6 Thursday 17th September, 2009

Venezuelaís Chavez aims to tap nuclear energy Ranil... From page 1 CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Hugo two countries have created an atomic ener- Public Administration Chavez wants to join the nuclear energy gy commission. Minister Dr. Sarath club and is looking to Russia for help in get- “I say it before the world: Venezuela is Amunugama said that as far as country’s foreign ting started. going to start the process of developing reserves were concerned The Venezuelan leader is already dis- nuclear energy,but we’re not going to make the situation could not missing critics’ concerns over his nuclear an atomic bomb, so don’t be bothering us have been better. “We have ambitions, offering assurances his aims afterward ... (with) something like what enough funds to cover imports for are peaceful and that Venezuela will simply they have against Iran,” Chavez said about four and half months,” he said be following in the footsteps of other South Sunday. asserting in about two months the American nations using atomic energy. The socialist president is closely allied country could build foreign reserves Yet his project remains in its planning with Iran and defends its nuclear program required for six months imports. stages and still faces a host of practical me while the U.S. and other countries Amunugama said that following hurdles, likely requiring billions of dollars, accuse Tehran of having a secret nuclear the agreement with the IMF for USD as well as technology and expertise that weapons programme. 2.6 billion reached in July, the country Venezuela lacks. “We’re going to develop nuclear energy had made a rapid recovery. Venezuela’s Presidente Hugo Chavez, right, waves to photographers as he poses with Responding to The Island queries, he Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, left, at the Moncloa Palace in Russia has offered to help bridge that with peaceful aims as Brazil, Argentina said that a crisis was caused by the Madrid on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009. (AP) gap, and Chavez has announced that the have,” Chavez said. withdrawal of about USD 600 million due to international financial crisis but with the improvement in situation about half of that amount had been re- US laments invested here. (SF) Honduran Hatoyama elected as GSP... From page 1 Alastair Gray of the British Retail Consortium has been quoted as say- Independence ing: “We do not want to get involved in the political issues, but we are saying Day tensions that whatever the human rights con- Japan’s prime minister cerns, any response has to be bal- anced. Otherwise, if the preferential TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) - TOKYO (AP) - Longtime opposition access deal is withdrawn by the Commission, business in Sri Lanka Even Independence Day could not bring leader Yukio Hatoyama was elected could close. Sri Lanka has many very together bitterly divided Hondurans at prime minister Wednesday, promising to good textile factories, but profit mar- odds over a June coup. reinvigorate Japan’s economy and shake gins are small, and if they lose their Supporters and foes of deposed up government with his left-of-center current import arrangements, there are textiles manufacturers in President Manuel Zelaya held separate party after more than 50 years of nearly Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand commemorations on Tuesday,the anniver- unbroken rule by conservatives. who will be ready to compete hard.” sary of Central America’s 1821 independ- Hatoyama’s victory marks a major ence from Spain. turning point for Japan, which is facing Thousands of protesters marched its worst economic slowdown since Judiciary... From page 1 through Tegucigalpa to demand Zelaya’s World War II, with unemployment at Minister Bogollagama, while return, while at a military and police record highs and wages falling. acknowledging the business tycoon’s parade, the interim president vowed only He has vowed to cut government concerns had said that the independ- an armed invasion of Honduras could waste, rein in the national bureaucracy ence of the judiciary had to be pre- served, sources said. bring the ousted leader back. and restart the economy by putting a Based on the findings of In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State freeze on planned tax hikes, removing Parliamentary watchdog committee, Hillary Rodham Clinton lamented that tolls on highways and focusing policies Committee on Public Enterprises Honduras had to celebrate 188 years of on consumers, not big business. He has (COPE), the Supreme Court reversed the privatisation of Lanka Marine independence divided over the coup, while also pledged to improve Tokyo’s often Services Limited (LMSL) and Sri the European Union threatened more bumpy ties with its Asian neighbors and Lanka Insurance Corporation. The sanctions against the Central American forge a foreign policy that is more inde- Supreme Court also cancelled the country unless the ousted president is pendent from Washington. Waters Edge deal. Jayawardena and Blue Chip John Keells Holdings are restored to power. Parliament convened in a special among key players directly affected by “The turmoil and political differences session to formally select Hatoyama, Supreme Court decisions. that have ... divided Honduras are a source whose Democratic Party of Japan won a Sources pointed out that former of worry and sadness,” Clinton said a landslide in parliamentary elections last Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, too, had moved the statement sent to the media. “I remain month to take control of the body’s Court in a bid to regain the lost post hopeful that the spirit of Francisco lower house, which chooses the prime Leaders of three parties forming Japan’s new coalition government meet at the on the basis that President Mahinda Morazan, a founder and visionary leader minister. Prime Minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. From left to Rajapaksa wanted him back at the right are: Mizuho Fukushima, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Japan’s Treasury. (SF) of Honduras, will help return your nation Hatoyama’s party won 308 of the 480 new Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, Yukio Hatoyama, to a democratic path that will unite and seats in the lower chamber, ending more and Shizuka Kamei, the leader of the People’s New Party. (AP) inspire, rather than divide and discour- than a half century of domination by age.” the conservative and staunchly pro-U.S. ousted from power. swell. Govt... From page 1 EU foreign ministers warned they Liberal Democratic Party of outgoing Hatoyama, who has a Ph.D from “The economy is in very difficult Abeywardena said at a press confer- “stand ready to take further restrictive Prime Minister Taro Aso. Stanford University and is the grandson shape, so we must work hard to improve ence at the Ministry of Information in measures” against Honduras unless the Hatoyama won 327 of the 480 votes of a conservative prime minister, has a it,” said Mieko Tanaka, one of the Colombo yesterday. interim government agrees to reinstate in the lower house. He needed a simple limited pool of seasoned politicians to Democratic Party’s new lawmakers. The Minister said Opposition Zelaya before presidential elections sched- majority of 241 votes. choose from. His party, created a decade Hatoyama will also be tested quick- Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had asked the government what had uled for Nov. 29. “I am excited by the prospect of ago, has never held power, and nearly ly on the diplomatic front. He has said become of the Rs. 12,000 million the changing history,” Hatoyama said early half of the Democrats’ members of the he wants to attend a meeting in the country got as foreign aid. He said Wednesday.“The battle starts now.” lower house will be serving in their first United Nations in New York next week Wickremesinghe was not aware of the His first task was to name a terms in parliament. and possibly meet with President on-going development projects because Medvedev not he was not with the public. Cabinet. Though largely untested in power, Barack Obama. The Minister said the construction He was expected to name Katsuya Hatoyama and his party face huge tasks Hatoyama has said he wants to of five harbours alone was ample proof ruling out run in Okada as his foreign minister and that they must deal with quickly, includ- build a foreign policy that will put of State funds being expended wisely. Hirohisa Fujii as his finance minister. ing the country’s worst economic slump Tokyo on a more equal footing with The government had, he said, spent Rs. 2012 elections 484, 378.5 million on highways develop- Though Okada has never held a Cabinet in more than a half-century. Washington, while keeping the U.S. as ment between 2007 and 2017. MOSCOW (AP) - President Dmitry post, Fujii was finance minister under a The rapid aging of its population the “cornerstone” of Japan’s diplomacy. He said that government had also Medvedev said Tuesday he hasn’t ruled coalition government in 1993-94, the only also threatens to be a drag on public cof- He is also seeking closer ties with invested Rs. 298,065 million on power and energy as part of its plan to pro- out running for a second term, Russian time in its 55-year history that the fers as the number of taxpayers Japan’s Asian neighbors, particularly vide 90 per cent of Sri Lanka’s popula- news agencies reported - adding new Liberal Democrats had previously been decreases and pension responsibilities China. tion with electricity by end of 2010. intrigue to the question of who will assume the presidency in 2012. Medvedev’s comments, made to a group of Western experts on Russia, Not... From page 1 came just days after his mentor and cur- Picket demanding Secretary to the President, President, it is emphasized that rent prime minister, Vladimir Putin, Lalith Weeratunga that this ref- there is only one Secretary to the indicated he was also interested in erence gives a wrong impression President.” to the public about him and the “The Secretary to the returning to the post, an announcement office he holds. Although, there President wishes to emphasis that sparked speculation about the pos- training for KTH are others with designations of that he is not in anyway associ- sibility of behind-the-scenes Kremlin Additional Secretaries, Coordinating Secretaries and ated with the reported transac- jockeying. Assistant Secretaries to the tion.” Medvedev is striving to carve out his own leadership style and step out of Nursing U’grads Produce... From page 1 Putin’s formidable shadow. training at the hospital. decision taken by the KTH admin- they were not empowered Court that since the curtailment Medvedev, who some say is merely by Dilanthi Jayamanne Branch Secretary of the istration causing the postpone- under the geological survey and of illegal sand mining in Maha a mild-mannered placeholder for Putin, Miner Act to arrest the persons Oya and Daduru Oya, the The Government Nursing GNOA, A. G. N. Kumarasiri said ment of the programme. was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti that over hundred nurses from the The GMOA branch Union and the equipment, when illegal ground water level in the area Officers’ Association (GNOA) mining was detected. had risen. and Interfax: “A while ago, I had no staged a picket during lunch time hospital had taken part in the one- could not be contacted for com- hour picket which started at 12 ment. However, Assistant The Supreme Court directed The Deputy Solicitor General intention of running for the presidency, yesterday (16) outside the the SSP Chilaw to seek advice Bimba J. Tilakaratne appeared but fate decreed it. So I am not ruling Karapitiya Teaching Hospital noon. The clinical training was Secretary of the GMOA, Dr. scheduled to commence on July Chandana Atapattu said they from the Attorney General on for the Attorney General. anything out.” (KTH) demanding a training pro- how to make the aforesaid The Bench comprised Justice 13. But the branch Union of the were acting in accordance with a Putin is still widely popular even gramme for nursing undergradu- arrests. Meanwhile the director Shirani Tilakawardene, Justice ates. There are thirty five nursing Government Medical Officers’ Supreme Court judgment on the after serving the constitutional maxi- of the North Western Chandra Ekanayake and Justice undergraduates awaiting clinical Association (GMOA) had submit- issue. Environmental Authority K. Sripavan. mum of two consecutive four-year ted a written protest against the Saman Senanayake told the terms as president and then tapping his protege, Medvedev, to succeed him. Last week Putin said he and Medvedev would Foreign... From page 1 Curbing... From page 1 “come to an agreement” and “decide He applauded the Speaker’s Opposition. But the UNP never between us” who would run in the 2012 courage in expressing his bothered to make representa- Siyambalapitiya said that their ings. nomic crisis, the situation could election. views on the issue regardless tions to the PSC though it met task in fighting corruption would At the beginning of the press not have been better. The end of of the UNP’s position. on three occasions, Minister One thing’s for sure, Putin said - not be easy due to presence of conference, the junior Finance the war would help the country to they won’t run head-to-head. He claimed that the Alahapperuma said adding Opposition and a section of the that some LTTE cadres now in ministers with different Minister said that the UPFA make a rapid economic recovery, On the same day he spoke, Russian media at the behest of the government custody had shed backgrounds in the ruling would not engage in any they said accusing the Opposition newspapers published an article writ- LTTE had made a desperate light on the LTTE-Opposition coalition. He emphasised financial irregularities. He and so-called economic pundits ten by Medvedev that lambasted the attempt to thwart a plan to link. that the government would said that the government sympathetic to the UNP’s cause of country’s outdated economy, a lack of acquire state-of-the-art MiG Responding to our queries, not cover up irregularities would not be a burden to tax- playing politics with economy. competitive politics and excessive state 29s to meet the threat posed by Alahapperuma said some of but deftly investigate alle- payers. Responding to our queries, Dr. Air Tigers. Although a section those who had targeted influence in everyday life. gations. A case in point The minister and Dr. Weerasinghe said that immediate- of the government opposed, Rajapaksa over the alleged was the detection of VAT Nandalal Weerasinghe, assis- ly after their agreement with the Medvedev reaffirmed those senti- the President had authorised ‘Helping Hambantota’ fraud fraud by the UPFA govern- tant Governor of the Central IMF in July, the country received ments on Tuesday and said that “every the setting up of a subsequently switched sides. leader should have his own plan” for Parliamentary Select He said that that ‘to forgive is ment. He said that it would not be Bank said that contrary to USD 326 million and the second reasonable to criticise the govern- Opposition claims that the coun- instalment would be available Russia’s development. Committee (PSC) to investigate divine’. the allegations made by the ment on the basis of COPE find- try was experiencing a severe eco- shortly.