The Island 2 Wednesday 16th March, 2011 Home News Govt. confident, UNP wants end to UPFA’s hold on LG institutions tory for the UNP would strengthen democracy and their efforts to revive the national economy. Under the Rajapaksas, people were strug- gling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, a very large gather- ing of Tamil families braved the inclement weather to attend the meetings organized by the Tamil A special pooja was held at the Wellawatta International Buddhist Centre to invoke blessings of Triple gem National Alliance (TNA) in to Tsunami victims of Japan. The pinkama was organized by the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan Rev. Manthai West, Pesalai and Maharagama Mahinda Thera and many other bhikkus from Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Adampan in the Mannar district on Bungaladesh, India, and President of all Ceylon Buddhist conference, Jagath Sumathipala also Monday night. participated. Maninda Ranil Hakeem Addressing the gathering ITAK General Secretary MP , TULF Leader V. BY FRANKLIN R. SATYAPALAN Anandasangasri and several TNA parliamentar- ians urged all Tamil voters to excise their fran- Jaliya briefs Washington Professional The UPFA on Monday night wrapped up its chise in support of the campaign for the March 17 LG polls with a meet- by voting for the House symbol. ing at Hambantota, where a confident President Making statement on behalf of ailing TNA Group on Sri Lankan trade opportunities appealed to the electorate leader R. Sampanthan, Mavai Senathirajah said not to be misled by the opposition. that it was the responsibility of each and every The President said that a victory for the UPFA Tamil to strengthen the hands of the TNA so at the forthcoming polls would deliver a heavy that the continuing talks with the government blow to those seeking to undermine post-war sta- could be constructive in reaching a meaningful bility. He said that the government needed LG political solution that would be acceptable to all bodies under its control to implement develop- parties. ment programmes at village level. The SLMC, led by Minister , The President declared that he would do way General Secretary M.T. Hassen Ali, chairman with unnecessary paperwork required to obtain Basheer Cegu Dawood and parlimentarians and the fertilizer subsidy and also take tangible other elected representatives campaigned in the measures to facilitate the easy delivery of subsi- electorates of Nintavur, Addalachenai, dized fertilizer to farmers. Sammanthurai, Palamunai in the Amparai dis- Economic Development Minister Basil trict on Monday night. Rajapaksa said that in keeping with Mahinda The SLMC Leader appealed to the Muslim Chinthanaya the government had taken steps to community to back SLMC candidates contesting develop the provinces, whereas previously the 21 local bodies under the UPFA banner and Betel focus was on the Western symbol and vote for those contesting on the Province. SLMC ticket at 52 Local bodies. CLASSIFIED The UNP concluded its The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) con- Sri Lankan ambassador to the US, Jaliya Wickramasuriya briefs members of the Washington Inter ADVERTISEMENT campaign in the Kandy dis- cluded its campaign to contest under the UPFA Governmental Professional Group on reconciliation, development and economic opportunities in Sri trict with General Secretary Banner and Betel Symbol with Party General Lanka, during a reception at his Washington residence last week. , Party Secretary, Minister Arumugam Thondaman, Leader Ranil addressing large gatherings of plantation people Wickremasinghe and sever- in the Maskeliya town on Monday night. He A group of Washington professionals had met Nelson Garcia, chairman of the Washington al parliamentarians appeal- urged the Tamil people to cast their votes for the Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the US, Jaliya Inter Governmental Group and a former ing to the electorate to vote UPFA and the betel Symbol to ensure that they Wickramasuriya last week, to get a better under- Congressional staff member who now works in for the UNP and the were stakeholders in the country’s development. standing of Sri Lanka and its relations with the the private sector on transportation issues, noted Elephant symbol. They said President of the CWC Deputy Minister U.S. Sri Lanka’s dramatic development since the suc- that dictatorial Rajapaksa Mutthu Sivalingam appealed to the plantation The Washington Intergovernmental cessful end of its long conflict against terrorism administration shouldn’t be Tamil people to ensure that the Party secured its Professional Group, whose members had met with in May 2009. given an opportunity to hold on the Ambegamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha. embassies and U.S. government officials, joined “Sri Lanka is certainly a different country take control of LG bodies. The People’s Liberation Front (JVP) conclud- Wickramasuriya to discuss Sri Lanka’s economy, today,” Garcia said. “We want to thank UNP leader ed it campaign in 12 of the 23 districts where the trade opportunities and relations with the U.S. Ambassador Wickramasuriya for hosting us here Wickremesinghe said a vic- elections would be held next Thursday Leader Briefing the Professional Group on Sri Lanka’s this evening to learn more about what has been Somawansa Amerasinghe addressed economic growth, tourism and reconciliation, happening in his wonderful country.” rallies in the Kalutara district, Wickramasuriya said: “Of course the greatest Members of the group showed a particular General Secretary Tilvin Silva and achievement for us,is lasting peace, the ultimate interest in tourism, and how Sri Lanka is posi- Anura Kumara Dissanayake in human right. I invite all of you to visit Sri Lanka. tioning itself for the expected growth in the num- Maharagama, Avisawella, Padukka, Talk to the people; see how they feel about peace. I ber of foreign visitors. The ambassador discussed Bimal Ratnayake in Kurunegala, Lal know that if you go there, you will experience plans to increase hotel capacity and Sri Lanka’s Kantha in the Anuradhapura district what I am saying and come back here and tell work to increase the efficiency of its infrastruc- and Propaganda secretary MP your friends the actual story of Sri Lanka.” ture, including airports, railways, highways and in the Gampaha dis- The Washington Inter Governmental ports. trict. Professional Group comprises lawyers, consult- “We are building a second international air- Vijitha Herath said that they all ants and former and present government officials port in the South”, Wickramasuriya said. “This appealed to voters to put a halt to who work with the U.S. government and American will make it easier for tourists to arrive. We are hoodwinking of the masses, bribery companies on overseas missions. Some of those also concentrating on the North to help those and corruption by the government. attending the reception had just returned from Sri affected by the conflict. We are bringing electrici- By voting for the JVP they would be Lanka, while others had traveled there previously. ty to the whole island for the first time ever.” taking their first steps towards changing the government, he said. Literary evening with Madeleine Wightman A Literary Evening with Madeleine has a Masters Degree in Madeleine Wightman, writer, critic, French and Hispanic Studies from editing professional and a regular Aberdeen University in Scotland writer to The Guardian (UK), will and her thesis was “Politics and take place at the ICES Auditorium, Popular Culture in Modern Latin 2, Kynsey Terrace, 8 on American Fiction”. She has exten- Friday, March 18th at 5.30 p.m. Her sively covered Boom and Post- lecture is titled “Introduction to Boom genres in the Latin Modern Latin American Fiction”, American novels and films.

The instal- lation cere- mony of Thurstan College prefects, of the primary section, was held at the main hall of the school yes- terday. Principal of the College Y. A. N. D. Yapa pins a primary prefect badge on a student.