunil Ratnayake an invitation by and resources. This is rather unfor- figurehead frightened into sub- an unfair advantage, will be launched next week. JASTECA in 1994 tunate, considering the 5S method- mission by the Rajapaksa Ameratunga said. “Even while The documentary is part of the with the aim of ology is anything but a waste of regime. It is only hoped that the polls campaign was on, new Elections Chief Mahinda efficiency-improvement pro- providing a means time and resources; it is, in fact, the State resources were used to Deshapriya would be different,” bribe voters by providing them gramme carried out by the Japan for Sri Lankan complete opposite of that,” he says. he said. Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural institutes to Explaining the implementation Another aspect that gives with houses, boats, money etc. But the Elections Association (JASTECA) of which increase produc- of the system, Mr. Ratnayake says rise to suspicion and requires Commissioner did nothing to Mr. Ratnayake is the School 5S tivity and efficien- that the decision-making process investigation was the UPFA winning 59 Councils by under stop it.” Implementation Committee cy.After his with regard to 5s usually stems Chairman, features some well demise in 1996, from a dialogue about standardiza- known faces in the country’s televi- JASTECA tion between employer and employ- Harsha alleges... From page 1 sion industry.Based on an initia- applied the 5S ee which builds a clear understand- Fernando to quit. Fernando Policy Statement and Standards tive by JASTECA President Mr. ing of how work should be done, declined to comment on of Professional Conduct that Wednesday except reiterating a clearly states that the EPF can- Mahinda Swarnapala and past and in what order. It also instills a stock exchange filing earlier in not invest in stocks of the bank- President Mr. Premalal Fernando, sense of ownership of the process the day that he withdrew from ing and financial sector due to the programme is presented in the in each employee, he says. the position of director prior to conflicts of interests as the form of a situational drama, with 5S Teledrama “In other words, it makes considering his re-election by Monetary Board regulates both the shareholders. the EPF and banks and financial scenes showcasing how adopting employees feel like they’re part of Responding to a query by The institutions. I have shown that the 5S system helps improve pro- the company, and that their input Island, MP de Silva said that Dr. the Standards of Professional ductivity and discipline in any adds real value to the company and (Mrs) Rani Jayamaha, formerly Conduct also limits the invest- for Schools of the Central Bank, recently ment in any (non bank blue sphere of human society.The pro- its interests,” he adds. received appointment as chip) company to less than 5 per- gramme will air on local TV chan- JUSTECA, having successfully Chairperson of the Hatton cent of its issued share capital nels from the day of release. A DVD introduced 5S to the business sec- National Bank. to “avoid undue control of the version will be available at the and Homes tor, is now on a mission to imple- The MP said that he had an company by the Fund”. JASTECA Secretariat. ment it at the school-level, aimed at opportunity to raise the govern- A senior government official ment moving in on the commer- emphasized that there was no According to Mr. Ratnayake, increasing efficiency and produc- cial banking sector on March 22 interference on the part of the who, together with JASTECA, has tivity at government and privately when President Mahinda government in Fernando’s quit- been actively involved in promoting by Teleview owned schools all over the country. Rajapaksa was in the chamber. ting. He said that except for the 5S system in Sri Lanka, 5S is a This, says Mr. Ratnayake, will be The MP said: In fact I have Fernando all others had been re- brought up the issue of the total elected and it wasn’t fair to drag concept that has changed the way done through the participation of lack of governance in the EPF, the government into the individuals, schools, companies Transliterated or translated into methodology for the benefit and the Education Ministry under the trading in shares of commercial Commercial Bank AGM. and corporations look at efficiency English, they all start with the let- development of industry and insti- guidance of Minister Bandula banks in the Stock Responding to a query, the offi- and productivity-management, ter ‘S’; hence the name 5S. The list tutions in general, eventually giv- Gunawardena. Market where allegation are cial said that those who criti- from the grassroots level up. essentially describes how items are ing rise to the ‘Taiki Akimoto 5S The next logical step, of course, abound of market manipulation cized the government for and insider trading by certain appointing nominees had Mr. Swarnapala and Mr stored and how the new order is Awards Competition’. The awards will be to introduce it to homes all individuals. I have pointed out turned a blind eye to ground Fernando, who are 5S specialists, maintained. While this might have been held continuously since over Sri Lanka, and JASTECA is that such investments are realities. He went on to point out have assisted him in the production sound ridiculously superficial to 1996 and are now an eagerly-await- hoping that school children and unprofessional and unethical. I the number of top private sector of the documentary. some, says Mr. Ratnayake, several ed event in Sri Lanka’s national employees alike will help take the have pointed out, both inside representatives in key positions Parliament and outside that in the go ernment as part of the