Vol. 27 No.66 Tuesday 18th March, 2008 28 Pages Rs. 20 Registered in Sri Lanka as a Newspaper Late City Edition Rupavahini strike Anura's funeral at Horagolla tomorrow put on hold on President’s assurance Basil takes Mervyn Gotabhaya, Mervyn to denies IGP, AG and task involvement unions present by Saman Indrajith, Harischandra Gunaratna and was on, vehemently denied any Norman Palihawadana involvement in the attacks at Sri Lanka Rupavahini (SLRC) workers yesterday issue. He insisted that there was a decided to put their strike on hold following a meeting surreptitious campaign to bring with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees. him into disrepute and pit the Present at the meeting were Defence Secretary Rupavahini workers against the Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief Presidential Advisor and government. However, MP Rajapaksa point- MP Basil Rajapaksa, Attorney General C. R. de Silva ed out that he was the suspect in IGP Victor Perera, Media Ministers Anura the eyes of the workers as the Priyadarshana Yapa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and spate of attacks had occurred fol- Minister of Labour Mervyn Silva, who stands accused lowing his foray into the of instigating the on-going attacks on SLRC workers. Rupavahini Corporation on Dec. 27 last year. He said Minister Silva SLRC Employees’ Union could not absolve himself of the General Secretary G. Nandipala responsibility for the attacks so told The Island that since the easily. President had given an assurance The IGP told the President that to ensure workers’ protection, the the police had done their utmost The remains of former Speaker and Minister Anura Bandaranaike were kept at the parliamentary complex yes- unions involved in agitations had to protect workers. He said the incidents reported during the past terday (17) for two hours before it was taken to Horagolla, where the funeral will take place tomorrow. The pall- decided to suspend trade union bearers led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker W. J.M. action. Temple Trees few weeks were being investigated Minister Silva, summoned by thoroughly. Lokubandara, JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa and other parliamentarians walking alongside Emergency meeting the byre being taken out of the Parliament building. Pic by Kamal Bogoda the President while the meeting Continued on page 2 Ambassador US assistance to combat SL terrorism Electoral Reforms Warnakulasuriya US donates $220,000 worth US arms supplies to SL stopped Polls chief to present stumps LTTE TV anti-terrorism equipment to police due to Govt. backing of final recommendations channel Amidst a diplomatic concern, the United Pillaiyan Group – Ranil row over a controversial States Department of to PSC Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Italy US State Department State's Bureau of “Pillayan openly conscripts children” by Franklin R.Satyapalan Hemantha Warnakulasuriya met with country report on Diplomatic Italy’s Ministry of the Interior officials, Sri Lanka’s Security, Office of by Zacki Jabbar the main reasons Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dr. Daniela Mengoni, Deputy Head of human rights sit- Anti-terrorism The govern- for America stop- Dissanayake was expected to present his final rec- Department, Dr. Massimo Mastroianni, uation, which Assistance is ment’s atrocious ping arms supplies ommendations on Parliamentary and Provincial Director of III Division and Dr. Marco prompted Foreign donating approxi- human rights to Sri Lanka, elections to the Parliamentary Select Committee Monteleone, Head of the Department of Minister Rohitha mately $220,000 record and patron- Opposition and UNP on Electoral Reforms, Chaired by Minister Dinesh Public Security of the Office of Police Bogollagama to summon worth of equipment to age of the TMVP or leader Ranil Gunawardena in Parliament today, Deputy secre- Prevention, and the Head of the Office US Ambassador in the Sri Lanka National Pillaiyan Group Wickremesinghe tary General Of Parliament Dhammika of Police Prevention Dept Dr. Carlo De Colombo Robert Blake Police (SLNP). which is openly con- said yesterday. Dissanayake said yesterday. Stefano, and urged them to prevent the and express his grave Continued on page 2 scripting children, are Continued on page 2 up linking of LTTE video material from Continued on page 2 its base stationed in Milan to the Eurobird Satellite. ur Sri Lanka fully adheres ho ee Continued alf & Fr on page 2 H ruise to HR laws - ASG er C by Chitra Weerarathne Riv Sri Lanka has fully adhered to the Human Rights laws prescribed in the Major Gen. Sarath International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, P. A. Ratnayake PC, Additional Solicitor General, told the Munasinghe dead Supreme Court yesterday. Spokesman passed away Continued on page 2 yesterday (17). He was 59 The Island www.island.lk 10% o years old. FromF the F/B Rate Munasinghe was the Deputy Speaker to Anura Bandaranaike. Anura Bandaranaike was elected Speaker on October 18, 2000 while Sarath Munasinghe was also elected Deputy nd on your Speaker on the same day. The Isla Both of them were 59 at the Major General (Retd.) time of their deaths and MOBILE/PDA GPRS enabled Sarath Munasinghe a for- both relinquished their http://mobile.island.lk mer Deputy Speaker and positions in Parliament on Select: Web Boat Operates two times a day one time Defence October 10 2001. Web Address Powerd by Lanka com Type:http://mobile.island.lk.