4 Tuesday 5th April, 2011 The Island Home News Govt. aims at water safe water, sanitation for all by 2020– Dinesh South Asian Conference on Sanitation opens in Colombo BY IFHAM NIZAM according to United Nations 2.6 sanitation. rhoea and pneumonia are the billion in the world do not have The report said: The South main cause of child modality, Minister of Water Supply and improved sanitation facilities. Asian countries -- India, causing more than one million Drainage “The most disconcerting fact is Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri deaths in South Asia in 2008. It is said the country had a total cov- that 72 per cent of this Lanka, Bhutan and the estimated that safe disposal of erage, in safe water and sanita- lives in Asia. This gives Maldives pledged their excreta and improved hygiene Speaker launches new machines installed in the Malt tion, of 85.5 percent in 2011. us food for thought,” he commitment at the first practices could have reduced drink production unit of the Nestle factory in Kurunegala. "We have now set our own tar- added. South Asian Conference related deaths by 65 percent. Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and officials of the fac- get to reach 100 percent coverage The fourth South on Sanitation in 2003 to "About one billion people in tory look on. Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha in safe sanitation and water by Asian Conference on meet the United Nations South Asian nations do not prac- 2020. We are confident that it will Sanitation will be held Millennium tice proper sanitation and remain be achieved, because our recon- in the Sri Lankan capi- Development Goals on exposed to severe health risks in struction programmes are cen- tal Colombo from water and sanitation, addition to environmental pollu- tered to provide better sanitation Monday to Thursday to which aims at achieving tion," Mustafa Talpur, the 'Sri Lanka, Just another day in and quality water supply for all tackle the sanitation cri- a 50 percent reduction in Regional Advocacy and Policy people", said Gunawardena, sis in the region. Gunawardena the number of people Advisor for WaterAid said. Paradise'- The Manila Times addressing the Fourth South Asia Around one billion without proper sanita- He said only Sri Lanka and Conference on Sanitation yester- people or 64 percent of the total tion by 2015. Maldives in South Asia have Admittedly, paradise is a word years following independence, as day in Colombo. population in South Asia lack But the promises made by achieved progress in the water too easily bandied around these Sri Lanka. The names alone bear He said He said sanitation was access to proper sanitation and most of the South Asian coun- and sanitation sector. days on the global tourism circuit. witness to its richness and beauty, a basic need and fundamental more than 2.8 million children tries seem to be futile as thou- The Center for Environmental But in its application to this jewel and the intensity of the affection it necessity for human beings to under the age of five face severe sands of children below the age Justice (CEJ) and Friends of the of an island hanging like a sultry evokes in everyone who has ever live with dignity.“Unfortunately, health risks, according to a of five still die every day due to Earth Sri Lanka said nearly teardrop in the Indian Ocean it visited it, the author wrote. governments across the world recent report by the WaterAid, an improper sanitation, and one in 200,000 people are still engaged in matches the description in every The writer explained the tourist face mounting challenges to international non- profit organi- every eight people drink contami- open defecation in Sir Lanka and sense of the word, states The destinations in Sri Lanka as say- ensure this basic facility for its zation, that helps people escape nated water across South Asia. urged the government commit- Manila Times in an article pub- ing "Apart from the signature people,” he said. the poverty and disease caused According to the United ment to provide clean water and lished today (4 April) commenting beaches and salubrious highlands, Gunawardena said that by living without safe water and Nations Children's Fund, diar- toilet facilities for them. on Sri Lanka's beauty. add to the heady brew an eventful In fact, “Serendipity” and “a history that is 2500 years old, the land like no other” were two of the healing powers of Ayurveda medi- befitting epithets attached to the cine, the thrills of sports and country long before it made its adventure, the colorful festivals, Prof. Peiris debut on the map as Ceylon (in the diversity of culture, the lush colonial days when the Portuguese, nature and wild life and you have Dutch and British delivered their a recipe for the complete tourist meets British calling cards) and later, in the odyssey. lawmakers Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris will Further appeal to save interact with a cross- party delegation of British the life of Rizana Nafeek Parliamentarians representing both Houses of the “We have not received any com- human rights problem that merits G L. British Parliament. munication from our daughter,” the attention of the Human Rights Peiris Prof. G L. Peiris said Muhammad Nafeek, the Council. In this regard, particular who is currently on father of Rizana, the Sri Lankan importance needs to be given to an official visit to the United domestic worker who has been the migrant workers employed in Kingdom will meet Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Minister of State sentenced to death by a Saudi Saudi Arabia. This issue is well- for Trade and Investment; Rt. Hon Arabian court. Rizana went to illustrated in the case of the a 17- Dr Liam Fox MP, Secretary of Saudi Arabia as house maid via a year-old Sri Lankan girl who went State for Defence; and Mr. Alistair foreign employment agency in for employment in Saudi Arabia Burt, MP, Parliamentary Under- Colombo six years before on the and who faced charges for murder Secretary for the Foreign & strength of a fake birth certificate within less than one month at the Commonwealth Office. while she was 17 years old. Rizana employer’s residence. The British lawmakers had a contacted her parents when her Coming from a poor and war- cordial discussion with the death penalty was postponed in torn family Rizana Nafeek went to Minister about the latest develop- November last year. Rizana’s only Saudi Arabia as a maid in May ments in Sri Lanka including brother is studying for the GCE 2005. A recruitment agency in Sri overall post-conflict progress. (O/L) examination while the two Lanka altered her date of birth in Several of the Parliamentarians present who had recently visited sisters are in grade 8 and 10. her passport making her 23 years- Sri Lanka, recalled the positive The mother pleads that her of-age in order to employ her, impressions formed during their daughter Rizana will be pardoned when in fact she was only 17 at the visit including to the North and and released soon. Rizana Nafeek time. When the infant of her the East. Minister Peiris updated of Muttur was sentenced to death employers died in her care, a con- the MPs and Lords on the issues by a Saudi Court in February 2005 fession of murder was drawn from raised in the British Parliament for strangling to death a four- Rizana under harsh treatment and on Sri Lanka in the recent past, month old baby while bottle feed- without a proper translator at the UNP and Opposition Leader leads his partymen , Dr and the efforts of the ing. police station. On this ground, she Jayalath Jayawardena and Gayantha Karunathilake after visiting LankaeNews editor Bennet Government of Sri Lanka to Despite of a worldwide appeal was charged with murder and sen- address all aspects of post-con- Rupasinghe at Welikada Prison yesterday. Pic by Nihal Chandrakumara on her behalf the authorities of tenced to death by beheading in flict recovery phase, as well as on the ongoing political talks. Saudi Arabia has not yet taken 2007. After getting access to a any action to release her. The lawyer and being able to express Asian Human Rights made the fol- the circumstances in Tamil, the lowing submission to the United confession was later retracted. UNP wants... 2000-years-old archaeological remains found Nations Human Rights Council on According to Nafeek, the child suf- From page 1 BHADRAPUR: The ruins of centimeters wide and 5 centime- of Archaeology, the archeologi- her behalf. focated while being bottle-fed and “There was only two thousand-year-old buildings ters thick have been unearthed. cal remains found in the area A written statement submitted due to her lack of experience and (Chief Minister, Western Province) at the have been found in They were excavated from one bear a resemblance to those of by the Asian Legal Resource young age, she was unable to save felicitation ceremony. The government Kichakbadhsthal, a historic meter under the surface. An buildings constructed during Centre (ALRC), a non-governmen- him. The case was appealed, should have sent either the Prime Minister place in Jhapa district in course earthen lamp and an urn have the period of Sunga and Kupan tal organisation with general con- enabled by funds from human or the Sports Minister to welcome the of excavation. been also found at the excava- some two thousand years ago. sultative status: The right to fair rights groups. However, after a The remains of walls of tion site. The condition of remains team. It would have been a different story trial for migrant workers who face highly questionable and arbitrary had they won the World Cup,” he said. building made of bricks meas- According to Uddav Acharya, shows the buildings were col- uring 36 centimeters long, 26 chief officer at the Department lapsed by the strong earthquake. criminal charges in countries process in court, the death sen- Muzammil urged the government to put where they have gone for employ- tence was confirmed in late an end to the culture of appointing Interim ment remains an important October 2010. Committees, as cricket administrators could face the same predicament as the rugby governing body (SLRFU), which lost Five Bills... From page 1 its full member status in the International Pradeshiya Sabha will also be ed to support the bill with pro- ed then the TNA would vote The Heat’s... From page 1 Rugby Board. amended to make the local gov- posed amendments. with the government, he said. “The atmosphere is dry but Change Secretariat of the However, in a lighter vein, Muzammil ernment structure more suit- SLMC General Secretary MP slight showers reduce the heat Ministry of Environment asked able for the development of the Parliamentarian M. A. M. T. Hassen Ali said that Party praised the government for not blaming the especially in the inland areas.” the public to avoid looking at the country, he said. Sumanthiran said that his party Leader Minister Opposition or the international community Meanwhile, the Climate sun directly. for Sri Lanka’s failure at the final hurdle of The Local Authorities had submitted a memorandum would decide whether they the World Cup campaign. He said the gov- (Special Provisions) and Local containing his party’s proposals would vote with the government ernment had the habit of placing the Authorities Elections for the revision of certain claus- or not. blame, whenever there is a failure, at the (Amendment) Bill were debated es of the bill to the The Bills were first presented From page 1 in the House on January 4. Parliamentary Select Committee to the House in October 2010. US to withdraw... doorstep of the Opposition and also alleg- UNP General Secretary Tissa on Election Reforms, chaired by The other two bills are ing that there was an international conspir- Last week, Secretary of Defense heavy armor and relying on light Attanayake said that the United Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Census (Amendment) bill and Robert Gates told Congress the U.S. forces to harry and repeatedly acy. National Party (UNP) has decid- If those amendments are includ- the Food Security Bill. would continue to provide assets ambush the lightly armed rebels. He said the government was yet to that others don’t have in sufficient NATO said its aircraft flew 154 make such a remark for the country’s fail- numbers. These will likely include sorties over Libya on Sunday, the ure to win the World Cup. From page 1 Relevance... From page 1 AWACS air surveillance planes, fourth day since the alliance Muzammil also linked Sri Lanka’s fail- Casinos on... electronic reconnaissance aircraft assumed full control over the mis- ure to clinch the title after reaching the and aerial refueling tankers. sion over Libya from the U.S.-led Mrs de Silva said for the convenience of was Prime Minister, being determined final on two consecutive occasions to polit- American air power - including international force. that an agreement the passengers. the position was amicably, ical interference. He said that there had had already been The vessel which Air Force AC-130 gunships and A-10 A press release Monday been no political interference in 1996, described as largely Karunathillake Thunderbolts and Marine Corps described 58 of those flights as signed between had been chartered ceremonial. But he declining to confirm when Sri Lanka won the World Cup. Flamingo Shipping from the Indian com- AV-8B Harriers - will still be avail- “strike sorties.” These include all ensured that it did any name, said that a Muzammil said: “At that time, the coun- Lines in Tuticorin pany would initially able to back up the allies in case of flights carrying munitions, try was at war but there was no political and the Sri Lanka make two voyages per have a certain degree decision would be need. although it doesn’t mean any pressure on the players. Now there is no Shipping Corporation week. Travelling at a of power. So the same taken this week. U.S. aircraft currently account bombs or missiles were used for 90 of the 206 planes deployed by against ground targets. war, but the selection committee has suc- for the Indian coun- speed of 16 knots it thing could happen The Working terpart to deploy a would take 8 to 10 once the National Committee, he said, NATO in the Libyan conflict. NATO does not release informa- cumbed to political pressure.” He said that Western jets have been hitting tion on the number of targets SLC had failed to heed captain Kumar vessel that would hours to reach the Organiser’s post is was scheduled to have the capacity to Port of Tuticorin properly estab- meet within the next the forces of Libyan leader bombed. Sangakkara’s written request to reinstate Moammar Gadhafi for more than In the first four days of the Chandika Hathurusinghe into the coaching ferry 1,044 passen- which is 153 nautical lished.” few days and they gers, cargo and 200 miles from Colombo. Questioned if were confident of two weeks. They initially targeted NATO operation, alliance aircraft staff. anti-aircraft missile defenses and have flown a total of 701 sorties, the vehicles during each Arrangements had Ranjith Madduma reaching a consensus Muzammil praised Mahela quickly crushed a government statement said. voyage. also been made to Bandara or Ravi on all vacancies, Jayawardena for his magnificent century in Facilities have have interconnecting offensive by destroying a large Flights by fighters and attack the final. He termed it one of the best cen- Karunanayake, who is including the number of tanks, armored vehicles, jets accounted for about 40 percent been made to operate trains and luxury more senior, would be appointment of five turies scored in a World Cup final. speciality restau- buses operating to artillery and other vehicles advanc- of that total. The rest are by appointed as the Vice Presidents Meanwhile Member of Parliament rants Duty Free destinations as far as ingintorebel-heldareas AWACS surveillance aircraft aerial