Astrologer Detained for His Predictions, a First For
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6 Wednesday 1st July, 2009 The Island Home News Rule of law, governance Astrologer detained for his predictions, much to be desired in SL - Akashi a first for Sri Lanka – Attanayake by Devan Daniel extreme nationalism on the other,” he said. Special envoy of the Akashi said that Sri by Zacki Jabbar has every right to make ing a thirty year rule for who have been bold enough to write Government of Japan Lanka could no longer predictions according to President Mahinda the truth, but there has been no Yasushi Akashi said the blame its former colonial The detention of astrologer the rules of the science he Rajapaksa, should also be progress in the investigations, obvi- rule of law and governance masters and there concept Chandrasiri Bandara, under practices. To haul him up remanded.” ously due to pressure from the top, is much to be desired in Sri of ‘divide and role’ for the Emergency Regulations, indicates to the fourth floor of the If the government by its he said. “Lasantha Wickremetunga Lanka and urged legislators problems the country had to the extent to which the government CID at night and interro- skewed sense of logic, was killed and several other jour- to avoid polarising into face; not after more than was denying people of their demo- gate him like a common believes that Bandara has nalists abducted and assaulted, but naive cosmopolitanism on sixty years of self rule. cratic freedom, General Secretary criminal, shows that the committed an offence, he no suspects have been produced in one hand and extreme “There have been mar- of the UNP, Tissa Attanayake said government cannot toler- can be produced in a Court Courts as yet.” nationalism on the other. riages and business trans- yesterday. ate dissent. The gist of of Law and not detained Attanayake said that the con- Akashi said Sri Lanka actions that have taken He told The Island that this was Mr. Bandara’s prediction Attanayake under emergency regula- duct of the government, apart from was on the brink of making place between the different the first time in Sri Lanka’s history was that Mr. Ranil tions for 90 days, Attanayake being dictatorial, also indicates a a quantum leap in develop- communities. This is the that an astrologer has been ques- Wickremesinghe would soon be the said. sense of fear that Bandara could ing its economy now that base from which Sri Lanka tioned and also detained for practic- leader of the country. If that is an In the recent past, there had actually be right that the Rajapaksa the war is over and has can build a multi-ethnic, ing his profession. “Mr. Bandara offence, then those who are predict- been many attacks on journalists regime was nearing its end. huge potential in this multi-lingual harmonious regard. society,” he said. “Sri Lanka is one of the He also said that blame oldest democracies in Asia could not be placed on the and boasts high human Norwegians and their deal- New SLFP electoral Lorry development indicators ings as mediators for a Resettlement (such as literacy, infant peace deal. mortality and other health “The responsibility lay of IDPs our transporting indicators). But the rule of with leaders of both sides to and district organizers law and good governance is the conflict,” Akashi said. to be desired and all Sri He said the Tamil people top priority President Mahinda Rajapaksa (Digamadulla-West) and P. timber Lanka should work on it,” were made to suffer because yesterday appointed 12 electoral Dayaratne (Digamadulla) as elec- he said addressing the inau- Prabahkaran lacked the – Keheliya and 11 district organizers. Among toral organizers. gural session of the Sri strategic wisdom and was them were several UNP dissidents The SLFPers appointed as confiscated Lanka Economic Summit in incapable of thinking now holding Cabinet portfolios in District organizers were Ananda Colombo last evening. beyond a separate state. by Dasun the Rajapaksa administration. Millangoda (Kegalle), by Jayakody Ratnayake, The Japanese envoy Akashi praised the gov- Edirisinghe ernment on the other hand Athauda Seneviratne (Mawanella), Wimalaweera Dissanayake Nuwara Eliya Cor. stressed that Sri Lanka now Bandula Gunawardena (Ampara), Shantha Premaratne had an opportunity, which in its efforts to resettle the Defence (Homagama), Gamini Lokuge (Ampara),T.A.K. Gampola Magistrate Upali would not reoccur again, to internally displayed per- spokesman (Kesbewa), Hemakumara Thewarapperuma (Ampara), P. B. Gunwardena fined the driver develop the country. sons. “In all my years of expe- Minister Keheliya Nanayakkara (Baddegama), Dissanayake (Anuradhapura), of a lorry Rs 5,000 for trans- “Now is the time to build rience I have never seen a Rambukwella, yes- Duleep Wijesekera (Biyagama), Chandana Kattriarachchi porting timber without permit. the country where every cit- developed country coming terday said the Mano Wijeratne (Dedigama), W. B. (Colombo), Gamini Tillekesiri He also ordered the lorry be izen can finally live togeth- er in friendship, in a democ- out of a conflict make so Rambukwella government’s first Ekanayake (Anuradhapura-West), (Colombo), Shalitha Wijesundera confiscated. racy where human rights much progress within a priority would be Wasantha Senanayake (Mirigama), (Gampaha), Roshan Ranasinghe Valuable timber loaded in are respected. If we fail in short time. Government the resettlement of the displaced Mahinda Rathnathilaka (Polonnaruwa), Akila Saliya the lorry was covered on with this regard, we may never officials and the military now accommodated in welfare (Balangoda), A. A. Prabath Bhanu Ellawela (Ratnapura) and Kokila low priced ordinary wooden get this opportunity again,” worked tirelessly day and centres in the north. He said that Munopriya (Balangoda co-organis- Harshini Gunawardena planks but on closer examina- Akashi said. night led and coordinated the implementation of the 13th er), Mayantha Dissanayake (Gampaha). tion Police found the valuable Akashi also stressed the very ably by Basil Amendment or any other politi- timber underneath the ordi- importance taking an open Rajapaksa to ensure these cal solution would have to be nary planks. minded approach to dealing civilians received shelter, after resettlement. The timber was valued at with those with opposing food, clothing and medi- Addressing the press at the Rs 27,990 while the confiscated views. cines,” he said. Media Centre for National Cultivate, or lose land lorry was worth Rs one mil- “There has to be open Akashi said Japan Security, Rambukwella said some by Franklin R Satyapalan to acquire uncultivated lands. Land lion. mindedness when different would continue to support political parties had attacked the thus acquired would be given to Kotmale OIC Bandara opinions are being Sri Lanka in all her endeav- government over the proposed Owners of more than 100,000 landless farmers for cultivation. Dematagedera and a team of expressed in equal passion, ours and will make special implementation of the 13th acres of cultivable land that lie fal- Thousands of petitions had Policemen produced the driver avoiding naive cosmopoli- provisions with regard to the resettlement of the Amendment. They should realize low had been warned that they already been received from the pub- and the lorry in Court. tanism on one side and IDPs. that the government’s main task would be acquired under the lic on such uncultivated lands. at the moment was to resettle the Agricultural Land Management Hewavitharana said there were displaced. Regulation, Commissioner of 800,000 hectares of paddy lands in “There are over 300,000 people Agrarian Services Ravindra the country, of which only 565,000 Angry... From page 1 living at welfare centres. Of Hewavitharana said. had come under the plough but them, almost 68,000 are children. Much of such neglected lands since the liberation of the East it would do his job. “I’ll look after the rest, too,” The JHU warning came close on the heels of There are also 3,000 teachers, had been identified in the Western had now increased to 700,000 he said, urging leaders of constituent parties to the President reassuring India that Sri Lanka have faith in him. He said that if they did their would implement the 13th Amendment. A three- which was a very sensitive Province, too, he said. hectares. job, the government could go ahead with its pro- member delegation comprising Basil Rajapaksa, issue,” he said. Circulars had been forwarded He advised those owners to cul- gramme. MP, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and He dismissed Opposition to all Agrarian Services officers to tivate at least green leaves or keera Political sources said that the President had Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, claims that as the war had ended, take action under gazette notifica- on fertile lands if they could not reacted angrily to Ranawaka’s threat to quit the early this month visited New Delhi, where the two the defence expenditure could be tion No.1585/15 of January 21, 2009 afford to cultivate paddy. government. President indicated that he wouldn’t parties discussed the entire gamut of issues. brought down overnight. give in to pressure from any party. Recently, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa JHU spokesman Nishantha Sri Waranasinghe Abeywardena and Minister Mahindananda on Monday night told TNL that although the Aluthgamage told an Information department LTTE had been defeated, a section of the govern- briefing that the government would go ahead with ment wanted to implement the 13th Amendment the 13th Amendment though NFF leader Wimal Youth at the behest of New Delhi. He accused the gov- Weerawansa had strongly objected to it. ernment of succumbing to Indian pressure. commits Nirupama... From page 1 number of key positions, will be the second Mrs Rao was also the country’s first woman woman Foreign Secretary of India after Mrs spokesperson in the Foreign Office (2001-2002).